HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American holiday, which is a form of harvest festival. In the United States, Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, at the end of the harvest season, is an annual American Federa holiday to express thanks for one's material and spiritual possessions. The period from Thanksgiving Day to New Year's Day often is called the holiday season. Most people celebrate by gathering at home with family or friends for a holiday feast.

Thanksgiving generally is considered secular, or at least nonsectarian, and is not based on any specific religious canon or dogma. Though the holiday's origins can be traced to harvest festivals that have been celebrated in many cultures since ancient times, the American holiday has religious undertones related to the deliverance of the English settlers after the brutal winter at Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The first recorded Thanksgiving ceremony took place on September 8, 1565, when 600 Spanish settlers, under the leadership of Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, landed at what is now St. Augustine, Florida, and immediately held a Mass of Thanksgiving for their safe delivery to the New World; there followed a feast and celebration. As the La Florida colony did become part of the United States, this can be classified as the first Thanksgiving.

El Paso, Texas, has also been said to be the site of the first Thanksgiving to be held in what is now known as the United States, though that was not a harvest festival. Spaniard Don Juan de Oñate ordered his expedition party to rest and conducted a mass in celebration of thanksgiving on April 30, 1598.

1621 Thanksgiving, The Puritans at Plymouth Plantation: Squanto, a Patuxet Native American who resided with the Wampanoag tribe, taught the Puritans how to catch eel and grow corn and served as an interpreter for them (Squanto had learned English as a slave in Europe and travels in England). Without Squanto's help the Puritans might not have survived in the New World. Although, there is still controversy about what kind of relationship Native Americans and Europeans might truly have had, if not for the smallpox plague which killed 90-96% of the local Native American population just prior to the actual arrival of the Puritans in 1620. The settlers who later came to be called the "Puritans" set apart a day to celebrate at Plymouth immediately after their first harvest, in 1621. At the time, this was not regarded as a Thanksgiving observance; harvest festivals were existing parts of English and Wampanoag tradition alike. The Puritans did not hold a true Thanksgiving until 1623, when it followed a drought, prayers for rain, and a subsequent rain shower. Irregular Thanksgivings continued after favorable events and days of fasting after unfavorable ones. In the Plymouth tradition, a thanksgiving day was a church observance, rather than a feast day.

Gradually, an annual Thanksgiving after the harvest developed in the mid-17th century. This did not occur on any set day or necessarily on the same day in different colonies in America.

The Massachusetts Bay Colony (consisting mainly of Puritan Christians) celebrated Thanksgiving for the first time in 1630, and frequently thereafter until about 1680, when it became an annual festival in that colony; and Connecticut as early as 1639 and annually after 1647, except in 1675. The Dutch in New Netherland appointed a day for giving thanks in 1644 and occasionally thereafter. Charlestown, Massachusetts held the first recorded Thanksgiving observance June 29, 1671 by proclamation of the town's governing council.

During the 18th century individual colonies commonly observed days of thanksgiving throughout each year. We might not recognize a traditional Thanksgiving Day from that period, as it was not a day marked by plentiful food and drink as is today's custom, but rather a day set aside for prayer and fasting. Later in the 1700s individual colonies would periodically designate a day of thanksgiving in honor of a military victory, an adoption of a state constitution or an exceptionally bountiful crop. Such a Thanksgiving Day celebration was held in December 1777 by the colonies nationwide, commemorating the surrender of British General Burgoyne at Saratoga.

The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. The feast was one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in North America, although celebrating the harvest and giving thanks for a successful bounty of crops had been a long-standing tradition throughout North America by various First Nations and Native American groups. First Nations and Native Americans throughout the Americas, including the Pueblo, Cherokee, Cree and many others organized harvest festivals, ceremonial dances, and other celebrations of thanks for centuries before the arrival of Europeans in North America. Frobisher was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him — Frobisher Bay.

At the same time, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food with their First Nations neighbours.

After the Seven Years' War ended in 1763 handing over New France to the British, the citizens of Halifax held a special day of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving days were observed beginning in 1799 but did not occur every year. After the American Revolution, American refugees who remained loyal to Great Britain moved from the United States and came to Canada. They brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada. The first Thanksgiving Day after Canadian Confederation was observed as a civic holiday on April 5, 1872 to celebrate the recovery of the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) from a serious illness.
Starting in 1879 Thanksgiving Day was observed every year but the date was proclaimed annually and changed year to year. The theme of the Thanksgiving holiday also changed year to year to reflect an important event to be thankful for. In the early years it was for an abundant harvest and occasionally for a special anniversary.

