It's Nature's Nature and It's Force...A Thought

I just recall during my college days in Xavier University this quotation posted in one of the campus ministry bulletin board:

"GOD FORGIVES, MAN FORGETS BUT NATURE NEITHER FORGIVES NOR FORGETS."
 
During those days, climate change or global warming was not in the radar of people's consciousness like what we have today.

People are raving, media sensationalizing news and events. We are blaming nature's ravaging forces, people's irresponsibility and insensitivity, technology, industries-capitalist, God, etc...etc..etc...Then goes the BLAMING GAME. Sometimes we take a simplistic point of view and understanding of events in  history since it is more easier than to think thoroughly.

In the last century there where reports, news, scientific studies both from MSM and scientific community that the 20th century will and have experience Global Warning and Global Cooling and the path is a downward slope...that means irreversible.  Imagine in just a century two different natural events are being observed and studied at least, but can nature really change so dramatically? For me I doubt.  I never dismissed or deny that there are changes and for me this natural.  I think everyone subscribe or agree with me that the only permanent thing in life is change. So nature isn't different. What causes it is different.  Do you know that there is an IRONY in the debate or in the understanding of CLIMATE CHANGE?  That even our scientific community which even some people worship as the greatest liberator of man's ignorance or from religious belief do not have a CONSENSUS of what causes climate change.  From my observation even in media do not present differing views except in the scientific community.  I hope we take to pain to know and understand if climate change is such an important issue and want to take a step and make a difference. Then our judgment will be well-formed not to the extend of becoming an ideology but as a principle.  I hope we know better.

I know most of us has seen the documentary film: "An Inconvenient Truth".  I highly appreciate its cinematography but not the whole content of it.  It is marred with facts and fictions.  Take an open and well-founded mind to see everything with objectivity.  You may search it on the internet for the rest of the story.


My contentions are:
Man has the capacity to think but when it is clouded neither it can see far nor it can see a deeper relationships that are both beneficial and ecologically sound.
 
Man hasn't truly harness nature's gifts, power and potential to the extent that it enhances the way we harmoniously interact and live with nature with sustainability towards the future.

With short-sighted visions and actions that only sees what we can get here and now will take its toll in the future.

Simplistic thinking does not lead to simplicity but to chaos.

That stewardship is our primary responsibility and duty bound obligation.

Let Togetherness

But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another but make not a bond of love.
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though the quiver with the same music

Give you heart but not into each other’s keeping.
For only the hand of life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not two near together:
For pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadows.

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

On Children by Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of life longing for itself.
They came through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
Which you cannot visit not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward not tarries with yesterday.
You are the bow from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
And He bends you with His might that his arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Prayer of Consideration

Prayer of Consideration

Loving Father, I praise you
Adore you for my short, exciting, simple and
meaningful life.

I thank you for the mystery
Life has brought me to you.
My heart is full of gratitude and
In many twists and turns that I have made
And found you always there.

This life of mine has been
And always be full of choices, decisions
But invited me to take it slow, easy and
Look what is and what is beyond.

There may be instances and circumstances
That I have not choosen you and your will in me
Life may bring which I have no control and
Of no choice or desire.
Let this be my offering and living sacrifice
To accept with joyfull heart.
I may choose but will open myself to you and
The surprises that I might found in this life.

I thank you also for sending and giving us
Your Son Jesus Christ
To lift us again to be able to gaze in your majesty
Bringing salvation by your love rather
Condemnation by your justice.

Let your Holy Spirit fill my whole being
And create in me a new heart and filled with gladness
To live, to love and to serve as you willed in me.
Amen.

Holy Week Ignitian Retreat

Date: April 12-16, 2006
Place: Horacio de la Costa Formation Center
Trece Martires City, Cavite

Only grace sustains man thirst, hunger and search through prayer in living out his life in the knowledge and faith in God.

Always God is faithful for those who seek and follow Him in the midst of life’s pains and joy. As days approaching the most solemn days of the Church my desire to spend it with the Lord away from the busy and frenzy life grows intensely through a retreat; a Christian practice of spirituality withdrawing oneself from everything and spending it with God. Since I have been away from this kind of practice for almost eight years though lately I have join a retreat in psychogenetic, the desire and thirst simply won’t go. I have found some difficulty in finding where to spend it. In the most unlikely place I found a retreat invitation through searching in the internet and directed me through an Ignitian Retreat to be led by the Christian Life Community posted in the Ateneo de Manila University website. I reflected for a moment on how to respond this answered prayer. Then suddenly there was a tug of war of the will inside myself whether to go on or just ignore all my desire which the Lord sowed in my heart. Thoughts of spending the Holy Week with friends in beach, mountain, party, staying home invaded this holy desire yet still being aware in all this movements of the Spirit. It seems the alternative is pleasurable than to spend the whole holy week in silent and prayer. Ignitian Retreat is not a foreign practice to me and have been through this during my college and teaching days in Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan. When everything made clear to me I have contacted the CLC and made my reservation. Such event can’t be successful unless one would undergo some preparation whether spiritually, emotionally or intellectually and precisely what I have done. God make us successful unless we are open to His leading and we are trying.

