Planting the Seed, Over and Over Again

October 31, 2023 Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time Readings for Today

Video Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.” Luke 13:18–19 This short parable should speak to many people far more than they realize. It should be a source of great encouragement to us all as we seek to build up the Kingdom of God through apostolic works. The mustard seed is very small. At first, when someone holds it in their hand, they may not think much of it. But if they did plant it under ideal conditions, that seed could grow into a tree upwards of 20 feet tall. Jesus uses this parable to teach us many lessons. One such lesson is that of our apostolic works of charity. When you think of the call of being an apostle for the Lord, spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth, what comes to mind? Perhaps the first thought is of those who have been entrusted with a very large, public and vibrant ministry. In this case, it is easier to see the good fruit born of one’s apostolic works. But what about you? For most people, they may strive to love and serve others in every small way they can, and they fail to see the abundance of good fruit born from their efforts. When this happens, some may become discouraged and lose zeal for the spreading of the Gospel. If this is you, then consider the mustard seed. Planting this small seed is representative of much of our apostolic endeavors. God calls us to do small acts of kindness, share our faith in subtle and even hidden ways, serve out of love even when it is unnoticed, and to do so without ceasing. Do these small acts bear fruit for the Kingdom of God? If you believe this parable of the mustard seed, then the answer must be a resounding “Yes.” Many times in life, we will never see the full effects that our actions have on others. Our negative influence will affect them far more than we realize. And our loving acts of charity, by which we share our faith, will also affect people far more than we realize. Believing in the message of this Parable of the Mustard Seed should lead us to believe that planting those small seeds of faith, through our charity, virtues, and words, will indeed bear an abundance of good fruit, far more than we may ever know, until we enter the glories of Heaven.  Reflect, today, upon your duty to daily plant the smallest seeds of faith and love. Do not get discouraged if your efforts do not bear abundantly obvious fruit. Simply commit yourself to the planting, over and over. Take delight in sowing the seed of faith and see this as your mission. If you do this throughout your life, from Heaven you will look back and be amazed at how God powerfully brought forth His Kingdom through those seemingly insignificant acts of faith and love. My glorious King, You desire that Your Kingdom grow far and wide through our efforts of love. Please do use me, dear Lord, to plant Your seeds of faith and charity every day. May I never tire of these apostolic endeavors and may I always take great delight in serving You and building Your Kingdom in every way I can. Jesus, I trust in You.

 

The Burden of Scrupulosity

October 30, 2023 Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time Readings for Today

Video But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, “There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.” The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering?” Luke 13:14–15 Why would the leader of the synagogue be “indignant” that Jesus cured a woman on the sabbath? She was crippled for eighteen years! Imagine, especially, her family. They would have seen her many years of suffering and shared them with her through years of compassion. If they were present when Jesus healed her on the sabbath, would they have immediately thought, “How dare Jesus do this healing of our mother, wife or sister on the sabbath?” Of course not! They would have rejoiced and been filled with awe, gratitude, and even tears. This normal reaction that her family would have had upon witnessing this miracle is the right response. And, of course, the reaction of the leader of the synagogue was deeply disordered.  Why would this leader of the synagogue do such a thing? Though he and many other scribes, Sadducess, Pharisees and scholars of the law struggled with envy and hypocrisy, others may sometimes react similarly to this leader of the synagogue for other reasons. One such reason is scrupulosity. Scrupulosity is the tendency to see God and His holy will through the lens of legalism. “Legalism” is not just being faithful to the Law of God, because that is a good thing. Legalism is a misinterpretation of God’s Law by which one tends to put more emphasis upon themselves than upon God. A scrupulous person is preoccupied with themself. They tend to be far more concerned with sin than with God Himself. And though it’s vital to be concerned with sin, when fear of sinning becomes a form of obsession, then that obsession has the effect of clouding the pure will of God and leaves a person heavily burdened and unable to joyfully live out the authentic will of God. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux was one saint who openly shared her struggles with scrupulosity in her autobiography. Of this struggle, which she referred to as “oversensitivity,” she said, “One would have to pass through this martyrdom to understand it well, and for me to express what I experienced for a year and a half would be impossible.” However, she eventually experienced what she called a “complete conversion” by which the heavy burden of oversensitivity was lifted. Though this oversensitivity oppressed her in various ways, one way it affected her was that she feared that even some of her random thoughts were mortal sins and that she would be condemned for them. Though the leader of the synagogue was most likely not struggling with “oversensitivity” in the same way as Saint Thérèse, he was acting with an extreme scrupulosity which led him to be harshly judgmental and condemning of our Lord for His good deed done to this crippled woman. Reflect, today, upon any tendency you may have with these heavy burdens. Do you worry in an irrational way about sin? Do you ever find yourself obsessing over decisions, worrying that you may make the wrong one? Do you think about yourself far more than you think about God and others? If so, you may also be carrying a similar heavy burden that our Lord wants to lift. Serving God and His holy will must become the deepest joy of our lives, not a heavy burden. If you find your Christian walk more of a burden, then turn your eyes away from yourself and look to the merciful God. Run to Him with the utmost confidence of a child, as Saint Thérèse eventually did, and allow yourself to love Him more authentically, freed of scrupulous and self-imposed burdens. My merciful Lord, You desire to free me from all that burdens me. You desire that I turn to You with the confidence of a child. Please do free me, dear Lord, from any way that I impose burdens upon myself by my obsessions and irrational worries. May I always understand Your infinite love for me and always walk freely and joyfully in Your ways. Jesus, I trust in You.

