10th Heart Beat
FROM A MERE SPECTATOR TO BEING INVOLVED
I am looking forward to the Feast of Nuestra Señora dela Candelaria on February 2. You see, I have been away for seven years and there’s a sense of anticipation in my heart to witness the festivity which I used to enjoy before. When I was still in Manila, I would only hear news from people who vaguely described the event, making me swear with regret that it could’ve been better if I was actually present to witness the celebration.
As I count the days, I can’t help but remember those fond memories I had years ago, when I indulged myself with the hustle and bustle of the entire district. Jaro fiesta will always be associated with tourists, devotees, and guests barging into the cathedral doors in order to attend the Eucharistic celebration; The Perdon candles that are being sold like hotcakes at the right side of the parish compound; The “Palapak” where some old folks would ask you to have their clothes, hankies and even their entire body blessed by the image of Our Lady; The 4:00 p.m. traditional procession that temporarily stops the usual 360 degrees rotation of the earth from its axis as people from all walks of life pause for a while and witness not just the opulence but the religiosity of the Jareños; The “Halad kay Maria” where a teenage girl would stand at the balcony before the awaiting crowd, recite the often difficult lines in Spanish, and later express the believing community’s devotion to Our Lady in a crisp yet understated inflection which is typical of Ilonggos; The annual carnival and the agro-industrial fair that never ceased to delight one’s discriminating senses, obliging him to do some haggling for the many good finds that caught his attention; The coronation of the festival queen where it is usually attended by prominent figures in politics and society; And of course, the overflowing food and drinks that are being served in every homes, conveying the message “Dali, silud lang! Ka-on ta kay namit ang amon handa para sa inyo!” (Come in! Let’s eat the sumptuous food we have prepared just for you!) to visitors and passers-by.
These are the things that kept on recurring in my reminiscence and I can’t help but smile at those experiences that seemed to be very significant for me. They are so vivid that I am being drifted flaccidly in memory lane. Even though the activities are still the same, something new is being unfolded as I also grow in my discernment and appreciation for the festivity. Perhaps, this pondering was made possible when I actually became a part of the preparations, particularly in the Pilgrimage of Our Lady to different barangays. I have seen for myself the willingness of people in accepting the “Urna”[i] of Our Lady in their houses, challenged by the fact that it is not just purely “devotional” but an effort to establish small Christian communities united in faith, hope and love. It is a lasting proof that our devotion to Nuestra Señora dela Candelaria is not born out of sheer fanaticism, but an expression of our affection and gratefulness to Mama Mary, who by her acceptance to carry Jesus in her womb, has brought into this world the Savior which we all have been waiting for. It’s nice to know that there are earnest faithful in our parish that have accepted Mary in the confines of their humble homes. It is indeed an indication that we have grown in our faithfulness and commitment as a community, that we do not just limit ourselves to the celebration itself and lost our sense of identity along the way because we are too overwhelmed by the many fusses of this revered event.
As we celebrate yet another fiesta, may we always be reminded that we are a church and a community united not just in the enticements brought about by the festivity, but we are always invited to gather around the person of Jesus Christ, trying our very best to live in virtue as we follow his footsteps that usher us toward holiness and communion, through the guiding light of Mama Mary. Our faith should not only be expressed in familiar prayers and devotions, it should also be witnessed in our own examples, in our own lives.
“In the waters of baptism, we are reminded that we are not born in a vacuum, nor do we journey entirely alone (although loneliness is part of the burden). Being reborn, being made alive, involves being born into a community. So there are strings attached to this adventure. Far from being the spiritual journey of the solitary individual in search of God, it drags people, a church, a nation, the human race, along with it” [ii]
Happy Fiesta to all! Viva la Virgen de la Candelaria!
[i] For the benefit of those who haven’t read last week’s CL issue: An “URNA” is actually an image of Our Lady of Candles encased in a wooden box. This is usually lent to the member-baranggays of the parish with the purpose of creating “CELDAS”. A “celda” should have at least fifteen (15) households wherein the image will be transferred every night and the household who will accommodate the “urna” of Our Lady should pray the Holy Rosary. This has been on-going through the years but the parish is now reintroducing the routine with the purpose of creating Basic Ecclesial Communities. Aside from praying the Rosary, the “celda” shouldalso schedule a weekly faith sharing at the house of a family where the “urna” is situated.
