The 2011 Year-ender Blogpost

Okay....

I wanna keep it short and simple before we start 2012 with a bang. It would be a prayer:

First of all, I thank the Lord for 2011. The Pro-life victory, the Quadricentennial Year of UST, and everything that happened this year. We return to you, O Lord, the glory.

Second, I hope that Your countenance would be felt still in the new year. May the motherly care of the Blessed Virgin be felt on us.

And finally, whatever I may see as an opportunity to serve You, may I do it for You.

This I ask through Christ, Our King and Lord, through the intercession of the Blessed Mother and all the Angels and Saints.

AMEN!


And as I did last year, here's the best of 2011:

Life vs. Death

Catholicism, a Balance of Heart and Mind

Umaasa

the March 25 Pro-Life rally

UST's Human Cross

The Tax Collector at the Temple

Prophecy or Mass Panic?

O Birheng Kalinis-linisan

Christ in the Hands of His Priest

Father's Day Letter para kay Rizal

A Leningrad in the Making

Humanae Vitae Week

The Grassroots Project

Theotokos

The Battle for Existence Continues

My Youth

St. Nicholas a.k.a. Santa Claus

A Nativity Hymn

A Reflection on St. John

My Youth: The Transition Blog Post

This would be the last day this blog would be called "Media, Society, and God". Tomorrow, it will have a new name, and I hope a new format would be expected here. But before I bid goodbye to the old title, here's what I can say on the recently-concluded National Youth Day, and also a reflection on it.

My Youth: The Final Post as Media, Society, and God

Being young is, traditionally, being underestimated or inexperienced by most of your older peers, and even by your own age bracket. I feel this. All of the time.

Ever since I failed to become an honor student, teachers and fellow students never expected something out of me other than graduating High School. In college, it’s the same thing, but I felt that it was already jaded too much that I said to myself “Nah. A lot of people happened to be in the position I am in, so why should I worry too much?”

But there was a significant change in my life.

Joining the two most practical organizations in UST isn’t just actually mere choice of org or what; I initially based myself on what will I learn from them, and eventually, how I would face the world with all that I have. 

I admit: I’m an attention-hungry person.

But it all changed when I realized “Why should I grab the attention of others than being you? Why should I even care about it?”

Until I realized there’s a lot of things I can excel, maybe not in academics, though I should keep it top priority, and I could master it little by little. I found about Katolikong Pinoy, and I became active ever since.

But the inferiority complex remains, being the youngest of its five active Administrators. And with a background in media, since I’m a Communication Arts student, I feel that they’re expecting me to be more than just a Facebook admin, which a lot of people are taking for granted. Besides, some pages on Facebook are just nonsense.

Anyway, what I’m trying to tell you is that I feel blessed that I covered the final event of National Youth Day for an episode on our YouTube program “TSEKPoint”, currently on post-production. Being one of the admins is one great task. I thought most of our core members are available on that day; it turns out, only me and my fellow admin, Kuya Ryan Rayos, were there—the latter as part of the documentation staff on one of the festival sites on the recently concluded event, making me, technically, representing KP. There were also some friends whom I happened to meet at the Cuneta Astrodome: Kuya Mark Vertido, one of KP’s former admins who now works on the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Youth; and Paolo Cobangbang, O.P. from the Rosarian Youth Movement, the youth arm of the Company of St. Dominic in which I long to become part of.

I brought with me the Philippine flag which became the rally point of our members on that Pro-Life rally last March 25, expecting that some of them would come and join in the celebration. But the opposite happened. Actually, one of our fellow members tried to come, but he’s from Bulacan, so he told me he can’t make it, and I understood why.

Being alone out there was actually scary. Good thing I noticed Brother Paolo during the Mass before the event, especially in Communion where he kneeled in front of a priest in order to receive the Body of Christ. After the Mass, the areas near the delegates were opened for the non-delegates to buy food. I was one of those who took the opportunity to get in and interact with the delegates, as well as rendezvousing with Kuya Ryan and Kuya Mark. One of the people in the ECY, Ate Nirva, asked me “Papaano ka nakapasok dito?” taking into consideration that non-delegates are hands-off in the area where the stage is realistic, if you know what I mean. I answered her, “Ewan ko nga po eh! I found the gates open and hindi naman po ako nasita ng mga taga-security.” She replied: “You are meant to be here!”

