I just came from a "simbang gabi" Mass at my parish. I arrived quite early because I was supposed to catch the earlier 6:30pm Mass but I got caught in really bad traffic and aside from that I desperately needed to fill my gas tank. So in the end, I arrived at the Parish at 7:15. What's 45 minutes wait?
As I wait...
As I waited, I took the opportunity to "pamper" my prayer to God by actually praying -- conversing with God in the tabernacle -- and not being in a hurry. But as I tried to pray, people started pouring in the Church: children, manangs, young and old professionals. As they filled the Church, praying became doubly hard because people, after their initial 1-minute prayer to God, started to chat with each other. Children started to run around the Church, moving from one pew to another until they were satisfied.
A group of people behind me started to chatter as well. It was bugging me so I transferred to the next pew. But the side of the Church I was seated started to become unbearably noisy. So, again, I moved to the other side of the Church which was relatively more quiet than the other. As I observed the people on the "other half" they looked like as if they were inside a movie house, waiting for the movie to start.
Boy did I feel bad for God who is inside the tabernacle! Basic thing: The Church is a house of prayer. It is a place to pray. A place to talk to God and not to talk to one another as if you never talked outside the Church. Inside the Church, our disposition should be to talk to God, or at the least, to just accompany God in the Holy Eucharist. It is the Eucharistic Year and yet people do not know how to show respect Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. The Church is not a movie house. The Holy Mass is the commemoration of Christ's crucifixion on Calvary. That is why on the altars, there is always a crucifix present directly on top or on the side or wherever. It is supposed to remind us that the Mass is the same sacrifice on the cross. So, if we are early for Mass, how should we behave? We are waiting for the Mass, ayt? We are then waiting for Jesus Christ to be crucified. How then should we behave if we are like those people on Calvary (imagine Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ") waiting for Jesus Christ to reach the top and we want to witness this sacrifice? Are we going to chit chat? We are, instead, going to prepare ourselves to see Jesus Christ on the Cross!
This is sad.
Not a lot of people do not understand the real meaning and value of the Mass. I see people holding on to their devotion booklets (all bundled in a special little bag) and reading them from page 1 to the last. And as soon as the Mass starts, they leave the Church satisfied with their little devotions.
The Holy Mass is the greatest prayer one person can say!!! We don't need all those devotion booklets to ask for our petitions! The Holy Mass is the best devotion! Haaay... It is the most complete prayer. There, we already invoke the help of Mother Mary, the Holy Trinity, some saints, the holy souls... What more can we ask for? The Mass is the most complete! Above all, it's free!
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Helping Cavite
We just finished the second day of a three-day leadership seminar for the local parochial high school students of Bacoor, Cavite. Being a provincial school, most of the students are not exposed to the sophistication of living in the City. The seminar we prepared for these 36 high school students were a series of team building and leadership activities, plus some classes on the basic truths of the Catholic faith. Why that? Well, because we are primarily training these kids to be Catechists. You can call us (those who are part of the Foundation) Catechists of Catechists.
Here's how they looked like. When I saw them, it reminded me of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes!
Feedback.
The participants of our seminar enjoyed the activities a lot! My analysis of the situation is that because these kids do not undergo such kinds of activities in their usual seminars organized by their school. I am quite happy to be able to give them this chance to experience leadership training activities like no other provincial school can give their students.
Sense of fulfillment.
I have the best sense of fulfillment from my work today! I may not be earning like a CEO but what sense of fulfillment! No one can really buy this sensation. I am glad I took the offer to help start this Foundation. I may not have the best bosses here but I have the best job for me.
Some bit of history.
I started being a Catechist when I was 3rd year College. I volunteered at a nearby Foundation within the vicinity of my university. (Mind you, it wasn't that attractive to be a Catechist until my eyes saw the poverty - material and spiritual - of the children compared to what I have.) And so I started teaching without any training and a little bit of correct doctrine... and so I continued until I was already working as a high school teacher. Now, being a Catechist is my full time job. Imagine being paid for this!
I am a not just a Catechist, but a Catechist of Catechists!
Here's how they looked like. When I saw them, it reminded me of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes!
Feedback.
The participants of our seminar enjoyed the activities a lot! My analysis of the situation is that because these kids do not undergo such kinds of activities in their usual seminars organized by their school. I am quite happy to be able to give them this chance to experience leadership training activities like no other provincial school can give their students.
Sense of fulfillment.
I have the best sense of fulfillment from my work today! I may not be earning like a CEO but what sense of fulfillment! No one can really buy this sensation. I am glad I took the offer to help start this Foundation. I may not have the best bosses here but I have the best job for me.
Some bit of history.
I started being a Catechist when I was 3rd year College. I volunteered at a nearby Foundation within the vicinity of my university. (Mind you, it wasn't that attractive to be a Catechist until my eyes saw the poverty - material and spiritual - of the children compared to what I have.) And so I started teaching without any training and a little bit of correct doctrine... and so I continued until I was already working as a high school teacher. Now, being a Catechist is my full time job. Imagine being paid for this!
I am a not just a Catechist, but a Catechist of Catechists!
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Lonesome tonight
Gosh!
I never felt so lonely ever! My best friend just left for a one-week retreat in Lipa who does not intend to reply to my texts at all during her whole retreat because she wants to do it "well". How the heck does one do a retreat well?! Well (hehe), by really talking to God alone without the usual distraction of the hustle and bustle of the city. She is in a different kind of retreat... Different doesn't necessarily mean that it is not how things should be done. Different because the way the Retreat is done is not how we know retreats when we were in high school: a lot of opening out to others, passing the candle, singing, activities, etc. This retreat is probably what you can call the original retreat as how it was first conceived: quiet, no talking to one another (at least avoid!), listening to what God has to say to you through the priest-retreat master, and just simply talking to God about how evil and good you were to Him and figuring out how you can improve yourself so that you treat Him less badly.
Anyway, I'm also lonely because I am alone where I stay. I don't have anyone to talk to. I don't normally go out for the heck of going out. (I can't really afford to go out every night!) If I want to talk to anybody, I always log on the internet (like now) and see who I can catch on YM. Oh well, no one is there save for two people who I am not interested in talking to because I am not close to them.
