Charmed Life of a Mrs Archives | Page 72 of 98

Kwentong Pinoy on WYD08

19 July 2008 Ibyang Sanchez 1 Comments Category: Aussie Life, Charmed Life of a Mrs, Photography

We arrived before 11am yesterday at Circular Quay so we can experience being WYD08 delegates for a day and mainly because we want to say hello to our Pinoy Pilgrims.

And as we walked our way to Sydney Opera House, several Filipinos were there already. They were taking photographs (syempre parating may picture-picture ang mga Pinoy) of themselves with the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, waving their Philippine Flags non-stop, communing with other delegates, chanting “Filipino, Filipino, Filipino” once in a while to let the people around them of their identity (wala kasi tayong Pinoy cheer yata kaya chant na lang) and some are just enjoying being under the Australian Sun.

We approached one group and welcomed them to Sydney. They were from St Benedict’s Parish in Commonwealth, QC. Their first question to us was “So, nami-miss nyo na ang Pinas?” and we can only agree.

We talked of their experiences here in Sydney: how they miss eating rice, how cold the winter weather is in here, how expensive everything is in this country, how tired they are from all the walking and WYD activities they have to participate in and most importantly how much they enjoy and cherish being a WYD08 delegate inspite of the challenges of being in a different country. They are grateful and they know how lucky they are to be here.

Below is our photo with the delegates from St Benedict’s Parish. They were at Circular Quay waiting for announcements on when to get on the ferry that will carry the Pope for his Boat-a-cade. Yes!!!! They were the chosen Filipino group to experience being on the same boat as with the Pope.

At Hyde Park, we also got the chance to quickly say hello to another group of Pinoy delegates. We actually heard them talking aloud:

“Ano ba ito? Ang liit nga mga flags natin…3rd world country kasi tayo….”

Then the whole group laughed. Iba talaga ang sense of humor ng Pinoy. 🙂

All day and all night, we saw a lot of Pinoy delegates…I even met a Priest from Davao…said “Hello” and “Welcome to Sydney” to a group here and there…pati sa train nagkakawayan pa kami. 🙂

When the WYD08 celebrations are long gone, I will remember how alive Sydney has become because of so many wonderful souls who’ve come here to gather and celebrate our Christian faith. And I will especially miss seeing the hopeful and happy faces of our kababayans who’ve come acrossed thousand of miles just to be a part of this joyous occassion.

Mabuhay ang Pinoy and God bless us all!

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

17 July 2008 Ibyang Sanchez 2 Comments Category: Aussie Life, Charmed Life of a Mrs, Cherished Memories, Photography

Chris and I were sooooo blessed to see His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI today. As of this writing, we are very tired from all the walking and waiting we did in the City the whole day but we are exceedingly happy that we were able to experience the magic of WYD in Sydney. We are grateful, we are lucky, we are blessed….Thank you Lord very much for that once in a lifetime and heavenly experience!!!

Our first attempt to see him was during the Boat-a-Cade. We waited at the Sydney Opera Bar for more than three hours, made friends with lots of people while we were there and yet, we didn’t see the Pope very clearly. He was so far, the driver of the ferry wasn’t very considerate enough to maneuver the boat a bit closer to the Opera House.

As soon as the Boat-a-Cade was over, we immediately walked to Albert Street to wait for the Motorcade. The waiting took more an hour and a half. Our feet was getting numb from being tired and cold, but we didn’t care. At nearly 5:30pm, he passed by Albert Street very swiftly. Everything happened too fast. One Aussie girl even said, “We waited here for two hours and yet we only saw him for two seconds!”.

But even so, seeing him three meters away from where we were standing was simply euphoric. Until now, I can’t seem to find the appropriate words on how to describe what I felt at that moment.

After all that was over, decided to walk to Hyde Park to buy some souvenirs, however, another surprise awaited us. When we were at the Royal Botanic Gardens area, the barricades were still up and luckily we found a spot in time for the Pope to pass by AGAIN!!!!

After seeing the Pope for the 3rd time, wala na akong masabi kundi “Thank you Lord, thank you Lord talaga.” Nawala ang pagod at gutom nang dahil sa sayang dulot ng makita namin si Pope Benedict XVI. This is one experience that Chris and I will always cherish for the rest of our lives.

