This Christmas (and post-Christmas) Holidays has been very wonderful for me. Not only because of the things I did with my family or the places we went to, but also because of one realization: I can’t live away from the MGL brotherhood! It is now a very big part of me. Without it, I am not me.

Long live my brothers! Long Live the MGLs! Long Live Jesus (well of course!)!!!!!

It is the story of a boy’s journey with his father towards the ultimate fulfilment of life.

Follow his life story by visiting this blog for updates. Yay!

-Adam

The very first song I composed was entitled “I am Your Servant”. I could still remember vividly that Sunday morning I woke up in the MGL Mission House in Manila, said my usual morning hello to the Lord and picked up the guitar. Yes, that’s right. I haven’t even removed the morning glories in my eyes yet and I picked up the guitar in the room.

I played D-A-Bm-G-Em-Asus-A while singing whatever words came to mind.
“Lord I am Your Servant, living for you alone…”

After that line, my eyes grew wide (not wide enough, I had to get rid of the morning glories first). I asked myself, “Did I just do that?” And before I knew it, the whole song was finished.

The first person I showed the song to was Kuya Mark, but he was too busy to comment. The next one was Hyvy. She was behind her St Ben’s office desk that moment I sang to her the very first song I composed. I found myself like a kid, happy to show his friends his paper full of ugly scribbled colors–and proud of it!

Yeah, my first songs were made this way, words came and the chord progression came. I don’t know how exactly so don’t ask me. Then the flavors for the song (styles, repeats, etc) I added according to what I noticed in the usual songs the choir I am part of sings (BNP Choir) and all the songs in the world that I am interested in (Gospel, Worship).

It has only been lately that the songs I compose became based entirely on a particular Scripture text or texts I have been reflecting upon combined with a particular theme or message I want to express (e.g.: O Kabataan, Ang Buhay Ko, Awit Ko Kay Kristo, Will A Mother Forget?). The melodies for this song I have to work out either with a guitar or with my pillow (during those times I couldn’t sleep because I am itching to create a melody). Sometimes the melody comes in first before the words, but most of the time, the words come first before the melody.

Nevertheless, whatever way I compose songs (mind you, it is still mysterious, in a way, for me), I know that it is not I who do them but Christ who lives in me. I don’t even know where I get the voice to sing and record them! One of my closest friends asked me, “Where did you get that voice? It is so different from your talking voice, or even when you sing casually.” I could clearly see the potential exaggeration in that comment but I just want to use that as a stepping stone to say that God is behind all of this. If He wills to give voice to the mute to proclaim His love to others, then it just happens!

Maybe I will never know how I do this song composition thingy, because it is not I who am doing it.

God exists, you know, and He surely knows how to sing and write songs. *Wink*

All songs mentioned are to be found in the “Songs” tab of this blog.

My silver cross, pinned unto my BNP Choir T-Shirt, an ever reminder of the Love of God through the MGLs and the BNP

The mass started with the song “Here I am Lord.” That was the first time I sang that song with much conviction. I had an overwhelming feeling within my chest when we reached the words “Whom shall I send?” of the first verse.

I fought hard not to shed tears of joy!

The ceremony went on smoothly. Seven of us took our promises: Terfa, Greg, Paul, Leo, Von, Moses and I. Our beloved (ex-) novices took their initial vows as well: John, Mark, Anis, Anil and Luke. I am continually asking for God’s grace to be able to live the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience. The silver cross pinned on my shirt now is a constant reminder of the humility and self-sacrificial love of Jesus.

My Jesus, You are my All!

From left: Terfa, Leo, Paul, Greg, Moses, Adam, Von

From left: Mark, John, Luke, Anil, Anis

I was crouched throughout the whole mass, as this lessened the stomach pain.
And…I was the assigned lector. I did my best not to show any sign of pain as I read. I also had no choice but to play the music for the mass after reading because all the other musicians were away in a Youth Camp. That was very difficult for me.

But just before communion, I had this prompting not to drink the wine because it might trigger more pain. I decided, "Of course I will drink the wine, for it is the Lord’s blood. The Lord can heal me. Nothing is impossible to Him!" I spoke to Jesus, telling Him that I believe in His healing power. "I believe Lord".

I didn’t feel any effect immediately.

After the mass and the hour of adoration after that, I left the chapel perfectly fine as if the pains I had earlier were just part of a crazy dream.

Jesus heals in the Eucharist. We just have to believe it, and claim it. Thank You Jesus!

***

April 25, 2007

Last night I was at Jlou’s house (Jason-Malou de Asis) with Gerry, Joseph, Hyvy and Ate Belle and we happened to take hold of one Pugad Baboy comic book: Pugad Baboy Eight. We were laughing till death do us part because of Pol Medina’s creative comic strips.

