2015: The Best is Yet to Come

The best is yet to come.  I am embracing that.  This year I will once again undertake a journey towards the fulfillment of my childhood dream.  I made my countdown, drafted my schedule, and now brace myself for the longest, toughest year of my "pre-attorney" years.  I will take the bar and pass it.  That is a promise to myself.


The new year brings so much optimism and zeal.  I hope this enthusiasm will sustain me throughout the difficult months ahead.  You see, I am going back to square one: pretend I am a freshman law student who will be meeting all the legal concepts/terms/methods/etc for the very first time.  I shall be dusting off my books, appraising my reading materials, and maybe scouting for new ones in the process of my acquaintance.  It's been five long years since I left law school and the measly legalese I have earned in those four long years have seemed to eluded me completely already. 


I look at my former classmates who now joyfully engage in legal practice and console myself with the thought that God's delays are not His denials.  After all the frustration and heartaches I have had, I still hold in my heart this fervent belief that I was meant to be called an "Attorney." 


Mama is one of the first few people who motivated me so much to pursue my dream.  She is now gone but I feel that she still wants me to persevere.  While I might have felt slightly discouraged when she died with me still uncertain when and how I could pass the bar, the many years she spent praying for me to reach my dream should be enough to prompt me to never ever give up.


And of course, I still have my family beside me whom I wish to honor with whatever achievement I can further attain in this lifetime.  I do not wish for fame or glory.  But by becoming the best version of myself, I know that I will bring them honor and pride.


So like the New Years past, I now gather all the courage and inspiration I could muster and brace myself for the come-what-mays.  And I kneel down in complete surrender to the Great Creator to once again take charge and direct my path to wherever He wishes me to go. Afterall, He is the Only One I wish to please.


Happy New Year virtual friends!  See you around!

No Shortcuts ---!

No shortcuts! That's how Monsignor explained the gist of today's gospel reading.  I did not intend for this blog to be "religious" or anything of that sort.  But after hearing the essence of this passage, I decided to write about it just so it won't fade into the recesses of my brain (again).

Today's Gospel came from   Mt 16:21-27

²¹ From then onwards Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go toJerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day.

²² Then, taking him aside, Peter started to rebuke him. 'Heaven preserve you, Lord,' he said, 'this must not happen to you.'

²³ But he turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because you are thinking not as God thinks but as human beings do.'

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.

²⁵ Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake willfind it.

²⁶ What, then, will anyone gain by winning the whole world and forfeiting his life? Or what can anyone offer in exchange for his life?

²⁷ 'For the Son of man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then hewill reward each one according to his behaviour.

Monsignor began to talk about how ironic Jesus' treatment of Peter is after praising him last week.  (...Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because it was no human agency that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.

¹⁸ So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community. And the gates of the underworld can never overpower it.

¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.', Mt 16:17-19) While Peter obviously became vulnerable like most of us, the essence of Jesus' remark was His preference to perform things properly according to the will of His Father.  He refused to go through "shortcuts."

For many of us, we bypass bureaucracy and hence succumb to bribery to get our transactions done -- fast and hassle-free.  We try to achieve power and position to provide ease and security -- at the expense of others of course.  We'd rather pay for convenience than go through the rigors of labor and sacrifice to get something we want -- be it food, recognition, protection, etc.  Oh, we are even willing to kick some *ss just to feed our bloated egos...  Nobody wanted to be trampled upon.  Everybody wants to be on top.  In the front line.  In charge.

But not Jesus.  Not the Son of God.

He welcomed the opportunity to suffer and die for our sake.  He obeyed His Father without any protest.  He did not want shortcuts in order to save us.  He, the Only Son of the Almighty, who was very much in the position to beg and convince His Father to spare Him from the agonies that awaited Him chose to submit Himself to the Will of His Father.

He could have opted for a shortcut and reaped a seat immediately beside His Father in Heaven.  But if He did, then this...

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...would have been completely become meaningless.  And we ---would not have been -----moved.

Dared to Bare

Last summer was truly a memorable one.  My family and I were able to literally savor the essence of summer because we were able to frolic under the sun.  First we went to Bora (will discuss the trip more in another post).  And boy, oh boy, I jumped at the opportunity to do that which I have always wanted: wear a two piece bikini. Heheheh..

