AN AFTERTHOUGHT ON A PANDEMIC

Not once did it ever occur to me that I would be missing the tedious hours of traffic at EDSA, the long queues at restaurants, the hustle bustle inside malls, and the nitty gritty of everyday life. These seemingly disconcerting things of days past have transformed into momentous occurrences all of a sudden. 

Months of isolation have resulted into a separation anxiety, coupled with a yearning to re-establish a detached communication with the outside world.

Ever since the National Capital Region was subjected to a sixty day ECQ (Enhanced Community Quarantine), everything seemed to be at a standstill, especially at Metro Manila, which practically metamorphosed into a ghost town.

Religious advocates opine this is a chastisement sent by GOD, because man had been so engrossed with power, money and self regard that praying seemed to have been sidetracked.

There are two schools of thought on this viewpoint .

We might say GOD is not the vengeful type. He is merciful and would not allow His children to suffer. On the other hand, we must be cognizant that although GOD is indeed merciful, He is also just. He rewards those who are good, and punishes those who are not.

It is imperative that when we speak of GOD in this context, we are referring to the FATHER and not the SON.

The SON, as we are all so accustomed to, is gracious and sympathetic to all our needs and pleas. He answers most, if not all, our prayers. In fact, He is everybody's best friend.

It is a different case altogether with the FATHER, who is righteous, unrelenting and the adjudicator when the final judgment takes place.

JESUS and the Blessed Mother could only appeal to him for our sake, but the final verdict as far as salvation is concerned, is His alone.

In various apparitions, Mama Mary had been pleading for mankind to change their ways and repent. Likewise, JESUS had been doing everything in His power to save us, through His representative on earth, the Holy Father, and the church (Catholic or otherwise). It's about time we ponder on this seriously, and make an effort to amend our ways.

A positive impact brought about by the ECQ, is that people started calling on GOD once again and have been praying regularly.

Thanks to the wonder of social media, we are not amiss of our obligation as Catholics. Online streaming made it feasible for us to participate in masses, recitation of the rosary, and even the exceptional opportunity of being granted a plenary indulgence by the Holy Father.

We are extremely grateful to Pope Francis for imparting the rare apostolic blessing "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and to the world) coupled with the granting of a plenary indulgence on all who received the papal blessing. Days before, he also accorded the same indulgence to all Covid 19 patients, frontliners, including all who pray for them.

What a blessing to have him in our midst at this very critical time. Imagine the 83 year old Pontiff, himself certainly not at the peak of health, walking in the rain on a desolate St. Peter's Square, carrying the weight of not only Catholics, but the whole of humanity, on his shoulders.

Such a moving scene to see him praying in front of the miraculous image of the Crucified Christ which saved Rome from the 1522 plague, and giving mankind so much hope that this too shall pass.

Another worthwhile outcome of the "lockdown", is that it rekindled family ties and revived the Bayanihan spirit Filipinos are widely known for.

Big corporations (notably San Miguel Corporation, of which I am a proud alumni), and people who have more in life, generously shelled out their resources to donate food, medicine, face masks, personal protective equipment, and other essentials needed by frontliners, indigents, and daily wage-earners deprived of their livelihood.

As an afterthought when this pandemic is over, it is essential to make a reality check, take heed of the purpose of our lives, and call to mind things we seemingly took for granted.

May we realize the importance of prayer, cherish moments spent with family and friends, refrain from wasting food, be sympathetic to the sufferings of others, and take note of all things that matter.

More importantly, may we learn to appreciate the worth of human lives, the loss of which can come to pass at a time we least expect.

After having gone through one of the lowest points of our lives, may we never forget: our days of isolation, longing for family and friends, worrying about food on the table, unpaid bills, restricting family members from visiting at hospitals, and to a regrettable extent dying alone.

May we be constantly reminded of the "invisible enemy" and the days when the world "seemingly stopped".

May we learn our lessons and become the people God envisioned us to be.

One day (hopefully soon), we shall once again feel free to walk in the streets without restraint, delight on its warmth as we bask under the sun, openly interact with one another without the need for protective gear, and so much more.

Should we find ourselves under these circumstances again, we could probably say we have attained a certain degree of normalcy.

Until then, a lot of self-sacrifice is of the essence before we come to terms with the "new normal".

Admittedly, it would entail a lot of effort to go back to where we left off, if at all possible. It might take months or even years, we'll never know for sure.

One thing is evident though. By God's grace, and in HIS time, it is bound to happen.

I am optimistic that when that time comes, we would have made a lot of soul searching, shelved our old selves, and became better versions of one's own person.

Pope Francis once said, "See you soon when all this is over."

