It’s been raining in Manila, hindi ka ba nilalamig?

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-01 ng Agosto 2023
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, RISE Tower, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 28 Hulyo 2023.

Kung totoo mang ang paulit-ulit na pagkanta at pagpapatugtog ng awiting iyan ang dahilan ng patuloy na pag-ulan na nagbunsod ng malawakang pagbaha mula pa noong isang linggo… Sorry po! Patawad na po!

Hindi pa man dumarating ang bagyong Egay, na-LSS na ako nito na inawit ng grupo na tawag sa kanilang sarili’y Lola Amour. Nakakaaliw at nakakagaan ng loob kanilang musika habang matalinghaga naman mga titik ng Raining in Manila na naglalahad ng pangungulila sa sinta at irog ng isang binata.

Kaya naman ako po ay humabi ng iba pang awiting OPM (Original Pilipino Music) upang pagnilayan kahulugan ng ulan yaman rin lang na ngayon ang simula ng buwan ng Agosto na tinakdang Buwan ng Wika.

Larawan kuha ng may-akda, RISE Tower, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 31 Hulyo 2023.

Madalas ang ulan ay dala ng bagyo na alalaongbaga ay sumasagisag sa mga unos sa buhay lalo na sa lovelife. Buhos at humahampas na tila sigwa sa dagat ang ulan lalo na kung magulo at masalimuot ang relasyon na humahantong sa masakit na paghihiwalayan.

Ito ang karanasang inawit ng “kilabot ng mga kolehiyala” na si G. Haji Alejandro noong 1978 sa awiting sinulat ni Jim Paredes ng Apo Hiking Society at pinamagatang Nakapagtataka.

Hindi ka ba napapagod
O di kaya nagsasawa
Sa ating mga tampuhang
Walang hanggang katapusan
Napahid na’ng mga luha
Damdamin at puso’y tigang
Wala nang maibubuga
Wala na ‘kong maramdaman
Kung tunay tayong nagmamahalan
Ba’t di tayo magkasunduan oh
Walang tigil ang ulan
At nasaan ka araw
Napano na’ng pag-ibig sa isa’t isa
Wala na bang nananatiling pag-asa
Nakapagtataka saan na napunta

Ganun talaga ang buhay, nakapagtataka; walang tigil ang ulan, hirap kumilos kaya inaasam natin pagsikat ng araw. Pero kapag sobra naman ang init ng panahon at natitigang ang lahat pati ating buhay, hiling natin ay ulan?! Sadya nga yatang mahirap ispellingin itong buhay dahil minsan-minsan ay Umaaraw, Umuulan ayon sa Rivermaya noong 2001. Ngunit ang masakit sa lahat, hindi kayang hugasan ni linisin ng ulan ang sakit at sugat sa pusong nabigo ayon naman sa Cueshe noong 2005:

Iniwan mo akong nag-iisa
Sa gitna ng dilim at basang-basa pa sa ulan
Pero wag mag-alala di na kita gagambalain
Alam ko namang ngayon may kapiling ka nang iba
Tanging hiling ko sayo
Na tuwing umuulan
Maalala mo sanang may
Nagmamahal sayo
Caleruega, Enero 2023 kasama mga kaibigan, Teacher Melody at Teacher Ceh.

Gayon pa man, sa ulan nasusukat pagsasamahan at pagkakaibigan, lalo ng mga magkasintahan gaya ng nasasaad sa Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka na sinulat ni Maestro Ryan C. Cayabyab noong 1980 at unang nirecord ni G. Basil Valdez.

Kahanga-hanga ang titik at musika ng awiting ito na marahil maituturing nang classic.

Katunayan, tatlong ulit na itong na-cover nitong mga lumipas na taon nina Bb. Regine Velasquez, grupong Eraserheads at G. Noel Cabangon.

