United in Christ

Over the past few weeks since February, our web was busy preparing for its annual Holy Week special The Seven Last Words. Priests, nuns, members of religious congregations were invited to write the reflections this year because it's the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons. Members were tapped to do this or that task. As the weeks gradually led to Holy Week, preparations were taking shape and people who knew about it looked forward when it becomes 'live'.

Last week saw us all focused on a lot of religious activities. For our web, it was this time of year again to hold The Seven Last Words. It is heartwarming to see people coming together, contributing in their own special way to make our online devotion a success. Way back in 2005, when this devotion begun in our web, we started with our own members. Over the years, more people from outside have been involved. This, in spite of our distances.

What brought us all together? Perhaps it is our Lenten panata. Or our desire to share the Gospel with others. It could be our way to be more 'online' during Holy Week, For me, what brought us together is actually a 'Who'. It is Christ. As St Paul writes: "But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ" (Eph 2:13).

As we celebrate the great feast of Easter, join us in offering praise to our Risen Lord for making all these happen, for uniting us all. Together, let us bear in mind how Jesus joined us together this Holy Week. Together, let us bring further His Good News to all, Holy Week or not.

Thank you for your unrelenting support. God bless you all.

Happy Easter!

Expatriates

Having a community of expatriates has many advantages. On top of the list is having a support system. It's no joke living in another country by yourself. Belonging to a group of fellow Pinoys would make you feel that someone's on your side.

There are, however, some challenges that Filipino associations abroad face. 

First and foremost, personal commitments such as family or work.  It is unfortunate that there are less opportunities in our country which makes a huge number of our countrymen migrate to greener pastures. The demands of family life are intertwined with the demands of our job. Expatriates went abroad because they want to provide a better life and future for their family.  This is quite understandable. Family comes first, the rest are second. If one member has to attend to their family's needs and is unable to support a community event, surely someone (from the same community) will be able to pitch in. Such acts of kindness would help a community to thrive.

There are other challenges which have to be avoided at all costs. Remember the seven deadly sins (see http://pbsa3.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/overtaken.html)? 

Take pride for example. Imagine if community members are paimportante (self-important), if gatherings become avenues to show off (from clothes to gadgets to cars), if people have a sense of entitlement (e.g. "I am your leader, you must follow my orders.", "I have been a member of this group for the past so and so years so I deserve to be given an award."), how can the community thrive?

Or how about envy? A kababayan had a great achievement and his colleagues alleged he cheated. An expatriate had a job promotion and his kababayans pull him down. A member was appointed to a committee and some label him as "the favorite". You may have heard about stories of Pinoys being deported because they don't have the necessary papers. Unfortunately, the people who often tip them off to the authorities are fellow Pinoys.


I remember a few months ago how the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO), a non-profit organization focused on promoting Filipino culture through orchestral music was besmirched, not by another nationality, but (of all people) a Filipino (read: https://memebuster.net/maharlika-lied-about-funds-raised-by-faso/).


And here's what FASO has to say: http://fasofoundation.org/statement-of-the-filipino-american-symphony-orchestra-faso/


I am not writing this because Bob Shroder, FASO's Musical Director and Conductor, is my first cousin, but because of the evil done against the group out of envy. If it's not envy, I don't know what else to describe it.  If envy abounds, how can the community survive?

And sloth? There are members who will do their best for the good of the community. There are others who won't bother to lend a helping hand at all. Strangely, you'll see some of these when it comes to parties. Surprisingly, these are the members who often moan. If sloth is in the air, how can the community pull through?

St Pio of Pietrelcina once said "The Rosary is the weapon for these times". Against pride, we are offered Christ and Our Lady's humility. Against envy, charity. Against sloth, zeal for souls. If our communities are in peril of being affected or are affected by any of these deadly sins, now is the time to find those beads hanging around one's statues, gathering dust through the years. Now is the time to reflect on the Rosary's mysteries which contain "...everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honor, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise." (Phil 4:8). 

Now is the time to pray the Rosary!

A Father Who Never Takes Us For Granted

(This was a reflection I gave during the Opening Rosary of the Filipino Rosary Crusade-Nottingham North yesterday.  During our Rosary this month, we will be reflecting/sharing on the 12 articles of Faith contained in the Apostles' Creed.)

"I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth."

There is a famous Filipino saying that goes like this "Ang anak matitiis ang magulang, pero ang magulang di matitiis ang anak." (Children may take their parents for granted, but parents will not take their children for granted.)  I'm sure this saying also applies to God.

When we have a look at the various stories in the Bible, we could see how God reaches out to us.  From Adam and Eve to the patriarchs, judges, prophets, kings, and finally through Jesus Christ His only Son.  In Jesus, God is presented as our Father. For the Jews this was a shock for they couldn't even say the word "God" out of reverence for the Almighty.

Jesus taught a lot about God the Father who is loving and merciful.  This was best illustrated by the famous Parable of the Prodigal Son.

