Do Not Kill Me Twice...

6th Sunday of Easter
May 9, 2010

A blessed Sunday to everyone!

One more Sunday and we will be celebrating our parish fiesta, Ascension Sunday. We have heard in the Gospel how Jesus was in many ways saying goodbye and also in many ways reminding his apostles about his commandment to love.

We are also celebrating Mother’s day and we pray for our mothers, for all mothers, for their unfailing trust and unconditional love for us, their children.

Allow me to share with you a short Muslim story…

There was this young man about twenty years old who goes by the name Jamal. Jamal was approached by a salesman, Adam, who offered Jamal a million bucks for his mother’s heart (whether it is figurative or literal we do not know).

Jamal, with money signs in his eyes and greed in his heart, took the offer to be literal and went home right away and with a dagger claimed the life of his mother and tore out her heart and hurriedly started back towards the marketplace to find the salesman. On his way to the marketplace, Jamal tripped on some pebbles and as he fell down he dropped his mother’s heart and it got all dirty with the dust from the ground. After he fell, a soft voice came from within the heart and said: “My son, are you alright?”

Startled, Jamal realized what he had done and started crying. He cried so much that the tears from his eyes rolled down his cheeks and with those tears the dirt on the heart was wiped clean. Jamal, now desperate, wanted a way out of the major sin he had just committed. He picked up his dagger and pulled it up and was about to take his own life. Suddenly, the same soft voice came out a second time from the heart. This time it stated: “My son, do not kill me twice.”

When we love, we share a part of our life, we give a part of our heart to that someone. This is what God does. God loves us with such a love that will never let go, that will never forget, like a love of a mother who will never forget her son or daughter, with a love that even if a mother forgets to love, a thing close to impossible, God will never ever forget to love. That is why when we are bowed down by life’s challenges, when we break down and cry, it is really the tears of God that fall. That is why when we slowly kill our souls with our sins, it was Jesus who took it upon himself to die on the cross for us. Yes, God loves us so dearly that he gave us life, twice. When we were born to our parents and families. And when we were born to new life in him. And we are invited to share that life, that love to everyone, especially to those who are hurt, who have fallen. We are challenged to share life and give love so that our lives and loves are not for ourselves alone but become a part of whole humanity, of the whole community.

Yes, there are times when we have made our mothers, our fathers cry but through all the pain, when we stumble and fall, all that we ever hear is that anguished soft voice asking – are you alright? Yes there are times when we have made God cry, and yet through all our betrayals, all that we ever hear is Jesus’ anguished plea – Father, forgive them. Yes, there are times when we have failed our country by our wrong decisions and apathy, and yet through all the struggles, our motherland continues to hope, all that we hear is that plaintive song of Santino - May Bukas Pa.

Yes, we may have failed miserably many times in our lives. We may have failed our mothers, our fathers, but we do not correct a wrong by doing another wrong – we correct it by loving. By not just telling them how much we love them but most of all by showing to them in our own unique ways how much we love them. Yes, we may have failed our country many times, but we do not correct a wrong by continuing to do wrong – instead we show our love by going out to vote, to do our part towards our country’s transformation, another way of expressing our love is by committing ourselves to be good citizens, by paying taxes, by following traffic rules, by being good employers and employees, by doing our part, bit by bit. Yes, we may have failed God many times but let us not wallow in sin and hatred and kill God many times over again. Instead, let us love God and neighbor and let our love and life multiply…

(Painting: A Mother's Love by Wadia Boutaba)

and defiant hope is born…

There was one christmas card that I received that stood out, one that came from the Redemptorist fathers.
It was not laden with flashy graphics and text, just a picture of a simple “belen” with the message “and defiant hope is born…”

I guess that really is the message of Christmas that strikes a chord -
With the shepherds whose long, lonely nights were suddenly punctuated with the overwhelming visions of angels
With the wise men whose arduous journey was finally rewarded at the end where the star shines the brightest
With hearts so wearied from the pains of love lost gradually consoled by the season of cheer
With lives so broken by misfortune and decisions slowly brought together by the warm air of love…

Yes, the shepherds may find themselves going back again to those cold winter nights doing what they have been wont to do,
And yet, their routine have been changed somehow, having touched the warm flesh of hope…
Yes, the wise men may again find themselves traversing another tortuous route back home,
And yet, their journeys will never be the same again, having realized the true goal of their wandering…
Yes, our hearts will once again realize that the only consistency of our incomprehensible human nature is its capacity to wound,
And yet, the beating of our hearts will never be the same again, for somebody else’s heart beats with us, for us…
Yes, our lives no matter our desperate attempts at mending will only be disintegrated again into a million hurting pieces,
And yet, our lives have been transformed somehow, having felt deep in our hearts that a life was born to embrace our pains…

This is our Christmas,
that love born, will be killed, but will rise again.
This is our hope -
Breaking free from the meaningless violence and death of our souls and bodies,
Bestowing upon it new life that will never end…
Breaking forth from the hopelessness of a future for our children’s children,
Bestowing upon it a meaning that we all can hold fast to…
This is our defiant hope…


lingering hope…

There are many ways to celebrate Christmas…
And more often than not, the songs we sing convey the way our hearts feel -

Like sharing the grief of a family who lost a love and a life
We cannot force hearts to go on beating
And we can never choose the time nor the season
we can only choose to accept and to go on loving…
Believing in a hope that lingers…

“Hindi kita malilimutan
Hindi kita pababayaan
Nakaukit magpakailanmant
Sa aking palad and ‘yong pangalan… “


Like being with enthusiastic and passionate young people
Who carry our burdens, hopes and fears to a future yet unknown,
For whom we are answerable
and in whose questioning faces, our doubts are more pronounced
Though we grapple with them our uncertainties
We can never stop our restless seeking
For the one who has been searching for us all along…

“Into your hands
I commit again
With all I am
for you Lord

You hold my world
in the palm of your hand
And I’m yours forever”


Like experiencing the solitude at the end of the day
After everyone have gone back to the comfort of their own homes
And the warm embrace of their families
And the only company is the music, the solemn strains of the guitar and the flute
Playing the vespers, serving as haunting reminders of the 30 days of witnessing
The birth, the call and the death, and life thereafter
And though the words of the song escape the tired mind and body
The sigh of the heart remains…
I have found what I have been looking for…
Or rather, more succinctly, I was lost… and have been found….


Hope floats…

I have a very young nephew who is hopelessly talkative
Probably enjoying the words he has learned
Taking every opportunity he can to use them
Relishing the jumble of words that escapes his lips…

And yet there was one time when mama shared with me
That when we were about to leave that he was reduced to silence
Maybe not quite understanding why the fun and games have to end
And though not able to fully articulate the pain of saying goodbye
The tears freely, though silently flowing
Gently reminded me that Christmas is also about saying goodbye
To the joyful and warm season of love and giving
To give way to the harsh realities of letting go, loving, living, suffering…
And yet, amidst the tears, he slowly walked up to me, embraced me, and in my ear whispered…
But Tito Didoy, you are coming back, aren’t you?
And that was a very strong reminder that Christmas is also about stubbornly holding on
To persons, to loves that matter to us…
Truly, the gift of Christmas is a defiant hope born in each of us…

newspaper boy

“Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” Luke 9: 1-6

The gospel is obvious, Jesus instructs his disciples, if a town does not welcome you, do not spend your energy trying to convince them otherwise.

If you are a missionary and you are not welcome, leave.
If you are a salesman and no one buys, leave.

Unless of course you want to be a martyr, that is a different story altogether.
Unless of course you want to go broke, that is a different matter.

There will be other towns, homes, communities who will be more than willing to accept you.
As one preacher said, do not waste your time with goats but with sheep, not with resistant people but with receptive people.

As a story goes, a young man of 16 got a summer job selling newspaper subscriptions.
The company gave him a list of names to call up for sales.
He learned from his random calls that people most likely to buy subscriptions were those who were undergoing key transitions in life - newly married or new in town.
So what he did was get a public-records list from the state of Texas and proceeded to make $18,000 in one summer by targeting the right market.
The young man did not waste his time convincing hesitant and resistant people to buy subscriptions.
Instead he called up people who are more than willing to listen to his sales pitch.
That boy grew up to be Michael Dell, founder and owner of Dell Computers, worth billions of dollars.

