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The Mukha AD
We, the members of MUKHA A.D. (Masiglang Ugnayan ng mga Kabataang Hinuhubog sa Anyo ng Anak ng Diyos), a youth formation group of both lay and student-brothers envision to strengthen the involvement of the youth in the church. As a manifestation of our commitment to Christ and to the Church, we strive to become proclaimers of the Word. We therefore undergo and share a formation program which is fundamentally a deepening of Christian values in the context of the contemporary realities. This is realized through regular encounters among us, the Student-Brothers and the Lay-Youth, in view of our responsibility and role as bearers and proclaimers of these values. We then, as members of MUKHA A.D., heed the call to renew and strengthen our commitment in carrying our mission.
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FROM THE
COORDINATOR-GENERAL Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP
LET me share with you my
unlikely, if not miraculous, tale that catapulted me into the most-coveted post of MUKHA AD Coordinator General. I need to unveil a little secret. Actually I was not the first choice of the group, and not even the second one. Br. Jestoni Porras, OP was the man who deserved to be the voice of MUKHA AD. Unfortunately, after several weeks in the office, he decided to step down for some valid reasons. Then, in brisk haste, the electoral body once again convened and elected this certain brother. Yet again, for several valid causes, he could not accept the most desired office in the universe. Now, it seemed that the electoral body would not have much choice left. My name was the last possibility. Thus, without any necessity of gravity’s force, it fell on my lap. Before I continue, let me insert this lit-
tle confession. I have to admit that among the five apostolic groups in the Studantate, MUKHA AD is my last pick. The reason is so simple yet so fundamental: I don’t want to give up my whole Sundays for this apostolate. I believed that after backbreaking weekdays, I deserve my Sabbath, my Lord’s day. But God seemed to have a little joke on me. Before I entered my second year in Coristado, Fr. Rodel Cancansio, OP asked me to join the MUKHA AD. I was caught unguarded, but luckily, I came out with a powerful excuse: “Father, I could not speak Filipino yet.” Then, I requested for another extension in KAPATID. He gave his nod and I was saved by the bell. However, before I proceeded to my third year in Coristado, the same person approached me bringing the same demand. I knew that I was running out of luck. With a bitter smile, I said yes and whispered in my heart, “This too will pass.” 3
Together with Brs. Mark Ampis and Jessilito Pelimer, we were part of Batch 23. I think none of us really took the MUKHA AD formation seriously. I marked my first year stay in MUKHA AD with a notable number of absences. I even failed to attend the culmination activity and the graduation rite. Please don’t ask me where I place my graduation’s certificate! Here comes the second year. Originally, I was assigned to be the Doctrinal animator and happily, I accepted the offer because I knew I could commit more absences. However, God has not done yet with His joke on me. In the most bizarre circumstances, what I do not like the most has become a reality. I wish to be out of MUKHA AD, but God has made me the first person who opens the MAD office, the last one who closes its door and someone who stands in between (a taste of being a security guard!). I desire to be invisible and be seated at the back in every meeting and session, but God throws me into the place where every eye would be gazing at, sometimes subjected to criticism, anger and gossips (a foretaste of being a celebrity!). I dream of escaping responsibilities, but God bestows on me one of the greatest responsibilities on the galaxy: from critical decision-making to floorwaxing the MAD office (at least, I know why they called coordinator “general”, like in general service). 4
As I walk through my life in MUKHA AD, I am gradually humbled. My vulnerability is exposed and my weakness is unmasked. I am not prepared, fit, and capable for the job. However, here comes the miracle: God’s joke is much more superior to the best of human wisdom. Or, in the words of St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, “God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom (1 Cor 1:25).” When things seem to fall apart, there are always brothers or lay friends who come to my rescue. When I am falling, the built-in support-system of MUKHA AD catches me. When I lose sight, the inner structure sheds its light. It is slowly revealed that it is not about me, but God doing wonders in every young heart. Note that it is just one month in the post, and things have gone beyond my wildest imaginations. Honestly, I am really excited to see the jokes God prepared for me and for you, my dear MUKHA ADers. Let us celebrate and walk humbly with Him as we laugh at His jokes on us.
FROM THE EDITOR
Alexis Laura L. Feliciano
For someone who had skipped almost all of the Sundays for this particular formation year, I had a variety of misgivings when I decided to take on the newsletter. For one, I liked Mukha AD well enough but a few missing faces and the physically-draining lessons on Saturdays had given me plenty of reasons to say ‘no’ on repeat. Secondly, I realized only later – when I was editing the works for this particular release – that I do not know a single soul from this batch of wannabes. Good grief, I thought. It’s going to be tough to re-integrate myself in this group. The legitimacy of Mukha Ad has long been a source of wonder for everyone. I say this because it does not function as an ordinary group of strangers, but more like a family of strangers. Perhaps for others
there are still some other valid, legal reasons, but from the point of view of someone who’s had her share of long, dubious hiatus periods from the team, Mukha Ad seemed more to reflect a shelter for all kinds of souls—wanting, refreshed, emptied, and empty; despite the initial shock of having to stick with a group of people whose names, personalities and quirks we do not know, and we did not give a shtick about. We learn each other’s names. Then we start to mingle. Eventually we learn to care. In 2014, Mukha Ad is entering its preparatory stage for the Jubilee Year. It’s a cause for celebration for sure, because it will gather round the people who have been instrumental in the formation of this group, and those who have been continu5
ously fanning the flames alive. It is not an easy feat but the story of Mukha Ad has For someone who had skipped almost all of the Sundays for this particular formation year, I had a variety of misgivings when I decided to take on the newsletter. For one, I liked Mukha AD well enough but a few missing faces and the physically-draining lessons on Saturdays had given me plenty of reasons to say ‘no’ on repeat. Secondly, I realized only later – when I was editing the works for this particular release – that I do not know a single soul from this batch of wannabes. Good grief, I thought. It’s going to be tough to re-integrate myself in this group. The legitimacy of Mukha Ad has long been a source of wonder for everyone. I say this because it does not function as an ordinary group of strangers, but more like a family of strangers. Perhaps for others there are still some other valid, legal reasons, but from the point of view of someone who’s had her share of long, dubious hiatus periods from the team, Mukha Ad seemed more to reflect a shelter for all kinds of souls—wanting, refreshed, emptied, and empty; despite the initial shock of having to stick with a group of people whose names, personalities and quirks we do not know, and we did not give a shtick about. We learn each other’s names. Then we start to mingle. Eventually we learn to care. In 2014, Mukha Ad is entering its preparatory stage for the Jubilee Year. It’s a cause for celebration for sure, because it will gather round the people who have been instrumental in the formation of this group, and those who have been continuously fanning the flames alive. It is not an easy feat but the story of Mukha Ad has been in itself, a saga worth retelling. Epic perhaps and worthy of some sci-fi insertions come a hundred years later. You will 6
see this in the lines of thought the youngsters of this batch have filled the pages of this newsletter with, the greases of sentiments that dropped across the blank papers. Their thoughts on Mukha Ad, I realized, have on equal counts been strong and weak as correlated with how they viewed themselves. From this roster of younglings, to borrow a Star Wars terminology, you’d find varied voices: sometimes a full screech, a few times a whisper, and more so a deadpan narration. These expressions have very well been distinctly coloured to match the intensity of their feelings or the lack of it perhaps. But even so, it is my hope that anybody who picks this up won’t be just receiving this as a form of courtesy, but will at least read through some as a show of respect. This is not just a mass of soulless tree barks, but rather a good collection of everybody’s memories and a piece of themselves. If you put all these together, it would probably be a riot of personas—subdued on the outset, but simmering within and this is what we at Mukha Ad would particularly like to highlight. The diversity of personalities within this group has brought out both the best and the worst and from here we learned to graft harmony from our resources. It’s not always roses, or a barrage of free food but mostly it’s about transcendental relations that connects to faith and God. It’s not a religion class (or maybe somehow it is), and I can’t say for sure what this group is all about (I’ve gone bonkers figuring this one out), but I like it because of and despite the differences. Mukha Ad, personally, would always be an abstract painting—an unknown, shapeless canvas of colors but nonetheless compelling. I hope everyone would stop by and see that beyond the lamentable combination of orange and green for our walls.
