The Salesian Secret

People are often amazed at how dynamic the atmosphere is in a Salesian setting. It appears that people seem to have put on braces around their lips that allows them to smile the whole day. Salesian schools resound with boisterous laughter from students who chase each other from one end of the school to the other. Youth groups generally are made up of upbeat youth. A man holding a broom, or covered in slick oil may not be your ordinary maintenance guy but a Salesian at work.

What is it with the Salesians? It's the family spirit - the hallmark of Don Bosco's legacy to young people. It's a total shame for a Salesian community that never exhibits the family spirit. Salesian schools and training centers have become more than places for learning, they have become secondary homes. People can't help but feel at home in Don Bosco.

This is the challenge for Salesians and those who wish to follow Don Bosco: to exemplify in their relationships especially with the young the welcoming and joyful spirit that brings hearts closer to home. Foxes have holes and birds have nest, but the sons and daughters of man has nowhere to lay down their heads. In an increasingly lonely world, Salesian settings are called to gather in as many souls as possible into the hearth of Don Bosco as the lively saint and Mama Margaret did when they first found their first boarder.

As I undergo the initial phases of formation into Salesian Life, I have always felt the need to make the seminary a place I can call home. The strong family spirit evident among the Salesians may well be one of the most effective promotion that has tagged me along well. This call is stronger in houses of formation as there could never be a formation without a relationship.

People especially young ones do not need the sense of independence and self-suffiency as much as the need for belongingness. We would rather belong to a group than be alone and we would rather be in a family than in a group. How, as ministers of the young, we touch the right chords in young people and attune ourselves into their colorful world is a deciding factor in establishing and imprisoning that heart into a loving familial embrace.

Every time I join celebrations that involve the different members of the Salesian Family, I never cease to be amazed at how small the world could be. It's amazing how people from different settings could easily interact and relate with each other by simply sharing Don Bosco among themselves. This is a tradition. This is a gift from our Founding Father. Our family spirit keeps his charism alive and relevant across the ages, still effective at sculpting our lips to smile the whole day.

Storms are a must

Unlike the Americans, most Filipinos are laid back when talk comes to

storms. After all, the Philippines is battered by an army of tropical storms each year. Our homes were built to last the winds and torrential rains these atmospheric disturbances pose. For the opposite side of the globe however, westerners are traumatized even with cyclones making landfall, talk about Hurricane Katrina and the billion worth of damage it has done to property in the United States. While the opposite side of the earth talk about the submerged houses they have and the loss of business, in Cebu as per

experience (mostly in Pasil), we talk about how people would scramble to gather as much GI sheets in the streets blown off from the roofings the night before and the fun while doing it.

Meteorologists claim that storms are a must for the whole global climate being able to stabilize the temperatures across the surface of the earth. Storms generally transfer the heat that gathered in the equatorial regions to the higher latitudes thus easing the global climate. There is a connection therefore between global warming and typhoon strength. The warmer the region, the stronger the storm. Global Warming anyone?

We are an embattled people and we are stronger because of that. Through these battles we have become more resilient to the challenges of the times and it has made us appreciate the passing vanities of the world. We as a people have learned to dance with the music played about by Nature. Our knees have grown stronger with each effort we take to stand up after falling face deep in mud. We are strong.

This is the ancient wisdom of storms. Storms, whether they be natural calamities or personal struggles, never fail to make you stronger. Whatever does not kill you makes you stronger. Isn't it common for us to say that storms no matter how strong doesn't last for very long? Were we not trained by experience, like bamboos in the midst of prevailing winds, dance with the blow? Could you still remember what happened to the trees that stood against the wind in the pride?

You are an embattled person. You have been facing storms all your life, why give up now? You know that these challenges would not last for long. You know how strong you are. Storms are a must for everyone. It is when you are stronger that stronger storms come to strengthen you more. It is when problems come in heat waves that we learn to balance our lives. The outside is but a reflection of the battle inside. Even nature mirrors the struggles we have.

We are still in September, the typhoon season. Stay strong.

