** Here is the homily Benedict XVI addressed to seminarians, attending World Youth Day, in St. Pantaleon's Church last August 19, 2005.
I greet all of you with great affection and gratitude for your festive welcome and particularly for the fact that you have come to this gathering from so many countries the world over. In a special way my heartfelt thanks go to the seminarian, the priest and the bishop who have given us their own personal witness. I am very pleased to have this opportunity to be with you. I had asked that the program of these days in Cologne should include a special meeting with young seminarians, so that the vocational dimension which is always a part of World Youth Day would be even more clearly and strongly evident. Naturally, you are taking part in this experience in your own particular way, since you are seminarians, that is to say, young people devoting an intense period of your lives to seeking Christ and spending time with him in preparation for your important mission in the Church. This is what a seminary is: More than a place, it is a significant time in the life of a follower of Jesus. I can imagine how you yourselves relate to the theme of this Twentieth World Youth Day -- "We Have Come To Worship Him" -- and the entire Gospel account of the Magi from which the theme has been drawn. This passage has a special meaning for you, precisely because you are engaged in discerning and confirming your call to the priesthood. Let us pause and reflect on this theme.
[In French]
Why did the Magi set off from afar to go to Bethlehem? The answer has to do with the mystery of the "star" which they saw "in the East" and which they recognized as the star of the "King of the Jews," that is to say, the sign of the birth of the Messiah (cf. Matthew 2:2). So their journey was inspired by a powerful hope, strengthened and guided by the star, which led them toward the King of the Jews, toward the kingship of God himself. The Magi set out because of a deep desire which prompted them to leave everything and begin a journey. It was as though they had always been waiting for that star. It was as if the journey had always been a part of their destiny, and was finally about to begin. Dear friends, this is the mystery of God's call, the mystery of vocation. It is part of the life of every Christian, but it is particularly evident in those whom Christ asks to leave everything in order to follow him more closely. The seminarian experiences the beauty of that call in a moment of grace which could be defined as "falling in love." His soul is filled with amazement, which makes him ask in prayer: "Lord, why me?" But love knows no "why"; it is a free gift to which one responds with the gift of self.
[In English]
The seminary years are devoted to formation and discernment. Formation, as you well know, has different strands which converge in the unity of the person: It includes human, spiritual and cultural dimensions. Its deepest goal is to bring the student to an intimate knowledge of the God who has revealed his face in Jesus Christ. For this, in-depth study of Sacred Scripture is needed, and also of the faith and life of the Church in which the Scripture dwells as the Word of life. This must all be linked with the questions prompted by our reason and with the broader context of modern life. Such study can at times seem arduous, but it is an indispensable part of our encounter with Christ and our vocation to proclaim him. All this is aimed at shaping a steady and balanced personality, one capable of receiving validly and fulfilling responsibly the priestly mission. The role of formators is decisive: The quality of the presbyterate in a particular Church depends greatly on that of the seminary, and consequently on the quality of those responsible for formation. Dear seminarians, for this very reason we pray today with genuine gratitude for your superiors, professors and educators, who are spiritually present at this meeting. Let us ask the Lord to help them carry out as well as possible the important task entrusted to them. The seminary years are a time of journeying, of exploration, but above all of discovering Christ. It is only when a young man has had a personal experience of Christ that he can truly understand the Lord’s will and consequently his own vocation. The better you know Jesus the more his mystery attracts you. The more you discover him, the more you are moved to seek him. This is a movement of the spirit which lasts throughout life, and which makes the seminary a time of immense promise, a true "springtime."
[In Italian]
When the Magi came to Bethlehem, "going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him" (Matthew 2:11). Here at last was the long-awaited moment -- their encounter with Jesus. "Going into the house": this house in some sense represents the Church. In order to find the Savior, one has to enter the house, which is the Church. During his time in the seminary, a particularly important process of maturation takes place in the consciousness of the young seminarian: he no longer sees the Church "from the outside," but rather, as it were, "from the inside," and he comes to sense that she is his "home," in as much as she is the home of Christ, where "Mary his mother" dwells. It is Mary who shows him Jesus her Son; she introduces him and in a sense enables him to see and touch Jesus, and to take him into his arms. Mary teaches the seminarian to contemplate Jesus with the eyes of the heart and to make Jesus his very life. Each moment of seminary life can be an opportunity for loving experience of the presence of our Lady, who introduces everyone to an encounter with Christ in the silence of meditation, prayer and fraternity. Mary helps us to meet the Lord above all in the celebration of the Eucharist, when, in the Word and in the consecrated Bread, he becomes our daily spiritual nourishment.
[In Spanish]
"They fell down and worshipped him ... and offered him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh" (Matthew 2:11-12). Here is the culmination of the whole journey: encounter becomes adoration; it blossoms into an act of faith and love which acknowledges in Jesus, born of Mary, the Son of God made man. How can we fail to see prefigured in this gesture of the Magi the faith of Simon Peter and of the other Apostles, the faith of Paul and of all the saints, particularly of the many saintly seminarians and priests who have graced the two thousand years of the Church's history? The secret of holiness is friendship with Christ and faithful obedience to his will. Saint Ambrose said: "Christ is everything for us"; and Saint Benedict warned against putting anything before the love of Christ. May Christ be everything for you. Dear seminarians, be the first to offer him what is most precious to you, as Pope John Paul II suggested in his Message for this World Youth Day: the gold of your freedom, the incense of your ardent prayer, the myrrh of your most profound affection (cf. No. 4).
[In German]
The seminary years are a time of preparing for mission. The Magi "departed for their own country" and most certainly bore witness to their encounter with the King of the Jews. You too, after your long, necessary program of seminary formation, will be sent forth as ministers of Christ; indeed, each of you will return as an "alter Christus." On their homeward journey, the Magi surely had to deal with dangers, weariness, disorientation, doubts. … The star was no longer there to guide them! The light was now within them. Their task was to guard and nourish it in the constant memory of Christ, of his Holy Face, of his ineffable Love. Dear seminarians! One day, God willing, by the consecration of the Holy Spirit you too will begin your mission. Remember always the words of Jesus: "Abide in my love" (John 15:9). If you abide in Christ, you will bear much fruit. You have not chosen him, he has chosen you (cf. John 15:16). Here is the secret of your vocation and your mission! It is kept in the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who watches over each one of you with a mother's love. Have recourse to her, often and with confidence. I assure you of my affection and my daily prayers. And I bless all of you from my heart. [Translation of original issued by the Vatican press office]
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Two Years Ago
Dalawang taon na pala ang lumipas nang isulat ko ito para sa mga ka-batch ko, kaya lang, hanggang ngayon e marami sa kanila ang hindi pa nakabasa nito.
Minsan kaming nangarap mag-karoon ng highschool reunion upang magkasama-samang muli at para patunayan sa isa-isa’t na hindi kailanman makakalimutan ang aming pagkakaibigan nuong high-school.
Oo, natuloy ang reunion namin nuong 23 December 2004. Naalala ko pa ang laging kinakanta dati ni kuya Bodgie sa Batibot: “Nag-katotoo ang naisip ko. Nag-katotoo ang naisip ko. Nag-katotoo ang naisip ko. Nag-katotoo, ang naisip ko.”
Tiyak mauulit itong muli. Malamang December 2006 o January 2007.
Sana.
St. Dominic happy feast day po! Pray for us.
August 8, 2003
Kapistahan ni___?
4:45pm Friday
Sigurado akong natatadaan mo ang Santo ito na ipinanganak sa Calaruega, Spain noong 1770. Ang Santo ay tinuturing na bayani ng Simbahang Katoliko dahil sa kanilang natatanging buhay kabanalan, pananampalataya at pagmamamahal kay Jesus; sila ang patron ng ating buhay Kristiyano na dahil sa kanilang ginawang halimbawa ay nagdulot sa maraming tao na tumalima sa pagmamahal ng Diyos at sa kapwa. Ang Santong tinutukoy ko ngayon ay nag-tapos ng teolohiya sa Palencia at naging canon sa Cathedral ng Osma. Kilala siya sa pagtatanggol ng pananamapalataya ng Simbahan laban sa mapanirang Albigensian heresy o isang doctrina na taliwas sa turo ng Simbahan. Dahil sa kanyang mga turo, halimbawa at kabutihan marami siyang naging taga-sunod na maglingkod sa Diyos na palaganapin sa lahat ng mga bansa ang Mabuting Balita. Tinawag ang kanilang samahan na Order of Preachers. Sina St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Albert the Great, St. Catherine of Siena ay ilan lamang sa mga dakilang bayani ng pananampalataya na naimpluwensiyahan ng ating kaibigang Santo na ipinagdiriwang ngayon.
Nakakalulungkot nga lang dahil may mga kapatid tayong mga Kristyano na hindi binibigyan ng halaga at karangalan ang mga bayani ng Simbahan. Namimis-interpret kasi nila na pag nagdadasal tayo sa Santo o imahe ay sinasamba daw natin sila. Di nila alam na ang mga Santo ay “contact” natin sa itaas dahil kasama na nila si Jesus sa langit. Sila ang modelo ng Kristiyanismo upang tayo ay bumait din at makasunod sa tawag ng Diyos. Kumbaga sa ating kasaysayan, si Ninoy Aquino ang siyang nagbigay inspirasyon at nagpaigting sa maraming Pilipino na labanan ang dictatorship ni Marcos. (Patalastas: Ang beatification nga pala ni Mother Teresa of Calcutta ay sa October 19, magiging isang Blessed na siya, first step niya ito to sainthood. Marami na kasing reports na miracle dahil sa kanyang intercession. Okay lang kasi nuong buhay pa naman siya ay itinuturing na siyang “the living saint of modern time”.)
Medyo nalalayo yata tayo. At parang inaantok ka na. Oo nga pala, ang mga Order of Preachers na kilala sa tawag na Domicans ay nagtayo ng malalaking eskwelahan at unibersidad sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo para sa edukasyon ng mga kabataan at higit sa lahat para ihatid ang Kristiyanong pananampalataya. Mapalad ako’t nakapagtapos ako sa isa sa kanilang paaralan dito sa Pilipinas—kabatch nga kita eh.
Ano kilala mo na ba ang tinutukoy ko? Nakalimutan mo na yata siya mula ng grumadweyt tayo? Siguradong matatandaan mo siya kung ipadidinig ko ito sa iyo: “attention jailers, attention jailers, arrest those people who are not in the path way” o kaya’y, “attention jailers, attention jailers arrest those people who are not dancing.” Pag narinig mo ito at kung wala ka sa path way o kung hindi mo ginagawa ang sibasabing instruction, nako siguradong maghahabulan kayo ng mga CAT Officers, ikukulong ka sa isang classroom at magbabayad ka o kaya ay mag-aantay ka sa tutubos sa iyo ng dalawang Piso para sa iyong kalayan (matapos kang hikain sa katatakbo at kaba). Kikiligin ka naman pag narinig mo sa buong campus ang pangalan ng crush mo matapos mo siyang ipa-greet kay Mr. DJ… “this next song is specially dedicated for Miss__ of II-St. Lorenzo Ruiz from your secret admirer in IV-St. Thomas” (at kikiligin naman ang lahat kapag pinatugtog ni Mr. DJ ang “Endless Love”, “The Actor”, “Will I Survive” o “You Where There”).
Mayamaya’y magugulat ka na lang habang naglalakad ka biglang may dalawa o tatlong taong kakapit sa iyong kamay, pipiringan ng isa ang iyong mga mata habang nararamdaman mo na dinadala ka nila sa isang lugar na hindi mo alam (kaba). Ala kang makita ngunit naririnig mo na paparami ng paparami ang students at mga uzi na nagkakatuwaan sa paligid ninyo. Alam mo nang “na-marriage booth” ka. Lagot. Pero swerte mo pag dilat mo ay siya pala ang crush mo o kaya maganda o gwapo ang ikinasal sa iyo. Siyempre di ka magpapahalata na gustong-gusto mo naman. Subalit malas mo naman kung yung di mo type at hindi kaya-aya ang ikinasal sa iyo tulad ng nangyari sa akin! Asar ka kung sino man ang may pakana nuon. Grabe.
Naalala mo na ba kung bakit natin ginagawa ang mga bagay na iyon at ano ang kaugnayan nito sa ating banal na kaibigan na ipinagdiriwang natin ngayon? Teka, ito medyo kakaiba, siguro ay nabiktima ka rin nito, isipin mo wala kang kamalay-malay na naglalakad sa campus tapos ay bigla na lang may magba-vandal na kiss mark sa braso mo, sa kamay, sa noo o sa pisngi mo dahil natapak ang paa mo sa isang markang bilog sa lupa na pag-aari pala ng isang school club. Dahil tresspassing ka sa kanila kailangang magbayad ka ng 2 piso! Pwedeng business ito.
Pero hindi siyempre papatalo sa creativity ang gimik ng mga KOA o Knights of the Altar, sila ang mga mukhang anghel na sakristan under the supervision of Ma’am Tagalag (proudly to say I was a member). Natatandaan mo ba ang mahabang pila ng mga estudyante sa may Mother Ignacia building? May mga nagtutulakan at nagsisigawan lalu na yung mga girls at freshmen na nanginginig sa takot, ang iba naman ay magkahalong excitement at kaba ang nararamdaman habang inaantay ang group nila na makapasok sa Horror Booth. (Ito secret: isang natatanging ala-ala sa loob ng Horror Booth na ito ang siyang aking naging kasa-kasama saan man ako mag-punta lumipas man ang maraming taon at darating pang panahon. Dahil sa loob ng Horror Booth na ito ko unang naramdaman na pwede pala akong ma-love at first sight. [Senti]. Kung pumasok ka sa Horror Booth namin sigurado kong kilala mo na ang tinutukoy ko, siya ang gumanap na white lady; maganda kasi siya at mahaba ang buhok. Ako naman ay napili na maging isa sa mga aswang hindi ko alam kung bakit.)
Masaya ang lahat dahil walang pasok. Nagkapaligid sa ground ang maraming booths na kulay pula na sponsor ng Coke o Pop Cola. Naglalaban ng basketball ang mga varsity teams ng bawat year levels sa ilalim ng galit na galit na haring araw sa katanghalian tapat. Sa kabilang dako naman sa tabi ng malaking punong mangga at sa tapat ng canteen maliliksing (may malalata din) naglalaro ang volleyball players na pambato ng freshman, sophomore, junior at senior. Sigawan ang mga students at mga teachers lalo na pag magagaling at malalakas mag-spike ang mga players. Kaya lang minsan dahil siguro sa kaba o pressure napapalakas ang service na walang direksyon. Nayayanig at napapagewang tuloy ang nag-iisa nating pizza stand tuwing ito’y tatamaan. Buti na lang at may gasul sa ilalim na nagsilsilbing pabigat nito. Para sa akin at sa ilang kaibigan ko, walang epekto sa amin kung tumumba man o hindi ang tindahan ng pizza, kasi pang butsi, pichi-pichi, sopas o ginatan lang ang kaya ng baon ko. Subalit minsan may araw na lumalabas din ang pagka-sosi ko; bumibili ako ng Pop Cola matching with Pasalubong cup cake (yabang—feeling sikat ka na nun!). Minsan lang iyon!
Masarap maala-ala ang mga panahon na iyon. Lalo na kung araw ng kapistahan ng Patron nating ito. Didiscribe ko muna ang looks niya. Una, shaggy ang buhok niya (shaggy-lid lang may buhok hehe), nuong unang panahon kasi kinakatkat ng ilang mga Kristyano ang buhok nila bilang sacrifice. Ikalawa, nakasuot siya ng cream at black na habit. At ikatlo, kung natatandaan mo ang rebulto niya sa gawing kanan ng stage, katabi ng flagpole, sa tapat ng registrar’s office, may kasama siyang aso na may kagat-kagat na sulo na may apoy. (Akala ko dati kaya alagang aso ng mga madre yun) Ayon daw kasi sa kwento, bago daw isilang ang saint of the day natin ay nanaginip ang nanay niya na ang ipinagdadalangtao daw niya ay hindi tao kundi isang aso na may kagat-kagat na sulo. At nakita ng nanay na ito ang pamahiin na parang susunugin ni doggy ang buong daigdig. (Katakot naman mukhang bangungot yata iyon at hindi panaginip). Buti na lang at hindi inatake sa puso si nanay. Isa pa, nuong binyagan daw siya, ay may nakita naman ang ninang niya na isang nagniningning na star sa nuo niya. Lumipas ang panahon at napagtanto na ang sulo na kagat ng aso (di ko alam kung askal o poodle) at ang liwanag sa nuo niya ay simbolo pala ng kaniyang magiging misyon sa buhay. Tulad ng nabanggit ko sa simula, namuhay siya ng tagasunod ni Jesus; itinuro niya sa mga tao ang lahat ng aral ng Panginoon sa Ebanghelyo. Ang tanging naging hangad ng friend natin ay pag-alabin o maging “on fire” ang bawat puso ng mga tao sa pag-mamahal sa Diyos. Sa wikang Ingles: “This he did by preaching the gospel message, thereby shedding the light of Christ’s teaching in a world darkened by heresy and evil.” Ah, kaya pala may apoy at maningning na star. Magsalamin ka mamaya baka ikaw may star din! Hehe.
