Open Space...

Myspace Religious Chistmas Comments & Graphics

Madalas nating marinig ang salitang “kaligtasan” sa usaping pananampalataya. Minsan sa sobrang paghuhumali natin dito, nakakalimutan natin ang mga mahahalagang bagay para makamit ang totoong kaligtasan. Nakakalimutan natin ang ibang tao at mas natutugunan pa natin ng pansin ang pangsariling kapakanan sa hangaring maligtas. Nakatuon na ang ating pa-iisip sa sariling kaligtasan. Sa ganitong sitwasyon, mas mainam kung babanggitin natin ulit ang tanong na ipinukol kay Hesus ng isang taong nakasalamuha o naging kasama Nya marahil sa paglalakbay pabalik ng Herusalem - “Panginoon, kakaunti po ba ang maliligtas?”…. Sa sitwasyon noon, malaking usapin ang salitang “kaligtasan.” Para sa kanila, nandoon ang pag-iisip na ang tanging mga Hudyo lamang ang may malaking posibilidad na magkakamit ng kaligtasan dahil sila ang piniling bayan ng Israel. Nagpapatingkad din dito ang mga turo ng mga Pareseo patungkol sa kalalagyan ng lahat ng mga hudyo sa pagdating ng paghuhukom. Alam natin na hindi lang mga

I. Introduction: The outward show of liberation theology from the Latin American Church has gave us an alternative way of how the church must act regarding its mission on earth, on how it looks on the conditions of the people of God. This emergence has given the Church a new perspective towards the reality within and outside the church and even to the point of going through the cultural and even in the economic and political arenas that has a lot to say regarding poverty and injustice. This book “A Theology of Liberation,” will bring us to a radical consciousness implicit in the realities that are present in Latin America vis-à-vis, in the individual lives of the people in our contemporary times and in the whole Church. Gustavo Gutierrez, a prominent and a best-known liberation theologian from Peru, has written a very good book that shaped a kind of theology that is predominantly a struggle looking for the emancipation of the poor and marginalized from poverty and alienation and gearin

I was riding in the bus going to my exposure area when i started to wonder where these people i see on the streets are going? For sure i would not go beyond the question of where these people could be for it would not be my concern as of the moment and it will never be. But one thing that made me pause for awhile and started to wonder again, "Are all of us have destinations?" On this earth, getting old is one. I was assigned for twoo weeks at Hospicio de San Jose, an institution for the elderly. I really enjoyed hearing their experiences that made me reflect and look also into my own life. One grandmother shared how miserable life is when she was operated in the stomach after her mother died. A grandfather also shared how God abandoned him after the death of his son and how he acquired sickness after the incident. And other similar stories of reflection, abadonment, deaths, etc. One could draw a question of where God is, but in spite of this, their Spirituality grew more and

Philippines is on freeze right now. zero crime rate, streets in almost major roads in greater manila turning into an airport runway, husbands caregiving their sons and daughters at home, televisions are busy (that includes the commercials). Gamblers are yeeling alleluia... when these things happen, Pacquiao fever is around the corner. Pacman is scheduled to fight today, Dec 7. (Dec. 6 - US date) at Las Vegas Nevada with its oponent the Golden Boy Oscar dele Hoya. Many are skeptics whether manny could actually win this fight. Manny's camp are even predicting a knockout in the later rounds. but whether there is a knockout or none, hundred percent sure that all the eyes of the Filipinos and even millions of people are focus now at their fight coined as the "Dream Match." I don't know what this phenomenon mean to the filipinos. It could probably mean a reflection of what every filipino's dream of uplifting their own situation into a triumphant success that they see in