Sariwain ang walang kupas na kagandahan at kahulugan ng awiting ito:

Pagmasdan ang ulan, unti-unting pumapatak
Sa mga halama’t mga bulaklak
Pagmasdan ang dilim, unti-unting bumabalot
Sa buong paligid t’wing umuulan
Kasabay ng ulan, bumubuhos ang ‘yong ganda
Kasabay rin ng hanging kumakanta
Maari bang huwag ka nang sa piling ko’y lumisan pa?
Hanggang ang hangi’t ula’y tumila na
Buhos na ulan, aking mundo’y lunuring tuluyan
Tulad ng pag-agos mo, ‘di mapipigil ang puso kong nagliliyab
Pag-ibig ko’y umaapaw, damdamin ko’y humihiyaw sa tuwa
Tuwing umuulan at kapiling ka

Napatunayan ko mismo sa aking blog ang walang kupas na appeal ng awiting ito noong ika-11 ng Hulyo 2021 nang iugnay ko sa ebanghelyo ng Linggong iyon. Mula noon hanggang ngayon, mayroong nagsesearch at bumabasa araw-araw sa aking blog na maaring puntahan sa https://lordmychef.com/2021/07/11/tuwing-umuulan-at-kapiling-ka-by-basil-valdez-1980/.

Marahil ay ipinahahayag kasi ng Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka ang pangunahing katotohanan na hindi lahat ng araw sa buhay natin ay maaraw at maliwanag – not all days are bright and sunny. Naroon din palagi ang kulimlim at pag-ulan. At higit pa sa pag-ulan ay ang pagsasamahan at pagmamahalan ng mga magsing-ibig!

Laging pakatandaan na sa tuwing pagkaraan ng mga ulan ang mga halaman at pananim ay luntian, punung-puno ng sigla at buhay!

Ganoon din sa ating sariling buhay. Tumitibay at lumalalim ating pagkatao at mga ugnayan sa mga pinagdaraanang pagsubok. Ang mga unos at ulan sa ating buhay ang nagbibigay at nagpapatingkad ng kulay at kahulugan nito. Kaya naman tinuturing ang ulan bilang biyaya at pagpapala ng Diyos gaya ng sinasaad sa iba’t ibang aklat ng Bibliya lalo na sa Matandang Tipan. Kamakailan ito ay ating natunghayan noong ika-15 Linggo ng karaniwang Panahon (Hulyo 16, 2023) nang inihalintulad ng Diyos ang kanyang salita sa ulan at niyebe:

"Ang ulan at niyebe
Paglagpak sa lupa'y di na
nagbabalik,
Aagos na ito sa balat ng lupa't
nagiging pandilig,
Kaya may pagkai't butil na
panghasik.
Ganyan din ang aking mga salita,
Magaganap nito ang lahat kong
nasa" (Isaias 55:10-11)
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Katmon Nature Sanctuary & Beach Resort, Infanta, Quezon, Marso 2023.

Ang ulan ang isa sa mga pinakamahusay na talinghaga sa ating buhay. Nasa ating pananaw at disposition kung paano nating titingnan itong buhay at mga kaakibat na paghamon gaya ng mapaglarong awit ng Apo Hiking Society noong aming kabataan ng 1978.

Radyo, TV at mga lumang komiks
Wala nang ibang mapaglibangan
At kung mayro’n kang tatawagan
30 sentimos, ika’y makakaltasan, ah-ha…
Umiindak ang paa sa kumpas ng tugtuging bago
Hanggang kumpas ka na lang at ‘di mo na alam ang tono
Sa paghinto ng ulan, ano ang gagawin?
Huwag nang isipin at walang babaguhin
Mabuti pa kaya, matulog ka na lang
Matulog na nang mahimbing
Pumapatak na naman ang ulan
Pumapatak na naman ang ulan
Pumapatak na naman ang ulan

Ito rin ang siyang sinasaad muli ng Rivermaya sa naunang kanta din nila na Ulan (1994) na ayon sa kanila ay “Hiwaga ng panahon//Akbay ng ambon//Sa piyesta ng dahon//Ako’y sumilong.”

Nawa ating matularan ang ulan, maibuhos ating sarili sa kapwa, lalo sa mga kaibigan at pamilya nang matighaw kanilang pagka-uhaw sa malasakit at pagmamahal. Mula bumbunan hanggang buong katawan, tayo ay maging ulan na nanunuot kapanatilihan (presence) hanggang kalamnan, sagad sa kaibuturan ng puso at kalooban na tayo ay kaibigang palaging maasahan, makakasama sa gitna ng ulan.

