http://www.mspguyana.zoomshare.com/2.shtml Mission Society of the Philippines, Guyana, South America: Blog Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:13:23 -0600 http://www.mspguyana.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/2293b4c5f093edcad7159e8780fb24ca_47cc6634.writeback Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:57:24 -0600 \\FAREWELL// My brothers and sisters, we are here this evening to bid farewell to a dear friend, one who has been serving us for the past three years... in our creeks, rivers and communities. That individual is no other than Fr. Edwin.///// Father Edwin, on behalf of the Catholic Community of Mabaruma Settlement, I say farewell. But please let me comment a bit. Father, you have won the hearts of many. I wish to say that for us in this community, you have a special place in our hearts. We have observed your musical ability, your calm, your ever demonstrative posture, and firmness -- but always with that smile which gives a message of joy. ///// This gives us courage and the will to go on working the way of Jesus. Fr. Edwin, we have learned so much since you came here. We shall always remember you. We do hope you also have learned from us, your humble people. I do wish you will take the beautiful memories of us, our region and our country to your homeland.///// Father Edwin, we all love you and parting is sad but this is inevitable for we all have to say goodbye sometimes or the other. May our patroness Blessed Kateri Tekawitha make your journey home safe. May God's blessings keep you well. Fr. Edwin, my friend - Bon Voyage, Vaya con Dios, Farewell.///// \\SEND OFF WORDS// "We will miss your homilies. The way you explain the Word of God is simple but it goes right to our hearts. Sometimes, I don't want to come to mass, but knowing I will miss your homily, I force myself to come." --Mr. Henry///// "You have the gift of preaching. You apply the gospel in our ordinary lives and we understand. You have invited many to come back to Church." -- Mrs. Robinson///// "I will never forget how you sung 'Here I am Lord.' It still resonates in my heart and how you explained the meaning of the lyrics" -- Mrs. Leung///// "I appreciate very much how you visit and take care of our elderly and the sick. We hope that the next priest will also have time for our elderly." -- Mr. Romascindo///// "One of the gifts of Fr. Edwin is his 'drive for excellence.' He is not contended with what is there. He will try to improve on whatever he put his hand onto. He will try to make things better." --Fr. Jaime///// "I will miss Fr. Edwin's presence on the boat and our camping in the riverain areas. He is willing to sacrifice time and energy to be with the people. " --Mr. Lynch///// "I will always remember your teaching about life. Life is God's gift to us and what we do with our life is our gift to God. Thank you for helping us understand many things in our faith. Thank you for helping me, when I was at a lost." --Mrs. Santiago///// "You will always have a special place in our hearts. I have learned a lot from your homilies. You also have helped me a lot in dealing with life's questions." --Mrs. Gomes///// "Thank you for giving your time and your energy to the missions. May you always be generous in your gift of self to wherever you will be assigned." --Bishop Francis http://www.mspguyana.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/4e78cad2cbaa47555d591a9f1e92e1e4_4777cf23.writeback Sun, 30 Dec 2007 11:02:31 -0600 VJ Kaibigan Ako po si Len asawang inulilang lubos ni Venjo. Anim na taon ng pagiging magkaibigan dahil kay Ginny. Siyam na taon ng pagiging magkasintahan. Dalawang taon ng pagiging mag-asawa. Eksakto ngayong araw na ito isang buwan na mula ng magdiwang kami ng ikalawang anibersaryong kasal mga panahong aming pinagsamahan. ///// Dama kong bawat isa sa atin ay may pagtangi kay Venjo o kaya ay sa kanyang mga minamahal. Sa mga panahon ng aming pagsasama ay tunay na nabuhay kaming ganap ang kasiyahan sa kabila ng aming mga kinakaharap na mahirap pag-daanan. Sadyang madaming nagyayari sa bawat araw. Pero kahit naiiyak kaming dalawa sa hirap, aaliwin ako palagi ni Venjo sa pagsasabing hindi bale masaya at andito pa rin tayo 'di ba? Tuloy ang buhay. ///// Malalim na tao si Venjo. Kahit napakadali siyang makaibigan, mahirap ganap na malaman at maunawaan ang pag-ibig sa kaloob-looban ng kanyang puso. Pinalad ako na nitong huling buwan ng kanyang buhay ay nagawa kong mabatid ang laman ng kanyang puso kahit wala siyang sinasabi, nabigyan namin ito ng pangalan sa aming huling usapan ng gabing bago siya pumanaw nasabi at naipahayag niya lahat- lahat. ///// Kahit may problema hindi nawawala ang pagpapatawa kay Venjo. Pareho kami na madalas natatawa at nakakatapo ng dahilan upang tumawa. Maraming malulutong na halakhak ang pinagsaluhan kasama lalo na ang mga San Beda boys at si Atoy nitong mga huling sandali ng aming buhay. Ang isang madalas na biro niya sa akin ay ang magkunwaring masakit and dibdib niya at di siya makahinga. Siyempre natataranta ako 'pag malapit na ako umiyak sa takot bigla siyang tatawa ng malakas at sasabihin "Hon, practice lang para pag totoong namatay ako ay sanay ka na." Sabi ko sa kanya, pag totoong namatay ka dahil lagi mo akong niloloko hindi na ako maniniwala. Kaya hanggang ngayon hinihintay kong sabihin niya na practice lang lahat ito. Biro lang. ///// Bago kami ikasal alam ko na may sakit siya at maaring konti lang ang panahon na aming ipagsasama. Pero sa araw ng aming kasal ay nasulat sa Phil. Star na ayon daw sa Hindu tradition napaka swerte ng araw na iyon kayat lahat ng ikakasal sa araw na ito ay magsasama ng 7 lifetimes. Ang patawa nga dito ni Venjo kawawa naman daw siya pitong habang buhay and kanyang sentensya na isang babae lang ang kasama. Paano naman daw yung ibang magaganda na makikita niya? Dalawang taon lang kaming nagsama bilang mag- asawa pero masasabi ko na ang saya, pagmamahalan at pagkakaibigan na pinagsaluhan naming ay katumbas ng saya na madadanas sa pitong lifetime. ///// Walang pinipiling tao si Venjo. Malapit siya lao na sa mga karaniwang tao. Mahal na mahal niya si Nato (yon nga unang gusto niyang pakasalan at makasama kung magunaw ang mundo). Sila Marlyn, Dadyn, Rolly, Ningning, Doreng, Edoy, Rey, Berto, Kula, Totong, Dante at lahat-lahat ng nagsilbi sa kanya. Pati na 'yung Chef ng Shanghai Bistro na nagluluto ng paborito nyang pansit. Na hindi naming pareho alam ang pangalan. ///// Maraming kahinaan at pagkukulang si Venjo. Pero sa kanyang sariling paraan ay nakakapagpuno siya at nakabawi. Kaya nga kung may hinihingi yan ang hirap tanggihan dahil sa kanyang kakaibang charisma. ///// Isa sa magandang ugali na natutuhan ko kay Venjo ay ang palaging sabihin ang salamat po. Malaki o maliit man na kabutihan paulit-ulit niyang pasasalamatan. Lagi bago kami matulog sasabihin niya ang "Salamat ha." Kaya nga po gusto ko sabihin sa inyong lahat ang pasasalamat namin sa inyong pagiging narito at sa lahat ng kabutihang inyong pinadarama ngayong napakalungkot ng aming pamilya. Gusto ko rin sabihin kay Venjo na "Salamat pards!" ///// Masakit at mahirap man ang aking pinagdaanan ngayon pero kahit ilang milyong beses handa kong paulit-ulit na danasin basta ikaw, Venjo, and aking makakapiling. http://www.mspguyana.