The scheduled time of my departure from Cebu to Manila was at 5:30 pm, . As usual, i am expecting an announcement that there will be some delays of the flight - indeed there was. And so it was moved from 5:30 to 6:00 pm, but we actually took off from Mactan Airport at exactly 6:30 pm ( i got used to it). For a few minutes upon taking off, i looked at the beautiful airial view of cebu with its grandeur display 0f street lights - and the rest was like a boring isolation in a pressurized jet flying thousands of feet above. All you have to do was to read the smile magazine prepared for the passengers (which didn't make me smile at all). If not, you can lay down a bit the back rest of the chair and sleep - which i did. i was awakened by the announcement of the captain that we are already in the vicinity of manila and that we are about to land in few minutes time. We landed at NAIA terminal 3 at 7:32 pm., I'm back in Manila - my Community Integration has just ended. My three months s

If you have difficulty understanding the current world financial situation, this is the simple version... Once upon a time in a village somewhere, a man announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for $10. The villagers seeing there were many monkeys around, went out to the forest and started catching them. The man bought thousands at $10, but, as the supply started to diminish, the villagers stopped their efforts. The man further announced that he would now buy at $20. This renewed the efforts of the villagers and they started catching monkeys again. Soon the supply diminished even further and people started going back to their farms. The offer rate increased to $25 and the supply of monkeys became so little that it was an effort to even see a monkey, let alone catch it! The man now announced that he would buy monkeys at $50! However, since he had to go to the city on some business, his assistant would now act as buyer, on his behalf. In the absence of the man, the assistant

i' ve been busy for the past days, i was assigned by Fr. Paul to organized the youth here in the parish. it was a heavy task since we have to start from the scratch but it was fun and the youth here are very participative. we had a Youth Leader's Assembly last October 27-28. it was attended by almost 130 participants from different chapels or Gagmay'ng Kristohanong Katilingban (GKK). we elected an ad hoc officers for the preparation of their summer youth camp/general assembly next year. i enjoyed thier company and they boosted my energy. the next stop is the vocation jamboree that is initiated by the school, Mt. Carmel College. i will be helping them in the preparation of the said activity. it is going to be busy days ahead. its fun though. i will definitely enjoy. till next post.. -melskiens-

i don't know what to write here. i'm just here inside the inter cafe and facing this computer. im surfing the net for the possible things which may caught my attention and so far there is none. i'm just killing the time. that if i can really kill the time.. now i'm thinking what to write.........hmmmm, i hear gun fire from my neighbor's computer...he's enjoying much.. while i'm here waiting to finish downloading my naruto episodes..my cell phone is beside the keyboard, waiting for someone to text me... and my fon is quite for almost 15 minutes... now, i'm about to finish my writing here..... -melskiens-

one thing i hate about Escalante? it's their internet connection...grrr... i've been to different internet shops and all of them have the same problem. now i'm facing the computer in the convent waiting until the sun is finally went down before i can finish my business here. imagine this, it took me an hour to finish this up. my temper is almost up...gggrrrr... -melskiens-

Together with my community, we were able to visit the smallest volcano in the world inside its crater. Imagine that! That was amazing! It was awesome! Superb! ... The place was so peaceful, i feel like i'm in paradise.. you will see how wonderfully it was made from inside the crater. all we know, volcanos are violent but on this case, it was heaven...Its beauty was made out from the gusty, fearful and deadly works of nature. Now it is a place where you can find peace and serenity. Soon i'll be posting some of my pictures, I don't have it for the moment because i left it in Manila, I'm in Negros by the way. i arrived here last September 8. So far, in happy in my stay here in Negros. I was able to see the people here once again especially the community, the carmel youth and to all the people whom i knew when i was here last summer. For now i was given a task to revive the parish youth here. I am happy with the task given to me. Here i can fully give what i have. Although

My scheduled date of departure for Negros was changed. So by next Monday (Sept. 8), i'll be flying to Negros. For the moment, i've been going to Bagong Silangan in our inserted community. i feel at home every time i go there, people are so warm, i'm enjoying there company. i'll be staying in Escalante for about three months. Though it is only for a while, still i'm going to miss the people in Bagong Silangan. Last night we brought the choir of San Isidro Parish in Bagong Silangan in a recording studio to record a song composed by our priest Fr. Aries and was arrange musically by our brother Sheldon. they were very excited for it was their first time to record a song. (i also did record a song there last year, though i feel like my voice is only for my own consumption, lol!) i was happy seeing there faces full of excitement. I would say this choir has a potential of becoming popular soon, i tell you!!!hehehe... 'till here for the moment, i still have to buy some

