Huebes Santo 2019

Kapatid, may pinagdadaanan ka ba? Naranasan mo na ba ang nagmahal, nasaktan at kahit ganoon pa man ang nangyari patuloy mo pa ring pinapaalala kung gaano mo sya kamahal? Kinalimutan mo ba ang iyong sarili sapagkat ang mahalaga sa iyo ay ang kapakanan ng minamahal mo? Nasaktan ka na ba dahil ang minahal mo ay nagawa pang talikuran ka kahit ibinigay mo na ang lahat ng makakaya mo para sa kanya? Naranasan mo ba na kahit ilang ulit ka na niyang sinaktan, ipinahamak at iniwan pilit mo pa ring pinapahiwatig sa kanya kung gaano mo siya kamahal na kaya mong hintayin ang araw na maaalala ka rin niya?

Kapatid, hindi ka nag-iisa. Ang karanasan mo ay siya ring naging karanasan ng ating Panginoong Hesus. Isang araw ng Huwebes noon, si Hesus at ang Kanyang mga mag-aaral ay nagtitipon-tipon sa isang silid para sa isang pagsasalo-salo. Pagkatapos nilang kumain ng hapunan, hinugasan ni Hesus ang mga paa ng Kanyang mga mag-aaral (John 13: 14-17). Ang akma ng paghuhugas ng paa ay di maituturing na kakaiba sapagkat nagawa na ito ni Abraham sa panahon niya (Genesis 18:4). Mababasa din sa Ebanghelyo ni San Lukas ( 7:44-47), na pinuri ni Hesus ang paghugas ng kanyang mga paa ng isang babae gamit ang kanyang mga luha upang basain ang mga ito at saka pinunasan gamit naman ng babae ang kanyang buhok. Sa Ebanghelyo din naman ni San Juan (12: 1-7), isinulat na hinugasan ni Maria Betania ang mga paa ni Hesus gamit ang isang mamahaling pabango at saka pinunasan ng kanyang buhok. Maaari nating sabihin na isang pangkaraniwang gawain lamang ang paghuhugas ng paa ayon sa Bibliya. Pero ano ba ang meron para gunitain natin ang paghuhugas ng paa ni Hesus sa Kanyang mga mag-aaral? Sa totoo lang hindi naman ang paghugas ng mga paa lang ang binibigyan natin ng diin sa araw na ito kundi higit sa lahat ang sinabi ni Hesus sa Kanyang mga mag-aaral kung bakit Niya hinugasan ang kanilang mga paa. Ang sabi ni Hesus, “Tinatatawag ninyo akong Guro, at Panginoon: at mabuti ang inyong sinasabi; sapagka’t ako nga. Kung ako nga, na Panginoon at Guro, ay naghugas ng inyong mga paa, kayo naman ay nararapat ding mangag-hugasan ng mga paa ng isa’t isa.” Mas lalong mauunawaan natin ang malalim na pananalita ni Hesus tungkol sa kahulugan ng paghuhugas ng mga paa kung pakinggan natin ang mga salitang ito ni Hesus, “Isang bagong utos ang sa inyo’y ibinibigay ko, na kayo’y mangag-ibigan sa isa’t isa: na kung paanong iniibig ko kayo; ay mangag-ibigan naman kayo sa isa’t isa.” Sa maikling salita, ang paghuhugas ni Hesus ng mga paa ng kanyang mga mag-aaral ay isang pagsasalarawan ng kanyang dakilang pagmamahal. Si Hesus na isang Panginoon, ang nag-iisang anak ng Diyos, pinaglingkuran ang kanyang mga mag-aaral kahit na sila ay mga tao lamang. Si Hesus na anak ng Diyos ay handang maglingkod nang may kapakumbabaan at walang pagtatangi sa ngalan ng pag-ibig kahit sila ay mga tao lamang.

Pero ano ang isinukli ng kanyang mga mag-aaral sa ipinamalas Niyang dakilang pagmamahal? Ipinagkanulo ni Hudas si Hesus. Ikinaila naman ni Pedro si Hesus ng tatlong beses. Nagduda si Tomas na muling mabuhay si Hesus. Naglaho na parang bula naman ang ibang mga mag-aaral ni Hesus habang siya ay nililitis, pinahirapan at pinatawan ng parusang kamatayan batay sa mga bintang lamang laban ng mga ayaw sa Kanya.

