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RELIGIOUS RELIC and ANTIQUE

This is a more than 200 years old statue of San Antonio de Padua or Saint Anthony of Padua.

Wood: possible Brazilian Rosewood; carved polychromed wood

date: more than 200 years ago

found: Zamboanga (Mindanao), Philippines

current location of religious relic: Zamboanga City, Philippines

obtained by: family inheritance

A brief history:

                My great great grandfather set out to hunt for food in the mountains of Mindanao (Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines). It was a usual routine of his; but, on that particular day of hunting there was a storm and he could not find his way back home. It was already dark and he seemed lost from his usually path and to add to such difficulty, it was stormy. He did not expect to be too far from home and he was not prepared to such storm. He did not even brought a lamp. He tried to look for the way but he just got farther. Eventually, when daylight came, he was totally oblivious of his surroundings and indeed he was lost. He left his family at home so he was determined to find his way back home. Unfortunately, he was strayed more and more away from his home. The mountain and jungle seemed to be an endless maze. He was lost for 10 years in the mountain (although he already lost track of time and day). Every day for 9 years he tried finding his way home but odds seemed to be endless to find the right path. He travelled only by foot. Sometimes he would be able to have a sea view. Sometimes he would end up in a cliff and below is just sea water. One day, at his amazement, he saw a vessel. From a far view of his, he thought he saw three people riding the vessel. His hope of going back home rekindled. He know that these people could save him since it has been years (he lost count of the days but he knew it was very long time since he had seen his home and other people). Looking at the vessel, he followed it and he went down the mountain heading to the direction of the possible rescuer that he saw. When he reached the shore, he was puzzled to find huge plank of wood with three statues because from afar it really looked human and a small ship. He picked up three statues and took his chances on just embarking the plank of wood and float out to sea.  He took some coconuts and fruits for food. He remained adrift at sea for 7 nights and 6 days. On the 7 day, he arrived at the shore of Labuan (presently part of Zamboanga City).

                To the bewilderment of people who found him, they could not believe that he was alive. It has been 10 years, and they thought he was long gone, perhaps eaten by wild animals in the mountains. His beard was already below his chest (almost near his navel). His wife he left for 10 years at home already married to another man and already had children. Nobody expected that he was alive since they are aware that the mountain is a treacherous place to be lost in since it has intertwined puzzling paths.

                He told his story of his adventures to find his way home and how he found the three statues. Accordingly, a missionary priest asked him one of the statues (“The Lourdes”) and the plank of wood he used to remain adrift at sea. The San Antonio de Padua he kept (it is the statue now in our possession by inheriting it from our grandfather (my mom’s father)) and the Virgin Mary statue is presently with a relative of my grandfather which they also inherited from their ancestors (a family of my great great grandfather). Supposedly we have to rotate the two statues among the family tree as such as what they did decades ago but despite time and distance, the statues permanently stayed safely in our home. There were also attempts years back of people trying to steal and sell the statues that we own. There was even a time a foreign antique collector offered 1 million pesos to by the San Antonio Padua for collection. There were also other offers from people who are into witch crafts, amulets, and potion-making. Our family had kept it safe for so long now.

                The last news we received regarding the third statue (The Lourdes) and the wood, they are now in Rome, Italy. The priest brought is there. Some say he sold it there. We been searching for so long for the Lourdes hoping to be able to reunite the three statues because these are already religious relics and somehow part of the Philippine heritage.

                When my grandfather (my mother’s father) died, my mother asked on his deathbed to give the statue to her as a form of inheritance since my grandfather is a poor man. He has no material possession of great value; only the statue of San Antonio de Padua which I believe is priceless since it has been centuries in the possession of our family.

                The story of how my great great grandfather acquired the statues was a story passed by family to family especially to those who will be inheriting the statue. Honestly, I am a skeptical person but knowing such statue is in our possession and it has been centuries, I would say that this statue that we have in our possession (San Antonio de Padua) is genuine and legitimate. People tried to persuade us to give them the statue, but my aunts and uncles, including my mother, somehow hoards the statue because they believe that it is worth keeping since it has been in the family for so long.

