God’s Creative Intentions

“When you hear of wars and troubled times, don’t be frightened; for all this must happen first, even though the end is not so soon” (Lk 21:9).  We are admonished to “watch at all times and pray that we may be able to escape all that is bound to happen” (Lk 21:36).

The floods in Luzon, the earthquake in the Visayas and the war in Mindanao and all other ontic and moral evils are all part of the bad and negative life experiences of the Filipinos.  The message re: “few (acronym for flood, earthquake and war) are praying” spread in the social media.  “Few are praying” most likely because “few believe”.  “Prayer and faith go together”. According to St. Augustine, ”believers strengthen themselves by believing”.  God is calling us to repent and believe in the Gospel, the Good News of our Salvation.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in his apostolic letter, Porta Fidei for the Year of Faith has the following significant information and milestone.  The Year of Faith started October 11, 2012.  It commemorated the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.  It also marked the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  The Year of Faith concluded last November 24, 2013 at the end of the liturgical calendar (Weekday Year I, Sunday Cycle C) and the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Universal King, the King of kings. In 1967, the Year of Faith was announced by Pope Paul VI.  It was celebrated to commemorate the martyrdom of Sts. Peter and Paul.

I attended the Regional BCBP men’s breakfast fellowship at Montebello garden hotel, Cebu City last August 31, 2013.  It was God’s divine providence that I briefly met and interacted with Fr. Peter Uchenna Nwanowanye, C.S.Sp.  He is the author of Hegel’s Metaphysics and the Problem of Evil.  Although heavy and relatively indigestible (“nose-bleeding” to my young blog followers), I understand bit by bit the philosophies of life, why good and evil go together. I am introduced to the term dielectic, the conflict of opposites.  “The experiences of evil are necessary, albeit negative elements in the unfolding of history to show that suffering and pain which constitute the elements of human existence are part of the creative process”, according to Fr. Peter.

A pose with Fr. Peter (Hegel's Metaphysics and the Problem of Evil) with Bill Granert of BCBP Cebu Central.

During the Year of Faith, we experienced the dielectical drama of our Philippine history.  Dramatically, I finished reading Fr. Peter’s book with the aid of a candle light in the evening after super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) lambasted Samar, Leyte, Northern Cebu, Iloilo and other provinces of the Visayas. Applicable to the Philippines’ progressive dielectical processes, Fr. Peter concluded, “The good and the bad, the positive and the negative experiences of life are part and parcel of the dielectical processes which are necessary and constituent elements of God’s creative intentions”.

In the Year of Faith, we encountered moral and ontic evils.  “Moral evil is an act of man’s inhumanity to man. It is an evil action done with qualified intentions and circumstances.”  This is exemplified by the most celebrated and well-noted ”pork barrel scam” with the fall guy, Janet Lim Napoles (JLN) because “Congress is the Phils’ biggest criminal syndicate” (Tony Lopez).  

Another significant moral evil was the war in Zamboanga City.  The delay of the distribution of relief goods and the inhuman substitution of imported canned goods with the local ones are immoral.  Highly immoral and immeasurably inhuman is the reported selling in Malls of the sealed and ready to eat packed meals intended for the typhoon victims. 

On the other hand, “Ontic evil could be an experience of a thing, event or action that annihilates or causes pain, suffering and death to living things including plants, animals and human beings.  It is the lack of perfection in anything.  Accidents such as plane/car crash or shipwrecks that have no direct relation to a moral agent are ontic evils. It cannot be strictly ontic when natural calamities are the result of human carelessness and violation of nature by human beings like today’s global warming and drastic climatic change”.

Why and how do these ontic and moral evils contribute to the creative process or creative intention of God?  Take note that the Philippines is second to the Vatican City and the only remaining Christian nation that do not legally succumb to the “culture of death” (divorce, euthanasia, abortion, termination of life and homosexuality) depending on the developments of the reproductive health (RH) bill.  .

