I am very grateful that the community is actively helping my #princess2015la travel to her future college. Her parents are actively saving already for her college funds.
I am crying again as I am touched by the feedback that I am getting – the young Filipino-Americans, busy parents, and elderly are enjoying eating this #iylagranola with their #greekstyleyogurt and #freshfruits.
Since 2007, when I experienced a healing miracle after feeling like I would die in Baybay, Leyte, but for God’s hand plus the healing mind, heart, and spirit of VSU’s Dr. Elwin Jay Yu and the staff of VSU, headed by Dr. Joe Bacusmo at that time with Rosa Ophelia D. Velarde who visited me while at VSU infirmary, and my husband walking miles to purchase my prescriptions, I made a promise to God to attend Simbang Gabi masses for 9 days.
I have kept that promise by attending masses for a decade at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in East Hollywood, then headed by Fr. Rodel G. Balagtas, who warmly welcomed me as a lapsed Catholic. I also attended mass at St. Brendan’s, in 2021 at Incarnation Church in Glendale, for a total of 15 years.
I consider myself now a relevant and active Catholic who offers no judgment to others with different mindsets.
Last night at dinner, my precious 7yo #princess2015la said: “Don’t say that, Grandpa, that hurts Grandma’s feelings. Someone told me not to believe in the ‘magic of this,’ and that hurt my feelings because I really believed it.”
Wow, she has, even at this young age of 7yo, knows the value of deep respect, which includes beliefs in different perspectives and higher divine energies. She sees all my Santo Nino and Blessed Mother’s statues in my home.
This year, I will try to attend at St. Monica’s on Dec 17 at 7 pm and Dec. 23 at Incarnation at 7 pm, with live streaming masses for the 7 days, as I recover fully from Coronavirus, contracting it mid Nov. before Thanksgiving.
Another factor in my health and wellness journey is vegetable juicing, introduced by Enrique de la Cruz to my family since 2008. That’s 14 years of power juicing plus 10 years of acupuncture, cupping, and massaging by Antonio Whiteley.
Thank you, Lord, for journeying with me and with my village of family and community healers to keep me healthy.
To you all, I give my profound thanks and appreciation! Thank you very much for extending my life from the Visayas to Los Angeles!!
I went to Mexico ( Puebla, Cholula, Taxco and Mexico City) to thank Our Lady of Guadalupe for her intercessions and God’s grace in my life, this November 2022. While at those times I felt undeserved of God’s grace, I clearly remember being uplifted and made to feel love and worthiness.
First miracle
It was decades ago when I was subjected to hyperscrutiny and a disparate toxic workplace in a state public health agency by white male superiors, as the only female person of color in their management ranks. It would have been easy to succumb but fighting a wrong and injustice took personal forbearance and character strength. My beautiful petite friend Ofelia told me to worship, light a candle for those guys making me suffer.
I went one Saturday, cried so much and then a man wearing white shirt, perhaps thin linen, a broad wide trim burro hat and with a distinct smell of combining sampaguita with gardenias approached me. He tapped me on my shoulders and said: “It will get better.” Then, he gave me a prayer card about the Virgin of Guadalupe.
True enough, things got better. I retired, then was asked to be a department’s witness for my superior who was the subject of a discrimination lawsuit by a black female state employee. At that time, upper management had gotten 13 complaints of unfair, disparate treatment.
I agreed to testify in federal district court, even paid for hefty downtown parking fees. My husband questioned me and asked: “Why are you willing to help folks who injured you psychologically on the job?” It was a simple inquiry and my response was: “I am testifying to the truth and for my conscience.”
I appeared in court, armed with my journal. I took daily notes of my management actions because I knew of the culture of fake news, lies, falsehoods, wanton favoritism have led to many unfair actions of dismissal and undeserved promotions.
The defense lawyer questioned me vigorously, at times, misleading and confusing me to trip me up. I survived cross examination. I merely shared the truth.
I was supported by two great men, Lester and Mas who believed in my values of fairness and equity in the workplace and I chose them to be part of my hiring panel.
After I testified, my supervisor prevailed in the lawsuit. He invited me to join the regional staff Christmas party. I felt like a rockstar being hugged by the regional staff. Truth gained many allies within.
