Happy Wedding Anniversary Maa'm Mary Ann Hibaya Robante !

                                       Photo Credit : Maa'm Mary Ann Robante Facebook
                                   
                                     Perpetual Dawn Rosary Miputak- Dipolog City Members
                       

                              

Netizens campaign for more ‘Pinoy’ saints

Source: http://www.cbcpnews.com/cbcpnews/?p=44025

ANTIPOLO City, Rizal, Oct. 26, 2014—An online campaign that is making waves in social media aims to raise awareness about the lives of yet to be recognized saintly Filipinos, including foreign saints who had lived in the country at some point.

Started by Jovi Atanacio, the Facebook group “Wanted: Filipino Saints” introduces to netizens ordinary men and women—some well-known, others not so—who led lives of extraordinary virtues and holiness.

Devotees of Filipino saints may become part of the Facebook group “Wanted: Filipino Saints”.

‘Tidal wave of immorality’

“By this Facebook page on ‘Filipino’ saints, I hope to propagate holiness and earnestly pray that in God’s time [Filipino saints may] be recognized by the Church and be raised to the altars for our emulation,” he said.

According to Atanacio, it has been his long-time dream to create a group that would research, showcase, and promote holiness as exemplified by lives of known and unknown Filipinos.

“In this time of societal decay, when we see officials clamoring to pass RH Bill—and soon legalize the murder of the unborn through abortion—I pray to God to raise more saints from our beloved country to counter the tidal wave of immorality,” he explained.

Atanacio said the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo was one of his inspirations in creating the group in 2012.

“When Sec. Robredo died, there were news that he lived a holy life, his confessor related he confessed regularly and attended daily mass. He lived his faith and worked honestly and with integrity,” he said.

There is a need for Catholic role models, he said, especially of those who have lived in modern times and in the country.

“It greatly helps when we can identify with them and their experiences,” Atanacio explained.

Robredo’s example

Raised in a devoutly Catholic household, Atanacio told CBCPNews that saints have always fascinated him due mostly to his parents’ influence who taught him and his siblings to be familiar with them.

“Our father especially acquired many books about them. This collection I continued when I had my own earnings. The internet also helped me in my research on saints. Others were contributed by the group members … Since the 90s (in my early 20s) I’ve been looking and collecting news clippings on possible candidates for sainthood..” he shared.

And Robredo provided this needed impetus.

“Like a ray of sunshine, DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo came. He is the sign and hope that saints still live among us Filipinos. It is high time that we know them and be inspired by their examples,” said Atanacio, who is also a member of the “Work of the Saints”, an apostolate which propagates holiness by holding expositions of saints’ relics in parishes and schools in Metro Manila and the provinces.

In “Wanted: Filipino Saints”, Atanacio invites his over 2,000 fellow saint-lovers to post biographical information of and anecdotes on saints, blesseds, venerables, martyrs or servants of God who were Filipino-born as well as foreign ones with links to the Philippines either as missionaries, visitors, or “bilocators”.

He also encourages members to promote the lives of as yet obscure Filipinos who may have possessed heroic virtues, and are potential candidates for sainthood.

To visit the page, interested parties may like the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/394440117276318/?fref=ts. (Raymond A. Sebastián)

Need to Succeed Seminar- Chinkee Tan

                                                      

MY Family : (Muchillas and Luceños Family)

                                                   

Reflections on the Book of Job

MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2008

Source: http://parasadiyosatsabayan.blogspot.com/2008/06/reflections-on-book-of-job.html

(I made this reflection during the time when my prayerful and wonderful mother is suffering with cancer of the lymph nodes.)

One of the so-called “wisdom” books in the Old Testament is the Book of Job. It is not a novel. It is a real story narrated in the Old Testament. It tells us how to remain faithful to God despite the many hardships in life.

There was once a rich man in the land of Uz named Job. He was a very rich man. He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels and five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred she-donkeys, and many servants beside. But despite his richness, he was described a sound and honest person who feared God and shunned evil. He was just indeed. When we say “just”, that means “holy”.