A FOREWORD Can you imagine a world without color? Honestly, I cannot. Okay then, how about viewing the world in terms of black and white? Still, black and white are colors. In fact, the interplay of the two could emerge as a world-class artwork like “Street in Saintes-Maries” by Vincent van Gogh. Then, how about transforming all things into transparent object, like see-through windows? Indeed, a window is transluscent, but to imagine the whole universe as transparent is practically impossible for me. The best colorless world I could paint in my imagination is but nothingness. Colors give something to nothingness. They provide our eyes something to behold, our imaginations a fuel, and our soul an existence. If we go back to the story of Creation in the Book of Genesis, the first thing God created was light. This light shines over the darkness and imposes initial order in cosmic chaos. But, what is light? It is unity of colors! God gave colors to the dark world and these are precious gifts to humanity. Take this gift, then creation goes back to being formless and void. This is perhaps why Malekith, the antagonist in “Thor: the Dark World” tried to release the Aether to consume all light and force the universe to return into the state
before creation. If you want something more scientific on origin of the universe rather than theological explanation or any Hollywoodworthy fantastic story, let us analyze the Big Bang theory a bit. It says that in the beginning, there was a super tiny yet dense dot that instantly released an unthinkable amount of energy and heat. This massive energy in turn, produced space, time and matter. And when the heat started to cool down and the matter began to stabilize, light then came out to the picture and commenced its mission to illuminate the dark cosmos. Light then colors our world. What more remarkable is that colors are not simply a physical element of light, but looking deeper into psychology of color, every color bears its own characters and meanings. Red connotes strength and boldness. See, blue represents calmness and depth. Thus, Colors do not only paint our physical realm, but they also mold our 7
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hearts. They in fact give soul to our barren lives. They are not only gifts to the world but also the extraordinary gifts to our humanity. Every person who comes to MUKHA AD bring with them their particular colors. We never intend to suppress this individual mark and merge them into a homogenous strain called MUKHA AD color, but it is rather the other way around. Every color is appreciated as gift and expressed in madly intense manner. Every person who pass through MUKHA AD formation is made realized his/her own color and we learn to celebrate our differences. Eventually, everyone, convinced in their own color, contributes on the great canvas of life in forming a form called the Face of Christ. In this publication, we would like to show you all the various colors every MUKHA ADer possesses and expresses. Here we learn to be recognized, to be thankful and to celebrate our colors. We dare to be colorful because this is who we are, because we are gifts to humanity, and because we are MUKHA AD. So, what is your color?
STAFF C ON T R I B U T I O N S
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Mukha AD NEWS A parade of colors for Batch 24 Opening Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP
Ang unang Linggo: MAN Albert Libunao
Under the theme MAD Colors, the Batch 24 of the Mukha AD formation year opened last August 25 with 54 new members. The Grand Opening, an annual festive-like celebration marked another year for the youth formation group. Opening the ceremony was a solemn invocation led by the members of Batch 23, as per the Mukha AD tradition to highlight their role as the bridge towards a new chapter in the group. This was followed by a presentation helmed by Mukha Ad alumni from Batch 10
14, Allan Bobis. Also included in the program was a presentation by the student brothers led by Br. Jestoni Porras, OP. Gracing the occasion were Mukha AD alumni Icebox Puaso and Fr. Liklik Legaspi, OP, currently the director of the Pastoral Formation of the Dominican Brothers. Giving the final words was Br. Bayu Ruseno, the newlyelected Coordinator-General of Mukha Ad. Hosting the event were Br. Mark Ampis, OP and Joyce Gonzales.
Matapos ang matagumpay na engrandeng pagbubukas ng ika-24 na taon ng MUKHA AD, noong nakaraang lingo (july ), ang isinunod nman ay ang unang Sesyon sa Tao (Man 1, Session 1). Ang sesyon ay nag simula ng 1:30 ng hapon, na dinaluhan ng 33 kabataan, nagkaroon ng animasyon bilang para sa masmadaling pagkakakilanlan ng mga bagong miyembro, sa pamumuno ni Bro. Glen. At pagkatapos ng kanilang pasimulang gawain na ginanap sa tangapan ng mga panauhin ng kumbento, sila ay nag tungo sa AVR (Audio Visual Room) para sa simulan ang naturang sesyon ng araw na iyon. Ang naturang sesyon ay sinimulan ng dasal sa pamumuno ni G. Alex
(Benten), pagkatpos ay ipinakilala ang mga tagapagsalita (emcee) na sina, Bro. Jestoni, Bro. Mark at ang inyong lingkod, G. Albert. dito sa sesyon na ito ay pinamagatang “SINO AKO� dito ay napag-usapan ang mga bagay bagay tukol sa SARILI, sa TAO, at pagpapaka TAO, ang pagbabahagi ng mga kaalaman ay pinamunuan ni G. Valerio De Grano. Dito ay natalakay kung saan nag mula ang tao, kung ano ano ang ugali ng tao, kung paano makisalamuha ang tao sa kanyang kapwa tao, kung paano na ang tao ay nilikha ng Panginoong Diyos, pahapyaw din na natalak ang gawi ng pag iisiap ng tao sa kapwa tao, ang tao at kung paano magpakatao, ang kugn paano maging tao, Sa pagtatapos ng naturang sesyon iginawad ang sertipiko ng pasasalamat kay G. Valerio De Grano para sa kanyang kabutihang loob ng pagbabahagi ng oras at kaalaman para sa mga bagong miyembro ng MUKHA AD, ang pag bibigay ng sertipiko at pinamunuan ni Bro. Bayu (ang coordinator General), at bago tuluyang mag tapos ang naturang sesyon ay inanunsyo ang mga susunod na sesyon (Seesion 2 man2)
ay inilahad ang kanila misyon o takdang aralin, (ang mga nakiisa o dumalo sa naturang sesyon ay ininyayahang mag sulat ng repleksyon nila mula sa araw na natapos ang sesyon hangang sa susunod na sesyon at ito ay ibabahagi sa grupo sa sususnod na sesyon), at pag katapos ibigay ang mga takdang aralin ay isinunod ng pag awit and pag askyon ng MUKHA AD THEME SONG sa pamumuno ni G. Albert opo ako nga po ulit iyon wala nang iba pa, pero ditto kasama ko ang lahat ng mimyembro ng MUKHA AD, at pagkatapos ng pagawit and pag askyon, ay tinopos ang naturang sesyon sa isang dasal ang pagdarasal ng Dominican Blessing na nakapormang bilog at nagkakapit bisig lahat ng miyembro, pag katapos ng dasal ay tumungo na kames a opisina para sa kaunting salo salong inihanda para sa lahat ng nagsidalo, Ang sesyon ay masasabing natapos ng matagumpay at angbigay dunong at kaalaman sa mga bagong miyembro ng grupo ng MUKHA AD, sa kadahilang makikita mo ang mga ngiti ng bawat isa habang masayang binabalikan ang mga bagay na natutunan ng tanghaling iyon. 11
Session 2 on Man: “God to Man, Man to God” Last August 04, 2013, the first Sunday of the month, the MUKHA AD had its second session on man. The session was entitled: “God to Man, Man to God.” It is a follow up module aimed to deepen more the participants’ understanding about themselves as children of God which was being imparted to them on the first session. The participants started to arrive around 1 o’clock in the afternoon. After the registration, the participants together with the staff gathered together in the Dominican Studentate receiving area for the communal animation which was being facilitated by a very energetic and dynamic Dominican brother, Br. Glenmar Gamboa, OP, who is also a participant for batch 24. Everyone enjoyed the mind boggling activity or game. The participants were now energized and ready for the session. The session proper started around 2 o’clock in the afternoon. To spiritually dispose the group for the session especially the participants, it started first with an opening prayer led by the Spiritual Animator, Mr. Alexander Benten dela Cruz, in order to praise God above all and to invoke the guidance of the Holy Spirit in making the session fruitful and successful. The emcees for the said session were the dynamic duo of Br. Jayno Jabonillo, OP and Ms. Sharia Marie Corsonado. As part of the program, there was a recap of what had transpired during the first session on man. The emcees asked some of the participants about what they have learned from the last session. Afterwards, the cute and handsome level 1 coordinators, namely; Br. Jestoni E. Porras, OP; Br. Mark King Cornel 12
ed’s note
Br. Jestoni Porras, OP
This article does not actually conform to the standards of basic news writing but after much deliberation, it has been left as is to keep the humor intact. Read on and find out for yourself what the humor is all about.