Second miracle
A very dear and close family member needed spine surgery. I was too anxious and feeling helpless. I remembered the feeling of solace and comfort after praying before the Virgin of Guadalupe.
I was kneeling down, praying, when some woman tapped me on the shoulder and said to look at the exhibit inside. She said:
“There you will find the original piece of the tilma.” I went inside and couldn’t forget how I felt, comforted and went home with so much hope.
I visited my dear family member at the hospital and in 24 hours, shared with her how I prayed. She was walking already in less than 24 hours.
Third miracle
I got Coronavirus after my pilgrimage to Mexico, as 5 others who came from New Mexico. It might have been the long wait at the airport in Mexico and Houston, over 4 hours.
I couldn’t breathe at night, as I am asthmatic. I took the tilma, blessed by Fr. Joel Bugas for the pilgrims, us. Prior, the pilgrimage group had purchased over 600 healing tilma at cost, then blessed after.
I simply placed it on top of my chest, and for 2 nights, slept well.
After 11 days, I tested negative. I would wake up with bloody nose, which scared me.
Last night, I said another prayer and slept with the tilma on my chest. I woke up this morning with cleared sinuses and no bloody nose.
I wrote this not to convince you, not to persuade you, but to share my truths and express publicly my gratitude to Mama Mary.
Thank you Virgin of Guadalupe for healing me and my family member. Thank you for giving solace, comfort and hope while I went through my sufferings.
This coming 2023 is quite a special year: my dad would have been 100 years old had he lived – he passed away in 2000; my husband and I will celebrate our 44th wedding anniversary – which we will spend visiting a mission and Monastery of St. Clares – patron saint for my 71st birthday; hubby’s 80th birthday on Bastille Day and the birth of my first grandson #prince2023la and the 8th birthday of my #princess2015la.
Lord, thank you for my open heart that can feel all Your grace and blessings and my eyes that are no longer blind to Your manifested grace.
Cris Liban receives the Henry Michel Award for Industry Advancement of Research with ASCE President Maria Lehman | Photo by Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz
“Society works best when we can take its functions for granted. It works best when we can trust that our personal safety is never in doubt. Trust, often unseen, is indispensable for a healthy, functioning society. And, in the absence of trust, nothing that works can work well.” — Pete Buttigieg, Trust: America’s Best Chance, 2020.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg must have been a prescient forecaster of events when he wrote his book, “Trust: America’s Best Chance.” In it, he described how it took a million tweets from the beginning of 2014 to erode public trust. It took a thorough research paper in 2018 on Russian bot activity in the American Journal of Public Health to describe their findings on Russian trolls’ posts on vaccination. He wrote, “By promoting a cloud of ‘fifty-fifty’ messaging on a matter of settled medical and scientific consensus, the overall effect was to create doubt in the truth. It undermined vaccine science while also serving a broader goal of adding controversy. Russian trolls promoted discord. Accounts masquerading as legitimate users create false equivalency, eroding public consensus on vaccination.”
During two years of a slowed-down economy, most in-person meetings were suspended, with Zoom conferences as the norm. With virtual connections for two years, what happens to a national convention attended by worldwide participants? Will they trust again after being socially isolated from connecting with one another?
Disneyland, where frontline customer service was streamlined and efficient, was the chosen site. From that first encounter, mirrored by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)’s frontline staffers, I found them equally knowledgeable and efficient.
I also recall how decades ago, I would sit behind a Metro bus and literally curse it for its emissions that triggered my asthma attacks. Now, I enjoy riding the bus occasionally, even riding the MetroLink and Amtrak’s coast rider to San Diego. It started with clean Metro buses, encouraging me to trust public transit again.
Distinguished member distinction
Dr. Emmanuel “Cris” Battad Liban’s induction happened on October 24, 2022, on the festival of Diwali, the triumph of light over darkness, with a deeper significance, given the darkness we all felt from being isolated for two years by this Coronavirus pandemic. It historically occurred during the month of October, traditionally celebrated as Filipino American History Month and officially recognized by the White House.
