tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36268149470376737042024-03-14T08:27:18.284-07:00radicaljourneyistThe journey towards the unknown... begins with a prayer...journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-48865825904648772062021-01-24T20:16:00.004-08:002021-01-24T21:29:02.661-08:00WHY MY KIDS HAVE ONE NAME<p> My name is Regina Lyn. I grew up being called "Gina" at home. Anyone who knew me when I was a child would call me Gina. In high school, someone started calling me "Reg". Since then, that name stuck with me, and I preferred to be called Reg until college onwards, leaving my baby nickname behind.</p><p>Sometimes during classes, I would be called Regina by my teachers. In grade school, my old teachers would even pronounce it in Spanish (Re.hi.na). Grade school classmates would refer to me as Regina. After college, someone preferred to call me "Reggie," and that name stuck with a few people who first heard me being called as such.</p><p>One time, my sister-in-law in the US sent money through Western Union using Regina as my first name. She forgot to include my second name "Lyn" and I wasn't able to claim that money because of the second name that was in my ID, but was forgotten by the sender. She had to change the name in her recipient profile before I could actually claim it. That was in 2015, 2 years before I gave birth to my firstborn.</p><p>Since then, I promised that when I have my own children, I will not give them a hard time with their names. I will only give them one name. </p><p>So today, I have Shalom (peace), Agatha (noble), and Alexis (defender). Each name carefully selected and prayed for, with the prayer that my children will live up to the meaning of their names.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-74762342612306784152021-01-24T19:29:00.004-08:002021-01-24T21:28:33.720-08:00MY LIFE-GIVING JOURNEY: AGATHA<p>When my firstborn was seven months old, I found out I was pregnant again (after finally deciding to start using contraceptive pills that can be used when breastfeeding). I bought a pack of pills, and the instruction says to make sure I wasn't pregnant, so I got a PT kit. Turns out, I was positive</p>journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-66363235229683505762021-01-24T19:29:00.003-08:002021-01-24T19:29:23.590-08:00MY LIFE-GIVING JOURNEY: ALEXISjourneyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-84486405056457623042021-01-24T19:28:00.002-08:002021-01-24T19:28:23.309-08:00MY LIFE-GIVING JOURNEY: SHALOMMay 15, 2017, at 01:46 PM, our little boy, Shalom Mondez Sumatra came out of my womb and into this world. We are blessed with a healthy baby boy weighing 3400 grams. The contractions started around 3AM, I went to the hospital around 9:30, and he came out in the afternoon after the painful contractions and a few pushes. Everything went well and baby was good in breastfeeding.<br />
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Even before we got married, my husband and I thought of the name Shalom for our future child (whether boy or girl). So when we got pregnant, it was a given what we were going to name him. My 2-year old nephew was the first to find out :)<br />
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Shalom, in Hebrew, means peace.<div><br /></div><div>My pregnancy with him was generally "peaceful". I was surprised that I didn't have the common symptoms during the first trimester. I never had morning sickness or vomiting. I lost my appetite for a while, and only ever craved for fresh coconut (juice and meat), which my husband made sure to buy for me every single day when he was around. </div><div><br /></div><div>Because he was still assigned in Tacloban, there were more times that I was on my own, and I am thankful that I did not have any hard times being alone. I felt exhausted in the afternoon after working all day, and that made me sleep early (around 8 pm). I made sure I ate only fruits and vegetables, and occasionally have some meat (but I craved for it more). I did pregnancy yoga from the first trimester until the last. It attribute me fast labor and delivery to the yoga routines I did almost everyday.</div><div><br /></div><div>During the entire pregnancy, I still traveled a lot for work. I finished my Peace Leadership Programme in Siem Reap, Cambodia during my first month. I traveled to Davao del Norte for work when I was three months pregnant. </div><div><br /></div><div>At 7 months pregnant, my father-in-law succumbed to his sickness and died, not being able to meet his grandson. I traveled with my sister to Davao for his funeral, and my husband had to go back to Tacloban right after.</div><div><br /></div><div>Few days after I gave birth to Shalom, the Marawi siege occurred. My husband went there for relief work and saw the painful situation of thousands of people affected, even newborns like our own son. We felt really blessed that we had comfort and security to welcome our firstborn. </div><div><br /></div><div>A month later, my husband decided to work in Palawan. We soon visited him there for a month with my parents. We were able to bring Shalom (and my parents) to a tour in Coron island and in the Calauit Safari where he was able to come close to giraffes and zebras.</div><div><br /></div><div>Shalom was 7 months old when my brother visited from the US. We had a family reunion with three kids in the family: Rosh, Elias, and Shalom.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-79104612969477777312021-01-24T19:11:00.004-08:002021-01-24T19:11:44.911-08:00MY LIFE-GIVING JOURNEY (BACKGROUND)<p> If you knew me back in 2007, then you probably know that I only have one ovary. It was one of the most challenging times of my life, being confined in a hospital for the first time, to have a surgery to remove a growing ovarian cyst. Little did I know, during my surgery, the doctors decided to cut my fallopian tube and remove my left ovary, since the cyst they removed was already enclosing the ovary. </p><p>Since then, at the age of 17, I have already been asked multiple times if I will still be able to have children. Since then, I have started fervently praying to God to give me my own children, even before I started praying for a lifetime partner.</p><p>9 years later, I married the man that God rewarded me with, and soon after, we were blessed with a baby! Ten years after my life-changing ovarian cyst removal, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy through Normal Spontaneous Delivery. He was the answer to my decade-long prayer, and proof that God is faithful indeed.</p><p>One year and four months later, our baby girl came out and proved to be our joy and gift from above. While we were still contemplating whether having two kids is enough, we found out we were having another baby. The global pandemic, that is Covid 19, has changed many things around the world, and through the midst of it, I gave birth to our third child, another baby girl.</p><p>Throughout my third pregnancy, my husband and I decided he was going to have vasectomy. He agreed because for him, it is the most responsible thing any family man can do for his family. </p><p>We know that in the Philippine society year 2021, vasectomy is still largely not accepted by men of any demographics. There is a notion that vasectomy lessens their "manhood". </p><p>I am extremely blessed that my husband does not confine with the notions of society, but prioritizes only what is best for me and our children. Having three kids was enough for us, knowing the responsibility that goes with raising them, disciplining, and educating them. </p><p>Natural family planning methods do not work for us, as proven by the birth of our two kids who are products of "calendar" and "withdrawal" methods. Pills have extreme side effects on me, particularly weight gain and anxiety. I never considered trying out other contraceptive methods which all require "women" to do the sacrifice. Therefore, I had several "talks" with my husband about vasectomy, and he did not give me a hard time to convince him at all.</p><p>Tomorrow, he will "go under the knife" (if that applies to him). I will be there with him and support him and show him how truly proud and grateful I am for having him as my partner in life.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-17220992461165574142019-08-26T16:23:00.000-07:002019-08-26T16:23:51.000-07:003 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Three years ago, we walked down the aisle and said "I do" to a lifetime of adventure together. We carefully planned, prepared for, and saved for our wedding where family and loved ones witnessed and joined the celebration. We knew our first year of marriage wasn't going to be normal, because at the time, he was assigned in Leyte and I was in Manila. We knew we were going to have a long-distance relationship. I only have one ovary, and we thought that we might have a hard time getting pregnant.<br />
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A month after our wedding, I found out I was 4 weeks pregnant! It was a delightful surprise that we were immediately blessed with a baby. My first trimester was not much difficult, no morning sickness, no throwing up. But I have very little energy and my hormones were unexplainable. While pregnant, I tend to get annoyed with little things and disappointed with almost anything that I can't explain. My pregnancy was relatively normal, but being in a long-distance setting with my husband was challenging.<br />
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A few months later, we found out that my father-in-law was sick. We had to deal with all the emotional and financial struggles during that time. Anticipating the birth of our baby, and thinking about how to help with my father-in-law's situation. I was seven months pregnant when my husband decided to visit his father in Mindanao. He took the 48-hour bus ride from Tacloban City to Davao City, so he could see his father again. The last time he saw him was during our wedding. While only 2 hours away from home, my husband received a call that his father passed away. He was only two more hours away.<br />
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Two months later, I gave birth to our firstborn son, Shalom (meaning Peace). I had a relatively quick labor and normal delivery. We had a healthy baby and the joy of welcoming our own child was overwhelming. The first night at our house when we brought him home, I remember feeling an ounce of fear. I stared at my son latched onto my breast, thinking, "this life is completely dependent on me." 9 months of being a married woman, and now I am a mother. We welcomed parenthood along with all the joys, and challenges. My body has gone through all the changes that come with pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. This is accompanied by the fact that a few months later, I had to go back to work in Manila while I leave my son with my parents in Laguna (because it is harder to raise children, and hardest to find a trustworthy babysitter in Manila).<br />
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When Shalom was barely 8 months old, we found out that I was pregnant - again! It was an unexpected surprise that we welcomed with joy, anticipation, and some clouds of worry from time to time. We were dellighted to know that we have another blessing coming, but we were also anxious if we were actually ready to raise 2 children at a time! Were we ready with all the responsibilities that come along with it?<br />
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My second pregnancy was like the first, fairly easy, no morning sickness, no picky eating, no stress. Although this time I was more sensitive and emotional. We had extreme joy when we found out that we were having a daughter this time. It means me having to shop for baby girl clothes (that aren't pink!) I still used most of Shalom's clothes on his baby sister, but I like having a new set of clothes for the new baby too.<br />
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On our second anniversary, I was 37 weeks pregnant, belly full and ready to pop. We spent our time just nearby our house, had lunch and a relaxing time at the spa. Walking like a duck, and catching my breath, we had a date full of excitement for the coming baby. We even waited for her to come out that day! But, she chose to come out 11 days later, on September 8, 2018.<br />
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We named our daughter Agatha, meaning, noble woman. Seeing her flooded my heart with too much joy and excitement, and love. I went through the same journey of breastfeeding her, savoring every single moment I held her in my arms and she sucked on a part of me that nourished her and sustained her life.<br />
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When Agatha was 2 months old, we received a call that my mother-in-law was brought to the hospital. A few minutes later, there was another call to tell us that she passed away. Just like that. We were still celebrating our new baby, and planning on inviting my mother-in-law to spend Christmas with us so she could see her new granddaughter. In the end, we had to fly our children to Davao so we could all be at the funeral.<br />
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Flying a 2-month old and a toddler wasn't very easy, and the hardest part was that we had to commute by bus in some parts of the trip. I still vividly remember the night we flew back to Manila, taking the bus ride to the province, during my children's bedtime hour, and they were both screaming in a bus full of people (even the aisle was full of standing passengers). Grieving, at the same time, having to wake to the reality that two people are completely dependent on us. In a crowded bus with two screaming children that are both my own, I remember just sitting there, staring blankly outside the window, praying that they would both stop crying. They were both tired, just needed to be rocked, and maybe lie down in a flat surface. My husband and I were both tired, just needed to rest, and also lay flat on our backs.<br />
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When my daughter was 4 months old, I had to go back to work in Manila. I spend 4 days working, and 3 days at home with my children. My husband has longer working hours and would usually be traveling in different areas, sometimes even on weekends. Every day, we juggle making decisions at work, our finances, our future plans for our careers, our children, and our marriage.<br />
