These Little Wonders

Ika-19 ng Nobyembre, 2013 Kaninang umaga, may nakita akong matandang lalaking nagbibisekleta angkas ang dalawang bata, isang babae, isang lalaki. Hinala ko apo niya ang mga batang iyon. Nung napadaan sila sa tabi ko, narinig kong umaawit ang matanda at masayang nagpe-pedal.  Naalala kita, Lolo. Lalo na ngayong nagdiriwang si Papa ng kanyang ika-limampu't pitong kaarawan. Kung hindi mo siguro isinakripisyo ang buhay mo para sa kanya, marahil hindi na namin siya kasamang nagdiriwang ngayon.  Salamat, Lolo. Kailanman, hindi kita makakalimutan. Kung paanong inalagaan mo kami, lalo na ako, nung tumira kami sa inyo; kung paanong pinagluluto mo ako ng pagkain at pinagtitimpla ng Milo tuwing umuuwi ako galing eskwela; kung paanong inaalala mo ang kalagayan namin lalo na nung bumalik kami ng Manila; at kung paanong ipinaramdam mo sa amin ang iyong pagmamahal.  Maraming maraming salamat, Lolo. Mahal na mahal kita. Hanggang ngayon, masakit pa rin sa akin na sa patio na...

What I thought was the best proposal is not even close to this: I didn't know anything about Justin Baldoni until I saw his epic proposal to his very beautiful (and lucky) girlfriend, now wife, Emily . :) I'm a fan!  It was the best thing I've seen and experienced in 27 minutes. One pack of tissue is not enough. Haha. It was just... perfect! I couldn't think of any other word to describe it. Pure bliss! ♥ By the way, they already got married. And their wedding vows? Absolutely the best - the most sincere I have ever heard. :) Justin + Emily :: Corona, CA :: Extended Trailer from FFDC :: Jeffrey Holland on Vimeo . ************* Now the "sense-making" part, as what Fr. Benedict calls it. :D I saw these videos at a time when I am exhausted, drained, troubled, and in a way, feeling that "so many things to do so little time" syndrome. And in both videos, `Abdu'l-Bahá was quoted:  "Where there is love nothing i...

Sometimes, the best way to comfort someone in need is to say, "I am praying for you." Prayer In Time of Calamity (by Cardinal Tagle) God, our Father, in faith, we acknowledge You Care for us, Your children.  In hope, we trust in Your divine providence to give us wisdom and courage as we face the challenges of life. In love, we invoke Your help and guidance during these difficult days of death and destruction in our land.  Grant eternal peace to those who lost their lives. Embrace the children who died in their innocence. Console those who are grieving. Help those who are hurt and cure those who are sick.  Encourage those who suffer the destruction of their homes and properties as they rise from the ruins and rebuild their future. Bless all those who extend a helping hand to those in need of food, shelter, and clothing, and provide an assuring presence to those who are lost and confused. At Your command the wind and the seas...

Indeed, the worst of calamities bring out the best in humanity.  Last Saturday, I was privileged to have attended Blogapalooza 2013  at SMX Aura. The event offered lots of freebies and substantial talks for every participant - bloggers and businesses alike. Attendees were also able to help in their own little way the victims of the strongest typhoon that ever hit the Philippines (and the world), Yolanda, through the Piggybank Movement . One of the exhibitors in the said event is Enjoy Philippines . They gave out free membership cards to the bloggers who visited their booth. Just today, I got an email from their Marketing Director, Mr. Alfonso Sy Jr. thanking us bloggers for checking out their booth. The email also contained essential information regarding the privilege card that we received during the event.  Enjoy Philippines Booth at the Blogapalooza held last Nov. 16 What I liked best about the email was it mentioned that  Enjoy Philippines ...

Yesterday, I had a rare opportunity to hear mass alone. And the experience was too deep and personal.  I arrived at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Karangalan a little bit early for the 6PM mass. I stayed outside the church until after Communion. When the commentator was already reading the announcements, I went in and stayed at the back while looking for a good place to sit. Before the priest gave the final blessing, the commentator took some time to thank the people for praying for her. She shared that she has been hospitalized for the past 5 months due to a rare disease (so rare that it affects only 1 in every 100,000 people). She was in the ICU during the first three weeks of her confinement. And she thought she would never recover. But one day, while she was lying on her hospital bed, she had an encounter with the Lord. There she felt healing. And she shared a beautiful message from the Father:  "Endure your suffering without complain. It is part of your pur...

With all the things happening around us, especially the horrible aftermath of the super typhoon Yolanda, we can't help but wonder why. Inasmuch as we want to ask God why, we can never question Him. All we can ask from Him is to increase our faith and let His power be upon us.  Prayer: Oratio Imperata ( Obligatory Prayer ) for Deliverance from Calamities   Almighty Father, we raise our hearts to You in gratitude for the wonders of creation of which we are part, for Your providence that sustains us in our needs, and for Your wisdom that guides the course of the universe. We acknowledge our sins against You and the rest of creation. We have not been good stewards of Nature. We have confused Your command to subdue the earth. The environment is made to suffer our wrongdoing, and now we reap the harvest of our abuse and indifference. Typhoons, heavy rains, floods, and other natural calamities  occur in increasing number and intensity. We turn...

Last Thursday night, I was privileged to share about prayer in SFC UP's Chapter Assembly. All I had was a topic and one GREAT GOD! :)  On my way to the venue, I was exchanging text messages with Fr. Benedict. I told him how tired and, at the same time, nervous I was. I requested him to pray for me and for all the participants that we may be able to experience Christ and hear His message loud and clear during the talk. What he told me was exactly what I needed to hear at that time: "God bless you all!  Diyos ang pupuno sa lahat ng pagkukulang natin. " (God will fill what is lacking in us.) And so I just entrusted everything to the Lord and asked Him to use me as He wills. There were eight of us who attended the chapter assembly. And I praise and thank the Lord for once again reminding me that strength does not lie in numbers . Because the truth is, a few plus God is better than a majority without Him (read: Gideon ) :) And most of all, eight is a symbol of...