On a Mission... to Save Ourselves!

THE MINISTRY OF which I am a part in our parish has been into mercy missions for several years now. However, in the last two years, these missions have become quite frequent in the aftermath of a succession of typhoons of the more vicious variety.  These typhoons come with the more-than-usual load of rains that bring knee-deep flood in higher places and neck-deep ones in the valleys and other low-lying areas. 

So here I was on another mission of this sort to the province of Bulacan – two hours away north of Manila.  We organized a mini convoy of three vehicles: a truck we were able to borrow from the Defense department and fully loaded with 1,460 assorted canned goods (less on the sardines, mind you), 2,160 noodle packs, 400 biscuit packs, 200 five-liter jugs of water, and 20 sacks of rice; and two vans where my fellow ministry workers rode.

            These relief items were bought from funds raised by our parish priest, Fr. Eymard Balatbat (who led this mission), after he received an SOS from fellow priests in the province.  Raging flood-waters brought by a typhoon destroyed homes and property, and displaced hundreds of families.  The goods on the truck were to be turned over to two parishes whose areas were greatly devastated – the parish of St. John the Baptist in Sta. Lucia, Calumpit, and the parish (Shrine) of St. Anne in San Juan, Hagonoy.

            While seated at the front seat of the truck, and harboring mild shock over the toll fees that have almost quadrupled in the last few months, I gathered my thoughts on this outreach – this mercy mission – that we were doing. 

            First, I realized that more than being of help to the people whose lives were made miserable by these calamities, we were actually helping save ourselves.  Weird as it may seem, I couldn't help thinking we were - or just might be - on a road to our own salvation.  As volunteers, here we were, given a chance to realize our true nature and calling as Christians and followers of the One who inspired us to “love one another as I loved you.”  As Jesus gave His life as the fullest manifestation of His love for us, so should we strive to give the fullest of what we have to show our genuine love for others.  And mind you, not everyone is given an opportunity to prove oneself in that regard; many simply pass through this world without ever having made a positive difference in the life of even just one person, all for the name and love of God.

            Second, the help that we were extending did not come from us; we were mere couriers.  This mission that we were on is not on behalf of the parishioners who gave so generously, or the parish that actively campaigned for funds and donations in kind, or even the church as the organization or institution as we know it.  We were conducting our mission on behalf of no one else but of our good and generous God.  Here we purvey a sacred truth to help the poor and needy realize that indeed God is very much alive, in fact knows of their plight, has heard their cries for succor, and has sent us, his servants, to be with them in their time of need.

            And third, if ever there will be tired and aching bodies at the end of the mission, it is most expected as part of the deal.  In fact, labor and sacrifice sweeten the act of giving by making it more meaningful.  I remember a story about a girl who gave her favorite teacher a gift, a seashell that could only be found on a beach that was quite far from where the girl lived.  Knowing this, the teacher said, “I really love your gift and will definitely cherish it, but you should not have walked so far just to get it for me.” The girl only smiled and replied, “The long walk is part of the gift.”

Winning World Peace, Bead by Bead!

IT IS 1571.  Muslim Turks under the Ottoman Empire are despoiling Eastern Europe.  To conquer the entire continent, the Muslims have to advance via the southern side, but the only way is through the Mediterranean Sea, which they do with their naval forces in Lepanto, off the western side of Greece.

            To meet the horde, then Pope Pius V organizes a fleet known as the Holy League composed of Catholic maritime states led by Spain and Italy.  The fleet comes under the command of Don Juan of Austria, half-brother of King Philip II of Spain.  In the midst of preparations, Pope Pius V asks that the Holy Rosary be prayed by the faithful and that the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title of Our Lady of Victory, be invoked before our Lord to ensure victory at sea.

On October 7, 1571, the numerically superior Muslim fleet is soundly beaten by the Christian armada after five hours of sea battle in what is now known as the famous Battle of Lepanto, turning the tide of war against the powerful Ottoman Empire. 

The following year, in thanksgiving to our Lord and in commemoration of the powerful intercession of our Blessed Mother at the Battle of Lepanto, Pope Pius V, who is later canonized in 1712, declares October 7 as the Feast of the Holy Rosary, an event which is observed in our liturgical calendar to this day.

