Manny Pacquiao

His victory was our victory. I read in the newspaper that Erik Morales was reported to have said that this fight was first for himself and then for Mexico. This was in contrast to what Manny Pacquiao declared: This fight was dedicated first for the Filipino people and then for himself. That was why his victory was our victory and that was why he was welcomed so warmly by his 'kababayans'.

On the day of his arrival in the Philippines, Cafe Puro ran an ad (part of it is reproduced above). It is the silhouette of Manny. Both arms are raised in victory. But what caught my attention was the rosary around his neck. The said two things about Manny. First, he was Catholic. Only Catholics pray the Rosary. And second, he must be Filipino because only a Filipino Catholic would find it normal to wear the Rosary around his neck.

And then yesterday, I read something in the sports page which made me admire him all the more. It said that during his training in the States, he would go to Mass on Sundays. Wow!

Mabuhay! Manny Pacquiao!

Jim Paredes is Leaving the Country

Yesterday I opened the blog (Writing on Air)of Jim Paredes (APO Hiking Society). I read that he was bringing his family to Australia. And I felt sad. I was surprised why I felt that way. I do not know Jim personally. Neither does he know me personally. So why did I become sad? I reflected for a moment and I realized why.

By leaving the country, Jim had confirmed what I had been feeling for some years already—a great disappointment at what is happening to our country.

Many years ago, we bade good bye to our sister who was leaving for Spain. I will never forget what she told me then, “Kuya, umalis ka na sa Pilipinas. Wala nang pag-asa ang ating bayan.” (Elder brother, leave the Philippies. Our country is hopeless.) I did not share her pessimism then. But not now.

After EDSA 1 I was filled with great hopes for the country. But I was disappointed. I felt that we wasted the chance that God had given to us. Jim felt the same way: “I was tired and had no enthusiasm for any political activism. I felt a deep let-down then which lasts to this day. It dawned on me that we as a people apparently had not learned anything important even after EDSA1, and were squandering our opportunities for real change.”

After EDSA 2 I was encouraged again. I felt that God was giving us another chance. But we blew it. Jim had this to say: “There was EDSA 2 which kind of gave me second thoughts about leaving. But as things turned out, hope for change was very short-lived.”

“Kuya, umalis ka na sa Pilipinas. Wala nang pag-asa ang ating bayan.” My two other siblings have left the country since then. One to Australia (where Jim is bringing his family) and the other to the US. I am the only one remaining.

I love my country. I am happy to be Pinoy. But I am so ashamed to admit it: I have also given up hope for the Philippines.

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

On the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught (Mk 1:21-28)

Jesus entered the synagogue.

The Jews had only one temple, the temple in Jerusalem. Only there can sacrifices be offered. But they also had houses of prayer, the synagogue.

Elders were in charge of their administration. They were called rulers of the synagogue.

Every Saturday all male Jews gather in the synagogue. There they chant psalms and read passages from the Scripture. Sermons were also delivered. Any competent male could be invited to do this. It was in these instances that Jesus was able to preach in the synagogues.

He taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.

Scribes were men devoted to the study of the Law. They were addressed as "rabbi". They were not priests, but were held in high esteem. They were represented in the Sanhedrin, the highest governing religious body of the Jews. Many of them belonged to the party of the Pharisees. They drew out rules governing many details of daily life called traditions.

Rabbis stayed mostly in Jerusalem and had disciples to whom they imparted the Law and traditions. It was because of this that Jesus was called a rabbi.

Scribes only repeat, interpret and give the opinion of others. But Jesus teaches on his own authority. He says: "You have heard that it was said, "an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you this do not oppose evil for evil."

The fact that the evil spirits obey him is another sign of his authority.

In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit

Diabolical possession is a fact, although it is true that in Jesus' time many forms of sickness were associated with diabolical possession. Epilepsy was among them.

I know who you are – the Holy One of God!

Holiness is a divine attribute. The evil spirits recognize the divinity fo Jesus.

Quiet!

Why does Jesus forbid the evil spirits from revealing who he really was? The Jews had a wrong idea of the Messiah. They expected the Messiah to be a military leader and ruler like David. But Jesus was not that kind of Messiah and so he did not want to be identified as Messiah.

REFLECTION: THE SYNAGOGUE

We too have houses of prayer, our churches and our chapels. How do we treat our churches and chapels? Are they playgrounds for children? Are they marketplaces? Are they meeting places for lovers? Are they places for rest and sleep? Are they places for gossip?

Are they not sacred spaces dedicated and set aside for God to be with his children?

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

THE PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM
Mark 1:14-20

Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God.
It is the message coming from God which Jesus Christ brings. It is the message of salvation and it is this - it is God's intention to bring his Kingdom among us immediately.

