The Will To Understand and Be Understood
Wednesday, May 30th, 2007
Three summers ago I went on a pilgrimage to Fatima in central Portugal. The city is famous for the Marian apparations that took place there in 1917. I celebrated masses in the Basilica and in the Sanctuary with a group of Dutch-Filipino pilgrims. Aside from checking out Fatima’s shrines, museums and bookstores, I also visited nearby towns and communities.
One place that is worth mentioning is Cova da Iria. For it was there where I met an old woman sitting at a well. She claimed to be a relative of Lucia, one of the three peasant children who witnessed the apparition of the Virgin Mary. The other two were Francisco and Jacinta. The old woman explained to me that Cova da Iria was the place where the Virgin Mary first appeared to the three seers. She added that the first thing the Virgin said to the children was “Be not afraid, I will not harm you.”
She related to me many other things – the miracle of the sun, the visions of hell, the deaths of the seers, and the number of times she had to repeat all these information to a curious tourist. But the most curious thing of all is that she was talking to me in Portuguese and I understood everything she said. To think that I have not studied Portuguese at all.
I spoke to her in Italian and she seemed to have understood everything I said as well. To think that she did not know any other language except Portuguese. We were speaking in entirely different languages yet we understood each other perfectly.
The experience taught me something about understanding and being understood - that the most important thing in any communication process is not grammar, nor syntax, nor spelling, nor the language itself, but the will to understand and be understood.
The Pianist
Monday, May 28th, 2007
A few days ago I went to the Power Plant mall at the Rockwell Center to purchase some stuff. In the lower ground floor I saw this thirty-something man playing the piano. I did not think that he was paid to do it because he was playing his music with an exclamation point!
I stopped and listened to his music intently. Even if he was playing with such passion and deftness, nobody else cared to listen to him. People just passed him by and those in the nearby cafes and restos did not appear to have noticed that there was music at all. The romantic in me assumed that the pianist was playing the melody for a loved one because he played it with an intensity only a lover could muster.
My untrained ear could not recognize the piece - it could have been a Mozart or a Beethoven. I looked at his adept fingers, the sways of his head, his closed eyes, his mesmerized self. The rhythm of his music found its way into my soul, and it washed away my stress and engendered some positivity in me.
Sir Thomas Beecham once said that ”great music is that which penetrates the ear with facility and leaves the memory with difficulty.” How true.
I waited for the pianist to finish because I wanted to let him know that somebody was listening to him, that I was listening to him with as much passion as he was playing. When he finished he opened his eyes and looked around. He saw me and I smiled. He smiled in return and then closed his eyes again to play another melodious tone.
Even on my way out of the mall I still listened to his piano and somehow everything else was canceled out - the chatters, the opening and closing of doors, the cash machines, the cacophony in the mall.
That pianist taught me something worthwhile: that when I do something with passion, there is always somebody who appreciates it and is touched by it - even if I do not recognize that somebody’s presence.
Linux For Christians
Wednesday, May 9th, 2007
Ubuntu Christian Edition and Inchtux are two Linux distributions that are developed specifically for Christians. The developers’ goal is “not to bring Christianity to Linux but to bring Linux to Christians.”
What makes these distros different from other Linux flavors is the inclusion of the best Christian programs and settings available on the planet. Ubuntu Christian Edition v3.0 is based on Ubuntu Feisty Fawn and it comes packed with the same latest and greatest applications Ubuntu has to offer. In addition to all the standard applications you need, Ubuntu Christian Edition comes with the following programs:
1. GnomeSword Bible Study Software
2. Dansguardian Web Content Parental Controls with graphical interface
3. Daily Bible Verse Feature
4. BibleMemorizer
5. Virtual Rosary integrated using WINE
6. e-Sword Installer with Module Manag
Ichtux v6.10 is based on Kubuntu Dapper Drake. Ichtux does not only give you softwares that allow you to surf the web, read emails, create documents, presentations and spreadsheets, and edit images, it also provides the following applications:
1. Bibletime with multi-language support, using Frank Ruehl rich Hebrew font
2. Kio-Sword for Bible study integration into Konqueror
3. Several Bibles installed by default for English (KJV), Spanish (SPARV), French (LSG) and Hebrew (WLC)
4. Christian console tools: verse, bible-kjv
5. A Christian emoticons theme by default in Kopete
6. Kdict with the Easton and Hitchcock Bible dictionaries
7. Culmus Hebrew fonts
8. Improved default settings for a better Christian experience of the computer desktop
You do not need to pay any licensing fees to use both Ubuntu Christian Edition and Ichtux. You are absolutely free to download, install, run and even share them with your friends, neighbors, family, school, business or church.
