Mother Mary’s Birthday

Ed. note: This was a mass homily given at LaSalle campus, hence the student-athlete references. — Luke 4:31-37 Many years ago, a book by the title of A Purpose Driven Life came out and became a bestseller. The message was simple yet very profound, especially in a world that puts value in money, fame, and…

Are You Burdened?

When the government started to open up some establishments, many people wanted the Church included. Why? It is not only about physical health in this pandemic. It is also about mental health.  There are millions who have lost their jobs or livelihood, thousands who have lost their loved ones, and of course there is the…

People Who Put You Down

There is a saying that people need people. Yet, one of the most painful realities is when people put other people down. How many of us still have the words playing in our minds, “You are never good enough”, “Bobo or inutil”, or “You are are a mistake.” In the Gospel, there was blind man…

Separation of Church and State

We have always heard the line that there should be separation of Church and State. In other words, the Church should not meddle with the affairs of the State.  To begin with, the meaning of “the Separation of the Church and State” according to the constitution, is that the State cannot dictate to her citizens…

Promise Fulfilled

In our many relationships, the ones we truly value are those who have “Palabra de honor.” People who are faithful to their word or their promise. When one says on this time and this date, surely on the appointed time and date, he/she will be there. On the other hand, if a person does not…

Succession

About three times a year, I go up to Baguio with 2 of my closest priest friends. This is an opportunity to relax, read, pray and eat. About 4 years ago we learned that one of our favorite restaurants in Baguio, Star Café, closed down. It was founded in 1940, yet was closing down because…

The Power of the Word

Children Learn What They Live If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn. If children live with hostility, they learn to fight. If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy. If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty. If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence. If children live with…

God Has A Plan

One sad reality of today’s generation is suicide. When giving Confessions to the younger generation in public schools, not only once, not only twice, but several times would a young person admit that he or she has attempted suicide. While there are many reasons why people, even children, attempt and commit suicide, according to studies…

Return of Investment

I once came across a video explaining why some people are rich and the rest are not. The gist of the video is that when the rich spend, their frame of mind is, “what is the Return of my Investment (ROI)?” Hence, If a flashy car will not give a good ROI, what is the…

Cleanliness of the Heart

There is a saying that “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” Hence, who does not want a clean house, a clean car, a clean bedroom, a clean chapel, and a clean person. In discussing cleanliness, a friend of mine casually said that we Filipinos are one of the top users of bath soap. He explained the…