Banagbanag January - March, 2014 Issue by Ahdon Salvaña

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Jade Hurley hat is the measure of being poor? What does it take to be wealthy? People are trying their best to make their lives convenient. Parents even send their children to best institutions they could afford for the hope of the becoming well-off in the future. Though education has been made accessible to all walks of life, it is not always affordable. There are many people who are financially able but there are also millions who are not. Why is that so? There are so many things happening in the society that if we look at it in different perspective we may find answers. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll enumerate some of those things and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll let you decide if poverty is a good thing or not.

Statistics says, the percentage of Filipinos living below the poverty line had remained almost unchanged in the past six years (since 2006). According to the latest poverty data released by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB). The NSCB report on

the 2012 first semester state of poverty in the Philippines showed that a family of five can be considered extremely poor if it is earning P5,458 a month or just enough to put food on the table. The same family has to earn at least P7,821 if it wants to satisfy other non-food needs such as clothing. Poverty incidence was highest in Mindanao and lowest in the National Capital Region as well as in Regions III and IV. The poorest are in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with 46.9 percent poverty incidence, Region XII (37.5 percent), Region VIII (37.2 percent), and Region IX (36.9 percent). Regions where poverty incidence has gone down are Caraga and Region I. Considered the poorest provinces were Apayao, Bukidnon, Davao Oriental, Eastern Samar, Ifugao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Maguindanao and Masbate.

THE BAD SIDE Economically, it is not a sign of a well-developed country if poverty is rampant . This is a sign that economic resources which were converted to cash are not accessible to some. Meaning, there are group of people, we call elite who are taking control over these converted economic resources (money). Elite exploit the poor to become richer. Poor becomes poorer because they serve as the working class of this Capitalist and only paid with minimum amount. Politically, countries which have been colonized by these 1st world countries remained poor. Resources are being imported or being used by those industrialized countries for their own sake. They buy the raw materials cheaply from the 3rd world countries and sell the finished product very expensive back to those countries. They are becoming rich nations because they exploit those who are poor.

Bretana Historically, Philippines was colonized by Spain, America and Japan. They inculcated the culture of poverty to the minds of the Filipinos. They enslaved, helped somehow and abused the Filipinos because they thought we deserved it. Poverty is considered to be a structural violence because it is making the individual or the people in harm’s way. Structural in a way because it is embedded in the political and economic system of the society. It is hard to get rid-off of the system. Peace may not be fully attained. THE GOOD SIDE In Sociological point of view, people in the Philippines are divided in social classes, lower, middle and upper class. This is called social stratification. People are being ranked according to their property (wealth), power and prestige. The more you have these 3, the more you qualify to belong to the upper class. Contrary to this,

the less you have, the more you become a member of the lower class. Is it necessary? This is necessary to the operation of our society because lower class serves as the labor force of our economy. Without a workforce, the operation of economy collapses and it’s not ideal to go back to primitive era.

In Christian point of view, being poor is not a bad thing. Christ itself that we considered as son of God was born and raised by a poor family which so reminded us to be humble and start in humble beginnings.

Poverty is not just the measure of how wealthy, powerful or In Psychological point of view, prestigious a person is. If someone Filipinos have these attitude of lacks knowledge, he is in resiliency. After suffering from poverty. If he lacks faith, he is tragic events, we can easily fully already poor. If you lack of good recover. To be poor taught us of values, it is already poverty. It could many things that even money can’t be anything around us. According buy. In rich countries, individual to Structural Functionalism, in who suffered from tragic events every structure there’s a function, would take many years to recovand whether it is good or bad and er. But poor nations, Philippines it has a corresponding purpose. for instance may just take several Poverty as we know is not bad at moments to pull ourselves back all because it teaches us of many together. When the earthquake things in life. It’s just a matter of struck Bohol and caused destruchow we look at things in different tion, Filipinos even celebrated the angles and how we react to them. Fiesta and enjoyed a salo-salo. Making the disadvantages advanFilipinos are considered to be very tage. By making the disable as adaptive because “sanay tayo sa differently able or simply just being kahirapan”. optimistic and we may be able to free ourselves from poverty.

hen I was in my early pre-school year, my teacher would describe a family as a unit composed of a father, a mother and their children. At my early age, I wondered how it feels to have one. I could even remember I raised my hand when my teacher said “who among us don’t have a family?” Actually, she didn’t mean to ask. She was just trying to state a fact and supposedly, all we’ve got to do was agree. But obviously, I was the only one who didn’t.