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Soon my daughter will be turning 1 and we will officially have no more baby. We are now dealing with two toddlers, each with a unique personality, needs, and abilities.<br />
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Before we got married, we knew we're in for quite an adventure. We didn't know what was in store for us then. 3 years into our marriage, and I feel like we've been through and conquered more than what feels like the strongest typhoon in world history.<br />
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Our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MJMacalagayFilm/videos/661089677374207/">love story</a> began in the aftermath of the world's strongest recorded typhoon in 2013 (Yolanda). Today, our marriage has been tested through many difficult challenges -of two full cycles of facing life, and death, and there were many times that we felt like giving up. But we were only strengthened and sustained by the love of the Creator and Author of our love story.<br />
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We still have a lifetime ahead of us. Many more challenges, many more celebrations. Everyday, we will still deal with our marriage, our parenting, our children, our finances, our careers, our ministry. But in each passing day, I am thankful that I married this person and every single chapter of our story is worth all the joy and sorrow... "until Christ calls us home".<br />
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<br />journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-64333243201782870942019-07-08T21:55:00.002-07:002019-07-08T21:55:54.351-07:00THE JOLLIBEE SPELL AND HOW I (TRY TO) RESIST ITGrowing up, I see lots and lots of kids enticed with Jollibee. Kids will see Jollibee and they'll go crazy. Parents get the notion that they have to bring their kids to Jollibee and feed them there to make them happy. My son, Shalom, is no exception. His cousin has a little Jollibee stuffed toy that they love playing with. This is why he is familiar with that big smiling bee. Whenever we're on a road trip and we pass by any Jollibee store, he would eagerly scream "Jollibee! Jollibee!"<br />
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For most parents, when kids scream Jollibee, they interpret it as the child wanting to eat there. But really, all they want is the image of that happy smiling bee. Because most parents fall into the trap of the Jollibee marketing strategy, they would usually bring their children to Jollibee as a treat. This experience creates positive memories into the child's brain, which makes them love Jollibee even more, because the equation becomes "Jollibee = family time".<br />
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Obviously, Jollibee isn't the healthiest place to bring our children to eat. I would rather bring my kids in a restaurant with home-cooked meals rather than a fastfood whenever we go out to spend some family time. But because Jollibee is so irresistibly cute and they're literally everywhere in the country, children would always be attracted to Jollibee.<br />
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The other day, we went to a mall and we were looking for a place to eat. My husband and I are not fans of fastfood restaurants and we didn't want our children to grow up loving their unhealthy meals. We happened to pass by Jollibee, and guess what? My son automatically stopped right in front of their entrance where the big Jollibee statue stands welcoming each customer. We let him play with Jollibee for a while, he shook the hand, tapped the belly, touched the body and smiled at his big smiling face. And then, we told him we have to go on. When it was time to go, he didn't resist. I guess it's because all he needed was a litte time to play and then he's done. I guess that's what most children just need. A little time to play, without necessarily eating there. Well of course, you can also eat at Jollibee. I'm not saying it is wrong. But when children scream Jollibee, it doesn't mean you have to always go inside the store and order something. They may just need a little high five.<br />
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So what happened on our trip was that we went to the restaurant right across Jollibee where we ordered some pasta and pizza. While eating, Shalom just kept looking at Jollibee and saying Jollibee while enjoying food from across the hall. Not bad, hey? We call it compromise. :)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOovFmcL5bewRuiPTEBGZEAnI-R5Y422srsRvZRkiudVB4XRQ6xlXaMS2xaoj8yT6XmAj8OTjUTtpn3koCJanToCsOqLLPBRE06YI5XHRCPfMdzsYlLU3MrrnSL8ZxC-0uoKVM5wdSmrU/s1600/66304634_2306194002801447_5500609094668517376_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1078" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOovFmcL5bewRuiPTEBGZEAnI-R5Y422srsRvZRkiudVB4XRQ6xlXaMS2xaoj8yT6XmAj8OTjUTtpn3koCJanToCsOqLLPBRE06YI5XHRCPfMdzsYlLU3MrrnSL8ZxC-0uoKVM5wdSmrU/s400/66304634_2306194002801447_5500609094668517376_o.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shalom saw Jollibee on a mall and can't help but to play with this giant happy bee :)</td></tr>
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<br />journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-52323341349090693682019-07-08T01:21:00.001-07:002019-07-08T01:21:28.207-07:00DOING THE WRITE THING AS A MOMIt's 2019! I opened my blog again and it has been more than 2 years since I last wrote something here! I have been wanting to write forever, but many things keep me from doing so. Today, I opened my laptop and decided that I will no longer make excuses.<br />
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So, my last post was about my (first) pregnancy and waiting for baby Boy to arrive! Lo, and behold, he came out on May 15, 2017 after 11 hours of labor, and we called him Shalom. I breastfed him until I ran out of milk shortly before he turned 1 year old. He is now busy running around, talking, commanding, and copying everything we say or do. But let me fill you in on more details...<br />
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When Shalom was 8 months old, my husband and I found out that I was pregnant... again (which is why I ran out of breastmilk 5 months into my 2nd pregnancy)! We were a little bit surprised, but also delighted that we have yet another blessing. Our little baby boy was already a "kuya" (older brother) too soon, and it gave me mixed feelings of excitement and anxiety. I went through almost the same pregnancy chronicles, although this time, I found it a little bit more difficult, given that I have gained weight since the first baby, so being pregnant and heavier is a lot more work (and weight) for my spine and bones. My lower back and legs suffered the consequences. Until today I will still feel sciatic pain from time to time.<br />
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On September 8, 2019, after 19 hours of labor, hunger, and pain, our little girl finally arrived, much to the delight of our family. We named her Agatha. She was borne tongue-tied, which is why on her first few days, I found it so hard to breastfeed her. She just couldn't keep her mouth sucked into my nipples because her tongue couldn't hold it long enough, I guess. After doing some research and asking moms of other tongue-tied children, I set an appointment with her doctor so she could have her tongue-tie release. Much to my surprise, the day before the appointment, she was rigorously crying and fighting with my nipple (which she does everytime she feeds) and suddenly there was a little amount of blood coming out of her mouth. I also saw a short thread-like thing sticking out from her tongue, and then for the first time, she licked her lips and her tongue came out. I realized that her tongue-tie is already gone! It was her first miracle and I will never forget that moment, everytime I see her stick her tongue out when she makes silly faces. After that, I didn't go to the doctor anymore.<br />
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Today, Agatha is 10 months old and Shalom is in his "terrible 2s". Shalom is starting to show his will, commanding things he wants to get done, and resisting if he doesn't want to do what he is being told. He is generally a good listener, sweet to his little sister, and can play by himself most times. He loves singing and playing musical instruments. He would usually turn any stick or long object into a drum stick, and then toy buckets, the floor, chairs, table, plates, or his sister's back becomes a drum. His recent favorite songs include "How Great Thou Art," "Softly and Tenderly," and "Mighty to Save." He has always been a "reserved" baby, and it is still very evident in his personality now that he is older. He is very very shy, especially among strangers. He will not smile or talk to a new person, but he will get the hand and put it on his forehead to "bless" to an adut when he is told. He prefers being left on his own instead of having adults gather around his cuteness. He goofs around only with family and familiar people. He loves music and sings a lot.<br />
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Agatha, on the other hand, has already discovered that it is more fun on the floor than being left in her crib. Therefore, she rejects the crib and would cry her lungs out if you leave her there for a few minutes if you needed to sweep and mop the floor first. Since she was a baby, she has been "sociable" and freely gives her smile away to people, even to random strangers (Shalom has never smiled at strangers). She and her brother are so sweet to each other, they probably wouldn't be able to sleep at night without seeing the other. At this point, she is so cute and cuddly and sweet, like most adorable 10-month olds. But she is already showing her strong personality, which she probably got from her mother (and I love it!)<br />
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Being a mom (for 2 years now), while still having a full-time job is enough to keep me busy. But a lot of times I feel like I needed to do something that I always loved doing - WRITING. From now on, I will try my best to start writing again. I will write the things I feel, the things I dream of, and the things I see - watching my two adorable children grow. In writing, I hope to keep all the memories of this stage in my life. All the joys and challenges it takes to have two toddlers. All the fulfilment and gratitude of being able to still have a career and do what I have always done, while my kids are being well taken care of by my parents, and the journey of raising our kids well while nurturing my marriage. I will try to write at least once or twice a month. Or maybe more if I have the time. But writing will be my "me" time. My mental therapy as I juggle my daily crazies. And hopefully, in writing, I can also inspire others. In any way possible.<br />
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I am back on the road! The radical journey continues!<br />
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<br />journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-90967303869275487522017-05-03T23:19:00.001-07:002017-05-03T23:20:34.871-07:00PREGNANCY CHRONICLESIt's my 36th week! I've been feeling heavier than ever, and sometimes losing my balance while walking, or trying to get off from bed, or even just standing from a chair. The last 36 weeks has been quite a wonderful journey, not only for me but also for my very wonderful husband who has been loving and supportive along the way.<br />
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As I've written in another <a href="http://radicaljourneyist.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-best-gift.html">blog post</a> a few months ago, this child is indeed a blessing to us. I started praying for a child as early as ten years ago, and even before we got married, my husband and I have had so much faith that God will bless our marriage with children. Little did we know, we will receive this precious gift right after our wedding! It was a most welcome surprise and the best wedding gift we've received!<br />
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<b>First Trimester</b></div>
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The first trimester was not as tough as I've heard it to be. I never threw up, nor had the usual morning sickness most pregnant women experience. But I had my fair share of tough times. I lost appetite in nearly everything. I couldn't appreciate the taste of food, even those I used to love. I only ate for the sake of eating. I knew I needed to get nourishment, so I made sure I ate three times a day. But trust me, those times were the worst times I have in my memory of me eating. I've always loved food and eating, so not having the appetite was a punishment for me. </div>
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Aside from the appetite, there was the usual fatigue I would feel most of the day. I had to sneak in for a 30-minute nap in the afternoon because I just can't help it and my energy does not last long enough. During those times, I would be in bed for the night at around 8PM, and would wake up at 6AM. Of course, this includes a trip to the restroom to pee almost every one to two hours. In the morning, I would usually wake up feeling really hungry, but once I start thinking of what to eat, I lose my appetite and just end up with an apple and my usual porridge or cereal to get through the difficult phase of choosing what to eat.</div>
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Aside from appetite issues, there's the normal emotional ups and downs, with my husband being away for work most of the time. So spending most nights alone was not easy.<br />
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The first trimester was also a time when I did mostly my last travels. I traveled to Cambodia for a week to attend to the last module of the Peace Leadership Training I was part of. At 8 weeks, I went back to Angkor Wat just to take photos with my little bump. :) Though my bump wasn't very visible yet at the time, I made sure the photos showed my traveling bump.<br />
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At 12 weeks I traveled to Tagum City to speak with a group of farmers about peace and human rights, and the socio economic reforms. My husband and I have been praying for Tagum City, seeing it as our long-term place of residence in the future. It was good to see the city while I was pregnant and our dreams of moving there have been revived in my heart.<br />
