Open Space...

A friend of mine who just graduated from a theological school here in Manila sent a message on my mobile phone asking me to pray for him for his final decision to embrace a religious life perpetually. "Bro pls pray 4 me. yes or no ba me sa buhay relihiyoso." What can i say? I believe religious life is a gift. It is something that is given to you by God just like any other vocations - single blessedness and married life. None of these vocations supersede the other, these are equal calling from God. And this guy is responding to the call of becoming a priest. Was the text expressing his confusion? Can he make that decision? Or maybe he just want my prayer. I would be happy if he's confused. It only shows how serious he is in whatever life ahead of him. This will make him think over and over to a lifetime decision he has to make. We need priests right now, and not just priests, but good priests. And i just hope he will be able to go over and reflect his vocation story. It i

Am I running out of passion on music? I guess not and hopefully not. But every time i pick up "eng2x" (my violin) and think of practicing the piece composed by Pachelbel that I promised to master this year, my hands are suddenly tied up and loosing its grip on the fingerboard. I've always wanted to be a good instrumentalist to my favorite stringed instrument but I failed. It's been three years since i bought it and until now i can't even finished book II of the Suzuki method, too bad. Poor "Mr. Time," he always falls prey to my conventional scape goat which is "i don't have time to practice." Ever since I was a child, the typical sound of this instrument have always been like a lullaby for me. I like its music because it feels like the notes are physically coming out from within every time you play it. It's dredging up those emotions that have been long hidden from uncertainties and letting it soar as if everything else is freedom. The

I was on my way going home from my work that usually ends at 11:30 PM. I arrived at the tricycle terminal station and then i took the next tricycle bound for Bagong Silangan, the place where I live. I really don't like to be seated at the extension seat inside the sidecar of the tricycle for the place is to narrow. But i have no option since the seat at the back of the driver was already occupied. For me it was just a normal night, I do this routine every night except during my day off. I was tired that time and almost fell asleep when suddenly the tricycle stopped. I don't know what exactly happened in front of us since i was inside and facing the entrance of the sidecar. Then suddenly i heard gun shots. At first i thought it was just a firecracker, but who could have done that this month? Suddenly i got outside the tricycle to see what happened. And what i saw was several young men running away and a man holding a gun going to the place where i was standing trying to hide(la