Spiritual exposure to the sects of the Order of the knights of Rizal in Mt. Banahaw

Professed friars together with the Suprema of Iglesia Mistica Filipina in Mt. Banahaw.  Their so-called organization has a mixed culture of Filipino Spirituality and some Catholic teachings. In front of their Church they have the subscription of the 10 Commandments and the Mi Ultimo Adios of Dr. Jose Rizal.



A 30 minute drive from the Iglesia Rosa Mystica, another separate organization was founded in the name "Samahan ng tatlong Persona solo Dios". One of their beliefs is that Christ ame in the Philippines and left a mark of his left foot in a stone. The stone is laid on the river. Amazingly, according to the people we've asked, the water that flows from where the foot is laid, tastes like soda.



Commentary on the Rule 3,15

"When you come to table, listen until you leave to what is the custom to read, without disturbance or strife. Let not your mouths alone take nourishment but let your hearts too hunger for the words of God." (St. Augustine, Rule 3,14)

One of the many interesting characteristics of an Augustinian community is the value of common meals. It is in meals that many things are happening. Actually there are many images we can identify, which is very significant in our lives as Augustinians. Let me mention some of those images. Common meals had been an avenue of our mixed emotions. It is a place of place of our joys and sadness. It’s a meeting place of people coming from different regions. It’s a place where people just come and go. It is also a place where we laughed together sometimes so loud and sometimes normal. We sometimes share on the table our corny jokes and even green jokes. We share on the meals our personal backgrounds in life, like our past works and life in high school. We also share our resentments from our professors. We even share our dreams in our sleep. There are also times that in a split of a second silence come in the middle of the meals. We then say “Aba dumaan ang Dios”. We don’t know why but we suddenly laugh all together because of the candid moment. And, it has been a place of some heated debates and arguments. These are just some of the many images of common meals. It is like a rainbow in the sky, which very colorful. However, there is one image of community meal that I’d like to emphasize tonight. Common meal is also a place where we meet people whom we don’t like much. Whether we like it or not we can’t but to share a table with them. Right? So what's your attitude about it?

Kramer VS Kramer (A Movie Reflection)

Modern family is always addressed as sophisticated, unstable, and unrestricted. With the influence of fast pacing technologies human beings are eaten up by a new system, which I think causes the disparity of families between its members. Later they will only find out that the people whom they’ve loved had gone away. Such as the example of too much work, parents don’t have any more time with their children. The value of emotions and feelings are being replaced by material things. In exchange of affectionate love children tend to be juvenile and delinquent. Without proper guidance by significant people they become like stray cats with no home to live. However, from the movie Kramer vs. Kramer we are given the idea that not all the time products of broken families are delinquent. It is not always a necessary effect but it really matters on how a child is nurtured and nourished. Moreover, the movie teaches us that despite every tragic event, something good will come out. Meaning, the problems that we encountered are not to bring us down but to make us stronger. Because of problems we become aware of our weaknesses. All of these wonderful messages are implicitly conveyed by the movie, which deserved a commendatory recognition.

Tuesdays with Morrie - Movie reflection

         Tuesdays with Morrie is one of the movies that brought me to tears while watching it. No matter how I suppress my feelings and sentiments but the tears are unstoppable. It really came out. I’ve tried not to be obvious since I know my classmates would make fun of me. It’s hard to pretend by rubbing my eyes. It was hardly managed.

            I read the book before and in contrast to the movie, I’m surprised that the movie is really trying to be consistent with the facts and contents of the book. And at the same time the film added a conflict which I think was not written on the book. The film added the flavour of love on the storyline which I think brought thrill and excitement.

It is one of a kind inspirational film that teaches a lot of lessons about life. There are a lot of important points to cover but I’d rather highlight some beautiful scenes. I would pick those scenes that made an impact into my life as a human being and as a religious seminarian.

Fostering brotherhood within the Community

            One aspect in seminary formation that needs to be developed is the sense of brotherhood or fraternity. Unlike the conventional definition of a fraternity which is always associated to being a gangster, Augustinian spirit of brotherhood is very much different. Most of the youth today join groups like this because they want to feel the love they’ve been looking for since it’s missing within their family circle.  Eventually, some are lead astray as they go along with the demands of the brotherhood which are sometimes harsh and painful. Within that kind of brotherhood they are chained by bond that when a brother is hurt they will immediate retaliate. Why do they retaliate? It is because they recognized the need of their brother. They know who is weak in their group and on their very best they do everything to protect and help their brother. My point here is that within their group they know the weakness of their fellow.  They may have just interpreted the other meaning of brotherhood, but have the spirit of the importance of brotherhood.