Tiwala

Tiwala.
Isa sa mga bagay na kapag nawala, mahirap nang ibalik.
Kapag nasira, mahirap nang ayusin.
Kapag di inalagaan, mahirap nang balikan.

Tiwala.
Ang buhay natin ay naka-ankla sa tiwala. Sa araw-araw, nananaig ang tiwala.
Sa pagising sa umaga, nagtitiwala ka na sisikat ang araw, nagagalaw mo pa ang iyong katawan, hindi ka niloloko ng orasan, at hindi ka ginu-good time ng kalendaryo.
Sa pag-galaw, nagtitiwala ka na hindi ka lalamunin bigla ng lupa, o di naman kaya't guguho ang pasilyong nilalakaran mo.
Sa pagkain, nagtitiwala ka sa nagluto na hindi niya nilagyan ng Dora rat killer ang corned beef mo sa agahan.
Sa pakikisalamuha sa kapwa, mahalaga ang tiwala.
Nagtitiwala ka na nagsasabi ng totoo ang kausap mo, na hindi ka niya binabarbero o niloloko, na wala siyang tinatago sa iyo.
Nagtitiwala ka sa driver ng jeep o MRT na hindi ka niya ipapahamak o ilalagay sa aksidente o disgrasya.
Nagtitiwala ka sa guro na tama at too ang tinuturo niya.
Nagtitiwala ka sa magulang mo, sa mga nakatataas sa iyo, na ang bawat desisyon ay para sa iyong kapakanan.
At higit sa lahat, nagtitiwala ka sa Diyos na sa pagsikat hanggang sa paglubog ng araw at kahit na sa pagsapit ng dilim ay mahal ka niya at lagi ka niyang pinapatnubayan at ginagabayan.

Tiwala.
Ang tawag sa taong walang tiwala sa sarili ay praning. Sa ingles, paranoid.
Hindi nagtitiwala, walang tiwala, hindi madaling magtiwala.
Gusto niya siya palagi ang may hawak ng situwasyon.
Kung pumalpak, may "Plan B" agad.
Dapat alinsunod sa plano, alinsunod sa sukat, tugma, wasto, dapat lapat.
Lahat maayos, lahat nasa lugar.
Bawal ang wala sa hulog.
Hindi pwede ang basta-basta.

Tiwala.
Ang tawag naman sa taong sobra ang tiwala sa sarili at kampante. Sa ingles, overconfident, self-assured.
Sobra at madalas ay naguumapaw ang tiwala sa sarili.
Lahat kaya, kaya lahat.
Walang imposible. Walang hambalang sa plano.
Hawak man ang situwasyon o hindi, banat lang nang banat.
Walang problema kung pumalya. Laban lang. Sugod pa rin.
Di na bale kung wala sa plano, o kahit walang plano.
Strike anywhere. Who cares?
You only live once. Ito na yun at wala nang iba pa.

Tila lahat tayo may taglay na kapraningan at kakampantehan sa buhay.
Marahil bahagi ng buhay natin ang may tiwala at minsan ay wala.

Tiwala.
Sino ba ang mga pinagkakatiwalaan natin?
Kanino ba tayo nagtitiwala?
Bakit tayo nagtitiwala?
Hanggang saan ang ting tiwala?
Sa pagiging kampante, bakit madaling magtiwala?
Paano naudok na magtiwala sa sarili?
Paano lumakas ang tiwala?
At sa mga ka-praningan ng buhay, bakit hindi madaling magtiwala?
Bakit nasira ang tiwala?
Sino ang sumira ng tiwala?
At kailan ka handang magtiwala muli?

Kevin Luther C. Crisostomo

4 June 2k12

Mount Peace, Baguio City

8 Day Pre-Diaconal Retreat

AM+DG

Paranaque Diocesan Seminarians - 2nd Semester 2k11-2k12

here's a video featuring the activities of the Parañaque Diocesan Seminarians ParDS during 2nd semester of school year 2k11-2k12!

featured activities:
- sembreak general assembly
- audience with bishop jesse e. mercado (sembreak and christmas)
- BAON 2k11 (blessing of tombs at manila memorial park)
- missioning for banat 2k12
- chrism mass
- BANAT 2k12 (annual summer apostolate)

got the photos from our facebook profiles.
featured music: "super bass" (instrumental) by nicki minaj
to be presented during the pards summer general assembly and outing on may 14-15, 2012

Fourth Sunday of Easter: On the Good Shepherd

photo by jay fonacier

A homily delivered to the parishioners of Santo Cristo Parish on the Fourth Sunday of Easter

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is often known as "Good Shepherd Sunday" as our gospel reading for today suggests. Known as the "Good Shepherd discourse" from the tenth chapter of the Gospel of John, our gospel for today used variety of metaphors like “sheep”, “shepherd”, "hired man", and "good shepherd." These images bear shades of meaning that would help us grasp the message of Jesus and how they reveal the Father and His plan for humanity. These words of Jesus continue to speak to us in the here and now as we search for greater meaning and seek answers to our deepest questions in life.

For our reflection today, we ask ourselves two questions: "Who is the Good Shepherd?" And "What does the Good Shepherd do?"

Who is the Good Shepherd? We all know that "Good Shepherd" is one of the many titles of Jesus. However, we can fully understand the identity of the good shepherd as he is placed side-by-side with evil, selfish shepherds. These “bad shepherds” failed to care for and feed the sheep, but rather allowed them to be scattered and to fall prey to wild animals. This then refers to the leaders who fail to perform their God-given responsibilities and as a result render their charge vulnerable to attack. On the contrary, Jesus is the one good, true shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep and knows his own sheep in the same manner that his sheep know him. What makes the Good Shepherd "good" is his readiness to lay down his life for his sheep. This death makes him the shepherd that is good or noble: he is the admirable shepherd because there is something admirable, heroic, and attractive in his death. This role of permanent shepherding is actually patterned after God’s “good shepherd” par excellence, David. Therefore, Jesus is said to be the model or noble shepherd because he is willing to die to protect his sheep.

What then does the Good Shepherd do? The Good Shepherd fosters communion with his flock, expresses compassion to the sheep, and has commitment to the fold entrusted to him.