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<b>Second Trimester</b><br />
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As I have read, the second trimester is really a friendly time. My appetite came back (right about Christmas season, which is great!) I also felt a little bit more energetic, and since my bump size was still manageable, I felt great and excited.<br />
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On the 16th week we found out the gender of our baby. Before we even got married, my husband shared to me how he twice dreamt of us as a family. The first dream was that we have two children, an older boy and a younger girl. The second dream was that we have a baby boy. So somehow, in our hearts and in our minds, we were preparing for our firstborn baby boy! During the ultrasound, when the doctor blurted out that it was a baby boy (without even asking if we wanted to find out), we were extremely happy and it got us all the more excited! There was the feeling that "we knew it all along," but it was also good to confirm it. We also have three names listed for our first three kids! But I'll talk about the name once this baby comes out.<br />
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The second trimester was both an exciting and challenging time for my work, and I got around with this bump in all my meetings. Some of the highlights included documenting a briefing with diplomats regarding the updates on the peace process between the government and the National Democratic Front. A few of the diplomats were curious how far along I was in the pregnancy.<br />
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Another highlight included meeting with the government and NDF panel members/consultants to present the compilation of Socio-Economic Reforms (SER) recommendations that we have been working on in the last years.<br />
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At around 20 weeks, Peace Church community had a retreat in Tanay, Rizal. We hiked at a waterfall where two people were baptized, and then everyone had a great time splashing in the water (except for me), for fear of slipping on the slippery rocks.<br />
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At 27 weeks, I was privileged to join Peace church community members in presenting about what it means for the church to engage in Social Transformation at the annual Asian Theological Seminary (ATS) Theo Forum. My bump has been more visible at this time, and this boy sure was a cooperative little one.<br />
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<b>Third Trimester</b><br />
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Now, we're talking pregnancy! You know, what you see in movies? Big bump, maternity clothes, and walking like a duck. So everything still feels great, but the heavier weight in my abdominal area is sure not good for my balance and walking. I mean, I need not worry about walking like a supermodel, but I know that my walking doesn't look great. And my clothes! Ugh! I already have a set of clothes that are more "comfortable" and "loose", so I have been using those as maternity clothes. But boy, it still surprises me how some of the bigger ones already fit me now, especially on my tummy! Some even got a little tighter!<br />
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At 31 weeks, my father-in-law passed away. Surely one of the most challenging times for my husband and his family. So I needed to travel to Tagum City to attend the funeral. But because I'm already at week 31, I first needed to get a medical certificate so I can be allowed to get on a plane. Traveling with a big bump, in my experience, had its own privileges. I get to use the priority lanes for getting inside the airport and checking in. But, it was also hard when I have to pick my bags, or having to get up and pee a few times during the flight.<br />
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It has since been my last long-distance travel for the third trimester. Now that my bump is huge and I am feeling heavier than ever, it has also been harder to commute on a bus from Quezon City (where I work) to Laguna (where my parents live). But because I planned to give birth at home, I had to take an early maternity leave (with the hopes that this little boy will also come out soon enough). Commuting just was not a good experience for me, especially if I have a heavy bag with my laptop on it.<br />
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So now, I'm on my 36th week and the waiting game begins. My due date is on May 27th, but the doctor said the baby can come out anytime. And I really hope he comes out, right around the 37th week when my husband comes back from his trip in the south.<br />
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Now, I'm praying for a fast and safe labor and delivery. Every day I pray that I will deliver a healthy baby boy without complications for me or for him, and that everything will work out perfectly.<br />
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journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-16252500299327477862016-11-20T07:59:00.001-08:002016-11-20T23:19:20.284-08:00The FILIPINO FORGIVENESS - and its EXPLOITATION"Forgive and forget," that's what people would always advice those who are experiencing pain from an abuser. It becomes a blanket advice from people who normally have never experienced the same kind of pain. From people who may never understand what that pain meant.<br />
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The concept of forgiveness in the Filipino culture has been exploited too much, to the point that people often let things go in order for them to look like good people. In fact, for them it is an act of "true Christianity." This country has been colonized by the Spaniards bearing the cross, colonizing in the name of Christianity, teaching our people to "submit" and "obey," and if anything unjust was done to you, you are to "forgive" and "forget" as an act of true Christianity. Those teachings were so much exploited in order for the colonizers to continue to enslave our people. So that they will not fight back against the Spanish colonizers who are abusing them in their own lands. For more than three hundred years, it was ingrained in the Filipino psyche, that even after the brave heroes fought for the country's freedom (not without the presence of traitors), so much of the distorted theology has remained in our culture.<br />
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The Spanish colonizers were followed by American colonizers, bringing Protestantism and education as a disguise to colonization. Again, Filipino forgiveness has been exploited - you are not to demand justice, especially if the offender or abuser is someone who is in authority. The concept of authority as anointed by God (Romans 13:1-7) has also been exploited, in a sense that anyone in authority - in the church, in politics, in the family - can never be questioned because God anointed them for the position of power they hold. Anything they do is considered right, and even if people do not agree, you are not allowed to question their authority because they are 'anointed by God'. But what if those in authority abused their power and selfishly turn away from the will of God? Does that still make them "anointed'? They use Matthew 5:38-42 (turn the other cheek) to justify that the people's suffering is acceptable, in order that they will not revolt against the oppressors. Totally misleading people from the teaching of the Bible. Again, our brave heroes fought for this country's freedom, Heneral Luna, for instance, but never without the presence of our country's own traitors who brutally killed him.<br />
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The Philippines has become a country with great leaders, and also lots of traitors. Those who are put in power (either by the people or by themselves) are mostly succumbing to greed (for power and wealth), each with their own story. Each protecting their own interests and families, and the few good ones being murdered by traitors.<br />
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There was once a rich ruler who succumbed to his greed - both for power and wealth - that he became a dictator and ruled for two decades. He ruled far beyond the time allowed for him. He created many big projects that until now are being used by the public. He built schools, hospitals, roads, trains, and bridges. Anyone who questions his dictatorship are either thrown in jail, tortured, killed, or would mysteriously disappear never to be found again. His rule was loved by some of the people who are ignorant of all the murders and plunders he has been doing in other parts of the country. Some parts of the country have been relatively peaceful and people who are 'good enough' to know not to question authority, adored this leader with their lives. This ruler's wife has exploited all the riches they have been stealing from the country, displaying their extravagance to the entire world. His children also enjoyed all the family's riches. They were given everything they needed, vast resources spent to adorn and entertain themselves. They were given positions in the government, without having to go through the normal process others would have to go through. At their whim, their enemies, or anyone who tries to question them will immediately be murdered by their rich father, the ruler (dictator) of the land.<br />
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At one point, the people decided that this dictatorship needs to stop. There has been so much injustice and human rights violations in this leadership, including thousands who were tortured and killed, several communities that were massacred, and billions of money loaned from international comunity to build all his beautiful projetcs, because the people's taxes are kept in the family's treasury to sustain their extravagant lifestyles. These loans are still being paid by the people, until thirty years later. Not all the people know about it because the information being sent out to the public through the media are all controlled by the dictator. At that time, the people were united into a people power revolution. One that inspired the whole world of the power of democracy. The dictator was replaced by a rich widow, wife of one of the dictator's political critique. The dictator's family was exiled after the revolution, bringing with them all the wealth and jewelries they plundered from the country. After a few years, the dictator died from a decease. He was initially buried privately, but the family has a plan. They wanted to bury him as a hero. They wanted to come back to the country and rule again.<br />
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The widow's leadership was not without controversies and human rights violations as well. The leaders that followed after her, each with their own interests and anomalies. Eventually, the dictator's family was allowed to return to the country, with an agreement that his body will be buried far up north in their land. The family signed the agreement, but they never really buried the dictator. They wanted a hero's burial. They wanted to come back and gain power all over again.<br />
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Thirty years after the revolution, the dictator was buried in the Heroes' cemetery like a thief in the night. They arranged a hero's burial secretly, because they know that many people will not allow it to happen. The children defend their father, saying he can be buried as a hero because he was a soldier. They say there was nothing to apologize for their father's cruel leadership, because they did not know anything about it, and that they were 'too young' to understand what happened during that time. 'Too young,' they say, when they were already young adults at the time, enjoying all the extravagance of their status and wealth. They call for the people to "move on," "forgive" - without asking for forgiveness, and to heal.<br />
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The tragedy of this is that many people, good people, accept their call for forgiveness, healing, and moving on, without even understanding that until today, thirty years later, there are still thousands of victims of this dictator who have not experienced justice. There was never even any "apology" from the family, acknowledging that there was wrong done. There was only denial and lies. Many, many lives were lost. Many young people, who could have been today's great leaders, have been raped and murdered in gruesome ways. The dictator, who was ousted by the people, has been buried as a hero, 30 years later. It was an insult to the democracy that many fought for. And it has divided the country - families, friendships, and relationships. The very family who was calling for "forgiveness" and "healing" - has caused division in so many levels. Yet they are the ones who have never moved on, even waiting for thirty years before burying the dead. Poor skeletons!<br />
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Ironically, the division was caused mainly by the call for "forgiveness" and "healing." Many people - Christians, especially - would justify that the dictator's burial can be accepted and he can be forgiven because the law allowed it and that God would judge everything in the end. That it is not for us to judge those who sin against us.<br />
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Here is where conflict occurs. In the New Testament, Jesus often talked about forgiveness, even saying forgive 'your brother' seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22). The missing point here is that, Jesus' parables and examples of forgiveness have always been forgiving those who are indebted to you, which in that context means, that person has lower power or authority than you. In that sense, you forgive unconditionally (Luke 7:41-43). In Luke 17:3 Jesus talks about forgiving a brother, in which case there is no hierarchy set up, considering the offender as an equal. Here Jesus talked about forgiveness 'if there is repentance'. If an equal has offended you, you must rebuke, and if there is repentance, forgive. If you have been offended seventy times, and that person came back to you seventy times, you must forgive. Here there are two things: Rebuke, and Repentance. The process of forgiveness in a relationship of equals require repentance from the offender.<br />
