Never lost, always found (21): Passion

Lately, as I review my blog entries (or the lack thereof!), I see how closely it mirrors a number of what I hold dear in my heart. Lately, my entries become less personal, in the sense that I just don't talk about me and myself; rather, I am still revealing bits and pieces of what makes me tick or pissed in the form of advocacies and issues I blog about. Still, I see myself as a myopic, unfocused individual who seems to be flailing about.

This wandering feeling is even highlighted when I encounter people like:
Harvey Milk, staunch defender of civil rights in San Francisco;
Christopher McCandless, who walked away from the world's excesses in order to find himself and what is essential in the wilderness of Alaska;
Margaret Moth, CNN camerawoman extraodinaire, who didn't let canons nor cancer get in the way of covering a story.

Theirs is a single-minded doggedness that is oblivious to pain and discomfort, all in the pursuit of what is important and true for them. In fact, they didn't really have to do it, their individual exploits. But because of their desire to make a difference, our lives are somewhat better now.

Oddly enough, they remind me of Jesus' life- His zest for God's Word, His focus on service, His unparalleled obedience, His unwavering sense of mission despite humanity's unworthiness. He really didn't have to do all that He did, frankly speaking; but He did. And boy, did Jesus endure a lot!

In Paul's Letter to the Philippians Chapter 2, he recalled:

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Now THAT is PASSION.

In the face of all my wandering and restlessness, I just pray to the Lord to please grant me clarity of purpose- why am I really here, what do I have to do, where should I really be in. I pray to the Lord that when He guides me to that spot that is my earthly niche, that He empowers me with all that I need. And if where I am now is where I am really supposed to be in, that I continue to find comfort, contentment, and peace with all I encounter =]

May God evolve my wanderlust into His Son's Passion...

I vote for the planet: EARTH HOUR 2010

Switch off your lights for 60 minutes on Saturday, March 27, 2010 from 8.30-9.30pm wherever part of the planet you maybe in in celebration of Earth Hour!


In 2009, the Philippines ranked first among 88 nations in terms of local participation in Earth Hour. Over 10 million Filipinos in 647 cities and municipalities switched off their lights during Earth Hour, saving an estimated 611MWh of electricity – equivalent to a temporary shutdown of a dozen coal-fired power-plants. (from the World Wildlife Fund - Philippines)

Imagine what a billion people the world over can do if we just put our hearts and minds and our acts together!

Whether you believe in climate change or not, switching off your lights- the non-essential ones at least- does make sense:
- it can help lower your own electric bill
- it can help save on the cost of oil and coal that will otherwise be used by power plants to give you electricity to power those lights
- it can help lower greenhouse gas emissions

Here's a video of the flash mob dance we did several week ago to drum up support for Earth Hour 2010-

Prayer for the rains to come

Last week, much-needed and most welcome sporadic rain fell on our parched country after being absent for almost two months. However, we can still benefit from more.

Here's a copy of the Oratio Imperata/Intercessory Prayers for Rain which the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila is asking all of us pray. If you're reading this, please join us praying for the alleviation of drought and water shortage in the Philippines.

(from the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila website, as sent in the circular to all parishes by Cardinal Rosales)

God our loving Father, creator of our earth and of the universe, and all the wondrous elements of nature that sustain your living creatures, we humbly ask you to send us the rain that our country needs so badly at this time, to irrigate our fields, to stave off a power shortage, to provide water for our bodily health, and to refresh our parched lands. At your command the wind and the seas obey, raise your hand Almighty God to send us so that crisis may be averted.

Merciful and generous God, open our eyes to the richness and beauty of your creation and instill in us a deep love for this earth and all that is in and around it. Teach us to be wise stewards of your creation so that we may always use them responsibly and protect them from abuse and exploitation. At this time of crisis, dear Lord, move us to share more and to love more.

Loving God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you entrusted the Filipino people to the special care of Mary our Mother, listen to the prayers that we bring up to her, our Blessed Mother, to intercede for us, for the protection of our land and our people, whom she loves.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

Saint Rose of Lima, pray for us.

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us.