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Image credit: Ubuntu Christian Edition website
Spider-Man 3
Sunday, May 6th, 2007
It’s choice, not chance, that determines who we become. This for me is the main point of the film Spider-Man 3. Peter Parker/Spider-Man faces a lot of crucial, often difficult choices in this one-hour-and-a-half movie. Sometimes he has to make split second decisions while battling his opponents in midair, while at other times he chooses to do something important after a careful thought.
When he learns that his Uncle Ben’s killer is finally identified, Peter goes to his room, shuts himself from the world, and plans his next move. An internal struggle sets in, and Peter has to make a choice – whether to avenge his beloved uncle’s death or to forgive Flint Marko/Sandman, the killer. In other words, whether to use his powers for his own benefit or for the good of others. To aggravate the situation, a slimy black substance attaches itself to Peter and transforms him from a jovial, selfless hero into a dark, egocentric jerk.
The black Spider-Man chooses to punish Flint and enjoys it to the full. For a while, Peter feels good about his transformation, and in the process, needlessly hurts Mary Jane, Harry, Gwen and other people that matter to him. Acting as if his voice of conscience, auntie May makes Peter realize that even if his dark side rages within him, he still has a choice to do the right thing. After all the terrible choices he has made in the past, Peter does the right thing and forgives Flint in the end.
Of all the three films in the Spider-Man franchise, I like the latest installment best. Its fast-faced fight sequences, the love triangle between Peter, MJ and Harry, the superb visual and sound effects, and a coherent storyline are wonderful entertainers. Aside from its technical and literary merits, the film also teaches many valuable lessons to viewers. One of the important lessons it imparts is that a person’s good character is not something ready-made, but something in a continuous formation through good choices and sincere efforts. Becoming a good person does not just happen – it is a goal to be achieved, it is a matter of making the right choices.
It is a real joy to recommend this film to moviegoers of all ages.
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Image credit: Internet Movie Database
The Election Game Show
Friday, May 4th, 2007
Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA), a pioneer in development communication, has produced an upbeat three-episode reality game show on the upcoming Philippine elections. Aptly entitled “Vote4U: The Election Game Show”, its main goal is to advocate for peaceful and honest elections through responsible and intelligent voting.
In Vote4U, three teams vie for the ultimate prize, but not without being subjected first to a series of extreme tests and challenges. Something to look forward to is the paint ball challenge, where each team has to dodge a rapid string of shots while keeping the ballot box safe. Each team is composed of three young players who are mostly first-time voters. One of the players is a deaf-mute, but you will be surprised to discover what becomes of his team in the end of the game.
Vote4U is written and directed by Clodualdo del Mundo, the scriptwriter of such award-winning films as “Bayaning Third World” (2000), “Mulanay: Sa Pusod Ng Paraiso” (1996), “Kisapmata” (1982), and “Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag” (1975), among many others.
The first episode of Vote4U is now available on the CFA YouTube channel for your viewing pleasure. If you have a DREAM or DESTINY or UNICABLE subscription you can catch the show on these dates:
Episode 1:
May 7 - 8:39 AM, 8:50 PM
May 8 - 3:30 AM
Episode 2:
May 8 - 12:08 PM, 4:00 PM
May 9 - 2:40 AM
Episode 3:
May 9 - 10:44 AM, 6:47 PM
May 10 - 3:44 AM
Dream Satellite broadcasts the show on channel 21, Destiny Cable on channel 96 and Unicable Cebu on channel 17.
Pastoral Letter on the Elections Addressed to the Youth
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2007
Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi of the Archdiocese of Caceres has issued a series of pastoral letters on the upcoming elections. One such letter is addressed particularly to the youth.
The archbishop acknowledges that politicians are so keen on getting the youth vote that they are willing to spend millions or do just about anything to get their attention and approval. In his letter, the archbishop calls on the youth to stand up and make a difference. He offers five practical things young people can do to make a difference in the May elections.
He admonishes the youth to (1) choose well, (2) speak up, (3) organize themselves, (4) join and be part of initiatives geared towards a clean and honest elections, and (5) to “let the Truth be the compass of your actions and Love be the principle of your life.”
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“Do not be Overcome by Evil , But Conquer Evil with Good”
My Dear People of God in Caceres,
This 5th Sunday of Lent, I resume the series of pastoral letters on the Elections 2007. This instance, however, I particularly address the YOUTH in Caceres and all the young people who may have a hearing of this.