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As Frederick Keene puts it in "Structures of Forgiveness in the New Testament,":<br />
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...the progression of forgiveness can be broken only by a more powerful person refusing forgiveness to a less powerful person. The progression of forgiveness does not move up the structure of power, only down.</blockquote>
The only example where one with less power forgives those with relatively more power, was Jesus Himself on the cross (Luke 23:34). One of Jesus' last words on the cross was "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." At that time, He was crucified on the cross, in a situaion where He has no power. But He was not the one who forgave those who crucified Him. He asked God the Father to forgive them. Being less powerful in the situation, He did not offer forgiveness Himself. Instead, He asked the strongest and most powerful to forgive. He did not indicate that a less powerful can forgive a more powerful.<br />
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The link between forgiveness and justice can be established by relinquishing power of the one who is more powerful. In cases of sexual abuse, say, of a pastor to a church member. It will be very difficult for the victim to offer forgiveness, especially if power is not relinquished. There must be space, or action done so that the power imbalance is addressed, and repentance is offered by the offender. Otherwise, a victim cannot offer forgiveness.<br />
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In a larger scale, it is the case of this country, where thousands of victims of injustices have never been given justice. There was never even an apology, nor relinquishing of power. Sadly, the offender was even self-declared as a hero. And the dictator's family trying to go back to power. For a large-scale injustice where victims are powerless, it is easy to say "Let God, who is more powerful, forgive." Yes, God can offer them forgiveness. But it is lazy to just sit back and do nothing, watching the victims suffer from all the pain, all the wounds unhealed from the past, and the offender rubbing salt on those wounds. We can offer forgiveness to the dead, but what happened to love and compassion for the victims?<br />
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Right now, it is not just about the dictator, or his family. It is about the system that allows cruelty to remain, for evil and injustice to reign, because of the culture of forgiveness that has enslaved this country for hundreds of years. It is a culture that tells people to be lazy. To just sit back, watch God forgive and do the rest, while those who are not yet affected by injustice, remain comfortable in their own homes.<br />
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When Jesus said "Follow me," I understand Him saying "Follow what I did. Turn tables, challenge unjust laws and systems, challenge those in authority who are not following the will of God." I did not take it as, "Sit down and just pray while injustices roam on your streets." No. It is a distorted theology passed on to us by our colonizers and oppressors. When you've surrendered forgiveness to God, it does not mean you forget and neglect all those who experience injustice. It means you do something, no matter how small, so that the oppressive and unjust system will somehow allow justice to be served. When you seek and pursue justice, it does not make you unforgiving. Love and compassion for those who are neglected by the institutional injustices, can never be equated to unforgiveness. Yes, forgiveness is offered to the dead. But the family of the dictator needs to show repentance and relinquish power for true healing to happen. Otherwise, we offer our exploited forgiveness as a nation, all over again. We mock ourselves and destroy the future of the next generation, who will live in the same institutionalized injustices.<br />
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journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-7787926873970663842016-10-21T20:25:00.003-07:002016-10-21T20:25:44.722-07:00THE BEST GIFT<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"My child, I have conceived you in my heart, long before I conceived you."</i></blockquote>
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Nine years ago, in September 2007, I had a surgery. I had a huge cyst around my ovary, so my left ovary and fallopian tube had to be removed with the cyst. I was still in college and recuperating was pretty much easy, with the strength of my youth and the support of family and friends around me. But there was a scar left. A 13-centimeter scar that reminded me of the lingering question every time - will I ever have my own baby? I had no idea.<br />
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Before entering into any relationship, I make sure the guy understands my situation very well. And so I fell in love. And this man asked me to marry him last year, December 2015. From the very beginning of our relationship, we both decided we are going to wait til marriage before we have sex. We prepared for our wedding for 8 months, and things turned out to be more awesome than we expected. Of course, it was exceptional because of all our family, friends, and community who poured all their love and support. It was a beautiful day - August 27, 2016. That day, I imagined my life - my future, with this man. I knew it would be full of challenges but it will be worth it. As faithfully as God has provided for our wedding, we knew He will be our constant source of provision throughout our marriage. We made a promise to love each other through the best and even the most difficult times. We will stick together through the most certain things, and even through uncertainties, doubts, and anxieties.<br />
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We only had a whole week for honeymoon before we go back to our long-distance setting. He has to finish his work for a few more months, and so during that time we'll have to endure being apart from each other. Before the wedding, most people asked us if we have any plans on having children, and when. I always said we wouldn't plan. We'll wait and see whenever that is. In my mind, in fact, I always thought "if ever that is going to happen?" A question of doubt and anxiety that haunted me for nine years. I knew nothing was impossible. My husband and I had faith that God will give us children. We even have two names lined up for the first two kids. But we were also prepared in case it never happens. We are willing to adopt.<br />
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Two weeks after our honeymoon, my monthly period was already delayed. I thought it was probably just due to adjustments in my reproductive organs. The following week, my husband encouraged me to get a pregnancy test to see if ever it's positive. Or else we'll just have to wait a little longer. I thought it wouldn't hurt to try. And so I tested. And it was positive! I tried a second time, and it was positive again! I couldn't believe how possibly true and fast things have been! But I certainly am now conceiving a child. A child I prayed I could have - for nine years! I am so thankful that throughout the years of fear, anxiety, and doubt that haunted me, God has ever been faithful, answered a little prayer, a heart's desire to be able to carry my own child. Now in the next months, things are going to change inside my body, but I feel like I can endure anything. In Christ!<br />
<br />journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-30009679285695465752016-06-07T22:13:00.000-07:002016-06-07T22:13:53.975-07:00ON DEATH PENALTY Change. Discipline. Heinous crimes. Death penalty.<br />
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People are hungry for change. They elected a leader who promised change and suppression of crimes in a few months. He has a track record for developing a city and making it one of the best in the country. Change, he says, is coming.</div>
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People rely on him for discipline. He is a man of strength and courage. The day after elections, some drivers already start dropping off passengers in the allowed drop-off points. Some drug dealers have already made plans to change business. His victory inspired change.</div>
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He hates drugs. He hates crimes. The first thing in his agenda is to suppress crimes. Fast. The way to move the country forward is by making sure crimes are not tolerated. </div>
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He is open to bringing back death penalty - by hanging, even. The death penalty has been abolished nearly a decade ago. The Philippines was the first country in Asia to abolish death penalty. But this president who will bring about change, is about to bring back a law that was abolished a decade ago.</div>
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There are many debates around this issue, and not surprisingly, a lot of people support bringing it back. Because their president wants it back. Period. What he says, they support. What he wants to do, they will be willing to do. Because he is the only person who can help transform this county.</div>
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The church is still silent on this issue. Famous personalities with Christian faith have been asked. Surprisingly, one famous personality agreed that death penalty is biblical. The passage he cited? Romans 13:1-10. The passage talks about duties toward state authorities. That authorities should be respected because God put them there to lead. </div>
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In the Old Testament, death was God's punishment for the people of Israel who disobeyed his commands. God punished not only individuals but whole clans (Num 16:31-33), who dare disobey His commandments. When people worshipped other gods (Deut 13:9), He killed them. When people stole what is supposed to be in God's treasury (Joshua 7:25-26), or when they do not obey simple instructions. He punished them, and their families, if need be - with death. He burned people (Lev 10:2), punished them for complaining (Num 14:36-37), for rebellion (Num 16:31-33), and for committing false accusations (Deut 19:21).</div>
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Throughout the Old testament narrative, the children of God continue to forget Him and worshipped other gods. But God's love was unfailing. He continued to send people to lead them back to Him (Deut 4:37). But we humans continue to fail. Crimes and sins against God and against humanity have become our nature. And because sending leaders to lead people back to God wasn't enough, He sent his only Son, Jesus. Jesus became fully human, born as a human, raised and grew up as a normal human. He experienced what it was like to be human, and even though he did not sin, he was sentenced to die. He died hanging on the cross. Death on the cross was the ultimate form of death penalty at the time. He died through the ultimate form of death penalty. But in his death, he reconciled man to God. No one can come to God, except through Jesus. He died, but He rose again after three days. His death and resurrection was a symbol of victory over death itself.<br />
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In present-day reality, death penalty or capital punishment is an issue that still causes heated arguments, especially among Christians. Some people support death penalty because God's punishment for sin is death. Some people are against death penalty because it does not align with restorative justice principles.<br />
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Yes, death is God's punishment for sin, which is why we are all supposed to die. But Jesus Christ's death on the cross was an ultimate form of sacrifice. He is the reason why we can have eternal life.<br />
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We, humans, are not worthy to impose death to others who have committed crimes. It is only God who can do that.<br />
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As a human rights and peace advocate, I strongy believe that death penalty is not the answer to reduce crimes. It would only show that the government does not value the life of its constituents, and would only promote fear and terror. What this society needs is not fear - to force them not to commit crimes. What we need is inspiration - so we can actively and proactively work together towards a better society. We need to explore restorative justice processes. Yes, it may take more time, more energy, more resources. But in the long run, restorative justice is what we need so that the pains and injustices of this generation will no longer be passed on to the next.<br />
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journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-7675121610418208342016-04-11T23:39:00.000-07:002016-04-11T23:39:00.871-07:00THE WISDOM OF THE AGEDI come from a small church denomination with less than a thousand people across the country, with five bishops! Throughout the years it has been puzzling for me and for many people I talk to, how we have so many bishops in so little a denomination as ours.<div>
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Recently, I've been reading the stories of church leaders from all the member churches of our congregations and it suddenly hit me why we had so many bishops. Each area/district is in a separate province, a few hours away from each other (by driving), and a few days away by hiking. In each of these areas, people have different cultures, different languages/dialects, different context, and different perpectives. They often need a leader who understands their context to mentor them and disciple them. They need a leader whom they can visit for advice and who can also visit them from time to time to encourage them. In their geographical locations, it would be hard for one bishop to visit the churches on a regular basis without being physically exhausted. That is why, perhaps, they needed five bishops - one for each strategic location. They needed a bishop not just to lead, but mostly to serve as a mentor, a fatehr figure, an adviser, a counselor. </div>
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This now becomes clear to me. The wisdom of the aged people can be puzzling for us, younger generation, but it is amazing to finally figure out that yes, somehow, their wisdom made sense.</div>
