Angels' whispers

“You are our God yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Let us worship You in our thoughts, words and deeds unceasingly.

May all the ends of the earth proclaim Your goodness and unfathomable love

until the end of time.

Give us the courage and wisdom to live a life of righteousness.

Help us take every opportunity to inspire and serve others.

May others see the light of Christ in everything that we do.

Help us to follow Your ways Oh Lord, and learn to live in simplicity and humility.

Crush our pride and thirst for fame and glory.

Instill in our minds that only through serving You, we can receive the real joy and peace in our hearts.

And may Your love reign in our lives forever.”

Internet Maniac

As I attempt to trod the path of righteousness

To put meaning in my life

Day by day, I struggle and battle with temptation

Lured by lethargy, I’m losing this strife

Manipulated by illogical reasoning

I create excuses most obscured

Talent with profound meaning

Are set aside without due cause

Addicted to the internet like others

A monster that gobbles incessantly

Time speeds up as I waste it

Regrettably a worthless day has ended

Seconds tick, minutes pass

I stare at the screen patiently

As if something important is always happening

But it’s just the virtual life that I am constantly living

A farmer, a pet and a high socialite

A house or a restaurant owner, a vampire or a mafia lord

It devours your being, it wastes your soul

It consumes your time and destroys your whole

Stop or it will stop you

From doing what you’re supposed to do

So many things are yet to be done

Be in control or addicted you’ll become

INTERNET DETOX

Everytime I fly, I get free internet access in my room being a cabin manager. Thus, this helps me survive locked in a hotel room during long layovers, especially in the winter. I would order room service, turn on the TV, wouldn’t even care if it’s not English, and be online the whole time. On one of my flights to Manchester, for some reason, there was a hiccup in the hotel’s internet system and so it was inaccessible. I was debating if I should pay 15 UK pounds, which I knew was a lot, just for a 24- hour access or try to sustain my 36-hour layover offline.

I’m sure all of my fellow OFW’s would agree that the internet is our lifeline. I feel suffocated just thinking of not having an access to Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo! Messenger or Skype. Although SMS is just a click away, I don’t know why having an internet gives me a different sense of security, knowing that anytime, my family and friends can track me or just buzz. So during my stay in Manchester, no internet for me, was a real big challenge. When my jetlag kicked in, I know, this would make it easier for me to cope. But I’m also aware that I have to force myself to get out of bed after a few hours, so that I can still manage to set my body clock for my flight back home. Mind you, my sleeping record is 17 straight hours. Still I fear that when I wake up, the dilemma of not having internet looms at the back of my mind. I was trying to control myself from having an anxiety attack. I was battling to divert my thoughts to avoid feeling lonely and isolated. It may not be a big deal for others, but for those who have experienced living alone in unknown territory, away from all your loved ones and outside your comfort zone, they know what I’m talking about.

After deciding to detoxify myself from the internet, the challenge had begun… I sat infront of my laptop, organized my files and updated my journals. I brought out my painting materials and just lay them around to make it appear that I have so much to do. I opened some files, which I had saved and forgotten. I brought out a book which I had stopped reading half way. When I saw all these in front of me, I realized that there was so much to do than browsing through Facebook, while feeding my dog in Pet Society, harvesting my crops at Farmville, fixing my house at Yoville, running my diner at Restaurant City and fighting with girls in Sorority Life.

It's true that technology makes up for the distance when people live apart, and that it plays a vital role in connecting and reconnecting long lost families and friends. However, the experience taught me that we shouldn’t forget that there are a lot of other activities that we set aside because of too much time in the internet. We should always remember to prioritize and spend our time more productively. Time wasted is time lost. When I turned 40, that was when I realized that our parents were right, life is indeed too short. There are so many things that I still wish to do. And it seems that a lifetime won’t be enough for its realization, especially when I let myself get carried away browsing through pictures, shout outs and posts over and over again.

I have started this year with a promise. No, I’m not going to throw my laptop out of the window and revert back to snail mail nor am I going to delete my Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo! Messenger and Skype accounts. But I’m going to make the internet my ally, a significant partner that I can use and spend quality time with. Not something that I would waste my time on because I have nothing better else to do. Months ago, I was substantially able to cut down from my usual internet gaming fancy. So I do feel some sense of satisfaction.

For me it’s my dependence, or worse, addiction to the internet, that makes me feel an unworthy servant. Maybe for you, it’s something else. It is important for us to pause and examine ourselves on how we sometimes carelessly spend our time. Let us ask the Lord for guidance and strength that this New Year will be a constant offering of our precious time in serving Him in His vineyard. And for all our actions to God be the glory…

Angels Offertory

A NOTE ON GRATITUDE

One of the most common trait that we teach our kids is to say ‘thank you’. We tell them to be grateful when receiving a gift, taking a compliment and praying to God. ‘Good manners’ is often associated when children are heard saying this wonderful phrase.


