Mothers are people, too!  They get tired, make mistakes (once in a while), and sometimes suffer from on-the-job frustration.  Your mother may not be "Superwoman," but she is someone very special.  She has an extra portion of patience, a large measure of wisdom, and an overflow of love -- all just for you! 

Leah's husband Ben and 3 of their kids were in the West Coast on a visit.  We have'nt heard any feedback on their visit yet but we will update you when it comes.

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen problems with the plane bookings, their visit to Toronto was cancelled and postponed to an undisclosed date. (That's okay Leah, your brother Nilo is here anyways to extend that visit.  Thanks for the nice postcard. )

The last time I talked to Leah on the phone was when they were in Seattle en route to the Cajiuats in Vancouver. 

Hope Leah, Ben & the kids enjoyed your West Coast Tour!

Here is a weekly Sunday gospel reflection by Fr. Erick to help us get prepared  when we attend the masses for the month of May.

     Philip Mangay, our batchmate, was the Advancement Officer of Troop 85 during the term of Bong Lauza as Chairman.  (FYI: Edmon Liao was the Senior Patrol Leader, Erick Santos was the Junior Asst. Scoutmaster; Rey Bisda was the Scribe and Renato Barredo, the Quarter Master.  And yes, Val Buzon was the Chaplain)

     Philip married another batchmate from M4, Ma. Teresa Manuel, Matet for short, on December 30, 1982 at the IEMELIF Church in Tondo.  He is presently working with the Administration of Hyundai Engineering in Iran.  Being authentic "mga Batang Tundo," they hold residence at 2329-B Tirso Cruz St., Gagalangin, Tondo.

     Matet works as Loan Processor at PSBank - Plaza Miranda, Quiapo Branch.  Their eldest child, Martin John,17, is a college student at UST while the younger one, Marvin James, 14 is incoming sophomore high school student at the Manila Cathedral School.  Both of them were consistent honor students at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran.

     Mrs. Mangay's contact numbers are: (Office) 733-8403, (Mobile) 09178308334.

     Philip's e-mail address is <[email protected]> and that of Matet <[email protected]>.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to........

Fourth Sunday of Easter - Year C
May 6, 2001
Acts 13:14.43-52; Apoc 7:9.14-17; Jn 10:27-30

In contrast with Sunday masses which are totally full house, masses on Mondays and other ordinary days are more intimate.  You can count the number of people in the church, mostly the regulars.  The priest knows each one of them; he  knows by heart where each one would seat among the spaces of pews.  The same faces each day . . . the same sitting arrangement . . . the same amount of collection.  At kapag hindi nagsimba yung aleng naghuhulog ng 100 pesos . . . naku! Abonado ka na.

Mahalagang kakilala ang bawat tao. People love to be recognized.  Not for recognition's sake.  In the parish, it's always heart-warming to realize that the pastor knows them. Masarap isiping nakikilala  sila at nalalamang mahalaga din kahit paano ang kanilang presensya.  In my experience, it appears very rewarding for them to be known, identified and given due importance. Kulang ang buhay-parokya kung wala si Aling Bebang na napakasipag mag-recruit ng mga naghihingalo para puntahan ng pari.  Nandyan ni Turo na lagi nang hawak ang kanyang pako at martilyo, screwdriver at iba pa para kumpunihin ang alin mang may sira sa simbahang pamparokya.  Si Tiyang Baby na walang sawang nagdadala ng masarap na ulam upang patabain ang kura paroko. Marami sila.  Karamiha'y tahimik lang . . . pero mahalagang makilala sila at malaman nila ito.

The Lord knows each and every one of us.  "Nakikinig sa akin ang aking mga tupa; nakikilala ko sila at sumusunod sila sa akin."

Ang pagkilala Niya sa atin ay nag-uugat sa ating pakikinig at pagsunod. Ang Kanyang pagkilala ay magaganap kung ito'y ating pagsisikapang matamo. His recognition is something which we ought to earn and merit.  Jesus will recognize us if we listen to Him and follow Him. We are continually nourished by His words in the sacraments.  His truths remain to be the ultimate criteria of a worthy life. Listening to him and obeying him gives us a different kind of high.

Speaking of Tanging Yaman. It will always be there, occupying a special place in our heart for as long we know that He knows us, He owns us, on account of our openness to his words and readiness to submit to His will. The Blessed Virgin Mary can very well be regarded as the epitome is a good sheep:  she listened, she obeyed, she followed.

You may be the most insignificant person in the world . . . maaaring isa ka lamang tindera sa palengke na nagsisikap maghanapbuhay ng tapat;
maaaring isa ka lamang tsuper ng jeepney na naghahangad makapaglingkod sa mga naglalakbay at mabigyan ng kahit na konting dangal ang iyong pamilya; maaaring isa ka lamang pangkariniwang kasapi ng isang grupong pansimbahan na nagnanasang maibahagi ang iyong kaunting kakayahan at presensya sa parokya. 

