HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MAMA MARY

Happy Mother's Day to the greatest mother in the world, Mama Mary.

I miss my mom. For the longest time I had not been able to greet her on Mother's Day since the day she went back to her Creator several years ago. That was the saddest day of my life. I lost not only a mom but a best friend, sister and confidante as well. I miss having her around.

I cannot deny that I envy those who still have their mothers with them. You are very fortunate they are still part of your lives. Shower them with love while you still have the chance. Tell them you love them everyday before it's too late. Never leave room for regrets.

I have been blessed that somehow the vacuum that was created when my mom died had been filled up with Mama Mary's loving presence. She has always been there, guiding and helping me traverse the lowest points in my life. Even though she is a mother to the whole of mankind, still she finds time to listen to my pleas. I guess I'm kinda spoiled because I am aware that even though what I request for is probably wrong, still she gives it to me just so she could dry away my tears. That maybe too profound for people to understand because that is just between the two of us.

So far I have not heard anyone greet her this Mother's Day. Even at the anticipated mass this evening, the priest paid tribute to all the mothers present but failed to acknowedge Mama Mary. This saddened me. I know she really wouldn't mind because she has such a big and forgiving heart. But I do.

To Mama Mary, I may not be the best daughter in the world, but I know you love me just the same inspite of my faults. And once again on Sunday, you will be receiving the blue rose that I traditionally give you every Mother's Day and on your birthday as well. I know it doesn't cost much compared to all you have done for me, but it is my small way of thanking you for being my inspiration and for showering me with so much love. Thank you for always being there for me, giving me your shoulder to cry on and instilling in me so much compassion for others. Thank you for granting most of my requests and most especially for the unconditional love that you unselfishly give.

I will never ever forget you.

Happy Mother's Day.

I love you so much.

NOT A REASON TO REJOICE

Just recently the death of Osama Bin Laden shocked the world. Days after it hit the headlines, it continues to be the topic of discussions and endless debates everywhere.

A lot of people took this as a reason to rejoice because they believe the death of the alleged mastermind of all the terrorist attacks worldwide would mark the end of violence and terrorism. However, that belief would be farthest from becoming a reality for surely terrorist groups are prepared for these kind of circumstances. Do you honestly think that Bin Laden himself had not trained his successor? He is way too intelligent not to even think about this. For sure they had long prepared for this eventuality.

On the contrary, it could even trigger off more terrorist attacks for surely his followers would not give up a chance to avenge the death of their leader.

But this is not what bothers me about his demise.

I find it so sad and too distressing for people to rejoice over someone's death, even if, for the sake of argument, they perceive him to be a very bad person. Judgment is not ours and will never be. We know that he allegedly caused the death of so many people, notably the 9/11 tragedy, but still that does not give us the right to be happy over his death.

How do you think his family feels about this? Or if the tables were turned, and you were in this situation, how would you feel? I certainly would feel bad if this happened to me.

I find it very unChristian for people to wish the death of anyone, much more rejoice when this turns into a reality. If we do then we are probably no better than him.

So sad that his family and his supporters are the only ones grieving, for there is no doubt they idolize him. This is not to justify his deeds or his wrongdoings, but I am certain that as far as he was concerned, everything he did was for the best of his people. It's just too bad that their ideology is totally contradictory to ours.

It is my opinion that there is no one created by God who is totally evil. Somehow there must be something positive about him.

However, all these is water under the bridge now.

But I would still want to believe that maybe once, even just once in his lifetime, he must have done something good.

May his soul rest in peace.

IT HAPPENED DURING THE LENTEN SEASON

Last Christmas season I felt sad because unlike what had been customary for me in previous years, I was not able to do my share of making others happy, especially the less fortunate. I had so many things to attend to that it escaped my mind, or I simply didn't have the time to do so.

I felt incomplete because if there is one thing that truly makes me happy it is when I am able to share what little I have with others and know that I made them happy too. It is then that I experience a sense of fulfillment.

I know that Jesus knows exactly what is in my heart that HE gave me another opportunity to make up for what I missed doing last Christmas. And what an appropriate time because it had to happen during the Lenten season which is not only for reflecting on our lives and making sacrifices, but also for sharing.

A few days before Holy Week I received a letter from the Salesian Missions of Don Bosco requesting for financial support for the education of the out of school youth which they had been supporting for the longest time. The Salesian fathers have been good to me all these years. They had been regularly sending me estampitas, rosaries and medals for as long as I can remember. I was so grateful for this chance to help so I went to their office at Don Bosco, Makati last Holy Wednesday to give whatever little amount I could share.