Alin po ba ang mas masakit? Ang ipako si Hesus sa Krus o yong iwanan siya ng mga minahal niyang mag-aaral na nag-iisa? Ayon sa Ebanghelyo ni San Mateo (26:56), “Nang magkagayon, iniwan siya ng mga alagad at sila ay tumakas.” Di po ba mas nadagdagan pa ang sakit kung tinakasan ka ng mahal mo sa buhay kung kailan hirap na hirap ka na nga sa mga pinagdadaanan mo at ang kinakailangan mo ay isang karamay? Di po ba ang sagwang tingnan na namuhay ang mga mag-aaral ni Hesus sa loob ng tatlong taon na kasama siya at nakilahok pa sa Kanyang mga himala at kapurihan, ngunit sa kabila nito, walang nangahas sa kanilang tulungan siya na buhatin ang kaniyang krus? Sa Ebanghelyo ni San Marcos (15:21), isinulat na kinakailangan pang pilitin si Simon na taga Cirene na samahan at pasanin niya ang krus ni Hesus. Nasaan na ang mga tinulungan ni Hesus? Nasaan na ang mga pinagaling ni Hesus? Nasaaan na ang mga minahal ni Hesus? Marahil masasabi na nga natin na si Hesus ay nagmahal ngunit nasaktan.

Pero hindi sa pagkabigo natatapos ang pagmamahal ni Hesus. Alam niya ang kahinaan ng kanyang mga mag-aaral. Alam niya na masasaktan siya sa pagtalikod sa kanya ng kanyang mga mag-aaral. Gayon pa man hangad niyang ipa-alala sa kanila na mahal na mahal niya sila. Ito ay nasaikatuparan sa tuwing ginaganap ang paggunita sa Huling Hapunan kung saan sinabi ni Hesus, “Gawin ninyo ito sa pag-aala-ala sa akin” at kung saan din sinabi niya, “Ang sarong ito’y ang bagong tipan sa aking dugo, na nabubuhos nang dahil sa inyo” (Lukas 22:19-20). Ang Huling Hapunan ay nagsilbing tanda sa mga mag-aaral ni Hesus na handa siyang magpatawad sa kanila bago pa man din sila magkasala sa kanya. Ipinadarama ni Hesus tuwing ginugunita ang Huling Hapunan na ang pagmamahal niya ay mas higit pa sa pinakamalaking kasalanan nagawa laban sa kanya. Si Hesus ay nagmahal, nasaktan at kahit ganoon pa man ang nangyari patuloy niya pa ring pinapaalala kung gaano niya kamahal ang lahat. Iiwanan lang siya pero hindi siya ang mang-iiwan. Masasaktan lang siya pero patuloy siyang magmamahal.

Kapatid, may pinagdadaanan ka ba? Nagmahal at nasaktan ka rin ba gaya ni Hesus? Napapagod ka na ba sa iyong buhay? Ngayong Huwebes Santo, pinapa-ala-ala sa iyo ni Hesus na mahal na mahal ka nya at tandaan mong hinding hindi ka mag-iisa sapagka't sa iyo ay sasabihin niya:

Huwag kang mangamba, ‘di ka nag-iisa. Sasamahan kita, saan man magpunta. Ika’y mahalaga sa ‘King mga mata. Minamahal kita. Minamahal kita.

3rd Sunday pf Lent ( C )

One day, as a small child, Thomas Edison came home from school and gave a paper to his mother. He said to her “Mom, my teacher gave this paper to me and told me only you are to read it. What does it say?”

Her eyes welled with tears as she read the letter out loud to her child …

“Your son is a genius. This school is too small for him and doesn’t have good enough teachers to train him. Please teach him yourself.”

Many years after Edison’s mother had died, he became one of the greatest inventors of the century.

One day he was going through a closet and he found the folded letter that his old teacher wrote his Mother that day. He opened it …

The message written on the letter was “Your son is mentally deficient. We cannot let him attend our school anymore. He is expelled.”

Edison became emotional reading it and then wrote in his diary:

“Thomas A. Edison was a mentally deficient child whose mother turned him into the genius of the Century.”