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There is a lot of things we can do to improve on our current situation, and we need not ditch the wisdom of the aged. In fact, we need their wisdom, their past experiences and lessons from pains ad mistakes - in order to guide our generation into dreaming for the future. :)</div>
journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-13772592473006290142015-10-27T03:59:00.000-07:002015-10-27T03:59:27.178-07:00THE COST OF LEARNING 4: TACLOBAN, LEYTE AND SAN JUANICO BRIDGE<br />
<b>Tacloban City, Leyte</b><br />
<b><br /></b>13 September 2015 - From Davao, there are no direct flights to Tacloban City. You can only fly through Manila or Cebu. So instead of the expensive air fare, I opted for the more adventurous and cheaper option. I took a bus! The whole trip lasted for about 26 hours for me! From Davao Overland Transport terminal, there was a 12nn trip to Tacloban which would last around 21 hours, but I missed this one. So a conductor told me to take the Butuan bus and either catch the 12 noon trip, or wait for another five hours to get on the next bus to Tacloban.<br />
<i><br /></i><i>(On a side note, when I got off a taxi at the terminal, men came flocking towards me, asking me where I'm going, and grabbing my bags. I had to yell at them to stay away from me. First, I can pull my trolley bag, and then I only have a shoulder bag with me which is not heavy, so I don't need any help. Second, I feel like I am being harassed as several men came towards me when they saw the taxi stop. This same scenario happened almost the rest of the trip, in any bus terminal or port area, where guys just flock and ask you where you're going and trying to get your things from you. I know they are only trying to help and earn some money by doing so, but most of the time they are just so threatening and harassing. I hope the government and transport groups could pay attention to systems that would work better for porters and passengers.)</i><br />
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So anyway, I got on the bus to Butuan and paid P490, travel time around 8 hours, because the bus stopped at every terminal in every municipality. When I finally arrived in Butuan City, the bus to Tacloban just left, so I waited for another five hours for the next bus. I spent time drinking coffee and eating cup noodles. There are several stalls there and I also happened to charge my phone battery, with a charging fee of P10. There are a lot of trips to Cagayan and Davao in the evening, so waiting was not boring and staying at the terminal for a few hours felt safe.<br />
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Finally, when the bus to Tacloban arrived, I gladly took a seat. When I tried to put my big bag inside the storage space beneath the bus, a guy helped me load. I gladly thanked him and sat inside the bus. A few minutes later he came for me and asked me for a fee. He specifically asked me for P20 (for carrying my bag! Which I didn't even ask him to do! I could have done it myself!) So anyway, I was pissed off but I know he wouldn't leave me alone. I checked my coin purse and I only had P15 change in there so I told him that's all I had and he left unhappily. It was around 1:45 AM when the bus to Tacloban left Butuan City. The bus fare was P650.00.<br />
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At around 5:30 AM the bus arrived at Lipata Port in Surigao. Passengers had to get off the bus and purchase our own ferry ticket, terminal fee, and another fee that costs P5. After getting the ticket, I realized it was a Red Cross charity ticket. I was surprised that in this part of the country they seemingly charge by force to donate to Red Cross. Anyway, the ferry ticket and Red Cross donation totaled P142, and then there was a terminal fee of P16. It was raining hard that early morning, so we waited around 40 minutes before we were able to board the ferry. The trip took only around 45 minutes, and then we were already in San Ricardo, Southern Leyte.<br />
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After getting off the ferry, I had to look for our bus (before getting off, we were reminded to look at the bus number to make sure we don't get lost). The ride from San Ricardo to Tacloban took another eight hours. Riding from Mindanao and then Visayas, I could totally sense and see the difference of the landscape. I know I am already in a different island, in a different province, with a different language. I enjoyed the trip, but I couldn't wait to see the person waiting for me in my destination.<br />
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Finally, the hour has come. The bus arrived at Tacloban New City Terminal around 1:40 PM. From the bus terminal, we took a tricycle to downtown where my hotel is located. Tricycle special fare is P100. I checked in at GV Hotel which cost P775 per night. It is relatively a cheaper option in this city, where most hotels tend to be over-priced after typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013. Most of the hotels needed some restoration and renovation and with the tourists and humanitarian workers flooding the city, hotels are back to good (and expensive) business. So this room I got had an aircon, TV, and private toilet (but no hot shower!). The space was small, and generally not clean and neat. But since I had no other affordable option, I just closed my eyes at night so I could sleep fast.<br />
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I stayed here for a week to relax, restore my energy after three weeks of traveling, spend time with my beloved (John), and to meet up with my colleague, who I will be traveling with in the next provinces in Visayas.<br />
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During the day, I spend time at PhilRads office in San Jose area, where John also works and stays. The jeepney (or multi-cab) fare from downtown to San Jose is P9 per way. I would have to warn you that I had to squeeze in to fit inside a multi-cab if it's full. From the Rotonda area going to the office, you can walk for around 10 minutes, or ride a pedicab that cost only P5, (but we pay P10 each because we feel like we're so heavy! Poor drivers!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhQjXmCCT_7dSj6A1TyfDXa_w8ZHDsyh_0wxDaquxJ-DmAfK5tHY2xQWlpiGCWqBYKwtQfp7kmnZQqd9-_veltaepWIRoAlGdJ3NQtIWViNXzOQ1eJFNukp_0D65ztcYbxigfkmm0x7k/s1600/IMG_4327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhQjXmCCT_7dSj6A1TyfDXa_w8ZHDsyh_0wxDaquxJ-DmAfK5tHY2xQWlpiGCWqBYKwtQfp7kmnZQqd9-_veltaepWIRoAlGdJ3NQtIWViNXzOQ1eJFNukp_0D65ztcYbxigfkmm0x7k/s320/IMG_4327.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Invading PHILRADS Office!</td></tr>
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There's lots of pork lechon around the city. Meals cost around P50-P200 per person depending where you eat and what kind of food you are looking for. If you keep an eye, there are places that sell fruits and vegetables for reasonable price, but pork is really the most common food all over the place. I also noticed that they are not fans of soupy food.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out at their lechon place!</td></tr>
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There are tons of restaurants and coffee shops around the city,but I tried the local places. For dinner once, we went to a grill park near the city hall and had a satisfying grilled squid and barbeque for only P266 (including rice and drinks). Another evening, we tried the lechon park and had satisfying meals too for around the same price.<br />
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I had a chance to cook here,and as if being spoiled, a random lady knocked on their door selling crabs. It was only P180 for 1 kilogram. I was so excited, bought it, boiled it in salt, pepper, garlic and soda,, and then it was gone. :) It was a tasty treat!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tasty treat!</td></tr>
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A popular place to hangout is the Robinson's place. Beside it is Go Hotels which is also a really nice place to stay if you could afford it. I stayed there twice before and it was really worth it and in a nice location. For grocery shopping and other options, you could also visit SaveMore, which is near the market. I've walked around the market shopping for fish and vegetables too, and prices are also pretty decent, especially if you know how to haggle.<br />
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We watched the movie Heneral Luna at Robinsons for only P155.5 each. We enjoyed the movie, and then a few days later it became popular through social media and was extended by most cinemas nationwide.<br />
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Places to visit in Tacloban are the: MacArthur Park (aka Leyte Landing), and the Sto. Nino Shrine where you could tour the Marcos mansion and their extravagant rooms.<br />
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<b>San Juanico Bridge</b><br />
<b><br /></b>There was a place which I couldn't distinguish whether it was part of Leyte Province or Samar Province. It is somewhere in the middle of San Juanico bridge, the longest bridge in the country connecting the two provinces. It was built during Ferdinand Marcos' era, and legend has it that he built it as a symbol of his love for his wife Imelda. But of course, he used the government money, and it was actually part of his public service.<br />
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From downtown, we took a jeepney going to the New Terminal, which cost P8 per person. There are buses and vans going to Basey, Samar that can drop you at the entrance to San Juanico Bridge. We got on a van and had to pay the full fare of P30 each. We got off a few meters before San Juanico. From the starting point of San Juanico bridge, up to the end, John and I walked hand-in-hand.<i>(Wait, we had to stop to take some selfies and quarreled a little bit when he couldn't take a nice photo of me, and all the photos I took of him were great!)</i> But yes, it was a great experience! We walked around 45 minutes including all the selfie and emo moments in the middle of the bridge.<br />
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When we arrived in Sta. Rita, Samar, we waited for a jeepney to get back to Tacloban. The fare from Sta. Rita to Tacloban was only P8!<br />
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journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-71314184454610262492015-10-26T23:53:00.002-07:002015-10-26T23:53:29.012-07:00THE COST OF LEARNING 3: SOUTH COTABATO AND DAVAO DEL SUR<br />
<b>Marbel (formerly Koronadal), South Cotabato</b><br />
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08 September 2015 - From Kidapawan, I rode a van (with Kuya Bebot, our partner from Arakan) going to Tacurong. The van fare cost P120 each. In Tacurong we took a tricycle to YBL Bus terminal (P17), and hopped on a bus to Marbel (P52 each). Tricycle fare in Marbel is P10 each. We stayed at Villa Princessitas at Jabido Compound. The rooms cost P500 each. My room had twin beds, an Air-con, TV. and private bath (but no hot shower). It is very cheap for a room that can accommodate two people. This place is always full of groups that conduct seminars and training because they also have function rooms and catering services.<br />
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I only had a day to go around the city looking for offices of organizations we wanted to visit. Somehow, I had a chance to pass by the provincial capitol of South Cotabato which looks beautiful and modern. We went inside, but I was disappointed to see how the clean and new look outside the building was not sustained in its interiors. It was still an old building badly maintained. Nearby is the Notre Dame University which looks neat and interesting, but I did not have a chance to even enter inside the university premises.<br />
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Our favorite (not really, just the closest to where we stayed) restaurant was Nadie's Chicken Haus. When we ate there they didn't have all the specialties they offer, so we ended up having chicken barbeque. It tasted good,but the first one we had was under-cooked. The second try was perfect. Our meals cost P259 for two persons already.<br />
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Unlike in Kidapawan, the tricycles here are small. Two people hardly fit inside, and I always have to duck so that I don't bump my head during the ride. They are nicely painted yellow though, which looks neat. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZJeEyOCsIG8EXIDw5cwyqlyfh-dmHh2HEoHuHmgMUONT01FbkK1-UO8sFJdSUFPmmB7m9pQh4eJRc6DEKHByOSBHsgIOD4vzrk152-8gAJNMb7jCgZFnY5RHfPc0_bA9Bn0gCD4JLI0/s1600/IMG_4284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZJeEyOCsIG8EXIDw5cwyqlyfh-dmHh2HEoHuHmgMUONT01FbkK1-UO8sFJdSUFPmmB7m9pQh4eJRc6DEKHByOSBHsgIOD4vzrk152-8gAJNMb7jCgZFnY5RHfPc0_bA9Bn0gCD4JLI0/s320/IMG_4284.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Provincial Capitol of South Cotabato</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Z3astG1Iu3q8MQTVBkpeH87NlnF5_DtPuo2wQ10V9oGIviys4ET4KwEEatd4EfbJxV1trR42o7RC5hgPrbxSstmT79OhhtRhgzrxhRngUKbEBLBNMtmZkzfZZ6FBe7A4KJTvQLwnWyo/s1600/IMG_4285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Z3astG1Iu3q8MQTVBkpeH87NlnF5_DtPuo2wQ10V9oGIviys4ET4KwEEatd4EfbJxV1trR42o7RC5hgPrbxSstmT79OhhtRhgzrxhRngUKbEBLBNMtmZkzfZZ6FBe7A4KJTvQLwnWyo/s320/IMG_4285.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notre Dame of Marbel University</td></tr>
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<b>General Santos City</b><br />
<b><br /></b>09-10 September 2015 - I traveled to GenSan for two consecutive days while billeted at Marbel City. Bus fare cost P95 per way. Tricycle fare is also P10. When I got there, their Tuna Festival just ended, but there were still some stalls at their Oval Plaza. I wasn't lucky to taste their tuna kinilaw, but I would surely love to go back to this place and roam around if I have a chance. Food is fairly affordable, and there are also affordable places to stay. I was recommended to stay at Lea's Pension House, although I no longer had the time to try.<br />
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The tricycles here are also big, similar to how they are designed in Kidapawan.<br />
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<b>Digos City</b><br />