I address you, my dear young people, mainly because of, but not exclusively due to the upcoming elections. It is my desire to reflect with you the important and urgent task of renewing our institutions, communities and our society.
I address the majority of you who are in the schools -preparing yourselves to face the world; I address you who are out-of-school youth and those who have to work early in life to survive. I address you, the youth in the different professional careers: the health care workers and professionals; the young people in business; those in the government service and those with the non-governmental groups. I address the young people in the military; in the clergy and religious; the young people in politics, in the media and in the entertainment business. I speak to the Filipino youth, wherever you are, but most especially you who are here in the Archdiocese.
The Predicament of Our Youth Today
It has often been repeated about the youth: ‘You are the future and the future belongs to you.’ But it is also correct to say that the present already belongs to you. Look around: How many young people do you see in the field of politics, in the academe, in the entertainment business, in the streets and in marketplaces? Aren’t we are a country of young people.
Most of you, at a very young age, have been exposed to many evils and carry the burdens of society. The difficulties of family life are not unknown to you. Many of you experience the pangs of poverty and ignorance. There are those of you who had quit school to survive. There are among you, disillusioned by the corruption and poverty around, who have embraced ideologies to face these evils. There are those of you who, convinced that the country cannot give a future, envision leaving it. There are those of you who feel hopeless; that politics is but a waste of time. And there are those who do not care about politics, because there are other pressing concerns.
Despite these grim realities, however, I remind you: ‘Do not be overcome by evil.’ (Rom 12:21) I believe the youth has not altogether lost its hope. I believe there is still idealism in you, for it is in the nature of the young to bring freshness into the many dimensions of life.
The Role of Youth
And here we are again, preparing for the elections. The scenario may not at all be encouraging. How many elections have we had? Certainly, the elections is not the solution to our difficulties. In fact, it could be said, that the way we conduct our elections is the cause of many evils in society. Moreover, not all of you are able to vote. So why bother?
Dear young people, the elections, while it is not the solution to poverty, is one of the most significant exercises of our democratic system, by which you and our people are involved firsthand in the selection of our leaders. Your votes are so important, that politicians spend millions and will do anything just to win your votes.
It is not elections itself which is the problem, but the way we conduct the elections. We need to do something to change.
We could simply be passive spectators. It is very tempting not to care and let things happen before our very eyes. But can you afford to be passive and indifferent, when it is your life and future which is at stake? Will you simply wait for things to happen before your very eyes and allow things to get worse without you doing something about it?
My dear young people, as Catholics and Christians, it is an error to allow ourselves to be defeated by cynicism and despair. In your hands is the capacity to transform society. Consider the following points:
1. Youth is a gift to humanity. Your youth brings newness and freshness in the different dimensions of our life. Such freshness is a gift to the family, to communities, and to the country.
2. In the youth, there is power. One only needs to remember the 1986 peaceful revolution. How many young people marched to the streets to express disgust with the dictatorship? In 1995, during the World Youth Day, there was the largest human assembly in history, 5 million people majority of whom were young people.
There is in the young the capacity for self-discipline, of committing themselves to the highest levels, and the readiness to change radically the false values which have enslaved so many young people and adults.
3. The Youth are an agent of renewal. The history of humanity is marked by countless young people who made a difference in the world. Mary, at a young age, answered God’s invitation. Jesus did his public ministry and offered his life at a young age. The history of the Church is replete with saints who at their young age have become instruments of renewal. Their lives are a testimony that fidelity and commitment are not impossible.
There is great potential in the youth. The youth is a compelling force in the task of renewing our institutions and the society.
Pastoral Suggestions
I call upon you then to stand up and make a difference! Do not be passive spectators. Do not just sit by and watch history unfold before your eyes. You are the subjects of history. Show the world that you care. The way you respond to present day realities will determine the future.
Your single vote may seem insignificant, but it is the collected individual votes that catapults a candidate to a position of power. Your individual contribution may seem very small, but it is the collected small good works that bring change. There is power in youth. There is power in one.
You share the same dignity and freedom of each human person. You have the capacity to tell which practices and offers are an insult to your freedom and dignity. You have the ability to determine who is sincere and truthful. You can tell who is pretentious and insincere. You can determine those who simply take advantage of you.
Dear young people, make a difference. I admonish you then to:
Choose well. Be cautious of every proposition. Have the courage to say no. Because the measure of maturity is not in ones capacity to disobey rules or engage into something adventurous. But it is how you live up to the truth.
