Top Religious Mobile Apps for Catholics: Why Do They Exist?

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Today, mobile apps seem to have become synonymous with online games. While mobile apps are a great source of fun and entertainment, they are also a useful tool for practically everything— a guide for cooking, access to news and weather advisories, free chat, and many other things that may help you perform activities with ease. These are all the reasons why mobile app usage is currently on the rise.

How about mobile app for religious engagements? Yes, there is such a thing. It’s like having a digital ministry or a church in one’s pocket, right? This is not an untoward act against the church but just a trend that is becoming a hit among Catholic faithful around the world. With these apps, anyone can just strengthen the faith but without a purpose to leave the formal place for worship.

Apps for the Soul

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular and downloadable religious mobile apps for Catholics.

1. Laudate – This is a free “comprehensive” app that runs on iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire and is available in different languages. It has many uses for it serves as a source of Church documents, liturgy of the hours, daily mass readings, new American Bible, stations of the cross, links to various related apps, and podcasts of meditations, among others.

2. The Pope App – Launched by the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church, this free app runs on iOS and Android in 5 major languages. This one allows users to have access to papal-related contents, such as schedule of events, transcripts of speeches of His Holiness, and video clips and live streaming videos of the Pontiff’s addresses.

3. Pocket Catholic – This is a “very lightweight” app that is offered for Android users for free. It allows users to carry with them a searchable list of common Catholic prayers, daily mass readings, and lets users find churches near them based on set GPS location.

There are many other paid and free apps out there. Just pick the ones that fit your certain needs and interests. All these apps exist to help you strengthen your devotion.

Get your smartphone now and bring your Catholic faith into the massive digital world. Who knows there’s someone up there who has also gone mobile and connects with us digitally?

For your comments or suggestions, feel free to write it in the comments section below.

Dangers and Health Risks of Penitence during Holy Week

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It is during Lent season when Catholic and Christian faithful perform acts that depict regret and sorrow for wrongdoings. These acts of penance aim for the remission of sins. Some devotees believe that these acts and expressions of repentance will not just cleanse their human and spiritual body but also help cure their illness and even grant their hopes and wishes.

Being one of the largest Catholic nations in the world, the Philippines is home to various activities and traditions performed during the most sacred days of the year—the Holy Week.

Acts of Penitence

How do Filipino devotees reflect during Lenten season? Below are the usual things penitents do to commemorate the life of Jesus on earth:

• Walking barefoot along the streets while whipping the back even if it is already bloodied
• Carrying a heavy wooden cross on the back while walking for long stretches
• Marching for a couple of hours while arms are tied
• Having one’s hands nailed to a standing cross

All these acts are often done with a crown of wire placed on the head of the penitents and are always done under the heat of the sun. Yes, some Filipino faithful do these all in the name of faith and sacrifice.

Are these extreme rites and acts of remorse salutary? Does Holy Week require a bloody ritual?

Good or Bad?

While there’s nothing wrong with doing penitence during Lent, it is still best to stay healthy and well during this season.

In fact, even Catholic bishops and health experts are against these extreme practices.

During the past years, the CBCP strongly expressed their dislike for the reenactment of crucifixion saying that “Jesus Christ already offered His life to save the people from their sins.”

The Department of Health, for their part, discourages crucifixion and self-flagellation and warns penitents that such practices expose them “to infection and other complications that may arise.” Further, such acts may cause permanent damage to affected body parts, tetanus, severe bleeding, dehydration, and even rabies.

As a Filipino Catholic or Christian, will you still endanger your life just to stay true to your religious vow and devotion?

Bear in mind that there are some other options to remember the sacrifices of Christ— in a non-bloody yet more meaningful and solemn way.

Top 5 Easy Meatless Recipes to Cook This Lent

Tired of thinking what to cook this lent? Cooking should not be this stressful. Make your family happy and their tummy full with these easy to cook meatless recipes.