Why don't you call your friends?
I am not the type who'd call for no reason at all, just because I am lonely. Phone calls are different from IM. On the phone, you really can't keep the other phone on the line without saying a word. In IM, you can just "converse" without the pressure of answering immediately. So I only call when it's related to work or if there's really a topic to talk about. For trivial and frivolous things, IM is enough. No lull.
BUT!
Though I may be lonely, I am not depressed. I can be lonely but satisfied. Being alone is something (let's get philosophical here) accidental (not essential for survival). Oxygen is essential. Water is essential. Food is essential. Being with someone? Not essential but definitely helpful. We need silence. We need time to reflect on how our day went. We need time to be alone without any outside influences as we make major decisions of our lives. (Of course, after we have gotten all the necessary pros and cons of our predicament.)
S-I-L-E-N-T => L-I-S-T-E-N
Only when we are SILENT, that we are able to LISTEN.
I never felt so lonely ever! My best friend just left for a one-week retreat in Lipa who does not intend to reply to my texts at all during her whole retreat because she wants to do it "well". How the heck does one do a retreat well?! Well (hehe), by really talking to God alone without the usual distraction of the hustle and bustle of the city. She is in a different kind of retreat... Different doesn't necessarily mean that it is not how things should be done. Different because the way the Retreat is done is not how we know retreats when we were in high school: a lot of opening out to others, passing the candle, singing, activities, etc. This retreat is probably what you can call the original retreat as how it was first conceived: quiet, no talking to one another (at least avoid!), listening to what God has to say to you through the priest-retreat master, and just simply talking to God about how evil and good you were to Him and figuring out how you can improve yourself so that you treat Him less badly.
Anyway, I'm also lonely because I am alone where I stay. I don't have anyone to talk to. I don't normally go out for the heck of going out. (I can't really afford to go out every night!) If I want to talk to anybody, I always log on the internet (like now) and see who I can catch on YM. Oh well, no one is there save for two people who I am not interested in talking to because I am not close to them.
Why don't you call your friends?
I am not the type who'd call for no reason at all, just because I am lonely. Phone calls are different from IM. On the phone, you really can't keep the other phone on the line without saying a word. In IM, you can just "converse" without the pressure of answering immediately. So I only call when it's related to work or if there's really a topic to talk about. For trivial and frivolous things, IM is enough. No lull.
BUT!
Though I may be lonely, I am not depressed. I can be lonely but satisfied. Being alone is something (let's get philosophical here) accidental (not essential for survival). Oxygen is essential. Water is essential. Food is essential. Being with someone? Not essential but definitely helpful. We need silence. We need time to reflect on how our day went. We need time to be alone without any outside influences as we make major decisions of our lives. (Of course, after we have gotten all the necessary pros and cons of our predicament.)
S-I-L-E-N-T => L-I-S-T-E-N
Only when we are SILENT, that we are able to LISTEN.
Friday, December 17, 2004
Good credit standing!
"Your celfone 918****** with good credit standing is now exempted from auto-Redirection even when over Credit limit. Pls call *888 or 5112890 for inquiries."
Ain't that the best thing you'd wanna hear? I'm proud of myself that I get to pay my bills monthly even if it entails not leaving me enough money to spend for a better lunch. I hate having debts! I don't want to die with debts.
Utang na loob.
But if I do have debts... debts of gratitude.
Ain't that the best thing you'd wanna hear? I'm proud of myself that I get to pay my bills monthly even if it entails not leaving me enough money to spend for a better lunch. I hate having debts! I don't want to die with debts.
Utang na loob.
But if I do have debts... debts of gratitude.
Cold Turkey
Not that I suddenly turned cold turkey because I got scared or anything.
I just realized I am so cold to that friend of mine "I almost lost". Remember my previous blog about my friend? Well, we already reconciled and with what difficulty! It wasn't a happy reconciliation I should say. I have to admit that it was quite half-hearted on my part because I gave in to her conditions of being a "true friend" which is to be there whenever she would want to be with me or need me, regardless of where I was. I don't want a friend like that. You mean sacrificing my job just to see her before she goes to her retreat? As if she were not going to return...
Writing this helped me realize something.
How selfish perhaps I can be to my friend! Why don't I want a friend like that? Maybe because I am not willing to sacrifice for a friend. But common knowledge is that we should be willing to sacrifice for a friend, right? Definitely, she's a friend. We've been through rough times together and she was there during my rough times. She was there. I owe for being there. Situation's different then.
My circumstances have changed.
Our circumstances weren't as they were before. They have surely changed. There's more demand from each other's time now since we're "farther" from each other. But I guess it's getting pretty annoying on my part. I don't have the same "longing" to be near her or do things together all the time. Not because I have found new friends to "replace" her... I believe I have learned to live on my own, not being dependent on other people too much. I have been quite "autonomous" in this world that I have forgotten how to live with other people I used to "live with" (Please, nothing malicious here!)
So what now?
Well, I just have to learn how to be warmer to my old friend again. I must've gotten too familiar with her that she always misunderstands my coldness as something that tells her: "STAY AWAY FROM ME". Sorry I can't help it! Well, I have to change because she won't do it for me. The burden of proof is on me. And I am challenged by it.
Don't be overly familiar with your friends!
I just realized I am so cold to that friend of mine "I almost lost". Remember my previous blog about my friend? Well, we already reconciled and with what difficulty! It wasn't a happy reconciliation I should say. I have to admit that it was quite half-hearted on my part because I gave in to her conditions of being a "true friend" which is to be there whenever she would want to be with me or need me, regardless of where I was. I don't want a friend like that. You mean sacrificing my job just to see her before she goes to her retreat? As if she were not going to return...
Writing this helped me realize something.
How selfish perhaps I can be to my friend! Why don't I want a friend like that? Maybe because I am not willing to sacrifice for a friend. But common knowledge is that we should be willing to sacrifice for a friend, right? Definitely, she's a friend. We've been through rough times together and she was there during my rough times. She was there. I owe for being there. Situation's different then.
My circumstances have changed.