The challenge for us is: Huwag nating tiiisin o tikisin ang Diyos Ama. (Let's not ignore or provoke God our Father.)  God wants to reach out to us and yet, we ignore Him or worse provoke Him.  He calls us to change and yet we continue to do things that are not pleasing to Him.

And because all of us call God as Father, we are all siblings.  And so, Huwag nating tiisin o tikisin ang ating kapwa (Let's not ignore or provoke our neighbor).  If we could help, then let's do so. If people are already down, let's not put make things more difficult for them. If they are angry, let's not fuel their anger further.

Finally, because we believe in God our Father as the creator of heaven and earth, Huwag nating tiisin o tikisin ang Kanyang mga nilikha (Let's not ignore or provoke His creation).  How do we care about our environment nowadays? Do we reuse and recycle? Do we switch off the light when not needed? These may sound simple things, but these are part of our faith.

If we regard God as our Father, if we regard Him as the source of life of all creation then we'll have a deeper faith in Him.  A deeper faith will prod us to hope that we'll soon be united with Him in heaven. And because He has shown us His love, we will also be able to love Him in return.

"If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts" (Psalm 95).

The Village Auntie

It was a busy 4th of July in Cargohaus many years ago.  Apart from that, it was quite humid that one wanted to dash back to the air conditioned office. As I entered, I saw a number of people inside the Accounting Department's office.  There were 2-3 1/2 gallons of ice cream and a box or two of ice cream cones on one table. One lady was inviting people to have a bite.  Asked what was the occasion, she said "It's Cargohaus Friendship Day!" (4th of July has been known in the Philippines as Philippine American Friendship Day since the time of President Diosdado Macapagal). That lady was Ms. Lucita Lina, one of our company consultants.

Ms. Lina, a.k.a. Tita Luz, worked as a Chemist at the Bureau of Soils until her retirement in the late 90s.  When she retired, her nephew Alberto Lina (Chairman of the Lina Group of Companies) was looking for a chemist who will take charge of the proper storage and disposal of chemicals and other similar materials (classified as 'dangerous goods' or DG) stored in Cargaohaus, a custom-bonded warehouse he owns. Tita Luz didn't look far - she called me (We both lived in Barangay 170 - she in Fidel Street, me in T. Earnshaw Street). Having just graduated from college, the prospect of a job was a blessing I have been praying for. I expressed interest in her proposal. In a few weeks, I was called for an interview and test.  Later on, I got the job and started to hit the ground running. 

I worked with Tita Luz and together we made reports and recommendations to the management on how we could improve our service to clients.  We also coordinated with the Operations Team on the proper handling of cargoes -  the company was receiving complaints and claims from some disgruntled customers that time - and the Bureau of Customs on the disposal of cargoes particularly those that have already expired.

Having been familiar with words such as density, volume, molarity, etc. we both got used to terms such as Airway Bill and Master Number - two important references used to identify cargoes.

Although, she is related to the company's owner, she remained friendly, kwela, and down-to-earth (work colleagues as well as those in the Bureau of Customs whose office are in the same building as ours would attest to these) and even forbade those who call her 'Tita' (including her relatives) not to greet her with a kiss when they see her in the office. 

One time, while sat in the office, a colleague approached her and asked if she was a customer. With a smile on her face, she said "I'm Luz Lina, Cargohaus Consultant." That colleague was embarrassed and apologized. Later on, she and Tita Luz got along well.

Tita Luz used to drive a red Toyota Corolla (a 70s or 80s model? My brother Gio used to tell me how durable this model was. Indeed, it was a good car!) and when she goes to and from the office (located near the NAIA in Paranaque), she would offer me or other people a lift.  One evening, I suggested that she drives through Pier and then to Capulong Street (Velasquez, Tondo) as it was much easier then to use that route going home.  After  her experience there, she told me that she preferred to drive through Ongpin (Binondo) instead.  It was only during my latest visit home that I realized how horrible it is to drive through Pier from the airport. Apart from poorly-lit roads, the trucks and jeepneys overlord each other to the point of using the lanes from the opposite side of the road!  It took us hours before reaching Gagalangin!

I enjoyed working in that company - meeting a lot of people, being involved with what we called as  the "Operations Team" which meet every Tuesday morning over breakfast, communicating with a wide range of people.  I must say that the skills, knowledge, andexperience I gained there were transferrable in my other jobs.  

When I left Cargohaus, I felt ashamed and sorry for Tita Luz.  For her part, she understood my reasons and we continued to get in touch through our rosary devotion in the barangay. She is currently the President of the Queen of Families Rosary Group in our village, a post she has held since 2003.  In my last 2 visits home, she hosted a party for me and my family. 

A year or so before I migrated to the UK we had a rosary recitation in one home.  Part of our devotion was the reading of the Gospel for that Sunday and a sharing of reflection from devotees.  The Beatitudes was the Gospel that was read that evening and the topic for reflection was "How fulfilled are you?".  As a number of devotees were parents, they shared how blessed they were to have children who are now professionals, etc.  When it was Tita Luz's turn to have the floor, she said that even if she didn't marry and have kids, she sees herself as someone fulfilled because of the people she cared for as though they were her own children.  True, people in the barangay especially those affiliated with the rosary group, regard her as a spiritual mother, an effective leader, a friend. She is the Village Auntie!