<b><br /></b>11 September 2015 - From General Santos City, bus fare to Digos City cost P115 per person. Tricycle fare is also P10. I only spent a few hours in this city, There are lots of durian and pork lechon here, and I think the prices are reasonable. I went back to Davao City and spent a night there before traveling to Tacloban City by bus.<br />
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The tricycles are designed similar with how they are in GenSan.<br />
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journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-20235276111713909742015-10-12T04:00:00.004-07:002015-10-12T04:07:03.613-07:00THE COST OF LEARNING 2: NORTH COTABATO<i>In my previous post I talked about my trip to Davao City and Bukidnon, including the amount of expenses to be expected when traveling to those places. I personally put this up as a reference for my future travels, as well as for anyone who might be interested.</i><br />
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<b>Kidapawan City, North Cotabato</b><br />
<b><br /></b>01 September 2015 - From Davao City, I rode a van to Kidapawan, their terminal found behind Gmall. Van fare cost P150 per person. From Kidapawan bus terminal, I took a tricycle to the lodge where I stayed, costing me P20.00, which I later found out is actually over priced. The minimum fare is only P8.00 and the distance between the terminal and JBL Lodge is not that far. I stayed at JBL Lodge, which is just along the National Highway, near DXND radio station. It is in the farther side (if coming from Davao City),the road leading to Arakan (van to Arakan costs P100 per person per way).<br />
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The rate at JBL Lodge cost only P500 per night. It was recommended by our local partner, and the rates are really lower compared to other nicer hotels in the area. I had a room with double-sized bed, a TV, air-con, private bathroom with hot shower. There is no free breakfast and no hooks or place to hang my clothes, and the towels are really thin (but you can ask them to clean your room and replace the towels everyday). It was a relatively nice place, given the price. At night it is usually packed with guests who have nice cars. Our partner said people from Red Cross also stay there. But I think some couples also use this for short-time stays because it is really just affordable.<br />
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Durian is cheaper here (I LOVE DURIAN!) it is only P25 per kilo. All other kinds of fruits are also cheaper and the sweetest (which is probably why it is called the "fruit basket" of the country). The most familiar place to eat is at Jollibee, which costs around P50-P150 per meal. There are also other nice restaurants, but I did not want to try them alone. Near JBL Lodge is Penong's (a famous chicken restaurant in this side of the archipelago). I ate there once for dinner and it cost P259. There is a nice buffet restaurant (Cucina de Miguel) we once visited for lunch, and it cost only P130 per person. It is located just downtown, near the market area.They have all kinds of vegetables and meat viands for everybody.<br />
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There is also a nice restaurant called Ga-Lor, which is located near Gaisano mall. Their specialty includes Australian Beef Cheese Burger and Palabok. They serve durian halo-halo and durian coffee, but they don't have plain coffee, sadly. I had dinner at Boyd's once, which is a nice pizza and pasta place located behind Jollibee. My meal cost only P200, for a small box of mushroom pizza and coffee. It tasted pretty good and also filling! They have wifi too, but by the time I ate there, they didn't have connection. Along the street where Boyd's is located, is the Serenity Thai Spa. It is a new place so it is still clean and neat. Swedish massage cost P300.00, and P320 for Hot Lava Stone Massage, which I really enjoyed. I was really sick that time with head colds, and they directly contact the hot lava stone all over your body. I was surprised at first that they directly contact the hot stone on the skin, but it was soothing and calming. They also serve tea after the massage. (Tea was sweet though).<br />
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There is also a quiet coffee place with wifi at Jicar coffee, which is part of Eva's Hotel at the 4th floor of Eva's Bldg. (a few blocks from Jollibee). They have a lot of supermarkets around the city, so it was not hard to find essential toiletries and food.<br />
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On a Saturday, I tried visiting Lake Agco (a boiling sulfuric lake) which is around 45 minutes away from the city proper. I took a tricycle to the terminal (which is right across the Iglesia ni Cristo church). I took a special habal-habal ride on my own, costing P250 per way. The driver was really nice and friendly (Kuya Toto). I agreed to text him so he could pick me up on my way home. Apparently, from Lake Agco, they do not allow the passengers to ride with other habal-habal drivers except those that are in line. So I had to ride from Lake Agco to Ilomavis gym, and then Kuya Toto picked me up there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktAOV5hChfII9OxPgb0T047sbphZuCPIt_S_jw2z0C_uIKFkmm5l7ZEi37uW9yjkCtNX6LtIZRzB-zxBriZuKgFoIu15Mp9_Pl9lsVoxTe3U1GoCOaE93O851puYsyb8KkR0cAqR8d1Q/s1600/IMG_4224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktAOV5hChfII9OxPgb0T047sbphZuCPIt_S_jw2z0C_uIKFkmm5l7ZEi37uW9yjkCtNX6LtIZRzB-zxBriZuKgFoIu15Mp9_Pl9lsVoxTe3U1GoCOaE93O851puYsyb8KkR0cAqR8d1Q/s400/IMG_4224.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The steaming sulfuric Lake Agco - you can boil an egg in there!</td></tr>
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The entrance to the jacuzzi resort (with steam bath) was P20.00. To visit Lake Agco and have photos there, entrance is P10.00. The nearby resort has swimming pools too, but I did not try it. I enjoyed the steam bath and jacuzzi, and then headed back to Kidapawan in the afternoon. It would be fun to spend the whole day, or even over night if I had company.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUZ0Y_fQCBmTpn3hhO5L3vODTdpXw9kc3yjZzeLbv9_LyJqMEqOl8y5oHsLAh1Ts4fO1igFzz7NCx0_bywAn63c-0o0iEwsnz6MEGdeqmSZHO7MY5onNiWwf8URd4k63AMXpCcCTme9w/s1600/IMG_4205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUZ0Y_fQCBmTpn3hhO5L3vODTdpXw9kc3yjZzeLbv9_LyJqMEqOl8y5oHsLAh1Ts4fO1igFzz7NCx0_bywAn63c-0o0iEwsnz6MEGdeqmSZHO7MY5onNiWwf8URd4k63AMXpCcCTme9w/s400/IMG_4205.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You have to pay ten pesos to enter, and this is the pathway leading to the Lake</td></tr>
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The tricycles in Kidapawan are big and can accommodate around 6-8 persons! They are also especially appropriate for their mountainous terrain.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid59i1iymlyl5aQgJ7XLJKYjDY1UD7BN0PkgUA4j82McSSHZwZcqdgGSMn4ziO96DBOWxRxHT_nX9cZJn-U_xG9KsSPvxEqWofpLPtpextJ3D_9W5VPmXgEUnudbSfiteGMnHV69UZa4E/s1600/IMG_4170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid59i1iymlyl5aQgJ7XLJKYjDY1UD7BN0PkgUA4j82McSSHZwZcqdgGSMn4ziO96DBOWxRxHT_nX9cZJn-U_xG9KsSPvxEqWofpLPtpextJ3D_9W5VPmXgEUnudbSfiteGMnHV69UZa4E/s400/IMG_4170.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The marker in front of the city hall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCSYbwzxHz2gUgPaX9gztM-cgTij97TvEeyFOCcXNIzXNeas2Q_ha3ZVzyBSaEy41bVnhqHwQABeoBFUURZOKc_p_u0cprTkpfOSoWkOuu9KyXiKJdXNkhL7c6GpB7rwrgnu4yDDsb70/s1600/IMG_4169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCSYbwzxHz2gUgPaX9gztM-cgTij97TvEeyFOCcXNIzXNeas2Q_ha3ZVzyBSaEy41bVnhqHwQABeoBFUURZOKc_p_u0cprTkpfOSoWkOuu9KyXiKJdXNkhL7c6GpB7rwrgnu4yDDsb70/s400/IMG_4169.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">City plaza</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdBB2XmfeduL_A6OPJnaUj9dr5_-K9kgHnbnIkbZrZ3o0kvWMwIZ87IIhcoFvKNjPq1MDS9f7I6lJ7oah3QEz_6EH_AnY1IaLZ9WkLhahOkRReA6Ab3D69TgZpyy40phVpqEk7iSKzwQ/s1600/IMG_4167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdBB2XmfeduL_A6OPJnaUj9dr5_-K9kgHnbnIkbZrZ3o0kvWMwIZ87IIhcoFvKNjPq1MDS9f7I6lJ7oah3QEz_6EH_AnY1IaLZ9WkLhahOkRReA6Ab3D69TgZpyy40phVpqEk7iSKzwQ/s400/IMG_4167.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kidapawan is known as the fruit basket, and I can prove why.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2FgBwFE-X85k8LrrkfyyDG5U1s150QBu16RGyqq3eNTafwMxtNbZzpwBh3qmqFT-Z6yCfVhHG2m5xZA2IHRQ96QHfEAMM3EkOp8r-f04hyI4VKATf0xAZiHvqivttOtKaAwfduDoni4/s1600/IMG_4136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2FgBwFE-X85k8LrrkfyyDG5U1s150QBu16RGyqq3eNTafwMxtNbZzpwBh3qmqFT-Z6yCfVhHG2m5xZA2IHRQ96QHfEAMM3EkOp8r-f04hyI4VKATf0xAZiHvqivttOtKaAwfduDoni4/s400/IMG_4136.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, durian, my love! But there's also lots of mangosteen, lansones, rambutan, marang, and more!</td></tr>
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I happened to also visit in Arakan, North Cotabato, where Fr. Fausto Tentorio, an Italian priest, was shot to death four years ago . He was known to actively speak against injustices in this community, and one day an unidentified man wearing helmet shot him while he was in the parking lot - on a Monday morning, in broad daylight. Until today, this man is still unidentified. This memorial below is the spot where he was found dead.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9E8leK97yfiqlAnKq6k_e9PeOwExLcdTjqGQFraO2_RN4_k9gu3BZxXtuB21bw1G6rLUHbl18jEeIrP_MfPDXblFw1SN7YAwv-R3rjryY2n-1nYYXiZD39dnF5dSZyHrc3i8-Ns1J5O0/s1600/IMG_4151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9E8leK97yfiqlAnKq6k_e9PeOwExLcdTjqGQFraO2_RN4_k9gu3BZxXtuB21bw1G6rLUHbl18jEeIrP_MfPDXblFw1SN7YAwv-R3rjryY2n-1nYYXiZD39dnF5dSZyHrc3i8-Ns1J5O0/s400/IMG_4151.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This memorial was built in memory of Fr. Fausto Tentorio</td></tr>
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<br />journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-47961924162386792452015-10-04T00:25:00.002-07:002015-10-04T00:25:39.981-07:00THE COST OF LEARNING 1: DAVAO AND BUKIDNON<i>So, I have been traveling for over a month now and I am extremely homesick and tired of the clothes I'm wearing. But one thing I am thankful for is that I am traveling and going places without spending my own money.I am learning a lot and enjoying a lot of things funded by the office. It is truly a blessing. I am putting up this post just to take note of the expenses I had the last month, that might also be a good reference for me (and for others) when I travel in the future. I would include costs for transportation, accommodation, and food in each of the places I visited.</i><br />
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<b>Davao City</b><br />
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24 August 2015 - My airfare from Manila to Davao cost around Php 2034.96 through Air Asia. Taxi from Francisco Bangoy International Airport to Hotel Uno in Claveria cost around P200.00. Hotel Uno rate for Single Deluxe is P750.00 per night. (They also have Single room for only P650 and non-air conditioned Single for P250, Double for P350).<br />
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Because it is Kadayawan season, durian costs around P30.00 per kilo only! Mangosteen for P60.00 per kilo. Rambutan for only P20.00 and lansones for around the same price. Meals range from P50 - P200 depending on where you dine and what food you order.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCMbN2d0emc5HsPtWPyMXFSlioM4iceAZKVTCOCU53X18VCLaL5X5MQRuZ5wDaP11n4dee1IpPnxkr3d0gvfeDOBfg3bOyal3c4b-0XI_mp2QRPUWjoAjrNSKJ1YR4h8QyBQkj0OFBK0/s1600/IMG_4279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCMbN2d0emc5HsPtWPyMXFSlioM4iceAZKVTCOCU53X18VCLaL5X5MQRuZ5wDaP11n4dee1IpPnxkr3d0gvfeDOBfg3bOyal3c4b-0XI_mp2QRPUWjoAjrNSKJ1YR4h8QyBQkj0OFBK0/s320/IMG_4279.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Durian! My addiction...</td></tr>
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You can get around through taxi or jeepney (if you know how to get around). I have been here a lot so during this trip I did not spend much time visiting the touristy places. A to-go place is Samal island and Talicud island, which would probably be more affordable if traveling with a group.<br />
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<b>Valencia, Bukidnon</b><br />
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28 August 2015 - Bus from Davao City to Valencia, Bukidnon is P345 per way. In Valencia, I stayed with the Rojo family, so I did not spend much for food and accommodation. But there are affordable rooms and food is also cheap in this area.<br />
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Going around through "rela" (basically a big tricycle that can accommodate around 8-10 passengers), cost a minimum of P8.00 per person per way.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkKoiuv-dWWzTCWlYu6bPMSprW6NrVlLhGA1w3LVtffSCDOkvvzuWfrdjEvjRYBz4F1NASot5kGO3V9dLEHoJybJNeOiC03HsB9sd10lAgKZ_Jp2gimdwtFiya3GqUZngo8rAEvP3C1o/s1600/IMG_4131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkKoiuv-dWWzTCWlYu6bPMSprW6NrVlLhGA1w3LVtffSCDOkvvzuWfrdjEvjRYBz4F1NASot5kGO3V9dLEHoJybJNeOiC03HsB9sd10lAgKZ_Jp2gimdwtFiya3GqUZngo8rAEvP3C1o/s400/IMG_4131.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Rojo residence, I loved hanging out with the Kalinaw Youth Movement</td></tr>
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<br />journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-72881070248920241622015-09-22T10:12:00.000-07:002015-09-22T10:16:47.879-07:00LIVING ON A SUITCASEFor almost a month now, I have been traveling around with one small suitcase and a purse. I traveled around Mindanao (Davao City, Bukidnon, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, General Santos City, and Davao del Sur), took a bus from Davao to Tacloban, Leyte and spent a week there, and now I am in Cebu City. My next destinations are Bohol, Dumaguete, Bacolod, and Iloilo. Traveling has always been fun and inspiring, and my recent trip has taught me a lot of things and inspired me to write again after a long time.<br />