But I remember when I was still small, I felt so embarrassed to speak out when receiving a compliment. In the old school, Filipino children are seldom given the chance to respond freely to their elders. This probably deterred my spontaneity in expressing how I felt. Most of the time, my parents were there to speak on my behalf.


And this probably contributed more, on being unable to say ‘thank you’ naturally as I was growing up. In the western world on the other hand, ‘thank you’ is as common as saying ‘hello’ and ‘how are you?’ to a complete stranger. Fortunately, exposure to other cultures influenced me to do the same eventually.


For us Catholics, a grateful heart is believed to open the gates of heaven and receive the grace of God. When we remember to thank Him for every little thing that we receive each day, it goes back to remind us that He is a God whom we can trust. That He is our Father who always knows what is best for His children. And without Him by our side, our lives will be in constant chaos.


When we pray, it is known that the two most common emotions that inspire us spiritually are love and gratitude. These feelings that we experience towards God enable us to sense His loving presence constantly. The Holy Bible contains numerous verses from the Old to the New Testament validating this belief. And it is because of our faith, we know that whatever comes our way God is in control. We may not be able to always see the light at the moment of difficulty, but we are confident that His grace will manifest in His own perfect time. In the end we always realize that trials, which cross our paths, are blessings in disguise after all. So regardless of how heavy the cross that we bear, we must continuously live our lives in praise and thanksgiving for His generous and loving heart.


(1 Chronicles 16:34) “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

SIMPLY PRAY

THE FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER...

"Is this phrase that we grew up with, lies now, as a silent scream, in the hearts of the children of broken Filipino families?"
When my youngest brother got married three years ago, I was devastated of not being able to attend his wedding. I was here in Abu dhabi for only 2 months and was just finishing up my abinitio training as a cabin crew. Despite my privileges of free travels, I was so helpless. For a moment, I regret choosing to leave my family to find my higher purpose. I satisfied myself by making a short power point presentation that I can send back home, to make my presence felt in this momentous event. Being married for 15 years back then, I believe that I had more or less an idea what awaits my brother in this new chapter in his life. After the heartfelt and tear jerking messages that made my lolas, aunts and cousins sniff and sob, I ended my agenda with the one thing I know, on how one can make it through the toughest times of his or her married life. And that is through… P r a y e r !

Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart. And God’s peace, which is far beyond human

A Tribute to my MICAEL

INFANTICIPATION (written April 27, 1994)

The life within me
Has grown so fast
A soul within my soul
Which God has entrust

The breath of love I now await
The last month of being one
The pain of love I give
To deliver my little one

With tiny hands and tiny feet
Pounding under my flesh
From a butterfly he has become
A human with bones and flesh

A few more days I shall await
A boy or girl to see
All I pray is God's love
For a mother and her child to be...

THE BIRTH (written June 19, 1994)

The whole day of the 18th of May
A tinge of pain I felt
It comes and goes, it soars and flows
And dies as it began to melt

Before the eve arrives
I prayed to our dear Mother
Please tell me if the time is now
And for this time not to linger

And as our Mother answered my prayer
One great surge confirmed
As if it happened to give a sign
The coming of my child I've earned

We rushed to my birthing place
Not knowing what lies ahead
After all the pain subsided
False labor I fear instead

As we entered the emergency door
Anxious, doubtful and excited
Funny I felt no fear inside
For this time I have long wanted

As I was wheeled to the preparation room
Five cm they have admitted
Then transferred to the labor room
Where I groaned, moaned and grunted

I then received a simple note
Which lifted my spirits high
From him who waits outside the door
Excited he can't deny

On that same spot, I then bled
And burst my bag of water did
They injected so much stuff in me
Thus the hours like seconds slid

Finally my bed began to roll
To the delivery room I suspected
The pain surmounted to its peak
Surrendering I soon intended

But when I was about to cry
To push I cannot manage
They say that tears they cannot allow
To be strong I was encouraged

My legs were up and back positioned
Prepared for every coming contraction
And finally when his head has peeped
I was curled up for my injection

After all the pain that pass
A little boy I can see
Cleansed and wrapped he then approach
With one eye open and one eye closed

Lying on the table half awake
A stroke on his cheek I gently take
So black is his hair and clear is his face
My little child left me with a smile on my face

All the pain I have now forgotten
I thank the Lord for the miracle that happened
The work of his hand for the world to see
He filled me with love, like a mother would be...