My limited mind and “finite existence” looks at the investigation of the “pork barrel scam” as God’s creative process to correct corruption in our government and private business leadership. Tony Lopez (Congress is the Phils’ biggest criminal syndicate) has a substantial data about the billions of pesos looted by 3 gov’t departments and 4 gov’t corporations from the taxpayers’ money resulting to “greater penury (poverty), misery and economic enslavement” of the Filipinos including myself being an honest taxpayer.    

I remember proud comments of multi-cab drivers declaring, ”Malunod na jud ang Bohol!” meaning, ”Bohol must be sinking!”.  It was when the 28th BCBP National Anniversary Celebration was held in April 4-6, 2008.  What they jokingly predicted happened last October 15, 2013.  The earthquake with its 7.2 intensity destroyed a number of historic Catholic Church buildings to rubbles in Bohol.  With God’s creative intention, new, more durable and more beautiful but restored historical values of church buildings will rise as far as I can see.

During our action group meeting (AGM) that evening after the earthquake,  Kuya Ben Sangco dubbed that prayer meeting as ”stress debriefing”.  We shared our respective fears and trauma.  Our spiritual renewal through the BCBP nurtured and strengthened our faith.  We believe that in whatever circumstances, we are protected when we totally trust and be holistically dependent on God.   

We were spared from the terrifying devastation of super typhoon Yolanda.  The local and international media brought us to empathic tears looking at our brethren from directly affected areas.   Thousands were injured, missing and died. We pray for them with empathy, faith and charity.  Individuals, religious communities, private corporations and government agencies concerned responded to the varied immediate needs of the thousands of victims.  However, there were many observable “moral evils”.

As a family, we respond to the recovery needs of our identified “social responsibility”.  Twenty-three (23) households in “Kalubian ni Lolo” in Lugo, Borbon, Northern Cebu are recipients of several cubic feet of coco lumber to repair their respective damaged houses.  The cost of chain-sawing a considerable number of old coco trees that fell is handled by us with free delivery to their respective damaged houses.  Our copra dryer (repaired after the May 2005 accidental burning) was not spared by super typhoon Yolanda. It was a blessing they did not take refuge in it because if they did, “matacluban sila!!” (being covered by the heavy roofing that collapsed).

    

The Year of Faith is coined and concluded as annus horribilis (horrible year).  It was a purposeful and forceful call for a “time of profound change, to profess our faith in fullness with renewed conviction, with confidence and hope” (Porta Fidei. p. 12).

What the Indian prophet, Sadhu Sundar Selvaraj prophesied came to pass. However, relieving and inspiring is the “Cinderella-like” story of Ms. Abby Watanabe. In the dielectic process of Philippine history, she represents the “good and positive” side of our life experiences.  She changes the image of OFW’s in Japan.  From being a GRO, she is now a big time businesswoman motivated by her good-natured Japanese husband.  For the relief and recovery operations, they are giving back.  I know there are more compatriots doing the same for a “new Philippines”.               

“Uwa asaala anya” is an Igbo tribe language of Southeast Nigeria that Fr. Peter used to hear from an old woman when he was still a child. It means, “the world has opened its eyes”. The immediate inflow of relief goods, voluntary humanitarian services and millions of dollars in aid from all charitable nations are concrete indicators that the eyes, hearts and hands of the whole world are ever ready to lift up and rebuild a “new Philippines”. We, ourselves need to be awakened, repent and turn our ways to God.

I attach the creative and timely audio-video presentation by the Red Lions, Unlimited Network of Opportunities, Inc. (UNO) Cebu City prepared by our daughter, Marianne Claire. For me, it is “touching, awakening and life-changing realities of life and living, death and dying”. Click this link to see the video, Tribute to Yolanda Victims.

