Evil has triumphed and we don’t even know it. The modern world has finally given Lucifer the final toehold and opening he needed to gain control of our souls. We are now lost unless we understand where we are being assailed.
Pornography is now just a click away. We lie to close a sale because of our quota. Banks kick the people who have had their whole lives upturned. Instead of familial unity, we have greed tearing apart wives from husbands, children from parents. Healers charging exorbitant fees for nothing more than guesswork and even the gall to charge when the patient passes. We rape the world for profit. We stab our friends for gain. We have thrown food away just because there are so much. We are now living in the most crucial of times.
The modern world has made it possible for our everyday life to be evil. I don’t say down with technology and developments, but instead up with morality and virtue! My CFO once said, the end justifies the means… to what ends? To what degree?
We have virtually explained away evil with the introduction of hedonism. Casual sex and even open marriages are on the rise, monogamy and virginity is now passé and even laughed at. Teachers are pounding intellectual data so much that even I have to google them up; yet so little stress is placed in kindness and the virtue of generosity. We’ve placed psychological terms like sociopath, schizophrenia, and all the likes to diminish the impact of the actions. We have even given evil nice names!
Now what do you think of our world now?
The answer lies in you and I...
Monday, August 01, 2011
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
the man in the mirror
on october 21, 2010, ninang fe was taken home by the Lord to His bosom. Dra. Fe P. Mesina MD, a prioress of the third order of carmelites, and so many titles i knew not and honestly, don't really think of. the lady others know is not someone i saw or talked to. to me, she is simply ninang fe. the famous booming voice that is capable of penetrating walls and souls shall no longer talk in this world.
i am more stone cold than most, though i still remain human, and the recent events from the losses of my friends' families, to sicknesses of friends and their families, and now to something more immediate and is beginning to tell. the melancholy astounds me and the grief, though hidden, wrenches my heart and my soul begins to writhe in pain.
i can feel the quiet pain of ninong eddie, mommy and auntie sol who are now the last 2 remaining siblings. mommy's wails still echoes in my mind, a grief stricken tone crying as they are now only 2 left. i'm amazed though, despite my life and how i've lived, i am surrounded by amazing people. most of my friends are fast and solid, their families still intact and none has separated. long term relationship is the standard and integrity and loyalty, qualities endeared and not quaint.
ninang's death has made all the positives in my life come out. i wonder if ninang's legacy will be passed on through her blood? her life is an example of true sainthood. the poor is welcomed without being discriminated, and i mean poor and unwashed, not those who are in institutions. i am curious how her legacy shall live on. more importantly, how i can do my part to carry on, even a marginal portion, of that legacy.
now that last sentence, i believe, is an act of true marvel. i've never been one to be actively working on being good, my basis of morality is quite simple, i do right because it is right. however i don't actively move to be someone righteous. i simply am doing what is convenient when it's time to be convenient. perhaps it's time to be more active.
i am more stone cold than most, though i still remain human, and the recent events from the losses of my friends' families, to sicknesses of friends and their families, and now to something more immediate and is beginning to tell. the melancholy astounds me and the grief, though hidden, wrenches my heart and my soul begins to writhe in pain.
i can feel the quiet pain of ninong eddie, mommy and auntie sol who are now the last 2 remaining siblings. mommy's wails still echoes in my mind, a grief stricken tone crying as they are now only 2 left. i'm amazed though, despite my life and how i've lived, i am surrounded by amazing people. most of my friends are fast and solid, their families still intact and none has separated. long term relationship is the standard and integrity and loyalty, qualities endeared and not quaint.
ninang's death has made all the positives in my life come out. i wonder if ninang's legacy will be passed on through her blood? her life is an example of true sainthood. the poor is welcomed without being discriminated, and i mean poor and unwashed, not those who are in institutions. i am curious how her legacy shall live on. more importantly, how i can do my part to carry on, even a marginal portion, of that legacy.
now that last sentence, i believe, is an act of true marvel. i've never been one to be actively working on being good, my basis of morality is quite simple, i do right because it is right. however i don't actively move to be someone righteous. i simply am doing what is convenient when it's time to be convenient. perhaps it's time to be more active.
