New Hands

Think of a challenging time in your life. You felt both helpless and hopeless, right? Suddenly your mother sees you and offers her hands for you to hold on to. How did it feel to hold on to your mother’s hands? It felt good, isn’t it? You feel consoled. You feel ready to face your challenge because you know that your mom is there for you.

Now look at the beautiful picture of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Look at how she offers her hands for the Child Jesus to hold on to. Strong was Mary's influence on Jesus that during His 3-year public ministry, His hands brought healing and forgiveness to all. 

It's been said that the hands are the most active and restless parts of our body. From the time we wake up till we go to bed, our pair of hands have been busy with a lot of things. We use our hands to work, to nurture our family, to tend to the needy, to communicate, and so on and so forth.

Unfortunately, there have been moments when these same hands have inflicted pain on others. We have used our hands to unjustly accuse others, to spread lies against them, to disrespect them, to point people away from the truth. 

This Lenten season, let's thank God for the gift of our mothers in whose hands we have found peace, strength, and hope. Let's thank God for the gift of our hands and ask Him to forgive us for those times when our hands caused suffering instead of blessing to others. Finally, let's ask for the grace to be the new hands of Jesus for a world in dire need of His love.

Our Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for us.

Shining Within Us

Lord Jesus, your light is shining within us,
Let not my doubts and darkness speak to me.
Lord Jesus, your light is shining within in us.
Let my heart always welcome your love.

I have accidentally omitted this beautiful song in my recent article on the Taize prayer service which was held in our parish.  With a slow and gentle tempo, this song allows us anyone who sings it to meditate, to let one's heart speak to the Lord.

 

Lord Jesus, your light is shining within us,
Let not my doubts and darkness speak to me.
Lord Jesus, your light is shining within in us.
Let my heart always welcome your love.

I think of this song as I recall that horrible mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. In an interview, the father of the gunman had one question to his son: Why? Indeed, most if not all of us affected by this incident would echo the same question. Is it pure hatred on the LGBT (Lesbian, gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community? If it is, would killing 49 people and wounding another 50 be justifiable?

 

Lord Jesus, your light is shining within us,
Let not my doubts and darkness speak to me.
Lord Jesus, your light is shining within in us.
Let my heart always welcome your love.

My thoughts too go to that bishop in Shanghai, China, Thaddeus Ma Daqin who recently made an about face when he publicly recanted his decision to bolt the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA). CCPA is sanctioned by the state to control the life of the Catholic Church in China since the 1950s. Control includes ordaining their own bishops without the blessing from Vatican. When Daqin was ordained, he publicly dissociated himself with CCPA. Put under house arrest, he did not give into pressure to recant and served as a model to Catholics who secretly maintained their loyalty to Rome. Until last June 12. What made him change his mind?

 

Lord Jesus, your light is shining within us,
Let not my doubts and darkness speak to me.
Lord Jesus, your light is shining within in us.
Let my heart always welcome your love.

While my heart has high hopes for the President-elect in my land of birth, I felt uneasy with how he has already alienated a host of people: the UN, the Catholic Church (albeit I would imagine that his ire is more focused on the leaders of the Church), the Martial Law victims, women, the media, and the Vice President-elect (I could understand why he is not going to appoint her to his Cabinet, but having a separate inauguration is beyond me!). He seems hell-bent to have the former dictator buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.  Why? To console the Marcoses at the expense of the many who suffered under the dictatorship? Elections are political exercises. They divide people. Some are in this camp, while another is on that camp, etc. But now that they're over, shouldn't Duterte, as paterfamilias, reach out to everyone (regardless if they voted for him or not) instead of catering only to the needs of his friends and others close to him?

 

Lord Jesus, your light is shining within us,Let not my doubts and darkness speak to me.
Lord Jesus, your light is shining within in us.
Let my heart always welcome your love.

In these moments of darkness and doubt, in these times when we would often ask "Why?", let us take courage in Jesus' light "shining within us". Let us also pray that this same light will shine on the victims of the Orlando shooting, on Omar Mateen (RIP) and others who have wrong views on other people, on Thaddeus Ma Daqin, on our fellow Catholics in China who keep the faith alive, on President-elect Duterte, and on our country.  And because it's Father's Day this Sunday, let us also remember all fathers in our prayer.  May we all be guided by this light to work for what is true and just.

 

Love Like Unto Thine

My Lolo Paul once wrote "Love is my amulet, the secret of my success".  How can I describe his love? 

