A Story of Friendship

This girl in my story, you can only describe her as a free spirit – a flesh and blood free sprit. One night, while was in a far away foreign land, she ventured out from the hotel she was staying at, in a crazy impulse – just to have a feel of the night.

True to form, she enjoyed her little adventure but did not realize that she has strayed too far. By then, it was close to midnight

So she tried to retrace her steps. 



Unfortunately, she found dogs blocking her way. And they were angry dogs.
She was in near panic, especially as one dog snarled at her.

She thought there was no person around. But somebody appeared just in time to stop the dog from biting her. Her rescuer bravely sent the pack of dogs away.

Who was it?


Mr. Flower Man!

Mr. Flower Man is a flower vendor (oh, you guessed it!) He calls the world his home. The street is his living space, and the sky is his roof.

The girl and Mr. Flower Man have sort of known each other because she would share her food with him, and he would give her some pretty little jasmines. 

They don’t speak each other’s language, but they understood the appreciation in each other’s smiles and the kindness in each other’s hearts. 

They became friends in the temporary while that she stayed in that foreign place.






They formed an unlikely friendship – one that would probably be brief – but one that would be remembered, and which can inspire anyone into kindness.



The end. 





God’s Spiritual Direction


God’s Spiritual Direction

  1. BREAD OF LIFE
  2. THE ENCOUNTER
  3. GOD MERCY
  4. HIS PRESENCE
  5. HUMANITY
  6. LOVE
  7. MOTHER MARY
  8. PRAYER
  9. SACRIFICES
  10. THY NEIGHBOR
  11. LESSONS IN LIFE
  12. TRUST
  13. WHAT HE ASKS FOR


1. BREAD OF LIFE

“Offer to Me even your heartbeats. Not only those of the body, but the flow of thoughts of your soul as well. It seems to be nothing and yet it is all your life.

Your whole life belongs to Me, because love has the right to possess. What bitterness for you and for us both if something belonging to you would not be Mine.

My dear daughter, fasten daily the strings that unite us. Be My cheerful prisoner. Some found in My sweet slavery such delights that they could exclaim: “I am overflowing with joy in the midst of My sufferings.” Because I faithfully accompany those who are faithful to Me. I feed with strength those who wish to suffer for Me.”


2. THE ENCOUNTER

“Fear nothing, not even death. Death is the moment of the ultimate trust; of general satisfaction of life, it is the door that will be opened to you. I am behind it, waiting for you.”











3. GOD’S MERCY

“Be an extension of Me on earth. Here I am for you still. Let Me live with strength through you. Lend Me your intelligence and your body and you will possess my essence in heaven.”

“Think that as my feet are pierced and nailed, I cannot go in search of sinners. The faithful ones should go after them. My heart is open, they can enter into it and remain there.

Tell them that My cross is profoundly planted on the earth to wait for everybody through the centuries.”

4. HIS PRESENCE

While Gabriella was contemplating fading roses, she heard this comment:

I do not fade like flowers.
  I do not deceive.
  I remain, and I am always the same.










5. HUMILITY

“In hell there are virgins, but there is no one who is humble.”
















6. LOVE

“Be attentive near Me. Well, you know that each soul is, for Me, as if it were the only one on earth.
You know that my love overflows, though I keep it hidden and silent, so that the merit of faith is all yours. Your well-loved one looks at you through the lattice…I want you to be sure of it.”










7. MOTHER MARY

Jesus defined his mother to Gabriella with these enchanting words: “Do you know what goodness is?
Goodness is my Mother.













8. PRAYER

“Give Me, today, fidelity in small things. Is it so difficult to speak to Me?

Tell me everything that interests you. Tell Me in what your life consists.

I listen to you with so much attention! Tell them to treat Me as their intimate friend who knows their secret: sorrows, worries, and anguish.”












9. SACRIFICES

“Do you not understand, My daughter, that the sufferings that I send to you fit you, are adequate to your strength? They are favors which unite you to your God.

