CHRISTMAS: A TIMELESS MEANING

It's few days away from Christmas time. But here in the Philippines, we are forced to hear sad news: Maguindanao Massacre, Martial Law, a president running for a lower post for the next election which could probably lead into Charter Change abhorred by the masses. We get too fixated on these things which we think as our reality that we forgot that Christmas time is in our midst. And that we fail to to experience the joy that it offers us.


As I write this piece, I am but a victim of the same pattern of thoughts but after I got out from the Blessed Sacrament today taking a time of prayer with Him who is the ultimate reason of Christmas joy, Jesus Christ, our Savior, Emmanuel, I cannot help but write this hoping I could infect joy of christmas to those who are in my network the best way possible. And I have made up the following resolutions:

1. I am first and foremost a Christian who believes in Christ and that whatever surroundings there is, I must decide to take the season with utmost waiting, with utmost hope, with utmost joy and finally celebration that a real God once came to us became Man to give us salvation and that in this time of year I ought to take in my heart the meaning of Christmas; that same God who is available daily in the Holy Eucharist, that same God who offers Himself to everyone of whatever faith they embrace as He is present in every creature, in every human being's soul.

2. I am a Filipino and as a citizen of this great nation, I must continue the culture that we have on Christmas time. The sharing of oneself to others and perhaps this time not just physically to our love ones and neighbors near us but thanks God to this internet technology that allows us to share the same degree of camaraderie and sense of oneness to people that once became part of our lives through various types of social networking.

3. I belong to a family who puts premium on giving during Christmas season. It does not have to be in the form of material things but they can always be conveyed in simple gestures of kiss, hugs and well-meaning word of saying " Merry Christmas" "Maayong Pasko" "Maligayang Pasko" or whatever way we best say it and I intend to perpetuate the same sense of love shared on Christmas time.



4. Christmas eve that is December 24 is my birthday. And this year, I am going to accept my birthday in additional happiness as God made me reach this age where I went through different phases of development already and I feel that at this stage, I am duty bound to return all the good things that I receive, all the favors in life that came to me and there is no better way than to place myself in SERVICE to others as a fruit of LOVE. LOVE which is the timeless meaning of CHRISTMAS.



A Blessed Christmas everyone and whether we have met in person, or I only met you in my social network, whether you are a Filipino who lives still in our country or you are a Filipino who works in other country, I hope this piece could touch you once again and may you share LOVE on Christmas 2009.

With all my love along with my husband, Jun and our son Briggs, I pray and hope for all of us a Happy Christmas 2009!

Lorelyn

Manny Pacquiao: How Did I come to Admire Him

I am not alone in my joy on the latest victory that Manny Pacquaio gave his countrymen. This time however, it is not just another win, it is a record-breaker event; he being the only person who garnered seven (7) belts in different divisions of boxing. I am not into boxing field nor a sports critic but I say this piece from the point of view of a Filipino who has admired this person, so do not expect me to understand details on boxing.

How did I first come to know Manny? I remembered I was watching a fight together with my family way, way back then. If I remember right, it was the Golden Boy's (Oscar dela Hoya) fight. But before the fight, we watched an undercard game. Manny. won it! Then I exclaimed to everyone how greatly he resembles to my youngest brother Landrum. It was the first time I saw him and the next thing I know he won in most of all his competitions till he reached the glory and gold that now become him.

I have always watched his game and in fact prays that he makes it everytime and it is because I admire this person and here are the reasons:

1. He gives glory to God. Everytime he wins, Manny never claims the win as his own! He always attribute the glory to God.( Although undeniably he is a very rigid,focused and disciplined athlete which contributed to his success.) In fact in this current win, in an interview he said this, "My power comes from God and this would not have been all possible without Him; I surrender everything to Him and believe in Him 100%." Before the beginning and end of his fight, he always goes to his corner, kneeling and praying and kissing the cross on his rosary.

2. He loves the Philippines. Manny Pacquiao is a patriot. It is obvious in his talks, all the time he would like to share his win to his countrymen. And it made me realize that one can excel in his field if he possessed with the deepest love to the country that nurtured him and it is not exlusive to the privileged Filipinos. He had a very deprived life before fame and riches came into his hands yet he truly loves the Philippines and never complains.