It’s just funny how he was able to come up with such overly-hilarious ideas. It’s called Pugad Baboy because all the characters there are obese.

If we have our own version of Pugad Baboy, I think I know what we will call it: Pugad Peggy.

Peggy \pe-gee\ n : this word came from Captain Barbell. Ruffa Mae Quinto, one of the villains, owns a pet pig she calls piggy. However, because of the way she pronounces things, she calls her “peggy” at times. This was imitated by Patrick once while we were doing the usual Saturday BNP cleanup. This made us laugh heartily. Since then, we have been calling our healthy members (don’t want to name names) “Peggy.” They took it as not being offensive but funny. The use of the word evolved. Later on we used it to call everybody as a substitute for the following sentences:

1.” Ang Kulit mo!”
2.”Ang yabang naman nito.”
3.”Bakit ka late?”
4. “Ang cute mo”
5. “Kain na! lapit na mga tao!”

It could also be used when we’re in the middle of a conversation/argument/dialouge and we lost words to say.

E.g. “Peggy ka.”

“Sabi niyo magpapaload kayo? ang pe-peggy niyo!”

“hehe… lab you peggy.”

“peggy yan si ***** hindi pa naglalaba.”

So whenever you go to BNP, the word “peggy” is the most common word spoken by the youth there.

The chapel is full of youth who speaks peggy, who are peggy, who acts like peggy and who wants to be peggy. It’s Pugad Peggy.

All of us are busog, not in food, but in love. PUGAD PEGGY!!!!!

***

Hahaha.. "Ampepeggy niyo!!!"

Priesthood is probably one of the most precious gifts of Christ to His Church. Through the priest, His presence in the Church is prolonged and made visible. As sacramental signs of Christ himself, the priests become living images of Christ to His people. Jesus indeed is the fulfillment of God’s promise of His constant abiding with and gathering of His people. God promised through the prophet Jeremiah that He will never leave the faithful without shepherds to gather them together and guide them. Through the priests, this promise is constantly fulfilled.

However, many parts of the world now are experiencing the painful problem of scarcity of priests. This is easily seen in countries such as Australia, yet this dearth is also felt in traditionally Christian Countries. In the Philippines for example, there is a high demand for priests because of the high population of Catholic Christians. In my own parish we only have one priest (the parish priest) and he has to celebrate at least five or six masses on Sundays in different sub-parishes. In remote places particularly in the provinces, having a priest in the area is considered a big blessing, otherwise, people have to travel to the city centre to get a priest.

In the widely-secularized world, priesthood is hardly an option for young men. Individualistic and materialistic ideas and ideals push the vocation of priesthood towards neglect. Men are also caught up in the illusionary world of pleasure, power, money and success that the pursuit for God and in turn priestly vocation totally loses its appeal. There also exists the various scandals in the priesthood, wherein some members of the clergy get involved in sexual scandals and disgrace, affecting the dignity of the Church and perhaps the Gospel which they are supposed to be proclaiming. With these situations and many more, we might be tempted to ask: “What happened to God’s promise?”

Despite the hardships we are experiencing, we are encouraged by Blessed John Paul II. In Pastores Dabo Vobis, he wrote: “The Church feels that she can face the difficulties and challenges of this new period of history and can also provide…priests who are well trained to be convinced and fervent ministers of the ‘new evangelization’”. We are to trust in the promise of God that he will never leave us alone and abandoned and in His words that “…the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” However, as Christians, we must also do our part in this battle. We cannot remain idle and sit under an apple tree, waiting for an apple to fall down from a branch.

As a Church, we must continually become a ‘luminous’ and ‘living’ reflection of the mystery we believe in: the Holy Trinity. We are invited to really live out the Christian life so as to be credible witness of God’s eternal love and existence to this world, but most especially to young men. The Church must be active in showing Jesus to the young men and women of this earth and bring them to Jesus. As Christians, we are to follow Andrew’s example when he brought Peter to Jesus. Peter then became the first Pope, the first leader of the Church. Each Christian must be another Andrew bringing many Peters into the encounter of Jesus.

As parts of the Church, we must continually instruct young people about the teaching of faith and preach to them the Gospel message of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection. Before a man offers his life up to follow Jesus, he must know who Jesus Is first. What else is there to do for this purpose other than to proclaim the Gospel? To the faithful, there is a need for the direct preaching of the mystery of the vocation of priesthood, on its value and purpose and the urgent need for it. We are to encourage young people towards priestly vocation. We are to tell them the fact that without the priest, the Church won’t be able to live on. Sure we are to trust in God’s promise of everlasting protection and provision, but how else could He act to fulfill this if not through the Church? God uses us to provide the shepherds we need. We are to take up the challenge of promoting vocations to priesthood.