1. His love nurtured.  Lola Piling used to say that he found in Lolo Paul "a husband, father, and brother rolled in one".  Through the ups and downs in their 46 years of marriage, Lolo Paul was there for Lola Piling (and vice-versa).  Tito Larry once mentioned that in spite of being busy, Lolo Paul would make it a point to ask his kids how they were getting along in school. I got my religiosity from him. He was the consummate family man!

2.  His love knew no bounds.  He took care of 4 of his siblings in their old age. The late Ms Luisa "Tia Lucing" De Jesus said that my grandparents were not discriminatory when people would approach them for help ("Walang sinisino").  Their home was open to everyone.  

3.  His love disciplined.  Elders would tell me that he was a disciplinarian. An infraction is dealt with a corresponding punishment. My younger brother and I, in one of our mischiefs, were not spared from his leather belt!  

Lolo Paul (and Lola Piling) was a devotee of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  One of the earliest songs in honor of the Sacred Heart that I heard him sung goes like this:

O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine

Do keep us near to Thee

And make our love so like to Thine

That we may holy be

And make our love so like to Thine.  I am sure that when he sings these lines, my grandfather meant what these say.  He strived to mirror God's love in how he engaged with those around him.  Isn't it that God's love nurtures (Isaiah 49:15; Matthew 9:36; Matthew 6:30-33; John 14:27)? That it welcomes all (Luke 11:15-32; Ephesians 2:4-7; 1 John 4:7-12)? And that  it disciplines (Deuteronomy 8:5; Job 5:17; Hebrews 12:6-11)? 

As of this writing, it's nine days to go before the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Like Lolo Paul, let's ask our Lord to make our love like unto His.  That we may holy be.

Happy 103rd birth anniversary, Lolo Paul! May we continue to put on God's love as we live our vocation, as we walk along the way of peace. We love you.

Three Secrets

A colleague once asked me what's my secret to a fruitful marriage.  My response: a stout heart, a broad mind, and an unrelenting patience.

Before I continue, let me just point out that I am not an expert in marriage. I am still a learner in this journey.

Stout heart.  I guess everyone in a relationship would agree that when you love, there are no ifs or buts. And because we're called to love for a lifetime, our hearts should make more room for love. Otherwise, love won't grow and be responsive as seasons change. Furthermore, and this is especially true for marriage, you ought to love what your beloved loves such as her family. I remember an old man calling his nephew's attention when the latter referred to a lady as his wife's mother. The uncle asked, "Shouldn't you call her your mother-in-law instead?".  You also need to make more room as you progress from spouse to spouse and parent (and later on as a grandparent).

Broad mind.  There are moments when you don't see eye to eye with your partner.  There would also be times when trials might cause a strain in your relationship.  There may also be moments when one's words or actions would be misinterpreted. Sometimes, it's very easy to be sensitive or repulsive to these. Try your best  to understand, to find the 'right excuse' why they may have said this or done that.  Instead of jumping to often unfair conclusion, be more capable of seeing the good intentions behind such actions.We should be more understanding. Didn't Jesus ask His Father's forgiveness for His persecutors because "they know not what they are doing"?

Unrelenting patience.   Individually, we have our own capabilities and methodologies.  Sadly, when we encounter other's weaknesses or failures to deliver what we expect of them, we flare up, we speak unkindly of the other person.  In one of my confessions, I told a priest how I sometimes lose my patience. For my penance, he asked me to devote a few minutes before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament reflecting on how Jesus patiently carried His cross in spite of the jeers of people. St Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians (13:4), reminds us that "Love is patient".

A stout heart, a broad mind, and an unrelenting patience: grant me these Lord today and always.

Pia

It was an exhausting Maundy Thursday at the office, especially as the University will be closed on Good Friday till Easter Tuesday.  When I went home, my wife was telling me some news from Manila - Pia Girlie Guevarra, a former classmate and best friend of my youngest sister Kristina, was killed.  At first I couldn't put a face on the name as all my 3 sisters had several classmates who used to go to our house in Gagalangin.  (Years ago, in UST, when a student greets me with the familiar "Manong Piet" I am often dumbfounded as who this person is - until they would introduce themselves as So-and-so, the classmate of one of my sisters.)

While at a loss as who Pia was, I prayed for her and her loved ones during the Mass of the Lord's Supper.  The following day, Kristina showed me Pia's photo. Suddenly I began to recognize her! She was linked to me not only through my sister, but also through her Dad, Angel, a member of the Knights of Columbus in Gagalangin!