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In the next few weeks perhaps, I will write about the places I visited and the experiences that came along. But for now, a major lesson I learned the past month is about living on a suitcase. Back at home in Laguna, I have a closet full of clothes, several pairs of shoes, and bags. In Manila, I have two closets of clothes, and a half closet of bags and shoes. I have acquired those possessions in the last five years of working. Some of them were gifts, some I bought out of necessity, some are souvenirs from various countries I visited, and some I bought as a reward for myself after accomplishing a hard task.<br />
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I'd say I have a simple taste when it comes to fashion, but I love the variety I find in my wardrobe. I have several sets for formal meetings and dressier days, I have sets for traveling and rugged days, and I have a ton of my everyday jeans and shirts. I love that I have options to choose from everyday, but I did have my favorites that I will wear more often than the rest. I am not very keen on brands, nor do I collect the latest trends. I go after comfort and practicality in all my stuff.<br />
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For this trip, I packed along two dresses, one pair of jeans, one jogging pants, three shorts, two pairs of pajamas, six shirts/blouses, and ten pairs of underwear. I planned to wash my clothes whenever I can as I move along. I wanted to limit my stuff in one suitcase so I could travel fast and lite. I have a purse where I put my netbook computer, wallets, and important documents. Off the road I go, on a taxi, airplane, bus, tricycle, habal-habal, motorbike, van, and ferry, with my suitcase and purse in which my life depended on.<br />
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After a month of traveling, I really miss my entire wardrobe and the variety from which I choose my outfit everyday. The past weeks, I have been limited with the seven pairs of clothes I brought with me.Today after shower, I looked in my suitcase and was bored with the same set of clothes I look at everyday, struggling to find something to wear. I feel like I really have a serious problem now, I can't wear other clothes!<br />
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But upon reflecting, I realized some lessons in life. Firstly, of course there are thousands of people in the world who own even less amount of clothes than what I have in my suitcase. What is there to rant about missing my wardrobe when some people have bigger problems than that? Secondly, if I could live in a small suitcase and a purse for an entire month (and counting), why do I need several closets full of clothes? Such are the baggages we have in life...<br />
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Sometimes we tend to put too much in our emotional baggage that it becomes overloaded and we think we need to expand them to be able to put more. Most of the time we store our feelings of anger, hatred, unforgiveness, revenge, and bitterness towards other people. It is hard to let go because it just feels good to have a variety of emotions kept hidden somewhere. We also keep our attachments on material things, such as our possessions that we forget what is more valuable - relationships.<br />
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Yesterday we talked to a small farmers' organization and they shared to us their struggles about being trapped in the economic and political warfare between the rich and the powerful. Being poor, they are powerless and caught in the middle. Their only concern everyday is how to find food on the table, how to stay in a safe shelter, keep something to wear, and send their children to school. The rich and the powerful? Well, they fight over their political positions, huge lands they use for mining and other businesses, and they think what they have is not enough so they need to get more from other people, thus they fight.<br />
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From the farmers I learn a great metaphor. Identify the essentials of life and fit them in a suitcase, and that's what you bring with you anywhere. You cannot acquire more because it will be hard to carry around. For me, the essentials are my family, friends, some clothes to wear, a bed to sleep on, books to read, and food to eat. Those are the essentials I will put in my emotional suitcase. I cannot ad more I cannot desire for more wealth, power, influence, or enemies - they will keep me from moving on.<br />
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In life, we should learn how to live in a suitcase, where only the essentials fit.<br />
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<br />journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-22864912786208225912015-03-23T06:45:00.000-07:002015-03-23T18:29:46.001-07:00THE LOST SHEEP: THE GOSPEL OF TODAY'S PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACYIn one of our training with a group of pastors and church leaders, a shocking question came up.<br />
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<i>"How powerful is the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP) today that we should be wasting our time in meeting their demands?"</i><br />
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It was a sincere, honest question from someone who works with the church and is handling various ministries of the church. The immediate answer I gave, trying to put "peace and human rights advocacy" and the peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the CPP-NPA-NDFP in biblical context, was the parable of the lost sheep.<br />
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Jesus told the parable of the lost sheep, where the shepherd had one out of his one hundred sheep missing. He left the ninety-nine which were safe and fed, while he looked for that one lost sheep who was probably hungry, exhausted, and whose life is in danger. In the context of the CPP-NPA-NDFP, there has been a huge decline in the number of their membership since the 1970s. As of today, there are still a few who continue the armed struggle to fight poverty, injustice, unjust economic and political systems, bureaucratic capitalism, imperialism, and feudalism. If they will be mapped in the Philippines population, they comprise a very little percentage of the whole population, where majority are also experiencing poverty, and many forms of injustices. It might be rational from a perspective of someone who is not experiencing poverty from day to day, to ask whether the demands of the CPP-NPA-NDFP is worth wasting time on. But, if the shepherd who has ninety-nine healthy sheep came back for that one lost sheep who was hungry, missing, and crying for help, how much more would the Heavenly Father listen to the cry of the people who are hungry, poor, helpless, homeless, landless, and hopeless? How could the church, as the Body of Christ, minister to the one lost sheep in the Kingdom of God?<br />
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After that encounter with church leaders, I realized that there is more purpose to what I am doing, more than just peace and human rights advocacy. That question from a church leader that challenged the advocacy I am doing, was only a way to dig further into Jesus' message of peace and reconciliation.<br />
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<i>The Biblical Narrative of the Parable of the Lost Sheep</i><br />
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As Luke wrote it, Jesus was mingling with tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees and teachers of the law were the ones who challenged what Jesus was doing, "welcoming sinners and eating with them". In today's scenario, many church leaders ask, "what is the importance of the GPH-NDFP Peace Process to the ministry of the church?" It is more like asking, "What is the importance of peace and human rights advocacy? Is it more important than evangelism, discipleship, and worship?"<br />
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Jesus answered those church leaders who challenged him, with the parable of the lost sheep. He concludes the story with:<br />
<i> "</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><i>I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." </i>- Luke 15:7</span><br />
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<i>The Lost Coin and the Lost Son</i><br />
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Jesus further emphasized his point with the parable of the lost coin and the parable of the lost son. In all the parables, He reiterated the effort to search and find which was lost. And after finding it, there is rejoicing and celebration.<br />
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Jesus emphasizes the point of rejoicing when even a single one is lost and has been found. In all the parables, He concluded that there is rejoicing and celebration in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner repents.<br />
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<i>Human Rights and Peace Advocacy as a ministry </i><br />
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In the societal context, it has been hard to connect peace and human rights advocacy as a ministry of the church. It has always been connected to civil society organizations and mostly left-leaning organizations.<br />
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As someone who grew up in church and handled various church ministries before, I have been asked a lot of times about what ministry I am doing right now. Being a full-time advocate for peace and human rights, it is hard for the "church people" to figure out which specific ministry my work belongs to. It cannot be categorized into evangelism, discipleship, worship, service, or witnessing. It is not even a work that is initiated by the church. But if I would be asked again, I can now say that my ministry is finding the lost sheep. It is not so much extravagant, nor is it holier than other ministries. But my ministry is finding the lost, the hungry, the helpless, and struggling individuals in the society, listening to their cry, and trying, in small ways, to feed them and draw them back to the Father.<br />
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Finding is a short, simple word, but in reality, it is a work of hard labor, focus, determination, and lots and lots of hoping. You will not find something that is already seen. You find something through thick forests, dark shadows, and deep holes. It is not easy being done alone. So, for church leaders and ministers, there is finding to do. Let's do it together, so that one day we could rejoice and celebrate over finding even one lost sheep.<br />
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<br />journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-4607469903070850012014-11-19T17:49:00.000-08:002014-11-19T17:49:09.661-08:00DON'T STEP ON MY WINGSI have wings so small, I am starting to fly<br />
I try to explore, sometimes I cry<br />
I fall, I ache, sometimes I break<br />
But how can I fly if you step on my wings?<br />
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I need to get out, to try and break free<br />
Give me some freedom, some trust I demand<br />
My wings are small, they need to grow<br />
My steps are frail, but yes, sometimes I need to fail<br />
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I can hop sometimes and I could flutter<br />
I want to talk too, even if I stutter<br />
But how can I go, oh tell me, how can I grow?<br />
If you step on my wings, you put me oh so low.<br />
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I have smaller wings and you want to fly higher<br />
But you cannot go higher if you step on my wings<br />
I couldn't be able to fly,<br />
How can I lift you up high?<br />
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Oh, let me be, let me free<br />
Let me soar high and spree<br />
Let me explore where my wings can take me<br />
And maybe, one day, we can fly together - beautifully<br />
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Oh please be fair to a small eagle like me<br />
Whose wings are small, frail, and still learning to fly<br />
Don't step on my wings,<br />
It stops my heart beat.<br />
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You soar on your own wings<br />
So high and unreachable, I can only look up to you<br />
And that will let my wings grow too<br />
So that someday I can grow as big as you<br />
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But you cannot soar so high and mighty<br />
You cannot go further than where I could be<br />
If you won't let me go, together we'll stay here<br />
So please, don't step on my wings and let us both be happy.<br />
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<br />journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-50350125329401683822014-11-17T00:35:00.001-08:002014-11-17T00:35:24.711-08:00THE GOSPEL IN THE FAMILYGrowing up in a Christian family, it was easy for me to imagine the love of God the Father, because I felt that love manifested through my own father. It was easy for me to love the church community because my whole family is serving the Lord together, and I see the church community as my own family. When I accepted Jesus as my "personal" Lord and Savior, I knew it was a decision I made for my own soul, for my own salvation. The essence of following Jesus, however, is strengthened because of my connection with my family and the church community.<br />
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A lot of times, I hear people evangelize saying they should disregard their seat mates, ignore friends, family, or whoever gets in the way, as long as they express their faith in God. Most Christians would preach the value of personal salvation without considering the essence of family and community, which is the very nature of the Triune God.<br />
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In most cultures, especially in the Philippines, family and kinship are primary values. It is expressed in our political structures, business, and other primary institutions. Political leaders rule not only as individuals, but as families. The larger the clan, the larger their political influence and allies. Top business industries are ruled not only by individuals, but by clans. Churches, especially mega churches, also follow the same pattern. Pastors who lead the church would have their children lead the different ministries inside the church. This pattern has both positive and negative implications, but what I want to focus on is how we preach the gospel to individuals, as if their salvation is important only to them as individuals, disregarding the importance of family.<br />