We were kept very busy and did diverse ministry. So it was essential to have five Mgl brothers and sisters with a variety of gifts, experience and age. Most of the time was spent with indigenous youth and elders. We ran a leadership and ministry morning for the Diocesan Indigenous Catholic Council under the leadership of the Bishop and made up of elders, religious and priests. They were all receptive to the opportunity to be ministered to as leaders. We were amazed by the depth of faith and commitment of these people who live in often remote and very challenging community situations.

On Palm Island Sr.Therese was busy connecting with young people who were on the indigenous leaders training schools in Darwin and Canberra. There were also youth who had been on WYD in Sydney and Madrid. The people were warm and friendly keen to show us around the Island. Greg and Adam and Amanda engaged the many children in all sorts of activities which brought them the warmth and respect of the parents. It was a big day on Palm with the local grand final rugby game in full swing in the afternoon and celebrations all night.

On Sunday morning we had a healing mass which was very blessed .Some of the long term church leaders –Uncle Ralph and Auntie Kate lead the music for the mass joined by Amanda and Greg and Adam. We were moved by the faith and openness to God’s healing love by all who came forward for prayer. Similarly there were some very blessed night gatherings with prayer and sharing.

In Townsville we worked alongside the NET team at a charismatic healing mass and a youth rally to follow up all those who had been on WYD from the Diocese. The rally was at Garbutt where there is an Aboriginal community church. There were games, dramas, music and sharing. The elders in the Garbutt community were again so welcoming showing their support to the young people. It was quite obvious the young people were appreciative for the ministry of the Mgl and NET team.

For the last two days of mission we split the team –two brothers travelled to Mt.Isa some 900km from Townsville where they were welcomed by the local parish priest Fr.Mick Lowcock. Here we spent time with members of the local Aboriginal Catholic Council. We also met with Cameron Harris the NATSICC youth representative who is a good friend of Greg MGL and I ran an afternoon prayer and reconciliation session in the school for those young people who had been on the WYD in Madrid a few weeks before. It was obvious that they had been deepened in their faith by the WYD. Great young people. We were told they have 54 signed up already for WYD RIO!!!

He lives at Jindalee, a Home for the Aged near St.Benedict’s Parish at Narrabundah.

“Hello! What’s your name?” He inquired joyfully while gripping my hand. I smiled. That was the twenty billionth time we met and gave our names to each other.

“I am Adam. You’re Taffy eh?”

“That’s right!”

Oh, that sincere joy in those eyes!

“I am so happy to meet you Adam!”

We talked for about a quarter of an hour about his adventures as a sailor in Normandy. I also shared with him a very short summary of the Three Musketeers. He then sang to me the Welsh National Anthem. He sang it with warmth in his eyes as he stared at me for the whole song. His voice was failing already but I could just imagine how he sounded before suffering some throat problems. He must have been a very good singer.

I clapped enthusiastically after his song. He than held my hand and expressed his gratitude.

I was about to ask him if we could sing a Christmas song but before I was even able to open my lips, he started singing..

“Hark the Herald angels sing…”

We then sang the whole song while staring at each others’ eyes and smiling. I have never sung that song with much love in my heart. The other elderly people around us were smiling as they listened to that soulful serenade. I could hear we were sounding so well. Oh Music! What peace and unity it could bring to and among people’s hearts!

We sang O Come All Ye Faithful and I Am Dreaming of a White Christmas as well.

“Thank you very much my young friend, I am so pleased to meet you!” I was actually surprised when he kissed my hand. His display of fatherly affection made me want to burst into tears.

“I am thankful to our Lord that I am still alive. Do you know how old I am Adam? I am 86. Not 68 but 86. Ah! What joy! I am very content and happy in this place, very happy!”

“It’s quite surprising to hear that you are happy in this place, most of the elderly I met here are complaining, they seemed to have lost all the hope they have in this life.”

He then kissed my hand he was holding again. “I am very pleased to meet you Adam. Thank you so much! In Welsh, that is “_ (insert insert Welsh ‘thank you so much’ here)_”

I repeated the Welsh phrase he said then replied, “In my language, that is ‘Salamat po!’”

“Aaaah! Salamat po Adam! Salamat po!”

It was just in time for goodbyes because a nurse entered the ward bringing morning tea.

I left the place thanking God for that profound encounter. Taffy’s words rang over and over again through the hollow of my head..

I am very content and happy in this place, very happy

Everyday of his life he is left with no company but his armchair and the television in the ward, yet there was this deep joy that he just couldn’t hide. A deep joy oozes from every part of his being, specially from his eyes and from the way he sings his heart out.  He was just so… content.

I came home praying to Jesus…. Dear God, I want that.