with my father, being widowed by the father of my brother next to me and married my drunkard stepfather, who gave her a daughter. In short, we are a family of three children, with three dads My family is not as normal as and one mom. Because of this others. I grew up with a very reality, my Titos and Titas thought I hard- working mom and she was deserve to have all the attention so partnered by a very strict grandma. I won’t feel incomplete. And thank I call my Titos as Papa, Tatay, Daddy God they succeeded! and Dada. I had one Mama, one Mommy and a lot of Titas who are I was raised pampered by my Titos always very supportive. I always and Titas but my mom, my had the finest birthday among all grandma and I had to live a very the other members of the family. simple yet sustaining life. At first, I came from a broken family. I And even if I turned 25, my Titas our family business prospered. I thought all along that my father would come home on my birthdays could still remember that my mom was taken by another woman and and share all the expenses with would bring me to Malaybalay that he left us for another family. me even if I am earning on my own every week to purchase stocks for And later did I realize that the truth now. When I go for a travel, my the store. I could still recall that is, I was the illegal child. Titas would alternately check on every summer, the store gets me, whether I’ll be home or not, renovated. I could still glance at my Details about how my parents met who I am with and if I come home, past when I wish to ask for money, and separated were taboos in our what time would I arrive. and I just have to go home and house. No one mentions about him get. Until I woke up day that things and anything that links to him, and My cousins would call me dramatically changed. so I grew up without knowing who “Prinsesa”. And I couldn’t blame he really was. When people asked them because they have a point. When my mom got married, me where my father is, I would I am the family’s princess. No one inventories every year would tell answer “Nalumos sa sabaw.” That is starts a party without me. No one us how our business is falling. how I treated every same question. starts eating unless I’m home. This We don’t go to Malaybalay on And in my young mind, I thought is definitely because I was the only weekends anymore. The store he was dead. “Who would ever heir who do not have a complete was never renovated from then survive in drowning?” – I would family unlike all my other cousins. on. And I started to notice men on always thought (wala nalay kwenta My mom who had graduated a col- motorcyles alternately comes and nga sabaw man diay ang gilumsan! lege degree is the only one among to them, my mom hands a part Hahaha). Children of my age would their siblings who did not have a of our income, EVERY single DAY.I always ask me why I only have one stable job. My mom was separated have seen how hard it was for my parent. And luckily, I grew mom to get up. I have seen how up so immune all our sacrifices slowly tear with their into pieces. I saw our business slowly breaking and fading and

questions. I hear them asked me that couple of times already (as in paulit- ulit as if they are hoping to hear a different answer), but they failed.

I couldn’t do a thing. I grew up at that very store. I grew up spending most of my time there and instead of playing with other kids, I stay there and watch over the goods while looking out at the children of my age with the hope that I could go, run and play with them. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t because I had to help my mom and grandma. The store is what we only have. There is where all we get our living. But as I look at it right now, it shows too blurred that I could not even recognize the place where I have started dreaming. Years ago, when I finally received my salary in my stable job after 5 months, I embraced my first 50,000.00 pesos in bulk because I knew I had to distribute them the next day to all the lending agencies my mom was being summoned. The next loan I had after a year, is for her capital and the next few months after, I had to re-loan for her capital again. After some more months, I would see the store empty again! Some friends would tell me to stop feeding her. But I always take risks because I knew my mom is a very good businesswoman. I grew up idolizing how she managed our business before. And I had hope for her. But as I was gazing at our life right now, I felt so useless because I could not even raise my mom from this poverty. I am earning a great deal of money every month. For a single lady like me, I could even buy a boyfriend. But as I was reflecting through how I lived my life for the past 5 years after college, I felt sad. Today, I am seeing myself wrapped with debts. I see myself so like my mother, and like her, I don’t

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My Most ve Divine Lo

DEVEY ETHYL A. BORRES have encountered so many young people crying and in pain for no other reason than being in a relationship that is not officially in relationship. What is common now is what we call “mutual understanding” wherein a man and a woman come into a common understanding (not necessarily verbalized) that they both like each other. They can engage into dating and other things, which usually come along in a courtship. They can even do what normally is done when you are into an official relationship already.

At first glance it is good, of course how can it not be, when both parties are enjoying and seem to have mutual affection with each other? Well, there is no problem until such time misunderstanding comes and feelings seem to fade away by either of the two. The other will start

could still remember the words from a friend that “not all what you want and what you loved will be yours.” It keeps ringing in my ears. As time goes on, I grow more mature and independent. The passing of time goes along with my expectation for myself. I believe that I am already OK and recovered from my very confusing experience.

Three Years ago, I met a man unexpectedly. Upon seeing him, I didn’t expect that an intense feeling of affection towards him would be built. I was so proud to myself, that I once had this uplifting and encouraging experience. I was motivated, deeply inspired and full of life. Since then I learned to move on life at its best despite its arduous ways. He has been the reason why I preserved myself in working for my ambitions. He is the reason why I remain pure and chaste amidst all the temptations. In every

being cold and falter in their regular dates and even phone calls become lesser. Schedules become suddenly busy, when in fact in the beginning of the “not so official relationship” it was not. The other person will start wondering what is wrong but could not get enough answers. So it ended badly just as it started shady. From wondering to wandering from one guy to another usually follows, because its human nature to feel loved and needed and yet these hurts continue like a cycle until you felt spent out.