My dear friends, this story makes us reflect that in giving one person a chance, change for the better may happen to his life. This is somehow the teaching which our Gospel from Luke 13:1-9 tells us too when Jesus taught those who surrounded him how God gave chances to people who are spiritually deficient and even called public sinners. It is said that there were people who told Jesus how they judged and condemned the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. But Jesus answered them that it is not how God judges people. Despite their weakness and sinfulness, God gives chances to people to change their ways for the better. This is clear in the parable which Jesus used to illustrate how God judges his people saying, “Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” We are reminded then by this Gospel that as long as we live, we take this as a chance to improve our lives especially our spiritual lives. Amen.

Raisa and Earl's Wedding

God provides. He knows what we want in life and gives us what we need. God provides us every person and everything in our life not because we truly deserve them but because He loves us. Jesus Himself told us this, “As the Father loves me so I love you.”

Whether we pray or not, God loves us and He still provides us the same sunshine and rain which everybody receives. Whether we pray with general or with specific petition, God provides what is best for us. Yet, we still need to pray. Though we may not get all what we want, through prayers, we may dispose ourselves to accept whatever and whoever God provides us in life.

Raisa and Earl, you know how God provides you to each other. Earl, you asked your cousin to get you a beautiful pair for her wedding entourage and so it came true. Raisa, you specifically prayed to God to give you the man of your dream, and so it came true. Both your prayers were granted by God not just because you deserve them but because God loves you.

God loves you that it so happened almost five years ago, you first met each other during a wedding. Your first meeting in a wedding now ends up here in your own wedding. You are together again in a wedding entourage, but here and now, it is already your wedding entourage.

Raisa and Earl, if you believe that God loves you and provides you to each other as a lifetime partner, stay together in His love. You stay together in His love when you pray together. You stay together in love if you pray for each other.

Remain in God’s love by keeping His commandments. It is by remaining in God’s love that your joy today shall be made complete. Remember Jesus said this, “Remain in my love. I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”

Raisa and Earl, now that you become fully aware how God loves you as He provides you to each other as a gift, let your marriage be your gift to God. Let your marriage be a sign of God’s love in this world where true love is scarce. Raisa and Earl, be God’s instruments to tell the world there is love that is meant to be forever because nothing is impossible for God. May God bless you as a newly-wedded couple.

Simbang Gabi 2018

If the topic is about pregnancy, we can hear many stories about it. Stories such as when a husband learns his wife is pregnant, he is happy. If it is his querida, it is a problem. If a teenager son brings home a pregnant girl, it is ok but if it is a teenager daughter who gets pregnant, it is a big no –no! If it is the awaited firstborn, the husband is excited, but if it is the tenth child already, he is disappointed. If it is his first baby boy he cuddles him, but if his children are all boys, then he looks for a daughter. If a wife is naglilihi, the husband should give his attention to her. If she likes balut, it will produce a hairy child. If she likes dinuguan dish, it will cause one’s baby to be dark. If she likes lanzones, it will bring a fair and smooth-skinned baby. Members of the family also would watch the shape of a woman’s stomach; for a pointed tummy it means it is a boy. But if it is rounded then it is a girl. If the mother is pretty during pregnancy, she will have a daughter. If the mother looks gross and her armpits dark, she will most definitely produce a son.

My dear friends in Christ, in talking about pregnancy, Joseph and Mary had their own story. We know from the Bible that Joseph was about to abandon Mary in secret upon knowing she was already pregnant before their marriage. Mary’s life was exposed to dangers when she accepted God’s will to bear His only Son Jesus and was about to be left alone by Joseph. In addition, Jesus, the son of God who became man was born in a place where animals lived. Yet, the drama of pregnancy finally closed with a happy ending. Mary and Joseph found happiness after all. First, happiness for Mary and Joseph could be found in ordinary things like in giving birth to a child. One does not need to look for some spectacular events in order to be happy. It is enough to see God in ordinary things and be happy with His presence. Next, Mary and Joseph found happiness for being a family –a father and mother with their child. It is by living in harmony with his or her family that one can be happy. No doubt it is still true until this day that there is no place like home. Lastly, happiness was found by Mary and Joseph not so much in doing something but in being there for each other. Our “belen” expresses this feeling as we can see the image of shepherds, the magi and the couple, Mary and Joseph are all there for Jesus as Jesus, the son of God is there for them too. Today, we pray for all the men and women who are expecting for their baby to come, for all the fathers and mothers who have given birth to their children, and for all the parents who at present raise their children. We pray that they can all find happiness especially in promoting and protecting life this Christmas season.

