As we breathe our breaths each day we always dedicate it for the compensation of yesterday and for the betterment of tomorrow. Resulting to the making of the present a mere intermediary to what has been and what is to be. With this mindset, we come to conceive of time of having the past, the present and the future. With mechanical time to govern our everyday lives- to set what is past, what is present and what is future. But, the problem is that we no longer live the present but instead engross ourselves to what is the future.
Our existence is not that of early video recorders wherein in it is composed of different slides to project. What has been projected is the past, what is being projected is the present and what is to be projected is the future. I come to points of my life wherein I look at myself in the present not focusing on it but focusing on what I have been and what I am to be. Neglecting altogether my present and never living it.
Imagine a potter. He has clay in hand and facing his spinning wheel. The clay is so simple and irrelevant coming from the roads we tread, from the gardens we toil and from other uninteresting locations. But there the potter is, never stopping of dreaming of forming something beautiful and precious from this irrelevant clay. He put the clay on his spinning wheel and began to spin it. With his bare hands he began to form the simple clay into something different. With the simple spinning and with the graces of the potter’s hands comes out from earth’s clay something unique- a jar.
I spent the last 3 years of my elementary education in a rural school in Laconon, T’boli because of my parent’s teaching work. My classmates were natives of the T’boli tribe with only few of us from the lowlands. My earlier elementary schooling was spent at Notre Dame of Norala, Inc. After graduating from that school I proceeded my high school at Koronadal National Comprehensive High School. At first my parents are not confident of my status taken that I am only a graduate of a rural school. So, they comforted me that I should not hope too much of getting into the honors of that school. They are not even hoping that I get into a higher section. But then I realized that its not about which school you were really from but it’s about how much you value education and how much you value learning.
If the potter did stop dreaming and instead of thinking of forming something unique from that clay but focused on the irrelevance and ugliness of the clay he will find himself not forming something appreciative but instead stuck in his folly with nothing to accomplish.
Life is like that, at certain times we take time blaming and blaming the cause, things that have been done and cannot be undone, for the mistakes of the present that we neglect the things that we can do to better the things of the present. We take more time blaming who is responsible that we realize that we have spent all the time with nothing more to do because the time that we can spend in making things right we have already used in blaming who’s who.
Life will not always be perfect. We come to crossroads wherein the choices to choose is never positive. All four corners of the road are in flaws. But, the thing is that we are gifted with creativity for us to use. Besides, because of this creativity of man do all priceless possessions on earth arose. To name a few does from the sands of Egypt arose the pyramids and the Great Sphinx of Giza, from the clays of Yuang tze, the great yellow river of China, does came the great Chinese porcelains and from the great Alps of Italy came the raw marbles that became sculptures donning the great halls of Italy and the Vatican.
We can never choose which part of history does destiny wants us to place. We can never choose who we are and what we are on the day we were born. The thing is that, wherever and whichever part of history we are in we can always change the world. Remember that He who is the prince of the world was born in a simple manger but his love became the epitome of love for mankind- He has changed the World. Why don’t you?
Apr 26, 2016
The Question of Man is Across Time
Most often than not, man has always been imposed with this question: “What is man?”
For centuries, answers to this single question were given varying from culture to culture, custom to custom, from philosopher to philosopher and even from man himself to another man. Some of which gave answers starting most often with the self, grounded from his own existence. Others gave answers starting with the statements of those claiming to have possession of an interaction with the absolute.
This act of man questioning his nature does not only imply man’s curiosity and awareness of his existence but presupposes a certain search for meaning. A search for meaning in his existence.
The answers to this question started with Greeks whose view of man as part of the Cosmos (Cosmo-centric) gave fame to the Socratic motto: “Know thyself.” Man was seen as a microcosm, and the search for truth about man was simultaneously the search for truth about the universe.[1] Therefore, man is everything.
Other periods in the philosophical landscape emerged and gave rise to new thinking of what is man but this know thyself has and will always leave its mark. With the coming and predominance of Christianity on Medieval Europe, this “knowing thyself” has somewhat found its new perspective. “Know thyself” in the perspective of faith. Philosophy became the handmaid of Theology (Theo-Centric or God-Centered). Reason was the companion of faith, its task was to make faith reasonable...Man was viewed still as part of nature but nature now was God’s creation.[2]
The change of focus began with the philosophizing of Rene Dascartes...Everything was dubitable...all except for one fact- the fact that he was doubting.[3] From this criterion, Descartes has somewhat established of understanding man in the standpoint only of himself. In the standpoint of the ‘I’ taken in itself. (Anthropo-Centric)
Yet, the zeitgeist is so alive that new ways of understanding man were born. From the standpoint of the I, where modern philosophy established man, emerged Martin Buber’s ‘Thou.’
[1] Dy, M. (2001). Philosophy of Man: Selected Readings (2nd edition). Philippines: Goodwill Trading Co., Inc.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
For centuries, answers to this single question were given varying from culture to culture, custom to custom, from philosopher to philosopher and even from man himself to another man. Some of which gave answers starting most often with the self, grounded from his own existence. Others gave answers starting with the statements of those claiming to have possession of an interaction with the absolute.
This act of man questioning his nature does not only imply man’s curiosity and awareness of his existence but presupposes a certain search for meaning. A search for meaning in his existence.
The answers to this question started with Greeks whose view of man as part of the Cosmos (Cosmo-centric) gave fame to the Socratic motto: “Know thyself.” Man was seen as a microcosm, and the search for truth about man was simultaneously the search for truth about the universe.[1] Therefore, man is everything.
Other periods in the philosophical landscape emerged and gave rise to new thinking of what is man but this know thyself has and will always leave its mark. With the coming and predominance of Christianity on Medieval Europe, this “knowing thyself” has somewhat found its new perspective. “Know thyself” in the perspective of faith. Philosophy became the handmaid of Theology (Theo-Centric or God-Centered). Reason was the companion of faith, its task was to make faith reasonable...Man was viewed still as part of nature but nature now was God’s creation.[2]
The change of focus began with the philosophizing of Rene Dascartes...Everything was dubitable...all except for one fact- the fact that he was doubting.[3] From this criterion, Descartes has somewhat established of understanding man in the standpoint only of himself. In the standpoint of the ‘I’ taken in itself. (Anthropo-Centric)
Yet, the zeitgeist is so alive that new ways of understanding man were born. From the standpoint of the I, where modern philosophy established man, emerged Martin Buber’s ‘Thou.’
[1] Dy, M. (2001). Philosophy of Man: Selected Readings (2nd edition). Philippines: Goodwill Trading Co., Inc.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
Philosophy and a Better Place
It is said that Philosophy has three main branches, namely: Metaphysics, Epistemology and Ethics.
Metaphysics, as said, is the branch of philosophy that deals with the fundamental nature of reality. Epistemology is said to be dealing with the theory of knowledge. And lastly, Ethics is said to be the one concerned with the actions of man.
All three, in my opinion, does not only stop at looking and staring at reality. Not that Metaphysics should only tell us what is reality, Epistemology telling us what are we to know of reality and Ethics as telling us what is our reality and how should we conform to it. Instead, we can make a better world out of these three. Not of course if we only codify it in books and make that book as precious as the Bible and fossilize it in our mere memorization of quotations from the greatest of Philosophers and walk in the corridors of NDMU as though “the future is in your hand.” Of course, I am not telling that the future is not in your and our hands but what I am telling is do not fool yourself that by mere memorization of these quotations will you ever change the world. For even dogs live in memory. Instead, live it. The future will certainly slip in your hands if you only live in fooling yourself.
These three branches of Philosophy can make us a better place. It is like making from the sands of Egypt rise the pyramids and the Great Sphinx of Giza, from the clays of Yuang tze, the great yellow river of China, the great Chinese porcelains and from the raw marbles of the great Alps of Italy the sculptures of Michaelangelo donning the great halls of Italy and the Vatican.
So, how do we live it? We should do it. We should be the one looking at reality. We should be the one facing reality. Vis-a-vis. So as to know what are we to know and live conforming to what we know. We must know how to connect these branches into a unified working on reality. We must know how to transcend our dealing with reality in Metaphysics into strengthening and verifying it in Epistemology and thus apply it in our Ethics.
The greatest tragedy of man is selfishness. Few are the songs and literatures that youth listen to now that pertains for the longing of the common good. Nationalistic songs are becoming things of the past. Even the Aglipayan church whom I admire much in their patriotic cause have stopped wearing their Philippine Flag as vestments. Most students would choose listening to ‘Pusong Bato,’ ‘Boom Panes,’ etc. They would even choose to read ‘Hopeless Romantic’ of Marcelo Santos III neglecting that we have a greater tragedy to face than the tragedy that happens in their puppy love escapades.
Who would dare to listen to this song now with its heavy use of patriotic words and even with its use of native musical instrument?
Saan Ka Patungo
Joey Ayala
I would dare, would you?
Metaphysics, as said, is the branch of philosophy that deals with the fundamental nature of reality. Epistemology is said to be dealing with the theory of knowledge. And lastly, Ethics is said to be the one concerned with the actions of man.
All three, in my opinion, does not only stop at looking and staring at reality. Not that Metaphysics should only tell us what is reality, Epistemology telling us what are we to know of reality and Ethics as telling us what is our reality and how should we conform to it. Instead, we can make a better world out of these three. Not of course if we only codify it in books and make that book as precious as the Bible and fossilize it in our mere memorization of quotations from the greatest of Philosophers and walk in the corridors of NDMU as though “the future is in your hand.” Of course, I am not telling that the future is not in your and our hands but what I am telling is do not fool yourself that by mere memorization of these quotations will you ever change the world. For even dogs live in memory. Instead, live it. The future will certainly slip in your hands if you only live in fooling yourself.
These three branches of Philosophy can make us a better place. It is like making from the sands of Egypt rise the pyramids and the Great Sphinx of Giza, from the clays of Yuang tze, the great yellow river of China, the great Chinese porcelains and from the raw marbles of the great Alps of Italy the sculptures of Michaelangelo donning the great halls of Italy and the Vatican.
So, how do we live it? We should do it. We should be the one looking at reality. We should be the one facing reality. Vis-a-vis. So as to know what are we to know and live conforming to what we know. We must know how to connect these branches into a unified working on reality. We must know how to transcend our dealing with reality in Metaphysics into strengthening and verifying it in Epistemology and thus apply it in our Ethics.
The greatest tragedy of man is selfishness. Few are the songs and literatures that youth listen to now that pertains for the longing of the common good. Nationalistic songs are becoming things of the past. Even the Aglipayan church whom I admire much in their patriotic cause have stopped wearing their Philippine Flag as vestments. Most students would choose listening to ‘Pusong Bato,’ ‘Boom Panes,’ etc. They would even choose to read ‘Hopeless Romantic’ of Marcelo Santos III neglecting that we have a greater tragedy to face than the tragedy that happens in their puppy love escapades.
Who would dare to listen to this song now with its heavy use of patriotic words and even with its use of native musical instrument?
Saan Ka Patungo
Joey Ayala
Chorus:
Saan ka patungo panganay ko.
Ano ang hinahanap mo sa ating mundo?
Ako’y tutungo sa siyudad upang hanapin ang kaluluwa nito,
Papasukin ang mga pintuan at gusali niya at hihiga sa kaniyang semento.
Ako’y tutungo sa siyudad at sasagupa sa dahas nito,
Ako’y sasama sa kanyang mga pulubi at pusakal at yayakap sa kaniyang aspalto.
(Chorus)
Ako’y tutungong katedral upang tumitig sa mukha ng Diyos,
Isasaulo ko ang bawat guhit sa kanyang mukha at dadalhin ko siya sa aking puso.
Ako’y tutungong mesquita upang tumitig sa mukha ni Allah.
At kung matuklasan ko na ang Diyos at si Allah pala’y pareho ang mukhang pinapakita,
Aking imumungkahi na dapat magkaisa ang lahat ng mga Muslim at Kristiyano sa lupa.
(Chorus)
Ako’y tutungo sa ginintuang palasyo ng mga hari,
Titingnan ko kung ang kulay ng mga haring ito ay tunay na tulad ng kulay kong kayumanggi.
At kung matuklasan ko na ang tunay na kulay nila’y pintura sa mukha’t balat-kayo,
Makikita ng mundo na ang nakaupo sa trono ay di hari kundi manika lamang.
(Chorus)
Ako’y tutungo sa parang upang hukayin ang dunong sa lupa.
Isip ko’y bubungkalin diwa ko’y itatanim at aanihin ko ang katotohanan.
Ipamamahagi ko sa aking kapwa tao ang mga bunga ng aking diwa.
At kung may hahadlang sa pagbungkal ng isipan awitin ko’y magsisilbing sandata.
(Chorus)
Saan ka patungo, panganay ko.
Tila mpanganib ang adhikain mo.
Ita’y ako’y patungo sa dulo ng mundo.
Ang aking hinahanap ay ang kalayaan ko!
Ito ang aking pakay at ako’y nakahanding ipagpait ang aking buhay para sa KALAYAAN...
I would dare, would you?
Know Thyself!
Everybody who knows Socrates will surely recognize the words which he uttered almost 2,500 years ago yet still gives out a challenge to every man of this modern time: "Know thyself!"
What does really make a better you? What makes a good life? Most of us would think it would be things, material things.
During my childhood years, we lived at a subdivision in Norala. Some of my friends came from well-to-do families and they have as it seem everything they want. They have computers on their homes. Encyclopaedias don their living room. Bulky dictionaries would be their companion during studies. Their “yaya’s” would even accompany them going to school with their cars to bring them to and fro. At a young age they have cellphones to call their own. To sum up, they are rich while my family is only from the middle class. Though our everyday life is alright, not as bad as others, to dream of someday also becoming rich was implanted to my being. I was taught that if I study harder, someday I will also have these things and my life would be better. Better if I also have those things.
At first I succumb to that temptation of dreaming of having also those things. I wished I also live on a big house; I can be brought to school with a really nice car. I also dreamed of reading those thick encyclopaedias in our home and scan that dictionary everytime I have assignments. I really thought happiness, before you will have it, you should have these things also. But it is not.
I was transferred school when I was in Grade 4 because of my Mother’s work. It was really a new life where I transferred, totally a new life.
I was transferred to Laconon Elementary School. It was actually the second largest school in T’boli but still a few kilometres from the town proper. We will be trekking an 8-kilometer road with 2 rivers just to get there. Our house there is made of nipa. We live in a compound where teachers are boarding. Our water supplies come from springs. There are springs there where you can tap a hose up to your house and would be the source of water for your house. Sometimes if our tapping system would break we will be most happy because we will have no water and we will be washing ourselves in a river at the back of our house. The water is so pure and clean and it is literally as cold as water with ice! We used to heat water first before bathing.
Life is very different from that of Norala. Everything my classmates at Norala have, that’s the very opposite of what my classmates in T’boli has. Literally, small houses, no cars and we don’t even have books from the school. My classmates would start “walking” from their houses at 4 and still they would be late for the first period. Our school also practice an “early dismissal system” so that those who live in the barrios can reach their homes early. At 3:30 pm we are already dismissed. Life is just so simple in that mountain. But, one thing makes them superior than my rich classmates before. They truly know life.
With all the scarcity of what they have, they would still share, laugh and enjoy each day. You would even think if they have problems at all! They are all relatives by the way; they can trace every member of their clans though they do not have the same surname. Even those whom you would expect to be “siga” can be so gentle in his sister, can share the little he has with his friends and can be of company for his brothers in walks miles away.
Well, that is philosophy. It teaches us how to truly live our lives. They would say, “Philosophy is so hard!” Others would ask, “If you graduate the course, what good will it bring you?” Well, it is bringing good to you now.
Philosophy is never detached from the world. It actually gives balance and meaning to the world. As a telescope would help astronomers venture the heavens, know the vastness of the cosmos and discover the deepness of the universe so is Philosophy leading us to discover what life truly is, the life itself. It leads us to our most being. If you look into the heavens under a light post, that artificial light from the post may blur our eyes from seeing the very beauty of the moon and the stars. If we look into what happiness in life is through the lenses of material things, we may be disillusioned from what real happiness is.
Our life is like the universe, so vast and full of wonders yet unknown. It may be discovered but still there are more to offer. The stars, the moon, the comets and many other wonders lie beneath the dark spaces. We are told that these wonders are only fragments, debris; trash of what happened millions of years ago. If this debris would fall so beautiful, what more is that very nucleus which happened long ago? Philosophy does that; it makes us discover that very beautiful self of us. That very nucleus of ourselves which if discovered is so beautiful.
So let us anchor to Philosophy and let us live life itself.
What does really make a better you? What makes a good life? Most of us would think it would be things, material things.
During my childhood years, we lived at a subdivision in Norala. Some of my friends came from well-to-do families and they have as it seem everything they want. They have computers on their homes. Encyclopaedias don their living room. Bulky dictionaries would be their companion during studies. Their “yaya’s” would even accompany them going to school with their cars to bring them to and fro. At a young age they have cellphones to call their own. To sum up, they are rich while my family is only from the middle class. Though our everyday life is alright, not as bad as others, to dream of someday also becoming rich was implanted to my being. I was taught that if I study harder, someday I will also have these things and my life would be better. Better if I also have those things.
At first I succumb to that temptation of dreaming of having also those things. I wished I also live on a big house; I can be brought to school with a really nice car. I also dreamed of reading those thick encyclopaedias in our home and scan that dictionary everytime I have assignments. I really thought happiness, before you will have it, you should have these things also. But it is not.
I was transferred school when I was in Grade 4 because of my Mother’s work. It was really a new life where I transferred, totally a new life.
I was transferred to Laconon Elementary School. It was actually the second largest school in T’boli but still a few kilometres from the town proper. We will be trekking an 8-kilometer road with 2 rivers just to get there. Our house there is made of nipa. We live in a compound where teachers are boarding. Our water supplies come from springs. There are springs there where you can tap a hose up to your house and would be the source of water for your house. Sometimes if our tapping system would break we will be most happy because we will have no water and we will be washing ourselves in a river at the back of our house. The water is so pure and clean and it is literally as cold as water with ice! We used to heat water first before bathing.
Life is very different from that of Norala. Everything my classmates at Norala have, that’s the very opposite of what my classmates in T’boli has. Literally, small houses, no cars and we don’t even have books from the school. My classmates would start “walking” from their houses at 4 and still they would be late for the first period. Our school also practice an “early dismissal system” so that those who live in the barrios can reach their homes early. At 3:30 pm we are already dismissed. Life is just so simple in that mountain. But, one thing makes them superior than my rich classmates before. They truly know life.
With all the scarcity of what they have, they would still share, laugh and enjoy each day. You would even think if they have problems at all! They are all relatives by the way; they can trace every member of their clans though they do not have the same surname. Even those whom you would expect to be “siga” can be so gentle in his sister, can share the little he has with his friends and can be of company for his brothers in walks miles away.
Well, that is philosophy. It teaches us how to truly live our lives. They would say, “Philosophy is so hard!” Others would ask, “If you graduate the course, what good will it bring you?” Well, it is bringing good to you now.
Philosophy is never detached from the world. It actually gives balance and meaning to the world. As a telescope would help astronomers venture the heavens, know the vastness of the cosmos and discover the deepness of the universe so is Philosophy leading us to discover what life truly is, the life itself. It leads us to our most being. If you look into the heavens under a light post, that artificial light from the post may blur our eyes from seeing the very beauty of the moon and the stars. If we look into what happiness in life is through the lenses of material things, we may be disillusioned from what real happiness is.
Our life is like the universe, so vast and full of wonders yet unknown. It may be discovered but still there are more to offer. The stars, the moon, the comets and many other wonders lie beneath the dark spaces. We are told that these wonders are only fragments, debris; trash of what happened millions of years ago. If this debris would fall so beautiful, what more is that very nucleus which happened long ago? Philosophy does that; it makes us discover that very beautiful self of us. That very nucleus of ourselves which if discovered is so beautiful.
So let us anchor to Philosophy and let us live life itself.
Mar 13, 2016
Just a meter away
He was there…and I am here…just a meter away.
He was there…and I am here…just a meter away still. But, I just felt the presence of a father so alone, so weakened by days and weeks and months of longing for his loved ones. I felt the love of a friend from this stranger I just know. He confided me the things that is happening in the center as if I am that trustworthy to keep his little secrets. With these, I realized we are the same. He is still a man and not some mischievous monster ready to devour the flesh of mine which I adore as so pure and precious than theirs. How proud I am as I enter the center. But, how ashamed I am as I bid them farewell for they seem to be more human. For they pose true signs of hope in the Lord in which mine a hiprocrisy of stage plays.
Simply as our time to depart comes to a close, he gave me his little flower made of drinking straw. At no cost he gave me this little treasure in where he live up his life now. I in turn took it and appreciated it feeling ashamed for not doing my part of bringing something for him. I apologized for not bringing something but then he expressed himself consoling me: “What is important my son is your presence and your visit.”
He was there…and I am here…just a meter away still…but I can feel my heart beating for the heart of this saint. This saint of conversion.
11 Fascinating Quotes from Elizabeth of the Trinity Everyone Should Read
Tap into the heart of our newest Carmelite saint, Elizabeth of the Trinity. Add more in our comment box below.
2. “May my life be a continual prayer, a long act of love.”
3. “May nothing distract me from You, neither noise nor diversions. O my Master, I would so love to live with You in silence. But what I love above all is to do Your will, and since You want me still to remain in the world, I submit with all my heart for love of You. I offer you the cell of my heart; may it be Your little Bethany. Come rest there; I love you so…I would like to console You, and offer myself to You as a victim. O my Master, for You, with You.”
4. “It seems to me that I have found my heaven on earth, because my heaven is you, my God, and you are in my soul. You in me, and I in you – may this be my motto.”
5. “What a joyous mystery is your presence within me, in that intimate sanctuary of my soul where I can always find you, even when I do not feel your presence. Of what importance is feeling? Perhaps you are all the closer when I feel you less.”
6. “Make my soul…Your cherished dwelling place, Your home of rest. Let me never leave You there alone, but keep me there all absorbed in You, in living faith, adoring You.”
7. “Here in Carmel, there is nothing, nothing but God. He is all, He suffices, and one lives for Him alone and for His glory… this life of prayer and contemplation, interceding always for His people before the Face of God…”
8. “My mission in heaven will be to draw souls, helping them to go out of themselves to cling to God, with a spontaneous, love-filled action, and to keep them in that great interior silence which enables God to make his mark on them, to transform them into himself.”
9. “A soul united to Jesus is a living smile that radiates Him and gives Him.”
10. “I can’t find words to express my happiness. Here there is no longer anything but God. He is All; He suffices and we live by Him alone.”
11. “Believe that He loves you. He wants to help you Himself in the struggles which you must undergo. Believe in His Love, His exceeding Love.”
Feb 13, 2016
A Muslim Mother Blessed her Catholic Son's Ordination
Ten years in the seminary and you can only find a handful of Catholics who would really support you on your vocation. Most would surely doubt the quality of your person if truly fit for the "service."
But, what is amazing is that though you will not find that much of Catholic 'supporters' you will surely befriend people whose religious belief is different from yours and yet believe in your perseverance.
This story from Asianews.it is a great example:
The Muslim family of Robertus B. Asiyanto joyfully participated in his ordination in Maumere. His mother laid her hands on the altar: "I'm really happy with my son’s choice". The island of Flores is one of the few predominantly Catholic areas of Indonesia.
Feb 12, 2016
Be the You
“To understand the world,This reminds me to be one with myself and to discover it not theoretically but instead discover it as one should employ every faculty.
knowledge is not enough,
you must see it,
touch it,
live in its presence
and drink the vital heat of existence
in the very heart of reality.”
Jan 15, 2016
One year ago today...
Last January 15, 2015 the leader of the worldwide 1.2 billion Catholics arrived in the Philippines via Villamore Airbase. He has the mission of bringing the message of Christ of Mercy and Compassion to the 80 million Filipino Catholics. Arriving in the said airbase he was greeted by scores of Filipinos including church officials and that of the government. He was greeted with smiles by both the Filipino youth and seniors alike. Also, he was greeted by his constituents in church matters and was greeted by the President as leader of a state - the Vatican.
Cabinet members of the Philippine government pile up to kiss the ‘Ring of the Fisherman’ which is the sign of the pope’s leadership to the flock of Christ. “You are Peter, the Rock, and upon this rock I will build my Church.” Matt. 16:18 says Jesus to Peter, making him the leader of the Church. Their kisses reminded me with the kiss that brought death, death on the cross. After the tragedies happening in the Philippines they seem to wait for the pope before they would do some charity and find a place in the limelight of that Church affair and be dubbed as one of the Good Samaritan. They are like the Pharisees in Jesus’ time who follow and follow the Lord not to learn from his wisdom but finding holes to discredit him. They are kissing and kissing the ring of Peter and yet they forgot the message of Jesus carried by this man: “Tend my Sheep.” John 21:15
I left General Santos City in January 16, 2015 for the Papal Visit. At 7:45 I arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. I rode a shuttle bus going to Taft Avenue for an MRT ride going to our host parish. This will give us lodging for our next 5 day sojourn in the country’s capital. The parish convent is a modern design building. It has a common air-conditioning system not including the rooms for every room has its own air-conditioning. Life in that parish is very smooth. With parishioners coming from the upper social strata, no jeepney ride comes in front of that Church. Only taxi is the available public transport in that area. With such commodities present in a convent who can ask for transfer? After we arrived in the parish we took dinner offered by the parish priest.
After making it to the parish convent we made our way to the host family who will be giving us also an accommodation. My companions were first to arrive in Manila in the 15th so they told me about the ‘wonder’ inside the house of our host family. We reached the house inside a private village. We were asked what business do we have inside the village and we said the name of our host which they eventually called. After calling we were asked to log in our names in a log book in the guard house and we proceeded. Upon reaching I was amazed by the truth they were telling me. It has three floors and an elevator. 48-inch television is catering our recreational needs and it has an ‘azotea’ overlooking Quezon City. It took me some time to process the feeling I have with the house of our host family. Thinking that we have an unfinished house in a remote barangay in Mindanao the feeling inside this three-storey house is amazing!
For three days in Manila I was in the midst of the upper social strata of Manila. Living and doing everyday things in the way how a Quezon City rich club member would do. I do shower under hot and cold and spent time inside a spacious C.R. Touring and touring Manila with nothing in mind but enjoying life. We also joined a Saturday mass in the parish chapel. We were in the midst of the rich and when the offering part came bills not smaller than Php 100 came out from the pockets.
From my experience inside that village of the Rich I saw the real other face of men. I realized that we should stop stereotyping the rich and realize that they too keep their pace in their spirituality.
The other side of the face of man that I saw is that of the more common – the Poor. I saw that the face of the poor of Manila is different from the poor I was used to. Atleast in Mindanao the poor can be seen but the poor in manila is ignored more. I saw a man pleading just for rice and he was sitting in front a fast-food chain. Nobody who heard him ever listened to him. It broke my heart for during at the papal mass in Luneta there is about 7 million who participated, cried and said: “Oh! I was really transformed!” I doubt if they ever listened to the pope of his pleadings of mercy and compassion and ready to turn the word upside down or were they only there hoping to take for themselves a Papal Selfie.
I stopped at him and later on realized what I asked to the man: “What happened to you!” in Tagalog. I normally don’t do that to strangers but in that moment my feeling was so different that I need to explode. As I look into my wallet for what to give to the man I saw him crossing himself with the sign of the cross. Thanks God he has not lose his hope – in Jesus.
He told me after I asked that exploding words that he was finding a job. But, why? He is lame! How can one man could be so hardworking and not be given the opportunity? How heartbreaking it is to hear from the news the millions and millions or even billions of pesos being lost in the hands of those who promise hope, justice, equality, progress and many other things which could make the lives of these simple people better. Last election we hoped of the best from the son himself of the couple who fought in the front for the people against the regime of martial law and we again were disappointed. He is always there talking and talking about the corruption of the past government that he mask his own puppets in their money laundering spree.
This is the problem with kind words. Rhetorical words put great people to death. Nice and appealing words which took the hearts and souls of those who listens away from God. The Socrates of Athens and the Jesus of Nazareth were speaking of truth and yet put to death for it. The Rizal of Dapitan was shot because of the truth he spoke. The Gandhi of India was assassinated due to the truth he fought. All for the words that pierces more surely than the two edged sword. Martin Luther King Jr., Malala Yousafsai, Ninoy Aquino, Aung San Suu Kyi and scores of others who suffered from the rhetorics of selfishness.
Rhetorical words disillusion us from the truth. As we listen and continue to hope, there come those who take advantage. Most often they are those who has promised. An old anecdote goes that: what differentiates us from those who are in the prison cells is that they were caught and we are not.
At UST I met thousands of others who is ready to meet with the Pope. They were mostly from top institutions of learning such as Ateneo, UST, FEU, etc. In essence we are all the hope of the fatherland for in our hands lies the future. We are the future. This was actually a very old saying said by a man born almost 150 years ago and was also killed because of his fight for truth – Dr. Jose Rizal. Yet, after the years spent where are we?
Cabinet members of the Philippine government pile up to kiss the ‘Ring of the Fisherman’ which is the sign of the pope’s leadership to the flock of Christ. “You are Peter, the Rock, and upon this rock I will build my Church.” Matt. 16:18 says Jesus to Peter, making him the leader of the Church. Their kisses reminded me with the kiss that brought death, death on the cross. After the tragedies happening in the Philippines they seem to wait for the pope before they would do some charity and find a place in the limelight of that Church affair and be dubbed as one of the Good Samaritan. They are like the Pharisees in Jesus’ time who follow and follow the Lord not to learn from his wisdom but finding holes to discredit him. They are kissing and kissing the ring of Peter and yet they forgot the message of Jesus carried by this man: “Tend my Sheep.” John 21:15
I left General Santos City in January 16, 2015 for the Papal Visit. At 7:45 I arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. I rode a shuttle bus going to Taft Avenue for an MRT ride going to our host parish. This will give us lodging for our next 5 day sojourn in the country’s capital. The parish convent is a modern design building. It has a common air-conditioning system not including the rooms for every room has its own air-conditioning. Life in that parish is very smooth. With parishioners coming from the upper social strata, no jeepney ride comes in front of that Church. Only taxi is the available public transport in that area. With such commodities present in a convent who can ask for transfer? After we arrived in the parish we took dinner offered by the parish priest.