Yes Pope Francis, in time, this will be just a memory, (albeit a despondent one), with lessons learned.

For how can we appreciate the beauty of life once more, if we did not go through, and surpassed a distressing time in our lives?

God willing, see you soon, in better days.................

MEET DR. GODOFREDO GODOY, MAKATI MEDICAL CENTER'S " MOST APPRECIATED PHYSICIAN "

Most people get anxious or fearful at the sight of hospitals and physicians. Haven't we all experienced that at least once or twice in our lives? After all doctors had been tagged as the " bearer of bad news."

We also get intimidated by grouchy or irritable doctors every now and then, which makes us hold back and reluctant to ask questions that we need to be enlightened of. Some of them get displeased by too many questions, while others are too meager with their words or proper explanation.

It is for this reason that doctors should possess a very approachable and persuasive character, not to mention the highest amount of patience at all times. It is of vital importance for they are dealing with precious lives. Patients should be afforded "tender loving care" for it helps in their healing process.

It is in this regard that I would to like to bring into everyone's awareness that there is such a physician who breathes life not only on all of the above qualities, but so much more. He is Dr. Godofredo Godoy, an Internist Cardiologist of Makati Medical Center, (and my personal physician as well) who I am so blessed to have met.

Dr. Godoy had been awarded as Makati Medical Center's " Most Appreciated Physician " for 5 consecutive years based on votes gathered from the hospital's roster of physicians, employees and medical staff.

He is also known as MMC's "Poster Boy" as he was one of the models chosen for the hospital's "Malasakit" campaign which embodies compassionate care, service and sympathy not only to patients, but to anyone who feels the need to seek help. If you happen to drop by MMC, you will notice that posters featuring him abound in the hospital's various premises.

How did I encounter him? Well this is my story.

I needed to consult an Internist and not being aware of anyone from MMC's roster of physicians, decided to call their hotline to ask for details and suggestions. The receptionist gave me the name of Dr. Godofredo Godoy. At first I was reluctant because I preferred a lady doctor. I was musing over the thought of what if he turns out to be an old and grumpy doctor?

So I searched his name in the ever reliable Google and was led to various write-ups on him. I clicked on the first article which was one published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Upon opening the link, what readily caught my discerning eye was his picture with Cardinal Tagle. More than the picture however, what really left a mark not only in my mind, but in my heart as well, were the opening words of the article which quoted him saying " Lord, please add some of my life to my cancer patients."

For someone spiritual like me, those words were enough to dispel all my doubts and be assured that I was being led not only to the right doctor, but a man of God as well. I had initially prayed to the Holy Spirit (as I always do whenever I need to make a decision) to guide me in choosing the right doctor. For me this is another one of the many Divine Interventions in my life. I also believe that GOD puts certain people in our lives for a reason.

So I went to his clinic that afternoon and noticed that unlike most doctors whose patients wait in the hallway, his patients waited in comfortable sofas inside his clinic, just outside his private room. While waiting for my turn, I looked around and my mindful eyes saw plaques with "Most Appreciated Physician" embossed on them.

When it was my turn, his secretary ushered me to his private clinic and I was greeted by a good looking man in his white coat flashing a very cordial and warm hearted smile. In a soft spoken manner and toned down voice, he asked what my concern was. After discussing my concern, since I couldn't contain my curiosity, I asked about the plaques and what they represent. He explained that it is an annual award bestowed on an MMC physician who aptly embodies the title and voted upon by physicians and employees of MMC. He happens to be a Hall of Famer after having been voted and awarded for 5 consecutive years, which is no mean feat after all.

I told him that even if it was my first time to meet him, I honestly believe he truly deserves the award based on my experience and inter-action with him in such a momentary time.

He even joked that his name contains the word GOD twice, GODofredo GODoy. What a remarkable concurrence indeed, which probably ensues a message somewhere between the lines.

I have this gift of being able to sense someone's character based on a person's demeanor, words, body language, etc. I wasn't wrong in judging him after all. He truly is God sent not only to me but to all of his patients as well.

If only I could change the name of that award, I would add "Most Admirable and Ideal Physician" as well. Don't you all agree?

SOMEDAY WE WILL HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS

I often wonder what life would be in the "after life".

For Catholics like me, we believe in life after death. We believe that souls go to either Heaven or Hell (after being purified in Purgatory) depending on the gravity of the sins they committed while on earth. The ultimate judge is God the Father himself who will make the revelation to mankind on Judgment Day.

All of us have the so-called Book of Life, wherein all our deeds are recorded. In my grade school days, we were told that the caretaker of this book is St.Peter, who keeps track of all the things we do, good or bad. He also holds the key to Heaven.

