I should have posted a blog about this Holy Mass a year back, however, there is something special about this Mass aside from being Celebrated by Pope Francis and being held in our country, the Philippines...
... and that is, one of the Deacon that served in this Holy Mass, Rev. Adrian Ermita, now Rev. Fr. Adrian Ermita, hails from our province, Zambales, where in, a few months after this celebration, was ordained Priest, and lucky enough for us, was assigned in our Parish as Parochial Vicar, his very first assignment.
Hailing from the Municipality of Masinloc, he took his Philosopy under the care of Maria Assumpta Seminary in Cabanatuan City, Province of Nueva Ecija and his Theology in San Carlos Seminary, Makati City, and was ordained Priest, in his hometown of Masinloc, Zambales on April 18, 2015.
He started his Priestly Ministry in our Municipality on May 4, of the same year, and has served us since then.
In the recently held International Eucharistic Congress 2016, one of the many that caught my attention was this video, uploaded on youtube.
One of the Slogan of President Duterte in the last election was "Change is coming", where in, many of his followers made this their own slogan too, well nothing's wrong with this slogan, for who would not want change in the first place?
In my own opinion however, every time the hand of clock moves, change always happens, and most probably most of us are not just simply aware of it, which is probably why most people always seek for a change, a change in the form of government, in society, in almost everything that we encounter, we see, or even in things that we believe in.
Change do happen, every time, every day, in every step that we take in the present, change is always there, it is just a matter of asking ourselves of the kind of change that we really wanted, is it for our own, or for the betterment of others.
Either way, if indeed we really want change, are we simply asking others to change for us and disregard the fact that we ourselves needs changing too?
True change does not need to start from others, it simply needs to start from us, and we only need to look at these inmates to know that change can happen, anytime, anywhere, at any given moment.
Thus, the only question that remains is that, is the change that we seek for the better or for worst?
Well, as the second typhoon to hit our country "butchoy" was just about to leave, an earthquake of 6.1 magnitude jolted the area of zambales at around 6:00 AM local time, lucky for us, there are still no reported damages nor casualties as of this time.
Similarly, asside from experiencing some minor flooding and of course heavy rains, at least in our place there are no reports of casualties as "butchoy" bids goodbye.
Every time that the month of May ends, our Parish always holds a procession in Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
For this year, the procession was held with each Lady Participant Carying one of the Titles Attributed to the Blessed Virgin.
The procession was held in the evening of May 31st which also signifies the end of the May flower celebration.
Many however, believed like the protestants and specially the Christian Fundamentalist that it is wrong to honor Mary for according to them it is the same as worshiping her.
But the question is, do Catholics worship Mary? The asnwer is a big no! We don't worship, Mary nor the saints, the teaching of the Catholic Church is very definite that worship belongs to God alone.
If this is the truth, then why do we hold feast and processions in honor Mary, and why do we call her our Mother? We accept Mary as our Mother and honor her, because she is the mother of Jesus, our Brother.
To Jesus through Mary! Jov of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, OCDS
Just recently, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) announced the onset of the rainy season.
Finally, we will be expereincing some wet days and nights. I certainly do hope though that brownouts and flooding gets lessened, since classes for the new academic year has also started.
Just recently, one of the three images being used in the procession of the Black Nazarene in Quipo, Manila, visited our Parish here in Castillejos.
Without me knowing it, before my son turned two years old, he has already developed foundness with the Black nazarene. Infact, every Sunday after the mass, he will always ask me to visit the Black Nazaren of our Parish before we go home.
Before the Nazarene returned to Manila however a grand procession was held and my son really enjoyed this moment.
I guess, there is no longer a need for my son to go to Manila just to expereince being with the Black Nazarene. He already did at a very young age.
We only need to look around and it is not hard to notice the kind of attitude that most teens have when it comes to faith and belief in the existence of God. With so much to distract their attention, most of our teens no longer have time to pray.