Uncommitted Relationship The problem with “mutual understanding” relationship is there is no accountability to whatever each one will do to the other. You can easily get out of the relationship because there’s no commitment. Relationship without commitment

is like flying without wings, you will surely fall hard! When we go on a relationship whose boundary is not well defined, it will surely lead to confusion and hurts. Mutual understanding is flirting with pain because there is no clarity of purpose, purity of intention and integrity of words. Obviously hurts, pains and feeling of unworthiness follow if it does not work out because you cannot go after the other; there is no commitment in the first place. Even those who are in a committed relationship that doesn’t work out, still hurts how much more for a relationship without one? Pains caused by uncommitted relationship such as mutual understanding are actually unnecessary pains, because what causes pains is the lack of clarity

good deeds I achieved, he is the reason and the inspiration behind it. A lot of guys came offering their “love”, care and comfort. I even tried to accept them hoping to forget him, but I failed. I was trying to get rid of this feeling then. There was even a time that I challenged myself to be contented with another man to replace him that occupies much of my heart. But it was so hard, and each moment I was reminded by myself that I was only made for him and that I could never replace him. I was crying to God a lot of times asking Him to just let him be mine forever. However, I was told that He will arrange everything for me according to His will. I believe in Him. He knows my pain, my confusions and my struggles thus, I was sure that with all of these, He carved for me a purpose. Somehow, it will be revealed at the right time, at the right

place, and with the right people. This brought me a significant lesson in my life. I’m very thankful to God, for this brings me closer to Him and to the Blessed Mother Mary. This made my faith even more firm and strong. Even if my feelings, my care or my concern for him will not be reciprocated, I will still willingly accept my fate. For in it I could reflect through the passage in 1 Corithians 13:4-6, “Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous, it is not self-seeking. Love does not rejoice in what is wrong but rejoices with the truth.” I know it’s not easy to love a person unconditionally and it will not become the reason for me to stop loving him. Perhaps, in some other way. I couldn’t explain how awkward it is when I controll myself when we were around together. I tried my best to calm myself and in “stealth mode” in order not to show any glimpse

of affection from me. Despite how uneasy it was, I felt a pure happiness within. And for this, I learned how to obey God’s will and sacrifice my own happiness for God’s glory. Now, here I am witnessing his sweet smile from afar. Everything in my fate is not within the course according to how I wanted it. I just wish he will continue his vocation hoping we will see each other in a mass where he will preside… Like Melchizedek, he will be God’s priest forever. My only hope is that if in this world we have no chance to talk heartily, I know in eternal life we will have all the chances to talk, to be together and to care for each other without any impure desires. A chance so free and so pure. In heaven I am free to express my love for him, not an ordinary love but a love so divine.

between two parties. This lack of clarity leads to assumptions. Assumptions such as, the other has the same affection as you do and that the other respects, honors and loves as you do. We settle for the “silence” and just let the joy we experience go on until it is gone. We ask, “Why am I hurting? Why is she/he so bad? Why did she/he leave me? What’s wrong with me”? Well, there is nothing wrong with you, but with your decisions, there is. And there is nothing wrong with you, only the kind of relationship you have chosen. You definitely deserve to be treated more than that. You are special and meant to be pursued. Don’t cheapen yourself. Don’t cheapen love.

The Unsure Route Brothers sometimes love to go on fishing mode and be non-committal. They would say, I can’t handle this

FLIRTING WITH

Pain

CACAY MONTES

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In my confession... know how to get out. As I was looking at what I have bought for myself or for my family, I was too disappointed that I couldn’t point out a thing. As I looked back, moving too close to those times when I spent of my money, I realized I spent them for othersfor my students, for my friends, for the ministry I am closely working with. And I just realized I am generous! Actually, many people would thank me for being generous. The truth is, I am generous, because I knew how it feels to have none. I knew how to really define “nothing”. And if you will ask me if I regretted how I spent my money, seeing my life right now, my answer is “NO”. Because in those times when I shared my blessings to others, even if it means taking a lot from me and my future, I felt genuine happiness. And I believe that is what God wants me to do-to share whatever I have to others. Before I continued writing this article, my Tita spoke to me because she discovered that I had transacted a loan months ago and she was very anxious of the remaining net I will be receiving every month. I felt her care. She then told me to wake up and start disciplining myself. She also told me that it is not bad to be generous, it’s bad when you still give beyond your limits. I believe that the correct term here is discipline. And I believe that this is what many of us need right now. Being generous is good, but sometimes, we pass through the limits of generosity that we forget to teach people who depend on us to discipline themselves and that we also forgot, above all, to discipline ourselves.

