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Road to Fifty Reflections: Day 21

Called Amid a Nation’s Confusion I was listening to a conversation while riding the jeep. The discussion turned to the current administration and the previous one. The wife boldly told her husband that if the previous administration’s leader were to return and run again for the presidency, he would win. While what she said felt disconcerting (even disgusting), I couldn’t help but think she might be right. Even if he were brought home lifeless, as a mere memory or a shadow of his former self, many would still vote for him. And that made me wonder --- who is at fault? The system? Society? The lack of awareness and education? Or perhaps the deep hunger and poverty that make people cling to any promise of order, even if it is built on fear? The driver added, “Those under the previous administration were afraid to commit corruption.” That statement, so casually said, was painful to hear... not only because it was untrue, but because it revealed how little some of our people truly know. The...
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Road to Fifty Reflections: Day 20

Called Like Mary I began the day with a Mass celebrated by Fr. Rogelio dela Rosa, a priest I’ve known since sixth grade, back in my Dominican school days. The Gospel reading for the novena Mass was about the Visitation (from St. Luke), but Fr. Dela Rosa spoke of another “V” word: VOCATION . He reminded us that it comes from the Latin word vocare --- “to call.” As I listened, I found myself wondering: How do we discern this call in difficult circumstances? What about those with little or no opportunity --- those not born into the faith, or those who have suffered deeply in poverty, neglect or abuse? How can God’s call be heard amid so much pain and limitation? And the Spirit whispered to my heart, "In every circumstance, every story, every life... we are all called," first of all, to holiness. We may have been born into struggle or into comfort, may have walked through pain or privilege... yet God’s hand is always at work, weaving meaning and grace into every thread of our li...
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Road to Fifty Reflections: Day 19

Loving what is Sacred Lord, You have placed in my heart a love that I do not fully understand a love that feels both tender and impossible. I see in him Your light --- patience, gentleness and fidelity  and my heart responds, not just to him, but to the reflection of You that shines through him. Teach me, Lord, to see love not as possession, but as reverence to hold beauty without needing to own it, to feel closeness without crossing sacred lines. If my heart aches, let it be purified, not hardened. If my longing burns, let it become a prayer. May this love transform me  into someone more compassionate, more humble, more faithful to the path You have written for me. Help me to love rightly not by holding on, but by letting go with peace; not by taking, but by blessing from afar. In this hidden affection, let me learn what it means to love with a serene and acquiescent heart a heart that seeks You in all things, and rests in Your will above all else. Amen.
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Road to Fifty Reflections: Day 18

 “This Is My Body” I came across a post that struck me deeply ~ a reminder that Jesus, in His infinite humility, chose to enter the world through the womb of Our Blessed Mother. He did not come as a spirit hovering above the earth, but as flesh, as life growing in a woman’s womb. In that moment, the Word became flesh and the sanctity of the human body was forever affirmed. Reflecting on this, I can’t help but think of how our world treats the body today... the way life in the womb is dismissed through abortion, how the body is often violated or mutilated and how even our understanding of who we are  --- male and female --- is blurred by confusion and pain. We live in a time that proclaims autonomy over the body, as if it were something separate from the soul, something we can alter or discard at will. Yet in the Eucharist, Jesus stands before us and says, “This is My Body.” These words echo through time ~ from the manger to the Cross, from Mary’s womb to the altar. They are a ...
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Road to Fifty Reflections: Day 17

I found the term... "hustle culture." Hustle culture, I realize, is often born not from one’s own will, but from pressure of what others might think.  Society has shaped a belief that we must always be doing something... working, producing, earning... as if stillness were laziness and rest were weakness. I have often been 'accused' of not doing enough, of taking on too much, of working double or triple jobs. But it was never for wealth or vanity. When salaries remain small and the prices of food and living climb higher each day, one cannot help but move, strive and survive (kahit nakakapagod na 😥)... Yet I wonder  ~ why do others feel envy instead of empathy? Why do people measure others’ worth by their busyness or possessions, instead of the sincerity of their struggles? If we could only look with eyes of understanding instead of judgment, perhaps the world would be a gentler place. At the end of the day, I remind myself that I’m not living to impress anyone... It’s...
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Road to Fifty Reflections: Day 16

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There was a cloud in my heart today... I’m trying to hold on to TRUST... to believe that the Lord will provide... yet I can’t deny the fear that comes with financial struggles and the thought of not having enough for retirement. In these moments, I find myself turning again to Our Blessed Mother... I ask Her to teach me how to trust, how to hope, how to keep believing that God will walk with me through it all. She lived in simplicity, with nothing much to call Her own, yet Her heart was full of FAITH. God always provides what is enough... maybe not in abundance, but always in love. I thought, too, of St. Francis, whose feast we celebrate today. He and the saints never chased wealth or comfort. They embraced 'poverty' and found freedom there. It’s hard to understand sometimes, but maybe that’s where the secret lies --- when we have less, we cling more tightly to God. Still, I can’t help but think of my nephew, of the many needs of our family and even of my pets who depend on me...
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Road to Fifty Reflections: Day 15

Our Blessed Mother ~the paragon of humility, the quiet strength behind every “yes” to God. Yesterday marked the beginning of the novena for Our Lady of La Naval.  With Her enthronement, we hail Her as our Queen and Mother, our protector and our model of chastity. I formed a special bond with our Blessed Mother through a spiritual friend who would fetch me in the early mornings. Together we prayed the Lauds, and afterwards, the rosary that became the rhythm of our mornings. He introduced me to the Twin Hearts of Jesus and Mary and entrusted me with a prayer we could recite in common. He once drew my attention to the hands of Our Blessed Mother in Michelangelo’s Pietà. Her palms, open and empty, spoke of surrender --- total surrender to the Father’s will...even in sorrow, even as the sword pierced Her heart. Her willingness to embrace God’s will, no matter the cost, remains a lesson I must learn each day. As bearer of Hope, Her humility shines like a guiding star --- teaching me that...
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