I came alone to the retreat with great fervor and zeal with the desire of meeting God and deepening my relationship with Him. I knew no one in the participant neither they do knew me. I met one of the directors who knew my brother in the CLC community when he still a novice in the Society of Jesus. We have an informal gathering on Wednesday night with the other retreatants and our spiritual directors. The group were I belong are diverse which I would call them tatay, nanay and ate of which I am the youngest. Thanks to my/our spiritual directress Tita Sonia who guided and help me in the pilgrimage into myself and into God and to my fellow pilgrims who shared those days with the Lord and have enrich my being. The accommodation is just simply great in simplicity and the food is delicious.

There is a questioner that needs to be answered before the retreat which will determine some aspect of the retreat participant and that must be answered with honesty as to give the retreat directors some idea of the participants spirituality and the journey one is undergoing. The retreat is meant to be a silent and individually directed which combines sacred reading of the Scripture, meditation, prayer and journaling of the whole experience of the exercise.

Part of the greatest gift I have received from the Lord is the sacrament of reconciliation, renewal of my Baptism and receiving and nourish by the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus in the Eucharist which I call a 360 degree slam dunk. Truly God is so Good.
Ignitian Retreat grounded on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola and known for its strict adherence to silence not only externally but most especially the inner person/being as a path in encountering God. It also emphasizes the First Principle and Foundation of the Spiritual Exercise done in the retreat which is to Know, Love God and the consequence is our service to Him and others.

Within the whole of retreat one is immerse in the mercy, goodness, love, beauty and truth of God. The noblest of it is the experience of a deeper relationship of the One True God in three Divine Person: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; a familial relationship.

Fruitfulness of the encounter is not solely determine or identified on the experience of the present moment or during the exercise but also what is coming after those encounter especially in living out that experience in every day life. Fruitfulness becomes a reality when we are grafted to the True Vine which is Jesus Christ and not apart from Him.

The retreat never loses the essence of the season which we have celebrated and lived out just as the whole Church celebrates the Holy Week and Easter Triduum. Never in my life all the Scripture and the Tradition made more sense realistically in my life. And I lived my life what the Lord has done to me during those moment. +ADMG

Week End Psychogenetic Retreat

The Retreat was held at Divine Word Seminary - Tagaytay last April 1 and 2, 2006 led by Fr. Ed Fuguso, SVD. It is my first retreat since 1998. The attendees of the retreat coming from different "state of life" of singles, in-relationship, newly wed couples.

Here is my thought of the experience about the retreat:

The Psychogenetic and Gestalt Therapy Retreat was one of the breakthroughs in my life. It was enlightening and liberating precisely it successfully integrates the Gospel of Jesus Christ and modern psychology in understanding one's personality development understanding and consequently, integrates to ones life in living an authentic Christian person.

This retreat has been a great help me to see myself whether in building up and maintaining a relationship with myself, others and God. One becomes more compassionate, understanding and loving when such self- knowledge and understanding are attain with constant prayer and trying to live-out the Christian virtues. Only in Jesus Christ this retreat and experience bear much fruit.

The retreat is essential to the person thinking or reflecting the most existential questions of life: "Who am I?", "Where I came from?", "Where am I going?", "Who are these others?", "Who is God?", Who is God in life?" and etc. It is a pilgrimage towards a deeper self- knowledge and understanding and towards other persons. The person will be place under in his/her historical and transcendent self inorder to uncover the very fundamental relationship that shapes his/her persona and the very relationship he/she has on the present moment or circumstances.

Psychogenetic Retreat finds its very meaning on the Gospel as it unfolds the mysterious yet realistic significant other; who is "the Way, the Truth and the Life" - Jesus Christ.

Man in the Crossroad

One of the characteristics of modern man is its indecision and indifference (not in the classical meaning) when it comes to the nature of truth of things and its principles. Man’s abandonment of its own capacity to wonder and to seek after the truth. True enough that finding the reasons of the realities has its rudiments of systematizing our own way of thinking, but it’s the only means or ways we can arise from ignorance and indifference when confronted by the most inescapable questions of our own existence. In our day and age, man has now relegated in making the decision on the nature of truth to the mainstream culture or “pop culture” and braces the mentality of relativism in aspects of social and personal norm and morality if not the denial of truth altogether.