[ii] Alan Jones, Journey into Christ, p. 53
9th Heartbeat
“NOYPI”
On January 22, 2009, we started the Annual Pilgrimage in preparation for the Fiesta Celebration of our Parish. Our first stop was Brgy. Desamparados and we started everything with an interactive game- we divided them into three groups and we asked them to build a church using the materials we indicated in the proceedings of the game. We were so happy with the outcome of the activity because we came up with significant learnings that coincided with the invitation we presented to the participating families who committed themselves to receive the “urna”[1]. It is actually an initiative of the parish to establish basic ecclesial communities as we head on to the realization of our three-year pastoral program.
Looking back, I can’t help but recall those experiences I had in the parish where I was assigned several years ago. Indeed, the establishment of BEC became an avenue where people rediscovered faith, hope and love in their personal lives and these were made possible through our weekly faith sharing. I have mentioned before in my column that I was assigned in a slum area somewhere in Novaliches and I’d like to share one significant apostolate experience that awakened my senses to the importance of having a Basic Ecclesial Community in a particular baranggay.
This is what I wrote in my weekly ministry log:
July 23, 2006
The Philippine music scene is now having a “renaissance” with the rise of novelty/alternative bands whose songs reflect the artist’s view on life, love and survival. These became an instant hit for most Filipinos because one could easily identify himself with the lyrics. I personally like “Noypi” by Bamboo since it is very patriotic and timely especially nowadays where most of us are rather apathetic toward the condition of our country. More so, my experiences in the ministry would also affirm the core message of the song.
Tingnan mo iyong palad
Kalyado mong kamay sa hirap ng buhay
Ang dami mong problema, nakuha mo pang ngumiti
Noypi ka nga, astig
We arrived at the parish earlier despite the heavy rains. I was confident this time because I have prepared well for our usual BEC prayer session. When we arrived at the area, we waited for some group members to arrive and I had a hearty conversation with one of the coordinators. She was telling me about her struggles in life and how she managed to survive despite the many problems she encountered. She wasn’t able to attend last week’s session because she accompanied her siblings to Tanay, Rizal in order to check their ailing father. She admitted to me that in the past, they had a lot of grievances against him, but seeing him after long years of separation was enough to alleviate the hurts and the pains. I was inspired by her story because it was all about forgiveness and reconciliation. During our sharing, I asked the group to recall those instances where they learned how to sacrifice in order to uphold something which they truly value in their lives. I was happy because they were getting more spontaneous compared to the previous weeks. One particular testimony caught my attention. A woman, probably in her late forties shared to the group the recent ordeals in her family. She and her husband have no means of living. Her eldest son, who assumed the responsibility of being the breadwinner, got sick of an unexplainable disease. She wanted him to have a medical check up and be admitted in a hospital but they don’t have money to pay the bills. They were even having difficulties in sustaining their everyday food table. The only consolation she got was the support given to her by her neighbors, who at times, offer her some goods like food and clothes. Another story that struck me was the one told by the secretary of the group whose life was torn by the frequent arguments of her parents, which turned out to be very physical because in the latter, they were already beaten up harshly either by their father or mother. Although this time, she was able to free herself from the agony by leaving their place in Samar, nevertheless, the memories would still haunt her. Her consolation at the moment was her job as a factory worker that helped her make ends meet.
Upon listening to their stories, I thought all the while that the session would end up emotionally draining but I was bit surprised that they haven’t lost their cheerful mood, showing me that optimism that their experiences may be harrowing but it didn’t define their future. They just “charged it to experience”. I was deeply moved when they said that they were fully aware of their situation yet they never lost hope. Probably, this is the reason why they can still manage to smile, proof that we Filipinos value life so much that we find means of maintaining our joy amidst the sorrows. No wonder, we were considered as one of the happiest people on this planet because at times, instead of drowning ourselves with despair and misery, we can only laugh at our problems. I know that this reality has its own negative implications, but placing it in a proper context could teach one how to find meaning in his or her existence. I believe that the lyrics I’ve placed above are very appropriate for what is happening in our society.