During our fraternal meeting with our Provincial Superior, one of the topics that came in to discussion was an observation that was made by one of the Elders of the Bataan Community in regards to a comment that was given by a teen when they asked them to try to experience what an OCDS community can offer to them, (in Filipino) "hindi namin kaya ang ginagawa ninyo" we find it hard doing what you do", the teens were referring to the kind of prayers that the OCDS does. Well I guess, they know that as Carmelites, our charism is prayer, thus the answer.
When our Provincial Superior learned of this answer, he said ," sadly, to some, prayer is just a job, instead of a way of life". He explains that to some people, prayer simply means "asking", which is, sad to say is very common to most people.
As members of the Carmelite Secular Order we are indeed required to set a portion of our time to pray the Liturgy of the Hours and do our mental prayer. Yes! we also include petitions in our prayers, but these petitions are secondary to our true purpose, which is according to St. Teresa of Avila, we pray in order to have an "intimate sharing between friends".
"Lord Jesus, teach as how to pray, so that we can share our day-to-day experience with you."
Just before I went to sleep at around 1:15 this morning I heard a low frequency rumbling noise which was followed by ground shaking... a Magnetude 5.9 earthquake hit our area that lasted for more or less 15 secs.
Based from Philvolcs data, the quake has a depth of 30Km and an epicenter located at 035 km S 29° W of Iba (Zambales). It was followed by three more aftershocks with magnitudes of 3.9, 4.0, and 2.8 located at 021 km S 80° W, 025 km S 34° W, and 004 km S 67° W of Iba respectively.
Since January of this year, our province have experienced a total of 39 quakes including today, with four (4) of which including this one reported as "with felt intensities", with the latest by far, as the strongest.
Our province has been identified by Philvolcs to have two major active faults known as the "Iba fault", and liquefaction susceptibility areas. Liquefaction is a physical process that can occur during earthquakes that leads to ground failure. This happens when, fine grain of sands and silts behave as viscous fluids rather than solids that decreases soil strength, loosing its ability to support structures above it that can cause extensive surface damage resulting from the collapse of structures.
Looking back at the turn of events in the past few months have just made me realized that it has been a very long time since I made a post to this blog of mine. Mainly due to some work that I was required to finish, and because of this, I myself is no longer aware of what has been happening around me.
Although I do remember hearing a news item about Bishops receiving "Pajeros" it did not sinked-in until just a few days ago and although it might be a little late, it is still my belief that I do need to make a blog out of it to atleast offer some observation on the matter.
Doing some researching on how it all began, I have stumbled upon some blogs and articles posted over the Internet which have not simply criticized the involved Bishops but had also stated hateful statements even though the issue in itself was not that clear.
There were many write-ups coming from supposed knowledgeable people which is most of them simply claims that they believed in reason but have simply made an immediate judgment without even seeking and looking on the actual facts (talk about being reasonable).
Sad to say though, that even today, after the Bishops were vindicated by the Senators themselves, some people still insist to their own conclusion, to the point of justifying their claim, when the very person, PCSO Chairman Margarita Juico who have made their findings publicly admitted to the Senators conducting the investigation that the very information that was released by the media regarding these Bishops receiving Pajeros were wrong.(Source)
Although she has insisted during the Senate Hearing that the she did not say that the Bishops have received Pajeros which have resulted for the branding of these Bishops as "Pajero Bishops", videos and news articles dating back when the press conference were made says otherwise.
But how could she have made the mistake of stating that Pajeros were given by the PCSO to these Bishops when the truth is that the PCSO have a complete documentation of what were the actual donations and were these vehicles are to be used?
Did she actually read the report before the press conference or did she simply made an assumption? Or worst, was it deliberate to stir up public opinion, if so, for what reason?