It is 2011.  World peace is threatened not only by wars among and within nations in almost all continents, by numerous natural calamities the magnitude of which humankind is not accustomed to witness, but also social upheavals brought about by abject poverty, famine, economic inequality and inequity, recession, moral decline, human rights violations, and other expressions of utter contempt for the sacredness of life.

Our Church no less has called the faithful to rise in arms against these threats.  We are asked to be part of this fleet currently being organized – this formidable armada – composed of more than a million Filipinos here and around the world who will pray the Holy Rosary every day for 200 days.  Each day from Monday to Saturday shall be dedicated to a nation in the world, while our Sunday Rosary shall be for our respective families and for our country. 

This prayer crusade, so pleasingly titled A Million Roses for the World (Filipinos at Prayer: Peace for All Nations) will begin on October 10, 2011, two days after the Grand Rosary Rally on October 8 at the UST grounds, and will end on May 30, 2012.   Incidentally, this year also marks the 60^th anniversary of the Family Rosary Crusade founded by Father Patrick Peyton.  Visit www.millionrosesfortheworld.org for the schedule of countries and the specific intentions.

As we go to war, my friend, always remember that we bear the most powerful weapon of all – our unwavering faith.  Join this Holy Rosary crusade and even under the most unfair and underhanded of circumstance, the powerful intercession of our Blessed Mother before her Most Holy Son will always assure us of victory, of peace in the world in our time.

Are you ready? Fingers on your Rosary beads now. Let’s pray for and win world peace!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

As we stand under the banner of this noble crusade, let us find strength and inspiration in these words of two Marian Popes:

"Give me an army saying the Rosary and I will conquer the world." -Pope Pius IX

"Nevertheless, if men in our century, with its derisive pride, reject the Holy Rosary, there is an innumerable multitude of holy men of every age and every condition who have always held it dear. They have recited it with great devotion, and in every moment they have used it as a powerful weapon to put the demons to flight, to preserve the integrity of life, to acquire virtue more easily, and, in a word, to attain real peace among men." -Pope Pius XI

Next Stop, Grandparenthood!

A LADY FRIEND - much younger than my wife and I - calls me up one night from her house and declares that she is in a state of panic; her eldest daughter who's just turned 18 is going into labor.  Our friend says that the stress s killing her and she needed a friendly voice to keep her sanity considering that her husband was not at home.  Half an hour after she called, they speed off to the nearest hospital in our place.  Around 2.30 in the morning, I am roused from my sleep with a text message: "Yehey, I'm now a grandmother!" 

Around two Sundays ago, we celebrated Grandparents’ Day.  And in a way, our friend's exciting journey into grandmotherhood aptly dovetailed to this whole affair.  And lo, a heartwarming thought!  In a few more years, my generation which saw the light of day in the ‘60s, will be fully an entire generation of grandparents too, either by blood, affinity, or by any creative design. 

In the grand scheme of things, it is a turning of events, the opening of a new major chapter in our lives that come to light.  In time, we become grandparents ourselves to make way for a new generation of the young, the better for hope to spring anew.  And far from dreading the coming twilight of our own years, we rejoice in being ushered into the most exciting times of our lives.  This is where we ensure that indeed better things will happen for those who will come after us.

            Each page that unfolds in this new chapter in our lives is not to step closer to the end, but to claim a God-given opportunity at redemption.  It is not a time for remorse or regret, but for righting the wrongs.  It is not a time for complacency, but for imparting wisdom from experience.  It is not a time for indifference, but for imbuing the young with wise counsel.  It is not a time for silence, but for speaking more of God and his goodness and mercy.  It is not a time for feeling worthless, but for allowing ourselves to be His instruments for whatever use He might consider us worthy.  It is not a time for smugness, but for setting legacies for our family, our loved ones, and our community; yes, especially our parish community. 

            In the end, we should do well to be like the virtuous described in Psalms 92: 13-15 who “flourish like palm trees, … thrive like the cedars…; planted in the house of the Lord, they will prosper in the courts of our God.  In old age they will still bear fruit, they will stay fresh and green, to proclaim that the Lord is upright, that He is my rock and there is no injustice in Him.”