Now this tells us something. Some would say that if you are a successful businessman, you are an unsuccessful Christian. Of course, not! With the life of Job, we can say that money and faith are two compatible things. You can be a successful entrepreneur yet a successful Christian also. God wants us to rule over the creatures of this world. Yet, one should remember that his purpose in life is not to become rich. But, to love God, be happy on earth, and attain eternal happiness in heaven.

But one may say that he is loving God but full of arrogance. That love is fake. An attaché case containing one million pesos cash is nothing if the money there is fake. Paper money must be authenticated. The same is true with our love for God. It must be authentic. And it must be shown through actions. It must be shown in times when it seems life is unbearable.

Now here comes Satan. The name “Satan” is not a proper name. It comes from Hebrew which means “adversary”, “kalaban”. The proper name is Lucifer which means bearer of light. One day, there was an executive council in heaven, and behold, Satan was there! But see, the Lord even made a “kumusta” to Satan. The Lord was kind to Satan. And Satan answered, “round the earth, roaming about”. See, Satan was a very busy man. He is around the world. He has business all-over the world. He has multinational or transnational operations. Believe it or not, he is beside you while reading this essay. From all over the world up to this moment there are obsessions, there are possessions. He is around. Yes, he is around. And he comes with pleasure. He prowls about the world seeking the ruin of souls.

To get rid of him, we have holy water fonts at the entrance of the Church where we put our forefinger before making the Sign of the Cross. The lives of so many saints are packed with instances of heavenly protection and blessing secured through the reverent use of Holy Water. It is a sacramental in the Church. The Saints knew by faith, that the Holy Water is sanctified by the blessing of the Church and is a most effective aid in all conflicts with the powers of Hell, where Satan is the CEO.

Satan argued in front of God, that the person Job was not really faithful to God. Satan said that “Job was faithful because he had never experienced pain, suffering, trials, failures. He was rich. His life was very comfortable”. Satan was very witty indeed. He was angel of light before, remember.

And God said, “Ok, all he has is in your power, but keep your hands off this person. Spare his life”. And immediately Satan left the presence of God to do his business. “Aksyon agad”. See why many have come to be deceived by Satan and why there’s a sort of success in his works? Because he is very efficient. What he has to do, he does it quickly. He does things fixed immediately.

Then all of a sudden, Job lost all his possessions—all his sheep, all his camels, all his oxen, and mind you even his sons and daughters where all dead. But you know what Job did? Did he ask the Lord why? Did he make a litany of “why’s” to God? No! What did he do? He knelt to the ground and worshipped the Lord instead!

When this kind of things happens to us, what do we do. Some people stopped praying. Yes, some would talk to God. They would make the litany of “why’s”, why Lord why? But question, do we ask God why we are handsome? Do we ask God why are we talented? Do we ask God why we are that intelligent? No! Then why? Reason is, we only want good things. We only want successes. We do not include failure in our vocabulary so we are not prepared when it comes. And for sure it will come. The truth is, life is a mixture of successes and failures. Without failures, life would not be life at all.

Do we count our blessings? See, if we ask God why, we are making God accountable to us. If we are making Him accountable to us then who’s God now? Who’s superior now? People who are experiencing pains and failures and are asking God why are blinded people. God has no obligation to account.

How must we react to failures? We should react like Job. Bend our knees and pray. Without faith we cannot explain the meaning of our life. If you make heaven out of the things in this world, then that would be a hell for you. You will not be happy and in the process you will loose your sanity. The Lord has his plans. He is the one who sets the rules of the game.

