2022 Christmas Gift-Giving

It was another day of Christmas spirit-filled inside the small garage of our Alido house as we hosted our family-tradition Christmas party and gift-giving to some poor children and their family. This was the first face to face gathering since the covid pandemic started.

Mama Tonette and Papa Ben graced our modest gathering with their opening prayers and welcome remarks respectively. There were games coming from Ate Eunesse, Pauline and Euanne. There was a special piano and song presentation by Aim. Then, the raffle for the minor prizes came with 10 lucky winners. The much awaited snack meals were then served to the children and their guardians. After the kids energy level came back, we proceeded with the giving of the noche buena packages and gifts to the families.

Before heading home, everybody sang a happy birthday song to the main celebrant and ultimate reason for this season – Baby Jesus.

Our sincerest thanks again to our donors and sponsors who made this Christmas outreach possible - Barangay China, VROOM, 3UE Mobile, Rizbon Events Management, Mr. and Atty Jon and Jenny Santos and Mr. Raimund Koehler

Christmas Giving 2021 - A Look Back

 

Chaplet Reflections for the Seven Sorrows of Mary

Ikaanim na Hinagpis ni Maria – Ibinaba si Hesus sa Krus

Noong taon ng 2007 dumating sa aming pamilya ang aming anak na babaeng si Maia. Magtatatlong gulang pa lamang ang aming panganay na anak noon na si Zek pero kitang-kita na namin ang kanyang kasiyahan sa pagkakaroon ng baby sister. Aaminin ko na sa loob ng 22 months ay ibayong tuwa rin ang aming naramdaman dahil para sa akin ay kumpleto na ang aming pamilya, ang ipinagdasal ko na 2 anak, isang lalaki at isang babae. Wala na akong mahihiling pa ng mga panahong iyon. 

Ngunit, may iba palang plano ang Diyos. Sa isang iglap ay gumuho ang aking buhay sa biglaang pagkawala ni Maia. Sa labis na dalamhati ay may bahagi sa akin na parang gusto na din mawala sa mundong ito. 

Nung makita ko sa morge ang labi ni Maia, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalana wala na siya. Ni ayaw kong hawakan siya dahil patuloy ako na nagdarasal na may himala at awa ang Diyos at ibabalik siya sa amin. Sinasabi ko sa aking sarili na mamaya lang ng konti ay babangon na siya dahil nakatulog lang ng mahimbing….pero hindi ito nangyari. At dahil dito ay nagsimula akong magalit sa Diyos. Tumigil ko ang pagdarasal at ayaw ko rin muna magpunta sa simbahan. 

Bilang ina ay lubhang napakasasakit at mahirap tanggapin ang mawalan ng anak. 

Ngunit ang sakit na aking naramdaman ay hindi pwedeng ihambing sa hinagpis ng ating Mahal na Inang si Maria. Mula sa balitang paghuli kay Hesus dahil sa huwad na akusasyon, sa madugong paghagupit ng mga Romanong sundalo, sa pagputong ng tink na korona kasabay ng pagdura at pagkutya, sa pagparada ng duguang si Hesus habang pasan ang krus at sa pagpako sa mga kamay at mga paa ay walang sing-sakit ang naramdaman ng ating Mahal na Ina. 

Ngayon nga ay ibinaba na ang walang-buhay ng katawan ni Hesus. Tila ba may sibat na tumagos sa puso ng ating Mahal na Ina dahil ngayon lang niya muling mahahawakan ang kanyang pinakamamahal na anak. Ngunit sa kabila ng kanyang mga tahimik na panaghoy, batid nating lahat ang kanyang matibay na tiwala sa banal na plano ng Diyos para sa kaligtasan ng sangkatauhan. 

Hindi niya tinanong ang Diyos. Tinanggap niya ang matinding sakit at dalamhati bilang pagtanggap at pagsunod sa kagastusan ng Diyos. 

Ilang taon na nga ang nakaraan pero ang sakit ng pagkawala ni Maia ay nanatili sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung ito ay tuluyang pang mawawala o hindi na. Pero dahil sa biyaya ng Panginoon at sa tulong at inspirasyon ng ating Mahal na Ina, unti-unti ko na din nakikita ang dahilan at misyon ang pagdating at paglisan ng aking anak – 

ito ay upang maipakilala at makatulong na mailapit ang ibang tao sa Diyos bilang parangal sa aking anak na si Maia. Ito na ngayon ang aking dalangin na patuloy akong hubugin ng Diyos, bigyan ng lakas at pananampalataya gaya ng sa Mahal na Ina upang magampanan ko ng tunay at tapat ang aking natitira pang misyon sa buhay. 

