kerygma july 2012

July 2012No. 266 Vol. 22

Inspiring You to Live a Fantastic Life

WHAT ARE YOU HARVESTING IN THE AUTUMN OF YOUR LIFE?

BE PREPARED WHEN WINTER COMES You Reap

What You Sow

Nurture Every Area of Your Life Now and Enjoy a Good Harvest Later

Kerygma Conference 2012: “Champions, Arise!”November 24-25 @ the MOA Arena and SMX

SAVE THE DATE!www.kerygmaconference.com

INVESTMENT CONSULTANT GUS COSIO SHARES ABOUT PREPARING FOR THE WINTER OF LIFE

JILTED ON HER WEDDING DAY: HOW ONE BRIDE SURVIVED THREE FAILED ALTAR DATES AND LIVED TO TELL THE STORY

By Bo SanchezKERYGMA BARCODE.pdf 11/16/06 5:43:58 PM

Philippines P60 US $7.00AUS $ 7.00Euro 4.00UK 4.00CDN $7.00SING $8.00HK $45.00RUPIAH 62000

No matter what your age is, it’s never too late to plan for your retirement.

In this book, Bo Sanchez shares with you the Turtle Strategy to help you grow your wealth through the stock market.

He has applied it.

His TrulyRichClub members have followed it.

And, now, they are reaping the harvest.

You can do it, too!

Shepherd’S Voice publicatioNS, iNc.60 Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon CityTel. Nos. 411-7874 / 725-9999 loc. 101 to 108www.shepherdsvoice.com.ph

Start now!Available in bookstores nationwide

Free delivery within Metro Manila for orders of php300 or more!

TURTLE AD2.indd 1 6/22/12 11:37 AM

It’s Bo’s birthday and he’s giving you a treat!

This July, get 20% off on all SVP books bought at The Feast, or ordered via phone, for free delivery right at your doorstep.*

Watch out for our online sale once a week and enjoy 40% discount on selected items.

Visit www.shepherdsvoice.com.ph for this weekly one-day sale and celebrate Bo’s birthday with books that inspire!

* Free delivery within Metro Manila for a minimum of P300 purchase, net of discounts. Provincial deliveries must include shipping cost along with their payment. Call us at 725-9999 local 101 to 108 for your book orders.

Bo's B-day treat ad.indd 1 5/25/12 10:28 AM

JULY 2012 • KERYGMA

Y es, make 100 percent!

Don’t settle for 50 percent, or 60 percent, or 80 percent, or even 90 percent — if God

has given you the ability to make 100 percent.Once upon a time, I used to earn P800 a month. I was a missionary and I was very happy. I loved

God. Yes, there were days when I got hungry, but that hunger was very good for me. God taught me many things through my hunger.

Today, I’m still a missionary. But I’m also an entrepreneur. I run 12 small businesses. Yes, I earn more now. And guess what: I’m still very happy. I still love God very much.

The only difference is that I’m able to give more. And this gives me so much joy! I can now personally finance my ministry projects, like giving scholarships to poor kids, supporting missionaries or building The Feast.

But there’s a second reason for earning more, and I’m excited to share this with you.

Very few people understand this point.When you earn money, it’s not the money that’s

important; it’s who you become through the process of earning it.

Let me give you an example.I know of two waiters. Let’s call them John and Lloyd. (Both are good

looking.)Both of them receive tips. In one week, John gets P1,000.

theBoss

By Bo SanchezBut Lloyd gets P3,000.What’s the difference? Both serve food. So why is Lloyd tipped three

times more than John?Here’s the answer: John just serves food. Lloyd serves food and

happiness and friendship and fun and kindness and hope and affection. In other words, Lloyd serves food and feelings.

How does he do that?When you enter the restaurant, Lloyd literally runs to you with

excitement. He greets you like you’re the King of Saudi Arabia or the Queen of England.

And while you’re eating, it’s as though he can read your mind. It’s actually scary. Lloyd knows what you want even before you know you need it. Water. Napkin. Salt. Toothpick. Newspaper. Diatabs. You’re just thinking of it, and it appears right in front of you.

Lloyd has a personal mission: to make you happy.Today, Lloyd is paid three times more “symbols of value” (money)

because he has increased that value within himself — and is able to give that value to you.

One day, I met a wealthy friend who lost millions because of Typhoon Ondoy. His house and cars were destroyed. He said something that blew me away. I asked him, “How are you?” And he said, “I only lost material things. Give me one year and I’ll earn it all back.”

Your wealth isn’t your money. Your wealth is who you are.I love saying this: Money is merely a symbol of value.If you want to increase your money, you’ve got to increase your value.

The more value you have, the more “symbols of value” (money) will flow into your life.

May your dreams come true.

EARN AND LOVE — AS MUCH AS YOU CAN

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KERYGMA • JULY 2012

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One thing in Kerygma that captivated me is the way it reaches out to people our age. Though some of the stories are mature in nature, I can feel the heart of the people behind those stories. Often, we tend to see magazines like this as useless material, but Kerygma has something special about it, something that makes it stand out from the rest of the materials our generation reads. The testimonies and the stories of people who lived in darkness and are now in the path of righteousness inspire us and make us feel that we, in our own little ways, can make a change in this world. It enlightens our minds to what the Lord wants for us, and helps us achieve whatever mission He has for us to do.

Bella SuansingIII-Katarungan

School of the Holy Spirit, Quezon City

Kerygma became a part of me ever since we were given monthly copies of the magazine at school. It is something I could really turn to in times of trouble. It has truly changed me and helped me become the person I am today. I wasn’t fond of reading religious magazines before, but something brought me so close to this magazine and I couldn’t resist reading every single issue.

Kerygma is great because it gives really helpful and inspiring advice for teens like us who undergo different trials and challenges. It relates to us teens — an important factor because many teens nowadays are slowly drifting away from the love of God. I love reading the testimonies and Bo’s teachings. The

experiences shared by other readers in the testimonires are truly worth reading and it gives me strength and inspiration to always believe in the grace and love of God. And of course, Bo’s teachings are amazing. He gives each and every one of us inspiration; I believe he is a living testimony of God’s love for all of us. Kerygma’s impact in my life is indescribable.

Through Kerygma, I have come closer to God and my friends have been doing the same, too. It helps strengthen my faith in our Savior and pushes me to spread His love and Word to other believers. Someday, I’d love to be part of the Kerygma Family. It’s a family full of love.

Shara MalingIII-Kagitingan

School of the Holy Spirit, Quezon City

I miss Kerygma. I’m so sad that I was not able to read it when I entered Law school. It’s good that now I am able to read it online.

Eva J.Kerygma Family member

I’m a seaman and an avid Kerygma reader since 2001. Kerygma is my source of strength and inspiration. Learning from gifted writers and the testimonies of people bring me closer to God while I’m away from home and family.

Jorge F.Kerygma Family member

We Want to hear from you!

Email us at [email protected] or text us at 0917-800-5535 or 0923-378-4941, or write to The Editor at 60 Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines 1109.

You can also reach us through KERYGMA Family. Log on to www.kerygmafamily.com.


Afew months ago, my dad was hospitalized even though he didn’t feel sick. Well, something was surely wrong with him because he had blood in his stool. But other than that, he was feeling fine.

When you’re in your eighties, you don’t take things like those lightly. But Dad is Superman — or at least he thinks he still is — so in his matter-of-fact, downplayed text, he says, “Your sister insisted that I check in at the hospital although I don’t see any reason why. Anyway, I’m OK. Nothing to worry about.”

When I visited him, he was telling me that he felt fine and was whining about why he had to be there. The doctors were running some tests on him so he had to stay in the hospital for a few days. The longer he stayed, the more Dad felt weaker and weaker. And it wasn’t because there was really anything wrong with him. (The tests all said he was in tip-top shape.) He said it was the environment that made him think he was sick, so he acted sick.

When he remembered that he wasn’t really ailing and that nothing was wrong with him, he started acting the way he felt.

He sat up when he ate his food. He became more energetic.He walked unaccompanied to the toilet lugging his dextrose along. And before long, he was out of the hospital with a clean bill of health.Dad’s experience is a classic example of how powerful our minds are. If you

believe you’re sick, you’ll soon be sick.That’s why the Bible teaches us to believe and act according to that belief. A number of times in the Gospels, Jesus attributes a person’s healing or

deliverance to his faith, to what he believed in. Hebrews 11:1 says, “To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be

certain of the things we cannot see.”In the Amplified Bible version of this passage, it says that faith perceives “as real

fact what is not revealed to the senses.” You haven’t seen it. You haven’t touched it. You haven’t smelled or tasted it. But

you believe that what you prayed for is already yours. I learned about exercising this kind of expectant faith as a young Christian. Our

elder would preach about faith and tell us, “If you prayed that God won’t make it rain today, then don’t bring an umbrella!”

With childlike faith I practiced that. And besides, I hated bringing an umbrella along. So in all my four years of college — two years of which I was commuting to and from school — I never once brought an umbrella.

When I went out of class and it was raining, I’d pray, “Lord, Your daughter needs to walk to the LRT station (or to the car in the parking lot). It would be really embarrassing and inconvenient if I get drenched in my clothes. So can You please order the rain to stop?”

And according to my faith, the rain would either completely stop or subside to a light drizzle, enough for me to get to my destination without getting soaked. Or if it didn’t stop, God would send someone to share an umbrella with me.

What are you praying for? A house?A lifetime partner?Money to send yourself, a sibling or a

child to school?Healing?A reconciliation between parties in

conflict?Now start believing — and acting —

that your prayer has been granted.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24)

Email me at [email protected] or follow me on Facebook.

What to Expect This Month:

It’s the birthday of our publisher, Bo Sanchez, on July 11 and SVP has a treat for you! For the whole month of July, enjoy these discounts:

• 20% off on all of Bo’s books! Discount is available at all Feasts. Or call 725-9999 to place your orders and we’ll deliver to your doorstep for free within Metro Manila (for a minimum purchase of P300). For provincial orders, discount does not apply to freight charges.

• 40% off on selected items during our one-day online sale held every week. Keep checking www.shepherdsvoice.com.ph for discount notices.

justBreathe

By Rissa Singson-Kawpeng

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Expectant faith is believing that God can deliver on His promisesSURE ABOUT WHAT YOU’LL GET

living by grace

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Here’s to another exciting school year ahead! Make it even more fun-and-faith-filled with these fantastic

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JULYvol. 22 no. 266

What’s

INSIDEThe Bo Files.

Columns.

Special Section.

Testimonies.

1 The Boss Earn and Love As Much As You Can

40 Point of Contact

2 Mailroom6 New You7 Real Stuff9 KFam Insider10 Dear K12 Feast Snapshots15 Feast Testimony15 Laughingly Yours17 It Happened Three Weddings

and a Broken Heart39 One Last Story Our

Miracle Baby

21 You Reap What You Sow

22 Gather the Fruits of Your Labor

28 Prepare for Winter

3 Just Breathe Sure About What You’ll Get

36 Faith@Work Career Lesson No. 1: There Is No Plan

37 K Preacher One World Alive

25 Out of the Comfort Zone and Into the Fight: The Mekeni Story

32 The Values That I Keep, I Pass On

1

32

37

Departments.

25

14

17

JULY 2012 • KERYGMA 5

ABOUT OUR COVER MODEL

Erlynn Clare Madridejo, or Lynch, is in the spring and summer seasons of her life. She continues to plant good seeds and work hard in every area of her life. Being the breadwinner of her family, yet living independently, she tries to save for her future, as she does not want to be a burden to her family in her old age. But more than tangible security, she tries to prepare herself in one thing that she regards as most important in her life: her relationship with God. She nurtures this by immersing herself in community life at the Makati Feast where she not only get spiritual nourishment but also serves in the music, outreach and intercessory ministries, among others.