Sinisid ko ang dagat, nalibot ko ang mundo
Nasa puso ko pala hinahanap kong pulo
Ilang beses na akong muntikang mamatay
Alam ko ang sikreto kaya’t nandito pa’t buhay
Sabi daw nila may anting-anting ako
Pero ‘di nila alam na ang Diyos ang dahilan ko
It is very striking on my part that profound faith in God has always been the battle cry of those who shared their experiences in the group. It is inspiring to hear testimonies on how their sad plights have encouraged them to establish deep relationship with the Father. They were telling me that somehow, prayer was responsible in preserving their sanities although there were instances that they were on the verge of losing everything. This conviction made me affirm that we Filipinos are indeed very religious people, not for the reason that we are always present in most church liturgies and devotions, but God becomes real as the problems we face each day and we cling to Him in times when we could no longer hold ourselves. We have always believed that God has this magnanimous and abiding force that moves us beyond our physicality and we turn to Him when the going gets rough.
Looking back at my various experiences in the apostolate, I still have a lot of reasons to be thankful for being born in this country imbued with rich cultural and religious heritage. Our history would attest that we have endured so much. The strife still persists. However, at the end of the day, though confronted with so much turmoil in the government and society , aggravated by various reactions of people toward the current status of Philippine economy and politics, I continue to give myself a deep sigh and say; “I’m still proud to be a NOYPI”…
[1]An “urna” is actually an image of Our Lady of Candles encased in a wooden box. This is usually lent to the member-baranggays of the parish with the purpose of creating “celdas”. A “celda” should have at least fifteen (15) households wherein the image will be transferred every night and the household who will accommodate the “urna” of Our Lady should pray the Holy Rosary. This has been on-going through the years but the parish is now introducing an innovation. Aside from praying the Rosary, the “celda” shouldalso schedule a weekly faith sharing at the house of a family where the “urna” is situated.
8th Hearbeat
THE HEART OF TOTO FIEL
I have always wanted to write something about my 7-year old nephew, Fiel. Just like any child of his age, he is known for his innocence, playfulness, and curiosity. But what sets him apart from the rest is his cheekiness, wherein at times, you will get confused whether he really meant what he said or it’s just a part of his gullibility. He can be brutally frank that you’d be embarrassed with his usual quips about certain things that caught his attention. Last week, when I said mass at the wake of my relative who died of complications due to his old age, Fiel went inside the house to look for candies. After a while, he approached the daughter and complained, “Puro kahang inyo dulsi, waay gid ti tam-is?” We laughed profusely when we were told about it. He just smiled at us, wondering why we made a fuss over his blatant assertion. I could sense that there was a protest obstinately taking place inside his head. If only he could reason out as an adult before us, he would’ve blurted out, “Hey, what’s wrong with my statement? I’m just being honest!!!”
A child will always be naive no matter how hard you try to objectify things. He is guided by his belief in such a way that he puts his heart into it. He sees life as a continuous search for meaning, hence he would rely on his vulnerability, eager to grasp the hands of those whom he thought would direct him to what is authentic or reliable. His inquisitiveness is not born out of his convoluted reason. He simply wants to unfold, discover and learn the many ways of the world. This is perhaps the explanation why Jesus became indignant towards his disciples when they rebuked those enthusiastic children who wanted to see and touch him. We have an irony here. The kingdom of God does not belong to those who are strong, powerful, and learned. Rather, Jesus offers it to those who are incapable, defenceless, and weak.
Vulnerability is the word. While the rest of us are engaging ourselves in a power struggle, opposing each other to claim the coveted title of who will be the greatest, the mightiest, and the best, Jesus would simply invite us to be susceptible to the magnanimity of the graces offered by his Almighty Father. While science and technology continue to expand the way we perceive life’s seemingly complicated mechanisms, Jesus would want us to take things in its purity and live our lives with an unadulterated cheerfulness. While we exhaust ourselves with endless theories to explain those whom we consider mysterious, unimaginable, and “too awful for words”, Jesus would only require us to possess that heart of a child who is able to recognize and accept the honest-to-goodness fundamentals of human existence.
