MY DEVOTION TO THE SENOR NAZARENO

January 9 had always been a red letter day for me ever since I could remember. 

This is the day when thousands of barefoot devotees of the SENOR NAZARENO commemorate the Traslacion (transfer or passage) commencing from the Quirino Grandstand back to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.

A bit of trivia. The event being celebrated on January 9 is the Traslacion and not the Feast of the Black Nazarene which takes place on Good Friday. Also, the real name of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (popularly known as Quiapo Church), is St. John the Baptist Parish, whose feast is on June 24, in honor of its patron, St. John the Baptist.

I am no stranger to the Traslacion as my childhood days were spent in the Tanduay/Arlegui neighborhood of Quiapo, Manila. Our place was ideally situated halfway between the Quiapo and San Sebastian churches, and a stone's throw away from Aviles and Mendiola streets. It is also a mere walking distance from San Miguel Brewery (San Miguel Corporation now) where my father used to work, and where Malacanang Palace is presently situated.

As a child, it had been a regular thing for my brother and I to tag along with our mom to Quiapo church to hear mass, after which we would go up the stairway situated at the back of the main altar to kiss the foot of the SENOR NAZARENO. It had been an almost daily routine for us to visit the SENOR, as we call him.

It had been customary in our neighborhood not to remove our Christmas lights and lanterns until after the Traslacion had taken place. As we eagerly anticipate the procession which passes by our street towards the end of the day on its way back to the Basilica, kind-hearted neighbors would prepare pitchers of water, sandwiches and boiled sweet potato for the devotees to quench their thirst and hunger after walking for several hours. 

Unlike now where the SENOR is conveniently placed on an andas (carriage with wheels) which enables it to glide along easily, in those days the image was borne on the shoulders of burly men (Hijos de Nazareno), such that due to its immense weight, the image would fall several times. Then and now, there is a rope being pulled by men on both sides of the andas that serves as a guide to keep the image aligned at all times. 

I take my hat off to the thousands of barefoot devotees who brave the scorching heat of the sun, hunger and thirst while traversing the streets of Quiapo. Watching them, I can't help but feel a sense of guilt. Why can't I be brave enough to be like these men and endure what they go through? Why am I afraid to be quelched by the sea of people who comprise the crowd? Don't I love HIM enough? This is nothing compared to what HE went through for us. I could only blame myself. Mea culpa SENOR.

This year was exceptionally hazardous, as a terrorist threat to disrupt the proceeding was imminent. Threat notwithstanding, it did not avert the faithful from going through with the Traslacion, armed with their strong faith that the SENOR would not allow the plan to prosper. HE will send his battalion of angels, led by no less than their Commander in Chief, St. Michael himself, to safeguard them. True enough, the intention to inflict havoc did not materialize.

A very touching scene in the Traslation is the "Dungaw", or a solemn ritual  where the the image of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is brought to the balcony of the San Sebastian church, to meet her son as he passes by. This incident takes place at the wee hours of the morning as the procession nears its final stretch.

Finally after 22 hours, the procession arrived at the Basilica. The SENOR is finally safe at home. All throughout this time, the crowd who had not diminished a bit, is grateful that no untoward incident happened.

The SENOR must have been very exhausted too, but I'm sure HE was delighted to be in the company of thousands of devotees who love him dearly and would risk their lives for HIM.


One thing is sure, for as long as there are people who profess their love for the SENOR NAZARENO, this tradition will live on in the hearts of the Filipinos and the generations to come.

MY JOURNEY TOWARDS THE FULFILLMENT OF A DREAM (MISSION)

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta had always been my role model. My admiration for her grew even more after I read several books depicting her humble beginnings, struggles and hardships in life.

Her unwavering love for the poor laid the foundation for her desire to establish the congregation, Missionaries of Charity (MOC). However, she had to pass thru the proverbial "eye of a needle" before she could make this possible. It took years before her request was finally ratified, as not only the approval of the bishop and archbishop of her diocese was needed, but Vatican as well.

Even before Missionaries of Charity came into being, Blessed Teresa had already been helping the poor on her own. Upon the inception of the congregation, she was initially assisted by two young volunteer novices, until the number of sisters gradually escalated in number.

The lack of a permanent home or shelter where they could take care of the sick and the homeless, became a stumbling block in her mission. Through the grace of God however, someone offered them a small space at the basement of a dilapidated building which served as MOC's first sanctuary.