 

What Mae West quotes never made it into her movies?

Joan Wall

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Lives in New York City May 20

What Mae West quotes never made it into her movies?

1—“My left leg is Christmas & my right leg is New Years. Why don’t you come up & see me between the Holidays”

2—“I wouldn’t touch that guy even if he had a 10 foot pole”

3—Fortune Teller: “There will be a tall dark man in your life”

Mae: “What, only one?”

4—“A good man is hard to find. A hard man is good to find”

5—“There are 10 men downstairs to see you, Mae!”

“I have a headache….Send one away”

6—“Lead me not into temptation. I know the way”

7—Mae to Jail Warden: “I want to see hardened criminals”

8—“Don’t keep a man guessing too long. He’s liable to find the answer somewhere else”

9—“Mae, haven’t you ever been satisfied with one man?”

Mae: “Sure I have, lots of times”

10-“Well never mind the 6 feet, let’s talk about the 7 inches.

11-Mae’s 1934 Christmas Card,

True Love Conquers All

True Love Conquers All

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Summer Graham

 

I am a 26-year-old widow.

On June 27th, 2019 I lost the love of my life. I am the person who found him in our home, and the person that held his hand as help arrived.

If only I had known that morning when I told him “I love you” before leaving the home we had built together that it would be the last time, I would never have left. It is indescribable the way that your life can change in a single moment and the helplessness that surrounds you.

My husband died of a drug overdose. In the moments following his death, every part of me wanted to hide the fact of how he lost his life. I was completely blindsided.

I had no idea that he had been using drugs, nor did I recognize that he was struggling. Looking back, I recognize the signs. But at the time, I chose to believe that my life and my sweet husband were flawless.

I have known countless people in my life who have struggled with addiction. Before experiencing the loss of my husband, I would have sworn to you that there’s no way a wife could not know.

I knew this man better than I knew myself and believed that I would certainly know if something was wrong. But I didn’t.

In my time of loss, there are others who have privately reached out to me and shared their stories of loved ones and friends who have lost their lives to this disease. Stories of shame, of confusion, of anger, and regret. I never would have known.

It is easy to believe that addiction is a choice. The person you love most would never choose to use drugs or make a choice that would threaten their life. How could they? They have so much to live for, so many lives that would be affected by their sudden loss. Those who make such a choice are selfish. Self-destructive. Irresponsible. Reckless.

Tyler Lawrence was kind. He was smart. He was responsible, hard-working, reliable, confident, and selfless. Tyler improved my life in every way. He built a life for us and loved me as Jesus does. Tyler also came to know the Lord in ways that have brought countless others to question what he found that brought him so much joy and peace.