    

“Cleansing”, “healing of the land" and "purification” in whatever form are continuing dielectic processes or “God’s creative intentions”. God has His Eyes on Cebu, the humble cradle of Christianity in the Philippines. Cebu will be the venue for the International Eucharistic Congress by the year 2016.  Mabuhay Cebu!! God bless the Philippines!!!! nmg  

 

Healthy living and homecoming

“In green pastures You let me graze; to safe waters You lead me; You restore my strength.  You guide me along the right path for the sake of Your Name” (Ps 23:2-3).

Have you experienced losing weight and later regained it?  I have!  In the article, ”Being a product of the product” (www.nestofglory.blogspot.com, 25 Jan 2011), I recorded a weight loss of 10 kg in 8 months.  Later, it soared up. 

Dr. Robert Anthony (a clinical hypnotherapist, psychotherapist and author, Zero Resistance Weight Release Solution) recommends, “stop trying to lose weight”.  He claims, “Unless you remove the emotional resistance between your conscious and subconscious, no matter how hard you try to get rid of those excess pounds or kilos, you will gain them all back.  Once the emotional resistance factor has been released, your subconscious will turn off the fat switch forever!  …. Once the fat switch is off, your subconscious has no choice but to bring your body back to its ideal weight. Being slender and healthy is your natural state”.  Simply said, when the conscious mind decides to rid of excess fat, the subconscious mind must conform by removing the emotional resistance factor.

Judy and I attended the Wellness Training (May 24-25, 2013).  The trainer/coach/witness/sharer over-emphasized, “Madali lang 'yan!”.  She was referring to my bulging belly.  She triggered and re-enforced my desire to be slender and healthy.  I am made aware that “the number one cause of our dis-eases is an unhealthy diet.  Dehydration, caffeine, deadly emotions (depression, anger, guilt and low self-esteem), mental and spiritual toxins and toxic or polluted environment are among the many other causes”.

Earlier (May 16-18, 2013), I attended the first grand alumni homecoming of the Department of Horticulture (after 3 decades) followed by the university-wide reunion at the Visayas State University (VSU), Baybay City, Leyte.  As a pioneering mentor/teaching staff (1982-1992) of the Department, I asserted and volunteered to present our Family’s life-long farm development plan employing the concepts and practices of natural organic farming.  Before presenting the 3 minutes and 51 seconds audio-video presentation, I expressed gratitude for the invitation and the opportunity to share with them our simple way of caring for the people, caring for the earth and caring for the future.  It fitted into the reunion's theme, ”Creating Horticulture initiatives through partnership”.  I boldly expressed, “This maybe our first grand reunion….but our ultimate and final homecoming is in Heaven.  See you then!”.  I was given a certificate of appreciation being one of the speakers (although I was unscheduled) in the Symposium on High Value Crops and Organic Horticulture Development for Economic Prosperity and Ecological Integrity.

I missed the lecture on “Wellness: Anti-heart attack and anti-diabetes” by Ms. Zarah Gayrama-Borines, a registered nurse and a distinguished alumna.  I attended a personal business and in the process was able to visit Atty Alfea Caintic-Javier in their home.  She is my second degree cousin who in her earlier professional career was the legal counsel of the Visayas State College of Agriculture (ViSCA).  She should have been one of those who celebrated their golden jubilee in our Alma Mater.  I am glad and proud to learn that her husband Dr. Rey Javier is the first Ph.D. graduate of the Dept. of Horticulture.

It was also gratifying and spiritually uplifting for the brief reunion with Tiya Tempora Pagalan with her youngest daughter, Lilibeth.  Being an excellent English teacher that she was of the high school department before her retirement, she helped me wrote the oratorical piece, ”There are no juvenile delinquents, there are only delinquent parents”.  She was my patient coach when I joined the oration contest during my college sophomore year in the Visayas Agricultural College (VAC). It was a program organized by the Future Farmers of the Philippines (FFP).

