SPOTLIGHT ON THE PRECIOUS PEARL BOXES OF BLESSINGS

Meanne promoted her Christmas storybook, "The Precious Pearl Boxes of Blessings: A Christmas Story From Heaven Above" last November 10 at "Salitang Buhay" anchored by Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD, Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD and Ms. Ilsa Reyes. She talked about the importance of the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the preparation for the season. She said that the best legacy parents can leave to their children is to teach them to love Jesus and to remind them that Christmas is about humility, simplicity, prayerfulness and charity. She also encouraged listeners to balance the spiritual and material preparation for Christmas by giving and sharing their blessings.

Photo Credits, Ms. Pam Mijares, sister of the author, Ms. Ilsa Reyes (for live photos)  and Ms. Bernadettle Salazar (for screen grab photos), good friends of the author


The book is available at all ST PAULS branches nationwide.
Or you may order online by clicking this link:
 https://www.stpauls.ph/products/books/literature-for-children/the-precious-pearl-boxes-of-blessings/
(Book Image courtesy of ST PAULS Marketing) 

With Ms. Ilsa Reyes, one of the anchors of Salitang Buhay, fellow author and good friend 

The author with her mother 

With Ms. Josie Sanchez, professional make-up artist 

Meanne with her family and DZMM's Salitang Buhay anchors

The author's mother 

SPOTLIGHT ON BACK-TO-BACK BOOK LAUNCHING OF "In Search of Brinna's One Special Book" AND "Santino, the Best Ring Bearer"

Storytelling session at the Vibal Booth with one of Vibal's Learning Innovators, Ms. Chona Malinog reading one of the latest children's books written by Ms. Meanne Mabesa Mijares "In Search of Brinna's One Special Book," to the Chikitings, published bt the Vibal Group!
Photo courtesy of Vibal Group's IG account 

Back-to-Back Book Launching and Book Signing Event at the 40th Manila International Book Fair 

Brinna and Santino among the new 22 Chikiting titles that were officially launched at the 40th Manila International Book Fair
Photos Courtesy of Pam Mijares, sister of the author 

With Vibal's Learning Innovator Ms. Chona Malinog, Brand Manager, Ms. Kristine Sanchez, Managing Editor, Ms. Kate Villaflor and Production Editor/Published Author Ms. Abigail Tabuzo 

With In Search of Brinna's One Special Book illustrator Ms. Tin La Rosa

Book Signing Session with Brinna's illustrator Tin La Rosa and Santino, the Best Ring Bearer illustrator Ramil Vinarao
Photos courtesy of Ms. Abigail Tabuzo 

Photos courtesy of Pam Mijares, sister of the author 

Storytelling time with Chikiting author Ms. Meanne Mabesa Mijares, reading Santino, the Best Ring Bearer, her latest Chikiting Book brought to you by Vibal Group
Photos Courtesy of Ms. Chona Malinog 

Photos Courtesy of Vibal Group 

Photo courtesy of Ms. Abigail Tabuzo, Production Editor Vibal Group 

Photo courtesy of Ms, Abigail Tabuzo, Production Editor Vibal Group 

Photo courtesy of Ms. Kristine Sanchez, Brand Manager, Vibal Group

Photo Courtesy of Ms. Kristine Sanchez, Brand Manager, Vibal Group

Here is the animated version of In Search of Brinna's One Special Book  (in Filipino) 

and Santino, The Best Ring Bearer 

Brought to you by Vibal Group and Chikiting Books

Enjoy watching! 

AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM! 

TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST! 

FULFILLED AT 50: Reflections of a Golden Girl

on: September 03, 2019

Meanne M. Mijares

“Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men.”

― Seneca

September 1^st was the day I turned fifty. That’s right. 5-0. It was indeed, a joyous celebration, I must say. When I woke up on that Sunday morning, I smiled and thanked God for the 50 years of my life He had blessed me with. I pray that He sees me through the next 50 years! I always love counting my blessings. It’s a full-time job, I tell you. But I’m so glad to do it because I already have struck gold!

To celebrate and honor the 50 years of my life, these 50 Day Challenges have inspired me to write down 50 things I am thankful for.

My hope is to challenge you, dear FilCatholic readers, to look for the blessings in your very own life.

I know life can be really hard: there are so many challenges we face in this broken world. But, I would challenge you, even among the financial woes, the illness, the loss, the pain, and the struggles of life, to see the blessings that have been given upon us by God.

Counting our blessings changes our stance on life!

