July 2017 Core Group Additional Pics
Here are some more additional photos taken by our resident photographer and new core group member Madelyn G. Caadan. She will also start doing a fan page for the group very soon and we're excited to see it. Infinite gratitude to all of us who are doing our share for MPAI and infinte healing to our Kuya Toots Fungo. May Peace Prevail On Earth! :-)
July 2017 Core Group meeting in Quezon City
After such a long while, we were again able to see our beloved MPAI president and friend Mario "Toots" Fungo who suffered a liver ailment since March of this year. He is feeling much better now but still needs to recuperate until September because we will participate in the International Day of Peace at La Salette in Cavite.
In our lunch meeting at ISIS Women's Center last July 16, we again talked about the different groups that we would like to give a mandala writing workshop. For this July, we would like to talk to the Columban Priest in Malate. We also would like to talk to a barangay official there and also the school. If there is still some more time this month, we would like to give a Mandala writing workshop for Jake's Zen meditation students somewhere in Katipunan. We can probably accommodate his students in Timog maybe next month. Lastly, Gabby and Jake can talk to the curator at Ali Mall to continue planning for the Mandala Exhibit within the year and conduct a Mandala writing workshop with their NGO for the Bilibid prisoners in Muntinlupa and also for the children in conflict with the law in Rizal. Jake also would like to give a Mandala writing workshop next month at La Salle, Taft.
With regards to the new Mandala writing paper, we noticed that the mandala is printed on a regular bond size paper and it has more concentric circles than the old ones. Surely the workshop participants can finish their mandala much longer than usual.
About giving the Mandala writing workshop for the Bilibid prisoners and the children with conflict with the law, Jake suggested to hold a zen meditation first so there will be peace in their minds first and focus on what is still positive and good in their lives. Actually, we all need to focus on what is positive in our lives so we will have the energy to strengthen us through out the day. Madelyn, one of our newest members, suggested to make a FB Fan page for the group. Gabby seconded the idea and recommended Madelyn to be its administrator. Madelyn will also make a new e-mail address for this new fanpage account and all MPAI members will have access to it.
After praying as a group and performing the divinity in, we enjoyed merienda together at Little Quiapo which is actually near to our meeting venue. May Peace Prevail On Earth.
In our lunch meeting at ISIS Women's Center last July 16, we again talked about the different groups that we would like to give a mandala writing workshop. For this July, we would like to talk to the Columban Priest in Malate. We also would like to talk to a barangay official there and also the school. If there is still some more time this month, we would like to give a Mandala writing workshop for Jake's Zen meditation students somewhere in Katipunan. We can probably accommodate his students in Timog maybe next month. Lastly, Gabby and Jake can talk to the curator at Ali Mall to continue planning for the Mandala Exhibit within the year and conduct a Mandala writing workshop with their NGO for the Bilibid prisoners in Muntinlupa and also for the children in conflict with the law in Rizal. Jake also would like to give a Mandala writing workshop next month at La Salle, Taft.
With regards to the new Mandala writing paper, we noticed that the mandala is printed on a regular bond size paper and it has more concentric circles than the old ones. Surely the workshop participants can finish their mandala much longer than usual.
About giving the Mandala writing workshop for the Bilibid prisoners and the children with conflict with the law, Jake suggested to hold a zen meditation first so there will be peace in their minds first and focus on what is still positive and good in their lives. Actually, we all need to focus on what is positive in our lives so we will have the energy to strengthen us through out the day. Madelyn, one of our newest members, suggested to make a FB Fan page for the group. Gabby seconded the idea and recommended Madelyn to be its administrator. Madelyn will also make a new e-mail address for this new fanpage account and all MPAI members will have access to it.
After praying as a group and performing the divinity in, we enjoyed merienda together at Little Quiapo which is actually near to our meeting venue. May Peace Prevail On Earth.
June 2017 Core Group Meeting at Buddy's Resto in Quezon City
After several months, the core group again met to experience zen meditation, to have lunch together and talk about the SOPP and MPAI's plans for the coming months.
We started the day experiencing the peaceful zen meditation facilitated by one of our core group members Jake Batoon. He said that Zen meditation or "Zazen" is a coming home to oneself or being one with ourselves. In this experience, we are made aware of what is happening within us and around us. This is why we keep our eyes half open and half closed. Breathing is also important. As we breath in, we accept everything specially the good things and as we exhale we release the bad things. Although Zen Meditation is associated with Buddhism, other people from different religions can practice this because Meditation is like praying and acknowledging the divine in us.