Many Are Called But Few Are Chosen

We were all seated at the conference room. We were a band of brothers who spent months living and studying together. We consider ourselves a family, after all we are a community of Salesian aspirants.

"Not all of you will become priests here. Some of you may have to leave and build their own families. How I wish all of you will become Salesians but that is not the case, not all of you will become Salesians", Fr. Ronel frankly declared.

Such is the case of all religious communities. Many young people enter the seminary gates with much enthusiasm in their hearts. The same young people exit the seminary gates with bags full of experiences and their hearts full of enthusiasm for things other than religious life. With five years of college aspirancy behind me, I can attest to the truth that not everyone I see in a school year will last for the next. This is how fluid the community is. This is the test of one's detachment.

Many young people would come to say "yes" but could not keep that "yes". It's nobody's fault that most seminarians would eventually leave the seminary. It's a play between their true vocational calling, their psychological maturity, family background, and their generosity. Most, if not all, come with a very good intention of following Christ's call. However, formation to the religious life has been providentially designed to sift through vocations.

I, for example, came from a batch of a meager six aspirants. Now, I am the lone survivor of that batch in the postulancy. Most of my companions have to leave to further other dreams. The perseverance rate of religious life is low. The call of community life remains. This is the bittersweet reality of our life. We act like real brothers even with the possibility of departing from each other. We trust is the community as it is now.

There are many factors that affect vocations, but the most essential things are discernment, prayer, and personal commitment. Seminarians can have the most lucrative venue and amenities for formation, they can have the most talented, wise, understanding, and loving formators, but if they lack the capacity to commit, persevere, and surrender to God's Will it means a change of choice.

Oily Problems

No, I'm not writing about the greasy facial oil masking your skin. It's all about sweet crude oil, the Black Gold, the OPEC-issue, today's fuel, and tomorrow's scarcity. We're seeing macroeconmics here, when most of today's economies solely depending on oil, take it away and you paralyze the global economy. Who cares, you ask? You might have felt it a little with the rising of the standard minimum fare but its long term effects are disastrous.

It has already been noted that global market growth is slowing down. The US Economy is fluctuating, the OPEC is fighting for a $100 a barrel mark-up, Russia is going war freak again with oil as its hostage. The slower the growth of a market, the slower the development, and the slower can we uplift our standards of living. Yes, it's nobody's fault but everyone's. We've been too dependent on oil. We knew its long-term effects yet everybody's addicted to it. Think about opium and shabu addicts in rehabs. The world is so much like it right now, enslaved and in-denial.

I've written how indolent we are when we could have harnessed other sources of energy by developing hybrid technologies. We've been too slow on these developments. Our policy was: let's use oil for now and see what happens next. Good heavens, we not only see but also feel global warming, pollution, and now economic slowdown. Think about it, if oil runs dry today, what would happen to the millions of jeepneys and tricycles running up and down the Philippine road?

Will we really run out of oil? No, we won't. Oil will become so scarce that it will become so expensive, no one wants to buy it or invests in finding it. Isn't this a classic human condition? We trust so fully in things that are passing, things that are temporary. We easily find solace in the easiest conditions that we have. What little psychological problem we innately have adds up to become the global problem. Everything after all rests on individual choice and everything else is a reflection of the inner struggle. We can't always blame the higher institutions, it's too immature for today's consciousness.

As human persons, we are called to more social awareness and active participation. Whatever we do, no matter how small, affects everything in reality. Think about the Butterfly Effect.

Spot not the Focus

A psychological study conducted a few decades ago proved that a person ordinarily would focus obsessively on a spot in a white sheet of paper. The human mind is intent to focus on contrasts. While this is an advantage for our survival and environmental surveying, too much of it in our social life will surely do otherwise.

The focus of each individual as a part of a larger entity called society must focus not so much on the spots but rather on the bigger picture. Yet, we must guard against the danger of dismissing the spot altogether for the sake of the bigger picture. Then, as everything else in life, this calls for balance.

