Use the Force...

Just got this test from Mike's blog. :p

Cool! I have the same saber as Mace Windu's...



You have a Purple Lightsaber.

Purple is associated with wisdom, dignity,
independence, creativity, mystery, and magic.
Purple denotes high spirituality and religious
aspiration. Purple also represents Peacefulness
and Purification. It also has a sense of
intuitive understanding and a feeling of
intimacy with the world.


What Colored Lightsaber Would You Have?
brought to you by Quizilla

That's Entertainment...

There are two issues I saw last weekend that really caught my attention. This is not because I was really affected by the news, but because of their surprising similarity in terms of effect on their audience, particularly me. These news were: a) Another rumors of coup attempt, and b) Kris’ marriage to Purefoods cager James Yap.

Last weekend (actually even up to today), news about a coup plot by middle-aged military soldiers are unraveling, following the recent jueteng scandals involving the first gentleman, the Presidential son, and the Presidential brother-in-law and official fall-guy, Iggy Arroyo. Now, another new issue has been revealed about a tape containing alleged conversations of the President and a COMELEC Commissioner, which makes the situations worse. These, according to military assets, are the reasons behind the coup plot.

On the other hand, Kris Aquino is, once again, planning to marry former UE Warriors and current Purefoods clutch man Jame Yap. They got together in May, and after a month of dating, they finally decided (?!) to tie the knot. So far, Kris has revealed the plan via her weekly talk show “The Buzz,” however, James Yap has not been available for comment since then. They plan to marry on February 2006.

Two issues with totally different genres. One is highly political, the other is highly… Showbiz. What caught my attention is their apparent similarities. Let me elaborate:

First, both issues lack credibility. After a series of corruption scandals from top military officials (read: Garcia, Ligot, Rabusa, et. al.); followed by sex scandals and shoplifting news of one top PMA graduate; plus the P19 million sidewalk beautification project of Camp Aguinaldo and the Boracay Resort project, the public lost confidence on the AFP. Thus, if ever we have a coup attempt in the offing, I don’t think it will elicit enough public support to overthrow the government. Not yet, that is. Coup plots have already been in the political arena since the public dethrone the military from power during the EDSA I revolution. And naturally, those who once had power want their power back. Nothing new in this scene.

The same goes for Kris Aquino. I think this lady is just born to love. She just loved everyone that has been linked to her. And I think she has loved everyone of them so much, she always planned of marrying them. From Eric Quizon, to Philip Salvador, to Robin Padilla, to Mark Lapid, to James Yap. As far as I know, they all planned to marry Kris. Or is it the other way around? Just last year, Kris jokingly said in “The Buzz,” saying “Baka next year (that means 2005), Mrs. Lapid na ako.” Now, at 2005, no Mrs. Lapids were transformed, only a future Mrs. Yap by next year… Again.

Second, both issues lack depth. The military is so compulsive on acting towards issues that affect the current Presidency, making their actions futile. Personally, I think their actions lack timing. You cannot attempt a coup when your credibility is at an all-time low. Unlike in other countries, public support is very much needed in order to succeed in any action in the Philippines.

Kris, on the other hand, has been an impulsive talker on screen. That is the reason why she has been in many controversies before. And now, she has said another one. She doesn’t seem to think before acting.

Third, both issues are sellout. I think I don’t need to elaborate on this matter.

Finally, I think both issues will not prosper or succeed. It will just come and hit the headlines, but they will eventually die down. Who believes that Kris would marry, anyway? Well, maybe I am just skeptic in these two issues.

There may be other reasons why I linked Kris with the Military uprising. The bottom line of my entry today is that news can always be a source of entertainment. You want political entertainment, turn on the front pages. You want pure entertainment, you switch to showbiz.

It is just sad to note that these are just few of the shallow headliners that often capture the front pages of newspapers today. If we look closer, there are no front page news on the development aspect, or new legislation, or anything that could uplift the morale of the Filipino people. We dwell so much on politicking, bickering, mudslinging, and war-mongering. People, especially those in power, seem to forget the real problems that beset the Philippine society. The problem, in fact, is them…

I have nothing against Kris Aquino or the military, I just made them an example to send my message across…

Ayan, nagpakarelevant na naman ako…

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Trivia trivia

Did you know: Eddie Gil ran for Senator in 2001 before he ran for President in 2004. In both instances, he posted the lowest votes.