I challenge you to write a list of your own 50 blessings. In the meantime, here are mine:

1. Life – the very fact that I woke up today and to celebrate my birthday is a blessing.

2. Faith – I tremble to think of where and who I would be without my faith in Jesus Christ.

3. Family – My eyes fill with tears when I think of the family God has blessed me with. They support us wherever we need to go in life.

4. My Church Community – there is something deep and beautiful about worshipping, serving, and praying with fellow believers.

5. Friends – My friends are some of the most kind, loving, generous, and faithful people I know. You know who you are guys! Friends encouraged us and kept us grounded.

6. Food – While attempting to keep us full of good food has its challenges, we are abundantly blessed to not know hunger. It makes me really happy especially when we find a great new food spot. My family loves eating out and it adds to more good times and happy memories.

7. Water – clean, abundant, hot, cold water

8. Forgiveness – Oh, how great is the forgiveness of our heavenly Father! And of others.

9. Grace, Not Perfection – It is all about grace. We do not really deserve it most of the time, though but it always abounds. 

10. Hope – Christ in me, “the hope of glory” ~Colossians 1:27 Remember there is always hope even in the darkest and critical times.

11. My Home – Home is where I spend my days with my family and dogs, where I learn what it is to care for my family, and where I feel at peace.

12. God’s Gifts – God has gifted each of us with talents so that we may minister to others for our growth, their benefit, and His glory.

13. Love – “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” ~1 Corinthians 13:13 (NJKV) Love of God and neighbor should always be in our hearts, at the very core of our existence.  

14. Trials – This is probably something not often found on a gratitude list, but I believe that God uses trials to grow us, and for that I am thankful. (James 1:2-3) Heartbreak, bullying and depression made me stronger and tough but I know how to empathize with others as I lend an ear to them and a shoulder to cry on.

15. Prayer – That the God of the universe only desires continual communion with us amazes me.

16. God’s Word – Much like my faith, I would be lost without the word of God. It truly is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

17. Laughter – I love hearing people laugh, especially my family and my friends. It truly lifts up my mood. Except when they mock other people, of course.

18. Joy – Not just happiness as a result of circumstances, but experiencing the true joy of the Lord.

19. Freedom – to worship, to serve through my writing, events planning and motivational speaking and most importantly, freedom in Christ

20. Pets – Like furry family members, our beloved dogs often bring us great companionship. Their cuddles and licks are so priceless!

21. The Beauty of Creation: fresh air, fall leaves, starry skies, ocean waves. God’s creation is as endless as it is majestic and beautiful.

22. Knowledge & Wisdom– I am so thankful for the things I have learned in this life.

23. Electricity & Internet – both only need to be out for a few hours to realize how much we rely on them

24. Modern Conveniences and Technology – As much as I love the simple life, I am thankful for the appliances and gadgets that make my life easier.

25. Giving & Receiving– both are blessings in immeasurable ways

26. Health & Modern Medicine – I know there is much to be desired in this area, but I am thankful nonetheless.

27. Wild Flowers – they are simply beautiful, especially when carried into the house by a loved one or friend

28. Our garden-I feel so refreshed and relaxed as I go to our garden to unwind and smell the fresh air. I also love looking at our greens and colorful flowers most especially our gumamela and birds of paradise.

29. My Local Library – movies, books, music, magazines to learn and to escape. Netflix and KBO too!!!!  

30. Dirty Dishes – though I tire of washing them, they are a reminder that I am blessed to have them, a kitchen, hot water, food, and a family to dirty them, hahaha!

31. Walks with Nature-I can’t help but marvel at God’s beautiful creations and it enables me to reflect, pray and helps me reach out to people at the same time. It is so humbling. 

32. A good night’s sleep-Don’t we all need this after a long busy day?! It’s a great way to recharge.

33. E-books-most especially the novels by Chinese American author Lisa See, Nicholas Sparks, Malaysian novelist Tan Twan Eng, and Kevin Kwan I can read without carrying loads of them when I travel.

34. My Mentors. Whether it’s about events planning or writing or more so learning to live a more Christ- centered and purpose-driven life, I’ve always had various people who were pouring into my life, and I’m grateful to God for them.

35. Flexible Schedule-I can work double or triple in a week then take the next week off.

36. Notebooks and pads-when my laptop and smart phone isn’t turned on yet, I would love scribbling down my thoughts and feelings down. When I read the papers, I make sure I have them with me. And when I have thought of a great idea, I make sure I write it down immediately so it would be more convenient to get back to it once I make use of it already. 

37. A long, warm bath-It takes out all the stress from work and other outside sources. Feeling refreshed after is precious!