Ama naming mapagmahal na lumikha ng sangkalupaan at sanlibutan at ng kahanga-hangang kalikasan na dinadaluyan ng buhay ng iyong mga nilikha, pakumbaba kaming sumasamong ipagkaloob mo ang biyaya ng ulan na siyang matinding pangangailangan ng aming bansa ngayon upang tubigan ang aming mga bukid at mga nanunuyong lupa, mapigil ang mapipintong krisis sa kuryente at pawiin ang aming mga uhaw. Sa hudyat ng iyong salita sumusunod ang hangin at dagat, iunat mo ang iyong mapagpalang kamay upang kami’y biyayaan ng ulan at upang maiwasan ang krisis na aming kinahaharap.

Diyos na maawaain at mapagbigay, imulat mo ang aming mga mata sa kayamanan at kagandahan ng iyong nilikha at hubugin mo kaming maging mapagmalasakit para sa kalikasan. Turuan mo kaming maging magpagkakatiwalaang tagapangalaga ng iyong nilikha upang mapakinabangan namin ito ng may pananagutan at mapangalagaan ito laban sa pang-aabuso at panlulustay. Ngayong panahon ng krisis, himukin mo kaming lalo pang magbahagi, maglingkod at magmahal.

Mapagmahal na Diyos, Ama ng aming Panginoon Hesukristo, ipinagkatiwala mo ang Bayang Pilipino sa maka-inang pagkalinga ng Mahal na Birheng Maria, dinggin mo ang mga panalangin ipinamimintuho namin sa kanya para sa pagtataguyod niya sa amin, ang bayan labis niyang minamahal.

Hinihiling namin ito sa pamamagitan ng aming Panginoong Hesukristo na nabubuhay at naghahari kasama mo at ng Espiritu Santo , magpasawalang hanggan. Amen.

Mahal na Birhen ng Guadalupe, ipanalangin mo kami.

Santa Rosa ng Lima , ipanalangin mo kami.

San Lorenzo Ruiz, ipanalangin mo kami.

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Women: can't live with them, can't live without them

Many men think it's quite difficult to live with their nagging spouses, demanding girlfriends, or posturing moms.

Some women, they find it difficult, if not impossible, to live. Period.

From ONE.org and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation:

1 IN 7 WOMEN die in pregnancy and childbirth in Niger. In the United States, the risk is 1 in 4,800.

EVERY MINUTE a woman dies in pregnancy or childbirth.

80% OF MATERNAL DEATHS could be prevented if women had access to basic maternal health services.

IN SOUTH AFRICA, young women are three times more likely to be infected with HIV than young men.




Let's make it more than just one happy day for the women the world over; let's make the joy of women last for more than a month, more than a year.

Here's one way to do this.

Chile is in the headlines now but Haiti still needs help!

I received another update from UNICEF USA with regard to their work in Haiti. (I feel so important haha. As if I gave them a million bucks!) UNICEF USA is still there even if the news crews are slowly departing, if they haven't gone already, and the attention has switched to Chile.

According to its President and CEO Carly Stern (in the photo above), their (our!) team has extended the following assistance:

Immunization: 60,000 children have been immunized against diphtheria, rubella, tetanus and whooping cough, and the campaign will continue until an estimated 500,000 children receive vaccines;

Clean Water: Safe drinking water is currently reaching 850,000 people in 300 sites across Port au Prince, Leogane, and Jacmel;

Sanitation: 86,006 hygiene kits have been distributed across the country, enough for 500,000 people;

Education: During times of chaos and crisis, education provides children with a sense of safety and stability. UNICEF has started the distribution of 150 school tents, 390 school-in-a-box kits and 410 recreation kits.

Every dollar goes a long way! Here's how-

$6 can provide three 10-liter collapsible water containers for transporting and storing water.

$60 can provide 20 sheets of tarpaulin, providing simple shelter or ground sheeting for several families.

$200 can provide one recreation kit for 90 children to enjoy physical activity and play in times of emergency or displacement—containing items such as frisbees, jump ropes, footballs, volleyballs, handballs, whistles, a chalkboard and chalk, etc.

As we pray for the people of Chile, let's not forget the Haitians.