Even if sometimes, I am annoyed by the naivety and the outspokenness of my nephew, I have learned so much from his self-effacing disposition. He has taught me to go back to what is basic, especially if my mind and heart are shrouded by my never-ending inklings on the things I should do in order that I may be sensible before the world. There were times that I thought I was invincible, only to find out later on that my insistence in trying to get hold of things whole and entire has brought me to staggering failures and disappointments.
One last story about Fiel (I am not supposed to include this because I fear it might ruin the coherent flow of thoughts but I let myself be muddled as I set aside my reason for a while so I can indulge myself to what is simple and true). When my sister left for Hong Kong, my poor, little nephew was devastated and you can really tell how he longed for his Mama. One time, my sister called and talked to him. In all honesty, he told her: “Ma, puli ka lang di, biskan one day lang; Sige na ma, please!” It was a heart-wrenching moment for all of us at home. My sister cried so hard that she never finished their conversation. It was an enduring testimony of a child’s unconditional love for his mother. I was stunned by my nephew’s purity of heart—so weak yet so passionate, so vulnerable yet so spirited.
If there’s one resilient bastion of faith, hope and love when everything else fails in this life, it would have to be the heart of a child.
7th Heartbeat
Kuya Noel and Ate Salve are the kindest and most thoughtful couple I’ve ever met. They are like my parents, ever supportive of my seminary formation. Once in a while, they try to communicate with me, sending me heart warming quotes and stories through text or e-mail. Somehow, it’s a way of keeping ourselves connected despite the fact that we’re miles and hugs away from each other. One particular story which I like most was the one they sent me several days ago. I didn’t mind it at first, but just when I needed an inspiration to write something for this column, the story speaks so much of the things that I have to say. Allow me to share this with you:
Ask yourself the question: Would you run after you read this???
Imagine this happening to you.
One Sunday morning during the Eucharist, a 2,000 member congregation was surprised to see two men enter the church. Both of them were covered from hand to toe in black and carrying submachine guns. One of them proclaimed, “Anyone willing to take a bullet for Christ remain where you are!” Immediately the choir fled. The deacons fled. Most of the congregation fled. Out of the 2,000, there only remained 20. The man who had spoken took off his hood, He then looked at the preacher and said, “Okay, Father, I got rid of all the hypocrites. Now you may begin your celebration. Have a nice day!” And the two men turned and walked out of the church.
Yes, it’s a funny anecdote. If I were to place myself on the shoes of those in the congregation, I could’ve panicked ridiculously and drove myself bonkers. But the message of the story is very compelling; it’s a telltale of what is going on in our society, in our community, and in our church nowadays. Ever heard of the term “Cafeteria Christianity”? Actually, it is a derogatory term used to describe some of our brothers and sisters who don’t have profound convictions about their faith in God. To explain this further, let’s put it this way:
You get inside a cafeteria. You see a lot of food and drinks. You are overwhelmed by your own cravings that you are having difficulty in choosing what sandwich, pasta, dessert or soda you are going to eat or drink. You say to yourself, “Geez! If only I could get all of them!” Concupiscence of the eyes. But in the end, you have to limit yourself with your ultimate choices, selecting those that will truly satisfy your gusto. Your are guided by the principle of “pick and decide on”, after which you go out of the line and immediately proceed to the dining table of the cafeteria.
At times, this “cafeteria” phenomenon is evident in the way we own up our belief. Cafeteria Christianity implies that an individual’s professed faith is actually a substitute for his personal opinions rather than an authentic understanding of Christian doctrine. Like those menu being displayed on the cafeteria counter, our faith in God is taken in for the reason of preference, not of assurance. Hence, we are easily shattered by the many distressing events that are happening in our personal lives, in our family, in our community, in our country and even in the world. We immediately shut ourselves from the doctrines of the Church and keep under lock and key in our own skepticism.