Other Reports
In one interview that Sen Lacson gave with reporters, Sen Lacson have said that according to the documents in his possession, not only Bishops but even Solons have received allocations from PCSO, "with one lone district managing to have received 55 million with the date of the Board Resolution covering the election" he said.(Source)
The donations that the PCSO gave to the Bishops to buy five vehicles as COA have reported was only 6.94 Million Pesos, Sen Lacson in his interview have stated that a lone district got an allocation of 55 million Pesos within the election period, and yet most bloggers and some media outfit have simple singled out the 6.9 million donations that the Bishops have received from the PCSO and even focused on the words "Pajero Bishops" in their headlines when looking at it alone, the 6.9 million would not have been enough to buy three (3) of this Pajeros. (Source)
No matter what the reasons maybe, as to why? how? and what? one thing is for sure, the truth no matter how someone hides it will always come out, and when it does, the one who sided with the Truth will be set free, while the others who have hidden the truth will be caught in their very own web of deceit.
This event in my own belief has not divided the True Catholic Church, but have in fact revealed the intentions of deceit of a hidden enemy that continuously hides and waits for proper timing to release his venomous lies. Eventually, the Truth that we beleive in shall always be there to shed light even on the most darkest path, it might not be in an immediate manner, but in His time, it will.
It's really a good thing that with our previous experience with powerful cyclones, the Philippine Government was able to adopt it self to the situation and was able to make the necessary precautionary measures, and was, at least with the latest typhoon "Juan" able to prepare ahead of time and warned it's people in advance averting a similar situation with typhoon "Undoy".
Although Typhoon Signal number four was raised prior to "Juan" making a landfall at the Pacific Coastal Region of the country, the people who were living in the coastal area were properly warned with most of them evacuated before the typhoon hits. Aside from this, although there were still a great amount of damage, specially to farming, some farmers with the early warning, were able to harvest their crops averting a repeat of last years experience that caused a heavy tool on crops.
The difference between a Typhoon and Hurricane
But before I continue, allow me to share to you an answer to, most probably a similar question that I had regarding the difference between a typhoon, cyclone and a hurricane.
The terms "hurricane" and "typhoon" are regionally specific names for a strong "tropical cyclone". A tropical cyclone is the generic term for a non-frontal synoptic scale low-pressure system over tropical or sub-tropical waters with organized convection (i.e. thunderstorm activity) and definite cyclonic surface wind circulation (Holland 1993).
Tropical cyclones with maximum sustained surface winds of less than 17 m/s (34 kt, 39 mph) are called "tropical depressions" (This is not to be confused with the condition mid-latitude people get during a long, cold and grey winter wishing they could be closer to the equator ;-)). Once the tropical cyclone reaches winds of at least 17 m/s (34 kt, 39 mph) they are typically called a "tropical storm" and assigned a name. If winds reach 33 m/s (64 kt, 74 mph)), then they are called:
"hurricane" (the North Atlantic Ocean, the Northeast Pacific Ocean east of the dateline, or the South Pacific Ocean east of 160E)
"typhoon" (the Northwest Pacific Ocean west of the dateline)
"severe tropical cyclone" (the Southwest Pacific Ocean west of 160E or Southeast Indian Ocean east of 90E)
From this information, I guess the only difference between the two is the terminology that is being used to describe a strong tropical cyclone, and from the looks of it what we refer in the Philippines as a "Typhoon Signal" is referred to as "Categories" in other countries.
Thus, typhoon signal number four (4) in the Philippines is the same as Category four (4) Hurricane in the US.
Effects of Global Warming?
In my lifetime, seldom does a typhoon having a disastrous power of above 185kms per hour ever hits our country.
Is the Philippines now suffering the effects of "global warming"? It's a question that will be very hard to answer, specially when it is not taken as a priority by our government.
A few months ago Former Vice President Al Gore of the United States visited our country and held a conference about global warming with Students of the University of the Philippines, and I believe some of our government officials attended too.
Whatever the outcome of that conference in the future is still something for us Filipinos to see, I'm just hopeful that instead of our government focusing and spending more money on contraceptives, that they instead start addressing and start studying the possible effect of global warming.
One can always debate whether global warming is a fact or a mere fiction, what I do know however, in a layman's point of view, is that in my 40 years of existence, I had never experienced the kind of weather that I am experiencing right now.
The sign of the times? or is it the sign of "nature miss management" in a global proportion?
I'm hopeful that our government starts "asking the questions, and start telling the people."