Lynch is presently working as manager in the Finance Operations business of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation.

chairman of the board and publisher BO SANCHEZ • editor-in-chief and production manager RISSA SINGSON-KAWPENG • managing editor TESS V. ATIENZA • creative director REN CORTES • graphics director REY DE GUZMAN • assistant layout designer PIO MALLARI • contributing writers in this issue OSY ERICA, JOY SOSOBAN • photographers DANIEL SORIANO, DAKILA ANGELES • columnists BISHOP TED BACANI JR, ALVIN BARCELONA, ARIEL DRIZ • sales and marketing manager JOSEPH MARTINEZ • administration and finance manager WENG CEQUEÑA

KERYGMA. A Greek word meaning Proclamation of the Gospel. It is a Catholic inspirational magazine. It aims to be an evangelistic tool to all nations, providing Scriptural, practical and orthodox teachings to Catholics, particularly those in the Catholic Renewal, as an alternative to present-day magazines. It is also committed to fostering the renewal and unity of the whole Christian people. Philippine copyright Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc. 2012. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission. KERYGMA is published monthly by Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc., whose editorial and business offices are located at 60 Chicago St., Cubao, 1109 Quezon City. Tels: 725-9999, 411-7874, 725-1190. Fax: 727-5615 Email: [email protected]. Website: www.shepherdsvoice.com.ph

We know Diet 101 — the most basic way to lose weight is to slash calories. But how many do you really have to cut or burn

to see results? Answer: You can drop a pound a week by trimming 500 calories each day (based on a 150-pound woman). Try these easy tweaks to get a slim body:1. Tap your foot. Try this for a few days. Walk around while you’re

on the phone, or tap out a tune with your hands or feet.2. Don’t eat in front of the TV. According to research from the

University of Massachusetts, you’ll eat up to 288 calories more if you do so. Instead, eat at the table and trade TV-watching for a casual walk.

3. Limit salad toppings. A big salad may seem healthy but all those cheese crumbles, caramelized nuts, bacon and vinaigrettes can add lots of calories. Save 500 or more calories by having just one topping, adding flavorful but lower-calorie veggies and using half the dressing.

4. Get enough sleep. If you get only five and a half hours of sleep, you will snack during the day. So make sure you have enough sleep.

5. Serve and sit. Instead of buffet style family dinners which invite people to go back for seconds and thirds, cut hundreds of calories by filling plates before bringing them to the table. Leave serving dishes in the kitchen, too.

Source: http://health.yahoo.net

HOW TO HAVE INBOx ZERO EVERY DAY


Health Work

SIMpLE WAYS TO SLIM DOWN

TOFU: The intake of tofu reduces risk of stomach cancer. Replacing the intake of meat and dairy with tofu and other

soy products would increase intake of folate, vitamin K, calcium, magnesium, iron and fiber. This would lower cholesterol intake, which in turn would lower the risk of several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases.

Source: www.whfoods.org

newYou tips for personal development

Quick Health Tip:

One of the best ways to be efficient in your work is to have “inbox zero”

every day, meaning that all your emails are read. Here are steps to help you do that:1. If it takes less than two minutes, deal

with it now. Never “deal with it later.”2. Delete more, filter more. 3. Write short replies.4. Use Instapaper (www.instapaper.com)

or Read It Later (getpocket.com) for interesting links sent to you.

5. Delete even more.

Source: http://thenextweb.com

St. Katharine Drexel

The truest of true believers can still be found in developing countries and Catholic societies.

And number one on that list is the Philippines. This was the result of a survey called “Beliefs about God Across Time and Countries” released by researchers from the University of Chicago.

According to the research, belief in God is slowly declining in most countries around the world. The Philippines, however, was the country with the highest belief, with 94 percent of Filipinos saying they were strong believers who had always believed.

Tom Smith, who directed the General Social Survey of the National Opinion Research Center of the university, said, “The Philippines is both developing and Catholic. Religion, which is mainly Catholic, is very emotionally strong there.”

The report covered data from 30 countries that participated in at least two surveys in 1991, 1998 or 2008. The study found that while overall belief in God is declining, three countries saw increases. These are Israel, Russia and Slovenia.

Source: http://www.christiancentury.org

When it comes to best friends, men tend to be more consistent, while women do “strategic investment.”

According to a report in the journal Nature Scientific Reports, a woman’s no. 1 contact during her 20s is most often a male, but by the age of 45, she’ll most likely be calling another woman — probably her daughter — more than anyone else. Men show a much more consistent pattern, with a tendency to be linked to a female “best friend” their entire lives.

“What this looks like to us is a strategic investment in social capital on the part of women that men just don’t do,” said study researcher Robin Dunbar, an anthropologist at the University of Oxford.

Since it’s not easy to track personal relationships across the entire life span, Dunbar and his colleagues turned to phone records. Using a database of the mobile phone calls and texts of more than three million Europeans over seven months, the researchers looked at patterns by age and gender.

Starting at age 18 for women and 22 for men, people usually have an opposite sex “best friend.” Women keep this pattern for about 14 years (until the age of 32), after which their calling pattern turns more female-friendly.

Dunbar said this difference could be evolutionary. Women might focus on their own reproduction and then, once they have daughters, pour their energies into supporting them and any grandchildren.

Source: http://msn.com

BEST FRIENDS ARE FOREVER — FOR MEN

pHILIppINES IS NO. 1 IN BELIEF IN GOD


Born and Died: Philadelphia, USA, 1858 – March 3, 1955, USANotable Facts: St. Katharine founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Black and Native American peoples, whose members would work for the betterment of those they were called to serve. From age 33 until she died in 1955, she dedicated her life and a fortune worth $20 million to do this work. Mother Drexel took part in opening the first mission school for Indians in Sta. Fe in 1894. Other schools quickly followed. At the time of her death, there were more than 500 Sisters teaching in 63 schools throughout the country. Mother Drexel is the second recognized American-born saint.

Saints at a Glance

Stuffreal

Bonuan Bangus "Water Fish".indd 1 10/25/11 10:29 AM

Sabi nila, ako raw ang black sheep sa pamilya namin. Kasi ang mga magulang ko at lahat ng kapatid ko ay mababait. Ako lang ang pasaway. Nag-abroad ako, nabuntis at panay

ang pressure sa akin ng agency na i-abort ko ang baby, kasi legal naman ang abortion sa Australia. Naisip ko na nga rin yun, para tapos agad ang problema at ma-maintain ko pa ang trabaho ko..”

(They said I am the black sheep in my family. My parents and all my siblings are good. I was the only one who turned out bad. I went abroad, became pregnant, and was pressured by the employment agency to abort my baby since abortion in Australia is legal anyway. I also thought of abortion as an easy way out so I could maintain my job.)

With tears flowing from her eyes, Sandra (not her real name) recalled her journey from Australia to the Philippines, up to the time she entered the Grace to Be Born shelter against her will.

Her MisadventuresSandra comes from a rural town in Negros Oriental, from a family steeped in religious values. Her father is a member of the parish pastoral council while her mother is active in many religious organizations. So, she herself can’t understand why she grew up to be rebellious, away from the Church and any form of religion. Eventually, she went to Australia to try her luck abroad as a caregiver. She found a nice and easy job where the pay was great. She was able to buy jewelry and expensive cosmetics and other fancy things she had only dreamed about in Negros.

Then one day, all her dreams came crashing down. She fell in love (or at least she thought she did), went too far with her boyfriend, and missed her period. The pregnancy test was positive. She took another test, hoping there was a mistake, but it still showed she was definitely pregnant.

The employment agency that had sent her to Australia learned about it and was furious, as she still owed them part of her placement fee. And so, they did everything to convince her to abort the baby.

But every time she was tempted to agree to an abortion, the picture of the Infant Jesus hanging on the wall of her room kept her from carrying out her decision. Sandra admitted that she was not a prayerful woman and rarely went to church. But for reasons she couldn’t understand, she had brought a picture of the Infant Jesus to Australia and hung it on her wall.

Going Back to the SheepfoldAfter weeks of agonizing over her problem, she decided to just return to the Philippines. Her parents were furious when they learned about her pregnancy. They nearly disowned her. But her siblings were supportive of her.

Her brother searched the Internet and came across the website of Grace to Be Born, a ministry dedicated to saving the unborn from abortion, providing a shelter for unwed pregnant mothers and abandoned babies. He called up Rey Ortega, the ministry head, who told him he could bring his sister anytime.

Sandra initially objected to stay at the shelter but her siblings’ desire prevailed. She entered the shelter last February.

“Sandra was a difficult patient, always moody, hating herself and everybody in the shelter. She refused to join the community prayers,” a Grace staff recalled. “We just had to be extra patient

By Rey Ortega

THE BLACK SHEEp

HAS RETURNED

Kfaminsider

with her and understand where she was coming from. We loved her just the same and prayed hard for her.”

Every Sunday, all mothers and the Grace staff attend the Pasig Feast in Valle Verde, a prayer meeting with Holy Mass and a talk by a lay preacher. Reluctantly, Sandra joined the group (or she’d face the consequence of being all alone in the shelter!).

During her very first attendance at The Feast, Sandra found peace with God — and with herself. Returning to the Grace shelter, she called up her mom and asked for forgiveness, saying in between sobs, “Mom, I love you so much. I would like to return to you after I give birth.”

Her mom said she and Sandra’s father had long forgiven her and would be waiting for her in Negros. Due to old age and frail health, they apologized they couldn’t travel to Pasig to visit her.

But the miracle didn’t stop there.

Being a Shepherd HerselfWhen her elder brother visited her in the Grace shelter, Sandra told him about her conversion experience after attending The Feast and how she now looked forward to attending every Sunday. She even invited her brother.

Out of curiosity, and so as not to disappoint his sister, her brother did attend. And he kept returning every Sunday, until on April 8, at the Grand Easter Feast, he, too, brought along his wife.

Sandra is now excitedly waiting for her baby to be born. She looks forward to bringing her baby home to her parents and other siblings in Negros.

The grace of God healed the wounded hearts of Sandra, her mom and dad — and a baby was saved from abortion. And not only that. Even the lives of other people, like Sandra’s brother and his wife, were changed for the better. Truly awesome miracles!

Grace to Be Born is located at 53 Dr. Sixto Avenue, Kapasigan, Pasig. For inquiries, contact Rey Ortega at 0917-816-4700 or 0922-859-7035, or email at [email protected]. Landline is (632) 501-0965. Donations are most welcome and may be deposited to their Banco de Oro Savings Account 397-005-9687 under the account name: Grace to Be Born.


I WANT TO BE CLOSER TO GOD

dearK

I would like to improve my relationship with God. I want to be closer to Him. Before, I used to feel that God had His way of

communicating with me. But now, I feel that there is something wrong or missing in my relationship with Him. I keep on praying but there are times when I don’t “feel” my prayer, and it makes me feel really guilty. It feels like I’m ungrateful even if I’m thankful for His blessings in my life.

I hear Mass every Sunday. I used to read the Bible, but I stopped now and instead read Didache, Companion and Sabbath. I also tune in regularly to Preacher in Blue Jeans. When I do this, I feel the solemnity of the moment with God. But when I’m alone, I don’t know what to say to God. In my heart, though, I feel that I have a lot to say to Him.

There are times, too, when I doubt if I’m doing the right thing because of my past sins. They seem like ghosts that don’t want to go away. I keep on telling myself that God has already forgiven me, but I still don’t feel free.