3. He loves his family.

Family where he come from: Manny Pacquiao loves his family. He is a family man. Being a son raised alone by a mother who has been abandoned by her husband for another woman, it was obviously a difficult life for him. Instead of hating his father and wallowing in hatred and revenge, he opted to find means to sustain himself, his siblings and his mother. He openly welcome his father with a forgiving heart when the father showed interest of the family he left behind. He never forgets the basic commandment of God, 'To honor your parents'. (After all, the commandment did not say, "Respect your parents if they are deserving". It was an unconditional command to honor parents despite their imperfections. And God will do the rest if you follow this command.)

Jinkee and Manny: Another thing is the love Manny gives to his own family. Well, I think Jinkee who is a lovely and educated lady married Manny at the time that when he was still starting a boxing career. To me, Jinkee also took a gamble probably because she believed in him and in persevering in her belief in her husband's potential and talent, she is greatly rewarded. And of course, he also cares of their growing children.

With these attributes, I have come to admire this man, a Filipino who brought honor for our country. Having these basic things, I do believe anyone can also succeed in whatever endeavor they got themselves into, whether that Filipino is still in this country or had left the Philippines to work harder for their love ones. It doesn't really matter, what matters is that which is in our heart and actions.

Tita Cory: A Philippine's Legacy to the World

Today, August 5, 2009, is the funeral of our former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. I am compelled to write not only because I am blissfully touched of the outpouring of love and respect not only of her own countrymen but the world as well, and also because to me it is a national history worthy of our topic for contemplation and discussion. I am writing this article from a point of view of woman who was only a child when Tita Cory Aquino's name brought into the public limelight by sheer twist of fate in a Providential manner.



To me, Tita Cory is a Philippine's legacy to the world.



History tells us that EDSA Revolution is the only revolution that is bloodless. Many countries tried to imitate the success of our EDSA, but they cannot copy it. It enfolded as it was simply because it was not staged nor manipulated by few politicians or plotters. It was simply the way Filipinos are. But it would not be complete if the woman who was called during that time to fill the role refused. In her words, Tita Cory was not ready for a public life. She prayed, contemplated, weighed her decision well and in the end chosen to play the part she was made to take part, armed only with God on her side and so are the people who placed her on power.



I was very young then. I barely understood politics but in my childhood's mind that event was truly significant because of the way people around me reacted to it, my own parents, grandparents, and relatives who are grown up at that time.



Six years in power she only proved to be courageous despite several difficulties and trials in her governance. As a woman, I understood quite well how difficult it is to take on a lead especially when one is aware that those who are below in position of her are men, well-versed in the world of politics, in military tactics and maneuvers, and many other aspects. She survived coup d' etat attempts. She stood firm and gave hope to her people though sometimes her people wanted her to do miracle by overturning everything right through a magic wand, perhaps. Though she was placed in the most powerful position of the Philippine governance, she exude an aura of being a mother to Filipinos rather than pretending to be like a man. She used her womanly attribute and put it into good use by believing that there are men out there whom she could persuade to do their respective duties and responsibilities out of their own conviction and not because she threatened them. And in that way, she gained the respect of many honorable men.



Now that she has left us for good, it is no doubt to me that our former President Cory Aquino is our legacy to the world. She will always be remembered with incredible affection from her people and the world.



A piece of thought: May Tita Cory now rest in peace, in joining her Creator I know that she continues to be with us by praying for her beloved countrymen! Mabuhay ka, Filipino, saan ka man sa mundo. You can always make a difference and show the world that we are loving, hard-working , and faithful people. And in that way, we too can become a legacy to the world.

Lorelyn T Dumaug: On scandal and maligned publicity

Lorelyn T Dumaug: On scandal and maligned publicity

On scandal and maligned publicity

It's been like a week since the sex video scandal of Katrina Halili and Dr. Hayden Kho, both prominent showbiz personalities, seemed to infiltrate every media avenue: from television, internet, print and the words of mouth spreading so powerfully, and now the highest legislative body of the land, the Senate of the Philippines. I cannot help but give my piece of thought on the issue, as a woman myself and as a citizen of this country.

As I reviewed all issues, I came up with a brief background.

Dr. Hayden Kho gained his prominence after winning a national television show competition and eventually became the popular boyfriend of Vicky Belo, a prominent cosmetic surgeon highly in demand of actors and actresses, models and other artists. Then came the break-up late last year of 2008 of the two apparently caused by a video which the latter discovered that made her decide to break up with the former saying with certainty the evidence of Dr. Kho's infidelity.