            Let us pray for a meaningful and God-directed coming of age of all grandparents, grandparents-to-be, and those who feel deep within that for whatever reason they also deserve to be called grandparents, as well as to the new generation that has made and is making this possible.

(This article has appeared in my column The Wandering View, in the St. Paul of the Cross's Weekly Parish Newsletter, vol. 1, no. 46, Sept. 18, 2011.)

The Sick and their Loved Ones

FROM AUGUST UNTIL December of this year, our parish's Family Rosary Crusade and Apostleship of Prayer will go on prayer visits to selected parishioners who are ill.  While prayer visits are a vital part of the two organizations’ apostolic work, the activity is being pursued in response to the call of the parish for a year-round outreach by its ministries and organizations. 

            Praying for and visiting the sick are powerful acts of faith.   A sick person is not only in a most vulnerable state physically, mentally, and emotionally, his spirituality is also tested to the hilt by the devil who finds a mind and body weakened by illness fair game.  As we pray, we call on God to come to the succor of the frail and the feeble, to empower them with His presence, His hope, and His love.  As we pray for acceptance of one’s illness and for complete submission to His will, with equal zeal we also implore the power of the greatest healer.

            But our prayers are not only meant for the sick, but for the loved ones who care for them as well.  They are just as vulnerable as their wards.  The spiritual strength required in caring for a sick relative needs to be sustained for the devil delights in chiseling bits of it hoping it cracks and crumbles in time.  The devil gloats in the financial expenses that over-burden the family, the stress that tires the body, the confusion that engulfs the mind so distracted by the uncertainty of the illness’ extent and outcome.  Indeed, intimidations are as vast as the devil’s ability for wanton cunning.

            My father was bedridden for almost two years after a stroke.  Brain surgery only proved a palliative that prolonged his and our family’s agony; for while he came off it alive, it was helpless in restoring his memory and speech.  All that remained was a man who had to be taken care of like a child; a child who often would just stare right through us in failed recognition.  

            We could easily have succumbed to despair.  We could easily have given in to the devil’s designs and blamed God for our ordeal.   There was hardly any reason for my mother, my sister, and me to expect my father’s recovery through some miraculous turn of events.  And while there were the expenses and the anxieties, these paled to the pain in my heart each time I kissed my father’s cheeks and softly caressed his forehead.

But through it all, we prevailed.  Yes, as a family we did entreat our Lord for his guiding hand, but the prayers and home visits from friends and good souls had an overwhelming yet calming effect on us.  Somehow, regardless of how things were, the message that God would never abandon us even for a second, especially at the lowest and saddest moments of our lives, never sounded more clear and true.

            This experience makes for my fierce belief in the power of intercessory prayers for and of visits of the sick.  We may never know how and when God would eventually respond to our actions, but surely He will as He takes kindly to them.  And He takes them as cues to make a positive difference in the lives of those for whom we pray.

           So, have you prayed for or visited someone who's sick lately?  And don't forget, pray for and give some comforting words to their loved ones too.  


(This article also appeared in my column The Wandering View, in the St. Paul of the Cross's Weekly Parish Newsletter, vol. 1, no. 45, Sept. 11, 2011.)

Tea Lights for my Children (1)

I AM STARTING a series of random advices for my children – I call them "tea lights" (my wife's so fond of them) to brighten their way – as they journey through life. I will not be leaving much to my children in terms of material possessions, but I hope these thoughts would be far more valuable.  Like tea lights, the advices may be short, briefly stated, but are just bright enough to give light.  They are the fruits of many a happy and sad experience, lessons learned from mistakes I hope they will not commit, small victories that have meant so much to me, and realizations while seeking and finding God in my own journey of life.

1. Love God always.  Your love of God should reflect in everything you say and do, everyday.  You can never out-love a God who loves you more than you’ll ever know.  Our family has survived crisis after crisis because He has never failed to be there for us.  There is so much truth in the saying that “No problem is too big to a much bigger God.”  Treat Him as you would a loving father, a brother, or a friend.  He need not be feared for He is a loving and merciful God who will understand you more than we, as your parents, ever will.  If this is will be the only advice you would remember of me, I have already done my part as a parent. 

2. Never make that grievous mistake of doubting God’s existence.  I did become an atheist once, trusting in my own strength and will.  At the end of it all, I felt so ashamed and remorseful.  Our Lord is so good that He’ll continue loving you in spite of your follies.  But do keep in mind that He does not deserve such so-called intellectual arrogance and disrespect from us.