As individuals, we tend to become too focused on our small little problems. These little spots get amplified by our self-doubt and criticism, spawning fear and despair. As a group, we tend to focus much on differences than on similarities. We often ask who's better and who's worse. In effect, focusing too much on the spot begins the pointing and blaming game.

Spot not the focus, lest you focus much on the spot. Objectively, we are more good than bad, more of promise than failure, alive more than dead. There is more beauty in us than what meets the eye. The little spots in our life shouldn't block out the whiteness of our being.

The Insult of Almost

"The most painful insult is ALMOST", that's what one of my favorite Salesian told us.

Everyone of us is destined to grow and become better every day. The human person is such a dynamic being that he is able to evolve in each moment of his existence. Such dynamism is deeply rooted in our free will, that being creatures of highest intellect, we are more adept at adaptation and evolution, clutching at the environment for our own purposes. What's more is that each individual is unique and singular, with everyone having his own set of qualities and unlimited potential.

It is quite sad that in today's world, most of us think in limited terms. When we could have done more, we have done the minimal, for requirement's purpose. Deep inside however, we know that we are much more than what we are now. Even in our self-imposed limits, we are aware of the deep and vast potential that is within, most of us are too afraid to wield this power. People are too afraid with their potential for power. We could become a greater specie - ALMOST.

Yes, almost. It is curse of self-imposed limitation. When we know we are better, we settle for the "normal". As each individual is a reflection of the Divine, so are we made ready for perfection even before our birth. The destiny of perfection is already written before us, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" (Jeremiah 1:5). The human race couldn't be standardized to a set of should-be's because each of us is a precious gem, each individually made, and each complementing the other. So it is a sin to compare against another for that is similar to wishing to be another.

While it is true that everyone, by skill, talent, intellect, social status, and beauty, are not born equal doesn't mean one human is less or better than the other. Human dignity does not rest on credentials, instead it is based our each individual will and spirit. The credentials we each have and are jealous for are nothing but the result of the wise use of the will and spirit. Talk about persons excelling in a field they are least inclined to.

So while I am not naturally gifted in sports and body movement, I have the spirit and will to train myself to do better. With God's grace, that is enough to push me to become better than those who are naturally athletic themselves. While I am quite gifted in my vocal quality, it doesn't mean someone with ordinary voice couldn't sing better than me. Not all names in the dean's list have genius-level I.Q.'s .Excellence after all depends on each individual, but then again, ALMOST.

"So be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48) Go beyond the ALMOST the world is trying to teach you. We are better than who we are today. Mathematically if you consider this statement, it is an exponential equation. We are exponential beings, being able to do twice and thrice what we did yesterday. Therefore do not believe the commercials spitting out false gospels like "beauty matters" because what matters most are the fundamentals of our humanity. For even though we are different, we are equal in dignity.

Each of us is person of potential and power. Each of us is endowed with will and spirit. So when you are told that you are ALMOST, you are being insulted to the very core of your being because you are limited to less than perfect.

Mother's Day Special

Its the month of May, the month of women, the month of Mary, the month of moms!

I would like to thank my Mama for everything that she has done for me! I'm a mama's boy by the way. Hehe... (aside from the fact that I am also a papa's boy since I'm an only child) What would we do without our mothers? Love you, ma!

Indolence of Man

A hundred years ago, the colonists have accused the Filipinos of indolence. Now I wonder if such indolence is embedded in genetics and ran in the family of nations.

Thirty years ago, when oil first found its industrial use, science had already pointed out its limit. For years, the global economy ran on fossil fuels and oil is black gold. Fast forward in time, we see oil prices hiking much more than we thought they should. Transport groups are on the verge of revolution, consumers are bemoaning. Have we really considered the truth that crude oil is limited or have we chosen to close our eyes to an imminent reality? Wouldn't our intelligence be to blame for the current crises?

Thirty years ago, meteorological studies noticed a warmer global temperature and higher carbon dioxide volume in the atmosphere. A question over the existence of human induced global warming was born. The question became a rumor, rumor to debate, debate to concern, concern to issue, issue to global threat.