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/84b808cf4d387c65721b94ddf7b1813a_47140b99.writeback Mon, 15 Oct 2007 19:53:45 -0500 Recently I heard an interview on the radio with an American journalist who had just returned to the USA after living for nearly twelve years in Paris. While living there, his son was born. That child, now nearly ten, had been raised outside of popular culture. His parents, both literary types, didn't own a television set, listened to classical rather than popular music, weren't attuned to the sports scene, and their interests and spirits didn't rise and fall with the ups and downs of the celebrity of the day. //// And so when they returned to the USA, their son was very much the outsider to pop culture, unfamiliar with the latest pop stars, game shows, and the like. As his dad was explaining all of this, the interviewer asked him: "Has your son held out against American culture?" ///// The journalist's answer: "For about two days! Of course, he didn't hold out, nobody does! Western pop culture, for good and for bad, is the most powerful narcotic that has ever been perpetrated on this planet! Nobody holds out against it." ///// Our culture is a powerful narcotic, for good and for bad. ///// It is important that we first underline that, partly, there's a good side to this. A narcotic soothes and protects against brute, raw pain. Our culture has within it every kind of thing (from medicine to entertainment) to shield us from pain. That can be good, providing it isn't a false crutch. ///// But a narcotic can also be bad, especially when it becomes a way of escaping from reality. Where our culture is particularly dangerous, I feel, is in the way it can perpetually shield us from having to face the deeper issues of life - faith, forgiveness, morality, and mortality. It can, as Jan Walgrave famously said, constitute a virtual conspiracy against the interior life. How? ////// By keeping us so entertained, so busy, so preoccupied, and so distracted that we lose all focus on the deeper things. We live now in a world of instant and constant communication, of mobile phones and email, of ipods that contain whole libraries of music, of television packages that contain hundreds of channels, of malls and stores that are open 24 hours a day, of restaurants and clubs that stay open all the time, of sounds that never die and lights that never go out. We can be amused, distracted, and catered to for 24 hours a day. ///// While that has made our lives wonderfully efficient it has also conspired against depth. The danger, as one commentator puts it, is that we are all developing permanent attention deficient disorder. We are attentive to so many things that, ultimately, we aren't attentive to anything, particularly to what is deepest inside of us. ////// This isn't an abstract thing! Typically our day is so full of things (work, noise, pressure, rush) that when we do finally get home at night and have some time when we could shut down all the stimulation, we are so tired and fatigued that what soothes us is precisely something that functions as a narcotic - a sporting event, a game show on television, a mindless sitcom, or anything that can soothe our tensions and relax us enough to sleep. It's not bad if we do this on a given night, but it is bad when we do it every night. ///// What happens then is that we never find the space in our lives to touch what's deepest inside of us and inside of others. Given the power of our culture, we can go along like this for years until something cracks in our lives, a loved one dies, someone breaks our heart, the doctor tells us we have a terminal disease, or some other crisis is powerful enough to suddenly render all the stimulation and entertainment in the world empty. Then we are forced to look into our own depth and that can be a frightening abyss, if we have spend years and years avoiding looking into it. ///// The poet, Rumi, once wrote: "I have lived too long where I can be reached!" That's true, I suspect, for most of us. And so we end up as good people, but as people who are not very deep - not bad, just busy; not immoral, just distracted; not lacking in soul, just preoccupied; not disdaining depth, just lacking in practice. ///// Our culture is a powerful narcotic, for good and for bad. It has the power to shield us from pain, to soothe us in healthy ways. That can be good. Sometimes we need a narcotic. But our culture can also be over-intoxicating, too-absorbing It can swallow us whole. And so we have to know when it is time to unplug the television, turn off the phone, shut down the computer, silence the ipod, lay away the sports page, and resist going out for coffee with a friend, so that, for one moment at least, we are not avoiding making friends with that one part of us that will accompany us into the sunset. //// Thanks, Fr Ron! -edbe http://www.mspguyana.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/3c6b2b1b0aa0d07a71b5734a47610b69_46f194ed.writeback Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:30:21 -0500 In many of her novels, Anita Brookner, almost as a signature to her work, will make this comment: The first task of a couple in marriage is to console each other for the fact that they cannot not disappoint each other. That's an important insight. Why? ///// When we are young and hear sadness in love songs, we think that the sadness and disappointment are a prelude to the experience of love. Later we come to realize that the sadness and disappointment ultimately originate not from the fact that love has not taken place, but from the finite, limited character of human love itself. Brookner has it right: The first task in any love is for us to console each other for the limits of our love, for the fact that we cannot not disappoint each other.