After that I proceeded to the church for my Stations of the Cross. On my way out I saw an old lady selling sampaguita garlands, five strands for P40.00. I got five strands and gave her P200.00 to which she was so grateful. As she tapped my hand to say thank you I managed to smile but had to turn my face away from her quickly so she wouldn't notice the tears.

Also, about two days ago there was a huge fire that gutted about 900 homes in Guadalupe and left 3,000 families homeless. I was thinking of how I could donate used clothing for the victims but I didn't know where I could bring them. I wanted to call the Municipal Office of Makati to ask but since it was Holy Week there was no office. This thought had been bugging me for the past 2 days.

I went back to Don Bosco church this Maundy Thursday for my usual rituals and to my surprise at the entrance of the church there was a big box on which these words were written " Donation for the Guadalupe fire victims ". Now, isn't is amazing? Another Divine Intervention, no doubt.

I will go back tomorrow, Good Friday, to bring my donation for the victims.

Lest I be misunderstood, I am not sharing these stories to make the whole world know what I did. After all I find no reason to brag about these since my contributions only involved an immaterial amount. My sole intent is for people to realize that God paves the way for us to be of help to others, most especially if it is for the poor and the needy whom He loves so much.

Thank you Jesus for granting my wish of making other people happy and most especially for making You and Mama Mary happy as well. Thank you also for using me as an instrument to do good things in your behalf.

I certainly am looking forward to the next opportunity.

A WAKE UP CALL

Today was a sad day for all Filipinos.

It was a day of mourning as three of our countrymen were executed in China. Prayer vigils and masses were held all over the country prior to this day in the hope that the execution will not push through. But alas, our government's plea to the Chinese officials fell on deaf ears. The Chinese government said they had strict rules to follow and we cannot do anything but respect that.

Isn't it ironic that citizens of a country where death penalty is not practiced had to lose their lives in a foreign land that imposes such.

What makes it worse is that due to our economic problems, Filipinos will do everything for their families. Maybe they were really guilty of the crime, but I would like to believe that they did it against their conscience in exchange for the money that they will get in return. What parents will do for their children.

Same as in the case of our OFWs in the Middle East who refuse to come home despite the ongoing war for fear of losing their jobs and means of support for their loved ones back home. This is the sad plight of our countrymen who have to endure being away from their families to earn a decent living.

And what about our poor soldiers who risk their lives in the battlefield whilst having to make do with their very meager salaries while the top officials in the AFP are busy counting their millions, houses here and abroad, luxury cars, travels, etc.

This is a wake up call for the government.

Let us not wait for another unfortunate incident to happen before we act. And act fast we must.

God Bless the Filipinos.

GOD'S MESSAGE

I have always believed in Divine Intervention.

For me it's God's way of letting us know that he is aware of what goes on in our minds and everything that is happening to us. It is also His way of answering our prayers.

For the past years come Christmas time, I had always shared my blessings with the less fortunate members of society. Lately, I had been feeling depressed because with only a few days to go before Christmas I have not yet fulfilled my wish of being able to make others happy during this season. There is no greater joy and fulfillment than in making others happy.

Last year I was not able to push thru with my original plan of giving gifts to the lolos and lolas at Golden Acres, a Home for the Aged, for certain reasons. But God made up for it and made me realize my Christmas wish by giving me the chance to provide the much needed medication to some retired priests and bishops who were residing in a retirement home. My wish was granted on Dec.8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

This year I was pre-occupied with so many things that I forgot all about my Christmas wish. I only remembered it about two weeks ago and up to this day I still could not think of whom I could share my blessings with. I had requested Jesus and Mama Mary again to guide me in choosing those who need assistance badly and lead me to them, something they did last year, because they know better than I do.

This afternoon as the 3:00 o'clock prayer was being recited on television, my phone rang. A guy was on the other end and wished to talk to me. He introduced himself as Father Mike from the Blessed Sacrament Congregation of the Sta. Cruz church in Manila. He said he just called to greet me a Merry Christmas and to extend their gratitude for the help I had been extending to their congregation over the years. He also told me that they are always praying for me. I was misty eyed as I was talking to him. I remember a year ago I also received a similar phone call from another priest from this congregation.

As I put the receiver down, I realized that God was probably sending a message across. Maybe He was telling me not to worry if I cannot help some people at this particular time, after all I had been extending help in various occassions in the past years. And extending assistance to our less fortunate brothers and sisters need not happen only at Christmas but at anytime of the year. Maybe he also wants me to know that He appreciates what I'm doing and just used Father Mike as a messenger.