For each of the 10 distinguished members, a short video was prepared with a younger student congratulating the distinguished member/professor, and for Cris, his son JP congratulated him, followed by a trailer about his accomplishments in life.
His wife, Benel, rearranged her busy CEO schedule of managing 25 accountants on financial and business consulting services to support this distinction.
Engineering News-Record, a 105-year-old publication with over 500 design firms listed, 600 specialty contractors, and a 2015 circulation of 62,285, and one that ranks the largest contractors and design firms in the U.S. annually, selected Cris in 2020 as their Award of Excellence winner for his work on Metro’s Sustainability Practices and its usage of green construction practices [upended in part by the recent Purple Line construction shutdown given the contractors’ gross inability to correct workplace injuries], usage of renewable natural gas to power all of its bus fleet, operating electrical vehicle chargers, helping to eliminate food deserts near Metro stations, and helping to provide opportunities to the homeless.
Cris and wife Benel Se-Liban after the ASCE induction of the Class of 2022 ASCE Distinguished Members | Photo by Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz
Thomas Small, chairman of the LA Metro Sustainability Council, asserted: “I don’t think there’s anyone else in the world who has the position and the grit and knowledge to take Metro forward as it becomes, even more, the most innovative and the most effective transit system in the country, and we’re lucky to have [Cris Liban],” ENR reported in its January 21, 2020 publication.
ENR also reported on Cris “quietly changing the environmental, financial and social landscape of Los Angeles for the last ten years,” according to ENR newsmaker Bilal Ayyub.
Cris is LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s first-ever chief sustainability officer, leading the efforts to ensure LA Metro’s $140-billion infrastructure program and 28 transportation and transit projects that must be completed by the 2028 Olympics the region is hosting –are climate-adapted and resilient.”
[Full disclosure, I have been friends with the Liban family since 2013, with his wife Benel and their son, JP, sharing birthday and Christmas get-togethers. I have interacted with Cris on politics, LA City’s transportation issues, homelessness, climate change, and infection control. Our conversations can last hours, and I am struck by how patient he is to fully understand my point of view and waits for an opportune time to share his point of view ultimately, by deferential action on his part, he invites a higher common ground to end the discussion.]
That humble trait of an academician is not forgotten and becomes the prism from which I have had to observe him for eight years. I volunteered to attend the American Society for Civil Engineers’ convention at my own expense, realizing the significance of Cris being installed as a distinguished member, the highest member designation of this organization, founded in 1852, a 170 year- old organization. You might think that if it is that ancient, what old practices they must have? I was so wrong!
Sustainability leader and Henry Michel awardee
The Henry Michel Award is named for the now deceased President of Parsons, a well-known and credible engineering construction firm that completed historical projects: the IRT subway line in New York City, Atlanta’s rapid transit system, the first Caracas Metro Line in Venezuela, and transit system of Taipei, Taiwan, as New York Times reported in 2018. The award recognizes design, construction, and aggressive vision in the industry.”
Cris was recognized as a Henry Michel awardee for being a “world-renowned leader in sustainability who tackles issues on social equity, resilience, climate change impacts, greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies, life cycles, and cost framework, sustainable transport funding and financing,”
Among the 25 recipients in ASCE’s history included individuals from Walt Disney, Shimizu, NY State Department of Transportation, MIT, Bechtel Corporation, and McGraw Hill.
“Cris has really been a very innovative force when it comes to sustainability. He’s aware of all the latest developments in that field, but he’s also very innovative and willing to think outside the box. He makes sure we use the latest, most efficient equipment with our contractors, even to the level of what type of fuels are used and how we specify materials that are used on specific projects. It’s pretty all-encompassing,” said Rick Clarke, retired Metro Chief Program Management Officer and one of Cris’ colleagues at LA Metro.
Maria Lehman, ASCE’s President for 2022, acknowledged working with Cris on Envision for a decade, a sustainability rating system for infrastructures.
His wife Benel has been consistently sharing on Facebook posts his consistent involvement with ASCE: contributing three chapters to a new technical book on Engineering in 2017; ASCE’s California 2018 Outstanding Civil Engineer in Public Service; ASCE’s Most Outstanding Sustainable Project won by Liban’s Metro Team in 2019 and now Henry Michel Awardee of ASCE 2022.