3. Mama Mary is our number 1 intercessor before God.  Her prayers to her Son on our behalf are powerful.  Remember Cana.  Always include an appeal for Mama Mary’s intercession in your prayer – your daily prayer, as you must have a daily prayer time. 

4. Everyday, acknowledge the presence of your guardian angels.  They have been with you before you were even born.  Thank them for guarding and guiding your life everyday and every night.  Vocalize your thoughts when communicating with them; they’re not mind-readers, I was told.  Call upon them always, speak to them like you would a close friend and confidante.  Remember, your guardian angels know you through and through – your plans, your secrets, in fact, all of who you are.  And as you acknowledge them, keep in mind how so good our God is for assigning a guardian angel just for you.

5. Take care of your Mama as she has always taken care of you since you were just this teeny-weeny small.  Love her more than you’ll ever love your future husband or wives.  She is all that you have and when the going gets tough, you can be sure she’s there to give you support.  She’s a very strong woman, this I know well, even if she is easily moved to tears.  I know that she’ll never impose on you.  Accord her the care that she deserves.  She may become grumpy at times; just let it pass.  You’ve had tantrums worse than that, and she bore everything through it all because she loves you so much.

6. You may want to earn as much money as you want, but only - and only - through hard and honest work.  On the other hand, while it is good to have money, always remember that it is far better to have things that money cannot buy.  And what are these things?  Love among yourselves, respect from your peers and people who matter most to you, a lovely home and family, peace of mind, a healthy body, and a strong relationship with God.  These are PRICELESS.  But if you’re going to ask me, forget seeking wealth; focus on what will make you fulfilled and happy, especially in pursuits that make people’s lives and their future better.  At the end of life’s journey, this matters the most.

7. Stick to one another as siblings.  Your roots and your blood have a common lineage that binds you forever.  Always remember to treat each other fairly and with equity.  Make us proud by behaving in ways that reflect your good breeding and education, that reflect our having done a good job in raising you.  If possible, come and visit the place where your Mama and I will be interred.  Please go there together often and have a picnic. You can be sure we will be there listening to your stories and the laughter of your children – our grandchildren.

8. Thank the people who have had positive influences in your life.  The teacher who believed in you and encouraged you to succeed.  The friend who stood by you.  Or the one who gave you a life-changing advice.  All of them are God-sent.  Moreover, they would feel good knowing that they have made a difference in someone else’s life.  Start writing to them now.

9. When the time comes that each one of you gets married, respect each other’s spouses.  They too are now your siblings and deserve to be treated as such.  If I hear you quarrelling with your in-laws, I’ll visit you while you’re asleep, appear to you in a most hideous form, and pinch your armpits.

10. Unless absolutely necessary, never use a credit card.  Pay cash as it will keep you from buying things that are unnecessary.  I’ve had tragic incidents as a result of poorly managing the use of my credit card, and I don’t want you to experience the same thing.  The whole experience is like the proverbial lifting a stone and bashing your head with it.  Oftentimes I think of the credit card as the handiwork of the devil.

11. Always pay what you owe.  You do not deserve a life of discomfort and insecurity knowing that you owe someone money.  Believe me, I know how depressing and self-demeaning it feels.  To prevent borrowing and going into loans, always live within your means.  This is a common yet very wise advice that people always tend to disregard. 

12. Your Lola used to remind me of the formula for the proper management of money: Income minus savings equals expenses.  Save 10 percent from your monthly earnings and mark them as payment for you and as emergency fund.

13. Never allow food left in the refrigerator to spoil.  As you respect food, so shall it respect you and never leave you.  Be wary of "busong." Put everything that is perishable in the ref before going to bed.  And do make fried rice in the morning out of left-over rice.

14. Practice tithing.  Put 10 percent of whatever you earn in the church coffers.  Or, if not, make sure that you spend a tenth of whatever you earn in a month for charity; a kind old priest told me that.  But as you do the latter, never tell people it came from you.  Instead, tell them that you simply solicited it from anonymous generous hearts.  God knows what you’ve done and all angels and saints in heavens are rejoicing; a measly recognition from a few here on earth isn’t worth it.  If you have questions about tithing, read Malachi 3: 10-12.