For some people, selling newspapers seem more like a pastime than a serious business.
For most of us, “selling” God seem more like a hobby than making a living.

Is God Gay?

"The Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, and imposed hard labor on us. Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction and our toil and our oppression; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror and with signs and wonders; and He has brought us to... this land flowing with milk and honey." Deut. 26:5-9


"Faggot!!!"

That scathing remark will not just stop the insulted person on his tracks but anyone who hears it as well.

It is as if the scarlet letter F is not just forcefully sewn in one's garment but hotly branded in one's head at gunpoint as well.

It is as if it is a sin to be one. To be raised as one. To be born one.

This is not to take lightly and even set aside one's actions that are considered sinful.

This is about one's orientation, about one's personhood.

This is is to take up the rights of the marginalized.

And this is about God taking the side of the oppressed.

Some gay pride promoters desire that those who take their side are really on their side, in a very deep ontological level, in short, gay. Or else, one will be under suspicion, that one's stand is being used only for one's motives, political or otherwise.

And yet, that would be looking at things at a very superficial level, and one would miss the point actually. If a person respects you as a person, defends your rights as a human being, and sees you through God's eyes, do you ask him/her if he/she prefers chocolates or burgers? Would you rather be grateful and respect that person as well for the unconditional love that wells up from one's compassionate heart?

This may be seen as a revolutionary statement, a radical move, and not a few may contend that I may be reading too much on what was written.

And I hope to put it further.

In scriptures, we hold that God not only takes the side of the poor, he walks the extra mile - he puts himself in their place. And in the parable of the sheep and the goats (Mt. 25:31-46), our salvation then depends on how we treat the poorest and the most afflicted for who we dignify or degrade is not just the person but God himself.

May we then be the heart of God today, and may each of us, in our loving relationships, be blessed with the peace that the world cannot give.

"For, if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever." Jer. 7:5-7

less is more

Parish Hosting of the Visit of the Diocesan Youth Cross
5th Asian Youth Day Preparations

The theme of the 5th YAsia Fiesta is taken from the gospel of John, the multiplication of the 2 fishes and 5 loaves of bread.

In the story, multitudes were following Jesus. They were seeking something, they must have been looking all their lives and now they believed that it is Jesus who can satisfy their desire, their thirst, their hunger.

Today, there are still many who are seeking, especially the young people. Many try to fill one’s time with schedules and one’s space with people and things. Some try to find answers in gadgets and material belongings. Others seek answers through friends and endless parties. A few tried the painful and confusing path of just trying to ask the right questions. A few discovers that speeding up one’s life will not really deliver what one has been waiting for.

I think that these seeking is fueled by the sincere desire to discover the meaning of one’s life, of one’s place in the world. The hesitation though to embrace the sole answer that stares us in the face everyday, the presence of Christ in the cross, stems from the distrust of the truth that it is in giving up everything that we will be filled and blessed. There is the distrust in one’s capacity to be generous. Many grasp, even grab for more, ending up with the feeling that no matter how one works hard for a year’s wage, it will still not suffice for one’s needs and wants let alone for others. There is that discomforting distrust in the gospel truth that 2 fishes and 5 loaves freely offered from one’s heart and hands is more than enough, it is all that the Lord needs.

We have the mistaken notion that when God asks us to offer all that we are, we have to have more in order to offer more when in fact we already have what God desires - our heart. We often think less of ourselves, of who we are when in fact, all we have to do is to wholeheartedly offer the 2 fishes and 5 loaves of our broken lives to God, that we may be broken and shared, that with the Lord, we may feed the hungry multitudes with who we are not just with what we have.

One of the youth's closing songs captured the message perfectly...

"Nothing in this world can satisfy me
Jesus, You alone can fill me up
I could gain the world and all it's treasures
But all those things would never be enough

It is Your love, it is Your goodness
It is Your kindness and compassion
That fills me up inside
It is Your grace, Your tender mercies
It is Your presence in my life
That satisfies..."

in satan's name

“Wherever two or there are gathered in my name, there am I with them.”

We all know Jesus said this.

I also want to say that satan can also quote this.

Whenever two or three are gathered not to revel in each other’s company but to connive, to thwart the slow irruption of goodness take root in our broken and crucified lives, there is satan who enjoys such company .

Whenever two or three are gathered not to lick and heal the wounds of word wars and broken hearts but to let the hurts fester in order for vengeance to be inflicted with even greater damage, there is satan who delights in such pain.

When we gather as friends, families, communities, in whose name do we gather?

that which does not kill us

Feast of the Triumph of the Cross

While reading the inspiring story of Hellen Keller, I am reminded of the quote “the cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek” by Joseph Campbell. We have fears in our lives and one of our greatest fears is that of the unknown. It is said that many would choose to enter a tiger’s lair rather than enter a dark cave. But it is in the dark caves of our lives that we find our treasures.

“When Hellen Keller was born on June 27, 1880, she was like any other normal baby. Her parents, landowners in post Civil War Alabama were very proud of her. In their eyes, she was after all their intelligent child who could speak “How do you do?” at 6 months old.

However, that started to change after she contracted scarlet fever at 19 months in February 1882. When she was rescued from the brink of death, little Hellen could no longer respond to the dinner bell rings or flashes of her mother’s hand in front of her eyes. It thus became apparent that her illness has left her to be blind and deaf. And as she became further withdrawn into her own silent world, she began to lose her speech as well. Losing her ability to communicate with her parents reduced Hellen Keller to a state of frustration and anger. She became a difficult child, throwing dishes and lamps on the floor, yelling and throwing tantrums. That behaviour gradually worsened as her parents became too soft hearted and refused to discipline her.

Relatives thought she should be sent to a mental institution. Despite her relatives’ claims, Hellen Keller displayed abilities that seemed to suggest that she was sound. By the time she was 5, she could use more than 60 customized hand gestures to communicate meanings of “Mother”, “Father” etc. Believing that her child could be educated, her mother brought Hellen to Alexander Graham Bell on the advice from a specialist doctor. Alexander was working with the deaf at that time. It was through his contacts that a private tutor was eventually engaged to coach Helen.

She was none other than Anne Sullivan. At that time, Anne Sullivan had just graduated from the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston and the offer to be Hellen’s private tutor was like rain in the drought as she had been trying to find work for a long time. Suffering from poor eyesight herself, Anne saw in Hellen what others couldn’t. To her, she was like just any other girl. Anne tried to control Hellen’s bad behaviour and correct her table manners. Instead of allowing her to grab food with her bare hands off other people’s plates, she would train her to eat with a fork sitting down. She would also make her brush her own hair. Those attempts often led to more protests and tantrums from the young girl, causing Anne to lose her 2 front teeth in the first week. At the same time, Anne was teaching Helen finger spelling by writing individual letters onto the girl’s hand. Although Helen could repeat these hand movements, she didn’t really understood what those meant.

One fine day in April 5, 1887, all that changed. Anne led Hellen down the path to the well house, held her hand under a running water pump and wrote the words w-a-t-e-r on her palms. As the cool stream gushed against her hands, Hellen felt a sudden awareness as the mystery of language unveiled in her new founded consciousness. Anne was immediately asked to spell the name of the pump and many other objects Hellen touched in the path, including her own name. By the end of the day, Helen had already learned 30 new words. 3 months later, she picked up 300. As Anne and Hellen’s bond grew, friends, family and even neighbours were greatly astonished at the change in that young lady, calling it a “miracle”. It was not long before news of her accomplishments spread across the country that she got to visit many famous personalities such as Alexander Graham Bell (again) and president Grover Cleveland. By the time she was 12, Hellen was world famous, with renowned people such as England’s Queen Victoria, Mark Twain, Queen Olga of Greece etc openly declaring their admiration for the young lady’s spirit. By 1890, she was living at Perkins Institute, being taught by Anne and spending several winters. During her stay there, she learned ferociously and picked up knowledge not only pertaining to her own language but also in Greek, French and Latin. She also aspired to attend college and intentionally did her high school education in Cambridge so that she could be physically near her dream school, Radcliffe, the sister college to Harvard. Despite her disabilities, Hellen dared herself to take up a lot of adventures such as horse riding, cycling, swimming and even camping that any other able bodied person would take up. She expressed controversial political thoughts in her essays, went up to the vaudeville stage to demonstrate her first understanding of the word ‘water’ and answer questions fielded by the audience on her struggles, with Anne acting as her interpreter.