It's the kind of question that commonly creeps into my mind specially when I become too engrossed on things that are necessary but tends to overcome things of necessity.
It's also the kind of questions that I often find hard to answer, less I go back in the past and start recalling what I had been doing lately that led me to feel this way.
You see, it has always been my belief, that the present is always the by product of what we did in the past. And whatever is it that we feel today is the result of what we did yesterday.
So now I'm wondering again, why do I feel sad?...
... Maybe it's because I've been fooling my self into believing that I can survive without You, even if it is the fact that I MISS YOU SO MUCH...
Huwag Limutin By Arnel DC Aquino, SJ I. H'wag limutin nakaraang araw, sariwain kahit balik tanaw. Takipsilim di man mapigilan, sandali lang ang dilim. II. 'Yong bilangin and bawa't sandaling kagalaka'y wari'y walang patid. Magkasama tayo sa pagsapit ng 'sang langit sa daigdig. Koro: Minamahal kitang tunay ang tinig Ko sa'yo'y bubuhay. Sambitin mo ang aking himig at Ako sa iyo'y aawit III. Alaala ng pag kakaibigan, sa puso itago't ingatan. Sa pagsilay ng bukas tingnan, ala-ala't puso'y iisa!
Well peeps, another day is about to end again, and here I am, just like as before living out a routine schedule.
Checking my logs, my emails, my stats, playing frontierville at facebook, drinking a couple of beers to ease out the remaining tensions caused by my day job, talking to my wife on our budget and so on and so forth...
Well I guess that's my life...
More than a year ago before I finally reached the right age for marriage (no violent reactions please... well of course I can't deny the fact that I was already 38 when I got married ... but at long last after nearly 14 years of going steady...) well, what I was thinking then was that, at last a change in routine.
Guess I was wrong, well there we're changes that's for sure.
If before, when I arrive home, who I always find greeting me is my dog "sport" nowadays it has changed. For now its "bon-bon" (it's my other dog).
If before when I arrive home the very first thing I do is to cook, now I only need to get one and not to prepare it anymore...
Well there were changes, but I guess not that much. Not until after three months of our marriage, when my wife told me that she was pregnant.
Guess what? My entire life made a 360 degree turn.
For all of a sudden, I find my self, longing, patiently waiting and preparing for the big day...
Nine months after, my entire world has totally changed,
for there in front of me,
the greatest joy of my life I see,
Miguel at 2 days old
the gift that was promised to me,
by my Friend,
my Lord,
and my God.
The greatest treasure of my life... my child Miguel.
As I had mentioned in the opening of this post of mine, I still lived in a routine, but this time although I still lived in the same routine, it's purpose has changed. Since, for this time I miss my routine, for in it is the time that I need to spend with my child...
Now there is only one thing that I do ask and pray for, for my child, to be able to seek and grow fully in fulfillment of his mission of destiny... for my child to be able to say someday to our Lord the following words " Lord, let your servant go in peace, for your Word has been fulfilled..."
It has been a week since my brother's funeral and I haven't had a chance to express my gratitudes to all the people who gave their support of encouragement and prayers during the time that we are in grief.
Allow me then to thank all of you through this blog...
To all my friends, office mates, my bosses and members of the family;
To my brothers and sisters in the Secular Carmelite Order, specially Tita Celia Timbol, OCDS, President of OCDS Philippines;
The Nuns of Carmel of the Holy Spirit, Subic, Zamabales, Sor. Anne Marie,OCD; Sor Mary Albina,OCD; Sor Mary Renee, OCD;
From the other communities specially to our Community Spiritual Assitant Rev. Fr. Buddy Torres,OCD;
Other Monasteries Sor Ara, OCD;
Our OCDS Subic Community President Sis. Ampy Zerudo, OCDS; Tita Merce Gamez and all of our Subic Community Members;
To each and everyone of you, accept my thanks' and prayers.
Although as of this date I have not received any information pertaining to the arrest of the assailants, three possible suspects have been identified and are now under the watch of the Cavite Police.
Throughout those days during my brother's wake one of the songs that I had held on to is this.