Speak up. Let us, your elders, know that you deserve a bright future. That you are disgusted with dirty politics and that you deserve leaders who will truly bring you to real growth and progress.
Organize yourselves. Help your fellow youth. You can do a whole lot more when you work together. Join groups who have genuine desires and practicable directions of service.
Join and be part of initiatives begun by the Church, by your parishes by youth movements, non-governmental groups, socio-civic and religious groups geared towards a clean and honest elections. You can be volunteers of the PPCRV, Namfrel and other related initiatives.
Finally, let the Truth be the compass of your actions and Love be the principle of your life.
Further Call to Action and Prayer and a Call to Elders
Dear young people, do not be discouraged. In you is much strength and potential. Your fellow youth needs you. Think about your fellow young people who cannot go to school; those who are abandoned and orphaned; the sick; handicapped; the poor and the uneducated; and those in difficulties. Live not simply for yourselves, but be young people for others.
Thus, you cannot afford to be indifferent. Do something. The saying goes: ‘If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.’ And didn’t Jesus say: “He who is who is not with me is against me. He who does not gather with me, scatters.” (Luke 11:23)
Before concluding, I call on our elders: parents, leaders and pastors: It is our duty to show our youth the right way. It is our obligation to assist them so that they may be able to contribute to the renewal of society. They deserve the best from us. Let us pass on to them, not the veil of crookedness, but the the torch of goodness.
In conclusion: let me remind you all, lest we end up in empty activism: We need the Lord in all our endeavors. We do not engage in action just for the sake of it. We intend to uplift lives in accordance with the values of the Gospel and in view of the Kingdom of God. Do not lose sight of the City of God, to which all our striving are to be directed.
Young people, pray hard that you may not be overcome by evil. And with God as our companion and guide, let us seek to Conquer Evil with Good.
+Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P., D.D.
Archbishop of Caceres
March 25, 2007
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A Day Without Rain
Monday, April 30th, 2007There is something about humidity and heat that just makes you want to relive moments when you felt you were on fire. Just as the temperature in Manila reached record highs, I found an online poem that burned with passion.
It speaks of a woman’s love that finds heaven in the nearness of the [...]
Jesus From the Perspective of Mary Magdalene
Friday, April 27th, 2007
Many films have attempted to portray the life, death and resurrection of Jesus from the perspectives of those who have lived during his time on earth. A good example is Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), which presents Jesus from the point of view of Judas, the disciple who betrayed him. Mary and Jesus (1999) portrays Jesus from the viewpoint of Mary, his mother. The Miracle Maker (2000) tells the Jesus story through the eyes of Jairus’ daughter, the girl that Jesus healed.
A new movie of this kind has recently been broadcast in the Middle East and North Africa. It presents Jesus through Mary Magdalene’s eyes and is aptly entitled “JESUS, As Witnessed By Mary Magdalene.” LifeAgape Director Henri Aoun says that the goal of the film is “to help every woman to know her value in Jesus Christ…” as well as “to help give women back their pride and respect, exactly like Jesus did when he touched the heart of Mary Magdalene”. Mary Magdalene has been unfairly characterized in Hollywood as no more than a prostitute who was saved by Jesus from being stoned to death. Not many films put spotlight on the fact that she was the first one to witness the resurrection of Jesus and that she herself was a follower of Christ.
“JESUS, As Witnessed By Mary Magdalene” presents “the loving Jesus who protected a woman’s honor, built up her dignity and gave her a role in preaching the good news.” I agree with Jinan Slim of SAT-7, that the film “is a much-needed production, one that is very important in the Arab world where women’s position in society, and even in the Church, has historically been marginalized”.
The idea of the movie interests me big time. But the film is in Arabic so it might take some time before it reaches the Philippine shores (if ever it will reach these shores). I hope a lot of women will be able to watch it because I’m sure many of them can relate to Mary Magdalene’s story.
You Are Needed
Tuesday, April 24th, 2007
Looking for a meaningful way to keep yourself busy this summer? Why don’t you volunteer to help the needy get nerdy? The kids at CRADLE are in need of tutors who can teach them how to use their PCs.
CRADLE (Center for Restorative Activities, Development and Learning Experiences) is a juvenile prison located inside the premises of Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig. It is home to hundreds of teenage inmates. An NGO has recently donated two desktops to them but they don’t know how to use these units. Thus they need the help of volunteers who can teach them basic computer skills like using the mouse, encoding, and word processing.
I have visited CRADLE and celebrated masses with the inmates several times already and I find them to be welcoming, respectful and disciplined. The place itself is cleaner than most jails I have visited. It has a library where inmates can read magazines and books. It also has ample space for recreation and the cells are not overcrowded. Quite a number of volunteers visit them regularly to give them company, teach art, donate food, do bible lessons, and pray with them.