In 1918, after she moved to Forest Hills in New York, Helen started on her extensive fund raising campaigns for the American Foundation for the Blind using her new home as a base. In the process she traveled around the world, visiting many famous personalities such as the Emperor of Japan, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill etc, effectively helping to raise public awareness on the issues faced by the disabled. Anne died in 1936. To commemorate the death of her friend, Hellen started to work on Anne’s biography, only to lose it to a fire in 1946 when it was almost completed. She rewrote it again and in 1955, published “Teacher : Anne Sullivan Macy”. On June 1, 1968, after Hellen died peacefully in her sleep, she was buried next to Anne at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.”

Hellen Keller had a most frightful dark cave in life, one she would not have entered if given the choice, but since it was the lot given her in life, she chose to play with the hand dealt her and because of that she won, even with odds stacked against her, giving her the treasure that many of us also seek and desire: self-actualization.

I recall the quote “If you cry because the sun has gone out of your life, your tears will prevent you from seeing the stars” by Rabindranath Tagore. Instead of running away from dark caves and heavy crosses, why not try to enter and embrace them? Yes, we may be filled with fear and trembling, but may we also hold on to the grace of awe and fascination for therein lies the promise of the greatest treasure - the Light to guide us, the One who will save us. Instead of sulking and crying because we may feel that life is so unfair, let us not let our tears get in the way of beholding Him who holds us in the palm of His crucified hands.

It is true what the world, through Friedrich Nietzsche, tells us that, “that which does not kill us makes us stronger.” It is even more true what we affirm with our faith that, that which kills us will make us the strongest. It is in embracing the cross, in dying to ourselves, that we find the greatest treasure, He who gives life.

Powdered Christian

24th Sunday Ordinary Time, Year B


“The Russian comedian Yakov Smirnoff, when he first came to the United States, was not prepared for the incredible variety of instant products available in American grocery stores. He says, "On my first shopping trip, I saw powdered milk- you just add water, and you get milk. Then I saw powdered orange juice - you just add water, and you get orange juice. And then I saw baby powder, and I thought to myself, “What a country! You just add water, and you get a baby!"

Smirnoff is joking, of course, but when it comes to Christian transformation, many of us believe that there is such a thing as powdered Christian! Just add water and you get a disciple. That by going to Mass once, or praying or reading the bible when the fancy hits us, we will be instantly changed. Unfortunately, there is no such powder and disciples of Jesus Christ are not instantly born. Mature Christians are slowly raised through many trials, suffering, and temptations. A study has found that only 11 percent of churchgoing teenagers have a well-developed faith, rising to only 32 percent for churchgoing adults. Why? Many of us have to overcome our wrong belief of instant change in our lives. For a tree to become strong and mature, the seed has to fall to the ground and die and slowly take root and grow its trunk and branches to weather any storm, for us to become strong and mature Christians, we have to die to ourselves and slowly grow in the art of living, suffering, and even dying.

If we want to grow spiritually - to know Jesus more clearly, to love Him more dearly, to follow Him more closely and ultimately, to be like Him, to be Christlike, we have to beg God for that grace: to be brave and patient in the slow process of growing.

We have to remind ourselves, spiritual maturity is not automatic, growth does not happen instantly. It is a process and there are no shortcuts. It takes discipline and the going will be tough. But we have 12 men to show us the way, persons who took Jesus seriously. That is why we call them disciples, people who journeyed with Jesus through thick and thin.

To be an athlete, one must develop healthy habits if one desires to excel. So it is when one desires to be a Christian. We must develop Christlike habits.

Let me share with you a wonderful theory - the 21 Day Habit Theory.

"Dr Maxwell Maltz wrote the bestseller Psycho-Cybernetics. Originally a plastic surgeon, Maltz noticed that it took 21 days for amputees to cease feeling phantom sensations in the amputated limb. From further observations he found it took 21 days to create a new habit. Since then the '21 Day Habit Theory' has become an accepted part of self-help programs.
Brain circuits take engrams (memory traces), and produce neuroconnections and neuropathways only if they are bombarded for 21 days in a row. This means that our brain does not accept new data for a change of habit unless it is repeated each day for 21 days (without missing a day)."

With this in mind, I would like to invite everyone to seriously follow Christ by developing Christlike habits, by first of all, getting to know Jesus and falling in love with Him, and one way of doing this is by reading the Bible everyday. Let us make this a daily habit - bible reading and praying.

What I am proposing is a very simple plan for I would not want to burden you so please, when you go home, do not attempt to read the bible for 2 hours a day, not even for an hour a day. It is the equivalent of demanding a first time jogger to run 10 kilometers straight.

In the 24 hours we have in a day, where we probably spend 6-8 hours of that sleeping, another 6-8 hours for working, 2 hours for eating and resting, the rest for our personal interests, I would just like to invite you to read the bible for 7 minutes. Why 7 minutes? Because 5 minutes may be too short, and 10 minutes may be too long. 7 minutes a day, everyday, not 5 days out of 7, not 6 days out of 7 but 7 out of 7. Call it your daily 7-up! Out of the 24 hours a day, just allot 7 minutes. Out of the 168 hours a week, just allot 49 minutes. And if you will be able to read the bible 7 minutes a day for 7 days, in 3 weeks, you get t o develop a Christlike habit - reading the scriptures.

We can start with what we have heard today, the Gospel of Mark. Read, do not stop to study, to analyze, rather, enjoy reading, enjoy meeting a friend, whether an old one or a new acquaintance. Jesus would be very happy to set a date with you, no matter how short it may be, for it is a lot better than nothing.

Happy reading! And I know and trust, God will reward us with many more habits, that in the end we will have the most important Christ habit - loving.

young love. old love.

Tan-Sy Wedding
August 23, 2009

Marlon and Maricel, friends and families, my brother priests, a blessed afternoon.
This is a wedding that will, for sure, be very memorable not only for the bride and groom but for all of us as well.
Marlon and Maricel have been preparing for this since last year but for those who know them, we can say that this wedding was 6 years in the making.
In my 3 years of stay in the parish, I have come to know Dra. Maricel and her family and Marlon as well. I am not exaggerating that they both possess wonderful values. I am not going to enumerate all of them but only 3 of which I hope will serve as guides as they embark in this daring adventure called love.

Allow me to share with you the 3 values - generosity, prayerfulness, commitment - through 3 inspiring stories I’ve read and I’ll try to intersperse it with my personal recollections and dealings with the loving couple.

First, generosity. This is by the well known author O. Henry.
A story is told about a young married couple whose names are Jim and Della. They are poor but very much in love with each other.
As Christmas approaches, Della wonders what to get Jim for Christmas. She would like to give him a watch chain for his gold watch, but she doesn't have enough money. Then she gets an idea. She has beautiful long hair. So Della decides to cut off her hair and sell it to buy the fancy chain for Jim's watch.
On Christmas Eve she returns home, and in her hand is beautiful box containing a gold watch chain which she purchased by selling her hair. Suddenly Della begins to worry. She knows Jim admired her long hair, and she wonders if he will be disappointed that she cut it off and sold it.
Della climbs the final flight of stairs leading to their tiny apartment. She unlocks the door and is surprised to find Jim home and waiting for her. In his hand is a neatly wrapped box containing his gift he purchased for her.
When Della removes her scarf Jim sees Della's short hair, and tears well up in his eyes. But she says nothing. He chokes back the tears and gives Della the gift box.
When Della opens it, she can't believe her eyes. There in the box is a set of beautiful silver combs for her long hair.
And when Jim opens his gift, he, too, is astonished. There inside the box is a beautiful gold chain for his gold pocket watch. Only the does Della realize that Jim pawned his gold watch to buy her the silver hair combs.
Far more beautiful than the gifts is the love they symbolize.
I first came to know Dra. Maricel through his mother, Tita Lina who goes to church everyday. I hope she will not take it against me if I say, she gives generously though anonymously. But still, everyone knows her to be generous for she helps not only the parish community but anyone who is in dire need. Through Tita Lina, I came to know the whole family, Tito Vic, Maricel, Heidi, etc. And I greatly admire that even with their wealth and good standing they lived a simple, exemplary life.