After World War I, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11 occurred. Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays, and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day.

The year is a challenged to all of us, some did good and some not so good. But despite all of the challenges that was thrown in our path, we still can think of something to be thankful for.

Happy thanksgiving to everyone, there is a nice card if you click the active link: PUMPKIN PIE


agp 107

2nd Foundation Anniversary

MESSAGE

On this day of celebration, we, the Founders, join all our brothers and sisters in commemorating our Second Foundation Anniversary, with overwhelming pride in our hearts.

In a short span of two years, our dreams have grown tenfold in membership and most of all in accomplishments. Our young fraternity, in no time, has charted unprecedented success, beyond limits of expectation. Now, more and more students are beginning to realize the impending need today for responsive Men of Medicine bonded by "a commitment to Dedication, Service and Brotherhood".

Today, above all festivities, we again gather to recollect and reassess the past, and draw strength from each other to brave another year of hard work and sacrifice. With the guidance of Our Almighty God and the unwavering support of all our brothers and sisters, no task is too big to overcome.

The Founders' small flickering dream is in you all. Keep the spirit burning forever.
To all the incumbent officers, members, advisers and sponsors, we extend to you our warmest gratitude for making this affair, one that we shall treasure for all time.

Fraternally yours,

THE FOUNDERS

This message was written at the back of the first page (cover page) of the souvenir program for the 2ND Foundation Anniversary held at Manila Garden Hotel on September 1, 1984. It was the Final Acceptance of Dum Spiro Spero and Vincula Concordia.

2008 California Reunion

In 2007 there was a MEDICUS gathering held at Cesar's house at Riverside, Ca. In that gathering a BLOG was started. This BLOG was seen by MEDICUS members and noticed that there were several members in the US mostly in California and in the adjoining states like Nevada and Arizona. Several suggested to have a long overdue reunion (monette, peewee, jopye). It has been years since we saw each other, face to face. The most members in one place was during James birthday in 2002 and all of these were from California. I mentioned this to Cesar and agreed to organized and held one. The suggestion was Las Vegas, for there were several members there that includes Monette, Thany & Mel, and James and there was a lot more activities to begin with. This was considered and pondered but then, we have to take into consideration that most of our brods and sis were in California. A lot of members do not have enough time for the whole weekend to spare. Some were even on duty the night before the set date for the reunion plus the commute between the states and finally the cost becomes a deciding factor. In the end it was decided that it would be held at Cesar's house at Riverside. It has a bigger space and can hold a lot of people, it has a pool and the view at sunset is stunning (i have seen this the previous year 2007). We call everyone we know to be informed of the plan 3 months before so that they can settled their schedules ahead of time.

The day starts with a call from Annie to what time I'm going to pick her up (just woke up at the call 0945) and told her after I got the "kakanin" that I ordered at 10:00 AM. Soon Art was calling me, he was already there at Riverside and no one was there except Cesar. I picked up Annie after I found my way to her apartment (sorry but i got lost in West LA, with a GPS) and then we where on our way.


At Riverside Art was the first to arrived at 10:00 AM. I arrived with Annie at 12:20 PM followed by Robin and his wife, Peewee Muriel and Terry. We were hungry and ate lunch after arrival. We started talking about how we end up being a MEDICUS and our old times at MCU.

One by one the members came Monette and family, James, Edwin and family, Mel and Thany, Vic, Cepo, Jopye, Elvis and family, Sam and Mae, Joli, and Aileen and family. We've talk of old times and how boring our medicine school days would be without MEDICUS, our activities, practical jokes and the camaraderie. We also have some guest from other batches that were MCU graduates (88 & 84). They talk of how they find MEDICUS and its members then (we all came from one school regardless of our organizational affiliation when we were students). Everyone enjoyed meeting each other and talking about old times.

The younger generation listens to the activities of the older ones, they also have their own story to tell. We reconnect and plan on networking to help each other out. We also plan of future activities. Until it was time for Robin to leave (he have another reunion to go to). We ate, drink, be merry and chat for hours. We have a lot pictures taken during sunset and through out the reunion. Then Terry and Jopye left followed by Joli. At 12:00 midnight, one by one the members said their goodbyes. A few were left to stay overnight at Cesar's house (alex, sam, mae, james) and some at Bel's house (art, me-an, vic, and monette). (Bel is our guest, a batch 88 she lives a few blocks from Cesar without knowing it.) We've agreed to meet again for breakfast at 08:00 AM the following morning at Cesar's house.