Maaaring napakapayak at napakasimple mo.  Pero hanggat nakikinig ka sa kanyang Salita at isinasabuhay ito . . . kung ikaw, sa iyong sariling
paraan ay nagiging simpleng saksi sa ebanghelyo:  kilala ka Niya at kinikilala; inaangkin at itinuturing na mahalaga. 

Bida ka sa Kanya!

        -Fr. Erick Y. Santos
 
 

Fifth Sunday of Easter - Year C
May 13, 2001
Acts 14:21-27; Apoc 21:1-5; Jn 13:31-35

Some observers say that less and less priests are wearing their soutanas every so often.  Sounds right . . . the present-day chausables are
convenient enough to be worn.  Mas presko kaysa kapag may soutana ka pa.  I cannot imagine how the friars of long ago could do with their thick and colored abitos.  Well, the air could have been fresher before; less pollution and no giant structures to block the flow of air. 

But it pays to wear your soutanas.  For one, it commands respect.  And yes, you are recognized.  Nakikilala ka at kinikilala bilang pari.  It's
easy to take a pedicab when I'm wearing one.  Plus the perk of occasional free ride because the driver wouldn't allow the good padre to give the fare. 

Church organizations are also recognized by their uniforms:  the CWL are in their blue and white combination (parang saleslady ng SM with matching seemingly permanent sprayed-hair), the Carmelite Tertiaries aren't called chocolate girls for nothing, the Apostolado ng Panalangin will forever be the "mga babaeng halaya," the El Shaddai members will not do away with  the signature handkerchief bearing the El Shaddai prayer which brings them grace "siksik, liglig at umaapaw," etc.

Mahalagang may pagakakakilanlan.  May trademark.

The gospel today proposes a new identifying mark among the followers of Jesus:  they love and are loved in return.  Kung kayo'y mag-iibigan,
makikilala ng lahat na kayo'y mga alagad ko. 

Love one another . . . be a a vessel of God's love! Jesus introduces not just a new law but a way of life. 

Hindi itatanong ng Diyos sa iyo kung anong klase ang kotse mo ngayon. Pero itatanong Niya kung ilang taong walang sariling sasakyan ang
maisakay mo na sa kotse mo.

Hindi itatanong ng Diyos sa iyo kung gaano kalaki ang bahay mo. Pero itatanong Niya kung ilang tao na ang pinapasok mo at pinakain sa bahay mo.

Hindi itatanong ng Diyos sa iyo kung gaano karangya ang mga damit mo. Pero itatanong Niya kung ilang damit mo na ang naipamahagi mo sa mga nangangailangan.

Hindi itatanong ng Diyos sa iyo kung gaano ka kataas sa lipunang ginagalawan mo. Pero itatanong Niya sa iyo kung naging mabuti ba ang
pagtingin sa iyo ng mga tao sa lipunan mo.

Hindi itatanong ng Diyos kung gaano karaming materyal na bagay ang meron ka. Pero itatanong Niya saiyo kung naging alipin ka ba ng mga gamit at pera mo.

Hindi itatanong ng Diyos kung ano ang pinakamataas mong suweldo. Pero itatanong Niya kung isinakripisyo mo ba ang prinsipyo mo at nakatapak ng ibang tao para maabot ang suweldo mo.

Hindi itatanong ng diyos kung gaano karaming oras ang ginugol mo sa pag-u-overtime. Pero itatanong Niya kung gaano karaming oras ang
ibinigay mo para sa pamilya mo at kapwa-tao.

Hindi itatanong ng Diyos kung ilang promotions ang nakuha mo. Pero itatanong Niya kung ilang promotions ang naibigay mo sa mga tauhan mo
upang makita rin nila ang kanilang dignidad at kakayahan bilang tao.

Hindi itatanong ng Diyos kung ano ang posisyon sa trabaho mo. Pero itatanong Niya kung nagawa mo ang trabaho mo nang tama sa iyong makakaya.

Hindi itatanong ng Diyos kung ano ang nagawa mo para sa sarili mo. Pero tatanong Niya kung ano ang nagawa mo para sa kapwa mo.

Hindi itatanong ng Diyos kung gaano karaming kaibigan meron ka. Pero itatanong Niya kung gaano karami sa kaibigan mo ang iyong minahal nang totoo at naging tapat kang kaibigan.

Hindi itatanong ng Diyos kung ano ang mga nagawa mo para mapangalagaan mo ang iyung mga karapatan. Pero itatanong Niya kung ano ang nagawa mo para maprotektahan ang mga karapatan ng ibang tao.

Hindi itatanong ng Diyos kung gaano kaayos ang iyong kapitbahay. Pero itatanong Niya kung paano ka nakibagay sa mga kapitbahay mo.

Hindi itatanong ng Diyos kung ano ang kulay ng iyong balat. Pero itatanong Niya kung ano ang nilalaman ng iyung puso.

Kung darating Siya . . . may tandang pagkakakilanlan ka kaya?  Anong uniporme ang isusuot mo?  Anong magiging trademark mo? Makikilala ka kaya ni Kristo?