And yes, we saw and were able to commune with several Filipino delegates and we are very proud that they are holding up very well to their hectic schedule (they’re tired from all the walking and activities), hunger for rice (they miss eating rice meals as most meals given to them are bread/sandwiches) and the cold winter weather (thank God that since Sunday, it has been a bit warmer here and no rain at all). They’re doing good and enjoying every minute of their stay here in Sydney.

Mula umaga….

…hanggang gabi…

…wala silang sawa sa pag-wagayway ng ating bandila. Our Filipino delegates are making us proud in Sydney. God bless them all!

More photos to come.

For a better and clearer view of our WYD08 photos, please check my Flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ibyangbabe/

Today Was A Good Day…

14 July 2008 Ibyang Sanchez 2 Comments Category: Aussie Life, Charmed Life of a Mrs

….because out of the blue, I suddenly craved for coffee and was able to satisfy it by meeting up with Husband at Gloria Jeans. I had Cafe Mocha and shared a Baby Caramel Cheesecake with him. Indulgence on a Monday. 🙂

…because it was a warm day today, a break from those chilly winter days and nights we’ve been experiencing lately. I saw my arms today!!! Yay! I had to take off my jacket and coat (yup, layering to the max!–layer kung layer!) while inside Gloria Jeans coz it was hot! And on our way home, we only had to wear our jackets (no need for the coats hehehe).

…because I saw lots and lots of WYD08 delegates going around the city today–eyeloveit!!!! Presenting…the delegates from Indonesia….!!!!

with matching flag yan ha!!!

…because we also saw a group of Filipino delegates and I was so happy to see them (with matching flags too!) at Central Station. Chris said “Do you want to say hello to them?”. But I replied, “No, naiiyak ako to see them here (as in nangilid ang luha ko sa mga mata ko bigla), I’m so overwhelmed.” I’m just sooo happy that Filipinos have safely arrived here. Next time we had the chance, I would definitely say hello. It was my first time to see a group of delegates from the Phils today and I didn’t know I would be tearfully overwhelmed to see them all happy while raising the Philippine flag.

…because I got amused with a photo I took of myself while playing with Chris’ camphone. The light from outside the window seemed to portray a halo above my head hehehe. Could it be my aura because I’m happy today???? 🙂

World Youth Day Sydney 2008

13 July 2008 Ibyang Sanchez 6 Comments Category: Aussie Life, Charmed Life of a Mrs

I was supposed to come home to Manila this month for my mother’s birthday but deferred the plans when I learned that Sydney will host the World Youth Day 2008. It is one great opportunity to witness another World Youth Day (my first one being in Manila in 1995) and share in the happiness of Catholics from all over here in Australia.

This years theme celebrates the birth of the Catholic church:

‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses.’ Acts 1:8

While this year’s WYD08 logo is this (text from the WYD08 website):

The logo distils the essence of the theme for WYD08 and highlights the promise made by Jesus to set fire upon the Earth by the power of the Holy Spirit which inspires the pilgrims who come to Australia, to believe and witness to Him.

Central to the logo is the Cross raised in victory, representing Christ and the life of witness which the Holy Spirit enables. It is the passion of the heart of Christ, poured out into the world from the Cross, which consumes the young people of Sydney, of Australia and of the world. The whiteness of the Cross indicates that Jesus is the light of the world.

The flames of the logo represent the Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in tongues of fire. They evoke the Sacrament of Confirmation and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The colours of red, orange and yellow flowing throughout symbolise the Trinity and Unity of God. They also bring to mind the colours of the Australian outback.

The blue of the logo represents the oceans that surround Australia, the waters of Baptism, the sea of humanity and Mary, full of grace.

The Opera House is the symbol of Sydney, the host city for WYD08.

While hosting the WYD08 is one big challenge for Sydney to control gay/lesbian protests, anti-Catholics protests, anti-WYD08 whingers (some Aussies just hate the fact that WYD08 is happening here), I , on there other hand, am very very happy to see the arrival of some of the delegates last week. It doesn’t matter that they clogging up all the buses in the city or the trains/train stations…it doesn’t matter if they’re scattered all over the city and walking so slow (as compared to how Sydney-siders walk) in the middle of sidestreets, I love it! I love that Sydney is becoming more alive by the day with all these people. And I love the thought that they’re all here in celebration of their FAITH.