15. Be a church worker while you’re still young and very much able.  There are so many ministries and organizations in the parish to choose from.  You should be at your best and finest while serving the Lord in that capacity, not when you’re already old and grey, with eye sight failing, and joints in pain due to arthritis.  That’s not giving your best to our Lord.

16. When you have children of your own, always kiss them; hug them tight every so often.  It’s not enough to tell them you love them; show them.  Your children will never remember you for the amount of money you give them every day, or if the food on the table is delicious or not, or if you have taken them to places far and near.  They will remember you for how much you loved them and how you showed it.  They will remember how you made them feel loved.  And that is what being a parent is all about.

17. Always eat vegetables and fruits and take your vitamins.  Nobody ever died from eating too much vegetables and fruits.  On the contrary, these will allow you to live longer and live better days.

18. Always wear decent clothes when going to Church.  If you’d wear your best if you had an appointment with an important person at his office, why not present yourself in the same manner when having an appointment with God?  Think about that.

19. Try to muster one musical instrument, and indulge yourself in sing-alongs and videoke sessions.  These are good outlets for the artist inside you.  And during Sunday masses, sing the mass hymns as passionately as you would the songs in videoke machines.

20. Read at least one book every quarter of the year.  A voracious reader experiences far greater things in life than anyone who’s far wealthier but doesn’t read.  Allow your mind to wander the corners of the world and to wonder of its beauty and mystery through the liberating power of words and nicely written articles that inform and educate.  Keep a subscription of Reader’s Digest, Time, and National Geographic.  And if you have extra money, include Popular Science and Popular Mechanics.  And don’t throw away old issues; they’re classic.  Except for Time, I’ve been reading issues of these magazines that are as old as 20 years, and most of the articles are as relevant today as the day they were first written.

Welcome Storms!

TYPHOONS THAT CAME a-visiting in the recent months not only left the entire country damped, but also dreadfully damaged as a train of flash floods, landslides, destruction of property and livelihood, evacuation of communities, and numerous deaths followed their tracks.  Thus, the “lackluster” tenure of Tropical Storm “Nonoy,” the first storm to enter the country’s area of responsibility this month, was nothing short of a welcome turn of events.

            The weather bureau reported that “Nonoy” quickly came and went, “making no impact on the archipelago.”  No impact, my foot!  What did they want, a hurricane? 

I’ll think well of “Nonoy” for two reasons:   One, I finally got a storm that’s my namesake; the result of the weather bureau’s modernization of names which were for decades relegated to women’s and to those that were obscenely hackneyed. And two, the rains it brought in were tempered just enough to irrigate the farms, and maintain the level of dams that provide our cities’ water supply.  “Nonoy,” in effect, made an impact; quite a positive impact I should say.

Can’t help making an analogy on this though.  In life, some of us do come across like super-typhoons, wrecking havoc on those around by the way we conduct ourselves, the way we speak, treat others, etc.  We throw our weight in ways that can only be mean, condescending, and detestable.  We know not a few people of wealth and in authority behaving this way.   Sadly, they try to justify what they are, what they do, and what they have become by insisting on the constrictions of human nature.

On the other hand, we have those who, in their own small, simple and quiet ways come and better the lives of the people they meet.  They do so also as a matter of human nature, but of one with virtuous predisposition to do what is right and beneficial. 

Fine examples abound: The teachers of Morong, Rizal, who travel for hours on foot everyday just to meet their students in far-flung Barangay Yapak.  The anonymous not-so-well-off parishioners who drop by our Bahay Kalinga office and discreetly hand over a few pesos as contribution to the church’s social service projects.  The mother and father who shower their children with unconditional affection, yet do not spoil them.  The doctors and dentists who go on missions in villages and slum areas.  The businessmen who put the welfare of their employees at par or even above any desire for profit.  The sibling, the friend, or the spouse who is always a source of consolation and inspiration when needed.

The actions of these people do not depend on their capacity to give, but on their willingness to simply give more of what they have, beyond what is expected of them.  Their actions tell the world that this is the extent of what we can do; the extent of what love can do if only it is freely given.  These people will be remembered with fondness and respect long after they’ve gone. 

