cannot do - KerygmaFamily

Transcription

Inspiring You to Live a Fantastic Life
No. 286 Vol. 24
March 2014
God Cannot Fail:
Your Losses and
Failures Are
Temporary But
Your Victory Is
Permanent
By Bo Sanchez
A Deluge of
Miracles and
God’s Love in
the Midst of
Super Typhoon
Yolanda
KERYGMA BARCODE.pdf
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RUPIAH 64,000
WHAT
GOD
CANNOT DO
Congratulations, Graduates!
A new chapter in your life begins. As you enter the bigger school of life, Shepherd’s Voice Publications
provides you with hope and inspiration, helping you to seize your opportunities, conquer your challenges,
increase your faith, and live life to the fullest through our magazines for all ages.
K is for Kerygma - Inspiring You to Live a Fantastic Life!
Get monthly inspiration from the 33th Catholic Mass Media Awards’ Best Family
Oriented Magazine, containing powerful teaching articles and life-changing
stories – guaranteed to touch your heart, feed your mind, and nourish your soul!
F is for FiSH – The Zany Side of Loving God!
Winner of the Best Youth Magazine at the 30th, 31st and 34th Catholic Mass
Media Awards, FiSH is the perfect magazine for the youth written in the language
they understand on things they are interested in – spirituality linked to music,
trivia, movies, technology, fashion and so much more!
A is for All Stars – A Generation That Shines for Christ!
Being “tweens” has its own set of challenges. Trust All Stars to guide them through
their concerns. Inspiring stories and fun, fact-filled articles will help the 10- to 13-yearolds to know and love God more and shine for Jesus!
M is for Mustard – Sowing Seeds of Fun and Faith!
Kids aged 7 to 10 years (and even younger!) will love learning about their
faith, family and school life with each exciting, colorful and informative issue.
Recognized as the Best Children’s Magazine at the 30th CMMA, Mustard is loved
by both teachers and parents!
There’s a magazine for every member of your family! Let Shepherd’s Voice
Publications guide and inspire you at every stage of your life.
Subscribe Now.
For orders, call 725-9999 local 101 to 108
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Take Life by the Reins!
You live only once.
You don’t know when it will all be over.
Are you seizing the day or merely existing?
Are you going through life without passion, as if it won’t come to an end? Do you want to learn how
to live life?
The Psalmist counsels, “Teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of
wisdom.”
It is time to start living your life fully.
Don’t let it pass you by without making your deepest dreams come true and fulfilling God’s purpose
for you.
George Gabriel’s new book, Live Life, challenges you to elevate your standard for everyday living.
Dreams do come true! Ask George. He’ll teach you how to take life by the reins!
For starters, he advises you to list down your dreams. Confess them every day. Pray over
them. And then watch God bring them to fulfillment.
Let George’s book be your guide on how to live life to the fullest as
he shares valuable lessons from his own life experiences.
Compiled from his editorials from FiSH, the award-winning youth
magazine, Live Life contains insights on everyday life that will
help you make the most of God’s greatest gift. Read his inspiring
articles and get ready to live life to the fullest:
• A Time for Everything
• My Wife Has White Hair!
• Don’t Settle for an Empty Mug
• The Right to Rejoice
• Every Tear Will Be Wiped Away
• A Lesson from Candy Crush
• God Hears Your Every Prayer
• Say Goodbye to Shortcuts
• Reset!
• Fight for Your Dreams
Order your copy today. Call (02) 725-9999 or visit www.sheperdsvoice.com.ph
to order online.
By Bo Sanchez
L
ook. In the Old Testament, He was the “God of Wrath.”
Cruel. Vindictive. Judgmental. Racist.
For example, in the book of Joshua, God ordered
the mass slaughter of tribes — men, women and
children — who were living in Canaan. These Canaanite
tribes lived there for thousands of years, but according
to Israel, God wanted them to be massacred so that they — God’s
chosen people — could live in their promised land.
All of a sudden, He is the “God of love” in the New Testament.
Instead of a Warrior God, He becomes the helpless Baby in a
manger. Instead of a Judge who gives a death sentence, He
becomes the Good Shepherd willing to die for His sheep.
So has He really changed?
No. God doesn’t change.
Instead, it’s our understanding of God that has changed.
We change. We mature. We develop. We transform.
When you read the Bible, remember that the human writers’
understanding of God is always limited by the weaknesses of their
culture, psychology, language and history.
That’s why you can’t get one verse from the Bible and say that
it’s the entire truth. That’s crazy. When you read the Bible, you’re
entering into a 3,000-year long journey.
Where does this journey take us?
God is love — these three words summarize this journey.
And my hope is that you’ll experience the power of these
three simple words — and how they have never changed and
never will.
God loves you not because you’re lovable. He loves because
He is loving.
The
Boss
HAS GOD
CHANGED?
Jesus is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
— Hebrews 13:8
Yesterday, He loved you. Today, He loves you.
Tomorrow, He will love you.
Nothing will change.
Why?
Because that’s who God is.
God loves you with an eternal love — no matter what
happens to you.
May your dreams come true,
MARCH 2014 • KERYGMA
1
Mail
room
I started reading Kerygma in 1995, then temporarily stopped. I’m happy
that I could read it again.
I’m a victim of a hit-and-run accident, resulting to my above-the-knee
amputation. Reading Kerygma gives me hope and courage to live life to the
fullest.
More power and keep inspiring us.
Rommel Alla
Calapan City
I was an ex-OFW for a year and seven months. Being a registered nurse in
Saudi Arabia for two years, everyone expected me to reapply since I both
have local and foreign experience. But I know that 80 percent of me longs to
stay in Manila (I am from Iligan City) to become a part of The Feast PICC
while my brother is trying to establish LOJ Iligan.
Bo’s charisma is very uplifting and I am spiritually fed at every Feast,
being surrounded with happy and positive people.
Thanks, Kerygma, for capturing our inspirational stories.
Gegs
Iligan City
“OK, share it with others as well.” This was my aunt’s
response when I emailed her asking if I can have her
Kerygma 1998 issues.
I was doing a general cleaning in April 2010 when
I found my aunt’s old Kerygma copies. Since then, I’ve
been looking forward to have my copy every month and
sharing it with my friends and the blessings I receive by
reading it.
Rosary Sendrijas
Tagbilaran, Bohol
A blessed day to all Kerygma readers. My mom is
an avid reader of your magazine. Her month is not
complete without having a copy of it. That’s why my
dad always buys her one every month. That’s why I also
came to know Bo Sanchez. Sometimes we also watch
him on TV during weekends.
Thanks to all the people who make this magazine
inspire other people.
Wayne Patrick E. Marteja
Grade 1 – Molave
Holy Infant School of Malolos, Bulacan
A lady by the name of Josie dela Cruz from Kerygma phoned me and said
she got my name in the list of discontinued subscribers. She encouraged me
to subscribe again.
Doubts arose whether it was a legitimate or swindling call. I verified the
fax number she left with the local store that sells your magazine after I have
chosen to order the one-year book-bound copy.
It’s all OK now. I have received the much-loved book and I read the
name of Josie dela Cruz in the Mail Room section.
I value the book so much, not only its well-blended colors and the
substantive true-to-life short stories, but also its priceless words quoted from
the Bible.
I’m 81 years old. At this age, it may be normal to be
mulling how the end will come. Complete faith in the
Lord is a grace I pray for.
Kerygma is a factor in reinforcing and sustaining
the thought that the Lord is with us all the way. We
belong to Him and to Him we must return.
Kerygma, you are a great expediter and a grace.
Thank you.
Narciso Dalugdugan
Baybay City, Leyte
Renato B. Guevara
Makati City
We Want to hear from you!
Send your message via email to editsvp@shepherdsvoice.com.ph,
through text to 0923-378-4941, or by snail mail to The Editor at 60
Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines 1109.
You can also reach us through Kerygma Family. Simply
log on to www.kerygmafamily.com. Or like our
Facebook page and send your message there.
For subscription-related concerns, text or call Sarah
Discutido at 0922-814-7031 or email subscription@
shepherdsvoice.com.ph.
2
KERYGMA • MARCH 2014
As a Yolanda survivor from Ormoc, I am totally
disconnected from the world of the Internet. With this,
I ended up reading books and I stumbled upon a 1990
issue of Kerygma that my grandmother used to read.
Gradually, I became more and more interested in this
mag. Once tasted (or read), always wanted. And I’m
now starting my “always wanted” with the September
2013 issue (because our local distributor is out of town
due to the calamity). The design of the 90’s and the
current issue may be different, but both never fail to
inspire me. God bless! More power!
Thomas Mosquera
Ormoc City
Living by
Grace
Just
Breathe
By Rissa Singson-Kawpeng
Take the Bible Challenge
Rissa’s outfit courtesy of Elite Garments/FREEWAY.
T
Read the Entire New Testament in 87 Days
hree international geologists were trying to outdo each other. The
American dug 100 feet in the US and found traces of copper wire. He
concluded that as far back as 100 years ago, America had a massive
telephone system. The Japanese geologist didn’t want to be outdone.
He dug 200 feet deep and found traces of copper wire. He concluded
that as much as 200 years ago, Japan had a massive telecommunication
system. The Filipino didn’t want to concede. He dug 300 feet in the Philippines and
found absolutely nothing. Not wanting to be beaten, he concluded that as far back
as 300 years ago, the Philippines was already wireless.
Even before the Internet, telephones, telegraphs, smoke signals and
hieroglyphics were invented, God was already communicating with us. He has
devised the most comprehensive, no-fail, massive communication system that the
universe has ever known. It’s a communication system that transcends time and
space, that communicates to you no matter what your language is, what culture
you have, or what epoch you live in.
God speaks to us through many ways. Through creation. Other people.
Circumstances. Religious experiences. A spoken word. Through the teachings of
the Church. Through Scripture.
The problem isn’t that God doesn’t speak to us. He’s always speaking! The
problem is we don’t know how to listen. And with the deluge of voices and
messages out there in the world, it makes it even more challenging to tune in to
God’s voice.
So let me share with you what I’ve found to be the easiest way to hear God: by
reading Scripture.
Contrary to what most Catholics think, our Church “forcefully and specially
exhorts all the Christian faithful . . . to learn ‘the surpassing knowledge of Jesus
Christ’ (Philippians 3:8) by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures…. Let them
remember, however, that prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred
Scripture, so that a dialogue takes place between God and man. For ‘we speak to
him when we pray; we listen to him when we read the divine oracles’” (Catechism
of the Catholic Church, 2653).
Our prayer lives become richer and more effective when we use our Bibles as
we pray.
At The Feast, our favorite prayer goes, “Today I open myself to God’s Word so
that I would become more like Jesus every day” (Novena to God’s Love). As we grow
in the knowledge of Scripture, we are transformed into the image of our God.
Our prayer meetings, service in community, Mass attendance, outreach to the
poor, Scripture reading — all these should make us more like Jesus, who is loving,
compassionate, merciful, humble, generous.
So if you’ve never begun reading
your Bible, I invite you to do the 87-Day
Challenge. There are 260 chapters in the
New Testament. If you read just three
chapters a day, you’ll finish the entire New
Testament in 87 days. Go get a calendar
now and count 87 days. Mark that day
as your finish line for reading the New
Testament. Then faithfully read your three
chapters daily.
I assure you, at the end of this exercise,
you’ll know Jesus more. And you’ll hear His
voice better.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is
useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting
and training in righteousness, so that
the servant of God may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work.
— 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Email me at justbreatherissa@gmail.com, subscribe
to my Facebook updates, or visit my website www.
rissasingsonkawpeng.com.
What to Expect This Month:
Be empowered every day with
inspiration delivered straight to your
gadget! Download the FantasticLife
app and get your Didache, Sabbath
and Companion readings. You can
download this for FREE and enjoy lifechanging messages! PLUS, you’ll get
the unique Fantastic Life Devotional by
Bo Sanchez available only on this app.
You can download the FantasticLife
app from Google Play Store or the
Apple Store.
3
Hi,
I’m Sarah!
Lost copy?
Changed address?
Defective copy?
For all subscription-related concerns
Call
Sarah
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subscription@shepherdsvoice.com.ph
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SPECIAL SECTION
DEPARTMENTS
THE BO FILES
1 The Boss
HAS GOD CHANGED?
40 Point of Contact
What’s
Inside
2 Mailroom
6New You
7Real Stuff
8 Toward the Great
Jubilee 2021:
IS THERE HOPE
FOR MARRIAGE IN
TODAY’S SOCIETY?
10Dear K
11KFam Insider
13Feast Snapshots
15 It Happened:
A DELUGE OF
MIRACLES AND
GOD’S LOVE IN
THE MIDST OF
SUPER TYPHOON
YOLANDA
39 One Last Story:
DAVID’S MINION
HUGS
19 WHAT GOD CANNOT DO
20 GOD CANNOT FAIL:
Your Losses and
Failures Are
Temporary, But
Victory Is Permanent
TESTIMONIES
24 26
28
29
Awaken the Hero Within You
Priest Exchange
The Might of God’s Saving Power
Surviving Yolanda and Escaping Tacloban
March 2014
COLUMNS
3 Just Breathe
Take the Bible
Challenge:
Read the
Entire New
Testament in
87 Days
33 Seasons
Summer:
Best Time For
Singles To
Move Around
35 Bishop’s Move
THE LAY
FAITHFUL
37 K Preacher
KEEP SOWING
ABOUT OUR COVER MODEL
Our pretty face in this month’s cover is 21-year-old Margarita Gabrielle M.