First Day Funk

Naaastigan lang ako sa kantang ito... It just gives students the right vibe towards school.

Malungkot lang kasi naging sell-out. Ginamit pa sa commercial ng isang pampabango ng kili-kili... Pero ayos na rin.

This is dedicated to all you freshies, newbies, and others who are raring to be funky in school.
This one goes out to my brother Jazer who, at grade six, is a newbie in his school, St. Anne de Beaupre. He just transferred...

First Day Funk

Let’s do the funk
Let’s do the first day funk

First day of school dapat cool na cool!
Mas cool pa sa tubig ng swimming pool!
Dapat talaga maganda na agad ang pasok
Pagpasok mo ng classroom, dapat umuusok!

Wag na wag kang mapapraning!
Sagot kita! diretso ang tingin!
Di dapat maatat na mapansin,
Kahit hot lahat, dapat “chill” pa rin!
Hinding hindi yumuyuko, kahit na nakaupo!
Di ko sinasabi na dapat maging mayabang.
Pero dapat di ka “mahiyain na halaman”
Confidence chong, lakas loob!
Wag na wag kang patataob
Kahit sa tapat ng maganda mong kakalase!
Mas lalo na sa prof mong mukhang
Salbahe!…dance!

Let’s do the funk
Let’s do the first day funk

Refrain

Itaas ang kamay, iwagayway
Salute the prof at sabay kaway…
Mag-classmate high-5 lang kayo
Now don’t be shy, kwela skwela ‘to
Just raise your hand kung may sagot
If you don’t know the answer, eh di lagot!
Just erase the board, at magsayaw
Lagyan ng funk ang pag-galaw – sayaw!

Let’s do the funk
Let’s do the first day funk

May dumating na isang babae!
Sobrang “hottie” na ka-klase,
Sya’y lumapit at nag “hi”
Ako nama’y napakaway…
“akala ko ako ang kanyang kinakawayan at hindi ko inakala na ang nasa likuran!”
Kahit na napahiya, hindi ako kinakabahan!
Wala na tong ibang mapupuntahan… sayaw

Let’s do the funk
Let’s do the first day funk

(repeat refrain)

Let’s do the funk
Let’s do the first day
There are many ways to do the funk. Enjoy school while it lasts...
I miss hanging out in hallways.
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Trivia, trivia: Lim Eng Beng is the first La Sallian to retire his jersey from the Green Archers.
At present he coaches the Chang Kai Shek High School Basketball Team.

Exodus...

I thought I will never be affected of our parting. But in a way, I was…

Today, a good friend and kababata of mine just migrated to Toronto, Canada. His name’s Victor. To friends, he is VP. He was my childhood buddy: jolens, teks, g.i. joe, family computer, SEGA Megadrive, Super NES and Playstation playmate… I met him around 16 years ago. He was more than a next-door neighbor. He is an outstanding, extraordinary friend.

VP wasn’t the first person to leave our village. There was Bodjie and Derek, Luigi, our beloved basketball mentor and financier extraordinaire Kuya Tong, and many others. But what struck me the most with this one is that I lost one of my closest friends in the neighborhood.

Dude, ingat ka diyan. Huwag kang makakalimot. Well, hopefully, you get to visit this site to read this entry… hehehehe…

Well, as what our boss said when our dear officemate Tanya left the office to pursue greener pastures, life is really fleeting. And fast. One minute you’re here, the next day, you’re gone. Oh well. That is how life works…

Everyone seems to be leaving the country. On the average, one friend leaves the country every 3 months... This is not good.

May the Force be with you...

I can’t seem to stop talking about Star Wars Episode III. I watched it at Gateway last Saturday with my fanatic friends who couldn’t seem to talk about something else but the Council, the Force, and of course, the Dark Side.