Ngayong nadiscribe ko na ang the looks niya at sigurado akong alam mo na kung sino ang tinutukoy ko. Kung ang sagot mo ay si San Isidro Labrador, congratulations! Umuwi ka na at magtanim ng kamote sa bakuran ninyo. Kung si San Lorenzo naman ang sagot mo ulitin mo ang pagtatanim ng kamote. (Biro lang) Kung ang sagot mo ay si St. Dominic Academy, este St. Dominic de Guzman pala. Congrats! Tama ka. Namatay St, Dominc nuong 6 Agosto 1221 sa Bologna ngunit hindi ang kanyang nasimulang adhikain, kahit di man natin naiisip at namamalayan kasama natin siya kahit ngayon dahil graduate tayo sa school niya di ba? Mamaya, bakit hindi mo subukan na magdasal at humingi ng assistance sa kanya ng libre, di ba Dominicans tayo? Paki-tanong na rin tuloy kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng Laudare, Benidicere at Praedicare na nakasulat sa ilalim ng Veritas (iyung patch sa uniform natin at nasa ID din natin). Hindi ko ito nasagot nuong itanong sa quiz nuong first year tayo.
Oo, feast din day ngayon ni St. Dominic, ang kulit-kulit ko kanina pa. Sa isip ko ay kanina pa ko naririnig ang kantang:
Amang Santo Domingo ng kabanal-banalan,
ilaw ka ng sandaigdigan ipinagdiriwang,
Iyong kadakilaan halimbawa ng buhay
Puspos ka ng Poong Diyos,
Gabay nati’t tanglaw
Magalak tayong lahat,
O Santa Iglesya,
Siya’y ipinagdiriwang sa langit at lupa…(nakalimutan ko na ang kasunod)
Isa pang kinakanta natin pag feast day niya ay pa-rap dahil para kang nakikipaghabulan sa madre sa bilis.
Chorus:
Dominic O Dominic
over the land and floods along
and sing a little song
Never looking for rewards
He just talks about the Lord
He just talks about the Lord
Verse:
Grant us now….(nakalimutan ko na pero pa-rap ang verse na ito)
Maraming taon na ang lumipas ng huli natin itong kantahin na sabay sabay tayo sa school. Sa tagal ay nakalimutan ko na ang lyrics. Tulad ng mga ala-ala ko sa high-school, unti-unting lumalabo ang bawat detalye kasama ang mga masasayang nagdaan. May mga pagkakataon na maaalala ko lang pag kinukwento sa akin ng ibang classmate ko. Karaniwan sasabihin nila ”natatandaan mo ba dati nung highschool tayo nang…?” Mahabang kwento kung iisa-isahin ko ang memories ko sa St. Dominic Academy halimbawa: si Sir Llanita (“tatag naman,” sabay kibit balikat), M’ Laniog (“isinga mo!sige..sige”, “wala kang care and concern”, “ano ang iyong bagong kaisipan at bagong karanasan?”), ang Talisay, ang CR, ang punong Mangga, ang Bible Service tuwing Lunes umaga, announcement of the cleanest classroom, katoperhan sa harap ng iyong crush, tuksuhan, selosan, halo-halo sa Ka Elvie, Bambi’s, tagyawat, chin-chun su, pulbos at Good Morning towel, mga proffessional doctors tuwing checkan ng test papers, uniforms kong naninilaw (na laba sa poso), at marami marami pang iba.
Ilan taon na ba ang lumipas? Minsan ba ay nagbabalik tanaw ka din tulad ko? O masyado na tayong busy sa ating career, sa office, sa ating trabaho o sa walang katapusang paghahanap ng trabaho? Siguro ay bising-busy ka sa iyong pamilya, diyata’t kay sarap isipin na may anak ka na pala ngayon o kung di naman ay nagpaplano ka’t nanalangin na magtaguyod ng isang simple at masayang tahanan. O kaya’y busy ka at tila wala ka nang paki-alam sa mundo maliban sa pag-ibig na iyong natagpuan sa iyong boyfriend o girlfriend. O siguro, ikaw din ay tipo ng tao na minsan o kadalasan, pakiramdam mo ay walang katiyakan ang iyong patutunguhan, mukhang malabo ang kinabukasan, napapagod ng mag-isip, nakakaiyak, nakakatakot…mahirap pala ang buhay. Simple lang ang buhay sa high-school.
Nagtatanong ka bakit sila successful at ako ganito pa rin? Nasaan ka man ngayon, at kung ano man ang iyong ginagawa, minsan kailangan nating lumingon upang makita natin ng mas malinaw ang ating patutunguhan, at mahalin kung ano man, at kung ano ang meron tayo ngayon. Kung tama ba o nakabubuti sa atin ang ating ginawa. Hindi ko na alam kung ano pa ang sasabihin ko tingnan mo na lang ito at paki-hanap ang iyong pangalan:
ST. DOMINIC ACADEMY
Pulilan, Bulacan
VI- ST. DOMINIC
School Year 1993-94
Mrs. Theresa Enriquez
BOYS
Acuña, Edgardo Jr. G.
Catriz, Renato S. II
Cristobal, Raymond C.
Cruz, Dante C.
Cueto, Michael J.
dela Cruz, Arnold C.
delos Santos, William A.
Diam, Ricky E.
Diaz, Marxc S.
Enriquez, Roehl C.
Galia, Armando D.
Garcia, Pol Mark A.
Gatuz, Rodel O.
Javillonar, Jaybee I.
Mag-isa, Luciano A.
Martinez, Eugene M.
Morales, Chester B.
Ocampo, Opher John F.
Ongsico, Rex P.
Palomares, Adrian O.
Santos, Alex D.
Santos, Odra Noel E.
Santos, Ronaldo T.
Siapco, Jason J.
Vergara, John Joel E.
Summary: Boys- 25
Girls - 31
Total - 56
GIRLS
Aquino, Angelina M.
Arcega, Consuelo M.
Barcelona, Carina S.
Bernardo, Janelle J.
Buñing, Susan M.
Cruz, Cybelle M.
Cruz, Elenita M.
de Guzman, Nancy M.
delos Santos, Basilisa C.
Dionisio, Maricris S.P.
Duncil, Marciana C.
Gonzales, Racquel S.
Ignacio, Adeliza D.
Joaquin, Evelyn B.
Legaspi, Lady Jennifer M.
Mag-isa, Ma. Monette E.
Navarro, Eilleen Gay F.
Pagtalunan, Olive C.
Pangilinan, Sherill S.
Pascual, Jocelyn T.
Peralta, Ma. Chona V.
Ramos, Maylyn S.
Reyes, Jocelyn V.
Reyes, Maricel A.
Rivo, Susana G.
Salas, Niña Ritzie Q.
Samson, Glory-Vi C.
Santos, Judith G.
Santos, Rachell Z.
Soriaga, Sherryl C.
Yu, Kathyryn S.
VI- ST. ALBERT
Miss. Socorro Laniog
BOYS
Angulo, Marvin M.
Baliton, Conrado Glenn P.
Bate, Francisco I.
Carangan, Ranel A.
Cruz, Bonifacio Jr. D.
Cruz, Francisco Jr. J.
Cruz, Manolito C.
Cruz, Norman C.
Cruz, Pee Jay V.
Cueto, Marvin J.
de Guzman, Reynaldo Jr. C.
dela Cruz, Rogelio S.
Esguerra, Efren S.
Espino, John Rex A.
Gonzales, Sherwin C.
Joson, Joselito C.
Leonardo, Fidel II F.
Lopez, Crisanto m.
Marcos, Ronald, C.
+Mateo, Joel G. (RIP)
Mayuyo, Rodel U.
Mendoza, Chris Reyson R.
Roxas, Noelito A.
Soyangco, Shervy Paul R.
GIRLS
Aguinaldo, Daisy L.
Alvarez, Jennifer B.
Arceo, Jocelyn M.
Caldreon, Lorna G.
Castro, Jane N.
Clemente, Amelia M.
Cordero, Lovely M.
Cruz, Rizza C.
Cruz, Rosemela B.
Domacian, Angelica A.
Esguerra, Ligaya A.
Francisco, Marivic E,
Fuentes, Josephine M.
Gonzales, Marie Rose L.
Hilario, Nedelyn S.
Leonardo, Jayvie B.
Magtalas, Lourdes R.
Manapat, Esperanza S.A.
Manapat, Ma. Theresa B.
Mendoza, Christina, L.
Quijano, Jennifer V.
Reyes, Ma. Jzha D.
Reyes, Norvil A.
Rueda Ma. Milagros T.
Santos, Evelyn C.
Soriaga, Eloisa B.
Tagalag, Maricar S.
Torres, Edna G.
Summary: Boys- 24
Girls - 28
Total - 52
VI – ST. MARTIN
Mrs. Filomena Garcia
BOYS
Abillon, Jonathan M.
Angeles, Oliver N.
Arceo, Nelson S.
Baldevia, Andres C.
Calderon, Agustin Jr. C.
Candelaria, Enrico C.
Cruz, Michael E.
Domingo, Roentjen I.
Esguerra, Aristeo A.
Espino, Efren A.
Hipolito, Abiel C.
Ignacio, Benigno Jr. I.
Isidro, Rodger B.
Leonida, Joseph E.
Marasigan, Derick B.
Mercado, Willie S.
Obcena, Mark S.
Parba, Roberto C.
Rivero, Rio Nemesis B.
Santos, Santos L.
Sulit, Ponciano Jr. S.
Villanueva, Jason B.
Santos, Rico N.
Summary: Boys- 23
Girls - 30
Total - 53
GIRLS
Ambulencia, Solita C.
Batongbacal, Elsa N.
Castro, Cecille L.
Cruz, Ellyn G.
de Lara, Jenny Rose C.
Diaz, Suzette A.
Espiritu, Dinia G.
Esquierdo, Annalyn C.
Garcia, Rita A.
Hipolito, Karen P.
Lebarda, Renee Rose C.
Laderas, Ronalie C.
Lina, Lorenza S.P.
Macaraeg, Analiza G.
Mag-isa, Rufina J.
Mañego, Marichel P.
Maravillo, Ma.Vivian R.
Monares, Ma. Pilar L.
Paraiso, Liwayway P.
Pascual, Salud l.
Payumo, Ana Shella L.
Peralta, Lerelynne C.
Reyes, Trinidad V.
Riveza, Maricris E.
Roque, Noemi E.
San Mateo, Ma. Bammy A.
Tayao, Fortunata E.
Tayao, Maribel G.
Torres, Loreta H.
Sison, Grace
VI – ST. THOMAS
Miss. Cecilia Santos
BOYS
Apostol, Romano A.
Barcelona, Joseph Elmer S.
Cruz, Reden R.
Cruz, Richard S.
Cuizon, Jefferson B.
Cunanan, Chester E.
Dalangin, Marlon E.
Espiritu, Joselino R.
Gabriel, Elmerson C.
Gingco, Hermogenes Jr. B.
Ingal, Robert S.
Malabon, Romeo Jr. B.
Marquez, Ronaldo R.
Mazon, Mark Christ A.
Mendoza, Ian Leo V.
Plamenco, Noel B.
Ramos, Alberto T.
Sanvictores, Nomer J.
Sebastian, Sherwin A.
Tayao, Bernard C.
Povera, Jessie M.
Villanueva, Rowel A.
Summary: Boys- 22
Girls - 30
Total – 52
GIRLS
Abillon, Lorelie C.
Acuña, Virginia C.
Agustin, Evangeline D.
Arceo, Myla H.
Bailon, Pilar C.
Bernardino, Mylene O.
Bernardo, Sherryl S.
Colinayo, Anabelle D.
Damiar, Christina M.
Dimaapi, Rhodora S.
Espiritu, Corazon R.
Espiritu, Felicitas P.
Lim, Alelie V.
Magdato, Norlie E.
Mag-isa, Lariza I.
Mañego, Lennie D.
Mendoza, Jenelita J.
Pascual, Carina H.
Peralta, Marissa T.
Peralta, Mildred H.
Rivera, Maybel N.
San Pedro, Agnes C.
Santiago, Ma. Teresa M.
Santos, Karen Grace M.
Santos, Leslie A.
Santos, Magdalena J.
Santos, Rhodora C.
Tacmo, Ma. Dona D.
Victoria, Jocelyn S.
30. Villanueva, Marife L.
SISTER MA. ELENA DIRA, O.P.
School Head/Principal
Source: Miss. Laniog’s Class Record
SISTER MA. ELENA DIRA, O.P.
School Head/Principal
Source: Miss. Laniog’s Class Record
Parang huminto ang takbo ng oras habang tinitingan ko ang pangalan ng bawat isa. May mga tao na ngayon ko lang muling naalala’t naisip matapos kong mabasa ang pangalan nila. Pero karamihan sa kanila ay kilang-kilala ko, subalit nakakalungkot isipin na ilan ay hindi ko na maalala kung sino (ala kasi dito ang yearbook ko). Isipin mo, bawat isang pangalan ng mga estudyanteng ito ay may kanya-kanyang kwento ng buhay, bawat isa sa mga estudyanteng ito (kaibilang ako) ay may mga magulang, lolo at lola, tito o tita na gumapang, nangutang, at sumuporta upang makatapos tayo ng pag-aaral at makarating saan man tayo naruruon ngayon.
Isipin mo na lang ang mga teachers, advisers, guard, madre, pari, classmates, hardinero, tindera, tagaluto, jeepney at tricycle drivers na dumaan sa buhay natin bilang estudyante upang tayo ay matuto, malaman ang tama at mali, mag-mahal sa kapwa at sa Diyos. Nakalimutan ko na sila dati salamat at ay naalala ko na silang muli-- naalala kong muli ang lahat ng biyaya na aking tinanggap mula sa Diyos. Naalala kong muli na ako dati ay nanalangin, nag-rorosary tuwing umaga, nagnonobena sa Our Lady of Perpetual Help tuwing Miyerkoles, nagdarasal pag may test, long quiz o magrereport sa klase, nagsisimba tuwing Linggo (uulitin ko tuwing Linggo) at piyestang pangilin. Naalala kong naniniwala pala ako sa Diyos at kasa-kasama ko Siya sa aking pag-usad at pagtataya, sa lungkot at ginhawa sa buhay na ito.
Naalala kong minsan ay nakasama natin si Joel Mateo, isang masigla, malakas na basketball player, laging nakatawa, pala-kaibigan at Ex-O sa CAT. Di man natin siya makikita pang muli ay ipina-aalala niya na ang patutunguhan niya ay patutungan din natin. Nawa’y kapiling na niya ngayon ang mga banal na Santo sa langit, sa piling ng Mahal na Ina, ng mga Anghel at ang ating Ama sa Langit.
At naalala ko na kaya pala ako nag-email sa inyo ay para itanong kung gusto ninyong mag-karoon ng Batch 1994 Reunion next year 2004. TEN YEARS na next year after our graduation!!! Siguro ay mas okay sa lahat kung December natin gaganapin. December 26, 2004, Sunday iyon (birthday ni Niña Ritzie Q. Salas). Ayan may date na tayo kulang na lang ay venue, organizers, pag-kain, programs at ang “OO” ninyo.
Kung alam ninyo ang email address ng mga taong nabanggit sa taas pwede ninyong iforward ang message na ito. O itext ninyo sila para mas mabilis. Ang akin ay suggestion lang. TEN YEARS lang naman tayo next year eh. Kalimutan na natin iyon. TEN YEARS LANG NAMAN.
O paano, kailangan natin ang suggestion ng bawat isa, paki-forward na lang kay Pol Mark kung alam ninyo ang email niya, siya ang Presidente natin. Pinadalan ko na siya ng kopya ng batch natin. Maraming salamat kay Ma. Chona (second honor natin, dahil first cousin ko) na nanghiram kay M’Laniog ng class record niya para mapaphoto-copy ang listahan natin.
Okey, ingat kayong lahat at nawa’y magkita-kita tayong lahat sa ating reunion (kasama ng inyong mga baby at asawa).
God bless you all!
Love,
John Joel E. Vergara
IV- St. Dominic
Minsan kaming nangarap mag-karoon ng highschool reunion upang magkasama-samang muli at para patunayan sa isa-isa’t na hindi kailanman makakalimutan ang aming pagkakaibigan nuong high-school.
Oo, natuloy ang reunion namin nuong 23 December 2004. Naalala ko pa ang laging kinakanta dati ni kuya Bodgie sa Batibot: “Nag-katotoo ang naisip ko. Nag-katotoo ang naisip ko. Nag-katotoo ang naisip ko. Nag-katotoo, ang naisip ko.”
Tiyak mauulit itong muli. Malamang December 2006 o January 2007.
Sana.
St. Dominic happy feast day po! Pray for us.
August 8, 2003
Kapistahan ni___?
4:45pm Friday
Sigurado akong natatadaan mo ang Santo ito na ipinanganak sa Calaruega, Spain noong 1770. Ang Santo ay tinuturing na bayani ng Simbahang Katoliko dahil sa kanilang natatanging buhay kabanalan, pananampalataya at pagmamamahal kay Jesus; sila ang patron ng ating buhay Kristiyano na dahil sa kanilang ginawang halimbawa ay nagdulot sa maraming tao na tumalima sa pagmamahal ng Diyos at sa kapwa. Ang Santong tinutukoy ko ngayon ay nag-tapos ng teolohiya sa Palencia at naging canon sa Cathedral ng Osma. Kilala siya sa pagtatanggol ng pananamapalataya ng Simbahan laban sa mapanirang Albigensian heresy o isang doctrina na taliwas sa turo ng Simbahan. Dahil sa kanyang mga turo, halimbawa at kabutihan marami siyang naging taga-sunod na maglingkod sa Diyos na palaganapin sa lahat ng mga bansa ang Mabuting Balita. Tinawag ang kanilang samahan na Order of Preachers. Sina St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Albert the Great, St. Catherine of Siena ay ilan lamang sa mga dakilang bayani ng pananampalataya na naimpluwensiyahan ng ating kaibigang Santo na ipinagdiriwang ngayon.