And so, let the pain remain. 

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2 Corinthians 8:15

Last December 24, 2021, we are on our 13th year of MOP Christmas Gift-Giving.

But since it is still pandemic time, we refrained once again from the lively games, anticipated raffles, entertainment and dine-in snack for 30 poor kids and their families. Instead we gifted them with a hearty Noche Buena package consisting of 1kg spaghetti with sauce, chicken luncheon meat, Eden cheese, Hero Choco powder, a big can of Season fruit salad and Magnolia all-purpose cream. For the kids' loot bags, we included 3 pcs face masks, 1 box of crayons, 1 ballpen, 1 pencil, 2 pcs small toys and assorted candies and chocolates.

Once again, we are humbled and thankful for the support of our kind families and donors who made this gift-giving event possible:

1. Brgy China - Embrace Life and Share Love Program

2. JT Family of Nueva Ecija

3. VROOM

4. Rizbon Events

5. Jon and Atty. Jenny Santos

"To the one who has much, nothing was in excess, to the one who had little, nothing was lacking." - 2 Corinthians 8:15

All praise and thanksgiving be unto God.

#amDg

 

Kindness Forward

 

Dear Rowin and Menchie,

When I was in Shekou last Sunday for a mass, Ellen told me after the mass of the heartbreaking news of the sudden death of your dearly beloved daughter and the sickness of your son..... your agony at loss and of consolation. She mentioned that your hearts were even more burdened because there were no church people nearby to assist you. I immediately mentioned , although I had no way to contact you directly, that she tell you to contact Fr. Manaldo or Fr. Passeportein Macau....Filipino fathers of St. Paul. They could reach Zhuhai quickly and may be of assistance. I asked her to contact you that I would be offering my mass for the repose of her soul... although my prayers are mostly that from her place before the Throne of another Father she would be praying for us who remain "on the way". How privilege you are to have your child in eternal glory before God! There, time is no more; There, heartaches cannot enter; There, sufferings are unknown. We ask here prayers that you, her mother and father, and us, her brothers and sisters, might achieve the same glory!

There is no shame in being broken hearted over your lovely daughter's death. Even God expect that as a sign of our love of His Will (which is always for good) love for those He created. I am sure you will appreciate that one day when you meet God and your daughter again in heaven. Our existence is not a "grin and bear it". Existence - it is an existence that Christ indicated by His life on earth and His beckoning: "Seek first the kingdom of Heaven and all graces will be given to you!"

My condolences Rowin and Menchie, and prayers that the Lord grant to your daughter that eternal glory for which she was created , and to you and to your wife, consolations and graces abundant and divine! 

All of us of the Shekou Society pray for you.

Father Adam Gudalefsky

For the past 12 years, our family has been a conduit of small acts of kindness and gestures of charity to the less fortunate. With the loving and generous support of our families, friends and Brgy China OFW community, the purpose to bring smiles to others as our beloved Maia has done for us in her short lived life. Her death signaled the birth of our Maia Outreach Programs.

Yes, 12 years ago, our family was the one in deep despair and unfathomable pain after the sudden departure of our beloved Maia at 22 months old. It was a faith-shaking and life-changing moment that we could have not come through without the Divine hands of God reaching out to comfort us in the form of families, friends and even from total strangers whom we have never even personally met.

Yes, we received so much love in our lowest moment and these love is simply too hard to be contained and not shared. The kindness we received then became our inspiration to be also the extension of God's charity to others for the best of our lives.

 

We miss and love you always, Maia!

