These Little Wonders

I just finished my novena to St. Joseph, husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus. Here is a copy of the Novena Prayer in case you're interested: Saint Joseph, you are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I come to you as an example for holiness, for you are especially close with God. Therefore, I humbly commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. I beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death. Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, pray for me to have a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary. Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to you to implore your po...

Today marks the beginning of the holiest of all days. During this week, we remember the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. But more than a mere remembrance, the Holy Week is an actual reality. It is our own journey with Christ, with our own crosses, to our sure destination: salvation! In the words of Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD, "The Holy Week speaks of the truth that God has come to save us, has taken on our ways, has spoken our language, has made our human circumstances a tool of saving power." During our cluster recollection, Fr. Leo Luanzon shared an acronym (which he also got from Fr. Orbos) to help us make this week not just an ordinary week but a truly meaningful and holy week.  H alt ! Stop for a while, or at least slow down. Take time to rest and relax.  O ff with your worldly pursuits and concerns . Turn off your cellular phone if you have to, so that you can focus on your spiritual life this week. Forget quotas, forget deadlines, and forget perform...

During one of his mini-recollections, Fr. Jonathan shared this beautiful text:  LIVE A LIFE THAT MATTERS Ready or not, someday it will come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else. Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter matter what you owned or what you owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear. So too, your hope, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will expire. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away. It won't matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived, at the end. It won't matter whether you were beautiful, handsome or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant. So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured? What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you ...

Last week, I was on sick leave from Monday until Wednesday. Dr. Mariano advised that I rest for 2-3 days due to acute bronchitis. On Monday evening, I had one of the worst attacks of gastritis, which, according to Dr. Razote was triggered by the medicines that I'm taking (there's four of them). In all those times, I was alone. My parents have been in the province since June last year and my brother is at work. I really don't like going to the doctor. Somehow I managed to increase my pain tolerance. But last Monday was way beyond my strength. I woke up with a very painful back and a heavy chest. I could hardly breathe due to cough and colds. And I really felt weak. I also experienced terrible chest pain every time I cough. And so I decided to have myself checked. What made my situation even more difficult aside from the expensive medicines is the absence of my parents. With them around, I don't have to worry about anything. Mama would cook healthy meals for me,...

I went out to buy my remaining medicines and some groceries. When I was about to pay the amount due, the cashier told me that I already earned 93.11 points (equivalent to Php93.11) with my Robinsons Rewards Card . She asked me if I wanted to redeem the points and deduct the equivalent amount from the total amount that I was about to pay. I gladly took the offer since it's almost a hundred bucks less my total bill. Marami pa akong magagawa sa Php93. :) Truly rewarding! :) The Lord really knows what we need when we need it. :) On my way to the Robinsons Supermarket, I was already thinking of using my Laking National points to buy myself "Si" , Bob Ong's newest book which was recommended by a sister in the community. I was not even thinking about Robinsons Rewards, but I believe it was God who moved the cashier to tell me about it. He knew I needed it now more than ever. He's simply amazing. :) And because I was overwhelmed by God's goodness, I have for...

Several months ago, a friend from the community recommended " The Book Of Life. " I've had the copy of it months ago as well, but I only got to watch it this morning. Finally. :) I've listed some of the lines that really captivated me and made me love this animated film. 1. As long as we remember them (the faithful departed) , they are with us. The moment we forget them, they are truly gone. In the movie, heaven and hell are represented as the Land of the Remembered and the Land of the Forgotten. It's a good way to remind us that the dead need our prayers for them to rest peacefully in heaven. The Catholic faith teaches us of the purgatory where the souls are being purified. Our prayers help our loved ones in their journey towards the eternal kingdom of God. May we not just remember them during All Souls Day but let's make a conscious effort to lift them up in our everyday prayers. :) 2. Fathers do what's best for their children. Not just...

Isang gabi naghahanap lang ako ng makakasama para manood ng G.I. Joe Retaliation. Isang gabi na-realize ko na may pag-ibig na akong nararamdaman pero in denial pa ako. Isang gabi hindi ko na napigilan ang aking nararamdaman. Nagtapat ng pag-ibig, nangligaw, at nagtagumpay. Lumipas ang ilang gabi. Nagsama sa saya at lungkot. Ilang bundok at ilang lugar din ang pinagsamahan. At aking naisip, mas maganda kung... Ako at ikaw... Magkasamang tuparin ang mga pangarap. Magkasamang akyatin ang mga bundok. Magkasamang libutin ang mundo. Magkasamang bubuo ng pamilya. Magkasamang lulutasin ang mga problema sa buhay. Magkasamang mag-iiyakan at magtatawanan. Magkasamang tatanda. When I first read the above poem, I was so overwhelmed that I was actually moved to tears. I am just so proud of my brother who was brave enough to make a stand, to fight for love, to decide to get married. :) I could just imagine how my soon-to-be sister-in-law felt during the proposal on top of ...