                Claims about the San Antonio de Padua statue that we have:

-          can help you find lost things and animals. According to my grandfather, they use the statue to help them find lost things and animals. They usually lit a candle and give a short prayer. The flame of the candle will flicker to the direction of the lost object and points to the direction of the object

-          when they pray, they would easily find lost things

-          praying to it would also help relieve sickness and diseases such as cancer

-          people who possess it lives longer. My grandfather was the last person who died among his family and siblings. He died of a natural death (of old age) without encountering serious diseases

-          usually keeps our home safe.

-          there was a time, when the room it was placed was burned, the statue did not burn and remained intact

-          it has healing powers

-          the Baby Jesus would often get lost (as if it would walk) and they would find it inside the rice container, under the table, inside the pot, or under the bed. (This was during the years it was with my uncle --- brother of my mother).

-          it also help solve problems such as money and relationships (which I honestly profess are true)

The Catholic Church celebrates the feast day of St. Anthony de Padua on June 13, the day he died in the year 1231. The popular belief about the saint is that he can find lost things for us. Tradition reveals that Anthony lost his missal one day and felt very sad until an angel brought it back to him. But the saint is also known as a miracle worker because he seems to be able to solve all kinds of problems like sickness and even financial difficulties.

According to some historians, Valentine’s Day in the Philippines has no roots in tradition, belonging only to recent times. The traditional advocate of Filipino lovers was San Antonio de Padua, to whom Filipino girls prayed to find a true lover or to recover a straying one.

Theories about the origin of the statues:

a. It appeared miraculously at shore to help my great great grandfather to find his way back home since for 10 years he never missed praying and hoping that he would one day go back home to his family and that he would be spared to all harm in finding his way and for the rest of his life. (Our family believes in this claim)

b. The statues came from Spanish vessels or ships that were destroyed by Moro pirates. According to some historians and some researches I did, Spanish in the early centuries tried to convert Mindanao to Christianity. Unfortunately there were struggles and difficulties faced to convert Muslim tribes in Mindanao which were also linked to other Muslim tribes from Southeast Asia. Perhaps the statues belonged to Spanish invaders who tried to spread Christianity in the Philippines and was shipwrecked at sea or the people who possessed it before experienced resistance from the locale and the chaos and wreckage, the statues remained adrift at sea until my great great grandfather found it and brought it back home. Perhaps this is something considerably miraculous too since what are the chances and possibilities could have happened for him to find those statues drifting to shore towards him and somehow help him find his way back home unharmed due to divine intervention.

supported article:

                Most Philippine communities, with the exception of the Muslim sultanates in the Sulu archipelago and Mindanao, were fairly small without a great deal of centralized authority. Authority of Muslim sultanates governing Mindanao at that time was wielded by variety of individuals including headmen or the datu, warriors of great military prowess, and individuals who possessed spiritual power or magical healing abilities. The Spanish were unsuccessful in converting Muslim Sultanates to Christianity, and in fact warred with Muslim Filipinos throughout their 300 year colonial rule from 1521 to 1898. Islam had been present in the southern Philippines since some time between the 10^th and 12^th century. It slowly spread north throughout the archipelago particularly in coastal areas. Had it not been for Spanish intervention, the Philippines would likely have been a mostly Muslim area.

Ciudad de Zamboanga became the main headquarters of the Spaniards in 1634 upon approval of King Philip IV of Spain. Thousands of Spanish troops headed by a Governor General from Spain took the approval to build the first Zamboanga fortress (now called Fort Pilar) in Ciudad de Zamboanga to forestall enemies in Mindanao like Moro pirates and other foreign invaders.  The Zamboanga fortress became the main focus of a number of battles between Moros, Chinese and Spaniards while the Spanish ruled the region from 16th to 18th centuries. While the region was already dominated by Catholicism, Muslims kept up a protracted struggle against the ruling Spaniards in the country into the 18th century.

In the Year 1831, the Custom house in Ciudad de Zamboanga was established as a port, and it became the main port for direct communication, trading some goods and other services to most of Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America.

If you are interested to see the statue, feel free to contact us.