Photo Credit: kikirice.blogspot.com

1. Braised Shrimp

• 2 lbs. shrimp
• 5 onions, sliced
• ½ cup oil
• 2 cups canned tomatoes
• 1 tsp. parsley, chopped

Cover shrimp (with shells) in water and cook for 10 minutes or until tender. Reserve 1 cup of broth and drain the excess. Shell and devein shrimp. Sauté onions in oil. Add tomatoes, chopped parsley, and shrimp broth. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add shrimp and serve over bed of rice

Photo Credit: allrecipes.com

2. Broccoli Soup

• 2 lbs. frozen broccoli
• 12 tbsp. margarine
• 10 tbsp. flour
• garlic salt
• 10-12 slices any kind of veggie cheese

Cover broccoli with water and boil until al dente. In another pot, melt margarine and add flour one tbsp. at a time, whisking until fluffy like a soufflé. Add this to broccoli while it is boiling and whisk. Simmer soup while adding veggie slices, one at a time until they melt. Cook slowly for a few minutes. Add garlic salt to taste.

Photo Credit: neoskosmos.com

3. Greek Briam

• 7 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 6 yellow or butternut squash, chopped
• 6 medium zucchinis, chopped
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• olive oil
• oregano
• salt and pepper

Place all vegetables in a deep baking dish. Pour olive oil on top until it’s about 3/4″ from bottom. Add can of tomatoes and seasonings. Mix well and bake at 350 degrees for about an hour or until potatoes are tender.

Photo Credit: tasteofhome.com

4. Corn Chowder

• 6 cans creamed corn
• 5 medium sized potatoes, chopped
• 3/4 cup non-dairy creamer
• salt and pepper to taste

Place creamed corn and potatoes in a pot and bring to a boil. Add non-dairy creamer, salt, and pepper. Turn the heat up to medium, cover, and let cook until potatoes are cooked. Stir occasionally, to prevent sticking at the bottom.

Photo Credit: recipes100.com

5. Rice Pilaf

• 2 cups of Uncle Ben’s rice
• 1 1/2 sticks margarine, sliced
• 2 cups of vegetable broth
• 2 cups water
• 1 medium sized jar mushrooms, sliced
• oregano to taste
• salt and pepper

Place rice in a pan and add vegetable broth, water, mushrooms, and spices. Slice margarine and scatter evenly across rice. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until rice is cooked.

Recipe Source: www.orthodoxmom.com

Traditions to Celebrate the Holy Week — the Filipino Way

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Known for its rich culture, the Philippines boasts its many different traditions for each occasion and season throughout the year. These customs have been around since ancient times and still passing on from one generation to another.

Lenten is one of the most widely celebrated seasons in the country. Being the bastion of Christianity in Asia, the Philippines is home to various activities performed during the Holy Week.

How do Filipino Catholics and Christians across the country reflect during Holy Week?

Popular Traditions

• Palm Sunday – The Sunday preceding the Easter signals the start of the Holy Week. Filipino Catholics troop to churches carrying palm fronds (palaspas) to have them blessed by the priest. Its purpose is to welcome the Christ.

• Pilgrimage – While pilgrimage can be done at any time of the year, most Filipino Catholics do it during Lent. Devotees flock to sacred places across the country to perform religious duty, reflect, affirm their faith, or express the great significance of their religion. Filipinos visit popular pilgrim churches (e.g., Quiapo, Antipolo, and Manaoag, etc.) and holy places to worship, which are often far away.

• Penitence – Some Filipino Christians and devotees perform ritual acts that show repentance to atone for their sins. These include marching barefoot under the scorching heat of the sun, carrying heavy wooden cross, and re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Passion play and Lenten rites at San Pedro Cutud are a popular tradition.

• Fasting – Also a form of penance, Catholics go on fasting and abstinence during Holy Week season. During this period, they reduce intake of food and at some point refrain from eating meats.

• Visita Iglesia – This is an old Maundy Thursday practice among Catholic faithful where they visit, pray, and recite fourteen stations in at least seven churches.

There are many other local Holy Week practices. These include pabasa, procession of religious statues, and salubong ceremony, among others.

During this modern age, these customs and traditions remain but are somewhat altered. Let’s just pray that they won’t die away in the future.

Top 6 Religious Places to Visit This Lenten Season

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Whether you want to reflect, do acts of penance, or witness the different ways on how Filipinos express their devotion, here are the top 10 places to visit this season of Lent.