And now the video of Katrina Halili with Dr. Hayden Kho proliferates over the internet and in a mass production of the DVD now scattered throughout the country and the world.

Katrina Halili who hails from the beautiful place of El Nido, Palawan instead of retreating to her own private world after the scandal broke out and accept the fact of losing her gained stardom and job, chose to put up a fight. She gained support from various sectors public and private, including Gabriela Women's Party-List, an organization that has its own seats in Congress, responsible for the enactment of the law of Anti-Violence Against Women and Children (Anti-VAWC), the National Bureau of Investigation(NBI) and Bureau of Immigration and Deportation, and finally the Senate of the Philippines, for a full-blown investigation.

After watching the news related to the events that transpired during the Senate hearing headed by Senator Jamby Madrigal's committee, I cannot help but feel compassion and pity for the plight of Katrina Halili. She burst in tears while openly declaring her agony in public, that she lost her job, that she is in a state of thinking time and again that every person she met has probably seen her sex video with Dr. Hayden Kho and lastly the honor of her family that has since been disgraced publicly because of the scandal. She even uttered foul words and languages against Dr. Hayden Kho.

On the other hand, I saw the incident of water splashed over the head of Dr. Kho inside the Senate Hall by a former policeman who could not help his scorn for a fellow man. (My husband says he should not be put to jail for having done so.)

At the outset during the hearing, Dr. Kho is an image of a seemingly innocent man, incapable of such bestial act, penitent in his ways and most probably tried to win public sympathy by his coy manners. His mother was there too! My empathy for her and the whole family. Katrina, on her part, looked so much like a victim, glamorous posture gone.

The presence of these showbiz personalities in the formal aura of a Senate Hall turned it into a circus.

As a woman I'd say, Katrina Halili definitely had her own lapse of judgement by getting herself involved with a man who publicly announced romantic relationship with a prominent figure. But however wrong her decision is (or sinful it is) or however her heart made her do such act (she proclaims she loves Dr. Kho), no woman deserves to be thrown into a public limelight making a most private sexual act seen by the public and accessible by the whole world at that with just a click. And to think it was beyond her knowledge, assent nor consent. I give my utmost admiration for her courage to take a stand and my empathy because what has been done can never be undone and the scandal will forever be accessible to public view. No doubt, the act of Dr. Hayden Kho is violence against women.( It is said there are still 37 sex videos with different prominent women. Whew!!! What kind of a man is he? Psyhologically impaired?) He has violated a law by merely taking the video and collecting them all at that!

As a citizen of this country, I think it is about time that our legislative department would come up with a law that punish perpetrators of this kind of scandal. I am hopeful that after this investigation in aid of legislation, justice shall be served to the victims. But I do not like it done publicly. If serious investigation must be fully done, it should be outside of public view and scrutiny where biases and public sympathy tends to sway objectivity.

Yes, they are prominent figures but they deserve to keep their private lives private. We should not feast over it and I am praying this issue die very soon in the public realm and begin to be discovered privately and a good law will come out of it rather than just being a show for public consumption and appetite.

Let us pray that the perpetrators and victims alike may have their share in silence and reflect on their actions properly. Asking for forgiveness on themselves and their victims and that no pride and arrogance shape the investigation. May woman's true power that comes from a pure virtue and not lust, be the true source of their healing and the loving touch of God be their Omnipotent Source of unconditional love. And for us all, we stop spreading the video, the site and we shall all reflect on our own private lives too!

New Year 2009:Bringing Hope in the Year of our Lord in my Life

In the Philippines, it is still 9:00 O'Clock in the morning of the last day of 2008, December 31, 2008. Few hours from now, all Filipinos from various sector of the society, rich or poor families,whether living within the country or abroad are desirous of gathering in a Spirit of Joy as they welcome another Year of OUr Lord bringing in their hearts new hopes and aspiration, in whatever forms of communication they can.Unlike Christmas which is predominantly given meaning into by Christians all over the world as the celebration of the birth of the Son of God, perfect God and perfect Man, who chose to live among His Creations to give us gift of salvation, New Year is celebrated even to those who do not profess the same faith of a Christian, because whatever one believes or do not believe, the idea of welcoming another year brings everyone to a Spirit of Joy!