They had an immensely distressing situation due to lack of funds and relied merely on alms from kind-hearted individuals for their sustenance. Blessed Teresa roamed the streets in search of food and funds to sustain the congregation. Their arduous condition however did not hamper their effort of bringing home to the shelter homeless and sick people they found on the streets.

As a result of constant walking, there was a time when Blessed Teresa's sandals were ripped apart. She then searched for a pair of footwear from the used items donated to them, and chose the most worn out to replace her sandals. The shoes however were too small for her, but she decided to make do with the undersized shoes. Although there was a pair which matched her size, it was only slightly damaged, so she opted to give it instead to the street people under their care. As a result of wearing (and enduring) the undersized shoes, her toes became deformed over time. (Truly an act of supreme sacrifice)

A few months back, we were shocked at the news that four sisters from MOC's hospice in Yemen were murdered by the ISIS, and that their spiritual director, Fr. Tom, was taken hostage by the terrorist group. A sister, (the lone survivor of the terrorist attack) when asked how she felt about the incident, answered, "The sisters were not fearful as they knew their Bridegroom was waiting for them." (Spoken with much conviction)

Owing to my awareness of how grueling it had been for Blessed Teresa and MOC, (from the inception of the congregation to the present) it had been my ardent desire to visit and offer whatever help I could afford to share with the local MOC hospices. It had been in my bucket list for the longest time, but somehow because I was not familiar with the location of their hospices, I had always procrastinated on my planned visit. 

So I did my research and found the contact number of their hospice in Tayuman. I called and the lady who picked up the phone seemed to be crying and gasping for breath. Since she had difficulty speaking, she passed the phone over to Sister Eufracia. I asked the good sister if there was anything wrong with the lady, as I was upset and worried about her. I was astonished when Sister Eufracia replied, "She is very sick. She is terminally ill". I felt a lump in my throat and was speechless for a while. She explained to me that MOC is a home for the sick and the desolate. I asked where they get their funds, and she answered that they rely solely on donations. I was so concerned that I asked her what would happen if they run out of funds, to which she answered, "My child, God will provide". (Such an unwavering faith) I asked for directions on how to get there, but I could not relate with the landmarks she was telling me as I was not familiar with the Tayuman area.

In my heart, I know that Jesus and Mama Mary are aware of my desire to visit MOC, and they paved the way for my wish to come true. 

Last May, in line with the Jubilee Year of Mercy, two close friends and I went on a pilgrimage to designated churches in the Archdioceses of Manila and Paranaque. One of the churches we visited was Our Lady of Sorrows in Pasay City. 

While praying inside the church, I sort of noticed from the corner of my eye, what seemed to be a sister wearing the familiar blue and white habit of MOC. After I finished praying, I went out thru the side entrance to look for her, but she was gone. I went back inside and waited for my companions. On our way out, passing thru the main entrance (Sacred Door), I noticed a van parked along the side of the church with two sisters donning the MOC habit together with some ladies. I approached them and introduced myself. The sisters (Sister Monica and Sister Josette) said they were on a pilgrimage too. I asked if they are from the Tayuman hospice and they said they are from the one in Del Pan. I was not aware that there was one in Del Pan too. They informed me that the Tayuman hospice takes care of adults, while the one at Del Pan, takes care of children. I learned that they actually have four hospices here (Tayuman, Del Pan, Antipolo and Tanay). Sister Monica (a very endearing Bangladeshi sister) was gracious enough to give instructions on how to go to Del Pan. I asked for their visiting hours too. I told her I will try to seek out the place as I am not familiar with Tondo, to which she replied, "God will lead you there". (Another affirmation of faith) 

I really regard the words of wisdom spoken by the MOC sisters, which are truly inspiring. (And indeed, God did lead me there.)

As a result of my encounter with the sisters at the pilgrimage, I became more emphatic on paying them a visit. During a lunch date with some very close friends, I casually mentioned my intention and asked if they are interested to join me. Two of them readily affirmed since they are also advocates of charity work. A couple of years back, the three of us visited a home for the aged (Golden Acres). 