Please help me to understand myself and how to be a worthy Christian.

Goody

Dear Goody,There are a couple of things that would be good for you to

reflect on. The first is that faith is not all about feelings. Sometimes the feelings will be there, but more often than not they will probably be absent. This is why we call it faith. Faith is about making a decision to sustain a relationship with God, whether we like it or not, whether we feel it or not, or whether we are worthy or not.

If you are going to measure your faith level or goodness according to your feelings, you will more often than not be disappointed. The same goes for the whole thing of being worthy. None of us are worthy or deserve to be loved by God. We are all sinners and stand under God’s judgment, but He chooses not to inflict His punishment or wrath on us. Instead, He forgives us our sins. This is an incredible act of His love for us and we should be eternally grateful for His generosity.

Understanding the true nature of God’s love and forgiveness will help you leave behind your past sins because that is precisely what God has done — thrown them away and moved on to better things. This is what God has decided to do with our sins.

Finally, it is critical that we understand that at the heart of our relationship with God is our decision to love Him and be in a relationship with Him.

Ask God to show you His love more deeply. At the same time, reflect on the Scripture texts that speak to you of God’s love and then make a decision to accept His love and forgiveness. You will realize that you are worthy only because God makes you

worthy. Decide to believe this truth and pray that God strengthens your belief in His goodness.

Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL, is the spiritual director of the Light of Jesus Community and the Elim Communities. Fun-loving and ever ready for anything, this Australian cleric is presently the parish priest of St. Benedict’s Parish in Don Enrique Heights in Quezon City.


Iam expecting to deliver my second baby in September 2012. When I went to my OB-Gyne for my regular prenatal checkup and

handed her my ultrasound result, she was so happy to know that I am expecting a baby girl this time.

My firstborn was a boy. I delivered him on July 29, 2010 through a Caesarian Section operation. It was painful and very expensive. I had a traumatic experience because I had a prolonged labor that ended in a CS.

Because of the CS, my husband and I were advised to have our second baby after two to three years. We opted to use natural family planning methods because there are no side effects and I obey God’s commandments on conception. However, in less than two years, I got pregnant again.

Now, my OB has advised me to have a ligation right after delivering my second baby this September. I already discussed this with my husband and he said it would be better for me and for us. But to be honest — I am not into such a thing. And my mother told me not to do it because I am still young. Is ligation allowed in the Catholic Church?

Please enlighten me.

Mabelle

IS LIGATION ALLOWED IN OUR RELIGION?

Dear Mabelle,Congratulations on your second baby to be born soon!I understand your concern and the concern of your OB-

Gyne who surely means well. Unfortunately, the Catholic Church does not allow ligation.

Years ago, I knew of a very good Catholic couple who, like you, used natural family planning methods. They had three girls and the doctor told the mother that one more birth might be fatal for her. “You’d better have a ligation,” she was told. She consulted a priest who told her that, in her case, her life was too important, given her husband and three kids, that in such a case a ligation might be allowed as an exception. When she was rolled into the operating room, she saw the crucifix on the wall and told the nurses she would not go through with the ligation.

The couple was extra careful, and yet she got pregnant again. She was advised to abort it but she refused. Nine months later, she gave birth by Caesarian Section to their long desired baby boy. It was as if God had rewarded the couple for remaining faithful to the teachings of the Church.

Trust Him and I am sure He will reward you also for your continuous faithfulness.

I pray for you, for your husband and your kids.

Fr. Rudy Horst, S.V.D.

When Fr. Rudy Horst came to the Philippines in 1984, he was first assigned to the Immaculate Conception Parish in Cubao. It was where he came in contact with the still young Light of Jesus Community. In 1990, he moved to Christ the King Mission Seminary, where he still serves as one of the spiritual directors of the seminarians and teaches Religious Education. He also teaches Holy Scriptures at the Maryhill School of Theology and the Divine Word School of Theology in Tagaytay.


Email your questions to [email protected]. Or if you need to talk to someone, call (632) 726-4709 or 726-6728 to contact a Light of Jesus counselor. Telephone counseling is 24 hours from Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Face-to-face counseling is by appointment. For correspondence counseling, email [email protected] or go to www.kerygmafamily.com. Or Call (632) 725-9999

Pregnant? Confused? Abortion is not the answer. Contact Grace to Be Born at 0917-816-4700 or email [email protected].

You may also contact Sr. Pilar Versoza at Pro-life Philippines. Call (632) 733-7027 or text 0920-945-5494 or email [email protected].


Imagine this: 13,000 people and 975 volunteer servants from more than 30 Feasts

all over Metro Manila and the nearby provinces packed in a 9,130-square-meter hall. The SMX Convention Center had never seen anything this big on Easter. But if you think about it, what is there to be surprised about? Easter Sunday ought to be one ultra-mega-super celebration: death has been defeated and victory has been won. It’s time to rise up with Jesus!

Makati Feast Builder Randy Borromeo opened the Grand Easter Feast last April 8 with a powerful proclamation: Jesus is alive! Kerygma editor-in-chief Rissa Singson-Kawpeng, BGC Feast Builder George Gabriel and worship leader Migs Ramirez then rendered equally powerful song performances, giving people a glimpse of Jesus’ journey from Good Friday to Easter Sunday.

Afterwards, kids from the Awesome Kids Ministry, all clothed in white, took the stage, shouting with a voice of triumph. Youth ministers joined in, as they danced with victory and waved colorful banners. Firing up the joyous occasion even more were the Kerygma 5, who then ushered the huge crowd to a hope-filled worship.

Bounce!In his Grand Easter Feast message, PICC Feast Builder Bo Sanchez described life as full of potholes. These potholes are our problems, our Good Fridays, but they are gold mines as well: dark

RISE Up!The Grand Easter Feast Celebration

Text by Osy EricaPhotos by Romy Are, I.C. de Guzman, Reymark Cristobal and Jorge Isidoro

12

Feastsnapshots


and dirty but abundant in gold. He encouraged everyone to believe that “all is well,” even if it doesn’t seem so at the moment. With the unbreakable material God has equipped us with, we can bounce back from our potholes and enjoy the gold that has been prepared for us.

Celebrate!The Akafellas then treated the Feasters with enjoyable yet meaningful music. By their final song, the crowd was up on their feet, dancing along to the lively tunes.

A Eucharistic celebration completed the festive Easter Sunday. Fr. Alex Balatbat, Fr. Steve Tynan, Fr. Lito de Vejas, and Bishop Jesse Mercado of the Archdiocese of Parañaque officiated the sacrament. In his homily, Bishop Jesse urged everyone to rise up immediately, to persevere in difficulty, and to wake up from slumber and break through our cocoons of anger and anxiety. “Do not be afraid. If the Lord can be with us in death, how can He not be with us in life?” was his reminder.

A few seconds later, upon Bo’s instruction, thousands of colorful balls marked “ALL IS WELL” flew across the large hall. Everyone was excited to catch a “ball of blessing” and to throw it back up in the air. Truly, in being a blessing to others, we become blessed even more.

By the end of the Grand Easter Feast, the crowd of 13,000 left the hall, all caught up in the joy of Jesus’ resurrection, ready to rise up, bounce and celebrate!

RISE Up!The Grand Easter Feast Celebration

13

For Feast schedules in other locations, please call Annie Mesias at (632) 725-9999 local 205.


Life’s prime needs are water, bread & clothing, a house too, for decent privacy. (Sirach 29:21)

God’s will is for us to have life to the full! (John 10:10b)

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Contact us at:+632-913-8803

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Visit us at:www.homeliving.com.ph


Iused to enjoy a simple life with my little dreams. That’s how I was before I became a regular attendee of The Feast at the Philippine International Convention Center. The people who go there call it the happiest place on

earth. And I believe that, too! At The Feast, I have many reasons to celebrate life despite my sinfulness. I

find comfort at The Feast when I am down, and I get to share my happiness when my heart leaps for joy.

It has created so many great things in my life that have strengthened my faith. For example, when Allen (my wife now) and I lifted our prayers for our wedding day and wrote them at the back of the thanksgiving envelope, God answered our prayer with a passionate response. Would you believe — 98 percent of our wedding expenses were shouldered by family and friends — the photo and video coverage, bridal car, wedding cake, wine, flowers for the church, our wedding

rings, giveaways, wedding invitations, our wedding attire, and so on. All we had to take care of was the food. Even the caterer gave us reasonable and affordable prices.

I cannot thank God enough for everything He has done for us. He made our wedding day so memorable and extravagant, Allen and I could only cry in thanksgiving.

And in December 2011, when we celebrated our first wedding

anniversary, we found out that Allen was pregnant. Then on December 14, 2011, I had an accident that lacerated my left hand, especially my two fingers. I was rushed to the hospital and my hand was operated on. I was confined for three days. I texted my caring group head, Myee Campos, for prayers because I was afraid of what would happen to my hand. Then I remembered Bo Sanchez’s definition of courage at The Feast: “Courage is not the absence of fear but doing it afraid!”

So I prayed, “Lord, I know I’m so afraid, but let Your great love fill my heart and I know You’ll take good care of me here in the hospital.”

I was smiling when I got out of the hospital and went home. But depression soon hit me because I couldn’t do the things I used to do, like playing the guitar. I tried hard to move my two fingers that had been operated on but was able to move only one. I held back my tears as I called my wife and told her what had happened. “Be patient. Give time for it to heal,” she whispered to me. It took several hours before what she said sank in. And I remembered another thing I learned from The Feast: we have a choice to be bitter in life or be the best that we can be. I decided I wanted to be the best that I can be, and I know that God wouldn’t abandon me. He is one compassionate God who is so crazy about us.

Because of this, I know for sure that, one day, I will be able to play my guitar again!

By Adjarael A. Malali

ONE DAY SOON, I’LL BE ABLE TO pLAY MY GUITAR AGAIN

Laughingly

On their wedding night, the bride tells her husband, “Hon, can you forgive me when I confess that I have false teeth?”

The husband looks relieved and says, “Thank goodness! I can now take off my wig and my artificial legs and relax!”

A man notices a string on his friend’s finger. “Why do you have that string on your finger?” he asks.

“My wife tied it on to remind me to mail her letter,” his friend replies.

“And did you?”The friend nodded.“Then why do you still have

that string on?” he asks again.“Because I want to remind

myself to tell my wife that she forgot to put a stamp on it.”

A woman met an old friend at the mall.

“I saw the doctor today about my loss of memory,” the woman tells her friend.

“And what did he do?” her friend asks.

“He made me pay in advance,” she replies.

yours

Share how The

Feast has affected your life. Email your

story to [email protected].

ph, together with your photo.

Feasttestimony

Jem can only hold his guitar right now, but his

heart continues to sing for the Lord.

By Lindsay Mariano as told to Osy Erica

He stood there in front of me, the love of my life for the past two years, the man I had planned to spend my future with. His face was ashen, his posture unsure. I knew right away that something was wrong.

But not a single word came out of his mouth. With tears flowing, I kept on asking him why. “What did I do? What have I done wrong? You told me we would make this work.” I begged for an answer, but he remained silent.

“I have been a good daughter, a loving sister, a nurturing girlfriend. I have been good even to my dogs. I loved him. I loved his family. Still, this happened,” I questioned God. The pain was unexplainable.

It would have been just like any other breakup, only I was already staring at my wedding dress and was just five hours away from changing my relationship status from single to married.

My First WeddingIn the past decade of my life, I’ve had three romantic relationships, and for some reason, I would always end up getting engaged.

It was 2002 when my then-boyfriend Ryan* asked for my hand in marriage. He was 28 — the marrying age for most — and I was 23. Ryan came from a well-off family but had the humblest heart. He was an honest man, devout and

Three postponed weddings paved the way for Lindsay to find a new love: love for herself.


happenedIT

17

Three Weddings and a Broken Heart

respectful of my opinions. He had the qualities every girl could ever want, but to the young me, all those spelled “boring.” And, although he was at the “right” age to get married, he was admittedly not ready to settle down. He was only afraid of losing me, thus the proposal.

To me, that reason was a reflection of an immature love, one that relied on security and was superficial in nature. Add to that my boredom, and my decision became clearer. I didn’t bother to wear the engagement ring anymore, and after almost five years, we parted ways.

My Second WeddingAfter two years, I met Hugh,* a British citizen from London. It was the first time I was in a relationship with a non-local, and friends warned me of foreigners’ tendencies to immediately propose marriage. I didn’t know where that belief came from, but Hugh proved that it had some truth to it. A year into our romance, he popped the question. It was an easy yes. We didn’t have any conflicts in personality and ours was a smooth-sailing union, save for his being in London most of the time. So for the second time, I was engaged.

December 2005 was the date we set for when I would become Mrs. Hugh, but four months before the ceremony, questions about my values and integrity started to come up. He began to get cold feet, too, and told me he didn’t have the means to pursue the wedding. Later on, he became doubtful of my intentions, thinking I was only in it for his money. The loss of trust was heartbreaking, and that led to a mutual decision for us to cancel the wedding. He continued to pursue me even after the breakup, but I was adamant. What a burden it would be to always have to prove that I was trustworthy.

Hugh and I remained friends, but the pain lingered. To cope, I went on dates nonstop. Drinking also became an everyday habit. I spent my weekends, even weekdays in clubs, not knowing where my life was headed. A few more months passed until I could say I had fully recovered. But had I?

My Third WeddingIn 2009, four years into the single life, I was assigned to Cebu for work. Three months after the move, just when I had resolved to stop dating, I met my third boyfriend, Chris.*

Early on in the relationship, I opened up to him about my life and my past failed relationships. He knew of my postponed weddings and succumbed to my newly instated law: “Do not give me a ring until you are proposing.” I was in this for the long haul; “fling” was not in my dictionary.

One year into the relationship, in August 2010, he asked for my hand in marriage. But the proposal wasn’t the kind you see in movies that makes you feel all giddy inside. He just handed me the ring without any words. I wasn’t convinced that he was 100 percent sure, and my disappointment led to a terrible fight. Seeing a ring and celebrating our anniversary as a couple got me thinking that it was indeed a marriage proposal, but I was so wrong.

Although it wasn’t the dream proposal, I chose to focus on the past 11 months of wonderful memories together. A second proposal from Chris came, as his mother bought an heirloom-type ring for him to give me, but the second time was a disappointment still. Even his family wasn’t convinced that he was ready to wed.

Despite my doubts about his sincerity, we went on with the planning. I took care of every detail possible, while he would just casually agree to almost everything. Somehow, that made me feel there was a chance that he was getting the feel of it, and, perhaps, was just as excited as I was. I had to persistently convince myself we were together on this.

The journey toward our October 2011 wedding was as rocky as our relationship was turning out to be. He lacked the enthusiasm a soon-to-be-married man ought to have. The pampering and sweet Chris I knew from the previous year was gone. Our fights had become terrible, of which verbal abuse was a constant ingredient. Alcohol invaded our relationship. His days weren’t complete without getting drunk. I would often beg or demand for affection, compromising my personal values, going so low just to keep us together.

Soon, we were as emotionally distant from each other as the North and South poles. The fights got the best of me, pushed me to lose my self-esteem, and I didn’t know that I had slowly developed insecurities. Struggling with these turned me into someone I no longer knew. I was violent during some of our fights, thinking it was my way to get his pity or his attention.

Despite the heartaches, I remained a faithful and loving girlfriend. I gave in to his needs and supported him in all his endeavors as my way of proving to him that I was still worth it, no matter how terrible our relationship was becoming. There was a nagging need for me to keep proving myself, my worth, when I myself wasn’t convinced anymore.

In February 2011, eight months before the wedding, my doubts intensified. In a heated argument, he uttered that he wanted out. A second attempt to call it off followed in May, after which I asked him — again — if he was completely sure he wanted to continue with the wedding. I was concerned that my family would be dragged into a forthcoming mess, but he assured me that it was still a go.

A month before the wedding, in a Discovery Weekend we attended, he manifested again his uncertainty. He was much like Peter, betraying me thrice, and it was not easy to accept.

I fell into bouts of depression. I would call my sisters in Manila but kept mum about my troubling relationship with Chris. All they would hear were my


Linday takes on a new journey: that of loving herself and her God more.

cries over the phone. To colleagues, I was a picture of enthusiasm for the wedding, but deep inside, I was depressed, confused and constantly asking myself why I was in the relationship. My self-esteem went downhill; I lost my identity. At night, I would curl up in bed, hold on to my small image of Mary Help of Christians, and pray incessantly for her to save me. Repeatedly, I cried myself to sleep. Thoughts of ending my life entered my mind. It felt like it was the next best thing to do.

Thankfully, I survived those nights until our wedding day, October 8, 2011, came. But nothing could have prepared me for the tragedy that was to come. I remember everything vividly.

In the hotel room, as I was being made up five hours before the wedding ceremony, I suddenly found myself surrounded by my family, friends, his family, and, eventually, him. I was surprised by their presence.

Chris’s sister uttered the most hurtful words any bride could hear on her wedding day. “He can’t do it, Linds.” Chris didn’t speak. Not a word. I felt like my heart was literally being pulled out of my chest and squeezed tightly until I couldn’t breathe. I went hysterical. I fervently asked him why. He remained silent.

My friend Arun Gogna, The Feast Alabang Senior Builder, entered the room, not fully understanding the heart-wrenching situation he was seeing. I held Chris’s hand and asked Arun to pray over

us. After his prayer, I exhaled a breath of relief and let go of his hand. Chris was then prompted to leave the room.

I then embraced my sister, crying more than ever and asking why such a thing could happen to a good person like me. My mom reminded me that Jesus was good, too, but He endured much suffering.

The following Monday, I flew back to Manila, wishing everything was just a very bad dream.

A Broken Heart, A New LoveBy far, my last supposed wedding was the most painful. The damage was more real, more etched, more life-changing. I admit I may not have been the perfect girlfriend, but there was simply no justification for being dumped on one’s wedding day. And a third postponed wedding didn’t really look good on any girl’s love life “resume.”

I admit, in my failed relationships, I had my share of misgivings. I was very controlling to a point; I wanted everything done my way. My plans were golden rules, and that goes for the other aspects of my life as well. I was dependent on other people for my happiness. I didn’t stand my ground; I made compromises, the worst of which was giving up my spirituality. I was in a hurry to get married because I was scared to be alone. I wanted to prove that I could be good at this. And now, God is slowly changing all of these in me.

For the first time, I am relying on something other than myself. I now live by God’s grace. I have learned to be humble and to believe more in His plans. “I don’t know” has become a new part of my vocabulary.

I have also discovered a new love: love for myself, one that is anchored on God’s unconditional love. I am learning to let go of my fear of being alone. My heart’s desire is still to be a wife and a mom, and I know God’s plan in answering that prayer is way better than mine.

I can’t say that I have totally forgiven those who’ve hurt me, but I take a little dosage of forgiveness every day. The worst is over — the groom bailing out on me on my wedding day — and I am choosing not to dwell on the pain. I want my love story to end with me being Christian enough to wish well those who have hurt me. And I know, in God’s perfect time, it will happen.

At this point, I’m at the best place I have ever been in my entire lifetime. I’m where I’m supposed to be. I will fall in love again. My next relationship will be better than the rest. I am hopeful, because I am loved by my God.

*not their real names


The love that Lindsay receives from her community and friends eases the pain of

rejection.

The wedding dress that Lindsay would have worn on that heartbreaking day.

During her bouts of depression, Lindsay found comfort in Mama Mary, holding on to her image as she cries to sleep.

Care and support from her mom Nenen and sisters Lelet and Yanie helps Lindsay in her healing.

You Reap What

You Sow


Specialsection

I’m now 46 and reaping the fruits of what I planted in the earlier years of my spiritual life. The Light of Jesus Family is also growing in

leaps and bounds. But when you’re my age, you also start

thinking of what you will leave behind. When I was a young boy, my father used to

pick me up from school. One day, I had a burning question in my mind. I swallowed hard before I blurted out the question, “Dad, what will I inherit from you?”

“Why do you ask?” my father replied.

“This morning, my classmates and I were talking about inheritance. One of my classmates said he’d be inheriting their huge tracts of land. Another boy said he’d be inheriting their hardware store. When it was my turn to speak, I realized I had nothing to say. You don’t own a farm or a store.”

My father chuckled and said, “Son, you’ll inherit my values. My honesty. My work ethic. My sense of responsibility. My faith. My love. That’s what you’ll inherit from me.”

I nodded. “Thanks, Dad.”After a few minutes, I asked, “Uh, are you sure

you don’t own land? Or a hardware store?” And we both laughed.

Friends, have you thought about it? What will you leave behind for your children and grandchildren? Will you be saddling them with a big burden when you retire?

If so, don’t fret. There’s still time to plant new seeds that will bear the kind of fruits that you want later in life.

Because, in the end, you will reap what you sow.

By Bo Sanchez


Specialsection

Gatherthe

FruitsofYour

LaborBy Bo Sanchez

One day, I was talking to a priest. He said he had started smoking in the seminary. Ironically, he said it was the priests who had taught him how to smoke. He started when he was 17 years old. And he smoked for the next 33 years. He’d

usually consume two packs a day. When friends told him to stop, he’d say, “I’m a priest. I don’t have a woman in my life. Let me have my cigarette!”

But as the years went by, his smoker’s cough became very bad. When he hit 50, he finally stopped because his doctor told him, “You have emphysema.”

But it was too late.When I met him, he was in his 50s but it was like he was in his 70s. He couldn’t take

a few steps without catching his breath. Many days, he could no longer celebrate Mass because he wasn’t strong enough.

I felt so sad for this man. His story is a classic example of people reaping what they have sown, or what

happens in the season of autumn.Autumn represents the ages 41 to 60.I know I look like I’m 25 (at least, that’s what my friends tell me whenever I treat them

out for lunch). But I’m actually turning 46 this month. (I’m as shocked as you are.) So yes, I’m in the autumn of my life.

To me, autumn represents harvest. My age is the age of reckoning. At my age, I’m harvesting what I’ve planted all these past years — good or bad. The Bible says people will reap exactly what they sow (Galatians 6:8). If I planted

good, I’ll be harvesting good. If I planted bad, I’ll be harvesting bad. Today, I’d like to talk to those who are younger than me. My main message? Be careful with what you plant in your garden.Here’s the truth: What you plant in your garden in your teens and 20s is what you’ll

harvest in your 40s, 50s and 60s….Let me give you three examples:

1. Your body is a garden. 2. Your family is a garden. 3. Your finances are a garden.

Your Body Is a GardenThe priest I mentioned above planted the wrong seeds, so he suffered the consequences of his actions later in life.

If you’re young, I urge you to plant the right seeds in the garden of your body — because you’ll be eating the fruits of what you planted.

Another example? Don’t ever make the mistake of saying, “I can eat what I want to eat. I’m young anyway.”

Last year, my mother was rushed to the hospital because she had difficulty breathing. There was phlegm in her breathing pipe. She recovered from it, but it made me realize how hard it is to make someone healthy if they’re already advanced in age.