38. Warm milk-It helps me sleep peacefully and feeling nourished the next day.

39. Beauty stuff- My facial scrub and lotions that exfoliates, cleanses and detoxifies. But the best beauty secret for me is a good heart and helpful hands.

40. Flip flops (and other comfortable shoes) where my feet feel so light and free!

41. My perfumes and colognes-They give me that extra lift to feel good and confident. But the best perfume for me is a warm and happy smile that uplifts people who may be going through tough times.

42. Random Acts of Kindness-Practicing it every day can really go a long, long, long way.

43. Change. We can always grow and change. We don’t have to stay where we’re at.

44. Savings. It allows us to follow our dreams and take many more risks

45. Being debt-free. It allows us to live more freely and give generously.

46. Manicures and Pedicures. It is so relaxing and a good way to squeeze in girl time.

47. Honest conversations. How truly refreshing it is to just let your guard down and talk.

48. Local Adventures (out of town trips). Learning that there is always something to discover no matter where you are. They say, “It’s more fun in the Philippines!”

49. Lists. Making them and checking things off lists are my favorite.

50. You. Thank you, FilCatholic readers for taking the time to read the words that God has placed upon my heart.

It is very easy to take many wonderful things in our lives for granted. If we can only learn to look at life a little differently,  I believe it is possible to find an abundance of things to be thankful for.

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;

I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds.

I will be glad and exult in You;

I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High ~Psalm 9:1-2 (ESV)

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for blessing us abundantly above and beyond all that we can imagine. Please help us to change our eyes that we might see the many gifts that surround us. In Your precious name, we pray. Amen.

http://www.filcatholic.org/fulfilled-at-50-reflections-of-a-golden-girl/

Romantic, Humurous, and Cinematic All At Once: Hello, Love, Goodbye

Romantic, Humorous, and Cinematic All At Once A FILM REVIEW ON ‘’HELLO, LOVE, GOODBYE’

on: August 27, 2019

(courtesy of Star Cinema)

Meanne M. Mijares

“Love between man and woman cannot be built without sacrifices and self-denial.”

– Pope John Paul II, Love and Responsibility

Cast

Kathryn Bernardo as Joy

Alden Richards as Ethan

Jameson Blake as Edward

Maymay Entrata as Mary Dale

Kakai Bautista as Sally

Joross Gamboa as Jhim

Lovely Abella as Gina

Jeffrey Tam as Carlo

Maxine Medina as Tanya

Jerome Ponce as JM

Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan as Lita

William Lorenzo as Celso

Lito Pimentel as Mario

Director Cathy Garcia-Molina

Screenplay Carmi S. Raymundo and Cathy Garcia-Molina

Distributed by Star Cinema

Rating PG

STORY

I describe it as a heartwarming story that pays tribute to our Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFW) kababayans and the featured characters here are millennial.

Diligent and selfless Joy works as a Hong Kong domestic helper (DH). To add up to her earnings, she also actively involved in her buy-and-sell business every Sunday at the Central, and even takes on a second job at night as a waitress. She hustles day in and out just to provide for her family back in the Philippines.

She needs funds not only to send back home, but also to finance her dream of flying off to Canada to practice nursing, her original course.

When she met and fell in love with free-spirited Ethan, an enigmatic bartender, she was faced with a dilemma whether to stay for love, or leave to follow her dreams of a much better life and future for her family. As a bartender, Ethan prepares drinks and juggles women with hardly any regard for making deeper connections.

Because of her intense dedication to her family, she becomes a miserable person solely focused on fulfilling her dreams of putting her family back together again. Even if she was in the company of her eccentric fellow DH friends, Joy barely smiled as a no-nonsense workaholic where she valued every second of the day was spent in the quest of earning her keep.

Alden as Ethan was actually deglamorized in such a way he did not exactly look like the Alden of Aldub fame. Even then, though, the camera adores his face to the point that there was hardly any angle to him no matter how simple his clothes look or how desolate his hair is. Though unexpected, the team-up delivered with a rom-com that has just the right slice of life on top. Kathryn’s serious side is just the right foil to Alden’s cheeky behavior, and this push and pull makes for great banter and participating discourse.

Because Kathryn was always in serious heavy drama mode practically all throughout the film, it was up to Alden to stir up the romance part of the reckoning. This movie was actually more of a vehicle for Alden to showcase his flexibility in acting to a new set of Kapamilya supporters who were not quite too familiar with him and his body of work before. He was really the one who lightened up the mood of the heavy scenes with his comic jaunts. On the other end, he was also very in force in those touching heavy dramatic scenes with his family, as well as those scenes where Ethan was trying to convince Joy to stay with him in Hong Kong.