Reyes. Everybody calls her Meg. She’s a senior in Ateneo de Manila University
taking up AB Communications. She heads projects in her organizations, the
Ateneo Association of Communication Majors and Junior Fellowship for Financial
Literacy. Meg is also a swimming varsity member of the team FAST-Ateneo
Swimming Team.
At The Feast Ortigas, she serves in the Liturgical Ministry as a lector. She also
belongs to the Finance Ministry. Her parents, Fides and Ferdie, and sister Mikki
are active servants as well. Meg grew up in the Light of Jesus Family. During her
teen years, she was a member of its youth group called YMPACT. She is grateful to
the community for helping mold her into a well-rounded person with great values.
After graduation, Meg dreams of becoming a news anchor or owning a
restaurant, salon or events management firm.
founder and publisher BO SANCHEZ • editor-in-chief RISSA SINGSON-KAWPENG • managing editor TESS V. ATIENZA • creative director MIKE CORTES • graphics director REY DE
GUZMAN • staff writer MARJORIE ANN DUTERTE • contributing writers LELLA SANTIAGO, REY ORTEGA • photographer DANIEL A. SORIANO • columnists BISHOP TED BACANI
JR., VIC ESPAñOL, DR. ALLAN AND MARIBEL DIONISIO
chairman of the board and CEO BO SANCHEZ • vice-president and general manager WENG CEQUEÑA • assistant vice-president for production RISSA SINGSON-KAWPENG • sales and
marketing manager JOSEPH MARTINEZ
Kerygma. A Greek word meaning Proclamation of the Gospel. It is a Catholic inspirational magazine. It aims to be an evangelistic tool to all nations, providing Scriptural,
practical and orthodox teachings to Catholics, particularly those in the Catholic Renewal, as an alternative to present-day magazines. It is also committed to fostering
the renewal and unity of the whole Christian people. Philippine copyright Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc. 2014. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without
permission. Kerygma is published monthly by Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc., whose editorial and business offices are located at 60 Chicago St., Cubao, 1109 Quezon
City. Tel. Nos.: (632) 725-9999, 411-7874, 725-1190. Fax: 727-5615 Email: editsvp@shepherdsvoice.com.ph. Website: www.shepherdsvoice.com.ph
New
You
Tips for
personal
development
VOLUNTEERING IS GOOD FOR YOU
L
ast year, we saw volunteerism at its best when super typhoon Yolanda struck
several provinces in the Visayas, wiping out entire towns and cities. Filipinos
and non-Filipinos responded in creative ways that warm the heart.
Like in any giving, it’s not only the receiver who benefits from the experience.
More often than not, it’s the giver who reaps lasting rewards. Studies revealed the
following benefits on the part of the volunteers:
1. Improves health and decreases depression. If you’d like to live longer, volunteer.
Studies reveal that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those
who do not. Volunteering has been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain or
heart disease. It also reduces the risk of depression by preventing social isolation.
Volunteering keeps you in touch with others and helps you develop a solid support
system, which in turn protects you against stress and depression.
2. Builds and strengthens relationships. Volunteering as a family is beneficial to
children as they observe everything you do. By giving back, you show them through
your example how volunteering makes a difference and how good it feels to help
others.
Volunteering together is one of the best ways to strengthen existing relationships
and make new friends. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to hone your social
skills since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests.
It strengthens your ties to the community and broadens your support network.
3. Brings you joy. Doing volunteer work that you find meaningful and interesting
can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine. It renews
your creativity, motivation and vision that can carry over into your personal and
professional life.
A study published in the Social Science and Medicine journal explored the
relationship between volunteering and measures of happiness in a large group of
American adults. Results revealed that the more people volunteered, the happier
they were.
Compared with people who never volunteered, the odds of being “very happy”
rose seven percent among those who volunteer monthly and 12 percent for people
who volunteer every two to four weeks. Among weekly volunteers, 16 percent felt
very happy. Giving time to religious organizations had the greatest impact.
Volunteer opportunities that match both your goals and your interests are most
likely to be fun and fulfilling for you. For instance, if you have a desk job and long to
spend time outdoors, you might consider volunteering to help plant a community
garden, lead local hikes, or help at a children’s camp. The best volunteer experiences
benefit both the volunteer and the organization.
Sources: http://www.christiantoday.com, http://www.helpguide.org
6
A Time to
REBuild
I
t’s been four months since an
earthquake and super typhoon
hit the Visayas Region. From
relief work, we are now moving
into the reconstruction phase. It
is now a time to rebuild, to restore
what was destroyed, and to build
stronger, better communities.
From relief to reconstruction,
here is one of the many ways you
can help:
Join the GK Bayani Challenge
From April 12 to 16, 2014, 300 areas,
including those badly affected
in Bohol, Leyte and Samar, will
experience hope being built from
the ground up. Volunteers from all
over the Philippines and the world
will come to build homes for the
victims of various disasters.
Bayani Challenge is an
annual five-day test of courage,
endurance and love for country.
Teams go on an adventure to
plant hope on ground by building
communities
and
fostering
friendships.
Apart from building homes,
there will also be repairing of
schools, health missions, tree
planting, activities with the kids
and many more. To join this event,
visit Gawad Kalinga’s Facebook
page or www.gk1world.com.
Real
Stuff
Good to Know: Storm Surge 101
A
warning for a storm surge during super typhoon
Yolanda was heard but not understood. Seeing the
grave aftermath of the storm painfully acquaints us
with the term. One asks, what exactly is a storm surge?
According to National Geographic, a storm surge is a rise
in sea level that occurs during intense storms or hurricanes.
Strong winds push the water into the shore, which leads
to flooding. This makes storm surges very dangerous for
coastal regions.
If the storm surge happens during high tide, water level
can reach as high as 10 meters (33 feet). Some sources claim
that storm surges in Tacloban reached seven meters. Water
will easily flood a shallow coast than a steep one. When a
typhoon like Yolanda hits land, its accompanying storm
surge will most likely flood the surrounding coastal area.
A valuable lesson learned during the last year’s super
typhoon is to expect storm surges when strong typhoons
are predicted to hit coastal regions and to prepare for it.
Many residents, such as those in hospitals and prisons, are at
risk. Government agencies should arrange to evacuate residents to
higher ground, especially those from communities near the ocean.
Advance warning of a strong storm surge also allows homes
and businesses to prepare for damage. Business owners can relocate
expensive machinery or tools to safe areas, and homeowners can
board up windows to protect against strong floods or move furniture
and other valuables to the upper floors, if any.
Residents along the coasts can reduce the damage of a storm
surge by protecting local wetlands such as swamps, estuaries and
mud flats. As the typhoon makes landfall, the marshy land and plants
absorb the water and the energy of the storm surge. Silt and swamp
vegetation prevents the most intense part of the storm surge from
hitting homes and businesses.
Communities can protect themselves against storm surges by
maintaining healthy coastal wetlands.
SURVIVAL KIT
IN CASE OF DISASTERS
3. Emergency tools, such whistle for calling attention; plasticlaminated ID for family members with special concerns; flashlight
with extra batteries; multi-purpose knife; matches or lighter and
candles; transistor radio (with AM frequency) with extra batteries;
plastic sheets or garbage bags; ropes.
4. Personal effects and hygiene kit, such as extra clothing,
undergarments, antibacterial soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand
towels, alcohol, sanitary napkins, hair brush.
5. Important documents and money:
• Keep these in a sealed plastic envelope or resealable plastic
bag. Money should be in the form of cash and loose change
(in case banks are closed or electronic banking is not
available). • Prepaid cards.
• List of important information (security insurance number,
tax identification number, driver’s license, passport number,
bank account details, insurance policy, etc.) • Important legal documents: birth certificates, marriage
contract, insurance certificates, land titles, passport,
academic credentials, vaccination records, medical records.
6. Special needs for infant, children, elderly, sick member of the
family, such as emergency medication, prescription medication,
and children’s food.
7. First aid kit composed of adhesive strips, bandages, medical
tape, wound dressing, antiseptic, tweezer, disposable scissors,
safety pins, resealable plastic bags, gloves, and first aid quick
reference guide.
T
he first 72 hours after a
disaster is critical. You
need to take care of
yourself and your loved ones.
Red Cross recommends to
prepare a lifeline kit in order
to survive at least three days
following a disaster. This kit
should be checked every six
months to change goods
nearing expiration. Prepare a
kit for each family member who
can carry one. Before another
disaster strikes, put together a lifeline kit with these
survival necessities:
1. Water. Prepare clean water in airtight containers for
washing, drinking and cooking. Allot one gallon per
person per day and stock purification tablets, one tablet
per person per day.
2. Food. Store non-perishable food items. You can put
protein/granola bars, dried fruit, crackers, cereals and easyto-open canned goods. Food should be sufficient for three
days’ consumption of every family member. Also store
disposable plates and utensils.
Source: http://education.nationalgeographic.com
For more details, visit http://www.redcross.org.ph/lifeline.
7
Toward
the Great
Jubilee
2021
Fr. Benny Tuazon is one of the priest-writers for Sabbath, an
annual publication of Shepherd’s Voice.
IS THERE HOPE FOR MARRIAGE
IN TODAY’S SOCIETY?
B
enjie meets Sarah. They fall in love. Next thing you know,
they are living together. No marriage to bind them.
Willie and Ruth, 15 years married, encounter problems
in their marriage. Irreconcilable differences, they say. They
separate. As simple as that, without going through civil and
Church annulment of their marriage.
Willie finds another love in the person of Chit. They want to marry
but could not because Willie is still married to Ruth even if they have
long been separated. Willie and Chit end up living together without the
benefit of marriage.
These situations are not hypothetical. If we look around us, we will
find many couples whose marriages are in that sorry state.
But wait, there’s a way to make things right with God and with
society. Most parishes now have programs of helping non-married
couples receive the sacrament of matrimony.
Kerygma interviewed Fr. Benny Tuazon, parish priest of St. Anthony
de Padua in Singalong St., Malate, Manila, to understand why people
settle for live-in arrangements when they could get married, and what
the Catholic Church is doing to help couples get God’s blessing for their
union. More importantly, is there hope for marriage in today’s society
that’s getting more and more liberated?
Kerygma: Based on your experience as a parish priest, why do you think
couples settle for live-in arrangements and not go for a church wedding?
8
Fr. Benny: The most common reason is money.
They always say they still need to save enough
to afford a church wedding. Some say they do
not think it is necessary and civil wedding is
equally effective. Others cannot find the time
because they are too busy with work. Still others
say they are still trying things out and may not
pursue the union once they realize they are not
compatible.
Kerygma: What does your parish do to
encourage live-in couples to avail of the
sacrament of matrimony?
Fr. Benny: We send the members of the Legion
of Mary to look for couples who are not yet
married in church and encourage them to
receive the sacrament. We catechize them on
the importance of being united in God’s way for
their own salvation. We assist them in preparing
the requirements and in obtaining the things
needed for their wedding. We even adjust to
the day and time when they want to be married.
When we have sponsors, we prepare a simple
dinner and tokens as gifts.
Kerygma: How do you prepare them for marriage? What church
ministry handles this?
Fr. Benny: In our parish, the Legion of Mary helps them in
gathering and preparing the required documents and gives them
preliminary catechism. The members of the Couples for Christ
and Neo-Catechumenate provide the basic catechism and marital
counseling. Other parishes do it through their family life ministry.
I administer the canonical investigation, which is a process to
determine whether the couple is free to marry.
Kerygma: In preparing long-time live-in couples for a church
wedding, what are the common obstacles?
Fr. Benny: Most of the time, couples are discouraged when they
could not obtain easily the legal documents that are needed
before marriage can be officiated. For example, their baptismal
certificates, confirmation certificates, and birth certificates,
especially for those who came from remote provinces. Because
baptism and confirmation cannot be administered again,
extensive search is done. If the parents and relatives of the
candidates for marriage are certain that they had received these
two sacraments, they are made to execute affidavits.
At times, some have a change of mind and are discouraged
to pursue their church wedding, not only because of the hard-toobtain documents but also due to their work schedule. But one
thing I realize after many years of doing this is that children play
an important role in convincing parents to get married in church.
Kerygma: What are the requirements (practical and spiritual)
that live-in couples need to fulfill to avail of the sacrament of
matrimony?
Fr. Benny: First, the certificates as mentioned above. Second,
marriage seminar and counseling, and canonical investigation.
Of course, confession before the wedding. (Editor’s note: Church
wedding for couples coming from previous marriages or complicated
situations will be discussed in future articles.)
Kerygma: How else do you think church organizations and/or
parishes could help live-in couples to go for a church wedding?
Fr. Benny: Basically, education. Catholics should know that the
sacrament of matrimony is necessary for salvation. Civil marriage
only fulfills the need of civil law. The Catholic faith requires the
sacrament of matrimony for couples for them to be witnesses of
God’s love to us.
There is also a great need to let live-in couples know that
church marriage is free. Couples who cannot afford donations
that are exacted by their parish can ask for exemption or give
whatever they can donate. If we examine it, the heavy expenses
are mostly imposed by the couple on themselves, such as flowers,
choir, gowns and suits, rings, reception, video coverage, car, etc.