Nakakalulungkot nga lang dahil may mga kapatid tayong mga Kristyano na hindi binibigyan ng halaga at karangalan ang mga bayani ng Simbahan. Namimis-interpret kasi nila na pag nagdadasal tayo sa Santo o imahe ay sinasamba daw natin sila. Di nila alam na ang mga Santo ay “contact” natin sa itaas dahil kasama na nila si Jesus sa langit. Sila ang modelo ng Kristiyanismo upang tayo ay bumait din at makasunod sa tawag ng Diyos. Kumbaga sa ating kasaysayan, si Ninoy Aquino ang siyang nagbigay inspirasyon at nagpaigting sa maraming Pilipino na labanan ang dictatorship ni Marcos. (Patalastas: Ang beatification nga pala ni Mother Teresa of Calcutta ay sa October 19, magiging isang Blessed na siya, first step niya ito to sainthood. Marami na kasing reports na miracle dahil sa kanyang intercession. Okay lang kasi nuong buhay pa naman siya ay itinuturing na siyang “the living saint of modern time”.)
Medyo nalalayo yata tayo. At parang inaantok ka na. Oo nga pala, ang mga Order of Preachers na kilala sa tawag na Domicans ay nagtayo ng malalaking eskwelahan at unibersidad sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo para sa edukasyon ng mga kabataan at higit sa lahat para ihatid ang Kristiyanong pananampalataya. Mapalad ako’t nakapagtapos ako sa isa sa kanilang paaralan dito sa Pilipinas—kabatch nga kita eh.
Ano kilala mo na ba ang tinutukoy ko? Nakalimutan mo na yata siya mula ng grumadweyt tayo? Siguradong matatandaan mo siya kung ipadidinig ko ito sa iyo: “attention jailers, attention jailers, arrest those people who are not in the path way” o kaya’y, “attention jailers, attention jailers arrest those people who are not dancing.” Pag narinig mo ito at kung wala ka sa path way o kung hindi mo ginagawa ang sibasabing instruction, nako siguradong maghahabulan kayo ng mga CAT Officers, ikukulong ka sa isang classroom at magbabayad ka o kaya ay mag-aantay ka sa tutubos sa iyo ng dalawang Piso para sa iyong kalayan (matapos kang hikain sa katatakbo at kaba). Kikiligin ka naman pag narinig mo sa buong campus ang pangalan ng crush mo matapos mo siyang ipa-greet kay Mr. DJ… “this next song is specially dedicated for Miss__ of II-St. Lorenzo Ruiz from your secret admirer in IV-St. Thomas” (at kikiligin naman ang lahat kapag pinatugtog ni Mr. DJ ang “Endless Love”, “The Actor”, “Will I Survive” o “You Where There”).
Mayamaya’y magugulat ka na lang habang naglalakad ka biglang may dalawa o tatlong taong kakapit sa iyong kamay, pipiringan ng isa ang iyong mga mata habang nararamdaman mo na dinadala ka nila sa isang lugar na hindi mo alam (kaba). Ala kang makita ngunit naririnig mo na paparami ng paparami ang students at mga uzi na nagkakatuwaan sa paligid ninyo. Alam mo nang “na-marriage booth” ka. Lagot. Pero swerte mo pag dilat mo ay siya pala ang crush mo o kaya maganda o gwapo ang ikinasal sa iyo. Siyempre di ka magpapahalata na gustong-gusto mo naman. Subalit malas mo naman kung yung di mo type at hindi kaya-aya ang ikinasal sa iyo tulad ng nangyari sa akin! Asar ka kung sino man ang may pakana nuon. Grabe.
Naalala mo na ba kung bakit natin ginagawa ang mga bagay na iyon at ano ang kaugnayan nito sa ating banal na kaibigan na ipinagdiriwang natin ngayon? Teka, ito medyo kakaiba, siguro ay nabiktima ka rin nito, isipin mo wala kang kamalay-malay na naglalakad sa campus tapos ay bigla na lang may magba-vandal na kiss mark sa braso mo, sa kamay, sa noo o sa pisngi mo dahil natapak ang paa mo sa isang markang bilog sa lupa na pag-aari pala ng isang school club. Dahil tresspassing ka sa kanila kailangang magbayad ka ng 2 piso! Pwedeng business ito.
Pero hindi siyempre papatalo sa creativity ang gimik ng mga KOA o Knights of the Altar, sila ang mga mukhang anghel na sakristan under the supervision of Ma’am Tagalag (proudly to say I was a member). Natatandaan mo ba ang mahabang pila ng mga estudyante sa may Mother Ignacia building? May mga nagtutulakan at nagsisigawan lalu na yung mga girls at freshmen na nanginginig sa takot, ang iba naman ay magkahalong excitement at kaba ang nararamdaman habang inaantay ang group nila na makapasok sa Horror Booth. (Ito secret: isang natatanging ala-ala sa loob ng Horror Booth na ito ang siyang aking naging kasa-kasama saan man ako mag-punta lumipas man ang maraming taon at darating pang panahon. Dahil sa loob ng Horror Booth na ito ko unang naramdaman na pwede pala akong ma-love at first sight. [Senti]. Kung pumasok ka sa Horror Booth namin sigurado kong kilala mo na ang tinutukoy ko, siya ang gumanap na white lady; maganda kasi siya at mahaba ang buhok. Ako naman ay napili na maging isa sa mga aswang hindi ko alam kung bakit.)
Masaya ang lahat dahil walang pasok. Nagkapaligid sa ground ang maraming booths na kulay pula na sponsor ng Coke o Pop Cola. Naglalaban ng basketball ang mga varsity teams ng bawat year levels sa ilalim ng galit na galit na haring araw sa katanghalian tapat. Sa kabilang dako naman sa tabi ng malaking punong mangga at sa tapat ng canteen maliliksing (may malalata din) naglalaro ang volleyball players na pambato ng freshman, sophomore, junior at senior. Sigawan ang mga students at mga teachers lalo na pag magagaling at malalakas mag-spike ang mga players. Kaya lang minsan dahil siguro sa kaba o pressure napapalakas ang service na walang direksyon. Nayayanig at napapagewang tuloy ang nag-iisa nating pizza stand tuwing ito’y tatamaan. Buti na lang at may gasul sa ilalim na nagsilsilbing pabigat nito. Para sa akin at sa ilang kaibigan ko, walang epekto sa amin kung tumumba man o hindi ang tindahan ng pizza, kasi pang butsi, pichi-pichi, sopas o ginatan lang ang kaya ng baon ko. Subalit minsan may araw na lumalabas din ang pagka-sosi ko; bumibili ako ng Pop Cola matching with Pasalubong cup cake (yabang—feeling sikat ka na nun!). Minsan lang iyon!
Masarap maala-ala ang mga panahon na iyon. Lalo na kung araw ng kapistahan ng Patron nating ito. Didiscribe ko muna ang looks niya. Una, shaggy ang buhok niya (shaggy-lid lang may buhok hehe), nuong unang panahon kasi kinakatkat ng ilang mga Kristyano ang buhok nila bilang sacrifice. Ikalawa, nakasuot siya ng cream at black na habit. At ikatlo, kung natatandaan mo ang rebulto niya sa gawing kanan ng stage, katabi ng flagpole, sa tapat ng registrar’s office, may kasama siyang aso na may kagat-kagat na sulo na may apoy. (Akala ko dati kaya alagang aso ng mga madre yun) Ayon daw kasi sa kwento, bago daw isilang ang saint of the day natin ay nanaginip ang nanay niya na ang ipinagdadalangtao daw niya ay hindi tao kundi isang aso na may kagat-kagat na sulo. At nakita ng nanay na ito ang pamahiin na parang susunugin ni doggy ang buong daigdig. (Katakot naman mukhang bangungot yata iyon at hindi panaginip). Buti na lang at hindi inatake sa puso si nanay. Isa pa, nuong binyagan daw siya, ay may nakita naman ang ninang niya na isang nagniningning na star sa nuo niya. Lumipas ang panahon at napagtanto na ang sulo na kagat ng aso (di ko alam kung askal o poodle) at ang liwanag sa nuo niya ay simbolo pala ng kaniyang magiging misyon sa buhay. Tulad ng nabanggit ko sa simula, namuhay siya ng tagasunod ni Jesus; itinuro niya sa mga tao ang lahat ng aral ng Panginoon sa Ebanghelyo. Ang tanging naging hangad ng friend natin ay pag-alabin o maging “on fire” ang bawat puso ng mga tao sa pag-mamahal sa Diyos. Sa wikang Ingles: “This he did by preaching the gospel message, thereby shedding the light of Christ’s teaching in a world darkened by heresy and evil.” Ah, kaya pala may apoy at maningning na star. Magsalamin ka mamaya baka ikaw may star din! Hehe.
Ngayong nadiscribe ko na ang the looks niya at sigurado akong alam mo na kung sino ang tinutukoy ko. Kung ang sagot mo ay si San Isidro Labrador, congratulations! Umuwi ka na at magtanim ng kamote sa bakuran ninyo. Kung si San Lorenzo naman ang sagot mo ulitin mo ang pagtatanim ng kamote. (Biro lang) Kung ang sagot mo ay si St. Dominic Academy, este St. Dominic de Guzman pala. Congrats! Tama ka. Namatay St, Dominc nuong 6 Agosto 1221 sa Bologna ngunit hindi ang kanyang nasimulang adhikain, kahit di man natin naiisip at namamalayan kasama natin siya kahit ngayon dahil graduate tayo sa school niya di ba? Mamaya, bakit hindi mo subukan na magdasal at humingi ng assistance sa kanya ng libre, di ba Dominicans tayo? Paki-tanong na rin tuloy kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng Laudare, Benidicere at Praedicare na nakasulat sa ilalim ng Veritas (iyung patch sa uniform natin at nasa ID din natin). Hindi ko ito nasagot nuong itanong sa quiz nuong first year tayo.
Oo, feast din day ngayon ni St. Dominic, ang kulit-kulit ko kanina pa. Sa isip ko ay kanina pa ko naririnig ang kantang:
Amang Santo Domingo ng kabanal-banalan,
ilaw ka ng sandaigdigan ipinagdiriwang,
Iyong kadakilaan halimbawa ng buhay
Puspos ka ng Poong Diyos,
Gabay nati’t tanglaw
Magalak tayong lahat,
O Santa Iglesya,
Siya’y ipinagdiriwang sa langit at lupa…(nakalimutan ko na ang kasunod)
Isa pang kinakanta natin pag feast day niya ay pa-rap dahil para kang nakikipaghabulan sa madre sa bilis.
Chorus:
Dominic O Dominic
over the land and floods along
and sing a little song
Never looking for rewards
He just talks about the Lord
He just talks about the Lord
Verse:
Grant us now….(nakalimutan ko na pero pa-rap ang verse na ito)
Maraming taon na ang lumipas ng huli natin itong kantahin na sabay sabay tayo sa school. Sa tagal ay nakalimutan ko na ang lyrics. Tulad ng mga ala-ala ko sa high-school, unti-unting lumalabo ang bawat detalye kasama ang mga masasayang nagdaan. May mga pagkakataon na maaalala ko lang pag kinukwento sa akin ng ibang classmate ko. Karaniwan sasabihin nila ”natatandaan mo ba dati nung highschool tayo nang…?” Mahabang kwento kung iisa-isahin ko ang memories ko sa St. Dominic Academy halimbawa: si Sir Llanita (“tatag naman,” sabay kibit balikat), M’ Laniog (“isinga mo!sige..sige”, “wala kang care and concern”, “ano ang iyong bagong kaisipan at bagong karanasan?”), ang Talisay, ang CR, ang punong Mangga, ang Bible Service tuwing Lunes umaga, announcement of the cleanest classroom, katoperhan sa harap ng iyong crush, tuksuhan, selosan, halo-halo sa Ka Elvie, Bambi’s, tagyawat, chin-chun su, pulbos at Good Morning towel, mga proffessional doctors tuwing checkan ng test papers, uniforms kong naninilaw (na laba sa poso), at marami marami pang iba.
Ilan taon na ba ang lumipas? Minsan ba ay nagbabalik tanaw ka din tulad ko? O masyado na tayong busy sa ating career, sa office, sa ating trabaho o sa walang katapusang paghahanap ng trabaho? Siguro ay bising-busy ka sa iyong pamilya, diyata’t kay sarap isipin na may anak ka na pala ngayon o kung di naman ay nagpaplano ka’t nanalangin na magtaguyod ng isang simple at masayang tahanan. O kaya’y busy ka at tila wala ka nang paki-alam sa mundo maliban sa pag-ibig na iyong natagpuan sa iyong boyfriend o girlfriend. O siguro, ikaw din ay tipo ng tao na minsan o kadalasan, pakiramdam mo ay walang katiyakan ang iyong patutunguhan, mukhang malabo ang kinabukasan, napapagod ng mag-isip, nakakaiyak, nakakatakot…mahirap pala ang buhay. Simple lang ang buhay sa high-school.
Nagtatanong ka bakit sila successful at ako ganito pa rin? Nasaan ka man ngayon, at kung ano man ang iyong ginagawa, minsan kailangan nating lumingon upang makita natin ng mas malinaw ang ating patutunguhan, at mahalin kung ano man, at kung ano ang meron tayo ngayon. Kung tama ba o nakabubuti sa atin ang ating ginawa. Hindi ko na alam kung ano pa ang sasabihin ko tingnan mo na lang ito at paki-hanap ang iyong pangalan:
ST. DOMINIC ACADEMY
Pulilan, Bulacan
VI- ST. DOMINIC
School Year 1993-94
Mrs. Theresa Enriquez
BOYS
Acuña, Edgardo Jr. G.
Catriz, Renato S. II
Cristobal, Raymond C.
Cruz, Dante C.
Cueto, Michael J.
dela Cruz, Arnold C.
delos Santos, William A.
Diam, Ricky E.
Diaz, Marxc S.
Enriquez, Roehl C.
Galia, Armando D.
Garcia, Pol Mark A.
Gatuz, Rodel O.
Javillonar, Jaybee I.
Mag-isa, Luciano A.
Martinez, Eugene M.
Morales, Chester B.
Ocampo, Opher John F.
Ongsico, Rex P.
Palomares, Adrian O.
Santos, Alex D.
Santos, Odra Noel E.
Santos, Ronaldo T.
Siapco, Jason J.
Vergara, John Joel E.
Summary: Boys- 25
Girls - 31
Total - 56
GIRLS
Aquino, Angelina M.
Arcega, Consuelo M.
Barcelona, Carina S.
Bernardo, Janelle J.
Buñing, Susan M.
Cruz, Cybelle M.
Cruz, Elenita M.
de Guzman, Nancy M.
delos Santos, Basilisa C.
Dionisio, Maricris S.P.
Duncil, Marciana C.
Gonzales, Racquel S.
Ignacio, Adeliza D.
Joaquin, Evelyn B.
Legaspi, Lady Jennifer M.
Mag-isa, Ma. Monette E.
Navarro, Eilleen Gay F.
Pagtalunan, Olive C.
Pangilinan, Sherill S.
Pascual, Jocelyn T.
Peralta, Ma. Chona V.
Ramos, Maylyn S.
Reyes, Jocelyn V.
Reyes, Maricel A.
Rivo, Susana G.
Salas, Niña Ritzie Q.
Samson, Glory-Vi C.
Santos, Judith G.
Santos, Rachell Z.
Soriaga, Sherryl C.
Yu, Kathyryn S.
VI- ST. ALBERT
Miss. Socorro Laniog
BOYS
Angulo, Marvin M.
Baliton, Conrado Glenn P.
Bate, Francisco I.
Carangan, Ranel A.
Cruz, Bonifacio Jr. D.
Cruz, Francisco Jr. J.
Cruz, Manolito C.
Cruz, Norman C.
Cruz, Pee Jay V.
Cueto, Marvin J.
de Guzman, Reynaldo Jr. C.
dela Cruz, Rogelio S.
Esguerra, Efren S.
Espino, John Rex A.
Gonzales, Sherwin C.
Joson, Joselito C.
Leonardo, Fidel II F.
Lopez, Crisanto m.
Marcos, Ronald, C.
+Mateo, Joel G. (RIP)
Mayuyo, Rodel U.
Mendoza, Chris Reyson R.
Roxas, Noelito A.
Soyangco, Shervy Paul R.
GIRLS
Aguinaldo, Daisy L.
Alvarez, Jennifer B.
Arceo, Jocelyn M.
Caldreon, Lorna G.
Castro, Jane N.
Clemente, Amelia M.
Cordero, Lovely M.
Cruz, Rizza C.
Cruz, Rosemela B.
Domacian, Angelica A.
Esguerra, Ligaya A.
Francisco, Marivic E,
Fuentes, Josephine M.
Gonzales, Marie Rose L.
Hilario, Nedelyn S.
Leonardo, Jayvie B.
Magtalas, Lourdes R.
Manapat, Esperanza S.A.
Manapat, Ma. Theresa B.
Mendoza, Christina, L.
Quijano, Jennifer V.