Despite the economic crisis that affects everyone's life and the terrorist acts that plagues the world today, all of us is possessed of power within our hands to choose HOPE and LOVE for the year to come. That we are all empowered to be the beacon of hope and spread them to every people near us, first our husbands/wives, children, parents, grandparents,sibilings, nephews and nieces, aunties and uncles, in-laws, relatives, friends and neighbors and the different communities we choose to belong and feel more associated, most productive and get our talents more useful.Personally, the year 2008 passed really so quickly for me. I get myself involved in so many things. First of being a wife trying my best to become a mother with my husband whose public and political life changes the once so private minor services and volunteerism I made as a young university student, as a young law student and as a professional extending myself to others in communities, a person who makes all my knowledge into income potential, a loving daughter to senior citizen parents, a loving aunt to my nephews and nieces, a good aid to my brothers and sisters in their married and single life, a niece showing love and affection to aged aunties and uncles and giving honor to those who already passed away, a daughter and sister-in-law trying to get myself loved and belong to these families whose culture are so much different from mine, a worker of the Parish where I belong, a loving elder ("ate") to children in the neighborhood,a first lady trying her best to be known not as a mere wife to an honorable elected official but to get myself known as I am including the not so good things about me and get myself one of them despite the distance that people tend to place on me as a wife of the man they respect. I only want to convey love to them and show them all that despite my imperfections, I am willing to extend myself whole free from pretense and not as a mere symbol and illusion. And of being an active advocate to a global work of God in Gawad Kalinga and the Couples for Christ where both me and my husband are involved as a couple. And there are still many, many things I want to do and I want to be and people want me to be. The pressure is hard and difficult. I messed up too!But today is such a beautiful day as I started a reflection with my husband on how to make our marriage work better. That we are able to truthfully expressed things that we do not want each other do and only do the most constructive ones. I feel like I am starting it right because I cannot do many other things if I am unable to do things right with the husband to whom I choose to be in this marriage vocation.So the New Year 2009 is full of hope for me. I want to be better, if not best, in the many facets of my life. And just as what I had asked my husband to do, that he will lead me everyday in prayer to God together as married couple bonded in this great Sacrament of Marriage. I do not want to take the lead anymore, I asked him to lead because every husband must bring his wife in adoration to God and lead his children and family into Him.And I asked God too that I may be able to fill things that I failed to do and refrain from doing things that could hurt and destroy him. I feel like I started it right and I choose not be bothered by the preparations of external things like food in the table, parties to make, round fruits on the table to present and only with very simple celebration.

I want to offer myself to God and make the New Year the most happy as it can be as I choose to wait for it with the Lord in the Holy Eucharistic Celebration filled with reflections and resolutions.

My Christmas

It's Christmas time again!

Peoples from all races celebrate Christmas in many ways. But I am most inclined how Christmas is celebrated in my own beloved country. Although a very good friend and mentor of mine who is a foreigner now living back to his country after sharing his life with the people from Mindanao for almost twenty (20) years, Fr. Michel de Gigord, MEP, described that most of his countrymen celebrated it away from the true essence of Christmas by alluding the celebration to Sta. Klaus instead of Christ Himself, the commercialization of the celebration makes people shy away from giving real love to others if they are not able to give gifts, all these and other activities misguided the people of who and what we are celebrating for. It could indeed be alarming but it is a reality in most First World Countries. He further supposed that Philippines is still celebrating it with grand sharing of love with families, friends and small various organizations despite the few and cheap foods found in the table.

Then his observation and comparison brings me to reflect as to what is actually happening here in our country. Has his observation that we Filipinos celebrate it with much love remains the way we celebrate Christmas? Then, I begin it myself, with my own experience of Christmas celebrations. And in so doing, it brings me back to my childhood and all the years that follows.

I was born on Christmas eve to parents who desires for the gift of a child of their marriage of five years. Being born into that circumstance gave me the privilege of a being a child surrounded and raised with love. Every Christmas was a joyful occasion of the family, my birthday added to the bonding of love, not just to my family, to my relatives but also to the Catholic faithfuls in our little chapel, who for lack of priest, do it by "Katilingbanong Pag-ampo". There are years when money is available but when my father became jobless, we celebrated it very,very simply but the most important ingredient remains felt, the sharing of love to one another, the deliberate effort to make others feel that he/she is very much love despite shortcomings as a family member. It has always been a time of showing unconditional love. I remembered the hugs and kisses from my parents, my sister and brothers, my aunties and my uncles. All these made my birthday and Christmas celebrations a beautiful time for love.

