Mama Mary

One of the amazing things I have experienced having friends is being welcomed into their families as though I was one of them, and vice versa.  And being Filipinos, the terms of endearment we use at home applies elsewhere. Thus, we call our friends’ older siblings as Manong and Manang, or Kuya and Ate. As for their parents it’s Tito and Tita or sometimes, Daddy and Mommy, Papa and Mama, or Tatay and Nanay.

I don’t know about you, but it felt good to have that rapport (up to a certain degree) with friend’s families. I remember two friends, Art and Vlad Reyes (They’re not related!), whose moms we address as Nanay Espie and Nanay Remy respectively. Both have been warm and welcoming to me and other friends. I must say that I wouldn’t have known and understood more my friends had it not for their mothers.  

I have another friend whose mother loved her son through and through. A mom who helps me to know and understand more her son. A mom who provides that strong link between my friend and I. A mom who continues to accept, admonish, and love me in spite of the many times I have hurt my friend. This friend of mine is not just any ordinary friend. He is a friend, Teacher, Healer, Savior, Lord, and God rolled into one. He is Jesus. And His Mother is Mama Mary, "the kindest and most loving of all mothers". 

I often wonder how (and when) we Pinoy Catholics learned to address the Blessed Virgin as Mama Mary. While the English would address her as Our Lady and the Italians as Madonna, we have called her in an informal yet intimate way. We have called her as though she was family.

A few weeks ago, I had an interesting conversation with an expatriate. She and her family are active in their parish so I thought of inviting them to come along to our group's Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help in our parish. She politely declined and explained to me that she and her husband are on a spiritual journey. She admitted that she used to have a deeper relationship with Mary (deeper than her relationship with Jesus in the past) and used to pray the Rosary, but learned that she could directly pray to God and would like to focus on building a relationship with Jesus. She hopes that in God's time she will be enlightened. 

I felt sad when she told me her experience. What caused her to abandon her long-held Marian devotion? Did she feel that her deeper relationship with Mary hinders having a sound relationship with Jesus? I explained to her though that our group's focus is also on Jesus and that Mary, being His Mother, serves only as a way to Him, a companion in our spiritual journey and deeper relationship with the Lord. I closed our conversation by assuring her of my prayers.

Perhaps some of us may have had a similar experience. Regardless, I would like to offer three quotes for us to ponder: 

“Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.” (St Maximilian Kolbe)

“Let us not imagine that we obscure the glory of the Son by the great praise we lavish on the Mother; for the more she is honored, the greater is the glory of her Son. There can be no doubt that whatever we say in praise of the Mother gives equal praise to the Son.” (St Bernard of Clairvaux)

"A Christian without Our Lady is an orphan." (Pope Francis)

As we celebrate Mama Mary's birthday on September 8, let us ask for the grace to have a deeper relationship with her, our spiritual mother. Let us also ask for the grace to appreciate that we are part of a family - God's People, the Church - and actively contribute to its growth. With the many tribulations the Church, our country, the world have to face, we need her more than ever. Through Mama Mary, we will be able to reach "the goal we seek - Jesus, her Son” (St Louis Marie de Montfort).

Happy birthday, Mama Mary! Thank you for your love and guidance. Help us to always listen to Your Son and to love one another as He has commanded us. Continue to lead us to Him. We love you!

Les Mis

The first time I watched Les Miserables on TV ages ago, I dozed off, which annoyed my friend Vlad Reyes. The musical play was based on Victor Hugo's novel with the same title. Our very own Lea Salonga was on this show.  I woke up towards the end of the play.

In 2012, a movie based on the same novel was produced. I was looking forward to watch it but didn't have the time to do so...until it was shown in TV. "This time", I told myself, " I won't doze off!". And so, my family and I watched the movie together.

Jean Valjean, an ex-convict, couldn't start anew his life. No one welcomed him except the saintly Bishop Myriel. In spite of the kindness shown him, he stole the bishop's silver plates. Strangely, when he was caught and dragged back to the bishop, the prelate defended him saying that he (the bishop) actually gave those silver ware to Jean. He even offered the candlesticks and asked the soldiers to release Jean.  This gesture touched Jean that he changed his identity, owned a factory, and became a town mayor.

Everything seemed to go smoothly until he met his nemesis Javert as the town's new inspector. Javert was the same guy who made Jean's life difficult in prison. This became more complicated when Jean rescued Fantine from being arrested and, promised to look after the dying lady's daughter Cosette.  Jean fulfilled his promise, but not without the Thenadiers and Javert chasing him.  

Jean was not an evil person for there have been many episodes that he did good, particularly adopting Cosette as his own. Like most if not all of us, he was faced with trials that almost made him lose focus.