The church only requires them to submit the documents and
come decently attired for their wedding. The rest are not really
necessary.
you met each other, don’t you feel and see God’s part in it?
When you realized you truly love each other and decided to be
together, you say it was God’s will for the two of you. In other
words, as far as God is concerned, you are meant for each
other. But He leaves you free to decide. When you decide to
get married, sacramentally, you express your agreement with
God.
If you truly love the other person, you should be willing
to give yourself fully. But how can you fully give yourself when
you have not made a commitment? Expressing mutual love,
we know, may change overnight. Words and intentions are
contingent. Being married civilly is also not stable. Laws have
exceptions. Now, “psychological incapacity” is so broad that
anything can be a reason to get separated. But the sacrament
of marriage is of God. What God has joined together, no man
can separate. Sacramental marriage makes one fully commit
oneself.
If God is part of the marriage, it means forever. Thus, in the
sacrament of marriage, a third party is present. He is not the
priest but God who also makes His own commitment.
Kerygma: Is there hope for marriage in today’s society?
Fr. Benny: Some say that broken marriages abound. I would
say that they have increased but are definitely less than those
who stay married. Maybe those who separate are more noisy
and those who stay married are more silent. But if we will
really count them, those who stay married are a lot greater in
number.
The fact that many still celebrate silver and golden
wedding anniversaries is a strong testimony that God is right
about marriage. I would even go as far as saying that even if
there is only a couple left married, God is still right that two
people can be married forever.
Think about it. Do you really think that a union as sacred,
as serious, and as grand as marriage should only be sealed by
words or laws, and not by God’s presence in the sacrament?
Editor’s Note: This interview and the succeeding articles in this section
form part of the “Wounded Families, Wounded Healers” series for the
Year of the Laity and on to the Great Jubilee 2021.
Kerygma: How would you encourage live-in couples to seek God’s
blessing for their union? What are they risking if they pursue their
present live-in arrangement?
Fr. Benny: Marriages do not happen by accident. In the Catholic
faith, we believe that God has a hand in each of them.
I’d like to address the couples: If you go back to the time
9
Dear
K
Right now I feel so blessed. I have my family, friends, work, and
most importantly I have God.
But lately, I have this fear whenever my mom or members
of my family get sick. I worry that I will lose them. Sometimes I
get scared about what I hear in the news, about earthquakes
and the bad things happening in the world. I know that my
faith is small whenever I feel this way but I want to admit this
feeling because I want to trust God more.
How do I get rid of these fears? Please pray for me.
I Am Afraid of What’s
Happening Around Us
Now
Petrified
Dear “Petrified” friend,
It is natural to worry about losing your loved ones someday.
It only shows how much you love them. But it would be good to
cultivate a more realistic attitude.
First of all, nothing and nobody in this world lasts forever.
We will one day have to face the fact that our loved ones have to
return to their Creator. It is a painful moment and you may feel
you lose them. But they only go into a better future — a future
without pain, without illness, without worry and suffering. And
the Church teaches us that they still remain close to us. When
my beloved mother died, for a moment I was devastated. But
now, decades later, I feel her presence and her prayers for me.
No, we never lose our loved ones.
This fact may then lead to a deeper trust in God who knows
better what is good for us. Pray for yourself — pray for the grace
to overcome this fear and for a deeper trust in our loving God.
Pray to Mary who also had to let go of her beloved Son — only
to be reunited with Him forever in heaven. Pray with the father
of the epileptic boy, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark
9:24). Also, instead of feeding yourself with bad news every day,
try to read uplifting materials like the Bible and inspirational
magazines. Surround yourself with positive people. And finally,
pray for your loved ones: “Lord, protect my loved ones whom
You love and care for more than I do. Whatever will happen to
them, I know they are in Your hands.”
Fr. Rudy
When Fr. Rudy Horst came to the Philippines in
1984, he was first assigned to the Immaculate
Conception Parish in Cubao. It was where he came
in contact with the still young Light of Jesus Family.
In 1990, he moved to Christ the King Mission
Seminary, where he now serves as head spiritual
director of the seminarians and teaches Religious
Education. He also teaches Holy Scriptures at the
Maryhill School of Theology and the Divine Word
School of Theology in Tagaytay.
10 KERYGMA • MARCH 2014
Email your questions to editsvp@shepherdsvoice.com.ph. Or if you need to talk to someone, call
(632) 726-4709 or 726-6728 to contact a Light of Jesus Pastoral Care Center counselor. Pastoral
counseling by telephone is 24 hours from Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
Face-to-face pastoral counseling is by appointment. For correspondence pastoral counseling, email
lojcounseling@yahoo.com or go to www.kerygmafamily.com.
Or Call
(632) 725-9999
Pregnant? Confused? Abortion is not the answer. Contact Grace to Be Born at 0917-8164700 or email reylindo.ortega@gmail.com. You may also contact Pro-life Philippines at (632) 7337027.
Tahanan ng Pagmamahal Orphans:
From Donee to Donor
K Fam
Insider
By Reylindo Ortega
uite a big change. The orphans of Tahanan
ng Pagmamahal are used to receiving and
enjoying acts of kindness from various donors
the whole year round.
But less than a month after super typhoon
Yolanda devastated the Visayas, leaving in its
wake more than 6,000 dead and billions in properties
lost or damaged, the Tahanan orphans did something
that reversed the equation.
Like the poor shepherd boy who played his drums
for Baby Jesus in the timeless Christmas carol, The Little
Drummer Boy, the Tahanan kids made beautiful music
with their violins for Baby Jesus. They performed in a
benefit concert called Music for Christ 2013 Festival held
at the Sanctuario de San Jose in Greenhills, San Juan on
December 12, 2013.
One hundred percent of the concert proceeds were
given to Yolanda victims. And the Tahanan kids were only
too happy to have helped raise funds.
featuring the Manila Symphony
Orchestra, his regular paying
music students in Greenhills,
and the Tahanan kids. Proceeds
of the planned concert were
earmarked for Tahanan ng
Pagmamahal Children’s Home.
Tahanan, at that time, was
in the midst of constructing
a permanent house for the
children.
Then a month before the
music festival, super typhoon
Yolanda struck. Moved by the
resulting horrendous death
and destruction, Ariel promptly
changed the concert beneficiary
and made the typhoon survivors
as the concert beneficiary.
It All Started with an Email
Sometime in the middle of 2013, Bo Sanchez forwarded
to me an email he received from a certain Ariel Arambulo.
The email sender offered to Bo his (Ariel’s) services, gratis,
as a violin mentor for Light of Jesus children. With the
offer of free music lessons came another offer: a dozen
violins for children.
So I replied to Ariel and accepted his offer. That
started a weekly fun-filled mentoring on how to play
the violin. Instead of the children going to Ariel’s music
studio, it was Ariel himself who went to Tahanan every
week.
Then in October, Ariel organized a music festival
“Happy Birthday, Jesus!”
And so it came to pass that in
the evening of December 12, the
Tahanan kids did their part in
coming to the aid of the typhoon
victims.
And that’s how they greeted
the December 25 birthday celebrant a happy birthday.
Tahanan ng Pagmamahal has a new home at 45 Dr. Pilapil St.
(near corner Dr. Sixto Antonio Ave.), Barangay Sagad, Pasig City.
For inquiries, contact Rey Ortega at 0922-859-7035.
MARCH 2014 • KERYGMA 11
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Inspiring You
to Live
a Fantastic Life
Feast
Text by Lella M. Santiago
Task Force photos by Josie Galvan
Relief Distribution photos by
Tonette Veloso
Snapshots
S
uper typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan),
the strongest cyclone to hit the
country, brought devastation
of epic proportions. But aside
from destruction to lives and
property, it also brought a
storm surge of humanitarian response
from people all over the world including
The Feast family of the Light of Jesus.
Calls for Help
As soon as the storm winds abated,
Feast Alabang (FA) mobilized to help the
victims. Spearheaded by Senior Feast
Builder, Arun Gogna, and the FA council,
Task Force Blessings was formed. Calls
for volunteers and donations were text
blasted. A page was set up on Facebook
where people can post pledges and
volunteer for the repacking of relief
sacks. Bo Sanchez, Light of Jesus Family
(LOJF) head, echoed the call and a
multitude responded. The winds of
succor that blew in rivalled the strong
gusts brought by the super typhoon.
The Feast Alabang Center and
its extension, the Upper Room, were
deluged with goods. People came in
droves, bringing bottled water, readyto-eat food, clothes, hygiene items,
medicines, and cash donations.
The Silent Heroes
More than 200 volunteers packed
the donations during the eight-day
relief drive. They were LOJF members,
attendees of various Feasts, Catholic
Filipino Academy kids, and walk-in
volunteers who said they just wanted
to help. The volunteers were unmindful
of the long hours it took to pack the
goods. Even though their hands were
blistered from tying the sacks and
their muscles ached from all the lifting,
they were glad to be doing something
for the typhoon survivors. Buddy del
Task Force
Blessings
Mundo, FA Special Needs Ministry
and Task Force Blessings head, recalls
the whole operation: “It was one
concerted effort orchestrated by God
for us to be able to help out. Nobody
complained and everyone was happy
while serving. It was a beautiful sight
to witness.”
At the end of the drive, an
astounding 50.5 metric tons of
relief goods were sent to Leyte and
Samar, particularly to Jinamok Island,
Basey, Tacloban, Giporlos, Hernani
and Marabut. Each sack contained
provisions enough for a family of four
to survive for three days. The goods
were delivered to the An Waray group
via cargo aircraft provided by the Air
Forces of the Philippines and Japan.
Task Force Blessings also sent two 20foot containers full of relief packs that
could not be accommodated on the
planes. As of this writing, distribution
continues, especially to mountain
barangays that are not receiving
regular aid.
Kapit Kapatid T-Shirts
To raise more funds, a related project,
Kapit Kapatid, was launched by FA’s
iGive.Club. T-shirts with the Kapit
Kapatid logo were sold for the benefit
of disaster survivors. Proceeds from
the sale of the T-shirts and the cash
donations were used to purchase
additional goods for the relief packs.
It is difficult to fathom why such
destruction happened to our country.
But the outpouring of support in
the aftermath of the storm eased
this feeling of senselessness. The
catastrophe became an impetus for
people to care and be a blessing to
those in need.
It
Happened
A Deluge of Mirac
in the Midst of S
SAVED TO SERVE
How Our House — and Our Lives — Became an Instant Relief Center
By Vannie Siloterio-Ocampo
M
y husband and I had just attended the Lingkod National
Leaders Training Conference (NLTC) in Cebu in October.
The theme of the retreat was “Saved to Serve.” After the
conference, we were fired up to
love and serve like Jesus.
In less than two weeks, super
typhoon Yolanda struck parts of the Visayas.
It affected our city, Ormoc, in catastrophic
proportions. At least 80 percent of business
establishments and homes suffered major
destruction. Thousands lost their homes and
even their lives. We were blessed to be part of
the 20 percent that was not as badly affected.
Anything within our compound — fence, Fresh from the “Saved to
Serve” Leaders Conference,
garage, trees — were completely destroyed. Junjun and Vannie willingly
Our vehicles, which were parked outside, gave their all to help their
did not sustain any damage. We lost two fellow Ormocanons.
roof panels which caused leaking and our ceiling became an instant
swimming pool. We thought our ceiling was going to collapse, but it
did not.
Praying for Our Dear Life
While Yolanda was pounding for more than four hours, all we did was
pray. I told myself, if this is going to be my last day, I would rather be
found praying and praising God. I prayed to Jesus repeatedly with these
Photo shows a house in Palo, one of
the worst hit towns in Leyte.
words: “Jesus, have mercy on us! Jesus, help us!
Jesus, free us! Jesus, save us!”
We attribute our second lease on life to the
power of prayers. We are certain that Jesus heard
our prayers and that Mother Mary covered us with
the mantle of her protection. Our two offices,
Little Saints Tutorial Plus and Prulife UK, sustained
minimal damages. A miracle indeed!
My husband, Junjun, who’s also in the
rice trading business, was amazed at how God
protected our bodega of rice. Except for a few sacks
that got wet, the rest were in excellent condition
and served lots of families after the typhoon. In
fact, it became the source of the first relief goods
that were distributed to many families.
There was no electricity for days and weeks
after the typhoon. We had no access to any form
of media. We assumed that the government
had already declared a state of calamity. We
experienced every bit of what it meant to be
in that state. A looter was immediately in our
compound at 2 a.m. of the following day. We had
green papaya as our viand in the next three days.
There was no drinking water and very limited
Continued on page 16
racles and God’s Love
Super Typhoon Yolanda
THE WRATH OF YOLANDA
And How I Came to Accept Why God Allowed It to Happen
By Jonathan Paghubasan
I
Joining hands in serving their fellow Taclobanons are (from left) Fr. Amadeo Alvero, Msgr. Alex Opiniano, Damien Cappellini,
Jonathan, Ike Sampayan, Fr. Oliver Mazo, and Fr. Mark Marwin Adona.
woke up at around 3 a.m. on November 8 after a 32-hour
straight hospital duty as a medical intern of the University
of the Philippines-Manila School of Health Sciences at the
Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban City.