I am not really a big fan of Star Wars but this episode really struck me. Maybe because this is the only Star Wars episode I watched in big screen. And because it permeated my brain cells too deep, I listed ten realizations after watching episode three:

a. If you believe that doing bad will bring you good, think again, dummy. You might lose your friends, loved one, and limbs and burn in the end. But you’ll live.



b. It is perfectly okay to be small, green and ugly as long as you’re good in sword fighting and speak inverted sentences. “Failed you, I have.”

c. The theory of transitivity doesn’t apply to light saber (should I say flashlight?) fighting.

d. If you’re a terrible fighter, just wait for the next episode and you’ll be better.

e. You may only choose one between the job and the chick.



f. It is totally cool to be burned in flames. You get to wear that fashionable helmet.



g. Never play with electricity. It will make you grow old faster than expected.

h. A hood is an excellent disguise.

i. Robots cough too.

j. If you can't make it to a meeting, send your hologram.

Seriously speaking, what I love about this movie is that it brought closure to the almost 30 years of wait. Not just simply closure like those other clincher movies that let us down (read: Matrix Revolutions), but it gave us a grandiose way of closure. It has successfully shown what viewers needed to see. It did not leave blank anything that needed to be answered. Bravo to George Lucas. Now I need to repeat episodes 4, 5 and 6. I’ve already forgotten those episodes.



May the force be with us all.

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Trivia, trivia: Val Sotto was supposed to be the fourth member of Tito, Vic and Joey. However, he decided to work in another field outside showbiz.

May Entry

I find it difficult nowadays to write about anything. Maybe it is puwe indolence, but lately I can not find the urge to write. In short, medyo tinatamad ako.

Bakit nga ba nakakatamad nang sumulat sa blog? Bakal nag siguro walang topic ngayon na "worth writing."

When I attempt to make an entry, it always ends up on writing about how difficult these times are. Rising oil prices, energy prices, prices of basic commodities, toll fees, transport fares, even taxes. Kawawa ngayon si Juan de la Cruz. Ang piso, malapit nang mapalitan ng mukha from Rizal to Lapu-Lapu. Nagiging isang kusing na lang ang value ng pera.

Ayan, pessimistic na naman.

Pero sige, I'll blurt it all out (pero tempered pa rin baka mabasa ng kung sino, masira ang career path ko).

Tumataas lahat ng presyo at pamasahe, pero ang sahod ko, huindi tumataas. I am not here to ask for a higher salary or minimum wage or anything because I know it will not help. In the first place, and beneficiaries ng minimum wage increase ay masyadong maliit. In short, practically no one abides by the minimum wage law.

What is the solution to these problems? I really don't know.

But I am not trying to be a doomsayer here. In fact, I can see that there is still hope in our present state. Once our leaders discover the real problem, that is when the solving starts. When, that is a big question.

Pardon my rantings, medyo incoherent. Yan ang epekto ng pagkatamad sumulat. Gusto ko lang magkaroon ng May entry...

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265th...

It was a worldwide relief that the Catholic Church has already found a new pope to take the helm of Vatican, and to lead 1.1 billion Catholics worldwide (myself included). After the second casting of votes of the 117-man conclave, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, 78, was elected the new Holy Father. This was recorded as one of the shortest conclaves in the history of the Catholic Church.

He is Cardinal Ratzinger no more. Hail to thee, Pope Benedict XVI.

I will post Pope Benedict's XVI translated homily during the funeral mass of our beloved John Paul II. It is a very good read and reflection piece. Taken this from Cardinal Ratzinger's fansite (to my surprise, even Cardinals have fansites!). Here goes:

Cardinal Ratzinger's Homily at John Paul II's Funeral Mass

"He Roused Us From a Lethargic Faith"

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 8, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the homily Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger gave at John Paul II's funeral Mass today in St. Peter's Square.

* * *

"Follow me." The Risen Lord says these words to Peter. They are his last words to this disciple, chosen to shepherd his flock. "Follow me" -- this lapidary saying of Christ can be taken as the key to understanding the message which comes to us from the life of our late beloved Pope John Paul II. Today we bury his remains in the earth as a seed of immortality -- our hearts are full of sadness, yet at the same time of joyful hope and profound gratitude.

These are the sentiments that inspire us, brothers and sisters in Christ, present here in St. Peter's Square, in neighboring streets and in various other locations within the city of Rome, where an immense crowd, silently praying, has gathered over the last few days. I greet all of you from my heart. In the name of the College of Cardinals, I also wish to express my respects to heads of state, heads of government and the delegations from various countries.