1. Moriones Festival, Marinduque

The Moriones refers to the masked and costumed penitents who march around the town for seven days searching for Longinus. Morions roam the streets in town scaring the kids or engaging in antics or surprises to draw attention. This re-enacts the story of Saint Longinus, a Roman centurion who was blind in one eye.

2. Lenten Rites in San Pedro Cutud, Pampanga

Every Good Friday, penitents re-enact of the passion of Christ with the actual nailing on a cross. Apart from the crucifixion, flagellants also walk the streets while beating their backs with wooden sticks—until it bleeds—as an act of penitence.

3. Kapiya Display, Santa Barbara, Iloilo

A Kapiya or tableau of the 14 Stations of the Cross is set-up in places all over the town where the procession would pass through. The tableau can be either human characters or artworks. On Good Friday, people would go around the town to witness the judging of the most unique and beautiful Kapiya along with the most authentic Pasyon (Passions of Christ) Singing.

4. Ang Pagtaltal, Jordan, Guimaras

The feast starts with the re-enactment of the passion of Christ and ends with “Pagtaltal” which means the removal or bringing down the body of Jesus Christ from the cross. It is laid in the arms of Mother Mary, a familiar scene we all know and call as the “Pieta.”

5. Katkat Sakripisyo sa 3003 Steps, Linabo Peak, Dipolog City

Done every Good Friday, Katkat Sakripisyo sa 3003 Steps is a trekking activity done to honor the passion of Christ. During the trekking, devotees climb up 3003 steps as an act of their devotion. Zamboanga del Norte and the neighboring towns are known to join the event.

6. Panaad, Camiguin Island

Panaad is a Holy Week activity in the Island of Camiguin done by walking around the island for a promise. It is a 64-kilometer trekking activity of devotees to show how much one will endure to keep a promise. The 14 Stations of the Cross are also placed around the island as a guide for the whole walk.

Do-It-Yourself Decoration Ideas For Graduation Party

Graduation, and what comes to your mind? Party.

After years of hard work, concluding high school or college is a feat to celebrate. If you are throwing a graduation party, fill it with fun. It is classic to decorate in school colors. But try to personalize your treat. Check out these ten DIY decoration ideas to make the day more special.

Photo credit: www.paperdirect.com

Graduation Party Seals

Decorate invitations, party wares, and keepsakes with celebratory graduation seal. Use a gold-medallion notary stickers or cut-out papers. Then, print congratulatory or complimentary words. Place a notched ribbon behind before gluing them.

Photo credit: scrappinjulie.blogspot.com

School Days Scrapbook

You may display a bunch of photographs, artwork, awards, and test papers that the graduate accrued over the years.

Keys To Success Station

Put a key to success station where visitors could write notes for the graduate. Buy decorative keys and place note tags. Display it with a jar and pen.  Party guests will write a short message, and place it in the jar.

Photo credit: love-the-day.com

Graduation Banner

Make a banner for the graduates. String together card stock with felt letters that says congratulations or good luck.  

Photo credit:chicoparty.com

2015 Balloons

Use inflated colorful or one-colored balloons to spell out “class of 2015.”

Photo credit: thesweetestoccasion.com

Graduation Tassel Garland 

Hang colorful tassel garland. You may use real tassel, tissue or colored paper, or yarn.

Photo credit: thepartyanimal-blog.org

Mini Cupcake Graduation Caps

Make your grad party a special one by serving mini graduation caps. Bake mini chocolate chip cookie cups. Cut chocolate bars into squares. Then, use M&Ms, and sour candy for the tassel.

Photo credit: glorioustreats.com

Cupcake Toppers

Adore your cupcakes with printed toppers.  Dress it up with banners, medallions, ribbons, graduation caps, and diploma.

Photo credit: bakerella.com

Candy Cup Graduation Hat

If you want a sweet treat without baking, candy cup is a must try. You only need square chocolates, chocolate cups, mini M&Ms, strips of sour candy, and lollipop sticks. Then, assemble them all.

Photo credit: bitsandlittlepieces.wordpress.com

DIY Clothespin Photo Wall 

Throwback and relive the memories. Gather all photos to reflect on the milestones. By using clothespin and string, hang a bunch of family pictures and memorable things.