///// Why? Why can't two persons ever be enough for each other? Why is disappointment part of the experience of every relationship, friendship, and marriage? ///// Because the very way that we are made precludes ever having, in this life, a oneness of mind, heart, and body that fulfills us in such a way that there is no disappointment. Our longing is simply too wide. We long for the infinite and are built for it and so we wake to life and consciousness with longings as deep as a Grand Canyon without a bottom. ///// In this life then, outside of rare and very transitory mystical experiences, there is no consummation (sexual, emotional, psychological, or even spiritual) with another person that is so deep and all-embracing so as exclude all distance, shadow, and emptiness. No matter how deep a friendship or a marriage and no matter how good, rich in personality, and deep the other person may be, we always find ourselves somewhat disappointed. In this life, there is no union that fills every emptiness inside of us. Somewhere, we always sleep alone. ///// In essence, there is no union which fulfills perfectly the Genesis prescription that "two become one flesh." No matter how close a marriage or a friendship, two can never ultimately become one. ///// No matter how deep a union, we always remain separate, two persons who cannot really ever, in this life, make just one heart, one mind, and one body. No love or friendship ever fully takes away our separateness. Sometimes sexual electricity or emotional or spiritual affinity can promise such a oneness. But, in the end, it cannot fully deliver it. No matter how deep and powerful a union, ultimately, we remain, and need to remain, captains of our own hearts, minds, and bodies.///// This needs to be recognized, not just to help us deal with the disappointment, but especially so that we do not violate each other. What's implied here? ///// In this life we are always, to some degree, in exile from each other. We stand alone in some way. Where we feel this most deeply is not in our sexual isolation, but in our moral separateness. What we crave even more deeply than sexual unity is moral affinity, to be truly one heart with another. More than we desire a lover, we desire a kindred spirit, a soul mate. If this is true, then the deepest violations of each other are also not sexual but moral. It's when we try to be captain of somebody else's soul (more so even than of his or her body) that we rape someone. And it is our failure to accept that we will always be somehow separate from each other that creates the pressure inside of us to unhealthily try to be captain of someone else's soul. We violate another's separateness precisely because we cannot accept the disappointment of love. ///// Finally, beyond even this, we cannot not be disappointed in love because, in the end, we are all, in some way, limited, inadequate, blemished, dull, and boring. None of us is God. No matter how rich our personalities or attractive our bodies, none of us can indefinitely excite and generate novelty, sexual electricity, and emotional pleasure, within a relationship. A relationship is like a long trip and, as Dan Berrigan puts it, "there's bound to be some long dull stretches. Don't travel with someone who expects you to be exciting all the time!" ///// What's the lesson in this? Stoicism and cynicism about love and romance? To the contrary: ///// The recognition that, in love, we cannot not disappoint each other is what makes it possible for us to remain inside of marriage, friendship, celibacy, and respect. It's when we demand not to be disappointed that we grow angry, make unrealistic demands, and put pressure on each other's moral and sexual integrity. Conversely, when we recognize the limits of love, when we accept an inevitable separateness, moral loneliness, and disappointment, we can begin to console each other in our friendships and our marriages. In that consolation, since it touches so deeply the core of our souls, we can, in fact, begin to find the threads that can bind us into a oneness of heart beyond disappointment. -19sept2007 http://www.mspguyana.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/fbd7f29c312476bd49cf573fb35d5679_46730598.writeback Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:33:12 -0500 Year 2001: In one quite disturbing but popular Pop Cola commercial because of very young talents used, a very young girl in her early teens while texting on her cellphone asked her lover: BAT MO KO LOVE? I would like to adapt the three responses of the young boy as my way of responding to God in my 22nd year. I also would like to see some application of this on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart.//// 1. KASI ANG MGA MATA MO AY KASING NINGNING NG MGA BITUIN SA LANGIT: God's eyes are so bright! He sees through me. God has been a very dependable lover. He has given so much and He has proven to me that he cannot be outdone in His generosity. He did not fail me, never. Just trust Him. He who has given the moon and the stars will never fail. He has loved me first, and I am only responding to love. Luma na ito: pero ito ang totoo! With his bright eyes, he looks at me: ever forgiving, ever-understanding. He is a very passionate lover...///// The heart is burning with fire in love. I remember what is written in one of my worn-out poster, "Those who want to shed light must endure burning!" I am always challenged to shed light amidst the burning. The burning is necessary. I cannot shed light if I will not shed myself. The fire consumes... only the light comes out for others to share upon. The self goes to allow the light to shine. The priest must always be on fire in love. His love must be passionate. May apoy, nagliliyab, nagaalab. While on fire, he must not loose heart. The fire must be a loving fire. ///// 2. YOU COMPLETE ME!: This is the celibacy component of the priesthood. It was said that celibacy is not a condition for the priesthood, it is the incarnation of the priesthood. It is where the priesthood is born and maybe known in flesh and blood. It is every priest's declaration or proclamation that God is his enough, that God completes him. No other woman or anybody else could take his place. In the words of Teresa, Dios solo basta! Only God suffices . . . He is complete even in the hurt and in the pain of loving.///// The crown of thorns causes the heart to bleed. A bleeding heart continues to love. "Forgive them for they know not what they are doing." The sacrifice component in loving makes loving more Christ-like. Sacrifice is the crown that renders love to be enduring and true. Sacrifice completes love. It is commonplace when we experience joy in mutual love. Christian love transcends this: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hurt you, pray for those who persecute you." This love remains amidst blood-letting. It never gives up. It stays and shines... amidst the pain, the hurt: ///// "Kahit ilang tinik ay kaya kong tapakan, Kung 'yan ang paraan upang landas mo'y masundan. Kahit ilang ulit ako'y iyong saktan... Hindi kita maaring iwanan!" ///// 3. KASI TAYONG DALAWA, ALWAYS TAMA ANG TIMPLA! It was only when the boy borrowed this from the rear of the Pop Cola delivery truck that the young girl accepted the boy's satisfactory answer. 