A Love Letter from a Seminarian

Dearest SWEETHEART,

My Darling, My Love and My Sweetheart ------ Last Sunday, the 14^th of February, I have to admit that I screwed you up. I didn’t tell you truth on why I was not there. I have to attend a courtesy call from President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo in Malacañang and I can’t really tell you what transpired to our brief meeting for I turned to be somehow retarded and problematic at that time, but I know to myself that I will be the one to be scrutinized for my fault.

To tell you quite frankly, since this incident, my coziest nights became by most haunted nightmares. Believe it or not, I never had this emotional, traumatic problem before. I constantly sweat to death in my bed, whilst sleeping. To counteract this, I always keep in mind those remarkable memory of our fairy tale relationship, our first kiss, first date and our first opportunity and time to say “I love you, sweetheart.”. And oh, by the way, on no account I haven’t failed to remember our anniversary celebration in Paris, France, where we altogether say “Je vous aime!” which means I love you in their native French before we go back home to Manila.

Gosh! I was so stupid, and rightfully to be arrowed by Cupid of St. Valentine, for these selfish and weird acts of mine. I even think of suicide for that matter, and killed myself right away, with no hesitation. (Preferably in front of your house in Valle Verde..) I also get to think of Kim and Gerald’s latest movie Paano na Kaya?, Where both of us can visibly relate on Bogs and Mae’s relationship as BFF (Best Friends Forever) in their pre-Valentine movie flick. This movie brought me to tears and whew, thank God I’m still alive for my Death Insurance is still not ready once I have a sudden heart attack. (hehehe..)

Nevertheless, I could always think of you, I wish I can spend all my life with you forever, at your side, at your caress and at your heart. But you alone are my sole inspiration, my informer of good things, you saved and changed my life, and for that reason I sincerely thank you.

After all, It’s not easy for me to leave you that day, In fact I even heard you cry, weep and whimper in my daydreams and fantasies, for I know you’ve been a prisoner of my mistakes and it’s all because of me, your best friend, or shall we say the best among your friends, impairing your delicate heart because of my stupidity and foolishness.

With my sincere apologies and deepest sorry for you my dearest sweetheart, I promise to be a better person, not because I want to please you once more, but to show how genuine I am to be the person you loved the most. Je Vous Aime Baby! I’ll always be at your side, I promise.

Your loving sweetheart,,

Bestriend turned lover,

J A S B

Detachment

DETACHMENT

v  The act or process of disconnecting or detaching; separation.

v  The state of being separate or detached.

  TEN THINGS MOST FILIPINO TEENAGERS CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

v  Cellphone                                                  (Text and Call 24/7)

v  Ipod / Mp3 Player                          (Mabibingi ka to the max)

v  PC Computer                           ( Facebook and YM magdamag)

v  Television                                (ABS VS. GMA, who wins?)

v Chizmisan                                        (The Buzz vs. Startalk)

v  Gambling                                                  (Sugal: Tong-Its)

v  Basketball and Boxing                   (Lebron, Kobe at Pacquiao)

v  Boyfriend /Girlfriend                              (sunod sa uso)

v  Kikay Kit                                                    (For GIRLS only)

v  DOTA                              (National Sport of the Philippines)

We, Filipino teenagers have been always a victim of this unlikely phenomenon, a fast-growing trend that many of us are guilty of doing so. Like those things above, we find them difficult to detach, that’s why my brothers, detachment from the material things we love is probably one of the most laudable, or perhaps the most heroic sacrifice we can do as the Lenten season approaches. We must always bear in mind that our greatest possessions cannot be with us in heaven and in the Kingdom of God. This is also why our Lord Jesus Christ reminded his apostles in their journey to only bring the things they only need, for such insignificant belongings of them isn’t too relevant at all.

“ Love consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved.”

- St. John of the Cross

(a best-seller GOSPEL REFLECTION from Mk. 6:7-13)

MY MISSION AND VISION

MISSION

I, John Andrew, son of Alvin and Jocelyn Bautista,

unswervingly commit myself to fulfill a promise of

dedication and perseverance on my endeavors in life,

in the hopes of realizing my dreams and aspirations of

triumph and success.

I shall walk steadfast in following footsteps towards Christ,

in the essence of diligent study, hard work and devotion

to my day-to-day work in forming myself worthy of

becoming Christ’s pastor of the Church.

VISION

In the direction of fulfillment and complete

realization of my pledge,

I envision myself as a person that embraces

the role of a model pastor

Who possesses Christ’s dedication of work and service,

in view of achieving peace and unity to his brothers and sisters

A man whose character is stirred by passion and zeal,

battle-readied in the outmost skirt of obstructions and miseries of life.

Afterlife

Recently, I was asked by a friend about afterlife, that is, the life after death. She utterly inquired; “Andrei, naniniwala ka ba na may langit at impyerno?” With this question, I just simply said “Oo naman, nandiyan ang Diyos at si Satanas.” That’s what our elementary religion teachers basically used to teach when we were still kids of which we all haven’t seen the true and ambiguous reality of today. Still, up to this very moment, many of us are still bewildered and curious of what HEAVEN and HELL looks like and of course, if it is genuine and real.