Monday, September 27, 2010
In Sickness and in Health
"Eddie, hold me." Fe said in a weak and wavery voice. The once booming and cheerful tone totally absent as the cancer raged and her boundless energy reserves were depleted by thrice weekly dialysis.
Her husband Eddie bent over and embraced his wife of over 25 years tightly. I lifted her hand, which was tightly twined with mine, and felt her feebly try to move. I completed her effort and placed her arm over Eddie's shoulders. A surge of strength that surpised me tightly embraced Eddie for a brief moment. Eddie remained holding her for a long while till she feel asleep.
My heart, hardened by decades of abuse and anger as well as a job in collections, clenched and a fist rose up my throat. I felt tears fill my eyes, though none fell, and my nose reddened with the effort not to sniffle.
"Mommy, I love you, very, very much." said Eddie.
They are my Godparents in my wedding. My wife Ruby's aunt and uncle, a couple I've met several times over the course of a decade of marriage. They are people I saw a few times only in my married life. Often enough to be part of the family but not quite enough to be knit in the family, or so I thought.
The scene made me think of what love is. It's nothing quite so poetic or romantic as books or movies make it sound like; in fact, I doubt if anything but real life can capture the essence, yet I realized it's the minute and invisible bond that transcends blood and time. Love is truly so simple that nothing can fully explain it, but in that moment, I saw far more acts of love in that family than I ever know in my whole life.
Siblings came despite time or handicap. Love can almost be seen flowing as each heart sought and touched everyone. Bonds renewed and strengthened and support refreshed.
I left that day wondering if my life can hold that much love. Certainly I can't hope to come close but I realized how piquant my life is. Not much of my relations would come, if they even will know, if anything is to happen to me... I reallized that our world is woefully designed to place more importance on things trivial. What matters have been pushed back in favor of the glory of the modern times.
Her husband Eddie bent over and embraced his wife of over 25 years tightly. I lifted her hand, which was tightly twined with mine, and felt her feebly try to move. I completed her effort and placed her arm over Eddie's shoulders. A surge of strength that surpised me tightly embraced Eddie for a brief moment. Eddie remained holding her for a long while till she feel asleep.
My heart, hardened by decades of abuse and anger as well as a job in collections, clenched and a fist rose up my throat. I felt tears fill my eyes, though none fell, and my nose reddened with the effort not to sniffle.
"Mommy, I love you, very, very much." said Eddie.
They are my Godparents in my wedding. My wife Ruby's aunt and uncle, a couple I've met several times over the course of a decade of marriage. They are people I saw a few times only in my married life. Often enough to be part of the family but not quite enough to be knit in the family, or so I thought.
The scene made me think of what love is. It's nothing quite so poetic or romantic as books or movies make it sound like; in fact, I doubt if anything but real life can capture the essence, yet I realized it's the minute and invisible bond that transcends blood and time. Love is truly so simple that nothing can fully explain it, but in that moment, I saw far more acts of love in that family than I ever know in my whole life.
Siblings came despite time or handicap. Love can almost be seen flowing as each heart sought and touched everyone. Bonds renewed and strengthened and support refreshed.
I left that day wondering if my life can hold that much love. Certainly I can't hope to come close but I realized how piquant my life is. Not much of my relations would come, if they even will know, if anything is to happen to me... I reallized that our world is woefully designed to place more importance on things trivial. What matters have been pushed back in favor of the glory of the modern times.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
New Job!
I have a new job and I'm a week into my new role. I've made my expectations as closed to realistic as possible, however, I've not set the conditions bad enough.
I have come to learn that I have changed a bit, now I don't quite just succumb to the oppression of a difficult job, though having a negative Nelly on the job does tend to try my patience.
I've managed to start making my own moves to orient my direction, despite not having a reliable head due to several drastic transitions. There has been a sufficient growth within me to begin making the choices that would have scared me before.
Let's hope I can blossom rather than go down in blazing infamy.
I have come to learn that I have changed a bit, now I don't quite just succumb to the oppression of a difficult job, though having a negative Nelly on the job does tend to try my patience.