Returning home, we started the Novena for the Dead after 40 days from death.  It was our humble offering and implementation of our action plan in the BCBP Consolacion action group for the eternal repose of Ate Fe Trinidad T. Balang, the wife of our action group leader, Kuya Tito.  She died from an aggressive breast cancer.  The novena started May 19 and ended on the 27^th that coincided with her 60^th birthday.  She died before her retirement from the Phil. Coconut Authority (PCA Reg. 7). During the unit fellowship upon the novena’s conclusion, Judy and I introduced to the group healthy food preparations we learned from the Wellness Training.

Providentially, the wellness training provided valuable insights connecting with the lessons learned during the Novena. Personally, I claim that healthy living will provide a comfortable dwelling for the Holy Spirit.  Each one of us is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20).  It will eventually result to a healthy homecoming.  I consider healthy dying as an indicator of “living life to the full”.  It is getting away from “made to order” and “extra large” coffin and excessive debts from incidental expenses during hospitalization.  Timely and coincidentally, I was inspired reading the book, ”The Art of Living Well” by the late/honorable Vicente Gullas, founder of the University of the Visayas (UV), Cebu City.

Judy wrote, “Life is wonderful” in SIDLAK (BCBP Consolacion’s annual magazine, Jan – Dec 2013).  It features her life-threatening ordeal early this year (Jan 20 – 25, 2013).  Before, during and after her hospitalization, I was faith-filled and strengthened reading “Stories Behind Men of Faith” by Ace Collins. 

Worth documenting was the personal, professional and medical assistance (with TLC) of our niece, Ruthie Jane who was very busy reviewing for her licensure medical board exam scheduled Jan 27, 2013 in Manila.  With her mentors/consultants, she handled 3 medical cases in the Family before she left. First was that of Judy’s heart attack, followed by the confinement of her niece, Alika and finally Preciosa, her auntie and younger sister of Judy.  With God’s Grace coupled with her brilliance and determination, she successfully passed.  She is now a bona fide member of the Philippine College of Physicians in internal medicine.

With conviction, believing in the integrity and purity of her advocacy, Judy and I faithfully and joyfully follow Ms. Rosemarie N. Tubal’s lessons and recommendations on wellness.  She is a graduate of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM). She is the training officer of the National Phil. Post on “gender and development” (GAD).  Her advocacy on wellness is an offshoot of her 3 years of personal medication and hands-on training (OJT) with Dr. Tam Mateo who advocates natural, organic medication or nutritional healing. I was astonished when she presented the Pharmacy of God.  It featured a list of health-promoting fruits and vegetables.  It is interesting to relearn the nutritional importance of these food crops that are dealt with in the field of horticulture specifically in olericulture (science of vegetable production) and pomology (science of fruit crop production).

Amazingly, I lost 6.5 kg in a month without exercise yet.  Indeed, it’s fast and easy with willpower and self-discipline. The latest (June 17, 2013) laboratory result in Judy’s case reveals a fasting blood sugar of 106.1 mg/dL (normal range: 60.0 - 100.0) without her anti-diabetic drug.  Her cholesterol is 163.3 mg/dL (normal range: 150.0 - 200.0) without meat and fatty foods in our diet. 

We subjected ourselves to live blood analysis (LBA) by microscopy. Our daughter, Marianne Claire who is a medical team member of the Unlimited Network of Opportunities (UNO) in Cebu City, noted the following: 

"The results of Nanay and Tatay's LBA 9 months ago were very alarming. The blood cells were too aggregated indicating very poor circulation and oxygenation.  Now, a very tremendous positive progress is obsevable.  Their circular blood cells are freely moving.  And, there is a significant decrease in uric acid."

June 20, 2013. Live Blood Analysis.

Moreover, there is a significant decrease in our budget for food.  Praise the Lord and thanks to the people who are instrumentally supporting us to reach our goal for a “healthy living and healthy homecoming”.

Filled with gratitude, Judy and I acknowledge Ate Mely Roma’s influence and approval for us to be accommodated among the over 50 trainees of the retire-able staff of the Department of Agriculture (DA Reg. 7).  She is the personnel officer of DA Reg. 7 and our dear sister of the BCBP Mactan Chapter. Similarly instrumental to our attendance was Ate Nimfa Y. Aballe who is also an intimate sister of BCBP Mactan Chapter.  She is employed with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) at Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).