Yup, in my entire lifetime, I have never--as in never-- dared to bare that much.  True, I've tried to be in the appropriate swimming attire whenever I am at Bora or at the pool (even at home when I lounge at our outdoor jacuzzi) but NEVER have I mustered enough guts to be seen in a two-piece attire. And yes, oh yes, its definitely something I have been wanting to do.

So what exactly happened to me you wonder? Heheh.. I got inspired! I am following a blog of two wonderful ladies, Dana and Stacy.  They call their blog PLUMP.. Its a wonderful blog filled with alot of powerful insights for women who feel inferior because of their size.

Check our their latest swimsuit photos of their trip to Amanpulo... 

Here's Danah...

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And here's her twin sister, Stacy...

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To say that these two are gorgeous is an understatement.  They are amazingly awesome.  And I adore them soo much I dared to bare too...

I must admit being in a two-piece made me self-conscious at first.  But it was really fun.  I still giggle everytime I remember my bikini... And yes, I'm glad I dared to bare.. Heheh. ;-)

John Gabriel Pelias - One of UP's Brightests

Pinoy Samut-Sari: John Gabriel Pelias - One of UP's Brightests: "Meet one of the Summa Cum Laudes of the University of the Philippines - Diliman for 2011 who also got one of the highest grades in the histo..."

While watching his interview by Jesica Soho, I cannot help but marvel at the humility of this young man. He would make any mother proud. And the pride he brings does not so much stem from the fact that he is graduating from UP as Summa Cum Laude alongside the honor of holding the highest grade so far after 65 years...although that is a huuge bonus! This bring young man has done his mother proud because he turned out fine notwithstanding the fact that his mother is seemingly out of the picture.

He revealed it was his grandma who raised him since his parents (one of which is now deceased) "now have a life of their own."

If we are to look at the news of incidents involving young people, many would declare that they screwed up their lives because of their parents... In most cases, many of these hapless young people claim that their parents have taken them forgranted, do not love them, owe them so much more than what money could offer, etc. The reasons are various. On the otherhand, here's one man whose story is not very different from the majority of today's youth who notwithstanding the atrocities that beleaguered him, succeeded in channeling those "deprivations" into something worthwhile. Unlike others, he didn't turn to alcohol or drugs to solve his  frustrations. Instead, he turned to his studies.  While others spent time going to bars and discos to propagate their social lives, he chose to remain glued to the pages of his books and notes.  But he says he is still "normal."  He has many friends and enjoyed his social life as well as checking out his Facebook once in a while but his studies remained his top priority. In the end, he reaped his reward.  If he's asked why, he quips, "Simply because I love doing what I do.  If we like what we do, it doesn't become a hassle."

Sigh!  I wish more young people learn from him... 

Bless his grandma for having raised him well... Bless his mom for bringing forth such an adorable son. 

I pray he remains steadfast in his commitment of making this world a so much better place for all of us. =)

Bloom Where You are Planted

It's amazing how nature could inspire us in ways we never thought was possible. 

   Today was an ordinary day when I chanced upon the sight of this wonder....

A tiny flower -- from nowhere --

sprung from our old concrete water tank..

    

A closer look revealed that nothing much holds it
except for some dried moss
which never gets moist
unless it rains.



Four feet above the ground, upon a solid concrete structure

of the abandoned water tank..

the beautiful flower has found its space in this big wide world...

There it thrived.  There it clung.
There it flourished.
There it sprang.



 

The tiny plant blossomed, mindless of its circumstance
It was meant to be like that
A beautiful plant.

It exists.
And the world is so much happier.



   

If we could be like this tiny plant.. 

If we could just bloom where we are planted

Unmindful of the gloom,

of bereft circumstance

that makes thriving survival less ideal,

then perhaps this world

would become so much better.

We'd definitely be seeing a happier,

stronger, saner reason

to exist live,

and remain. 

 













St. Joseph: the Greatest Foster Dad

March is a special month for me for many reasons.  For one, it commences the summer season, a most awaited respite after ten months of a regular school year. For another, it also is the feast month of my favorite saint - Jesus' foster father -- St. Joseph. My very own earthly father was born on St. Joseph's feast day as well as my dear friend, Joseph Leslie.  So yes, I have a few Josephs in my life.  And they are all very dear, and influential figures to me.


I cannot quite recall how my devotion to St. Joseph began exactly.  I am guessing it started sometime in college already -- in my age of awakening.  My dad, Jose, left us.  It was also the time I came to know Joseph -- the friend I found in a then, confidant.  