              Some storms, like some people, will be remembered with annoyance and resentment, the reason their names are forever scratched off the list.  And there will be welcome storms that come after a long absence of rain, just strong enough to water the earth and let life flourish.  These are the people with just enough purpose to make a positive difference and whose memories will always be in the hearts of those they have so warmly touched.           

Happy Birthday, Mama Mary!

O BLESSED MOTHER, pray for us always before your Most Holy Son 

as we remain ever confident of your most powerful intercession!

Our Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for us!

Our Lady of Peñafrancia, pray for us!

Are Your Anti-'Demonia' Shots Working?

PEOPLE WERE SHOT in our parish church last Sunday, August 28.

             Given vaccine shots, that is, in our parish’s first anti-pneumonia drive dubbed “No to Pneumo.”  The project brought down the cost of the vaccine to half of its market price, with some of the proceeds going to the church ministry were my wife and I serve as coordinators.   

With a 5-year efficacy, the vaccine offers the recipient a healthy dose of peace of mind knowing that life's pneumonia-free until 2016.  After all, the disease is not exactly lightweight; it remains among the top killer diseases in the country today.

Having done with the anti-pneumonia drive, we're now setting our sights on an anti-“demonia” crusade.  Its aim is to immunize ourselves from the ills that demons and Satan’s entire cohort try to afflict us with every day.  The symptoms of “demonia” vary, but apathy toward God and arrogance toward neighbor are the most common. 

Unlike common vaccines that have to be administered between long periods, the anti-“demonia” vaccine must be given as frequently as possible for its strains are numerous and are continually evolving. 

Starter doses are given for free every week, more appropriately during Sunday masses.  But the process is quite the reverse.  Because rather than antibodies, lurking in our souls are antigens which we need to get rid of.   Thus, no less than Jesus Christ, through the priest’s sermons and homilies and through His Body in Communion, administers us with “demonia” antibodies with the hope that our souls, with its “demonia” antigens, would respond accordingly.  We may feel feverish as our hearts are set on fire.  We may feel aches and pains as remorse and repentance set in.  Or, we may feel nothing long after the priest gave his final blessing because the “demonia’s” virulence has made us too numb to see and feel God’s presence in the Eucharistic celebration.

We are too sick because we never deepen our understanding of what it is to be a follower of Christ, i.e., to be His living example to our fellowmen.  We are too sick because we do not have the slightest idea of what the mass is all about, i.e., the highest form of prayer, worship, and sacrifice where no less than Christ is present.  Or at worst, our minds just wander while in Church, and at some point we ask: “why am I here in the first place?”  We are sick because we see our being Christians merely as a Sunday obligation, a qualification for our children to enroll in Catholic schools, an imposition of family and culture, and nothing else.  We are sick because we simply pay lip service to our Christianity; our actions a contradiction to what and who we are at home, in our workplaces, and in our communities, and how we treat the poor and the needy among us.

For the anti-demonia vaccine to work, we need to realize first how sick in soul and spirit we indeed are and, second, in dire need of divine succor.  And that, only we can do even as we must, through confession, seek forgiveness for our transgressions.  In time, booster shots of regular Bible reading, daily prayer time, formation in church, etc.  will have to be given to deepen our faith. 

For now, let’s just ask ourselves: Are the regular Sunday starter doses of anti-“demonia” shots working for me?

(This article is excerpted from my column, The Wandering View, in the St. Paul of the Cross Weekly Parish Newsletter, vol. 1, no. 44, September 4, 2011)

God's Plan for His Church

HOW SHOULD I see myself as a Christian, i.e., a Roman Catholic Christian?  How should I see my faith in relation to His church, both as an organized religion with the corresponding trappings of a societal institution, and an assembly (“Ekklesia”) of His people?

       There was challenge in arriving at the most convincing answers to these questions when my wife and I were assigned as talk-givers in one of our parish’s formation programs, the Parish Renewal Experience (PREX).   The topic was “God’s Plan for the Church.”  

       In speaking before mostly nominal Catholics in our parish who we urge to become active church workers, it is important to narrow down doctrine to the most basic faith experience.   Unless we do so, what goes into the right ear simply exits to the left; with not a trace of residue.  So, we did the best thing; we prayed as we tried hard to discern the Gospel in John 7:9-26, the reference material for the talk.
 