I prayed, prepared my breakfast and my uniform —
because I still intended to go on duty that day — and listened
to the radio. At around 5:00 a.m., power went out. Despite that, the
radio was still able to broadcast. The weather that time was not that
bad — it was just raining outside, no strong winds, and no floods
yet. The only thing I knew about Yolanda then was that it was going
to be the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines and that it might
directly hit my city, Tacloban.
An hour later, I noticed that the wind was getting stronger
and almost howling. I also heard on the radio that the waves were
getting bigger and that water had crept into the radio station, which
was located near the shore. Then the radio broadcast went off air.
I looked out the window of my boarding house and saw people
walking and shouting at each other, “Hold hands together and walk
on the side because the sea water will go up!”
Again, I paid no attention to it because I firmly believed that big
waves would be less likely since my place is in a bay area, and that if
ever the water rises, it would be San Jose area that would be hit first. I
thought it would be rare in my place. I had not heard anything about
the possibility of a storm surge because I had not been watching TV
the days prior to November 8 because of my hospital duty.
I eventually decided not to go on duty that day
since there were no more vehicles traveling. I went
back to bed, but at around 7 a.m., I noticed water
entering my room. I was still calm because I thought
it was just the normal flood water from the outside.
But in just a few minutes, I saw water coming into the
sides of my door. I got up and peeked outside and I was
shocked to see that the water was already thigh-high
and that the wind was ripping the houses and roofs of
my neighbors.
I grabbed some clothes and packed them along
with my cellphones, money and other important
belongings in a plastic bag. I wore a jacket as well as
double clothing, and even put on my shoes. I again
peeked at my window and saw that the water now was
waist-deep and rising very fast.
I paused and asked myself, “Will I go out? Where
will I go? Will there be other people outside? Will I die
now?” Those were my thoughts. When I tried to open
the door, it did not budge. So I pushed the door and all
of a sudden I was thrown back because of the rushing
water coming into my room. I fought the water flow
and went out of the room, where it was already chestdeep. I locked my room again and went towards the
gate.
continued on page 17
SAVED TO SERVE continued from page 14
access to medical help. We had to send our maid’s brother to Cebu
for surgery as his arm was fractured when it was hit by a falling tree.
Overflowing Generosity
On November 10, our houseboy discovered that there was a cell
phone signal while he was on top of a tree. My husband and I
immediately sent text messages to our loved ones in the U.S., Manila
and Davao to let them know that we were safe. We also texted leaders
of our spiritual family, Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon and Ligaya ng
Panginoon, and asked them to help us mobilize relief operations for
our fellow Ormocanons. Lingkod Cebu and Mactan members, who
were fresh from serving in the National Leaders’ Training Conference,
were quick to respond. The first relief goods given to Ormoc came
from Lingkod. The goods arrived on Sunday afternoon and were
distributed immediately to the families of the Lingkod members.
Tons of relief goods from Ligaya and Lingkod arrived in the next
few days and these were allocated to over 600 families in Ormoc and
Tacloban. My husband went on four mission trips to Tacloban to share
the relief goods with them. The recipients even tagged them as “class
A” relief goods as there were vienna sausage, pork and beans, coffee,
chocolate drink, easy-to-open canned tuna and sardines, luncheon
meat, and branded new and used clothes.
Our home became a quasi-relief center and venue for our Saturday
afternoon prayer meetings. The Lord sent us so many “angels.” Lucky
Hormigos, former branch leader of Lingkod-Alabang, even came to
Ormoc with his friend, Benj, to install solar panels in our home so we
would have lights and electric fans working at night. Many were able
to charge their lamps and mobile phones via solar energy.
Our brothers from the Servant of the Word, John Keating, Mon
Samson and Abyong Calo, went to Ormoc to serve us. They picked
up, carried and helped pack the goods. John exhorted us during our
prayer meeting to keep on trusting and believing in God even in the
most difficult times.
The priest who officiated our wedding, Fr. Steve Tynan, visited us
in Ormoc to bring water purifiers, cash donations and even bought a
generator for us.
We have experienced God’s steadfast love in varied ways. We are
most thankful to God for moving so many generous hearts. Kindness,
compassion and love really overflowed!
Exceedingly Blessed
With the eyes and heart of faith, I can sincerely declare that this
experience has enriched me in every way. The spiritual blessings I
received outweigh all the difficulties brought about by this typhoon.
I was privileged to witness how hearts are being changed, how
people are becoming more and more selfless, and how many people
have the capacity for real service and authentic love.
The absence of electricity strengthened relationships — families
ate and prayed together instead of watching TV or indulging in
Facebook. Some even experienced healing of relationships. People
helped and loved each other in amazing ways. Indeed, we were
blessed exceedingly by a God who knows what is best for us.
The Lord sustained, provided for, protected and loved us beyond
measure. He was with us all the way. His saving hand enabled us to
serve others. And for that, I only have thanksgiving in my heart.
It is he who saved us and chose us for his holy work not because we
deserved it but because that was His plan. (2 Timothy 1:9)
THE WRATH OF YOLANDA continued from page 15
Tiny Miracles That Saved Me
Outside, I saw a man with a plastic pail over his head. At least I wasn’t
alone. Over at Magallanes Road, I also noticed the huge wave about to
come, along with wooden debris. I saw another man taking cover at a
wall and asked him where the evacuation area was. He didn’t know. I
told him that we should go because of the huge wave that was about
to come. It was a good thing that there were wooden debris clogged at
the street corner, which served as our temporary dike against the wave.
It was a miracle as it gave me enough time to swim and take cover.
Then I saw a second wave, which I was pretty sure would break the
wooden debris. So, with all my might, I swam through the neck-deep
water. The wind was already very strong, and I could barely raise my
head as the current was also strong.
Just a few yards from my boarding house, I saw a small coconut
tree. I grabbed one of its palms and pulled myself to take cover over a
concrete wall. The man with the plastic pail was also washed away, but
I helped him grab a branch and pulled him to where I was. We tried to
push the debris as it was too dangerous for us — either we would be
swamped by it or get tetanus from the rusty nails and broken glasses.
Suddenly I heard voices behind me. I turned and saw people
climbing to the second floor of a unit just three lots away from my
boarding house.
I was overwhelmed. Whenever I felt I was almost at the end of
my rope, when I needed help the most, something would come up or
happen to provide an escape for me.
I, together with the man with the plastic pail, followed the line of
people climbing to the second floor of the house. There were at least
25 of us there, crowding in such a small space. All the windows were
broken and we felt the strength of the wind. We placed all the women
and children in the small room while we, the men, stayed outside to fend
off the flying debris. We also watched if water would rise and thought
of alternative routes. We all prayed. I held on to my rosary tightly and
prayed silently.
I experienced the longest wait I ever had in my life. I counted
the minutes. I estimated that the typhoon would last for three to five
hours. While waiting, we saw people trying to break their roofs just so
they could get out of their houses because their doors were blocked
by debris and flood waters. Men, women and children emerged — in
shock, wet and terrified. We helped those within our reach, but the
others could not hear us because the wind was too strong and our view
was obscured by the rain. We held on until the water subsided to knee
level and the wind died down at around 10 a.m. What would happen
to us after the typhoon? This was the silent question in my heart, and I
guess for all of us in that room.
What Next?
As the water subsided, I decided to go down and walk
along the streets. I worried about stepping on nails
on the wooden debris that piled up to five feet high.
I arrived at the People’s Center and Library along Real
St., expecting to find some evacuees, but did not find
anyone there. The gravity of the situation started to
sink in my mind.
I felt the fear of losing my loved ones, of having
nowhere to go. I almost cried. I was so afraid of what
would happen next. I stayed at the People’s Center
for almost half an hour, then decided to go to the
evacuation center near my place, expecting to find
some food and water or anybody who could help
me find a way to get home or contact my parents or
relatives.
When I got there, people were running to and fro,
and almost everyone was in shock. Then I saw that
the evacuation center was also flooded and learned
that many people died from the stampede.
I looked for a place to sit on because my legs were
aching from standing and walking for hours. I was also
thirsty and tried to find some washed-away mineral
water from the debris but didn’t find any. Then a man
pointed out to me a person lying underneath a car
and told me that he was dead. I looked at the person
and looked back to where I came from and checked
if there were any dead bodies. I saw dead people
everywhere, littered under the rubble and mud.
I went back to the People’s Center and, as I walked,
I looked at the dead bodies. I did not feel affected,
maybe because I am used to seeing dead people in
the hospital and also because my mind was focused
on thinking of where to go and what to do next. Good
thing, the People’s Center opened its library for the
people to stay. There, I sat on a chair and rested for a
while.
Using My Gifts to Help
While I was there, scenes of people struggling to
swim and survive flashed back in my mind. I decided
to walk towards Sto. Niño Church. I chose Sto. Niño
as it is nearer to the People’s Center. I thought that I
might be able to get some help there because I knew
that my friends were there, ready for the calamity. But
as I walked towards the church, I saw from afar that
the roof was almost completely torn out. I doubted
whether there were people there but I proceeded. At
Jonathan, with blue cap, assists in addressing the
medical needs of the Yolanda victims.
the convent, I was relieved to find that all of my friends, the priests,
and the evacuees there were all safe. I ate whatever was served and
drank lots of water.
By 1 p.m., my friends and I decided to go home and check on our
families and just come back to help if the situation would allow. We
walked amidst dead bodies on the streets. Then, when I was almost
near my home, I met a neighbor who told me that my parents and
our house were OK, but advised me not to go home yet because
water in the area near our house was still waist-deep and that iron
and glass debris, as well as roofing materials, were everywhere. So
I went back to Sto. Niño Church and stayed there for a while and
volunteered in their rescue and relief operations.
I knew that many people needed help in cleaning and suturing
their wounds and were also seeking consultations for their health
and safety. So I went back. My friends and I dressed peoples’ wounds
and assisted them in their medical needs.
We also cleaned the church and helped the priest by serving in
the Mass as lectors since most of the staff were away. The first Mass
we celebrated was at 4 p.m. of November 8.
I tried to help in whatever way I could — as a medical intern and
simply as someone who commiserates with my fellow human beings
in their suffering.
We conducted relief operations in the 15 parishes of Tacloban
City when the relief goods started to arrive. Twice a week, I went
home to bring some relief goods to my family, neighbors and friends.
I heard news of a cousin, an aunt, and very close friends who
were among the casualties of Yolanda. Yet I never had time to mourn.
We were always busy taking care of the people around us and
sending relief. We could smell the stench of death as we traveled to
different areas to bring relief goods.
Asking Why — And Then Understanding
It was only after almost a month that I contemplated and asked
why those things happened. I would go to the belfry and look at
my surroundings ravaged by Yolanda. I asked God
why He allowed such a catastrophe to happen to
our land and why I’m still alive when a lot of people
perished.
Then I asked a priest the same question, and
he just said, “Di ko rin alam kung bakit pinayagan ng
Panginoong Diyos na ibigay ang Kanyang bugtong
na Anak sa atin para lang mamatay (I also don’t
know why God gave us His only Son just to suffer
and die).”
I was struck by his answer, and right then and
there, I felt peace. I had no reason to complain.
I also reflected on my stay in the church,
becoming a janitor, laundryman, lector, collector,
carpenter, technician, gofer, and a whole lot more.
With that, I have become more understanding and
compassionate of the people around me, especially
those who have lost almost everything.
It is a never-ending experience in my life. I feel
now that maybe I was spared because I can still help
— that I should share the life given to me so that
it may give life to others. That though I lost most
of my stuff dear to me, I was able to appreciate
more the best gift God has given me — my life —
which I take for granted most of the time. And this
is why I continue to volunteer in the church, in the
Red Cross and in other relief operations. All these
will forever be etched in my heart and mind — a
significant period in my life’s journey.
God gave me His gifts for free, and so I must
share them freely to those who are in need.
Yolanda is a life-changing event. I hope and
pray that through this experience, I will grow more
to be a better person.
Introduction
Special
Section
By Bo Sanchez
S
WHAT GOD CANNOT DO
uper typhoons. Earthquakes. Flash floods.
Devastation is all around us.
Thousands of lives lost.
Billions worth of properties gone in an instant.
How do you explain God to the people who were affected?
I’m sure you’ve lost something in your life, too.
Perhaps your family members all drowned together when
the storm surge came.
Perhaps you lost a loved one to cancer.
Perhaps you failed a lot of times in your board exam.
But life went on for you — and I’m sure it will for the
people affected by natural calamities.
When you look back, do you see the proverbial silver
lining?
Do you see God’s hand now in your experience?
Friends, let me tell you — there’s
only one thing that God cannot do.
And that is to change.
His love for us is constant.
It is eternal, consistent, unchanging
— no matter what life brings us, no
matter how many super typhoons hit
us.
He will pull us out of the rubble
we’re in.
He will turn our sorrow into joy.
He will bring us from defeat to
victory.
Friend, put your hope in the God
who never changes.
Special
Section
By Bo Sanchez
GOD CANNOT
FAIL
Your Losses and Failures Are
Temporary,
But Victory Is Permanent
F
ailures and losses can be devastating.
Just recall your most painful failures
and losses.
Have you failed in school? Have you
experienced waiting outside the registrar’s
office — your body sweating, your knees
shaking, your stomach churning, praying that your
grade isn’t a 72 percent but 75 percent — so you
don’t get kicked out of school? (Been there, done
that.)
Have you failed in your job? In your business?