I have received a forwarded email from Sharee, which lists the details of the work to be done, and here they are:
1. This is for one-on-two session. One tutor to two students.
2. The schedule depends on the availability of the tutor. Anytime between 8am to 5pm, Monday to Sunday.
3. We are hoping for a commitment of four sessions. (One tutor will come for a mimimum of four sessions) One hour or more each session. It can be one session per week or two sessions per week or four sessions straight - wag lang one session per year.
4. What to teach? Just how to use a PC. (turning on and off, familiarization with the programs available and then typing on microsoft word).
5. The venue of the tutor session is inside the library of CRADLE. The kids can’t be let out of CRADLE for the tutoring sessions.
If you are interested, please contact me at stephencuyos@gmail.com or Sharee at 0920-9212655 or Yrreg at 0919-2156768. Both Sharee and Yrreg are members of Christ Youth in Action (CYA).
Make your summer memorable and meaningful by helping to train the CRADLE inmates in using their PCs. Who knows, you might make a huge and positive difference in their lives.
See you there.
From Edgy to Feisty
Monday, April 23rd, 2007
Finally, I found the time to upgrade my version of Ubuntu from 6.10 (Edgy Eft) to 7.04 (Feisty Fawn) today. Although it took quite some time to finish (my slow ISP is the culprit), the upgrade over the network was relatively painless. My laptop now feels like brand new again.
This was actually my first time to upgrade over the network. In the past, I would reformat my drive and do a clean install of the latest Ubuntu version. This time I opted for the network upgrade because I wanted to have a first-hand experience of how easy it is to accomplish the job.
All my files, my apps, my preferences, my tweaks – everything remained intact after the upgrade. This is a very good thing, because this means that I do not have to reinstall the codecs, the plug-ins and the apps that I manually installed in the previous version.
The only app I needed to upgrade manually was Automatix. Not a big deal though. All I needed to do was download this and let my package manager automatically remove the previous version and replace it with the latest.
Overall, I can say that Feisty really rocks. I’ve tried quite a few distros over the years, and not one comes close to the quality, hardware compatibility and ease-of-use that Ubuntu provides.
Film and Faith Seminar
Sunday, April 22nd, 2007
Just last Friday, I facilitated a short seminar on “Film and Faith”, an exploration on how to use film for evangelization and values education. Most of the participants were catechists coming from different parts of the Philippines. They were particularly interested in learning how to utilize film in catechism.
It is undeniable that films are potent vehicles to communicate religious truths, meanings, and values. Like other popular channels of communication, films have the power to challenge, strengthen or even alter our beliefs, values, and attitudes. Integrating films in catechism is of utmost importance because just about everyone watches movies, and needless to say, movies are about life and the stuff of faith.
In the seminar, I talked about Jesus-Figures and Christ-Figures in films. A Jesus-Figure is any representation of Jesus himself while a Christ-Figure is any character who is presented as resembling Jesus in a significant and substantial way. So that the participants would be able to see the historical development of cinematic portrayals of Jesus, I have presented film clips from the very first Jesus feature film (La Vie et Passion du Christ, 1912) up to the latest (Color of the Cross, 2006). I have also included clips from such controversial films as Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), Life of Brian (1978) and the Last Temptation of Christ (1988).
For the discussion on Christ-Figures, I prepared film clips from such popular movies as Dead Man Walking, Superman, Lion King, Happy Feet, Matrix, Lord of the Rings, and many others. I also included Mga Munting Tinig and Magnifico as Christ-Figures in Philippine cinema.
I concluded the seminar with a workshop on how to use film clips in catechism.
To the participants: as you have requested, here are two of the photos I took during the seminar. Please click on the photos to download them.
Candles and Prayers for the Virginia Tech Community
Wednesday, April 18th, 2007
Father, you are a loving God. I light these candles for those who have died in the Virginia Tech massacre. I pray that you may carry their souls to a place of no pain - to heaven where there is only joy and comfort. I also light these candles for the loved ones they have left behind. Heal their broken hearts, Father, and give them strength in their despair. I also pray for those who have been wounded physically, emotionally and spiritually - may they become whole again and their trust in others restored. And may we all learn from this and that despite this tragedy, we may still commit ourselves to become channels of your peace. Amen.