When I grew up, I learned to make it my own too! Despite lack of finances, I always try to find ways in making my love expressed to all my love ones especially to my parents who as I observed had so much difficulty and trouble in their married life together. I always make it an opportunity to make them aware how deeply grateful I am, that amidst difficulty they stayed together as married people and continued to show to us their deep love and concern. It was also a time to call on all my brothers to stay together in our house at least for one day just to feel one another's presence. And all of us are looking forward to it!

Time flies and all of us are married except my fourth brother. Although I am the eldest, I married late so there was a time when my being single brings a lot of opportunity in uniting the entire family, my brothers and sister, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and this time I am already a "Tita" to new members of our family. All the same, with or without much food in the table, it always feel good to be with one another's presence. I always bring my niece and nephews to sing a birthday song to Jesus. And it feels good knowing that the reason why we gather is because we are remembering Him who created us all, on the day He made Himself like one of us.

But my own marriage seems to almost change it all. I do not share the same ways of celebration as my husband does. To him, all this food matters, the system do matter. It's not that I cannot appreciate it, but if all these replace the essence of my Christmas, replacing LOVE with food availability in the table, then it could make me utterly miserable in my Christmas and my birthday as well. All Iwant is to spend it with my love ones.

It brings me back to my reflection: It is not the outward celebration that matters. If I have no finances to bring food to my table on Christmas, then only the spirit of love could make the celebration of Christmas truly an occasion of joy that comes from Christ. He who is God and became our Savior born in a manger of Bethlehem can only be the reason why Christmas is here! Oh Holy Night!

Tomorrow, the Misa de Gallo will start. I have a special intention to pray for. And most of all, I pray that everyone will come back to celebrate Christmas centering it on Christ alone and a veneration to the Blessed Virgin Mother who so willingly made herself a Mother to this God becoming man and to the chaste Spouse St. Joseph. May the image of this Holy Family brings all families together in their knees in joyful coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Mindanao: From My Point of View

Last month has been full of many surprises for the people in Mindanao, particularly in the place where I am currently residing, Iligan City and some towns nearby of Lanao del Norte.

Our Land Mindanao is supposed to be called a Promised Land,a big island of the Philippine archipelago, with vast natural resources, comprising of peoples from different cultures and religion, particularly the Christians, the Muslims and the Lumads. Development is sprouting from various provinces but now and then threat to its peace is constantly made.

Although born in Cagayan de Oro City, I grew up in a far away mountain of Taparak, Alubijid, Misamis Oriental here in Mindanao. I have spent the first 12 years of my childhood in that place. I have enjoyed immensely the vastness of nature within my reach. I have swam the river especially when there's big flood with my playmate cousins defying safety warning of our parents; I have climbed trees, the mountains and most of all I enjoyed the thought of making that place the only world I had known. To me, it was my own, I was part of that nature! Nonetheless, I knew there's a world out there, where proper education and hard work would allow me to explore.

Then in my quest for knowledge, I have to be in places that's not just there in that one small barangay. I have finished my high school education in Cagayan de Oro City where my father used to work. Since my parents could not afford to send me to private universities in Cagayan de Oro City, I grabbed the chance of being a scholar in a state university in Iligan City. Way back then, for us Kagay-anons, Iligan is a dangerous place, especially that it is near to Marawi City, most especially for me because the only time I have visited Iligan was when we attend the funeral of my father's first degree cousin who was killed in the campus of Mindanao State University in Marawi City. Then the next time I came,four years thereafter, was when the father of that killed uncle, the brother of my father's mother, was killed in same university. They were both university professors. My father had many apprehensions in my quest for knowledge in that place. Although I have many relatives in Iligan city, I opted to live in a boarding house near the university.

As a university student living away from home at such a young age, chances of being into wrong company and places are high. But I made a decision to choose the people I interact with. My growing love for God which has started in my childhood has now grown into a desire to a deeper understanding of His will in my life, to a growing effort of knowing Him theologically and more importantly in how to translate this faith in me into an authentic living of a Christ-centered life.

It was in those years that I have come to met many people from all over provinces of Mindanao. We are all away from home, away from our parents, but most of us decided to finish what we came there for, a good education. I had dirscovered and embraced variety of culture, variety of people, intelligent classmates, intellectual professors, good workers, socially-involved people and of course we had the chance to meet and experience the local culture of Iligan people.