Did you lose money in your investments? Have you
plunked in hard-earned money in a business — only
to have the money disappear? (I’ve experienced this
10 times in my life.)
Have you failed in your diets? My friend tried the
Atkins Diet and he failed. He tried the Mediterranean
Diet and he failed. He tried the After-Six Diet and
he failed. He tried the South Beach Diet, the North
Beach, the East Beach, and the West Beach — and
failed all of them too. Finally, he’s doing the See-food
Diet and it’s been working. What he sees, he eats.
Have you failed in your exercise programs? Have
you decided to run each morning — and lasted only
for two weeks? Have you bought a treadmill and now
use it as a clothes hanger?
Have you failed in your love life? Have you
ever experienced a broken heart? Have you loved
someone with all your heart, but that someone didn’t
love you back and just wanted you to be a friend?
(“But I don’t want to be just your friend! Grrrr!”)
Have you failed in your family life? As husband,
wife, father, mother, sibling, child, grandchild?
Have you failed God?
Have you failed yourself?
People ask me how I could have written 36
books. The answer is easy. It’s not because I have
more brilliance. It’s because I have more blunders.
Because every time I fail, I try to learn from my failures
— and share this wisdom in my books.
Here’s God’s big message for you today:
Failure is temporary, but victory is permanent —
because God cannot fail.
Three Lessons I Will Never Forget
A few years ago, I wanted to learn how to play
badminton. I asked my friend, the late Mike Joseph,
to teach me how to play. Mike was phenomenal in
badminton. He had been playing the sport for over
30 years. Before badminton became fashionable,
he was already playing it as a kid. I bet when he was
still in his diapers, he wasn’t holding a rattle but a
badminton racket.
After two training sessions with him, something
unforgettable happened. While we were dressing up
to train, two guys invited us to a doubles game.
I was about to tell them, “Oh sorry guys, I don’t
know how to play yet. Just in kindergarten…” But
Mike blurted out, “Sure!”
My jaw dropped. Was he out of his mind? I told the two
men, “Excuse me for a moment while I confer with my friend...”
I walked over to Mike and whispered, “Are you insane? I
don’t know how to play! These guys look like star players. We’re
going to be massacred.”
He said, “It’s OK, Bo. Here’s what you do. Just stand in front
of the net. If the shuttlecock goes near you, raise your racket
and swat it down. Remember these two things: Give it your
best shot. And I’ll take care of the rest.”
So I did the unbelievable.
With trembling knees, I took my place near the net. I
looked at the two opponents on the other side and froze.
They looked like pros. Because they had expensive badminton
rackets. And matching outfits!
In the entire game, I did what Mike told me to do — stand
near the net and swat whenever the ball came near me. And
Mike would do everything else. Believe me, he was like The
Flash. When I turned to my right, he was there. When I turned
to my left, he was there. When I looked behind me, he was
there!
What happened? That day, Mike and I crushed those guys.
They didn’t know what hit them.
I felt great winning the game. Honestly, I didn’t do much.
Goodness, I think I didn’t even perspire. In the entire 45
minutes of playing, I probably hit the ball twice. OK, that’s an
exaggeration. I did more than that.
Let me share with you three key lessons I learned that
day…
1. Always Play Doubles
Today, you’re fighting different battles in your life. Perhaps
you’re fighting health problems. Or you’re fighting financial
difficulties. Or you’re fighting relationship conflicts. Or you’re
trying to recover and rebuild your life after you’ve been hit by
super typhoon Yolanda. Sometimes, you feel these opponents
are huge and strong and powerful.
Here’s my word for you: Don’t try to fight alone.
Because God designed your life to be lived NOT as a
singles game, but as a doubles game. You need a Partner.
There are people I know who fight their battles alone
— and sooner or later, they lose. People think they lose
because of a lack of proficiency. Or a lack of power. Or a lack
of perseverance. Or a lack of provision. But actually, they lack
a Partner. They lack a Champion Partner. Because if they had a
Champion Partner, that Partner will give them the proficiency,
power, perseverance and provision they need.
Now, let’s go back to my game with Mike. In the first game,
the score was 15-9. We got 15 and they got nine. Do you know
why the opponent had nine points? Because I made nine
mistakes.
Here’s what I learned: If you partner with a Champion, you
can make all sorts of mistakes — and still win.
I Shouldn’t Be Here!
This is the story of my life. I have made so many mistakes in
my life, I’m wondering, what in the world am I doing here,
experiencing great blessing and success?
As I told you, I failed in school.
I think it all started when I was in kindergarten. My teacher
asked the class to write our names. Simple, right? But not if your name is
Eugenio Isabelo Tomas Reyes Sanchez, Jr. At that time, I couldn’t even
memorize my name, much less write it down.
So I probably felt bobo (dumb) because by recess time, all my classmates
were already playing outside — but I was still on my seat writing my name.
Seriously, I probably was mildly dyslexic because I couldn’t spell my
words right. In grade school, my teacher gave us 20 words to spell — and
I only spelled two words right. The two words were “cat” and “dog.” But I
couldn’t spell words with two syllables.
I was also bullied. Note: Not just by my classmates but also by my
teacher. Not only was I small and thin; I was also terrible in sports. I remember
playing baseball. My teacher assigned me to be right outfielder, but I was so
uncoordinated, I couldn’t catch the ball. My teacher told all my classmates,
“Try to hit the ball towards Eugenio because he won’t be able to catch it…”
and then he’d laugh really loud and all my classmates would laugh with him.
For our yearbook, they couldn’t write anything under my photo. There
was nothing to write about. So they wrote something like, “Eugenio existed…
sometimes.”
As I grew up, I failed God. I sinned against Him many times.
And that’s why God’s big message for you now is very close to my heart:
Failure is temporary, but victory is permanent — because God cannot fail.
Despite all those failures and the subsequent losses I experienced
in my life, I’m living a dream life today. I’m blessed beyond my wildest
imagination. Every day, I’m surrounded by love. I have a wonderful family.
I have phenomenal friends. I have the most amazing work in the universe.
There are days when I pinch myself. How can someone who has failed so
much be so blessed?
Here’s how: God’s specializes in transforming your failures and losses
into your fortunes, your defeats into your doorways, your disasters into your
destinies, your messes into your magnificence.
Have you failed in your life? Have you made so many
mistakes that you can’t count them? I have good news for
you. If you make God your Partner, no matter how many
mistakes you‘ve made in your life, you can still win!
2. Always Give Your Best
Mike told me only two things. He said, “Give it your
best shot. I’ll take care of the rest.”
As I said, in our first game, the opponent had
nine points because I made nine mistakes. Think
about it: If I stood there like a flagpole, and
did absolutely nothing, we would have won
the game with the score 15-0. It would have
been a more impressive win for Mike.
But Mike’s goal wasn’t to win. His goal
was to teach me how to win. He wanted me
to learn, to grow, to develop, to be better. So
before playing, he told me, “Give it your best
shot.” Even if my best wasn’t good enough.
Even if my best meant making all sorts of
mistakes.
Friend, that’s exactly what God is telling
you to do now.
God wants you to give life your best shot.
The world is your stage! And every day,
God wants you to go out there, stand on that
stage, and give your best performance.
So if you’re a teacher, teach your students
so well that they’ll be wiser and better and
kinder and nobler than their parents. If you’re
an entrepreneur, sell us products that will
elevate the human spirit. If you’re a janitor,
hold your mop like a king holds his scepter
and make that floor shine so that when
people look at it, they’ll say that life is getting
brighter every day. If you’re a nurse, then love
your patients so well that they’ll think angels
are walking in our midst.
It doesn’t matter what you do. The world
is your stage and your audience is begging
you to give your best performance every time.
Soon, people will travel for miles, line up for
a chance to sit at your feet to watch you give
your best.
3. Always Trust Your Partner
We actually played three badminton games
that day.
In the first game, we won. But in the
second game, we lost. The score was 13-15.
Yes, I made more mistakes.
We took a water break after that. I walked
up to Mike and said, “I’m such a lousy player. I
think we should give up.”
“Nonsense!” he said, “you’re getting
better!”
“Huh?” I looked behind me, wondering if
he was talking to someone else. Nobody was
there. “Gosh, Mike, we lost! All because of me.”
He shook his head, “We just lost one
game. We’re now going to win the next game.”
That’s when I remembered that Mike gave
me only two instructions. First, he said, “Give it
your best shot.” Second, he said, “I’ll take care
of the rest.”
I realized I needed to trust my mentor. If
he said, “We’re going to win this next game,”
then we’re going to win the next game. If he
said, “Bo, you’re getting better,” then I’m really
getting better!
True enough, we won that third game.
The score was 15-7. They made seven points
because I only made seven mistakes. I was
getting better because I was committing
lesser mistakes.
Friend, perhaps you’ve made a lot of
mistakes and you feel disappointed with
yourself today. But God is telling you, “You’re
getting better! You’ll win in the next game.”
When you turn to the right, God will be
there. When you turn to the left, God will be
there, too. When you look behind you, God’s
got you covered. He’ll back you up. He’ll make
you win.
Live by this law: Do your best and let your
Partner do the rest.
Friend, remove worry from your life. Trust
in your Partner! Even when your situation is
impossible. Especially when your situation is impossible!
Do Your Best and Let Your Partner Do the Rest
Let me tell you a true story of my friends, James and Diana, a couple who
have been members of Light of Jesus Family for more than 30 years now.
(I’ve changed their names.)
More than 30 years ago, James and Diana had three friends who
wanted to work abroad. Luckily, Diana had another friend who was in
charge of hiring staff for luxury ships — and asked for her help for their
friends. In no time, the three men got jobs as waiters in restaurants in
the ship. The men happily worked as seamen, sending precious dollars to
their family every month.
That same friend offered James a job as well. “James, we still need
waiters. Why don’t you apply?” she asked.
Diana and James talked about the offer — which was really tempting,
because at the time, they were in their 20s and were minimum wagers.
Diana worked in a printing press and James in a food chain. They already
had three kids, and their eldest, already six years old, would soon start
school.
At that time, they were already part of the Light of Jesus Family. After
praying together with their friends in community, James didn’t feel at
peace about working abroad. He decided he should turn it down, stick it
out here, and believe that God will prosper them.
“In the beginning, it was difficult to stand by our decision,” Diana told
me. “I saw the families of my three friends happy with the money their
husbands were sending them. They had big TV sets and nice ovens. The
ladies also showed me their branded imported bags. Their kids played
with big remote-controlled toy cars — and my sons just watched them,
their mouths salivating. When the men came home for a vacation, they
gave us chocolates and imported canned goods. Through those early
years, we wondered if we made the right decision or not. It felt like we
were failures and they were winners.”
Fast forward 30 plus years later. Here’s what happened to them…
Friend #1 fell in love with a chambermaid in the luxury ship. His wife
threatened to leave him. James advised his friend to quit working at sea.
He listened. He found a job as waiter in a local restaurant — and saved
his marriage.
Friend #2, lonely at sea, found comfort in shabu he bought in ports
where his ship docked. He became a drug addict and was fired. Because
of his addiction, he couldn’t find work in the Philippines, so his family
went bankrupt. To save her kids from poverty, his wife left him and lived
with another man who provided for her. Friend #2 is now living on the
streets, begging for food from his neighbors.
Friend #3 did not have a mistress. Neither did he become a drug
addict. He provided for his family so well that his kids were able to go
to exclusive schools. Happy ending? Not quite. His wife, unable to sleep
during the long nights that her husband was away, took downers —
sleeping pills that eventually affected her brain. She is now mentally ill
and he had to quit working abroad so he could take care of her and their
kids.
Meanwhile, James and Diana gave their best. And God did the rest.
Their home now also has a large TV set. James rose through the ranks
until he became a top supervisor. But most importantly, they have their
family intact.
By the way, I’m not telling you this story to tell you NOT to become an
OFW. It’s still possible, but I urge you that if you’ll be separated from your
spouse, it can’t be for too long. If at all possible, find a way to be together.
Because that’s how God designed families.
But that’s not the main reason why I tell you this story.
Here’s my main point: Early on, Diana and
James thought they failed in life. But God vindicated
them. Thirty years later, they realized that failure is
temporary and victory is permanent — because
God cannot fail.
God Doesn’t Do the Easy Things Only
Nothing is more impossible than death.
In the Bible, Jesus raised three dead people to
life. They were the daughter of Jairus, the son of the
widow of Nain, and Lazarus, the brother of Mary
and Martha.
The daughter of Jairus had just died a few
minutes ago. Her body was still warm. Because
when Jairus asked Jesus to pray for his daughter, she
was still alive. But when they arrived at the house,
someone told Jairus, “Don’t bother the Master. Your
daughter is dead.” But Jesus still entered the room,
and said to her, “Rise!” and the daughter of Jairus
rose up from her deathbed.
The son of the widow of Nain had died possibly
more than 12 hours earlier. When Jesus met the
funeral procession on the road, the guy was already
in a coffin about to be buried. So his body was stiff
and cold. They didn’t embalm people then, so they
buried people on the same day they died. But Jesus
stopped the funeral procession, touched the coffin,
and said, “Rise!” and the man rose up from his coffin
and started talking.
But among the three, no one was more dead
than Lazarus. Lazarus had been buried for four days.
In fact, when Jesus came, Mary said, “Jesus, his body
smells by now. His body has been rotting for four
days.” But Jesus still said, “Lazarus, come out!” and
Lazarus walked out of the grave.