Ampis, OP and Mr. Albert Libunao facilitated an activity. The participants were given a piece of paper attached to their back and a pen. They were given the task to write one good characteristic (based from their impression) on each of their co-participants. The activity wanted to convey the reality that we are created in the image and likeness of God, and as a children of God, we also shared and inherited his goodness. Again, they accomplished the task, the cute and handsome level 1 coordinators asked some of the participants to share their experience and realization about the said activity. After the activity, the resource speaker was being introduced by Br. Jayson R. Gonzales, OP. The speaker for this session is a familiar face in MUKHA AD. He is Fr. Florentino Bolo, OP. Fr. Florentino, better known as Fr. Jhun, was a former MUKHA ADers before he entered the Dominican Order and became Priest. He was currently assigned at the Convent of St. Thomas Aquinas in the University of Santo Tomas. But he was scheduled to go to Rome, Italy, for his further studies. Fr. Jhun shared to the partici-
pants about his experienced in MUKHA AD and also his vocation story. But the main content of his preaching was about the Theological concept (Thomistic) of ExitusReditus that man comes from God and will return again to God. So man only finds fulfilment when he/she achieved their End – who is God, our Creator. After the talk, Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP, Coordinator General of MUKHA AD, gave the token and certificate of appreciation to Fr. Jhun. Afterwards, Br. Bayu gave the tasks and mission for the participants for them to accomplish for the next week. This meant that the learnings which they (participants) acquired from the session do not only confined in the four corners of the session hall. But rather, as Christians and Children of God, they have the responsibility to share the faith which they have learned to those people close to them and also to their neighbours. The session was ended past 4 o’clock in the afternoon. It was concluded by praying the Dominican blessing and singing the MUKHA AD theme song. Indeed it was another fruitful Sunday. Congratulations to all the staff and participants. 13
A friendly family reminder Ivy Rose Diesca With the aim of valuing strong family relationships, Dominican brothers, students, and young professionals gathered for the first session on family entitled “The Wedding Dress”, last September 1, 2013 at the Dominican Studentate, Quezon City. It also aimed to deepen the attendees’ understanding about their families and to let them realize and appreciate the essential values within their families. The session was part of the year-round basic Catholic formation facilitated by the Masiglang Ugnayan ng mga Kabataang Hinuhubog sa Anyo ng Anak ng Diyos (MUKHA AD), a Dominican apostolic group. As indicated in the session’s title, it highlighted a Korean movie that featured Go-eun (Song Yun-ah), a wedding dress designer and single mom, who had only a limited number of days to live. Before parting from her young daughter So-ra (Kim Hyang-gi), Go-eun wanted to do everything she could for her, including making a beautiful wedding dress for So-ra for the future. As her condition became worse, Sora found out about the cancer and tried to secretly fulfill her mother's wishes one by one. The participants were deeply moved by the story as evident in their tears. After the movie, they were asked about their reflections about the movie. “Kailangan lagi nating i-cherish yung moments na kasama natin yung famTARA, TENA! continued from page 15
discussion to the whole body. At the end of the session, the participants were taught that Christian community is sharing eve14
ily natin,” said Cherie Ann Villasan, one of the participants. She also stressed that we should always make our family feel that they are important to us. Other participants also expressed similar insights. Bro. Chris Garinganao, OP also shared a part of his experiences during his younger years, his life in the seminary and about essential family values. The participants were also encouraged to show their affection to their respective family members by saying “I love you” to them when they get home. The program was hosted by Bro. Don Dominic Marco Antonio Go, OP and Ivy Rose Diesca. ryday-life and not just meetings and activities. They were made aware to form a commitment to be ‘selfless’ members of the community. They were also shown why Christian community is necessary for the full life in the Spirit.
The Blessing of Parents: Cradle of love and a nest of comfort Carol Nazareno
The second session for Family was held last September 7 with the regular Mukha Ad guest speakers Cony and Steve Basilia regaling the members of Mukha Ad with the stories of their married life. The session, hosted by Br. Carlo Rey Canto, OP and Peejay Cunanan highlighted the importance of putting God as the center of a person’s everyday life, as well as com-
Tara, Tena!
munication in a family setting. "Most of the time we're too busy to pay attention, too busy with real life to give it more than a passing nod.” Mr. Basilio said. “There is a time for everything, but it pays to take turns during the hard task, learn how to manage time and set priorities, make God as the center of your everyday life, follow your urges, build a flame and set the fire in your heart." The Basilio couple also shared with the group snippets of their family lives, as well as the effort the family members exert towards a harmonious and meaningful relationship.
Allan Bobis
The first session for the Society Module of the Mukha Ad formation Batch 24 was held last September 22 at the AVR of the Sto. Domingo Studentate Seminary. Entitled “Tara Tena,” the said session focused on the relevant social issues in the context of the youth perspective. and was facilitated by Level 2 Coordinator Allan Bobis. Highlighted during the session were the reports from the 2010 Youth Study conducted by the National Youth Commission that dealt with the statistics on education, employment, health and wellness, family income and expenditures, leisure, citizenship and politics. The session started with the participants taking their ‘selfie’ pictures. After which, the 27 participants were divided into three groups to discuss among themselves the perspective of today’s youth on the following area: • Education • Employment • Health and Wellness • Family Income and Expenditures • Leisure
• Citizenships, Politics, Perception of Government Service Policy • Concerns of Youth Groups, Relationships, Life skills • Issues and Attitudes on Youth Participation and Volunteerism The small groups then presented their Tara, Tena continued on page 14
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BATCH TWENTY-FOUR
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SESSION: MAN
Wag mo ding kakalimutang tayo ay hinirang ng Diyos at nilikha niya ayon sa kanyang wangis, at ikaw ay kanyang tinatawag na magliungkod sa kanya.
SINO AKO? Kendrick Parayno
Ang tao ay isang nilalang na hinirang ng Diyos, Madalas ay pumapasok sa utak ng tao ay ang mga tanong na “Sino” “Ano” at “Bakit”. Ngunit mas marami ang palagay sa tanong na “Sino ako”? Alam natin na kung pakikinggan ay madali ngunit ang totoo ay napakahirap sagutin dahil sa dami ng puwedeng sagot at paliwanag, Mayroong mga gawain na magpapaunlad sa ating pagkatao, tulad ng mga simpleng pagmamasid sa kapaligiran, Halimbawa nito ay ang pagtitig sa salamin
at pagmasdan ang iyong sarili. Marahil maraming mga sabi-sabi o mga kathang nabubuo sa iyong utak, at marahil ay tinatanong mo rin ang iyong sarili, “Sino Ako”? na maaring dahil sa panlabas na kaanyuan. Ayon nga sa mga pag-aaral, tayong mga Pilipino raw ay mayroong pag-uugaling mababa ang tingin sa sarili o mas kilala bilang “INFERIORITY COMPLEX” dahil tayo daw ay mahilig isaalang-alang ang sariling damdamin. Ito rin ay mababago kung ating papakawalan ang ating mga sarili mula sa kahong kumukulong sa atin. Maaari ngang 17
ang kahon na ito ang nagpapahina sa ating sarili kaya kadalasan ay nakukulong tayo dito, at samakatuwid ang pagiging inferior ng isang tao ay sa kadahilanang marami siyang isinaalang-alang. Sa paanong paraan ba natin mas lalong makikilala ang sarili? Mayroong tatlong proseso ng pagtuklas. Una ang pagkilala sa kanyang kalakasan at kahinaan. Sa prosesong ito ay mas lalo pang mapapaigting ang panatag ng kalooban. Pangalawa ay ang pagkilala sa katangiang Kanya lang; kalagayan,sekswalidad at mga paniniwala dahil sa prosesong ito mas lalo pang napapataas ng tao ang kanyang kumpiyansa sa sarili. Ito rin ang maghahatid sa atin sa pagpapalalim, pagpapaunlad at lubos na pagpapalawig ng sarili. Ang huli ay ang pakikisama sa kalikasan at aktibong pakikilahok sa lipunan dahil ito ang proseso na magpapataas ng moralidad ng tao,magpapabuti at magpapaunlad ng mabuting asal at tamang pag-iisip at pagsasagawa ng desisyon. Nasasabi din na ang tao ay may iba’tibang pananaw at landas sa buhay kaya rin isa ito sa nakakaapekto sa tao dahil maaaring bumaba o tumaas ang moral na pagpapahalaga nito na siyang magiging susi sa pag-asam ng tahasang o direktang pagbabago ng sarili sa kanya at yakapin ang realidad na buhay at pakikitungo sa natural na kabihasnan. Sa kanyang pagyakap sa mga ito ay maiiwasan ang inggit ,kawalan ng kumpiyansa at iba pang hindi kanais nais na mga bagay. Maraming mga bagay ang dapat nat-
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ing baguhin sa buhay upang ang ating mga dapat tahakin ay maabot at mapagtagumpayan Marahil tayo ay naniniwala sa kasabihang “HINDI PERPEKTO ANG TAO” kaya madalas mayroon din tayong makakaharap na tinatawag na “Beautiful imperfections” na kung kaya nga minsan mas tinititigan natin ang ating pagkakamali kaysa sa ating mga nagawang makakabuti sa kapwa at sarili. Tandaan natin na mas maraming binibigay ang Diyos na biyaya kaysa sa pagsubok at alam din naman nating ang ating panahon ay madalas na makikita sa arawaraw na sitwasyon ang pamimintas, pangungutya at panglilibak ng iba ngunit wag kang mangamba kapatid sapagkat kung kilala mo ang iyong sarili ay hindi mo na kailangan na magmukmok o magkulong sa kwarto, bagkus lumakad ka ng taas noo at ipagmalaki kung sino ka. Naaalaala ko pa noon na ako ay madalas tuksuhin sa school dahil sa aking itsura at mga ilang gawi ngunit simula ng nagbigay ang Mukha Ad sakin ng pagkilala sa malalim na sarili ay doon ko lang napatunayan na hindi lang pala ang itsura at gawi ang maaari kong ipagmalaki kundi ang katalinuhang aking taglay at ipamalas ito ng may pagmamahal,pagmamalasakit at pagpapahalaga. Nawa kaptid ay nabigyan kita ng inspirasyon. Ayon nga kay Sto. Domingo de Guzman “Arm thyself with prayer rather than sword; wear humility instead of fine clothes” Wag mo ding kakalimutang tayo ay hinirang ng Diyos at nilikha niya ayon sa kanyang wangis, at ikaw ay kanyang tinatawag na magliungkod sa kanya.