Allow me to share it to you, in full hope that when the time comes that we face doubt, we can always remember this words...
Our mission as Carmelite Seculars is to counter the flow, to go against the world and to show everyone not only through preaching, but most of all through our way of life, the existence of God and the right way of befriending "the One we know, Love's us".
This morning, between 10 and 11 AM, my sister Dolly informed me via a call on my cellphone, that my younger brother Socrates was killed by still unidentified assailant. He was 33, with 2 children.
Just a few weeks back, our eldest, Ross and I we're just talking when will be the time that we will all be able to see each other in person?" and yet before we could even set a possible date, one of my brothers whom I haven't seen since birth, for still unverified reason was killed.
Yes, I got separated from them when I was still young, and even today although we already know the story why I got separated, I haven't had a chance to meet them and just about, when we almost had a chance to do so, this thing happens, in all of a sudden.
As of now, I'm not really so sure as to the kind of feeling that I'm having.
Regret? for not meeting him during those times that I could have. Frustrations? for not being able to do anything at these point. Anger? For the person who took his life, for he had not only taken a life but an opportunity for us to be with one another.
Mixed feelings, mixed emotions...
How can I possibly express what I feel at this very moment?
Only One can, and only One can pacify my thoughts and emotions today, He had carried me before, I know that He will carry me again... Not only me, but all of us...
Soc, I might no longer be able to express to you warmly the kind of brotherly love that I could have done so, allow me instead to express it to you today, in a way that I know could transcend the boundaries of time. For only in my prayers will I be able to connect with you, 'till the time that we are given a second chance to meet and remain forever...
" Eternal rest be granted to my younger brother Socrates Oh Lord, and let You're perpetual light shine upon him."
"Justice for my brother's death! I cry oh Lord! Justice I call upon to those who are involve in his death!
But not in the way that I know, but in a way that will not go against You're Will, for even though the situation angers me so much, I still wish to surrender everything to You to judge upon.
Not my will, but may You're Will be done."
Holy Mary, Mother of all Carmelites, My Mother, Pray for us. Amen
It has became a routine for my wife and I, since last month to turn on our Television every eight (8) in the morning and watch TV Masses every Sunday.
Normally both of us, looks for the Masses of Fr. Joey Paller and the Televised Mass Celebration at SM Mega Mall.
Since my family and I (with baby Miguel), attends Parish Sunday Masses every afternoon, we simply look-in and listen-to the Homilies of these Priest in TV masses as an additional inspiration.
For my part, I also make it as an opportunity to hear my favorite liturgical music that most of the time I can only listen too, during TV masses.
This morning I just happened to have chanced upon this song, which is by the way, the first time I ever heard of.
Guess what, being a natural born liturgical music lover (ehem), an offertory song got my attention.
So what I did is what I usually do whenever I hear a music that I love, search at youtube.
Eventually I was only able to find two (2) uploaded version sung by a choir. Since one of the uploaded version is a little bit distorted I've decided to embed on this post the one sung by a Diocesan Choir and uploaded by Heidi Halcon.
Here it is, I hope you like it and inspires you too, just the way it has inspired me.
If you want to download this video from youtube, you can do so by clicking THIS LINK
To become one requires time, patience, and discernment. To live as one requires a greater love, faith and hope.
This is the best way I could describe my life as a Secular Discalced Carmelite.
Many might think that to live a life under the mantle of "religious life" is as easy as it may seem. Sad to say though it runs contrary.
In my own experience, I became even more prone to questioning rather than to simply live a life of obedience, far more to ask, than to simply live a life of poverty, and nearer to temptations rather than to simply live a life of chastity.
Oh yes, I'm human too, I can feel pain, loneliness, deprivation, resentment... and I think will continue to feel so, so long that I remain in this pilgrimage of life.
There are even times that I question the decisions that I had made in the past that led me to live my present life. Even though, I know that the path that I have taken was the path that He Himself had chosen for me...
Oh yes, I also err at times, not because I have lost my faith nor because I no longer intend to continue, but simply because, most of the time, things happens in a way that goes contrary to what I believe and relied upon to happen.