Well, I was shocked when I heard it, since I never showed up in ECY’s prep and planning—actually, only once—due to my ma-trabahong subjects, as well as my other duties as an organization officer, a student, an admin of a more-than-125,000-likes-strong Facebook page, and as a son. The night went well for me though the setbacks. And besides, it does not matter. I can still catch up with the next NYD in Visayas, wishful thinking that I can finance my trip there. I’m still considered young until I reach 30. My mom told me “Bata ka pa. Marami ka pang opportunities para maging involved.” And I guess she was right all along. But I’m never too young to do extraordinary things out of ordinary circumstances.

This leads me to the last line of the chorus of NYD’s theme song this year: “We are never too young to come as one. We can make a stand!” For the record, I am one of the youngest affiliates in Filipinos for Life, a pro-life group behind the Facebook page “I Oppose the RH Bill”, aside from being the youngest KP Admin. I’m even invited to be part of the Manila South core group of Defensores Fidei Foundation, a non-profit apologetics organization in which my apologist idols, Fr. Abe Arganiosa and Atty. Marwil Llasos, O.P., are part of.

Too many expectations. Too many opportunities. I cannot turn them down, but since I’m still a college student, the best thing that I can consider is to postpone their offers if and when it will still be available in the near future. I’m still young. I should be making the most out of my youth without compromising my duties and interests, because, as they say: “minsan lang maging bata”.

AXIOS! Imus Bishop is the next Philippine Primate

Manila Archbishop-elect Luis Antonio Tagle

Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, the current Archbishop of Manila, submitted his retirement letter in 2007, as it is mandatory for bishops reaching the age of 75, but his resignation was accepted by the Pope four years later; and today, we wake up with a new shepherd of the most influential Archdiocese in the country, since it was the very first diocese established in the Spanish times. Archbishop-elect Tagle, having the episcopal motto "Dominus Est" (It is the Lord), is currently the third Bishop of Imus and the diocese at the threshold of its Golden Jubilee this year. This was his official statement: 


His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI appointed me, a humble servant to succeed His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales to the Metropolitan See of Manila. I face this heavy responsibility with much trepidation. Leaving the Diocese of Imus, my beloved our home, at the threshold of its Golden Jubilee is not easy. But faith in our gracious Lord and love of the Church give me strength. I know that I would find much good will and zeal for mission in the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Manila. In our openness to the Holy Spirit, we could render a joyful and robust witness to Jesus Christ, all for the glory of the Father and the good of the Church and of society, especially of the poor. I entrust the Archdiocese of Manila and my ministry to the loving care of Our Lady, Mary Immaculate.

+ Luis Antonio G. Tagle
13 October 2011 




Just a few suggestions for the Archbishop-elect: 


First and foremost, we pray that you may follow the footsteps of Davao Archbishop Capalla in promoting the beauty of the Liturgy, so as to influence the suffragan dioceses you are about to administer as Metropolitan (namely, Novaliches, Pasig, Parañaque, Antipolo, Malolos, San Pablo, Cubao, Kalookan, and Imus), without compromise and impurities. I expect that you will face the SSPX for this, but remember that the Church will never be prevailed by the gates of hell as long as you are in communion with the Successor of Peter (Matt. 16:18). 


Secondly, your predecessor, Cardinal Rosales, have created a program called "Pondo ng Pinoy". We hope you will continue and strengthen this program. 


And finally, may you continue to uphold the sanctity of life.... And I think everyone knows about that.... 


Anyway, Bishop Chito, as he is colloquially known, is very much exposed in the media, currently hosting a Sunday Gospel reflection program over Studio 23(?) and over YouTube. I very much expect that he will be known as the media-friendly Archbishop. 




To Manila Archbishop-emeritus Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, we thank you for shepherding Manila, and extendedly, the whole country, in our beliefs. You have fought a good fight. You have finished the run. And you have preserved our faith, just as St. Paul proclaimed. May the Lord bless you in your retirement. 


To Manila Archbishop-elect Luis Antonio "Chito" Tagle, we are congratulating you for being the new shepherd of the Archdiocese of Manila. 


AXIOS! AXIOS! AXIOS! 




Just a footnoter: Looks like someone isn't THAT happy for this....

-Ber Months are here again....

Aaaahh, the -BER months.... Parang kelan lang.

Actually, I also have a lot of things to consider before that happy moment at the last month of the year--and I mean, A LOT.