Hindi mapipigilan pagpatak at pagbuhos ng ulan. Ito ang hiwaga ng buhay. Ulan ang dumidilig sa tuyot na lupa, nagpapanariwa sa natitigang na sangnilikha. Kung tutuusin, ang buhay ay isang panahon ng tag-ulan.

At sa gitna niyan iisa lang ating masisilungan kungdi si Hesus na ating kapatid at tunay na kaibigan na sa atin ay nagsabi, “Kayo’y mga kaibigan ko kung tinutupad ninyo ang mga utos ko… inaari ko kayong mga kaibigan, sapagkat sinabi ko sa inyo ang lahat ng narinig ko sa aking Ama. Hindi kayo ang pumili sa akin; ako ang pumili at humirang sa inyo upang kayo’y humayo at mamunga, at manatili ang inyong bunga” (Juan 15:14, 15-16).

Hayaan ninyong wakasan ko ang pagninilay na ito sa isang awitin ng Afterimage na sumikat noong 1994, Tag-Ulan. Subukang namnamin mga titik at damhin ang musika na tila baga ang Panginoong Hesus sa atin ang naghehele.

Hanggang sa susunod na pag-ulan, salamuch, kaibigan.

Mula YouTube.com.

Union of life & love

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Memorial of St. Alphonsus de Liguori, Bishop & Doctor of the Church, 01 August 2023
Exodus 33:7-11, 34:5-9, 28   ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'>   Matthew 13:36-43
Photo by author, March 2020.
God our loving Father,
as we enter the brand-new
month of August today, 
your words speak a lot of
"entering" too today:
of Moses entering your
tent and Jesus entering 
the house:

As Moses entered the tent, the column of cloud would come down and stand at its entrance while the Lord spoke with Moses. The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one man speaks to another.

Exodus 33:9, 11

Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

Matthew 13:36
But your entering 
in both instances speak
more of physical space
but a union  of life and love
made possible in Jesus Christ.
Every time we enter
a church and other places
of worship,
we enter you, God,
to dwell in you
who has been dwelling
in us too.
Like St. Alphonsus de Liguori
whose memorial we celebrate
today, transform our lives
in Jesus Christ, let it unfold
according to your Divine plan,
achieving equilibrium in morality
like you, "merciful and gracious
God, kind and forgiving
wickedness, crime and sin;
yet not declaring the guilty
guiltless" (Ex. 34:6, 7).
Amen.

Halika nga!

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-31 ng Hulyo 2023
Larawan kuha ng may akda sa Anvaya Cove, Bataan, 19 Mayo 2023.
*Ito ay tula na aking nakatha
dahil sa pagkamangha
sa mga katagang "Halika nga"
ng awiting "Habang Buhay"
ni Zack Tabudlo.
Halika nga!
Madalas sinasambit
upang tayo ay lumapit
upang makita at marinig
ng higit
tumatawag
o sumisitsit;
malimit
kapag nabanggit
hatid ay tuwa at galak
sa nakakarinig
lalo na kung
may kasabay na kaway
ng kamay at
pagngiti
ng labi!
Halika nga!
Kay sarap balikan
itong pagtawag
noon sa amin
 ng mga magulang
na puno ng lambing
at pagmamahal;
kapag ito'y tutugunin
tiyak ikaw ay pupupugin
ng halik sa pisngi
tila sinasabing
ika'y nakaaaliw
kaya sana ay inyong
dinggin
kanilang pangangaral
at habilin.
Halika nga!
Iyan din ang
tawag sa atin
ng Diyos nating butihin
ngunit hindi natin
pinapansin.

Halika nga!
ang paanyaya
ng Diyos sa atin
upang ating pasanin
ay Kanyang pagaanin,
sa Kanya tayo pagpapahingahin.