Flirting with...

anymore, “I can’t stop this feeling any longer” I have to tell her, and he will tell the sister, “I like you but I am not yet prepared.” Yes, we heard it right! “Like” but not prepared! In the first place why would you tell the sister that you like her, if you are not ready to pursue her? This is a very selfish act, because what you are doing is just passing on the burden to the sister. You just want to let out your feelings without being responsible for it. The sister will end up confuse as to what your real intentions are. You like her, yes; but pursuing her? You’re not sure. What kind of man are you? And then you will lead her into you and drop her like a hot potato when you realize after that you are not ready. You are walking on the road you are not sure of and worst, you are bringing her along with you.

your words. Planning to enter into a relationship should have: 1. Clarity – intention should be clearly stated and boundary between friendship and intimacy cleared out. 2. Purity – In stating the intention it should be because we have the purest intent of pursuing someone in love, honor and respect. 3. Integrity – We must be able to back up what we say by our actions. And be man enough to accept the outcome, be it yes or no.

Self Control is a mark of a real man. “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Tim 1:7. Don’t cause pain; don’t flirt with it. If you are courting, the Playing with emotions is a lethal presumption is you are ready for a game. Nothing can compensate relationship. How can you pursue real love. If we want to know it someone if you are not even sure better, we might as well start about yourself? How can you make reading the gospel of Christ who is a relationship work when you don’t love Himself instead of relying on even know how to make yourself self-help guide into relationship. work? Before you even courted There is a freer, happier and surer you should have weigh all things, way of love. Follow Him! prayed and discerned about it. Conversation such as, “I really like her kuya.” And months after, “Kuya, I realized I am not prepared and that’s she’s not the one for me.” Come on, be a man! It’s totally unfair for the woman, because it’s for the sister to say yes or no, and even before she can say it, you already stopped. Be responsible and accountable with

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Hapag... the world. The need to help hand-in-hand is necessary in order to overcome this real problem. Upon reflecting this problem of poverty, I remember what Jesus did towards the 5,000 men in the wilderness. These people too are like a herd of sheep without a shepherd. They are tired, longing for someone to lead them and most especially, they are hungry not only for bodily needs but also for their spiritual nourishments. In Luke 10:27, Jesus commanded us to “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” And in Matthew 5:7 “Happy are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them!” A command that made me to ponder about my attitudes and actions toward the least of my brothers especially the poor. Today, as the Church is celebrating the year of the laity; there is a great challenge for me as a follower of Christ as manifested by the poor people. What steps am I going to do for them? Am I going to ignore them just like what the Levite and the priest did towards a person lying half dead on the road (c.f. The Parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37)? Or am I going to help them just like what the good Samaritan did towards the man. I believe the future of these poor people lies into our hands, my hand, or the laities hands. What should we do? -----------------How Do I Cope... I felt no enough freedom for myself. The third and perhaps most significant misfortune I encountered was the loss of my first love six years ago. She was the first woman who

made my heart palpitate with love. For the first time I was introduced into this strange deep feeling of being in love. We had a relationship for more than a year. I was so happy and feel blessed that I anticipated that feeling would last forever… However, just like some fairy tales, a romantic story paved with so many beautiful moments has an unexpected twist. The first woman I loved departed me to join our God in heaven at an early age of 19. She died of sickness. My moment of happiness has died too. It made me sobbed hardly and pained me deeply. It is hard to deal with misfortunes especially if we don’t have an assuring person to lean on. The unfortunate situations of our lives would leave us having no choice except to cope up with it in order to continue our life. How do I cope it up myself? Basically coping up begins when I learned to accept that misfortunes are part of my life. Acceptance is the first step. It leadsmeto the gate of other virtues helpful in my recovery. Then, it gradually healsmy wounds,easesmy pains and sweetened my life once again. Second step is forgiveness. I learn to forgive myself and the people around who hurt me. Forgiveness teachesme to love myselfmore and the people around me despite the situation and the gap between us. If I had failed to forgive, my pain would have been doubled this time. And next, is to stay positive. I do not get discouraged where my life may bring me to.I continue to live as if nothing happens on me. For I believe everything has a purpose. Lastly is to stay connected with God through prayer. Always rely on Him for everything. Misfortunes are damages beyond repair, I if we allow Him to enter our lives, He will repair them all. Jesus our only wounded healer.