Two MPAI core group members were able to participate in this meditation and they are Gabby Medina and Oscar Ejercito. Another Zen meditation can be scheduled soon so that other MPAI members who failed to join this can join the next zen meditation. Too bad we were not able to take pictures because we were also the participants so I'll just show here some pics from the internet.
Before we concluded the zen meditation, we prayed the four great aspirations and I'll share this here. "Creations are innumerable, I resolve to free them all. Delusions are inexhaustible, I resolve to extinguish them all. The aspects of truth are countless, I resolve to learn and master them all. The way to enlightenment is peerless, I resolve to accomplish it." Some people think or believe that enlightenment is only for the Buddha but enlightenment is in fact for everyone. We just have to love. If we love ourselves and people around us, we shall have joy. If we have joy that can only come from God then we shall have peace. If we have peace then we are already enlightened.
After zazen, we enjoyed a nice meal at Buddy's resto along Timog, Quezon city. We also talked about the SOPP and our plans for MPAI. Jake wasn't able to attend the SOPP because he wasn't always online but he was happy that Gabby and Oscar pulled it off with the help of Peace Maker's circle in such short time. He also promised to help give mandala writing workshop if we work with him according to his free schedule. We also need a new supply of Mandala papers from Byakko Shinko kai because the mandala papers that we have were already used. Once we have the mandala writing papers, we can already schedule the groups for the workshop.
Rocky was able to join us during lunch and took a photo of us so that he can share it with us and Kuya Toots. So far we have identified three groups for the workshop namely the group led by the Columban priest, prisoners of Muntinlupa and the children with conflict with the law. We will also print the brochure and continue on with the film-making about how to do a Mandala writing. Hopefully we shall get a budget for this soon. Regarding budget, Gabby gave an honorarium to Oscar for facilitating the Taichi meditation during the SOPP. The money came from Toots. An honorarium was also given to Madelyn, who was not able to attend, for taking pictures during the SOPP and uploading them in facebook. Jake suggested that the divinity in should also be performed to the participants of the Mandala writing workshop to set the atmosphere or mood before starting mandala writing. Gabby added that the meanings of the action prayer should also be shared. After the lunch meeting, Jake went ahead to attend another meeting. Minutes after, Mitch, Gabby's wife, arrived and join in the discussion. Kuya Toots, in a way, was there with us through Rocky because he also gave suggestions through text.
May Peace Prevail On Earth! Until our next meeting. God bless everyone! :-)
We started the day experiencing the peaceful zen meditation facilitated by one of our core group members Jake Batoon. He said that Zen meditation or "Zazen" is a coming home to oneself or being one with ourselves. In this experience, we are made aware of what is happening within us and around us. This is why we keep our eyes half open and half closed. Breathing is also important. As we breath in, we accept everything specially the good things and as we exhale we release the bad things. Although Zen Meditation is associated with Buddhism, other people from different religions can practice this because Meditation is like praying and acknowledging the divine in us.
Two MPAI core group members were able to participate in this meditation and they are Gabby Medina and Oscar Ejercito. Another Zen meditation can be scheduled soon so that other MPAI members who failed to join this can join the next zen meditation. Too bad we were not able to take pictures because we were also the participants so I'll just show here some pics from the internet.
Before we concluded the zen meditation, we prayed the four great aspirations and I'll share this here. "Creations are innumerable, I resolve to free them all. Delusions are inexhaustible, I resolve to extinguish them all. The aspects of truth are countless, I resolve to learn and master them all. The way to enlightenment is peerless, I resolve to accomplish it." Some people think or believe that enlightenment is only for the Buddha but enlightenment is in fact for everyone. We just have to love. If we love ourselves and people around us, we shall have joy. If we have joy that can only come from God then we shall have peace. If we have peace then we are already enlightened.
After zazen, we enjoyed a nice meal at Buddy's resto along Timog, Quezon city. We also talked about the SOPP and our plans for MPAI. Jake wasn't able to attend the SOPP because he wasn't always online but he was happy that Gabby and Oscar pulled it off with the help of Peace Maker's circle in such short time. He also promised to help give mandala writing workshop if we work with him according to his free schedule. We also need a new supply of Mandala papers from Byakko Shinko kai because the mandala papers that we have were already used. Once we have the mandala writing papers, we can already schedule the groups for the workshop.