i'm planning to go to Escalante this coming wednesday Sept. 3. i don't know what awaits me there, all i have to do is to enjoy my stay and share what i got that can help the parish, the people, the community and to my self. by now i still have to prepare things... -melskiens-

i feel like my right hand is still heavy until now after we played bowling!..ate fe, ate mau and myself were enjoying the rest of the afternoon. we went to Ever Gotesco mall to have some fun there, not to mention the heavy snacks we had at chowking...burrfff..!! .. thanks a lot ate mau!!! -melskiens-

long dark night has passed sun is on its way up birds are singing, chanting welcomes a day beginning from purple to yellow then white shines in the blue sky heat is rising burning me from within oh, fire that has long been died out waiting, searching, wandering for torch oh, there i feel, someone is standing a child i see, in the memories i knew where have you been? I am looking for you, I asked for how long you've been sleeping? I'm just waiting here, the child replied am i been this for so long? dullness its on me like a vulture pending changes i can't muster shouting in a vacuum no one can hear then let me hold you my dear the child i ignored for years let me know your stories and let me love the storyteller. -melskiens-

we had a community outing that was supposedly a swimming activity but it was not push through because of the bad weather. so we decided to have it instead at Trinoma Mall. we had our lunch there and we watched the movie The Dark Night. i'll give it a two thumbs' up!!! I had fun watching it, not to mention the beautiful scenery (the park) of the mall.. -melskiens- Post Options

i just stayed here the whole day...nothing that much spectacular things happened, just me and myself was here...though a friend of mine called at 2:00 pm. she said she needs someone to talk to. she called for about an hour... she felt alone and crying..i was just in the phone trying to make myself present and there to listen to her... at the end of the conversation I felt happy that i made her smile and somehow ease her pain, even for that moment... hmmm... I was thinking if were in her position...who am i going call? naahh.... i like cheeseburger, i'll buy one,hahahah!!!!! -melskiens-

i am just here in the inserted community house facing this computer. i guess i'll be staying here for the rest of the day, its raining outside. i feel like sleeping but i doubt if i can really fall asleep, maybe i should try... -melskiens-

my mind as of the moment is stagnant. ideas are already mounted on my mind but i don't know how to go about it. do i have to wait for someone to push me on what i have to do? nah, nothing.... i'm just sleepy....!!! have a good night sleep... God Bless!!!

It is almost a decade since I entered in the Carmelite formation. Many great things happened to me and I am very grateful to these. It was clear to me then why I entered in the seminary. It is because of my desire to be a priest and to be of service to the people. These were molded from my experiences since I was a child and part of it was the guide of my parents and some people whom I happened to met along my journey. I’m happy that until today my family is still there with me in my journey in Carmel. College formation life has its own dynamics if I were to compare it to where I am now. Being a college with a young mind and almost with the people of same age, you are always filled with awe, wonders and curiosities. I used these as my opportunity to grow and to be mature in my formation process. True enough that I graduated and made myself ready for the next challenging stage of formation in the Carmelites – the Postulancy.. When I was still in the college formation, I heard

“If anyone wants to be the first, he must be the very last and make himself the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) I find this quotation very interesting. Not because it is coming from the verses of the Bible but more so on the value it portrays to us. But how could this be? How can we do that? These are probable questions that would rise up confronting this line of phrase. It is ideal I would say and seldom is it being done in our own experiences. Nobody would want to. Nobody understands. A politician during the campaign, getting hold of the microphone, often sounds like clashing cymbals when he/she started to be on the stage. Service is the most corrupted, abused and misused word during those none sense talk in the election time. The sad thing, many believe. My stay in Baranggay Saysain, Bagac, Bataan offers me a different view of what leader is all about. Maybe because it wasn’t election time during our stay there. Moreover, our group, composed of my other three classmates, were actuall