2014 LENTEN MESSAGE OF O

He became poor, so that by his poverty

ear Brothers and Sisters, As Lent draws near, I would like to offer some helpful thoughts on our path of conversion as individuals and as a community. These insights are inspired by the words of Saint Paul: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9). The Apostle was writing to the Christians of Corinth to encourage them to be generous in helping the faithful in Jerusalem who were in need. What do these words of Saint Paul mean for us Christians today? What does this invitation to poverty, a life of evangelical poverty, mean for us today?

sacrifice for the beloved. Charity, love, is sharing with the one we love in all things. Love makes us similar, it creates equality, it breaks down walls and eliminates distances. God did this with us. Indeed, Jesus “worked with human hands, thought with a human mind, acted by human choice and loved with a human heart. Born of the Virgin Mary, he truly became one of us, like us in all things except sin.” (Gaudium et Spes, 22).

well aware of the “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph 3:8), that he is “heir of all things” (Heb 1:2).

So what is this poverty by which Christ frees us and enriches us? It is his way of loving us, his way of being our neighbour, just as the Good Samaritan was neighbour to the man left half dead by the side of the road (cf. Lk 10:25ff ). What gives us true freedom, true salvation and true happiness is the compassion, tenderness and solidarity of By making himself poor, Jesus his love. Christ’s poverty which did not seek poverty for its enriches us is his taking flesh own sake but, as Saint Paul says and bearing our weakness“that by his poverty you might es and sins as an expression become rich”. This is no mere of God’s infinite mercy to us. play on words or a catch phrase. Christ’s poverty is the greatest Rather, it sums up God’s logic, treasure of all: Jesus’ wealth is the logic of love, the logic of the that of his boundless confidence 1. CHRIST’S GRACE incarnation and the cross. God in God the Father, his constant First of all, it shows us how God did not let our salvation drop trust, his desire always and only works. He does not down from heaven, like to do the Father’s will and give reveal himself cloaked in worldly someone who gives alms from glory to him. Jesus is rich in the power and wealth but rather in their abundance out of a sense same way as a child who feels weakness and poverty: “though of altruism and piety. Christ’s loved and who loves its parents, He was rich, yet for your sake love is different! When Jesus without doubting their love and he became poor …”. Christ, the stepped into the waters of the tenderness for an instant. Jesus’ eternal Son of God, one with the Jordan and was baptized by wealth lies in his being the Son; Father in power and glory, chose John the Baptist, he did so not his unique relationship with the to be poor; he came amongst us because he was in need of Father is the sovereign and drew near to each of us; he repentance, or conversion; he prerogative of this Messiah who set aside his glory and did it to be among people who is poor. When Jesus asks us to emptied himself so that he need forgiveness, among us sin- take up his “yoke which is easy”, could be like us in all things (cf. ners, and to take upon himself he asks us to be enriched by Phil 2:7; Heb 4:15). God’s the burden of our sins. In this his “poverty which is rich” and becoming man is a great way he chose to comfort us, to his “richness which is poor”, to mystery! But the reason for all save us, to free us from our share his filial and fraternal this is his love, a love which is misery. It is striking that the Spirit, to become sons and grace, generosity, a desire to Apostle states that we were set daughters in the Son, draw near, a love which does free, not by Christ’s riches but brothers and sisters in the not hesitate to offer itself in by his poverty. Yet Saint Paul is firstborn brother (cf. Rom 8:29).

OUR HOLY FATHER FRANCIS

y you might become rich (cf. 2 Cor 8:9) It has been said that the only real regret lies in not being a saint (L. Bloy); we could also say that there is only one real kind of poverty: not living as children of God and brothers and sisters of Christ.

support, without hope. There are three types of destitution: material, moral and spiritual. Material destitution is what is normally called poverty, and affects those living in conditions opposed to human dignity: those who lack basic 2. OUR WITNESS rights and needs such as food, water, hygiene, work and the We might think that this “way” opportunity to develop and of poverty was Jesus’ way, grow culturally. In response whereas we who come after to this destitution, the Church him can save the world with the offers her help, her diakonia, in right kind of human resources. meeting these needs and This is not the case. In every binding these wounds which time and place God continues disfigure the face of humanity. to save mankind and the world In the poor and outcast we see through the poverty of Christ, Christ’s face; by loving and who makes himself poor in the helping the poor, we love and sacraments, in his word and in serve Christ. Our efforts are his Church, which is a people of also directed to ending the poor. God’s wealth passes violations of human not through our wealth, but dignity, discriminainvariably and exclusively tion and abuse through our personal and in the world, communal poverty, enlivened for these by the Spirit of Christ. are so often the In imitation of our Master, we cause of Christians are called to confront destithe poverty of our brothers and tution. sisters, to touch it, to make it When our own and to take practical steps to alleviate it. Destitution is not the same as poverty: destitution is poverty without faith, without continued to page 42

power, luxury and money become idols, they take priority over the need for a fair distribution of wealth. Our consciences thus need to be converted to justice, equality, simplicity and sharing. No less a concern is moral destitution, which consists in slavery to vice and sin.