During the early 90’s, Judy and I decided to go on a fish diet and engaged ourselves in homeopathy or naturopathy through iridology. When our youngest and only son was conceived, “lechon” (roasted pig) that we used to see as toxic became attractive and palatable to Judy.  Meat returned to our dining table.  It could have been a case of an emotional resistance of our subconscious mind as above-mentioned.  Do I wait to be sick or dis-eased to act accordingly? 

Judy is given a chance to restore herself to be strong and healthy.  As a family, we are one in spirit to cooperate and live holistically well. Healthy living and healthy homecoming are serious matters of lifestyle change.  A livable quotation from my favorite and famous Hollywood actor, Harrison Ford is thought-provoking. “Big changes in our lives are more or less a second chance” (Reader’s Digest. Jan 2009. p. 73). nmg                                                  

  

Little things make the difference

“Even things that take as little as 30 seconds make big differences. …When we spend our time doing those simple ‘little things’ for other people, we create a win/win situation and both parties benefit” (Zig Ziglar. You Can Reach The Top. p. 87).

The Good Lord provided me the opportunity to revisit the past in my hometown in Baybay, Leyte last November 23-27, 2012.  A renewal of friendship happened and my circle of newfound friends expanded.

The series of exciting encounters started in the boat when a co-passenger helped me locate my cot simply next to his.  Beyond my wildest expectation, Romualdo “Ondoskie” Rabanos, Sr. gladly greeted me.  He was my unforgettable and most cherished elementary classmate.  We were overjoyed to bring back the happy memories we have 44 years ago.  Pleasantries were exchanged and I labeled him, “a man of success”.  He is a fulfilled family man with only one (1) supportive wife (Catechist coordinator of the Holy Family Parish, Maguikay, Mandaue City) co-creating 7 grown-up children most of them are professionals already.  Two (2) of his elder sons have families of their own making him a grandpa like me.  In a span of 7-sailing hours, we had only the remaining hour for a nap before the boat docked.

At 3:00 a.m. in the bus terminal, we took a refreshment of hot chocolate and “puto”.  We met the bus dispatcher who was too excited to receive my calling card.  “Treasure hunting? Connect with…”, being its ‘catch phrase’ caught his interest.  He is literally into gold exploration in his own land.

Among the early bus passengers were 3 lovely ladies who are Lhuillier employees in Cebu City. I was overwhelmed knowing that we had a similar destination and common purpose to attend a wedding in the afternoon in Caridad, the largest northern and border barangay of Baybay City. Riva, Yen and Giselle readily accepted to bring the bridal bouquet prepared by Judy for the bride, Grace Lyn, their officemate and close friend.  Of the 3 ladies, I was attracted and interested with the latter being a ‘creative writer’ to learn and improve my ‘reflective writing’. They simply made my early morning free. Ondoskie and I parted ways with the promise of a lunch date at his rest house the following day (Nov 25).  Before proceeding home, I attended the 5:00 am Holy Mass officiated by the Immaculate Conception Parish priest on the occasion of his 65^th birthday.  After the Mass, I briefly greeted my “kompare” scheduled to attend a court hearing that morning who was also one of the boat passengers.  In my own “little way”, I wished him luck.

