The simple way of being a true Christian

Who are Christians? Christians are those who professed their belief in the Son of Mary as the ‘one sent by God’ to be the savior and liberator of mankind from the bondage of sin and death. Every Christian has gotten his identity on the savior and liberator of the world, whose name is no other than Jesus the Christ. Each Christian should anchor his life on this significant person. It means that one’s life should be patterned after the life of Christ, i.e. following his examples by living a simple lifestyle amidst the materialistic world (not by being one of them), and being close to the poor by giving much time and attention to these little ones (not the rich ones that makes each Christian bowing down before them because of their wealth). This I believe is what makes each followers of Christ true Christians.

 

The goal of this article is not theological by giving high-sounded and academic approach, but by simply showing the basic means on how to be a true Christian. This item is timely as the world joyously waits for the second coming of Jesus into our hearts. Being authentic Christians should live up one’s life according to the patterns of Jesus’ life – simple lifestyle and close to the poor. What mars the face of Christianity is the absence of the two, mostly done by our leaders in the Church. It is undeniably a fact that when our lifestyle is one with the affairs of the world, it follows that one is also worshipping the false God – money – at the expense of the rich. Even the rich become their own God to these people of cloth who values and loves money at the expense of the Church.

 

This season of Christmas is the right time to renew our faith in Jesus by welcoming Him again into our life. Jesus has become poor for us to see the real essence that life on earth is not all that is the case, i.e. there is only one life and world to live forever. Thus it is an opportune time for each Christian to make Jesus again rich in the hearts of many. This is the best Christmas gift that we can give to Jesus. To all of us, have a blessed and merry Christmas!!!

Church’s media: a source of division?

In this age, no other powerful tool can be compared to media. It is the most important means of getting across the message to the people around the globe. This means of communication can be in any forms like television, radio, tabloid, internet and cellular phones. No person in this world is free from the influence of media. Even the most secluded and private of a person cannot escape from its reality.

The Church in her mission of fulfilling the mandate of the Lord by going out to the whole world and preach about Him is exhausting all the means available on media. It is of great help to the Church in fulfilling the mandate given to her by Jesus. Thus the Church benefits from the means of media. On the other hand, media also benefits from her by making her its guide to what is right and what is wrong. It becomes the vanguard of truth.

People, since they are the subjects of the Church’s mission, expect that kind of standard, i.e. to be examples of what all should be. Though all are equals in the eyes of God, but prime importance are anticipated from these leaders who preach every now and then the real message of Christian life. Much as people who look toward them as their guide, they are now misguiding the people.

As an avid reader of the Catholic Herald, a weekly local newspaper of the city, bias in relaying simple information happen. Since I have come from one of the theological seminaries in this group of islands of Mindanao, I cannot help but express my dismay that the newspaper, supposed to be an example of equality, does not show fairness by introducing the names of these institutions, where young men of certain dioceses get ordained are graduated. The writers only focus on the seminary of DADITAMA where majority of the shepherds of Mindanao studied there.

It is not wrong to patronize one’s own seminary. But the driving point of this article is, why not treat all these religious institutions on the same footing. When God calls young men to be his future servants, he establishes the seminary as the seed bed of their vocation. All the seminaries throughout the world are God’s own design to nurture the scattered seeds in the hearts of these aspirants. In fact, it is the apple of the eye of the local Church. But by using the media as means of communicating the Word of God should transcend the focus of being locale. Mentioning these other institutions does not harm one’s own seminary. Competing against other religious institutions is totally out of the picture and never in God’s sight, lest the newspaper appears to be the source of division in the Church.

Philippine Election is all about MONEY!!!

Last 25 of October, the whole country experienced and witnessed a new version local barangay election. When I watched the news on the evening of that day, deaths of some candidates cause by oppponents were broadcasted. That is not the point I would like to drive at this corner.

What is shocking to many is how the practice of cheating in the national level has brought to the barangay level. We have heard many times of national and local candidates buying votes in exchange of money. And this scenario has really happened among candidates as head barangays and kagawad. What can we say the kind of leaders we have now? Are they credible enough to be in the so-called 'in the service?'