Our circumstances weren't as they were before. They have surely changed. There's more demand from each other's time now since we're "farther" from each other. But I guess it's getting pretty annoying on my part. I don't have the same "longing" to be near her or do things together all the time. Not because I have found new friends to "replace" her... I believe I have learned to live on my own, not being dependent on other people too much. I have been quite "autonomous" in this world that I have forgotten how to live with other people I used to "live with" (Please, nothing malicious here!)
So what now?
Well, I just have to learn how to be warmer to my old friend again. I must've gotten too familiar with her that she always misunderstands my coldness as something that tells her: "STAY AWAY FROM ME". Sorry I can't help it! Well, I have to change because she won't do it for me. The burden of proof is on me. And I am challenged by it.
Don't be overly familiar with your friends!
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Acknowledgements
Ah yes.
I would like to acknowledge biway for giving me the idea of blogging. Like how I explained in my very first entry for this blog, never really thought I'd make a "career" out of blogging.
Biway, this song is for you: (just the "thank you" parts!) Bwehehe!
How about getting off of these antibiotics
How about stopping eating when I'm filled up
How about them transparent dangling carrots
How about that ever elusive kudo
Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence
How about me not blaming you for everything
How about me enjoying the moment for once
How about how good it feels to finally forgive you
How about grieving it all one at a time
Shoots!
I would like to acknowledge biway for giving me the idea of blogging. Like how I explained in my very first entry for this blog, never really thought I'd make a "career" out of blogging.
Biway, this song is for you: (just the "thank you" parts!) Bwehehe!
How about getting off of these antibiotics
How about stopping eating when I'm filled up
How about them transparent dangling carrots
How about that ever elusive kudo
Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence
How about me not blaming you for everything
How about me enjoying the moment for once
How about how good it feels to finally forgive you
How about grieving it all one at a time
Shoots!
Mata
This song is probably the most requested song among my crowd these days. Thought of postiing it just for that reason.
Mata
Mojofly
Kamusta na, nandyan ka pa ba
Wala na yatang ibang magagawa kundi tumawa
Nandyan pa ba mga ala-ala
Ang tanging bagay na naiwan sa 'ting dalawa
'wag nang paikutin ang isa't isa
Lahat ng bagay ay malinaw na
Di na rin kailangan pagpilitan pa
'di mo na kinakailangan pang magsalita
Chorus
Nakita ko na lahat ito
Pinahihiwatig ng mata mo
Salamat na lamang sa 'yo
Mata
Mojofly
Kamusta na, nandyan ka pa ba
Wala na yatang ibang magagawa kundi tumawa
Nandyan pa ba mga ala-ala
Ang tanging bagay na naiwan sa 'ting dalawa
'wag nang paikutin ang isa't isa
Lahat ng bagay ay malinaw na
Di na rin kailangan pagpilitan pa
'di mo na kinakailangan pang magsalita
Chorus
Nakita ko na lahat ito
Pinahihiwatig ng mata mo
Salamat na lamang sa 'yo
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Do I hear Wedding bells?
Wow!
I was talking to a friend about his predicament with his feelings. I didn't advise him directly and told him what he should do. I just tried to ask him questions, put some sense into his current situation. What was the predicament? To marry or not to marry. He was planning to delay any proposal for marriage for another 5 years. I can't imagine some guy who already knows what he wants and still delays it for another 5 years. Like what the priest said in his homily, "If you are already bf-gf for 40 years, don't ask yourself anymore 'Is this the guy that I want to marry' because for sure, he's not the one. It is not what God wants for you." Quite an exaggerated example but wisdom comes out from his words. There's no sense in delaying. You are only opening up your relationship to temptations. (You know what they are.)
Sheesh!
It's hard to give the right advice for someone at the same time, we cannot force anyone to take our advice. I was at a more risky position since I was advising him not to delay the "big leap" anymore. If something goes wrong with his marriage, I can't be responsible for it. I gave him the conditions, he evaluated his situation, and makes the decision. He is always free not to take my advice (and I'm not taking offense of it). Like I said, it's hard to give the right advice.
I lay waiting...
Do I hear Wedding bells for myself? Honestly, I don't hear any bells at all (except for the ice cream man's). Nor do I see myself tying the knot with somebody else and live with him forever. Maybe God wants me to be single forever. I don't mind. I'll be a good aunt to my nieces and nephews through my sister (Pi, I can't wait!!!). For the moment, I can safely think God's will for me is to be single forever... until a guy comes along who I and God deem fit to tie the knot with. I have to be careful because guys may come along my way and maybe they're just distractions or "tests". I have to do a lot of praying, and conferring with God about who or what He wants from me. Hard eh?!
I was talking to a friend about his predicament with his feelings. I didn't advise him directly and told him what he should do. I just tried to ask him questions, put some sense into his current situation. What was the predicament? To marry or not to marry. He was planning to delay any proposal for marriage for another 5 years. I can't imagine some guy who already knows what he wants and still delays it for another 5 years. Like what the priest said in his homily, "If you are already bf-gf for 40 years, don't ask yourself anymore 'Is this the guy that I want to marry' because for sure, he's not the one. It is not what God wants for you." Quite an exaggerated example but wisdom comes out from his words. There's no sense in delaying. You are only opening up your relationship to temptations. (You know what they are.)
Sheesh!
It's hard to give the right advice for someone at the same time, we cannot force anyone to take our advice. I was at a more risky position since I was advising him not to delay the "big leap" anymore. If something goes wrong with his marriage, I can't be responsible for it. I gave him the conditions, he evaluated his situation, and makes the decision. He is always free not to take my advice (and I'm not taking offense of it). Like I said, it's hard to give the right advice.
I lay waiting...
Do I hear Wedding bells for myself? Honestly, I don't hear any bells at all (except for the ice cream man's). Nor do I see myself tying the knot with somebody else and live with him forever. Maybe God wants me to be single forever. I don't mind. I'll be a good aunt to my nieces and nephews through my sister (Pi, I can't wait!!!). For the moment, I can safely think God's will for me is to be single forever... until a guy comes along who I and God deem fit to tie the knot with. I have to be careful because guys may come along my way and maybe they're just distractions or "tests". I have to do a lot of praying, and conferring with God about who or what He wants from me. Hard eh?!
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Wag na Wag Mong Sasabihin
Kitchie Nadal
May gusto ka bang sabihin?