We settled on a date and decided to bring basic needs for the children (powdered milk, biscuits, fruit juices, toothpaste, shampoo, etc). The location of the Del Pan hospice was on a somewhat crowded street, typical of a locale in Tondo, but we managed to find it after asking directions from some people. It was a gated small compound which housed two relatively clean living quarters for the children. There is a small chapel (sans benches) with mats sprawled on the floor which the sisters kneel on for their thrice a day meditation. Sister Monica was so glad to see us. She led us to the children who were very much behaved, and even sang for us. We assisted the caretakers in feeding the children. The sisters were very grateful for our visit. Sister Monica also made a plea that I continue praying for the safety of Father Tom, and for the MOC sisters as well.

After we left the hospice, I couldn't explain the feeling that enveloped me. There was a mixed feeling of sadness about the plight of the children and the sisters, gratitude to God for giving us the chance to be able to help in whatever way possible, and most importantly the fulfillment of a much desired dream (mission). What perfect timing as it materialized during the "Year of Mercy".

I could sense that Divine Intervention was unmistakably present, and somehow, I know Jesus, Mama Mary and Blessed Teresa must be smiling from Heaven. 

I sincerely hope people who have more in life would share their blessings not only with MOC, but other charitable institutions as well. The amount doesn't matter, as long as it comes from the heart. After all, nothing is too small in the eyes of God.

I am looking forward to Blessed Teresa's canonization on September 4 of this year. Thank you Blessed Teresa for interceding to make the realization of my dream possible. I will definitely be back.

ACCEPTANCE AND RESPECT FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY

Recently, the LGBT community did not hide their disgust over the statement issued by a lawmaker/athlete comparing the union of two people of the same sex to animals (and even worse for that matter). As expected, the LGBT community took this with indignation and stirred up a hornet's nest. 

Let us take a look at this argument from both sides of the coin, (which should be the case in any similar situation), to avoid being biased. 

I am sure the lawmaker was just expressing his opinion, but was somewhat judgmental and not tactful enough in his statement. He probably said one thing but meant another. As a rule, we have to be very careful with our words. Before we say anything, we should first ask ourselves, "Will I offend anyone by saying this?" If the answer is yes, it is best to keep it to ourselves. 

As a Catholic, I know and believe that marriage is only between a man and a woman with the purpose of pro-creation. So same sex marriage is definitely out of the question. I would not however claim to be self righteous, much more compare them to animals because that would be very hurtful (not to mention inhuman).

The LGBT community do not refer to said union as marriage, but as a domestic partnership. It has something to do with legal rights, or the allotment of assets they acquired as partners. That is a legal issue and I wouldn't dwell on it too much.

I regard the  LGBT community as the most misunderstood (and maligned) members of society. I have friends, office mates and relatives who belong to this group, including my best friend who is the most kindhearted and prayerful person I've ever known. They also happen to be the most creative and artistic people hereabouts. In fact the world would be in a drab existence without them.  

I do not agree that God does not love them. God loves all his children equally, regardless of gender. They were created by the same God who created heterosexuals. Most of them, if not all, were born that way. That is why at a very young age, there exists a state of confusion and it is unclear to them why physically they are male (or vice versa), but unlike other boys of the same age who play with guns, they prefer dolls. And their parents who should be the best persons to advise and guide them, are the very people who berate and much more batter them, especially their own fathers. So much so that most of them prefer to stay in the closet for the rest of their lives.

People regardless of status should be treated with deference and compassion at all times, and the LGBT community is no exception. As Christians, specifically Catholics, acceptance and accordance of respect to them should be one of our creeds in life.

If God can accept and love them, who are we to scorn them?

TRANSLATING YOUR PASSION INTO SOMETHING POSITIVE

I just realized that I haven't posted on my blog for quite some time. 

This doesn't mean however that my love for writing had waned, inasmuch as I came up with some written materials (at the behest of a couple of friends for their personal use) over the past months. I would say it was for the reason that I had been engrossed with my other passion, sketching (portraiture to be exact). 

I believe God gives each one of us distinct talents. It is inherent upon us to ascertain, and most importantly, make good use of them not only to influence the well-being of others, but primarily to uplift Him.


In contrast to my passion for writing which started way back in high school, I came across my gift of sketching only in recent years. As opposed to my articles which I share to the public through my blog, only my closest friends (most especially my best friend who is an artist himself) are privy to my sketches. I am not that confident yet to make them public, but eventually I will. The fact that my best friend loves most of them inspires me a lot. He is generous with advises and candid enough to point out my mistakes, which I truly appreciate. 