Tyler was fun. We slowly danced in our kitchen days before his death. He made me laugh, he made me smile. He made me feel whole. One of the last texts he sent to me read, “you are an absolutely wonderful wife.”

But Tyler also struggled. Tyler had seen heartache in his short 29 years that most do not experience in a lifetime. Tyler did not look to others for help, he did not lean on others to fix his problems. He carried the weight on his shoulders and did the best he could.

Addiction does not discriminate. Addiction does not settle for the weak, for the selfish, nor for the heartless. Addiction comes too for the strong, the selfless, the ones who carry everyone’s weight for them.

We have spent far too long pretending it is a choice. Pretending we are immune. Pretending that if we do not face it, it will go away. But it won’t.

As for me, I choose honesty and openness. I choose to reach out and ask the difficult questions. To be honest about my struggles, and to lean on those that God has placed in my life.

I am a 26-year-old widow. My husband died as a result of substance abuse. I refuse to lie. I refuse to insult my husband’s legacy by hiding the raw truth of an incredible man and an amazing marriage that had its worldly flaws. The life I knew before has been ruined, stripped down to its core. But, by the grace of Jesus, we have new life in Him. My husband came to know the Lord in the months leading to his death, and this brings me great comfort and immeasurable joy.

The Lord has placed it upon my heart, from the moment I watched them take Tyler from our home for the last time, to be honest about our experience, and about our great loss. If you see me, ask me about him. Don’t be afraid to approach me, or to say the “wrong thing”; grief is universal. Those who have shared their experiences of grief have been my greatest lifeline.

If you are struggling with addiction, know that you can reach out to me. Nothing is too messy, or too raw. If you know someone who is struggling, take action. Speak to them early, often, and with grace. Life is too short to live in fear of judgment. We are called to share the hope of Christ and the freedom that can be found in Him.

My grief is strong, heavy, and constant. I will carry Tyler with me wherever I go. But with great tragedy can come growth and true joy. My life is not over. Tyler’s memory lives on, carried by each person he loves. The Lord is faithful, that is all I can say. He allows us to make our choice, but incredible peace and understanding come too if we only choose to look for it.

If I have learned anything, it is that life is short, and nothing is guaranteed. We must be true to ourselves and fiercely love those who have been placed in our lives. And above all, never be afraid to reach out.

“Well, I’ve been afraid of changing, cause I built my life around you. But time makes you bolder, as children get older. I’m getting older too.”

“The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.”

1 Peter 4:7-11

Credit - Erica Lawrence

The High Calling of Love

October 29, 2023 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) Readings for Today

Video “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37–40 Think about the many things you desire in life. What would make up that list? Perhaps there are many good things that would be included, such as a desire for strong family relationships, good health, a happy life, good friends, and financial security. Perhaps there are other things that would be included, such as success in an occupation, nice vacations, a new home, and fun adventures in life. If you were to make a list like this that began with your deepest desire, what would come first? We might all know what should come first, but if you were to honestly examine the desires of your heart right now, what would be on the top of that list? Ideally, the first and greatest desire of our souls would be the two greatest commandments. Above all else you will desire to love God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. Is that the deepest desire of your heart? What’s important to note is that we ought not love God with most of our heart, soul and mind. We don’t just love Him with 51% and then allow ourselves to disseminate the other 49% to other loves. No, 100% of our love must go to God. God must be the single and exclusive object of our love. If you were to give to God 100% of your love, what would you have left for others? The glorious nature of our love of God is such that the more love we offer to God, the more we have to give away to others. When we give our love to God, He does not take it away from us and keep it for Himself in a selfish way as if He is jealous and possessive. Instead, loving God transforms our ability to love in such a way that we have even more than we started with. We are limited creatures and we are limited in our ability to love. God is infinite and His love is infinite in nature. Therefore, when we give our limited love to God, we receive back from Him His infinite love. This love is then able to overflow from our lives and can be distributed without reserve. So back to our original question: Do you love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind? If you do, then it means that every part of who you are is caught up in the mind and will of God. It means that you continuously seek to understand God and all that He has revealed to you. It means that you seek to comprehend His perfect will for you every day of your life. It means that you choose only that which God wills and that you do so with passion, zeal and fervor. It means that you are continuously attentive to God, respond to His gentle promptings of grace, and are led by Him every moment of every day of your life. That is a high calling! But it is the calling you have been given. Then, and only then, will you be loving yourself with the love of God by opening yourself to His outpouring of love, and only then will you be able to act as an instrument of God’s love to those around you. Reflect, today, upon the high and definitive calling you have been given to love God with every fiber of your being. Your love must become all-consuming. It must be total and without hesitation. It will require the complete sacrifice of your life, the full purging of your sins, the denunciation of all selfishness and a heart that is open to the infinite power of God’s transforming touch. Because God commanded this, it is possible. It is possible to become a great saint. Shoot for nothing less. Never give up on this high calling, and know that it is the only way to the fulfillment in life that you deeply desire. My loving Lord, You have given everything to me and ask for everything in return. Please help me to understand Your perfect love and to choose it with all my might. I do love You, dear Lord. Help me to love You with all that I am. Jesus, I trust in You.

