Category Personal Blog

It is Eastertime. My favorite character at Eastertime whom I’d like to consider a “friend” is Thomas. Prefixed to his name almost always is the adjective “doubting”. He doubted because he was hurting. The first time he met the Risen…

It is Eastertime. The gloom of Good Friday and the reverential silence of Black Saturday are behind us. The church choirs are singing alleluia again. The Easter lilies are with us. The purple and black of last week have been…

After attending to some official business in Manila one day, I decided to take a detour, glad to get in touch with the local scene and to savor that local flavor, which I sometimes miss as the rector of the…

Father, when was the last time you went to Baguio?” asked a friend one day as we crossed paths along the sacristy corridor. Before I answered her, she said, “Alam mo, Father, nakabuti iyong earthquake. Ang ganda ngayon ng Baguio.…

As I was turning the key to my room one midafternoon, I could not help but feel the perspiration trickling down my back, emphasizing even more the pain building up in my lower back. I entered my room, debating on…

As you read this article in the comfort of your homes or offices, around 1.2 million children are roaming the streets of our big cities worldwide. According to Caritas Manila, around 50,000-70,000 street children in Metro Manila alone, and around…

On several occasions, I have had to listen to some of our people coming to me in groups and asking me to mediate or appeal their case for them. What case? Eviction. I had the chance to listen to the…

Former Senator Ambrosio Padilla is dead. Would you consider him a holy man? Is he an example of piety and sanctity that we can emulate? If by holiness, we mean staying in church for long hours and attending pious rituals;…

It seems power has a way of making leaders deaf. Leaders who ascend to power carrying mottos to be pro-people, pro-God, and pro-poor can become too intoxicated with the trappings of office that the same supposed power for service can…

One night after a really long day, I finally pressed my head against my pillow but decided not to put off the lights. As I lay there resting my pulsating feet and my slightly beaten back, I caught sight of…

Fasting is not good. It can make your headache. It can give you an upset stomach. It can make you irritable. It can make you proud of your willpower to avoid food. It can make you gloomy. It can lead…