When Cris made the front page of the Engineering News-Record, these quotes from Pam Radtke Russell’s April 15, 2020 article struck my attention:
“He has a quiet, powerful image that he projects.” –Ileana S. Ivanciu, Senior VP, Dewberry
“He’s looking at the topic of sustainability write large. Part of it is standards, and part of it is advocacy in the political sphere. He is really trying to identify root causes and challenges and reflect on how we can make significant long-term progress on these things. He’s definitely big-picture. But he realizes you’ve got to tie it together and drill down to basics as well.” –Doug Dietrich, Sustainability Manager at Burns & McDonnell.
“Where Cris stands out is he looks beyond LA Metro, to the whole region and the country, on how he can leverage what he is doing at his agency to make a difference in the world.” – Anthony Kane, president and CEO at the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, a non-profit that implements the Envision sustainability rating system for infrastructure.
Cris’ acceptance speech started with thanking God, the power he comes to, about 10,000 times in the last 25 years, to make a difference in people’s lives. He thanked his wife, his son, and the legion of mentors that formed him.
Attending the ASCE convention cemented my fundamental beliefs in mentoring as propelling right-minded change. ASCE’s structured mentoring mechanism keeps it vibrant, relevant, and credible.
For me, in Los Angeles, we enjoy Metro’s fleet of 2,200 buses that are run by renewable natural gas, with no visible pollutant emissions. It makes for a very comfortable ride for the riders and the car drivers behind these buses, all waiting for the green light.
During a workshop panel on ‘Engineering and Climate Change,’ Liban reported on having trained over 500 employees on the principles of sustainability and resiliency, which includes the budget office that now is more aware of the billions needed to enhance infrastructure and the inspector general’s office that is now more aware to police the expenditure of these funds without fraudulent practices.
Liban earns credibility and trust as he draws in more people to be in his orbit, to be collaborative, to be right-minded in viewing the consequences to the riders, and to share his perspective for changes outside the bus to the over 12,000 bus stops and into the millions of trees whose roots are buckling and destroying LA’s sidewalks and to the people populating these sidewalks because they have no shelter.
At first, the thousands seemed like a spectacle, something to look at. Not anymore! After several masses at the Indian chapel where Juan Diego experienced the four apparitions from Our Lady of Guadalupe, seeing the ruins of the first and second churches built, and walking up the 186 steps to the top of Tepeyac Hill, I see and feel deeply the reverence, the love and boldly expressive cultural and family practices of the thousands of Mexicans gathered at the Guadalupe public square.
I stopped seven times, assisted by Celina, a 77yo teacher, and grants administrator from Juneau, Alaska, now retired at New Mexico who inspired me to take on that hill. Honestly, I made a vow to myself to practice “Faith, not Fear.” Each time I could not breathe, Edgar, a 45yo documentarian of the Marian pilgrimage and called a “miracle baby” by his loving mother, Rosa, would say, “Take my elbow. We can stop, but only a minute.” That gave me so much hope. When I couldn’t breathe, I prayed to Our Lady of Guadalupe for strength.
She did. Two nights, I slept with that tilma, so rested and amazingly, no muscular aches and pains.
I remember my vacation and camping trips with my family, the unusual complainer who wanted to rearrange the realities she was faced with. I recall the patience, love, consideration my husband and children showed me.
I was in tears to see Our Lady of Guadalupe surrounded by several waterfalls and venerated by Indians on their knees. That scene plus the Museum where thousands of messages of gratitude were exhibited to thank the healing of thousands by Our Lady. I went to confession and I was bawling with tears and after, I felt so light and joyful.
Saying a million thank yous will never be enough to realize how God truly loves us to give His beloved son, and gifting us the Holy Spirit.
Another mantra I practiced was to not be defensive and not to react, as a personal default response. Instead, observe, ask and immerse.
It paid off as my last acts while travelling was to take Regina, an 88 year old pilgrim with me and got her an uber, while she waited at the hotel lobby and she looked forward to being in her bed. At first my uber wouldn’t work and a very kind Korean driver taught me to update and scroll the app. I greeted him with Annyanghaseo, thank you in Korean. Regina got home in 15 minutes.
