They Were There
by Pureza D. Lacuesta
My eyes grew misty as I approached our Learning Center on the morning of December 22.
Old women, some of them in crutches, were holding tickets in their hands as they waited patiently at the door. There was a male paralytic sitting on his box built with wheels, one arm lost, his lips quivering, with one eye not functioning well, his ticket was placed in his shirt pocket. Nursing mothers, children dressed in old clothes, brothers and sisters holding hands as they waited for their turn, looked expectant and excited.
When finally I got inside, a lump formed in my throat when I saw some CPUDHS Batch 1991 Alumni, sitting before big boxes of toys, apples, and oranges which they gave to the recipients as they passed out of the gate, carrying bags of rice, canned goods, and used clothing.
These generous ladies; Daisy Posa Layson, Fatima Edemburgo, Jerelyn
Geneva Magbanua, Aida Salazar, and Rhodora Fernandez, were accompanied by Mrs. Posas’s Grade Five son, Shedrick.
The little boy was keeping traffic at the gate as the last bag of candies and cookies were given out. I went farther inside, and I could not stop my tears from falling when I saw hungry children eating hungrily, some with food in both hands. They were helping themselves to fruit salad, lumpia frito, chicken adobo, spaghetti, cake, yakult (this drink donated by Mary Ong), and Calo-calo bihon. My daughter Iris, who is the administrator of the Center had converted the cash donations to food which were served to 167 indigents.
Thanks to our parents, friends, and benefactors, the Center was able to serve some of God’s needy children.
After the group had gone, faculty members helped in cleaning the Center and were about to rest, when some more donations came in. Thus, we called for those who were still outside and gave them out.
What a beautiful day! God had sent many of His needy children to partake of the blessings of hose who have more and to make the meaning of Christmas clearer: the birth of Jesus is the time to make up for our transgressions, repent, and have a change of heart, by sending out a light of hope to those who are suffering from the burdens of life.
Let, therefore, our Christmas be an open gate to a more blessed New Year, filled with love and kindness, and overflowing with Christian brotherhood.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Ang Sagrada Familia
Ang Sagrada Familia
Rev. Fr. Mark Lester Senina
Ginasaulog naton subong ang Fiesta sang Sagrada Familia.
Ginadumdum naton ang aton Mahal nga Iloy, nga after a series of question and answer portion kay Angel Gabriel, sa pihak sang iya nga pagpangduhaduha nga mangin iloy sang Dios, sa ulihi bangud sang iya pagsalig kag paghigugma sa Dios, matinumanon nga ginbaton ining mabudlay nga responsibilidad sa iya kabuhi.
Ginadumdum man naton si Jose nga nagpangduhaduha man nga batunon si Maria bangud nahibal-an niya nga nagabusong na ini. Pero pagkatapos sang iya damgo kon sa diin ginhambalan siya sang Dios nga batunon niya ang panugyan nga mangin bana ni Maria, puno sing pagsalig sa Dios nga ginbaton ini nga responsibilidad.
Ginadumdum man naton si Jesus, ang Dios nga nagpakatawo, nga bangud man sang Iya nga paghigugma sa Iya Gamhanan nga Amay, nagapasugot nga magkari diri sa duta bilang Tao.
Isa ka Pamilya nga may nagakalain-lain nga eksperyensya sa ila kabuhi. Pero sa pihak sang ila nagakalainlain nga inagihan may ara gihapon nga similarity ang ila nga experience sa aton pagpangabuhi. Kag ina amo ang PAGHIGUGMA SA DIOS. This is what made the Holy Family unique and beautiful tungod sang ila nga paghigugma sa Dios. Ang Dios indi lang foreigner sa ila kabuhi, indi lang amo ang talawgon nila kon may problem sila, indi lang ang Dios nga daw palautwasan sang ila ginabudlayan nga balatyagon, kundi ang Dios nangin parte gid sang ila kabuhi.
Sa aton iya nga pamilya kon kaisa nalipatan na naton ang Dios. Daw dekorasyon lang Siya sa aton kabuhi, talawgon kon may kinahanglan, palautwasan kon may problema, kag kon kaisa nangin alakigan kon may kadimalason nga matabo. That is why many families are destroyed kag indi maayo ang kahimtangan bangud kay sa ila kabuhi puro lang kwarta, pagpadako sang manggad ang ginahingamo, ang Dios iya wala na ginasapak.
Sa sining aton pagsaulog sang Fiesta sang Holy Family, kabay nga mangin katulad kita sa ila, nga ibutang ang Dios nga sentro sang aton panimalay, nga ang Dios amo ang maga patikang sang aton pamilya.