Halika nga!
Tanging hiling
ng Diyos sa atin
huwag nang tumingin
sa iba, Siya lang
ang mahalin, sambahin 
at sundin; huwag mahumaling 
sa magaan at madaling 
pamamaraan ng mundo
na siyang tukso at pangloloko
nitong diyablo
na sinungaling
at tuso!
Larawan kuha ng may akda sa Anvaya Cove, Bataan, 19 Mayo 2023.

Waiting for God who is waiting for us

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday, Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest, 31 July 2023
Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34   <*((((>< + ><))))*>   Matthew 13:31-35
Photo by author Camp John Hay, Baguio City, 12 July 2023.
Glory and praise to you,
God our loving Father,
our Lord and Master,
our Origin and Home;
thank you for the gift
of St. Ignatius of Loyola
who taught us through his
"Spiritual Exercises" 
to truly pray by seeking
you and only you alone.
Teach me, O Lord, 
to be patient
and persevering
in my prayer life,
to never be contented
with mere feelings and
self-absorption that are 
manipulative like what your people
felt at the foot of Mount Sinai
while awaiting Moses; 
let me be at home
with desolation and dryness,
being still when nothing seems to happen,
 finding you when you seem nowhere,
desiring you most while amid
all of these like in awaiting the
sprouting of a mustard seed
or the leavening of bread
in Christ's parable. 
Many times we feel
we are awaiting you, God 
when actually it is you who
awaits us always to experience
you and your presence,
your love and mercy
if we could just be still and 
silent.  Amen.

St. Ignatius of Loyola,
Pray for us.

“Habang Buhay” by Zack Tabudlo (2021)

The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Music by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 30 July 2023
Photo by author in San Juan, La Union, 26 July 2023.

Finally we’re back! Sorry for being silent with our Sunday music blog relating secular songs with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For our return engagement since our last blog in June 11, 2023 with Stephen Bishop’s Parked Cars (https://lordmychef.com/2023/06/11/parked-cars-by-stephen-bishop/), we feature this Sunday one of our favorite local talents, Mr. Zack Tabudlo with his 2021 hit Habang Buhay from his album called Episode.

We can’t recall where and when we first heard this swinging OPM love song that sounds like from our era of VST & Co. Fact is, Tabudlo has other previous hits before Habang Buhay which struck us with two important things we find so close to our Sunday gospel.

First is its melodic upbeat tune teeming with profundity despite its being so light and refreshing to listening (and dancing). Though we find traces of influence from the late 1970 to1980’s disco era in Tabudlo’s music, Habang Buhay is so sincere with its Gen Z identity that is authentically so Pinoy especially with its shouts of Halika nga that is twice repeated.

Aking sinta, ano ba'ng mayro'n sa iyo?
'Pag nakikita ka na, bumabagal ang mundo

'Pag ngumingiti ka, para bang may iba
'Pag tumitingin sa 'kin, mapupungay mong mga mata
Wala akong takas sa nakakalunod mong ganda, ha
Halika nga (ha, ha, ha)

That shout of Halika nga is so typically Pinoy, so warm and genteel like Jesus Christ calling us to be open to his parables, to find God hidden in the most simplest things of ordinary life. Halika nga evokes those tender, loving calls of our Lola during summer vacation calling us to change clothes soaked in dirt and perspiration with a glass of Julep or Sunny Orange juice during those endless afternoons of fun and games.

Halika nga sometimes is an expression of playfulness masking as deeply serious. It is something we rarely hear these days because nobody seems to offer us with comfort and company, with love and concern anymore.

In Habang Buhay, Tabudlo is overjoyed, playfully or teasingly calling his beloved halika nga for them to bask and savor this wonderful love they have found. If we could just hear Jesus calling us too, telling us halika nga to stay with him to discover God as the only worthwhile love and treasure we could ever have in this life.

And where do we find that kind of love? In Christ’s dying for us on the Cross which Tabuldo had thought of as the true expression of his love that is faithful until the end.

