My Sacrifice: A Reflection on the Feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola

photo courtesy of bro. anthony coloma sj

Saint Ignatius of Loyola was a brave general in the army and he dreamed of a celebrated military career. at the age of 26 in the battlefield at Pamplona an enemy bullet shattered his knee as he recovered in his wealthy family castle at Loyola he read a book about the lives of saints and began to ask himself: 'If these great saints made big sacrifices for God why can't I do the same?' He came to realize that marvelous divine graces were received when we allowed God to act in our lives.

- From Day One of the Novena in Honor of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Ignatius of Loyola made a big sacrifice at the age of 26: he gave up a potentially stellar career as a soldier to become a soldier for Christ. As he surrendered his sword at the feet of the grotto of the Queen of Heaven in Monserrat, he also surrendered his freedom, memory, understanding, and will in order to be guided by God's will.

When I underwent the Spiritual Exercises three years ago, one of my reflections during the second week of the exercises looked into the sacrifices that one has to make in life in pursuit of a higher, more noble goal. Here is an excerpt from my reflection, entitled My Sacrifice.

TIMEOUT: Four Chord Songs Galore

today's celebration of saint ignatius day (which we fondly call "iggy day") here in san jose seminary features three activities: a visit to the elderly jesuits in j.m. lucas infirmary and jesuit residence inside the ateneo in the morning, a visit to the sacred heart novitiate (the formation house of the society of jesus) in novaliches until a little past noon time featuring a remembrance of deceased jesuits who were part of san jose in the shn cemetery, and the saint ignatius mass and mini-alumni homecoming of josefinos and jesuits who once walked the famed portals of san jose seminary in the evening. for tonight's program, the community decided to have an acoustic night, featuring presentations from the various bec pairs. (that was a rather long and wordy introductory sentence, but anyway...)

our bec pair has decided to play something usually heard from the jologs radio stations in the metro. but, if i'll be given a chance to play something, i would like to strum to the tune of a four chord song.

well, what is a four chord song?

coming soon: FRIDAY FOODFEST

for sure, alam niyo na ang sagot ko pag inalok niyo ako ng "KAIN TAYO." hahahaha

starting next week, i will be launching a new segment here in PIBS (naks, parang tv show o sikat na blog lang ha! hahahaha) entitled FRIDAY FOODFEST.

i will be featuring something from my food trips and other gastronomical experiences every friday. more than just featuring food and places, i also hope to feature some dishes from around: maybe the seminary or at home. this is also a good chance for me to return to some of my food trip places during my seminary and regency days.

some of the things to watch out in this segment will be the "chokeslam" from my visit in zark's burger last week, a resident kmu specialty called "dinamita", and chicken charlie's, a personal favorite from my regency in xavier.

i do hope to make this a regular column in this "feeling sikat" blog. hahahaha!

FIRST 5: five things that make basketball better than football

 photo taken by sir philip sison, taken from fabilioh.com

"which is better: basketball or football?" this question can stir a good conversation and, if taken to extreme proportions, may end with someone being rushed to the hospital. die-hards and aficionados have their own stances about the matter. just like inter-religious dialogue, an agreement may be made but no one will just concede to another without putting up one hell of a fight for it.

in my attempt to add to more trouble to this debate, here are five things, in my opinion, that make basketball better than football.

"Plant a tree, have a son, and write a book"

According to Jose Marti, a Cuban poet and writer who also served as a leader in his country's independence movement, there are three things every person should do in his or her life: "plant a tree, have a son and write a book."

I once planted a mahogany tree in San Carlos Seminary, and thankfully it still stands until now. Since I'm in the seminary, I cannot have a son (WEH?!). But I think writing a book is the hardest feat among these three things.

Interestingly, in my visit to the Archbishop Gabriel Reyes Memorial Library in San Carlos Seminary last week, I found my philosophy thesis (entitled "The Greatness and the Misery of Man: Pascal's Divertissement in Heidegger's sein-zum-tode Doctrine", 235 pages all in all hahahaha) in the library shelves! Well, can one consider that as a check in the checklist?