Maybe this scenario will be getting worst in the next barangay election. God forbids it will not happen to the SK positions. But it is not far from the reality that thing will soon take place. Everybody is exposed to this event. Maybe the essence of service is not anymore important to be in the position. Money in itself is not a sin. But St. Paul is right in saying that money is the root of all evil.

God’s love is greater than sin

Everybody sins. It is a reality cannot be denied. Thus we say all human beings are sinners. No one is exempted. But some people are grounded to a situation where he feels, thinks and lives always and forever in a sinful situation. He believes that there’s no way out of it, even when he goes to confession frequently for absolution. Gradually he hesitate going to confession, being convinced that it’s useless to avail the gift of forgiveness. He, also, is isolated by the pure and judgmental, sinless hypocrites.


But he misses one thing. He looks only to one face of reality, and that is, sin is lurking every part of his life. And he keeps postponing and doubting to confess his sins because of the mentality of irremediable condition of committing again the same sins. The evil of sin is what preoccupied in his minds. Sometimes the one who preaches and teaches has the same mentality – people with condemning-mentality – around him. Thus psychologically they are influencing him.


On the other hand, there is a way out to this desperate situation. The solution is the love of God per se. Yes, it’s true. The love of God does not only serve as medicine to the hopeless situation. The love of God is undeniably greater than sin. All we have to do is to open our eyes wide and see that reality. And that serves as reasons why God sent his only Son into this world to give us the chance to believe in him that he is LOVE (John 3:16); and Peter, the first pope, despite of committing the same gravity of sin like that of Judas, has escaped the trap and able to see the light. A text message sent to me by my friend, who herself a living testimony to this reality of God’s love after realizing what she did – aborting supposed her first child: Whatever you confess, it won’t make me love you less – Jesus.

Do college students nowadays need sex education?

This is the question I formulated when I asked the students in reed 1 to share their opinions about sex education being promoted by the deped months ago before the inauguration of the 15th president of our country. The class had been divided according to ‘yes’ group and ‘no’ group to the issue. As in the field of education, to explore their capacity to express their ideas on the topic, my mind was directed towards those who gave their ‘yes’ to the implementation of sex education. I did not give any condemnation to these students and branded them as ‘immoral’ because of their stand. But behind their all justifications and argumentations on their stand of the issue, there is an urgent need to address their expression, for they seek not an ideal, doctrinal or metaphysical gestures but an empirical and practical help. Why is that so?

First reason is that their parents neither teach nor talk them about sex in general. Other reasons, too, came out during the debate like: parents were not open to the matter out of shame or parents just inject a wrong timing of religious dose of doctrine that the topic is evil, and etc. The students ask for it not because for the sake of learning about sex but to give them a clear direction of the right understanding of sex with a purpose. Since this generation belongs to them, it is a product of liberalism where all threats to religious and cultural conservatism are flowing in from the television, radio, internet, and cellular phones etc., and the urgent call behind all their answers cannot be ignored. The question Do college students nowadays need sex education? needs to be address as soon as possible, not only for the sake of these young minds, but for the little kids as well and the future generations to come.

Parents and Sex Education

Parents are the right persons to teach sex education at home. This is the official stand of the Catholic Church in the Philippines on the recently aborted issue on sex education promoted by the DePed. The Church has been vocal and critical on this event while the DePed people are busy in disseminating their modules to be given to the pilot schools in public secondary level. Their undertaking will be evaluated, and if it proves to be successful, another option will push through for the elementary levels on the same topics.

The church keeps repeating that parents are the right persons to handle the issue on sex. Her position is borne out from the development of the doctrine on the sacrament of matrimony, where Augustine began the idea of the three goods of marriage, and later Aquinas modified them to ends of marriage. What is the contention all about? The first end of Christian marriage is to procreate and educate their children, and it has become the basis of the Church's stand on the brewing issue of sex education.

Following the thought of the Church, when it comes to who is the right person to teach their children about sex, the answer is very clear – parents and not anybody-teachers. The role of the teachers is not being downplayed here, but the role of parents is indispensable because it is their prime duty to exercise as such.

