Goin' to the top with God: On Charice Going Rome Sweet Home

The ever-beautiful worldwide sensation, Charice, at the Pasig Cathedral for her formal "homecoming" to the Catholic Church. This lass was a former Manalist, and now leaving behind her past to be reborn in a new life in the Love of Christ administered by the successors of His Apostles. Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN broadcaster Karen Davila: http://tweetphoto.com/23397303

Last Thursday night, after dinner, I went online to do the usual stuff--checking updates, comment on Facebook posts, and think of what would I say (I'm picky and careful when I comment on something; not to be indifferent, but to be fair and to respect someone's opinion). As I check the blogs I'm following, I stumbled on Fr. Abe's post on The Splendor about Charice converting to Catholicism.

And I was like, "WHAAAAT?!!"

You heard it right.

The YouTube sensation-turned-versatile recording artist, and her brother Carl, left Felix Manalo's cult for the Church built by Jesus Christ Himself and received the Sacraments of Initiation last May 22, 2010, at the Pasig Cathedral. Her list of godparents included Oprah Winfrey (though not personally present), who believed in her from the first time Charice appeared in The Oprah Winfrey Show, her mentor, David Foster, OC, ABS-CBN boss Gabby Lopez, acclaimed "King of Talk" Boy Abunda, Presidential sister Kris Aquino-Yap, husband-and-wife broadcasters Julius and Tintin Babao (the latter came in late), and entertainment columnist Ricky Lo among many others.

How did Charice, Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco in real life, and Carl became members of the infamous INC(M) cult? It is because their father is a member of it, and that their mother, Raquel Relucio Pempengco, converted to it in the years where they were still together. When Raquel knew that was it, she packed their bags, returned home (to her parents and to the Church), and never heard of Charice's father ever since. But I can say that this dark past they experienced has already been overshadowed by the attention the world gave; and by seeing the Light that inspires her to be more of herself and being fully incorporated in the Catholic Church--the True Church--there is a hope that the Holy Spirit would be in all her albums and tours.

And this is something surprising: After recieving the saving grace of Baptism, being sealed by the Holy Spirit, and hopefully, receiving Christ in the Holy Eucharist, she offered a soup kitchen as reception for underprivileged children as part of her mission! Can you believe that? She made her first charitable act as a Catholic--as a True Christian--right after her enlistment as a Soldier of and for Christ!

In her famous single, it says that love stands "like a pyramid". If love is like that--standing "to the very end"--I firmly believe that the Lord's love for us is much, much more than that. May our Triune God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be praised in all her endeavors, and may He endow her with more blessings! TO THE TOP, SISTER CHARICE!!!

On Loving One Another Through our Own Ways

First Reading: Acts 14:21-27
Responsorial Psalm: I will praise Your Name for ever, my King and my God. (Ps. 145: 8-9; 10-11; 12-13)
Second Reading: Rev. 21:1-5a

Gospel Reading: Jn. 13: 31-33a; 34-35

When Judas had left them, Jesus said,

“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.

If God is glorified in him,

God will also glorify him in himself,

and God will glorify him at once.

My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.

I give you a new commandment: love one another.

As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.

This is how all will know that you are my disciples,

if you have love for one another.”

Dissection:

The Gospel passage, taken from the Last Supper account of the Gospel of St. John, has this scenario: Jesus knew who will betray Him, and in the verses before this, it was emphasized how His glorification be in His crucifixion.

Reflection:

"Love one another." Very cliche, isn't it?

How would we express this kind of love in this time of hatred and uncertainty? Simple. we have to forget, even for a while, our own interest for the company of others, in which God is in our midst, so that by glorifying Him through our works in correct application of faith, we are also glorified. Therefore, loving one another by working hard for God is glorifying Him, and in turn, He shares this glory to those who do His will.