What do these three miracles say to you?
Perhaps your dreams have died — and they’re
dead in varying degrees.
Perhaps your dream just died yesterday and it’s
lifeless now on its deathbed. Perhaps your dream
died some time back, and it’s now lying stiff and
cold in a coffin. Or perhaps your dream died many
years ago and it’s rotting in a grave.
All that doesn’t matter. Because God is in the
business of resurrecting dead dreams.
God isn’t here to do the easy things only. God is
here to do the impossible things.
God is telling you now, “Nothing is too hard for
Me.”
All your failures are temporary. All your
difficulties are temporary. All your disappointments
are temporary. All your heartbreaks are temporary.
All your bankruptcies are temporary. Even the
pain of death is temporary! But your victory is
permanent.
Because God cannot fail.
Email me at bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com.
Special
Section
Testimony
AWAKEN THE HERO WITHIN YOU
and Give Hope to Those Who Need It the Most
By Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL, as told to Marjorie Duterte
Written by Tess V. Atienza
I
‘ve been to Cebu, Bohol and Leyte several times in the past,
and nothing quite prepared me for what I was to see when
I visited these places in the last week of November. I went
there to check on the devastation because I was helping
some friends who were raising money in Australia for the
relief works. I wanted to talk to people who I knew who
were on the ground doing things so that I could course money
through them.
But more than
the devastation, what
stuck in my mind and
heart long after I’ve
returned to Manila are
images of God’s love
and mercy and His
people’s goodness and
resiliency.
First Stop: Bohol
It had been two months
since the earthquake
when I visited Bohol, so there were a lot of tents and alternative
dwellings for those whose houses were damaged. It was a very
sad experience to see centuries-old churches, most of which I’ve
seen a number of times before, looking like they may need to be
bulldozed before they are rebuilt.
I spoke to a few priests there and they seemed quite relieved
to be able to talk to other people. It was a cathartic exercise for
them just to share what they’ve been doing, how they were
affected, what their plans for the church are, and so on.
I was amazed at how people in Sagbayan, the
epicenter of the earthquake, were preparing relief packs
for the people in Leyte. They said, “At least we have food
and supplies here. We can share what we have with the
people in Leyte who don’t have anything.” That was quite
moving for me.
Second Stop: Leyte
The first thing that I saw upon arrival in Ormoc was
its damaged port terminal. There was devastation of
unimaginable magnitude: denuded trees, damaged
buildings, debris all around. I thought, “My God, this is
devastation central!”
But the closer we got to Palo and the northern tip of
Leyte Island, it just got worse until we reached Tacloban.
Again, I’ve been to those places a number of times
before and to see the devastation where there used to be
hundreds of houses was just a very sad experience. I was
on the verge of tears for most of the two days I was there
because of the wreckage I saw, not only to properties but
most especially to people’s lives.
Stories of Hope and Heroism Amidst the Devastation
The sadness in my heart, however, turned to hope and joy
whenever I encountered ordinary people, who were doing
what they could to help out the victims.
I met a friend, a single woman in Cebu, who first
started helping one of their house helpers. She went up to
northern Cebu to assist her maid and her family. She was moved by what
she saw in the area and so she went back home and started organizing
with her friends, her family and her family’s connections. Then they began
doing some relief work out there — bringing food, housing materials to
rebuild homes, buying nets, new boats, and helping people get their life
back together again.
I also heard the story of a husband and wife who were sheltered in their
house when the storm took off their roof. When the wind stopped, they
thought, “Thank God it stopped,” but Yolanda wasn’t finished yet. After 10
to 15 minutes of quiet, the wind started up again and they curled up, fetal
position, at the back of their brand new car, praying the rosary together.
They they felt the car slowly being carried away by the wind out of the
garage, where it was parked, and down the hill. They continued praying
and thinking of what to do — whether to go out of the car or just remain
inside. They prayed that the Lord would help them, and then a mango tree
fell on the car and they were saved. So that’s the story of hope — they were
grateful that the mango tree hit their car. It meant that the wind would
stop blowing it down the hill.
But it is disappointing as well that nobody there, not even the educated
people, knew what a storm surge was, so it was a useless warning. They
should have said tsunami. Technicalities at that time were irrelevant. They
should have used a language that people understood. The people in
Tacloban gathered in an area which was near the sea and so many people
died.
Lessons from Yolanda
The Philippines gets hit by more than 20 typhoons every year. That’s just a
natural reality. One of the lessons that we can learn from the experience is
that the government needs to be more prepared. They can have an excuse
to be shocked for one or two days, but after that they should have been
at work. The looting that happened in Tacloban could have been avoided.
There should have been troops down there by nightfall. The typhoon had
finished by 11 a.m. There’s no reason why they couldn’t have done airdrops
of troops from Cebu. I understand that there are military establishments
in Cebu. If the soldiers got on a boat in Cebu, they’d have reached Leyte
before nightfall.
My opinion is the government should federalize all transport services
in the affected areas. There has to be an announcement of offering 10-year
interest-free loans or something like that to encourage businesses to get
back on their feet because that’s what’s going to give employment to the
people. That’s what’s going to help them get their lives back in order. They
need something to take their mind off the disaster that hit them. For me,
those are two simple things that weren’t done that should be done.
I’d simply encourage people to do what they can to help people down
there — and to continue to do that for as long as they possibly can.
Let’s all awaken the hero within us and bring hope to our brethren in
the south — or to whoever needs it the most.
Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL, is the parish priest of St. Benedict
Parish in the Diocese of Novaliches, Quezon City. He is also
the spiritual director of the Light of Jesus Family. Fr. Steve is
a long-time writer of Shepherd’s Voice Publications’ annual
devotional sets, namely Companion and Sabbath.
Special
Section
Fr. Bong has been serving as parish priest of Christ the King Parish
for almost two years now.
Testimony
By Fr. Jose “Bong” Tupino III
Interviewed by Marjorie Duterte
Written by Tess V. Atienza
PRIEST EXCHANGE:
A time to rest for tired priests
T
he seminary was in a 24-hectare compound with
several buildings, but only two had roofs left after
Yolanda came and went. Their auditorium was in
shambles, completely destroyed. And the priests told
me that at the height of the typhoon and the ensuing
storm surge, they all held on to the railings of the
tower of the seminary of the Sacred Heart in Palo, Leyte. They
prayed for their dear lives. Nothing could have prepared them for
the intensity of the winds and the storm surge that swept away
much of their properties,” Fr. Bong shared.
This was one of the images that stayed in Fr. Bong Tupino’s
mind when he returned to Manila after visiting his friend, Fr. Rex
Ramirez, in the Archdiocese of Palo, Leyte.
Fr. Bong is the parish priest of Christ the King Parish in
Greenmeadows, Quezon City, which is under the Diocese of
Cubao.
He shared further, “The parish priests were very busy
attending to the needs of their parishioners despite the fact that
they themselves were also still trying to cope with what happened.
They were in constant meetings, attending to relief operations,
listening to parishioners as they shared their grief over the loss
of their loved ones and properties. They were all tired but didn’t
want to rest because of the immensity of the work that needed
to be done.”
Upon his return from Leyte, he discussed his observations
with His Excellency, the Most Reverend Honesto Ongtioco, Bishop
of Cubao.
Bishop Ongtioco immediately said, “Why don’t you
invite them to come to Manila for a rest? I am willing to
allow you to go there also if there is a need to take their
place while they are away.”
And that started what can now be called a “priest
exchange” between the Leyte/Samar and Manila clergy.
Kerygma: How does the “priest exchange” work?
Fr. Bong: Initially, Bishop Ongtioco issued a letter to all
of us priests in the diocese, telling us that he is allowing
us if we want to volunteer in the calamity areas.
Since then, a number of priests have come over for
a short vacation. For example, last December during the
Simbang Gabi, the seminary priests of the Archdiocese
of Palo came to Manila to rest. They held a meeting and
scheduled their vacations. So they took turns in coming
here — five days to one week per priest.
We encourage the priests there to come here to
rest. Our diocese even pays for their fare so that they
would have no reason not to take a vacation. That is our
humble way of showing our solidarity with our brotherpriests in the Visayas.
As of early January, nine priests from Palo and
one from Tagbilaran have taken their break here. The
seminary fathers in Palo were able to take a break
because they do not handle parishes. They were
supposed to hold dawn Masses in the chapels, but the
chapels were all destroyed by the typhoon. So they assisted us
in the Simbang Gabi here in our diocese. They said they missed
celebrating Masses.
Other priests who came here for vacation stayed with their
relatives. We just provided for their tickets. We allow them to use
their time freely so that they could relax. If they want to say Mass,
we let them. But we don’t force them because their purpose for
being here is to really rest.
Last January, I went to Samar. I volunteered to assist in the
Parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Mercedes, Eastern Samar, which
is the parish of another friend, Fr. Moises Campo. I was trying to
encourage him to take a break after the busy Christmas season.
Kerygma: Aside from the “priest exchange,” what else does the
Cubao Diocese do to help the Visayan clergy?
Fr. Bong: I went to Palo before the Simbang Gabi to find out
what they needed and how we could help in the rehabilitation.
I noted that it wasn’t time yet to talk about it because what they
still needed was relief. People were still trying to put order to the
situation, like clearing the debris, fixing their roofs, and so on.
In the seminary, they were also cleaning the area. Some of the
seminary fathers had to put up tents inside their rooms because
they had no roofs over their head.
Some of the parishes in Cubao adopted parishes in the
Visayas. They coordinate directly with the parishes there.
Like most parishes, we at Christ the King also did our own
relief operations, which we coursed through Simbahang Lingkod
ng Bayan of the Jesuit Fathers. We asked people to drop their
donations — food, clothes, hygiene kits. We also had a second
collection in the Diocese of Cubao for Yolanda victims.
Another thing we did in our parish was to raise 1,000 school
supplies packs throughout the Christmas season. These were
intended for 1,000 students in Palo.
In Samar, they were asking for help in rehabilitating their
livelihood. So we called for donations for motorized fishing boats
and nets. It’s a P50,000-package. As of early January, there were
about 10 people who donated.
Heavily damaged building of the college department of Sacred Heart
Seminary in Palo, Leyte.
The high school department’s building of the Sacred Heart
Seminary in Palo became roofless after Yolanda.
Kerygma: How long do you intend to continue
extending help to the calamity stricken areas?
Fr. Bong: As long as there are requests for assistance,
we will help them in whatever way we can. But I talk
directly to the people in-charge to know what they
need and to make sure that they will be delivered to the
right people.
We are looking to donating more to help
them rebuild their lives. What’s amazing is how our
parishioners respond to the calls for help. They are
totally in solidarity with the victims.
I like what one priest-friend emailed me about
his reflection on the tragedy that befell our country.
He said, “More than the restoration of anything, we
need to restore our faith. With the magnitude of this
devastation, it is only our faith that can save us.”
When we all extend a hand to those in need, we are
in fact helping them regain their faith in God through
the goodness of His people.
“The parish priests were very busy
attending to the needs of their
parishioners despite the fact that they
themselves were also still trying to
copewithwhathappened.Theywerein
constant meetings, attending to relief
operations, listening to parishioners as
they shared their grief over the loss of
theirlovedonesandproperties.Theywere
alltiredbutdidn’twanttorestbecauseof
theimmensityoftheworkthatneededto
be done.”
Special
Section
Testimony
Jerome, 46 years old, works in Pepsi Cola as sales manager.
By Jerome Brodeth
THE MIGHT OF GOD’S SAVING POWER
R
ight after my wife, Gang-gang, was laid to rest in the
afternoon of November 7, 2013, the rains started. We
decided to stay overnight on higher ground at my sisterin-law’s two-story concrete residence in Buena Vida,
Barangay Simangan, about five kilometers from Ormoc
City. Together with the Clarin family, we mourned the
passing of my wife and derived strength from each other’s company,
especially my daughter who lost her mother. To say the least, I had no
time to prepare for the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda.
Prayers for Protection
Yolanda’s landfall in Ormoc was expected at about 6:00 a.m. the
next day. I woke up early, dressed up in denim pants, raincoat, hard
hat and rain boots. I geared up to face the devastating typhoon.
But before I did, I read the day’s Gospel using a lighted candle and
said my daily prayers. Many believe that Psalms 23 and 91, and the
devotion to St. Michael, are powerful prayers of protection. But as my
wife battled with demyelination of the brain, these prayers seemed
like powerless words. The only time I sensed that prayer was effective
was when I prayed over Gang-gang when she was restless or had a
spascity attack. I noticed that she would calm down. Aside from that,
there was nothing else that I considered an answered prayer to my
petitions for Gang-gang in the two years since her diagnosis.
The typhoon was brewing when Chardi, my brother-in-law,
borrowed my hard hat to close the gate. But strong winds swept it
away! I felt vulnerable minus my hard hat but I stayed in the living
room determined to meet the typhoon head on.
My Near-Death Experience
In the last hour of the storm, the lanai glass doors were detached
from the base so I barricaded it with a wooden table. As I pushed
at the table, I recited Psalm 91 and 23. As I uttered Psalm 91’s “and
I will show him my saving power,” the glass shattered towards me
and surprised me. I ran for cover but a piece hit my right temple.
Blood spurted out profusely and I was soaked in my own blood.