At 08:00 AM, breakfast was prepared and again we started talking about the old days and our life as it is, over breakfast. After breakfast we said our goodbyes at the breakfast table and walk outside. Outside, we started talking again and said another set of goodbyes and started walking to the gate to leave. We ended talking again at the gate. At 10:00 AM it was really time to leave as some were still on duty that night. Some had to travel back to Nevada. It seems that we have not enough time to talk and tell our stories.

We miss some of the members like Rodel, Chi, Joan, Jon, Del, Willy, Rey Daclison, Aida, Vince, Burt, Sam Bangug (New York), Manny Sunga(Chicago), Manette Bunyi (Florida), Gemma, Odette (Washington), Reyshelle, Jewelie, and Ellen. I hope that we will see them next time. Some of them wanted to come but due to unforeseeable circumstances they were not able to make it.


This is a picture of every member that was in the reunion. There were several videos made and posted to YouTube (you can watch it at the bottom of the BLOG). I hope that by now everyone saw it.

agp107

BLOG Anniversary

I do not know how many can remember when the MEDICUS BLOG showed up. It may be that no one could, but it is the same date today in 2007. The BLOG was made after a gathering of members in 2007 held at Riverside, CA.

It was like an after thought that this BLOG was made. We were already preparing to leave when discussion turned to our website which is about to disappear. It was suggested to look for a possible new MEDICUS website, because members decides not to renew with the current provider. I said why not a BLOG, it is free and we can tailor made it to our need. Cesar said that since it is my suggestion why not I made one. We have our own MEDICUS website based in the Philippines at that time. But some members think that it was too rigid and static. It is only serving us like a bulletin board not interactive. You can put your picture on your message and that's all, no streams, no videos, etc. It does not even save our messages but would be deleted after a while (i think based on a certain limit). The plan was to make this site our temporary one until we have our own website again.

I do not know how to do a blog then, but I surfed the Internet and inquired how. I got home before 12:00 midnight after dropping off Edwin to his house at that time. Fired up my laptop and by 12:40 am I have made the first BLOG. Due to the dizziness caused by wine and beer from the gathering at that time, that apparently was delayed by my metabolism. I totally forgot the sign in name and password, up to this time. The first BLOG that I made is still up and the first post was timed at 12:44 AM and the 2nd one was at 1:07 AM posted on November 5, 2007 (you can see it here). Right after the time that I cannot open the first BLOG that I did. I made a second one, this BLOG. One year later this temporary site is still ticking and is now a year old. The BLOG has evolve and is evolving, as parts were added to satisy our need and to see if it works for us. It now has a video part powered by youTube, a stream from Flickr, Gallery from smugmug, chatbox, shoutouts, logbook, link list, flash feeds and URL feeds. Each one contribute to what we perceived as our need. It serves as a publication and a hangout for members to reminisced old times and join others in celebrating the new. It introduced old members to new ones and to each others family and updated in our current situations and whereabouts.

With this site we found some of our brods and sis that have lost communication with the group for years (i was really surprised when vince wrote on our BLOG logbook). I personally become aware of some members through the existence of the BLOG. I've known and met some Brods and Sis that I could not possibly know. I also made connections with some brods and sis that I have lost communication with. Every time we found one member or made connection with one, I thought that the effort that was put into the site is worth every minute of it. Every time someone appreciate the existence of the BLOG in one way or another, I got the feeling that it is worth continuing. Our MEDICUS BLOG contribute to why there were more members that met each other this past reunion at Riverside, some were even out of state. I enjoyed making the site and maintaining it, though I need help. I need materials to post and information about the members, old news and current situations. For the reason that ideas do run out. I hope someone will provide that info like Mabel did.

All in all, it is a productive year for the BLOG. I hope it will continue, for it serves its purpose well. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEDICUS BLOG.

For the members who appreciate the BLOG,

THANK YOU.

agp

All Saint's Day

All Saints' Day (also called All Hallows or Hallowmas), often shortened to All Saints, is a feast celebrated on November 1 in Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity in honour of all the saints, known and unknown.