Ba't di mapakali ni hindi makatingin
Sana'y wag mo na 'tong palipasin
At subukan lutasin sa mga isinabi mo na
Iba'ng nararapat sa akin
Na tunay kong mamahalin
O wag na wag mong sasabihin
Na hindi mo nadama
Itong pag-ibig kong
Handang ibigay kahit pa kalayaan mo
Kung ano man ang inaakala
Na ako'y isang bituin na walang sasambahin
Di ko man ito ipakita
Abot-langit ang daing
Sa mga isinabi mo na
Ibang nararapat sa akin
Na tunay kong mamahalin
At sa gabi, sinong duduyan sa 'yo?
At sa umaga, ang hangin na hahaplos sa 'yo?
May gusto ka bang sabihin?
Ba't di mapakali ni hindi makatingin
Sana'y wag mo na 'tong palipasin
At subukan lutasin sa mga isinabi mo na
Iba'ng nararapat sa akin
Na tunay kong mamahalin
O wag na wag mong sasabihin
Na hindi mo nadama
Itong pag-ibig kong
Handang ibigay kahit pa kalayaan mo
Kung ano man ang inaakala
Na ako'y isang bituin na walang sasambahin
Di ko man ito ipakita
Abot-langit ang daing
Sa mga isinabi mo na
Ibang nararapat sa akin
Na tunay kong mamahalin
At sa gabi, sinong duduyan sa 'yo?
At sa umaga, ang hangin na hahaplos sa 'yo?
Want to get married?
Getting married is not just a different level of falling in love. Marriage is a covenant between the couple and God. A covenant is not just a contract. A contract may be binding but there are provisions for it. A covenant doesn't have any provisions. It's a once and for all thing.
Now, know this, are you just going to marry just anyone? Of course not. Careful deliberation (using both your heart and mind) has to be made.
I prepared a list of questions for you to ask yourself before making that "BIG LEAP" of faith in binding yourself with another person before God:
1. Is your loved one willing to subject his/her preferences to yours when necessary? Are you?
2. Are both you open to having a lot of children?
3. Are you getting married for the heck of getting married?
4. Are you getting married because you just want to make sure that your loved one is for you forever?
5. Are you getting married because you see yourself living with him/her under the same roof with a lot of children to take care of?
6. Do you know the defects of your loved one as well as her good points? After knowing her defects, do you accept all of them and are you willing to put up with these defects until death do you part?
7. Will he/she be a good father/mother to your children?
8. Is he/she prayerful? God-fearing?
9. If you're the guy, do you have a job that can support a big family? If none yet, do you have the motivation to work hard to accommodate the fruits of your love?
10. Are both of you willing to make the mother/wife stay at home to take care of your children when the necessity arises?
Anyway, these are just questions which can help spark some principles in you. They are not absolute so don't take them as if you have to get 10/10 answers right. It will still depend on your principles. These questions, AGAIN, just aim to spark some natural principles.
Good luck! I hope and pray that you guys make the right choice. We can't take marriage for granted and not be serious in keeping it in tact "til death do us part".
Now, know this, are you just going to marry just anyone? Of course not. Careful deliberation (using both your heart and mind) has to be made.
I prepared a list of questions for you to ask yourself before making that "BIG LEAP" of faith in binding yourself with another person before God:
1. Is your loved one willing to subject his/her preferences to yours when necessary? Are you?
2. Are both you open to having a lot of children?
3. Are you getting married for the heck of getting married?
4. Are you getting married because you just want to make sure that your loved one is for you forever?
5. Are you getting married because you see yourself living with him/her under the same roof with a lot of children to take care of?
6. Do you know the defects of your loved one as well as her good points? After knowing her defects, do you accept all of them and are you willing to put up with these defects until death do you part?
7. Will he/she be a good father/mother to your children?
8. Is he/she prayerful? God-fearing?
9. If you're the guy, do you have a job that can support a big family? If none yet, do you have the motivation to work hard to accommodate the fruits of your love?
10. Are both of you willing to make the mother/wife stay at home to take care of your children when the necessity arises?
Anyway, these are just questions which can help spark some principles in you. They are not absolute so don't take them as if you have to get 10/10 answers right. It will still depend on your principles. These questions, AGAIN, just aim to spark some natural principles.
Good luck! I hope and pray that you guys make the right choice. We can't take marriage for granted and not be serious in keeping it in tact "til death do us part".
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Linking!
Imagine!!! I just can't believe it. I'm a budding web developer!!! Bwahaha! well, not quite. I can only do small things. I was able to figure out how to position the tagboard on my blogsite. I thought that I'd get it instantly installed on my blogsite if I registered for one. To my surprise, I only got scripts! Of course, tried to figure out where the scripts might go, found the scripts for my template and inserted the tagboard script in there. Lo and behold! Got it posted! :)
Then to my curiosity, I wanted to figure out how to include a link within my blogs. Tried to look for the script for a link for something with my template and got the formula, tried it within my blogs, and voila! There goes the link! :)
Maybe I should have been a computer programmer. ;P
Then to my curiosity, I wanted to figure out how to include a link within my blogs. Tried to look for the script for a link for something with my template and got the formula, tried it within my blogs, and voila! There goes the link! :)
Maybe I should have been a computer programmer. ;P
Friendship
I am about to lose a friend because of my disloyalty. I don't blame her for it. What is friendship anyway? People may have different opinions about friendship. My definition of friendship is that it is a relationship between and among people where a spirit of trust, honesty, understanding, and favors thrive.
Best friends.
It's hard to have best friends who expect a lot from you. It's hard to have best friends who demand for your time. It's another way of strangling the freedom of others. If there's any exemption from strangling me, I'd allow my husband to do that to me. I would do this because I know I am bound by the sacrament of Marriage and that God gave me the grace to do so. Above all, this is how it ought to be between married people. So what's a best friend for me? A best friend is the first person you want to call about your joys and sorrows. He or she is the first person who you want to accompany you for a haircut. What a best friend for me is not: someone who'd call for no reason. Someone who doesn't even know what to talk about, and you are left in an awkward situation of forcing a conversation. I'd understand this if he were my husband.