2014 Lenten Message... How much pain is caused in families because one of their members â&#x20AC;&#x201C; often a young person - is in thrall to alcohol, drugs, gambling or pornography! How many people no longer see meaning in life or prospects for the future, how many have lost hope! And how many are plunged into this destitution by

unjust social conditions, by unemployment, which takes away their dignity as breadwinners, and by lack of equal access to education and health care. In such cases, moral destitution can be considered impending suicide. This type of destitution, which also causes financial ruin, is invariably linked to the spiritual

destitution which we experience when we turn away from God and reject his love. If we think we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need God who reaches out to us through Christ, because we believe we can make do on our own, we are headed for a fall. God alone can truly save and free us. continued on page 43

2041 Lenten Message... The Gospel is the real antidote to spiritual destitution: wherever we go, we are called as Christians to proclaim the liberating news that forgiveness for sins committed is possible, that God is greater than our sinfulness, that he freely loves us at all times and that we were made for communion and eternal life. The Lord asks us to be joyous heralds of this message of mercy and hope! It is thrilling to experience the joy of spreading this good news, sharing the treasure entrusted to us, consoling broken hearts and offering hope to our brothers and sisters experiencing darkness. It means following and imitating Jesus, who sought out the poor and sinners as a shepherd lovingly seeks his lost sheep. In union with Jesus, we can courageously open up new paths of evangelization and human promotion. Dear brothers and sisters, may this Lenten season find the whole Church ready to bear witness to all those who live in material, moral and spiritual destitution the Gospel message of the merciful love of God our Father, who is ready to embrace everyone in Christ. We can do this to the extent that we imitate Christ who became poor and enriched us by his poverty. Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; we would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty. Let us not forget that real poverty hurts: no self-denial is real without this dimension of penance.

I distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt. May the Holy Spirit, through whom we are “as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything” (2 Cor 6:10), sustain us in our resolutions and increase our concern and responsibility for human destitution, so that we can become merciful and act with mercy. In expressing this hope, I likewise pray that each individual member of the faithful and every Church community will undertake a fruitful Lenten journey. I ask all of you to pray for me. May the Lord bless you and Our Lady keep you safe. From the Vatican, 26 December 2013 Feast of Saint Stephen, Deacon and First Martyr FRANCISCUS

Purple Box... “Don’t exceed Claire dela Torre!” Pagwa- warning niya., “You had my word, and you know me.” I smiled at him and sent him a flying kiss…. At may kasama pang wink. Heheh! After all my ka- echusan para slight na gumanda, I went outside and found Lance at the garden. He was still. ‘yung parang may malalim na iniisip. ‘yung tipong hindi mo pwedeng istorbuhin kasi nag- wo- work pa ‘yung brain. “Huh! Kahit anong gawin kong pag- iisip, siya pa rin ang nakikita kong best friend na

kasama kong nag- grow… sana lang, siya rin ‘yung kasama kong tumanda.” Tinitigan ko siya sa may kalayuan, at bigla siyang lumingon: “Kanina ka pa ba d’yan?” “Hah? Ah… hah… ah…. HINDI aj! Kakarating ko lang!” “Hahah! You never changed… Hindi ka pa rin marunong magsinungaling! Halika nga!” Pasimple niyang puna na bahagya naming suminyas na tumabi ako sa kanya.

Nakakalungkot din pala ‘yung thought na ‘yon. Nung mga bata palang kami kasama kaming nangarap. Hindi ko lang lubos maisip na darating pala ang pagkakataong ito, na ang pangarap na kaming dalawa ang gumawa, ay ako nalang mag- isa ang gagawa. Pero kelangang kung maging best friend dito. He needs me NOW more than ever.

rush weddings din naman kaming ini- organize. And lahat naman, sa awa ng Dyos, ay successfully facilitated, with of course the cooperation of the bride and the groom. Meaning, ang success ng wedding ceremony and reception, depends mainly sa participation, cooperation and involvement ng dalawang taong magpapakasal.

“Eheeem…” pasimple kong intro.

Tatapatin kita best, pinaka- main at important factor to make the wedding “Can we….” Ma-utal- utal kong and the married life successful pagsisimula. is “YOU STICK TOGETHER!” “Can we start over again? TOGETHER???” Naisip kung sabihin. But buti nalang hindi ko nabigkas. Naupo kami sa Bermuda grass. Doon, ilang minuto din kaming natahimik, na tila parehong naglakbay ang mga senses namin sa mga panahong mga bata pa kami at walang ibang iniisip kundi ang magsaya at maglaro.