 

Sent Forth by Christ

Saturday, October 28, 2023 Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles Readings for Today

Video Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles...  Luke 6:12 Simon and Jude were among those very select few who were chosen by Jesus Himself to be His Apostles. Today’s Simon is not the same person as Simon Peter, and today’s Jude is not the same person as Judas Iscariot. Little is known about these two Apostles. Simon is referred to as a zealot in the Gospels, which could have meant he was a member of a more radical sect within Judaism. Jude is popularly known as the Patron Saint of Hopeless Causes. Some suggest this is because he was often the last Apostle to be prayed to by the early Christian faithful on account of the fact that he shared a name with Judas Iscariot, and praying to Jude reminded people of that betrayer. If that was the case, then in God’s providence, since Jude became the last Apostle to be prayed to, he also became the last hope for many and, thus, the patron saint for those with truly hopeless causes. One tradition states that Saints Simon and Jude are linked together in the Roman Canon and also share the same feast day because they were both martyred together on the same day, possibly in Syria, Lebanon, or Persia. However, the true details of their missionary journeys and martyrdom is unclear. The one thing that is certain about these Apostles, however, is that they were Apostles. They were chosen by our Lord and appointed by Him as two of the first bishops of our Church and were given a mandate to share the Gospel to the ends of the earth. From our perspective today, being one of those chosen Twelve is an incredible privilege. The effect of their ministry in establishing the first Christian communities has resulted in our worldwide universal Catholic Church. These men most likely did not realize the impact that their faithful service would have upon the world. As we honor these two Apostles, we are also reminded that each one of us is called to go forth to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth. We each do so in a way specific to the calling and mission that Christ has entrusted to us. We are each called to make an eternal difference in the lives of those whom we serve. And if we are faithful to our mission, we can be certain that the effects of our apostolic service will be felt in the lives of countless others until the end of the world. Reflect, today, upon Jesus choosing these two men and appointing them as Apostles. As you do, listen to God’s voice as He also speaks to you. Do not underestimate the importance of accepting the mission that Jesus gives to you. Say “Yes” to Him in imitation of these two Apostles and know that your choice to serve our Lord in this way will not only have a great effect in your life, it will also have an effect in the lives of many others for all eternity.  My glorious Lord, You called these two ordinary men, Simon and Jude, to be Your Apostles. You filled them with Your grace, taught them with Your Word, and sent them forth to preach to the ends of the earth. Please also send me, dear Lord, to whomever You choose. Use me as Your instrument and help me to always remain faithful and zealous, reaching out to those in need, especially to those who lack faith and hope in their lives. Saints Simon and Jude, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You.