27 is still a young age I guess, yet an age ripe enough to make a difference. Chuck Palahniuk puts it quite fittingly: "We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will." 

deo gratias.

on planking

photo taken from here

guess who's planking very soon?!

well, do the following items first:
- release four issues of insta
- pass moral comps and ad audiencias
- get admitted to candidacy for ordination
- take the vow of celibacy
- discern well in the eight day pre-dicaconal retreat
- be open and docile to seminary formation

in short... finish third year theology first! hahahahaha

TIMEOUT: home(sick)

lead me to your door at least just for a while...
yes, i'm getting homesick :(

Commit, Stuggle, and be Happy! (a reflection on Matthew 13:44-46)

photo taken from this website

Originally delivered in Filipino as a homily on the occasion of the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time at the chapel of Barangay South Cembo and National Shrine of Our lady of Guadalupe, Makati City.

In our gospel for today, Jesus once again speaks to us in parables about the kingdom of God. For the past two Sundays, Jesus used images and stories in order to illustrate the kingdom of God through the parables of the sower and the weeds among the wheat. This time, he once again uses two familiar images to his audience: the treasure buried in the field and the pearl of great price in the sea.

Perhaps, we ask ourselves two questions: Why did Jesus use these images of treasure in the field and pearl in the sea? And how do these images illuminate the meaning of what Jesus calls the kingdom of God?

AND 1: the phenom has landed

photo taken from here.

well, nung ateneo-la salle game pa.

Paranaque Diocesan Seminarians (ParDS) hosts SCS Diocesan Day for July 2011

his excellency most rev. bishop jesse e. mercado with the paranaque diocesan seminarians (ParDS) on the occasion of diocesan day at san carlos seminary.

the paranaque diocesan seminarians (ParDS) hosted the diocesan day for the month of july in san carlos seminary. this event seeks to strengthen the brotherhood of the seminarians as they are grouped according to their own dioceses during this day.

AND 1: "he ain't heavy... he's my brother!"

photo courtesy of mark christian "animo la salle" reyes

coming soon... NBA 2K12!

the days when you can proudly proclaim that you're single and busy with a lot of things are back!

this time, NBA 2K12 features not just (arguably) the greatest player in basketball history, but also the greatest rivalry of the 80's: larry bird and magic johnson! this has to be the best thing there will be if this lockout persists!

click here to read more about this awesome news!

Panloob na Kapayapaan (Isang pagninilay sa pelikulang "Kung Fu Panda")

galing dito ang larawang ito

Ipinasa bilang isang "reflection paper" sa kursong Sangguniang Pastoral at ibinahagi sa lingguhang "group mass" sa San Jose Seminary

Noon pa man, samu't sari na ang mga naririnig kong diskusyon at opinyon tungkol sa pelikulang Kung Fu Panda mula sa aking mga kaibigan at maging sa aking mga estudyante. Ngayon lamang sa kursong ito ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataong mapanood ang nasabing pelikula.

Tatlong eksena ang tumatak sa akin sa pelikulang ito, at nakita ko na tila may koneksyon ang mga ito sa bawat isa. Una rito ay ang eksena kung saan si Master Shifu ay nagninilay sa isang kuwarto at binabanggit ang katagang “Inner peace… inner peace”. Subalit, tila hindi niya makamtan ang inaasam niyang panloob na kapayapaan.

Ikalawa naman ay ang pag-uusap ni Master Oogway at Master Shifu. Sa eksenang ito, makikita na sa kabila ng pangangamba ni Master Shifu sa nagbabadyang paglaya ni Tai Lung sa piitan, ay sinabi ni Master Oogway na “Your mind is like this water, my friend: when it becomes agitated, it becomes difficult to see; but if you allow it to settle, the answer becomes clear.”

At panghuli ay ang tagpo sa pagtatapos ng pelikula kung saan nagpasalamat si Master Shifu kay Po at sinabing: “It is as Oogway foretold, you are the Dragon Warrior. You have brought peace to this valley… and to me.”