Expectations? Should there be expectations between best friends? Yes, I have to admit that there is a certain level of expectation but the expectations should be realistic, and should not reach the same expectation as between husband and wife. If it does, big trouble!!! Hurt starts.
Friends.
Among your friends, who is your best friend? The one you are closest to. Someone who you can tell honestly and unashamedly that you liked New Kids on the Block when you were in high school. Someone you can freely talk about God with. Someone you'll be able to correct so that he/she will go to heaven with you. When you struggle to go to heaven, don't go alone. That's not a good sign.
Best friends.
It's hard to have best friends who expect a lot from you. It's hard to have best friends who demand for your time. It's another way of strangling the freedom of others. If there's any exemption from strangling me, I'd allow my husband to do that to me. I would do this because I know I am bound by the sacrament of Marriage and that God gave me the grace to do so. Above all, this is how it ought to be between married people. So what's a best friend for me? A best friend is the first person you want to call about your joys and sorrows. He or she is the first person who you want to accompany you for a haircut. What a best friend for me is not: someone who'd call for no reason. Someone who doesn't even know what to talk about, and you are left in an awkward situation of forcing a conversation. I'd understand this if he were my husband.
Expectations? Should there be expectations between best friends? Yes, I have to admit that there is a certain level of expectation but the expectations should be realistic, and should not reach the same expectation as between husband and wife. If it does, big trouble!!! Hurt starts.
Friends.
Among your friends, who is your best friend? The one you are closest to. Someone who you can tell honestly and unashamedly that you liked New Kids on the Block when you were in high school. Someone you can freely talk about God with. Someone you'll be able to correct so that he/she will go to heaven with you. When you struggle to go to heaven, don't go alone. That's not a good sign.
Love, my goodness, love!
When people are in love, they make things happen, but all sorts of things happen, too. When we fall in love for someone, we have to be ready to complicate our lives for him/her. Call it a paradox, but it's as simple as that.
To make love simple, all we have to do is SIMPLY admit whether we truly love a person on not. I somewhat believe that questions of life are all categorically answered by just "yes" and "no". The problem lies though whether we mean "yes" when we say "yes" and mean "no" when we say "no". When we say "yes" we have to mean it. When we say "no" we have to mean it. It takes maturity to be able to do this.
We will really live very complicated and "confused" lives if we are not simple with how we feel and in living based on our principles. You know what confuses us? It's our wanting to please others to the point that we compromise our principles in life.
Love cannot be compromised.
Do you really love him/her? What does your heart say? What about your mind? Is the latter still working or is it just all feelings? Are you just captivated by how the person speaks, dresses up, keeps you company? What about the person's virtues? Are you captivated by them? If you do cannot enumerate the virtues (and vices) of the other person you say you love, you cannot say that you truly know and love the person.
I don't believe in love at first sight. Philosophical you might think, but true. Love comes after knowing, not feeling or sensing. That's why courtship is there. Courtship is not a matter of wooing the person to you, but a period of getting to know the other person more, building a strong friendship. Couples are the best of friends. Or at least they ought to be the best of friends. This is why I think it is possible to marry a person within a year of knowing her. I believe that if both sides are open to each other, you can know the other person in a matter of months of going out. It's not just the "being physically close" to each other, but it's the talk that happens between the two.
Love cannot be a matter of sight.
To make love simple, all we have to do is SIMPLY admit whether we truly love a person on not. I somewhat believe that questions of life are all categorically answered by just "yes" and "no". The problem lies though whether we mean "yes" when we say "yes" and mean "no" when we say "no". When we say "yes" we have to mean it. When we say "no" we have to mean it. It takes maturity to be able to do this.
We will really live very complicated and "confused" lives if we are not simple with how we feel and in living based on our principles. You know what confuses us? It's our wanting to please others to the point that we compromise our principles in life.
Love cannot be compromised.
Do you really love him/her? What does your heart say? What about your mind? Is the latter still working or is it just all feelings? Are you just captivated by how the person speaks, dresses up, keeps you company? What about the person's virtues? Are you captivated by them? If you do cannot enumerate the virtues (and vices) of the other person you say you love, you cannot say that you truly know and love the person.
I don't believe in love at first sight. Philosophical you might think, but true. Love comes after knowing, not feeling or sensing. That's why courtship is there. Courtship is not a matter of wooing the person to you, but a period of getting to know the other person more, building a strong friendship. Couples are the best of friends. Or at least they ought to be the best of friends. This is why I think it is possible to marry a person within a year of knowing her. I believe that if both sides are open to each other, you can know the other person in a matter of months of going out. It's not just the "being physically close" to each other, but it's the talk that happens between the two.
Love cannot be a matter of sight.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
I hope that this MacJournal thing works!
I've been neglecting my blogspot. I thought that if I use MacJournal I'd be able to update my blogspot more often. So here it goes!!! :)
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Pop Culture
I'm not talking about Pop Culture as Pop culture. I just intended that to be my title for blogging about population issues. Some humdrum economists who don't know any science proclaim the world as overpopulated. NAAAAH. The problem is definitely not overpopulation but poverty and world hunger. For starters, overpopulation is not the cause of these two main problems. The real problem is that the world's resources are just simply concentrated on 1/5 of the world's population. 4/5 is suffering from the selfishness and greed of these 1/5. These people who comprise the 1/5 fraction are getting more than they need and they're throwing their excess to the dogs while the children in Somalia and the Philippines are getting undernourished and stagnating their brain development. We dream of a paradise on earth but without the poor people. "The poor will be with you forever" as what the great historical figure said (who? who else!) "Eradicate the poor!" they scream. "Give them contraception. Legalize abortion in their countries. Inject abortifacient chemicals into their anti-tetanus shots so they stop populating the world and get half of our riches!" The real problem: MISALLOCATION OF RESOURCES. They blame the poor for not trying hard to get good education and be good businessmen like them. First of all, how can these poor people access good education when they do not have the money? Only people with money get good education because it takes money to get it. These poor people have brains, too, capable of being formed into another Bill Gates brain perhaps if this little child were only given the chance. Give scholarships. Create good schools that thrive on endowment so that poor people don't need to pay sky-rocketing tuition fees to get good education. Praise Centex!