Yes, to live as one is not as easy as it may seem, but one thing that I do know is that, at the greatest time that I needed it most, there is always someone out there who always held His hand to catch me whenever I fall.
... who always says, "Sana Maging akin kang muli"
and I know that it will continue on, He started with me, way back before in my teenage years, formed and taught me, corrected me, allowed me to go on my way...
But even so, He always remained, followed me, and always held my hand at times when I even least expected.
Despite of my sinfulness, unworthiness, He was always there for me.
And this is the reason why, no matter how difficult it may seem to live a life of promise as a Carmelite Secular and vow as married man, I intend to continue on...
... Because I know, someone has Loved me before I was even born.
Allow me to start this with a story originally written in Filipino, which I have happened to have read, years back.
A couple was celebrating their anniversary, and as they celebrate, the lady ask the man this question (in Filipino),
babae : " Honey, Mahal mo ba talaga ako?" lalake: "Mahal na Mahal. Ang totoo nyan may dala akong regalo sayo..." babae: "Wow! talaga?" lalake: "Oo naman eto oh,"
"Shampoo, para sa malagkit at buhol buhol mong buhok,"
"Toothbrush at toothpaste, para sa naninilaw mo nang ngipin," "Mouthwash para sa iyong bad breath," "Deodorant para sa nangangamoy mong kilikili," "at sabon para makaligo ka naman kahit 2x a week man lang."
Translation (English):
woman: "Honey, do you really love me?" man: "I love you so much!, the truth is I even bought you some gifts," woman: "Ohh Really?" man: "Yes I did, here take a look"
"Shampoo, for your tangled and sticky hair," "Toothbrush and toothpaste, for your yellowish teeth," "Mouthwash for your bad breath," "Deodorant for your smelly under arm," "and a soap so that you can at least take a bath twice a week."
I can no longer remember the kind of reaction that I had after reading this story, I do believe that I was really laughing-out-loud (lol).
Funny as it may seem, but in reality, the guy have really shown how much he really loves his wife... and he was not kidding when he bought the gifts that he had for her.
True Love never sees defects, but instead creates a blinding light that overcomes these defects, transcending the boundaries of the physical aspect of nature that reveals the true person that lies beyond.
This is the kind of Love that Christ have shown us, despite of us being unworthy, He gave up His life so that we can be saved.
Not out of nothing, but simply because He Loved us without conditions...
... and I never realized this, until my first born, 3 month old son, Miguel, suffering from G6PD deficiency, thought me how to love unconditionally...
Often times I wonder why I ever became one, I never thought that after these years I will again come face to face with a vocation that I almost had, but was never given.
Yet, here I am again, facing it for the second time.
I really wonder If I was wrong when I believed that never was I called in a religious life?
I guess not, God do work in many mysterious ways that often times, is really very hard to grasp. Or is it?
But can anyone blame me if I start asking, what would have been my life if I have decided the other way around?
... I would have been a Priest by now, with my own Parish, with people to serve upon to... that is, if in between, I would not have chosen to leave before I could even be ordained.
But what if I did pursue what I thought to be my calling at that time and indeed was ordained?
... I will never would have met my wife, and I'll never ever have Miguel, that's for sure.
But here I am, after many passing years, called again to face another calling, a calling not to be a Priest and a father to all, but to be a father to a small family. The very root of society.
I guess that's the reason why it was never given to me, because someday I will be called again, not to be the father to many, but simply to be a father to a small one, not to change the world nor society, but to raise one.
My calling as a Secular Discalced Carmelite is not to change the world, but to become the catalyst of a new world. Hopeful that through Miguel and his generation, they could change the world. --Jov of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, OCDS
Articles written in this blog, unless otherwise sourced, is the sole opinion of the writer and does not carry nor imply the opinion of the Entire order of Carmel, the Vatican nor the Universal Church. With this, all my personal writings, I hereby subject to correction by the teaching Authority of the Catholic Church, the keeper and Authority on Divine Revelations.