If the right persons on this matter are the parents, it follows that the right place for sex education to be conducted is in their very home. Why is that so? It is where the bond of friendship, intimacy, belongingness, familiarity among parents and children established. And everybody seems to believe that the home is a place where all the positive values such as love, respect, care are taught and practised.

The opposite might be true when sex education will be taken place at school. The situation is not healthy and conducive for a well-rounded process of learning, where students and teachers come from different family backgrounds and perspectives. Only when parents become active teachers to their children especially on the issue, the fear of negative effects such as promiscuity, increasing of AIDS victims, unwanted pregnancy, abortion and the like will be of less possibility to occur.

Mama Mia

Some childhood experiences may have a great impact in our life, and we cherish and reminisce them especially those unforgettable and memorable ones. These experiences can make us better persons, or may become the source of drawing out for us inspirations and share them to others. One of the great experiences that have made an impact to my life is the Flores de Mayo, which the Catholic Church in every parish celebrates every May each year. I used to be an active member of the occasion since my elementary years. This event too is no ordinary one because personal and divine relationships built up. In short it is an avenue where I am moulded and become what I am now.

I am so grateful for this very rare opportunity given by God, particularly with the influence of my mother, who is a silent but faithful devotee of the Blessed Mother. She‘s the one who inculcated in us the value of loving Mary despite of all the odds in life. With that occasion, Mary has become a part of my life, it can’t be erased anymore. She has become an inspiration to me whenever I need of her warm presence and care as a mother. I hope everyone may have the chance of experiencing the powerful influence of Mary so that love and concern may spread throughout the world.

A date with the Lord

Maybe God has something in store for me to express my feelings of gratitude for all the blessings received in Davao City. (It is because the Microsoft Word shut off while writing with what I am experiencing today from the boarding house to the airport.)

It gives me the opportunity to recall how God has been good to me despite of all the problems and trials I have gone through. Of course it also includes the bunch of philosophical papers during the last semester that has given me much headache. Thanks God and I am through with it. There are so many Filipinos in our country are suffering greater or that much compared to what are mine. With the televisions around this terminal airport producing so much repeated noise of the political candidates doing some attractive modes in their campaign tricks to solicit precious votes from the electorates, I try to calm down and said, ‘Hey, Arnel, give yourself a break.’ Yes, indeed, it is a break for me to look on what is ahead of me – to be with my family! I miss them so much especially my dear mother. As I am awaiting the plane for Zamboanga, mixed feelings arouse in me. I know these are the excitements and surprises.

There are so many things awaits me there. But this does not stop me from looking back to what I have been through during the school year. There are ups and downs, but one thing for sure is that there is someone who has been faithfully with me. Even though sometimes or most of the times I failed him to spend some time with him, he does not leave me. That is why, as I board the plane few minutes from now, I will dedicate this time to him. And I want to thank him for all the things he has given to me. This is my expression of gratitude. Thank you Lord. Adios for the meantime Davao and Bienvenidos a Zambaonga.

Knowledge of the Experts

This area of concern is what I call Doing Epistemology. It is a field in philosophy wherein the manner of knowing something or of one’s concern is being investigated. There are many ways of getting to know things or realities that attract our interest. However my article focuses on one certain area which is somehow related to our traditional way of life.

In matters of life’s concern, nowadays, seldom do people take a serious step with it. As some would say ‘life is so short’ so live life to the fullest with wise decision and discernment. In life it does not matter only the ‘what is’ but it’s the ‘what there is.’ It is a kind of knowledge that only few wants to possess it, learn from it, and perfect it. There are only few because it seems to be old-fashioned, obsolete or non-modern. But the fact is, it is more than knowledge; it is wisdom. But people in our day would resort for some pieces of advice from their friends, closed buddies and other figures who they regard as ‘knowledgeable’ in any particular field. Yet the questions remain: are they enough, or suffice for what they seek for in life for improvement?

Knowledge derive from them may be considered skin-deep. They may have read some good books, be specialists about the subject matter but this seems to be inadequate. They may have collections of theories, tested with scientific procedures but if it is with plain experience is still consider implausible. Our Filipino tradition tells us that we should learn to take good care of the old people in our society for their physical presence doesn’t indicate that they are weak and inutile, but since they have been here in this world for a long time before we came into existence, they would have possessed, perhaps, some varying degree of wisdom.