Reyes, Ma. Jzha D.
Reyes, Norvil A.
Rueda Ma. Milagros T.
Santos, Evelyn C.
Soriaga, Eloisa B.
Tagalag, Maricar S.
Torres, Edna G.
Summary: Boys- 24
Girls - 28
Total - 52
VI – ST. MARTIN
Mrs. Filomena Garcia
BOYS
Abillon, Jonathan M.
Angeles, Oliver N.
Arceo, Nelson S.
Baldevia, Andres C.
Calderon, Agustin Jr. C.
Candelaria, Enrico C.
Cruz, Michael E.
Domingo, Roentjen I.
Esguerra, Aristeo A.
Espino, Efren A.
Hipolito, Abiel C.
Ignacio, Benigno Jr. I.
Isidro, Rodger B.
Leonida, Joseph E.
Marasigan, Derick B.
Mercado, Willie S.
Obcena, Mark S.
Parba, Roberto C.
Rivero, Rio Nemesis B.
Santos, Santos L.
Sulit, Ponciano Jr. S.
Villanueva, Jason B.
Santos, Rico N.
Summary: Boys- 23
Girls - 30
Total - 53
GIRLS
Ambulencia, Solita C.
Batongbacal, Elsa N.
Castro, Cecille L.
Cruz, Ellyn G.
de Lara, Jenny Rose C.
Diaz, Suzette A.
Espiritu, Dinia G.
Esquierdo, Annalyn C.
Garcia, Rita A.
Hipolito, Karen P.
Lebarda, Renee Rose C.
Laderas, Ronalie C.
Lina, Lorenza S.P.
Macaraeg, Analiza G.
Mag-isa, Rufina J.
Mañego, Marichel P.
Maravillo, Ma.Vivian R.
Monares, Ma. Pilar L.
Paraiso, Liwayway P.
Pascual, Salud l.
Payumo, Ana Shella L.
Peralta, Lerelynne C.
Reyes, Trinidad V.
Riveza, Maricris E.
Roque, Noemi E.
San Mateo, Ma. Bammy A.
Tayao, Fortunata E.
Tayao, Maribel G.
Torres, Loreta H.
Sison, Grace
VI – ST. THOMAS
Miss. Cecilia Santos
BOYS
Apostol, Romano A.
Barcelona, Joseph Elmer S.
Cruz, Reden R.
Cruz, Richard S.
Cuizon, Jefferson B.
Cunanan, Chester E.
Dalangin, Marlon E.
Espiritu, Joselino R.
Gabriel, Elmerson C.
Gingco, Hermogenes Jr. B.
Ingal, Robert S.
Malabon, Romeo Jr. B.
Marquez, Ronaldo R.
Mazon, Mark Christ A.
Mendoza, Ian Leo V.
Plamenco, Noel B.
Ramos, Alberto T.
Sanvictores, Nomer J.
Sebastian, Sherwin A.
Tayao, Bernard C.
Povera, Jessie M.
Villanueva, Rowel A.
Summary: Boys- 22
Girls - 30
Total – 52
GIRLS
Abillon, Lorelie C.
Acuña, Virginia C.
Agustin, Evangeline D.
Arceo, Myla H.
Bailon, Pilar C.
Bernardino, Mylene O.
Bernardo, Sherryl S.
Colinayo, Anabelle D.
Damiar, Christina M.
Dimaapi, Rhodora S.
Espiritu, Corazon R.
Espiritu, Felicitas P.
Lim, Alelie V.
Magdato, Norlie E.
Mag-isa, Lariza I.
Mañego, Lennie D.
Mendoza, Jenelita J.
Pascual, Carina H.
Peralta, Marissa T.
Peralta, Mildred H.
Rivera, Maybel N.
San Pedro, Agnes C.
Santiago, Ma. Teresa M.
Santos, Karen Grace M.
Santos, Leslie A.
Santos, Magdalena J.
Santos, Rhodora C.
Tacmo, Ma. Dona D.
Victoria, Jocelyn S.
30. Villanueva, Marife L.
SISTER MA. ELENA DIRA, O.P.
School Head/Principal
Source: Miss. Laniog’s Class Record
SISTER MA. ELENA DIRA, O.P.
School Head/Principal
Source: Miss. Laniog’s Class Record
Parang huminto ang takbo ng oras habang tinitingan ko ang pangalan ng bawat isa. May mga tao na ngayon ko lang muling naalala’t naisip matapos kong mabasa ang pangalan nila. Pero karamihan sa kanila ay kilang-kilala ko, subalit nakakalungkot isipin na ilan ay hindi ko na maalala kung sino (ala kasi dito ang yearbook ko). Isipin mo, bawat isang pangalan ng mga estudyanteng ito ay may kanya-kanyang kwento ng buhay, bawat isa sa mga estudyanteng ito (kaibilang ako) ay may mga magulang, lolo at lola, tito o tita na gumapang, nangutang, at sumuporta upang makatapos tayo ng pag-aaral at makarating saan man tayo naruruon ngayon.
Isipin mo na lang ang mga teachers, advisers, guard, madre, pari, classmates, hardinero, tindera, tagaluto, jeepney at tricycle drivers na dumaan sa buhay natin bilang estudyante upang tayo ay matuto, malaman ang tama at mali, mag-mahal sa kapwa at sa Diyos. Nakalimutan ko na sila dati salamat at ay naalala ko na silang muli-- naalala kong muli ang lahat ng biyaya na aking tinanggap mula sa Diyos. Naalala kong muli na ako dati ay nanalangin, nag-rorosary tuwing umaga, nagnonobena sa Our Lady of Perpetual Help tuwing Miyerkoles, nagdarasal pag may test, long quiz o magrereport sa klase, nagsisimba tuwing Linggo (uulitin ko tuwing Linggo) at piyestang pangilin. Naalala kong naniniwala pala ako sa Diyos at kasa-kasama ko Siya sa aking pag-usad at pagtataya, sa lungkot at ginhawa sa buhay na ito.
Naalala kong minsan ay nakasama natin si Joel Mateo, isang masigla, malakas na basketball player, laging nakatawa, pala-kaibigan at Ex-O sa CAT. Di man natin siya makikita pang muli ay ipina-aalala niya na ang patutunguhan niya ay patutungan din natin. Nawa’y kapiling na niya ngayon ang mga banal na Santo sa langit, sa piling ng Mahal na Ina, ng mga Anghel at ang ating Ama sa Langit.
At naalala ko na kaya pala ako nag-email sa inyo ay para itanong kung gusto ninyong mag-karoon ng Batch 1994 Reunion next year 2004. TEN YEARS na next year after our graduation!!! Siguro ay mas okay sa lahat kung December natin gaganapin. December 26, 2004, Sunday iyon (birthday ni Niña Ritzie Q. Salas). Ayan may date na tayo kulang na lang ay venue, organizers, pag-kain, programs at ang “OO” ninyo.
Kung alam ninyo ang email address ng mga taong nabanggit sa taas pwede ninyong iforward ang message na ito. O itext ninyo sila para mas mabilis. Ang akin ay suggestion lang. TEN YEARS lang naman tayo next year eh. Kalimutan na natin iyon. TEN YEARS LANG NAMAN.
O paano, kailangan natin ang suggestion ng bawat isa, paki-forward na lang kay Pol Mark kung alam ninyo ang email niya, siya ang Presidente natin. Pinadalan ko na siya ng kopya ng batch natin. Maraming salamat kay Ma. Chona (second honor natin, dahil first cousin ko) na nanghiram kay M’Laniog ng class record niya para mapaphoto-copy ang listahan natin.
Okey, ingat kayong lahat at nawa’y magkita-kita tayong lahat sa ating reunion (kasama ng inyong mga baby at asawa).
God bless you all!
Love,
John Joel E. Vergara
IV- St. Dominic
Thursday, August 04, 2005
What's Your Response?
Sakto ang relfection guide ng 365 days with Lord ngayong araw ng ito. Tagos sa puso. Hindi ako agad naka-ilag. Pinatamaan talaga ako.
*Kaw!*(tunog ng baril ni Nicola)
"'The person who is really determined to make something happen finds a way. The person who isn't finds an excuse.' How do you look at the harsh realities of life? Do you see them as challenges that must be overcome or as excuses to run
away?"
*Kaw!*(tunog ng baril ni Nicola)
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Back to the Basic
I received text messages this morning from my friend Elsa which surprisingly made me look at my lifestyle. She said in one of her texts, Nag-enrol kami ni Espie sa gym, sarap ng pinagpapawisan. (I've just started working out in the gym with Espie, it's a great feeling when you really perspire- *pardon me for my lousy translation:( I don't know why this simple message has motivated me to do regulary what I believe I must do daily apart from my fixed schedule.
- Daily recitation of the Rosary.
- One hour physical exercise.
- Swimming. At least once a week.
- Read a good book.
- Going to bed early.
- Be always on time.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Pananagutan
"Walang sinuman ang nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang. Walang sinuman ang namamatay para sarili lamang. Tayong lahat ay may pananagutan sa isa't-isa..."
Itong kanta na ito ay madalas kinakanta sa patay o kaya sa lamay ng patay o parasal sa patay. Kaya naman pag naalala ko kahit tune lang nito e medyo nakakalungkot ang dating. Pero may isang occassion na very appropriate ang religious song na ito.
Hindi lang pang-funeral gig ang "Pananagutan". Last Sunday ko lang ito uli naalala habang nasa mahabang pila ako sa buffet lunch sa John Vianney Seminary sa Waga-Waga. Bandang 10 ng umaga mahigit 100 katao kami na dahan-dahang umuusad patungo sa long table kung saan nakahain ang napakaraming fried eggs, sausages, toast breads, sliced tomatoes at baked beans. Weird, lunch na ito dito kahit alang kanin. Pero ang mas nakakatakot e pare-pareho kaming mga seminarista at mas mas nakakatakot -- lahat kami gutom.
Automatic. Bumalik agad ang masayang-ala-ala-ng-mga-kaklase-ko-sa-Immaculate-Conception-Major-Seminary-sa-Bulacan. Sa ganitong sitwasyon kasi pag nasa harap kami hapag kainan (lalo na pag walang pari), napakahalaga ang alertness at bilis ng kamay sa pag kuha ng food. Survival of the featest! Kung helpless ka na dahil sa may mga naunang dayukdok sa pagkain, para kaming UP Madrigal Choir na sabay sabay sa pag-awit: "Walang sinuman ang nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang. Walang sinuman ang namamatay para sarili lamang."
Iba pa rin ang buhay sa seminaryo sa Pinas. Nakakamiss din pala ang mga kapwa ko dayukdok-- sina Alvin Reyes, Joel Sioson, Pip Silverio, Rafa, Shed, Lando, Fr. Ateng, Indo, Carlo, Gerry, Fr. Sonny, Tonyo, Fr. Badong, Nante, Patrick, atbp (halos lahat yata e).
Nakakamiss kumain ng sama-sama sa isang malaking palanggana sa hating gabi o kumain ng ice cream nang nakakamay, mandukot ng pagkain ng mga pari sa refectory at...oopss, baka mabasa ito ni Msgr. Angel at Fr. Willy! *Lingon lingon*
Itong kanta na ito ay madalas kinakanta sa patay o kaya sa lamay ng patay o parasal sa patay. Kaya naman pag naalala ko kahit tune lang nito e medyo nakakalungkot ang dating. Pero may isang occassion na very appropriate ang religious song na ito.
Hindi lang pang-funeral gig ang "Pananagutan". Last Sunday ko lang ito uli naalala habang nasa mahabang pila ako sa buffet lunch sa John Vianney Seminary sa Waga-Waga. Bandang 10 ng umaga mahigit 100 katao kami na dahan-dahang umuusad patungo sa long table kung saan nakahain ang napakaraming fried eggs, sausages, toast breads, sliced tomatoes at baked beans. Weird, lunch na ito dito kahit alang kanin. Pero ang mas nakakatakot e pare-pareho kaming mga seminarista at mas mas nakakatakot -- lahat kami gutom.
Automatic. Bumalik agad ang masayang-ala-ala-ng-mga-kaklase-ko-sa-Immaculate-Conception-Major-Seminary-sa-Bulacan. Sa ganitong sitwasyon kasi pag nasa harap kami hapag kainan (lalo na pag walang pari), napakahalaga ang alertness at bilis ng kamay sa pag kuha ng food. Survival of the featest! Kung helpless ka na dahil sa may mga naunang dayukdok sa pagkain, para kaming UP Madrigal Choir na sabay sabay sa pag-awit: "Walang sinuman ang nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang. Walang sinuman ang namamatay para sarili lamang."
Iba pa rin ang buhay sa seminaryo sa Pinas. Nakakamiss din pala ang mga kapwa ko dayukdok-- sina Alvin Reyes, Joel Sioson, Pip Silverio, Rafa, Shed, Lando, Fr. Ateng, Indo, Carlo, Gerry, Fr. Sonny, Tonyo, Fr. Badong, Nante, Patrick, atbp (halos lahat yata e).
Nakakamiss kumain ng sama-sama sa isang malaking palanggana sa hating gabi o kumain ng ice cream nang nakakamay, mandukot ng pagkain ng mga pari sa refectory at...oopss, baka mabasa ito ni Msgr. Angel at Fr. Willy! *Lingon lingon*
Monday, August 01, 2005
Poverty in Australia
One of the most serious social concerns of the world today is poverty. When we think of the term ‘poverty’ the image of the poor, hungry, homeless, destitute and underprivileged people immediately come into our mind. Simply in this image we can define poverty as “a condition when people lack the means to satisfy their basic needs.”[1] The reality of poverty is vividly seen in poor countries in Asia, the Middle East, most of Africa, and large parts of South and Central America. People from these parts of the world are the most deficient amongst all as they are exposed to starvation or death; or, if not, “they are those people whose nutrition, housing, and clothing, though adequate to preserve life, do not measure up to the population as a whole.”[2]
For the poor daily life is a vicious cycle of struggle and survival; their access to necessities of life and the quality of their lives are considerably lower than the standard way of living. Their daily existence does not meet the moral norms that “humankind needs to be healthy and fulfilled as well as to be sheltered and adequately fed.”[3] Hence, speaking in a broad sense, poverty is not simply a condition of defined by low level of wealth or income rather “poverty is much about powerlessness and exclusion…it is as much a social, cultural, political and spiritual reality as it is an economic one.”[4]
Given the above general description of what it is be poor, we cannot avoid including the questions of inequality and fairness as consequences of poverty. Looking at the biblical background, we can see clearly that poverty is against the divine plan of God. The book of Genesis sees the world as created for the good of the whole humanity. The created world in all its fruitfulness, goodness and beauty is the place where God wishes to be in relationship with us. God’s creation is made available for the whole humanity to equally share and cultivate. In the book of Genesis, we find that humanity is unique from all things that God has created because humanity, male and female, is created in his image and likeness.[5] This unique identity that has been bestowed upon the humanity not only should make all individuals equal; rather it should ensure that the human dignity of every person must be respected and protected.
On this principle, we find that poverty by its nature is contrary to the divine purpose of God’s creation and causes injustice to human dignity. In the Old Testament, the poor have a special place in God. In the Psalms the poor are described as contrasted with their oppressors[6] and they see themselves as having righteous claim on God.[7] God blesses those who come to defend the poor against those who turn against from them. In the New Testament, Christ, the Son of God, becomes the defender of the poor, as throughout his public ministry, Jesus condemned gross inequalities and injustices. Jesus condemns the failure to fulfill one’s responsibility to help others who are in need. Jesus obliges his followers not to turn their back from the poor.[8] The Gospel is about justice for the poor. When Jesus sent his apostles to their mission he asked them to embraced homelessness and simplicity so that they may live in solidarity with the poor.[9]
It is from the love and compassion of Christ for the poor which demands justice, equity and solidarity that the social teaching of the Church, particularly on the issue of poverty, is founded and developed. We find in the papal teachings further developments of the social teachings on poverty as the Church continues its mission to read the “signs of times.” But other than papal teachings “there has been a wealth of treatises and statements from social thinkers, individual bishops, bishops’ conference and synods of bishops.”[10]
The statements of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference on the issue of poverty since Vatican II testify that there is indeed an enormous wealth of reflection and understanding from the church’s leaders about Christ’s mission to eradicate poverty and defend the poor from their oppressors. The statements of the Australian Bishops during the first decade after the Vatican II (1970-1984) can be summed up as a call of encouragement to alleviate poverty;[11] an appeal for awareness of the country’s responsibility to help the poor nations;[12] and the country’s renewal of commitment in giving aid to the suffering countries.[13] A developed country like Australia, having the privilege of adequate food supply and rich natural resources, has a moral responsibility to act as generously as possible to assist the needs of impoverished countries. It is important to note that the Australian bishops advocated that the aid for developing countries must be based on two main principles: human dignity and social justice.[14]
In the period of 1985-1995 the pastoral statements of the Australian bishops continue the earlier vision on waging war on poverty which entails the education the Australian church in the areas of justice, peace and development. The bishops reiterated their hope for the people to their commitment to justice and development in their personal lives and in their personal goals.[15] They reminded the people that the principle in giving aid was based on a genuine partnership with the poor.[16] The bishops discussed their view on the reality of poverty in Australia such as unemployment, homelessness and the situation amongst Aboriginal people, and looked at the structural causes of many existing forms of disadvantage and deprivation in Australian society.[17]
The Australian bishops’ statements in 1996-2005 depict the reality of poverty apparent in a wealthy country of Australia. At the turn of the third millennium poverty in Australian society reveals itself in the face of homeless children, sole parents, refugees and asylum seekers, and the Aboriginal people.[18] Spiritual poverty as well is prevalent in the modern day Australia in the increasing number of the “unborn children and those struggling with addiction.”[19]
In 1992 the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference tackled the issue of poverty and the equal distribution of wealth in Australia by the publication of Common Wealth for the Common Good. This document attempts to apply in the Australian context the idea of the preferential option for the poor. The central message of the bishops’ statements can be summed up in the promotion of solidarity and justice. Solidarity means to “recognise people as social beings with the rights, responsibilities and dignity of interdependent members of very large communities.”[20] It requires a firmness of commitment to the common good and therefore the Australian people must place less value on self-centered individualism. There is an urgency to examine one’s attitude towards acquisition and use of wealth because this always involves social obligations and promotion of justice to people. In this statement the bishops warn, “those of us who are not poor should also review our way of thinking about poor people, try to learn form them and see life through their eyes.”[21]
It is difficult to equate the situation of poverty in Australia with the kind of poverty which is afflicting a Third World country such as the Philippines. There is a wide gap between the standard of living of the poorest people in Australia and millions of Filipinos who dwell in the slums, garbage places, under bridges, and polluted rivers. We can see that poverty in Australia is relative in the poverty in the Philippines in terms of powerlessness, exclusion, the marginalised, and those living ‘in exile’ in one’s own society. Unjust social structures are the main causes of poverty in the country such as corruption, foreign debt problem and also international influence. But besides the products of human actions natural disasters like earthquake, volcanic eruption, flood, typhoon and drought also cause tremendous poverty in the Philippines.