I have not gone to the extra mile of getting to know better other saint other than St. Joseph.  The unhappy events that transpired in our family life has left in me a deeper, more thorough veneration for the Saint.  In fact, I has often yearned in the past for Him to send me a man who would love me and take me the way He loved Mother Mary.  To me, St. Joseph was the perfect gentleman.  He epitomized the virtues of a man who obeyed God's will, surrendered Himself completely and remained faithful to the duty that was entrusted to Him by the Almighty.  His humility is beyond compare that as one priest in the past described it, "God's Son, Jesus, has once walked in the shadow of this man, Joseph.  He was the one who taught Him carpentry.  Isn't that Jesus came to be known as the Carpenter? What could be a greater honor then than to foster God's very own son?"

Considering that now His feast is approaching, I have decided to undertake a 9-day novena dedicated to Him.  The truth is, the Novena booklet I now hold has been with me for quite sometime already but eversince I bought it for PhP18 (about 4US cents) at St. Paul bookstore, I never have had the privilege of reading it in its entirety.  Now, I am in deep awe reveling in the magnificence of the contents of the flimsy pages of this wonderful work.  No, it does not indicate any author..  Which is why I undertake to share the contents by posting them here... No, not to plagiarize the blessed soul who has eloquently expressed such powerful devotion to the blessed Saint but to impart this joyful treasure which is a source of delight and inspiration to my weary soul.


The novena booklet consists of 40 pages and is divided into two parts: one for a nine-day daily devotion (which can also be made into a nine consecutive Wednesday devotions) and a nine-Sunday devotion in honor of St. Joseph.  I opted for the nine consecutive day devotion and began mine on March 10th.  The daily prayer begins with a statement of the virtue which should be the focus of the day's meditation. Such virtue is one which has been lovingly exemplified by St. Joseph.  The virtue is followed by a short relevant quote by another saint or one lifted from the scriptures.  Then a short descriptive analysis of how St. Joseph manifested the virtue mentioned follows after which comes the reflection.  The reflections, I discovered, are  beautifully written.  Each is seemingly a guide in self-introspection.  It enables one to reflect more on the virtues of St. Joseph on a more personal basis.  Thus, it leads into the realization that such virtues are realistic and are indeed worth-emulating.


The last part is the prayer which varies from day to day.  It is short but in its brevity, it nevertheless encapsulates the very essence of St. Joseph's blessedness.  


(I shall post the contents, dividing them in days, in the succeeding posts..)

WomenDeliver.Org honors two Filipinas

The recent news of the catastrophe has left me yearning for positive stories from any source possible if only to lift my sagging spirits... It's Monday morning and I need a happy boost to jumpstart my week. Turning on the TV, I was greeted by the early morning news about two Filipinas making it to the list of 100 people being honored by womendeliver.org, a New York based organization which aims at promoting women and children's welfare all over the world.


Their website describes their organization as follows: 

Women Deliver is a global advocacy organization bringing together voices from around the world to call for action against maternal death.

Launched at a groundbreaking conference in 2007, Women Deliver works globally to generate political commitment and financial investment for fulfilling Millennium Development Goal #5 — to reduce maternal mortality and achieve universal access to reproductive health. The initiative builds on commitments, partnerships, and networks mobilized at the conference, fighting to end the deluge of preventable deaths that kill approximately 350,000 girls and women from pregnancy-related causes every year. Women Deliver’s message is that maternal health is both a human right and a practical necessity for sustainable development.

Mission: Women Deliver shall promote and advance the health of girls, women and mothers as a core element of the global development agenda, serve as a global source of information for advocacy and action, develop and disseminate messages, tools, solutions, and advocacy resources to support a broad community of stakeholders through meetings and conferences globally, regionally, and nationally, and through a dynamic and interactive web presence.

Thus, "..In celebration of the 100^th anniversary of International Women’s Day, Women Deliver is announcing the “Women Deliver 100,” our list of the hundred most inspiring people who have delivered for girls and women. This list recognizes women and men, both prominent and lesser known, who have committed themselves to improving the lives of girls and women around the world. Honorees derive from the fields of health, human rights, politics, economics, education, journalism, and philanthropy, and represent a great diversity of geographic and cultural backgrounds. The 100 honorees were selected from among hundreds of potentials and feature some of the most intrepid, committed, and results-driven people in the world."