As for us who perhaps do form part of the lowest 1/5 of the population, how can we help? We can convince those in the upper 1/5 to GIVE part of their millions and sacrifice a diamond studded bracelet to build houses for the children of Somalia. Take action!
As for us who perhaps do form part of the lowest 1/5 of the population, how can we help? We can convince those in the upper 1/5 to GIVE part of their millions and sacrifice a diamond studded bracelet to build houses for the children of Somalia. Take action!
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
More on Feminists
Reading up on feminism makes me see all the more how absurd this ideology is. It doesn't have any basis on the Bible and it instead destroys the real meaning of what is contained in it to suit the feminist's way of thinking. It is really just a distorted interpretation of Bible since they try to prove that their ideas are actually supported by the Bible. After reading about them, I also slowly get the impression that they actually try to destroy the whole idea of Christianity. It diverts the attention of the people from Jesus Christ who lived as a man in the world and moves toward a feminine god... an idolatrous kind of god defined and sculpted by the feminists. These people also say rhetorics on the "backwardness" of the Church, playing on the ignorance of the greater moajority of Catholics and Christians alike. The Church is dynamic, as seen in the encyclicals constantly being written addressing current needs of the faithful. It cannot be said that it is backward. The feminist also accuse the Church of being stuck with tradition. Anyone here who dare change a 2000-year-old tradition? The feminists are actually the ones who are backward in thinking trying to revive an idea that has been proven wrong. The truth is indestructible. Wrong theories do not stay on long unless supported by human will power. The Church is supported by a Divine will that does not change because it is the most perfect of all and will never change its mind. Anyone who still think "backwardly" and embrace the feminist teachings, let her be open to the TRUTH that is not dependent on man's decisions to make it true. The TRUTH SHALL MAKE US FREE.
Saturday, August 21, 2004
OVERPOPULATION
I just attended a talk late this afternoon given by Mr. Manny Arejola, former Director of the Population Committee in the 1970s.. Not sure about the exact date though. He gave a very interesting eyeopener for all of us who were present on the politics behind any "decrease population"-related bills. Let me just give you some highlights his talk. (These information are based on Philippine experience.)
1. The National Statistics Office of the Philippines post that there are 84 Million Filipinos. This includes filipinos living in the Philippines, outside it (which amounts to 7.2 Million all over the world), and IMAGINARY filipinos. The latter were "born" thru the "conception" of some town mayors who "doctor" their population count to increase their "PORK BARREL" or government budget for the town.
2. In reality, if Filipinos were to gather in one place and to be counted exactly, there are only about 62 Million.
3. Population growth rate, the basis of the World Bank and the UN to proclaim that there is a "population explosion", is not exact enough. The PGR includes Filipinos who are outside the country. A better gauge for population growth is the TOTAL FERTILITY RATE (TFR). The TFR measures the number of children per woman. Naturally, only women are capable of giving births. The supposed proposed 2-Child Policy, pushed by Mr. Lagman and cohorts, actually push for a 2% TFR rate (though the bill uses the PGR). The CIA World factbook publishes that the Philippines has a 3.2% TFR rate. This means, an average of 3 children per woman. The Philippines does not need anymore 2-Child policy for this matter if the TFR already is approaching the ideal 2% which they propose.
4. Countries who have promoted population control are definitely very developed countries, but they are slowly becoming extinct. These are Singapore, Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, and others. Their TFR rate is already below the ideal replacement rate of 2%. Soon, there will be no more Irish, Singaporean, Spanish, and perhaps even Americans and British in this world! Now, don't we want that to happen? And only Filipinos will survive and rule the whole world!
5. The US, in 1974, wrote the National Security Study Memorandum 200, crafted by Henry Kissinger. It says, "The President has directed a study of the impact of world population growth on U.S. security and overseas interests." How selfish sounding, huh? At the end, it rectifies though saying that it's really a sincere concern for humanity. Part of this study is America's conditions for funding in the Philippines:
a. Restructure the family - postpone or avoid marriage, and alter image of the ideal family.
b. compulsory (sex) education of all children ages 5 and above.
c. Increase percentage of homosexual unions
6. Manny Arejola also tackeld the issue of contraception since the bill will eventually lead to this. There are no contraceptive pills in the Philippines. There are only abortifacients. And these have grave side-effects on the woman: nausea, itching, vomiting, constant headaches, and deformed children. Oh, by the way, these also tend to increase the estrogen level in the woman so if she ever does give birth, there is a HIGH tendency for a homosexual man. Go figure.
7. There are scientific studies that show a homosexual has a mother who took a contraceptive pill. Most likely.
8. The bill, the media and what-have-you try to convince the population that you are poor because you have a lot of children. WRONG! FALLACIOUS! I know many rich families who have 8 and 12 children. They are rich. There is no logic in this. They try to convince us that having children is a burden. That children means parents have to work really hard so they earn more for the education of their children... how not comfortable for the parents... tsk tsk tsk. Children, what do you think? Are your parents start to think that you are a burden?
9. There is a lot of PROPAGANDA on the population rate, but no propaganda on mortality rate and migration rate. No one tells us, "Hey, there are a lot of people dying, have more children." Or, "Hey, many people are migrating, have more children." There is a focus only on the population increase.
10. Population and poverty are two independent issues which have no correlation whatsoever.
11. The objective of the bill: To improve quality of life of the Filipino family." I wonder how the government will try to quantify quality...
1. The National Statistics Office of the Philippines post that there are 84 Million Filipinos. This includes filipinos living in the Philippines, outside it (which amounts to 7.2 Million all over the world), and IMAGINARY filipinos. The latter were "born" thru the "conception" of some town mayors who "doctor" their population count to increase their "PORK BARREL" or government budget for the town.
2. In reality, if Filipinos were to gather in one place and to be counted exactly, there are only about 62 Million.
3. Population growth rate, the basis of the World Bank and the UN to proclaim that there is a "population explosion", is not exact enough. The PGR includes Filipinos who are outside the country. A better gauge for population growth is the TOTAL FERTILITY RATE (TFR). The TFR measures the number of children per woman. Naturally, only women are capable of giving births. The supposed proposed 2-Child Policy, pushed by Mr. Lagman and cohorts, actually push for a 2% TFR rate (though the bill uses the PGR). The CIA World factbook publishes that the Philippines has a 3.2% TFR rate. This means, an average of 3 children per woman. The Philippines does not need anymore 2-Child policy for this matter if the TFR already is approaching the ideal 2% which they propose.
