Intertwined Lives

We were about to say the Rosary one weekend, when Chiara asked her Mom if she could use the Rosary beads. Nidz obliged and gave her the beads - the same ones which were given her by a Poor Clare nun years ago.  As I gaze at how Nidz taught Chiara how to use the beads, I suddenly recalled my own experience of saying this beautiful prayer with my own mother.

The earliest I could remember was when I was in my second grade. She would ask me to recite with her the Rosary in front of a statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the living room of our house. If I'm not mistaken it was October.  I would begrudgingly kneel next to her and recite the prayers like a robot or worse, like a broken record.  Getting bored , I would mischievously move away from her until I could make my way to the staircase nearby. Almost. Until I got caught by her slipper flying in my direction!

I think I didn't try to escape the next time around.  

Mama has always been a devotee of the Rosary. During our student days, as we kids start to wake up and proceed to our morning rituals, the radio is already tuned in to the Rosary recitation.  In the mid-90s, out of the blue, Mama was tapped by a former neighbor to succeed her in looking after the Block Rosary Group in our barangay.  Little did we know that this would open for both of us an opportunity to serve the community through the Rosary.  In October 1997, just a few months since being elected a barangay councilor, I led our barangay in reciting the Rosary in selected homes every evening. I coordinated this annual event for a few years. Up to this day, this devotion is still being observed.

Looking back, I realize that the last years I spent at home before migrating to the UK were devoted to the Rosary. Mama was there all along to support me. There were no flying slippers during those times, I promise you, but there were moments when she would gently call my attention to the mistakes I have done and encouraged me to correct these straightaway. Apart from that, I have often sought her counsel.

Thank you, Mama for sharing with me the Rosary.  Our lives have been intertwined by this beautiful devotion.  A devotion that has seen us through the many joyful, luminous, sorrowful, and glorious chapters in our family. Indeed, through the Rosary we are always looked after by the Virgin Mary. There is no escape from her maternal gaze and protection.

As you celebrate your special day, may you be continuously blessed by our good Lord with long life, good health, and sound wisdom. Keep up this good devotion, entrusting yourself to the Blessed Mother's reliable care and constant intercession. 

Happy 60th birthday, 'ma!  Hope you have a wonderful time. We love you!

Mama's Best Lesson

During our Rosary devotion a few nights ago, the topic for our sharing was on the best lesson in life taught to us by our mothers.  This topic was inspired by the role that Mary played as Mother of Jesus, who became Man to be our Saviour.

For me, the best lesson I learned from my mother is to practice humility.  As a kid, she would always remind me to refrain from being mapagmalaki  (haughty).  As concrete examples of humility, she exhorted me to acknowledge a debt of gratitude to those who have helped me, to treat others, regardless of their shortcomings, with diplomasya (respect), to be open to correction (and other lessons imparted by experience and people), and to be thankful for whatever God has given me.

There were instances that I took humility to the extreme (i.e. self-pity) and she cautioned me not to go that way otherwise it would be impossible for me to overcome any trials that is thrown my way.

This Year of Faith, we are called to revisit and rekindle on what we believe in.  It is good to take that moment to have another look at the tenets of our faith.  Why do we believe in one God? Is Jesus really present in the form of bread and wine at the words of Consecration?  How come Mary was immaculately conceived in her mother's womb? Why confess your sins to a priest who is also human like us? Is there life after death? These and many questions on our faith abound.  And yet, we have faith.  I'm sure that faith is sustained by humility.  For how can we adhere to these truths if we are full of ourselves, if we are not open, if we are proud? Indeed, as St Augustine once said "Humility must accompany all our actions, must be with us everywhere; for as soon as we glory in our good works they are of no further value to our advancement in virtue". 

Ma, thank you for teaching me the virtue of humility.  I must admit that there are still moments when it's much easier for me to be proud than to be humble. And yet, I've seen the sad and bad consequences of my mistakes as well as the good fruits of being down to earth.  I will keep on doing as you have taught me so that I would be worthy of God's favour. 

Happy Birthday, 'ma! May Jesus, who is meek and humble of heart, grant you a long, healthy, and holy life. May Mama Mary continue to watch over you so you may reflect her motherly love to us, your children and grandchildren. 

Love, kisses, and prayers from your first baby :)

The Racist That I Was

At the corner of Cavite and S del Rosario Streets in Gagalangin, Tondo, Manila, stands a sari-sari store owned by a Chinese family. This store is very near to what used to be our house. One morning, during the early 80s, the elder China man was outside the store and was talking in his native tongue. He sounded angry, but to my childish mind then, I thought this would be a time to make fun of him. So I yelled something that sounded-Chinese-but-it's-not which made him really unhappy. Many buyers saw what I did.

Manong Alvin, an older cousin, was with me then. Upon returning home, he told my father about it. My father sternly instructed me to go back to the store and apologise to the China man. Realising my lack of respect, I approached the man and said "Pasensya." He just tapped me at the back.

Another story which might have happened earlier was when our family went to Luneta for a night out. One of our houseboys told me that there was a Black man in the park. When the Black man walked past us, I shouted "Negro!". As expected, I got a reprimand from my old man.

These are just few stories of how I have insulted people from other race. In the West, you would have already been labeled as a 'racist'. In countries like the UK and the USA, a mixed culture society is not unusual. And because it's a diverse environment, a sense of co-existence tempered with respect is highly called for.

This was realized by St Martin de Porres, who in his lifetime, treated people fairly regardless of their status, complexion, etc. It has been said that Martin and his sister were disowned by their Spanish father because of the color of their skin - their mother had a black complexion.

Until now, racism and discrimination have been challenging our societies and have often been perceived as hindrance to progress. As we honor St Martin this 3rd of November, let it be our goal to treat others with love and respect regardless of our race, sexual orientation, or belief.

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I couldn't forget this saint of charity because the award I received during my Elementary graduation in Letran was named "De Porres Award". There have been stories that he was seen in Manila (through bilocation) though he never left his convent in Lima, Peru.

I pray to him every Tuesday asking for health of mind and body as well as the courage to rise up from my wrong notion of other people.

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Congratulations to my beloved mother, the Honorable Aida Samaniego-Albano, for being elected as Kagawad in the recent Barangay elections.

Birthday blessings to Gabby Albano Axibal, my niece and god daughter, on the 5th and to Nicola, my sister, on the 8th.