22 years of partnership, of teamwork, of finding the right mix. Sometimes, just right -- sometimes malabnaw. As I look back God and I created many beautiful music together. The mix and remix of this beautiful music gives me inspiration to go on. The right mix is the spirituality of the diocesan priest. What ingredients will I need for the ministry? How can I be a simple reminder of Christ on earth? One ingredient that may not be taken away is the Cross.///// The cross hails on top of the heart. The heart carries the cross. This is discipleship. After denying and forgetting of self comes the daily cross-bearing. Our responsibilities as priests can never take a leave of absence. It is 24-hour service. As I look back, my heart became principled because of the crosses I have learned to carry. This is commitment. Priesthood becomes meaningful and truthful only in the cross. There is no other way that priesthood can find its meaning outside the cross. Because at the heart of the cross, priesthood finds its Master.///// There are 22 years because GOD, LOVE MO KO TALAGA! Sana lahat ng Love natin tulad ng sa Sacred Heart! Malapit sana tayo sa puso niya at sa puso ng isa't-isa! ///// (Preparing a homily for the Sacred Heart I found this in my old files.. my 16th year homily but still holds true!) http://www.mspguyana.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/89846ca04fa5ca7868d3ba2484f5b52d_462dbede.writeback Tue, 24 Apr 2007 03:25:02 -0500 For Christmas last year, I was given a cell-phone (a "mobile phone", in European terms). I'd always resisted buying one for a couple of reasons.///// First off, I'm already too accessible, as are most of us. The poet, Rumi, once said: "I have lived too long where I can be reached!" Wonderfully put. We can no longer go out for dinner, have a family outing, take a day off, or go on vacation without life intruding back in on us. The opportunity for instant and constant distance-communication has, no doubt, made our lives more efficient, but it has also made them more demanding and has robbed most of us of the precious few chances we still have to get away from the pressures of life. We are too accessible.///// Beyond that, I have been perennially irritated by the over-use, mis-use, and useless-use of cell- phones. It is no longer possible to be in almost any public place and not be within earshot of someone talking on a cell-phone. I glance around public places sometimes - airports, parks, coffee bars, public squares, parks - and notice that virtually everyone is either speaking on one, punching information into one, or at least holding one in his or her hands. They're omnipresent. ////// With that being said, I do admit that they are a marvelous invention and have saved lives. They're also a wonderful convenience. In the two months that I've had mine, it has already twice bailed me out while driving and getting lost, allowed me to reschedule a flight while stranded in a storm, facilitated airport pick-ups on several occasions, and given me instant access from anywhere to colleagues, family, and friends. ///// But still, I'm hardly a convert. Cell-phones still too often irritate me. Why?///// More superficially, I get the impression that too many of us still think that being engaged in a cell-phone conversation in a public place makes us look important. I may be wrong and, God- willing, the near universality of the phenomenon should soon enough erase any such illusions.///// More seriously, I'm concerned about how cell- phones are changing the way we relate and deforming us somewhat both in our capacity for attention and in our propriety. Let me explain:///// First, regarding our capacity for attention: I agree with Thomas Friedman (The World is Flat) when he suggests that mobile phones, text- messaging, emails, and other such media are making us so accessible to everybody that paradoxically we are becoming accessible to nobody. We are communicating all the time and, strangely, becoming lonelier in the process, more isolated from each other. Studies show that today, inside off of this instant and continuous communication, we in fact have fewer close friends and family life is being strained by technology, not enhanced by it. Technology is dividing us perhaps more than uniting us. ////// Beyond this, our excessive preoccupation with technological communication is producing in us something Friedman calls continuous partial attention disorder. We are becoming the antithesis of a contemplative. How do you stay in touch with your deep center when you are constantly pulled in all directions?///// Recently in an airport, I sat beside a young man who was listening to an i-pod, working on his lap- top, and speaking on his cell-phone all at the same time. I suspect he would protest that he is now part of a generation that can "multi-task". Perhaps there's some worth in that since the capacity to walk and chew gum at the same time is indeed a virtue. But I would be wary of his contemplative capacities, just I would of his manners. Too often the capacity to "multi-task" is also the capacity to be impolite and inattentive to more than one person at the same time.///// Then there is also what cell-phones are doing to us in terms of public propriety, etiquette, and manners. ///// In essence, we have turned the whole world into a phone-booth. But is that a bad thing? Efficiency- wise, no; but propriety-wise, yes.///// Phone-booths were invented for a good reason, as were living rooms, offices, bedrooms, parks, living rooms, restaurants, dining rooms, theatres, and churches. We sit in public places today and we over-hear conversations that have to do with business, family life, intimacy, and trivia which propriety and manners suggest would be better conducted precisely inside of offices, living rooms, bedrooms, and parks - or at least in the relative privacy of a phone-booth. But the whole world is now becoming a phone-booth, just as it is also becoming a business office, a living room, a bedroom, and a venue for endless chatter in public about trivia that is best talked about in private. Cell-phones have not made for good hygiene, psychic or social.///// In the end, cell-phones are a good thing. Sadly though our common sense and manners haven't kept pace with the technology. http://www.mspguyana.