Monthly Archives: August 2013

Parking space: full for 3 months

EffectsText: Luke 13:10-17

AT SUNDOWN fisher folks normally prepare to sail for the night, but not today—not for the next three months.

Peter, father of one of our kids in church, said there are 352 others who depend on the sea every single day to feed their families and send their children to school.

On August 16, 2013 a passenger and cargo ship collided in Cebu, affecting the towns and two small islands nearby and causing oil spill. Floating bodies were also found after the incident, where there are more than 50 people who died from the 700 passengers. The bad weather and miscommunication of the two captains caused the collision, which until now is still under investigation.

The oil spill has paralyzed fisher folks, wet markets, and entirely the local communities. The Local Government Unit (LGU) has prohibited fishing in these areas for three months. Continue reading →

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The PORKs of a politician

Disclaimer: I salute politicians who live by faith and moral conduct, especially those who strive to make the government system a better and people-focused one, rather than political-centered. The title of this post is not to generalize the negativity of the politicians but to emphasize the allocated funds for project development, and how this “Pork Barrel funds” is used for the good of the state or for personal interest.

cartoon_Jul19ON MY way to the Philippines from a training in the USA, at the airport lounge, waiting for boarding, I had an opportunity to converse with another Filipino, who is also in the same flight as I. Clarita is a US citizen and lives in the US for 43 years. She’s married and have kids. To my surprise, Clarita boldly shared that she despises the Philippines. At the back of my head I thought, “then why fly back to the Philippines? It is very contradicting.”

She said that with our rotten political and justice system, lazy people, and a very slow economy, the Philippines is in a very worst state she’d “never want to go back–even as a retiree.” Continue reading →

Random people; unexpected itineration

IMG_0516WE’RE taught that itineration is part of the missionary work. We are asked to visit local churches, church events, Annual Conference sessions, and other conferences that would be instrumental in connecting the church to mission. That’s basically the general picture of itineration, but I didn’t know this includes sharing in public transportation and spaces!

Receiving graces from random people is a testimony of God’s presence everywhere.

On the bus from the Global Ministries office to our hotel, which is a 45-minute ride, I and four other international participants didn’t know that we need to pay the bus fare through the public transportation unified card or coins. We only had with us a few one dollar bills and barely one dollar coins each. By faith we hopped in the bus and informed the driver of our dilemma. Graciously, the driver allowed us to stay, while we figure out how to change our bills to coins. Sitting, we started asking co-passengers to change our bills. From a simple inquiry, it grew into a long conversation. Continue reading →

Journey Essentials

???????????????????????????????For the first time in three years of my stay in Manila have I encountered a taxi driver listening to a non-commercial Christian radio. I was on the process of rewriting a message (in my mind). While traversing the busy highway, manong (respect for elderly) and I had a fruitful conversation about our faiths. He was so passionate to share about his ministry as a taxi driver and he even gave me “points to remember in making a sermon.”

How many of us care to talk with the people we encounter every single day? Do we talk only to those whom we know? Or do we also accommodate conversations with new people?

(For complete blog post, go to World Methodist Council Youth and Young Adult Devo)