I choose to be better and happy with what I have than to fool myself of the image that I am not. It’s a matter of choice to see those imperfections as something better, something positive that will affirm your own image.
FULL OR FOOL? Jaycel Magaling
Last weekend, I met my college friend at a mall near us. I didn’t recognize him as he approached me. He looked different compared the last time I saw him a year ago. His entire outlook has changed - hairstyle, fashion, and gadgets he uses – he seemed to have become the man that lives life to the fullest and in happiness, I envied him the first time I saw him in a while for he has all that I want: an easy and happy life.
Over the meal, I asked him how he is, and he just replied that he’s ok, no more justifications made. I told him I envy him because of what he has now, and even asked him for his secrets on how he achieved it. He began to share his story. He is a typical call center agent. Working all night, partying all day, and a regular schedule for gimmick. He also has once-a-month out-of-town trip with officemates, and he 19
goes with the fashion trends and gadgets just to be considered in with his group. He has undergone lots of adjustments with the life he entered. And yet he concluded he is not happy on what he has now and even wanted to quit and find another job. I asked him why, isn’t he living his life to its fullest with all he had? And he concluded with a word maybe, but there is something more. As I went home, our conversation made me realize things in my life, things I learned from MUKHA AD. Yes, my life might not be perfect as I want it to be and I might not have the things I want but those imperfections in my life teach me to accept what I have, make proper use of them, and acknowledge my limitations. I choose to be better and happy with what I have than to
fool myself of the image that I am not. It’s a matter of choice to see those imperfections as something better, something positive that will affirm your own image. Appreciate what I have and don’t compare it with others because as I try to be different from who I am, it will only cover the real me. Know yourself and be friends with him because befriending ourselves leads us to becoming a better person As to my friend, it’s a matter of choice, don’t be a “maybe”, but rather affirm yourself over and over and be friends with him. Don’t hide yourself just to please your environment and live your life fooling yourself. It’s a choice, don’t be a “maybe”: be positive, be you and live life to fullest!
SINO AKO? Jefferson M. Bernal
Dumadaan sa buhay ng bawat isa ang tahimik na sandali, panahon na kung saan tayo ay nagmumuni-muni at nag-iisip sa nakalipas na oras. Kadalasan pa, sumasagi sa ating isipan ang katanungang, “sino ako?” at “ano ang layunin ko sa buhay?”. Magkagayunpaman, patuloy tayong nakikipagsapalaran at sumususog sa paghahanap 20
ng tunay at awtentikong AKO. Ang MUKHA-AD Session one ay tungkol sa kung paano kikilalanin ng isang indibidwal ang kaniyang sarili at kung paano niya ito mapau-unlad o madedebelop. Mayroong mga pantulong na hakbang sa pagsasakatuparan nito. Una, kinakailangan mong paunlarin ang iyong tiwala sa sarili (confi-
Ang pagtanggap sa ideya na nanggagaling sa iba ay makatutulong upang irekonstrak ang isang ideya at bumuo ng isang kongkreto at panibagong hakbang na higit na makabubuti sa sarili at maging sa iba. dence) upang ng sa gayon ay matukoy mo ang kalakasan at kahinaan mo bilang isang tao. Sa patuloy na pagpapa-unlad nito, kailangang isaalang-alang na hindi sosobra ang ating tiwala sa sarili sapagkat maaaring magkaroon ng ibang nosyon ang iba patungkol sa’yo. Ikalawa, kinakailangan mong pahalagahan kung paano ka tinitingnan ng ibang tao (how people perceive about you), kinakailangang bukas ang iyong kamalayan sa kung ano ang iyong ginagawa sapagkat ang persepsyon ng iba tungkol sa’yo ay maaring makatulong o hindi naman kaya ay makasagabal sa pagpapa-unlad mo ng iyong sarili. Ikatlo, kinakailangang maging matapat at bukas sa mga panibagong ideya (honesty and open-mindedness), sapagkat kung magiging matapat ka sa iyong sarili madali mong matatanggap ang iyong mga kahinaan, sa maagap na pagtanggap madali mo itong masosolusyunan at magagamit ito bilang iyong kalakasan. Ang pagtanggap sa ideya na nanggagaling sa iba ay makatutulong upang irekonstrak ang isang ideya at bumuo ng isang kongkreto at panibagong hakbang na higit na makabubuti sa sarili at maging sa iba. Ika-apat, kinakailangang magkamit ka ng tiwala mula sa iba (trust), ang tiwalang ito ay makukuha sa pamamagitan ng myutwal na pakikipagugnayan mula sa ibang tao. Sa pamamagitan ng konstant na pakikisalamuha sa iba, maipapakita mo ang iyong sarili na siya
namang magiging dahilan upang ika’y kanilang pagkatiwalaan. Ang tiwala ay patuloy na gini-gain at hindi kaylanman kailangang i-impose na manggaling mula sa iba. Ang mga hakbang na ito ay maaaring makatutulong sa bawat isa upang patuloy na makilala at mapa-unlad ang sarili. Nang matapos ang first session ay di maiwasan ng iba sa amin na magmuni-muni kung sino nga ba sila, namutawi sa labi ng iilan ang, “anong first impression mo sa akin?”. Ang bawat isa sa amin ay mayroong kani-kaniyang pananaw sa bawat isa at mayroong kani-kaniyang persepyon na maaaring taliwas sa iniisip ng iba. Ngunit kahit na ano pa man ang maging nosyon at persepsyon ng ibang tao sa iyo ay maaaring repleksyon o salamin lamang ito ng kung ano ang ipinapakita mo batay sa iyong kilos at gawi. Kinakailangan lamang na maging konsyus ka sa mga bagay na iyong ginagawa at maging maingat sa kung ano ang ipinapakita mo sa iba ng hindi nasasaling ang iyong sarili at ang ibang tao. Maging komportable upang maipakita ang tunay na ikaw at ng ang bawat kilos ay lumabas na madulas at natural. Ang masiglang pakikipagkapwa at pakikisalamuha sa iba ay nagsisimula sa pagkilala sa iyong sarili at pagtukoy sa iyong mga layunin at adhikain sa buhay. 21
MAN TO GOD AND GOD TO MAN Kendrick Parayno
Madalas akong makapagisip ng mga bagay bagay na may kinalaman sa Diyos. Marami din akong mga tanong tulad ng “sino ang Diyos?” at “sino Ako?” Marahil maraming mga pagkakataon ngayon o noong mga nakaraan na ating ibibigay laan sa Diyos at magpuri sa kanya pero ang gusto ko nga talagang malaman ay bakit nga ba ako nilalang ng diyos Ito ang mga sagot na aking natatandaan 1. Nilikha tayo ng Diyos sapagkat siya’y mabait; 2. Nilalang ng Diyos ang tao upang ito’y 22
magsilbi at pamahalaan ang kanyang mga nilikha. 3 Ayon sa teolohiya, ang Diyos ay nilalang niya ito ayon sa kanyang wangis. Ayon nga kay Sto. Tomas Aquinas ay “Good diffuses itself” malamang ang kabaitan ay siya mismong nagpapahayag at nagsasaad ng mga alituntuning pangpamantayan ng moralidad at sosyolohikal na pangangalangan May mga bagay na tanging Diyos lamang ang nakakaalam katulad ng ating buhay at kamatayan, ang pagsilang at pagka-
“God
has been very good to me, for I never dwell upon anything wrong which a person has done, so as to remember it afterwards. If I do remember it, I always see some other virtue in that person.”