November sked for Caliraya stay

ER C Santos

sent

3 days ago

Wed 6:48 PM

You sent

2 days ago

You sent

2 days ago

2 Flr residential house

Fri 1:57 PM

ER C Santos

sent

22 hours ago

ER C Santos

sent

21 hours ago

Dear Rowin and Menchie, When I was in Shekou last Sunday for Mass, Ellen told me after mass of the heartbreaking news of the sudden death of your dearly beloved daughter and the illness of your son...your agony at loss and of consolation. She mentioned that your hearts were even more heavily burdened because there was no Church people nearby to assist you. I immediately mentioned, although I had no way to contact you directly, that she tell you to contact Fr. Manaldo or Fr. Passeporte in Macau...Filipino Fathers of St. Paul. They could reach Zhuhai quickly and may be of assistance. I asked her to contact you that I would be offering my Mass for the the repose of her soul...although my prayers are mostly that from her place before the Throne of Another FATHER she would be praying for us who remain "on the way". How privileged you are to have your child in eternal glory before God! There, time is no more; there, heartaches cannot enter, there, sufferings are unknown. We ask her prayers that you, her mother and father, and us, her brothers and sisters, might achieve the same glory! There is no shame in being broken hearted over your lovely daughter's death. Even God expects that as a sign of our love of His Will (which is always for good) love for those He created. I am sure you will appreciate that one day when you meet God and your daughter again in Heaven. Our existence is not a "grin and bear it" existence...it is an existence that Christ indicated by His life on earth and His beckoning: "Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and all graces will be given to you!" My condolences, Rowin and Menchie, and prayers that the Lord grant to your daughter that eternal glory for which she was created, and to you and to you wife, consolations and graces abundant and divine! All of us of the Shekou Society pray for you. Father Adam Gudalefsky For the past 12 years, our family has been a conduit of small acts of kindness and gestures of charity to the less fortunate. With the loving and generous support of our families and Brgy China OFW community, the purpose to bring smiles to others as our beloved Maia has done for us in her short lived life. Her death signaled the birth of Maia Outreach Program. Yes, 12 years ago, our family was the one in deep despair and unfathomable pain after the sudden departure of our beloved Maia. It was a faith-shaking and life-changing moment that we could have not come through without the divine hand of God reaching out to comfort us in the form of families, friends and even from total strangers whom we have never even personally met. Yes, we received so much love in our lowest moment and these love is simply too hard to be contained and not shared. The kindness we received then became our inspiration to be also the extension of God’s charity to others for the rest of our lives. We miss and love you always, Maia !

13th

Happy 13th Birthday our Dearest Angel Maia!

Our prayer request to our Dearest Angel in heaven.

For our family to stay patient with each other, to be at peace with God's plan for us and to keep the serenity within us despite the turmoils and noise around us.

And to be always be thankful and grateful to God's amazing graces everyday.

Pray for us all always.

And may we all see you in heaven.

Jollibee Party for MOP

Ang saya-saya ng mga bata talaga kapag kasama si Jollibee lalo na ang kanyang Jollibee-HUG para sa amin.

Salamat po sa lahat for 2019 Thanksgiving Christmas Party!

Self-Check

My Spiritual Journal

" I will instruct you, guide you and teach you in the way you should go, I will counsel you and give you advice with my eyes upon you. " Psalm 32-8

How would you know if it's God's will you are following? 
I've been hearing this question a lot lately, from others and also from myself.

Aside from the word of God in the Bible and the ten commandments,
as a believer, it will always be a matter of faith to know God’s will. But I also believe that there is a simple day to day self-check that we can do and which I am trying to practice - If I am doing something against my wants and realizing that the foreseeable results are far better than I expected, then I can comfort myself knowing that it is indeed God’s will.

It applies for both life-changing decisions and mundane daily choices I make.

A few years ago, my husband and I decided to gave up our comfortable life in the city where everything we need is easily accessible by just a simple walk – church, banks, groceries, malls, and even government offices. We moved into the south area where I need to drive car everyday for everything. My back pain is hurting especially when I get caught up during traffic hours with my non stop headache due to heat. But looking at how the general well-being of my husband and boys are minus the choking pollution of the metro area, I am convinced it was the right choice for us.

Another example is, my family, especially our two boys like pizza, burgers, chicken, pasta and milk tea so much that we'd like to buy them each day if we will follow our want-pattern. But it is eventually going to make us sick with all its sugar and preservatives, so we are putting a cover lid over our wants by scheduling it only on a once-a-week basis.

God's will is for us to be healthy and I can see the results on our family after we chose to follow Him.

After all, we are created according to His image and likeness so God is within us, our conscience will disturb be endlessly if what we are doing or what we did was not according to His will.

If we have God's peace, then we know it is God's will for us.

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