These Little Wonders

If last year, I had a Fantastic, Exciting, and Beautiful February , this year I had a crazy month that just went by. You see I was busy preparing for a conference - the biggest conference yet in the community's history. Immediately after that weekend, I attended the Global Leaders Summit and the Missionaries Conference in Cavite. We arrived in Manila on Thursday evening and headed straight to a meeting for the upcoming MM events (MMLA, CLT, MMC, etc.). Yesterday, I went back to work and attended our chapter service meeting. Today, I was supposed to serve in the Cornerstone and help print the shirts for the parish but seeing the mess in my room (I haven't fixed my things yet since I got home) and feeling extreme dryness within (when you've given your all and you feel like there's nothing left to give, when you're just too tired and the only thing you can think of is rest, when you're trying your best to catch your breath and feel that you're still alive), I...

I've been complaining about my back and my left foot and Mama insists that I should go to bed and get some sleep but I'm just so loaded with thoughts that I couldn't sleep without writing (read: blogging) them. :)             Last night, I mean last Saturday, I attended the service team recollection led by one of my most loved priests, Fr. Benedict Lagarde. He is a missionary priest who is so passionate in his ministry that he could talk about it for hours. :) And I don't mind the lengthy discussion and sharing because I am actually learning a lot from him. He just doesn't share his experiences during his missions but he gives powerful insights as well. Every missionary should really talk to him to have a deeper understanding of and a greater appreciation for the mission. :)  I left the recollection venue (Divine Mercy Shrine) with only one conviction: The Lord loves me and will never abandon me. Fr. Benedict said that if you're doing some...

"There are four kinds of people in this world: •those who make things happen •those who watch things happen •those who wonder what happened •those who don’t know that anything happened! I knew from a very early age that I wanted to be first on that list." (Mary Kay Ash) I am the first kind. I make things happen. Not because I am good but because I have God. Since time immemorial, I have been tagged as "perfectionist", "OC", or even "OA." It's because I don't settle for anything less. I don't do things just for the sake of doing them. I strive for excellence... all the time. I am always after quality and not just getting things done. I am so passionate about setting things right as well. I follow rules and I am strict in implementing guidelines. And because of this personality, I gained a lot of friends (read: critics). And sometimes these friends become modern day Judases who would kiss and hug you and tell great thi...

I commute daily to work and I get to witness different stories of people. Of course I have my own stories too. :) This morning, when I handed over my fare to the driver, he asked, "Estudyante?" ( Student? ). I couldn't blame him for asking because with a backpack and my gray polo shirt and black jeans attire, I really look like a TIP student. Haha. I politely said, "Hindi po." ( No. )  But then I realized, I actually am a student. :) Just last Monday, Lawrence and I talked about it - being a student of life. Education doesn't end with a diploma and isn't only acquired in the university. In fact, most of the hardcore life lessons are presented to us not in textbooks nor in any other material resource, but in our very experiences. We learn from every person we encounter, every difficulty we face, every trial we overcome, every temptation we resist, and every victory we win every single day.  Therefore, we are and will always be students of l...

A few minutes ago, I received this message from an unknown sender: Nang mahalin kita, hindi ko alam ang umpisa, hindi ko rin alam kung ano ang wakas. Hindi ko alam kung masaya o hindi. Hindi ko alam kung mali o tama. Basta alam ko... MAHAL KITA! Out of courtesy, I replied: "Ganyan ang pagmamahal ni God. :) By the way, sino ito?" I haven't gotten a reply yet but whoever the sender may be, I thank God for him/her because his/her message was a beautiful reminder of how much the Lord loves me. :) It was one " I LOVE YOU (period). " from the Greatest Lover of all. :) And that's exactly how God loves - unconditional, selfless, ever-giving. He loves just because. :) I'm keeping this short and sweet, and so I'm ending with this lovely poem written by Frances Gregory Pasch: GOD'S LOVE God's love has no boundaries it's flowing everywhere. He has enough for everyone And even some to spare. So take a heaping handfu...

During our chapter new year assembly, I gave my members two pieces of paper on which they can write their wishes for the chapter and personal commitments. I instructed them to write their wishes on the smaller paper (orange) and their commitments on the bigger paper (green). Afterwards I asked them to post their papers on the illustration boards that I provided. The processing was very insightful and I truly praise and thank the Lord for speaking to all of us. :) Why commitments?  Because we don't want to dictate and tell them the things they have to do. We want them to have their own take. We explained to them that their personal commitments are essential tools in making their wishes for the chapter a reality. We have long realized that no great plan can ever be executed  excellently without the support, commitment, and dedication of the people behind it. And leaders can never make it on their own, they need the cooperation of their members. We didn't have targets but...

Today is the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Jesus Christ , the first Sunday of 2013, and the first Mission Core Assembly this year. Among my commitments this year is to faithfully attend MC assemblies and teachings and be present in most, if not all, of the activities of the ministry. I'll be honest that it's a little tiring sometimes, especially when you have to wake up early on Sundays. But the little sacrifices that I have to make are nothing compared to the spiritual nourishment that I will definitely gain. And so today, allow me to share the beautiful homily of Fr. Benedicto Lagarde Jr. :) The Gospel is taken from Matthew 2:1-2 . When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage."  When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assemb...