 

The Convictions of Your Heart

October 27, 2023 Friday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Readings for Today

Video “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” Luke 12:57–59 The Church Fathers offer many different interpretations of this passage. Among them, Saint Bede says that our “opponent” can be seen as the Word of God, in the sense that the Word of God makes war upon our weaknesses and sins. When we listen to the Word of God, our Lord will convict us of our faults so that we can reconcile our lives with the Truth of the Word of God Himself. When you think about God’s holy Word, in its entirety, what most convicts you? Sometimes we try to downplay such personal convictions. We rationalize our actions and dismiss what God is saying to us. Are there any teachings of Jesus that you recall that have truly stung you to the heart? If so, this is a grace, and it’s an opportunity to fulfill the lesson from our Lord taught in the passage above. God does not convict our hearts so as to condemn us. Rather, He convicts us, as an opponent to our sin, so that we can “make an effort to settle the matter on the way.” The conscience is a wonderful gift from our Lord and can be likened to this passage above. It is a form of courtroom where our Lord desires not to have to issue punishment upon us. Instead, He desires that we engage His holy Word, listen to what He says, and settle our sin by repenting immediately. Among the many lessons taught by our Lord, it is often the lesson that jumps out at us, even in a startling way, that we need to pay attention to the most. God often brings His most urgent teachings to us by causing us to feel a sense of guilt that cannot be denied. If we listen to these convictions, then we will not have any need to stand before the Judge. But if we do not, if we bury these convictions, downplay them and ignore them, then our Lord will find it necessary to keep at us. We will begin to experience His judgment, and we will see the effects of being out of His good graces. And in the end, if we fail to repent of the more serious sins in our lives, then we will even be held accountable for the smallest of sins. We will be required to “pay the last penny.” Reflect, today, upon the idea that the Word of God, all that our Lord has taught us, is the opponent to the sin in your soul. This good and holy opponent wants only what is best for you. Commit yourself to an ongoing reading of God’s holy Word so that you will be continually disposed to hear all that God wants to say to you and so that you will be able to reconcile with our Lord before He is compelled to issue forth His judgments.  My most merciful Judge, You desire that I listen to Your holy Word, revealed through Scripture, so as to receive Your most merciful conviction of my sin. I pray that I will be open to always hear all that You desire to say to me so that I can respond with generosity and trust, reconciling with You and others continually through my journey in life. Enliven my conscience with Your holy Word, dear Lord. Jesus, I trust in You.

 

How do you describe the culture of the Philippines?

Datu Ulap

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Filipino lifestyle Updated Jul 11

How do you describe the culture of the Philippines?

I can best summarize it with the following quote:

“The Philippines is the Philippines. Southeast Asian but not too Indianized, a former Spanish colony but not too Hispanicized, centuries of Chinese influence but not part of the Sinosphere. The country was a sponge for these cultural influences but it retained its own Austronesian heritage.”

The main cultural element of the Philippines is Austronesian. Here are a couple of examples:

• Austronesian languages that belong to the Malayo-Polynesian language group. This includes Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Maranao, Bikol, Hiligaynon, Kapampangan, etc. Unlike most former Spanish colonies, the local languages thrive and are spoken by the vast majority of Filipinos. Malayo-Polynesian languages include languages of Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Timor-Leste, and Austronesian peoples of Vietnam.

How many Austronesian languages are there in the Philippines?

https://www.quora.com/How-many-Austronesian-languages-are-there-in-the-Philippines

• Outrigger boats, most common being the banca. Other varieties include the paraw, most commonly seen in the Visayas and the vinta, known for their colorful sails found in Mindanao.

• Raised floor architecture. Traditional architecture dictates that homes are built on stilts. The bahay kubo and other forms of vernacular architecture follow this plan. From the traditional homes of the Ifugao to the sea-faring Sama Bajau people, this type of architecture is ubiquitous. It is even seen among royal houses such as the torogan of the Maranao.

• Tattooing culture. While now mostly relegated to indigenous peoples such as the Kalinga, the practice was once widespread throughout the islands, with the Visayans known for their elaborate tattoos.

• Animism. While most Filipinos are Catholic, with a large Muslim minority, animist beliefs still prevail in Filipino society. Respect for spirits out in nature is still widely practiced, as is the belief that specific spots like an ancient balete tree are believed to be homes of spirits. “Tabi-tabi po” is one such example of the respect Filipinos have for nature spirits. Indigenous peoples still build spirit houses for those nature spirits.

