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“..
from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks” (Lk 6:45) and for the
whole month of June, I was absent from blogging because my heart, mind and
spirit were full of gratitude. I
continue to count the blessings and be constantly grateful that from time to
time, I empty myself to be filled again to the brim.
Last May 12, I received The Magic by Rhonda Byrne with the
hand-written dedication, “Happy 57th birthday! Thank you for
everything and sorry for the times that make me seem ungrateful and undeserving
for your love but one thing is true, I love you, Tatay!” from our youngest and
only son, Francis John. It was amazing,
astonishing and magically touching to receive that book with his short but
meaningful message.
I accepted his birthday gift with much
appreciation and admiration for his emotional and spiritual maturity. When he was still a little kid, I opened a
large gift. The head of a dust pan was
surprising. Most likely because he
observed me to be sweeping the grounds daily as an exercise and hobby that he
got the idea of buying me one. Lately,
observing that I am reading and writing, he has properly discerned what to give
me as a first year college student enrolled in entrepreneurship.
I applied the concepts and insights
from the book with our farm workers. The
copra processing operation commenced June 8 and lasted for 2 weeks that started
with our usual prayer meeting. It was
well-attended. I reminded them to be
always thankful. I awakened them that
“whenever one has gratitude, he will be given more and will have abundance”. This is specified in the Parable of the Talents (Mt 25:14-30). The poor gets poorer most likely because he
is ungrateful and takes for granted the little blessings he receives
daily. Anyway, the announcement of the
increase in the rate of the cost of their labor was an answered prayer
petitioned for 2 years. Our prayer then
centered on thanksgiving and we consistently asked for protection especially
for the coconut climbers. We ended our
prayer meeting with much joy and thanksgiving with our expectation for an
abundant harvest.
Unexpectedly, a few hours later when
all of them were busy with their respective assignments, I met an
accident. The YANMAR (YM 2210) tractor
with trailer I was driving uncontrollably crashed and landed on its right side
after trekking a steep and slippery slope when I turned left to avoid a
relatively deep gully. In a matter of seconds, nearby workers rushed to rescue
me even those on top of tall coconut trees quickly responded. They were amazed to see me motionless still seated
and calmly holding the steering wheel.
One of them commented that it is quite different when we are
prayerful. It was a simple demonstration
of the protective Hands of God when
we always call on Him for His blessings and protection. Thank You, Lord!
Who could refuse the sincere
invitation of the Milan couple to the celebration of their ruby wedding
anniversary? My swelling right leg (not related to the accident) was a
sufficient alibi not to go but God cured me to spend the weekend with my family.
The 3 days (June 30 – July 2) spirit-filled vacation provided us the
opportunity for a reunion and brief interaction with colleagues and past
friends in Baybay City, Leyte and the Visayas State University (VSU) where Judy
and I were employed, started our family until our retirement in the early 90’s.
I gratefully acknowledge the warm
welcome, bigheartedness and openhandedness of Dr. & Mrs. Jimmy Rosillo and
Dr. & Mrs. Sulpicio Bantugan.
Sir Jimmy, Ma’am Linda and Albert
Rosillo, thank you very much! The
sumptuous breakfast emotionally blessed by Sir Jimmy, our reminiscence of
memorable events and his act of readily lending his Mitsubishi Lancer for our
mobility in the campus and neighboring barangays are well-noted and engraved in
our hearts.
Bro. Piciong, Sis. Arcie and Allan
Bantugan, thank you very much! You have
given us importance by preparing a healthy lunch and sharing your time with us.
Being requested to lead the blessing of the food, I called to mind the “food
chain” until we connect ourselves in thanksgiving to the Greatest Provider for
His blessings and outpouring abundance.
In the afternoon of the scheduled
wedding ceremonies, it was heavily raining.
Unpredictably, in fact, I was taken aback when the high caliber
post-harvest plant physiologist, Dr. Emma Data fetched us. I readily offered to drive her deluxe personal
service car. She agreed finding out
later that she is still experiencing the pain in her right arm when she met a
vehicular accident in 2009. Thanks a
lot, Ma’am Emma! ..for your kind gesture.
To: Engr. Florente O. Milan and Dr.
Paciencia P. Milan, we cannot thank you enough for the free accommodation at
the ViSCA Hostel by the beach at your expense.
We are greatly honored and privileged as witnesses to the renewal of
your marriage vows at “halftime”. After
forty (40) years and upon retirement, the occasion is highly significant, Finishing Well with grandeur Life Part
I (Bob Buford, Is there Something More?).
The wedding ceremonies at the
Franciscan College of the Immaculate Conception (FCIC) Chapel, Baybay City
brought me back in time when I graduated high school as a working student and
Dr. Pacing Milan was one of our teachers.
The chapel was not erected yet.
Striking was the inscription at the right side of the altar, “Read and
live the Bible”. My expanded life slogan
is, “Read, write, believe and live”.
The wedding reception at the gymnasium
of the Visayas State University (VSU) was grandest. It was well-attended by
political leaders of the local government units (LGUs), retired and active
academic and non-academic staff close to the couple including relatives and
friends like us. No less than the Bishop
of Maasin who was the main celebrant opened serenades of live music followed by
equally talented, singing co-celebrants.
Astonishing was the distribution of seedlings of several tree species
for a price by a farmers’ organization spearheaded by Dr. Milan. I look at it as a gist of the couple’s desire
to translate their “success to significance” making a difference as they
continue to savor and nurture Life Part II (Bob Buford, Is This Really My
Life’s Work?).
Upon returning home, I brought with me
the trivial issue of eradicating the acasia trees lined-up both sides after the
gate guarded by the rain and sun gods upon entering the upper campus. I learned it from the immediate past
university president herself and confirmed by Dr. Jose Bacusmo, the incumbent
president. The daily sweeping of falling
leaves is not a convincing reason. Myth
logically, metaphorically and even literally, these grown-up acasia trees (most
likely over 2 decades old) provide a deeper and meaningful hindrance to the “Search for Truth” of Malakas and
Maganda, VSU’s version of the oblation.
I am grateful to Bonn Aure based at
Puerto Rico who is one of my interactive facebook friends for registering me
with the Kapihan sa Baybay City. It is
an additional forum along with the Collective ViSCAns [alumni of the Visayas
Agricultural College (VAC), Visayas State College of Agriculture (ViSCA), Leyte
State University (LSU) and Visayas State University (VSU)] where we can openly
share our views and opinions regarding our concerns towards holistic growth and
development in our respective immediate environment as a nation and our
contribution to global issues.
Momentarily ending this long list of
blessings being applied daily with thanks-living, I quote “to speak gratitude
is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to
live gratitude is to touch Heaven” (Johannes A. Gaertner. 1912-1996. In: The
Magic. Rhonda Byrne. p. 241). nmg