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/b5836d15ddbdb462d70d7060c5132504_460ff1c3.writeback Sun, 01 Apr 2007 12:54:11 -0500 Today, I feel intelligent. Not only am I addressing some of the brightest minds in Mindanao , but I am also being honored by this prestigious university with a Doctorate in Humanities, Honoris Causa. This is the first doctorate that I have received and I am accepting it in all humility and pride as a recognition of the nobility of the cause and the heroism of the thousands of Gawad Kalinga workers that I represent. Thank you Fr. Ting Samson and Ateneo de Davao for bestowing the highest academic degree on a man who was born without a pedigree- the "askal" (asong kalye) who went to Ateneo and came back to the slums to help those he left behind.///// To a person like myself who did not excel in Ateneo in my pursuit of a college degree, receiving this Ph. D. is extremely flattering being fully conscious that my principal role in this movement is to be the storyteller of the many who put in the sacrifice and the hard work and yet have remained mostly unrecognized. It is also exhilarating because it builds on the growing global awareness, triggered by Gawad Kalinga and other movements that have not given up on our country, that the Filipinos can and will build a squatter-free, slum- free and hunger- free Philippines by committing their collective genius, passion and strength towards restoring the dignity and the potential for excellence of the poor, the weak and the powerless.///// The Filipino spirit today is rising wherever he is in the world. He is starting to discover that he has the power to liberate himself from being a slave of the past? that he can remove the label stuck to his soul as a second class people from a third world country? that he can correct the scandal of history of being the most corrupt in Asia despite being the only Christian nation, until East Timor, in the region.///// In the right setting the Filipino has proven that he can be law- abiding, hardworking, honest and excellent.///// Over the years, I have not met a Filipino beggar in my travel to the US, Canada and Australia?not a single beggar that I have seen or have heard of out of more than 2 million Filipinos in the US; many Caucasians, Afro- Americans and Latinos- yes- but no Filipinos. Clearly, it is not the nature of Filipinos to beg if he is in the right home and community environment. The mendicant culture in his native land is man- made and artificial and can therefore be unmade and corrected if we give him back his dignity which is his birthright as a son of God.////// In the same vein, we know that the Filipino is not lazy. Time Magazine in its 2006 article on Happiness identifies the Filipino as one of the ethnic groups in America least likely to go on welfare. How many of us know of friends and relatives who would take on two or even three jobs in pursuit of their dreams for a better life. Hardworking when motivated, resilient when tested- that is the Filipino?that is us. It is no surprise therefore that the average income of the Filipino- Americans is higher that the US national average; the former slave is now richer than the master in his master's home country.///// We must believe that we were designed for excellence. World- class Filipino doctors and nurses are healing the sick of America and Europe . Our sailors dominate the seas in every mode of marine transport for commerce and pleasure providing every imaginable form of service- and often always, they are the best navigators, the best chefs, the best entertainers. Thriving economies in Asia carry the mark of Filipino managerial expertise in their start-up stage. Filipino CEOs, CFOs, COOs captain top multinational corporations carrying on the proud expat tradition of SGV's Washington Sycip, PLDT-SMART's Manny Pagnilinan, P&G's Manny Pacis and many others.////// Sadly, we are top of the line, crème de la crème, the best of the best elsewhere in the world except in our homeland. While the Jews and the Arabs were busy building abundance out of their desert, we were busy creating a desert out of our abundance.///// Let us put a stop to our inanity and hypocrisy. Let us stop cracking jokes about our shame and misery. Instead let us celebrate with our hard work and integrity the return of our honor and pride as a gifted people, blessed by God with this beautiful land. Let us honor every great deed, every sacrifice, and every kindness that we extend to our disadvantaged and needy countrymen.///// Let us put an end to our lamentation. We have suffered long enough. For 400 years, we have been gnashing our teeth, blaming one another, stepping on each other and yet have the temerity at the end of the day to ask God why this is happening as if it was His fault. It is now time to hope, to care, to work together and to rejoice.////// Yes, we will rise as a nation if we nurture this emerging beautiful spirit of the Filipino and cultivate an intelligent heart. How? When we show our love for God by being our brother's keeper- giving land to the landless, homes to the homeless and food to the hungry. This is about love and justice in a country where the majority of our people are landless, millions of them living in shanties and slums and 17% of them experiencing hunger in a rich and fertile land. This is not about charity but about authentic Christian stewardship and nation- building.////// We will rise as a nation when rich Filipinos will consider the poor as an heir, like our youngest child, equal in worth and dignity with our own children, deserving an equal share in our children's inheritance. A beautiful spirit and an intelligent heart consider the poor as family, see the face of Christ in them, and see the paradise that every slum community can become. That is why every GK home is beautifully painted and the standard of landscaping of every GK village is Ayala Alabang or Ladislawa in the case of Davao.///// When we build first world communities for the poorest Filipino, we give them dignity and first world aspirations that will motivate them to dream bigger and work harder with support and nurturing. A recent study of GK Brookside, Payatas conducted by the UP Diliman College of Economics revealed an amazing result ? the confidence and self- respect of the residents, many of them former scavengers, rose from 17% before GK to 99% after GK; 93% consider themselves better off in terms of quality of life and 96% believe that their economic situation will improve in the future. Clearly the spirit of the poor is rising because those with the most share their best with the least.