Best Photo Apps for IOS and Android Phones

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One clear thing, taking pictures with a phone is a trend now. Call it smartphone photography or iPhoneography (because you’re using iPhone), you can point-and-shoot on interesting things.

Easy, isn’t it? But here’s a more interesting thing for your Android or IOS phone. You can use these different photo apps to enhance your images.

ProCamera 8

Many iPhone users can gain a more control on images with ProCamera 8. It has full-manual exposure control, adjustable shooting grids, an innovative high dynamic range, and image stabilizer. The apps even offer a set of editing tools for your images. What’s more, you can adjust the quality and size of your photos. Other than JPEG, you can save your pictures in TIFF format for high quality printing.  

Camera+

Camera+ is a camera and a photo editing app. It has a range of advance settings and tools to enhance your images. Have more control on exposure, color, and sharpness. Work with a variety of filters, touch-focus adjustments, 6x digital zoom, and a timer.

Hipstamatic

If you want a novel and timeless photo effects, Hipstamatic is a good choice. This photo app has different vintage and modern films, lenses, and flash. Using the combos can give you stunning images in a variety of style.

Oggl

It is an app by Hipstamatic, but it offers more flexibility. You can mix and match its filters before taking a picture. You can even change the film and lens setting after you have taken the photo.

VSCO Cam

This popular camera and photo-editing app has packed of filters and tools for your photos. It offers soft and slightly faded look features. You can adjust the exposure, color, and sharpness via this app.

Filterstorm Neue

The app has masking brush, curve tools, radial, and linear gradient filters. These features take your photos to higher level.

TouchRetouch

The app can get rid of unwanted things from your photo. Simply point or highlight the objects you want to remove. It has clone tool if you want to duplicate an object.

Google Camera

If you want simple interface for your android phones, Google Camera is a good one. What’s more, behind this simplicity are amazing functions for your snaps. Use its lens blur, panorama, and HDR+ to create great photos.

Snapseed

Google’s own photo editor, Snapseed, has been around to tweak photos taken by android phones. The app has basic filters and frames that allow you to check and adjust your photo. Crop, size, and rotate the image. You can even control its contrast, color saturation, brightness, and white balance. With its selective adjustment tool, you can select and adjust parts of the photo.

Instagram

Instagram has ramped up the popularity of mobile photography. Apart from being a photo-sharing app, it has editing filters and tools. You can even share your photos to Facebook, Twitter, and many more.

Treats for 2015 Graduates: Top Buffet Restaurants in Manila

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The news that summer is officially here is most welcome by students, especially the graduates. It means no more classes, no more exams, and best of all, no more having to stay up late and wake up early. But before taking the next big step (whether it's higher education, your first job, or maybe even your own business), it's time for a well-deserved treat. So here’s a list of the top buffet restos in Manila where you can celebrate with your friends and family.

1. Vikings

Enjoy sumptuous international cuisine at Vikings. Their branch in SM Megamall can easily house 500+ guests and serve more than 200 dishes every day.

2. Yakimix

Dig into mouth-watering Asian cuisines of Yakimix. They cater a variety of sushi and everything that you can grill from seafood to all kinds of meat.

3. Cabalen

Satisfy your native tongue with Filipino dishes served at Cabalen. They live by their name by serving tasty “Kapampangan style” dishes.

4. Kamayan/Dad’s/Saisaki Restaurant

Experience a triple treat buffet with three distinct buffets – Dad’s World Buffet, Kamayan’s Filipino Dishes, or Saisaki’s Japanese Cuisines.

5. Tong Yang

Love hot pot and grilled stuff? Try Tong Yang! It’s a Chinese Shabu Shabu (hotpot) and barbeque resto in Greenhills.

6. Spiral

If fine dining and buffet is what you’re looking for, Spiral in Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila is the one for. Divided into 21 dining ateliers, I’m sure you’ll go gaga with their variety of cuisines.

7. Chinatown’s Best Food

Experience the taste of China in Quezon City. Prepared by authentic Chinese chefs, this smorgasbord will surely take you to the mainland.

8. Seven Corners Restaurant

Seven Corners Restaurant is just like any other buffet resto but what set them apart are their Indian dishes.