My brothers-in-law administered first aid on me. With the
horrifying typhoon, no ambulance, no hospital, no doctor
to attend to me, and without a passable road, I could have
died of blood loss. I was told that my wound was small and
I was fine, but in reality my blood was all over the floor. We
were clustered inside the guest room because the second
floor had already collapsed. The whole family sang praise
and worship songs. I was at peace and ready to face God
whatever happens.
We rushed to the home of Dr. Jhee Castro, a surgeon
and a brother in the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen
and Professionals. Fortunately, his home was among
the two houses spared from the typhoon while all the
other houses were destroyed. Otherwise, he could not
accommodate me.
While waiting for treatment, I saw both my late parents
in a vision, smiling at me with a message that Gang-gang
was already with them. In my mind I told them I was not
ready to go since I still have my daughter, Gabgab, to take
care of.
Then I heard Dr. Jhee said that he could not do surgery
because his surgical kit was in his clinic downtown. He
tried to go and get it, but the road outside the subdivision
was impassable and his vehicles were damaged. But he
still proceeded using whatever material was on hand. He
used dental floss and an ordinary needle to sew my head
wound after sanitizing it with alcohol. The pain was intense
without anesthesia and all I could do was scream. I went
home drenched in blood like somebody who had come
from a firefight.
My Angel in Heaven
As I rested in the dark of night, I dreamed of Gang-gang
who came into my room and passed by. She was my angel!
The San Diegos’ dinner to celebrate the birthday of their patriarch, Rufino
(in blue shirt). Cali is the little girl beside her mom, Sheilla.
Testimony
Special
Section
By Atty. Sheilla Francia-San Diego
SURVIVING YOLANDA AND ESCAPING TACLOBAN
I
t has been four years since my parents-in-law visited
us in Manila, so my husband, Alvin, and his brother,
Andrew, planned to surprise their dad for his 74th
birthday. They must have really missed their parents
and we were determined to proceed with the trip
despite the warning signs.
We arrived in Tacloban on the night of November 6. We
checked in at ZPad Residences in Dadison Street and were
given a suite at the third floor. The kids initially wanted a resorttype hotel beside the beach. Well, ZPad Residences is actually
a hundred meters from the shore, but we never realized it until
all the houses beside it were flattened after the storm.
After breakfast of November 7, we went to San Miguel,
Leyte, a 45-minute drive from city proper, where my motherin-law, Felisa, grew up and where she and my father-in-law,
Rufino, bought a mango farm for their retirement. It was a
lovely day actually, just a slight drizzle, and we thought maybe
Yolanda had changed its course.
By 2 p.m., we drove back to Tacloban with my parentsin-law and bought some snacks and groceries. Fortunately,
Mom also bought groceries for the farm. I bought more than
enough water for two nights. At 7:30 p.m. that day, Andrew
arrived but without his wife and two little girls — “just to be
safe,” he said. That decision turned out to be for the best.
After our birthday dinner celebration, we all went back
to the hotel. Andrew was given a suite at the ground floor
together with Mom and Dad.
Watching Yolanda’s Ire
I was awake the whole night, constantly on the Internet
monitoring the storm. My husband woke up at around 3:30
a.m., and by 4 a.m. we were already dressed for the day.
On the Wings of a Prayer
Electricity was out by 5 a.m. and the hotel’s generator was
working until 7 a.m. when the storm was at its strongest. I was
still able to post a status on Facebook for my parents back in
Manila around 6:30 a.m., just before the mobile networks
stopped working. I was taking a video from the window, as I had
never seen a storm that strong. Then, at around 7 a.m., I started
to get really scared as roofs and debris were flying outside and
part of the ceiling near our kitchen fell off.
My husband decided it would be better if we go to the
suite downstairs as the ceiling might collapse on us. He packed
all our valuables in his backpack. When we were ready to go
down, suddenly we heard a loud knock on our door. It was Mom,
dripping wet and crying. Andrew and Dad were right behind
her, all wet too.
Mom was inconsolable as she told us they barely escaped
from their room. They were having coffee when they noticed the
water level going up outside their room. Then, just a few minutes
later, their front door collapsed as water rushed inside, reaching
up to Andrew’s chest, or around five-feet high. They had to swim
against the current to get out so they can go up to our room at
the third floor. They had to battle with the force of the wind and
avoid the flying debris before they reached us. Andrew, who was
holding up a big piece of plywood to cover Mom, slipped and
landed on broken glasses. Thus, he was bleeding when they got
to our suite. That was around 7:30 a.m.
When I looked out the window again, the cars parked
downstairs were already floating with only their top showing.
Water has reached the second floor. I was scared beyond words.
I was thinking that if the water rose up to that level in just a few
minutes, it would reach us in no time now.
I prepared the water container, which I planned to tie on to
THE MIGHT OF GOD’S SAVING POWER... continued from page 28
By Atty. Sheilla Francia-San Diego
Through her prayers, our house in Fatima Heights was
spared. Only one glass panel was broken and gave
enough opening for our neighbors, whose houses were
blown away, to go in and seek refuge. The two big trees
just leaned towards our house but did not collapse on it.
These were all acts of God to protect us!
Meditating on my near-death experience, God
showed me His saving power. He alone could save us.
He showed me that my prayers were not in vain because
He heard me.
In the midst of the devastation, I still praised God
for the love He showed me. Today, I read the Bible and
see it as a testament of God’s covenant to His people. I
have experienced the same miracles that Daniel, Moses,
David and Samson did. It is in the most trying moments
Jerome thanks God for protecting their house and vehicle. Even the
of a man’s life that God manifests His divine presence. I
two big trees just leaned towards the house but didn’t collapse on
am blessed to have had that opportunity.
it.
The following day, I was already on my feet
accounting for each and every employee of my company
and comforting those who have lost their homes, telling them that the Lord Jesus Christ is a God of love. Though my wound
still hurts, I encouraged my family to move on with our lives and even led my company in delivering relief goods to the hard
hit areas in Tanauan, Leyte.
Grateful for God’s protection, we can do nothing less than serve His people with love.
SURVIVING YOLANDA... Continued from page 29
my six-year-old daughter Cali’s chest with my scarf, and instructed her
carefully. We all know how to swim, but I wanted to make sure that she
would float. My three boys are all athletes and very fit, and they swim
very well too, so it was my daughter whom I had to talk to about survival.
She just nodded calmly and told me not to worry, saying, “Mom, I’ve been
praying for our safety.”
Around 8:30 a.m., the water started to subside.
Devastation — and Grief — All Around Us
When the winds calmed down, we looked outside and saw the houses
around us all flattened and just gone. Only a few structures remained
standing, but I noticed the roofs were gone too. We went out the balcony
of the hotel where we could see the street and area around us. We saw
people starting to come out of the rubble — wet, bloodied, injured and
crying. After a while, we saw bodies being pulled out of collapsed houses
and piles of dirt.
Alvin and I walked to the main street thinking the damage was
probably just around our area. But I couldn’t believe what I saw. There
were just too many dead people, injured people, and destruction
everywhere.
I stayed awake again that night and just listened to the wind and
strong rains, thinking all the “what ifs” I could come up with. What if it was
indeed a tsunami, and a bigger one would come tonight? What if the storm
would turn around and hit us again? Can our building withstand it? What
if the flights are cancelled and we can’t leave tomorrow? What if there is no
way in and out of Tacloban? What if I sleep and calm my
nerves so I will have the energy the next day? But those
“what ifs” were just too loud to keep my eyes shut and
before I knew it, the sun was up.
Finding a Way Out of Tacloban
That morning, at 6:30 a.m., Mom, Andrew and I decided
to check the airport. The airport was only less than 10
kilometers away, they said, so it will not be hard to walk
there. What was difficult, however, was the scenery
around. There were too many dead people lying on the
pavements.
We did not reach the airport because the road just
before San Jose was totally blocked with debris and
overturned cars. Mom suggested we try the other end.
Fortunately, a tricycle unloading passengers stopped
in front of us. We got in and when we reached the
other end, we were told that there were no trips in and
out of Tacloban. We were all trapped in the city for the
moment. I prayed, “Oh my God, have mercy and please
help!” Then suddenly I saw a small sari-sari store that
was partially hidden so people probably did not notice
it. They still had two cases of one-liter water bottles and
chips and biscuits. I thanked God for leading us there.
We requested the tricycle driver to come back the
with the noodles, but I couldn’t force myself to eat. The stench
outside, both of the living and the dead, was just overwhelming
that I did not have the slightest appetite to eat despite my hunger.
I compelled myself to sleep, but sleep was elusive especially
when heavy rains came again in the middle of the night.
Cali was still a toddler when her grandparents last saw
her.
next day at 7 a.m. so he can take us to the airport. He agreed.
The rain came again and Andrew went out the window
of his room to divert the drainpipe from the roof so he can
collect the rainwater. That was very smart of him because at
least we had water to flush our toilets and we were even able
to take a bath with that water.
At around 3 p.m., I took our two older sons with me to
check the airport again. Trent and Bijan willingly walked
with me, bringing headlamps with them. I did not want
them to see what they saw, but it was unavoidable. When
we got there, the airport was totally destroyed. There was no
way out, I thought! Then I saw a C130 plane. I approached
a man from the Philippine Air Force and asked him if we
can ride the C130 to go back to Manila. He said yes, and the
plane would leave in 15 minutes, so we should get on board
already. I told him that my family was still in the hotel, and
asked if there will still be flights the next day so we can take
it. He said yes and told us to line up early. I was so happy
and just wanted to go back to the hotel to tell everyone the
good news.
As we walked back, darkness began to set in. Good thing
my boys had headlamps with them. So we navigated in the
dark carefully, avoiding to step on dead bodies lying at the
side of the street. People were camping out in the streets,
some with candles, some with no light at all — and with no
food, no water, no shelter, and no dry clothes to keep them
warm. Most of them were injured, with blood and mud in
their faces. I couldn’t help but cry as I ran. How can they go
through all these?
When we got near our street, we saw my husband at
the corner, with my other son Joshua, waving with their
flashlights waiting for us. They were so relieved to see us and
to find out that we could fly out of there the next morning.
Alvin said that while we were away they initiated the
clearing of the debris in front of the hotel so people could
pass through safely.
That night, hoping to be our last in Tacloban, the hotel
management gave us eggs and helped us cook our noodles
so we can have a good dinner. The kids ate and were happy
“Do Not Worry, Mommy”
Morning came and we were up early. Alvin packed our bags. My
parents-in-law decided to stay in Tacloban. The plan was, after
the tricycle driver brings us to the airport, he would bring them
in a single motorbike to San Miguel, Leyte.
It was 7:15 a.m. and the tricycle we hired the day before was
still nowhere in sight. I asked Cali to pray so that we can find a
ride to the airport. It would be traumatic for her if she would see
all those dead bodies on the street should we end up walking all
the way to the airport.
At 7:30 a.m., we decided to just walk to the main road and
take our chances in finding a tricycle. We had one big luggage
and individual backpacks.
Less than five minutes of waiting at the corner of Dadison St.,
Alvin saw a van with only a driver approaching, so he flagged it to
beg for the driver to take us to the airport. The van stopped and
the driver, who owned the vehicle, was an American missionary
named Gordon Kalick. When he saw us, Alvin didn’t have to say
much. Gordon simply said, “Get in! I’ll take you to the airport.”
I was shocked. What were our chances of finding an empty
van that would fit us all with our luggage and with the driver
more than willing to take us to the airport at times like these?
Prayers can indeed move mountains and send angels to help.
On the way to the airport, the van’s windows were closed
and misty and blurred so that the view outside was not clear.
That shielded my little Cali from seeing a horrible sight.
There were many people lining up to board the C130 plane
to Cebu and Manila. But it only took us less than an hour to have
ourselves listed on the flight manifest and finally board the
plane. The Philippine Air Force did a wonderful job in helping the
people.
The plane stopped over in Cebu, where some of the
passengers got off, and then refueled before heading to Manila
and land at Villamor Airbase. Everyone clapped when we landed,
sighs of relief were apparent.
Lessons from Yolanda
We might have escaped Tacloban and the horror of that tragedy,
but for sure Tacloban will remain a part of our family. It would be
a constant reminder for us to value life, which can be lost in an
instant; to respect nature and heed warning seriously so as not
to compromise lives and property; to remain calm and alert in
times of crisis; and to always have faith and never give up.
More importantly, it is a reminder for us that God does
answer prayers and He is constantly watching over us. Just like
what my daughter said to me during the height of the storm,
when death was staring at me right in the eye: “Do not worry,
Mommy, I already prayed and we will be safe.”
God in Every
Stage of
Seasons
Your Life
By Allan and Maribel Dionisio
Summer:
Y
Best Time For Singles To Move Around
ou say you’re still single? Well, this we tell you: being
single is one of the best stages in life!
If you are working, then you have money. And since
you are single, you are not responsible yet for caring for
a family.
There’s time to mingle with people (to find that one
true love), time to develop one’s niche in career, and time to become
a better person, both emotionally and physically. It is also time to set
your goals in life.
And if you are looking for Mr./Ms. Right, work towards being
Mr. Right or Ms. Right yourself, and you will soon find that special
someone.