One of them would be my promise of returning to Santo Domingo to see the Great Lady of Heaven (whose Nativity we would be celebrating in just a few more days) and her Son, the King of Kings--Child He may be, but the majesty He manifests shatters even the most devout. This is also a promise of duty, since almost a year ago, proudly donning an ROTC uniform, I participated into the security of the Queen and those who guarded it--who were actually my superiors. In short, this will be my "giving back" to the experience and formation that I have greatly acquired, and at the same time, my dedication and devotion to the one thing that I NEVER leave home without--the Most Holy Rosary.

I also have to consider my Finals in all my subjects, plus our "awards night" in our TV Production class. Even right now, I'm hands full in organizing our Marian Week in my affiliated college in UST! Yes, true to what I said, that's A LOT!

Anyway, good thing I survived Grassroots Month.... Back to me blogging in my comfort zone.

Grassroots: Apat na Taon ng Splendor of the Church

Malugod kong binabati si Rev. Fr. Abraham "Fr. Abe" Arganiosa sa ikaapat na anniversaryo ng kanyang blog na The Splendor of the Church!

Sa isang personal na perspektivo, nakatulong ang blog ni Fr. Abe sa pagpapatatag ng aking pananampalataya at malaman kahit papaano ang mga taktika ng mga anti-Catholics; at kung hindi dahil sa kanya ay hindi ako napadpad dito sa Blogspot. Marahil isa lamang ako sa maraming na-enlighten ng apologist-priest na ito sa pamamagitan ng "Splendor", ngunit masasabi kong nakatulong ito sa paghubog ng mga mas matitibay na Katoliko, at marahil ay makapag-produce pa ng mga converts patungo sa Katolisismo.

Muli, mula sa MSAG, Happy Anniversary sa The Splendor of the Church!

AXIOS!

PANALANGIN NG PAGBABAYAD-PURI

Sa darating na ika-26 ng Agosto, inaanyayahan ang lahat ng mananampalataya na dasalin ito sa Misa bago ang Huling Pagbabasbas:


PANALANGIN NG PAGBABAYAD-PURI 
(Dadasaling nakaluhod) 
Panginoong Jesu-Kristo, Anak ng Diyos na buhày, 
dahil sa labis mong pag-ibig sa aming mga makasalanan, 
nagkatawang-tao ka at nag-alay ng iyong buhay sa krus. 
Nararapat kang pasalamatan, parangalan, at purihin, 
ngunit may mga tao, na dahil sa maling paggamit ng kanilang kalayaan 
ay nililibak ang inyong pagka-Diyos at ang karangalan ng iyong Ina 
sa ng paglapastangan sa inyong banal na imahen at ituring itong sining. 
Lubos kaming nababagabag at nahihiya, Panginoong Jesus, 
kaya't kami'y buong pakumbabang lumuluhod 
sa harap ng inyong dakilang kamahalan 
upang humingi ng kapatawaran 
mula sa iyong maawain at mapagpatawad na puso 
sa walang pakundangang paglapastangan sa iyong karangalan. 
Matindi ang aming pagkamuhi sa mga taong may kagagawan nito, 
ngunit tinuruan mo kaming magpatawad tulad ng pagpapatawad mo sa amin. 
Alam man nila ang kanilang ginagawa o hindi, 
ipinapanalangin namin sila: 
Panginoong Jesus, pagkalooban mo sila ng biyaya ng tunay na pagtitika 
at imulat mo ang kanilang mga isip kung ano ang marangal at maganda, 
kung ano ang nagbibigay ng mabuting halimbawa 
at gumagalang sa paniniwala ng iba. 
Ipinapanalangin din namin ang aming sarili: 
Panginoong Jesus, pagkalooban mo kami ng biyaya 
na mamuhay kami bilang mga tunay na Kristiyano 
upang kami'y maging mga walang bahid mong kawangis 
at mga buhày na saksi ng iyong pag-ibig at pagpapatawad. 
Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. 
Kristo, kaawan mo kami. 
Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. 


Source: "Sense of the Sacred" ni Fr. Jojo Zerrudo 

Grassroots: Maria, Pag-asa ng Muling Pagkabuhay

Ngayon, ipinagdiriwang natin ang Kapistahan ng Pag-aakyat kay Maria sa Langit (at kaya pag-aakyat kasi iniakyat siya ng kanyang Anak). at may nagawa na akong dalawang tula sa previous posts ko bago nito: isang free verse at isang haiku.