Ang isa ka pamilya mangin maayo katulad sa Sagrada Familia, if they have God in their life. Ikaw utod, is God present in your family? If not, invite Him and make Him the center of your family life, NOW!
Rev. Fr. Mark Lester Senina
Ginasaulog naton subong ang Fiesta sang Sagrada Familia.
Ginadumdum naton ang aton Mahal nga Iloy, nga after a series of question and answer portion kay Angel Gabriel, sa pihak sang iya nga pagpangduhaduha nga mangin iloy sang Dios, sa ulihi bangud sang iya pagsalig kag paghigugma sa Dios, matinumanon nga ginbaton ining mabudlay nga responsibilidad sa iya kabuhi.
Ginadumdum man naton si Jose nga nagpangduhaduha man nga batunon si Maria bangud nahibal-an niya nga nagabusong na ini. Pero pagkatapos sang iya damgo kon sa diin ginhambalan siya sang Dios nga batunon niya ang panugyan nga mangin bana ni Maria, puno sing pagsalig sa Dios nga ginbaton ini nga responsibilidad.
Ginadumdum man naton si Jesus, ang Dios nga nagpakatawo, nga bangud man sang Iya nga paghigugma sa Iya Gamhanan nga Amay, nagapasugot nga magkari diri sa duta bilang Tao.
Isa ka Pamilya nga may nagakalain-lain nga eksperyensya sa ila kabuhi. Pero sa pihak sang ila nagakalainlain nga inagihan may ara gihapon nga similarity ang ila nga experience sa aton pagpangabuhi. Kag ina amo ang PAGHIGUGMA SA DIOS. This is what made the Holy Family unique and beautiful tungod sang ila nga paghigugma sa Dios. Ang Dios indi lang foreigner sa ila kabuhi, indi lang amo ang talawgon nila kon may problem sila, indi lang ang Dios nga daw palautwasan sang ila ginabudlayan nga balatyagon, kundi ang Dios nangin parte gid sang ila kabuhi.
Sa aton iya nga pamilya kon kaisa nalipatan na naton ang Dios. Daw dekorasyon lang Siya sa aton kabuhi, talawgon kon may kinahanglan, palautwasan kon may problema, kag kon kaisa nangin alakigan kon may kadimalason nga matabo. That is why many families are destroyed kag indi maayo ang kahimtangan bangud kay sa ila kabuhi puro lang kwarta, pagpadako sang manggad ang ginahingamo, ang Dios iya wala na ginasapak.
Sa sining aton pagsaulog sang Fiesta sang Holy Family, kabay nga mangin katulad kita sa ila, nga ibutang ang Dios nga sentro sang aton panimalay, nga ang Dios amo ang maga patikang sang aton pamilya.
Ang isa ka pamilya mangin maayo katulad sa Sagrada Familia, if they have God in their life. Ikaw utod, is God present in your family? If not, invite Him and make Him the center of your family life, NOW!
What Is Simple Is True
December 24, 2008. A usual cold and breezy afternoon... I walked along the front area of the cathedral in order to check whether the Christmas tree installed by the parish youth ministry was already filled with decorations. After I have scrutinized every color and detail, I diverted my gaze on the two massive pilasters that supported the porch where the historic image of Our Lady was placed. The corners seemed to be very significant because they reminded me of an experience I had a year ago, when I was disillusioned about the celebration of Christmas Season. I plunged incredulously from my anticipation as I kept on telling myself that probably, this would be my saddest Christmas ever, not for the reason that I was miles away from home or my parents were not around. It’s just that I was so frustrated with what was happening to me then that the lights, sounds, and revelries were not appealing at all. Looking back, I gave myself a deep sigh, grateful that somehow I did not completely give in to my personal aches and fall into the disbelief of having a “good for nothing” Christmas.
Set adrift along memory bliss...