There are many things that singles can do, whether after school
or after work. Try out the following:
1. Learn a new sport or get into some physical activity. Besides
the usual basketball, volleyball, soccer and swimming, try out
some other fun activities like scuba diving, mountain climbing,
camping, zumba, yoga, and surfing, an activity gaining popularity
these days. There are cheap places for singles interested in
surfing. (Our son, Raf, and a friend of his, started a hostel chain in
San Juan, La Union and San Felipe, Zambales called The Circle.
Check out their website at: http://www.thecirclehostel.com.)
While it is a great place to catch some waves, it is also a great
venue to catch new friends.
2. Join a singles group for personal development (and to meet
other singles as well). You can join the Light of Jesus singles
group and the Singles for Christ of the Couples for Christ. There
are also Bible study groups out there where you can learn more
about your faith and meet other people.
3. Participate in fun runs to get fit (and make new friends). Or
enrol at the nearest gym to get physically fit and to meet new
people.
4. Attend retreats for spiritual recharging. There are many
retreat houses and congregations that offer retreats. Ask also
your local parish for any news on recollections or retreats.
5. Work on your personal healing to keep an emotionally
healthy you (a requirement whether you stay single or you get
married). Unload all, if not most, of your emotional baggage to
stay happy.
6. Get involved in parish or community activities
like the parish choir, medical missions, catechism
classes, outreach programs and the like. Maybe
you can even venture into becoming a lector for
Mass.
7. Try joining a “customized get-together,”
organized by a friend of mine, Riva Galveztan. It’s
not exactly speed dating, because you don’t really
get into it to find the love of your life (though
there’s a possibility that it could happen). You get
into it to meet a lot of like-minded people who you
could be friends with. It’s customized, so you’re in
a group of people who, more or less, you could be
comfortable with. If you’re interested, contact Riva
for the next get-together at datingcustomized@
gmail.com.
8. Try asking your friends to set you up on a date!
Ask your closest friends to find someone who
they think matches you and go out! If nothing
romantic comes out of it, it is still a good
opportunity to gain a new friend.
9. Read up on relationships and strengthen
your self-worth and confidence. I recommend
Boundaries of Dating by Cloud and Townsend, Mars
and Venus on a Date by John Gray, Discover Your
Inner Beauty Queen by Rissa Singson-Kawpeng.
Allan and I have co-authored a book entitled
Thinking of Marriage. Mike Asis and I (Maribel) also
wrote I’ve Been Dating, Now What? Take a look at
these titles that will improve you as a person and
will educate you on relationships.
Essentially, our point is to keep moving around.
The more you move around, the greater your chance
of meeting that special someone. Go out and meet
people. See what you like and don’t like. Get to know
yourself better as well along the way. And when the
time is right, love will come.
Email us at love.institute@yahoo.com.ph.
By Bishop
Ted Bacani
Bishop’s
Move
THE LAY FAITHFUL... and their mission
T
he Catholic Church in the Philippines is preparing for a big
jubilee celebration in 2021. In case you don’t know it yet,
2021 marks the 500th year of the arrival of Christianity in the
Philippines.
On March 16, 1521, Magellan arrived in the Philippines,
and on March 31 the first Mass was celebrated in Limasawa
Island. Soon after, Rajah Humabon and his wife, Hara Amihan, were
baptized together with their followers. Rajah Humabon was given the
Christian name Carlos, and his wife was named Juana.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has decided
that the Catholic Church in our country would embark on a nine-year
spiritual journey in preparation for the Great Jubilee of 2021. This spiritual
journey started in 2013 with the theme, “Integral Faith Formation.”
This year, 2014, has as theme “The Laity.” The themes for the
following years are as follows: “The Poor” (2015); “The Eucharist and the
Family” (2016); The Parish as a Communion of Communities” ((2017);
“The Clergy and Religious” (2018); “The Youth” (2019); “Ecumenism and
Inter-religious Dialogue” (2020; and “Missio ad Gentes” (2021).
Who Are the Lay Faithful?
This year, 2014, is dedicated to the Laity or the Lay Faithful. But who
are the lay faithful? They are most of you, my dear readers. For the lay
faithful, according to the Second Vatican Council, are “all the faithful
except those in Holy Orders and those who belong to a religious state
sanctioned by the Church. Through baptism, the lay faithful are made
one body with Christ and are established among the People of God.
They are in their own way made sharers in the priestly, prophetic and
kingly office of Christ. They carry out their own part in the mission of
the whole Christian people with respect to the Church and the world”
(Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, no. 31).
This “definition” of the lay faithful needs a whole book to be
adequately explained. But let us try to understand the essentials. First,
we note that the lay faithful are “all the faithful” except the bishops,
priests, deacons and members of a religious state approved by the
Church. The lay faithful therefore make up more than 99 percent of the
Church’s population, for all the clergy and religious in the world do not
amount to one percent of the Church’s members.
Second, the lay faithful are “through baptism” united with Christ
and joined to God’s People. They become one body with Christ and
members of the Church. Thus, they are consecrated,
made to belong to Christ and to His Church. They
are full members, and not second-class members
of the Church. They belong to the Church as much
as any other baptized person, whether he be pope,
bishop, priest or religious brother or sister. They
share an equal Christian dignity with all the baptized
of whatever rank in the Church.
Priests, Prophets and Kings — in Their Own Way
They are, however, consecrated for a mission. Thus,
Vatican II states, “They are in their own way made
sharers in the priestly, prophetic and kingly office of
Christ. They carry out their own part in the mission
of the whole Christian people with respect to the
Church and the world.” In other words, the lay faithful
are, by virtue of their baptism, priests, prophets and
kings in their own way. They are co-responsible for
the mission of the Church and are not to be passive
members.
“In their own way.” The lay faithful are not only
consecrated by reason of their baptism. They are
called by the Lord “in the world” of the family, work,
business, politics, culture, education, entertainment,
the mass media, and the social media. They are called
there by the Lord to work out their call to holiness and
to transform “this world” from within in the manner
of leaven. They are to be “in the world” but not
conformed to “the spirit of this world.” Rather, they
should work for the change of this world from within
so that it may be conformed to the plan of God. The
world is their specific or special responsibility.
If you, dear lay faithful, ponder over all these
things, you will discover the greatness of your dignity
and mission as lay faithful.
Email me at ted.bishopsmove@gmail.com.
K
Preacher
By Vic Español
KEEP SOWING... and God will reward you abundantly
O
ne day, our homeowners’ association launched
a tree-planting project in our village. Residents
were encouraged to sponsor and donate trees
that would be planted along our perimeter area.
Many among the residents participated and
actually planted the young trees. They had fun
while they were doing this.
Days after that tree-planting activity, I noticed one set of
trees that was attended well by its sponsoring family. I would
see the family’s driver going to the area to water and cultivate
the soil surrounding the trees, remove weeds, and make sure
that the area was clean and free of any debris. He did these
diligently every day, carrying pails of water for a distance
under the scorching heat of the sun.
That was five years ago.
Today, I see the big difference. The trees that were cared
for are now towering and green and in full bloom, while the
rest are slow in growing.
I admire the commitment and the passion of this man. He
stayed faithful to his master. He was committed to his mission.
This reminds me of the story of Ruth, one of the two
widowed daughters-in-law of Naomi in the Old Testament.
When Naomi decided to leave Moab to go back to Judah,
Ruth and Orpah, the other widowed daughter-in-law, went
with her. But, along the journey, Orpah changed her mind.
She “kissed her mother-in-law goodbye and went back home.”
Ruth, on the other hand, stayed to take care of her mother-inlaw.
When they settled in the new land, life was hard. Ruth had
to work in the fields. She walked behind the harvest workers
and had to content herself with “picking up the heads of grain
which they left behind.”
The owner of the fields, Boaz, noticed Ruth, and eventually
married her. There are several applications of these stories to our
Christian life. I cite two of these:
First, the Lord wants us to grow in our relationship with
Him by being faithful to our prayer and Scripture time every
day. We can read, listen and watch religious and inspirational
materials, attend prayer meetings, and join Christian groups. It
would be nourishing and fulfilling too if we devote a part of
our time serving Him in these Christian groups or in parish
activities.
Similarly, the Lord wants us to have strong marriages
and families. We can make it a habit to spend time with
our spouses and children. Having regular dates with our
spouses is a way of improving our communication lines and
enhancing our relationship with each other. Playing with
our young children, helping them in their homeworks and
joining them in their school activities will be very much
appreciated and long remembered by them.
Doing all these require commitment and sacrifice.
There will be times when you will encounter difficulties
in pursuing these missions. When these difficulties happen,
let these words of Ruth inspire you:
“Don’t ask me to leave you! Let me go with you. Wherever
you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will
be my people, and your God will be my God.”
If we persevere like the man who patiently tended the
trees and like Ruth who cared for her mother-in-law, God will
richly and abundantly reward our efforts.
Boaz and Ruth soon bore a son. They
named him Obed, who “became the
father of Jesse, who was the father of
David.”
Eventually, Jesus, the Savior of the
world, will be born from this family line.
Email me at vmespanol@gmail.com.
Vic Español is the Feast builder of
The Ortigas Feast, which happens every
Sunday, 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and
every Monday at 7:30 p.m., at Cinema
3 of Robinsons Galleria. He preaches in
the 10 a.m. Sunday session as well as
in its Monday session
Vic and his wife, Ditas, also train
the counselors of the Light of Jesus
Pastoral Care Center.
Bite-sized inspiration. Life-changing truths.
Good things come in small packages.
These little books will help you live a fantastic life!
Great gifts to give yourself and your loved ones.
Grab your copies now!
For orders call 725-9999 local 101 to 108
or log on to www.shepherdsvoice.com.ph
DAVID’S
MINION
HUGS
A
By Atty. J.R. Basa
fter Yolanda struck the Philippines, my wife, Loise,
and I showed our eight-year-old son, David, some
photos of the devastation. We are now residents of
Chicago, Illinois but have always kept the Philippines
in our hearts.
After looking at the photos, David proceeded
to play with his toys. The following day, we noticed that he
was crying. When asked what
was wrong, he replied that he
remembered the photo of a
homeless, young boy from the
previous day. He only stopped
crying after we promised him
we will help the typhoon victims
in whatever way we can.
A smart boy that he is, David
decided to put on his “Minion”
costume from last Halloween
and gave out “Minion Hugs”
to random strangers at a mall.
We prepared a poster that said,
“Minion Hug = $1.” He was shy
at first but after a few minutes,
he got the hang of it. He started
shouting, “Hugs for Donations”
and “Hugs for the Philippines”
to call people’s attention. People
started to notice and David
became an instant celebrity.
People did not only hug him,
but had their pictures taken with him as well.
After a few hours, David was able to raise $136.00! Not bad for
an eight-year-old boy. We gave him a list of potential charitable
One
Last
Story
David recently went on vacation in the Philippines to bond
with his maternal grandparents in Bacolod City.
organizations and explained each one of them. Probably
still thinking of the photo of the homeless boy, he chose to
donate to Habitat for Humanity Philippines.
After hearing about this good deed, one of David’s
godfathers also donated $100 to Habitat for Humanity
Philippines in David’s name.
Moreover, inspired by David’s act of kindness, several
other people belatedly gave
money to David. He was able
to raise $50.00 more, which
a U.S. company matched,
and the doubled amount of
$100 was donated by the said
company to the Red Cross.
In addition, David also
sent out letters to all the
students in his school, asking
for items for donation. Imagine
a second grader coordinating
with teachers and other
(mostly older) students as
to what items to donate and
how they can be picked up.
These items were turned over
to a Chicago-based Filipino
organization, which shipped
them directly to Leyte.
Nobody wants tragedies
to happen. But if there is any
positive thing we can get
from Yolanda, it is the fact that Filipinos all over the world
have stepped up, including this eight-year-old boy from
Chicago.
Point
of
Contact
by Bo Sanchez
I pray that you
receive your
miracles in Jesus’
name!
I pray that God lifts your trials, heals your
diseases, blesses your problems, and
directs you to the path He wants you to
take. I pray that God removes your fears
and gives you the courage to surrender
your burdens to Him.
So place your hand over my hand, and let’s
pray with trust, together with our prayer team
of intercessors praying for you right now…
This page is our Point of Contact, our spiritual
connection.
Say after me…
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit.
Lord, I surrender to You my worries and
anxieties. I surrender to You my needs, my
problems, my trials. I place them all in Your big
hands. And I open myself to all that You want
to give to me. On this day, I say yes to Your
love, to Your blessings, to Your healing, to Your
miracles. And Lord, specifically, I ask for the
following miracles for my life....
I believe that You answer my prayers in the
best way possible! And I thank You in advance
for the perfect answers to my prayers. I also
ask for the special intercession of Mama Mary.
I pray all this in the name of the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
SPECIAL INTENTION FOR THIS MONTH:
Bless the readers of Kerygma, Lord. Many of them are in the midst of difficulties or are despairing
because of their failures and losses. Many want to give up. Send Your Holy Spirit to them, Lord,
and lift them up. Let them feel Your unchanging love no matter how much they have failed You
or themselves. Grant them the grace to carry on and believe that You are always with them, that
You are their best Partner as they face their battles in life. Be with them, Lord, and increase their
faith. Amen.
Praying for you,
Email your prayer requests
to me at bosanchez@
kerygmafamily.com or write
to me at Shepherd’s Voice
Publications, 60 Chicago
St., Cubao, Quezon City,
Philippines 1109.

cannot do - KerygmaFamily

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