Simbang Gabi 2018

A doctor told a pregnant woman that it was too risky for her to deliver her baby given her health condition. It was found out that she had a kidney problem. The doctor advised her to go for abortion because he could not guarantee whether he could save both the lives of the mother or of the baby during the delivery. The mother insisted that if ever the doctor would make a choice, he should save the baby rather than her. She would rather face death to let her child live. Fortunately, both lives were saved. It was all attributed to the hands of God and to the skills employed by the doctor.

My dear friends, this story tells us about what a mother is. First, a mother is a life-sharer. A mother has to risk her life just to give life to her child. Mama Mary did the same. Even if she knew she would be stoned to death because she got pregnant before the time she would be taken by Joseph as his wife, she said yes to God. She accepted the will of God to be the mother of His only son. Second, a mother is a love-giver. No matter how a child behaves towards his/her mother, the latter cannot but just respond with love. Mama Mary always loved Jesus even during the time she could not understand why Jesus decided to stay in the temple for three days. Lastly, a mother is the Lord’s messenger. If a mother is prayerful and she teaches her child to pray with her, the child will grow up cautious of the feeling of his/her mother. As the child loves his/her mother, he/she will not give any reason to make his/her mother sad. Just like Mama Mary and St. Joseph who brought Jesus to the temple before God, any good mother will lead her child to the path of righteousness.

We pray then during this Christmas season, for all the mothers who sacrificed their personal ambitions and comfort for the sake of bearing and rearing their children. We pray and thank God for giving as our mothers who give us life and let us live. May all the mothers learn the way of Mama Mary in raising her son Jesus. Amen.

Simbang Gabi 2018

A husband comes home drunk and breaks some crockery; vomits and falls down on the floor. His wife pulls him up and cleans everything. On the next day when he gets up he expects her to be really angry with him. He prays that they should not have a fight. He finds a note near the table… “Honey, your favorite breakfast is ready on the table, I had to leave early to buy grocery. I’ll come running back to you, my love. I love you. … ” He gets surprised and asks his son, “What happened last night..?” His son told him, “When mom pulled you to bed and tried removing your boots and shirt you were dead drunk and you said ‘Hey Lady! Leave me alone… I am married !!!’”

My dear friends in Christ, how many fathers are there who make their family happy? Being a father is not just about fulfilling one’s social or personal role but it is by embracing the vocation which God has given him. By so doing, he makes his family happy.

Being a father means being chosen by God. Not all can become a father unless God chooses him to be one. In our Gospel, (Matthew 1:18-25), Joseph wanted to leave Mary upon knowing that she bears in her womb the son of God. But God himself did not allow Joseph to leave Mary. God through his messenger revealed the vocation of Joseph to be the human father of Jesus.

Being a father means to be consecrated, i.e., separated from among others. Once a man becomes a father, he is called to leave behind his bachelor’s life and take his responsibility over his family. A father should embrace his vocation like what Joseph did even at the point of risking his life. It is nice to see some fathers who spend their Christmas vacation with their families rather than with anybody else.

Being a father means to be committed. Fathers who are committed recognize their essential role in loving their families. They make their house a home where as fathers they protect and take care of their household members. They live and die as good fathers of their families.

We pray then during this Christmas season, all fathers would lead their families in praying to God. May all the fathers learn the way of St. Joseph in loving their families.

Department of Trade and Industry 2018 On Values

Values are something desirable. This could mean one may not value what is undesirable. This could also mean that there are no negative values but only wrong usage/uses of them. How about the one you love? Is there anything desirable from him or her that you value him or her? Well, we can understand this if we understand the nature of values. Moreover, it is said that we, Filipinos, reason more with our hearts than with our minds.