It is not difficult to see the equal significance of the Australian bishops and the Filipino bishops in their vision to eliminate poverty in their own country. The Filipino bishops believe that the role of the Church is to be a sign of hope to poor through the recognition of their human dignity: “Our mission demands that we lift our people of their dehumanizing poverty. We must make it possible for the poor to live in dignity, and in honor, as the children of God. To become the Church of the Poor is our vision.”[22] The bishops in the Philippines follow the same principle of ‘Australian solidarity’: “Together with people of other faiths, we must become one with poor – one people, one nation, one Filipino family.”[23]
The Church has an obligation to proclaim the truth that human suffering due to poverty is not the will of God. In many areas of social problems it is duty of the Church to speak in behalf of the poor. It is important to remember that Jesus Christ himself identifies himself with the poor. Jesus favours and identifies himself with poor, not only to show his compassion to the poor, bur rather to teach them that security cannot be found alone in material wealth but ultimately from the divine providence of God. He gives his own idea of extreme poverty, he says, “foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”[24] And in many occasions Jesus shows his great love and compassion for the poor, the sick, the dying and the underprivileged people of his time. His attitude towards the poor lifts up their human dignity and their position as children of God for “either are they the victim of injustice or they find themselves in position in which they are powerless to resist the oppression of the powerful.”[25] And the role of the Church is to continue this mission. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the Church will be able to translate Christ’s words and actions into the promotion of love, justice and peace.
[1] Philip W. Goetz, ed., The New Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol 9, (Chichago: University of Chicago Press, 1986), 652.
[2] ibid.
[3] James Childress & John Macquarrie, eds., A New Dictionary of Christian Ethics, (London: SCM Press, 1986), 678.
[4] Australian Episcopal Conference, A New Beginning: Eradicating Poverty in the World (Victoria: Harper Collins), 14.
[5] Gen 1:26.
[6] Ps 72:4.
[7] Ps 86:1-2.
[8] “Give to anyone who asks, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.” Mt.5:42;10:8.
[9] Mk 6:9.
[10] Thomas Stafford Williams, “Evangelization and the Church’s Social Teaching,” Catholic International 4 (May, 1993), 227.
[11] Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Australian Catholic Bishops Statements Since Vat II, “Poverty and developing nations,” January, 1970, (Homebush: St. Pauls, 1985), 176-177.
[12] ACBS “Food and the Christian Conscience,” November 1975, 179-183.
[13] ACBS “20th Anniversary of Australian Catholic Relief,” May 1994, 186.
[14] ACBC “Support for Australian Catholic Relief,” May 28,1981, 185.
[15] Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference 1985-1995,, “20th Anniversary of Populorum Progressio on the Development of People,” May 6, 1987, (Homebush: St. Pauls), 121.
[16] ACBS, “25th Anniversary of Australian Catholic Relief,” 2 December 1998, 123-125;
[17] ACBS, “Unemployment,” 5 December 1991, 141-144; “Common Wealth for the Common Good,” September 1992, 145-156; and “Australia’s Rural Communities,” 6 December 1994, 157-159.
[18] “A Statement for Social Justice Sunday 1999” 24 Oct 1999.
[19] “Federation: A time to reflect on the past and plan for the future” 11 May 2001.
[20]Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Common Wealth for the Common Good, (Victoria: Collins Dove, 1992), 129.
[21] ibid. p.142.
[22] Catholic Bishop of the Philippines, “Statement of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference on the Plight for the Poor,” 21 July 1991.
[23] Ibid.
[24] Luke 9:58.
[25] Childress & Macquarrie, eds., A New Dictionary of Christian Ethics, 678.
For the poor daily life is a vicious cycle of struggle and survival; their access to necessities of life and the quality of their lives are considerably lower than the standard way of living. Their daily existence does not meet the moral norms that “humankind needs to be healthy and fulfilled as well as to be sheltered and adequately fed.”[3] Hence, speaking in a broad sense, poverty is not simply a condition of defined by low level of wealth or income rather “poverty is much about powerlessness and exclusion…it is as much a social, cultural, political and spiritual reality as it is an economic one.”[4]
Given the above general description of what it is be poor, we cannot avoid including the questions of inequality and fairness as consequences of poverty. Looking at the biblical background, we can see clearly that poverty is against the divine plan of God. The book of Genesis sees the world as created for the good of the whole humanity. The created world in all its fruitfulness, goodness and beauty is the place where God wishes to be in relationship with us. God’s creation is made available for the whole humanity to equally share and cultivate. In the book of Genesis, we find that humanity is unique from all things that God has created because humanity, male and female, is created in his image and likeness.[5] This unique identity that has been bestowed upon the humanity not only should make all individuals equal; rather it should ensure that the human dignity of every person must be respected and protected.
On this principle, we find that poverty by its nature is contrary to the divine purpose of God’s creation and causes injustice to human dignity. In the Old Testament, the poor have a special place in God. In the Psalms the poor are described as contrasted with their oppressors[6] and they see themselves as having righteous claim on God.[7] God blesses those who come to defend the poor against those who turn against from them. In the New Testament, Christ, the Son of God, becomes the defender of the poor, as throughout his public ministry, Jesus condemned gross inequalities and injustices. Jesus condemns the failure to fulfill one’s responsibility to help others who are in need. Jesus obliges his followers not to turn their back from the poor.[8] The Gospel is about justice for the poor. When Jesus sent his apostles to their mission he asked them to embraced homelessness and simplicity so that they may live in solidarity with the poor.[9]
It is from the love and compassion of Christ for the poor which demands justice, equity and solidarity that the social teaching of the Church, particularly on the issue of poverty, is founded and developed. We find in the papal teachings further developments of the social teachings on poverty as the Church continues its mission to read the “signs of times.” But other than papal teachings “there has been a wealth of treatises and statements from social thinkers, individual bishops, bishops’ conference and synods of bishops.”[10]
The statements of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference on the issue of poverty since Vatican II testify that there is indeed an enormous wealth of reflection and understanding from the church’s leaders about Christ’s mission to eradicate poverty and defend the poor from their oppressors. The statements of the Australian Bishops during the first decade after the Vatican II (1970-1984) can be summed up as a call of encouragement to alleviate poverty;[11] an appeal for awareness of the country’s responsibility to help the poor nations;[12] and the country’s renewal of commitment in giving aid to the suffering countries.[13] A developed country like Australia, having the privilege of adequate food supply and rich natural resources, has a moral responsibility to act as generously as possible to assist the needs of impoverished countries. It is important to note that the Australian bishops advocated that the aid for developing countries must be based on two main principles: human dignity and social justice.[14]
In the period of 1985-1995 the pastoral statements of the Australian bishops continue the earlier vision on waging war on poverty which entails the education the Australian church in the areas of justice, peace and development. The bishops reiterated their hope for the people to their commitment to justice and development in their personal lives and in their personal goals.[15] They reminded the people that the principle in giving aid was based on a genuine partnership with the poor.[16] The bishops discussed their view on the reality of poverty in Australia such as unemployment, homelessness and the situation amongst Aboriginal people, and looked at the structural causes of many existing forms of disadvantage and deprivation in Australian society.[17]
The Australian bishops’ statements in 1996-2005 depict the reality of poverty apparent in a wealthy country of Australia. At the turn of the third millennium poverty in Australian society reveals itself in the face of homeless children, sole parents, refugees and asylum seekers, and the Aboriginal people.[18] Spiritual poverty as well is prevalent in the modern day Australia in the increasing number of the “unborn children and those struggling with addiction.”[19]
In 1992 the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference tackled the issue of poverty and the equal distribution of wealth in Australia by the publication of Common Wealth for the Common Good. This document attempts to apply in the Australian context the idea of the preferential option for the poor. The central message of the bishops’ statements can be summed up in the promotion of solidarity and justice. Solidarity means to “recognise people as social beings with the rights, responsibilities and dignity of interdependent members of very large communities.”[20] It requires a firmness of commitment to the common good and therefore the Australian people must place less value on self-centered individualism. There is an urgency to examine one’s attitude towards acquisition and use of wealth because this always involves social obligations and promotion of justice to people. In this statement the bishops warn, “those of us who are not poor should also review our way of thinking about poor people, try to learn form them and see life through their eyes.”[21]
It is difficult to equate the situation of poverty in Australia with the kind of poverty which is afflicting a Third World country such as the Philippines. There is a wide gap between the standard of living of the poorest people in Australia and millions of Filipinos who dwell in the slums, garbage places, under bridges, and polluted rivers. We can see that poverty in Australia is relative in the poverty in the Philippines in terms of powerlessness, exclusion, the marginalised, and those living ‘in exile’ in one’s own society. Unjust social structures are the main causes of poverty in the country such as corruption, foreign debt problem and also international influence. But besides the products of human actions natural disasters like earthquake, volcanic eruption, flood, typhoon and drought also cause tremendous poverty in the Philippines.
It is not difficult to see the equal significance of the Australian bishops and the Filipino bishops in their vision to eliminate poverty in their own country. The Filipino bishops believe that the role of the Church is to be a sign of hope to poor through the recognition of their human dignity: “Our mission demands that we lift our people of their dehumanizing poverty. We must make it possible for the poor to live in dignity, and in honor, as the children of God. To become the Church of the Poor is our vision.”[22] The bishops in the Philippines follow the same principle of ‘Australian solidarity’: “Together with people of other faiths, we must become one with poor – one people, one nation, one Filipino family.”[23]
The Church has an obligation to proclaim the truth that human suffering due to poverty is not the will of God. In many areas of social problems it is duty of the Church to speak in behalf of the poor. It is important to remember that Jesus Christ himself identifies himself with the poor. Jesus favours and identifies himself with poor, not only to show his compassion to the poor, bur rather to teach them that security cannot be found alone in material wealth but ultimately from the divine providence of God. He gives his own idea of extreme poverty, he says, “foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”[24] And in many occasions Jesus shows his great love and compassion for the poor, the sick, the dying and the underprivileged people of his time. His attitude towards the poor lifts up their human dignity and their position as children of God for “either are they the victim of injustice or they find themselves in position in which they are powerless to resist the oppression of the powerful.”[25] And the role of the Church is to continue this mission. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the Church will be able to translate Christ’s words and actions into the promotion of love, justice and peace.
[1] Philip W. Goetz, ed., The New Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol 9, (Chichago: University of Chicago Press, 1986), 652.
[2] ibid.
[3] James Childress & John Macquarrie, eds., A New Dictionary of Christian Ethics, (London: SCM Press, 1986), 678.
[4] Australian Episcopal Conference, A New Beginning: Eradicating Poverty in the World (Victoria: Harper Collins), 14.
[5] Gen 1:26.
[6] Ps 72:4.
[7] Ps 86:1-2.
[8] “Give to anyone who asks, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.” Mt.5:42;10:8.
[9] Mk 6:9.
[10] Thomas Stafford Williams, “Evangelization and the Church’s Social Teaching,” Catholic International 4 (May, 1993), 227.
[11] Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Australian Catholic Bishops Statements Since Vat II, “Poverty and developing nations,” January, 1970, (Homebush: St. Pauls, 1985), 176-177.
[12] ACBS “Food and the Christian Conscience,” November 1975, 179-183.
[13] ACBS “20th Anniversary of Australian Catholic Relief,” May 1994, 186.
[14] ACBC “Support for Australian Catholic Relief,” May 28,1981, 185.
[15] Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference 1985-1995,, “20th Anniversary of Populorum Progressio on the Development of People,” May 6, 1987, (Homebush: St. Pauls), 121.
[16] ACBS, “25th Anniversary of Australian Catholic Relief,” 2 December 1998, 123-125;
[17] ACBS, “Unemployment,” 5 December 1991, 141-144; “Common Wealth for the Common Good,” September 1992, 145-156; and “Australia’s Rural Communities,” 6 December 1994, 157-159.
[18] “A Statement for Social Justice Sunday 1999” 24 Oct 1999.
[19] “Federation: A time to reflect on the past and plan for the future” 11 May 2001.
[20]Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Common Wealth for the Common Good, (Victoria: Collins Dove, 1992), 129.
[21] ibid. p.142.
[22] Catholic Bishop of the Philippines, “Statement of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference on the Plight for the Poor,” 21 July 1991.
[23] Ibid.
[24] Luke 9:58.
[25] Childress & Macquarrie, eds., A New Dictionary of Christian Ethics, 678.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
See you there
Christ, the true light of us, true morn,
Dispersing far the shades of night,
Light wehereof every light is born,
Pledge of the beatific light,
Though all the night our guardian be
Whose watch no sleep or slumber knows;
Thou be our peace, that stayed on thee
Through darkness we may find repose.
Sleep then our eyes, but never sleep
The watchful heaven-directed heart,
And may thy hand in safety keep
The servants whose desire thou art.
Look on us, thou, and at our side
Our foes and thine repulse afar;
Through every ill the faitful guide
Who in thy blood redeemed are.
While soul within the body clings,
Body and soul defend us, Lord,
Sure in the shadow of thy wings,
Kept in thy lasting watch and ward.
Dispersing far the shades of night,
Light wehereof every light is born,
Pledge of the beatific light,
Though all the night our guardian be
Whose watch no sleep or slumber knows;
Thou be our peace, that stayed on thee
Through darkness we may find repose.
Sleep then our eyes, but never sleep
The watchful heaven-directed heart,
And may thy hand in safety keep
The servants whose desire thou art.
Look on us, thou, and at our side
Our foes and thine repulse afar;
Through every ill the faitful guide
Who in thy blood redeemed are.
While soul within the body clings,
Body and soul defend us, Lord,
Sure in the shadow of thy wings,
Kept in thy lasting watch and ward.
8th Century
Shewring
* Accompany Lord, your daughter Primitiva to the gate of Heaven and may your everlasting light shine upon her. Grant that one day, we soon be reunited with her and with all our loved ones who have left before us in this world. Salamat ate Emma sa mga iniwan mo saming ala-ala. Wala na akong ipaparang tri-cycle pag-uwi mo galing sa amin :(
Shewring
* Accompany Lord, your daughter Primitiva to the gate of Heaven and may your everlasting light shine upon her. Grant that one day, we soon be reunited with her and with all our loved ones who have left before us in this world. Salamat ate Emma sa mga iniwan mo saming ala-ala. Wala na akong ipaparang tri-cycle pag-uwi mo galing sa amin :(
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Another Goodbye
My tita Emma has gone to our Lord's Kingdom today. I'm struggling hard to put into words the grief of our family. God bless her soul.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Sana
Gabi na naman. Lumipas na naman ang isang araw sa talaan ng istorya ng buhay. Bukas magsisimulang muli ang bagong araw na nakalaan para bawat isa, sa lahat ng tao sa buong panig ng daigdig. Bukas ay panibagong araw na naman ng pagtatanong, pagbabakasakali at pagpupunyagi na sana ay makamit ng minimithing pangarap. Nakakapagod ngunit paulit-ulit na umaasa na minsa'y makakamit din nating bawat Pilipino ang inaasam na pag-unlad, paglaya sa kamang-mangan at karukhaan, at pagtawid sa bagong landas bilang bagong Pilipinas para sa bagong Pilipino.
Ngayon ay unti-unti tumitimo sa aking puso ang lungkot sapagkat tayong mga Pinoy ngayon ay watak-watak. Sumisidhi ang dibisyon sa ating pag-iral bilang mamamayang Pilipino. Hindi ko naman dati pinapansing lubusan ang kalagayan ng ating bansa, subalit ngayon unti-unting nanunuot ang aking pagka-Pilipino. Apektado din pala ako ng mga nangyayari sa bansang aking iniwan (hindi ko pala siya maaring iwanan).