This is the time of fulfilment.
Immediately after the fall, God made a promise to save mankind. And throughout the centuries, God worked toward the fulfillment of that promise. He, therefore, chose Abraham, then Jacob, and from him was born the Jewish people. And from the Jewish people came Jesus Christ, the promised One. And with Jesus the promse of so many centuries past was at last being fulfilled.

The Kingdom of God is at hand.
The good news is that finally the kingdom of god has been brought to this world. The Kingdom of God is not found in a certain place, as the Kingdom of Jordan is found in a certain place. The kingdom of God is found in the hearts of men because wherever God reigns, the Kingdom of god is there.

Repent, and believe in the gospel.
Or change your ways and believe in the good news. For God to reign in the hearts of men, two things must be done.

First, man must repent. Repentance means coming to one's senses. It involves a change of mind so that one deliberately turns away from sin in his heart in order to turn to God. This will in turn lead him to a change in behavior.

Second, there is need to accept the message of Jesus Christ, and ultimately, to accept Jesus Christ himself. Accepting Jesus means accepting him for who he is - God become man to offer us salvation. Accepting him means accepting what he offers us - forgiveness. Accepting him means accepting the new life he gives as a gift - son / daughter of God.

Sto Nino - January 8, 2006

The discovery of the Philippines is linked to Spain's glorious chain of conquests.

On September 20, 1519, a fleet of five galleons commanded by Portuguese Navigator Ferdinand Magellan at the service of the king and queen of Spain set sailed from San Lucar de Barrameda to search for the Spice Islands. They did not find the spice island; instead they landed in Limasawa, a small island south of Leyte in the central part of the Philippines. Magellan took possession of the islands and named it after King Philip of Spain.

Magellan's expedition headed for Cebu and found the island very hospitable. He made Cebu the base of his exploration, Christianization and conquests. King Humabon and Queen Juana of Cebu gave him a warm reception and embraced Christianity as well. As gratitude to his hospitality, Magellan agreed to fight with king Humabon who was at war with the neigboring tribe, Mactan. Unfortunately, Magellan was killed in the battle. His men returned to Spain, and that same expedition has set the record to be the first to circumnavigate the earth.

Spain sent another expedition to the Far East Region. An Augustinian priest, named Andres Urdaneta, a world-known cosmographer who lived inside the monastic walls of the Augustinian monastery in Mexico was summoned to lead the expedition. On November 21, a memorable expedition left Mexico for the Philippines and arrived in Cebu on April 27, 1565.

DISCOVERY OF THE IMAGE OF THE SANTO NINO

Because of Cebuanos suspicion that their return is bringing retribution to Magellan's death, another battle broke out. But heavy artilleries and huge cannons forced the natives to flee to the mountain leaving behind their villages burnt to the ground. As Spanish soldiers inspected the burnt village, one soldier found an image of the Child Jesus under the pile of ashes unscathed inside the wooden box.

Please refer to this website concerning the celebration of the Sto. Nino in Cebu > http://www.sinulog.ph/

Three Kings

A boy was asked who were the Three Kings. Without hesitation he answered: Chow King, Tapa King and Burger King. If you asked anyone from Marinduque, without hesitation, he would answer: Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar. You shouldn't be surprised because they have three small islands there named after the Three Kings.

EPIPHANY

The solemnity today, however, is not called the Solemnity of the Three Kings but the Solemnity of the Epiphany. What is being celebrated today is not the Three Kings but the manifestation of the King of Kings to the Three Kings. For manifestation or revelation is the meaning of the Greek word, epiphany.

JESUS IS SAVIOR OF ALL

This solemnity is important because it tells us that Jesus is the Savior of all. He is not just the Savior of the Jews. He is also the Savior of the Gentiles. He is not just the Savior of ignorant and poor people, like the shepherds. He is also the Savior of learned and well-to-do men, like the three Magi-Kings. Jesus is the Savior of all because all of us are sinners who can not save ourselves.

SEEKING JESUS

The three Magi-Kings left the comfort and security of their homes and country in search of Jesus. "Where is the new-born King of the Jews? We saw his start at its rising and have come to do him homage."

We too need to set out on a journey in search of Jesus in our lives. And we need to do so with the same urgency and desire as the magi-kings.

And as the song goes, we want to look for Jesus in order to see him more clearly, to love him more dearly and to follow him more nearly.

WHERE IS JESUS?

Where do we look for Jesus? Where did the Three Magi-Kings find Jesus? In a stable. Lying in a manger. If we look at the Belen (creche) we are struck first of all by the silence. We get an idea of the silence of that first Christmas night in the most popular Christmas carol is Silent Night, Holy Night.

Why is there silence? The clue is found by looking at all the characters. All of them are looking at Jesus with reverence. All of them give us the impression that they are all in prayer.

Where then do we find Jesus? In prayer.