Children of Heaven (A Movie Reflection)

            The tale of two children in the movie communicates to us a lot of interesting values that we can somehow say similar to Christian values. We may be are different in religious beliefs but we are sure that all of us are aiming for peace and tranquility within our community and the whole world at large. Though the movie is set in an Islamic country yet we share the same values. We, as Christians, may be are biased on looking at Muslim lives as reported by media as any terrorist attack is always associated to them. We should not create a hasty generalization in judging the acts of their fellow because they do not represent the whole.

            If I’m going to look the movie from the Christian point of view then it is not appropriate since I would be Christianizing the Muslim values. Rather it would be fairer if I’m just going to point to values that represent peace and love for a human being. Moreover, I’ll include the values of minor characters, which I was also struck.

January Article - Community of friendship and love

Augustinian Professed brothers on their retreat in Tagaytay.

For Augustine to achieve a perfect community one must create an atmosphere of love and friendship. As the Ratio Institutionis 29-30 would elaborate it more clearly, which says, “(29) Community is the fruit of charity and is expressed in friendship which brings forth and nourishes loyalty, trust, sincerity and mutual understanding…(30) Friendship in Christ not only favors the development of each one’s personality, but it also increases freedom in the community itself, in which a healthy openness of mind fosters dialogue and enjoys a necessary autonomy with which to serve God better…” We can think then that this is the foundation needed in order to achieve the ‘friendship in Augustine’ in the community. What is this friendship then that turned to be the root of building a community? Let me share this wonderful song that would help us in defining what friendship is. But, I’ll just pick the lines that had struck me since it would take space if I write the whole piece.  

Images of Sto. Niño

Images of Sto. Niños deveoped by people through their faith to the child Jesus.

Various images of Sto. Niños are carried on in one of the carriages during the parade of Sto. Niños in Roxas Blvd. on January 30, 2011. 

I forgot the name of this Niño. They all represent one niño but I forgot the title of this one. 

Luneta Park - Dancing Fountain

Since there were no more vehicles available for us, we just decided to commute from Luneta to Visasyas Ave.. We just happened to pass the new attraction in the Luneta, the dancing fountain and decided to take a picture together with us.

That's me and the background.

May Call Waiting ka Ba?

I have been in the seminary for almost four years and indeed this place has been an avenue for me to strengthen my faith to God. If I were to ask of my encounter with God as a catholic, immediately I would answer the simplest and safest way to answer this question. The simplest encounter may be that I could generally recount are the times that I am consciously still breathing. I think God has always been forgiving to me because he still allows me to exist on this world. But to recount my greatest encounter with God that I would never forget would be when I was about to enter the seminary. I would always reminisce this particular time when he appeared into my prayers when I was asking for a sign from him if he really wants me to join the priestly journey. I think it is better for me include where did it start.

Conventionally, when a high school student reaches the 4th year level this is the season wherein students think of their future either to pursue college or to work. On one hand, if they chose to pursue college then what course would they take? On the other hand, if they chose to work then what type of work would fit them?For me during this time I felt this emptiness as if something is lacking. My family does not have a constant income that’s why I was a little bit sceptic if I will be able to pursue college but my parents were adamant that I should pursue. Although they gave me the chance to choose still I do not know what course it would be. My mind was totally outside the box as if I am like a stray cat wandering from the streets looking for something that would fill my empty stomach, my empty mind, my empty heart. But something happened along the way. Something was awakened coming from a deep slumber when the Augustinian novices (whom I don’t know yet what were their stage of formation) at our school for a vocation campaign in the morning. After their visit, a certain feeling had aroused. There is this enthusiasm and interest about the stories they had told to us. From my preliminary encounter with them I found happiness from their faces and this made me curious.

Later on my curiosity that led to the awakening of my enthusiast about their lives made me to discern for the next few months. And within those few months I was seeking for signs if He really does want me to join with his disciples. And I think God did not fail me with my prayers. I think with those signs I proved that he was there present and guiding me towards his goal for me. One of those instances was when I prayed at the blessed sacrament of our parish one Friday afternoon. I was asking from him if he could give me a white handkerchief inside this sacred place. Eventually, my prayer was granted when I opened my eyes and looking for that sign. A certain young girl together with her mother was carrying the sign. Although this may sound an ordinary event yet I consider this still as a means that God is really calling to be one of the servants of the Church.

The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32

       This is a parable of a son, who left his father and took all the share of his inheritance from his father. He used his money to women, gambling and all sorts of vices. Eventually, all his money was lost and he then lived a very poor life. He even ate the food of the pigs in order to survive. After experiencing a sad fate he then returned to his father and asked for forgiveness. Without hesitation and with so much love for his lost son he accepted him. A feast was celebrated in his honor.

Parable of the Talents Matthew 24:14-230

This is a parable told by Jesus about a wealthy man leaving his talents to three
men. The first one receives five talents. Another receives two talents. A third steward
receives one talent. As the wealthy man left, the three men followed the instruction
carefully. The person given with 5 talent gained 5 more. The other person, who was
given with two talents, gained two more talents. But the third person only dug a hole
and buried the only talent he has. As the master returned, he was happy with all the
servants but unsatisfied with the third servant who only buried his talent on the ground.

“The Statement of Commitment” An emblem of our communion

“Growing in Communion: A Renewal to Common Life” was the theme for our
Augustinian Seminarians Spirituality Congress. At the end of our 3-day congress, a
statement of commitment was written as the fruit of our sharing and personal opinions
with our respective group and the whole body as well. The Statement of Commitment
was a sign of our unification as seminarians of the Order of St. Augustine, which
had brought us to be aware of the reality’s challenges. It has not also brought us for
communal renewal but also to the inner renewal of our personal calling.

“Jesus Christ: The Greatest Story ever-told” A movie Reflection

First, I have to commend the movie as a whole as an interesting and worth
watching. The movie was unusually directed and made since its approach was the
human side of Christ. There were fewer scenes on extraordinary events which could
identify the divinity of Christ. I don’t know the rationale of the director but it was indeed a
worth reflecting one. There was also a little twist in the movie. There was an awkward
involvement of the modern period. The movie also shared that Jesus’ life is not only
historical and his teachings are still applicable in our modern times. Satan in the movie
is a modern man, who is always trying to shake the faith of Jesus.

Second, I’d like to share the fruits of my reflection upon watching the movie.
Particularly, on the scene between Mary Magdalene and Jesus I was moved by the
line, “those who speak in my name is my disciple”. Mary wanted to become an apostle
yet he felt like not accepted since Jesus only chose 12 but Jesus assured that those
who speak his name to others is an apostle. A question then was raised into my
mind, “How have I spoke the name of Christ to others?” I was left speechless to myself
and do not know the exact answer. I mean here in the level of sincerity in making the
Word of God be witnessed by others. It was a question on a personal level. I felt guilty at
the end while thinking about it several times. I may have been faithful to the apostolate I
was assigned in terms of time and presence but I felt I’m not doing my best as a disciple
of Christ because less heart and more mind is being used.

It has been a while

          It's been for a while that I haven't visited this account. Maybe lack of time and out of ideas to post on this account   that it looks like an un-updated. I only have two followers who eventually myself also also. Funny it seems, but I just don't want to write anything nonsense here since I don't want to get the attention of the whole world. I have a world on my own which only exist on my own.

       The world I'm standing on is always like a seesaw. There are times that I'll be lifted up on high and sometimes on ground. To live like 'this' is not what I want. Yes, I do have a choice and can go against what He wants but its hard for me to take a leap. It is still a mystery for me to grasp what he really mean and to decipher my purpose here on earth.