Famished, I was drawn to eat chips and salsa. I had my last $5 but instead, I gave it as tip to the shuttle driver, Kiona who was very kind to me and Regina at 1030 pm, after our flight.
Here is where I learned patience, faith and perseverance are the virtues to get to what you need. Love is always the answer.
It was so nice to be greeted by my husband and my very sweet #princess2015la. Their hugs and a clean home and a dinner made by hubby made me feel at home!
Thank you so much to #qtstoursandtravels and #frjoelbugas , pastor of San Ignacio Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as the best spiritual director of 2022 Marian and 2019 Marian pilgrimages, attested to by several of his former and current parishioners.
With each pilgrimage, I grow in faith to see and feel more sparkling souls.
To pray for myself, to be at peace, is strange for me. I pray first for all those around me who need healing, hope, and help. I pray for my family, my grandchild, my new grandson to be born, my daughter and my son and their partners, and my husband. I pray for my other mother, my mentees, my friends, and my friends/priests who are shepherds of peace and joy. I pray for the USA elections to reflect the wisdom and soulfulness of the majority, not hatred towards young women, not hatred towards immigrants, and not hatred towards homelessness.
In this pilgrimage, I asked for my dad, mom, and Rose – my Ate to connect me to folks with great temperament, good hearts, minds, and souls.
I saw the beauty around me and sparkling souls.
I sought them out, speaking to Dennis, who shared he gets better with every pilgrimage. He walks slowly, and with each step, he gains his strength after three spinal fusion surgeries. He has embraced his disability and wears braces to steady his walking. He celebrated him with us, 38 pilgrims from California, New Mexico, and local Mexican staffers, his 71st birthday.
I met Celina, who lost her husband of 25 years yet speaks of his love, his vacation surprises for her, her loving dad who lived simply, her brother who was special to her and every gift she purchased intended for her sister, a friend or a niece, even how to give a time with prayers for those in need. I took her photo at a makeshift silver mine because she talked of her only grandson, the miner. I also took her photo at Taxco, with a city view.
I witnessed the special bond of a mother and son, a respectful intimacy of support and love. How’s your son? I asked of Rosa about Edgar. “He is my miracle,” she said. How is that so, I asked? “At five months of pregnancy, my water broke. I had to stay in bed all four months until birth. If I walked and stood up, I bled. At 11 months, he got sick, and we took him to the hospital. Someone gave him unpotable water, and he got parasites. When he drank guava juice, he got well. That’s why we like guavas a lot.”
I shared with MJ, Celina, and Celeste how in 2016, I lost my mother. Unexpectedly, 60 days after, my sister Rose. I said goodbye to her before going on vacation, and in the middle of my vacation, my daughter called me to share the news of her death. I asked myself two questions: do I join the dead, or do I live a life of maximum zest and service to others? I chose the latter and wrote, “Even The Rainbow Has A Body: Distinct Artistic Legacies.”
I woke up with a beautiful dream of my mother rearranging my shelf in the dining room, showcasing candles, family photos and sacred art. It was my first night of a very long, restful sleep after averaging 3 hours of sleep for the last 7 days.
Fr. Joel Bugas gave a rousing-the-soul retreat talk last night. I struggled to keep awake, yet my heart absorbed its essence, go with the Holy Spirit, make mass a priority to witness the consecration of the Eucharist, be in communion with the Holy Spirit, the angels and saints. He took time to explain the sins of pride, isolation, anger, wrath, and gluttony. “Sin no more. You are a saint, small s, waiting for you to go up to heaven.”
As we visit these centuries-old churches, some took ten years to build with donkeys transporting materials and gold donated by the gold mine owner, while others took 50 years.
I realized the convergence of the portrait of the 5-month pregnant Blessed Virgin Mary, painted by Miguel Cabrera, at Santa Frisca Church, shared by our travel guide with a pregnant Virgin Mary in Leon, Spain, taken by my husband in the Camino. How these images converged with the reality that our firstborn is pregnant with her second child. What a gift of too many joyful realizations!