Every learned man has passed through the classroom and has undergone instruction. Knowledge and morality has not failed to find its way into our educational systems. But when these children grow to become the work force, such education fails to bear fruit or has it? Is man by nature indolent or is this the evil face of our nature?

Take a break

It happened to me, it happens to everyone. Once in a while after a long period of bone-breaking work and tedious toil, the psyche goes numb and numb and numb. It's about time we need to take a break.

Sharpen the saw and so they say. This summer, after five years of college and aspirantate, a period of circus and a mix-matched schedule, I went numb. I just wanted to take a break. I miss the old, really old younger days when I never had any worry in the world. I mean the pre-school years when all you care about is play.

Is it really human destiny that once you grow old, you grow tired? Does age really mean more work?

It can't be avoided, I know, we have to work in order to eat. But once in a while we are called to rest, replenish, and renew. I believe we work more when we age more because we grow more responsible. I also believe that work should always be paired with play and we often forget that. So why not stop awhile, breath deep, close those sagging eyes and just live. Live and experience, tingle those senses, because afterall, we work in order to live and not the other way 'round.

Biking Once Again

A fellow aspirant, Nino, and I were planning to visit the Talisay City Hall today going there in bicycles. It would save us around twelve pesos from fares and shed off a few pounds from the exercise.

I thought to myself that I should practice once again, not that I'm poor at biking but it has been years since I last rode on a bike I might injure my thighs. So I took a spare bike parked in the community room and started to pedal around the flat grounds. Feeling the need for a thrill, I decided to fly down along the slopes of Don Bosco Lawaan. Surely enough it was a fun ride - or not at all.

When it was time to go up again, guess what? Yeah, I have to gather all my strength to my calves and thighs before I could go up the thirty degree uphill climb. Push, push, push, and push, I fought hard against years of sitting in class and in front of the computer. The years have put these legs to dormition.

Reaching the top, I looked back on my accomplishment. The pain of tired muscles can't replace the pride I have for climbing the hill. Without hesitation, I took the downward glide once again to repeat the same agony and joy of riding a bike.

After a few rounds, I was sweating profusely but was smiling anyhow. This is life, I thought. Should I ever get stagnant, I'll try to wake up. I'll take risks and push my destiny. I'll fight against the current if I should reach the top. This is how I live.

Silent Shouts

I know of a girl that can shout but is never heard. She's roaring at the top of her lungs but still nobody hears her.

With the level of human knowledge that has been accumulated these past centuries, we assume we know many things. Science has explained fully so many natural phenomena, mathematics have events in formula, thousands have doctorate degrees but still the world is the same. It seems that human progress have never really helped in making the essentials better.

I am writing about the many signals young people send out but are often get unnoticed. Riding in a public vehicle in Cebu South Road, the streets are "adorned" with so much vandal from young people who shout out their name wanting to be noticed. It is sad that they have to go through the pain of writing their name in vandals in order to get the needed attention when they could have felt welcome at home in their families.

We all go through a rebellious phase in life. The surging hormones and confusion in adolescence push us to extremes. We just want to be noticed, to be identified, to be known, to be recognized. We all want our existence to go noticed.

When I see this girl I know, I feel bad not for her but for the people around her. She went into heavy metal music, satanic themes, aggression, and violence, anything that goes against the ordinary so that she can be noticed. We all have tendencies to do that and some of us are like her. And I pity the people around her who remained deaf to her cries.

I believe no one really wants to live in violence. We are all predisposed to goodness and beauty. But when what is essential to our survival: love, care, family, friends, companionship, is taken away we just want it back so badly we go shouting at the top of our lungs but sadly we are never heard.

Rain in March

It's pouring again and the land is drenched to goodness. Unusual, heavy rain has come in March. The climate has been swinging to and fro these past years. Rains in the dry season and scorching days in the rainy months. Even the seasons have become unpredictable.

Unpredictability, that's what makes life so exciting. Things just pop up in front of you and as soon as they come, they go. We never know what comes next so we are always hoping for the better. Even if the future is clouded with uncertainty, we look forward with a clear vision, that is how take hold of our lives and succeed.