During my stay in Iligan City, I cannot help but always include the presence of the person who has made a significant change in my general attitude towards life, towards my faith and towards people. He is a French priest missionary, Fr. Michel de Gigord, whose founding of chaplaincy dedicated to the nurturance of the youth of the university made an impact on many students lives, that includes me. Being a daily communicant, everyday I heard his homily challenging us young people to be good leaders, to dare to make a difference, no matter how trivial our work seem to be. He would often coach us to be passionate about God, about people and to have the courage to make a stand for the truth. His powerful words probably prompted by the Holy Spirit heavily entered into my soul and I made a decision that I shall always love God, always do things for His people, and that no matter how seemingly insignificant I am in a society, carrying God's truth, would guide every decision that I make. These learnings are things I carry wherever I go.

Thus, after finishing two degrees in the state university,I found myself leaving the city as it lacks opportunity of employment for me. I worked in Manila and stayed there for five (5) years. I made every learning I had in a place much more away from home. There a new culture entered into me. But this time, I was bombarded with many questions, of a seemingly wandering life, of no purpose, driven by guilt that I seem to just survive and not truly live. I have met a many beautiful and good friends especially in an orphanage community that I joined into. The experience of reality of how harsh life could be and how one could possibly lead a different life from what you had always believed as the truth was very present. I seemed not to care anymore of the place from whom I have come to know God, I have come to know nature and I have come to know many people I truly care about.

But fate led me back here in Iligan when I married my former closest friend in the college of law, the then first time incumbent Barangay Captain of Kiwalan, Iligan City, Roderico Y. Dumaug,Jr. I had few adjustments on lifestyle, on dealing with people, and most of all the place. There is much difference of Iligan City from Manila. But I made an extra effort to go back again and immerse myself once again in the culture that raised me up. I understood how places influence the way people behave and in viewing life in general. I am no exemption to it.

Day by day, I met people, active people both in politics and in the church. Then little by little I seem to understand why I am back here. This is the place where I am most productive, where I don't spend much of my time in a traffic jam, where I inhale fresh air everyday, where seas are within my reach, where water is cheap, where people are concern of values and relationship , where a lot of people really needs help, where I grow to be truly concern and show love and compassion for each.

But then, the recent thing that happen here in Lanao del Norte and even here in Iligan City created a truly devastating effect on the people's lives. And I have to admit, I too, was disturbed of the occurence. I could not help but feel insulted, trampled upon on my right and truly felt a sense of indignity of the inclusion of 82% of Iligan City territory in the aborted Bangsamoro Juridical Entity(BJE) which was supposed to be signed in Malaysia last August 5, 2008. The ruling of the Supreme Court against the signing prompted the MILF Forces to attack innocent civilians in the towns of Lanao del Norte, beheaded them and leaving women and children in shambles. Military troops arrived seven hours late since the attack occured.

Now and then Senators and Congressmen, Cabinet Secretaries arrived in this city to see the effect of the attack on the people's lives and some various organizations especially the church made an effort to resolve the conflict, trying to do it in God's way. There remains a constant threat from the MILF to take over the city and the municipalities, leaving people unable to do productive works save those who choose to be productive.

However, I have always believed that nothing will ever destroy people who have deep believe in God and by constantly praying for peace. We have no other recourse but to place ourselves in prayer. Now that the feast of the Patron Saint of Iligan is coming, September 29, 2008, people of Iligan are hoping that once again, St. Michael the Archangel, will protect us all! That people from various cultures and faith, may stay in peace once again. And I still really pray that our national leaders and selfless bandits will come and pray in reverence for Love and Peace. May they be truly enlightened and know that God never aspires for our suffering, through relentless killings and violence. And that may they aspire real dialogue, which can only come from a truly peaceful and loving heart, free from desire to power, money and dictatorship.

I stand that those who made those attack against the innocent civilians be brought to justice and until they are surrendered, then harrassment can always occur now and then. Military offensives against their camps are on going and I hope that along the way, no innocent lives would still be included. I pray for our military forces, especially praying for the wisdom of our leaders, enlightenment to our President and may selfish leaders start to be the leader that God would have wanted them to be!

Meanwhile, we can help a lot by praying for Iligan City,in Mindanao and the whole country! Let's continue to believe that Someone Greater than all of Us is up there believing that we'll all come to Him, as He is God and our Creator, regardless of faith or way of life we adhere into.