////// This nation will rise if her sons and daughters abroad will see wisdom in helping not just their relatives, which is an admirable Filipino trait, but also the poor they do not know who need help the most.////// Last night, I arrived from a 1- week trip to the U.S. for the world premiere in Chicago of "Paraiso", the Gawad Kalinga movie, and to attend GK events in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The movie was a big hit but the bigger hit for me was the phenomenal response of our patriots in America to help the motherland by building self-reliant and sustainable GK communities. The UST Medical Alumni Association of America Board was planning not just building more houses but also hospitals and community health programs through Gawad Kalusugan. USTMAA president Dr. Primo Andres is building a beautiful GK Village for his wife, Sylvia in Panabo, Davao where she comes from as an expression of his deep affection for her. Another Davaoeno, former Cabinet Secretary Cito Lorenzo, joined me in booming Las Vegas to honor Filipino entertainers and realtors who are investing in the rebuilding of their home country.Passion for the Philippines was evident everywhere I went. From successful young San Diego businessman Tony Olaes who spoke about sleepless nights in his excitement to help fund 20 new GK villages with his Filipino business partners to the SouthCal Ancop Sikad Bikers pedaling to build Sibol Schools and the Bayanihan Builders who are retired professionals in Los Angeles repairing homes of neighbors to raise resources to build homes in Bicol, to the 8 nurses in NorCal working extra shifts to fund their individual GK villages. The Filipino exile is waking up and starting to unleash a stream of Patriot Funds that will augment the OFW flow in fuelling the Philippine economy.///// Today, I am here to salute the beautiful spirit and the intelligent heart of the people of Mindanao . Many of our volunteers here, like many in other parts of the country, build homes for the poor when they themselves do not own land or home. Christians here starting with caretakers from Couples for Christ set aside fear and comfort to serve our fellow Filipinos in Camp Abubakar and other Moslem GK communities. Your students are going out of the classrooms to learn about life and love of God and country by serving in poor communities. The LGU of Davao led by Mayor Duterte and many throughout Mindanao are doing massive land banking in solidarity with our conviction that no Filipino deserves to be a squatter in his own country. And many families here are starting to understand that giving a part of their land to give dignity and security to the landless and homeless poor is not only right with God but also builds peace, triggers economic activity, improves land values- creates a win- win situation for all.///// And to you my dear graduates, what can I say? Congratulations of course for finishing what you began and for joining the ranks of the elite few of the Filipinos with a college degree. I thank your parents for their sacrifice and for giving us sons and daughters who will steward this country better than us.////// You are entering adult life equipped with a degree from a respected university at an auspicious time in the life of our country. It is your destiny to reach maturity during this great season of hope, this exciting time of awakening, this period of great challenge and heroism.////// You have the choice and the opportunity to correct the mistakes of our generation and build a future full of hope in this country. You can be the new breed of political leaders who will gain your mandate through visible and quantifiable performance, rather than mastery of the art of winning elections through cheating and corruption. You can be the new captains of business and industry who will work for profit with a conscience, expanding the market base by wisely investing in developing the potential of the poor for productivity. You can be the new elite of this country who will not be happy to send your children to exclusive schools and live in exclusive subdivisions if out of school street children are ignored and Lazarus continues to live as a squatter outside your gates.///// Who can stop us from claiming our Promised Land? Spain is not our master anymore. America is not our master anymore. Japan is not our master anymore. Our enemies are not the corrupt politicians, the greedy rich, the lazy poor, the religious hypocrites and other convenient scapegoats. Our enemies are not out there anymore. Our enemies are now within us.///// We have compromised our values and tolerated corruption. We have lowered our standard and tolerated poverty. We have sacrificed the truth for hypocrisy. We have chosen convenience for vision, popularity for leadership?and have chosen despair over hope.///// Do we fight or do we run? Is there a King Leonides among you who will fight for honor and freedom? Are there 300 Spartans among you who will confront our enemies with extraordinary courage and love? Can you be the army who will lead our people to victory following the path of peace? Are you the generation of patriots who can shout to the world that no Filipino will remain poor because you will not allow it; that no Filipino will remain a squatter because you will not allow it; that no politician will remain corrupt because you will not allow it?///// If you are, then join us in Gawad Kalinga. Together, we can build a great nation, first world in the eyes of God and respected by other great nations.///// Godspeed to you our patriots and heroes. God bless our beloved Philippines! http://www.mspguyana.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/ce63c61cd024469e777ea606f82705e1_45ee0a11.writeback Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:40:54 -0600 For the past few weeks, the television has been flooded with political advertisements from people who, from gambling lords or corrupt officials, have suddenly become superheros-slash-angels- slash-youth leaders-slash-novelty endorsers. Yes, it is the time to see a lot of "masks" gracing our TV sets AGAIN. Seeing their faces plastered on the "gwapong pader," and hearing a lot of ear- straining crap on the radio. Election na naman. bolahan na naman.///// It would be difficult for me to admit, but yes, i have already become one of those apathetic people of this country. I have not registered to vote for this coming elections. And yet, you might be asking, what right do I have to question and criticize the credibility of these officials, when I won't be voting this May? ///// I do regret the fact that I didn't give any effort to register. But come to think of it, I would just be fooling myself by filling up that form with names of people that I do not really trust. You need to elect 12 people for the senate, and parents would say that we shouldn't leave any blank slots. Para daw hindi madaya. But as of now, there are only two people whom I'd like to be in the senate, and that would be Francis Pangilinan and Joker Arroyo. I wouldn't have the guts to write the names of ten other people, out of desperation to fill those slots. I definitely hate politics. It just ruins the chances of a better Philippines.