-St. Teresa of Avila
sira at marami pang iba. Ang gusto ng Diyos para sa tao ay pahalagahan nito ang kanyang tanang nilikha katulad ng paghahabilin niya kila Eba At Adan. “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” ~Albert Einstein~ Sa kabilang banda ay ating makikita ang nilalang ng Diyos at ito ay ang tao. Ang tao, na tinatawag na “tangible being”, ay maraming napapagpasyahan at marami din tayong mga Gawain. Sa panahon nga natin ay mas lalo pa din tayong napapalapit sa Diyos at unti-unti nating makakamit ang mga dapat tupdin ng isang nakaatang na trabaho na ibinigay ng Diyos sa atin. Ayon nga sa pahayag ni Albert Einstein ay nagpapatunay lamang na ang buhay para sa iba ay isang buhay na may silbi dahil ayon sa kanya ang buhay ay puno ng mga hiwaga at mga misteryo ngunit kung ito ay ating ihahambing sa atin ay ang buhay na puno ng kawanggawa ay panahon din ng mga pagsisilbi natin para sa Diyos Ano nga ba ang paraan para maparangalan ang Diyos? Mayroon tayong dalawang paraan: ang corporal at spiritwal na
gawa ng awa (works of mercy ) • To feed the hungry; • To give drink to the thirsty; • To clothe the naked; • To harbour the harbourless; • To visit the sick; • To ransom the captive • To bury the dead. • To instruct the ignorant; • To counsel the doubtful; • To admonish sinners; • To bear wrongs patiently; • To forgive offences willingly; • To comfort the afflicted; • To pray for the living and the dead. Marahil kapatid ay ikaw ay makakapagsilbi sa Diyos sa pagiging maawain at masintahin. Nawa sa iyong paglalakbay tungo sa Kanya ay atin ding alalahanin ang ating pagpapalago ng sarili at pagsisisi sa mga kasalanan para sa ating pagpapaunlad ngsarili lalo na ang pag-ibig at pananampalataya sa Kanya. Ayon nga sa isang Japanese anime na Naruto winika ni Uchiha Itachi. “No matter what I’ve become I will always love you. Have yourself wherever you are that God is always looking on you” 23
SESSION: FAMILY
Kitang-kita ko ang hirap ng aking mga magulang. Hindi sila humihinto, hindi sila nawawalan nang pag-asa habang ako ay halos malugmok na at humihiling na sana’y mawala na lamang ako sa mundong ito.
THE WEDDING DRESS Ma. Vivien Bautista
Madalas abalang-abala tayo sa ating mga sarili at halos hindi na natin namamalayan na tumatanda na pala ang ating mga magulang. Minsan bakit nga ba may mga kabataang hirap na hirap magpakita nang pagmamahal sa kanilang mga magulang? Isa ako sa mga kabataang hindi ko lubusang maipaliwanag kung nahihiya nga ba 24
ako o talagang natatakot lang akong magpakita ng aking pagmamahal lalo na sa aking ina, kahit lubos ko namang alam na lahat ng ginagagawa niya ay para sa akin. Bakit parang mas madaling magmahal ng patago, palihim, o sa loob ko na lang? Katulad ni Sora sa “The Wedding Dress,” nuong bata pa ako, hindi rin ako “expres-
sive” o lubusang nagpapahayag ng aking pagmamahal sa aking ina ngunit ginagawa ko naman ang paraang alam ko upang maipadama ko kung gaano siya kahalaga sa akin. Naalala ko noong walong taong gulang pa lamang ako, palaging nagkakasakit ang aking ina: alta-presyon, diabetes, sakit sa puso, impeksiyon sa loob na bahagi ng katawan, at kung anu-ano pa. Sa tuwing mag-kakasakit siya ay wala ako sa tabi niya, palagi lang akong nagkukulong sa aking silid upang ipag-dasal siya. Ako’y nag-mamakaawa sa Panginoon na sana ako na lang ang magkasakit dahil sa nakikita kong paghihirap ng aking ina. Doon ko simulang napatunayan na napakabuti nang Panginoon dahil sa tuwing ako’y nagdarasal sa Kanya ay agad Niya itong tinutugon. Ang sobra-sobrang sakripisyo at pagmamahal ng ina ni Sora ay nagpabaliktanaw sa akin sa mga taong halos akuin anumang paghihirap para lamang maduktungan ang aking buhay. Maraming beses akong sinubok ng tadhana, maraming beses din akong nagkasakit, pero kahit kailan hindi ipinahintulot ng Diyos na magkasabay kaming magkasakit nang aking ina. Mula sa aking pag- kabata, sa tuwing
magkakasakit ako, ang aking ina ang siyang kasa-kasama ko sa pagpunta sa ospital, at nandiyan siya upang palakasin ang aking loob. Hindi ganoon kasagana ang aming buhay kung kaya’t kinakailangan pa nilang pumila sa mga kongresista, alkalde at kung sino-sino pang may kaya sa aming bayan para lamang matustusan ang mga gamot na aking kailangan. Kitang-kita ko ang hirap ng aking mga magulang. Hindi sila humihinto, hindi sila nawawalan nang pag-asa habang ako ay halos malugmok na at humihiling na sana’y mawala na lamang ako sa mundong ito. Marami akong nakilala sa ospital, mga ibang batang may sakit katulad ko. Nandoon sila sa ospital pero hindi mga magulang nila ang nagbabantay sa kanila, mga DSWD o yung mga nasa Bantay Bata. Sa kasamaang palad dahil sa may sakit sila ay pinabayaan na lamang sila nang kanilang mga magulang. Sila ang nagsilbing inspirasyon at lakas ng loob para sa akin upang patuloy na magkaroon ng pagasa. Natauhan ako dahil sila na iniwan at pinabayaan ng sariling mga magulang sa gitna ng kanilang kaawa-awang sitwasyon ay patuloy na lumalaban at naghahangad gumaling at mabuhay. Samatalang akong 25
kumpleto ang pamilya ay napakabilis na sumusuko. Kahit kailan ay hindi ako pinabayaan ng Panginoon, binigyan Niya ako ng mga magulang na palaging nariyan sa aking tabi, mga magulang na hindi nagsasawang gumabay at sumuporta sa akin. Salamat sa Diyos at mayroon akong mga magulang na katulad nila. Ngayon unti-unti kong ipinapadama sa kanila ang aking pagmamahal at pasasalamat sapagkat ibinigay sila sa akin ng Panginoon. “Sora, kailangan mong magkaroon ng kaibigan. Paano na lamang kapag nawala na ako?” wika nang nanay ni Sora. “When you have someone whom you can be yourself, accepts and cares for you in whatever circumstances.. that is a friend.” May mga taong hindi mo inaasahan na darating sa iyong buhay na pagkakatiwalaan mo ng lubusan, taong tatanggapin ka kung sino ka. Noong bata pa ako, madalas akong mapag-isa at palagi lamang akong nasa bahay. “Makipag kaibigan ka nga, yung mabait ha! Yung ipagdarasal ka, yung kahit mawala kami nandiyan pa rin siya para sa’yo, yung papakinggan ka,” wika nang aking ina noong siyam na taong gulang pa lamang
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ako. Napaka-hiwaga at masyadong malaman ang winikang iyon ng aking ina. Alam kong ipinagdasal niya iyon at salamat sa Diyos pinakinggan Niya ang dasal na iyon ng aking ina. Bawat araw ay binibigyan tayo ng Panginoon nang pagkakataong magbago at magsimulang muli. Hindi pa huli ang lahat upang maipakita sa ating mga magulang at kaibigan ang ating pagmamahal. Kung kaya’t bago pa mahuli ang lahat nawa’y matutunan nating ipadama anumang kabutihan ang maari nating gawin dahil ang ating mga magulang at mga kaibigan ay pinakamagandang regalo ng Panginoon sa atin na patuloy na nagbibigay-kulay sa ating buhay. Ang istorya ng “The Wedding Dress” ay nagtapos sa pagbubukas ni Sora ng dilaw na payong habang naglalakad siya sa ulan. Si Sora, natuto ng magdala ng payong, subalit wala na ang kanyang inang nagpapaalala sa kanya nito. Kailangan pa ba nating hintayin na mawala ang ating mahal sa buhay upang maunawaan natin ang tunay na kahalagahan ng mga aral at turo nila sa atin?