Volunteerism: Is it still here?

Volunteerism.... What does it mean? They say this spirit is already gone. Has it truly gone. Are volunteers within reach?

For me the spirit of volunteerism is the one that ignited my passion to do things for others. I was truly amazed at my teachers in religion, called the catechists, who would endeavor to teach us things about God and His works, without being paid in return! They were the ones that inspired my young mind, thinking that when I am already at the right age, I will do the same for the next generation. Priests, nuns, missionaries and many others that I met in my growing up years in college and even in my young professional years, all the more enkindled that passion. How I admire them giving up personal ambitions just to teach young minds in preparing for their future.

How I love it surrounded by people who selflessly devouted themselves in service of others. I met many of them when I was still a student leader of Catholic Center Campus Ministry, a Chaplaincy founded by a very dear friend priest, Fr. Michel de Gigord, MEP. I met some of them while I was still in the Singles for Christ; I met them when I was once a catechist in Redemptorist Church in Iligan City; I met them when I was a volunteer of TULOY orphanage in Alabang. Thus, it is no surprise that volunteerism is a quality that moves me into making major decisions in life. It is deeply embedded in my soul.

And I am fortunate enough that even in my stay here in Iligan after my marriage, I got the chance to meet a lot of them getting involved in activities that I got myself into. I also had the chance to meet volunteers of Gawad Kalinga, from Global Exchange, both Filipinos and British nationals, who made themselves available for others and despite their potentials to seek personal vainglory in their young careers, opted to set it aside, by trying to make a difference.

How I truly admire them! And now that I am married, although things in my life have changed, it was quite a refreshing experience for me having the chance to speak with two British volunteers, all women at that, about their views in life. Plus the fact that last August 10, five of us all females made it as the first female team to join in the boat rowing competition using only bare hands in the Kilawan Festival in Kiwalan. Well, unfortunately it was our first time to practice when we are already on the actual competition. And good for me, I managed to fill the boat with waters, that made the boat sink. It was hilarious! But I truly,truly enjoyed it! I have missed a lot of true volunteers! And whenever I got the chance to meet them, I would certainly know who they are. They are people who transcends their culture. They are people who are oblivious to the world because they think that no matter how seemingly trivial their tasks are, they know they make a difference. They are people despite the absence of adulation and applause are willing to traverse the difficulty they encounter as a consequence of their decisions. They are people who amidst differences with people they work with continue to finish the goal. They are people who wants to accomplish the end but an inner peace and joy is likewise achieved.

Perhaps you too have the same aspirations at heart. And whether you have joined in an organization of volunteers or not, it doesnt matter for as long as you do things for others even of others do not recognize them, then you are already a volunteer! Find that volunteer in you! God made us all volunteers in various ways: for our spouse, for our family, for our friends, for our love ones and for various communities!

An Interesting Book on Personality!

It's been such a long time since I got a time to pick up a book and read it cover to cover, until a week ago and its refreshing to be transported back again to new learning.

Well, its not that the concepts are totally new to me since I am a graduate of BS Psychology, somehow many terms have been familiar to me especially the discipline and the field itself.

What interest me about this book is perhaps its relevance to my present status in life as a married person. Since the time I got married, I have been preoccupied with many peculiar adjustments about myself to the point that reading seems the last priority. After long years of continuous study, my mind seemed to explode in many things that I learn and I find emptiness if I am unable to apply them in practical situations of life. And so when I finally got the chance to take hold and read a book, I felt refreshed. And I am seeing it from the point of view of a married woman.

The book I am talking about is the "Personality Plus" written by Florence Littauer. In the book she discusses four basic types of personality. Although I have encountered more types in other psychological theories, I find her description simple and easy to remember.

Before I read the book, I took the Personality Profile Test related to it. Thus, prior to reading it thoroughly, I have already identified what type of personality I got. Somehow the results truly show basic characters of me. I got the combination of the two types. What inspires me more as I read through it is the fact that the author who is a woman, has the same combination of personality type that I got and the man she married is possessed with the same personality combination that my husband got. So I can truly relate to her experience.

She pointed out that the four basic types of personality are the following: Popular Sanguine, Perfect Melancholic, Powerful Choleric and Peaceful Phlegmatic. Each of these personality types has its own strengths and weaknesses and although she discusses only four types, she recognizes that at any rate, each individual remains unique, only that he has certain inclination and methods of understanding the world around him.