///// They say that these politicians, have great platforms that would be for the betterment of the Philippines. That they would make a great difference if they would win the elections.//// THESE PEOPLE ARE FULL OF CRAP. How would I be convinced, when all I see right now, is somewhat similar to a La Greta-Dawn Battle? The opposition would say, they should be in office so that they could go against the administration. The administration would then say, the opposition wouldn't win, since they have awful campaign strategies, no supprters, and have no good platforms.///// How would you vote for people, who takes up so much time aruguing with one another? It is their platforms that should be presented. It is their desire to help the people that should be shown. And yet all they've done is say bad things against one another. They try to ruin and criticize the other party, when they have been ruining themselves by doing so. Ang mga sungay ng mga "anghel," hindi maitago-tago.///// If they aren't trash-talking their opponents, they have been busy, you know, like, shooting for their next music video. "Boom tarat tarat..." "Para sayo.." "Sa iyo, ang tiwala ko.." "Kay Manny Villar na.." Akala ba nila, ganon na talaga ka-bobo ang mga Pilipino? Kung magpapadala tayo sa mga novelty songs, at sa mga dance moves ng mga kandidatong ito, na wala naman talagang binabanggit na platforms sa mga magagastos na advertisements nila, then siguro nga, bobo nga talaga tayo. Kung hindi naman, nabobo lang siguro dahil sa mga politikong to.///// Administration: Joker Arroyo, Edgardo Angara, Michael Defensor, Vic Magsaysay, Tito Sotto, Chavit Singson, Ralph Recto, Prospero Pichay, Cesar Montano, Tessie Aquino-Oreta, Miguel Zubiri, Sultan Kiram. Joker Arroyo - he has no definite platforms, since he mentioned in recent interviews that his track record will speak for himself. Although he belongs in the Administration party, I think that he is still against GMA. But he would rather be there than in the opposition since according to Arroyo, the opposition has no platforms other than impeaching the president.///// Michal Defensor - tol?! tol?! for no reason at all, he becomes tol?! i just don't get it! E ANO NGAYON?!?!?! Vic Magsaysay - uh. . . hu u? Prospero Pichay - haay nako. haay nako talaga. ayokong magcomment. magkakasala ako. Tessie Aquino-Oreta - College education ang problema ng karamihang estudyante sa Pilipinas. Hindi Kinder dahil marami namang public schools at daycare centers jan. Isa pa. Dancing Queen. Enough said.///// Tito Sotto - bait baitan bigla kay GMA. Magsama sila ni Oreta, kairita. Chavit Singson - pinilit lang daw siya ni Erap mag-gamble. voluntary o pinilit, gambling lord pa din. Siguro, kung idodonate nalang niya yung mga kayamanan niya sa bayan, baka sakaling manalo pa siya, sa dami ng pera niya, baka nga makatulong pa siya sa pagbabayad ng utang ng Pilipinas. Zubiri - sana there really is something more to 'face value.'///// Sultan Kiram - I really don't have any idea about his political background. But I wouldn't mind if he would be in the Senate since the Muslims really deserves to have a representative in the government. Opposition: Nikki Coseteng, Navy Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV, Manny Villar, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, John Osmena, Francis Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano, Noynoy Aquino, Koko Pimentel, Sonia Roco, Richard Gomez. Trillanes - I think that Trillanes has the heart and mind to serve the country. But as much as I want him in the senate, I can't ignore the fact that he has a different way of fighting for what he believes in.///// Lacson - fine. he's smart. he has all the capabilities. but if there's one think i don't like about him, is that i don't trust his intentions for this country. Legarda - I think Loren will win. She deserves to be in the Senate. But she has to prove her worth by doing her responsibilities, rather than spending her time on pointing out that she was cheated last elections.///// Chiz Escudero - I know that most of the youth likes him. And I think that he's good enough to be in the Senate. But I think it would be best if he would present his platforms, other than trash- talking the administration. Alan Peter Cayetano - with the issue regarding the Arroyo bank account, I don't think he deserves to be in the Senate. People have already lost all respect for him. Noynoy Aquino and Koko Pimentel - I just hope they could prove that they could do their jobs, with or without the famous family names. Sonia Roco - I think we need more people like her, who knows the sentiments of the REAL people.///// Cesar Montano and Richard Gomez - I have nothing against celebrities. But just like a politician who can't be a Christiopher de Leon, or an Eddie Gutierrez in just a few months, celebrities too, can't be great officials in just a short time. I think these celebrities should start with lower positions since it would be easier foer them to serve a smaller population.///// -Officials should solve problems, rather than create them. Of course, these are just my opinions. I know that we should all choose the best candidates and we should all vote wisely. But the thing is, if we really would vote wisely, I don't think any voter would be able to fill up those 12 slots. We need people who really deserve to SERVE the people.///// For more info regarding these senatorial candidates: http://www.inquirer.net/specialfeatures/eleksyon20 07/profiles.php One more thing to ponder on: napansin niyo ba kung ilang kalye ang sinisira at para muling ayusin ilang buwan bago mageleksyon?... hmmmm... http://www.mspguyana.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/65ab2b8ac82a081f905b192a998d0ce6_45c0babb.writeback Wed, 31 Jan 2007 09:50:19 -0600 Sa aking pagtanda, unawain mo sana ako at pagpasensyahan. Kapag dala ng kalabuan ng mata ay nakabasag ako ng pinggan o nakatapon ng sabaw sa hapag kainan, huwag mo sana akong kagagalitan. Maramdamin ang isang matanda. Nagse-self-pity ako tuwing sisigawan mo ako.///// Kapag mahina na ang teynga ko at hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi mo, huwag mo naman sana akong sabihan ng "binge!" paki-ulit na lang ang sinabi mo o pakisulat na lang. Pasensya ka na, anak. Matanda na talaga ako.