I’ve taught my mother how to eat right. For example, she’s taking my Morning Power Drink. (For those who don’t know what this is, visit www.52healinghabits.com for my Habit #1 eReport.) At my advice, she’s also avoiding meat and eating mostly vegetables now.

But the problem is she’s already 87. Her body is already weak. Changing her diet now won’t make her healthy overnight. It won’t be easy to flush out all the toxins she’s ingested all these


Gatherthe

FruitsofYour

Labor

years. I wish we had worked on her diet when she was 20 or 30 or 40 years old. (But I wasn’t alive yet then!)

Because what you eat in your 20s or 30s will manifest in your body in your 40s and 50s and 60s.

If you’re young today, I urge you to eat the right food now while you’re young. Change into a healthy diet today! So that you’ll harvest health when you grow older.

The same principle works in your family life as well.

Your Family Is a GardenI know of a guy who is exactly my age — 46 years old.

Twenty years ago, he abandoned his wife and three kids for a younger woman. He just walked out

of the house. Later on, he tried reconciling with his kids, but it was very difficult.

Today, he is reaping what he has sown. Some of his kids are making the wrong choices, going with the wrong crowd.

I’m not saying that all broken families will produce broken kids. That’s not true.

Some of my friends come from broken families, but God has

healed them and they’re living very successful lives.

But I’m just pointing to a very important fact: be careful with what you plant in the garden of your family life.

Whenever my sisters and I are with my mother, it’s always a happy time. We talk,

we laugh and we swap stories with her. She is surrounded by

so much love!Why? Because all her life,

my mother planted love in her children’s hearts. She raised us well. She spent time with us. And she’s now harvesting what she planted a long time ago.

My final example? The principle works in your

financial life, too.

Your Finances Are a GardenAfter my financial seminar, a 70-year-old man said, “Bo, where were you when I needed you? Where were you 40 years ago?”

I said, “Forty years ago, I was playing with marbles, having fun spider wrestling and enjoying patintero.”

He sighed, “Bo, I wish someone told me 40 years ago what you’re telling me now.”

The old man told me his sad story. He had worked all his life and retired as the manager of a huge food company. But he never saved. Using the language of my article here, he never planted in his garden. Today, he is very poor. He can’t even buy his own medicines.

He also mentioned that his kids were very kind and always gave him money. But he feels bad that he still bothers them for his needs.

When he left the seminar, his burning resolution was to bring his kids and grandkids to attend my seminar.

He was also telling me how moved he was when I explained (in the seminar) that my two young boys, Bene and Francis, are now investing in the stock market. For example, though Francis isn’t earning yet, he invests the Christmas money he gets from his ninangs and ninongs (godparents) in the stock market. If he keeps it up, he’ll be a millionaire when he reaches 18. My kids are planting very early. And their harvest will be bigger than mine.

Friend, you need to plant early in the garden of your finances.

Teach your kids to invest.Plant financial literacy in their lives.Let me say it again: Be careful with what you plant in

the garden of your life!



Bo’s Action Steps:

1. What is the state of the following areas of your life?

a. spiritual b. physical c. family d. work e. relationships

2. Consider your goal for each area and then check how far or near you are to them. What can you do today to ensure that you will get the harvest that you want later in life?

24

OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE AND INTO THE FIGHT

THE MEKENI

STORYBy Pruds Garcia as told to Joy Sosoban


True joy is when you sacrifice your own comfort for the sake of others.” Tatang Felix, our father, wrote us these words

when he was trying to convince me and my other brothers to go back to the Philippines in 1993.

“People here are betting on cards, getting drunk, chasing each other with a bolo, going into prostitution. What will happen to these families if we don’t give them jobs?” he appealed to us.

This was during the time that the Province of Pampanga was devastated by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 and subsequent lahar flows in the next two to three years. Back then, Tatang would see the same scenario every day, where 200 to 500 families were evacuated just across our house to the school where Tatang Felix and our mother, Imang Meding, worked as school teachers. It was a very sad and pitiful scene that deeply touched Tatang.

This prompted him to summon all of us to go back to the country and devote our talents and skills to help our hometown recover and rise up again. We owe a lot to this town, which had been very supportive to our parents when they were just starting a backyard poultry and piggery business to augment their income as teachers. Through their hard work and the business, all of us, five brothers, were able to finish college, which became our stepping stone to establish our professional careers, both here and abroad.

At the time of the Pinatubo eruption, my eldest brother, Kuya Adring was in Germany; Lito, the third sibling, and I were working in Saudi Arabia; while Doods (the fourth) and Nards (our youngest) were left with our parents in Porac to attend to our growing backyard meat processing business.

I was already at the peak of my career in one of the big companies in Saudi Arabia as an audit manager and I must admit that I was living a comfortable life. It was the same for Kuya Adring and Lito. So we were not keen on going home. But as obedient children, and trusting the wisdom of Tatang, we heeded his call.

Crazy DecisionWhen we came back, we could hardly recognize the province where we had grown up. It was a totally different place, a place so ravaged by the force of nature.

Our knowledge in business, coupled with the experiences we’d had abroad, dictated that investing in Porac was definitely not a sound decision. There was so much work to be done in rebuilding the infrastructure destroyed by Pinatubo — roads, communication lines, transportation, supplies and materials. Everybody had a wait-and-see attitude holding on to their money and

Specialsection

TESTIMONY

Mekeni is what is it now because Pruds and his brothers heeded their Tatang’s call.

resources. Even the community that we wanted to help could not understand why Tatang had asked us to come home and invest all our lifetime savings in our meat processing plant.

There was only one thing going for us: it was the people that we wanted to help. And Tatang repeatedly explained to us, “These are the people who have lost hope. We need to give them hope. These are good people. They will do everything to succeed. Your challenge is to make these ordinary people perform extraordinary jobs.”

Against all odds and banking on our greatest asset — our people — we did the extraordinary. We invested in a new plant and risked everything we had with our fervent desire to bring new hope and new life to our beloved community. Others may have called it a crazy decision at that time, but to us and to our parents, it was the right and probably the best decision we’ve ever made.

“We Will Fight!”That resolve started our Mekeni journey in 1993. It wasn’t smooth sailing because we faced a lot of challenges along the way. But we were able to survive and we celebrated our small victories with our people with the improved operations and sales that we achieved each year.

But in 1996, foot and mouth disease (FMD) struck the country and dragged down our sales by almost 60 percent. Then the Asian crisis followed in 1997 when our currency depreciated from Php 26 to Php 33 to a dollar. This time, I told my brothers, “We can’t go on.”

We talked to Tatang about it. Again, we were at the point of giving up but Tatang reminded us of our purpose for returning to the Philippines. “This is not just for you to decide. The very reason you came back is to give hope and jobs to our people. So if you decide without consulting our people, that’s very unfair. Let’s get their opinion, whether to fight or surrender; if they say we fight, then let’s agree you will not leave, and we’ll all fight together.”

We took note of what Tatang had said and prepared to consult with our people. We tried to explain to them the odds the business faced and the impact of the FMD and Asian crisis (factors that we had no control of ) to the business. Although most of our workers are high school graduates, we made them understand in simpler and more straightforward terms the difficulties the company was going through.

After all our explanations, Tatang once again stood up and asked the question, “Are we going to fight or are we going to surrender?”

Our people stood up and shouted, “We will fight!” Tatang replied, “Then my boys will stay and I promise you that a day will come when you will be proud that you are working with Mekeni.”

The decision was sealed in 1997, and from then on there was no looking back.

Dedication and DisciplineTrue enough, Mekeni was able to hurdle all our challenges and, finally in 2001, we were able to build our modern meat processing plant. It earned not only the loyal patronage of customers nationwide but had been slowly acknowledged as a leader in the meat processing industry.

The dedication and discipline of Mekeni’s people had crowned them with recognition from the Department of Agriculture’s National Meat Inspection Service. Mekeni won the first competition in 2004 as the Best AAA Meat Processing Plant in the country, and we defended this title in 2005 and 2006. Finally, in 2007, we earned the Department of Agriculture’s Hall of Fame Award for Best AAA Meat Processing Plant in the country, as a result of the three consecutive years of winning the award.

Mekeni, however, did not rest on its laurels. We added another dimension to its goal. This time, Mekeni wanted to be a world-class meat processor, which can only be made possible by developing world-class people. True enough, the workers of Mekeni rallied to achieve this goal by giving their best in their daily tasks. Their efforts paid off with the distinct recognition of being the first ISO 22000-certified company in the Philippines and Asia, and the second in the world. (ISO 22000 is a set of operating standards for food safety developed by the International Organization for Standardization. This means that an ISO 22000-certified company has met all the international standards for food safety at any stage in the food chain.)

Used as InstrumentsWe never expected that our decision would come to this. So one time, we asked Tatang about it. “Tang, did you expect this?”

He said no. Then he added, “So, if you didn’t know and I didn’t know, then Someone up there is directing our paths. We have nothing to boast of. This is not ours. God is just using us as instruments.” So our next advocacy was to share our story to others — so that anybody can believe that they can do what we have done.

Once again, Tatang reminded us of our grounding in God. Our blood father — he is also our spiritual father. Mekeni’s success is, in a large part, borne out of Tatang’s wisdom, derived through prayer and a close union with the Lord. We try to continue on that legacy in our company as we try to give work-life balance to our employees, making sure that their spiritual life is nourished through prayer meetings, values formation seminars and the like.

Our hard work and dedication had given us so many accomplishments, so many reasons to be thankful for. With these, Mekeni is ready for bigger challenges ahead. We are now a multi-million peso company with more than 1,000 workers, most of them from the barrios. Recently, we have started to target the export market. I think that’s an opportunity for us to grow even bigger.

Mekeni will continue to explore more opportunities for its people and the community. We will not stop doing what we are doing for as long as there are people who line up for a job. I hope we will not be content — that we will always move out of our comfort zone and always get into the fight. God will always direct us to the path He wants us to take.


P R E P A R E F O R

WINTERBeside Pruds is his Tatang, who also serves as his and his siblings’ spiritual father.

26


P R E P A R E F O R

WINTER

27

Specialsection

Winter represents the ages 61 and onwards.

You might say, “Shucks, Bo, that’s not for me. I’m far from that age.”

Believe me, this is for you. Because you need to prepare for winter. Because the battle

is not won in the battle itself. The battle is won before the battle begins. Here’s the truth: Victory is all about preparation.

I repeat: Prepare for winter.No doubt about it. As sure as the sun will rise tomorrow,

winter will come in your life. No matter what you do. No matter how many facelifts and tummy tucks and botox treatments and breast augmentation you get, you won’t stop aging.

In spring, you plant. In summer, you care for what you planted. In autumn, you harvest what you planted. And in winter, you let the soil renew itself for the next planting.

In other words, winter is about giving to the next generation.

Giving what? Giving the “ancestral blessings” that we receive from our parents and our grandparents — and the “ancestral blessings” we give to our children and grandchildren.

Nice Benefits of Being 60Being sixty has cool advantages. Here they are:• Kidnappersarenotveryinterestedinyou.• Inahostagesituation,terroristsandbankrobbersarelikely

to release you first.• Peoplecallat9:00p.m.andask,“I’msorry,didIwakeyou

up?”• Youhaveapartyathomeandtheneighborswon’teven

know you’re having a party. Because it is so quiet.• Yoursecretsaresafewithyourfriendsbecausetheycan’t

remember them.• Andfinally,youenjoy20percentdiscountinrestaurants,

drugstores, and if you live in certain cities, free movies at certain days of the week. (I met an elderly couple who have watched every single movie shown.)

