Category Archives: Blog

A King With Rights

The Christendom will be celebrating in a few weeks’ time the great Feast of Christ of the King.   How relevant is this in my life is the question that pops into my head every time I am in deep thought or more so when a major decision has to be made.   In the normal day to day activities, doing the mundane things which sometimes leave us tired, stressed and even drained, we cannot help but wonder.  It is a question as to what the end goal and why one feels that way is probably because of some emptiness deep inside the inner core.  

I feel grateful each time and really awed with the marvels of why I have never truly gauged that there’s a vacuum within.   Thank God for the mighty One who I always think rule my heart.   I know it is the gift of faith and I humbly recognize that without God I am nothing.   So, it is important to let God be in control.   Yes, let him be the true King that rules our hearts.    For when one recognizes one’s limitations and nothingness, allowing God to be the mighty one that moves, guide and direct our life’s decisions, operations or anything that we do in our lives then we begin to see the light and value of life’s events.    We must be humble all the time because God does not want to enter into the heart of someone who is arrogant, proud and curious about everything. 

Moreover, Jesus Christ is the one who has the legal right to rule our lives and our weary hearts, as He is the King of Kings.   He is our Creator and the Author of Life.   He created us through the image and likeness of God; therefore He wants us to be like Him.   We must therefore, allow Him to penetrate and be likened to Him.   Only if we respond to the graces offered to us each day, in good moral standing and with faith, hope and love out of the depths of our inner selves can this happen.   If we free our lives from too much worldliness, pride and most of all from sins that drive us away from being close to the Mighty King, then we are geared towards holiness and the path of salvation.   This means we can attain our eternal reward in Heaven.  

I can observe that when a person has truly surrendered himself to God as His true king and ruler of his life; this person becomes attuned to Him.   Of course, he is mindful too that he is under the mantle protection of our blessed Mother Mary and always invoking the Holy Spirit to be at his midst each time.   Yes by doing so, you can tell he is truly a prayerful person living what he prays for and always touching base with God’s emissaries.  Then in actual fact, he is grounded, level headed and godly.   He neither is not judgmental, critical nor forces himself on others.   He has the good vibes and can jell with anyone without overdoing things.   He is just into things as they say.    And the people get drawn to him, not literally to his egotistical self I truly can say; but he draws closer people to God, because they see that God is so much alive in that person.   Well, in the end it is you and me loving one another and bringing each other closer to God and when we do, we will have our fair share in the eternal rewards in Heaven!

 

ow rHH

 

CATASTROPHE

On going really but more so now in this year of 2013, we have Pork Barrel scam/massive corruption, civil unrest in the south, typhoons, just a few hours ago the onset of earthquake in Cebu and Bohol !!!! Name it, we have it all and what else –anything more we can weather them….

p. 195 of 365 Days….The land of my birth, the Philippines* is a far cry from the genuine freedom hoped for…..Up till today, as in the other days while here…my heart and prayers go out to my poor fellow countrymen. 
                                                              

                                                                                                             A plea for patriotism!

Loyalty to the Person

Webster dictionary defines the meaning of the word loyal as faithful.    We often hear people talk about others behind their backs whether casually in jest or purely for fun sake.    We may not mean what we say but the true essence of what we want to drive at – is to enjoy ridiculing people or making fun of them at their expense all too often without them being aware of it.   Call it sense of humour if you may say it but in reality, we spread negative energy.    It is injustice to the person absent before us and surely defenceless at any situation given point in time.

Perhaps this is part of human nature, which is for anyone to speak against one another whether good or bad.    It may be patronising or judgmental but it definitely does not sound right.    I am guilty of this too, so no one is spared at the moment.   We all have our moments especially when we are feeling down and the person we want to talk about, has hurt us or caused us one way or the other – even at some point in time, really like kind of a personal injury.    Some would also justify their reasons for doing so as a way to ventilate their emotions and speak up continuously maligning the persons who have hurt or annoyed them.   No matter how difficult it may be, we have to have a share of the burden of others.   In a way, we help the suffering humanity in our own mysterious or little ways if you know what I mean.    But it does not help all the more if we talk further behind his or her back.   It only adds fuel to the fire as they say.    The negative vibe or energy does not bear fruit in itself, now or never will be in life.