Second, prayerfullnes.
This one is a story by Anthony de Mello, SJ, from One Minute Wisdom.
A newly married couple said, "What shall we do to make our love endure?"
Said the Master, "Love other things together."
To pray is to express love for God, for the Other.
I have come to know Marlon when both he and Maricel attended our PREX (Parish Renewal Experience), a week end retreat for parishioners. And since then, I see them going to mass together, praying together, worshipping God with family and friends.

Third, committment
This is a by an unknown author, from A 5th Portion of Chicken Soup for the Soul
The question is asked, "Is there anything more beautiful in life than a boy and a girl clasping clean hands and pure hearts in the path of marriage? Can there be anything more beautiful than young love?"
And the answer is given. "Yes, there is a more beautiful thing. It is the spectacle of an old man and an old woman finishing their journey together on that path. Their hands are gnarled, but still clasped; their faces are seamed, but still radiant; their hearts are physically bowed and tired, but still strong with love and devotion for one another. Yes, there is a more beautiful thing than young love. Old love."
Dra. Maricel’s generosity extended to sharing her God given talents, by serving others, for I see her often, sometimes with Marlon, as a regular volunteer in our parish monthly medical service.

There are many other inspiring values that Marlon and Maricel possess and that I am sure their friends and families will never tire of extolling but for now, on this graced occasion, I have enumerated these 3 for I hope that these will be of help to you both as you enter the married life.

Marlon and Maricel, continue to be generous to each other, to give of yourself totally in marriage, in love, knowing that as you come before our Father to express your total self giving, God will not be outdone in generosity, that he will bless you beyond your wildest dreams.

Maricel and Marlon, continue to be prayerful, to allow God to journey with you as husband and wife, and in the future, near future, I hope, as I am sure it is what your families also wish, that as you become not only husband and wife but also father and mother, you will teach your children and grandchildren to pray as Jesus has taught us knowing that as you come before our Lord Jesus to pray and to ask for heavenly blessing, God is always there, will always be there for you.

Marlon and Maricel, continue to commit yourself to each other, to share your time, talent and treasure to one another and to others that you may fall in love with each other every day, again and again, that you may grow deeper in sincere faith in God and love of neighbor, every moment, every day, knowing that as you come before the altar of the Lord to exchange your vows, to ask the Holy Spirit for strength to be faithful and true to your covenant of love, God has, is and will continue to commit himself to both of you, to be always there transforming the water of human love into the sweet wine of divine love, allowing you to share in the gift of everlasting love.

The question is asked, "Is there anything more beautiful in life than a boy and a girl clasping clean hands and pure hearts in the path of marriage? Can there be anything more beautiful than young love?"
The answer was, Yes, there is a more beautiful thing than young love. Old love."

Let me end with an old Irish blessing and prayer, for all its content, I know these may be a Chinese blessing also:

Marlon and Maricel:
May God be with you and bless you.
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortunes
and rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
from this day forward.

Marlon and Maricel:
May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

I trust that it is our loving God who brought you two loving and beautiful couple together to share a young, promising love forever.

I pray that you will work together with this same God of ours for Him to bless your journey that as you grow old and reach the end of your adventure, though your hands may be gnarled, though your faces may be seamed, though your hearts may be physically bowed and tired, you may inspire us still as you proclaim, yes, young love is beautiful. So is old love.

Marlon and Maricel, congratulations and may God bless you both. Always.

pighati

Sa limang taon ko ng pagpapari
Marami rami na rin akong namisahang patay.
At halos lahat mararamdaman mo talaga ang kalungkutan sanhi ng pagpanaw.
Maging bagong panganak na sanggol o di kaya may edad ng kapamilya
Nandun pa din ang pighati
At ibat ibang paraan ng pagpapahayag.
Mababakas sa mukha
Makikita sa pangingilid ng luha
O kaya sa malakas na pag atungal.
Meron na akong napuntahan isang beses
Sinusubukan ipakita ang lungkot pero nag-uumalpas pa din ang ngiti.
At di ko mapigilang magtanong, mukhang masaya po kayo?
Kasi po pinamanahan ako ng milyon milyon.
Gayunpaman, may kalungkutan pa din.
May napuntahan nga ako
Naglulupasay pa sa kabaong
At pinipigilan ang lumisan na umalis
At kung minsan nakikiusap kung pwede pati siya isama na din
May mga nababaliw nga talaga dala ng matinding dalamhati.
Nalulungkot tayo sapagkat tayo ay namatayan.
Isang emosyon na normal na nararamdaman sa ganitong okasyon.
At kung bakit tayo nagmimisa eh hindi para sabihin wag malungkot
Kung hindi para bigyan tayo ng pangtapat sa lungkot
Ang presensya ni Hesus na nakapako sa krus
Nakikiisa sa ating karanasan
At nagpapahayag
Ang buhay ay di nagtatapos sa kamatayan
Kundi sa buhay na walang hanggan.
At eto nawa ang panghawakan natin
Upang di tayo tuluyang matalo ng pighati
Na sa kabila ng dalamhati ay may mag uumalpas pa ding ngiti
Di dahil tayo ay nagmana ng milyon milyon
Kung hindi dahil umaasa tayo na ang ating mahal na kapatid ay magmamana ng higit pa dun
Ng biyayang makasama ang Diyos habambuhay…

emergency

Sa sobrang pagod ko dahil sa mga skedyul ng parokya at personal na buhay
Naisipan kong magpahinga.
Pag hapon mo ginawa yun
Tawag dun siesta
Pero simula kasi college ako
Tinanggal ko na ang ugaling pagsisiesta
Isa kasi yun sa mga oras sa seminaryo na kung saan ang karamihan ay nagpapahinga
At pagkakataon ko lasapin ang nakakabinging katahimikan.
Kung minsan nilalagyan ko pa ng mas malalim na kahulugan
Di ako nagsisiesta sapagkat itoy nagmula sa mga kastila
Kaugaliang naipasa sa atin nung tayo ay sakupin.
At kapag ginawa natin ay tumatanaw lamang tayo ng utang na loob
Sa mga taong nilupig ang ating lupang sinilangan.
Tumatanaw naman ako ng utang na loob sa kanila dahil sa Kristianismong dala nila
At kahit na kasama dito ang pagkakaroon ng mga Padre Damaso
Inaamin ko na ang krus na dala ay mas naging mabisa kesa sa espada.
At ng hapon na iyon, ako nga ay nagsiesta.
Di dahil sa tumatanaw ako ng utang na loob.
Pagod lang talaga ako.
At biglang may kumatok.
May tao raw sa baba.
Kaya bumaba ako.
May 2 ale.
Humahangos.
Nakikiusap.
Kung pwede raw pumunta ako.
Emergency.
Pakiramdam ko, doctor ako. Meron maysakit. Naghihingalo. Kailangan ng tulong.
Bakit ho?
May patay ho.
Teka lang.
Ano emergency dun?
Except of course, naiinip na ang patay. O gusto nila buhayin ko agad. Ni sa aking panaginip di ko naisip gawin yun.
Wala po kasi ang pari na kinausap namin, di raw sya pwede.
Kelan po ba ito?
Ngayon na po.
Ay oo nga pala.
Emergency.
Pag sinabi kasi ang salitang yan, ibig sabihin, its a matter of life and death.
Kung sa analohiyang ginamit ko kanina, bilang isang doctor
Kailangan pumunta agad ang manggagamot
Dahil kapag hindi, tigok ang pasyente
Walang tanong tanong
Walang pagdadalawang isip
Punta agad kung hindi yung alive magiging dead.
Pag sa pari naman kasi at patay ang pinag uusapan at sasabihin emergency
Its really not a matter of life and death.
Its a matter of the dead.
Nang pumunta na kami at inaayos ko na ang gamit para sa misa
Nakita ko sa gilid ng aking mga mata ang pamilyang puno ng kalungkutan
At nakita ko na din sa gilid ng aking mga mata
Ang lumisan nilang mahal sa buhay
Lulan pa sa stretcher straight from the hospital
At bago ipasok sa crematorium
Nilagay muna sa harapan ng altar upang misahan.
Tanggal ang natitirang antok ko mula sa attempt ko na magsiesta.
Kailangan harapin ko ang katotohanan.
Di ako pwedeng magmisa ng patagilid at tingnan na lang ang mga magisisimba sa gilid ng aking mga mata.
Baka mas lalong maiyak sila noon. At mainsulto.
Kaya nagmisa na ako.
Alam ko ang mga ganitong sitwasyon, lumilipas din.
Sabi ko ito sa mga kapamilya. At sa aking sarili.
May mga sitwasyon talagang tumatatak sa iyong isip.
Communion time, papunta na ako sa harap
Nakayuko at taimtim na hawak ang katawan ni Kristo
Ng masagi ko ang pumanaw
Nalaglag ang kanyang kamay
Di ko naman magawang hawakan, makipagkamay at magpakilala
Napaka unhygienic nun, eh magpapakomonyun pa ako.
Unang nakapila ang misis
Sa gilid ng aking mga mata napansin ko nakatingin siya sa akin
Tiningnan ko din
Tumingin siya sa malayo
Sa mga attendant doon
At sila ang nagbalik ng kamay na lumaylay
At bumalik na ulit ang sense of normalcy.
Ganun pag emergency
Di mo alam kung ano ang mga mangyayari
Tinatanong nga ako kung bakit sumasama ako sa mga nagmamadali upang puntahan ang patay at basbasan
At ang pabalang kong sagot, ako ang pumupunta kesa ang patay ang pumunta sa akin
Pero ang totoo nyan
Gawain ko bilang pari
Pakikiisa sa mga nagdadalamhati
Sa mga taong naghahanap di lamang ng kasagutan
Sa karanasan ng kawalan
Kundi higit sa lahat
Sa presensya ng Diyos
Na nagbibigay pangako
Ng buhay na walang hanggan
Na kung saan wala ng emergency
At isa sa mga tanging magagawa ko ay makilakbay
Upang magpaalala
Ang Diyos ay palaging kasama natin
Maging trahedya man o kasayahan
Di mo na siya kailangang sabihan pumunta dahil emergency
Kasama natin siya dati pa.