December 24, 2007. A usual cold and breezy afternoon...I walked along the front area of the cathedral as I waited for some folks to arrive so we can start our practice for the Christmas Eve Eucharistic Celebration. I was discerning whether I should go home or not on December 25 because there were things that fell out of place in our home. You see, when you’re left to look after your parents, you can’t help but be idealistic about them, expecting them to be like this or be like that. I got so frustrated with certain decisions they made and it breaks my heart to hear from people some unlikely remarks on them. I wanted to confront papa and nanay but my pride has gotten into my nerves that I have decided not to bother at all, and my option of not seeing them on Christmas Day would serve as my own act of rebellion. As I indulged myself to “the crazy-making pleasures I got from own pain” (Thanks Fr. Robert de Grandis, SSJ for this expression), I saw two women sitting at both ends of the cathedral pilasters, begging for alms. I wanted to avoid them but they called me, telling me they need jeepney fare because they wanted to go home to their place somewhere in Lapaz. I was taken aback. While I was so hesitant to go home to my parents who failed to condescend to my principles, here are two mothers doing the best they could just to be with their family on Christmas Day. While I reasoned out for possible excuses to nurture the hurt inside my heart, these women modestly presented to me what is simple, honest and true: to go beyond my logic and to plainly take love in its purest form. They made me realize that my family is not perfect and I am only invited to love perfectly the imperfect. And perhaps, this is what Christmas is all about.
I told the women to wait for a while as I hurriedly bought some food from a nearby grocery store so they could have something to eat for their Noche Buena. And of course, I gave them money for their jeepney fare. At the back of my mind, it was just a small token for a bigger-than-myself message they conveyed in my heart and for reminding me the real meaning of Christmas. The next morning, without thinking twice, I took the early jeepney trip to celebrate Christmas day with my family.
Set adrift along memory bliss...
December 24, 2007. A usual cold and breezy afternoon...I walked along the front area of the cathedral as I waited for some folks to arrive so we can start our practice for the Christmas Eve Eucharistic Celebration. I was discerning whether I should go home or not on December 25 because there were things that fell out of place in our home. You see, when you’re left to look after your parents, you can’t help but be idealistic about them, expecting them to be like this or be like that. I got so frustrated with certain decisions they made and it breaks my heart to hear from people some unlikely remarks on them. I wanted to confront papa and nanay but my pride has gotten into my nerves that I have decided not to bother at all, and my option of not seeing them on Christmas Day would serve as my own act of rebellion. As I indulged myself to “the crazy-making pleasures I got from own pain” (Thanks Fr. Robert de Grandis, SSJ for this expression), I saw two women sitting at both ends of the cathedral pilasters, begging for alms. I wanted to avoid them but they called me, telling me they need jeepney fare because they wanted to go home to their place somewhere in Lapaz. I was taken aback. While I was so hesitant to go home to my parents who failed to condescend to my principles, here are two mothers doing the best they could just to be with their family on Christmas Day. While I reasoned out for possible excuses to nurture the hurt inside my heart, these women modestly presented to me what is simple, honest and true: to go beyond my logic and to plainly take love in its purest form. They made me realize that my family is not perfect and I am only invited to love perfectly the imperfect. And perhaps, this is what Christmas is all about.
I told the women to wait for a while as I hurriedly bought some food from a nearby grocery store so they could have something to eat for their Noche Buena. And of course, I gave them money for their jeepney fare. At the back of my mind, it was just a small token for a bigger-than-myself message they conveyed in my heart and for reminding me the real meaning of Christmas. The next morning, without thinking twice, I took the early jeepney trip to celebrate Christmas day with my family.
Pope: Every Angelus is a Reminder of Mary's 'Yes'
Pope: Every Angelus is a Reminder of Mary's 'Yes'
12/23/2008
Zenit News Agency (www.zenit.org)
The Holy Father invited the faithful to "gaze upon the ineffable mystery that Mary carried for nine months in her virginal womb: the mystery of God Who becomes man."
VATICAN CITY (Zenit) - Upon praying the Angelus, one relives the moment of Mary's "yes," says Benedict XVI.
The Pope reflected on the prayer of the Angelus before reciting the Marian prayer together with those gathered in St. Peter's Square.
He noted that today's Gospel is Luke's account of the Annunciation, "the mystery to which we return every day in reciting the Angelus."
"This prayer allows us to relive the decisive moment when God knocked at Mary's heart and, having received her 'yes,' began to take flesh in her and from her," The Pontiff said.
True indeed that the Angelus is a prayer that constantly reminds us of Mary’s fiat to the Lord. She humbly accepted the Lord’s will, “Be it done unto me, according to your word.” Her humility made her pleasing to God, Who chose her to be the Mother of His Son. By her fiat, she cooperated with the Father’s will and so our salvation was made possible.
Just imagine and reflect, what could have happened had Mary refused God’s invitation for her to be the Mother of His Son Who came into this world to save us? Come to think of it.
Let us imitate Mary, who is full of grace, yet humble and obedient, even if this obedience meant her heart to be pierced with a sword especially when she was there following the footsteps of her Son in carrying the Cross of our sins because of His great love for us.