       Then like tea leaves forming in a cup, the image of a heart with the word JESUS on it came to light.  

       We had our answers.  As Christians and as members of His church, we must be:

•  Joyful of heart and spirit, knowing well that being one with Christ whose love, mercy, and peace immensely overflow is more than enough reason to be fulfilled and to rejoice.
• Empowered by the Word and the teachings that enrich us so, allowing us to Evangelize mightily and fearlessly in His name.
• Stable and Strong amid the spiritual warfare that transpires in every facet of our lives today - dividing our people and threatening the very foundations of our faith.
• United among ourselves and with Christ in the manner that Christ as Son was one with the Father; a union that translates into the coming together of people, families, communities, nations, and the world.
• Salvation-focused; holding on to God's promise that as we remain ever faithful to Him here on earth, His company in heaven, along with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels and saints, awaits us.
• And finally, centered on His greatest teaching that love of God and neighbor shall be the cornerstone of our faith.  And by that, we Christians shall always be known through time and eternity for our love for one another.

                 

       Talaga, ang sarap maging Kristiyano!

It's All About Sex!

LET'S GO TO the main contentious, yet often side-stepped, issue on the Reproductive Health/ Responsible Parenthood Bill…. SEX.

       Really now, behind the discourse that spans the length of arguments  – from theology, science, human rights, governance, morals, to what have you -- the RH bill is really about sex…  plain and simple SEX.  And two camps are separated by the great divide – those who believe that sex should be and can  be treated responsibly, and those who believe that people will often act irresponsibly when it comes to sex and we can’t do anything about it, thus the need for this law to guide us in moderating its negative consequences on our lives.

       I hate dipping my fingers into the current debate as my arguments would just be as open-ended as the rest.  But obligations set by faith and church require that I take a stand, and not just fence-sit.   I take a stand to proclaim that beyond who I am and what others may perceive me to be, I am foremost a Christian, a Catholic, and my immense love for my God is the reason I follow His teachings and stand by Him. 

       How I dread the day when I have to face my God and be asked:  You say that you are my follower, but what have you done in my name?  And I would stare at Him, dumbfounded as to how difficult can an answer be to such a simple question.  Slowly, a profound sadness and loneliness would envelop me because deep within I know the real answer.

        I am totally against the RH/PH Bill for the most basic and simplest reason that it wants us to accept, nay instill into our heart and mind, that we humans are not capable of being responsible when it comes to sex.  That we are simply too weak when we hear the call of the flesh.  That we are no better than animals when the heat of passion, or is it lust, becomes unbearable.  Arguably, I don’t see a marked difference between dogs in heat doing it in the streets, and a couple not married to each other doing it in some sleazy motel.

       To some extent, we are even being portrayed as worse than some animals that can be more responsible when it comes to sex and having sexual partners.  I feel quite sorry comparing animals to humans because animals can behave more humanly than most humans will ever do in their lifetime.  For one, pets are easily forgiving of their masters’ transgressions.  They have such poor memories, indeed to better forgive.  Pigs will defecate at the same corner of their pen, far from where they’d eat, while I know of people who’d muck-rake and mud-sling for their own interests with nary a bother where the stench flies.

      God, having created us in His own image, wants us to come to terms with who and what we really are.  He wants us to rise above what we have come to see and accept of ourselves, not just mere mortals, but His creation, His children, a cut high above the rest.  He wants us be more respectful of ourselves for that.  And since He looks at us that way, He wants us to realize that we do not need a law that will tell us to the contrary, that “since you cannot control your weakness in succumbing to the ways of animals, then this is what you ought to do.”   God does not give us a choice to act like animals, nor does He want us to choose whether to act like humans.  Rather, God requires us to act like humans – of His likeness – because that is who we are.

       I fully agree with statistics that 11 women, everyday and in our country, die due to childbirth-related reasons.  I agree that poverty lurks in every corner of our country.  I agree that domestic violence does happen.  I agree that teen pregnancies do occur.  I agree that having too many children does compound  the poor’s continuing drudgery.  I agree that promiscuity seems to be the norm nowadays, thanks but no thanks to Western culture that has been forced down our throats by media and showbiz culture.