“I mean, can we get down to business? Alam ko namang excited ka na sa wedding details. If I know, hindi ka na natulog.”

“So, in my case?” curious niyang pagpapahayag. “obviously... in your case...”, napatigil ako. “Well, I’ll stick with you!” confident kung sabi.

“so it’s a deal. We’ll roam around town today and let’s work on the wedding details!” excited niyang “Okay! So today ang unang pagdeclare and we’re off... araw mo sa days of journey mo ==================== towards your awaited wedding Dear Readers, Hindi man kami nag- usap, day. alam ko sa sariling may ibig Ang mga scenes behind the sabihin ang katahimikang iyonAlam mo best, hindi madali wedding details at ang mga “Nagbago na ang lahat! Kung ang pagpla- plano ng kasal, it pangyayari sa wedding, pwede lang sanang ganun will take your time, effort and including the story’s uncut, nalang magpakailanman.. mostly, your money. Usually, abangan! we plan for a year, o kaya 6 NGUNIT HINDI.” months. ‘Yun ‘yung Thank you so much. Ate Jorie. pinaka- ideal, pero may mga

rancis of Assisi was a poor little man who astounded and inspired the Church by taking the gospel literally—not in a narrow fundamentalist sense, but by actually following all that Jesus said and did, joyfully, without limit and without a sense of selfimportance. Serious illness brought the young Francis to see the emptiness of his frolicking life as leader of Assisi’s youth. Prayer— lengthy and difficult—led him to a self-emptying like that of Christ, climaxed by embracing a leper he met on the road. It symbolized his complete obedience to what he had heard in prayer: “Francis! Everything you have loved and desired in the flesh it is your duty to despise and hate, if you wish to know my will. And when you have begun this, all that now seems sweet and lovely to you will become intolerable and bitter, but all that you used to avoid will turn itself to great sweetness and exceeding joy.”

From the cross in the neglected field-chapel of San Damiano, Christ told him, “Francis, go out and build up my house, for it is nearly falling down.” Francis became the totally poor and humble workman. He must have suspected a deeper meaning to “build up my house.” But he would have been content to be for the rest of his life the poor “nothing” man actually putting brick on brick in abandoned chapels. He gave up all his possessions, piling even his clothes before his earthly father (who was demanding restitution for Francis’ “gifts” to the poor) so that he would be totally free to say, “Our Father in heaven.”

He was, for a time, considered to be a religious fanatic, begging from door to door when he could not get money for his work, evokng sadness or disgust to the hearts of his former friends, ridicule from the unthinking. But genuineness will tell. A few people began to realize that this man was actually trying to be Christian. He really believed what Jesus said: “Announce the kingdom! Possess no gold or silver or copper in your purses, no traveling bag, no sandals, no staff” (Luke 9:1-3). Francis’ first rule for his followers was a collection of texts from the Gospels. He had no idea of founding an order, but once it began he protected it and accepted all the legal structures needed to support it. His devotion and loyalty to the Church were absolute and highly exemplary at a time when various movements of reform

ne day, a wealthy family man took his son on a trip to the country so he could have his son see how poor country people were. They stayed one day and one night at the farm of a very humble farm family.

When they got back home the father asked the son, “What did you think of the trip”? The son replied, “Very nice Dad.” Dad said, “Did you notice how poor they

were?” “Yes”. “So, what did you learn from this trip?” “I’ve learned that we have one dog in the house, and they had four. We have a fountain and imported lamps in our garden, they have a stream with no end and the stars in the sky. Our garden goes to the edge of our property, they have the entire horizon as their back yard.” At the end of the son’s reply the father was speechless and then his son said, “Thank you Dad, for showing me how poor we really are.”

EDITOR’S NOTE:

The story is widely circulated on the internet or in some textbooks. It reflects the simplicity of life and the innocence of a young mind. It does not suggest we be pitiful on how the poor live. It does let us know how to appreciate life to enjoy each moment regardless of our material deprivation.

man went to a barber shop to have his hair and his beard cut as always. He started to have a good conversation with the barber who attended him. They talked about so many things and various subjects. Suddenly, they touched the subject of God. The barber said:

“Look man, I don’t believe that God exists as you say so.” “Why do you say that?” asked the client. “Well, it’s so easy, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God does not exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God exists, there would be no suffering nor pain. I can’t think of a God who permits all of these things.” The client stopped for a moment thinking but he didn’t want to respond so as to prevent an argument. The barber finished his job and the client went out of the shop. Just after he left the barber shop he saw a man in the street with a long hair and beard (it seems that it had been a long time since he had his hair cut and he looked so untidy). Then the client again entered the barber shop and he said to the barber: “know what? Barbers do not exist.” “How come they don’t exist?”-asked the barber. “Well I am here and I am a barber.” “No!” the client exclaimed. “They don’t exist

because if they did there would be no people with long hair and beards like that man who walks in the street.” “Ah, barbers do exist, what happens is that people do not come to us.” “Exactly!”- affirmed the client. “That’s the point. God does exist, what happens is people don’t go to Him and do not look for Him that’s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world.” Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. STORY FROM UNKNOWN AUTHOR