Give thanks to Me for the small trials as if they were a flower that your lover would place on your heart with renewed tenderness. Does he not find you more beautiful when you suffer with Him patiently? Then your soul takes new strength to cast your arrows to Him. Be flexible and docile to Me. Humble yourself always as if you had deserved punishment.

I, the innocent, had suffered everything; don’t you wish to suffer everything to complete our union?”



10. THY NEIGHBOR

“You understand, My daughter, that if I am no longer in the world, your neighbour is.

And if you wish to love Me, to receive Me, to serve Me, to soothe Me as it was done in the house of Martha and Mary, do the same to your brethren.

How affable you would be to all, if you would personify Jesus to all! Think on them and do not economize your kindness. I am the one who will receive them. I have many answers for those who care to please Me.”


11. LESSONS IN LIFE

“You have to exercise in detaching yourself from all those toys of the earth. May your heart turn to the things of heaven, those that do not die.”














12. TRUST

Form the habit of living in Me. Try it. Begin again. Without stop. We shall help you. We shall help those who have good will. Poor children of mine, you are never alone when you have given us your trust. Ask Me to speak through you. You are never alone.”












13. WHAT HE ASKS FOR

“Offer to Me the simplest things of your life with the intention to console Me and an affirmation that all your life is Mine. And these small things will appear great to Me.”
















Hey,

There’s this book called God’s Spiritual Direction. Since discovering it, I’ve felt a tug to share its messages to people.

It’s taken me years, but like what they say, God’s timing is always perfect. So here I am finally doing it, or at least this is a start, right when people need to hear God’s voice in their hearts.

These are some of the messages expressed in the book.
I hope many of us can take the time to read – no, taste --  this outpouring of love.



--- Jeng        


If you like it, please “like”. And if you think it’s good enough to share, please share. At this point, I think we all need a reassurance from Above. 
Thank you!


The Story of Martha


I am 50.
I am loved.
I am very grateful.
Thank you very much.”

The Story of Martha

Last Wednesday, in his homily during the Holy Mass held at IC, Fr. Ted shared with us the story of “Martha”. Not the biblical Martha, but a real person who lives with us in this day and age. Another Martha, who has her own story to tell.

This Martha is in her 50s. She lives a full life with her family. She has a good job. She’s healthy, vibrant and energetic. At least before the accident happened.

One day, she was walking around the mall. Walking and at the same time, busy fidgeting with her phone, she did not notice that the floor was wet. Before she knew it, she slipped and banged her head on something.

Martha hurt her head bad. Her brain got affected and she had to undergo surgery. Thankfully, she survived, but there was irreparable damage that led to her being unable to walk anymore.

Fast forward to today, Martha has recuperated but she continues to need the wheelchair to move around. Despite this, she continues to serve the Lord through His Church. She is active, and she remains full of joy.

Fr. Ted said he asked her, “How do you sustain your positive outlook? Where do you get your inner strength to continue serving?

And Martha answered, “Father, I also have my low moments. There was a time I almost succumbed to depression. But I remembered, God has given me a good life. He allowed me to pick a loving and caring husband who has been faithful and supportive, even when this accident happened. Through all this goodness, never did I ask God, what have I done to deserve this?

Martha continued, “And then He gave me beautiful children. By His grace, my children are all grown up now, they finished school without giving me headaches and are now fending for themselves. Again, I never asked, ‘What have I done to deserve this’”?
Now that this accident happened to me, how can I say, ‘God, how dare you give me this suffering?’ In fact, it is not even a suffering. I am still alive. I am loved. And I feel that my disability is too minor compared to the blessings I have received in my entire life. I may have lost my capacity to walk, but there’s still so much that I can do. Father, I am very grateful for all that the Lord has given me, and I will continue to thank Him by serving Him joyfully, as long as I can.”

That day, I came out from the Mass inspired by Martha. I started counting my own blessings, and I felt so rich.

MY BABY TOKI

Illustrations by: Sonata Q. Rufin

Chapter 01 - Finding a Baby


One night, I saw this blackish little thing being played with by our cat – “a baby something”, my husband pointed out. I thought it was dead.

I don’t like furry little things (an understatement, actually). And I abhor the rodent family. “But it’s a bird”, my husband said. All right, so the little one deserves a dignified funeral.