• Gong ensembles are a unique Austronesian feature, common among Maritime Southeast Asia. Kulintang is one such example of a gong ensemble, found among the many ethnolinguistic peoples of Mindanao.

Can you give some examples of ancient Filipino culture that have survived until now?

https://www.quora.com/Can-you-give-some-examples-of-ancient-Filipino-culture-that-have-survived-until-now

The Philippines shares many aspects of its culture with the rest of Southeast Asia as well. Some of these include, but are not limited to:

• Domestication of water buffalo. The carabao is so important in an agricultural society, it's considered the national animal. Like the Philippines, Vietnam considers the water buffalo to be its national animal. The water buffalo is also a huge part of Minangkabau identity in Indonesia.

• Many forms of folk dance, include but are not limited to: bamboo stick dances, dancing with lanterns, fan dances, and long fingernail dances.

What are traditional dances in the Philippines that can also be found in other Southeast Asian countries?

https://www.quora.com/What-are-traditional-dances-in-the-Philippines-that-can-also-be-found-in-other-Southeast-Asian-countries

• Transparent and translucent traditional clothing reflects the tropical nature of the region, from the Barong Tagalog to the Kebaya of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore.

• A rich textile heritage.

• Respect for elders. The act of pagmamano, or “mano”, is a common gesture of respect for elders in nearby Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei.

• Many ingredients used in Filipino cooking are also common in the rest of the region: coconut milk, rice, fish sauce, shrimp paste, pandan, native fruits, kangkong, lemongrass, soy sauce, etc.

Datu Ulap

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What are some cuisines and foods that are found in the Philippines but also exist in other nations in Southeast Asia?