Thank you Jesus for making me see things from a bigger perspective. Thank you for taking away my anxiety, worries and helplessness and making me accept things the way they are.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS. You are God's greatest gift to mankind.

JUSTICE STILL AWAITS MR. VIZCONDE

With the recent acquittal of Hubert Webb et al, a lot of dissenting opinions had been heard. There are those who agree with the Supreme Court's decision, while others do not.

I have no way of knowing if indeed they are really innocent, but I guess my opinion will not really matter. I am not a lawyer so I am not familiar on how they go about evaluating and resolving heinous crimes. I am just on the outside looking in, so to speak.

But if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that everything happens for a reason. Maybe they are really innocent that is why God allowed the Court to rule in their favor. But then again, maybe they are not. At this point, no one really knows if Webb, et al did commit the crime or otherwise. Maybe the Supreme Court followed the dictum, to which I agree, that it is better to set free a criminal than to sentence an innocent man to death.

As I was watching the proceedings on television the other day, I could not help but feel compassion for Mr. Lauro Vizconde as I saw him break down in tears and nearly collapsed. We saw how the families of the seven acquitted prisoners rejoiced, while Mr. Vizconde almost fainted when he heard the verdict. I know how hard it must have been for him. It even came to a point when he asked God why He had forsaken him. It must have been too much for him to bear because in his heart, he probably knew that they were guilty. But how can a powerless man go up against the rich and mighty? He asked forgiveness from his wife and daughters for not being able to fight for them and give justive to their death. But pray tell me, how can you fight City Hall?

While these guys will undoubtedly be having a great Christmas with their families after 15 years, Mr. Vizconde will be spending Christmas alone in misery. He had been spending Christmas in grief for the past 15 years, but this year will be the saddest. While in the past years he still had hope that the case will be solved and justice will be accorded his family, this year he no longer has something to look forward to.

But don't worry Mr. Vizconde, the guilty will have their day in court. If not in this lifetime definitely in the next, where there will be no need for witnesses for nothing escapes the eyes of God. Justice will prevail and victory will still be yours in the end.

MOTHER TERESA'S ANGELS

For the longest time, I had always been awed and inspired by the Missionaries of Charity.

This afternoon, I decided to call their shelter in Tondo to inquire about certain things that I had always wanted to know. A lady answered the phone. I began asking some questions but I couldn't understand her answers. From the way she talked, it seemed to me that she was crying. I noticed too that she had difficulty expressing her words. I asked if she was okay, and even went to the extent of politely asking if she was crying. A long silence ensued. I knew however that the line was still open because I could hear voices in the background.

After a few seconds, a lady with a very gentle voice picked up the phone. She introduced herself as Sister Eufemia. Somewhat alarmed by the incident that preceded my conversation with the good sister, I told her that I had been talking with someone whom I presumed was crying. She then told me that the lady I was talking to earlier was one of the residents there who happened to be very, very sick. No wonder she seemed to be gasping for breath. A guilty feeling suddenly dawned on me that I might have subjected her to some inconvenience or anguish for that matter.

I then asked Sister Eufemia if their place was a home for the aged. She said no, it was not. She explained that it is a home for the desolate and dying patients. They accept only patients who are very poor and with terminal cases. They take care of these sick people.

I am very familiar with the Missionaries of Charity, having read a lot of books about its founder, Mother Teresa who has truly inspired me in so many ways, especially as far as dealing with the poor and the sick is concerned. I am very much acquainted with all the hardships and trials she had to go through before the Church authorities including the Pope, finally allowed her to set up the organization. And true to Mother Teresa's teachings, and following the norm for which the organization was established, I am happy that our local sisters are carrying on their mission to help the desolate.

Sister Eufemia invited me to come over and visit the patients. She said financial help is not necessary, although it would be very much appreciated. But what is more important is to be able to bring a smile to the faces of the dying. I couldn't help but agree with her.

Just like their counterparts all over the world, their shelter in Tondo is poor. They lack the much need funds to care for the sick. But despite the obstacles, they go about doing their duties following the example set by Mother Teresa. After all that is their mission.

I asked Sister Eufemia what would happen should a need arise to bring any of the patients to the hospital and they don't have the funds to spare. Her reply was simple, yet brought tears to my eyes. I was speechless for a while. She said we leave it to Divine Providence. God will provide.

Spoken like a true Missionary of Charity.

I know I just have to visit them one of these days and try to bring some warmth to the sick people there. I know God has a purpose why the telephone conversation took place this afternoon. Everything happens for a reason. I know once again, HE is guiding me in the right direction just like what HE did in the case of the retired priests last Christmas. This will be possible for HE will find a way.

HE always does.