Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Bye, President Cory Aquino

I am one of the "EDSA babies" - the term they call those who were born in time of the EDSA Revolution in 1986. I am just 3 months old that time. I can still remember seeing her... Cory Aquino wearing yellow together with all the people holding each other - men, women, priests praying, nuns with rosaries - when a military tank came. It was like imprinted in my young mind. I'm 23 years old now and yet it was all clear to me... what all happened that day. It was called the People Power Revolution, the one who threw Marcos out of his throne.

Cory Aquino is the wife of the late Ninoy Aquino, a senator who actively oppose the Marcos government and said "Filipinos are worth dying for..." He was shot at Tarmac Airport (now called, Ninoy Aquino International Airport) the moment the plane he boarded landed. Even though she was just a plain housewife, she accepted it wholeheartedly when people wanted her to run as a Presidential candidate. She did it for us, Filipinos... She fought for our freedom... democracy that Marcos took away from us.

And now, the democracy icon who is known to the whole world passed away... I can't help my tears fall upon hearing the sad news but at the same time, I'm glad that Cory and Ninoy would be reunited in heaven now.

Tita Cory, we love you... all Filipinos mourn for your passing. We're thankful that we have both of you - kababayans who are brave to fight for us. May you be reunited with Ninoy in heaven. Thank you for giving us this freedom we enjoy now. We'll take care of your legacy...

Monday, June 22, 2009

The Tale of Three Trees

Believe me, this is just a kindergarten story but when I've heard this story, it has strucked me, right to my heart...

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!" The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!" The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world."

Years passed and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the first tree fell. "Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said. The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!" The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining ax the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river. Instead she was taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many, many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. "I wish I could make a cradle for him," her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful," she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the King of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.

That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

So the next time you feel down because you didn't get what you want, just sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you.

Monday, March 16, 2009

A Scorpion Moment

An excerpt from Moments by Fr. Jerry M. Orbos, SVD:

Do you sometimes feel like giving up loving? Do you feel like giving up your goodness? Please don't.

Take time to read this story. There was this Hindu who saw a scorpion floundering around in the water. He decided to save it by stretching out his finger, but the scorpion stung him. The man still tried to get the scorpion out of the water, but the scorpion stung him again.

A man nearby told him to stop saving the scorpion that kept stinging him, but the Hindu said: "It is the nature of the scorpion to sting. It is my nature to love. Why should I give up my nature to love just because it is the nature of the scorpion to sting?"

Don't give up loving.

Don't give up your goodness.

Even if...  people around you sting...

A Moment with the Lord

Lord, help me to love and keep loving in spite of hurts, and to hold on to the goodness within me. Amen.