Man tries and wants to find the easy way out in the complexities and perplexities of our existence; a characteristic of laziness in human nature. One manifestation of man’s indecision and indifference has to do on the outright rejection of the universality of truth which man must and ought to be guided. This universality especially express in the rich patrimony of the antiquity and from the succeeding generations in understanding man and the truth of existence. These truths became out-moded, out-dated, and irrelevant to the modern man and became just a point of view and suggestions and belong to the cold and dusty shelf. Man has only to realize the implications and being subjected from this rejection and relativism to the society and family. This knowledge and understanding of truth is framed in the context of the non-existent of universal truth or objective truth and that only the subjective truth exist; therefore, your truth cannot be my truth or it can only the truth if it only agrees with mine. Sound familiar? It is and that is how our society operates by manipulating the truth suit one’s like.

Man is subjected to the limit of discovering and assenting to the truth, yet this does not mean we are not cannot know the truth in the natural order notwithstanding the metaphysical, supernatural and transcendent truth. Man is caught in the crossroad he/she made and that is naturally being laid unto him. Man can recover from his/her indifference, contempt and denial of truth in its personal and universal understanding is to teach man to think for him/herself, to pursue where the truth leads and to elicit the virtue of integrity as one being confronted with the truth of things. Man also has to recover the true sense of wonder and to acknowledge man’s limited capacity of knowing and understanding reality or truth. Truth are paradoxical just the diamond has different facet that reflects light.

Truth is the foundation which everything is built upon. Foundation is not laid apart from the very structure but below it to stand. Is truth is in me or apart of me? It is both.

Human Sexuality

This essay is my final philosophical paper submitted in my class on PHILO 1. This is essay is short one and focuses on HUMAN SEXUALITY. Below is the essay:

INTRODUCTION

This Philosophical reflection or project tries to uncover or to discover the profound truth, beauty and goodness of human sexuality beyond what the human senses or perception can attain. This philosophical project tries to reflect on the question of “Can human reason attain with certainty about the truth on human sexuality.” This is to answer the prevalent mechanistic, animistic and physicalist understanding of human sexuality. In our time there is a real force playing in blurring the sexual role(male-female) in favor of gender role(homosexuality) ; eliminating the inherency of maleness and femaleness of the person.

Our human sexuality have been emptied by its full beauty and meaning such as a deliberate gift that man alone can receive and as a deliberate choice that man alone man can make.

The main thesis of this project is to restore the profound understanding of human sexuality not just in its pro-creative aspect but also as expressed through our own body as male and female and its transcendental reality. As I hope be able to achieve in this paper.

ARGUMENTS

Major Premises

Human Sexuality is much more different for other beings such as the animals and plants. Sexuality is ingrained in our nature as a human being capable of knowing in its natural beauty with a deeper insights. Thus, our sexuality is so natural as to being perverted in many ways and chasing after it by worshipping, mis-using it without a deeper reflection on the nature of human sexuality. The very natural expression of sexuality is in intimacy; a relationship that human beings have with his/her fellow human beings, a deeper sense of just mere presence. Sexuality seek committed bond or relationship that goes beyond physical connection. Through intimacy, human being are shown the transcendent value or purpose of sexuality and that is connectedness and forging bond. Intimacy manifest in different types of relationship between, parents-and-children, husband-and-wife, siblings-and-siblings, and in general terms towards his/her fellow human beings. Intimacy in relationship varies in degree in marriage, family, and friendship and between male and female. This intimacy is so unique to human being alone. It find a more realistic and fruitful purpose and meaning in transforming man.

In human sexuality; this unique unitive aspect bear fruit in the pro-creation of new life that can only be found in the embrace of a man and woman. This unique nature of human sexuality make more splendor than anything as to become co-creator of human life. Sexual intercourse is an act, expression, manifestation of this sublime truth on the nature of human sexuality and only possible between man and woman so as to continue human life and done in a committed, exclusive and faithful relationship. This act is a total self-giving that human expresses in the most profound way. Such exclusive and committed relationship between man and woman is essential in maintaining the well-being of the human family and society. Thus, sexual intercourse is proximate of intimacy and ultimately happiness.

Minor Premise

Part of human sexuality are personalities, values and its expressions so distinctively unique both for male and female. Human personalities and values of male and female are the same, but they varies greatly from each other and may develop in a lesser or greater degree. Expressions are the performance of that values and personalities or put into actuality in actions, thoughts and words. This aspect of the human sexuality are not trivial in the whole human affairs; it is through this we relate and communicate. The physical body does communicate and relate explicitly and implicitly in different modes and it will be detrimental to the whole being so as not to treat the physical body with respect and restraint and essential in accepting for what it is. The physical body is so essential for it is the house or temple; with out the body is like a ghost or without the spirit, the body becomes a corpse. Having a body is not an accident with out a purpose or meaning but rather a visible sign of existence worthy of respect.