Breathing Easier

What is unique in college is you are all on your own. This makes graduation day so much sweeter when you finally taste the glory you have prepared for yourself for the past four or five years.

I'm not really bragging, but finally I'm graduating and I'm bragging about it. Oral exams are still on the way. The past week has been a very suffocating week. With our project still not working even on the exhibit days, my hands were shaking and my thoughts were dreadful. Laboring through nights without sleep, days without food, and moments almost without hope, the robot finally came to life. It's not perfect, some technical glitches exists, but we made it through the ocular examination.

Engrs. Maribong, Sangre, and Palermo finally gave their go signal for us to have our final defense this Monday. Now, I can breath easier. Thanks be to God!

Design Project Calvary

I am typing into my laptop, doing some programming for our design project when suddenly the table seemed to collapse. I held onto the table, my hands were shaking. Was that an earthquake? I sighed, I remember I only slept two hours.

I'm currently in calvary, carrying my cross with our robotic prototype nailed upon it. As I stagger under its weight, the crowd of professors and instructors are jeering at me at the sides. "Hah! You thought Computer Engineering is easy!", "Blasphemer!". They placed upon my forehead a crown of connecting wires, the DC current shorting at my flowing sweat. The sun is high and my vision is getting blurry. The cape of electrical tape they vested me with do not help in the heat.

I'm nearing the top of the hill. Soon I will be crucified. They will ask questions, maddening questions, during that defense. They will hold a mock court, and they will mock us. These professors... My God, My God, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing...

In two weeks time, the end will come. In two weeks time...

Canonical Visit

Starting today, Fr. Julius Sanchez, SDB the Provincial Superior of the Salesian Province of Mary Help of Christians, Philippine South (FIS) will conduct his canonical visit to Don Bosco Lawaan. Taking note of the name of the Lighthouse on a Hill, I cannot yet determine the proper title. Fr. Ronel said it would be Don Bosco Formation Center, but more recently Fr. Fidel had quoted the name Don Bosco Missionary Formation Center. We cannot tell yet until all the planning has been done this summer.

As for Fr. Julius, a priest notorious for his comical homilies, he will be chatting with all of the Salesians and possibly all candidates, and that's a long list of rendiconto. In every Salesian house, the visit of the Provincial marks days of blessings. He is the living Don Bosco in the province.

I have known Fr. Julius since I was in grade school. We were still living in Pasil when he was assigned at the parish. He organized a piano and guitar school for those interested. My mother enrolled me but I was still too young. She bargained before Fr. Julius and he was quoted saying, "wa man mi nagtudlo ug ABC..." I was admitted anyway. After three months, I was left as the remaining student of the parish with the others giving up on the lessons.

Fr. Julius is famous in Pasil. Laughing all the way through the homily, you couldn't just forget him. His is a combination of entertainment and substance.

On the episcopal ordination of then Fr. Patricio "Pat" Buzon, Fr. Julius was elected as the next provincial. I could still remember his acceptance speech as he stood before the Salesian community at Don Bosco Technology Center. He was overwhelmed by the situation and he wept. I can't tell if he was weeping for joy or weeping for shock.

From February 8 to 12, he will be staying with us. I am very happy that the formation house has become the focus of the province. Living through a transitional formation plan I can finally breathe now that great changes are happening. As he said early this morning, the changes he wanted must start with the people and then we can build anything we ought to build. I am happy I'll be taking part in the change.

Smiles and Pics

Just a short reflection.

I'm uploading files to multiply.com when I noticed that most frames are crowded. Hey, wait a minute, these aren't pictures of demonstrations and rallies!

It's a Filipino trait, people crowd to fit into a picture frame. Smiles in their faces, each poses and tries to block the people behind them. Its quite fun, foreigners should try it too! We Filipinos tend to find ways to immortalize the moment in an image. We are very sentimental people and we attach ourselves to many things!

I remember Dexter Cuevas, my famous friend who was notorious for his cut-and-paste smile in every picture we take in the aspirantate. You can really see and feel the joy of his smile! Check your pics, do you wear them too?