Rocky was able to join us during lunch and took a photo of us so that he can share it with us and Kuya Toots. So far we have identified three groups for the workshop namely the group led by the Columban priest, prisoners of Muntinlupa and the children with conflict with the law. We will also print the brochure and continue on with the film-making about how to do a Mandala writing. Hopefully we shall get a budget for this soon. Regarding budget, Gabby gave an honorarium to Oscar for facilitating the Taichi meditation during the SOPP. The money came from Toots. An honorarium was also given to Madelyn, who was not able to attend, for taking pictures during the SOPP and uploading them in facebook. Jake suggested that the divinity in should also be performed to the participants of the Mandala writing workshop to set the atmosphere or mood before starting mandala writing. Gabby added that the meanings of the action prayer should also be shared. After the lunch meeting, Jake went ahead to attend another meeting. Minutes after, Mitch, Gabby's wife, arrived and join in the discussion. Kuya Toots, in a way, was there with us through Rocky because he also gave suggestions through text.
May Peace Prevail On Earth! Until our next meeting. God bless everyone! :-)
February 2017 Core Group Meeting at ISIS Women's Center
We again discussed this month about our plans for our group Mandala Peace Arts Initiative and also to submit our annual registration to our mother group Byakko Shinko Kai. We started of course by having lunch together.
After lunch, we filled out the registration forms and take pictures to be placed in the forms. Aside from the forms, we also talked about our activities. One of them is learning the Divinity In. Starting this April, we shall be learning the divinity in and other action prayers on a Sunday morning then after lunch, we will continue on with the core group meeting. We shall also continue on giving mandala writing workshops either at ISIS Women's Center in Quezon City or in another place. This is a form of outreach program so we must invite people to join this free workshop. As for the SOPP or Symphony of Peace Prayers, Mario "Toots" Fungo will continue to talk with key people like Sr. Marieta of St. Paul's College and also Marites of Peace Makers Circle. Also within April is the international day for healing. Our group will also attend this.
Gabby, a resident artist and member of the core group also reported his meeting with Mr. Simoun Balboa of Sining Kamalig. We are planning to come up with a group exhibit showing Mandala writings at Sining Kamalig which is an art gallery located at Ali Mall in Cubao. There might be a need to solicit money to fund for materials and framing of mandala artworks for exhibit either this coming June or early July. Oscar and Gio can help facilitate in giving a mandala writing workshop to bilibid inmates in Muntinlupa. After the workshop, bilibid inmates can also join in the exhibit. Maybe half will be occupied by them and half will be occupied by our group. There will be some for sale and some not for sale but for exhibit only. Details will be iron out this coming March. Also this coming March, Toots will be in Olongapo for a workshop. We will also be attending a book launching event at Ateneo.
After the meeting, we prayed for our friends, for our group and for our country as well. After the divinity in, we still have time for picture taking. May Peace Prevail on Earth.
After lunch, we filled out the registration forms and take pictures to be placed in the forms. Aside from the forms, we also talked about our activities. One of them is learning the Divinity In. Starting this April, we shall be learning the divinity in and other action prayers on a Sunday morning then after lunch, we will continue on with the core group meeting. We shall also continue on giving mandala writing workshops either at ISIS Women's Center in Quezon City or in another place. This is a form of outreach program so we must invite people to join this free workshop. As for the SOPP or Symphony of Peace Prayers, Mario "Toots" Fungo will continue to talk with key people like Sr. Marieta of St. Paul's College and also Marites of Peace Makers Circle. Also within April is the international day for healing. Our group will also attend this.
Gabby, a resident artist and member of the core group also reported his meeting with Mr. Simoun Balboa of Sining Kamalig. We are planning to come up with a group exhibit showing Mandala writings at Sining Kamalig which is an art gallery located at Ali Mall in Cubao. There might be a need to solicit money to fund for materials and framing of mandala artworks for exhibit either this coming June or early July. Oscar and Gio can help facilitate in giving a mandala writing workshop to bilibid inmates in Muntinlupa. After the workshop, bilibid inmates can also join in the exhibit. Maybe half will be occupied by them and half will be occupied by our group. There will be some for sale and some not for sale but for exhibit only. Details will be iron out this coming March. Also this coming March, Toots will be in Olongapo for a workshop. We will also be attending a book launching event at Ateneo.
After the meeting, we prayed for our friends, for our group and for our country as well. After the divinity in, we still have time for picture taking. May Peace Prevail on Earth.
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