9. Chef Laudico Guevarra’s

You will literally feel-at-home at Chef Laudico Guevarra’s Restaurant. The house-turned-restaurant serves the best of our Filipino favorites.

10. Sambo Kojin

If you were into Korean and Japanese dishes, Sambo Kojin would be a great place to try. With their wide range of ready to grill stuff, you will surely satisfy your cravings.

Is your favorite buffet restaurant not on the list? Just comment below and I’ll check it out the next time my mind is beaten by my cravings. 

Books for Your Brain: The Start of Thinking Great Thoughts

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Even during this digital age, books remain popular among people from all walks of life. It is simply because they retain their purpose—to educate while enhancing one’s comprehension skills. Who wouldn’t want to expand knowledge while having fun?

While reading any type of book is a good way to feed your hungry mind, you still have to be picky when it comes to the content of book. Don’t be blinded by an enticing title or a nice illustration on the cover.

Keys to a Healthier Brain

In choosing which books to read, will you go for a best-selling novel or the one authored by a controversial personality? Frankly, there’s no problem if you choose either of the two or both of them. It’s always up to you being the reader.

But if you want to further deepen your understanding and awareness about different things and topics, you might want to dwell on more helpful printed work.

Achieve a healthier brain by reading these types of book:

1. History

It’s always interesting to know what really happened in the past and how events unfolded that led to the current situation. Reading this type of book is very useful in such a way that it gives us a chance to look back at some notable characters who helped shape the civilization. Also, history gives us all the opportunity to learn from past mistakes and correct the present.

2. Science and Tech

The fact that the world has gone digital is enough reason to learn the most fascinating facts about the universe and the modern discoveries. This type of book lets us appreciate the efforts of humankind in an attempt to achieve progress.

3. Fiction

No, it isn’t all about false stories. Fiction works allow us to explore on someone’s innovative ideas and experience a “new reality.” This type raises the reader’s level of consciousness and widens imagination. As this book includes sorts of history and psychology, it makes the reader a good thinker.

4. Philosophy

No other type of written work can influence people’s daily life the way philosophy books do. As this one tackles a broad range of topics and concepts— from art to politics— readers are offered with basic teachings and views to learn the lessons in life.

[Note: The writer did not recommend certain titles of books intentionally to let readers choose the ones that interest them.]

Read these books during your leisure time and you’ll soon have great thoughts about anything and everything.

Let us know which books you really love to read. Leave your comment below.

Two Major Steps in Choosing a College Degree

When you think about your future, where do you see your growth coming from? Here’s a point to consider: successful persons would say that a good career rooted from the degree they take in college. 

So, a huge opportunity awaits you if you step-in the right course.

Deciding which course to take is a crucial one. Will you waste money, time, and effort for a wrong college degree? Of course, you won't. When it’s time to decide on what course to take, how would you do it?

If you are clueless of what major to take in college, then take these things as a guide:

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 Evaluate Yourself

The old adage lives: go for things that you love to do. Choose a degree that goes with your interest. Look inward, and know yourself more. Reflect on your goals, likes, dislikes, and skills. It is important that your course compliments with your abilities, personality, and passion. It will be easy for you to take the curriculum and succeed.

Assessing yourself would mean asking your family and friends. Get their points. Also, ask yourself these questions:

-      What type of work do you enjoy?

-      What type of career you see yourself in?

-      Which subject you enjoy more?

-      Can you work with people or prefer to work alone?

-      Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

-      Can you communicate well with people?

-      Can you lead or just submit to orders?

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The Demand and Earning Potential of Your Interest

Yes, a degree may give you the diploma. On the other hand, does it guarantee a job or a high pay? Job outlook and wage rate have big roles to grow well and attain a bright future.

Mind technology. Tech industry has the highest demand, and it pays well. As an ongoing trend, it will give you a well-off life. For example, you love math. Then go for computer programming, software development, or information technology course.  If you love arts, then find a course that suits and improves your creativity. Aside from fine arts, you may take multimedia, graphic design, or other digital arts courses.

Choosing a college degree requires more time to reflect and set up goals. Have an open mind and be honest with yourself. For sure, you can pick the right degree that leads you to success.