 So among the 100 people included the list are two Filipinas namely:


Janette Loreto Garin, Philippines
Deputy Majority Leader in the Philippine House of Representatives
•  Championing reproductive rights in the Philippines

She was cited for her active advocacy on the issue of Reproductive rights.  Rep. Garin is the co-author of the Reproductive Health Care and Population Development (RH) bill, which is poised to transform the lives of every woman in the Philippines. In this deeply Catholic country, where opposition to family planning and sex education runs strong, and 11 women die each day of preventable causes related to pregnancy or childbirth, Garin’s RH bill would, for the first time, provide universal access to family planning methods as well as comprehensive sex education in schools. A champion of women’s human rights, Garin is fighting to bring both women and men the information and services they need to live long, healthy lives.

and 


Mary John Mananzan, Philippines
Prioress at St. Scholastica’s Priory, Founder and Executive Director of the Institute of Women’s Studies at St. Scholastica’s College
•  Integrating feminism into faith in the Philippines
Madam Mananzan was recognized for her work in undertaking women's studies and gender equality.  As a Missionary Benedictine sister, Mananzan has led the way in integrating feminist activism into Catholic faith. She was a pioneer in the field of women’s studies, founding the program at St. Scholastica’s College in Manila, one of the Phillippines’ most prestigious and progressive colleges for women. She has been instrumental in developing a feminist and a third-world theology within the Catholic Church, criticizing the Church for being hierarchical and male-dominated. In her writing, she has highlighted the particular oppression of third world women through violence and gender discrimination. In her groundbreaking career, Mananzan has worked to empower women and to combat injustice and oppression wherever she finds it –whether within the political system, or at the hands of the church.


The other prominent  men and women in the list of honorees include:

Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, Jordan
Queen of Jordan, Founder of Madrasati, Co-Founder and Global Co-Chair for 1GOAL
•  Making a passionate, no-nonsense case for girls’ education

Christiane Amanpour, UK
Journalist, Anchor of ABC News's This Week
•  Reporting fearlessly on injustices worldwide

Sarah Brown, UK
Global Patron of the White Ribbon Alliance, Former First Lady of the UK, Founder and President of PiggyBankKids
•  A global voice on the injustice of maternal mortality

Christy Turlington Burns, United States
Founder of Every Mother Counts, Model, Maternal Health Advocate, Documentary Filmmaker
•  Bringing new attention to maternal health

Laura Bush, USA
Former First Lady of the United States, Founder of the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health
•  A conservative voice for women’s health, education and empowerment

Yvonne Chaka Chaka, South Africa
Singer and advocate
•  Lending her iconic voice to the fight for women’s health

Hillary Clinton, USA
Secretary of State, Democratic Presidential Candidate in 2008, Former Senator, Former First Lady of the United States
•  Role model to millions, and a relentless advocate for women worldwide

Shirin Ebadi, Iran
Human rights lawyer and activist, Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize
•  Fighting for human rights in Iran

Janette Loreto Garin, Philippines
Deputy Majority Leader in the Philippine House of Representatives
•  Championing reproductive rights in the Philippines

Melinda Gates, United States
Co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
•  Passionate advocate and powerful donor

Andrea Jung, United States
Chairman and CEO of Avon Products, Inc.
•  Offering women a route to economic independence

Wangari Maathai, Kenya
Founder of the Green Belt Movement, Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize
•  Proving that environmental stewardship and women’s empowerment go hand in hand

Oprah Winfrey, USA
Television producer, Philanthropist, Founder of the Oprah Winfrey Foundation and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa
•  Broadcasting women’s stories to the world

(for a complete list of the honorees, kindly visit their site or click on the links above)

The list includes people whose names ring a bell.  The remainder belong to those who have done what they could, like these two Filipinas, in pursuit of their personal advocacies.  

In times of tragedy, heroes emerge.  But in the case of Garin and Mananzan and the rest of these people included in the Women Deliver 100, it did not take a sudden tragedy to convert them to heroes.  In doing what they love, helping their fellowmen and giving much of themselves, they have helped save lives.  The instant recognition given them in this venue has brought me inspiration.  Indeed, it need not take an insurmountable odd to prompt one to contribute whatever he/she can for the betterment of humanity.  Neither does it solely require an organization such as Woman Deliver to do the task of recognizing the heroism that lurks amongst us.

I am a woman.  And I hope to deliver.