nakakainsulto

Nakasaad sa ating konstitusyon, Article 7, Section 2, para makapaglingkod ang isang tao bilang presidente ng republika ng Pilipinas, kailangan na siya ay umabot na sa edad na 40, nakarehistrong botante, marunong magbasa at magsulat, mamamayan ng Pilipinas simula pa pagkapanganak at nanirahan sa bansa sa loob ng sampung taon.
Walang sinabi tungkol sa academic degrees. O sa height.

Ibig sabihin, may pag-asa ang samutsaring tao,
Maging titulado sa kilalang unibersidad katulad ng up o ateneo
O di kaya ordinaryong mamamayan katulad ni mamang sorbetero.

Mas maganda kaya kung di na lang edukado ang presidente natin?
Abogado naman tulad ni Marcos pero andaming recorded na human rights violation.
Ekonomista naman katulad ni Arroyo pero as per record, naghihingalo ang ating ekonomiya.
Kaya lang kasi, sinubukan na din natin ng isang school drop out katulad ni Erap, pero kahit termino niya, drop out pa din.
Kahit nga jail term niya, di kayang tapusin.
Minsan kasi napapailing na lang ako sa mga nababasa kong sagot ng mga opisyales at miyembro ng gabinete natin na may pinag-aralan.
Hahayaan daw ba natin ang isang presidente natin na kumain sa ordinaryong kainan?
Sa loob loob ko, katulad ng ordinaryong burger stand na kinainan ni Obama at Biden?
Hahayaan daw ba natin magutom na lang ang ating presidente?
Pwede kaya pahingi ng listahan ng menu nila at ipapakita ko sa aking mga parokyano na ang ilan ay nagdidildil na lang sa asin para may mailagay sa tiyan?
At hahayaan daw ba natin na sumakay siya sa eroplano na di tayo sigurado ang seguridad.
Kasama ba dito ang commercial flights?
Parang ayaw ko na tuloy lumipad, unless maglabas ng ad si Lucio tan at Gokongwei at magsabi na safe ang mga eroplano nila?
At paano naman kung government planes?
Kawawa naman ang ating air force.
Bawat lipad pala nila, kailangan manguros kasi kung ganun eh isang paa mo nasa libingan na.
Kung ako ang tatanungin, mas maganda pa, bigyan natin ng first class na mga fighter planes ang ating mga sundalo.
Tutal, mas madalas sila lumipad kesa ki GMA. O teka, mas madalas pala lumipad si GMA.
Eh takot naman pala siya sumakay sa flying coffin,
Takot naman pala siya mamatay,
Takot naman pala siyang humarap ki Lord,
Bakit kaya?

Sa akin lang ha, nakakainsulto ang mga sagot nina Remonde et al.
Parang tingin, di tayo marunong mag-isip.
Para naman din daw ito sa susunod na presidente, ang napakagandang jet.
Di kaya naiinsulto si Mar Roxas noon, kung sakaling manalo siya
na iba na ang nagdesisyon sa kanya kung ano ang sasakyan niya, maliban sa padyak?
Di kaya nakakainsulto kay Mike Velarde yun, kung sakaling siya ang manalo,
Na iba na ang magdesisyon sa kanya, kung ano ang sasakyan niya,
Sa pagpunta sa mga barangay o di kaya prayer meetings?

Naiinis ako pag may mga ganung sagot na nakakainsulto sa aking likas na katalinuhan na bigay ng Diyos.
Minsan gusto kong kalimutan na ako ay isang pari at gusto ko silang batukan.
Pero, teka lang,
Bat ako magagalit sa kanila?
Bat ako maiinsulto?
Eh sino ba ang humalal sa kanila?
Sino ang naglagak sa kanila sa ganung posisyon?
Di ba tayo?
Bago tayo mapikon at mainsulto,
Bago tayo mangalaiti sa galit,
Isipin din natin ang ating sariling pagkukulang
At kung sino ang unang dapat batukan.

PS. At huwag mo din talagang subukan batukan ang mga opisyales ng pamahalaan. Sana magdalawang isip ka. Malulupit ang PSG sa kanilang pinapanghawakang pangako na ipagtanggol ang ating mga piniling punong tagapaglingkod. Tingnan ko lang kung gamitan ka ng maximum tolerance.

best birthday gift?

As I celebrated my birthday, I look back on what I often consider as the best birthday gifts I have ever received.

Sunday before my birthday,
Naannounce ko, non-working holiday.
Sa lahat ng sangay ng gobyerno.
Makikisakay na din ang simbahan.
Kasama na diyan lahat ng mga sekta. At kulto.
Pag non-working holiday, nagkakaisa lahat.
Inannounce ko, holiday!
Birthday ko kasi.
Palakpakan ang mga tao.
Tuwang tuwa.
Saan daw ang handaan?
Ano daw ang handa?
Sabi ko, depende yan kung magkano makokolekta natin.
Hahaha.
Teka, bat ako lang ata natawa dun.
Humingi ako ng panalangin.
Sabi ko, I’ll be turning 33, the age of Jesus when he was crucified on the cross.
Palakpakan ulit ang mga tao.
Parang gusto ata akong ipako sa krus.
Ako lang ang di natawa dun.