Where I am now in my Vocation? Sem. Kent Glenn B. Pelaje

hen I was still in the seminary formation, I found myself not functioning well on my obligations and responsibilities. At times, when i am assigned as cleaner in a respective area, I do not do my work. Sometimes, I get tired of doing my responsibilities like preparing the music instrument and tools for the mass and prayers. I felt spiritual dryness during those moments, until the day my rector told me that i be sent for a one year regency.

When the diocese celebrated the Diocesan Youth Days in our parish, especially during summer, the presence of being a seminarian was still in me. I served and I saw myself happy with what I was doing. All the time I had for my summer days, I spent it with my family. When the school year 2013-2014 started, I enrolled myself and continued my studies without thinking of what could be my plan for class days as well as in my life outside formation. During the opening of classes in June, when I saw my batchmates wearing clerical, I got hurt, of course. Maybe it is because I am not part of their community and in the formation anymore. That month also, I was in struggle in adjusting myself outside formationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and issues like time management, schedules and budgeting are my life struggles. That is the reason why I made a budget plan and schedule.

On that moment, I felt happy, especially when I think that I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to have responsibilities with others. But when I tried to reflect, a bite of reality struck me and made me think things like, if I relax myself here, outside formation, it seems that I am not helping myself grow and letting myself be matured. The reason why I choose to join a school club just to see and test myself if I can handle responsibilities in school.

once a month or twice if ever our parents need us. At that time, I forgot the pain of losing the seminary formation because of my new community and I realized that I can form myself here outside formation without being in the seminary.

Despite of all my happy moments outside formation, I feel sufferings, rejections from my parish and also from my rector. I cannot see any motivation from them to continue my vocation, instead puts me back Actually, I am the secretary of the and down and let my vocation of Campus Ministry Club and at the priesthood turn into dryness. When same time, I am the Vice President my spiritual director never meets of Isidran Philosophical Society. I me on my regular spiritual direction am thinking that this clubs will lead due to some conflict of schedules me to be more matured. I am and other matters, it was one of focusing on those responsibilities my discomforting moments outside that I had in my club. At first, I am formation. I felt very dry spiritually a very active leader; I always think starting that moment, that when that I can survive with my I met Fr. Bob Salem, one of my vocation which is to improve former Parish Priest, I shared all myself, to learn to love my my experiences, joys and pains to responsibilities. I initiated a group him. I am very grateful because he with my fellow brothers who are listened to me and he gave some also under special formation to pieces of advice. I realized that form a choir. We have shared our those sufferings are not hindrances talentsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;singing during funeral, to motivate myself to continue my thanksgiving or Aguinaldo mass. vocation. He let me recall those moments where my vocation I am very happy outside the started. And during the course of formation. For almost 5 months, our conversation, I felt my vocation although we are suffering from coming back. poverty, I found myself happy for what I have. But when I try to look One of the requirements I needed at those deeds that we had, it to submit is to write a letter/intent seems like we were still a seminar- detailing where I am now in my ian for what we are doing; going vocation as a regent seminarian, together and joining the Sunday in our formation and vocation. I mass at the Cathedral. We also am very thankful to my formators have our regular home visitation that they find my sufferings and

emptiness when I was in the seminary formation. It was an opportunity for me to apply going back to the seminary formation. It also helped me find myself and do the balance between the two worlds. I realized that I should take care of my vocation by doing my simple requirements, responsibilities and obligations whenever my rector, parents, co-brothers and others command me to. Living outside the seminary helped me to live in maturity which I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do when I was still in the seminary. I learned how to respect others the way they wanted me to and all of that is about responsibilities. I am not just focusing to improve responsibilities but I am trying also to maintain my good deeds and repent for those lapses that I have done, and to practice celibacy. For all of the time that I have, I spent it at school and dormitory and sometimes we (co-brothers who are also in special formation) go to other parishes like Mailag, Kalasungay, Aglayan and Landing. We unite ourselves as regency seminarians so that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have a special relationship with each other starting from the batch Guitara going to the batch Silhig, which we find helpful as we continue our vocation. As a regency seminarian, it is my own will and decision to reapply and go back to the seminary formation. Lastly, I am very open to whatever possibilities in store for me are if ever I could not go back to the seminary due to some concerns with regards to my requirements, parish or in school, it will be a pleasure to have this kind of lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; that I was part of the seminary formation from 2010 to 2013.