Stuck In A Moment
Tuesday, April 17th, 2007I was waiting for the arrival of my nephew at the Manila domestic airport when I wrote these lists. I knew I was in for a long wait so I brought my notebook and pencil with me. I didn’t really have a theme in mind but somehow I ended up with the following:
Ten Of [...]
Happy 80th Birthday, Holy Father
Sunday, April 15th, 2007Happy birthday to you, dear Pope. I join the whole world in singing you a birthday song today. And I fervently pray that you may remain gentle as our shepherd, patient as our teacher, strong as our bridge, loving as our friend, caring as our brother, and humble as our father.
(P.S. The Vatican website has [...]
The Filipino Bishops’ Video Blog
Saturday, April 14th, 2007
Hosanna Heysanna Sanna Sanna Ho Sanna Hey Sanna Ho Sanna. Im watching Jesus Christ Superstar for the nth time while I am writing this. I can’t help but hum that song. But there is another reason why I’m singing Hosanna – it’s the launch of CBCP’s video blog.
Yes, I’m referring to the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines. The CBCP Media Office has recently launched its own YouTube page: www.youtube.com/cbcp. What does it offer? The Easter greeting and homily of His Eminence Cardinal Rosales. There is also a series of videos about Holy Week liturgies, customs and practices. It also offers various links to videos from other Catholic sources from the Philippines and from around the globe.
The video blog is the CBCP’s response to the Pope’s call “to make the internet as a new forum for proclaiming the Gospel.” This is a very positive move from CBCP and I hope that they will upload more videos that appeal to young people, the bulk of YouTube regulars.
If you want to download the videos and save them as .avi files so you can watch them with your favorite media player, here is how:
1. Copy the unique URL of the video. For example, the URL of the Easter Vigil homily of Cardinal Rosales is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCrVPy2FTkw
2. Go to www.vixy.net and paste the URL of the video on the blank space provided for it.
3. Choose the file format of the output. You have four choices, but I suggest you opt for the .avi format because almost all digital media players can read it.
4. After your file is converted it will prompt you to save the file in your harddisk.
Happy viewing.
Sunstar Weekend
Saturday, April 14th, 2007This does not happen everyday, so I better blog about it. Sunstar, the number one daily of the Visayas, runs a story about my blog in their weekend magazine today. My mother texted me about it this afternoon and she said that it made her cry. There is nothing tearjerky about the write-up but mothers [...]
Easter, Automatix, Et Cetera
Tuesday, April 10th, 2007My site was down for more than three days. So today actually feels like resurrection day for this blog. To catch up on things, here are the five things I would have blogged about had my site not been down:
1.Pope Benedict XVI’s Easter Message, wherein the Santo Padre encourages everyone to become “apostles of [...]
An Easter Letter From A Friend
Thursday, April 5th, 2007I received an email from my former schoolmate Alvenio Mozol entitled “An Easter Letter to a Blogger Priest-Friend” and he asked me to post it in my blog. I am three years his senior but we finished Philosophy in the same university. He recently finished a three-year CPE course in the U.S. and will soon [...]
I’m a PC. I’m a Mac. I’m a Linux.
Wednesday, April 4th, 2007You must have seen the series of “I’m a PC, I’m a Mac” ads. I think they are witty, well-made, and worth watching. It has become so popular that quite a number of people made parodies of the ads. A few Christian evangelists even made spoofs of the videos too.
Linux guys are no exception. [...]
Praying Is Good
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007Although I have never thought that this would be the outcome, the best thing about the controversy surrounding “A Blogger’s Prayer” is that bloggers - both theists and atheists - are now discussing prayer. Praying really does wonders.
I accepted the Philippine Blog Awards (PBA) organizers’ invitation to lead the invocation with the knowledge that those present would be a mix of believers and non-believers, theists and atheists, Christians and non-Christians. Since I was invited to do an invocation, I could not presume that I was there just to ask everybody to stand in silence for a while. The MC or the two beautiful and eloquent hosts could have done that with more finesse. I was there to offer a prayer, to verbalize my praise to God and my supplications for the blogging community.
I am a Christian so my prayer has a Christian flavor. If I were an Imam, my prayer would have had a Muslim tone. My seminary training and my experiences as a priest have taught me to be sensitive to people of other faiths and to those who do not adhere to any faith at all. In this context, sensitivity means respecting other people’s beliefs and non-beliefs. But that does not mean that because of the presence of non-believers I have to delete God from my rogation. Or because there are non-Christians around I have to leave out my Christian identity.
Trust me, there is no prayer that can please everyone. Not even silence. If you don’t agree with me on this, I challenge you to send me one.