By Bo Sanchez


But the biggest benefit for being in winter? God gives them the time and space to ask a very big question.

When You Realize You Won’t Live ForeverWhen people are in their sixties, they come face to face with their mortality.

Let me describe winter for you.When they look at the mirror, they see their once-

upon-a-time thick, jet-black hair disappearing before their eyes. (You should think positive. Don’t think your hair is lessening. Think your forehead is increasing.)

When they see their once-upon-a-time flawless, smooth skin now has wrinkle lines and age spots. (A little girl touched her grandfather’s face and asked him, “Lolo, did God make you?” “Yes, He did,” he smiled. The girl touched her own face and said, “Did God make me, Lolo?” “Yes, He did,” he nodded. The girl said, “I think God is getting better in making faces.”)

What they used to do effortlessly, they cannot do anymore. They used to run up the stairs. Now they can’t even climb up without sitting down after a few steps. After taking a rest midway, some even forget whether

they were going up or going down.Their vocabulary is now filled

with medical terms, words they’ve never spoken before — words such as cholesterol and arthritis

and hypertension and prostate and osteoporosis.

They’re stunned that their own parents died in

their seventies or eighties

— and that is

only

10 or 20 years away! At the winter of life, they realize that death is just around the corner. And that’s a good thing, because they begin to ask this very big question.

The Wise Know What Questions to AskThe Bible says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

A man who knows he’s dying one day becomes wise.How do you know if you’re wise? Someone said a wise

man doesn’t necessarily know the right answers, but he knows the right questions. And a person who’s facing his mortality is forced to ask the big question of winter.

Please know that people can ask this question at any season in their lives. Teenagers ask this question. Twenty-somethings ask this question. People in their 30s and 40s ask this question. But when you’re in your 60s, you ask this question with greater urgency and ferocity.

The Big Question of WinterHere’s the big question of winter: Does my life have meaning?

This question is asked in various ways:“Is my life all worth it?”“Am I leaving a mark in the world?”“What legacy am I leaving behind?”“What gift am I giving to the next generation?”“Am I leaving this world a better place than when I first

entered it?”All of a sudden, you realize that life isn’t about you.

Life Is About GivingJulie (not her real name) is a 65-year-old woman who was told that she had cancer and she had three months to live.

Thankfully, Julie was a woman who had a deep relationship with God. She didn’t have fear in her heart.

Julie called up all her friends for a special dinner at home. After the meal, she invited them to gather in the living room. Julie then brought out all her possessions. Her jewelry. Her clothes. Her antiques.

Her friends were wondering what she was doing.That was when Julie said, “As you know, my doctor said

I have three months to live. Whether or not this is true, I do not know. But I feel this is a special gift from God to me. At

least, I can prepare well for it. One of the things I realized is that when you know you’re dying, you suddenly lose the desire “to get.” You now want to give. When one is dying, one loses the need for all these material things.

So I want you to bring home one thing as a token of our friendship, something to remember me by.”

There was a lot of hugging and crying that night.But Julie was right. Winter’s most important lesson? Life

isn’t about getting. Life is about giving.


But you don’t give only material things.The Bible says, “A good man leaves an inheritance for

his children’s children.” (Proverbs 13:22). Primarily, I believe it’s a spiritual inheritance.(Note: Even if you don’t have biological kids, you

have spiritual kids. Right now, there are young people who look up to you. What spiritual inheritance do you give to them?)

Dad’s Three Gifts to MeDad passed away when he was 88 years old.

But he did leave behind a legacy. He gave me many gifts, too many to count, but

he primarily gave three important ones. Dad’s legacy consisted of three virtues.

SpiritualityWhy do I love God today?

Because all his life, Dad loved God. Dad made God first in his life.

For him, it was the only way to live.Dad and Mom started going to Mass daily when

they got married. Dad was 25 and Mom was 19. And they never stopped. Dad went to Mass daily for 60 years, until God took him home. And Mom? To this day, at the age of 87, Mom still does it. She’s been going to Mass daily for 69 years.

The most important gift my parents gave me is my faith in God.

People are shocked as to why I started serving God at such a young age. How could I not serve God? Dad showed me that it was the only way to live.

Dad served in our parish for as long as I can remember. He was lector, commentator, lay minister, altar boy, bell ringer and offering collector. In fact, people even called him “assistant parish priest.” Because the parish would collapse without Dad.

HumilityThe Light of Jesus Family started 32 years ago.

I was 14 years old — and I was already its overall leader.

My father was a humble man. He never took the overall leadership because he believed I had the gift and he didn’t. So he just supported me, always working behind the scenes.

He knew his place. He knew he was not a good preacher. But he knew he was a good accountant. So he focused on his core gift. He managed the finances of the Light of Jesus Family.

Because of him, I realized that humble people are

secure people. It’s the insecure people who like to grab the limelight, who scramble for positions, who are enamored with titles — because they need the crowd’s applause.

Dad was different. He didn’t need anyone’s applause. He was a silent worker who did what he felt God wanted him to do.

In his company, Dad was assistant vice-president. But in ministry, he’d arrange the chairs of our prayer meeting — week after week after week.

IntegrityWhy did people trust a 14-year-old kid to lead them?

Partly because my parents were trustworthy people. They were people of integrity.

I always preach that we harvest what we plant. But here’s the other truth: Part of what we harvest doesn’t come from what we planted. Part of what we harvest comes from what our parents planted.

Today, I’m enjoying the fruits of what my parents planted.

This includes the trust and the respect that people gave me when I was starting out in ministry.

Dad was one of the most honest men I knew. He was so honest that everywhere he went, they always elected him as treasurer. He was treasurer in the parish. He was treasurer in the homeowners association. He was treasurer for the Parent-Teachers Association. He was treasurer for his school’s alumni association. I bet if he had joined Nora Aunor’s Fans Club, they’d have made him treasurer, too. (But I think he was a Vilmanian.)

I’m wondering now if God called him to heaven because they needed a treasurer there, too.

This is what I call “ancestral blessings.”

Two Ancestral Blessings to Pass OnThe Bible says, “The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him” (Proverbs 20:7). I’m blessed today because of the godly life of my parents.

If your parents and grandparents followed God, you, too, will receive ancestral blessings from them. If they did what was right, if they stayed faithful to God, if they loved God, then no doubt about it, you’re now receiving ancestral blessings.

There’s no such thing as a self-made man. We’re partly made by the village that raised us.

I repeat: part of our harvest comes from what we planted. But there’s a portion of our harvest that we didn’t plant. It was planted by those that had gone before us.

We inherited spiritual wealth from our ancestors.And we also pass this spiritual wealth to our descendants.There are two ancestral blessings you want to pass on.


The first is spiritual values.The second is a spiritual vision.

1. Spiritual ValuesToday, I want you to give ancestral

blessings to your children and grandchildren and great grandchildren, biological or otherwise. Through the example of your life, bring them closer to God.

If you do, the Bible says that you’ll be like stars that shine forever. Daniel 12:3 says that those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever. One of the most beautiful legacies you can leave behind this world is people who follow God because of you.

This made me think about how hard people work to give a financial inheritance to their kids.

According to news reports, Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak had $80 billion stashed away in Swiss banks before he was ousted in 2011. Today, he can’t get any of it because all his wealth is frozen. President Mubarak is 82 years old. What will he do with $80 billion? Give it to his children?

I repeat: a lot of people work hard to earn money to give a big financial inheritance to their children. But be very careful, because a big financial inheritance can be a curse, not a blessing, to your kids if they don’t have a spiritual foundation.

Instead of giving a financial inheritance, work very hard to give a spiritual inheritance to your children.

That’s the best gift you can give your children and grandchildren. Bring them closer to God!

But if there are ancestral blessings, there are also ancestral curses. If we live a life of unrighteousness, we pass on ancestral curses to the next generation. The Bible says the punishment of the fathers shall be brought down to the third and fourth generation (Exodus 20:5).

What does that mean?Simple. If the kids are exposed to

the wrong lifestyle of their parents,

they may imitate them. (It’s still their choice though.)I was talking to a married man who had made a decision to cut off his

adulterous relationships. As we were talking and praying together, he told me something that blew my mind. He said that adultery runs in his family. His father had three wives. His uncles all had extramarital affairs. His late grandfather also had four wives.

How come? Even if it wasn’t openly discussed, the kids grew up “sensing” the immorality of their father. This exposure made them more vulnerable to temptation in the later years of their life.

Let me emphasize. We don’t inherit sin. Sin is always a personal choice. But we can inherit the tendency to sin.

The only solution? Get re-parented by spiritual parents. Grow in your spirit. Grow in your character. (That’s what a spiritual community offers. Go look for one.)

And here’s the second part of the ancestral blessings that you want to pass on to your kids.

2. Spiritual VisionAside from spiritual values, you also want to pass on a spiritual vision to

your children, not as an imposition, but as an invitation.There are two kinds of dreams: small dreams and big dreams. Don’t pass

on your small dreams. Your big dreams are the spiritual vision they need to guide them in life.

Let me go off tangent for a while and talk about small dreams.I’ve been studying about menopause lately. All of us know that women

go through menopause. But do you know that men go through their own menopause, too?

For women, it’s physical. For men, it’s mental.A woman’s menopause is caused by the lack of estrogen flowing through

her veins. A man’s menopause is caused by the lack of fulfilled dreams in his life.

A man looks at the mirror and realizes he’s running out of time. He’s facing the fact that some of his small dreams won’t be fulfilled.

Let me give you an example.Like most guys I know, Dad liked cars.And he had a life-long dream of owning a Mercedes Benz. It didn’t have

to be new — even if it was an old clunker, as long as it was a Benz. At a certain point, he was very close to fulfilling that dream. His friend was selling his 20-year-old Benz to Dad.

But at that time, Dad was so busy serving God in the ministry. Because he knew the old Benz would cost a lot of time and money to maintain, he gave it up. Owning the Benz was his small dream. Serving God was his big dream. So he gave up his small dream for the sake of his big dream. That’s why it didn’t bother him that he never owned a Benz in his life. (In heaven, I bet he’s driving a Rolls Royce now.)

All of us have small dreams. Go for them. They’re good for your self-esteem. And they’re absolutely fun. Fulfill them if you can.

But sometimes, when there’s a conflict between your small dreams and big dreams, give up your small dreams for the sake of your big dreams.

I repeat: Don’t pass on your small dreams to your children. Small dreams are about preferences, personalities and potentialities. Let them create their own small dreams.

It’s the big dreams that you want to hand down to them, a spiritual


BO’S ACTION STEPS:

1. What ancestral blessings have you received from your parents and grandparents?

2. What ancestral blessings are you passing on to the next generation?

3. How are you preparing for the winter season of your life?

31

vision for their future — not as an imposition but as an invitation. I tell my kids, “I want you to serve the Lord in whatever calling He gives you. You figure out how He wants you to serve Him. You could be a chef or a chemist or a businessman or a preacher. But whatever you do, I just want you to serve the Lord with all your heart.”

Let Go and Let GodHere’s the truth: Some of your big dreams won’t happen in your lifetime. That’s why you need to pass them on.

But that’s OK. Because if it’s a really big dream, the dream is more important than the dreamer. The dreamer can die but the dream won’t. If the dream is more important than the dreamer, then you’re willing to pass the dream to the next generation. Let go and let God.

Moses dreamt of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. But he was never able to do it. He died before they actually stepped into the land. He had to pass his dream to Joshua, the leader that he chose to succeed him.

King David dreamt of building a temple for God. But he couldn’t because he was a warrior, not a builder. So it was his son, King Solomon, who built the temple.

When it comes to your dreams, don’t be distracted about timing.