I believe that the time will come that we will realize that it is for our own good because our parents don’t want us to suffer,
MUKHA AD FAMILY Noriel Topular
Before my brother and I entered MUKHA AD, we are simple homebodies fond of over teleseryes (Philippines drama) every weekend we began to realize that MUKHA AD led to our creative use of time to be more useful and creative, It’s really different, because prior to MUKHA AD, we did not even make meaningful use of our time.is about family woke us and make us realize and feel sorry for it We consider ourselves lucky that we didn’t miss the talk of Mr. Steve and Ma’am Cony because we really learned a lot and the topic were so interesting and knowledgeable. Mr. .Steve and Ma’am Cony and everyone in MUKHA
AD are used by God as instruments to help us realize the worth of every person in the family, to help us change what we think id right and to e better and more responsible part of a family. At first we feel it’ is going to be boring, cause it’s family and they are parents was thinking that they won’t understand the side of their children, but I realized is never boring to listen and learn from good example of a family. As I saw their professionalism and the way they talk about their children I had the impression they really have good communication and relationship in their family that they love each other and they guide and 27
understand their children, They give their needs and trust and Because of that their children love them back and resist them. They raised them as a good citizens and God-fearing Ma’am Cony and Mr. Steve also talked about the obligations of children to their parents it is really important that we show and give love respect, obedience, and care to our parents. Even simple things can make them very happy and or make them feel bad too, so we must do what is right. Obey to avoid the possibility of hurting them, even we feel it’s unfair and we are misunderstood. I believe that the time will
come that we will realize that it is for our own good because our parents don’t want us to suffer, they all want us, is to have a better life that even they are not going to be around we can survive, and if they will see their children studying well and helping each other, the parents will be so happy, and they will have peaceful mind or for their children’s future. The lessons I’ve learned from Mr. Steve and Ma’am Cony were very important and I will always keep and treasure it till I make my own family so that we will also have a good harmony like them.
SESSION: SOCIETY
SELFLESS GENERATION aLou
Different faces, different ages Gathered to mold as one Different wants different beliefs Made to build a man
If you feel that you’re alone That you tend to be less observant Of the facts that you are not Remember: no man is an island
Communicate and live with others Effectively reduce stress and gain happiness Having a person that you can call a friend Enlightens and brightens your day 28
Come and join to our companion We are open to your opinions ‘Cause there’s no room for any rejection We are here to deepen your affection Embrace happiness and be lively Forget about your doubts and fears Open your hearts and love God’s creation truly And live life from selfie to a selfless generation
We are too proud, saying “I don’t need this and that, I’m far too intelligent and strong for this.” We live in a cruel world because we never learn how to be wise, because we are always fighting for superiority, competing with each other instead of helping each other.
T A R A, T E N A ! Mariah Clarisse M. Rafael
“Heal the world, make it a better place, for you and for me and the entire human race...” Familiar with the song? Have you ever thought about making this a world a better place? Have you ever thought that there’s more to the world than just yourself? As I progressed in Mukha Ad I learned a lot of things, even for only a short period of time. I like how it started and how it continues, all of our sessions in Mukha Ad are connected from the very first and
up to the last; looking back from the first session “Sino Ako?” where we tackled how to be able to appreciate, value and know your true self, up to the fifth session, “Tara Tena, Kabataan Tara Na! From “Selfie” to Selfless,” that tackled being able to change the society by yourself. All change begins in oneself, in realizing how to value onerself and value the people around him, not just the family but also the community. It’s like education; to complete an education a person must first go through kindergarten 29
where the teachers show one how to draw, write, read, ask etc. In short, an individual is in the first phase of philosophizing things, differentiating right from wrong, disciplining oneself with the help of the instructions given by the teachers and parents. It all starts with kindergarten. I remember what Kuya Alex said: “Dito naman talaga ang simula ng lahat, dito ka matuto ng form a straight line, always keep right, pray before meal, wash your hands, do not cheat, respect the elderly and etc...” I agreed with what he said. Everything will be in order-no more cheating, stealing, hatred, disorganized society--if you only remember the very first lessons we learned in kindergarten, the root of all discipline. If only we remember all of this, there would be no crime at all; everyone will be at peace. But unfortunately, we aren’t; we are too proud, saying “I don’t need this and that, I’m far too intelligent and strong for this.” We live in a cruel world because we never learn how to be wise, because we are 30
always fighting for superiority, competing with each other instead of helping each other. How can we make this world a better place when we are stealing instead of sharing, when we are so proud of ourselves that we forget that there are other people who need our help? Have you ever thought that if we chose to be wise in the first place, there will be peace and harmony among us, there will never be theft or murder? If only we appreciate all the things on earth, there will never be hatred and jealousy among us. Valuing yourself comes first and the second, valuing others. It’s okay to be proud but not to the extreme, because that is where jealousy and hatred start. Always remember what is worth sacrificing before you give because some people do not know how to be satisfied, and the only way to teach them how to truly value is with open arms. And that may be the start of this world becoming a better place.
EXPERIENCING T H E E S S E N C E O F L O V E, CARE & COOPERATION IN A TEAM Rey Mark Arce O. Morel
These were the exact thoughts that realized after the team building, after that memorable experience, this quote of Keller has fit the situation.. Before, I used to believe that work is perfectly done when you work on it all alone, it is much simpler, uncomplicated and when you fail no one is to be blamed but only yourself, but as I step up to the next stage of my life and development, as
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I enter the door of maturity, I realized that working alone sometimes is bad because some tasks are intended to be worked on by a group or a team. Team building used to be boring for me; it is not enjoyable and effortless. I usually define it as a vacant time where you do useless thing, but that was because I believed that activities or tasks given to a group or to a team can be worked on someone on his own without relying to others, why, you ask? Well that time I had this attitude they called “selfishness”. At that time I wanted all the appreciation to be directed on me because I tell you everyone loves to hear their names called in that resounding note of triumph. When I was in high school, our facilitators conducted a teambuilding where it aims to catch and empower the trust of everyone and to tell you honestly I didn’t get excited unlike my classmates. So, in short we had the teambuilding, and I never really felt that belongingness in a group, I never felt that empowering of trust. As I have always believe I should did the activities or the task alone, especially when they announce that the weakest performing group is my group, that time, I feel betrayed; that time, I forget the word “team”. Years passed and I am now in college, another stage of my life’s development. Even though I don’t believe in working in a team I still love to join organizations, youth formations and so many more, I maybe not comfortable in working with my co-members, but, still I perform my responsibilities well, I love volunteerism, but always opted to work alone. Then, one day, a certain organization that fosters youth formation in the image and likeness of God rumored in the school where I chose to mold my dreams. Its name is resounding and it was posted in every bulletin board of our school, and my curiosity was aroused, 32
I eventually promised myself to join this group, because I wanted to know how it forms the youth, even though I don’t know what will be and how I would perform once I get in. Yes, you’re right! This is the group where we met each other, the MUKHAAD or the Masiglang Ugnayan ng mga Kabataang Hinuhubog sa Anyo ng Anak ng Diyos. One of the MUKHA-AD goals is to form its members into a team, where everybody is comfortable with each other, and be a true friend to each other and most of all, this group develops trust with each and everyone on the group, where there is no blaming when tasks or activities are not done perfectly as well as deepen the relationships of brotherhood and sisterhood in Christ. Sessions are the days where we meet each other and it is every Sunday afternoon, then I am taken by surprise when the coordinators announced that we will be going to have a team building, again I get upset, but then, I just wish that I will not then again feel the same thing I feel when I first experience team building. So in short I joined expecting myself not to get bored and to avoid blaming my group who ever the members will be. But wait! There’s something wrong, you know what is it? Did I tell you before that I got excited on a team building? Yes, this time, I got excited and can’t wait for the day. Six days passed and finally this is it, the final date October 29, 2013, 7 o’clock in the morning until 5 o’clock in the afternoon. I readied myself, not knowing that this could change my attitude towards team building, and when we got there and finally did the teambuilding activities officiated by the staffs. And to tell you honestly, the boredom I expected, the blaming- all of these never happened. Is this miracle? No, it’s not, instead it is a realization, after the team building after the sharing of experiences I have proven
to myself that what I used to believed before was wrong, after the teambuilding lots of realization appeared such that working alone is fine and definitely good but it has its limitations because being in a group is inevitable. This teambuilding transformed me from being selfish to selfless, this team building brought me many lessons such as, in every thing you want to do, put love, put your heart into it, love what you do. When you are working on a team, always remind yourself to love, care and cooperate with your team and most of all trust them and surely it is not just success you achieve but also the spirit of what they called teamwork where belongingness is present and that there is no word “left-alone”. After this memorable experience and this realization, I have learned many positive things and motivation in the word “team building.” To sum up these positive things it will be: in teamwork you are rewarding yourself, we are rewarding ourselves, we build strong relationships, we draw inspiration, we motivate and develop
unity, we boost our morale, we challenge our trust, we achieve fun and most of all, we are strengthen and nurture our faith in God by trusting each others. Always remember that we are created in the image and likeness of God. So, it means that, when we trust each other, we trust God. To conclude, the Batch 24 Teambuilding had given me the chance to see myself, gives me an unforgettable experience where I felt the true essence of loving, caring, and cooperating in a team, and also I saw the meaning of the word “teamwork” that for many years, remained hidden for me. Truly, as Hellen Keller said, we can do so little when we are alone and we can do so much when we are together. In a team we can do so much, we can achieve more; it never leave you alone and never let others be left alone as one of the staff said. Finally, I want to end this with a quote from a writer that says” If you want to go fast, go alone; If you want to go far, go together.” Mabuhay Mukha-Ad! Mabuhay Batch 24! 33
To sum it up, the friendship that we built in this team building was different, unexpected and awesome. Our relationship is deeper. The appreciation is much stronger. All the things that happened will always be treasured and remembered.