12/23/2008
Zenit News Agency (www.zenit.org)
The Holy Father invited the faithful to "gaze upon the ineffable mystery that Mary carried for nine months in her virginal womb: the mystery of God Who becomes man."
VATICAN CITY (Zenit) - Upon praying the Angelus, one relives the moment of Mary's "yes," says Benedict XVI.
The Pope reflected on the prayer of the Angelus before reciting the Marian prayer together with those gathered in St. Peter's Square.
He noted that today's Gospel is Luke's account of the Annunciation, "the mystery to which we return every day in reciting the Angelus."
"This prayer allows us to relive the decisive moment when God knocked at Mary's heart and, having received her 'yes,' began to take flesh in her and from her," The Pontiff said.
True indeed that the Angelus is a prayer that constantly reminds us of Mary’s fiat to the Lord. She humbly accepted the Lord’s will, “Be it done unto me, according to your word.” Her humility made her pleasing to God, Who chose her to be the Mother of His Son. By her fiat, she cooperated with the Father’s will and so our salvation was made possible.
Just imagine and reflect, what could have happened had Mary refused God’s invitation for her to be the Mother of His Son Who came into this world to save us? Come to think of it.
Let us imitate Mary, who is full of grace, yet humble and obedient, even if this obedience meant her heart to be pierced with a sword especially when she was there following the footsteps of her Son in carrying the Cross of our sins because of His great love for us.
Filipino Church Prays for Christians of India
Filipino Church Prays for Christians of India
By Santosh Digal
10/25/2008
Asia News (www.asianews.it/)
The archbishop of Palo calls for the faithful to remember the persecuted Indian Christians in their daily prayers. Appeals are growing in the majority Catholic country not to forget their persecuted brethren.
MANILA (AsiaNews) - The archbishop of Palo, Jose Serofia Palma, has written a message to call upon bishops, priests, religious, and laity to pray for the persecuted Christians in India. The Filipino prelate addresses his appeal above all to the faithful of his diocese on the island of Leyte, where more than a million Catholics live. But the appeal for daily prayers on behalf of the Christians persecuted by Hindu extremism is addressed to all Catholics in the Philippines, who represent more than 80% of the population there.
The initiative of the bishop, who is a member of the commission for international Eucharistic congresses at the Filipino bishops' conference, demonstrates the solidarity of Catholics in the country with the Christians of India.
Prayer is the way whereby we, the children of God, establish communication with God our Father. It is our greatest weapon since it is the major weakness of God. It enables us to talk to God, praising Him, giving Him thanks, telling Him how sorry we are for the wrong we have done and to stand up again despite these obstacles to loving Him. It is by establishing this interaction that we deepen our relationship with Him. Thus, when we pray, we do not only pray for ourselves but also for others.
Moreover, we should pray as a community. This is one way to show our concern for one another. That is why we need to participate in the Holy Mass, where we pray as a community. When we do so, we not only pray for ourselves, we also pray for the whole congregation participating in the Mass.
Our ‘pagpanglakaton padulong sa bug-os nga paghili-usa’ can only be made possible when we all join and become one in our prayer as a community, especially in our basic ecclesial communities.
By Santosh Digal
10/25/2008
Asia News (www.asianews.it/)
The archbishop of Palo calls for the faithful to remember the persecuted Indian Christians in their daily prayers. Appeals are growing in the majority Catholic country not to forget their persecuted brethren.
MANILA (AsiaNews) - The archbishop of Palo, Jose Serofia Palma, has written a message to call upon bishops, priests, religious, and laity to pray for the persecuted Christians in India. The Filipino prelate addresses his appeal above all to the faithful of his diocese on the island of Leyte, where more than a million Catholics live. But the appeal for daily prayers on behalf of the Christians persecuted by Hindu extremism is addressed to all Catholics in the Philippines, who represent more than 80% of the population there.
The initiative of the bishop, who is a member of the commission for international Eucharistic congresses at the Filipino bishops' conference, demonstrates the solidarity of Catholics in the country with the Christians of India.
Prayer is the way whereby we, the children of God, establish communication with God our Father. It is our greatest weapon since it is the major weakness of God. It enables us to talk to God, praising Him, giving Him thanks, telling Him how sorry we are for the wrong we have done and to stand up again despite these obstacles to loving Him. It is by establishing this interaction that we deepen our relationship with Him. Thus, when we pray, we do not only pray for ourselves but also for others.
Moreover, we should pray as a community. This is one way to show our concern for one another. That is why we need to participate in the Holy Mass, where we pray as a community. When we do so, we not only pray for ourselves, we also pray for the whole congregation participating in the Mass.