This movie has a beautiful cinematography, indeed! As with other Filipino rom-coms, the romantic musical soundtrack also set the proper mood of their scenes. Director Cathy Garcia-Molina is really a certified expert on how to produce romantic quivers and trembles between her actors. No matter how tawdry the lines may seem on paper, when you hear them spoken in the actual scene, they work so marvelously!

The title of the film itself already pretty much gave us an essence of the story, but we keep on to enjoy the chemistry of Kathryn and Alden as a new love team,  as well as to find out what Joy’s final decision was going to be concerning her dilemma.

The story also brought to life the various real problems that our OFWs experience in Hong Kong, especially with regards to sacrificing family unity and jeopardizing illegal activities for their dreams of acquiring material wealth. This is a movie that tells us that there are tough choices we need to make, and these choices need to be respected in the name of love.

Hello, Love, Goodbye didn’t have any scene that was unnecessary or unwarranted. As I write this review, I see myself remembering the standout scenes and how each one made me feel. It’s truly a blessing when a film has that effect on its viewers, I must say.

This film made me feel a gamut of emotions that after watching it, I find it quite hard to process my own feelings. In fact, I tried to recall my favorite scenes—and there are too many to count!

It reminds me of another great film about OFWs that came out two decades ago—Anak, which starred Vilma Santos, Carlo Aquino and Claudine Barretto. Like Anak, Hello, Love, Goodbye depicts the plight of our Filipino migrant workers—the troubles they encounter, the sadness of being away from family, the sacrifices they have to make to be able to give their families back home a better life, and the anxiety it puts on their families. This film is lighter focusing more on the love blossoming between Joy and Ethan.

Also, the story was brilliant. There are so many quotable quotes from this movie! Here are some that I would like to share:

“And for a while, time just stops.”

“Hindi kita gusto, eh. I love you.”

“Pero gusto kita, eh. So sorry, I don’t love you.”

“Hindi pwede magkaroon ng ‘us’. May hinahabol pa akong future para sa pamilya ko.”

“Kung mahal mo ako, bakit hindi ako yung piliin mo, Joy?”

“Kung mahal mo ako, bakit pinapapili mo ako?”

To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised at the unique chemistry between Kathryn and Alden. I already saw it in the film’s trailer, but seeing the entire film made me conclude that they are indeed proof that two people don’t actually have to be in a relationship to create that special kind of magic onscreen!  Unexpectedly, the team-up delivered with a rom-com that has just the right slice of life on top. Kathryn’s serious side is just the right foil to Alden’s cheeky demeanor, and this push and pull makes for great banter and engaging dialogue.

This film makes viewers see Kathryn in a new light. She proves yet again that she is a credible and competent actress. Kathryn can truly shine on her own. She was believable and real as Joy. She didn’t just portray Joy. She WAS Joy. She will always be remembered as Joy.

Alden is a good actor who takes his work very seriously. He proves that yet again in this movie. I love how he can so gracefully switch between comedy and drama. Like Kathryn, he completely personified his role as Ethan. His acting was subtle. I could feel his every emotion just by watching him—his playful interactions with Joy, how his love for Joy grew, his gnawing frustration at the things he could do nothing about, his patience every time things didn’t go his way. The two actors are known for their lighthearted romances, but they handled this one with such a degree of maturity and dedication, and it matches them very well.

CONCLUSION

The film Hello Love Goodbye examines the trials and sacrifices of Overseas Filipino Workers in foreign lands. It shows how responsibilities and commitments can bring two people together, but it can also drive them apart. What I love in this movie is that no one overacted here. It made it so easy for the viewers to just follow the story without disruptions. It is also very touching and inspiring as well.

The film also casts light on many things you might not expect to learn from a rom-com. Here are life lessons that are worth sharing:

There’s something more about Hong Kong

In between the shiny glass and steel beams and fascinating skyscrapers, is a Hong Kong scene that’s very much alive, filled with pockets of people hard at work carrying the city’s burden on their shoulders. It’s not as classy or as lustrous, but this humane side of Hong Kong shows the city from a whole new standpoint.

The saying When in Rome, do as the Romans do apply here.

In the film, we see Filipinos adjusting to a way of life that’s very different from what they’re used to back home. For most Filipino staff and domestic helpers, it means learning a new language just to communicate and getting breaks only on Sundays. They also have to learn the names of new streets and plot a course of the landscape of an unknown city. It also adds a certain degree of maturity in their character development.