I greet the authorities and official representatives of other Churches and Christian Communities, and likewise those of different religions. Next I greet the archbishops, bishops, priests, religious men and women and the faithful who have come here from every continent; especially the young, whom John Paul II liked to call the future and the hope of the Church. My greeting is extended, moreover, to all those throughout the world who are united with us through radio and television in this solemn celebration of our beloved Holy Father's funeral.

Follow me -- as a young student Karol Wojtyla was thrilled by literature, the theater and poetry. Working in a chemical plant, surrounded and threatened by the Nazi terror, he heard the voice of the Lord: Follow me! In this extraordinary setting he began to read books of philosophy and theology, and then entered the clandestine seminary established by Cardinal Sapieha. After the war he was able to complete his studies in the faculty of theology of the Jagiellonian University of Krakow.

How often, in his letters to priests and in his autobiographical books, has he spoken to us about his priesthood, to which he was ordained on November 1, 1946. In these texts he interprets his priesthood with particular reference to three sayings of the Lord.

First: "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain" (John 15:16). The second saying is: "A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11). And then: "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love" (John 15:9). In these three sayings we see the heart and soul of our Holy Father. He really went everywhere, untiringly, in order to bear fruit, fruit that lasts.

"Rise, Let Us Be on Our Way!" is the title of his next-to-last book. "Rise, let us be on our way!" -- with these words he roused us from a lethargic faith, from the sleep of the disciples of both yesterday and today. "Rise, let us be on our way!" he continues to say to us even today. The Holy Father was a priest to the last, for he offered his life to God for his flock and for the entire human family, in a daily self-oblation for the service of the Church, especially amid the sufferings of his final months. And in this way he became one with Christ, the Good Shepherd who loves his sheep.

Finally, "abide in my love": The Pope who tried to meet everyone, who had an ability to forgive and to open his heart to all, tells us once again today, with these words of the Lord, that by abiding in the love of Christ we learn, at the school of Christ, the art of true love.

Follow me! In July 1958, the young priest Karol Wojtyla began a new stage in his journey with the Lord and in the footsteps of the Lord. Karol had gone to the Masuri lakes for his usual vacation, along with a group of young people who loved canoeing. But he brought with him a letter inviting him to call on the primate of Poland, Cardinal Wyszynski. He could guess the purpose of the meeting: He was to be appointed as the auxiliary bishop of Krakow.

Leaving the academic world, leaving this challenging engagement with young people, leaving the great intellectual endeavor of striving to understand and interpret the mystery of that creature which is man and of communicating to today's world the Christian interpretation of our being -- all this must have seemed to him like losing his very self, losing what had become the very human identity of this young priest. Follow me -- Karol Wojtyla accepted the appointment, for he heard in the Church's call the voice of Christ. And then he realized how true are the Lord's words: "Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it" (Luke 17:33).

Our Pope -- and we all know this -- never wanted to make his own life secure, to keep it for himself; he wanted to give of himself unreservedly, to the very last moment, for Christ and thus also for us. And thus he came to experience how everything which he had given over into the Lord's hands, came back to him in a new way. His love of words, of poetry, of literature, became an essential part of his pastoral mission and gave new vitality, new urgency, new attractiveness to the preaching of the Gospel, even when it is a sign of contradiction.

Follow me! In October 1978, Cardinal Wojtyla once again heard the voice of the Lord. Once more there took place that dialogue with Peter reported in the Gospel of this Mass: "Simon, son of John, do you love me? Feed my sheep!" To the Lord's question, "Karol, do you love me?" the archbishop of Krakow answered from the depths of his heart: "Lord you know everything; you know that I love you." The love of Christ was the dominant force in the life of our beloved Holy Father. Anyone who ever saw him pray, who ever heard him preach, knows that. Thanks to his being profoundly rooted in Christ, he was able to bear a burden which transcends merely human abilities: that of being the shepherd of Christ's flock, his universal Church.

