going back to some childhood memories

It was last night, during one of my supermarket sprees when I encountered this box again. I can't help but looked at it, reminiscing some funny childhood memories. I was sharing it with my friend that I was never fed with cerelac before, since it was expensive that time. So, when my youngest cousin was born (and I was 8 years old by that time), I remembered getting some cerelac from the container 2x a day - before I go to school and during merienda - and denying to death while my Lola and Tita (his mom) were wondering who ate it all. Until one day, my Lola caught me by surprise, with the spoon on my mouth and some powdery substance around it. Of course, I got spanked after that, but nevertheless, Cerelac was one of the best baby food that I have ever tasted.

I finally bought one small box and even emailed a  friend who has a habit of eating Gerber during break. He was laughing at me that I finally gave in to the same weirdness after so much denial. Oh well, It's just one box for some crazy days. And a little hold to my childhood memories. :)

I can never give up...

I can never give up on anyone. Even if they haven't treated me well and hurt me so bad. You just don't give up anybody. Most especially if it's a close friend or a family member. For my God has never given up on me, on those times that I failed Him, hurt Him, disobeyed Him and rejected Him... He still gave me a 2nd chance... and a third... and a fourth... and a countless many time to make up on Him. So how can I give up on anybody if the grace i'm receiving is so abundant? Why not give that same grace to those who have hurt you?

Until there is life, there is hope. And hope comes from a faith who believes that there's a rainbow after the rain, that in every bad person is a spark of goodness within and that there's always tomorrow to make up for today's mistakes. And when there is hope, there is God.

I am not a mistake. Neither are you.

I saw this sticker from one of the doors of a government agency. I was with Dad then and I was looking around while waiting for our names to be called. Then I saw this. I was stunned. I looked at my Dad. Did they ever think that either one of us, their children, were a mistake? If they did, they shouldn't raise us this well.

But whoever thought of this slogan, maybe his parents didn't raise him well. Maybe he wasn't loved enough or was abandoned while he was still young. He might have a lot of hurts and bitterness in his heart. he has never appreciated the beauty of life. Nor being in a family. And being loved.

The only mistake a couple can do (i think) is sex before marriage. Unwanted pregnancies emerge because of that. But you don't blame that to the child. Despite of how he/she is conceived, every child deserves to live a decent life. Mistakes can be forgiven, if the person has repented on it, and everyone deserves a second chance (and many chances, in God's eyes).

This slogan tells us that for you to have unwanted pregnancy, you should use birth control. It's encouraging anyone - married couples or not - to have sex anytime since you will be protected from being pregnant. Birth control is not the answer for unwanted pregnancies. It's being modest and having self-control, waiting for the Sacrament of Marriage to take place before having sex. We're not even dogs who just go around and have it, whenever we want it. God has created us in his likeness, and gave us reason to use. Have we lost our values and integrity over time???

I am not a mistake. My parents chose me, raised me, loved me, gave me the opportunity to live. I will never be a mistake. And neither are you.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Protectress of the unborn, Pray for us!

captivated...

... by the dedication of my co-missionaries in serving for the HLI conference despite that it's already their 4th day, tired with less sleep and yet giving their best smile and effort
... by the speakers who shared their knowledge and expertise that will help the participants defend faith, life and family (though I wasn't able to hear even one talk...)
... during the Holy Hour. How the whole congregation were praying for the abortionist, for the mothers who killed their babies because of abortion... Having that big merciful heart to pray for your enemies... is really a gift and grace from God.
... by the people who took time, resources and effort just to attend this conference, because they saw its importance in our missionary work of defending life and preserving the families that the Lord has entrusted to us. These passionate individuals - religious, clergy and laity - taught me again to never compromise your faith, your ideals and beliefs about the fight for life, for no one hasn't win yet the battle with the anti-lifers with compromised beliefs.

I wasn't able to listen to any talks since we were busy with the Secretariat. But during the Holy Hour, I found myself crying because of being honored in front of God with these people who have the same passion I have in defending life and protecting families... and I thanked God for my Mom and Dad, for choosing to let me live and raise me the way I am right now.

It's only the first day of the conference, and yet I'm learning a lot that makes me fall more in love with God and all the things He's unfolding in front of me. I love life. I love my family. And I love God. And I will do everything just to defend and protect these things that are important to me. Praise God1

remembering Mom

Mom's grave two weeks after the interment

After I arrived from a two-week mission trip in Palawan last Monday and had lunch with my mission team, I went home, put down my bags and headed straight to Pampanga. It was Nov. 1 and I can't miss the first time I'm gonna visit Mom on that special day of remembrance for the dead loved ones. 

I have been thinking about it for days and even shared it to my co-missionary. it just felt weird that after how many years of not going to the cemetery for the Nov. 1 event (we stopped visiting Tatang and Ima since 2006, I think and we weren't able to visit Lola Ipay last year), here I come, going there, alone, with a lot of people around, to visit my Mom. During the bus ride to Pampanga, I was talking to her through prayer, telling her of the weird feeling of visiting her on that day. I was even telling Mom to affirm me that it's just okay, that everything will be okay for me going there. 

I arrived at the cemetery after almost 3 hours of travelling. Tiring, yes. But the desire to pay respect to Mom and my grandparents is huge for me to go there. The cemetery looked a lot different compared on ordinary days. of course, a lot of people with candles on the ground, either chatting or playing cards, smoking or eating a lot. At first, I had a difficult time finding my Mom's grave. But the Lord (and her, i believe) led me to the middle of the cemetery - where a Holy Mass was on-going. I stopped, and got teary-eyed. I believed that the Lord, and my Mom, were telling me - "Khymee, it's okay. Everything's okay. Your Mom is with me. Don't be sad anymore." And I started walking and found my family at the site.

When Mom died, it was me who was considered the strongest that time because I accepted everything in grace and with grace. I was 101% affirmed by the Lord that He is in-charge of everything. But I can't help it, I still miss Mom. And there are days and nights that I still cry, not because I regret anything, but because of the desire to hear her or hug her or even cuddle with her. That's what we were before. And that, I can only do now in memory.

My mom is now happy and at peace. Sometimes, it still hurts but she never fails to make her presence felt in me through many ways. Just like Bishop Tagle said in his Homily - "Our beloved dead just died from their physical body but they're still alive in a  different way - through spirit". Let us all pray for our dearly beloved dead that their spirit be always at peace and be in god's loving embrace. Amen.

P.S.: Please say a prayer for Tia Noemi Villalobos, one of our host in Costa Rica who died last week. May she rest in peace and her family be consoled in this time of grief, Amen.