Kristina told me the shocking news that Pia was gunned while driving her car - she actually shielded Tita Ruth, her mom from the attack. One of the gunshots hit her heart which was fatal. I learned that she and her mom came from the bank where they withdrew money to pay for the salary of their workers - as the 31st fell on a Sunday and offices are closed from Maundy Thursday, the 2nd batch salary (first batch being on the 15th) was to be given on the 27th. Apparently, the gunmen chased them.  I couldn't help, but ask: Is this how desparate some people are that they would kill in order to steal? I couldn't see the logic at all!

Kristina mentioned to me that Pia's family was attending a prayer meeting during the first few hours of the wake. A religious and simple family, the Guevarras were asking for guidance as they face this trial in their lives.

Pia is the Latin word for loving.  In her untimely and horrible death, her 2 very young kids lost a loving mother; her parents, a loving daughter; her siblings, a loving sister; her friends, a loving confidant.

In closing, I would like to share an excerpt of the "Final Prayer and Blessing" which our group said during our Way of the Cross last Good Friday.  I find this very appropriate for Pia and her bereaved family:

We pray for those...who are killed through violence...for all who die out of due season. That the Lord of all mercies will make good their loss in this life and gladden them with the glory of heaven.

We pray for those who mourn the loss of those they have loved long and well. That their sorrow might be free from hopeless grief and from the agony of bitter regrets. We pray that they might mourn in hope, knowing that the one who is Alpha and Omega embraces the living and the dead in his loving compassion and purpose.

May God bless your loving soul, Pia.

My sincerest condolences to Tito Angel, Tita Ruth, and family.

Be My Love, Be My Salvation

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus tomorrow and the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Saturday, brings to mind a prayer that my grandparents would usually utter: Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my love. Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation. Very short prayer, but full of meaning, depth, and inspiration.

Msgr Mario Enriquez, in his homily during the feast of the Sacred Heart in Gagalangin many years ago, said that we are not devoted to the physical heart of our Lord, but to the love which Jesus' heart symbolizes.  Indeed, if we honor and venerate His physical heart only, our devotion will miss the whole point why that physical heart was pierced by a lance on the first Good Friday - out of love for us. 

It was said that the first followers of Jesus were known not because of their religious practices or customs, but by their love for each other.  Lest we forget, this love is rooted in and animated by Jesus.  A kind of love that is selfless. It has been 2,000 years or so and that small community has grown enormously across the world.  Are our communities still known for the love which our ancestors in faith have had for each other?  Is charity still found at our homes?  Are we still motivated by love to do good? Yes or (more importantly) no, let's daily ask our Lord: Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my love.

Because of that selfless love that Jesus has, we have all been saved.  And yet, each day of our lives here on earth is a challenge to be saved.  Because of our fallen nature, we sometimes forget how we have been loved and so we commit mistakes.  We become ungrateful for what Jesus has done for us.

I remember Bro Jun Ignao, a former colleague in the Basic Christian Community in Barangay Poblacion (Kawit, Cavite), who once told us that if God would destroy the whole world, everyone would perish except Mary.  Having been conceived without any stain of sin, Mary is truly God's favored daughter.  Her heart has always been united with the heart of her son.  Therefore, if we wish to rise up from our sins and be counted among those saved at the end of time, if we wish to gain eternal life, if we desire to be with God forever in heaven, let us always call on our mother: Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.

Let me be clear though that salvation doesn't come from Mary per se.  Salvation only comes from Jesus, our Savior. By way of analogy, if the moon merely reflects the light that comes from the sun, so is Mary imparting salvation that comes from Jesus.

United with the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, may our journey in life be filled with love so that we and our other fellow pilgrims can find salvation at our destination. As it will soon be Father's Day, please pray for us fathers that we may always put on the love of Jesus so we can truly lead our families to salvation.

Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my love. Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.

Maligayang pista po!

Love, Vision, and Aspiration

(2nd Dr. Paulino E. Albano Sr. Memorial Lecture and Graduation Address delivered by Mr. Laurentino V. Albano; St. Rita Hospital & College; PICC; 17 March 2011)

Good afternoon. Leia, thank you very much. I am humbled by your generous introduction. Before I start my speech, may I ask the class of 2011 to please stand up and face the audience. Please acknowledge your parents, loved ones, relatives, members of the faculty and friends for their sacrifices and support. Without their guidance and assistance you would not be here for this milestone in your life. Class of 2011, let us give them a round of applause. Thank you and you may now be seated.

I have been given the honor to be the Guest Speaker of the Graduating Class of 2011. First, I will talk about the Founder of our institution and then, second, will be my Graduation Message.