4. Countries who have promoted population control are definitely very developed countries, but they are slowly becoming extinct. These are Singapore, Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, and others. Their TFR rate is already below the ideal replacement rate of 2%. Soon, there will be no more Irish, Singaporean, Spanish, and perhaps even Americans and British in this world! Now, don't we want that to happen? And only Filipinos will survive and rule the whole world!
5. The US, in 1974, wrote the National Security Study Memorandum 200, crafted by Henry Kissinger. It says, "The President has directed a study of the impact of world population growth on U.S. security and overseas interests." How selfish sounding, huh? At the end, it rectifies though saying that it's really a sincere concern for humanity. Part of this study is America's conditions for funding in the Philippines:
a. Restructure the family - postpone or avoid marriage, and alter image of the ideal family.
b. compulsory (sex) education of all children ages 5 and above.
c. Increase percentage of homosexual unions
6. Manny Arejola also tackeld the issue of contraception since the bill will eventually lead to this. There are no contraceptive pills in the Philippines. There are only abortifacients. And these have grave side-effects on the woman: nausea, itching, vomiting, constant headaches, and deformed children. Oh, by the way, these also tend to increase the estrogen level in the woman so if she ever does give birth, there is a HIGH tendency for a homosexual man. Go figure.
7. There are scientific studies that show a homosexual has a mother who took a contraceptive pill. Most likely.
8. The bill, the media and what-have-you try to convince the population that you are poor because you have a lot of children. WRONG! FALLACIOUS! I know many rich families who have 8 and 12 children. They are rich. There is no logic in this. They try to convince us that having children is a burden. That children means parents have to work really hard so they earn more for the education of their children... how not comfortable for the parents... tsk tsk tsk. Children, what do you think? Are your parents start to think that you are a burden?
9. There is a lot of PROPAGANDA on the population rate, but no propaganda on mortality rate and migration rate. No one tells us, "Hey, there are a lot of people dying, have more children." Or, "Hey, many people are migrating, have more children." There is a focus only on the population increase.
10. Population and poverty are two independent issues which have no correlation whatsoever.
11. The objective of the bill: To improve quality of life of the Filipino family." I wonder how the government will try to quantify quality...
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
My correspondence with a Feminist
The following is a correspondence between a Feminist and me:
Thanks for the feedback. I think my more than than 30 units of theology, my readings on feminism and my immersion in women's issues can safely guide me in interpreting Card. Ratizinger's letter. I think women have the right to answer BACK. I sure respect your views.- CPDoyo
I wrote:
Dear Ms. Doyo,
Hi! I just want to react on your article last Thursday in the Inquirer. But please consider this email as my personal correspondence with you.
I'm not a theologian, nor a scholar on feminism, but as an humanist myself, but I believe that there is nothing wrong with the document the Cardinal wrote on man and woman. The document is directed to Catholic bishops, and to be interpreted by them for their faithful. As a Catholic, reading a document addressed to Bishops (vis a vis an ecyclical addressed to all Catholics) and interpreting it based on the little theology and doctrine we know about our Catholic faith is, in my opinion, unfair. We (including myself) have to read up on our Catechism and review our Theology if we want to understand and interpret the document that Cardinal Ratzinger wrote. Truly the Cardinal is not a woman to speak for women, but how many times do we women also try to talk for the men? Likewise, we accuse the Church of being patriarchal, and advise men to respect us. I think that one must not necessarily be a woman to speak for a woman.
(The document counters RADICAL feminism ideals.)
Truly, the present Pope who has approved of the document is a humanist (the letter in fact claims in the first lines that the Church is a humanist) and so should we consider him always, giving the letter the benefit of the doubt that it is sincerely humanistic. How do we do this? By reading up. By researching on other articles related to the issue before we allow our emotions to overtake our reasoning.
Here are some articles i suggest we, good Catholic women, should read up on and their links (by the way, these are easy and free ways on "eavesdropping" on the Vatican):
1. Mulieris Dignitatem - http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_15081988_mulieris-dignitatem_en.html
2. The Authority of Women by Monica Miller - Here's a good Catholic woman speaking on Feminism - http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0004.html
3. Here's an article on evidences of women's superiority from a Marxist perspective - http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/feminism/fe0003.html
4. Another article by Monica Miller on the false premises of feminists on a patriarchal Church - http://www.ewtn.com/library/ISSUES/ADAMEVE.TXT
More links on this page to help us understand our Faith's stand on feminism: http://www.catholic-pages.com/dir/feminism.asp
I do understand, however, that it can be misleading when the Cardinal wrote that "[feminism] strengthens the idea that liberation of women enatils criticism of Sacred Scripture." Then again, we have to understand that there is a Catholic view of feminism which the Church approves. But we also have to be aware that there are radical views on women which are already "inhuman". I have a friend who went through a stage of being a feminist herself but confessed to me that being bombarded with all the feminist ideals, she realized their absurdity and have gone back to the faith. The human mind knows on its own how to discern what is reasonable and not. Perhaps, we just have to read up on the feminist philosophies at the same time on what our Catholic faith teaches on the dignity of women before we judge which one is right.
The Pope is a "synthesizing" Pope. He knows how to embrace all sorts of philosophies, but only those that are good in them. The Pope was able to find what is good in Kant's philosophy and even quotes him. He is capable of drawing out what is right from what apparently may be wrong. Let us learn from the authentic OPENNESS in which the Pope exemplifies for us. We have to be more open to the Catholic Church rather than seeing her as our lifetime antagonist.
God bless us all.
Sincerely,
Tranquillity
Thanks for the feedback. I think my more than than 30 units of theology, my readings on feminism and my immersion in women's issues can safely guide me in interpreting Card. Ratizinger's letter. I think women have the right to answer BACK. I sure respect your views.- CPDoyo
I wrote:
Dear Ms. Doyo,
Hi! I just want to react on your article last Thursday in the Inquirer. But please consider this email as my personal correspondence with you.