But have you ever come across a person who loves to talk about other people most if not all the time?    It seems like that fellow has nothing better to do but to malign others and elevate just himself or herself; what more than show he is politically correct all the time.    There seems a never ending flow of back biting here and there.   But the truth is, what goes around comes around as the well-known guru advocates.    We may not know it but surely the time will come for a day to recompense.    It may not be today or tomorrow but the stage will definitely take toll on that the person.   He or she will be in for trouble no matter when comes a day of reckoning.

It does not mean to say you are the type of person who is confrontational, it just mean being a person of integrity.   But you do not want to waste time on useless conversations that does not bear good fruit in itself.    Or in plain simple terms, it means being loyal to the person you are present with.   You speak to the person if need be about what you need to air out or if you have an issue that needs to be resolved or want some clarifications so that you end up having a win-win situation where both parties are happy in the end.  

Yes, it truly wise to better confront the person if need be when there is a cause for us to do.   It takes a lot of courage and strength to do it and the truth is, most people are not that kind of individuals who would be able to speak up and face the person courageously to face the challenge.    But, we will be more appreciated if we are able to speak up amicably and say our piece with the right intentions at the right time and place of course.    It may sound stupid or silly for some as they would not want to take risks because of fear of facing the music or being chastised or may perhaps be scared that it may even redound to them what they have talked about.     And it may happen sometimes, we need to walk away and just keep the sacred moment.   Be still as they say.   Learn to be silent and treasure the sacredness of the present moment when we do not have to say anything.    It will teach us perhaps to listen more not just to the voice of our within but also to the call of the given situation.

The moral of my story is again a plea not to add so much chaos in the world, bad enough with so many natural or man-made catastrophes. So as the famous song goes – let us help make the world a better place to live while we are still alive.  

 

Most Recent Visit

Visiting CA, USA  last July of this year, was very productive despite the quick hectic two weeks stay.   Now, have even managed to let go this time.   Animation worked both ways.   Actually, 559699_10201018546017681_898562746_nevery time you travel, there is a potential risk, yet you rise to the challenge with even far greater strength.   Thanks to the many graces received but most of all, the responses to such.

The Philippines being compared to …..

The recent comments by the so called Dan Brown, author of the controversial well known books – Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons sparked controversy among most if not all Filipinos.    I did not read his books as I do not find them relevant in my life.   But having heard about this most controversial volume,   I still do not intend to read this latest book of his.   By the title, Inferno I have no plan whatsoever waste my time to browse even the book.    I am convinced that it is important to discern what you read, see on TV or movies especially if they are not really worth reading or no value whatsoever in your daily life.   Or even for mere entertainment sake,   it should not even be considered as something of substance.   Remember, it is our duty as decent human beings to enlighten our minds, hearts and wills with substantial knowledge and not read or watch stuff that can pollute our minds detrimental to our whole being most especially our spirits.   

 

Going back, the comments Brown made comparing the Philippines to the gates of hell are partially true among them:  six hour traffic jams, suffocating pollutions, sex trade and extreme poverty.’    But there are other poor countries worse than ours.   North Korea, Bangladesh, Turkey and even Pakistan were even found to be in the bottom three of the recent survey by BBC because of similar life situations.   Also, in Mexico or and some similar poor areas in New York etc.  Let’s face it – there is really extreme poverty in our country.   Why because, the gap between the rich and poor is so high that it is really a big issue, finding the haves and haves not – getting more and bigger each day.   Good enough, we have the Church who help and look after the poor by becoming their spokesman and support their cause as well as all the middle income families around the areas where they belong to who try their best to give in their own little ways.         