For example, I’m dreaming of building 1,000 Feasts (our weekly prayer gathering in the Light of Jesus, my spiritual family). Will this happen in my lifetime? I believe it will.

But even if it won’t, it won’t bother me. We’re raising up a new generation of young leaders whom God will use to make that dream come true.

I repeat: If the dream is more important than the dreamer, the dreamer can die but the dream won’t.

Let me end with one last story.One day, an elderly carpenter was about to retire.When he told the owner of the company that he was

finally leaving, the man said, “I hate to let go of such a great carpenter. Before you retire, can I ask a favor? Can you make one last house for me?”

The carpenter agreed, but he did so with a heavy heart. So when he was building the house, his passion was no longer there. It was shoddy workmanship. The people around him noticed, and they were sad to see him end such a sterling career in this way.

When the carpenter finished building the house, his boss came over to inspect it. The man then faced the carpenter, took his hand, and placed the key of the house in his palm. “This house is yours,” the man said. “It’s our parting gift to you for all the years of service you gave the company.”

The carpenter was shocked. And then his heart

was filled with painful regret. Oh, if he only knew he was building his own house, he would have done a better job!

Attention: you’re building your house now. Your construction materials are your thoughts, your words and your deeds. By the way you live every day, you’re building your house. By the way you talk, the way you treat others, the way you make your decisions every day, you’re actually constructing your house — a house for your children and grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Will it be a house of love or indifference?Will it be a house of fidelity or infidelity?Will it be a house of generosity or selfishness?Will it be a house of forgiveness or conflict?You choose. Because you’re the carpenter.My suggestion? Build well.Because you want to give the best ancestral blessings

to your descendants.


THE

VALUES THAT I KEEP,

I PASS ONBy Gus Cosio as told to Tess V. AtienzaPhoto by Josiel Erica


I, Augusto M. Cosio, Jr., being of sound mind and body in spite of being born 60 years ago today, solemnly swear to the best of my ability that:• I will avoid acting silly as if I were still 30 years old, even if I still feel 30 years

old inside;• I will never act as if I knew everything just because of my age;• I will never wear a toupee even if my hair has already thinned out and will

probably shed some more;• I will always be open to change, at least as far as my underwear and socks

are concerned;• I will never stop smiling because crankiness is a reflection of aging

ungracefully.So help me, Nelia (my beloved spouse).”

This “oath” sent my guests laughing as I started to read it. Earlier, while waiting for guests to arrive, I was thinking of what I could do to provide a little entertainment. So I quickly scribbled this oath on my iPad. I had a simple dinner with family and very close friends — around 30 people in all. We sat in one long table in a cozy boutique restaurant named Chef Tatung’s along Matipid Street in Sikatuna Village, Quezon City. I asked if they noticed the street name. “It’s Matipid — so that my birthday celebration would be matipid (inexpensive),” I quipped.

It was a night of fun and laughter. The food was excellent and there was none of the tributes and audio-visual presentations that usually accompany milestone birthday celebrations. Aside from family, present were my closest friends whom I have known since we were in third grade at the Ateneo de Manila Grade School, although we really started hanging out with each other when we were already in high school. Back then, Jim Paredes of the APO Hiking Society fame would often pick up a guitar and start playing current hit songs, and everyone would just sing along. That was actually how APO started. That evening, Jim picked up the beat-up guitar and we began singing again just as it was during our teenage years. It was more than enough entertainment for the other guests.

The morning after, I filled out an application form for senior citizenship card, and then headed off to the Land Transportation Office in Robinson’s Galleria to renew my driver’s license — my first official act as a senior citizen.

Thinking of My Golden YearsI started thinking about the golden years of my life about two years ago, knowing that I was already approaching 60. I assessed my life and one thing I am happy to say is that I was able to keep out of debt. It was something that I tried to avoid all my life, which leaves me pretty solvent as I approach retirement.

Do I have a lot of money? Not much, so I am setting myself up for some kind of annuity income when regular income eventually stops. When I returned from working abroad, I was able to acquire a small property aside from my present residence. Recently, I put some money down on a condo unit that I hope to fully pay by the time I retire, and then eventually rent out. Aside from getting myself financially ready for the winter years, I am also thinking of a business that I can pursue when I retire.

One desire is to write a book on investing in the Philippine markets, my field of expertise. My sons have been egging me to write a book as I have gotten a lot of following in my blogs and in my social media accounts.

A Personal Advocacy I Want to Keep DoingIf there’s one thing that I really love to do — and hope to continue doing after retirement — is to teach people how to invest and understand markets. It has been a personal advocacy, which is also the advocacy of the company that I now am working for, the First Metro Asset Management, Inc. (FAMI).

In FAMI, many of our investors are teachers and regular employees. The founders

Specialsection

TESTIMONY

Teaching people how to invest is a passion for Gus. He uses every op-portunity availableto impart what he knows about investing.

THE

VALUES THAT I KEEP,

I PASS ONBy Gus Cosio as told to Tess V. AtienzaPhoto by Josiel Erica


of our company, Francis Sebastian and Jojo Dispo, also devout Catholics, saw that many of our teachers were not able to save because they did not see substantial benefit in putting their money in the bank. The latest survey by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas revealed that only 20 to 30 percent of Filipinos have savings accounts. Of these, many keep a savings account only for the convenience of an ATM or an extended wallet. A large percentage of our population does not know or have not heard of mutual fund investing. For an initial P5,000 investment and then P1,000 on succeeding placements, one could derive returns significantly higher than the current level of interest rates.

As part of my preparation for my retirement, I opted to have part of my salary automatically deducted and invested in a mutual fund. I have been on this monthly investment plan for over two years now and it has resulted in what is called peso cost averaging of my investment, an investment strategy that minimizes losses and maximizes returns. This is the mindset which I hope to share with other people.

When I lived in Hong Kong, I saw how ordinary people, even taxi drivers, invested in the stock market and in mutual funds. I want to see Filipinos doing the same, especially since we are in the beginnings of sustained economic growth. This inspires me more to do my share in teaching our countrymen how to save and invest for the future.

Passing on Spiritual Values to My ChildrenI have been an investment professional for most of my career. As such, I believe in value creation and that God creates value for all of us. I share this spiritual belief with my family. One spiritual gem that I treasure is Malachi 3:10, which says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and try me in this, says the Lord of hosts: ‘Shall I not open for you the floodgates of heaven, to pour down blessing upon you without measure?’”

I’ve been a faithful tither since 1988, and I would tithe even during the times of personal famine. There was a time when I was in between jobs for a number of years, yet I never ran out. Every time I reached the point when I had nothing in my pocket or wallet, always an opportunity would come.

Whenever I recall two instances when this happened in my life, I get teary-eyed. Around eight years ago, I had no income. I didn’t know how the next set of family bills would be paid. My kids were still dependent on me then. Unexpectedly, an old friend called, “Hey, Gus! Can you do something for me and join me in this business endeavor?” Then we started the business and income started to flow again.

I left the business when it was already running well and, after a few months, money started to run out again. All my credit cards were already maxed out. I was really down and out. Although I had some income, it was not enough to service my credit card payments. Again, an old friend called me to ask me what I was doing and if I was available. He said that my work experience was too valuable to be left untapped. He hired me as a consultant at the First Metro Investment Corporation, the investment banking arm of the Metrobank Group, and in September 2009, they made me take the helm of FAMI.

If there is one particular truth about investing that I learned through my experience, it is that if you invest in the Kingdom of God, it will always come back to you. That has made me more earnest in giving 10 percent of my income back to God.

Aside from the witness of giving back to God, my wife, Nelia, and I brought up our children in godly ways. Martine, Lorenzo and Carlos, while very young, were exposed to life in a Catholic Charismatic community. So they grew up with strong spiritual values. They are close to the sacraments and to the Word of God, having acquired the habit of reading the Bible since they were small kids. That was a good foundation for them and now that they are parents themselves, I see them passing on the same virtues to their children. Today, my children have their own thriving businesses. I believe, too, that my wife and I have witnessed to them a good and loving marital relationship. I hope that our example would make ripple effects in their own marriages.

Speaking of LegaciesRecently, in a gathering with high school classmates, one started talking about leaving a legacy. I thought to myself, I really don’t think much about it. When I go, I go. I’m more interested in going to heaven than in leaving a legacy behind. I taught my children godly values. They grew up as Christians. I’m happy with that.

In my previous jobs and in the present one, and in the schools where I have teaching stints, I’m happy that I am able to open the minds of people in understanding markets and on the value of investing for their personal lives. I also hope they saw God in what I imparted.

Between now and the time when my sun sets, I hope to keep doing the same thing. If the Lord gives me a longer time to live so I can pursue my advocacy, fine. If the time is shorter, that’s also fine with me. It’s not up to me anyway; I live at His pleasure. So I’ll just continue what I’m doing and hope that I impact other Filipinos’ lives so that, together, we can all make the Philippines rich — both spiritually and materially.

Teaching people how to invest is a passion for Gus. He uses every op-portunity availableto impart what he knows about investing.

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4. Promo period is from June 1, 2012 to December 28, 2012.

5. All entries received until December 28, 2012 qualify for the draw.

Grand draw is on January 13, 2013.

Guidelines

1. A participant can only win once. If the participant wins more than once, she/he gets the higher prize.

2. A notification letter via registered mail will be sent to winners for confirmation. Instructions on where to claim the prize will be detailed in the letter.

3. Prizes are transferrable but not convertible to cash.

4. Prizes must be claimed within 60 days from receipt of notification.

5. Unclaimed prizes will be forfeited in favor of SVP with prior approval of DTI.

6. Winners shall claim their prizes at the Shepherd’s Voice office at 60 Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City, upon presentation of the notification letter, claim stub and valid ID with photo (e.g., driver’s license, company ID or passport). Winners who cannot claim their prizes

personally, especially those from provinces,may send their representative provided they present the following:

a. Letter of authorization from the winner

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c. Letter and claim stub sent by SVP

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8. All SVP employees are not eligible to join the raffle promo, including their relatives up to the 3rd degree of consanguinity or affinity.

9. A DTI representative will be on hand to witness the draw on January 13, 2013 after the first session (10:30a.m.) of The Feast at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City, Manila.

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COL Financial Group (formerly known as CitisecOnline) is the no. 1 online stockbroker in the Philippine Stock Exchange with a strong capitalization of over Php1 Billion. With years of experience, expertise and local and global knowledge of equities combined with an advanced trading platform, COL provides a convenient way of successfully investing in stocks. COL holds free weekly investor education seminars on the basics of investing in the stock market at the COL Training Center, 24/F East Tower, PSE Centre, Exchange Rd. Ortigas Center Pasig City. For more information, you can visit our website at www.colfinancial.com or call 6-515-888.

KMP-Back to School Promo ad.indd 1 5/28/12 2:35 PM

Kerygma mission Partner

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4. Promo period is from June 1, 2012 to December 28, 2012.

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Grand draw is on January 13, 2013.

Guidelines

1. A participant can only win once. If the participant wins more than once, she/he gets the higher prize.

2. A notification letter via registered mail will be sent to winners for confirmation. Instructions on where to claim the prize will be detailed in the letter.

3. Prizes are transferrable but not convertible to cash.

4. Prizes must be claimed within 60 days from receipt of notification.

5. Unclaimed prizes will be forfeited in favor of SVP with prior approval of DTI.

6. Winners shall claim their prizes at the Shepherd’s Voice office at 60 Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City, upon presentation of the notification letter, claim stub and valid ID with photo (e.g., driver’s license, company ID or passport). Winners who cannot claim their prizes

personally, especially those from provinces,may send their representative provided they present the following:

a. Letter of authorization from the winner

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7. The promo organizer’s decision is final with the concurrence of a DTI representative.