Popular Sanguine are extrovert, talker and optimist. They have appealing personality, life of the party, sincere at heart, always a child, cheerful and bubbling over, wide-eyed and innocent, physically holds on to listener, good sense of humor, good on stage, changeable disposition, lives in the present. These are basic emotions of a popular Sanguine. At work, a popular sanguine volunteers for jobs, thinks up new activities, looks great on the surface, creative and colorful, has energy and enthusiasm, inspires other to join, charms others to work and starts in a flashy way. As a friend a popular sanguine makes friend easily, loves people, thrives on compliments, seems exciting, envied by others, doesnt hold grudges, apologizes quickly, prevents dull moments and like spontaneous activities. These are basic strengths of a Popular Sanguine.

Then Littauer also described the second type of personality, the Perfect Melancholic.Emotionally, Perfect Melancholic are deep and thoughtful, analytical, serious and purposeful, genius prone, talented and creative, artistic, philosophical and poetic, appreciative of beauty, sensitive to others, self-sacrificing, conscientious and idealistic. At work, a Perfect Melancholic is schedule-oriented, perfectionist, high standard, detail conscious, persistent and thorough, orderly and organized, neat and tidy, economical, sees the problems, finds creative solutions, needs to finish what is started and likes chart, graphs,figures,lists. As a friend, a Perfect Melancholy makes friend cautiously, content to stay in the background, avoids causing attention, faithful and devoted, will listen to complaints, can solve other's problems, deep concern for other people, seeks ideal mate and moved to tears with compassion.

The third type as Littauer discussed is the Powerful Choleric. On emotion, he is born leader, dynamic and active, compulsive need for change,must correct wrongs, strong willed and decisive, unemotional, not easily discouraged, independent and self-sufficient, exudes confidence and can run anything. At work, a Powerful Choleric is goal oriented, sees the whole picture, organizes well, seeks practical solutions, moves quickly to action, delegates work, insists on production, makes the goal, stimulates activity and thrives on opposition. He has little need for friends, will work for group activity, will lead and organize, is usually right and excels in emergencies.

The last type is the Peaceful Phlegmatic. The Peaceful Phlegmatic are introvert. They are low-key personality, easygoing and relaxed, calm, cool and collected, patient, well balanced, consistent life, quite but witty, sympathetic and kind, keeps emotion hidden, happily reconciled to life and all purpose person. As a worker, he is competent and steady, peaceful and agreeable, has adminsitrative abilit, mediates problems, avoids conflicts, good under pressure, finds the easy way. And as a friend, Peaceful Phlegmatic is easy to get along with, pleasant and enjoyable, inoffensive, good listener, dry sense of humor, enjoys watching people, has many friends and has compassion and concern.

Those are just the basics of each personlity type. If you are able to read the book in its entirety, you will see how we can improve and complement in each other. After reading it, one will realize that God after all created us with our own strengths and weaknesses. We are indeed unique. All of us has something to give and must be willing to receive.

And if you are to know how did I score in the self-examination test: I scored in almost same figures of a Popular Sanguine and a Powerful Choleric. And I suppose that my husband is a Melancholic and a Powerful Choleric. You can only imagine how both of us struggled in our marriage. I would like to achieve in things but I want to do it in a fun way, not serious. But my husband would also like to accomplish things but he does it very seriously. And since we both want are ways done, we ended up imposing on each other what we think is the best approach.

When I was done reading the book, it somehow enlightened me. And instead of suffering for my husband's melancholic character, I try to understand that its how he is made by God. In that fashion, I would be able to minimize the duel in our household. (By the way, he is starting to read the book now. I am hopeful it would help him understand my nature too. :-)

In all these, I have come to realize that truly all of us is essential for each other. Sometimes, we find it hard to understand our own brothers or sisters or mother or parents or siblings or children or friends, relatives, people in the communtity we got ourselves involved into but if we also take a look at their basic profile, we shall also unburden ourselves for the pain they have caused in us which in truth and in fact, they do not mean to cause. It is just their nature.

And indeed the journey to personality improvement is a constant effort and having read such a book at this point in my life, have greatly aided me.

But then again, we must always connect all this to One Who made us. Human understanding is a mere tool. Understanding God Himself and listening to Him remains to be the solid foundation as to how we look at other people and how we understand ourselves.