Our ‘pagpanglakaton padulong sa bug-os nga paghili-usa’ can only be made possible when we all join and become one in our prayer as a community, especially in our basic ecclesial communities.
Revealing the Face of God
Revealing the Face of God
by Bp. Gerardo A. Alminaza, D.D.
"The grace of God our Saviour has appeared to all" (Tit 2:11). With these words of St. Paul, Our Holy Father Benedict XVI proclaimed his Christmas Message this year. “The grace of God, rich in goodness and love, is no longer hidden. It ‘appeared’, it was manifested in the flesh, it showed its face... Jesus – the face of the ‘God who saves’, did not show himself only for a certain few, but for everyone.”
Every local Church and parish community is committed to make this “face of God” become more visible. All our efforts to realize our parish vision-mission, i.e., “a Christ-centered, participatory and enlightened Filipino church that is evangelizing, missionary and committed toward total human development” is precisely meant to make Our Lord Jesus Christ more present in our midst. Even the third objective of our pastoral statement, for example, which states, "augment, and later, even supplant membership in the Councils from the emerging leaders coming from the BEC cells so as to make these Councils truly representative of the parish" is geared towards this end.
It is striking to note that when “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14) it happened in and through the family of Nazareth, and henceforth the family has become the model and framework of renewal, development, and of our pastoral work. As in the family, so it should be in our Christian community. Even our Church’s preferential love of the poor is based on our family’s experience of how we treat the most vulnerable and weakest member of our family.
In the message of Pope Benedict XVI for World Peace Day 2009 come Jan. 1 entitled, "Fighting Poverty to Build Peace," he writes: “When poverty strikes a family, the children prove to be the most vulnerable victims: almost half of those living in absolute poverty today are children. To take the side of children when considering poverty means giving priority to those objectives which concern them most directly, such as caring for mothers, commitment to education, access to vaccines, medical care and drinking water, safeguarding the environment, and above all, commitment to defence of the family and the stability of relations within it. When the family is weakened, it is inevitably children who suffer. If the dignity of women and mothers is not protected, it is the children who are affected most.”
It is in this context that the CBCP has issued our pastoral statement on Reproductive Health Bill entitled, “Standing up for the Gospel of Life” last November 14, 2008. I enjoin everyone who really and honestly wants to understand our Church’s position on various issues on the sanctity of life to study this statement and the recent Doctrinal Congregation Instruction on Some Bioethical Questions, "Dignitas Personae."
As we approach the New Year, I would like to echo the Holy Father’s World Day of Peace message assuring the entire human family of our Church’s support through gestures of creative solidarity, not only by "giving from one's surplus", but above all by "a change of lifestyles, of models of production and consumption, and of the established structures of power which today govern societies." Living in this way, we shall certainly reveal the face of God in our world today.Wishing you all a New Year filled with hope and rich assurances of God’s love for you!
by Bp. Gerardo A. Alminaza, D.D.
"The grace of God our Saviour has appeared to all" (Tit 2:11). With these words of St. Paul, Our Holy Father Benedict XVI proclaimed his Christmas Message this year. “The grace of God, rich in goodness and love, is no longer hidden. It ‘appeared’, it was manifested in the flesh, it showed its face... Jesus – the face of the ‘God who saves’, did not show himself only for a certain few, but for everyone.”
Every local Church and parish community is committed to make this “face of God” become more visible. All our efforts to realize our parish vision-mission, i.e., “a Christ-centered, participatory and enlightened Filipino church that is evangelizing, missionary and committed toward total human development” is precisely meant to make Our Lord Jesus Christ more present in our midst. Even the third objective of our pastoral statement, for example, which states, "augment, and later, even supplant membership in the Councils from the emerging leaders coming from the BEC cells so as to make these Councils truly representative of the parish" is geared towards this end.
It is striking to note that when “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14) it happened in and through the family of Nazareth, and henceforth the family has become the model and framework of renewal, development, and of our pastoral work. As in the family, so it should be in our Christian community. Even our Church’s preferential love of the poor is based on our family’s experience of how we treat the most vulnerable and weakest member of our family.
In the message of Pope Benedict XVI for World Peace Day 2009 come Jan. 1 entitled, "Fighting Poverty to Build Peace," he writes: “When poverty strikes a family, the children prove to be the most vulnerable victims: almost half of those living in absolute poverty today are children. To take the side of children when considering poverty means giving priority to those objectives which concern them most directly, such as caring for mothers, commitment to education, access to vaccines, medical care and drinking water, safeguarding the environment, and above all, commitment to defence of the family and the stability of relations within it. When the family is weakened, it is inevitably children who suffer. If the dignity of women and mothers is not protected, it is the children who are affected most.”