An old man went up to me and wished me well.
And complimented me on my homily.
At least, now I know, there is someone who does not nod off when I rattle off.
He said, he looks forward to what I have to say.
That he pays attention to every comma and period.
Huh?
He added, he relishes every word I have to say.
Eksakto daw lagi sa buhay niya.
Oh.
At least yun, naiintindihan ko. Naaalala ko kasi ang mga salitang sinasabi ko.
At di ko maalala na sinabi ko, explicitly, comma and period.
Well, of course, sometimes, I say period.
But I dont’ say that all the time. Only to drive home a point.
By the way, May isa akong propesor, talagang sinasabi niya, comma.
Di ko siya makuhang gayahin.
Anyway, what he said afterwards warmed my heart.
I am praying for you always, Father.
Assurances like that, promises of those kind,
With or without compliments
Always warm the heart,
Always connecting our hearts with the Heart beating for each one of us
With the Heart who loves
With the heart who gives hope.
Thank you dear God for the gift of life
And for the gift of lives all around me
And most of all for the gift of your life in whose name we kneel to honor and serve.

life worth living

Salamat po sainyong pagdalo at pagbati.
May isa akong kaibigang pari, kapag dumarating ang kanyang anibersaryo/kaarawan, may isa siyang ginagawang kakaiba at nakakatuwa - kumakanta siya. Ayokong takutin kayo kaya ang aking ginawa ay nagresearch na lang para sa aking homily.
Marami palang mga tradisyon ang ibat ibang mga bansa pagdating sa kaarawan.
In Canada, in Quebec, the birthday person receives a punch for each year they are alive and then one for good luck.
In Germany, when men reach the age of 30 and they still don't have a girlfriend that they have to sweep the stairs of the city hall. All there friends will throw rubble on the stairs and when you're finished  they'll throw some more rubble there. This way every girl can see that this man reached the age of 30 and still doesn't have a girlfriend (and that he can clean a house very well!).
In Vietnam, everyones birthday is celebrated on new years day.  Not only is Tet the beginning of a New Year, it is also everyone's birthday. The Vietnamese do not know or acknowledge the exact day they were born. A baby turns one on Tet no matter when he/she was born that year. Children say they were born in the year of the symbol of the lunar calendar for that year.
In Hungary, when gifts are opened, everyone pulls on the earlobes of the birthday person and says a little rhyme. The rhyme is translated into English as follows "God bless you, live so long so your ears reach your ankles".
Sa Pilipinas, madami din tayong tradisyon, mga nakakasanayan at pauso. Pamisa. Txt greetings. Pagbati sa facebook.
Ngayon, simpleng almusal. Pot luck. Di natin tatapatan ang pangulo ng Pilipinas na kayang gumasta ng $20,000.00.
Ngayon, Biblia para sa Bawat Pamilya. Subukan natin mabigyan ang mga pamilya ng biblia (sa halagang P50 bawat biblia, mula sa Phil Bible Society).
Iba ibang nasyonalidad, iba ibang tradisyon, iba ibang pamamaraan ng pagdiriwang kasama ang mga kapamilya at mga kaibigan sa pagpapasalamat sa biyaya ng buhay. Sa likod kasi ng mga tradisyon ay ang iisang pagbati, panalangin at pagtanaw ng utang na loob sapagkat may bagong araw, may bagong hamon na naman upang mahalin ang Diyos at ang kapwa.
May mga naniwala ng mag announce ako na holiday ngayon kasi birthday ko. Mataas pa din pala ang credibility ko. Sa totoo, inaalaala natin ang dakilang sakripisyo ni Ninoy Aquino ngayon. At sana patuloy nating sasabihin, the Filipino is worth dying for. Hindi, the Filipino is worth dining for.
At bilang isang Katoliko, inaalala natin si Pope Pius X na ang naging motto ay “To Renew All Things in Christ,” bilang isang alagad ni Kristo na nananampalatayang ang buhay ay biyaya ng Diyos, patuloy pa din nating sasabihin, life is worth living for.
And how should we live life?
In the 1st reading, Ruth invites us to sing her song with our hearts, hands and feet, for our neighbors. Wherever you go, I shall go, wherever you die, I shall die, your people shall be my people.
In the Psalm, we exclaim, praise the Lord my soul!
In the Gospel, Jesus ties it up by teaching us:
Love the Lord your God with all your mind, will all your soul, with all your heart.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
That is a life worth living.
Muli, Maraming salamat po sa inyong pagdalo, pagbati at pakikiisa sa panalangin.

haus 2 haus

Nag-ikot kami kagabi sa mga bahay bahay para personal na anyayahan ang mga prospective participants sa darating na Marriage Encounter Week-end.
Ang strategy, two pronged - binisita na sila ng mga community leaders at mga sponsoring couples ng Marriage Encounter para plantsahin na kumbaga para pagpunta ko, tiklop na agad sila.
Sinimulan namin ang pag-iikot pagkatapos ng misa sa gabi at pagkahapunan.
25 couples ang bibisitahin.
Parang madami.
Parang nakakapagod.
Iniisip ko na lang, isi sales talk ko sila na umatend.
Maglalako ako.
At si Lord ang produkto ko.
At General Manager.
Sana matuwa siya sa output ko.
Iniisip ko na lang ang iba pang mga maglalako.
Katulad ng nagbibenta ng taho.
Malamang di lamang 25 na bahay ang bibisitahin niya.
Kasi pag inisip niya agad ang dami at ang pagod - wala siyang kikitain.
Baka kulang pa perang kinita pampamasahe pauwi.
Maglalakad na naman siya pauwi bitbit ang lagayan ng taho.
Yun na lang iniisip ko, mga katulad ni mamang magtataho.
At bakit ba naman makukuha kung magreklamo eh ako naman ang nagkagusto nito?
At wala naman akong bitbit kundi listahan ng mga pangalan.
Unang bahay na pinuntahan namin, tumanggi agad.
Magandang pangitain.
Nagsisimula pa lang ako magsalita, sinagot na agad ako, di pwede, may trabaho.
Ok po. Maraming salamat!
Paalis na kami ng biglang nagpahabol ang isa sa mga kasamahan ko.
Si fader na nga pumunta, aayaw ayaw pa kayo diyan.
Eh bakit sino nagsabi pumunta siya dito?
Nakupo, mapapaaway pa ata kami.
Liko na agad ako sa kabilang eskinita, mahirap na.
Sunod na bahay na pinuntahan namin, biglang may dumambang aso,
Talagang walang atubili sa kanyang intensyon sakmalin ako.
Muntik na akong mapasigaw.
May phobia ako sa mga asong askal na mukhang loaded sa rabies.
Wag po kayong mag-alala fader, sabi ng kasamahan ko, nakatali po naman ang aso, sabay hawak sa braso ko at punta sa likuran ko.
Umayaw din ang maybahay. May trabaho si mister. Katunayan nga nasa construction site pa siya.
Pangatlong bahay, medyo malayo ang pinto at kailangang dumaan sa masikip na daan.
Sinabihan ko na ang isa sa mga kasamahan ko, mauna ka na.
Sabi ng isang bata sa may tindahan, wag ho kayong mag-alala fader, wala na pong aso diyan.
Namatay na.
Kinagat ng daga.
Kinagat ng daga!
Di ko na alam kung matatawa o matatakot.
Saan ka nakakita ng asong kinagat ng daga?
Pang Guiness.
Sana di kasinglaki ni Godzilla ang daga.
Pero mukhang mas malaki pa ang mga hinaharap kung hamon.
Tumanggi na naman. Trabaho ulit ang dahilan.
Pang-apat na bahay, rejection ulit. Trabaho din.
Habang hinihila ko ang aking mga paang kasalukuyan ay nagiging kasing bigat na ng tingga patungo sa panglimang bahay, naisip ko, kailangan kong magpalit ng strategy.
Naglaro ako sa umaga ng tennis at sa loob ng isang oras di ko naramdaman ang pagod.
Ngayon, ten minutes pa lang, damang dama ko na ang bigat ng mundo.
Pero may pakinabang din pala ang tennis, pag natatalo ka na, kailangan change strategy.
Kung hindi, love set ka. Zero. Bokya.
Kaya pagpasok sa bahay, kwentuhan agad.
Naku, bagong opera si misis. Nakasaklay pa.
Tatanggalin ang bakal sa binti. Tinaas pa nga ang duster para ipakita sa akin ang humihilom na sugat.
Umurong bigla ang dila ko.
Pero naisip ko ang tennis analogy ko.
Kailangan umiskor.
Inanyayahan ko na siya sa Marriage Encounter. Week end retreat para sa mga mag-asawa. Napakagandang experience. Isa sa mga pinaka the best na maaring ibigay na regalo sa inyong pinakamamahal. At walang kailangan dalhin, sarili lang. Gamit, pagkain, atbp, ay libre. Di ho kayo magsisi na umatend nito. Napakagandang karanasan. Mapapalapit ka talaga sa Diyos.
Pumayag. Kaya lang pwede bang dalhin ang anak niya? Wala kasing mapag iwanan.
Sabi ko, op korz. May mga taong magbabantay at makikipaglaro sa kanila.
At agad tumakbo utak ko kung paano mag put up ng Day Care habang may Marriage Encounter.
Kung ganun, maasahan niyo po ang aking pagpunta.
Yes! Sabay, mentally, pump ng fist! 1 point!
Score: 1-4.
Bumalik na ang sigla ko at ng aking mga kasamahan.
Natapos kami bandang alas diyes.
Patulog na ang huling binisita namin.
Pumayag agad.
Di na kami pumunta sa iba pang nirerekomenda.
Parang mahirap na kasi.
Mangimbita na ka lang daw sa lasing, wag lang sa bagong gising.
Let’s call it a night.
Score: 16-9.
Not bad.
Sana pagreport ko sa aking General Manager, matuwa siya sa sales ko.
At di ako sisantehin.
At next time, sana, panalo ulit.

