ipersonallybelieve

No, this is not about noodles reportedly disappearing faster than we can say ‘pancit na naman?! from supermarket and grocery shelves. This is about what the likes of me who were spared from Ondoy’s wrath could be saying now after hearing of various stories of survival, near survival or utter disaster experienced by other people. Aside from Ondoy who killed less than 300 people but rendered millions homeless and desperate, there were the killer tsunami of Samoa and the twin quakes that flattened much of Sumatra and buried thousands under the rubble. There was also Pepeng which was obviously pushed off its path by a multitude of prayers. Through all these catastrophes, my family and I survived. The only prerennial calamity we suffer from (which I appreciate better now lest we experience worse situations) is financial but it is still nothing compared to the seemingly bleak future most poor people are facing after the events of the past week. At least, I have a job to go back to and my kids have a private school to return to and our house which has been under a moderate state of disrepair for years now, was saved from losing its roof for now. Funny that our TV conked out yesterday, that one appliance which kept us company for years already. After threatening to put it away for good and just wait for the 13th month pay to buy a replacement, it came back to life, same way it did many times before. It refuses to retire from service because it knows we are ill-prepared to replace it not even with one from the nearby surplus shop much less with a plasma type.

LUCKY US indeed and we will continue to pray for a peaceful and safe existence especially after watching Nicolas Cage’s KNOWING the other night. We will continue to hope and pray for peace and safety for the rest of the country and humankind.

The Only One that Saves

Four-leaf clover, another symbol for luck

Kanji symbol for Luck

Chinese 'Fu' for Luck

It’s the feast day of St. Therese of the Child Jesus today, Oct. 1. I know this because my sons study at a school named after this popular saint who is said to grant requests for money. The school owner herself, Mrs. Prim, told me about it and this encouraged me to pray to the said saint when money was being so scarce (not that it is not anymore now) months ago.

St. Therese is also a favorite among chain e-mails and SMS. People would readily forward prayers bearing her famous photo (at least in e-mails) and send them with promises of good fortune to those who do not break the chain.

I remember writing chain letters and sending them out to friends when I was in the intermediate grades. There was stern warning for those who do not comply with the request of making 24 copies (handwritten or typed, this was when computers and photocopiers were unheard of) of the letter and sending them within a certain period of time lest one suffer from bad luck like so and so who died or met an accident because he ignored the letter.

Nowadays, I would skim through an obvious chain email or SMS but as soon as I see a threat of bad luck I immediately choose to delete or ignore said message. I think I am too old to be placing my faith and fate upon such a chain message. I wish friends would not forward anything of this kind anymore and just send those that wish only the best for the receiver.

Anyway, as St. Therese remains a favorite saint, we might as well say to her a prayer for those who are yet to recover from the onslaught of Ondoy:

I GREET YOU,
Saint Therese
Of the Child Jesus,
Lily of purity,
Ornament and glory
Of Christianity!

I salute you, great saint,
Seraph of Divine Love.

I rejoice at the favors
Our Blessed Lord Jesus
Has liberally bestowed on you.

In humility and confidence
I entreat you to help me,
For I know that God
Has given you
Charity and pity
As well as power.

Oh then, behold my distress,
My anxiety, my fears.
Oh, tell him now my wants.
One sigh from you
Will crown my success,
Will fill me with joy.

Remember your promise
To do good on earth.
Obtain for me from God
The graces of our Divine Lord,

(especially …The victims of ONDOY)

Amen.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus