The brown scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

The brown scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. May limang piraso ako nito sa bahay. Pero di ko lang sinusuot. Ang promise ni Mama Mary sa scapular ay, "whosoever dies wearing this scpapular shall not suffer eternal fire". So in tagalog,"pag namatay ka ng suot-suot mo ang scapular na ito, sa langit ka pupunta."

Dahil dyan sa promise na yan ay parang ayaw ko isuot ang scapular na yan. Lahat tayo gusto pumunta sa langit, lahat tayo gusto makamit ang buhay na walang hanggan, well, yan din ang gusto ko. Pero ang gusto ko, makamit yan ng pinaghihirapan ko. Gusto ko paghirapan ang ang pagpunta ko sa langit at ayaw ko na umaasa ako sa isang scapular. Marahil naiisp nyo, "ang pagsuot ng scapular ay isang pamaraan na kung saan mo nirerespeto si Maria". May suot na ako na miraculous medal, ain't that respect already?

So yun, gusto ko makapunta ng langit di dahil sa isang sacramental, gusto ko pumunta ng langit dahil sa pinaghirapan ko makapunta dito.

*well, alam ko may mga against sa opinion ko ngayon kaya sana magcomment kayo or email me nalng at rodrigoaescobar@catholic.org*

Anyone who serves die (reflection for April 2, 2006)

Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies , it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life, loses it, and whoever hate his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am there also will my servant be. The father will honor whoever serves me.

We are all grains of wheat who falls to the ground and dies. We who falls in the rich soil of the love of God dies, but will produce a much bigger fruit. It only shows that if we follow Christ, we die, but will have eternal life.

Anyone who serves die. Unpleasant to the hear don't you think? But its true! Most of the saints you know today died because of serving. When they were still alive they were frequently asked, "why do you serve?" and then they answer, "because we love God." So in other words, they serve because of love, we too must serve to die. If we serve, we can sometimes be suffering.

sorrows and sufferings can be a paradise if I suffer with God

Way of sharing

When you promise someone you will pray for them, do you really pray? Praying for others is a meaningful spiritual exercise.

It is a way of sharing their joys, sorrows and feeling with them and carrying them.

We become persons of compassion, sharing the loving embrace we ourselves have always already received.

the Giver

We are created for God. God, in His graciousness has created every good thing for our use.

But very often we forget the Giver and focus instead on the gifts. The gifts and blessings that are given to us, must not to be used only for ourselves. Instead, they must be used for the improvement of the people around us. Sometimes we strive ourselves to get more and most of the gifts rather than letting them lead us back to our Creator.

Let us pray so that our lives can witness the Giver.

To save us... (reflection for March 26, 2006)

The gospel today takes us back to Exodus, when Moses lead the Israelites out of Egypt. The Israelites criticized Moses and God. God wanted to wake up the discipline of the Israelites so He sent poisonus snakes to them. Alot of the Israelites died from the bite of the serpents. Then the Israelites repented and asked Moses for intercessions. Then in the desert, Moses lifted up a bronze serpent. So that all who were bitten by the poisonus ones could look at that bronze serpent with faith will be saved and be healed of their aliments.

On the Cross...

Jesus is also lifted up
Jesus is also raised
Jesus is also nailed

All of that happend to Jesus just to save us.

Lent is a time
Lent is an opportunity
Lent is a chance

...to lift ourselves up to Him.

With His saving cross, He desires to save you from what brings you down. He desires to make your cross lighter so that it would be easier for you to carry...

Mother of Christ

Being a mother of Christ must not have been an easy job for Mary.

For us, it may seem impossible...

Being told what to do...
Putting aside her own dreams...
and especially... Obeying without understanding much...

For us people today, it seems that it is very difficult to obey if we do not understand. We sometimes demand to understand it rather than obeying it.

But Mary shows all of us that Christ is born not only in Betlehem, but also in our hearts when we listen to God's words and follow His will

Another Issue... :(

I love Jesus with all my heart and I am willing to offer my whole life for Him. But few days ago, that love was tested. Somehow, a Special Minister of the Holy Communion (SMHC) was irritated by my actions.

Kase ganito yun, sunday mass yun e. E communion na, kaya kumuha ako ng communion plate sa credence table (like we usually do) tapos bumaba ako at pumunta sa isang SMHC at dun ako nagcommunion plate. Then, irritably, sinabi nya sakin, "umakyat ka na sa altar, di ka kailangan, ako na bahala" - I was very frustrated with that dude, nagmamarunong kase (isa sa mga bagay na ayaw ko sa isang tao ay nagmamarunong). Di ko sya sinunod sa utos nya na umakyat nalang ako. Instead, nagpatuloy parin ako sa pagcocommunion plate. To be really honest, sometimes may topak ang SMHC samin. Madalas nagmamarunong, madalas pinapagalitan kameng mga Altar Servers kahit sila naman ang may mali. Di na nga namin pinapatulan e.

Nung sinabi sakin ng SMHC yun, di na ako sumagot kase, pag sumagot ako, ang dating sakanya non, bastos. If I answered him, my words for him will be very rude. As parents say, "wag sasagot sa nakakatanda"

Pero at that point, parang gusto ko siya sagutin. Nahihiya nga lang ako dahil hawak hawak nya si Kristo that time. Pero sayang! di ko sya nasagot.

Let me first recall the relevance of a communion plate, ang communion plate ay isang banal na bagay na ginagamit para icatch yung mga small particles ng Blessed Sacrament. Isipin mo nalang kung wala yung communion plate, lilipad lipad nalang yung mga mumu ng Blessed Sacrament sa ere. Naisip kaya ito ng SMHC na yon? o nagmarunong nanaman siya?

Sa totoo lang, kaming mga altar servers, patang pata na sa mga reklamo ng mga SMHC ng parish namin. Di lang namin sila pinapatulan. Lagi sila nagrereklamo samin, pero kung tutuusin, mas madami pa silang mga mali na di lang narereklamo. Minsan natatanong ko, "bakit ganun ang SMHC namin?" kase yung ibang SMHC ng ibang parish di naman ganun e. Kaya kung sino man ang SMHC ng parish namin na makakabasa nito, eto lang masasabi ko...

Wag nyo kameng subukan. Marahil mga bata kame, pero pagdating sa Diyos, di nasusunod ang edad. Di porket mga matatanda kayo, alam nyo na lahat. Wag nyo kame subukan. Dahil ako mismo magsusulat ng letter sa Obispo, Parish Priest, PPC o kaya Worship Ministry regarding sa ugali ninyo... O kaya naman, isusumbong ko kayo directly sa Tatay ko.... ;)

Haay... I'll pray for the change of the Special Ministers of the Holy Communion of our parish....

Questions as I travel...

Madami nagtatanong at nagsasabi sakin tunkol sa pagiging santo ko. Nagulat ako sa mga tao na nagsasabi nito sakin dahil mga nagsasabi ay mga matatalik kong kaibigan, kamaganak at kung sino man kahit hindi ko kilala.

Ito ang sinasabi nila sakin...

Kaibigan 1: Diego, sa totoo lang, hindi ka magiging santo, kase masyado ka makasalanan para maging santo.

Hindi kilala 1: ikaw? magiging santo? haha.. tang ina!!! di mo kaya.. araw araw ka nagpoporno at nagmamasturbate tapos sa tingin mo magiging santo ka? GAGO!

Relative 1: Masyado ka pa bata para maging santo o kaya pari. Di ka dapat magmadali sa pagiging pari. Enjoy your life muna... at isa pa... di mo kaya maging santo dahil masyado ka pa bata...

Una sa lahat ang mga santo na kinikilala mo, dinadasalan at iniidilo mo ay naging tao rin. Naging tao na makasalanan. Di mo pwede sabihin na ang mga santo hindi makasalanan...dahil ang tao makasalanan at sila naging tao na makasalanan at nagkakamali. Before they were saints they were first sinners.

At isa pa, di ako nagpoporno at nagmamasturbate, I am different from the other teenagers. Di mo pa ako kilala kaya wag mo muna ako ijudge. Better know me first. Ang tagal tagal ko na huling ginagwa ang mga sinasabi mo. And I confessed that sin before pa. and confession is meant for a change... to repent...

And nobody is too young to become a saint. Have'nt you heard of St. Dominic Savio, my idol? search him on the net para makilala mo sya. Or better yet, ako na magsasabi... Si St. Dominic Savio ang idol ko. Sa maniwala ka sa hindi, Siya ay isang BATA TULAD KO!!! 14 years old to be precise... isa na syang santo ngayon. Kaya wag mo/nyo sasabihin na hindi ko kaya dahil ito ay nakaya ni St. Dominic Savio na kasing edad ko lang nung namatay. Never tell me na I'm too young.

Some of you have said, "enjoy your life muna".......

For me, I do not want to enjoy my life...

My life is completely to God. I am a property of the Lord and He'll do what He wants with His property.

I have made up my mind na gusto ko maging isang pari. Yan din ang pangarap ni St. Dominic Savio kaso namatay lang sya. Kaya kung sakali na hindi ako mamamatay habang bata ako, sa paglaki ko gusto ko maging ganap na pari...

I hope that this post shall end all issues regarding my journey to sainthood... sana lang... sana lang... sana lang...

Comment nalang kayo kung meron pa kayong gusto sabihin...

Grace filled moments

Have you ever found yourself in a lions den like the prophet Daniel?

Even with wild beasts about to attack and crush you, you have remained unharmed?

Someone has saved you from forces that could have ended your life. Like I said before, "what God wants, happens." The will of God is a much greater force that even the most powerful man on earth cannot stop. His graces are endless and he will keep you alive until you have finished your mission in life.

In problems, people sometimes kill themeselves by jumping on a building, cutting wrists, or even shooting themeselves with a gun.

But we must remember that, "everything happens for a reason"... Killing oneself is not the solution to a problem. Kahit na may suot ka ng miraculous medal o kaya ng brown scapular of the carmelites na may pangako na pag namatay ka, "you will not suffer the flames of hell"... basta sa oras na mamatay ka, basta pinatay mo sarili mo, sa impyerno ka pa rin pupunta. "

Our lives itself is one of the graces and blessings from God that we must be thankful for. Treasure this grace filled moments in your heart and let them carry you as you begin your Journey.

Truly faithful service...

Today, we celebrate the solemnity of St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, and wife of Mary. The celebration was actually yesterday but yesterday was a sunday, and sunday is a much important obligation (that's what I think)

St. Joseph is good model of quiet faithful service, scriptures are silent about him, except for the events that link him with Jesus. St. Joseph for one has many titles, most chaste spouse, protector and gurdian of virgins... I may not recall all of the titles given to St. Joseph but that's the least of what I remembered.

St. Joseph is called to live a life centered around and leading to Jesus, a life known only because of its connectedness to the Lord. One that is of faithful service.

Let St. Joseph be a model to us, living a life to the Lord and service to others.

Prayer...

Oh, St. Joseph,whose protection is so great, so prompt, so strong,before the throne of God,I place in you all my interests and desires.Oh, St. Joseph,do assist me by your powerful intercession,and obtain for me from your Divine Sonall spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power,I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most Loving of Fathers.Oh, St. Joseph,I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms;I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart.Press Him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me and Ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath.

St. Joseph, Patron of departed souls - pray for me. AMEN.
St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church,pray for us.

*I got the prayer from the blog of a Jesuit, JR Orbeta, SJ... I'm sure that he won't mind*... :)

What do we thirst for?

The Samaritan woman comes to draw water from the well. And that search for water, draws her to Jesus.

Let us put our jars down and ask, What do we thirst for?

Our many thirst drive us to action, they show us a deeper thirst for water that lasts. (refer from previous post "the water" in January 9, 2006)

Like the Samaritan woman, we too are sometimes selfish when it comes to our waters. But let us remember that as we draw water, it may lead us to our Savior.

*For some people, maybe this post may be too deep, reflect to see the beauty*

The Sore Spot of Jesus (reflection for March 19, 2006)

Jesus went to the temple of Jerusalem because the passover of the Jews was near. But he found out that the temple of God was made a marketplace! Jesus was upset, and frustrated. He drove all of them out in the temple area which they used as a market place, Jesus said, "Take all of these out of here and stop making my Father's house a marketplace"

The Gospels generally reveals to us the mild, gentle, caring and compassionate Jesus, to whom the children and the sick, even the lepers would come and won't be afraid to approach. But my question is, "why the violent outburst in todays Gospel?"... In the scriptures, Jesus said, "come to me, you who are heavily burdened and I will give you rest..... for I am gentle of heart"

Jesus was obviously angry that time, and somehow, the sore spot of Jesus was touched. The temple is a sacred place, it is a place of worship and not a place for business. What generally made Jesus angry is that when He saw the temple being used as a marketplace, as I said, the sore spot of Jesus was touched. Maybe there's another thing that made Jesus mad, the exploitation of the people and the immoral use of their power and authority.

We can see in the Gospel how Jesus cleared off the temple in Jerusalem. At times, Jesus is cleaning up ourselves. He is doing to us what he has done in the temple of Jerusalem, He is cleaning up, and driving away the evil that is within ourselves.

Let us allow Christ to cleanse us. It is the Lenten season, it is a good season to repent from your past sins, confess and let Christ cleanse your weary and tired soul.

Chain Messages...

I am receiving alot of chain messages. In my YM, email, cellephone and in my friendster. People passing this only proves that they lack faith in God, and they doubt the will of God.

Few hours ago, I received a text message saying, "hi im jen... 4 years old... my brother raped me and so did my dad, and my mom just watched me being abused... I died because my mom pushed me from our terrace... she did not know what to do and so she burried me... tonight at 10pm ill go to your room and kill you if you dont pass this text message.. so better pass it now"

After reading it, I just smiled and laugh. I came to think that most people nowadays are indeed lacking faith.

If they really have faith, why do they need to pass these kind of things?

Chain messages are works of Satan. Believing it may affect you and the people around you, even God Himself.

You dont need chain messages. If you really have faith and love for Christ, why do you have to pass it on???

Just pray and go with the flow of life because only He knows the future....

What God wants, happens

Jeremiah was a reluctant prophet. He lacked confidence and did'nt know what to do. He actually got killed when he was thrown into a dry well. Yet he wasa prophet, chosen as a spokesman to bring Gods news to all.

We can always be like Jeremiah, Lacking confidence and does not know what to do. I'm telling you right now, "we need not to worry, for if we have faith in God, everythings possible"...

We all have our faults, but one thing is for sure, God asks you to speak His word.

Denying Jesus

When we feel that we are hopelessly sinful and stuck in our selfish patterns, we only have to remember St. Peter.

Among the other apostles...

Peter was the rough one
Peter was the strong one
Peter was the impulsive one

And lastly...

Peter was the straight-forward one

But Peter was also weak, a self-preserving coward who denied Jesus 3 times, but Jesus forgave him and still gave Peter the keys to His Kingdom.

We can always be like Peter, strong and tough at times of glory and suffering. But when it comes to Christ, we deny and feel weak. Peter served as a challenge for me and a model when he denied Christ 3 times.

We may always deny Christ, we may always take back our love for Him, but He loves us so much that He still gave us blessings. To Peter, a special role, to keep the keys of Gods kingdom.

Parents...

Zelie Guerin wanted to be a nun. Louis Martin wanted to be a priest. Their path crossed and they realized they were called to the married life. They have nine kids including St. Therese. How I wish that the couples will take the vocation of marrige seriously.

Parents play a crucial role in the development of their child. It is normal for the child to commit mistakes so the parensts must guide their child through their journey.`

Some parents lecture their children not through words, but through a whip of a belt or a smack of their hands. But why use violence instead of calm words? They probably dont realize that their children are "gifts" from God that must be nourished and taken cared of.

It is a holy task to build a family. Even if we are not that holy, we must accept the fact that building a family is a holy task.

The transfiguration... (reflection for March 12, 2006)

Today is the feast of transfiguration. Jesus asked Peter James and John to come with Him in a high mountain. Since Peter, James and John are followers of Christ, they followed Him. Then the clothes of Jesus became dazzling white. The 3 was so happy and honored to be a witness to the event of the transfiguration.

*Today is not the feast of transfiguration but the Gospel today reffers to the event of transfiguration* (Thanks for correcting me Jr! :)

In our lives, we are always asked by Jesus to follow Him. We may not know it, but we often doubt Christs' invitation. Let's take Peter, John and James as an example, they allowed Christ to lead them in a high mountain. In the end, they were so happy that they would not want to leave. All I'm telling is that we must allow Christ to lead our soul. We'll never know if we'll end up happy, but I assure you, if we allowed Christ to lead our soul, we will indeed be happy and wished we'd never want to leave that happiness. In the Second reading, the first line was, "if God is with us, who can be against us?"... So we must not be afraid to follow Christ, for if we suffer much, we know that God still won't leave us. God loves us all even to those who does not love Him.

I can tell you now that I am suffering, but I expect more and great sufferings to come, for I aim to become a saint. I believe that if one aims to become a saint, he must expect grave sufferings. But that's all right for me, cause what you suffer here on land is the opposite you'll get in heaven.

Christ is transfigured, not by changing into something He never was before, but by revealing to His disciples what He truly was in opening their eyes.

Sacrifice...

The Gospel tommorrow is very beautiful, the same goes with the 1st and 2nd readings. The 1st reading talks about sacrifice. Yahweh tested the loyalty of Abraham to Him, so He asked Abraham to offer his son Isaac as his sacrifice. When Abraham was about to kill Isaac, an angel appeared and asked Abraham to stop. The angel proclaims that Abraham will have descendants many as the stars and of the countless sands in the shore. All this graces are 'rewarded' to Abraham because of obeying God's command.

It is really hard for a parent to lose a child. I may not be a parent yet but seeing or watching things about losing a child in television programs sometimes makes me cry. If i remember it right, the last time I cried was during our recollection (all of my classmates cried). The topic was, "if I die, what could be the reaction my family?"....

Well... like I said, it is really hard for a parent to lose a child. But for Abraham to offer his son's life as a sacrifice for God, he is willing to do it.

Are we willing to offer things that are important to us?

Are we willing to sacrifice a good relationship for the sake of obedience to God?

Are we willing to offer ourselves 100% to God?

Crosses that we cannot carry

A poor man gives his very rich master a gift. Even if he knows it's nothing much for his master, his master readily accpets, and touched by the most thoughtful gesture.

(it's like this) When we pray: we can only give to God our lowly selves and ever-lacking love. But God sees through our hearts, so He readily accepts.

We people sometimes give up to problems that we think are heavy and could not carry it anymore. But always remember that God will not give us a cross that we cannot carry. Our strength found in our soul. So if we believe that we can overcome our problems, we will indeed overcome them with ease. Carrying a cross by yourself is very hard, but carrying a cross with faith is easier.

All saints suffer, so if you dream to become a saint, you need to suffer. Because no saint did not suffer. We must remember that suffering is one way to show our love for Christ.

what we suffer in our life, is the opposite of what we'll get in the next.

The Scriptures

When we read the bible, we see many kinds of unusual things.

Things like....

A homeless man becomes a father of nations.
A sheperd become a king.
A virgin becomes a mother.
A fisherman becomes the Messiah's follower or successor.

We can see that God chooses His people to be His messenger. We are all sinners, so for me, it's quite hard to choose the right person. Matthew was a tax collector (a very wealthy man in a sense) but Jesus asked Matthew to follow Him. And so he did follow Christ. All of us are being said by Christ, "come and follow Me"... But are we really following Him?


Our journey with God is marked with strangers and with nobodies doing the impossible through Him. These things uphold around you everyday, but we usually don't notice them.

A question needing an answer....

"everything happens for a reason"

I'm just a 14 year old kid who has questions that are left unanswered....

if everything happens for a reason, so there must be a reason for priests being gay? why are there priests not loyal to their vocation as a priest? why are there priests who lacks the gift of chastity? why are there priest who can easily give in to lust? and sometimes lust to their own gender?


Those are my questions... so if you know the answers... please make a comment and tell me.... tnx...

Regarding my previous post...

To Father Joseph...

When I first saw and read your comment, the first thing that came to my mind is that you might knew the person whom I was talking about at my previous post. But... that's just a thought. Mahal ko ang tao na tinutukoy ko sa post na yon, at oo masama ang loob ko sakanya. Masama marhil nasabihan ako ng tanga dahil sa tumulong ako sa isang tao na naghihirap. Masama marahil sa inasarasar ako sa isang pari na bakla. At masama dahil di nya naisip na malayo na ang bahay namin sa simbahan na kung saan nagseserve ako. Pero mahal ko ang tao na yan...

At opo, i am aware na meron pang mas mahihirap na tao kaysa sa taxi driver na tinulungan ko(nakikita ko po yun e), pero para sakin, isang pagkakataon ang nangyari sa loob ng taxi na yon na kung saan binigay ko sa driver ang higit pa sa kanyang hinihingi... pero.. thank you po dahil niremind nyo po ako that the marginalized needs help... and opo, nakausap ko na po sya pero not personally......

At di ko po idol ang tao na tinutukoy ko sa huling post ko. Sa buhay ko, 2 lang po ang idol ko, St. Dominic Savio and Armando Escobar (my dad)... they have been my idols simula nung naging aim ko ang pagiging saint

Para naman sa mga tao na makitid ang utak..... di ibig sabihin na pag sinabihan mo ang kapwa mo lalaki ng "mahal kita" or "i love you", ay bakla na... napaka kitid naman ng utak nyo pag naisip nyo yan sakin....(madami kaseng tao na nagbabasa nitong blog ko na nilalagyan nila ng malisya ang mga pinopost ko, imbis na banal, pinapalabas nyo sa iba na masama) tumigil na kayo!

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So anyway... I would like to apologize to the person na tinutukoy ko sa previous post ko. Alam ko na nasaktan DIN kita. so... sori ulit... sana sa susunod na makita kita, ok na lahat at sana iba na ang pagtrato mo sakin...

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Alam ko na nirequest nyo na idelete ko ang post na yon... pero sorry talaga, di ko magagawa yon... you see, when i created this blog, I made a covenant to myself na pag napublish na, wala nang burahan... kase, this blog is not only a place for my reflections, feelings and thoughts, but a 'record' of my mistakes and corrections to my post.

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To sonoftheprodigal......

Ui... thank you a.... may natutunan nanaman ako sayo.... tnx talaga ng madami... :)

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Thanks po sainyong lahat...

Minsan lang ako magtagalog kaya basahin nyo na...

Meron kaseng dalawang tao na taga simbahan na pumunta sa bahay namin... Kaya meron din na isang tao sa simbahan na pinariringgan ako at sinasabi na, "buti pa sila nakapunta at nakatulog sa bahay na malaki pero ako inde pa"... yung tao na nagpaparinig, nagtatampo DAW ngayon sakin dahil lang dyan--- yan yung 1st issue

Merong pari na bading na gumagawa ng kababalaghan (sexual) within the Ministry where I belong (altar servers)... merong din naman na isang tao sa ministry namin na ayaw ako mangumpisal sa bading na pari na yan, dahil daw baka pati daw ako mabiktima an manyakin nga pari na yon, e nangumpisal ako, tapos nagalit sakin dahil nangumpisal ako sa bading na pari na yan --- yan yung 2nd issue

Nagtaxi ako kasama ang kinakapatid ko papunta samin. Nagpadagdag ang taxi driver ng 50 pesos dahil mahirap daw ang magmaneho sa subdivision namin at madami pa daw na pasikot sikot... kaya dinagdagan ko yung driver ng 50 pesos. Nalaman ito ng isang tao na taga simbahan at sinabi, "ang tanga mo, palibhasa mayaman ka kaya binigyan mo nalang ng 50 yung driver" --- yan yung 3rd issue

Merong isang tao sa simbahan na sumabay samin na magserve sa 10am mass. Pagkatapos ng misa, sinabihan ako na bumalik mamayang 7pm ng gabi para sa isang high-mass. E di ako pumunta--- yan yung 4th issue


Yan ang apat na issue na gusto ko sagutin. Kaya uumpisahan ko na

1st issue issue

Kaya pumunta at natulog ang kinakapatid ko sa bahay namin dahil nung isang linggo ako natulog sakanila at para magpaturo sa tatay ko kung pano gumawa ng pasta na masarap (magaling kase magluto tatay ko e) Kung gusto mo matulog samin or pumunta samin, magantay ka! bakit? kung pipila ka sa MRT, sisingit ka nalang ba basta basta ng ganun ganun nalang? syempre hindi no! dahil kung sumingit ka, magagalit sayo mga tao. kaya dapat magantay... Patience is a virtue ika nga.

2nd issue

Ang pari hindi perpekto, tao parin yan na makasalanan at nagkakamali. Kahit ang santo papa, tao pa rin yan na nagkakamali at hindi perpekto. Pero para sakin, ang pari ay hindi na pari kung may suot na stole (eto yung mahaba na tela na sinusuot ng mga pari, simbulo ito ng karapatan nila to perform the sacraments)... ang pari ay si Kristo pag nakita mo na may suot na stola... kaya kung ang pari na yon bading at gumagawa ng kababalaghan na sexual, para sakin si Kristo na yon kung may suot na stola (my opinion lang)... ang pari na yon kahit ganon sya, he still received the sacrament of Holy Orders, which gives him the right to perform other sacraments. Hence, having the right of performing the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

You said to me before na wag na ako mangumpisal sa pari na yon, because that priest is not that loyal to his vocation as a priest. Pero pag nangngungumpisal ka, diba habol mo naman na mapatawad yung mga kasalanan mo? kung talagang nagsisisi ka sa mga kasalanan mo, para sayo di na importante kung kanino ka nangungumpisal, ang importante napapatawad ang mga kasalanan mo dahil sa nangumpisal ka. At meron pa, sinabi mo sakin, "dinidibdib ng pari na yan ang mga kinukumpisal sakanya, kaya wag ka na mangumpisal sakanya"... Eto lang masasabi ko, wala pang MALALA pinakikita yung pari na yon na may interes xa sakin, at isa pa, hindi lang naman ako ang target nya e, sa pagkakaalam ko, 5 tayo na target ng pari na yan. And bago pa ako nagsimula mangumpisal sakanya, ganon na trato nya sa akin at sa ibang altar servers na type nya. Di naman sa ipinagtatanggol ko ang pari na yan, sinasabi ko lang opinion ko. Alam ko na nagaalala ka sakin at natatakot sa kung ano man ang gawin sakin ng pari na yan. Pero sana naman na maintindihan mo na nangungumpisal ako dahil gusto ko mapatawad kasalanan ko at hindi para makilala ang pari.

3rd issue

Palibahasa wala kang apat na anak at ang asawa labandera lang. Sa taxi, sa harap ako umupo. Nakita ko sa gilid ng manibela ang isang picture na kung saan ang taxi driver at ang buong pamilya nya kumakain dahil birthday ng anak nya. Tinanong ko sya, "pamilya nyo po?" sabi nya, "oo" at sabi ko naman, "sweet nyo naman magpamilya" Ngumiti sya at tumawa, kinwento nya sakin kung paano sila nabubuhay, nagtataxi lang xa at yung asawa nya labandera lang. Apat anak nya, yung dalawa ay elementary palang, habang yung isa high school at yung isa naman tumigil na dahil walang pangtuition sa college. Nagiipon daw sya at nagsisikap para makapagaral yung anak nya sa college pero mahirap daw buhay. 30 lang talaga ang hinihingi nya na dagdag e, ginawa ko nalang na 50 kase naawa ako.

Alam mo, kung gusto mo talaga makatulong sa kapwa mo, tutulungan mo, mayaman ka o mahirap. Di naman pwede sabihin na, "ay mahirap lang din ako, sori a di kita matutulungan"... kahit ang pinakamahirap may maitutulong sa kapwa nila mahihirap.

Kung masasabi mo na TANGA ako dahil dinagdagan ko ang taxi driver ng higit pa sa hinihingi nya, pag may pagkakataon na ganyan, sana naman wag lang ang sarili ang isipin. Isipin mo na kahit mahirap ka, may maitutulong ka. Si Mother Teresa of Calcutta, mayaman ba sya? hindi sya mayaman pero patuloy pa rin nya tinutulungan ang mga tao na naghihirap.

4th issue

una sa lahat, di na kame sa Cubao nakatira, alam mo yon, at malayo na ang bahay namin sa simbahan na kung saan ako naglilinkod. Kaya hindi madali para sakin ang magcommute mula Marikina hanggang Cubao. Sinabi mo sakin, "lakas ng loob mo nag magpatulog sa bahay mo, pero magserve mamaya di mo kaya?"...ano connection ng pagtutulog sa bahay namin ng kinakapatid ko, sa pagseserve ng high mass??? parang ang layo?.... so anyway, sabi mo 7pm ang high mass, e ano oras matatapos ang misa? most probably mga 1 and a half hour siguro yan. Anong oras na yon? 8:30pm? e hanggang 8 pm lang ang jeep samin, pano ako makakauwi? think naman!

At isa pa, inutos ng parish priest natin na wala na daw high mass na mangyayari. E bakit tayo mag ha-high mass? Inaamin ko na di ko gusto ang utos ng parish priest natin na wala nang high mass, pero sana naman, respetuhin natin ang utos nya. Wag sana tayo maging pasaway. Sabi ni Mother Teresa, "the first degree to holiness is obedience without delay" pano tayo magiging banal kung ang utos ng pari na walang high mass, ay di natin masunod?

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4 na 'issue' palang ang nangyayari, at sigurado ako na dadagdag pa. Wala akong kinakapmpihan o pinoprotektahan sa 2nd issue.

Siguro maiisip nyo na napaka immature ko dahil kailangan ko pa talaga ipost dito sa blog ang mga ito samantalang pwede ko naman kausapin ang mga tao na pinapatamaan ko. Ginawa ko ito para sa kung sino man ang makakabasa, ay magcocomment at para marinig ko ang opinyon ng tao na yon.

Para naman sa tao na tinamaan, dati na ako nagalit sayo pero ngayon ok na, so don't give me a another reason to get mad at you. Di ako galit sayo, pero sa mga ginagawa mo, pinapakita mo, at sinasabi mo, parang binibigyan mo ako ng dahilan para magalit sayo. So please, don't let my patience reach its limit. Make a comment as your reply.

Para naman sa mga ibang tao na sinipag basahin itong mahabang post na ito, alam ko na may mali ako, kaya kung pwede, tulungan nyo ako na hanapin ang mga ito para maimprove ang sarili ko. Tnx.

And there's one thing that you need to know about my personality. Ayoko sa mga taong, 'parinig type' yung tipong paparinggan ka para makuha kung ano gusto nila. Yung type na, paparinggan ka then sabay pinakokonsciensya ka... isa yan sa mga type ng tao na ayaw ko...

It's hot in the desert, but it's hotter in hell (reflection for March 5, 2006)

Jesus went to the desert and stays there for 40 days and 40 nights. In the desert, the devil tempted Jesus to do 3 miracles, the first one is to make the stones as bread, next is to jump from a high building and not to worry cause the angels will save him. Lastly, the devil promised Jesus that he will give Jesus the kingdoms before Him only if Jesus would worship satan.

We are always tempted by the devil to do evil. Well... that's probably the reason of why we sin. We just dont know that we are being tempted by the devil.

Let me share an experience of mine being tempted by a devil and being saved from sin. It was late afternoon and the school bus left without me. So I decided to commute. As I ride on the jeep, the driver was old, so it was very difficult for him to give the right set of change for the passengers. He was about to give me the change, but maybe he did not count it. So sobra yung binigay nya sakin na sukli. Then a thought came to my mind kung ibabalik ko pa sakanya ang sobra. Ibubulsa ko na sana lahat, pero mukang ayaw ng Diyos na magkasala ako. Beside the jeep im riding was another jeep, and at the side of the jeep, there was a note saying, "God is watching you"... Nagulat ako at natakot na din at inisip ko na, maybe its a sign. Nangonsciencya ako, at binalik ko sa driver yung sobra na sukli...

I apologize for speaking in our language. Please understand it is quite difficult for me to speak in english. Hope that you could understand...

Anyway, Jesus was always tempted by the devil, but He resisted it and tried to ignore it. The same must go for all of us, we must resist all the assaults being done to us buy the devil. I was almost tempted inside that jeep. We must remember that God is watching us and He knows everything we do. Every inch we move and every word we speak. So that's why we must always be careful.

Let us allow our Spirit to lead us too into our own desert experience. Lent is an opportunity to find space for reflection.

There in the silence of our hearts, we reflect on our lives, listen and pray. Try to search your soul for God.

We all have our own desert, but the question is, can you survive?

We must try to survive our desert, because if we dont survive, we might suffer in hell. I believe that I have a much more hotter desert, because I aim to become a saint and being a saint comes with GREAT suffering and GREAT sacrifices but it all ends in GREAT rewards and achievments.

Its hot in the desert, but it's much hotter in Hell.

A choice (reflection for Lent)

By rising to new life, Jesus gives new meaning to suffering and dying. He offers a way beyond pain and loss. Believe that we can overcome them and find life in them.

The 40 days of lent invites us to pray over our experiences of pain and loss. Even those caused by sin. Let's walk with Jesus on His way to the cross.

Yesterday was the start of the season of lent, ash wednesday. We started it by having ashes placed on our foreheads as a sign of repentance. It is the call to turn away from sin and to be faithful to the Gospel.

It is not easy to follow God's laws. Everyday we are given options to follow it or not, options to do good or to do evil. The environment sometimes influence us to separate from the love of Christ. We need to revive our weary and tired soul and to do that, we need to do some sacrifices.

There is a saying among the military when in training, "no pain, no gain", spiritual or physical, it is necessary for us to sacrifice things to attain a goal.

In todays Gospel, Jesus said, "if anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it"

Jesus is asking us to pick up our cross and follow him. Choosing a life, or rather a career is not easy. For some, it is a decision for your future. but for me, if we choose our life with God, the choice we made will affect not only our future, but will affect the life after we die.

Lent is not just a season, it is the time where we can redirect our lives to Christ, it is a season where we can change. It is a season to repent.

Ash Wednesday

Turn away from sin and live the Gospel

That will be the words of priests and special ministers to us as they put ashes on our foreheads.

As we receive ashes on our foreheads today...

We are reminded to repent
We are reminded to be sorry for our sins
We are reminded to make changes

The ashes placed by the priest on our foreheads reminds us that in the end we all return to dust. Titles and riches dont last.

Let us put our hearts and minds on what truly lives and lasts.