The OFWs struggles are real!

There are no words to properly capture how difficult it really is to be an OFW, and a domestic helper in this film to be clear. Joy, along with her fellow Filipino workers, often gets into fights with her foreign employers and is only permitted breaks on Sundays. She’s not allowed to do freelancing work outside of being a domestic helper and she has been separated from her family for years, without any tinge of appreciation and understanding given in exchange for all the sacrifices she has made just to provide for them.

There are some people worth the risk.

You meet someone in your life and you’ve given it all only to get your heart broken and battered. It only makes sense for you to be fearful of giving love another shot, going as far as to say you’ll never fall in love again, but then all of a sudden you meet someone totally fascinating and captivating and for a moment, you consider giving them a chance. Hurt and clutter from past relationships can weigh anyone down, but closing doors on possibilities is even woeful and might cause regret later on.

It’s never too late to turn things around.

Ethan and Joy were baffled for a point in time until they finally decided to do what they have always wanted to do. Changing habits is a difficult path to plod, but both of them do realize that if they really want to get somewhere, they have to change their mindsets and get to the bottom of things.

Career over Love

I am not saying choosing one over the other is always right, but as Kathryn asked in the film, “Kung mahal mo ko, bakit pinapapili mo ‘ko?” There are points in your life you might not be able to get everything you want, but it’s all a matter of carefully evaluating your options and going for whichever your heart desires.

Clarity and communication is important in relationships

Every relationship needs an adjustment, especially when it comes to communicating. Otherwise, there would be a meltdown! And no matter how clear you think you are, there are times when you might need to be even more up-front —as our protagonists Ethan and Joy learn the hard way.

Choosing yourself is not always selfish.

Times can get tough and for some, they hold it out for their loved ones or other important people to them. In the case of Joy, there was hardly a day in her life when she thought of herself. There’s this investment in being selfless to a fault but it prompts the question, “When do you choose yourself?” It can be easy to get used to give precedence to other people, but it’s not bad at all to, for once, think about what you want, what you truly deserve and what you see for yourself.

Overall, I give the film a perfect score of 5 stars!

http://www.filcatholic.org/romantic-humorous-and-cinematic-all-at-once-a-film-review-on-hello-love-goodbye/

Surrendering to God through Decluttering

DECLUTTERING YOUR HOMES-IGNACIO’S WAY De-cluttering means surrendering, reducing our possessions, and simplifying our lives.

on: August 02, 2019

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Meanne M. Mijares

Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mathew 19:21-24)

A few days ago, we celebrated the feast of St. Ignatius de Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. It was only now that I have found out that he was the de-cluttering expert long before Mari Kondo stepped into the spotlight of fame with a best-selling book and a Netflix show tucked under her belt. 

According to his article in Alteia,org, Philip Koloski, in St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises, “Man is created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord, and by this means to save his soul. And the other things on the face of the earth are created for man and that they may help him in the end for which he is created.”

He instructs modern-day Catholics and Christians alike “From this it follows that man is to use [material things] as much as they help him on to his end, and ought to rid one’s self of them so far as they hinder him as to it.”

From this point of view, St. Ignatius would encourage us to tidy up our homes by examining each piece and asking whether or not it helps them come closer to God. Honestly, this is always hard to distinguish or understand, on the other hand, the opposite is much easier to ascertain. When thinking about a certain thing, there are particular belongings that can easily be categorized as an obstacle to our salvation, or prevent us from developing a very close personal relationship with our Lord Jesus.

Well, for some of us, this may mean surrendering many things, while for others, it may not be that much or hard. There are no cookie cutter answers available for all of us, and it takes cautious sensitivity to work out at a suitable choice.

According to the article, “The key for St. Ignatius is a particular “indifference” to created things. It requires a detachment from the things of this world, realizing that eternal life is much more important.

Many people throughout history have also heeded the words of our Lord Jesus to heart, giving away many of their surpluses to the poor and needy, only keeping for themselves what they absolutely need. And I believe is one of the best ways for atonement. And if I may add one more tip, that after the de-cluttering pray and go to confession then resolve to live a good life in step with God.

So yes, tidying up spiritually and physically is a good thing every now and then, I must say, a very important action we Christians have affirmed with immense enthusiasm for many generations and times to come.

http://www.filcatholic.org/decluttering-your-homes-ignacios-way-de-cluttering-means-surrendering-reducing-our-possessions-and-simplifying-our-lives/