We just want to share this to the rest of the world 

I recently encounted a cool article which I believe it is worth sharing to others. I hope you like this. I just got this from the internet.

How to Read Faces

Brushing Hair Off Your Face
This movement, a combination of nerves and flirtation, helps call attention to and frame your feminine assets (think face and neck). No wonder it’s a staple of a promising date.

Smiling
Botox be damned! The only real smile, says Anita Barbee, a professor of social work at the University of Louisville, in Kentucky, is one in which eye muscles are engaged. People who grin for more than five seconds and only with their lips can be faking it. Frequent smiling in the workplace can make a person seem less serious.

Blinking
The normal blink rate is six to eight times a minute. But under stress, you’ll blink more often and somewhat more dramatically. Want to know who’s freaking out and who’s as cool as a cucumber at the next big meeting? The eyes have it.

Nibbling Your LipsIf you bite, suck on, or lick your lips when under pressure or in an awkward situation, you’re attempting to comfort or soothe yourself, says psychologist Carol Kinsey Goman, the author of The Nonverbal Advantage ($20, amazon.com).

Scratching Your Nose
Don’t get caught in a lie. “When a person fibs, it’s often accompanied by an adrenaline rush,” says psychologist Michael Cunningham, a professor of communication at the University of Louisville. This release causes capillaries to expand, making the nose itch. Another tall-tale tell: a sustained glance. A liar often overcompensates for being perceived as shifty by focusing a bit too intently on the person he is fibbing to.

Sending Darting Glances
This catch-your-eye game, usually played in guy-girl situations, tends to mirror your scattered thoughts. Does he like me? Do I like him? Do I want him to come over here? Also, unlike a direct gaze, the back-and-forth variety is a protective measure: If he doesn’t approach you, you won’t feel rejected.

Nodding Your Head
If you nod in clusters of three, the speaker will sense your interest, and this can lengthen her response threefold, says Goman. Word to the wise: Nod only once when trying to escape Chatty Cathy.    

Closing Your Eyes
By rubbing, covering, or closing your eyes for longer than a blink, you’re trying to keep out certain auditory or visual cues. It’s a survival mechanism to prevent the brain from processing anything undesirable or threatening.

Lowering Your Gaze
This meek gesture is an unconscious bid for public support—a favorite tactic of small children, not to mention the late Princess Diana. It often elicits a parental response. If someone does it to you, she may be searching for your empathy. Be gentle.

Pursing Your Lips
Narrowing the red margins of your lips is a clear sign of anger, says Paul Ekman, professor emeritus at the University of California, San Francisco. Why? When a person is not truly mad, she typically can’t feign this gesture, even if she tries.

Tilting Your HeadCock your head to the side when hearing a friend’s sob story. This movement indicates that you’re interested and listening. On a more literal level, you’re revealing and angling your ear to her, physically showing that you want to hear every detail.

Raising or Furrowing Your Eyebrows
“Raised eyebrows, one or both, is a true expression of piqued curiosity and interest, while lowered eyebrows can indicate negative emotions, such as confusion and fear,” says Laura Guerrero, a professor of communication at the Arizona State University Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, in Tempe. If you’re not interested in a good or bad way, your face will remain still and unanimated.

Looking Up or to the Side
Want a little glimpse into the way someone’s memory works? Notice where the person moves her eyes. When recalling something that was seen, a person will angle her eyes skyward, as if trying to picture it. When remembering something heard, she will look toward one of her ears, as if listening for it. Especially emotional experiences tend to be relived through introspective downward glances.

HOW TO READ BODIES

Standing With Legs ApartThis position, feet and legs shoulder-width apart, signals dominance and determination, says Goman. When asserting your side of an argument or discussion, stand your ground—literally. For an extra boost, place your hands on your hips. This is a traditional position of power.

Leaning
No surprise here: You lean toward people you like and pull away from those you don’t. On a date? Take note of your companion’s direction—and yours. Subtly mirroring movements builds trust.                       

Shifting Your Weight From Side to Side or Front to Back“The way you move your body reflects your attitude,” says Goman. Constantly transferring your weight from one foot to the other or rocking forward and backward is a comforting movement that indicates you are anxious or upset. Basically, this is a physical representation of what is going on in your head: You are betwixt and between many unsettling thoughts and can’t stop moving from one to the other.