Napagnilayan ko na may isang temang mag-uugnay sa tatlong tagpong nabanggit. Ito ay ang kapayapaang hinahangad o hinahanap ni Master Shifu sa kwentong napapaloob sa pelikula. Ang mensahe ng temang ito ay pumukaw sa aking atensyon.

AND 1: i'm blue (if i were green i will die)

DISCLAIMER: i was FORCED to do this.

WE ARE WITNESSES

witnessed the phenom's breakout game last saturday. here are the highlights - for those who didn't see it, or can't get enough of it!

Paranaque Diocesan Seminarians (ParDS) activities 2010-2011

here's a video about the paranaque diocesan seminarians (ParDS), featuring our various activities in the past years.

to be shown in the diocesan day hosted by pards in san carlos seminary on 21 july 2011.

TIMEOUT: Disconnect to Reconnect

never mind the embedded/implied advertisement. nonetheless, it's a nice and timely message in this interconnected world of ours.

GO 4 GLORY

photo taken from TeamADMU twitter

GO 4 GLORY! ONE BIG FIGHT!

short reflection on Luke 2:41-51

photo taken from here

for hannah

“Why were you looking for me? Do you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

this gospel is known to most catholics as the fifth joyful mystery of the holy rosary: the finding of jesus in the temple. it would be good to reflect on his reaction to his mother upon seeing him in the temple: “Why were you looking for me? Do you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” obviously, jesus is pertaining to the father - god himself. this is a scandal for jews especially for the elders who hold the jewish law (the torah) dearly - that god, whose being is utterly mysterious that they cannot simply call him by just any name. and here we see jesus calling god as father, which presupposes a close and intimate relationship with god, who for the jews is totally "different" or "other" than man.

names have a particular power and significance in our lives. to know someone's name is to show a relationship with that person, or to have a certain claim over that person, or even a power or "hold" over that who is named. in the animated movie monsters inc, sulley named the baby "boo", and mike immediately reacted, "once you name it, you start getting attached to it." jesus is showing us a new way of believing, understanding, knowing, relating, and being with god: as a father, a person intimately related to us, someone whom he hold unto dearly, a person who loves and we love.

in this day and age of unbelief and skepticism, the gospel challenges us to seek god in our lives as someone who is intimately close to us. despite the seeming eclipse of god in the present world, we ask ourselves: what is it that we are looking for? what are we seeking? what do we truly want to see? maybe we don't have to look farther. like mary, we are invited to find god - and in our world today, to find god in all things. indeed, god can found in every one, in every place and in everything. and when we learn to pay more attention to how God reveals Himself in our day-to-day living, we become more thankful, devoted, and deeply in love with whom jesus intimately calls as "father."

deo gratias.

from not so long ago...

while scanning through fabilioh.com a few months back, i came across this photo (with the special participation of yours truly) taken from game 2 of the uaap basketball championship between ateneo and feu last year.

i'll surely miss watching the uaap games live this year! nonetheless, i'm one with the team and the sea of blue in our FOUR-WARD bid this year! ONE BIG FIGHT!

wearing jersey number 5...

pwede na bang isama sa mga picture ng blue eagles around the campus?

thanks to jersey shop for the 2011 admu fil-oil cup jersey!

ON SIMPLICITY

"yung simplicity hindi lang mahalaga sa material. mas importante yung simplicity of the heart before God. para God can fill it anytime!"

- mark christian p. reyes

TIMEOUT: tulad ng dati

from the movie of the same title:

teddy: anong gagawin mo kung may nawala ka?
jett: hahanapin
teddy: kung ‘di mo mahanap?
jett: papalitan
teddy: kung ‘di mo mapalitan?
jett: kakalimutan
teddy: anong gagawin mo kung may nawala, di mahanap, di mapalitan at di malilimutan?
jett: tatanggapin.

FROM PHILIPPINE CHURCH HISTORY CLASS

"... bathing is a pleasurable experience. if you don't experience pleasure in taking a bath, then there must be something wrong with you!"