The Philippines is known for its blending of East and West, but after looking at many of the dishes of the Philippines, you can see so many equivalents throughout Southeast Asia. Let’s start with a giant communal feast. The boodle fight. A way of eating involving banana leaves and an assortment of rice, fruits, lumpia, and other foods. Eating with hands is a must when partaking, as eating kamayan style is a traditional way to eat. There is a similar tradition in Indonesia as well. In Bali, there is megibung. The Sundanese have ngeliwet where food is spread out on banana leaves and is also eaten by hands. Megibung Ngeliwet Much like the rest of Southeast Asia, rice is a part of every meal! The Philippines has numerous rice based dishes, such as sinangag which is fried rice with garlic. Fried rice is referred to as nasi goreng (ꦤꦄꦱꦶ ꦒꦺꦴꦫꦼꦤꦒ) in Indonesia and Malaysia, khao pad goong (ข้าวผัดกุ้ง) in Thailand, (Cơm Chiên Trứng) in Vietnam, and htamin gyaw ( ထမင်း‌ကြော် ) in Myanmar. Sinangag (ᜐᜒᜈᜈ᜔ᜄᜄ᜔) Nasi Goreng (ꦤꦄꦱꦶ ꦒꦺꦴꦫꦼꦤꦒ) khao pad goong (ข้าวผัดกุ้ง) Cơm Chiên Trứng Htamin gyaw ( ထမင်း‌ကြော် ) Other rice based dishes that usually include meat can include the various Silog in the Philippines, Nasi Lemak in Malaysia, Nasi Kuning in Indonesia, Cơm tấm in Vietnam, Bai Sach Chruok (ប្ឰ ស​ក្ ឆ្រុឱក្) in Cambodia, and Ahan Kap Khao (ອາຫານກັບເຂົ້າ) in Laos. Silog (ᜐᜒᜎᜓᜄ᜔) Nasi Lemak Nasi Kuning Cơm tấm Bai Sach Chrouk (ប្ឰ ស​ក្ ឆ្រុឱក្) Ahan Kap Khao (ອາຫານກັບເຂົ້າ) Like the Philippines, noodles are present in cuisines of other Southeast Asian nations. Pancit refers to the various noodle based dishes of the Philippines, while mie/mee based dishes are present in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore. Phở is the most popular noodle dish from Vietnam, while Pad Thai (ผัดไทย) is the most known noodle dish from Thailand. Khao soi noodles ( Thai: ข้าวซอย; Lao: ເຂົ້າຊອຍ; Burmese: အုန်းနို့ခေါက်ဆွဲ ) are popular in Northern Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. Nom banh chok (ន​ម្ ប​ន្ហ្ ឆ​ក្) is a well known Cambodian dish, while Foe (ເຝີ) is a Lao version of phở. Meeshay (မြီးရှေ) is a traditional noodle dish of Myanmar, but keep in mind these nations listed have many more different noodle based dishes than listed. Pancit (ᜉᜈ᜔ᜐᜒᜆ᜔) Mie Goreng Phở Pad Thai (ผัดไทย) Nom banh chok (ន​ម្ ប​ន្ហ្ ឆ​ក្) Meeshay (မြီးရှေ) Banana leaf is a popular wrapping in the Philippines, and is seen in puso from Cebu, patupat in Ilocos, pastil in Mindanao, and suman. Ketupat is common in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Indonesia has a similar dish to pastil called lemper with rice that is wrapped with meat and fish. Bánh Lá refers to the variety of Vietnamese cakes that are wrapped in leafs. Katupa is the local name for local rice wrapped in banana leaves with coconut milk in Timor-Leste. Puso Pastil Lemper Ketupat (ꦏꦼꦠꦸꦥꦄꦠ) Bánh Lá Katupa Tapai, a way to prepare fermented glutinous rice is found around Southeast Asia. Galapong is an example of a slightly fermented rice cake in the Philippines, and brem refers to fermented cakes in Indonesia, other foods that use this fermentation is tapai ketan in Java island. Galapong Brem Tapai ketan Coconut milk is used in many dishes in the Philippines, and is also present in the cuisines of many Southeast Asian nations. Ginataang manok - Philippines Kalio Tempe - Indonesia Laksa - Malaysia and Singapore Thom kha (ต้มข่าไก่: ຕົ້ມຂ່າໄກ່) - Thailand and Laos Amok (អាម៉ុក) - Cambodia Ohn No Khao Swe (အုန်းနို့ခေါက်ဆွဲ) - Myanmar Whole roasted pig is known as lechon in the Philippines, and it also exists in variations of non-Islamic populations of Indonesia, with babi guling a Balinese roast pig meal. Lechon Babi guling Native fruits are present not just in the Philippines but in many other Southeast Asian nations. Mangoes, jackfruit, lychee, many types of bananas, durian, rambutan, breadfruit, and many citrus fruits are present in the cuisines of many ASEAN nations. Calamansi is a popular citrus fruit in the Philippines but also exists in Indonesia, and is even seen in some dishes like Kuah asam, where calamansi is used. Fruit salads like buko salad in the Philippines also exist as fruit rojak in Malaysia and Singapore. Buko salad Fruit Rojak Tamarind base soups such as sinigang in the Philippines have their equivalent in Indonesia and is known as sayur asem, a Sundanese dish, Canh chua in Vietnam, and Tom Yum ( ต้มยำ) in Central Thailand. Sinigang Sayur Asem Canh Chua Tom Yum Curry based dishes even exist in the Philippines, with kare-kare as the most known curry dish from the country. Curry dishes are very popular in neighboring countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia. Kare-kare - Philippines Beef rendang - Indonesia Red Curry - Thailand Caril - Timor-Leste Satay is popular in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Brunei, and a local version called satti exists in the southern Philippines. Madurese satay - Indonesia Thai Chicken Satay and Peanut Sauce Satti Fermented fish paste is a popular dipping condiment in the Philippines, as Bagoong is often eaten alongside chilis or mangoes. Similar fish pastes exist in Myanmar as ngapi (ငါးပိ), Padaek (ປາແດກ) in Laos, Petis ikan in Indonesia as a salty dark paste, and prahok in Cambodia, made of salted and fermented mud fish, and is eaten with rice. Bagoong Ngapi (ငါးပိ) Padaek (ປາແດກ) Petis Ikan Balut, a whole egg with a duck embryo, is a well known street food in the Philippines, and is known in Vietnam as trứng vịt lộn, and in Cambodia as pong tia koun (ព​ន្គ្ តិឣ កៅន្), where the egg is incubated for up to three weeks. Balut Trứng Vịt Lộn Pong Tia Koun (ព​ន្គ្ តិឣ កៅន្) Chinese influence is present in the cuisine of the Philippines, with examples such as lumpia, pancit, siopao, butsi, taho, and hopia. Lumpia goes by a similar name in Indonesia. Siopao has a version in Thailand called salapao. Butsi in the Philippines is called kuih bom in Malaysia, onde-onde in Indonesia, and Bánh cam in Vietnam. in Taho exists under various names such as Tauhue in Indonesia and Thailand, đậu hủ in Vietnam and Taufufah in Malaysia. Hopia, a flaky pastry, also exists in Indonesia as bakpia. Shaved ice desserts are very popular in Southeast Asia, with halo-halo as the most famous of these desserts from the Philippines. The Indonesian version is cendol, and the Malaysian and Singaporean version is Ais Kacang. Kang sai is the Thailand version, and Chè ba màu is the Vietnamese equivalent. Halo-halo Cendol Ais kacang Kang sai Chè ba màu Dessert soups in the Philippines include things like ginataang bilo-bilo which uses coconut milk, sago, glutinous rice and tapioca. Similar dishes exist as Kolak Pisang in Indonesia, Bubur cha cha in Malaysia, Chè trôi nước in Vietnam, and Bua Loy in Thailand. Ginataang bilo-bilo Kolak Pisang Bubur cha cha Chè trôi nước Bua Loy Rice cakes are a popular dessert in the Philippines, and they all fall under the umbrella term kakanin, including puto, biko, sapin-sapin, kutsinta, puto bumbong, suman, bibingka, and palitaw. In Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, rice cakes are known as kuih, and go under various names such as kuih lapis, kueh ape, kue bibingka, kue bika ambon, kueh dodol, kue putu, and kue satu. Fun fact, bibingka exists in Timor-Leste as well as in Indonesia and the Philippines. Kakanin Kuih Vietnam has a similar rice cake to puto called Bánh Bò Hấp. The many rice cakes of Vietnam fall under the name Bánh, and come under various forms such as Bánh bò, Bánh da lợn, Bánh đúc, and bánh chưng. Thailand even has sticky rice with mango, which looks similar to puto maya, and is called ketan mangga in Indonesia. Thailand even has its own varieties of rice cakes, normally referred to as khanom (ขนม) that describes the various Thai desserts. Sapin-sapin of the Philippines looks similar to Kueh Lapis of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, Bánh da lợn of Vietnam, Khanom Chan (ขนมชั้น) of Thailand, and Num Chak Kachan (នុម្ ឆ​ក្ ក​ឆ​ន្) of Cambodia. Sapin-sapin Kueh lapis Bánh da lợn Khanom Chan (ขนมชั้น) Num Chak Kachan (នុម្ ឆ​ក្ ក​ឆ​ន្)

It is important to note that, the neighboring countries have experienced a lot more Indianization in the culture, while the Philippines has historically received more secondhand influence. Indianization was more prevalent in the pre-colonial era, particularly in places like Butuan, Cebu, Sulu, and Manila. Many visible aspects of this Indianization are mostly seen in the Bangsamoro region, where Islam is the largest religion.

Being a former Spanish colony, the Philippines retains plenty of Hispanic elements as well.

• Catholicism is the largest religion in the country and is the most visible example of the legacy of the Spanish era with centuries-old churches, fiestas celebrating patron saints, and the celebration of Christmas and Semana Santa.

• The consumption of foods such as pan de sal, leche flan, longannisa, mechado, and empanadas.

• Spanish last names are the most common surnames in the country.
• Rondalla musical ensemble uses many Western-style stringed lutes.

Its also important to note that like Indian influence, much of the Spanish influence was also secondhand influence, as the Philippines was ruled indirectly through Mexico for most of the colonial era. Many Hispanic elements of the Philippines came from contact with Mexico, which included Nahuatl influence as well.