A person with values positively believes that certain patterns of behaviour or modes of conduct are personally and socially preferable to other patterns or modes of conduct. Such preference serves as a guide for making decisions or choices. Values are best expressed in the actions we do and understood in the events we experience. In the case, Aowa Electronic Philippines, Inc. vs DTI-NCR, G.R. NO. 189655, 2011 one may see two different values in the seller and in the buyer/consumer as the ponente of the case wrote: “In these trying times, when fly-by-night establishments and syndicates proliferate all over the country, lurking and waiting to prey on innocent consumers, and ganging up on them like a pack of wolves with their sugar-coated sales talk and false representations disguised as overzealous marketing strategies, it is the mandated duty of the Government, through its various agencies like the DTI, to be wary and ready to protect each and every consumer. To allow or even tolerate the marketing schemes such as these, under the pretext of promotional sales in contravention of the law and its existing rules and regulations, would result in consumers being robbed in broad daylight of their hard earned money. This court shall not countenance these pernicious acts at the expense of consumers.” Aowas’ representatives just wanted the money of their customers while the buyers/consumers wanted the giveaways or gifts. Nevertheless, both choices of action have value components.

The most common Filipino term for value is halaga. Halaga refers to the worth we give to something or someone. But there are competent authorities who scholarly used the term pamantayan instead of the term halaga. Why? Value is a “standard” on the basis of which one recognizes, expresses and evaluates behaviour as right or wrong, correct or incorrect, etc., Pamantayan is then the most appropriate term for value being a “standard”. Pamantayan comes from the root word pantay which means at the “same level or aligned”. It is walang labis, walang kulang. Behaving in line with what is acceptable is much preferred to deviating from it. Thus, we can say nasa tamang katayuan tayo as we stand for what is true, beautiful, good and right. Without a standard, it would be difficult to decide what is important and what is not, what is right and what is wrong, what we ought to do and what we ought not to do in certain situations.

Pamantayan is composed of three elements or value systems: halaga, asal and diwa. Halaga (price) is more of extrinsic in its nature; it is evaluative. It creates an image of relevance, importance, and significance in the things we do. This is why we consider certain objects valuables and others not; we uphold certain principles but not others. Here we say tama or mali (right or wrong) in our decisions and actions. Look at the case of Emmanuel B. Moran, Jr. vs Office of the President of the Philippines, as represented by the Honorable Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita and PGA Cars, Inc., G.R. No. 192957. The case itself outlived the original complainant/petitioner. He was substituted by his widow, Concordia who raised the issue before the Supreme Court. The court eventually upheld a DTI ruling holding a car dealer liable for the defects of a brand new vehicle a consumer bought for 3.3 million in 2003. The court’s decision was made only in 2014. The length of time spent by both parties for this case especially by the petitioner reveals the halaga of what her deceased husband was fighting for.

Asal (character) is intrinsic in its nature; it is expressive. It serves as the fundamental basis of our way of valuing –be it interpersonal, emotional, or moral. It is a standard for recognizing and expressing proper behaviour. Here we say there is mabuti or masama (good or bad) in one’s character or manners or right conduct. People are rejected or accepted according to their asal (kabubut-on or kulay). Asal as one of the three elements is applicable only to human behaviour. It is limited to the expressive nature of character. In the case of Autozentrum Alabang, Inc., vs Spouses Miamar A. Bernardo and Genaro F. Bernardo, Jr., DTI, Asian Carmakers Corporation, and Bayerishe Motoren Werke (BMW) A.G., GR No. 214122, 2016, Autozentrum, the petitioner claimed that the spouses Bernardo failed to prove the elements of deceit or misrepresentation under Article 50, and injury under Article 97 of RA 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines) but the Supreme Court noted that DTI and the Court of Appeals both found that it sold to the couple a defective and used car, instead of a brand new one. The Court was convinced there was clearly a fraud on the part of the seller. This case does not just dwell on the halaga (price) of the vehicle but also of the asal (character) of the seller.

Diwa is psychic in nature; it is spiritual. When it is mentioned that diwa is spiritual, it refers to those contexts and meanings in cultural values and practices that are believed to be true and accepted as correct such that they do not need any explanation at all. These include beliefs in the influence of natural and supernatural powers over human affairs. It provides inner strength and meaning to life. Without which, life becomes meaningless and all the things we do lose their significance. Here we say malinis or makasalanan (virtuous/good or evil). With diwa, one is strengthened and made capable to deal patiently with all kinds of problems in life. It is the soul of the people.

Major reference:

Jocano, F. Landa, Anthropology of the Filipino People IV: Filipino Value System (A Cultural Definition), Quezon City: PUNLAD Research House, Inc., 1997.