After making it to the parish convent we made our way to the host family who will be giving us also an accommodation. My companions were first to arrive in Manila in the 15th so they told me about the ‘wonder’ inside the house of our host family. We reached the house inside a private village. We were asked what business do we have inside the village and we said the name of our host which they eventually called. After calling we were asked to log in our names in a log book in the guard house and we proceeded. Upon reaching I was amazed by the truth they were telling me. It has three floors and an elevator. 48-inch television is catering our recreational needs and it has an ‘azotea’ overlooking Quezon City. It took me some time to process the feeling I have with the house of our host family. Thinking that we have an unfinished house in a remote barangay in Mindanao the feeling inside this three-storey house is amazing!
For three days in Manila I was in the midst of the upper social strata of Manila. Living and doing everyday things in the way how a Quezon City rich club member would do. I do shower under hot and cold and spent time inside a spacious C.R. Touring and touring Manila with nothing in mind but enjoying life. We also joined a Saturday mass in the parish chapel. We were in the midst of the rich and when the offering part came bills not smaller than Php 100 came out from the pockets.
From my experience inside that village of the Rich I saw the real other face of men. I realized that we should stop stereotyping the rich and realize that they too keep their pace in their spirituality.
The other side of the face of man that I saw is that of the more common – the Poor. I saw that the face of the poor of Manila is different from the poor I was used to. Atleast in Mindanao the poor can be seen but the poor in manila is ignored more. I saw a man pleading just for rice and he was sitting in front a fast-food chain. Nobody who heard him ever listened to him. It broke my heart for during at the papal mass in Luneta there is about 7 million who participated, cried and said: “Oh! I was really transformed!” I doubt if they ever listened to the pope of his pleadings of mercy and compassion and ready to turn the word upside down or were they only there hoping to take for themselves a Papal Selfie.
I stopped at him and later on realized what I asked to the man: “What happened to you!” in Tagalog. I normally don’t do that to strangers but in that moment my feeling was so different that I need to explode. As I look into my wallet for what to give to the man I saw him crossing himself with the sign of the cross. Thanks God he has not lose his hope – in Jesus.
He told me after I asked that exploding words that he was finding a job. But, why? He is lame! How can one man could be so hardworking and not be given the opportunity? How heartbreaking it is to hear from the news the millions and millions or even billions of pesos being lost in the hands of those who promise hope, justice, equality, progress and many other things which could make the lives of these simple people better. Last election we hoped of the best from the son himself of the couple who fought in the front for the people against the regime of martial law and we again were disappointed. He is always there talking and talking about the corruption of the past government that he mask his own puppets in their money laundering spree.
This is the problem with kind words. Rhetorical words put great people to death. Nice and appealing words which took the hearts and souls of those who listens away from God. The Socrates of Athens and the Jesus of Nazareth were speaking of truth and yet put to death for it. The Rizal of Dapitan was shot because of the truth he spoke. The Gandhi of India was assassinated due to the truth he fought. All for the words that pierces more surely than the two edged sword. Martin Luther King Jr., Malala Yousafsai, Ninoy Aquino, Aung San Suu Kyi and scores of others who suffered from the rhetorics of selfishness.
Rhetorical words disillusion us from the truth. As we listen and continue to hope, there come those who take advantage. Most often they are those who has promised. An old anecdote goes that: what differentiates us from those who are in the prison cells is that they were caught and we are not.
At UST I met thousands of others who is ready to meet with the Pope. They were mostly from top institutions of learning such as Ateneo, UST, FEU, etc. In essence we are all the hope of the fatherland for in our hands lies the future. We are the future. This was actually a very old saying said by a man born almost 150 years ago and was also killed because of his fight for truth – Dr. Jose Rizal. Yet, after the years spent where are we?
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