earth shaking

Madami akong natutunan kapag nakikipagmeeting sa mga leaders and volunteers ng parish.
Yan ang advantage pag magagaling ang kinukuhang leaders at sila ay binibigyan ng pagkakataon magsalita.
Sa aking palagay, di na dapat nagsasalita palagi ang pari sa meeting o brainstorming.
Sapat ng mag isa siyang nagsasalita sa misa kapag nag homily, o nag sermon.
Sapat ng magbigay ng direksiyon sa meeting at hayaan ang iba maglagay ng detalye.

Isa sa bagong natutunan ko , sa financial literacy.
Income - Savings - Expense.
Earth shaking, ika nga ng nagshare sa amin.
Kailangan maituro ang pamamaraan na ito sa mga miyembro ng microlending.
O sinumang nais makapag-ipon at umasenso sa buhay.
Pag may kita, kaltasin na agad ang dapat ipunin saka ang tira ay ibudget para gastusin.
Priority ang pag-iipon at di ang pagasta.
Kadalasan kasi, kung ano ang natira, yun na lamang ang tinatabi.

Ganun din sana sa tithing.
Income - Tithing/Savings - Expense
Priority ang pagtatabi sa tithing.
At ano ang tithing? Taos pusong pagbabalik ng ikapu sa Diyos ng biyayang tinanggap.
Kadalasan kasi, kung ano ang natira, yun na lamang ang tinatabi.
At ang maliit na parte nun ang pag-iisipan pang ibalik sa Diyos.
Di malugod sa loob pa nga kung minsan ang pagbibigay.
Di na tuloy naging first fruits.
Sapilitan.
Ano kaya nararamdaman nin Hesus habang tinatanggap ang mga ito?

Ganun din sana sa pagdarasal.
Time - Prayer/Work - Rest.
Priority ang pagdadasal.
Uunahin at ibibigay ang best time at best efforts para sa Diyos.
Di tira tira ang binibigay para sa Diyos.
Kaya binibigay natin ang abot ng ating makakaya
Bilang pagtanaw ng utang na loob
Sa Diyos na di lamang nagbigay sa abot ng kanyang makakaya
Kundi ng kanyang sarili, mismo.

mayaman

Tuesday, 20th Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

Noong nakaraang linggo, nagkaroon ng brainstorming ang mga miyembro ng finance council at microlending tungkol sa mga dagdag na pamamaraan para matulungan ang mga miyembro mg microlending at sinumang miyembro ng parokya na mapalawak ang financial literacy. Para magabayan sila sa pag-asenso sa buhay. Para matulungan pangalagaan ang perang kinita at ang hanap buhay na pinagpapaguran. Isa sa mga gagawin ay series of modules on basic financial literacy at may kaakibat na pagtuturo na pang spiritwal. Pangunahing libro na gagamitin bilang basehan ng pagawa ng modules ay yaong sinulat ni Bo Sanchez “8 Sikreto Para Maging Tunay na Mayaman.” Gagawin natin ito para matulungan ang kapwa, magkaroon ang kapwa ng pera, umasenso sila sa buhay, at maging mayaman, sa madaling salita.
Pagkatapos, maririnig natin sa ebanghelyo, sinasabi ni Hesus, mahirap para sa isang mayaman na makapasok sa kaharian ng Diyos!
Parang ang hirap unawain!
Nahirapan ka ng tumulong sa tao maghanapbuhay siya at magkapera.
Nahirapan na siya magtrabaho, kumita at mag-alaga ng pamilya.
Pagkatapos, pag umasenso na, maririnig niya - mahihirapan siyang pumasok sa kaharian ng Diyos!
Parang unfair ata.
Sa unang tingin, mukhang pinapaboran pa ata ang mga taong ang tanging motto ay - di baleng tamad, di naman pagod.

Sa aking palagay, ang isang susi na maaring gamitin para mabuksan ang mahiwagang salita ni Hesus ay matatagpuan sa pagtingin sa reputasyon ng tao, sa pagkakakilala sa atin, base na rin sa ating ginagagawa.
May mga taong mayayaman at kilala bilang mapagbigay. Kasi yun ang ginagawa. May mga taong mayayaman at tinatawag na kuripot kasi kahit isang kusing di makuhang magbahagi.
May mga taong mahihirap din at kilala na mapagbigay, kasi ganun talaga sila. May mga mahihirap at binabansagang kuripot dahil di talaga nagbibigay kahit anong pilit pa ang gawin.
May mga pari din na ang reputasyon ay mukhang pera. Masungit. Tamad. O di kaya mabait, masipag, matulungin. Kasi ganun ang pinapakitang ugali at gawain.
May mga taong kilala na banal, mayaman o mahirap, pari o hindi. Kasi yun ang priority nila sa buhay, ang mahalin ang Diyos at ang kapwa.
Kapag tinawag kang mayaman, di dahil lamang ito sa hawak mong kayamanan, kundi dahil sa attitude mo tungkol sa iyong yaman.
Priority ang yaman. Di ang Diyos.
Kaya mahihirapan makapasok sa kaharian ng Diyos.
Dahil sila mismo di pinili ang Diyos.
Di sila mahihirapan pumasok sa kabilang kaharian.
Kasi yun mismo ang pinili at ginusto nila.
Ang tanong at hamon sa atin, ano ba ang pagkakakilala saiyo ng iba?
Sapagkat malamang, yun na yun ang ginagawa mo.
At yun ang magiging susi kung saang kaharian ka madaling makakapasok.

investment

Namili ako sa book store.
Mga libro.
Sandamakmak.
Babasahin niyo po lahat yan?
Hindi, ibebenta ko. Sagot ko yan, sa loob loob ko. Sa totoo, ang sagot ko, syempre miss. Babasahin ko yan. Yan naman ang ginagawa sa libro di ba?
Dami po kasi. At ang mamahal. Sana mabasa niyo lahat, para di sayang.
Talaga. Babasahin ko lahat. Sayang talaga kasi pag di ko binasa, para lang akong nagtapon ng pera.

Para sa akin, para saan ang pagbabasa?
Investment.
Dati, nagbabasa ako para mag-enjoy.
Ngayon, nagbabasa ako para i-share sa iba ang enjoyment ko, at mga natutunan ko.
Mas nagiging sulit kasi ang pagbabasa.
At mga ginastos.
Makita ko lang kasi na napakinabangan ang nabasa ko
Pati ako busog na din.

Ano ba talaga para sa akin ang investment?
Isang bagay na nagpuhunan ka, at sana ibabalik saiyo ng mas malaki.
Sa tingin ng iba, may mga risky investments at mga good investments.
Safe ka sa investment na edukasyon.
Kahit gumastos ka ng malaki sa tuition ng anak mo, igagapang mo, pawis at dugo.
Kasi magandang investment yun sa kinabukasan ng anak mo.
Maging sa Ateneo man siya enrolled o sa Matute House of Fashion.
Safe ka sa investment na negosyo o di kaya trabaho.
Kahit magpuyat ka umaga at gabi, gagawin mo.
Kasi magandang investment sa kinabukasan mo at ng iyong pamilya.
May mga pyramid scams.
Milyones ang kanilang nakukuha,
Madami kasi ang naloloko. At nagpapaloko.
Napaka-unsafe na investment nyan.
Sugal.
At sa totoo lang, wala pang nananalo sa sugal.