JOYFUL MEMORIES Cherrie Ann Villasan
Happiness is achieved in many ways. It can be doing something that you really want, or by being with someone you love , or by buying your favorite shirt, etc. Happiness can’t be measured or weighed. It must be treasured and always be remembered. Mukha-Ad team building was indeed a great experience. I was able to do new things such as building a tent, walking with my eyes closed, falling on a fake height, and many more. I also overcome some of my fears like being in darkness for too long. It was tiring, but it was very fun. The activities challenged not only the 34
strength and fitness of our body, but tested our trust and respect with each other. It focuses on how you work as a team, and how you communicate to your team mates. It is a test of trust and confidence to your team. Through those activities, we get to know each other much deeper. As I have said on my speech, “before sa mukha ko lng nakikilala ang bawat member ng mukhaad, pero ngaun pati s pangalan na”. Well, literally speaking, I really don’t know each names, I just know the faces. But technically, it means I know them more than I know them before.
I never expect that I’ll be the leader of team Pabo and my rival team was leaded my Bro. Jayson. I challenged him to be the leader of team Unggoy to spice up the competition (hehehe). I just feel more challenged if he’ll be the leader of the team that we’ll going to beat! (hahaha! Yabang ko!) Being a leader of a very energetic, positive and smart team was very challenging. Hindi pwedeng pa-easy easy with my teammates because they’re really up to winning the game, and ibang level ang energy nila. Well, maybe everybody’s aiming for the win (even me) but off course we never expect that we could win. We actually thought that we lose the game on the 7th challenge. Team Unggoy already finished the activity while we’re still searching the location of the challenge. I already heard the Team Unggoy rejoices and celebrate their victory. Good thing, there’s this 8th and last challenge wherein we have to form a single bond paper into a big circle. This activity made us win. Thanks to Bro. Rambang! He’s our hero! I’m very proud of team, we won! The activities that facilitated by the Mukha-Ad staff was very smart and very challenging. It made us think, it made us breath to death, it made us tense, made us happy, mad, sad, everything. But most importantly, it made us enjoy and cherish the moment. It let us know each other even more. In every challenge, you will know how each member respond, think and do something to contribute for the progress of the team. I can say, that this team building is also a test of knowing yourself, and to express who you really are .Example on the charade game, I get a little mad to Ryan because he did nothing when he was the one
to describe the word. At the end of the team building I learned that he was half stroked that’s why he cannot move his arms/body well. I realized how judgmental i am to a person. I got easily mad not knowing or considering what he was lacking. I realized that he really wanted to help but he just cannot. To sum it up, the friendship that we build in this team building is different, unexpected and awesome. Our relationship is deeper. The appreciation is much stronger. All the things that happened will always be treasured and remembered. Someday, when we grow old (er) , those are the memories that we never want to forget, kung pwede lang iukit sa bato for us to never forget. It was indeed and always be a joyful memory. 35
STUDENT BROTHERS
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Formation becomes illusory if there is no sense of openness. Illusions in magic shows are effective because we only see one side. Magicians hide their magic behind some form of trick. This is not so in formation.
FOUNDED ON FRIENDSHIPS Br. Christopher Garinganao, OP
Many years ago, a group of Dominican brothers who happened to have lots of friends, fans or relatives, regularly received loads of visitors on Sundays. It dawned on them to gather their friends together and thus was born MUKHA AD or Masiglang Ugnayan ng mga Kabataang Hinuhubog sa Anyo ng Anak ng Diyos. The process was not as easy as it sounds, which is true of any organization, but at least we could have a glimpse of what essentially formed the group. The group was founded on the most basic relationship we have – friendship. C.S. Lewis says “Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.” We don’t ask, “What causes friendship?” or “What is it good for?” friendship is a given in our be-
ing human. God saw that friendship is good. Well of course that is not written in the book of Genesis, but we have proof that God esteems friendship just as he esteems marriage. To whom shall we turn for proof then? To the man who said “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends”. That man is our Lord Jesus Christ. The story of Jesus in His adult years is almost entirely about what kind of friend He is to others. Let us list a few whom Jesus befriended: we have Peter, Mary Magdalene, the prostitutes, the tax collectors, the lepers, the demoniacs, the manyaks, the rebels, the widows, the orphans and the list goes on. He keeps on reaching to people. What appears to be an important part of His ministry was 37
making friends with everyone – even if He fails. It is not often said friendship is part of the living Tradition of the Church. Through the Church Jesus continues to teach us how to be a good and decent friend. By this we can say that at its core, MUKHA AD was fashioned by friendship patterned after Christ. Jesus was a good friend because He was decent. He did not destroy the lives of His friends. He did not use His friends. In fact Christ led His friends to examine their own lives thus enabling them to offer their own lives to others as well. You will know a good person if the people surrounding him flourish by deciding to be good themselves. A good dose of decency is required of good friendships. Decency is not so much about matters of wearing short-shorts, or showing-off cleavage, or exposing bra straps -for fashion’s sake? Ok, calm down feminists - more than a person’s general attitude to life. I remember our class in ancient philosophy wherein our professor discussed how ancient Greeks understood decency. He said, decency is when you know you are entitled to get so many things, yet you only get a little. Stretching the definition a bit: decency is when you know you have all the money in the world to buy everything you want, yet you only buy what you need and spend the excess on the needs of others. Decency is when you have all the justifications to avenge yourself against someone who have wronged you, yet you withhold yourself from maligning the person. Decency is when you have a big bowl during lunch but you only take enough miswawith-sardines. Decency, is, a, virtue. As in all virtues, decency can only be nourished within a community. MUKHA AD is such a community, but it is a community guided by values derived from Our Lord. MUKHA AD alumni always have some38
thing good to say about the group. Of course there are others who would attest otherwise. We cannot overemphasize either of them. That makes formation in MUKHA AD grounded on the real. Formation becomes illusory if there is no sense of openness. Illusions in magic shows are effective because we only see one side. Magicians hide their magic behind some form of trick. This is not so in formation. Opinions coming from other people may sometimes hurt, true, but they at the same time enrich our beliefs and ideas. Also, we are led to see ourselves “more fully” by what other people say about us. In the same way we experience life in its richness when we begin to listen to the experiences of others; and that is sometimes quite a painful process. Openness is a value we cherish in MUKHA AD. In fact, characteristic of our alumni is their sense of being vocal (not sarcastic or whinny) when it comes to expressing their minds. A culture of dialogue defines MUKHA AD as a group. In MUKHA AD we converse a lot. As a youth group MUKHA AD has much to offer. It is a fertile soil where religious brothers form young people by their way of life while at the same time being formed as well by young-adults. Looking at the group closely one could perceive that it is a brave step of conceiving formation vis a vis lay Christians. It springs from the recogni-
tion that the Spirit works in the life of our young brothers and sisters in the same way He works in the life of religious-brothers. Both deserve hearing. Fear of dialogue sometimes is rooted in self-preservation. When we are so cooped up with ourselves we tend to sanitize our self-image. Not that MUKHA AD thrives on infected airs but that it uniquely expresses an aspect of Dominican identity – a kind of youthful-unabashed-celebrants-of-life. If you think I invent these things up, simply look up St. Dominic encouraging our older sisters to drink up wine; or our Irish brothers who seriously took up wine and drunkenness as images to describe spirituality (we have Fr. Murray, OP in mind here). The sense of openness to life brings about an expansive spirituality. Our fiat to a vulnerability to be shaped by others widens our spiritual horizons. The young ones who come into our Church are our new wine too. They may be seen as risks and threat by others- but Dominicans have always been risky since the beginning! Our Father Dominic never opposed himself to what is good even if it apparently challenges known and assured ways. He was a humble learner and listener. We find such interest to life in Christ too. Many, many, years ago Mark the Evangelist wrote something about Christ’s attitude to life. Mark is known to present Jesus