Massaging Your Forehead or EarlobesThese soothing actions counter feelings of uneasiness or vulnerability—for example, when you are seated in the front row of a lecture hall and hope not to be called on. The same goes for hugging your sides or rubbing your legs when you’re sitting. Stroking the nerve endings in some of these body parts helps lower blood pressure and heart rate.                       


Crossing Your ArmsDon’t be too quick to leap to conclusions: This pose doesn’t always mean anger, but when coupled with crossed legs, it is a defensive position. Take note of the surroundings. More often than not, this stance means a person is cold. Also, many people simply find it comfortable, says Cunningham.

Walking
The way you tread speaks volumes about how others see you. Fast strutters come across as productive and competent, looking as if they have somewhere important to be. Those with a “bounce in their step” are perceived as having upbeat personalities. For a purposeful stride, walk from heel to toe. (Interestingly, most men land on their heels; most women, mid-arch.)

Sitting
When in doubt, spread out. Taking up space, such as by fanning out your papers in the boardroom instead of stacking them in a small pile, screams importance. Likewise, sitting with your legs apart assures others that you are large and in charge.                       

HOW TO READ HANDS

How to Read Hands

Opening Up Your Hands
By spreading your hands as if serving someone a treat off a tray, you are indicating that you are open to new ideas being offered. Facing your palms down or clenching your fists shows you have a strong position—one that may not be so flexible.

Flailing Your Arms
You’re not out of control. Research shows that those who gesture when they speak seem energetic, agreeable, and warm, while those who gesticulate less are seen as logical and analytic. Keep in mind that moderation is key; overly animated gestures that border on frantic make you appear unbelievable and less powerful. If you fear you may be too animated, perhaps in a job interview, hold on to something when you talk.

Hiding Your Hands
Stashing your hands in your lap, stuffing them in your pockets, and holding them behind your back are movements of deceit—you’re hiding something. “A person may be telling you one thing, but these cues indicate you’re not getting the whole story,” says Barbee.

Picking at Your Nails
Messing with cuticles is a sign of low confidence and timidity. Try steepling your fingers (hands folded together with index fingers extended) so you can’t pick and you instead appear self-assured.

How to Read Feet

Pointing Toes In
Even if you’re sitting up straight with your shoulders aligned and your head up—all signs of an open body position—your feet may be betraying you. If they’re cocked inward, big toe to big toe, this indicates that you’re closing yourself off because you feel awkward or insecure.

Fidgeting
Ever notice that you become more physically active—you tap your heels, slide in and out of your shoes, bop your foot up and down while crossing your legs—the more uncomfortable you feel? This is because these kinds of moves relieve tension. Fidgeting may also mean that you want out of a situation and your body is getting ready to take flight. The bottom line? At least in professional settings, cross your ankles to calm those fidgety feet.

Crossing Your Legs
Pay attention to the direction in which you cross your legs. In a seated conversation, people tend to point the toes of the top leg toward the person who they feel is the most approachable. The kicker? Lifting your toes means your feelings toward said person are extra-positive.

Pointing Toes Toward the Door
When you’re having a conversation with someone but her feet are angled toward the door, she may be unconsciously saying that she’s ready to cut the talk short and move on.

What do you think about this article. Please feel free to comment.                    

Learning about MANNERS

It is rude to be rude to rude people. Simple but true. Let us remember that some people just have bigger problems in their lives that they do not know how to handle those problems at their best manner.

Well, some say that a polite conversation takes about seven to eight minutes. So if you already did the time, perhaps you could make a discreet excuse to make a call or help somebody else to exit such awkward conversatoin. The least  you can do is introduce the bore to another person so he or she would not be left hanging,

Define Forgiveness

Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past would have been different. Forgive.

Silence

The night is simply cool. Nothing less ordinary about this dawn of coolness yet I am overwhelmed with such silence. In silence I found the loudness of my heartbeat and from this moment, I understand how it felt like to be alive and in peace with everything that surrounds me. Let yourself find peace too.