Bakit ba ako nag-iinvest sa mga libro?
Kasi nakakahiya pag naimbitahan ako para magtalk.
At wala akong masabi. Kesa naman magbigay ako ng jokes na napupulot sa wowowee.
Di naman ako nanonood noon.
Boring siguro kung puro karanasan ko lang eh mas maganda, at exciting, kung personal na karanasan ng mga mga bayani at santo.
Meron akong mga nakakasalamuha, pero mga silent heroes and saints kumbaga.
Bihira lang ang mga nagsusulat tungkol sa kanila.
So far kasi, wala pa akong nakasalamuhang pormal na itinalaga na santo ng simbahan. Normally kasi, kailangang namatay ka na, o pinatay, bago ka gawing santo.
At mas lalo ng wala pa akong nakahalubilong opisyal na bayani ng pamahalaan.
Sana naman, bago ako mamatay, may masilayan akong opisyal na pagtatanghal ng mga bagong bayani ng bansa, lalo na mga pulitiko.
Kaya sa libro ko na lang nababasa ang mga tungkol sa kanila.
Lola ko nagkwento sa akin dati ng mga tungkol sa santo.
Pero I’m sure, nabasa nya din yun sa libro.
May mga bagong proyekto at plano ang parokya.
Kailangan kong manguna sa pag-aaral.
Bumili ako ng mga libro para may mai-share sa mga lideres at parokyano.
Mga libro sa pastoral management, leadership, spirituality, financial literacy, etc, etc.
Umabot ng limang libo ang halaga.
Ang mga pahina nya, marahil higit pa dun. Sana di ako abutin ng ganun kadaming araw sa pagbabasa.
Baka nalipat na ako ng parokya, di pa ako tapos magbasa.
Nakasama ko ang nanay ko ng mamili.
Nagtaas siya ng kilay.
Sabi ko, investment to.
Pati isa pang kilay niya, tumaas din.
Ba’t kaya di ko namana yun?
Ok na din. Pasalamat na din nagaya ko sa kanya ang kapayakan.
Walang alahas. Di nagmamake-up. At di naglilipistik.
Pag kabaliktaran ginawa ko, tyak, maraming magtataasan ng kilay.
Naimbitahan ako magtalk sa isang community.
Doble pa sa halaga ng pinamili kong mga libro ang binigay sa akin.
Gusto kong tawagan ang nanay ko at sabihan, see, I told you!
Pero di ko na ginawa. Baka kasi humingi pa ng komisyon at kung anoano pa ang gawin sa kilay niya.
Anumang makuha sa ministry, kailangang ibalik sa ministry, kung hindi baka pati si Lord magtaas ng kilay.

Syempre, the best investment ay ang pagsunod sa kautusan ni Hesus:
Mahalin mo ang Diyos ng buong puso at buong kaluluwa.
Mahalin mo ang iyong kapwa tulad ng iyong sarili.
Pag nagpuhunan ka sa ganun, tiyak, mas malaki ang babalik sa iyo
Sa totoo lang, higit pa sa iniisip mo.
Sa totoo lang, di mo lubos maisip ang kayamanang matatanggap mo.
Subukan mo.
Di sugal to.
Sigurado, panalo ka.

libre

PS While I was on retreat, in one of my spare time, I wrote about a personal experience in which I reflected that when you generously give, God will bless you with abundance. I posted it in my blog because I felt it was worth sharing.
After the retreat, well, before it was about to end, I went to the retreat house office and requested the secretary as I handed her a thousand bucks, to buy 2 half gallons of ice cream for my brother priests and the guides, my sort of treat as we end the retreat and as my birthday nears. I specifically requested rocky road and double dutch, my favorites. The secretary said the sister in charge of marketing has already left but she will do her best to contact the sister. God bless the inventors of cellphones!
After the retreat, on my way to lunch, the secretary intercepted me. And returned my money. And so I thought they were not able to buy the ice cream. Oh well, it’s the thought that counts. What she said, jolted me. Father, sister said, there is no need to pay for the ice cream. It will be their treat to you priests. Wow. And when we finished lunch, there were not two half gallons but three! God bless the sisters!

PS 2. Kinaumagahan, pagkatapos ng retreat, nasa parokya na ako. May kumatok sa pinto. Isang baliw. Humihingi ng pera. Actually di naman talaga siya baliw. Sa tingin ko lang, baliw. Subukan mo kasi kumatok sa bahay bahay at manghingi ng pera. Sigurado, tatawagin kang baliw. Pera? Libre? Ano ka, hilo? Maliban lamang kung nangaroling ka kapag pasko, minsan bibigyan ka, kaya lang, dahil sa kahirapan ng buhay kadalasan sasabihan ka, patawad po. Next time na lang. Next Christmas na lang. Tinanong ko kung para saan gagamitin ang pera. Sabi niya para sa kaniyang apo na nasa ospital. Ayun, marangal naman pala ang hangarin. Sabi ko, magkano po kailangan ninyo? 500 po. Teka lang po ha. Umakyat ako sa kwarto at kinuha ang wallet ko. Tatlong isang daan at limang tig bebente. 400! Kulang pa din. Buti na lang may mga coins ako naitabi. Nagbilang ako ng mamiso at bente singko. Parang pondo ng pinoy. Umabot din naman ng isang daan. Thank God. Nilagay ko sa supot at binigay ko sa ale ang aking love offering. Sabi ko, pasensya na po sa aking nakayanan. Yan na lang po talaga maibibigay ko. (Maliban sa wallet ko na walang laman). Sa hapon, may fiesta mass sa isang mission area ng parokya. Masaya ang handaan. Mababait ang mga tao. May mga nagpabless ng bahay. May mga nagsuksok ng pera sa aking bulsa, Fader, pagpasensyahan niyo na po yan. Ayun, talaga naman. Nakakahiya namang tumanggi. Pagkatapos, nagfacilitate ako ng planning sa young adults. Sa tuwa ko, nagpa ice cream ako. Nagpass the hat din sila. Mas dumami ang ice cream. Ayun, nawalan na naman ng laman ang wallet, pero puno naman ang tiyan. At puso.

Mga pasakalye lang ang mga iyan.
Ang tunay na kwento ay nang may binili akong board game sa book store.
Miss, magkano?
P900 po.
Mahal ah. Wala bang libre nito?
Wala pong libre dito. Wala pong libre sa mundo.
Meron miss, tulad ng ngiti. Pag-ibig. Atbp.
Anuman pong di mabibili ng pera, libre. Sabay ngiti.
Ayun, marunong naman pala.
Totoo nga naman, anumang di mabibili ng pera, libre.
Tulad ng ngiti. Pag-ibig. At marami pang iba.
Pero, bakit kaya, kung alin pa ang libre, yun pa ang hirap tayong magbigay?

advertisement

Napakinggan ko sa radyo.
Bagong advertisement ng Cossack Blue.
Maganda.
Walang music. Walang sound effects.
Straight to the point ang message.
Crisp. Clear.
Tulad ng benefits ng Cossack Blue.
Daw.
Di kasi ako umiinom nun.
Sa totoo lang, di ko pa nakita kahit anino nun.
Ok na sa akin ang Mompo.
One small shot goes a long, looong way.
At walang punch line ang advertisement.
Deretso na agad sa, Drink Moderately.
Parang paalala sa buhay.
Everything in moderation.
Paalala sa mga pulitiko.
Lalo na sa ating pangulo.
Moderate your greed.
Yun lang.
Walang punch line.
Unless of course, gusto niyo na naman dumagsa ang masa sa EDSA.
Tayo naman kasi, parang mga loko loko.
Di na natuto.
Di marunong magpunch line.
Di pa rin nagbabago.
Paulit ulit.
Parang inuman sa kanto.
Walang katuturan.