This is not the time to speak of the specific content of this rich pontificate. I would like only to read two passages of today's liturgy which reflect central elements of his message. In the first reading, St. Peter says -- and with St. Peter, the Pope himself -- "In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. You know the word (that) he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all" (Acts 10:34-36). And in the second reading, St. Paul -- and with St. Paul, our late Pope -- exhorts us, crying out: "Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved" (Philippians 4:1).

Follow me! Together with the command to feed his flock, Christ proclaimed to Peter that he would die a martyr's death. With those words, which conclude and sum up the dialogue on love and on the mandate of the universal shepherd, the Lord recalls another dialogue, which took place during the Last Supper. There Jesus had said: "Where I am going, you cannot come." Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied: "Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow me afterward" (John 13:33,36). Jesus from the Supper went toward the Cross, went toward his resurrection -- he entered into the paschal mystery; and Peter could not yet follow him. Now -- after the resurrection -- comes the time, comes this "afterward."

By shepherding the flock of Christ, Peter enters into the paschal mystery, he goes toward the cross and the resurrection. The Lord says this in these words: "when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go" (John 21:18).

In the first years of his pontificate, still young and full of energy, the Holy Father went to the very ends of the earth, guided by Christ. But afterward, he increasingly entered into the communion of Christ's sufferings; increasingly he understood the truth of the words: "someone else will dress you." And in this very communion with the suffering Lord, tirelessly and with renewed intensity, he proclaimed the Gospel, the mystery of that love which goes to the end (cf. John 13:1).

He interpreted for us the paschal mystery as a mystery of divine mercy. In his last book, he wrote: The limit imposed upon evil "is ultimately Divine Mercy" ("Memory and Identity," pp. 60- 61). And reflecting on the assassination attempt, he said: "In sacrificing himself for us all, Christ gave a new meaning to suffering, opening up a new dimension, a new order: the order of love. ... It is this suffering which burns and consumes evil with the flame of love and draws forth even from sin a great flowering of good" (pp. 189-190). Impelled by this vision, the Pope suffered and loved in communion with Christ, and that is why the message of his suffering and his silence proved so eloquent and so fruitful.

Divine Mercy: the Holy Father found the purest reflection of God's mercy in the Mother of God. He, who at an early age had lost his own mother, loved his divine mother all the more. He heard the words of the crucified Lord as addressed personally to him: "Behold your Mother." And so he did as the beloved disciple did: "he took her into his own home" (John 19:27) -- "Totus tuus." And from the mother he learned to conform himself to Christ.

None of us can ever forget how in that last Easter Sunday of his life, the Holy Father, marked by suffering, came once more to the window of the Apostolic Palace and one last time gave his blessing "urbi et orbi." We can be sure that our beloved Pope is standing today at the window of the Father’s house, that he sees us and blesses us. Yes, bless us, Holy Father. We entrust your dear soul to the Mother of God, your Mother, who guided you each day and who will guide you now to the eternal glory of her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

[Original text in Italian; translation issued by Holy See]

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Trivia trivia: Based on my research, it is really not compulsory for a new pope to change his given name. Name changing of popes were more like a tradition (not sacred, though) than a rule. The new pope may always opt to retain his given name. The first pope to change his name was John II (533 A.D.). He changed his name because his given name, Mercury, was taken from a Roman god. He chose John II to honor former Pope John I, whom he admired the most.

A tribute to heroes...

This is a brief entry that simply aims to honor our brethren in the streets who never cease to lend a helping hand in times of trouble.

I was driving home from my lady’s house when my car fell in a deep pothole on Pedro Gil Avenue. Pedro Gil is really famous for its potholes because engineering people there just don’t stop digging. They must be looking for the Yamashita Treasure or something. Anyway, I got stuck in that pothole for a few minutes. I tried to get out but my tires just screeched and I never succeeded.

Luckily, a driver of an FX taxi stuck in traffic I created approached my car and tried to help. He jokingly uttered, “Swak kayo sa butas Sir ah. Marami talagang nabibiktima diyan eh.” Surprisingly, he stepped out of his FX taxi and tried to help me out by pushing my car backwards. I also tried to accelerate backwards while he pushes the car, but it won’t budge because the hole was deeper than we thought. Then suddenly, more men, around 6 or 7, helped out in the pushing. Thanks to them, I managed to get the car out the pothole. It was totally unexpected, and I really appreciate their help.