in an unadorned fashion. He drives home messages by way of Christ’s unflattering ways. For instance he writes of Jesus, “He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Putting the spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on him and asked, ‘Do you see anything?” Read the passage again and you will be surprised! Christ uses His own saliva to cure the blind man, and He asks “Do you see anything?” The story goes that the man does not see clearly at first, but regains his eyesight gradually. However in the process of healing Christ takes interest on what the man is seeing. Christ could simply heal the man and leave knowing that He could cure anyone perfectly. But He acts surprisingly by being interested with “what he sees”. This kind of encounter teaches us two things. First, our encounter with God as healer often is uncomfortable and not according to our taste. Second, God is there with us in the process of healing and takes interest in “what we see.” Having these in mind it would not be a surprise to picture MUKHA AD as a source of discomfort. And it has discomfited many certainly. But by looking at how God sees His friends we are called not to be too wary about discomforts more than to wrestle with the fact the God works sometimes in unrefined and inelegant ways. Such is formation. Hence we thank the Dominican brothers who braved to be led to the often unchartered ways of the Spirit and gave birth to MUKHA AD. Likewise we thank our ates and kuyas for forming these Dominican brothers (hehe) - many are willing to testify that they indeed have become very kind and gentle priests and brothers today. Lastly we thank Christ and His brand of friendship, for without whom friendships would have remained a mundane and unnecessary leisure. God, You truly saved us from ourselves! 39
If you are too curious, try to observe all the faces of the MUKHA AD members in the next session and do not be surprised if you receive one slap on your face because you have spent an unproductive period of observation!
MUKHA & PUSO:
A DARING SKETCH ON EMPATHY Bro. Paulus Gabriel Rambang Ngawan, OP
To see the young people faithfully come to the Church and attending every session held by MUKHA AD only makes me realize that these eager young people know very well what they are doing and that they also know to whom they go, seeking the treasure of their heart, Lord Jesus. Without any exemption, I am also one of these young souls. I often wonder whether is it really possible that within a certain period of time; if this question is theologically valid, we can form ourselves in the likeness of Christ’s face? Does time become the signifying element of this “facial formation”? And then I ask myself again why was the apostolic group named MUKHA AD which literarily in Filipino language means FACE? Why not PUSO AD, which in Filipino language means ‘heart’ as the battle cry of Philippine National Basketball Team, GILAS, goes? Perhaps I presume that the founding Brothers of MUKHA AD had in mind the well-known account of creation which tells us that we were created in the image and likeness of God and this message must always be reechoed. 40
I believe that when we come to attend MUKHA AD’s sessions on Sundays, our faces are not, I think, going to be formed as the duplication of Christ’s face because ever since we possess the face of Christ. I think what MUKHA AD wants to offer to us is the Christian attitude towards others, the way we see them, and when we see them through their faces we see Christ Himself. But there is something more than only committing ourselves to the concern about face. Face is just the window to the interior structure of our human life. The situations of our inner realm will be mirrored through our facial expressions which means that the hidden affects greatly what is seen through our human perception. Face undergoes change and therefore the physical face of Christ also underwent transformation: face of a baby, the shiny face of transfiguration, face of joy, sadness, and even a bloody face which makes Him unrecognizable and then this gives men the right to mock and split on this ugly and dirty stranger who is punished to carry a heavy wooden cross and unjustly condemned to death.
But one thing that has never undergone a change, a transformation, that is for me none other than the heart of Christ who empathizes with the sinners. This great divine empathy manifested through the words He Himself uttered while spending His last moments on the cross enduring grave pains: “Forgive them all Father for they do not know what they are doing.” It is a genuine empathy of the incarnated Son of God who has undergone human growth, embracing all human emotions, the Divine who takes the form of human flesh, the Timeless who is situated in time and space, knowing the weaknesses and strengths of every man, and knowing very well how unfaithful man is for many times. After knowing all of these, the tender heart of the incarnated God would then tolerate every failure that man has done and then shows His great mercy and forgiveness: “Forgive the soldiers Father for they only do what
has been commanded to them, for they are people bound to authority. Forgive the people along the streets who stone, curse and spit on me Father for they only know that everyone who carries a wooden cross is without doubt a criminal and they do as what the crowd does. Forgive all men Father, you sons and daughters, forgive them for I know who they are, I have been with them for many years, I have known them very well and because of this I want to love them, I am deeply in love with them. My love for them is far bigger than the pain I am enduring now. Forgive them Father because You too love them. Forgive them Father for they can be renewed by Love.” That is why I think faces are not the prime qualification for the young to be the members of MUKHA AD. If you are too curious, try to observe all the faces of the MUKHA AD members in the next session and do not be surprised if you receive one 41
slap on your face because you have spent an unproductive period of observation! As the matter of fact, different faces have added colors and beauty to the apostolic group. During the times of recruitment, I believe what is seen by the MUKHA AD staff is the willing hearts of the interested young men and women who want to have a youthful and unique relationship with Christ. And through my experience with MUKHA AD it is the empathic heart of Christ that MUKHA AD wants us to have which enables us to feel with others and to see others as Christ. The concrete example on empathy that I experienced in MUKHA AD is during our outbound activity in the Ninoy Aquino Memorial Park, Quezon City wherein we, the participants, were divided into two groups. There is one game during the Amazing Race that speaks eloquently of empathy and that game is when we were asked to lift a Hula-Hoop up with our fingers from a certain height. At first we thought it was at all easy, but when we started to raise the Hula-Hoop up with our fingers, the difficulty came out. We realized that it was not easy to bring the Hula-Hoop up at the same level with the same speed. Some of us would want it fast and some felt that on 42
their own part they had really moved their fingers up but there was no visible movement instead. At the first attempt we failed. We grabbed the second chance but failed again. And before the third attempt we took a deep breath, looked at one another and decided to work as a real team for one more time. We picked up the Hula-Hoop and placed our fingers under it and started to move it up. Surprisingly, I noticed in our sudden silence, the Hula-Hoop moved up slowly at the same level and with the same speed until it reached the maximum height. Finally we did it very well. And after that game I started thinking what would made the success possible. Later I realized it was empathy that we employed. It was when we felt with our group mates that we were able to achieve our purpose. It was the empathy that made the teamwork possible. Finally I believe that what makes us truly Christ’s loving face is when we have the heart of Jesus who empathizes with others. By showing a Christian face, people will know what kind of heart we truly have. And so I would suggest that in one of our joyful sessions, we can have a topic that is entitled: MUKHA HEART! Sounds like MUKHA AD, diba! Have a meaningful day!!!
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