Maraming beses na may lumapit sa akin na hindi Pilipino wika niya'y, "Alam mo lagi kong ipinagdasal ang iyong bansa lalo na si Gloria." Sa isang pagkakataon naman ay isang Australyano ang napahayag ng damdamin at parang nakikidalamhati sa akin, "Nabalitaan ko ang nangyayari sa Pilipinas." Para ba akong namatayan at siya ay nakikiramay.
Ano ang magagawa ko? Marami akong tanong, ngunit ayokong magsalita, ayokong magmukhang pulitiko na kunwari'y alam ang lahat ng kasagutan sa lahat ng ating problema.
Dalangin ko na sana, sana naman, ay mapanibago ang sistema ng ating pagmumuhay. Hindi sa pagtuturuan ng pagkakamali ng isa kundi sa pag-amin sa sariling pagkukulang.
Ang bayang Pilipinas ay bayan ng Diyos, magkaisa nawa'y ang bawat Pilipino sa panalangin, mamayani nawa ang pag-mamahalan at pagkakaisa at mag-alay nawa tayo ng sariling sakripisyo para sa ikagiginhawa ng ating naghihirap na kababayan.
Sana'y isabuhay ko ang mga sinabi ko, kahit ngayon ay gabi na naman.
Ngayon ay unti-unti tumitimo sa aking puso ang lungkot sapagkat tayong mga Pinoy ngayon ay watak-watak. Sumisidhi ang dibisyon sa ating pag-iral bilang mamamayang Pilipino. Hindi ko naman dati pinapansing lubusan ang kalagayan ng ating bansa, subalit ngayon unti-unting nanunuot ang aking pagka-Pilipino. Apektado din pala ako ng mga nangyayari sa bansang aking iniwan (hindi ko pala siya maaring iwanan).
Maraming beses na may lumapit sa akin na hindi Pilipino wika niya'y, "Alam mo lagi kong ipinagdasal ang iyong bansa lalo na si Gloria." Sa isang pagkakataon naman ay isang Australyano ang napahayag ng damdamin at parang nakikidalamhati sa akin, "Nabalitaan ko ang nangyayari sa Pilipinas." Para ba akong namatayan at siya ay nakikiramay.
Ano ang magagawa ko? Marami akong tanong, ngunit ayokong magsalita, ayokong magmukhang pulitiko na kunwari'y alam ang lahat ng kasagutan sa lahat ng ating problema.
Dalangin ko na sana, sana naman, ay mapanibago ang sistema ng ating pagmumuhay. Hindi sa pagtuturuan ng pagkakamali ng isa kundi sa pag-amin sa sariling pagkukulang.
Ang bayang Pilipinas ay bayan ng Diyos, magkaisa nawa'y ang bawat Pilipino sa panalangin, mamayani nawa ang pag-mamahalan at pagkakaisa at mag-alay nawa tayo ng sariling sakripisyo para sa ikagiginhawa ng ating naghihirap na kababayan.
Sana'y isabuhay ko ang mga sinabi ko, kahit ngayon ay gabi na naman.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Tsinoy
I had the privilege of meeting today a Filipino intellectual by the name of Teresita Ang See. I attended this afternoon her forum discussion at La Trobe University, city campus, together with six Filipino scholars and an Australian who seems to know more about the Philippines than I do. Teresista Ang See is a professor in Ateneo de Manila University, chairperson of Crusade Action Against Crime, founding president of Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran (a non-government organization in the Philippines started in 1971). There are so many other important details about Teresita but what struck me most was the fact that she is one of the 27 Filipino nominees for Nobel Prize.
It is hard for me to reiterate what she has discussed in the forum today (as I said she is intellectual, I am not!). But here is the outline of those things that I can still remember and find interesting.
- Chinese Diaspora in the Philippines is unique in Asia
- There was a large scale of Filipino-Chinese persecution, harassment and mass massacres inflicted by the Spaniards. The Spaniards feared and mistrusted them.
- There were Chinese individuals who played important role during the revolution against Spanish rule. (Jose Ignacio Paua was a pure blooded Chinese who enlisted with Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo’s army; he won many battles and was among the signatories to the Biak na Bato constitution.
- There is only 1.2% of Filipino-Chinese in the Philippines. The census is based on ethnical Chinese who at least understand Chinese language, enrolled in Chinese schools, retaining Chinese tradition.
- Filipino-Chinese in the Philippines is the smallest Chinese community in Asia.
- Chinese in the Philippines speak Hokien, they came from Fukien, China.
- The new generation of Filipino-Chinese speak Tagalog as their first language, English as second, Hokien third and Mandarin as third language among others.
- Filipino-Chinese prefer to be called “Tsinoy” it is more politically correct because the usual term “Instik” is derogatory against them. “Instik” means an old Chinese man. “Instik beho tulo laway” is a mockery of an old China man whose saliva is drooling in his mouth because he had not enough sleep because of he was working so hard day and night.
- Tsinoy is the most vulnerable sector in the Philippines. They have no weapon against the very organized kidnappings.
- Many Chinese in the Philippines practiced religious syncretism, the unique product of Catholic and Buddhist intermarriage.
- Reverse migration: Before the Chinese people came in the Philippines barefooted with full of hopes and determinations to find a better in the country. Now, it is sad that Filipinos are leaving the country to find a land of greener pasture abroad.
- There are more wealthy Filipinos than the Tsinoys. The wealth of the Tsinoys are well publicized because they own the malls, commercial buildings, products, etc. but the not strategic property which run the business, lifestyle and economy of the country.
- Most of the enormous wealth of the elite Filipinos are non-creative.
Teresita Ang See has established Bahay Tsinoy (A Museum of the Chinese in the Philippines Life), located at Anda corner Cabildo Streets in Intramuros.
Tara na Biyahe tayo! Wow Philippines! (Jolina)
Monday, July 04, 2005
Suddenly Nurse
On my way home after attending Sunday Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, I came across a group of people carrying bags of different sizes and colour. I wondered where these people came from; they might have attended a seminar or something. I noticed names of medical institutions and hospitals printed on their bags. I found the answer to my query as I passed Melbourne Exhibition building, there I saw a large sign “Nursing Expo”. “Oh, so that it was,” I said to myself. But the sign next to it really attracted my attention like a powerful magnet, it says, “Free Admission”.
So, I went inside this historical building (Melbourne Exhibition is the place where the Parliament of Australia was signed in 1901, just like the Barasoain Church in the Philippines) and I squeezed myself into an enormous crowd of people (mostly young beautiful female nurses! That’s what you get after attending Mass). How nice would it be to see such a big crowd of people inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral participating in the Eucharist. Anyway, I found myself inside this building wandering around and enthralled by massive flow of people and also by the different booths of medical schools from all over Australia, health care institutions and hospitals. Most of the people there were fresh nursing graduates or students looking for career opportunities in medical field. This was exactly a different world for me.
What other things that also fascinated my attention were the free bags, pens, candies and stuffs which the people from the booths were giving away. You could easily feel an atmosphere of competition amongst these medical schools or healthcare institutions. Suddenly, a friendly lady approached me and asked, “Are you interested in Royal Children’s Hospital?” I said yes without even thinking. “So are you a fresh graduate?” I said yes again (which I really am). “Are you an overseas student?” I nodded my head very politely as I didn’t know what to say. “Why don’t you take this bag, it has all the information you need. We have an Open Day on July 9 at Royal Children’s Hospital at 1:00 pm. There will be hospital tours, interviews, blah, blah.” She was a lovely lady and I reckoned she would be a very good sales person. I didn’t bother telling her that I really have nothing to do about nursing or whatsoever as I didn’t want to disappoint her. I was afraid she might get my free bag back!
Please read the information I’ve got from the “Nursing Expo”. They might be helpful if you happen to be a nurse and reading this blog.
Healthcareseek.com.au Australia’s # 1 job for healthcare
jobs
www.rch.org.au/MSON For further enquiries in Royal Children’s Hospital. Refer to this website for current updates and application requirements.
www.research.cqu.edu.au Central Queensland University
www.nursingreview.com.au Australia’s Independent Voice of Nursin
www.nursesspecialists.com.au Victorian Nurse Specialists
www.NurseCentral.com.au Where Nurses Meet!
www.aicd.qld.edu.au Australian Institute for a Care Development
www.rcna.org.au Australian Mentor Centre
www.lrh.com.au Latrobe Regional Hospital
www.southernhealth.com.au Mental Health Nurses
www.cdu.edu.au Charles Darwin University
www.nursesworldwide.com.au Jobs for Nurses in all nursing specialities! Aged Care, Acute and Rehab.
www.latrobe.edu.au/nursing La Trobe University
www.phcn.vic.gov.au Peninsula Health (opportunities for full and part time Midwives)
www.hlth.qut.edu.au/nrs Postgrad nurising
www.xacom.com.au I-Care Nurse Call
I’ve got some more details but I feel getting sick now. I think I need a nurse...
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Called Even If Empty
I attended last Friday evening the Ordination Mass of Fr. Peter-John Neviandt. His ordination to the priesthood was a very special occasion for him and his own family, and indeed for the Diocese of Sandhurst, where he is going to work. Bishop Joe Grech was the main celebrant. He gave a powerful homily transpiring the important role of the priest in our society today. He mentioned that God has a particular plan for each and one of whether we are married person, single, lay, religious or priest. The plan of God for Peter-John (now a priest) is to represent Christ and be an ‘another-Christ’ for the people of God. He has been chosen by God to serve, to proclaim, and to continue the works of Jesus.
I tried to listen attentively to the words of Bishop Grech, and I felt a mixture of feelings of anxiety, fear, happiness, excitement and unworthiness. But the last one has overwhelmed me more than all others. I felt so unworthy being called by God. During the ordination ceremony I remembered my sins, my weaknesses, my bad decisions, my failures… How can I serve God and his people when my unworthiness weighs me down?
I wanted to say sorry and express my grief and sorrow.
I always say this prayer to Christ, through his priest, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
---
The ordination for the diaconate of this awful servant is on 8 October this year.
I tried to listen attentively to the words of Bishop Grech, and I felt a mixture of feelings of anxiety, fear, happiness, excitement and unworthiness. But the last one has overwhelmed me more than all others. I felt so unworthy being called by God. During the ordination ceremony I remembered my sins, my weaknesses, my bad decisions, my failures… How can I serve God and his people when my unworthiness weighs me down?
I wanted to say sorry and express my grief and sorrow.
I always say this prayer to Christ, through his priest, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong in
failing to do good,
I have sinned against you whom I should love above all
things.
I firmly intend to penance,
to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Saviour Jesus Christ
suffered and died for us.
In his name, my God have mercy. Amen.
---
The ordination for the diaconate of this awful servant is on 8 October this year.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Bloopers
Kanina naglakad kami ni Odra para maghanap ng murang makakainan, 1:30pm na nun (2:55 pm na ngayon) kaya tabingi na ang tingin ko sa kalsada, as usual ang usapan namin ay tungkol sa Pinas, wala ng iba pa. Siyempre understood na intellectual lagi ang usapan namin.
Tanong ni Odra sa akin na parang nababagabag ang damdamin: "Bakit kaya may mga taong mali-mali? Eh wala namang taong tama-tama." Nabagabag din ako. Gusto kong maiyak...
***
Umiyak. Napatunayan ko na iyakin pala talaga ako pag mag-isa lang akong nanunuod ng tv o pag-nagbabasa ako ng malungkot na novel. Last Tuesday nasa bahay ako ng ate Marsha ko; sinusulit ang Filipino Channel nila at ang kanilang bagong plasma widescreen tv. Late na ako nagising nung umaga na iyon dahil late na ako natulog (simple logic). Kakain na sana ako nang bigla kong maalala na libing nga pala ni Cardinal Jaime Sin ngayong umaga. Dali-dali kong binuksan ko ang tv, sakto live coverage ang funeral rites ni Cardinal sa ANC!
I-soshorcut ko na ang kwento... Nang makita ko palang ang dami ng tao sa labas ng Manila Cathedral ay nalungkot na ako, iba talaga ang dating. Maalam akong nakinig sa homily ni Bishop Villegas kahit na alam ko na isang kontinente ang layo ko sa Pinas. Gayunpaman, ramdam na ramdam ko ang atmosphere of grief and sadness by the lost of own prelate. Binanggit ni Bishop Soc na ang huling pananalita daw ni Cardinal Sin sa kanyang deathbed ay "Vamos (Let us go)". Ang salitang "vamos" ay laging sinasabi ni Cardinal nung kalakasan pa niya bilang paanyaya; "vamos a Edsa", "vamos a Luneta", "vamos a comer"...etc. "As we walked through the uncertainties of life, he came with us everytime," patuloy ni Bishop Soc. "Vamos" ang muling sambit ni Cardinal..."but did not take anyone with him." Sa puntong ito nag-cracked ang boses ni Bishop Soc at pilit pinipigil ang kanyang emotion sa pag-iyak. At dito sa pagkakataong ito ako naiyak muli, ang huli ko'y nuong araw ng libing ni Pope John Paul II.
Sa labas ng Manila Cathedral ipinokus ng kamera ang mga taong hawak-kamay habang kumanta ng Ama Namin. Apat na estudyanteng babae ang magkakawak ang kamay. Iyon lang at tumulo ang luha ko... Ang larawan ng pagdalamhati ni Dr. Ramon Sin (kapatid ni Cardinal) ay nagpaiyak muli sa akin. Kapansin pansin na habang ibababa ng sa crypt ang mga labi ni Cardinal Sin ay humahagulgol si Bishop Soc na parang bata. Nagaya ako sa kanyan ng kaunti. Nakakaantig din ng emosyon kahit na yung mga simpleng bagay na nakita ko tulad ng mga kalapating puti na sabay sabay na pinakawalan, mga taong nakaluhod, kanta ng choir, mga madre, mga umattend na goverment officials, iyong pag-ulan pagkatapos libing, atbp. Simple lang pero powerful ang dating para sa akin-- Pilipino kasi ako. Marami mga simpleng bagay sa Pilipinas na ngayon ko lang na-aappreciate kung kelan nasa ibang bansa na ako.
At isa na rin sa mga dahilan kaya madaling nahulog ang emosyon ko ay siguro dahil sa pakiramdam ko parang nanduon ako mismo sa loob ng Manila Cathedral (salamat sa widescreen plasma tv ng ate Marsha ko. Bili na rin kayo!). Ilan sa mga personal kong kakilala ay nakita ko sa tv ay sina Fr. Aries Reyes, Bishop Tirona, Bishop Alamario at pari na nagmisa sa Megamall nung magsimba ako dun last January.
Ilang linggo bago mamatay si Cardinal Sin ay paulit-ulit kong pinapanuod ang biography niya (A Guide to: Orginal Sin. Pari, Pilipino, Propeta) at binabasa ko naman ang libro ni Bishop Socrates Villegas (Always Jesus, Only Jesus). Fresh pa rin sa ala-ala ko nung dumalaw ako sa House of Sin nung January 2003 kasama ang Rector at Tito ko. Very accomodating at hospitable si Cardinal Sin kahit na may sakit na siya nuon. Hindi ko makakalimutan pinainom pa niya kami ng masarap at mainit na cappucino. End of story.
****
Nasaan ang bloopers? Kahapon ng gabi ay nag-offer ang Archdiocese of Melbourne at Filipino Community ng Misa para sa kaluluwa ni Cardinal Sin. Pagpasok ko sa car park ay nakita ko namataan ko ang mag-asawang Pilipino sa loob ng kotse, kaibigan ko sila na taga Deer Park. Excited ako ng makita sila. Hangos akong lumapit, nagmano, at masayang nakipagkumustahan. "Tita kumusta na po? Ay, buti naman po at nakarating kayo." "Uy, Tito kumusta na po, batang bata po tayo ngayon ah." (normally may bigote siya)
Nag-simula na ang Misa. Mula sa altar napansin ko ang dalawang mag-asawang binati ko kanina. Habang tinititigan ko sila narealised ko na hindi pala sila yung couple na kaibigan ko na taga Deer Park. Kamukha lang pala! Nung mga sandali na iyon gusto ko na lang na maging bula na biglang mawawala sa kinatatayuan ko. Pilit ko itong kinakalimutan pero habang kinakalimutan ko lalo ko lang naalala. Hanggang ngayon kino-convince ko pa ang sarili ko na panagip lang yun!
Pahiram ng expression na lagi kong nababasa mula Pinas -- "wakoko":(
*****
Maglilipat na nga pala ako ng blog napansin ko kasi na pag-ina-update ko ang blogs ko ay automatic na nag-papadala ang friendster ng blogs announcement sa lahat ng contacts ko. Kaya nag-evacuate na ako ng mga entries ko sa http://www.tukayo.blogspot.com/
******
Nakakahiya, may ilang nagsabi sa akin na binabasa daw nila ang blogs ko, at may Australian pa na nagrerequest na isulat ko daw sa Ingles ang mga entries ko dahil hindi niya naiintindihan ang Tagalog. Muli hihiramin ko expression ng ilang Pilipino ngayon tulad ng kapatid kong si Cune, "wakoko":(
Tanong ni Odra sa akin na parang nababagabag ang damdamin: "Bakit kaya may mga taong mali-mali? Eh wala namang taong tama-tama." Nabagabag din ako. Gusto kong maiyak...