“Get it”, I said. I didn’t want the cat toying with it. “No, if you want to do something for it, do it yourself”, my husband said. I took a deep breath. I know when my husband’s “no” meant “no”. I’m not pleased about the trap I found myself in but I couldn’t back out anymore so I shooed away our cat, and with eyes closed, I bent to pick the little bird up.

Ewwww. It was furry. And too soft. The poor thing fell (I dropped it actually, unintentionally.) And fell again.

The third try, I tried so hard not to drop it anymore. With a matching yell (to release the tension), I got a firm hold on it (relatively).  And to my surprise, I discovered that the little bird was still, amazingly, alive. With hurt little legs though (“the cat’s fault”, I told everyone, though nobody believed me, especially my daughter who laughed so hard when she found out that I dropped the poor thing twice).   

I am not, by normal standards, an animal lover. But who can resist helping a poor baby bird who’s sick and lonely and just needing a mama?

So I took it under my wing (no pun intended). I found it a box and made it a soft bed. I put it somewhere safe where it would be difficult for a cockroach, mouse or ant to reach it. (The cat stays out of the house so he’s not a problem.)

Then I slept. In the morning, the little babe was alive and awake. But it was a weekday so I had to leave it in the care of my mom.


Chapter 2: Amazing Love

When I got home, there were so much stories about the little baby.

First, it had a name: Tokoyami (if you can’t relate go watch Hero Academy.) I nicknamed it Toki.

Second – and this is the heart-melting news – Toki’s parents (presumably, of course since they didn’t really introduce themselves) came for him!



This is how it happened.

My mom said she heard some chirping outside the house, so she took little Toki, still tucked in his baby bed and placed him in the garden. (No, the cat wasn’t there so it was alright.)

The baby made some chirping sound, and moments later, two pretty birds swooped down on him. They were so happy, my mom said. Or at least that’s how they sounded coz they belted out some loud and kind of high-pitched chirps while they flew around their baby. Then they left for a while and came back to feed him with something. And again. And again.

When they were gone for quite some time, Mom took Toki inside the house. Then she went to the kitchen. When she came back to the living room, guess what she saw? Mama Bird (actually, it could’ve been Papa Bird) squeezing herself between the jalousie window to get to little Toki!!!

However, when Mama Bird (or maybe Papa Bird) saw my mom, she got frantic. So my mom opened the door, and out the poor bird flew.


Chapter 3: Hope in Sadness

When I got home and heard the story, and when my mom showed me the pics and the videos (Yes, she took some shots but they’re not too clear), I felt stunned.

Love, it seems, is indeed universal. And as simple and basic were the ways in which the parent Birds cared for their little one – looking for him, feeding him, fussing over him – the impact was so powerful.

I fed Toki that evening. He would open his mouth to me, and I would give him tiny pieces of bread. I also gave him water. I felt like I got myself a real baby – a baby I wanted so much to survive so his parents can get him back, teach him to fly, and show him the world.

But I didn’t have that kind of happy ending. At least, not yet. Because the following morning, we found him not breathing anymore. Toki was gone.

Mommy said Toki’s parents came back that day. They chirped. But when there was no response, they flew away and didn’t come back.


I’m glad I believe in heaven. I’m glad I believe in a very powerful God who puts premium on love, because with these beliefs, I can dare hope that somewhere in time, Toki will see his parents again, in a much more beautiful world, where they can be happy together. Forever.

Endings and Beginnings


We celebrated the Insurance Commission’s 70th Anniversary last January with a bang, but much as it was a celebration of new hopes and beginnings, it also signalled inevitable endings.

Fast forward six months later, we have said “thank you for being a part of our lives” to too many colleagues. Much too many.

Most of the “pillars” (as Comm. Funa called them) are all but gone. Some are permanently lost. Majority have opted to open a new chapter in their lives.

These goodbyes are too heavy. But truth be told, they don’t feel real. Not yet.

How can it be real?