If you have managed to watch the movie Resident Evil 4, (the 2^nd years watched this movie in their batch integration,) it was dubbed and entitled as AFTERLIFE. In the movie, Alice sought to begin her new career as an ordinary human being, not as a robot, a decoy but just simply a man. Aside from the whimsical and magnificent special effects shown in the film, you will notice a different story plot that unquestionably stood out in the whole movie. They were all searching for a new beginning, a new place to settle in and a new and fresh start for them to lead with. Somehow the movie has a definitive role when it comes to catching the viewer’s attention, especially through these things.

In the Gospel, heaven and hell is being taught as a divine reality. In fact, we can prove and attest that there is really an eventual destination for our souls after we die. In our death, we are being judged; we are being assessed by the Lord. Many of us have said that if we have done a number of good things during our lifetime, we all be surely going to heaven. But if not, you will be deliberately flinged to hell. Well, that belief of course, is a general understatement of those who view these two places as an avenue of who’s in or who’s out. Sticking to that nonetheless is a good way of really starting yourself as a true Christian, but in the other way around, it may easily deceive you. That is why our Lord Jesus Christ have constantly reminded us that there is indeed a dwelling place for us, in this way we can help ourselves realizing the most important facets of our lives, that is, our FAITH with the Lord.

Even though our loved ones have met their ultimate end whether in heaven or in hell, it is always vital to keep ourselves intact. We must not take the shaky, zigzag and wispy direction, but nevertheless brace ourselves to man’s ultimate end and ensure that you’re firm enough to sojourn in HEAVEN or in HELL. 

Pagtitiwala

Binibigyan tayo ng buhay ng Panginoon. Iniligtas niya tayo sa ating mga ginawang mga kasalanan. Inisantabi niya ang kanyang sariling dangal upang tayo’y maikubli sa landas ng pagbabago at kabutihan. Sa bisa ng pagkakapako sa Krus ng ating panginoon, nakita natin ang ilaw, ang tamang daan sa tamang panahon ng ating pamumuhay. Lahat tayo ay naniwala at nagtiwala.

Ikaw kapatid, matanong kita, nagtiwala ka ba sa akin? Kumiling ka ba sakin at sa boses ng iba? Marahil nga lamang, sa isang aspetong ibinahagi natin ang ating sarili sa kabilang dako ng mga bagay ay talagang mahihinuha ng lubos na ang tao ay mayroong mga kinikilingan o mga inaayawan.

Ganito tayong mga uri ng tao. Hindi natin maasahan na ikaw, sila o ako ay iyong tunay na kaibigan. Sapakat ikaw ay isang tao rin lamang, nagkakamali, nagkakasala at higit sa lahat, nawawalang ng tiwala at pananampalataya. Ganito tayo noon, ganito pa rin tayo ngayon. Dadating kaya ang panahon na ang mga tao ay pormal na nating mapagkakatiwalaan? Makikinig ba tayo sa kanilang mga bibig o humalili sa kanilang mga naunang hakbang?

Panahon na mga kapatid na isantabi natin ang pagsisiraan, libakan at upakan sa likod ng isang taong walang kaalam-alam. Huwag nating gawing parang palaruan ang buhay at kapakanan ng isang nilalang. Ating panatilihin ang pagmamahal sa ating kapwa ng walang katumbas na halaga at bagkus suklian pa ito ng isang walang sawang PAGTITIWALA. 

Making Shrewd Judgments

We all answer the call. We all make our verdicts and decisions. We all have our special roles to play. We are all in the same spotlight, speckled by Christ.

A Hasidic wise man once thought that God chooses how many times the leaf will turn into dust before the wind blows it away. In our life, one has to answer the call of Christ. We are given obligations and duties that are to be fulfilled, to be accomplished in every single day. There are several times that we are being pondered new roles or new written scripts that we must get used to, or to be done in just a jiffy. Indeed, we are to be hounded by these indisputable undertakings that must be realized by our own selves.

At times, we are involved in a dilemma wherein certain idea of ours began to clash with others that will result into unrelenting conflicts and disagreements. Perhaps the most important and practical solution to this predicament is to put yourself being the deferential, humble student of your generation and not to be the demanding master-enemy that will stifle each and other’s glum contemplation. In this version of the gospel, Jesus entrusted his apostles a mission, a resolute expectation that is to be fulfilled and to be reminded of their bear fruits that are waiting for them to happen. That is why in such critical and vital moments of our lives, we must think and make shrewd judgments with great sense of prudence and understanding.

(a GOSPEL REFLECTION from Matthew 7:6 12-14)

ANDREI: a proud CAVITEÑO imbued with invaluable culture and tradition

111 years ago, General Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president and a respected hero of our country, proudly waived the Philippine Flag at his house in Kawit, Cavite symbolizing the long-awaited proclamation of independence of the Filipino nation.  It’s about fighting for our pride and dignity to achieve the eternity of having one country united as one. Perhaps the true meaning of this can be attested by myself, a proud Caviteño who is raised beyond the unwavering courage of an individual, molded into a pure and passionate type that possesses a sheer amount of simplicity within myself.