My “big time” rest and freedom from daily routine was primarily brought about by Marilyn “Inday” Caylo-Go. She is my facebook friend. In one of my tagged photos (Oct 13, 2012), she commented to visit me at home.  I was puzzled but thrilled by her intention considering that with her family, she is residing in Calamba, Misamis Occidental. I was excited and greatly honored when she singled me out as one of the principal sponsors during the wedding of their second daughter.  Beforehand, I visited the couple to be married.  In the process, I met and renewed friendship with Jose Mar “Loloy” Caylo and his family.  Loloy is the elder brother of Inday.  He was my co-cadet of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) 40 years ago.  We were too delighted to recall and reconnect where we left off.  Very memorable was our own version of the “budol-budol” (military style of eating with bare hands with all the food displayed in the table).  We called our group of cadets to attention at mealtime with, “pasaw!”.  All the cooked food that included rice, root crops, mixture of vegetables from the food production areas left by the Visayas Agricultural College (VAC) students were poured in a large basin associated with a blessing of thanksgiving then eating with bare hands.  Some cadets from the Franciscan College of the Immaculate Conception (FCIC), Baybay, Leyte opted to stay with me in my nipa hut in the VAC campus.  They were my schoolmates during our high school days at FCIC. These “little things” happened every time we were on whole day weekend ROTC trainings in preparation for the annual tactical inspections.  FCIC and VAC cadets joined as one (1) ROTC Unit.      

To reseal the bond of friendship with Loloy Caylo and his family, I brought him 2 grafted ‘apple mangoes’ that he readily planted in their front and backyard. I commented that if we should have met earlier with our more than 2 decades of residence in Cebu, these “little trees” should have been bearing fruits already.  And, he could have been a brother with BCBP.  Well, nothing is too late.  His wife, Rose is an executive in the Norkis Group of Companies, co-employee of Vangie Incorporado (wife of Allan).  The Incorporado couple serves as our action group leader in the group where we are newly assigned in the Consolacion BCBP Chapter.  Our brotherhood goes beyond BCBP because together we acted as principal sponsors of the newly wedded couple among the 16 couples lined-up. 

There was renewal of friendship with Dr. & Mrs. Efren Saz and Dr. Eunice Beray and her husband Noel, who were my previous co-workers in the academe.  My circle of friends expanded with my co-sponsors especially with my partner, Mrs. Reynenila Arbis.  I hitch-hiked with them towards the venue of the reception and in the process knew her husband who is an electrical engineer.  Both are active members of the Couples for Christ (CFC) in Ormoc City.

In that wedding occasion, I was amazingly mystified to revisit the Church where I was baptized in 1955. Moreover, I reconnected with College barkadas, Giling and Ven Bartolini, the parents of the groom, Gliven.  Both are teachers in the locality who are also active in their Parish Church.

During that vacation at night time and dawn, I noticed that my Tatay Damaso was disturbed by nightmares.  He revealed that he had been dreaming of close friends and neighbors in Mantahan, Maasin, So.Leyte who are already dead. I told him that they simply ask for his prayers.  It triggered my decision to visit my second hometown.  In the van, I pitied a septuagenarian woman among the passengers who was newly operated on their way for hospitalization in Maasin Provincial Hospital.  Sensing their financial need and in my “little way”, I handed them a small amount.     

In Maasin City during lunch in a carenderia, 3 barangay officials fondly joined me in the table I occupied.  Our “little chit chat”, provided me the opportunity to recall an unforgettable high school classmate 42 years ago in St. Joseph College.  In my delight, I offered to pay our “ala-McSavers” meal.  We were astonished and glad to know each other with the Lord and BCBP as the subject of our conversation.  The Honorable Romy Aguilar, Barangay Captain of Manhilo, Maasin City claimed that my “little nod and smile” prompted them to freely join me without reservation.  That “simple gesture” was the key to that newfound friendship.  They invited me to visit their barrio anytime especially during their Santo Niňo fiesta this January.  Handing-in my calling card, they assured me to link with my high school classmate.  

It was refreshing and reinvigorating to revisit my past in Mantahan where I grew up as a kid and teenager.  A dynamic interaction happened between Braulio “Loloy” Montederamos and me.  He was one of my childhood neighbors and playmates who is now a BCBP brother in Maasin Chapter.  I visited Mana Flor Orias, the first counselor of the barangay counsel.  She is a pro-life advocate who also serves as “comadrona” to readily assist poor mothers in giving birth.  My short visit with them was a “little thing” that certainly made a difference in our “journey” while still on earth.