///// Kapag mahina na ang tuhod ko, pagtiyagaan mo sana akong tulungang tumayo, katulad ng pag-aalalay ko sa iyo noong nag-aaral ka pa lamang lumakad. ///// Pagpasensiyahan mo sana ako kung ako man ay nagiging makulit at paulit ulit na parang sirang plaka. Basta pakinggan mo na lang ako. Huwag mo sana akong pagtatawanan o pagsasawaang pakinggan. Natatandaan mo anak noong bata ka pa? kapag gusto mo ng lobo,paulit-ulit mo 'yong sasabihin, maghapon kang mangungulit hangga't hindi mo nakukuha ang gusto mo. Pinagtyagaan ko ang kakulitan mo. ///// Pagpasensiyahan mo na rin sana ang aking amoy. Amoy matanda, amoy lupa. Huwag m! o sana akong piliting maligo. Mahina na ang katawan ko. Madaling magkasakit kapag nalamigan, huwag mo sana akong pandirihan. Natatandaan mo noong bata ka pa? Pinagtiyagaan kitang habulin sa ilalim ng kama kapag ayaw mong maligo. ///// Pagpasensiyahan mo sana kung madalas, ako'y masungit, dala na marahil ito ng katandaan. Pagtanda mo, maiintindihan mo rin. ///// Kapag may konti kang panahon, magkwentuhan naman tayo, kahit sandali lang. Inip na ako sa bahay, maghapong nag-iisa. Walang kausap. Alam kong busy ka sa trabaho, subalit nais kong malaman mo na sabik na sabik na akong makakwentuhan ka, kahit alam kong hindi ka interesado sa mga kwento ko. Natatandaan mo anak, noong bata ka pa? Pinagtiyagaan kong pakinggan at intindihin ang pautal-utal mong kwento tungkol sa iyong teddy bear. ///// At kapag dumating ang sandali na ako'y magkakasakit at maratay sa banig ng karamdaman, huwag mo sana akong pagsawaang alagaan. Pagpasensiyahan mo na sana kung ako man ay maihi o madumi sa higaan, pagtiyagaan mo sana akong alagaan sa mga huling sandali ng aking buhay. Tutal hindi na naman ako magtatagal. ///// Kapag dumating ang sandali ng aking pagpanaw, hawakan mo sana ang aking mga kamay at bigyan mo ako ng lakas ng loob na harapin ang kamatayan.///// At huwag kang mag-alala, kapag kaharap ko na ang Diyos na lumikha, ibubulong ko sa kanya na pagpalain ka sana ... dahil naging mapagmahal ka sa iyong mga magulang. http://www.mspguyana.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/31b0844e278500b42cc97133c981bc4b_45ba36dc.writeback Fri, 26 Jan 2007 11:14:04 -0600 Often we hear of negative comments about Filipinos. Now here is something positive about Filipinos... Here's something very positive written by a foreigner named Steve Ray, about Filipinos. Steve Ray authored many best-selling books, among which are, Crossing The Tiber (his conversion story), Upon This Rock(on the papacy),and just recently John's Gospel (a comprehensive bible study guide and commentary). Steve is also currently filming a 10-video series entitled, Footprints of God. The first two videos are out: Peter, Keeper of the Keys, and Mary, Mother of God. ///// STEVE RAY'S OPEN LETTER TO THE FILIPINO CATHOLICS: We stepped into the church and it was old and a bit dark. Mass had just begun and we sat toward the front. We didn't know what to expect here in Istanbul , Turkey . I guess we expected it to be a somber Mass but q uiet and somber it was not- I thought I heard angels joyously singing behind me. The voices were rich, melodic and beautiful. What I discovered as I spun around to look did not surprise me because I had seen and heard the same thing in other churches around the world. It was not a choir of angels with feathered wings and halos but a group of delightful Filipino Catholics with smiles of delight and joy on their faces as they worshiped God and sang His praises. I had seen this many times before in Rome , in Israel , in the United States and other countries. Filipinos have special traits and they are beautifully expressed as I gazed at the happy throng giving thanks to God. What are the special traits which characterize these happy people? I will share a few that I have noticed personal observations as I have traveled around the world, including visits to the Philippines.///// FIRST, there is a sense of community, of family. These Filipino Christians did not sit apart from each other in different isles. They sat together, closely. They didn't just sing quietly, mumbling, or simply mouthing the words. No, they raised their voices in harmony together as though they enjoyed the sense of unity and communion among them. They are family even if they are not related.///// SECOND, they have an inner peace and joy which is rare in the world today. When most of the world's citizens are worried and fretful, I have found Filipinos to have joy and peace,a deep sense of God's love that overshadows them. They have problems too, and many in the Philippines have less material goods than others in the world, yet there is still a sense of happy trust in God and love of neighbor.//// THIRD, there is a love for God and for his Son Jesus that is almost synonymous with the word Filipino. There is also something that Filipinos are famous for around the world - their love for the Blessed Mother. Among the many Filipinos I have met, the affectionate title for Mary I always hear from their lips is "Mama Mary." For these gentle folks Mary is not just a theological idea, a historical person, or a statue in a church - Mary is the mother of their Lord and their mother as well, their "mama." ///// The Philippines is a Catholic nation - the only such nation in Asia and this wonderful country exports missionaries around the world. They are not hired to be missionaries, not official workers of the church. No, they are workers and educators, doctors, nurses and housekeepers that go to other lands and travel to the far reaches of the earth, and everywhere they go they take the joyous gospel of Jesus with them. They make a somber Mass joyful when they burst into song. They convict the pagan of sin as they always keep the love of Jesus and the Eucharist central in their lives.///// My hope and prayer, while I am here in the Philippines sharing my conversion story from Baptist Protestant to Roman Catholic, is that the Filipino people will continue to keep these precious qualities. I pray that they will continue loving their families, loving the Catholic Church, reading the Bible, loving Jesus, His Mother and the Eucharist. As many other religions and sects try to pe rsuade them to leave the Church, may God give the wisdom to defend the Catholic faith. As the world tempts them to sin and seek only money and fame and power, may God grant them the serenity to always remember that obedience to Christ and love for God is far more important than all the riches the world can offer. May the wonderful Filipino people continue to be a light of the Gospel to the whole world!///// (SAMANG SAMPU! Steve Ray!)