***
Umiyak. Napatunayan ko na iyakin pala talaga ako pag mag-isa lang akong nanunuod ng tv o pag-nagbabasa ako ng malungkot na novel. Last Tuesday nasa bahay ako ng ate Marsha ko; sinusulit ang Filipino Channel nila at ang kanilang bagong plasma widescreen tv. Late na ako nagising nung umaga na iyon dahil late na ako natulog (simple logic). Kakain na sana ako nang bigla kong maalala na libing nga pala ni Cardinal Jaime Sin ngayong umaga. Dali-dali kong binuksan ko ang tv, sakto live coverage ang funeral rites ni Cardinal sa ANC!
I-soshorcut ko na ang kwento... Nang makita ko palang ang dami ng tao sa labas ng Manila Cathedral ay nalungkot na ako, iba talaga ang dating. Maalam akong nakinig sa homily ni Bishop Villegas kahit na alam ko na isang kontinente ang layo ko sa Pinas. Gayunpaman, ramdam na ramdam ko ang atmosphere of grief and sadness by the lost of own prelate. Binanggit ni Bishop Soc na ang huling pananalita daw ni Cardinal Sin sa kanyang deathbed ay "Vamos (Let us go)". Ang salitang "vamos" ay laging sinasabi ni Cardinal nung kalakasan pa niya bilang paanyaya; "vamos a Edsa", "vamos a Luneta", "vamos a comer"...etc. "As we walked through the uncertainties of life, he came with us everytime," patuloy ni Bishop Soc. "Vamos" ang muling sambit ni Cardinal..."but did not take anyone with him." Sa puntong ito nag-cracked ang boses ni Bishop Soc at pilit pinipigil ang kanyang emotion sa pag-iyak. At dito sa pagkakataong ito ako naiyak muli, ang huli ko'y nuong araw ng libing ni Pope John Paul II.
Sa labas ng Manila Cathedral ipinokus ng kamera ang mga taong hawak-kamay habang kumanta ng Ama Namin. Apat na estudyanteng babae ang magkakawak ang kamay. Iyon lang at tumulo ang luha ko... Ang larawan ng pagdalamhati ni Dr. Ramon Sin (kapatid ni Cardinal) ay nagpaiyak muli sa akin. Kapansin pansin na habang ibababa ng sa crypt ang mga labi ni Cardinal Sin ay humahagulgol si Bishop Soc na parang bata. Nagaya ako sa kanyan ng kaunti. Nakakaantig din ng emosyon kahit na yung mga simpleng bagay na nakita ko tulad ng mga kalapating puti na sabay sabay na pinakawalan, mga taong nakaluhod, kanta ng choir, mga madre, mga umattend na goverment officials, iyong pag-ulan pagkatapos libing, atbp. Simple lang pero powerful ang dating para sa akin-- Pilipino kasi ako. Marami mga simpleng bagay sa Pilipinas na ngayon ko lang na-aappreciate kung kelan nasa ibang bansa na ako.
At isa na rin sa mga dahilan kaya madaling nahulog ang emosyon ko ay siguro dahil sa pakiramdam ko parang nanduon ako mismo sa loob ng Manila Cathedral (salamat sa widescreen plasma tv ng ate Marsha ko. Bili na rin kayo!). Ilan sa mga personal kong kakilala ay nakita ko sa tv ay sina Fr. Aries Reyes, Bishop Tirona, Bishop Alamario at pari na nagmisa sa Megamall nung magsimba ako dun last January.
Ilang linggo bago mamatay si Cardinal Sin ay paulit-ulit kong pinapanuod ang biography niya (A Guide to: Orginal Sin. Pari, Pilipino, Propeta) at binabasa ko naman ang libro ni Bishop Socrates Villegas (Always Jesus, Only Jesus). Fresh pa rin sa ala-ala ko nung dumalaw ako sa House of Sin nung January 2003 kasama ang Rector at Tito ko. Very accomodating at hospitable si Cardinal Sin kahit na may sakit na siya nuon. Hindi ko makakalimutan pinainom pa niya kami ng masarap at mainit na cappucino. End of story.
****
Nasaan ang bloopers? Kahapon ng gabi ay nag-offer ang Archdiocese of Melbourne at Filipino Community ng Misa para sa kaluluwa ni Cardinal Sin. Pagpasok ko sa car park ay nakita ko namataan ko ang mag-asawang Pilipino sa loob ng kotse, kaibigan ko sila na taga Deer Park. Excited ako ng makita sila. Hangos akong lumapit, nagmano, at masayang nakipagkumustahan. "Tita kumusta na po? Ay, buti naman po at nakarating kayo." "Uy, Tito kumusta na po, batang bata po tayo ngayon ah." (normally may bigote siya)
Nag-simula na ang Misa. Mula sa altar napansin ko ang dalawang mag-asawang binati ko kanina. Habang tinititigan ko sila narealised ko na hindi pala sila yung couple na kaibigan ko na taga Deer Park. Kamukha lang pala! Nung mga sandali na iyon gusto ko na lang na maging bula na biglang mawawala sa kinatatayuan ko. Pilit ko itong kinakalimutan pero habang kinakalimutan ko lalo ko lang naalala. Hanggang ngayon kino-convince ko pa ang sarili ko na panagip lang yun!
Pahiram ng expression na lagi kong nababasa mula Pinas -- "wakoko":(
*****
Maglilipat na nga pala ako ng blog napansin ko kasi na pag-ina-update ko ang blogs ko ay automatic na nag-papadala ang friendster ng blogs announcement sa lahat ng contacts ko. Kaya nag-evacuate na ako ng mga entries ko sa http://www.tukayo.blogspot.com/
******
Nakakahiya, may ilang nagsabi sa akin na binabasa daw nila ang blogs ko, at may Australian pa na nagrerequest na isulat ko daw sa Ingles ang mga entries ko dahil hindi niya naiintindihan ang Tagalog. Muli hihiramin ko expression ng ilang Pilipino ngayon tulad ng kapatid kong si Cune, "wakoko":(
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Silence in Eucharistic Adoration
(This is a short talk I gave this evening in St. Peter's Parish in Clayton)
An American tourist hired a driver in Italy to show her the country. On the first afternoon out, the driver began to identify some of the antiquities and she said arrogantly, “I hired you to drive for me, not to talk to me.”
An American tourist hired a driver in Italy to show her the country. On the first afternoon out, the driver began to identify some of the antiquities and she said arrogantly, “I hired you to drive for me, not to talk to me.”
The driver remained quiet for the rest of the week. When he presented his bill, there was one item the lady did not understand.
“That’s for keeping quiet,” the driver said. “I don’t like doing it, but when I do, Signora, I have to charge.”
Like the Italian driver in the story we sometimes find it hard to remain quiet. Sometimes we find silence a frightening and uncomfortable experience. So we turn the radio on or make a telephone call just to break the silence.
But like Jesus who went up to the mountains and desolate places to be alone in prayer, we also need to distance ourselves from the distractions of the world and our noisy cultures. Jesus teaches us that constant prayer, reflection and silence are vital for our spiritual growth as Christians.
I am going to talk about the importance of silence in Eucharistic Adoration. Silence and contemplation are our response to this mind-blowing reality of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. Don’t you know that we also receive payment, like the Italian driver, just for being quiet before the Blessed Sacrament?
Sense of Presence
First silence allows us to have a sense of the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. When we are quiet and still our attention to God becomes greater and much more focused than if we are thinking of other things.
Yesterday I went to St. Francis’ Church in the city to pray and to ask for guidance about what I would say tonight. As I knelt down looking at the Blessed Sacrament on the altar I said to Jesus, “Lord please tell me what it means to have a sense of your presence if I remain quiet.” So I tried to concentrate in silence as much as I could and I started to realise that Jesus’ body, blood, soul and divinity were really there inside the monstrance.
I felt so relieved but not for long. There was this young Asian lady sitting not far from me who started to talk to her friend on the phone. She said, “Oh, I am here inside St. Francis Church…don’t worry it’s alright...hey how are you…no, it’s alright.” I talked to her in my mind, “It’s alright for you to speak to your friend inside the Church. But it’s not ok for us! Can’t you see us praying?”
I completely lost my attention to the Lord because of this girl. Then I realised that God has just taught me the importance of silence to have a sense of his presence.
Intimacy
Secondly our response to God in silence draws us into intimacy with him in contemplation. As we enter into silence before the Blessed Sacrament we intimately enter into a deep relationship with Christ.
Sometimes when we pray we run out of words and we don’t know exactly what to say. It seems that we are just wasting our time and not praying at all. But that is not true! Jesus who is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament is very interested about us even when we sometimes mumble or don’t know what to say.
Intimacy means having a close relationship with the Lord even in silence. I think this is very true even in our human relationships. When we know someone intimately, for example, our own mother, we can instantly judge her feelings simply by looking at her eyes or listening to the sound of her voice.
Contemplation is a gaze of faith, fixed on Jesus. St. John Marie Vianney described his prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in a very simple words, he said, “I look at him and he looks at me.”
Listening
Spending time in silence before the Blessed Sacrament enables us to listen or hear more clearly the voice of God who is mysteriously working in our lives. We often hear the saying “God speaks in silence.” I think the great challenge for all of us today is to find a peaceful quiet place where we can sit down and listen to God.
Silence is a rare thing in our life. We are surrounded by televisions, radios, cars, fire alarms (especially if you live in the seminary:). Even in the Church, we hear people chatting, mobile phones and other forms of distraction.
But we listen to the voice of God not only in external silence, even though that is very important; God speaks to us more intimately in the silence of our hearts. I remember the homily of a Filipino priest. He said, “to listen deeply is to listen using not our ears but using our hearts.” Very interestingly he explained, “If you cut your two ears and put them together, a heart shaped is formed. In the middle of the word heart is ‘ear’ and the first four letters of the word heart form the word ‘hear.’"
Thus, when we spend time in silence before the Blessed Sacrament, we listen and wait attentively to what God is going to say to us, not through our ears, but really with our hearts.
Emptiness
Silence before the Blessed Sacrament brings us emptiness. But this emptiness is not something negative. Interior silence before the Lord creates more space in our hearts so that his Spirit can fill us up with his love, mercy and healing.
As we enter into contemplation we leave not only the hustle and bustle of the outside world, but we also leave behind our pride, selfishness, lust and complacency, we empty ourselves of all the negative things that blocked up the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives. So in front of the Blessed Sacrament we let ourselves be like an empty bucket in order that our Lord may graciously pour out the love, mercy and healing we all need.
John the Baptist says it beautifully, “He must increase, but I must decrease." [John 3:30]
Nourishment
We need silence in order to come close to our true selves and to God. The silence of Eucharistic Adoration allows us to meditate on the words of Jesus. “I am the bread of life.” Entering silence helps us to recognise Jesus as the nourishment of our soul. His flesh is our daily food and sustenance. “What material food produces in our bodily life, Holy Communion wonderfully achieves in our spiritual life. Communion with the flesh of Christ preserves, increases and renews the life of grace we received at Baptism. Eucharistic Communion is the bread for our pilgrimage until the moment of death.”
Peter Ferwerda mentioned in his talk yesterday the importance of spending an hour before the Blessed Sacrament no matter how busy we are because God in his mysterious silence can give us fulfillment and satisfy our inner hunger. Spending time before the Blessed Sacrament, in prayer and devotion, is spending time before the living God.
Confidence
The purpose of adoration is to highlight the presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist.
If we really believe that the Jesus is in the Blessed Sacrament, then we can speak to him full of confidence and certainty. If Jesus is really there present, in the fullness of his humanity and divinity, then we can share our joys with him; and we can cry all our tears to him; we abandon our hopes and fears, our worries, family problems, financial difficulties, health problems into his hands.Inasmuch as we believe in the Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament we also trust his invitation: "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” [Mt 11:28-30]
Silence in Eucharistic adoration is an act of confidence in God. In front of the Blessed Sacrament, we see ourselves like little children sleeping peacefully within the arms of the Father.
Exaltation
The sign of “silence” in a hospital shields the quiet mysterious knitting up of bodies and nerves. In a library, “silence” whispers of the deep communion of mind with mind, the calm flowering of thought. Silence before the Blessed Sacrament takes us to exaltation or adoration of the Lord. Thus silence does speak of healing, of stillness and of the distilling of wisdom and the wonder of God’s glory.
*******
As you may notice we form the word “SILENCE.” Let us always remember that silence in Eucharistic Adoration gives us “a Sense of presence”, “Intimacy”, “Listening”, “Emptiness”, “Nourishment”, “Confidence” and “Exaltation.”
*******
Prayer to the Heart of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament
“O heart of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, overflowing with gentleness, tenderness and charity. My sweet Lord, Saviour and Spouse let me lay at your sacred feet my daily share of joys, struggles and sorrows, my hopes and fears. And in the stillness of your sanctuary do tenderly gather them into your Sacred Heart. Solace my doubts, calm my fears. And grant that day by day I may become more united to you. Jesus, I trust in you. Amen.”
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Goodbye Cardinal Sin
Benedict XVI said he was "deeply saddened" by the death of Cardinal Jaime Sin, the retired archbishop of Manila who died at the age of 76.
The Pope relayed his sentiments in a message of sympathy to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Manila, which the Philippine cardinal headed for almost three decades. The archdiocese noted that Cardinal Sin has been described as "patriot and prophet."
In a telegram to the prelate's successor, Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales, the Holy Father recalled "with gratitude Cardinal Sin's unfailing commitment to the spread of the Gospel and to the promotion of the dignity, common good, and national unity of the Philippine people."
"I join you in praying that God our merciful Father will grant him the reward of his labors and welcome his noble soul into the joy and peace of his eternal Kingdom," said Benedict XVI. He imparted his apostolic blessing to those gathered in Manila for a Mass for the cardinal's eternal rest.
According to the Archdiocese of Manila, the cardinal was hospitalized on Sunday and succumbed today to multiple organ failure related to sepsis.
His delicate state of health -- he suffered from kidney problems and diabetes -- had prevented him from taking part in the conclave that elected Benedict XVI.
With his death, the College of Cardinals now numbers 181 members, including 115 electors.
Evangelizer and pastor
One of 16 siblings, Jaime Lachica Sin was born in New Washington, in the Diocese of Kalibo, on Aug. 31, 1928. He was educated in the faith by his mother, a woman of great religiosity who converted her husband to the Catholic faith before their marriage.
In 1941 he entered the Minor Seminar of St. Vincent Ferrer in Jaro, where he stayed for only a few months as the War of the Pacific and the Japanese occupation of the Philippines forced him to seek refuge with his family in the mountains for three years.
When he returned there as a priest -- he was ordained April 3, 1954 -- his first pastoral endeavor was to visit each one of the hundreds of small widespread parishes and to inspire vocations for the new St. Pius X Seminary.
At the end of this work, which lasted three years and bore considerable fruit, he was appointed rector of the seminary in 1957. He served there for 10 years as principal, dean of studies, professor and diocesan consultant.
He was consecrated bishop at age 38 on March 18, 1967, and named auxiliary of Jaro and eventually coadjutor with the right of succession. He succeeded the archbishop of Jaro in 1972, when he was 44.
Pope Paul VI named him archbishop of Manila on Jan. 21, 1974, where he pursued his pastoral work courageously despite the dangers and difficulties of the country's situation. The Pope elevated him to cardinal two years later.
He was the youngest member of the Philippine bishops' conference, over which he presided from 1977 to 1981.
Helped topple 2 presidents
He received Pope John Paul II twice in his pastoral visits to the Philippines -- in 1981 and 1995. In the second apostolic trip, to close World Youth Day, 4 million faithful attended the Mass in Rizal Park in Manila.
The cardinal was a great defender of democracy in the Philippines and of peaceful political transition, becoming famous for his commitment to the Filipinos against the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos and the corruption of the Estrada government.
In 1986 he headed peaceful protests which led to the fall of President Marcos. He played the same role in 2001 when he appealed to the people to put an end to the corrupt government of Joseph Estrada. The AsiaNews agency highlighted the cardinal's capacity to have people follow him, which won him the nickname of "divine commander in chief."
After his retirement in September 2003, Cardinal Sin gave his support to the current president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Arroyo, lamenting his demise, described him as a "blessed man who never failed to unite Filipinos during the most crucial battles against tyranny and evil." She declared seven days of national mourning for the cardinal.
Cardinal Sin insisted that religion had a role to play in the affairs of the state, a conviction he summed up at his retirement ceremony: "My duty is to put Christ in politics. Politics without Christ is the greatest scourge of the nation."
The cardinal also organized protests against the state's attempt to curb population growth.
"A brother"
Bishop Socrates Villegas of Balanga, the cardinal's longtime private secretary, and Father Rufino Sescon Jr., his present secretary, were with him at the time of his death.
According to the Communications Office of the Archdiocese of Manila, Archbishop Rosales visited Cardinal Sin on Monday afternoon. The archbishop said the cardinal received the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. The prelate said he gave him a "farewell blessing."
With Cardinal Sin's death, the bishops of the Philippines have lost "a friend and a brother," said Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao, president of the country's episcopal conference, on behalf of all its members.
"Cardinal Sin was a great man, a great Filipino, a great prince of the Church," wrote Archbishop Capalla in a statement. "We are saddened that he left us, but we rejoice that he has entered into Real Life -- one that never ends."
Cardinal Sin's mortal remains were taken to the Cathedral of Manila, where he will lie in state until his burial, tentatively scheduled for June 28.
Archbishop Rosales presided over the first Mass for his eternal repose together with about 100 priests and numerous faithful, including former President Corazon Aquino.
source: zenit.org
The Pope relayed his sentiments in a message of sympathy to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Manila, which the Philippine cardinal headed for almost three decades. The archdiocese noted that Cardinal Sin has been described as "patriot and prophet."