In terms of Western Christian theology, the feast commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in heaven. Specifically, in the Roman Catholic Church, the next day, All Souls' Day, commemorates the departed faithful who have not yet been purified and reached heaven

Among Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics, All Saints Sunday (Greek: Αγίων Πάντων, Agiōn Pantōn), follows the ancient tradition of commemorating all saints collectively on the first Sunday after Pentecost.

The feast of All Saints achieved great prominence in the ninth century, in the reign of the Byzantine Emperor, Leo VI "the Wise" (886–911). His wife, Empress Theophano—commemorated on December 16—lived a devout life. After her death, her husband built a church, intending to dedicate it to her. When he was forbidden to do so, he decided to dedicate it to "All Saints," so that if his wife were in fact one of the righteous, she would also be honored whenever the feast was celebrated. According to tradition, it was Leo who expanded the feast from a commemoration of All Martyrs to a general commemoration of All Saints, whether martyrs or not.

The Western Christian holiday of All Saints Day falls on November 1, followed by All Souls' Day on November 2, and is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Latin Rite Roman Catholic Church.
The origin of the festival of All Saints as celebrated in the West dates to May 13, 609 or 610, when Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Pantheon at Rome to the Blessed Virgin and all the martyrs; the feast of the dedicatio Sanctae Mariae ad Martyres has been celebrated at Rome ever since. The chosen day, May 13, was a pagan observation of great antiquity, the culmination of three days of the Feast of the Lemures, in which the malevolent and restless spirits of the dead were propitiated. Medieval liturgiologists based the idea that this Lemuria festival was the origin of that of All Saints on their identical dates and on the similar theme of "all the dead".

The feast of All Saints, on its current date, is traced to the foundation by Pope Gregory III (731–741) of an oratory in St. Peter's for the relics "of the holy apostles and of all saints, martyrs and confessors, of all the just made perfect who are at rest throughout the world", with the day moved to November 1.

This usually fell within a few weeks of the Celtic holiday of Samhain, which had a theme similar to that of Lemuria, but which was also a harvest festival. The Irish, whose holiday Samhain had been, did not celebrate All Hallows Day on this November 1 date, as extant historical documents attest that the celebration in Ireland took place in the spring: "...the Felire of Oengus and the 'Martyrology of Tallaght' prove that the early medieval churches [in Ireland] celebrated the feast of All Saints on April 20."

A November festival of all the saints was already widely celebrated on November 1 in the days of Charlemagne. It was made a day of obligation throughout the Frankish empire in 835, by a decree of Louis the Pious, issued "at the instance of Pope Gregory IV and with the assent of all the bishops", which confirmed its celebration on November 1. The octave was added by Pope Sixtus IV (1471—1484).

Pope Gregory IV standardized the date of All Saints' Day, or All Hallows' Day, on November 1 in the name of the entire Western Church in 837. As the Church day began at sunset, the holiday coincided exactly with Samhain. It is claimed that the choice of date was consistent with the common practice of leaving pagan festivals and buildings intact (e.g., the Pantheon) while overlaying a Christian meaning; however, no reliable documentation indicates such a motivation in this case. While the Celts might have been content to move All Saints' Day from their own previous date of April 20, the rest of the world celebrating it on May 13, it is speculated without evidence that they were unwilling to give up their pre-existing autumn festival of the dead and continued to celebrate Samhain.

The festival was retained after the Reformation in the calendar of the Anglican Church and in many Lutheran churches. In the Lutheran churches, such as the Church of Sweden, it assumes a role of general commemoration of the dead. In the Swedish calendar, the observance takes place on the Saturday between October 31 and November 6. In many Lutheran Churches, it is moved to the first Sunday of November. It is also celebrated by other Protestants of the English tradition, such as the United Church of Canada and the Wesleyan Church.

In the United Methodist Church, All Saint's Day is on the first Sunday in November. It is held to remember all those that have passed away from the local church congregation. A candle is lit by the Acolyte as each person's name is called out. Then, a liturgical prayer is offered for each soul in Heaven.

Brods and Sis sa Pilipinas ang All Saint's Day ay araw ng mga buhay. Lahat ay nag uuwian sa kanilang mga katutubong lugar at nag tutulos ng kandila sa kanilang mga yumaong mga mahal sa buhay. Nag kikita kita ang mga mag ka-kamaganak sabay handa ng pagkain at inuman sa sementeryo. Sa mga uuwi ingat kayo, at mag enjoy sa holiday na ito.