I'm not a theologian, nor a scholar on feminism, but as an humanist myself, but I believe that there is nothing wrong with the document the Cardinal wrote on man and woman. The document is directed to Catholic bishops, and to be interpreted by them for their faithful. As a Catholic, reading a document addressed to Bishops (vis a vis an ecyclical addressed to all Catholics) and interpreting it based on the little theology and doctrine we know about our Catholic faith is, in my opinion, unfair. We (including myself) have to read up on our Catechism and review our Theology if we want to understand and interpret the document that Cardinal Ratzinger wrote. Truly the Cardinal is not a woman to speak for women, but how many times do we women also try to talk for the men? Likewise, we accuse the Church of being patriarchal, and advise men to respect us. I think that one must not necessarily be a woman to speak for a woman.
(The document counters RADICAL feminism ideals.)
Truly, the present Pope who has approved of the document is a humanist (the letter in fact claims in the first lines that the Church is a humanist) and so should we consider him always, giving the letter the benefit of the doubt that it is sincerely humanistic. How do we do this? By reading up. By researching on other articles related to the issue before we allow our emotions to overtake our reasoning.
Here are some articles i suggest we, good Catholic women, should read up on and their links (by the way, these are easy and free ways on "eavesdropping" on the Vatican):
1. Mulieris Dignitatem - http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_15081988_mulieris-dignitatem_en.html
2. The Authority of Women by Monica Miller - Here's a good Catholic woman speaking on Feminism - http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0004.html
3. Here's an article on evidences of women's superiority from a Marxist perspective - http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/feminism/fe0003.html
4. Another article by Monica Miller on the false premises of feminists on a patriarchal Church - http://www.ewtn.com/library/ISSUES/ADAMEVE.TXT
More links on this page to help us understand our Faith's stand on feminism: http://www.catholic-pages.com/dir/feminism.asp
I do understand, however, that it can be misleading when the Cardinal wrote that "[feminism] strengthens the idea that liberation of women enatils criticism of Sacred Scripture." Then again, we have to understand that there is a Catholic view of feminism which the Church approves. But we also have to be aware that there are radical views on women which are already "inhuman". I have a friend who went through a stage of being a feminist herself but confessed to me that being bombarded with all the feminist ideals, she realized their absurdity and have gone back to the faith. The human mind knows on its own how to discern what is reasonable and not. Perhaps, we just have to read up on the feminist philosophies at the same time on what our Catholic faith teaches on the dignity of women before we judge which one is right.
The Pope is a "synthesizing" Pope. He knows how to embrace all sorts of philosophies, but only those that are good in them. The Pope was able to find what is good in Kant's philosophy and even quotes him. He is capable of drawing out what is right from what apparently may be wrong. Let us learn from the authentic OPENNESS in which the Pope exemplifies for us. We have to be more open to the Catholic Church rather than seeing her as our lifetime antagonist.
God bless us all.
Sincerely,
Tranquillity
Being Alone and Boyfriends
It's quite a boring weekend I should say. I'm not quite used to being at home on a Saturday, but I guess now I have to learn how to change my lifestyle. Why am I alone? Not that I don't have friends, but I think it's the kind of friends that I have. All of them are not really outgoing people because they are all workaholics! Not that I am not a workaholic and I only want to waste all of my time... A friend of mine commented to me that I better get a boyfriend soon so I can get a LIFE.
Oh well, as if that's easy to get one.
I believe that only 1% of the male (single, that is) population is husband quality. (MEN, comment please.) I am not the kind of woman who would grab the first man who says he likes me for the sake of having a boyfriend and not being alone. I think I'd rather be alone than with someone who embraces me like I was some trophy (or Helen of Troy) to show to the anonymous world. I'd rather be alone than with someone I have to act like his nanny. I may sound like I am a feminist but I'm not. I'm just trying to be a woman...of essence.
To look for or to wait for?
Should women look for their ideal men or wait for them? Quite a difficult question to answer but there is, nevertheless, an answer. Women, at least in my opinion, should wait... and look. We are women. We are not jungle animals who pounce on our prey. Traditionally, men are the ones who choose among the women. Can't force the men to like us because they don't have as much patience (ehem) and maturity (ehem) to be with us. Women have more patience for the men who may come to their lives. To look for them, we, women of character, should also learn how to look. We look for them by choosing the kind of crowd we hang around with. We have to learn also how to choose the place to spend our time.
Oh well, as if that's easy to get one.
I believe that only 1% of the male (single, that is) population is husband quality. (MEN, comment please.) I am not the kind of woman who would grab the first man who says he likes me for the sake of having a boyfriend and not being alone. I think I'd rather be alone than with someone who embraces me like I was some trophy (or Helen of Troy) to show to the anonymous world. I'd rather be alone than with someone I have to act like his nanny. I may sound like I am a feminist but I'm not. I'm just trying to be a woman...of essence.
To look for or to wait for?
Should women look for their ideal men or wait for them? Quite a difficult question to answer but there is, nevertheless, an answer. Women, at least in my opinion, should wait... and look. We are women. We are not jungle animals who pounce on our prey. Traditionally, men are the ones who choose among the women. Can't force the men to like us because they don't have as much patience (ehem) and maturity (ehem) to be with us. Women have more patience for the men who may come to their lives. To look for them, we, women of character, should also learn how to look. We look for them by choosing the kind of crowd we hang around with. We have to learn also how to choose the place to spend our time.
Friday, August 13, 2004
First Time Blogger
Today I start my blogging. Wasn't really attracted to blog all out my ideas, emotions, and what-have-I's but as days, weeks, months pass, I start feeling this urge to blog! There are things that you can't tell other people (though I can talk about it with God in my prayer) that you actually just want to tell it to yourself again so they make more sense. Anyway, God sees and hears everything. I'll just use technology to help me pray more I guess. Have a hard time talking to statues sometimes and my brain can be just too lazy to activate my imagination... not necessarily the same as creativity.
So I think that blogging will keep the grudge out of myself and into my blogspot. :)
I hope this works.
So I think that blogging will keep the grudge out of myself and into my blogspot. :)
I hope this works.
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