It is in this context that the CBCP has issued our pastoral statement on Reproductive Health Bill entitled, “Standing up for the Gospel of Life” last November 14, 2008. I enjoin everyone who really and honestly wants to understand our Church’s position on various issues on the sanctity of life to study this statement and the recent Doctrinal Congregation Instruction on Some Bioethical Questions, "Dignitas Personae."
As we approach the New Year, I would like to echo the Holy Father’s World Day of Peace message assuring the entire human family of our Church’s support through gestures of creative solidarity, not only by "giving from one's surplus", but above all by "a change of lifestyles, of models of production and consumption, and of the established structures of power which today govern societies." Living in this way, we shall certainly reveal the face of God in our world today.Wishing you all a New Year filled with hope and rich assurances of God’s love for you!
What Christmas means to Me? Survey subjects: beggars in JARO
By Armando A. Suñe
1. Placido Villalon Lobaton, 46 yrs.old, from Old Sagay, Negros Occidental (drives a trisikad around Jaro looking for scrap carton boxes.)
Sini nga paskuwa, waay gid ‘ko. Ara ang sikad, “full-packed” sang carton. Kon ano ang ara lang nga ibugay mo sa akon, Merry Christmas. Tutal paskuwa man.
2. Violeta Lozada- Lastimoso, 51. Married, from Santa Barbara, Iloilo. (Paraplegic- right leg was removed due to gangrene on the foot. Begs for alms at the door of Jaro Cathedral near the Santo Niño image. Daughter Ma. Bialen, 8, sits beside her.)
OK lang ang Christmas. Kon may ara ihatag, ti, salamat gid, e. Kon wala, salamat man. Kon may ihatag sa imo ang tawo, may simbolo ini sang paskuwa. Kabay pa nga magtiriripon kami sa paskuwa. Ato sa Lambunao ang akon pamilya. May bata ako sa Manila. Seventeen years na nga wala kami magkitaay. Sa adlaw sang paskuwa, maluto-luto kami pancit; ma-ihaw sang manok para may tipun-tipunan kami kag may saluhan.
3. Elena Liboon Flores, 68, single, from Benedicto, Jaro, Iloilo City. ( Loiters around the Jaro Plaza at 10am looking for viand. She has not yet eaten breakfast. She sells rice packed in plastic at nighttime in front of Rose Pharmacy.)
Nagapanilhig ako sa police station, wala suweldo. Kon ka-isa nataga-an ako sud-an. Ang paskuwa maayo man. Waay ka man may mahimo. Mangamuyo ka sa Diyos nga hatagan ka sang paskuwa. Bisan pura-ot ang paskuwa, masadya man. Nagahambal ako sa kay Lord, minuto-minuto: “Lord, I ask your help. Answer me.” She adds: “ Nagapangamuyo ako ‘Our Father’”. Sang una nagabulig ako pi-ud sang Candle Light. Kada Miyerkoles ginahatagan kami nga mga “indigent” pagkaon sang Saint Vincent sa Cathedral. Kada Sabado, sang Ladies of Charity.”
4. Magdalena Susaya Sucaldito, 76, single, from Sooc, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. (She is blind. Her apo “Nene” Mary Jane, 22 yrs old but looks fourteen years, accompanies her.)
Maayo man ang paskuwa, ginakaluy-an man gihapon sang Diyos. Kon paskuwa, may pagkaon. Ginapaskuwahan kami pagkaon, Kon ano lang dira ang ginahatag sa aton. Si Jesus Christ naga-paskuwa sang maayo nga lawas kag matawhay nga pagpangabuhi, waay inaway, waay sang gamu kag disgrasya.
5. Pelagia Leonidas-Sucaldito, 77, from Sibalom, Antique ( She begs at the side door of Jaro Cathedral beside the Santo Niño image. Grandson Richard Muyco, 25, faithfully accompanies her.)Sa paskuwa ginakaluy-an man ni Santo Niño. Daku gid nga salamat sa iya. Merry Christmas and a happy new year sa inyo tanan.
What is Christmas to me?
Christmas is the day that the Son of God was born. It is also a special day for everyone, rich or poor, old and young wherein we can just sit and share the blessings that God has gave us.
- Kilauea N. de la Cruz, Grade 5, San Jose Catholic School
Christmas is a time for family bonding and is the best day for thanksgiving for receiving the Son of God.