The Baptism of Jesus is a constant reminder for us to recover what was lost by our lack of faith. By virtue of our own Baptism, we are invited to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ, for it is the very reason why we are called “Christians”. What was narrated in the Gospel of Mark is not just an isolated event in the past; it is on-going and will persist to strike a chord in our hearts, impaired by our shallow interpretation of God’s word and of our Christian convictions. Pope Benedict XVI made a very persuasive statement regarding this growing trend among Christians today: “Being an adult means having a faith which does not follow the waves of today’s fashions or the latest novelties. A faith which is deeply rooted in friendship with Christ is adult and mature.” Maturity in faith can only be measured in terms of the depth of our relationship with God and it will simply radiate in the way we see and comprehend things around us. When that time comes, we can probably say to ourselves that we have a faith that could move mountains.
May we learn to stand up for our Christian faith. Amen.
6th Heartbeat
CARPE DIEM!!!!!
“Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart;
For God has, long ago, approved what you do.
Let your garments always be white; do not let oil be lacking on your head.
Enjoy life with the one whom you love, all the days of your vain life that are given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 9:7-9)
When I was young, I used to do a lot of crazy stuffs on the eve of December 31. ..
Folly # 1: I was told that I should always wear my new clothes as the New Year approaches to increase the chance of receiving more new clothes for the rest of year. At times, I would nag my mother to buy me a shirt or a pair of pants so that I have something to flaunt and at the same time, I will be able to cater to my fancy that there might be generous souls who will send gifts in the course of twelve months. As time evolved, my interest slowly rankled because I had to wake up to the certainty that life is hard and generosity is relative because a person’s capacity to give is sometimes dependent on what you see inside his pocket and what you hear about the economic status of the country. Nemo dat quod non habet. Put simply, “You cannot give what you do not have…”
Folly # 2: People in our neighborhood would entice me to jump profusely over the air before the clock strikes twelve on New Year’s Eve if I want to gain few inches in height. I was so naive then that I religiously followed what they told me. For the longest time, I just kept on jumping, desperate that I would be a bit taller than what I expected. But nothing seemed to happen as years passed by. It was more of a hoax. The attempt didn’t add anything to my stature but only made my Gastrocnemius Muscle (I had to check the medical encyclopaedia for this term in order to be exact; It is actually a superficial muscle located at the back part of the lower leg) looked broader. Sad to say that until this very moment, I’m still in my 5 feet, 5 inches frame.
Folly # 3: My folks at home would tell me that if I want something to consistently persist in my life, I have to rehearse it by the onset of New Year’s Day. Superstitions would claim that if I do the suggested dummy run (even just for once!), it will immediately turn out to be a part of my daily routine because of an unexplainable force of nature that will eventually make things happen, without me exerting so much effort. I know I have all the means of deducing this silly idea by arguing on the validity of the matter, but I gave in (for the heck of it!) because I wanted to accomplish my fixations the easy way. Hence, the supernatural became an excuse for my mediocrity. Later on, I’ve realized that charm and false notion had nothing to do with the attainment of my aspirations. I really have to work for it painstakingly because I cannot always rely on my luck in order to get things done.
Am I curbing your enthusiasm? Not at all. Inasmuch as we have to stick with the age-old traditions or observe those superstitious beliefs handed on by our forefathers, at times, we just have to look at the mirror and convince ourselves that reality bites! This world continuously confronts us with so many legitimacies about our human existence that we usually end up slapping our own faces, impelling ourselves to wake up from our own madness and look at life from the viewpoint of truthfulness, honesty and integrity.
So what can we expect from ourselves and from the people around us this 2009? We can come up with our own delusions from the trickeries of old or write a long list of New Year’s Day resolutions but there is one practical suggestion which I believe should affect every mindset of those who desperately want to have a grip of their own lives: CARPE DIEM! This may sound Greek for most, but to somebody who doesn’t want to end up his or her life having regrets for what should’ve, could’ve, and would’ve been, this Latin Phrase has worked wonders especially if this will adorn every wall corners and locker rooms.
Carpe Diem! Seize the Day! Make the best of the present moment! Life is short and time is fleeting. If opportunity comes your way, you have to grab it by all means because you might not have the same chance again. This planet may offer us millions of possibilities at our own pleasure, but we are only limited by moments, spaces and experiences. If we miss it, then it’s gone forever.
Today’s egg is better than tomorrow’s hen (Turkish Proverb). Happy New Year!!!