       But do these reasons really justify the passage of the RH/RP Bill into law?

       I believe government can have the capacity to provide proper health services so that childbirth-related deaths, as well as all other deaths due to other cases, are lessened, if not prevented altogether.  I believe that a more aggressive campaign to bring the benefits of our economic programs down to the poorest of the poor will address poverty.  I believe that ensuring effective implementation of laws that address violence against women and children will prevent cases of domestic abuses from escalating.  I believe that empowerment through jobs and just wages will ease the poor’s load.  I believe that the unbridled influx of Western culture that project pre-marital and extra-marital sex as normal behavior in this modern day and age must be contained.  Tell me of any provision in the RH/RP Bill, and I’ll tell you of a government policy, program, project, or an activity that already addresses it.  Hence, do we really require an encompassing law for all these which, if viewed in a larger perspective, pricks our sensibilities and undermines our integrity as a people of faith?

       And finally, and most importantly, I believe that we have the capacity to revisit our views about responsible sex, especially in the context in which it should only be allowed – in marriage.   And this is where our church should come in.  It should gather all its forces and resources, review and revise its advocacies and strategies, launch full-scale evangelism, promote natural family planning as aggressively as the private sector would its pro-choice campaigns, and be clear on its position on relevant crucial social issues that impact the least of our brethren if only for the flock to realize that the church indeed means business.

       It is not just social, political, economic, cultural, or moral debate that's going on, it is a spiritual battle happening before us; hence the need for our resoluteness to stand firm by the side of God.

       Scrap the RH/RP Bill Now! 

A Most Precious Gift!

AT THE END of the day, or perhaps even at life's twilight, nothing counts more than being blessed with a family where love overflows, and where the presence of a merciful and loving God is most felt.  As individuals, we have our quirks, definitely; and the highs and lows are as unpredictable as the rains.  But a family that finds strength not in the material and the temporal but in the value of each member being there for each other will always prevail; and in the end it will always be for the good.

       As a husband and father, I feel immensely blessed with this gift that God has so generously given me - my family... and I can only wish the same for everyone!  Still, everyday I pray to St. Joseph... to make me a good husband and a better father.  As they are a gift to me, so must I strive to be a gift to my family too.

'We Should Have Done Better!'

ON THE THIRD page of the August 24, 2011, issue of a leading daily, is a news report that struck me quite profoundly as a government employee.  It talked about a certain Romeo Salvador, one of the two police negotiators in the botched up hostage-rescue operations exactly a year ago.   Some 25 tourists from Hong Kong who were in a bus, including a Chinese guide and four Filipinos, were taken hostage by a police officer who demanded a review of the Ombudsman's decision on a case against him.  Failure in negotiations, as well as bungled police operations led to the death of eight hostages and the hostage-taker, and to injuries to seven others, including two bystanders.

            In the news report, Salvador went to the site “to offer a simple prayer.”  But it wasn't to be as simple as it seemed as “my knees shook and I was trembling as I was walking to the spot [where the incident happened].” He wanted to leave as fast as he could, but somehow he was recognized by some local and foreign reporters present who probably were there during the actual drama in August 2010.  The snide remarks from the foreigners, especially comments like “why haven’t you resigned?” and “why are you still a negotiator?” surely cut deep.

            But Salvador bravely faced it all and expressed what we, as decent, caring, and God-fearing Filipinos, have been wanting to say this past year to the families and relatives of the victims.  Humbly, he said: “I am here to pray and ask for forgiveness.  We did not fully fulfill our job.  We should have done better.” 

            Most often, we justify the outcome of our actions on the basis of the circumstances in which they were taken.  That is the standard set by ordinary men.  In my book, this man – Romeo Salvador – sets himself apart.  He sees the merit of his actions not in light of circumstantial constraints, but how his actions could have made yet a positive difference notwithstanding the gravity of these same constraints. 

It is not a position of resignation, I strongly argue, but of conscience stirring deep within and surfacing the truth that more could always be done by one in a position to do just that; and to take adequate responsibility for all actions, especially when lives are at stake.  And when asking for forgiveness is demanded not so much as a show of remorse but because it is the most moral thing to do, to do so with courage and hope, knowing well that this world will be made the better for it.