When we believe in ourselves and remove God in our lives is what we call “egoism”. Why not believe in what God has told us that we are not meant for this world. God is telling us that enjoying life here on earth is not really very important what matters most is that we enjoy happiness in heaven, the happiness that is eternal. Maybe we cannot understand this. Of course we want to enjoy life here on earth, but, God is wiser. His intelligence is the grasp of our intelligence, our intellect. Thus, we must enrich ourselves spiritually. Imitate Job. Kneel down with nothing. When we were born, we have no cash. Likewise, we also leave this world with nothing.

Sometimes, during the times when we have material disadvantage, it is also the time we begin to think deeply. Come to think of it, deep reflections and realizations come not when we are in abundance and enjoying life but when we are bombarded with trials and experiencing loneliness.

Job remained faithful despite the many problems in his life. You see when we have problems some of us would forget God and doubt his existence. Sadly, some would resort to doing evil just to forget their problems. However, when we do bad things, we do not destroy God. We destroy ourselves instead.

Faith is important. We should see things in the world with faith. We should see the problems in this life with faith. Let us stop asking ourselves when we have problems, “have I done anything wrong?” Even Jesus died on the cross. Did he do anything wrong?
After Job successfully passed the test God gave him, God rewarded him. God blessed Job’s latter days much more than his early ones. He came to own fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-donkeys. God blessed him with seven sons and three beautiful daughters. Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. He died old and full of years. God indeed rewards his faithful servant.

On my Graduation Day!!! (October 12, 2014/ Sunday)

  

My picture coming from a yearbook photoshoot being a graduating student  pictorial posted in my facebook

 

After the closing remarks of our graduation day in Saint Vincent's College

beside me is my friend a Former co-working scholar to the said school and also a classmate one of my subject is Mr. Gleen L. Tabudlong a graduate also like me taking the course of BSBA Major in Financial Management.

                        

Me Nicholai M. Luceños a graduate taking up a course of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Financial Management at Saint Vincent's College. Also a Former Working Scholar, Former Working Scholars President of the said school. Congratulations to all Graduates!!!        

                         

Saint Vincent's College Graduates-OCTOBERIAN (October 12, 2014) Batch SY: 2014-2015 Congratulations!!!

                                            No Boundaries- Kris Allen (Our Graduation Song)

                                    For Everything- Julie Anne San Jose (Song tribute to Parents)

Living with a holy man

Rev. Fr. Roy Cimagala
Candidly Speaking

I AM referring to Bishop Alvaro del Portillo (March 11, 1914-March 23, 1994), first successor of St. Josemaria Escriva as head of Opus Dei. He was beatified in Madrid on September 27.

I first met him in person in 1987 when he visited the Philippines, though I have known him ever since I got in touch with Opus Dei way back in 1970. He was like the shadow of St. Josemaria because I always saw him beside the Founder in the pictures.

But more than a physical shadow, he was a most faithful reflection and conductor of the spirit of Opus Dei that the Founder embodied with his original charism. St. Josemaria used to call him “Saxum,” meaning Rock, because the Founder could always rely on him for anything.

More or less I could claim that I lived with him for two years in Rome when I was sent there for my ecclesiastical studies. I have to say, “more or less,” because we actually did not share the same house, nor did we see each other everyday. But, yes, we met and had get-togethers with many others like me quite often.

I had many occasions of talking with him personally, and since one of my job assignments was to open the gate of the compound where we were staying, I frequently had a chance to open the gate for him, greet him and have some small talk.

Once, I was asked to accompany him while he had his haircut. I made sure I collected the cut hair—of course, in secret—knowing that one day it will be a relic. But I lost it since when his process of beatification started, we were asked to return all items related to him.

But that occasion was memorable to me because after the haircut, while I escorted him to his room, he asked me details of my birthday which I celebrated just a few days before. I was impressed that he would know about my birthday, considering there were hundreds of us, and that he was interested to know what happened during the celebration.

I had always found him as a very serene person, exuding pure goodness. I never saw in his face any sign that he was bothered, though I knew very well that he had to face and bear quite a burden of responsibilities and other concerns. Yes, I was truly edified by that, and hoped that I could be like him.