I imagine God the Father as being very serious and unrelenting in the exercise of his authority. ( For this write-up, I would be referring to The Father as God, and to The Son as Jesus to avoid any confusion )

If I compare The Father with The Son, I should say Jesus is not as strict as His Father, or should I say more understanding and easier to approach. After all He is our best friend and had experienced what it's like to be man. He acts as our mediator and intercessor, but of course His Father has the last say on our fate.

I have a lot of questions for God (don't we all) and I hope I will be given the chance to ask Him if I will be blessed to come face to face with Him someday.

Questions like; why do people have to suffer, why does evil exist, why is it that when calamity strikes, it is always the poor who get affected, why do you allow some people to malign you, etc. I would also ask Him how would our souls look like after we had made the cross-over. Do we look like our age at the time of our death? Do souls continue to age in the next life? What if my mom died in her 40s and I die at 60, will she recognize me? So intriguing isn't it?

I could probably go on and on with the questions that had built up in my mind all this time. God would probably have to remind me that a lot of souls are in line after me and I'm taking too much of his precious time with my questions.

Someday, we will have all the answers to our questions. We will be enlightened on why a "blessing in disguise" happened to us. We will finally know the elusive reason behind "everything happens for a reason", etc.

Yes Someday........

CROSSING THE THRESHOLD OF OUR FAITH

Let me just make it clear that this is not meant to disrespect the President and his supporters. I am merely voicing out my sentiments and taking a stand as a Catholic Christian whose religious beliefs had been trampled upon.

In the past, I tried to turn a deaf ear to the negative comments of our President because I did not want to antagonize a few friends who are his avid supporters. I have always believed in respecting one another's choice/opinion on certain matters. I even refrained from saying my piece during his tirades against the Catholic Church, our Pope and the clergy, no matter how spiteful they were.

With his latest tirade however, I believe he has gone overboard and crossed the threshold of our faith by cursing GOD and I cannot afford to be silent anymore. 

His impertinence to his Creator, the ONE who blessed him with the position and power he now enjoys, is very appalling. Since he does not seem to acknowledge the existence of GOD anyway, obviously gratitude is out of the question, but may I request him to please desist from maligning GOD. All the things he now delights in came from GOD, and can be taken back from him any time if he abuses such generosity. Blessings are bestowed on us to share with others, but never to be misused for greed or power.

Sadly, he committed the sin of blasphemy which is a very grave sin and a violation of the second commandment. It is referred to as an " eternal sin " because it can not be forgiven unlike venial and mortal sins. For this reason, it created an outrage not only on Catholic Filipinos, but earned the ire of all Christian religions as well, who believe and respect the same GOD. It likewise resulted in the unification of all Christian denominations in the country, defending the same cause and standing up for GOD.

In all sincerity, I commiserate with him because he probably doesn't realize the magnitude of his words or his acts. We need to pray for his clemency and conversion, because as we all know, he is not the type of person who admits mistakes and asks forgiveness for them.

May this public outrage lead to an examination of conscience on his part, humility to admit his mistake and ask forgiveness from GOD. It is not a preposterous suggestion because there is no iota of doubt that inside his heart which seems to be full of anger at times, there still exists an amount of goodness.

Let us not forget that the GOD he cursed is an extremely merciful GOD, and will unhesitatingly forgive him, for as long as he is sincere in being remorseful.

SUPERSTITION, FENG SHUI, et al. vs. FAITH

I find it quite appalling that although we are now in the 17th year of the 21st century, a lot of people still adhere to unfounded beliefs or fallacies such as: superstition, old wives' tales, feng shui, horoscope, et al.

These were practiced by old folks back then probably due to lack of proper guidance, or simply false information which cast a shadow over the truth.

Out of the many superstitions people observe, one of the most common is "pagpag", a Filipino tradition of not going straight home after coming from a wake or funeral, and instead going somewhere else first or partaking of a meal to supposedly "shake off" the bad luck or evil spirits they were exposed to and thus avoid attracting them to one's home. 

Another belief is that immediate family members of the deceased should refrain from escorting guests out of the funeral parlor or elsewhere, for the preposterous reason that by so doing, another family member would follow suit. Truth be told, but when my mom died, I walked with some guests not only to the door of the funeral chapel, but all the way to the parking lot (since I never believed in superstitions anyway) and only after a span of 43 years did my dad pass on. Quite a lengthy period of time for someone to follow, don't you agree?

There is also the perception that family members should desist from getting married within the same year, or "sukob" because it would bring bad luck. Another wedding myth is that a bride-to-be should refrain from trying on her bridal gown because the wedding will not push through. A friend of mine who happens to be a stickler for perfection, tried on her bridal gown three times, and to this day, she and her husband remain happily married and in fact celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary just recently.