At ngayon, ire-redirect ko kayo sa mga kapwa ko bloggers sa kanilang mga nai-post ukol sa araw na ito:

Ang pagpapaliwanag sa Assumption ni Maria mula kay Atty. Marwil Llasos, O.P.;

Isang Gospel Reflection;

at isang blog post ni Prof. Dave Ceasar Dela Cruz.

Grassroots: 100

Matapos ang isa't kalahating taon ng pagsusulat sa blog na ito, dumating na ako sa puntong tatlong numero na ang dami ng mga posts dito, at dahil na rin sa post na ito.

Mula sa pagiging isang hobby, ito'y naging isang Gospel reflection blog, reactionary blog, hanggang sa kung ano na ito ngayon--isang quasi-personal, Catholic commentary blog na may personal extension blog na tinatawag kong aking Alter Ego.

Napakapalad ko at nagagawa kong itapon ang aking mga saloobin sa ganitong paraan. Sana umabot ang mga posts ko sa 200, 300, 400, hangga't may gana pa akong mag-blog.

Maraming salamat po sa mga inyong patuloy na pagsuporta sa aking mga blogs sa pamamagitan ng pagbasa nito at sa mga nag-share nito sa abot ng kanilang makakaya.

Grassroots: Sa Wakas! AXIOS!

Naalala n'yo ba ang ginawa ng UST noong Ash Wednesday mga ilang buwan na ang nakakalipas?

Nai-post ko rin yun dito.

Yup... humatol na ang Guinness...

...

...

...

...

at sa wakas...

AT SA WAKAS! NASA GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS NA ANG UST! WOOOO!

SOLI DEO GLORIA: PATRIS, ET FILII, ET SPIRITUS SANCTI!

Axios, mga Tomasino! ¡Levante!

At dahil ito ang ika-99 na post sa MSAG, gagawin kong espesyal ang aking ika-100 post dito. ABANGAN.

Bakit Grassroots?

Nagtataka siguro kayo kung bakit tinatawag kong "Grassroots Project " ang ginagawa ko ngayon. Eto ang aking dahilan sa likod ng pangalan.

Ayon sa Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, ang salitang "grassroots" ay nangangahulugang "basic" o "fundamental". Sa madaling salita, makabago, simple, nagsisimula pa lang. Pwede rin itong maisalin sa "original" at "sariling-atin". Alam ko na medyo off-the-topic ang mga pagsasaling ito, pero kahit papaano, malapit ito sa mga orihinal nitong kahulugan.

So, bukod dito, bakit ko naisip ang salitang "grassroots" para sa aking pagpupugay sa Buwan ng Wika?

Sa totoo lang, bigla ko na lang naisip ang salitang iyon upang magkaroon ng uniqueness ang aking gagawin sa mga susunod na araw; pero, naisip ko rin na hindi ako nagkamali sa pagpili ng salita dahil malalim din siguro ang aking pinaghuhugutan. Naaalala n'yo yung una kong editorial sa wikang Filipino? Double-meaning ata yun para sa akin, eh; of course, given na ang dahilan na Filipino ang aking mater lingua.. Kaya ako na-enganyong mag-blog ay dahil sa blog ni Fr. Abe Arganiosa na may pamagat na "The Splendor of the Church", na isang apologetic blog dahil na rin sa pagsagot niya sa mga binabatong tanong ng kanyang mga followers at mga kritiko sa pamamagitan ng Banal na Kasulatan. Dahil sa kanya, na-expose ako sa mga bagay ukol sa Simbahan, pati na rin ang mga karaniwang akusasyon at misconcepcion sa Simbahang itinatag ni Kristo sa pamamagitan ni San Pedro. Ito rin ang una kong naging specialization nang sumali ako sa 100% Katolikong Pinoy (dahil ang pagiging pro-life at liturgy-lover ko ay sumunod sa pag-aspire ko na maging apolohista).

Bukod dito, isa rin itong pagpupugay, pagpapaliwanag, paglilinaw, at pagbabalik-tanaw sa mga pangyayari sa aking buhay at saloobin, at sa mga mahahalagang diskurso sa mga kapwa kong ordinaryong mamamayan at mananampalataya, kaya't mayroon rin akong mga maisusulat na mga anekdota at panitikan, partikular na sa huli ang mga tula (okay, mukhang mano-nosebleed na kayo sa lalim ng mga 'to! hahahahaha).

Kaya't nais ko sanang anyayahan kayo na tangkilikin ang "Grassroots Project" dito sa Media, Society, and God!

Grassroots: Ang Simula

Okay. Eto na.