Being a typical “promdi” guy I believe, is not applicable to me because I think, I am a mixture of a Mañileno and a Caviteño, whose cultures sometimes don’t agree because of each other’s uniqueness and distinctiveness. And by the way, I was raised by my parents in Imus, Cavite, my beloved hometown that is actually a place that you can somewhat find it historical and full of mystery due to its compelling nature.

            The historical background of our province has many citations and achievements received. Cavite is named as the "Historical Capital of the Philippines "and was the cradle of Philippine Revolution, and also the birthplace of Philippine Independence. On the other hand, our town in Imus, was formerly the Capital of Cavite between 1970’s to 80’s and arguably has one of the best municipal administrators during the Marcos Regime. Famous personalities like the first and only so called Prime Minister by the name of Mr. Cesar Virata, a big name on our town that once an influential man during the time of the 70’s. Another also, is that we are also once regarded as the    “Christmas Capital of the Philippines” in the 1980’s and 1990’s, because our community, specifically the barangay’s, where each clusters of the area will have striking Christmas decorations throughout the streets, resulting into colorful, lively environment come Christmas time.

At present, our town was freshly minted as the “Flag Capital of the Philippines” because of the historical reasons which was dated during the last stages of the Filipino-Spanish War. It is in Imus itself, where are very own Philippine flag was first raised and waived after we have defeated a strong contingent of Spanish forces in the infamous “Battle of Alapan” in late 1890’s. Cavite was indeed a place for a number of heroes and martyr’s during the war years back. Just like the “trese martires” (13 martyrs) of Cavite was one of the most dramatic and remarkable stories of individuals who sacrificed everything for the love of his/her country.

The basis of our CULTURE was perhaps based on a specific type of attitude, and this was the spirit of PATRIOTISM. Bravery along with courage, attest to our customs and traditions that is loved by many of our fellowmen and was witnessed by many, resulting of forming such celebrations like the annually celebrated KALAYAAN Festival, which showcases flashbacks and commemoration of the independence and the war that changed the road of our fate in the years back. Senators, and even the Vice President of our country gives time to sit back and enjoy the wonders of our history from the Spanish to the American Occupation. It is my great joy to witness such events especially when you are the son of your great homeland.

            Caviteños believe that we all stand together because of a glorious past. We are considered warm and friendly people, whom our ancestors came down with a noble cause, manifest industry and patience in various skills and professions, openly receptive to the entry and exchange of culture and technology that are of value to our beloved province. The native culture and personality of our people was probably based in the beginning of our roots of a long line of heroes and our historical happenings in the past, where presently, Imusneños possesses a strong humor and human nature. We are introduced like this, having the character and personality of being enthusiastic and full of desire to do the fullest of things.

Years back, traditions, fiestas, memorial and etc. were intensely celebrated by the people in our community. We have a very strong RELIGIOUS practices by which according to my grandparents, is an evident part of the long account of culture of our province. In Imus, we have the Cathedral there, and this was the center for all the events and gatherings for the said feasts and celebrations.

Being a CAVITEÑO is indeed a great honor for me to carry, for which it symbolizes that we FILIPINOS have own unique roots and backgrounds to explore with. It is funny in some point, of which ANTHROPOLOGY is related in tracing back all the historical pieces that have transpired especially to us and the community. Nevertheless, I believe that we can defend and preserve the honor of our country through our own actions, and the most critical thing is how we are willing to do it, for God and for country AD JESUM PER MARIAM. 

Living the Promise

      Entering this new world gives me ideas that basically constitute the future of my life. “Why?” is the simple question for that but it is also the beginning of the things that will happen. Do I have the vocation that they are looking for? On some point it is NO but it’s definitely a YES for me. The Dominican blood runs deeply on our family, my mother being a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and my father and brother were alumni of Colegio De San Juan De Letran.

Since I was young and you can say innocent, I dreamed of becoming a priest. It was an unusual burst of hope that was special compared to the ordinary hopefuls like me. I believe that God wills our own destiny and we humans have that freedom to set forth our plan towards our own decisions. This particular belief I think is the idea that separates me to my beloved and respected co-aspirants, the strength and wisdom to make myself on the position to fulfill the game plan that I have previously set up. For me, I think my own heart and soul will love this way of life and that is why my mind tells me to persevere by vocation even at the hardest of times.

We should understand that every man created by God was made for a mission and that simply reveals the meaning and the purpose of our life here on Earth. For I am the Son of His most high, living what my heart dictates me and fulfilling the choices he built for me. Here on St. Albert’s, I understand that my life will turn upside down as time passes by. The only negative when we fail to observe this kind of way is that the unexpected downfall comes from within, if we stop working with the best decisions that we should instill on our life. As the Corinthians said, “As the spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.” For now, life goes on and the magical dream has kept the impossible possible, so it gets even better in the eyes of the Lord.

-         John Andrew Sarreal Bautista