The wisdom that they have possessed and experienced could not be exchanged with multi-awarded royalty of publishing books. Theirs are real praxis who dwelt, felt the pain, stayed through thick and thin, and lived with all the hassle on subject about life for such a long time. Thus if we want to know the wisdom of celibacy, go to the religious people; if the subject is about teaching, see a teacher; or about love, consult one’s parents who happen or about to celebrate and renew their love and commitment for each other. Wisdom with long lived experience could not be compared to wisdom acquired through a lot of reading materials. The pragmatic adage experience is the best teacher sums the thought of this insight. Use our judgment when we seek for knowledge from the experts who are but successful in particular field or aspect of life.

Marie Rivier...Gabay ko

I. Sa simula ang buhay ay parang kulang
Wari ay wala itong patunguhan
Naghahangad mabigyan’g kahulugan


II. Ngunit nang nalaman ko may sandigan
Maningning na buhay may kahulugan
Kagit’ngan, kapayapaan at saya
Marie Rivier, dakila kong gabay


Chorus 1:
Salamat O Dios na ako ay nagabay
(salamat aking gabay)
Salamat Kristo’t Maria, mahal ng bayan
(salamat kristo’t maria)
Salamat O Marie Rivier
Sa n’yo ang buhay ko ay sumigla


III. Dahil sa ‘yo kami’y umaasa
Kabutihan mo’y laging nasa diwa
Buong mundo’y masigla’t magkaisa


IV. Kaya, dito na,tayo na at sumaya
Ang bawat buhay ay laging mahalaga
Huwag sayangin bigay na biyaya
Maria Rivier, ang buhay ng madla
(repeat chorus)


Chorus 2: (2 notes higher)
Salamat O Dios na ako ay nagabay
(salamat aking gabay)
Salamat Kristo’t Maria, mahal ng bayan
(salamat kristo’t maria)
Salamat O Marie Rivier
Sa n’yo ang buhay ko ay sumigla
Sa n’yo ang buhay ko ay sumigla


Coda:
Sa n’yo ang buhay ko ay ... sumigla




Lyrics: Mrs. Marichu Eva and Mrs. Rosario Pagalan
Music: Mr. Arnel Morte
Interpreters: Mr. Arnel Morte, Mrs. Bernadette Vitor
Guitarist: Mr. Elijah Ogario

This is my first music composition I have ever made as an official entry to the 60th anniversary of the presence of the PM Congreagtion in the Philippines. We were five finalists presented our piece last February 3, 2010 at the SPCT AVR, and we bagged 3rd place. Thanks God for the gift of music!

Doing New Year’s Resolution

I used to remember when I was still a student that when I reported on the first day of the year to school, our teachers in English and Values Education would usually asked us to write a short composition about the favourite theme My New Year’s Resolution. We were told that it is time to change ourselves for the better during New Year to have new life. And so went with the lists of resolutions we wanted to make. And it’s not a guess anymore that some of them failed and others fulfilled. Why is it so? I may say, maybe, or perhaps, it’s not yet time to have what we wished for ourselves, or maybe we lacked some strategies to do it. Making resolutions is not a bite of hotdog without exerting any effort.

But I would like to share that it’s not that easy to get what we dreamed for ourselves. Perhaps to help us better understand why it is so, let us try to look into the etymological meaning of the word January, which is the first month of the year. The word ‘January’ derived from the roman god Janus with two faces – looking forward and backward. He was known to be the god of the beginnings, of the past and the future, of gates, doorways, and bridges and of peace (Encarta Dictionary). The very definition could give us a very good suggestion that when we make resolutions such as to change our old ways or stop old vices and the likes, I think one have already forgotten to look back at the past but instead headed forward with the speed of 150 kph. And along the intersections or crossroads we lose our way where we are heading to.

The two-face-image of Janus is somehow teaches us that we must take some time to look back and to look forward. To look back is to learn tremendous lessons such as our past mistakes and achievements we could get and bring them along with us in our journey. This is an effective way to help to know ourselves better and somehow change our old ways. Then, with this ingenious strategy it would usher us to the gate of new life with full of peace with ourselves and others.