To me, his words, always gentle and delivered in a soft tone in meditations or in get-togethers, revealed nothing less than a deep spirituality that was most faithful to the Gospel and to the spirit of Opus Dei as embodied by St. Josemaria. I was always moved to listen very carefully to each word he said.

My impression was that he spoke directly from his heart, but a heart in constant dialogue with God. There was a certain freshness in his ideas and words. I never had the feeling of listening to recycled spiritual clichés, prettified by some rhetorical if spiritual gloss and hype, or propped up simply by clever literary devices or witticisms.

I suppose that when one tries hard to be very spiritual in his outlook and lifestyle, nourishing his spiritual life with the living word of God, with the sacraments and many other spiritual exercises, he could distinguish between what is truly spiritual and what may just look or sound like one, between what is truly spiritual and what is merely literary.

The biography of Bishop Alvaro is full of heroic instances of suffering, extreme fidelity, poverty, generosity, mercy… He forgave the person who nearly killed him during the Spanish civil war, the cocked gun pointed right to his head. He was always preaching about forgiveness, asking for it as well, as giving it.

In spite of his deceptively serene and laid-back presence, he was actually a man burning with love and self-giving. He was very dynamic in the sense that he inspired the putting up of many projects for the spiritual and social health of many people in many countries. Opus Dei spread to many places during his term.

He was made bishop in January 1991, and on January 28 of that same year, I was among the first batch of those ordained by him as deacon. Obviously, I was very happy and very thankful for this unexpected privilege.

I always cherish the memory of this very holy man. I now have a great devotion to him, and I hope and pray many others will have it too.

Source: http://www.cbcpnews.com/cbcpnews/?p=42241

See Each Person As A Gift

Source:  http://bosanchez.ph/see-each-person-as-a-gift/

When my son Bene was only three years old, he was already a brilliant philosopher-theologian.

Because of this, I sometimes felt he was an alien disguised as a three-year old boy doing espionage work.

Let me give you an example of what I mean.

When the little guy turned three, my wife placed him on her knee and asked him a simple question, “What is Mommy?”

The cute elf smiled, shocked the daylights out of her when he declared, “Mommy is a gift.  A gift for Bene.”

Naturally, my wife hugged him to pieces, wetting the floor with her tears.

She called me excitedly and told me what the in-house philosopher-theologian said this time.

I told her, “Three-year old boys don’t say such things.  They should just say Mama and Wiwi and Mamam.  See Sweetheart?  I told you he’s an alien.  Probably from planet Krypton.”

Wanting to find out who I was to him, I grabbed the little bundle and placed him on my knee, and asked, “What is Daddy?”

He smiled, “Daddy is a straw.  A long straw.  Because Daddy is tall.”

I thought my wife wouldn’t stop laughing.

I told her, “I think he’s faking it.  He realized we suspected he’s an alien so he’s talking like a three-year old boy again.”

I looked at my son and asked, “Bene, your Daddy is just a straw?  I’m not a, you know, something more special?  Like a blessing from heaven?   A ray of sunlight?  A song of the angels?  A poem of the universe?”

His lips were pursed, his face firm. “You’re a straw.”

Perhaps I don’t have the IQ to decipher the hidden message behind his esoteric definition for Daddy.  Could it be that through his Daddy, my son is able to suck the juices out of life’s wealth and wisdom?

“Don’t push it,” my wife said curtly.

But both of us agreed with Bene: What if we really saw each other as gifts?  Gift-wrapped by God in different shapes and sizes, colors and personalities.  Some are as long as straws, some as chubby as basketballs.  But all are gifts. 

No wonder, Bene—and all little children—seem to have so much fun in life.  They’re so busy unwrapping people as gifts of love from above.

      

Look around you now.

      

Have you opened some gifts lately?

May your dreams come true,

Bo Sanchez

The Magic of Thinking Big David Schwartz

 Information  to the video is credited to my friend Mr. Remie Duhaylungsod.