The Priest of Notre Dame

What made Notre Dame Basilica so famous? Mainly because of its unique architectural design. It is dubbed as the "Jewel of the Gothic architecture." But i don't want to talk about this very grand tourist attraction of Paris, nor its history, nor its relevance with Victor Hugo's "Hunchback of NotreDame" story.

I want to share my own reflective emotions while i went there(with my husband and Prisco and my two sisters Phoebe and Babylonia) between October to November 2006. At this moment of my life, i was so down. I had seen many, many beautiful things, yet deep inside, i felt so low. But i looked around and found out that the world is still turning around... it never froze even just a second because of my sadness. I just lose a wonderful, beautiful baby and my husband had thought that i might need a time for a break ... a time to reflect... a novel place...and he thought of PARIS.

Okay we climbed the Eiffel Tower, dined at the highest building of Paris called Montparnasse Tower, spent enjoyable time at EuroDisneyland, went for a River Seine Cruise and other many, many things, yet the most unforgettable for me is my conversation with the Parish Priest. I forgot his name and he don't know my name, but i remembered our conversations about life and about death, about rewards and about punishment.

I asked him if i am being punished by God and gave me this pain? He said no and he said i should not think about those things. All the things that happen has its reason. I know that, but isn't it that sometimes life is unfair?....

The best thing that happened was that the Parish Priest gave me great blessings and great prayers(Now, that really made my trip to Paris sooo memorable).
But he also made my eyes so red because i cried and cried and cried... Ah, you can see in my photos how tearful i am(but still i was happy because i had been filled with spiritual happiness and there's just this surge of energy emanating from a powerful source).

And the art of crying which i think i had mastered? Tell me, who hadn't cried? But really, sometimes we just need to cry and cry and cry ... or shout if we must! You will never know what is real happiness without feeling sadness. Life should always be a balance. In Taoism, they call this "Yin" and "Yang".

As for myself, i should say: there is no life in fear. If you are in fear right now, like fear to try again because you got a miscarriage or any other mishaps... don't ever lose hope...

After my trip to Paris, the following month, i was pregnant and each day, i would pray, "oh, please, God, give me a healthy baby...help me with this pregnancy..." God answered my prayers.

To the Parish Priest of Notre Dame Basilica de Paris, i want to thank you for your blessings to my family and for your ardent prayers. I believe that God chooses instruments on Earth whom people can rely and be filled with the Holy Spirit. God chose you as his faithful follower so you can bless the life of other people, especially those people who needs healing, physically and most of all, spiritually and emotionally.

Above all, i thank the Lord for healing my pain and for giving me a wonderful baby and a wonderful family and wonderful friends. God bless us, everyone! Enjoy your weekend!

Sisters and the Paris' Leaves

Personally, this is one of my most favorite sites in Paris---the trees with its green leaves dominating the entire park. This is across the Hotel les Invalides and the Golden Dome of Napoleon Bonaparte. The place is popularly called as Ecoile Militar. But this little park across that main attraction is what made me write this entry.

For the past three years, my sisters---Phoebe and Babylon had been my travel companions anywhere in the world--- be it in France, be it in Malaysia, Canada, Thailand, HongKong, Brunei Darussalam, The Eternal City of Italy, Beijing,Singapore or just anywhere in the Philippines or anywhere in the world within that three-year period. What a bliss to travel with your sisters. They always there to give you a cheer and always there to help you carry the baby!hehehehe! With your sisters, you can go shopping,you can go silly in many ways, you can exchange ideas on anything ---from food to fashion to tourist attraction.

These photos we had in our last Paris trip last October 2006 just seemed very memorable to me. All of us agreed what a wonderful place it is here, in this simple, green park full of lovely, lovely, trees. We all thought we had seen this place in a Calendar or something. Alas on 2007, we'd seen KC Concepcion on television featuring her experiences in Paris and guess what? Many of the shots were taken on the very place we are in. That means even celebrities like this spot!

But i am not talking about KC or any bloody celebrity here. I am talking about my sisters who had been my constant companions for many of my travels and travails. I am talking about the leaves that are falling on the ground that all came from the same tree. I cannot possibly compare ourselves to leaves, because we are human beings. But why is it that we need to be separated just like the leaves? Because each of us has its own family now. Because each of us cannot just stay together in one roof. Because each of us has its own life to live. Okay, i know that but i just miss them terribly and i love them terribly....We might be like leaves being taken by the wind everywhere , but we came from the same root, from the same tree... and i always cherished that salad moments that we shared. I am always praying that may they have wonderful life and be happy with the choices they made. Well, here are some photos...

Here's me contemplating how beautiful this spot is....


My sister Babylon holding Prisco who was not feeling well that time.


My sister Phoebe who really gave her best for the shot!



IF SISTERS ARE LEAVES, I WANNA BE PLACED ON THE SAME STEM AS THEM!

The Night Sky of Paris

With the panoramic view of Paris all around you,with the enigmatic,vibrating charm of the sights and sounds of the city plus the mesmerizing view of the Eiffel Tower plus with someone who holds you tenderly forever(not mentioning the succulent dishes!)---all these and more are more than what anyone can wish for in celebrating a natal day. Yes,my 31st Birthday(October 2006)--- another surprise from my darling husband---a special fine dining at "Le Ciel de Paris" right at the top of the city's tallest building --- the Montparnasse Tower. The name of the restaurant is synonymous to that of "the Sky of Paris".It was my first time to eat "hare a la royale". And oh,Yes, i wouldn't forget the foie gras!