CONCLUSION

Man’s capacity to know the truth brought him to reflect and perceive the very meaning of our human nature and existence. Understanding must not disregard on what have been known but must develop, outgrow and progress to a new height of the understanding and reflection of human sexuality. The knowledge and understanding of human sexuality not only in its biological aspect but in its transcendental reality will makes us act according to its nature. The expanding and deepening knowledge and understanding on the meaning and purpose of human sexuality lead to the new awareness of its full dignity; in that dignity lies in bringing forth of new life, the pleasures and happiness brings to man. This realization of the inherent dignity must be respected, safeguard and nurture. Being male and female is to realize what it is and who we are.

Personal Chronicles

It's been for a while that I haven't posted some thoughts in here but now I'm back. Never mind what happend in between. It is well spent. I keep myself sane by a pausing from a heavy dose of school works and professional work, its breaking free from doing the usual thing.

My recent Christmas vacation was one of the most tiring yet enough to make one's heart sigh that one got it. And even wanting more days to spend. It started right with a short side trip at Zamboanga City and visited the Our Lady of Fort Pilar Shrine(do you know that not only Christians but also Muslims revered this shrine); a famous city landmark and a short tour inside the fort's museum showcasing the city history and artifacts(no picture taking allowed on the display rooms-unfortunate!) utilizing the fort's architecture/design. A moment spent at the shrine to be refresh and to pray. A visit to the city won't be complete without buying or visiting the barter trade area which known for its products like malong, sarong, bihon, candies and other muslim products. My pocket did escape or I can't help but to buy for "pasalubong" for my friends back in Cavite.

Christmas day was a family gathering with some of our relatives. Only one who is not with us and who with his family are now residing in Canada. Thanks to the modern means of communication we were able to talk using the internet, the only thing we still don't have the means of communicating to those who are departed except through prayer and remembering them. This time of the year are best keep and remembered with our families; keeping the bond and remembering our parents memory that still in us. It was a lovely and lively day meeting with our family and relatives and not to mention my nieces, nephew and grandchildren. Love to see some of the best tandem ever! Take 1! Take 2! Take 3! Take 4! I never doubt its in the blood. Some made into solo. Take 1! Take 2! Take 3! Take 4! Take 5!

It is a well spent vacation after almost one and half year before coming home. I can say this the way to keep yourself sane; reconnecting, recollecting, reliving and remembering fond memories; just simply enjoying and living life. What would be the other way? My immediate family were able to attend the reunion of my father's family side that was held in Sindangan (Zamboanga del Norte). It's a two-hour drive from our hometown. I can't recall when the last time I was able to attend but it was a happy time meeting our relatives. It didn't go without delicious food, a showcase of talents and fun. It is the meeting of the young one's and once young generations. Actually its a four generation family. We have grown so much. You really felt jealous and proud or a mixed feelings not because one got a beautiful house, promising career, getting rich but the in the family they were building. The usual question are asked in every acquintance and the most stiking is that, they will start asking "are you married?", "where is your girlfriend?" and many more. As I said it is not unusual but the answer might be a little bit unusual. My reply without apology is "In God's mercy, I'm still single!" Then they would laugh, smile, and be surprise. They would ask you the next question-if you can guess then let me know what would that question be. I can't end the day without getting myself wet. A fun-filled day.

Comes New Year in my vacation and the clock starts ticking for an end of my short but fruitful vacation. I can't wait for another moment to have the same celebration with a unique experiences and yet I'm making the most of it, the best of all. Our new year is celebrated without any extravangance but very colorful, loud noise and delicious food. In the morning, as I have plan to climb one of the highest mountain peak in my town called puting bato" (white rock) without any climbing gear except extra shirt, little food and camera. It was my first time to climb in that mountain. We are being join by a group of young men with my two girl cousins instead of being a 3 person climb. It was really a test of strength and determination since it is a 3-hour hike with 50 degree inclination most of the time and no tracks towards the peak.

The view is exhirating with a sense of fullfillment and awe that we have made it. As we spent some time in the peak I take the time to enjoy the beautiful landscape of Zamboanga as far as I can see and making and presenting my plan to the group our next climb on the highest peak of another mountain.

Our decent is still a test of endurance since we didn't follow with the same trail we used in ascending the mountain.

We were able to join the people in their new year's celebration on our way down. Which I met my second degree counsin for which I have not met for a long time.

The last stop will be the waterfalls which I never heard before and it is a three cascading falls. I never heard of this waterfalls as Iam growing and making my vacation in my grandparents farm. I can't help but make myself wet...

As the day end. Me, my nephew and cousin made home after an hour riding a single motorcycle without light and clutch in a very dark road.