I started writing when I was 8. My mom got me a journal where I could rant (prob so I won't be an annoying brat). I stopped writing for 8 years until the pen and then later on the keyboard called on me again. I blog because I like writing and that's just about it. Hope you get inspired though... Bite the apple!
I remember watching "The Two Popes" when it first came out a few years ago. I watched it again today with Sweetie since I wanted to remember Pope Francis' journey.
I've been sad all week, but I have a feeling that Pope Francis would want us to rejoice. He has gone back home and the AI-made posts of the Pope together with Jesus is a reminder that Pope Francis is happily with Jesus now.
I have avoided watching any news/videos on speculations on who will be the new pope. The new Pope will be rightfully chosen at the Conclave. I just hope and pray it will be someone like Pope Francis. Someone who will also have a big heart to love and accept all.
Go watch "The Two Popes" to appreciate better the work done by Pope Francis in the past 12 years. He was so different from Pope Benedict, but their differences just showed why they were both very important for all of us.
I was just scrolling through socmed when I saw a post that Pope Francis just passed away. I wanted to make sure it was true, so I sought out news sites to confirm. We watched the urbi et orbi and his ride around the Vatican last night and I even told Sweetie, he looks like he recovered already. So, seeing the news was a huge shock for me.
In 2018, we had the opportunity to be at Pope Francis' daily blessing at the Vatican. I felt so much love at that time and called up my Mom because I wanted to share the moment with her. I told her then that I wanted to bring her next time we went to Rome.
I'm so sad, but happy for Pope Francis that he's been called back home. He really showed that we must live life with love and deep faith. Rest in peace Papa Pope. Please send my love to my family and friends up there, especially to your katukayo my Papa Lolo Francisco.
Today Pope Francis celebrated the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines with a mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. I couldn't help but tear up when the choir sang Filipino mass songs. It felt so different since it's been over a year since we heard mass in Manila (in person).
Pope Francis in his homily focused on the message that God loves us forever. He thanked Filipinos for the joy we bring to the world and Christian communities. He said that Filipinos bring their faith and naturally evangelize wherever we go. We are silent spreaders of faith across the world.
St. Peter's Basilica, 2018.
I remember many years ago, a self-proclaimed agnostic left a nasty message to a friend who was sharing about his faith. I commented back at him and asked him to be respectful of the faith of others. That incident affected me. I got scared to write about my faith. I told myself that it's a personal thing anyway. Because I was partly withholding part of myself I became uninspired and rarely wrote.
Healing is a journey and that's why I started daily blogging again since January 1 last year. Writing has been a coping mechanism for me. My Mom was the one who encouraged me to write since I was 8 years old. Although it's my Dad who really wrote. He used to write everyday. His writings were mostly about how to make life better. It was his way to spread joy and his faith.
And that's what I want to continue doing. As Pope Francis said during his homily, we must keep evangelizing and spreading God's love. Be joyful.
If you missed the mass with Pope Francis earlier, you can watch it on the video below. Also, plenary indulgence will be granted to those who do a pilgrimage to any of the 500 designated jubilee churches until April 22, 2022 (Paranaque Jubilee churches here).
Let's celebrate the gift of Christianity from God :)
The last few days saw Pope Francis win the hearts of Filipinos an reinforce our faith. I could not be there to see him in person, but even far away I felt his presence and heard his message. I am so glad that his visit was available for viewing on YouTube through RTVMalacanang (a project I worked on back in 2011, remember this?). My deepest gratitude to the team who worked on that because I managed to take part of the visit online.
I had been very active in our Parish in the past. I used to produce our parish newsletter and was active in our choir (for more than 20 years), but primarily due to my health and work I had to give those up so I could use whatever energy I had to care for my family. I've been feeling quite better in the last few months and have been thinking about how I can serve again. It's difficult to commit though since I'm always on the go. I think how I'll get to fulfill that personal goal will be revealed in the coming months.
Pope Francis said, "Don't lose the ability to dream."
I have been living with short term goals in the last decade (yes, decade). Wherever I am today is because I have just followed where I've been navigated to go. I am in my happy place. Things are going well in many aspects of my life and I couldn't ask for more. I had asked for better health so I can provide a better quality of life for my family when I got sick in 2008. It took a number of years before it worked out, but now things are so much better.
When I read the quote from Pope Francis it made me realize that I should be stronger in my faith that I should dream and dream more. I've been so fixated on getting well that I had not made any plans on what to do after my health problem got ironed out.
"Don't forget to dream, because when you do, you forget the capacity to love."
I think I've live too realistically in the last decade, that's what happens when you get so hurt. I'm glad though I did not become jaded because I was able to forgive, somehow forget, move on and allow myself to love and be loved. Now what I need to work on is my dreams and the dreams of my family.
Thank you Papa God for sending Pope Francis to my country and for making me realize that one must continue to dream.
Here is a song that I learned to play on the piano when I was a kid. My piano pieces perished during Typhoon Ondoy, but last Saturday I finally got a new copy of the piece and look forward to going home and playing it again.
Half my lifetime ago I managed to be part of World Youth Day in 1995. Just like the many other students and participants I stayed in Luneta, slept on Roxas Boulevard so I could hear mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II. I didn't really expect to see him, but I did since he went around in his Pope mobile. When I saw him I felt really loved and there was just unexplicable joy from within. I remember smiling and crying at the same time. It was one of the happiest moments of my life.
Much as I would love to see Pope Francis during his visit in Manila my body now isn't what it used to be. Five minutes under the sun I would melt like Olaf and would suffer heatstroke. I had to also go back to work (in Singapore), so at best I've just been praying for the success of the Pope's visit and for his safety and the safety of everyone going.
Welcome to the Philippines dear Pope Francis! I hope someday I would have the chance to get a tiny glimpse of you, maybe in Rome if I manage to save up for it (and hopefully bring my Mom who wants to go there).