The remaining day was spent at home for a fellowship with my younger brother and only sister with their respective family members. A few friends and relatives with our septuagenarian father were around. Being old, Tatay did not join to drink with us the several galloons of “tuba”.  Unexpectedly, a relative revealed that he was the complainant in a tenancy case filed against the respondent from Cebu who is my “kompare” above-mentioned.  I readily did the “little thing” of listening from his side.  Generally, there was an atmosphere of camaraderie. Praise the Lord, everyone enjoyed our “small party”.

When I was about to leave in the evening to catch-up with the boat to depart for Cebu at 8:00 pm, Tatay requested me a few minutes to spend with him.  He expressed repentance over his irresponsibility as a father to me.  When I joined the BCBP 18 years ago, my past with him was a “case-closed”.  However, he remorsefully opened the issue that very moment.  My sad memories with him were vividly and multi-dimensionally re-viewed.  I was awakened from a “deep sleep”. Painful experiences re-emerged.  His emotional abuses and economic exploitations for my being “selfless” were relived. 

Having renewed my faith through the BCBP, I readily embraced him in forgiveness. I said, “You may now rest in peace!”.  What I mean is, he can now sleep deeply and soundly.  He requested me to relay the same remorsefulness to Judy but I told him that the Lord will provide the way for him to do it personally.  

I treasure an unforgettable positive experience with him.  It was when he handed me the book, Philippine Prose and Poetry as a gift upon my graduation in elementary.

Bidding good-bye and placing his right hand in my forehead, I finally left.  I was accompanied and sent-off by my sister, Jessica with her daughter, Lyca.  Walking a distance of about 50 meters away, repentant that he maybe, he pleadingly cried out in an echoing loud voice, “Dong!!!”.  Being the corps commander that I was (ViSCA ROTC Unit SY 1975-76), I shouted back with a command of execution.  In that instant, a flashback came to my mind.  I pictured our relatives walking back home in that same location.  My father shouted at them unforgivably for the offense committed against him.  The offender is already dead.  I don’t know whether they were reconciled before the death of the said relative.  This ordeal happened in an early morning many years ago.  Now, with the same scenario with me, it occurred in an early evening.

We requested my sister to look after the house in Mandaue City during our absence after Christmas when we scheduled a year-end thanksgiving party in the farm.  I learned from her a considerable reduction of the nightmares of Tatay.

The first reunion of the children and grandchildren of the late Mr. & Mrs. Fulgencio Perez was conducted together with the farm workers last December 30.  For me, it was a great success.  I acknowledge the major contribution of our BCBP Consolacion brother/sister: Vincent and Haydee Chan.  They shared 8 bags full of packed rice, canned goods and noodles being distributed to our farmers. 

Both the “primary and secondary stewards” in “Kalubian ni Lolo” enjoyed a lot.  We hope to conduct similar bonding activities for the coming years to build pleasant memories and harmonious working relationships in the farm.  The sumptuous meal; the distribution of Christmas gifts tirelessly wrapped by Judy and her younger sister, Precious; the fun-filled parlor games facilitated by our children and the pre/post activities could be “small things”.  But, those “little things” were made “great” with a Thanksgiving Mass officiated by Rev. Fr. Euselito Tulipas.  He is the designated Formator of Seminaryo Mayor de San Carlos and close family friend.  Indeed, it was a meaningful and glorious homecoming on the occasion of the Solemnity of the Holy Family.

In closing, we are reminded “You become great by doing small things in a great way” (Zig Ziglar, America’s No. 1 Motivator).  In the same manner, the Gospel according to St. Luke reveals, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” (Lk 16:10).  nmg

      

     

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[1] Text of the recent edition of the “story of the Lord” in my life delivered during the men’s breakfast fellowship of BCBP Consolacion Chapter in Junie’s at Insular Square, Mandaue City on January 12, 2013.