I've managed to start making my own moves to orient my direction, despite not having a reliable head due to several drastic transitions. There has been a sufficient growth within me to begin making the choices that would have scared me before.
Let's hope I can blossom rather than go down in blazing infamy.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Just an Office Wear
I've rambled a lot on so many things, and as usual I'm going to ramble on. However this time, let me spin a rather peculiar topic coming from me. Office wear.
No I'm not going to go on a lengthy blog about the proper dressing criteria needed for office attire, but just a quick rundown on some simple rules. Just to give an idea on common mistakes for gentlemen's corporate attire.
1. Please use the same color for your shoes and belt. You can get away with this but it pays to have just one color.
2. Dress socks aren't the same as dark sport socks. And please, dress socks that will reach to the mid-calves so when you cross your legs, you don't show your skin.
3. Cowboy buckles aren't part of office wear, not unless you ride your horse to work that is.
4. Have a handkerchief please.
5. As much as possible, wear v-necked undershirt. It will ensure you don't get the "Cholo" look.
Just a couple of ideas on common mistakes I've seen which I know is simple to remedy. See, no fashion tips, just simple alignment of the wardrobe to arm you for the typical office day.
No I'm not going to go on a lengthy blog about the proper dressing criteria needed for office attire, but just a quick rundown on some simple rules. Just to give an idea on common mistakes for gentlemen's corporate attire.
1. Please use the same color for your shoes and belt. You can get away with this but it pays to have just one color.
2. Dress socks aren't the same as dark sport socks. And please, dress socks that will reach to the mid-calves so when you cross your legs, you don't show your skin.
3. Cowboy buckles aren't part of office wear, not unless you ride your horse to work that is.
4. Have a handkerchief please.
5. As much as possible, wear v-necked undershirt. It will ensure you don't get the "Cholo" look.
Just a couple of ideas on common mistakes I've seen which I know is simple to remedy. See, no fashion tips, just simple alignment of the wardrobe to arm you for the typical office day.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Simple Thanksgiving
Thank You for the small things that You have thoughtfully provided. Things that I don’t know came from You and I constantly ignore. Things such as friends, family, my job and the freedom I have to thank You. Thank You for the things You have given that I take for granted. The gift to love and be loved, the abilities that I was born with and constantly use for my benefit and progress, the chance to meet and make friends.
My Father, please accept my gratitude for the many wondrous things that I never realized, and will continue to under value, and forgive me for constantly asking for more. I never truly understood the fortune I was born with and continuously ask and ask and ask. For being patient with me, thank You.
Amen
My Father, please accept my gratitude for the many wondrous things that I never realized, and will continue to under value, and forgive me for constantly asking for more. I never truly understood the fortune I was born with and continuously ask and ask and ask. For being patient with me, thank You.
Amen
Sunday, June 27, 2010
A Question
Today is a Monday. Of all the days in the week, Mondays are my lowest. Somehow even if the Monday is a holiday, my morale plummets and getting through the day is almost like a fight for survival, and today is no different.
During Mondays, all the questions about existence and goals are questioned. It's a true task to rise above this petty mindset and gear my sights towards a worthy goal. I ask myself all the negative questions and I can never seem to get a right answer.
What am I doing this for? What's the point of it all? Why am I doing this? Do I truly want to keep on going?
Questions that are all detrimental to the pursuit of excellence and happiness. The good thing is I have learned the solution is quite simple. All I need to do is hang on long enough to get through this infernal day. The day shall soon be over but I shall stay on. Work the small chores, get into the groove and soon, it's time to go home...
During Mondays, all the questions about existence and goals are questioned. It's a true task to rise above this petty mindset and gear my sights towards a worthy goal. I ask myself all the negative questions and I can never seem to get a right answer.
What am I doing this for? What's the point of it all? Why am I doing this? Do I truly want to keep on going?
Questions that are all detrimental to the pursuit of excellence and happiness. The good thing is I have learned the solution is quite simple. All I need to do is hang on long enough to get through this infernal day. The day shall soon be over but I shall stay on. Work the small chores, get into the groove and soon, it's time to go home...
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