       -Fr. Erick Y. Santos 
 
 

Sixth Sunday of Easter - Year C
May 20, 2001
Acts 15:1-2.22-29; Apoc 21:10-14.22-23; Jn 14:23-29

Good Friday was a traumatic experience for the apostles.  Imagine how painful  it is for them to hear Jesus talking about leaving again. They
would not want to go through the same emptiness as it was during Good Friday.  It would be difficult to relive the sadness of Black Saturday.  In other words, life was and wouldn't be the same without Jesus. 

And yet, he admonished them . . . do not be afraid!  Huwag kayong mabalisa . . . huwag kayong matakot.

It's as if Jesus telling them - pagkatapos ng ating mga pinagdaanan, ngayon pa ba kayo matatakot?

When I learned of my mother's death, grief consumed me.  I felt that half of me was gone.  For a certified Mama's boy like me, the news of her death came like a deafening lightning which struck not oly my ears by my whole body and soul.  The first time I saw her body (I was in Germany) I could not look at her fearing that I could not bear to see her dead.  (I'd rather recollect in my memory the times when she was still alive: loving, laughs heartily, smiles at anything worth smiling . . . full of life.)  My sister, on the other hand bravely approached the open casket, held my mother's cold hands and kissed her.  She told me that had I done the same, it could have transformed my sorrow into a very light feeling of acceptance and resignation.  But I was afraid . . . like a little child crying unabashedly at the loss of a mother. (Halos tumulo lahat ng luha, pawis, laway at sipon sa tindi ng pag-eemote ko.) My sister was right:  I should have not been afraid to face the reality of separation.  But time heals all wounds . . . I'm no longer afraid (yet, still cries everytime I visit her in our family mausoleum.) And I am consoled by the fact that somewhere . . . somehow, he watching me . . . laughing at and with me!

Jesus gives a hint of greater things to come:  the Paraclete would be sent to guide them and give them, teach them what to do and to supply the
strength that they so badly need.  In other words, hindi Niya sila iiwan ng basta-basta lang.  No, He could not afford to do this to the apostles whom he dearly loved. The same Paraclete would remind them of Him.

He further promised them that elusive peace.  The peace that even the world cannot give.  He talked about the need for their separation.  And
while separation would always be sad, this same separation is for their own good.  To let go, in this particular case, is an unavoidable reality which ironically should cause the apostles to rejoice . . . as He is going up to the Father . . . the Father who is greater than Him. 

He assured them and us . . . "I'll be in good hands . . . and so with you!"

Thus, they learned the art of letting go . . . in order to seek the greater things to come.

May also, in our own lives learn to let go . . . no matter how painful. Because when God closes the doors . . . He opens the window. 

        -Fr. Erick Y. Santos
 

Solemnity of the Lord's Ascencion - Year C
May 27, 2001
Act 1:1-11; Eph 1:17-23; Heb 9:24-28; Lk 24:46-53

The Lord's ascencion to heaven. The gospel today could be a fitting ending if it were a movie.  But then, again, it's not . . . it's more than
just amovie.

Sa pag-alis ng Panginoon ay naiwang naghihintay ang marami pang gawaing tila walang wakas.  Ang totoo, ito ay simula lamang.

Now that the apostles have fully understood the mystery of His passion, death and ressurection, they have also come to realize the collosal task which awaits them:  to preach conversion and forgiveness of sins in His name; to move about bearing the Good news in Jerusalem and the rest of the world. 

The rest is the proverbial history:  we now belong to the church pioneered by Christ through the apostles.  It has gone a long, long way!
The movie seems never-ending: it took it twists and turns.  All the twelve were persecuted and died a martyr's death:  Si Pedro ay ipinako sa krus nang patiwarik : at his old age when he could hardly walk or carry himself (as prophesied earlier in the gospel :  in your old age, you would be taken to where you would not want to go).  Paul, 'though not a part of the original twelve, was beheaded (while some historians claim he was crucified like Peter).  Si San bartolome ay unti-unting-binalatang parang mangga hanggang sa mamatay.  The martyr Saint Lawrence was roasted to death . . .not rare, not medium rare but WELL-DONE! Si San Andres ay ipinako sa krus ng pabukaka! 

It was only John the Beloved who died a natural death.  I'd like to think that this was a just reward for him who took the Blessed Virgin Mary under his care after Jesus' crucifixion.

We are still in a continuing saga of what was left after the Ascencion.  Evangelization through the centuries have gone beyond the limits of
Jerusalem.  Christ's teachings continue to reverberate in all continents: the aspotles have accomplished their missions. Will the movie finally end?

No.  More than two thousand years after the ascencion, the movie is still unraveling slowly among us . . . right here and now. We are still a part of the continuing movie . . . as we try to play our parts and do our best to share whatever we may have with the church. 

Tuloy and pelikula . . . galingan natin ang pagganap (baka magka-FAMAS pa tayo!)habang si Kristo ang nananatiling bida sa tulong ng Espiritung siyang director at patuloy na kumikilos at sumusoporta. 

Kasali ka ba dito?  Anong papel mo sa napakaganda at tila walang-katapusang pelikula?

       -Fr. Erick Y. Santos