One time while going over a particular portrait, he told me he was impressed that for someone who never had any formal training, I was able to capture the mood of my subject. Since we gain more by being truthful, I honestly told him that I based my sketch from a photograph and made my own representation. I am still not adept in designing based from visualization alone. He told me not to be conscious as that is the way artists actually start. I thought he was just saying that to build up my ego, until I observed an art class one time. The students were each given pictures of certain personalities and were instructed to copy them. So my friend was right after all. I should not have doubted him as he is one person who is very transparent and doesn't mince his words. It's either black or white, nothing in-between.

A piece of advice, pursue and translate your passion into something positive as you were inclined for this purpose. It is gratifying to share your God given talent with others. The sense of fulfillment within you is more than enough to make up for the time spent picking your brain (oftentimes nerve racking) to be able to come up with a meaningful work of art.

At times, it makes me wonder if my career would have turned out on a different perspective had I taken Journalism, Fine Arts or Interior Design (another passion) which I am more inclined to, rather than a business course. My life could probably had been more inspiring, exciting or even dramatic, but I could only surmise. 

Once in a while, as I run through my articles and sketches, I envision myself going up the stage and being conferred a National Artist award in the field of Creative Writing or Visual Arts. 

Of course it's just an illusion, but I can dream, can't I?

SOMEDAY, WE WILL BE PROVIDED WITH ANSWERS

Lately, a string of horrendous incidents had taken place in various parts of the globe, and continues to take place. 

The civil war in Syria, the shooting attack in Kenya, the suicide bombings in Beirut and Baghdad, and just a couple of days ago, the terrorist bombing and shooting incidents in Paris (not to mention natural calamities such as the earthquake in Japan and the haze in Indonesia) have sown so much fear and anxiety all over the world.

We have not seen the end of it, as the terrorist group ISIS had vowed to sow evil and inflict more bombings in the U.S., England and other places they consider enemy territories. 

As expected, France retaliated by launching air assaults on Syria. This could very well justify Pope Francis' statement that this could be the start of World War III. Now that is something scary and hopefully would be nipped in the bud before it escalates to a bigger proportion. Would the super powers be able to do it? 

Doomsayers would probably say these are the sign of the times. I don't care much about doomsayers, what worries me though is that these are part of the predictions of Our Lady both in Fatima and Lourdes.

Again, we can't help but ask, why do innocent people have to be victims of these barbaric acts? Why do guiltless people always suffer? 

We have witnessed how citizens of Syria fled their country with nowhere to go, destination uncertain, hoping some kindred souls would offer them shelter. 

We were shocked when people who were enjoying a concert or eating in restaurants in Paris, had to be the target of ruthless killing by people who couldn't care less. 

I say people who couldn't care less because we are talking of suicide bombers here. They are very well aware that once the bombs are detonated, they themselves will get killed in the process as the bombs were attached to their belts. And yes, they too perished. 

Probably to their group, they were heroes. Come to think of it, if there is anything admirable at all about these suicide bombers, it is their tenacity to stand up for what they believe in, regardless of the outcome. They could have used this staunchness in a positive way, though.

No one can ever explain why God allows these things to happen. Only HE knows. That is not for us to question. We know everything happens for a reason, but when will these reasons be revealed? 

We just have to trust HIM and believe there is a greater purpose in everything that's happening around us.

Someday, we will be provided with answers. That I am certain.

SO MUCH TO BE GRATEFUL FOR

As a new chapter of my life unfolds, I am thankful for God's continuous love and presence in my life, and truly grateful for all my answered prayers.

Just recently, I went through a very distressing situation which involved someone very close to me. I've prayed for a lot of people because I always get prayer requests from friends. I am the kind of person, who when I acknowledge a prayer request, really prays for the intention. I was very much affected since the person concerned is a very dear friend of mine. I really prayed hard. In fact, I guess I've never prayed that hard before. I also offered masses for special intention. 

I am accustomed to praying to Jesus and Mama Mary, but I must admit it was the first time I asked St. Joseph for an earnest request. I knew in my heart that he is the most powerful intercessor (next to Mama Mary), being the foster father of Jesus. If there was anyone whom Jesus cannot refuse, aside from Mama Mary, it was St. Joseph. 