I joined IC when I was in my mid-twenties. It was here I discovered that not all government offices employ grumpy employees. In my early days there, I didn’t like my work – but I loved the people and how they were not “Ma’am” and “Sir” but “Ate and “Kuya”. I loved that they were so simple and caring and easy to talk to. I loved that the office felt like a home and everyone was family.

Time passed. I got married. I had a hard time conceiving. Eventually we had a baby. The baby grew and became feisty but was everyone’s darling. Then she grew up some more and did not want to go with me to the office anymore.

It’s crazy that all those things happened and I didn’t give much thought that I was surrounded by friends whose lives were also fast passing by.

The “ates” and “kuyas” who were already there when I joined in – I didn’t really realize that they were ahead of me in years. I mean, not really.

Maybe because they didn’t really age. Darn, I look at them and still see the faces I looked up to all those years ago! Parang hindi naman sila nagbago. Medyo bumilog lang, nabawasan ang buhok, naging mayamanin. But the smiles and laughters are the same. The camaraderie is the same.

However, because I didn’t notice the changes, I took it for granted that things will just go on as always….

But it turns out hindi pala ganon. Time is real. Life is real.

The “ates” and “kuyas” are ripe for new beginnings. They crave for a more relaxed life, more time for family, more time to enjoy the bounties of this world.

I am reeling from the changes. Nakakalungkot, nakakaiyak. Nakakainggit.

Goodbyes are sad. But the “ates and “kuyas” deserve what they crave for. Kaya sige po, go and enjoy life. Salamat sa mga aral at magagandang halimbawa. Tatanawin namin kayo.

When High School Friends Meet



When High School Friends Meet When High School Friends Meet When High School Friends Meet When High School Friends Meet When High School Friends Meet



The JARMGC (Jocelyn, Annie, Angge, Racelle, Marifel, Mary Jean, Grace, Carmen, Celinda). We were together for the four years of High School (UST Batch 1986 – no divide then between Junior High and Senior High; K-12 was unheard of yet.) We were seatmates (our surnames start with P,Q, R and S), so we easily became a group.

We were quite the dorks. We worried about Geometry and Physics, pimples, crushes, needle projects, grades below 87 (or 86? Can’t remember now) and tons of assignments. We would talk endlessly about books (we Loved our library!), Remington Steele, Miami Vice, McGyver, Mission Impossible (the TV series, not the cinema flicks), Tootsie, Back to the Future, Spandau Ballet, and the Purefoods basketball team.

After High School (or college, in the case of Racelle and myself), we sort of drifted away as we began building our lives but we did not really lost each other. Somehow, during big occasions, we would manage to bolt in. So we were there for each other’s debut, and then wedding, and then children’s baptism. In fact, we are each other children’s Ninangs.

We had an impromptu meet-up last week. Mary Jean, now based in the US, is in town and we, who are in Manila, just had to see her. Mary Jean has been widowed (not recently) and is left to take care of her three kids now.

After all those years, it is (arguably) good that there is not much change in us. Mary Jean as the youngest one acts like it (she blabbers and giggles charmingly with her head even thrown back in glee); Racelle is practical and caring; Afel still talks rapidly and carries a mountain of concerns; Bodeck is cool and has a solution to the world’s problems; Carmen is sensible and keeps us grounded; I’m still the listener; and Annie, who joined us via Messenger all the way from another continent, still keeps us confounded with her odd predilections.

Close to our golden years, our topics of conversation now revolve around our families, our occupation and/or activities, retirement plans (or lack of it), diet (or lack of it), fitness activities (or lack of it), church and community service (or lack of it), and of course, gossip about people and events from the past (guess who? Hahaha). We had at least six hours together, laughed so much our tummies ached (or it could have been indigestion, too), jabbed at each other, jabbed some more about those who were not around --- and it felt so much like our high school days were just yesterday, not 32 years ago.

Although we each have challenges of our own (raising teeners, need for maintenance medicines, budgeting woes, scheduling our next meet-up), we all seem to be doing fine - living happily and contentedly in the simple, unaffected way that we've always been used to. Ahh, I am very grateful that God gave me these ladies to accompany me through my teen years - we're dorks, but our bonds are tight and durable.