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I know a lot of people who come from non-Christian families and are converted into Christianity. They are people who experience a lot of struggles within their family once they became Christians. As new Christians, they are challenged to share the Good News to their family, but often times it becomes the reason for family conflict and misunderstanding. Matthew 10:21 is being used in the wrong context, encouraging them that it is alright to be in conflict with their own family as long as they keep their faith in God.<br />
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Upon reflecting on certain situations that I come closely exposed with, I must say that the church as a community has a mission not only to bring individuals to Christ, but also their families. It should not be up to those individuals to bring their own families to Christ. The church must be able to step up and walk with new Christians as they reach out to each of their family members. The Good News can be holistically experienced if you experience it with your family. The family is the immediate manifestation of the love of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.<br />
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In this culture where family, kinship, and ties, are strong foundations for political, economic, and socio-cultural survival, there is no reason to leave the family behind when it comes to spiritual transformation and growth. A strong personal relationship with Christ can be fully enjoyed with family and community.<br />
journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-62209226201690283342014-07-19T08:19:00.001-07:002014-07-19T08:35:40.886-07:00MAKING A LIST AND CHECKING IT TWICE (THE IDEAL MAN LIST)This is not about a Christmas wish list or a shopping list. This is about an ideal man list and I was inspired to write this post when my friend wrote about <a href="http://kathleilimayo.wordpress.com/2014/07/19/why-i-threw-my-ideal-man-list/">why she threw her "ideal man" list</a>. She is a very talented and passionate woman, and the reason why she is single, is because that one man who deserves her hasn't come along yet.<br />
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I am writing this in response to her story of throwing away the ideal man list and focusing on <i>having a heart that can discern the character of a man, because the character of a man is the only thing that is non-negotiable. </i>I completely agree with that. We do not need a list. We will not marry a list. We will marry a man. We will not fall in love with the ideal. Loving means loving the imperfect, the most annoying, and the disappointing side of the man we choose to be with.</div>
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I don't know where that "ideal man" list came from, but maybe I also had those lists before. I did not literally have a notebook of lists or some sort, but I had some "standards" in mind about what kind of guy I would like.The first time I felt like a guy met all the ideals I had in mind, I entered a relationship and broke my heart. After that first heart break, I revisited that list and improved it, thinking that the next man should be the one, because I had an improved version of that list. I met another man and broke my heart the second time. And so this journey to finding the "ideal man" was painful, but then I learned my lessons. Since then, I knew I had to be patient and figure out what kind of man I would really like to spend the rest of my life with.</div>
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I believe that there is no such thing as an ideal man. So I just imagined what characteristics and qualities of a man that I think would best fit my character, and then I prayed. I prayed for a man whose heart seeks God and who will also seek my heart from God. I prayed for a man who has a clear vision in life, in which I will see myself being a part of. I prayed for a man who will see himself in my own vision, and will complement me in all my strengths and weaknesses. I prayed for a man whose leadership I can follow, and whose character I can admire. I prayed for a man that I will love as a person, and as a man, not because he loves me but because I'm just drawn to him naturally. I prayed for a man who will love me with all my imperfections and whose imperfections I can embrace. And I always prayed to God to surprise me...</div>
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...and He did! I met a man who I never thought existed. I met a man who I loved in my prayers and existed only in my imagination. It does not need to take so much time to figure out if he is the one, because I know while I was praying for almost two years, he was also in the process of being prepared to meet me. We are still in a journey of knowing each other deeper and envisioning a future together. There are a lot of things we are learning that I can share with you in the future. But what I want to point out is that every woman deserves a man who is no less than what she deserves. </div>
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Women, we do not need a knight in shining armor who will save us from our wretched circumstances. We do not need a prince charming who will give us a feeling of security. We do not need the attention of a handsome guy to make us feel beautiful. It is not what a lifetime partner is for. We have our own strength, our own confidence, and beauty. What we need is a man who will appreciate our inner capacity and inspire us to become better in anything we do, because he believes that you are powerful enough and you can do it without him, but he will still be there to support you and be a shoulder you can cry on at times that you feel weak.</div>
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Love is not a fairy tale with happy ever afters of smiling and dancing and having fun. Love is discovering the inner capacity of each other and choosing to embrace each other during difficult times because you hold your commitment sacred. What we need is a man seeking God's heart, not a man fulfilling our list. </div>
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So if you have a list of your ideal man, maybe check it again and figure out what you think you really deserve as a woman. If you are sure of what kind of man you are waiting for, check again if you are the kind of woman he deserves. God is the best author of love stories more than any writer or novelist who ever existed. And no love story is ever perfectly the same. As unique as each of us is, our love stories are also uniquely orchestrated and we only need to prepare as we wait for the spotlight to come our way.</div>
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journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-42615798772071209362014-05-11T21:31:00.001-07:002014-05-11T21:31:18.623-07:00WHY CELEBRATE TODAY?Twenty four years ago today, I was born into this world.<div>
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I may not have a very special party or extremely happy day. In fact, today I am clouded with mixed emotions, disorientation, and confusion. I believe I should be having a quarter-life crisis next year, but mine probably came a year early, I'm not sure.</div>
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24 years of my existence has been very rich and meaningful. I thought of writing about 24 reasons to celebrate, but as I count the reasons why I should celebrate today, I realized that there is just so much to write that they would not fit in one blog entry. I celebrate my family, my church community, my friends, my career, my ministry, my special man, my dreams, my struggles, my failures, mixed emotions and confusion. I celebrate my life as it is, and all the realities I have come to discover and experience in this 24 years of existence. </div>
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Today, as people send their greetings and love, I want to give the praise to only one name, the Lord of my life, Jesus. As I experience this phase of struggle and confusion, I rest in the fact that Jesus is Lord and that His blood has saved me, and that his resurrection is the reason I am alive and experiencing life on earth to its fullest. </div>
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I would probably live for a few more decades, or maybe less, who knows? But one thing I would constantly celebrate is that my Lord is alive and that He walks with me through my journey. In triumph and victory, He celebrates with me. In darkness, He holds my hand until I see the light. In sorrow He comforts me until I find my peace. In confusion and despair, He's the only one who understands. From the day I was born until my last breath, Jesus is alive and I constantly feel His love. That reason alone is more than enough, and could surpass any list, I could possibly make up.</div>
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This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.</div>
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journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-66692467179062780942014-03-12T20:05:00.000-07:002014-03-12T20:05:14.247-07:00ONE DARING MOVETwo years ago, I dreamed of writing a book - and this dream remained a dream until about a month ago. It took inspiration, perfect timing, and a lot of determination. This time, I'm determined to make it happen!<div>
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I dare to write a book, and I dare to dream big. I dream of writing a book that will inform, inspire, teach, and simply tell a story of one life that was influenced by a long tradition, and share stories of many more lives who chose to follow this same tradition. </div>
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I am writing a book.</div>
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The other night I cried about not being able to add anything else on the 45-page manuscript I've written the past three weeks. I cried and cried because there were many thoughts, many ideas playing in my mind, teasing my brain to add more to the story I am writing, yet these ideas I cannot capture and put into writing, and came out only through tears.</div>
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Writing is a mystery.</div>
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Writing is a search to the inner core of your being, a journey to one's self to defining the source of your strength, the reservoir of ideas, the fountain of creativity.</div>
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I am on that journey.</div>
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I am on a journey to writing a book about my journey and the journey of many others.</div>
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In trying to write about my journey, I find myself journeying into a different realm - into the realm of writing. The mysterious, magical, and surprising journey of writing.</div>
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I do not know what lies ahead, but I know that in this writing journey, I am learning and I am enjoying.</div>
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For the love of writing, I will continue this journey.</div>
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Because of love, I will be able to continue.</div>
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journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626814947037673704.post-83948373592932959212014-02-14T01:02:00.000-08:002014-02-14T01:02:00.044-08:00WHAT LOVE HAS TO SAYFor many years, I've said some words about love, and what I have to say.<br />
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Today, I relax and smile as I savor the sweet message of what love has to say.</div>
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I was caught off guard. This heart I have tried to protect and preserve, suddenly found love and all it does is listen now - to what love has to say.</div>
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There were no conditions, nor any reasons why.</div>
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There was no "if only" and "what if"</div>
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As I used to always feel</div>
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There was only that confidence, that as I gaze into your eyes,</div>
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All I wanted was to listen - to what love has to say</div>
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There were no fears or any doubt in everything you do or say,</div>
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Because as I listen to your voice, all I hear is - what love has to say</div>
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I only know I want to be better - better than I've always been</div>
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And I will always just be here, in your journey to become better too.</div>
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Well, I guess that's what it is - what love has to say</div>
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When all I want is to have you near, and a look in your eyes makes me feel like I'm looking through your soul.</div>
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Today we may be far apart, but I hear the message loud and clear - what love has to say.</div>
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To be so confident in the love we feel, and be so inspired for the journey ahead of us</div>
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I guess this is what I first hear, of what love has to say</div>
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And through the years, every single day</div>
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I will look in your eyes and just listen - to what love has to say</div>
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I'm pretty sure there will be more</div>
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Messages that are loud and clear - of what love has to say.</div>
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For the love I found in the most unexpected place, at an unexpected time.<br />
What love has to say?<br />
It can be surprising :)</div>
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journeyisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526108727288230271noreply@blogger.com1