 

Maybe we can also be grateful and look at it in a positive light!   First and foremost, let us pray harder that all the Filipinos especially the politicians should do their part to contribute to the betterment of our society.   The Philippines have great resources like the white beaches, ingenuity and cheap labour, awesome food cuisines and most of all; the Filipinos are generally happy living in their faith, hope and love despite the poverty and other problems besetting our poor country.   We must not forget that at least, we contribute to the church militant and church suffering here on earth.   Then we do our best amidst our struggles in life, with a happy disposition and positive stance in the different moments of our everyday existence.     The important thing is the fact that we act and look at the positive side of things and not dwell on the negative.   Even if it is actually within our grasps, we can make a difference if we get our acts together.   All the more, the people see how we are doing their contribution in our own good behaviours each and every day of our lives.   So brace yourselves and cheer up.   It is not the end of the world.   And finally let us salute to the slogan; it is more fun in the Philippines!   We must all uphold this in our culture! 

(This blog was used featured last Saturday, 3 August at the episode of word and songs…  Kindly listen Word & Songs- ‘Looking at the Positive Side of Things’ at www.paulines.ph )

See also article :  http://www.theguardian.com/share/1912452

 

             

Loyalty to the Person

Webster dictionary defines the meaning of the word loyal as faithful.    We often hear people talk about        others behind their backs whether casually in jest or purely for fun sake.    We may not mean what we say but the true essence of what we want to drive at – is to enjoy ridiculing people or making fun of them at their expense all too often without them being aware of it.   Call it sense of humor if you may say it but in reality, we spread negative energy.    It is injustice to the person absent before us and surely defenseless at any situation given point in time.

Perhaps this is part of human nature, which is for anyone to speak against one another whether good or bad.    It may be patronizing or judgmental but it definitely does not sound right.    I am guilty of this too, so no one is spared at the moment.   We all have our moments especially when we are feeling down and the person we want to talk about, has hurt us or caused us one way or the other – even at some point in time, really like kind of a personal injury.    Some would also justify their reasons for doing so as a way to ventilate their emotions and speak up continuously maligning the persons who have hurt or annoyed them.   No matter how difficult it may be, we have to have a share of the burden of others.   In a way, we help the suffering humanity in our own mysterious or little ways if you know what I mean.    But it does not help all the more if we talk further behind his or her back.   It only adds fuel to the fire as they say.    The negative vibe or energy does not bear fruit in itself, now or never will be in life.

But have you ever come across a person who loves to talk about other people most if not all the time?    It seems like that fellow has nothing better to do but to malign others and elevate just himself or herself; what more than show he is politically correct all the time.    There seems a never ending flow of back biting here and there.   But the truth is, what goes around comes around as the well-known guru advocates.    We may not know it but surely the time will come for a day to recompense.    It may not be today or tomorrow but the stage will definitely take toll on that the person.   He or she will be in for trouble no matter when comes a day of reckoning.

It does not mean to say you are the type of person who is confrontational, it just mean being a person of integrity.   But you do not want to waste time on useless conversations that does not bear good fruit in itself.    Or in plain simple terms, it means being loyal to the person you are present with.   You speak to the person if need be about what you need to air out or if you have an issue that needs to be resolved or want some clarifications so that you end up having a win-win situation where both parties are happy in the end.

Yes, it truly wise to better confront the person if need be when there is a cause for us to do.   It takes a lot of courage and strength to do it and the truth is, most people are not that kind of individuals who would be able to speak up and face the person courageously to face the challenge.    But, we will be more appreciated if we are able to speak up amicably and say our piece with the right intentions at the right time and place of course.    It may sound stupid or silly for some as they would not want to take risks because of fear of facing the music or being chastised or may perhaps be scared that it may even redound to them what they have talked about.     And it may happen sometimes, we need to walk away and just keep the sacred moment.   Be still as they say.   Learn to be silent and treasure the sacredness of the present moment when we do not have to say anything.    It will teach us perhaps to listen more not just to the voice of our within but also to the call of the given situation.

The moral of my story is again a plea not to add so much chaos in the world, bad enough with so many natural or man-made catastrophes. So as the famous song goes – let us help make the world a better place to live while we are still alive.

26.6.2013