Sa totoo lang, hindi ako sanay magsulat sa Filipino, lalo na sa mga blogs ko. Kaso, Agosto ngayon, at ipinagdiriwang ngayon ang Buwan ng Wika. Well, kailangan kong aminin na maganda ang wikang ito hindi lang dahil sa ito ang aking mater lingua, kundi ito rin ang nakagisnan ko sa araw-araw kong pamumuhay. Siguro naman kahit isang buwan man lang ay magbigay pugay ako sa nakasanayan ko, diba?

Ito ang simple kong dahilan kung bakit ko naisipang gawin ang Grassroots Project. Ito ay isang pagbibigay-pugay sa wikang Filipino habang tinatalakay pa rin ang mga napapanahong isyu sa Simbahan, sa ating bansa, at sa gampanin ng kommunikasyon sa ating lipunan. Ipapakita rin dito ang aking mga saloobin sa mga bagay ukol sa apolohetika, liturhiya, pagpapahalaga sa buhay, at iba pa. Sana rin ay makabuo ako ng mga tula. Isa pa, nais ko ring iwasan ang pagbibitaw ng masasamang salita, lalo na sa Alter Ego, dahil nababatid ko na mas naiintindihan ng mas nakakarami ang mga foul words sa Filipino.

So, sa ngayon, nangangapa pa ako kung ano ang susunod kong editorial dito, dahil talagang gusto ko talaga na magkaroon ng original na post; dahil kung susuriin nyo ang buong blog ko, halos lahat mga reposts mula sa ibang blogs at websites. Kahit na kine-credit ko sila sa abot ng aking makakaya, mas mainam na meron talaga akong sariling gawa.

Yun lang muna sa ngayon....

:D

A Way to define Today

Good News: We have no classes, and I'm going to go lazaaay!

Bad News: Uhhhhh...... Just check out this pic by Bro. Paolo Cobangbang, O.P.

Have to admit: It's going to be a day of ranting. Check this one! hahahaha


Ay! Oo nga pala, malapit na pala ang Agosto, at dahil dyan, ilo-launch ko dito at sa Alter Ego ang "Grassroots Project", kung saan madali akong maiintindihan sa blog na 'to kahit isang buwan lang. Ito na rin yata ang ika-94 kong post, at sana tatama sa Agosto ang aking ikaisandaang post dito sa MSAG!

Axios!: Archbishop Palma elected as next CBCP President

The Pinoy Catholic and One With You posted greetings...and so do I....

MSAG congratulates His Excellency Most Rev. Jose Palma, D.D., Archbishop of Cebu, for his election as the next President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop, Most Rev. Socrates Villegas, D.D., is elected Vice-President.

AXIOS!

May Tama na ang Gumawa ng "May Tamang Balita".

Let's see.... 

GMA News TV has launched its light-side news program called "May Tamang Balita" in the channel's advent last March, and they got the humor of the viewers; somehow a relief from the stale, bad-tasting news programs and stuff. 

There's no problem with that, since they got the concept of this foreign news satire program which I already am ignorant of.... 

...until "May Tamang Balita" moved on its second season where they reformatted, changed airtime, and got so deviant to its previous treatment. 

There's nothing wrong with making fun with what's happening and what's on the news, BUT NOT TO THE POINT OF HITTING BELOW SOMEONE'S BELT, OR IN THIS CASE, AN INSTITUTION'S, ON NATIONAL TELEVISION. 

And if you're following that show, you know what segment I'm talking about. 

Kuya Bitz exhorts further about this.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

I wanna greet my good friend and fellow blogger, Kuya Weldann "Sir Bitz" Panganiban, in his fifth year at Blogspot! I wish you all the best.... And rest assured that MSAG will be ONE WITH YOU!

Darker side of me? Not really.

I wanted to try to be as clean and as objective in my arguments while referring to the first person. That's the basic reason why I planned to have another blog called Alter-Ego; which will focus in my everyday activities, lighter approaches to social issues, and maybe some blah.

Anyway, check it out, too....

Condolences to the Arganiosa Family

I would like to extend my most sincere condolences to Fr. Abe Arganiosa, the blogger of The Splendor of the Church, in the demise of his father--Mr. Salvador Arganiosa, Sr. He is to be remembered because Tatay Salvador offered to God his only son to the priesthood and to the defense of the Faith. What's good about it is that it was Fr. Abe who administered to his dad the Last Sacraments, and the latter died in the state of sanctifying grace. Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine: et Lux Perpetua luceat eis.

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!!!