In honor of our man of the year, Dr. Paulino E. Albano Sr. (as we are celebrating the centennial year of his birth) my topic will be his different roles: a brother, a husband and a father. I will be giving you some insights of the person he was.

Dr. Paulino Sr. came from humble beginnings. He was born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte on June 18, 1911. He was the youngest of seven siblings. His father was a street lighter in the “poblacion” or town proper of Sarrat. He went around lighting the “kingky” or kerosene lamp at dusk and putting the lights out at dawn everyday. His mother was a housewife tending to the growing household.

His oldest brother, Fidel or Apo Fidel was a priest. When Apo Fidel was assigned as the Parish Priest of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, the young Paul or “Paool” as the Ilocanos pronounced his name, went with his brother Apo Fidel. He was the “sacristan mayor’ of the church while in high school. On or about that time, one summer vacation, he saw a young “colegiala” from St. Scholastica’s College (Manila), home for vacation. Pilar Bonoan Valdes was also a daily churchgoer and like the young Paool, a daily communicant. It was during Mass and at the communion rail that the young Paool first laid eyes on Pilar. Pilar or Piling was a daughter of one of the prominent families of San Nicolas. Piling was the sixth of seven siblings and her father served as the Mayor of San Nicolas. Paool did not make his move to court Piling at that time. He waited until he was in college when both of them were already in Manila. Paool attended the University of Santo Tomas for his Medicine proper course while Piling was at the University of the Philippines. They got married on April 2, 1938 and lived in an apartment at Intramuros. They bought and moved to a house in Gagalangin in 1940. As the Valdes-Albano household grew, so did their extended family. Orphaned nephews and nieces were our older brothers and sisters. Child victims of the war, who were abandoned and left for dead at the St. Rita Dispensary and Clinic then, were restored to health and became part of the ever growing Valdes-Albano household. “What is another mouth to feed?” was his favorite saying.

In 1951, Pope Pius XII awarded Dr. Paulino Sr. the Papal Knight of St. Sylvester and Dr. Pilar, the Papal awardee Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice. These were awards given by the Holy Father to Catholic laymen and women for exemplary support to the Catholic Church.

In the twilight of their years, Dr. Paulino Sr. took care of his four older siblings until their deaths. Caring for these extended families too, must have inspired them (Paulino and Pilar) to put up the hospital and the different schools. Charity truly begins at home. He took care of his kin first, before he undertook his other charitable works. And yes he was his brother’s keeper.

As a husband, he was a loving and loyal one. It is said that “Lucky is the girl to be the last love of the man she married and luckier is the man to be the first love of the girl he married.” It was said that their marriage was made in heaven. There was never a question of infidelity regarding Dr. Paulino Sr. His priority was always the unity of the family. He was a great provider making sure that we had what we needed.

As a father, the first character trait that comes to mind to describe him is discipline. He believed in the saying “Spare the rod and spoil the child”. His discipline had the greatest influence on me. All of us were required to work especially during summer; from driver, messenger, timekeeper during the construction expansion, paymaster and office clerk. At an early age, we knew how to say the Rosary and we memorized the different mysteries. Any infraction of the house rules would find us at the hospital chapel praying the Rosary. With his busy schedule, he had the time to check on our activities. Our dining table was round that seated 14. During mealtime, he would ask us one by one for our progress report. He made it a point to know how we were doing in school and our other extra curricular activities. Sunday family Mass at the chapel was at 5:00AM. It did not make any difference if we were at a party the night before. We had to be there for the 5:00 AM mass. He was all about discipline.

And now, moving on, I would like to thank you parents, for choosing St. Rita Hospital and College of Nursing as the nursing school for your child. You had entrusted your child to St. Rita. I am sure when they started, you had a lot of apprehension about your child graduating. I can relate to you. Like you I am a parent and like you, my daughter is a member of class 2011. When she decided to go back to school to take up nursing, relatives and friends thought it was impossible. Well, we decided to go to St. Rita, Patroness of the Impossible.

My dear class of 2011, graduation is the beginning of another chapter in your book of life. You have chosen a service profession. You have chosen to serve the sick, the poor and the less fortunate than you. You have chosen to serve because you are people of love and loyalty. You are products of the love of your parents, just as I and my family is the product of the love of Drs. Paulino, Sr. and Pilar.

Whether you are a doctor, lawyer, nurse, messenger boy, construction worker, mother, wife, father, husband, brother or sister keep your dreams alive. Understand, to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe. I believe that my daughter and her classmates are men and women of tremendous vision. Remember, in the words of Joel Barker that “Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is simply passing the time. Action with vision is making a positive difference”. Vision looks outward and becomes aspiration.