8. All SVP employees are not eligible to join the raffle promo, including their relatives up to the 3rd degree of consanguinity or affinity.

9. A DTI representative will be on hand to witness the draw on January 13, 2013 after the first session (10:30a.m.) of The Feast at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City, Manila.

10. Per DTI NCR Permit No. 2923 Series of 2012.

COL Financial Group (formerly known as CitisecOnline) is the no. 1 online stockbroker in the Philippine Stock Exchange with a strong capitalization of over Php1 Billion. With years of experience, expertise and local and global knowledge of equities combined with an advanced trading platform, COL provides a convenient way of successfully investing in stocks. COL holds free weekly investor education seminars on the basics of investing in the stock market at the COL Training Center, 24/F East Tower, PSE Centre, Exchange Rd. Ortigas Center Pasig City. For more information, you can visit our website at www.colfinancial.com or call 6-515-888.

KMP-Back to School Promo ad.indd 1 5/28/12 2:35 PM

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By Ariel B. Driz

36

workFaith@

Amajor university invited my wife to give a career talk. The material she

used in coming up with her talk came from writings attributed to Daniel Pink.

Pink is New York Times’ bestselling author of A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future and Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, as well as Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself and The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need.

His career views caught my attention. They are practical, funny, yet extremely useful for people who plan to move up the corporate ladder. He has six points but I will elaborate on only one for now.

‘There Is No Plan... Only Smart Choices’Young Steve Jobs took up college at Reed University to fulfill his adoptive parents’ commitment to his biological mother that he would get a college education. This plan fizzled out as he dropped out of his course and instead took up subjects that appealed to him.

Later on, he found himself studying calligraphy at Reed. He was amazed by it, so he pursued it. This later became the basis of the beautiful computer fonts we have

today. To make the long story short, Steve Jobs is considered to be the Thomas Edison of our time. Did he plan all these? No. He only made a choice to follow his heart and gut to pursue his passion.

Young Michael Dell was a pre-med freshman at the University of Texas in Austin. Obviously, the plan was to be a doctor. However, success in an informal business selling computer upgrade kits eventually led him to be a major player in the computer industry. Banking on his conviction that the manufacturer selling computers directly to customers would result in enormous savings, Dell eventually formed The Dell Computer Corporation. Was that his original plan? I don’t think so, but his series of choices resulted in him having $15-billion net worth.

So What Are Smart Choices? According to Dan Pink, choices can be classified into two types:

1. You can do something for instrumental reasons — because you think it’s going to lead to something else, regardless of whether you enjoy it or it’s worthwhile.

2. Or you can do something for fundamental reasons — because you think it’s inherently valuable, regardless of what it may or may not lead to.

And the dirty little secret is that instrumental reasons usually don’t

work. Things are too complicated, too unpredictable. You never know what’s going to happen.

Most successful people make choices for fundamental reasons. They follow their heart, their passion — because it’s the right thing to do. The career is valuable in itself regardless of the consequences.

Is This Biblical at All?Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Notice it does not say, “Your word is a search light.” Somehow, the Lord is helping us make moment-to-moment, day-to-day choices for Him (see Luke 9:23).

While we do set goals and have a vision, the path we are to undertake is what makes life an adventure. As Proverbs 20:24 puts it, “The Lord has determined our path; how then can anyone understand the direction his own life is taking?”

This doesn’t mean that we won’t plan. Part of being a good steward of the Lord is to set goals and make plans. However, one must realize that plans change because we are not in control — the Lord is. Our part is to discern His will and follow it.

Get to know who our real “Boss”’ is and know His heart for you. And there you will find the smart choice.

For feedback, email me at [email protected].

CAREER LESSON NUMBER 1:

THERE IS NO pLAN


Let me share with you a song, which I wrote during my younger years as an

“ethnic-rocker,” entitled “Galit na si Inang.”

Hindi mo ba napapansin, iba na ang simoy ng hanginKapag uminit sobrang init, ang katawan mo’y nanlalagkitHindi mo ba nahahalata, ang panahon ay nananadyaKapag umulan todo buhos naman, parang dagat ang mga lansangan.

Galit na nga si Inang, galit na galit na si InangNagalit nang tuluyan si Inang, galit na nga si Inang Kalikasan.

Roughly translated and summed up, it says, “Mother Nature is mad! When it’s hot, it doesn’t just get real hot. It burns. When it rains, it doesn’t just pour. It floods!”

I wrote and performed this in the mid-90s. (I hope I didn’t give away my age again.) But look around and see that it’s actually happening. Talk about prophetic songs.

And what have we been doing so far about it? Well, we should be thankful for the gallant efforts and campaigns to be environment-conscious, nature-friendly, and to take care of Mother Earth.

Yet, at the rate we’re going, we seem to be losing the battle. Think of Ondoy, Pedring and Sendong, and you know the issue is literally a matter of life and death. We realize this is not just a matter for environmentalists. It is now everyone’s urgent concern. In fact, this is one big area where Christians are expected to act as God’s stewards!

Since the Old Testament times up to the New Testament, we have always been given the sacred power to take care of God’s creation, but coupled with careful responsibility.

Now we learn that the important creations of God that are dear to us — our family, our homes, our livelihood, our lives — are in one big place called Earth. You can do your best to take care of everything but neglect that one place they’re all in, and you will regret to see that they can all be wiped out in the blink of an eye.

But all is not lost. Hope springs eternal. But we need to act fast on that hope.

Let me end this article with a few lines from one of my newest songs which, in contrast to the first song, is a more hopeful prophecy. It’s entitled “One World Alive.”

I have a dream — of a world we all want to seeThe fields are all green, the waters are cleanThere’s plenty for you and me.

I see the earth — one home of everyone’s birthAnd in everyone’s hand, child, woman and manOne world will be set anew.

I have a life, I will surviveI’ll walk on water, and I will cross overI will keep this world alive.

I have a song, nations are singing alongEvery gender and age, every color and raceOne world we all belong.

We have a life, we will surviveWe’ll walk on water, and we will cross overWe will keep this world alive.

Love God. Love others.Love God’s creation.Love Mother Earth.

Email me at [email protected] for comments and feedback.

Catch Alvin Barcelona (and listen to his songs) at The Feast PICC (Plenary Hall) every Sunday at 3:45 p.m. or at The Feast Marilao at the Cinema 2 of SM Marilao every Saturday, 5:15 and 7::45 p.m.

By Alvin BarcelonapreacherK

ONE WORLD ALIVE


Justine A. Flower ShopI 1&3 Farmers MarketCubao, Quezon CityTel no: 407-3695Mobile no: 09199526776 / 0915832688109064346142

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SVoice_FamilyCongress_half.ai 4/27/2012 3:05:31 PM


Diane and Alvin rejoice in their miracle baby, Patrick.

Baby Patrick’s life began with a struggle, but God’s love won it for

him and his parents.

39

Ihave always been a checklist kind of girl. I had checklists for my grocery, husband qualifications and wedding preparations. So, as expected, I had my own pregnancy checklist. I think I

ticked on all the items humanly possible, even including some untraditional ones like custom-made maternity gowns and blue nail polish. However, there was one box I didn’t think I’d have to check: my baby staying at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for 33 days.

I’ve always prayed for patience and God had His ways of teaching me. I prayed and waited so long to be a wife. My husband, Alvin, and I prayed and waited so long to be parents. So you can imagine our excitement when the day finally came. On September 24, 2011, I was scheduled to give birth to our first son, Patrick, who would complete our small family of three. The day came but there was no Patrick to bring home.

While giving birth, my uterus bled profusely and I lost a lot of blood. This resulted in my son not having enough blood to bring oxygen into his brain. He was rushed to the NICU 45 miles away because he became unstable, pale and cyanotic. His brain and kidneys were damaged. All I got to touch was his hand before they transported him to the NICU. I felt so helpless. I didn’t know if I would see him again. They weren’t sure if he and I would survive. How could the most anticipated day of my life end up in tears?

StoryOne Last

I am usually happy to see our priest but when I saw him beside my recovery bed, I knew something was wrong. Alvin, just like any good parent, had to make a decision that was best for his son. He had Patrick baptized the same day, which was a blessing in the midst of all the chaos.

As desolate as our situation seemed with my baby and me both in the ICU, each day gave me hope. I found myself praying even more. I didn’t have the heart to get mad at God for how my son’s birth went. I could have questioned Him as to why my delivery went haywire after all our prayers for a healthy baby, but I needed Him more than ever. As mind-boggling as it was to have needed an emergency C-section due to excessive bleeding — even after 40 weeks of good OB checkups — I had to accept that this was God’s will, and trust that He would save us. I clung to His Word more than ever:

“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. The peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds” (Philippians 4:6-7).

After a series of blood tests, medications and blood transfusions, I was discharged. I thanked the Lord for saving me so I could be there for my son and my husband as we faced our baby’s uncertain future. The only certain thing was that I had my strong and loving husband holding my hand through all the uncertainties.

As heartbreaking as it was for us to see another mother’s fragile baby lifeless in his incubator, seeing Patrick gave me a glimpse of hope that he’d be alright. By the doors of the NICU, a quote read: “Every day holds a possibility of a miracle,” and every day we walked through those doors, that’s exactly what we prayed for.

And God answered our prayer. Patrick improved every day and passed all his tests! He was a fighter. Patrick was admitted as critically ill but was discharged by the NICU doctors and nurses as the “miracle baby.”

Now that we’re finally home, we look back at this chapter in our lives with much gratitude for the newfound strength in our marriage, our newfound faith in God, and the newfound friends we met along the way.

Finally, we can hug baby Patrick as much as we want, minus all the tubes!

As for the luggage of necessities I had prepared according to my checklist, they weren’t necessities after all. I realized that all we needed was each other, our faith and the love and prayers of our family and friends. We are ever grateful to our Father God for saving our son. We believe He has great plans for him. And so we pray that his life will bring glory and honor to His Holy Name.

By Diane Aberion- Aguirre

Our Miracle Baby

I PRAY THAT GOD LIFT YOUR TRIALS, heal your diseases, bless your problems and direct you to the

path He wants you to take. I pray that God remove your fears and give you the courage to surrender your burdens to Him.

So place your hand over my hand, and let’s pray with trust, together with our prayer team of intercessors praying for you right now…

This page is our Point of Contact, our spiritual connection.Say after me…

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Lord, I surrender to You my worries and anxieties. I surrender to You my needs, my problems, my trials. I place them all in Your big hands. And I open myself to all that You want to give to me. On this day, I say yes to Your love, to Your blessings, to Your healing, to Your miracles. And Lord, specifically, I ask for the following miracles for my life...

I believe that You answer my prayer in the best way possible! And I thank You in advance for the perfect answers to my prayers. I also ask for the special intercession of Mama Mary. I pray all this in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen!


By Bo Sanchez

40

SPECIAL INTENTION FOR THIS MONTH:Bless the readers of Kerygma, Lord. Grant clarity to their hearts and minds so that they may only desire things that will give meaning to their lives. Teach them to sow only good seeds in all aspects of their lives — physical, mental, emotional, spiritual — so that they will reap good fruits, too, in their old age. Free them from senseless pursuits that will only lead them away from the real meaning of life. Help them to walk in Your ways, Lord, so that one day they may all be with You in heaven.

Praying for you, Email your prayer requests to me at [email protected] or write to me at Shepherd’s Voice Publications, #60 Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines 1109.

Contactpoint of

I pray that you receive your miracles in Jesus’ name!

kerygma july 2012

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