Bayanihan is far from dead. This culture stays in the Filipino psyche wherever and whenever they may be. Even the most dreadful catastrophe or the most advanced technology could not take this positive trait out of the Filipinos. The incident that occurred to me last Friday just made me realize that it feels good to be in your native country. Because of guys like them, I never give up hoping for a bright future for the Philippines. It is in guys like them that I am proud of being a Filipino. Mabuhay kayo!

Trivia trivia: The movie “Constantine” was based on the comic book “Hellblazer.” The producers decided to change the tile to Constantine so as not to mix it up with the movie “Hellraiser.”

Eyesore on Philippine TV

As I was watching my favorite Sunday noon time program SOP (trivia: SOP means Sobrang Okey Pare. But now, the network uses it as an acronym for seasonal tag lines such as “Summer’s Only Party,” etc.), I was surprised to see performer KEITH MARTIN onstage with Ogie Alcasid and Kyla. I thought he already left the country for good after staying off the limelight for quite some time.

But no. Keith Martin never left the country since performing on a major concert at the Araneta Coliseum (I think) about a year or two ago (or is it three?). I thought after months of vacation and partying in the posh streets of Manila, he got tired of the slow and third world life in the Philippines and decided to leave for his homeland… But nah. He lingered. He stayed. I heard he even purchased a condominium unit in a luxurious residence site in Makati.

I also hear that he still performs weekly in some five-star hotels and casinos in Manila and other Metropolitan cities. And he has this VJ girlfriend. In fact, I saw this couple around December last year at Greenbelt 3. My lady and I took the shabby taxi cab they rode on the way. Even the taxi driver was surprised to have Mr. “Because of You” as his passenger that evening.

Does he have the necessary papers? I recall that sometime last year, a reporter from ABS-CBN attempted an ambush interview with our “overstaying” foreign performer. All she received were skirts and kilts, and she never really got the answers she needed. And as an icing on the cake, Martin even made derogatory remarks about the reporter’s line of questioning. He even called the entire interview “stupid,” if I recall correctly. What a way to pay back the people that resurrected his career.

I was appalled to see him around in shows and other programs in local TV. I have to admit that his song “Because of You” became the national anthem of Filipino lovers because we are natural suckers to melodrama and romance. However, after a few months of making to the top of the Filipino music charts, economically speaking, there was a diminishing marginal utility for the song once it is aired and heard over and over again. The enthusiasm for the song slowly waned, and eventually diminished. And after multiple revivals from the country’s best singers (e.g. Jed Maddela, Kyla), I think his version has already been forgotten.

His attempts for a follow up were rather futile. He made a follow up album, but I don’t think it even reached platinum in record sales. His second single did not touch the hearts of Filipino romanticizers the same way Because of You did. Even in the Philippines, he is a familiar “one-hit-wonder.”

I really don’t know what his plans are in the country, but I do believe that he does not deserve as much attention as the other premier native vocalizers. In fairness, Keith Martin has a wonderful voice, but that is not a reason for him to stay in the country longer than expected. Are the immigration officials into this?

This just reflects our negative culture of colonial mentality in the arts. Even though his music was hit several years ago, Keith Martin’s presence was embraced by Filipinos by the mere fact that he is foreign. He was not the first one to do it on Philippine soil. Remember David Pomeranz? And the latest: the Cascades?! They capitalize on nostalgia and Western appeal just to revive their already forgotten careers. What hurts more is that we Filipinos get to pay them their value centuries ago even if their value in their native homeland is nil at present time.

Well, the bottom line is I don’t know why he is still here…

Farewell to thee...

,

Let me offer this entry to our beloved Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla), who passed away at around 3:47 a.m. Sunday, 3 April 2005 (Philippine Time).

A certified record holder for being the most traveled, not to mention the most approachable, loved and omnipresent Pope, truly he has touched the lives of billions of people, even Non-Christians.

Truly he will remain in the hearts and minds of Christians wherever they may be.

John Paul II, thanks for the wisdom, strength and love you've shown us in your 26 years of Papacy.

Now, you are with God...