- Uriah N. de la Cruz, Grade 2, San Jose Catholic School
Christmas is so special to anyone. Christmas is giving gifts to everyone, old and young, rich and poor.
- Hyacinth C. de la Cruz, 1st year, University of Iloilo
Well, I believe that Christmas should be the time of sharing our blessings to the less fortunate people just like the three kings did when Jesus was born. The best excuse as well to say sorry to others and forgive those who made mistakes to us. Thus, we should promote world peace
- Mark Lee Guarin, Central Philippine University, student, 20 yrs, old
Christmas day kung upod ko si mama kag si tatay
- Derick Raver Pedroso, DB Ledesma Street Jaro, Iloilo City, 3 yrs. old
My Incomparable Mother
My Incomparable Mother
Jesa Christine T. Capagal
I often reflected on my childhood. Why my mom would tie up my shoelace? Why would she scold me if I stay up late at night? Why would she remind me over and over of the things I usually do everyday? Why would she ask me to do this and to do those things? Should hard work be mixed together with the fun? Can’t I just lavish the time of my childhood years? Why?
As I grew older, responsibilities piled up bit by bit- projects, research papers, and a lot more paper works. I somehow learned that life isn’t just as easy as eating a candy cane but life is a little more complicated as it seems. Through life experiences, I have adapted and made it through but of course with the help of “someone?” in my life.
Sacrifice, devotion, love and tears- all were tolerated by my mother for me and my other siblings. Her heart, her mind, her energy and soul was geared towards making us better persons. All of the time she had spent on me throughout the years was a never-failing love. She gave me strength and sweet security. She advised me of things I often was annoyed of however after awhile I would eventually follow what she says.
And then the hardest thing of it all is that my mom would tell me, “Just wait until you will be a mother like me and you’ll know what I mean.” Well, I do have to admit that it was scary and all but yes I do understand her even though I am not a mother. Now, a grown up lady could tell she had let me do things on my own. Decide on myself- my life, my own expectations. Love and hate. Succeed or fail.
As I would always say, my mom is the best and how I wish I could be just as much like her to my children- my incomparable mother.
Jesa Christine T. Capagal
I often reflected on my childhood. Why my mom would tie up my shoelace? Why would she scold me if I stay up late at night? Why would she remind me over and over of the things I usually do everyday? Why would she ask me to do this and to do those things? Should hard work be mixed together with the fun? Can’t I just lavish the time of my childhood years? Why?
As I grew older, responsibilities piled up bit by bit- projects, research papers, and a lot more paper works. I somehow learned that life isn’t just as easy as eating a candy cane but life is a little more complicated as it seems. Through life experiences, I have adapted and made it through but of course with the help of “someone?” in my life.
Sacrifice, devotion, love and tears- all were tolerated by my mother for me and my other siblings. Her heart, her mind, her energy and soul was geared towards making us better persons. All of the time she had spent on me throughout the years was a never-failing love. She gave me strength and sweet security. She advised me of things I often was annoyed of however after awhile I would eventually follow what she says.
And then the hardest thing of it all is that my mom would tell me, “Just wait until you will be a mother like me and you’ll know what I mean.” Well, I do have to admit that it was scary and all but yes I do understand her even though I am not a mother. Now, a grown up lady could tell she had let me do things on my own. Decide on myself- my life, my own expectations. Love and hate. Succeed or fail.
As I would always say, my mom is the best and how I wish I could be just as much like her to my children- my incomparable mother.
Holy Innocents
Martyrs – First Century
The Holy Innocents who are honored as the Patrons of Choirboys, were the children of Bethlehem who were slaughtered by King Herod in his furious attempt to eliminate the Child Jesus.
When Herod, King of Judea, realized that he had been deceived by the Magi, he ordered the massacre of all the boys of two years and below in Bethlehem and its borders. But, not one of the massacred children was the infant Jesus, Who in the meantime, had fled with the Holy Family to Egypt.
These innocent victims, who were given the title Martyrs by the early Fathers of the Church like Sts. Augustine and Ireneus, bore witness to the Messiah not by words but by their death. They triumphed over the world and won their crown without experiencing the evils of the world and the devil.
The Holy Innocents are honored in the liturgy of the church.