this morning i attended the Holy Spirit Mass at ICTC (Inter-Congregational Theological Center) - my theology school. there i was able to see my batch mates. they have no knowledge about my plan of having an intervention year as i saw this as a good venue for my growth in the process of my formation... we elected a new set of officers as my term as vice president of the (I-SEC) ICTC-Student Executive Council and the rest of the officers has just ended. i'm going to miss them. probably by the time i'll be back to my studies, they are already ordained deacons or maybe some are already solemn professed friars. i guess things are going to be that way. i have no regrets after all, for i know this could help a lot in discerning things ahead of me. -melskiens-

i'm happy with my community integration in Escalante, very opposite from what i have expected before going there. i enjoyed the company of the community members, of course not all are happy moments. there was one situation where i was scolded by one priest there in which he had a very shallow reason in doing so. why can't he just talk to me in a calm voice? i'm not a stupid after all who can't understand things. he's so arrogant, no wonder many people there like him so much... especially when he has to leave the place for a new assignment..and good luck for the people there in his new assignment... i got my inspiration with the people there, i had a beautiful experience with the carmel youth and i thank them for the warm welcome they showed me... i'm looking forward of going back there soon... just a couple of hours ago before i sat on this computer, i happened to talk to my formators. 'twas about my plan of taking a rest in the academic concerns of the form

i heard that i'll be assigned in Escalante, Negros Occidental for two months. this is part of our summer program for the third years like my self. it is called community integration. i don't feel excited about it, maybe because i'm burn out of the busy schedules i have lately and that i wanted to take a rest even for just one month staying in a quite place. i was thinking of going to ormoc where we have our pilgrim site there. its best suited for me i suppose. i want to be in a place where there are no traffic, pollution, noise, and the like. i want to go to a place where i can rest my mind of the schedules and the daily routine i do here. i want to be myself alone and reflect on the experiences i had and feel the presence of God. its quite a time since i had a quality time to God and hopefully this time i can stop the ticks of the clock and spend time with Him. well, hopefully i can appeal to them to consider my request. after all, it's for my own good.

We went to San Francisco Agusan del Sur last Feb 16-21 for the celebration of our 50th year presence in the Philippines. We had our concert there and so far it was successful. All my efforts to play the violin on the night of the concert was so far good. it's really different if you have an inspiration. i was really trying my best to be able to play it and mastered my piece for one month. i'm happy for it.. it became a way for my soul and my heart to speak up for themselves through music. im very happy that i was able to go back to that place. it was 4 years ago since i last stayed there. my visit there was so special. there were mix emotions i experienced during my stay, happiness stands out of all those emotions. i will never forget those precious moment i have in agusan...i will always remember that time..i will...however, all i have with me is the memory of that experience. there are times that you have to say goodbye. but like the beautiful lyric of the song "somewher

i started it with a bad day. i was drunk even before the 14th of January enters...honestly i was expecting a greeting at the very start of the 24 hour cycle of the day from a friend whom i considered dear to me...that's the problem, why should expect it to happened? i don't have a claim over it...that was a thing of the past.. i realized that i'm in the present, gone are those days... (damn! how hopeless am I..) it was then before the sun would come out that she texted me and she even called me later that evening...happy though, reservations are there...where will i place my self? we just had a dinner with some friends and chat a little...i'm happy that most of the people close to me are there. i love the gift that was given to me by the youth...it really shows how they love me...it gives me strenght and sooth my innermost being...i thank them and i love them... i just wish that i'l be faithful to where i'm into, to the Order and to God.... melskiens

what will i write?...

i arrived here in manila last jan 6, 5am...'twas a very exhausting travel back here from bicol, a 12-hour journey...until now i feel tired and dizzy...anyways, i got boosted when i bought a present for my self, hehehe...tell you later about it when i finally mastered it...soon..:-) we will going to have a small concert in our school and we have with us, no other than mr. Noel Cabangon..hmmm...you see my caliber now? my talents are already with these line of people,..they told to me sing in the concert....wahahaha... nah...still have to fix my present,hehehe....see you then..Godbless...mwuaaahhh... -melskiens-