With New Year coming in two days, let us write down our blessings in 2012 and thank God for them. First, the gift of life. Second, sustenance and nourishment. And the gift of family. If tragedy struck us during the year, let us offer it to God and accept God’s plan for it. Then, we have our jobs that give us income.

Personally, I would like to thank readers who have faithfully read my column, “Purely Personal,” for the past 25 years.

Thanks to Bangued Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian and Fr. Roy Rosales for celebrating my Thanksgiving Mass at the Manila Manor Hotel on Dec. 18.

The glorious singing of the Powervoice Choir made the Mass solemn. Thanks to Aurora Lazo of SM Lazo Medical Center for bringing them from Ilagan, Isabela.

Friends from the different apostolates came to celebrate with me: my Opus Dei circle; Nuestra Señora de Soledad de Porta Vaga; “Abang Lingkod ni Maria”; Calolbon (San Andres) Civic Association; Society of St. Expeditus; San Lorenzo Ruiz Global Ministry; my close friends Nolie Hans, Oskar Peralta, Ali Rich Garcia, Bert Torrijos, Tony Pascual, Martina and Monique Festin, Jong Garcia, Maripaz Godinez, Gina Camus, Matt Magpantay and Ramon Moreno.

SM Foundation supports parochial schools

Another thing to be thankful for is that SM Foundation Inc. has reached out to parochial schools that are members of the Manila Archdiocesan and Parochial Schools Association  (Mapsa) by giving college scholarships to their high school graduates.

Mapsa and SM Foundation signed an agreement recently. Representing SM Foundation during the signing ceremonies were trustee Felicidad Sy, executive director Debbie Sy and executive director for education Linda Atayde. From Mapsa were Msgr. Gerardo Santos, president; Fr. Elpidio Biliran, Sr. Lucia Gumiran, Fr. Fidel Fabile and Fr. Jerome Cruz, officers.

Mapsa is a nonstock, nonprofit association of parochial schools in the Ecclesiastical  Province of Manila. These are private religious schools that provide affordable basic education.

Asia Pacific College

During the same occasion, another MOA was signed between Mapsa and Asia Pacific College (APC) represented by Paulino Tan, president, and Ma. Teresita P. Medado, managing director. With this MOA, APC   shall grant tuition subsidy to all   Mapsa member- school graduates enrolled at APC.

Prayers requested

My friend Mila David of Martha’s Vineyard e-mailed me a request for prayers for the bereaved parents and relatives of the 20 children and six teachers who died in a shooting incident in Connecticut before Christmas. With our prayers, may the victims rest in peace in the arms of the Lord in heaven. And those who were left behind be comforted.

I urge readers to say prayers for the victims and their families.

Condolence to America for this tragic event, but we also should pray for the aborted babies in America where abortion is legal.

Blessings in the old year

Blessings to Msgr. Salvador Jose who celebrated his 50 years as a priest on Dec. 22 with a Mass at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in La Huerta, Parañaque. We remember Monsignor Jose propagating the devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe from his parish the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Makati City for many years. Although not anymore the parish priest, Monsignor Jose is still resident priest in the shrine.

It was a blessing for Pasigueños to have a diocesan museum to visit at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. They can marvel at the mural of Derrick Macutay depicting the history of Pasig church with the Immaculate Conception as patroness, Thank you “Abang Lingkod ni Maria.”

It was a blessing for us regular patrons of Aristocrat when it opened its new wing facing Manila Bay. More space for gathering with friends and family, to watch the sunset and to have quiet talks with close friends.

A blessed New Year to all my readers. I wish you God’s blessings and when the going gets  rough, “kumapit sa palda ni Mama Mary at huwag bibitaw,” (cling to the skirt of Mama Mary and don’t let go) quoting Fr. Oliver Genuino, parish priest of St. Mary Magdalene Church in Amadeo, Cavite.