Reflection
Subong nga panahon madamo pa nga mga Herodes ang nagalagas sa mga inocente nga kabataan. May ara nga “house bill” nga ginatinguhaan ipasar sa kongreso nanday “Honorables” Edcel C. Lagman, Janette L. Garin, Narciso D. Santiago III, Mark Llandro Mendoza, Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona, Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel nga kuno para sa reproductive health, responsible parenthood kag population development sang panimalay Pilipinhon. Ang tinutuyo sini agod indi kuno magdaku ang populasyon sang Pilipinas nga amo ang nagapaimol sa aton pungsod. Kinahanglan wala kuno sing pagapili-on nga pamaagi sa pagplano sang pamilia, natural man ukon moderno. Apang kon maid-id gid ang paghibalo sining house bill maathag nga ila gid ginaduso ang moderno nga pamaagi (pag-inom sang contraceptive pills, ligation. IUD, vasectomy, kag iban pa). Madamo pa sing dapat talakayon kag padaluman sang isip sining ginaduso nila nga bill.
Sin-o pa ang iban nga mga Herodes? Yadtong mga nangin iloy sa wala nagakaigo nga tion nga luyag ihulog ang ila ginadala (abortion), ang mga dimalas nga nagbulosong nga wala sing kilalahon nga amay ang ila lapsag nga ginbun-ag ila ini ginahaboy sa basurahan nga kon kaisa buhi pa ini, kon kaisa patay na man. Makaluluoy nga bata. Ano ang iya sala? Ngaa ginahingabot siya nga patyon? Sila ang mga “moderno” nga Herodes. Nagakahulogan bala ini nga ang “modernism” wala nabalay sa “Natural Law” ukon Mga sugo sang Dios nga ang sadsaran amo ang moralidad: ang pagrespeto sa kaugalingon, kay kita mga TAO gid nga may Dignidad, gintuga nga TAO sang Dios nga nanginkabangdanan sang Iya pagpakaTAO para sa kalawasan sining TAO nga may lawas kag kalag kag Puluy-an sang Spirito Santo.
Martyrs – First Century
The Holy Innocents who are honored as the Patrons of Choirboys, were the children of Bethlehem who were slaughtered by King Herod in his furious attempt to eliminate the Child Jesus.
When Herod, King of Judea, realized that he had been deceived by the Magi, he ordered the massacre of all the boys of two years and below in Bethlehem and its borders. But, not one of the massacred children was the infant Jesus, Who in the meantime, had fled with the Holy Family to Egypt.
These innocent victims, who were given the title Martyrs by the early Fathers of the Church like Sts. Augustine and Ireneus, bore witness to the Messiah not by words but by their death. They triumphed over the world and won their crown without experiencing the evils of the world and the devil.
The Holy Innocents are honored in the liturgy of the church.
Reflection
Subong nga panahon madamo pa nga mga Herodes ang nagalagas sa mga inocente nga kabataan. May ara nga “house bill” nga ginatinguhaan ipasar sa kongreso nanday “Honorables” Edcel C. Lagman, Janette L. Garin, Narciso D. Santiago III, Mark Llandro Mendoza, Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona, Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel nga kuno para sa reproductive health, responsible parenthood kag population development sang panimalay Pilipinhon. Ang tinutuyo sini agod indi kuno magdaku ang populasyon sang Pilipinas nga amo ang nagapaimol sa aton pungsod. Kinahanglan wala kuno sing pagapili-on nga pamaagi sa pagplano sang pamilia, natural man ukon moderno. Apang kon maid-id gid ang paghibalo sining house bill maathag nga ila gid ginaduso ang moderno nga pamaagi (pag-inom sang contraceptive pills, ligation. IUD, vasectomy, kag iban pa). Madamo pa sing dapat talakayon kag padaluman sang isip sining ginaduso nila nga bill.
Sin-o pa ang iban nga mga Herodes? Yadtong mga nangin iloy sa wala nagakaigo nga tion nga luyag ihulog ang ila ginadala (abortion), ang mga dimalas nga nagbulosong nga wala sing kilalahon nga amay ang ila lapsag nga ginbun-ag ila ini ginahaboy sa basurahan nga kon kaisa buhi pa ini, kon kaisa patay na man. Makaluluoy nga bata. Ano ang iya sala? Ngaa ginahingabot siya nga patyon? Sila ang mga “moderno” nga Herodes. Nagakahulogan bala ini nga ang “modernism” wala nabalay sa “Natural Law” ukon Mga sugo sang Dios nga ang sadsaran amo ang moralidad: ang pagrespeto sa kaugalingon, kay kita mga TAO gid nga may Dignidad, gintuga nga TAO sang Dios nga nanginkabangdanan sang Iya pagpakaTAO para sa kalawasan sining TAO nga may lawas kag kalag kag Puluy-an sang Spirito Santo.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
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