I have attended many gatherings where prayers were not said at all, not even a short silence was observed. As a practicing Catholic, was I offended by that? Of course, not! I respect people and I still enjoy their company, even if they do not implore God. I have also attended many gatherings wherein people of other faiths led the invocation or some other form of religious expression. Should I be offended when a Muslim or a Jew or Hindu prays? No! In fact, I expect the Muslim to practice his faith and quote verses from the Koran. Just as I would expect the Jew or the Hindu or a believer of another faith to be true to his/her religion.
I am only offended when I am coerced to pray, when I have no other choice but to say a prayer against my will - which was not the case in the Philippine Blog Awards 2007. I offered a prayer but nobody was forced to pray with me nor to accept the words I uttered as doctrine. You could have left the auditorium or closed your ears or did some other non-violent action while I was praying, and I would perfectly understand your disagreement to my invocation.
What I am still trying to understand is why some atheists would react so negatively to a prayer which doesn’t mean anything to them nor is intended for them. But they didn’t react at all to Yuga’s use of the word “sh*t” in the video, even if there were minors around. Is it more politically correct to say “sh*t” than a prayer now? And it is just sad that they have to resort to using degrading, discriminatory words. Look who is being insensitive here. I would have appreciated it more if their reactions were written in a constructive, fraternal way. I have to say that I have deep respect for mature, open-minded and polite atheists. While I was studying in Rome, Italy, I had an atheist classmate who was writing a thesis on atheism. Sometimes we’d eat lunch together and he never felt bad that I prayed before eating just as I was not offended that he didn’t.
My prayer did not make the PBA a Christian event. If nobody prayed, would anybody think of it as an atheist event? No. The prayer was a very minor segment in the colorful evening of smiles and trophies. I wouldn’t call the invocation a mistake by the organizers. I would remember it as the evening when my favorite bloggers have received their well-deserved awards.
Thanks to all those who think that my prayer is witty, funny, meaningful and relevant. And to all those who left comments and blogged about the prayer - salamat kaninyo!
But then again, I am glad that my prayer has sparked a lively debate in the blogosphere. The liveliest, I think, is the one found here and of course here. It’s Holy Week after all and it’s a time for us to confront ourselves with life’s most important questions.
May you all have a holy Holy Week.
The Greatest Poverty Today
Monday, April 2nd, 2007
Mother Teresa says that the greatest poverty today is not material poverty. Material poverty can easily be satisfied with material things, she stresses. Being unwanted, unloved, uncared, forgotten, and lonely is a much greater poverty. Thus for her, the greatest suffering and poverty today is the torture of being unwanted and rejected.
The challenge is for us to give our attention and care to people who may feel lonely and abandoned. We can start in our own homes or in our own workplaces. It doesn’t have to be overly dramatic, it can be as simple as “hi, would you like to have coffee with me this afternoon?” There is always that somebody who needs our our time, our smile, our understanding heart. Be the reason for somebody to feel good about him/herself today.
This video is courtesy of GodTube.
A Blogger’s Prayer
Saturday, March 31st, 2007So compassionate, so faithful, so loving You are Our Father.
We ask You to increase our faith and our love for You that we may use blogging as an instrument to fulfill Your purposes. May we become bloggers of truth and promoters of peace.
Help us to be steadfast in our Christian commitment that visitors may [...]
This Side of Heaven
Thursday, March 29th, 2007
I was in Surigao City last weekend to facilitate a Lenten recollection in two parishes. After my Saturday afternoon mass at the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Shrine I went outside the chapel to wait for the sunset. I gazed at this gorgeous sunset and watched the sky change colors for about 10 minutes. Then when it was dark I went back to the chapel to thank God for making this side of heaven such a lovely place.
7 Ways to Make Your Holy Week Really Holy
Wednesday, March 28th, 2007
Holy Week is that time of the year when Catholics commemorate the passion and death of Jesus and celebrate his resurrection. Since it is also vacation time for most people, it is easy to forget that Holy Week is about prayer, devotions and penance, and not about going to the beach and partying all night.
Do you want to have a holy Holy Week? Your Semana Santa will just turn out to be any other week if you do not make a personal effort to sanctify it. So what should you do to make Holy Week truly holy. Aside from participating in Church liturgical services, I suggest the following activities. But of course, you can add your own suggestions to the list.
1. Some of our worst enemies are our own kin. Reach out to your difficult family members and do the Stations of the Cross and the visita iglesia with them.
2. Jesus loves everyone and befriends those who are condemned by others as sinners and outcasts. Remember the people you dislike or hate. Text, call or visit them and reconcile with them this Holy Week.
3. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. You can also “wash the feet” of others by doing acts of humble and loving service.
4. Give up something you don’t need or spend as much on your needy neighbors as you spend on hard drinks, cigarettes, and other unnecessary wants.
5. On Maundy Thursday, prepare a simple meal for your family and begin the meal with a shared prayer and a short remembrance of the Last Supper.
6. On Good Friday, spend a quite time before a crucifix. Reflect on the important choices you have made in the past. Get to know yourself better and ask: what changes do I need to make in order to foster a more intimate relationship with Christ?
7. On Black Saturday, make Easter presents for those who are close to your heart. Make something that will express to them that they are important and precious to you.
Windows Aero Vs. Linux Beryl
Sunday, March 25th, 2007
Linux Beryl is the real wow. A few days ago I saw this video on YouTube and I thought it would be good to post it here so more people can watch it. I mean, so that more people may be enlightened.
MS markets Vista as a “wow” experience by exaggerating on what its so called Aero technology, particularly its Windows Flip 3D, has to offer. But wait till you see Linux Beryl accelerated 3D desktop in action. I have tried it myself using Sabayon Linux 3.3 on my Toshiba laptop. You will not just say “wow” but “awesome”, “astonishing”, “breathtaking”, “overwhelming” and many other superlatives.
The awesome features of beryl includes scale effect, desktop switcher, desktop cube, windows animation, zoom and blur effects and many others. You can view all of its features here.
Don’t forget to read the comments and responses here, so you will get an idea how other people react to the comparison.
Towards The Sunset
Thursday, March 22nd, 2007While waiting for the sunset at a monastery in Sydney, Australia, I saw this old man walking past me. It’s not difficult to see the profound poetry of this simple shot I took. The sight of him journeying towards the lovely sunset made me contemplate the many times I thought I had reached a dead [...]
Perspectives on FOSS
Tuesday, March 20th, 2007Even by just browsing its table of contents you can tell that it is indeed a very important book on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). And then when you read each chapter you’ll both discover and understand a lot of new things about the revolution that FOSS has unleashed. That is because the book [...]
GodTube
Sunday, March 18th, 2007When Jesus commanded his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, he did not restrict them to one medium of evangelization. The first apostles preached in public places or dialogued with individual persons in their private homes. Many missionaries still do that today, but hey it’s the 21st century and video-sharing is [...]
Sta. Mesa Sunset
Thursday, March 15th, 2007I was thinking of and praying for a dear friend of mine when I took this pic two afternoons ago from my residence in Sta. Mesa, Manila. Photographing sunsets is my way of capturing and remembering moments of deep feeling, of showing care, of expressing love.
Prayer For Your Audio Player
Tuesday, March 13th, 2007What’s the first thing you do when you go online? Check emails? Read the news? Play games? Listen to music? Write a blog?
Why don’t you begin your online routine with a prayer? Pray-as-you-go.org is a website that helps you start your online life with prayer and meditation with just one click. It [...]
The Philippine FOSS Bill
Sunday, March 11th, 2007It was exciting to know that a FOSS Bill was filed late last year in the Philippine House of Representatives. Although it received lackadaisical support from Filipino congressmen I still have high hopes that soon many will push for the adaption of FOSS in the country. The lawmakers’ ignorance of the philosophy and benefits [...]
Focus on Lent
Friday, March 9th, 2007The Vatican website has made available valuable resources for the observance of Lent this year. You’ll find the messages of the Holy Father, a list of stational churches, a collection of sacred music in MP3 format, a calendar of celebrations, and a link to the live webcast made possible by the Vatican Television Center (CTV).
The [...]
Linux Chix
Thursday, March 8th, 2007Today is International Women’s Day and its a day to praise and celebrate the women who have made a difference in our world. I would like to pay homage to all the members of LinuxChix. LinuxChix is an international community of women who love Linux. It has regional chapters in many parts of the globe. [...]
The Best Way To Choose A Linux Distro
Wednesday, March 7th, 2007Other Linux users might have a different opinion, but I think the best way to choose a Linux distribution is to know how active its community is. An active community is of vital importance because that’s where you get help and support. A thousand members means a thousand possibilities, a thousand potential solutions, a thousand [...]
Prayer is a Matter of Life and Death
Monday, March 5th, 2007Last Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI said that prayer “is not something accessory, it is not ‘optional,’ but rather a question of life or death.” He added that “Only one who prays, that is, who entrusts himself to God with filial love, can enter into eternal life, which is God himself.” As simple as this message [...]
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