The practice of Feng Shui (a Chinese philosophical system) is also quite popular among those who either had a new house constructed or moved to a new abode. So-called believers of this theory seek advice from Feng Shui experts (and even shell out a substantial amount) to guide them as far as proper positioning of doors and windows, arranging objects, etc. are concerned to ensure prosperity and a harmonious environment. This maybe true for the Chinese based on their ideology or religion, but I believe not so for Catholics.

Advocates justify their adherence to such beliefs or practices with the flimsy excuse that there is no harm in believing or practicing them, because they have nothing to lose anyway. That is where I disagree. Belief in these fallacies allow them to rule over your lives and thus make you willing victims of fear such that if these delusions are not adhered to, something bad will happen. 

What you lose is the matter of greatest significance which is FAITH, for God alone determines the course our lives will take. The only thing of utmost importance needed to cope with trials we encounter in life is FAITH, coupled of course with the power of prayer. No amount of positioning of doors or windows, or taking meals after coming from a wake can change what lies ahead. Our future, such as the path our lives will take and when and how we will leave this world, had already been laid out for us by our Creator the moment we are born.

People with lesser faith or worse none at all, are bound to adhere to these unjustified beliefs in supernatural occurrences. Besides by so doing, you become an easy prey to the evil one because you tend to lean more on his side rather than on God's.

If your FAITH is truly intense, you need not fear for you are assured that in times of adversity God will bear most, if not all of its weight. 

Bear in mind that there is no such thing as coincidence, everything is providential. There is no such thing as luck either, only blessings.

Keep the Faith.

FAREWELL NONOY ( A TRIBUTE TO A DEAR FRIEND )

SMC Corporate Accounting (Head Office Accounting in our Ayala days) is a very close knit family. To this day, we regularly see one another at least once a year for our reunion, on top of having an informal get-together every time a balikbayan colleague pays us a visit. So you could just imagine how despondent we feel every time we lose a member of our family. 

No words could ever express the sentiment of losing not only a colleague, but a dear friend as well. When Nonoy informed me he had the Big C, (details withheld out of respect for him) I was so shocked that I couldn't immediately say something in response to what he just told me. It was something I never really expected, much more wanted to hear. When I finally regained my composure, but still groping for the right words to say, I simply told him " Kaya natin yan Noy. Nothing is impossible with God and the power of prayers." Deep inside though, I knew those words were not, and will never be enough. But how would you react in a situation such as that, and what could you possibly say to alleviate a person's state of undergoing pain?

Though distressed, I was blessed to have a very strong support system in Rudy Dolosa and Dante Hermogenes, my pillars of strength in those trying times. Only the three of us knew about Nonoy's condition at that time, and in deference to his family's request, we kept the matter to ourselves. The three of us would update each other regularly about Nonoy's condition and I couldn't help but be emotional whenever I talk to both of them, in the same way that I could also feel the anguish in their voice and words.

We also got in touch constantly with Nonoy individually to console him. Dante would talk to him everyday. I tried to be strong whenever I talk to him so he would not feel that I was breaking down inside. When he said he had given up on getting healed, I told him not to lose hope, trust God and believe that miracles are real.

He had already accepted his fate such that it came to a point when he no longer requested for healing prayers, but just prayers to alleviate his pain.

Nonoy is a man of unwavering faith and had been very active in a Catholic charismatic ministry when he was still based in the U.S., not to mention the years he spent in the seminary.

In one of our conversations, he recounted that he had already been administered with the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, and in the same occasion his priest friends who were his former classmates at the seminary held a " mass for the dead " for him even if he was still alive. His family also held a " wake for the living " for him so he could listen to the testimonies accorded to him, since they believe it would be useless to pay homage after he is gone because he won't be able to hear them anymore. He in turn responded to what his daughter poignantly referred to as " a dying man's last lecture on life " to his family.

A couple of days before he passed on, I asked how he was as I customarily do, and he replied " I'm still walking in the Valley of Death ". I tried to console and remind him again that God answers prayers. It is very difficult to choose the right words to say to someone going thru a very difficult situation. Little did I know that it would be the last time I would get to talk to him.

People say it is easier to accept death if you are aware that it is bound to happen soon. I however believe there is no such thing as being ready because when it happens the grief and pain have the same considerable impact on you.

Farewell for now, Noy. May the love and mercy of our Lord be with you. ln behalf of our Accounting family, thank you for the memories and most especially the friendship. We will miss you but for the time being only, because one day we will all be together once more.

May you rest in peace, as memories of you live on.

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.