All throughout the days that I was praying to him, I could sense his presence (not physically of course). It was as if he was conveying a message that he was mindful of my request, and to give him my full trust as he would intercede for me. Manifestations of his presence were: finding an image of the Sleeping St. Joseph (whom I had been searching for the longest time) at the store which sells religious items in Don Bosco; seeing a St. Joseph statue at Mary Queen of Hope chapel which I never noticed before; and sighting a newly enshrined St. Joseph statue at Sto. Nino de Paz chapel. It seems that everywhere I went, he was there. A few days after these occurrences, my prayer was answered. I was overwhelmed with so much joy and gratitude that I immediately offered a thanksgiving mass. 

Truly our prayers never fall on deaf ears. They will be granted for as long as God thinks it is best for us. Otherwise, we just have to rely on His judgment. After all, it is our faith that sustains us.

God always chooses the right people who are meant to be in our lives. I am thankful for my best friend who is always willing to listen when I need someone to talk to, or seek an advice from, no matter what time of day (or night). He is a very busy person as his profession entails a lot of meetings with clients, but he willingly cancelled a very important appointment to spend the day with me on my birthday. I remember a post in Facebook which says, " Value the people who spend time with you when they are free, but treasure the people who free their time to be with you."  I couldn't agree any better.

I am also grateful to all my friends, relatives and acquaintances who remembered my birthday and sent warm greetings through Facebook, SMS and over the phone. I make it a point to acknowledge greetings individually on Facebook, no matter how burdensome it may seem to most people. To post just a one-liner reply, thanking everyone who greeted you is very impersonal. If people took the effort to type " Happy Birthday ", why can't we take the time to type " Thank You " to each of them? We must be mindful that people always have a choice. It doesn't follow that just because a notification was received that it is your birthday, people will automatically greet you. They can choose not to, if they so desire. The fact that they did, means you are special to them and should be appreciated and most importantly acknowledged. As a priest mentor once said, " The greatest sin is ingratitude." 

People should never be taken for granted and should be accorded with respect all the time, such that in the end, there will be no room for regrets. We know that life is short, so let us value everyone who gives meaning to our lives while we still can. Life is precious and so are they. 

SMC CORPORATE ACCOUNTING/FINANCE REUNION - FEB. 18, 2015

Feb. 18, 2015 was a red letter day for us at SMC Corporate Accounting/Finance.

This was the much anticipated annual reunion. We all look forward to this event as it is the time when we rekindle ties with our colleagues, or should I say, our extended family. What started as an Accounting reunion turned out to be a Corporate Finance reunion as we were joined by some friends from Comptrollership.

But what mattered most was the presence of our bosses, namely: Mr. Francisco Eizmendi, Mr. Pepeton Garcia, Mr. Ferdie Constantino, Mr. Paco de Liano and Mr. Bernabe Navarro. We are grateful and honored by your show of support for the group. We truly appreciate your kind gesture. On a sad note however, we missed Mr. Tino Galang and Mr. Zar Avendano who regularly graced our reunions in the past.

We couldn't contain our excitement as we saw our former colleagues, especially those from our Ayala days. We reminisced our various activities, e.g. closing period, bowling tournaments, Christmas parties, the "mano-mano" calculators, etc. We couldn't help but feel nostalgic. We missed our departed colleagues who are now probably having their own reunion in Heaven.

Most of us are senior citizens now, (except those who are probably in the state of denial) and we are proud of the maturity, experience and wisdom we have gained over the years. And yes, the 20% discount was a big help.

In fairness though, I could honestly say that we still look practically the same as we did more than three decades ago. Don't you all agree? After all, streaks of silver hair or bulges notwithstanding, what matters most is that we aged gracefully.

We encourage everyone to take part in our reunions as time is an integral factor. Life is unpredictable, so let us cherish one another while we are still given the chance to do so

In behalf of my fellow coordinators, Glacie Atencio and Bogs Hermogenes, we would like to extend our gratitude to all who sacrificed their time despite their busy schedules, for the support (financial and otherwise) and for making our reunion truly something to be treasured.

Looking forward to seeing you all again, by God's grace, next year.

Till then, treasure the memories.

Proud to be an SMC alumni.

SMC's spirit lives on in our hearts..









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