I am blessed to be one of her spiritual kids.

Thank you, Tita Luz for your friendship and support, for your wisdom and love, for your motherly care and service to the community.  May the good Lord, the Great Chemist, bless you more and more!

Belated happy 83rd birthday! We love you!

Karakol Rain or Shine

Last weekend was Kawit, Cavite's town fiesta in honor of her patroness, St Mary Magdalene.  Traditionally, the karakol (from the Spanish word caracol because of the snail-paced procession with devotees dancing through the streets) was held on Saturday while other events such as Masses, Baptisms, Confirmation, Grand Procession, and Castillo (fireworks display) were held on Sunday. When I was a little boy, I enjoyed going to the karakol even though I couldn't dance gracefully.  The karakol starts off late morning going through a number of barangays in the town. It finishes off in the early evening.

Eldin, my first cousin who is based in Kawit, told me that the karakol went well this year in spite of the high tide (and the rain).  Since the late 90s, Kawit has been inundated with water from the sea even if the sun is at its peak, thanks to some irresponsible people who wanted to make profit by converting their fishpens into parcels of land or the rubbish that has been dumped into the river.  The last Maytinis I attended in 2010 was affected by this which was why a different route was used for the procession. Right after the Midnight Mass, I was shocked to see the flood covering what we called as pangalawa't pangatlong kalye (Poblacion or Town Proper's second and third road). Years before that, my cousins and I found ourselves running to the driest alley just to escape trodding on murky waters.

I also saw on Facebook how joyous the devotees were during the karakol - the original image of St Mary Magdalene was placed in a bedecked andas and it wore a raincoat to protect it from the elements.  The band was playing, but its music seemed to have been buried by the laughter and merry-making of the people.

I tip my fiesta cap to the festival organizers and the devotees for showing such patience, determination, and creativity come hell or high water.  Kawit has been a parish for a number of centuries and it has survived the test of time.  Following the footsteps of Sta Nena (Mary Magdalene's monicker) who was known for her perseverance and determination in searching for the missing corpse of Jesus, Kawit's festivities such as the karakol, Maytinis, etc. have continued to be part of the community's life through the years.  (It's worth mentioning that Kawitenos in San Diego (SD), California have brought with them the traditions of their birthplace.  My mom was took some time off from New York to join other relatives and friends in SD for the Kawit fiesta complete with karakol and the like. The Maytinis is also being celebrated in SD.)   I am sure if Kawit survived in the previous centuries it will continue to do so - for as long as people value their cultural heritage. 

Others, especially  those in the metropolis, might argue that traditions would of course continue to flourish in Kawit (and other similar towns) because it's in the province (where natives would generally reside and where there is less migration).  True. Which is why I am encouraging communities to set up a Cultural Heritage Committee which will spearhead activities that aims at preserving and enriching events, customs and traditions, and protects treasures (e.g. buildings, statues, etc.).  Regardless if you are in Manila or in Kawit or any province, if this committee is set up (in a parish, for example) then we're pretty much sure that whatever our community's traditions and treasures are would be continuously looked after, showcased, and improved for the good of the next generation. If parents would leave a legacy for their children, how much more a community?

Like The Beads Of The Rosary

(I'd like to share with you the Closing Message I delivered during the Closing Event of our community's Rosary devotion here in Nottingham on 31st October)

October is almost over, yet our hearts are full of happiness because it was truly a month where we gathered together to pray. From Ate Precy and Jackie’s house, we brought Our Lady’s image to 14 other homes invoking Christ’s peace be on each of them and reflecting the mysteries of the Rosary.

From Bestwood Park to Bestwood; from Bestwood to Old Basford; and from Bestwood again to Daybrook, the homes visited seem to have been like scattered beads joined together like the beads of the Rosary singing “Ang puso ko’y nagpupuri sa Panginoon…” or saying “Hail Mary, full of grace…”

Indeed, this union of hearts and minds through Mary’s Rosary has inspired us to further strengthen and promote our devotion. This unity we have, brought by God’s Spirit, has made us look after each as brothers and sisters. God has touched us all to form a community!

Let us continue to live the message that our Rosary devotion has imparted to us even if it’s not October.

I personally would like to thank all our 15 families for their support in this annual celebration and would like to give them a small token of appreciation.

I’d like to thank too our other kababayans whose homes may not have been visited, but have still joined us in our devotion: Jona Estioso and Vangie Lagazo.

Finally, I’d like to recognize two members for their active participation in this year’s project: Jackie Rapada – “Perfect Attendance” and Jason Sulit – “Most Promising Youth Member”.

Many thanks everyone for taking part in our Closing Event especially to the Sulit Family for hosting tonight’s Rosary. I look forward to working with you all next year, God willing.