The story, for me, is a story of  mercy.  It began with the bishop who didn't give up on Jean. Jean in turn showed compassion - to Fantine who had fallen to prostitution so she could send money for her child, to Cosette who has lost her mother and was at the mercy of the evil Thenadiers, to Javert whom he set free when captured by the revolutionists, and to Marius whose life he saved from the hands of the soldiers.  Mercy was also shown to Jean by that man whom he saved from the heavy cart when this man offered him and Cosette a safe place in the convent. Indeed,  “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

I am touched with that scene on Jean's death. Below are some lyrics of that scene:

Fantine (as a ghost): 

Come with me

Where chains will never bind you

All your grief

At last, at last behind you.

Lord in Heaven,

Look down on him in mercy. 

Valjean: 

Forgive me all my trespasses

And take me to your glory. 

Fantine: 

Take my hand

And lead me to salvation.

Take my love,

For love is everlasting. 

Valjean, Fantine and Bishop Myriel (all ghosts):

And remember

The truth that once was spoken

To love another person

Is to see the face of God.

The movie is truly a wake-up call for us to realize how God is merciful and how He calls us to do the same. It's also a wake up call to the poverty and suffering around us and what we're doing with these evils. I think this is a good movie as our country celebrates the Year of the Poor this year and as we get ready for the Jubilee Year of Mercy come December 8.  This may sound as a rather late advertisement, but if you still haven't watched Les Mis, please do so. 

Vlad

Mike Flores, Richard Leyson, and I formed a triumvirate in the Lectors/Commentators Group in Gagalangin ages ago.  In one of our gatherings (or drinking sprees?), Pareng Richard would often mention Vladimir, his high school classmate and friend.  Mike and I would keep on asking him about this guy.  (Don't know why. Perhaps because of his uncommon name!) One day in early 1993, he brought us to Vlad's place along Juan Luna Street, a few houses away from the church.  On seeing me, he told me how often I would walk past their house. Indeed, I wouldn't miss his place as I have friends and acquaintances who live nearby.  

Summertime of the same year, Tanghalang Anluwage (TA) went for an outing in Batangas courtesy of our friend Fr Romy Antimano who was then a guest priest in the parish. The outing seemed oversubscribed that a few of us were unable to ride on the hired jeepney. Vlad and I and (I think) two more members have to commute. No idea where we're heading, but we carried on. Luckily, we made it!

When I assumed the Editorship of Ang Pahayagang Anluwage, there was a need for someone to look after the newsletter's funds.  I tapped Vlad who willingly accepted the role. It was a blessing that Vlad was appointed because as we were getting ready for our December issue, we received more advertisement sponsors than expected.

Vlad also had the skills in electronics and have often been in-charge of the lights and sounds aspect of any TA or parish sanctioned event such as the Easter Vigil Mass, the various awards ceremonies, etc.

But I think Vlad got a break when his artistic side came about.  The first breaks came about when he composed some songs for the "Pitong Hapis, Pitong Tuwa (Ang Dula ng Buhay ni San Jose)" in 1997 and 1998 and when he became Director of "Kasalan sa Likod ng Simbahan" (a play written by Bienvenido Noriega) in December 1997.  These were followed by other directing and acting roles in TA. I enjoyed working with him in most of these 'breaks', particularly when I wrote the script for Pitong Hapis and performed as Mang Ponso in Kasalan.

I vividly remember those times when he remarked how 'talkative' was St Joseph in Pitong Hapis when the he didn't utter a single word in the Bible.  (When I performed as St Joseph in the Maytinis celebration in the States, I also had a similar observation - St Joseph had more to sing in the script than the Virgin Mary!).  Looking back, those works of art deliberately embellished St Joseph's character to make up for the scarcity in Sacred Scriptures.

I could also recall how we have to rehearse the script in one corner of the Rotonda or internalize how it is to be an old man carrying his beloved (an old woman) as they went up the stage.

As director, and later as President of the group, Vlad treated us as adults. His common expression was "Matatanda na kayo, hindi na ninyo kailangang turuan" (or words to that effect). Although there is that degree of trust that he gave us, he didn't spare us some tongue-lashing when we made one stinking performance in Kasalan. 

Vlad later branched out of Gagalangin by serving as a lector/commentator at the Manila Cathedral since 2002.  He would later become elected as coordinator for the group. I feel proud that he has remained in the ministry in my beloved church in spite us  - Richard, Art Reyes, Al Reyes, and I - going abroad after serving there.

Above all the titles, positions, and responsibilities he held, Vlad is my friend. Through the years we have been in Anluwage, that friendship developed. We shared some similarities such as being both Taurus and avid listeners of classical music. We were also both devotees of Our Lady of the Rosary of La Naval de Manila. I am thankful that he keeps me updated with videos and photos taken during the annual fiesta on the second of October. I feel as though I was in Santo Domingo Church all along!

As a friend, Vlad  is someone I could open up to; someone who would offer me a bike ride when I got stuck somewhere in the metropolis; someone I could barge into even in the dead of the night; someone who would tell me if I am right, wrong, or stupid without any qualms. 

Vlad, I am blessed to have you as my friend. I wish you all the best as you turn 40. It's not that scary, believe me! You just have to look after yourself: choose to be happy, pray more, expect less, be grateful, enjoy life!  Keep up the good work! God bless you!