You, as individuals and collectively, can change the world. Accept that challenge. What you truly and earnestly aspire to be is what you will become. Aspire to be the best of what you can be. Aspire to inspire before you expire.

Keep in mind the three simple words: LOVE, VISION AND ASPIRATION. May St. Rita, Patroness of our institution, guide you and protect you today, tomorrow and always. St. Rita, Patroness of the Impossible, pray for us. Pagpalain tayong lahat ng Panginon Diyos.

Baby Time

Last Monday was Nidz's birthday so I thought of booking some days off from the office just to be with her and Chiara. I was off Friday last week (until this Monday) so Nidz has a time for herself doing some shopping while I was at home looking after the baby. Having put the baby to sleep, I decided to do some household chores and some editing (I was expecting some work to be e-mailed to me then). As I was editing, I was praying hard that Chiara won't suddenly wake up (She does sometimes have a rather short nap in the day.). Article 1 went through the editing mill smoothly plus some feedback 'session' with one of our staff writers. "Jolly good!" I told myself having finished those so I decided to proceed to Article 2. As I was in the middle of doing it, I heard a familiar sound emanating from the room next to where I was working. It was Chiara crying with all her might. I attempted to give her the pacifier, but to no avail. No choice, but to carry her.

I tried my best to put her on my lap, holding her with my left hand and typing with my right hand. At first she would behave, but having sensed that I was engrossed with another thing, she would cry (She hates computers except when you log on to YouTube and let her listen to "Old MacDonald had a farm".). So I would have to stand and bring her  near the window and point to her the Maternity Unit of the City Hospital saying: "D'yan ka pinanganak." (That's where you were born). We'll then come back to the desk in the hope that she'll let me finish what I'm doing. I managed though after several sit-stand-sit moments. But there's that breaking point when I would need to turn the computer off.

I still remembered what Nidz was telling me when she was pregnant about how life would be more challenging when the baby arrives. I keep on telling her that it would be exciting!

Indeed it is more challenging. Sleeping patterns for me and my better half has been affected (A cousin who also had a child once told me to forget sleep.). Eating meals too can sometimes be on your own. Things that you could spend so much time on like chatting and surfing the net now have to be done sparingly.

Times have changed, but no complaints though. Here's a much, much, much important one to look after. Spending more time with her (and her mom, of course!) and going that extra mile is absolutely bliss! Whenever she smiles at you, your heart will truly melt. This experience is being shared by fellow parishioners (including the cloistered Poor Clare sisters) who saw her last Sunday.

As for me and Nidz, we stood there ever thankful and blessed parents as can be.

***

Speaking about being thankful, I am very grateful for all the love and dedication Nidz has unconditionally showered on our little angel. She has become, for me, a Super Mom on all counts.

Well done, Labs! Here's to a long and meaningful life together!

I love you and Chiara very, very, very much!

***

Happy Golden Wedding Anniversary to Tito Ponso and Tita Laling Esquillo on Sunday, 8th March! Spending 50 years together is indeed an achievement! Well done to you both!

***


On the 10th of March we begin our Novena in honour of St Joseph whose feast is on the 19th. Since becoming a dad, I now begin to relate more myself with this great man often asking his prayers that I too may look after my wife and child with that same love he had when he took care of Mama Mary and Jesus.

Hug in the Cold

It was a tiresome and depressing week at the start of this month. Blame it on the weather - most parts of the UK including Nottingham were covered in snow! Though it would be postcard-like, you would hate the snow when you're travelling especially when all that white substance turns like Slurpy, that icy refreshment you like to buy in the 711, although not in attractive hues.

I really have to keep my ears on the radio for the weather forecast. I normally do shopping on a Friday, but have to do it 2 days earlier. True enough, the snow poured in Thursday morning. As I kissed my wife before reporting for work that day, she told me not to go, but I insisted. While travelling on a rather snail-paced mode, I got remorseful. Still, I chose to keep on going. I managed to reach the university - 1 hour and a couple of minutes later as though coming from Cavite to Tondo. In a few hours, we got an announcement that we could leave at 3pm. Travelling back home was much better!

When I reached home, I was full of stories to my wife and to our baby (who keeps on looking at me while being carried by her mother and then suddenly smiles as though she understands what I was saying). Still, I felt something heavy in me in spite me talking. I'm not having a heart attack, though! I really needed to unload myself!

I approached Nidz and Chiara and gave them a big family hug!

That did the trick! A very personal touch that speaks louder and clearer than my moans and rantings. A touch that stands on its own.