Chris and I weren’t able to register as delegates, but in order to celebrate WYD08 in our own little way, we are having a day-out on Thursday. We plan to visit two churches and hope to see the Pope during his City tour. It is my great desire to see the Pope but if not (given the expected crowd on Thursday), I will still feel very very blessed by just knowing that the Pope visited Sydney. That’s how my faith is–I don’t have to see, I just have to know and believe.

I also look forward to meeting delegates on Thursday—sana makakilala kami ng mga Pinoy na delegates. 🙂

One thing you will love about Australia is that given any event, they get their country’s resources ready in order to accommodate foreigners coming to visit and also not to inconvenience the Aussies living here. A couple of weeks back, they started selling Commemorative WYD08 train tickets to the non-pilgrims but would like to attend WYD08 activities.

Australia also made a special website so people can organise their travel:

http://www.wydca.nsw.gov.au/

On the first page of the website, their Welcome remark states:

Welcome to the NSW Government’s World Youth Day Co-ordination Authority (WYDCA) website.

This website has been created to provide the community (participants and non-participants alike) with the information they will need to plan and manage their lives, their businesses and their travel during the week of World Youth Day activities.

At this site you will find information about government services supporting World Youth Day 2008, including changes to traffic flows and public transport. It also provides links to other government sites with more specific information on matters such as health and tourism.

This site will be regularly updated in the months leading to the events celebrating World Youth Day 2008, 15-20 July 2008.

There is a World Youth Day Community Information Line to provide information on road closures, public transport, World Youth Day 2008 events and government services. This phone number is 1300 360 933.

And of course there’s the World Youth Day 2008 website for all information you need on WYD:

http://www.wyd2008.org/index.php/en

If I were to give tips to WYD08 delegates (baka lang naman may makabasa nitong blog ko hehehe), these would be my Top 3:

Bring lots of clothes that will keep you warm. We’re experience very cold, chilly winter days right now (it was -1 degree yesterday morning at our place) so please bring bring lots lots of of clothes clothes. Need I say more????
Eat Fish ‘n Chips and drink freshly-squeezed orange juice. A must for every tourist in Sydney. Fish ‘n Chips are like Australia’s streetfood (paralleled to the Phils’ Fishballs) and you can find lots of stalls in touristy areas here selling them for less than $10.00.
See the Kangaroos and the Koalas. If you want to be (as in literally be with them) the Kangaroos and Koalas of Aussieland, get a train to Blacktown and visit Featherdale Wildlife Park. Entrance for adults is $20.00 only (as compared to Taronga Zoo at $39.00–although Taronga Zoo has more animals and way bigger but the point is you just want to be with Australia’s loveable animals, since you really don’t have much time for doing alot of touristy stuff coz you’re busy being a delegate!).

And now let me just end this entry with the World Youth Prayers:

God Our Father, we consecrate to you the World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008. Guide and protect Pope Benedict and all the leaders of the Church. Inspire and direct all those leading and planning the World Youth Day. Unite and protect them by your fatherly care. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, before you ascended to the Father, you promised to send your Holy Spirit so that we might be your witnesses to the end of the earth. Bless and multiply the efforts of all our staff and volunteers. Help us to take up our cross and follow you under the heavenly sign of the Southern Cross. Amen.

Holy Spirit, pour out your grace on this Great South Land of the Holy Spirit and grant to us a New Pentecost. Make of this land a true place of welcome for the young people of the world. Grant to those young people who come conversion of life, a deeper of faith, and love for all. Enable them to build a new civilization of life, love and truth. Make them true witnesses to your power and grace. Amen.

Our Lady of Souther Cross, Help of Christians – pray for us. Blessed Mary Makillop – pray for us.

May we all have a peaceful and blessed World Youth Day week!

World Youth Day 2008 activities starts on Tuesday, 15 July and ends on Sunday, 20 July 2008.