In a telegram to the prelate's successor, Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales, the Holy Father recalled "with gratitude Cardinal Sin's unfailing commitment to the spread of the Gospel and to the promotion of the dignity, common good, and national unity of the Philippine people."
"I join you in praying that God our merciful Father will grant him the reward of his labors and welcome his noble soul into the joy and peace of his eternal Kingdom," said Benedict XVI. He imparted his apostolic blessing to those gathered in Manila for a Mass for the cardinal's eternal rest.
According to the Archdiocese of Manila, the cardinal was hospitalized on Sunday and succumbed today to multiple organ failure related to sepsis.
His delicate state of health -- he suffered from kidney problems and diabetes -- had prevented him from taking part in the conclave that elected Benedict XVI.
With his death, the College of Cardinals now numbers 181 members, including 115 electors.
Evangelizer and pastor
One of 16 siblings, Jaime Lachica Sin was born in New Washington, in the Diocese of Kalibo, on Aug. 31, 1928. He was educated in the faith by his mother, a woman of great religiosity who converted her husband to the Catholic faith before their marriage.
In 1941 he entered the Minor Seminar of St. Vincent Ferrer in Jaro, where he stayed for only a few months as the War of the Pacific and the Japanese occupation of the Philippines forced him to seek refuge with his family in the mountains for three years.
When he returned there as a priest -- he was ordained April 3, 1954 -- his first pastoral endeavor was to visit each one of the hundreds of small widespread parishes and to inspire vocations for the new St. Pius X Seminary.
At the end of this work, which lasted three years and bore considerable fruit, he was appointed rector of the seminary in 1957. He served there for 10 years as principal, dean of studies, professor and diocesan consultant.
He was consecrated bishop at age 38 on March 18, 1967, and named auxiliary of Jaro and eventually coadjutor with the right of succession. He succeeded the archbishop of Jaro in 1972, when he was 44.
Pope Paul VI named him archbishop of Manila on Jan. 21, 1974, where he pursued his pastoral work courageously despite the dangers and difficulties of the country's situation. The Pope elevated him to cardinal two years later.
He was the youngest member of the Philippine bishops' conference, over which he presided from 1977 to 1981.
Helped topple 2 presidents
He received Pope John Paul II twice in his pastoral visits to the Philippines -- in 1981 and 1995. In the second apostolic trip, to close World Youth Day, 4 million faithful attended the Mass in Rizal Park in Manila.
The cardinal was a great defender of democracy in the Philippines and of peaceful political transition, becoming famous for his commitment to the Filipinos against the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos and the corruption of the Estrada government.
In 1986 he headed peaceful protests which led to the fall of President Marcos. He played the same role in 2001 when he appealed to the people to put an end to the corrupt government of Joseph Estrada. The AsiaNews agency highlighted the cardinal's capacity to have people follow him, which won him the nickname of "divine commander in chief."
After his retirement in September 2003, Cardinal Sin gave his support to the current president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Arroyo, lamenting his demise, described him as a "blessed man who never failed to unite Filipinos during the most crucial battles against tyranny and evil." She declared seven days of national mourning for the cardinal.
Cardinal Sin insisted that religion had a role to play in the affairs of the state, a conviction he summed up at his retirement ceremony: "My duty is to put Christ in politics. Politics without Christ is the greatest scourge of the nation."
The cardinal also organized protests against the state's attempt to curb population growth.
"A brother"
Bishop Socrates Villegas of Balanga, the cardinal's longtime private secretary, and Father Rufino Sescon Jr., his present secretary, were with him at the time of his death.
According to the Communications Office of the Archdiocese of Manila, Archbishop Rosales visited Cardinal Sin on Monday afternoon. The archbishop said the cardinal received the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. The prelate said he gave him a "farewell blessing."
With Cardinal Sin's death, the bishops of the Philippines have lost "a friend and a brother," said Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao, president of the country's episcopal conference, on behalf of all its members.
"Cardinal Sin was a great man, a great Filipino, a great prince of the Church," wrote Archbishop Capalla in a statement. "We are saddened that he left us, but we rejoice that he has entered into Real Life -- one that never ends."
Cardinal Sin's mortal remains were taken to the Cathedral of Manila, where he will lie in state until his burial, tentatively scheduled for June 28.
Archbishop Rosales presided over the first Mass for his eternal repose together with about 100 priests and numerous faithful, including former President Corazon Aquino.
source: zenit.org
Friday, June 17, 2005
Mixed Entry
Sa wakas natapos na rin ang exams! 11:am to be exact. Matapos ang ilang linggong pag-cacram ng mga assignments, revisions at pagrereview kahit na ilang minuto na lang exam na ( sa ganitong situwasyon ako biglang gumagawa ng instant resolution, sasabihin ko sa sarili ko na ito na talaga ang last, magiging on time na ako sa next time. Para na akong politician na nangangako sa taong bayan bago mag-election).
Magaan ang feeling kapag napagdaanan mo rin sa wakas ang bagay ni sa isip ay ayaw mong gawin pero no choice ka. Ngayong tapos na ang first term ay para may naririnig akong background music sa isip ko. Kanta ito ng Eraserheads na di gaanong sumikat: Sa wakas ay nakita ko na ang aking hinahanap sa wakas ay nakuha ko na ang aking hinahangad kay tagal ko ng naghintay at nagsunog ng kilay ngayon ay masasabi ko na ang matamis na tagumpay. Basta okay ang kanta na ito para sa akin...lalo na kung adik ka:)
Dahil nga natapos nang maluwalhati ang examination week namin. Binigyan ko ng reward ang sarili ko. Ititrit, ulet, itinrit, isa pa, itinirit, (yung bang "inilibre" o sa English "to treat") iyon, inilibre ko ang sarili ko na manuod ng sine. Matagal ko ng gustong panuorin ang Star Wars Episode III. Matagal na panahon na din ang lumipas na di kami nagkikita ni Natalie Portman. Maganda ang pagkagawa ng pelikula at lalo na ang computer graphics nito para talagang totoo. Ang galing din ng twist ng story. Kahanga-hanga si George Lucas. Siguro isa siyang Jedi.
Two-weeks ko ng pinapanuod ang Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Napanuod ko na ito dati pa pero nakalimutan ko talaga ang lahat ng nangyari kaya parang first time ko palang ito pinapanuod ngayon. Ito na yata ang pinakamatagal na pelikula na hindi ko matapos-tapos. 10-15mins lang ang viewing time ko at every other day pa. Depende sa availability ko. Kaya para na rin akong nanunuod ng soap opera ni Marimar. Suspense ito at talagang martial arts, bakbakan ika nga. Isa pa maganda pa yung isang bidang babae si Jen. Minsan pinapatay ko kaagad ang dvd pag-alam ko na maganda ang susunod na scene para may suspense. Next week ko na uli siya itutuloy siguro 15 minutes na lang tapos na. Kakaexcite!
Two weeks ko ding binasa ang libro ni Nick Joaquin na pinamagatang "Cave and Shadows." Tungkol ito sa cave..at sa shadows. Unpredictable din ang twist sa huli ng istorya at parang nanunood ako ng pelikula sa galing magsulat ni Nick Joaquin. Kaya nga siya nahirang na National Artist for Literature. Lahat ng libro, essays at poetry niya ay sa wikang Ingles. Napakalaki ng contribution niya sa Philippine Literature in English kaya naman malaking kawalan ang pagkamatay niya last year. Nakakalungkot isipin kung hindi siya kilala ng mga Pilipinong estudyante ngayon. Susunod kong basahin ay "The Woman Who Had Two Navels" na isinulat niya nuong 1991. Sana makuha ko rin ang skills niya sa pagsusulat pero malabo iyon!
Nabasa ko ang ilang jokes tungkol sa wiretapped conversations 'daw' ni GMA at Garcillano. Ang bilis talagang mag-isip ng mga Pinoy updated kaagad ang jokes at may 'Hello garci" ringing tone pa daw! Nakuha ko ito sa pcij na nakalink sa blog ni Cyril.
Latest news update: Iggy Arroyo is now practicing the voice of GMA. A longer version: News: Nakatakdang aminin ni Iggy Arroyo na siya ang babaeng boses sa tape. Napabalitang bumalik siya sa kanyang bayan para pag-aralan gayahin ang boses ni gma.
Woman: Garci, dy, pasahan mo naman ako ng load, este, ng vote….
==
Garci: Hindi ako nagtatago noh! Nakikipag-phonepal ako kay Saddam!
===
Opposition: Why can’t GMA come out and say ‘i’m not the ma’am in the tape’?
Malacañang: She doesn’t want to lie.
===
Ang mga nangyayari sa ating bansa parang teleserye:
Yung jueteng scandal ang title "Mga anak ng jueteng."
Yun namang gloriagate scandal "Tap si glo!"
===
Babae: Lahat ng mga Arroyo ay magnanakaw.
Lalaki: Ang sakit mo namang magsalita.
Babae: Bakit? Isa ka ba sa mga Arroyo?
Lalaki: Hindi. Magnanakaw ako!
===
Aba naman Gloria napupuno ka ng grasya.Ang kayamanan ng tao ay sumaiyo na,Bukod ka pinagpala sa babaeng lahat.Pinagpala rin ang iyong angkan. Wala nang natira saAMEN.
===
Q: What special feature is added in the cellphones of Mike and Mikey Arroyo?
A: Call Jueteng.
Ssssshhhhh! Naka-wire tap, si Gary ito huh
Yun lang. Happy holidays to me! But not really. May parish mission kaming senior year next week sa St. Peter's Parish, Clayton. I will be speaking about silence in the Eucharistic Adoration. I pray that this activity will be a successful one. Sana.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Big hands
A long time ago, when I was little, I used to come along with my mother every Sunday to the town market to buy our week’s supply of food. I really enjoyed the atmosphere at the market – vendor shouting out loud advertising their goods, big and small fish, butchered animals (I’m weird!), different kinds of vegetables, etc. There was always a big crowd in the market so that my mother was very mindful of me. It is so nice to remember how mother would hold my little hand very tightly so I would not get lost from her sight.
In my spiritual journey, God is like my mother who was leading me and holding my hands firmly so I would not get lost in the market place. There are many things in this world that excite my curiosity, and if God would let go me from his firm hold, I might escape to wander and explore the world, go to places I would love to go, and then get lost in end. In trying to search God’s will, there many are times I find his ways too difficult to understand and find them very different to what I want. But I said to my self, "I have no choice but follow Him" for I know I will just place myself into danger by going on my own.
St. Bonaventure in his writing seems to be giving me a warning that, “unless accompanied by divine aid” I will not come to the final end of my soul’s journey-- a perfect place of eternal peace. This is the stage in which the disturbances of my “market place” can no longer exist because in this stage the illumination of God’s presence is so immense that I will never get lost again forever.
I pray for God’s “grace not instruction, desire not understanding,” so my searching will become a soul’s journey of prayer and contemplation with Jesus Christ.
In my spiritual journey, God is like my mother who was leading me and holding my hands firmly so I would not get lost in the market place. There are many things in this world that excite my curiosity, and if God would let go me from his firm hold, I might escape to wander and explore the world, go to places I would love to go, and then get lost in end. In trying to search God’s will, there many are times I find his ways too difficult to understand and find them very different to what I want. But I said to my self, "I have no choice but follow Him" for I know I will just place myself into danger by going on my own.
St. Bonaventure in his writing seems to be giving me a warning that, “unless accompanied by divine aid” I will not come to the final end of my soul’s journey-- a perfect place of eternal peace. This is the stage in which the disturbances of my “market place” can no longer exist because in this stage the illumination of God’s presence is so immense that I will never get lost again forever.
I pray for God’s “grace not instruction, desire not understanding,” so my searching will become a soul’s journey of prayer and contemplation with Jesus Christ.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Independence Day
I am not very good in history but I am aware that today is the 107th anniversary of Philippine Independence from the bondage of Spanish colonization. It was in 1898 when Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the first President of the Philippine Republic, declared the country’s liberation from the shackles of foreign rulers. This is the only detail I can give as I do not want to mislead people, I am afraid to present false facts and figures about today's historical celebration. But I do remember someone who argued that the real independence of the Philippines was not its liberty from the Spaniards. It is rather when the country became independent from the Americans that the Philippines gained its real freedom and self-governance. I would say the demise of Japanese occupation in the Philippines although brief but cruel, can be seen as well as a celebration of independence.
Philippine history sometimes left us good humour. How interesting it was for Filipinos to live for 300 long years inside a Spanish convent and then 40 years in American Hollywood! (Plus 4 years with the ancestors of Japanese anime!)
Today I would like look at bigger picture of the dark history of Spanish colonization. History tells us that there were many good things thrived out from bad circumstances, or should I say because God is powerful that he can make good things out of evil. The “good” that I am talking about is the Christianization of the Philippines. Thanks to the Spanish missionaries who diligently converted my ancestors to Christianity.
One of the Spanish saints that became so intimately related to the Filipinos is St. John of the Cross. St. John was a small man ( not as short as 'Minime' though!) with a big heart, who was longing for intimacy and love for God along with the poorest people at his time. His spirituality is in fact the traditional imagery of Filipino poverty and meekness. His figure appears as an old Filipino farmer wearing a salakot (a hat made of nipa leaves), bare-footed and wearing worn-out clothes by the name of Juan de la Cruz. Juan de la Cruz is a common baptismal name amongst Filipino male. The "Cruz" in his name represents many impoverished Filipinos who are carrying the cross of all sort of sufferings. They those Filipinos who are the victims of the corrupt government, natural disasters, children who were deprived of education, sick people and the poverty of the country as a whole. This is the dark night of human suffering and spiritual longing which St. John of the Cross himself had experienced.
But in this darkness, we can find God’s gentle hand purifying the souls: “clearing away the debris of attachment and making room for the divine light.” St. John’s spiritual courage and endurance in suffering, is what really make the Filipino to be associated with him. Despite of material deprivations, Filipinos are happy and religious people. Poverty and hunger instead turn them to prayer, hope and confidence and greater communion to God. Inspired by the spiritual longing of San Juan dela Cruz in midst of the dark night, he said, “I abandoned and forgot myself, laying my face on my Beloved.”
Now, I look at myself in Australia, one of the richest countries in the world, I could not imagine why there are many cases of suicide among young people in this beautiful and affluent country? I do not know the answer. Perhaps, if I examine my own self and become more aware about my own spiritual poverty then I will begin to understand.
But one thing I am sure of, it is not the country or nation alone that needs liberty. Whatever our nationality or whatever country we may be, we all need freedom and liberty, most of all from our sins that stop to be good human persons that God is are calling us to be.
May we all live neither in Spanish convent nor in the grandeur of Hollywood and Disneyland but may we find ourselves in the God’s Heavenly Kingdom – a place where we can be truly free.
Philippine history sometimes left us good humour. How interesting it was for Filipinos to live for 300 long years inside a Spanish convent and then 40 years in American Hollywood! (Plus 4 years with the ancestors of Japanese anime!)
Today I would like look at bigger picture of the dark history of Spanish colonization. History tells us that there were many good things thrived out from bad circumstances, or should I say because God is powerful that he can make good things out of evil. The “good” that I am talking about is the Christianization of the Philippines. Thanks to the Spanish missionaries who diligently converted my ancestors to Christianity.
One of the Spanish saints that became so intimately related to the Filipinos is St. John of the Cross. St. John was a small man ( not as short as 'Minime' though!) with a big heart, who was longing for intimacy and love for God along with the poorest people at his time. His spirituality is in fact the traditional imagery of Filipino poverty and meekness. His figure appears as an old Filipino farmer wearing a salakot (a hat made of nipa leaves), bare-footed and wearing worn-out clothes by the name of Juan de la Cruz. Juan de la Cruz is a common baptismal name amongst Filipino male. The "Cruz" in his name represents many impoverished Filipinos who are carrying the cross of all sort of sufferings. They those Filipinos who are the victims of the corrupt government, natural disasters, children who were deprived of education, sick people and the poverty of the country as a whole. This is the dark night of human suffering and spiritual longing which St. John of the Cross himself had experienced.
But in this darkness, we can find God’s gentle hand purifying the souls: “clearing away the debris of attachment and making room for the divine light.” St. John’s spiritual courage and endurance in suffering, is what really make the Filipino to be associated with him. Despite of material deprivations, Filipinos are happy and religious people. Poverty and hunger instead turn them to prayer, hope and confidence and greater communion to God. Inspired by the spiritual longing of San Juan dela Cruz in midst of the dark night, he said, “I abandoned and forgot myself, laying my face on my Beloved.”
Now, I look at myself in Australia, one of the richest countries in the world, I could not imagine why there are many cases of suicide among young people in this beautiful and affluent country? I do not know the answer. Perhaps, if I examine my own self and become more aware about my own spiritual poverty then I will begin to understand.
But one thing I am sure of, it is not the country or nation alone that needs liberty. Whatever our nationality or whatever country we may be, we all need freedom and liberty, most of all from our sins that stop to be good human persons that God is are calling us to be.
May we all live neither in Spanish convent nor in the grandeur of Hollywood and Disneyland but may we find ourselves in the God’s Heavenly Kingdom – a place where we can be truly free.
Midyear
June na pala..middle of year 2005...kanina dami kong ideas ngayon di ko maisip kung ano isusulat for this entry...hehe...midyear na.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