Andito 'ko hanggang sa 'ting pagtanda
Mamahalin kita basta't 'pag nahulog
Nakahawak ako, 'wag ka lang bibitaw
Habang-buhay na ako'y iyo

Wala nang ibang nakagawa sa 'kin nang ganito
Kundi ikaw, nag-iisang diyosa ng buhay ko

'Wag ka nang matakot, 'wag kang mangamba
Andito ako 'pag ika'y mag-isa
Wala akong takas sa nakakalunod mong ganda, ha
Halika nga (ha, ha, ha)

This is the second thing that struck us in Habang Buhay, an amazing song that speaks of love that is pure and true, and most of all, willing to suffer and sacrifice. Like in the gospel today of the parables of the treasure buried in the field that prompted the farmer to sell all his possessions to acquire that property and of the fine pearl found by a merchant who also sold everything he had just to have it. The same is true with love, and with God: what are we willing to let go to have the love of our life?

It’s a rarity in this fast-paced world to hear from young people speaking about love in its deeper sense like the giving of self for a beloved, giving us deep sighs of relief that we’re leaving this world in good hands. Habang Buhay assures us not only of a love that is forever but invites us too to trust the next generation by witnessing to them Christ’s love found on the Cross. Amen.

From YouTube.com

On choosing well

The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Sunday in the Seventeenth Week of Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 30 July 2023
1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 >><}}}}*> Romans 8:28-30 >><}}}}*> Matthew 13:44-46
Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, 24 July 2023.

We are now in the final installment of Jesus Christ’s parables this third consecutive Sunday of his teachings on the kingdom of heaven. It is hoped by this time we have learned and realized God is the only treasure we must have in this life.

And the good news is that God our treasure is found in the most ordinary things!

Many times he simply comes to us even without us looking for him while often would also appear if we truly seek him like in the two short parables we heard this Sunday.

Jesus said to his disciples: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

Matthew 13:44-46
Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, 25 July 2023.

Our gospel may be the shortest these past three Sundays but it challenges us to be wiser in making choices to acquire the only worthy treasure of all – God.

Both the farmer and the merchant exemplify to us this wisdom in letting go of their other possessions just to have the buried treasure and pearl they have found.

Note how the farmer merely chanced upon the treasure buried in a field not his, while the merchant finally found the fine pearl after years of searching all his life. Here we are reminded how God is not that difficult to find by those truly seeking him. The problem lies with us when we refuse to be the good soil so that the seeds sown in us may grow and bear fruit even amid the weeds! Many times, we have stopped having that sense of awe, of being surprised by God who is like a treasure buried in a field somewhere waiting to be found. Worst, a lot often we have simply given up searching for God as if it is impossible to find him like a fine pearl. God is with us in Jesus Christ, our Emmanuel.

This is the good news of our short parables today. Moreover, God even comes to ask us what we want in life like King Solomon in the first reading. Later in the gospel we find Jesus Christ also asking the blind Bartimaeus what does he want while passing by the city of Jericho. Notice how those healed by Jesus always had clear thoughts and focus, so wise in their choices of what they wanted in life like King Solomon. Can we be wise enough like Solomon in choosing well, in asking the right thing from God?

The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” Solomon answered: “O Lord, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed my father David; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act. Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?” the Lord was pleased that Solomon made this request.

1 Kings 3:5-7, 9-10
Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, 25 July 2023.

What is so beautiful, even wonderful here is not just the nearness of God with us but his kindness in asking us what we want. Imagine God saying, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”

What shall we ask God if he were to come to us in a dream tonight like Solomon? Perhaps we would be at a loss! Remember, God is asking for just one thing we want. At least the genie usually gives three wishes, with only the third one as most crucial being the last for which we are told to always ask for three more wishes!

Here we find again Simon Sinek’s book Start with Why most useful because our whys give us the reason and meaning for whatever we wish to accomplish. Exactly what Solomon must have considered as he laid out to God his situation, his needs, most of all his weakness, “I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.” See why Solomon asked for that grace instead of wealth or fame or strong army?

It is that consciousness of being small and weak before God that pleases him most in granting our prayers. Earlier before this scene Jesus praised and thanked God in giving wisdom to the little ones who accepted him than the wise and the learned who rejected him (Mt.11:25). That is the attitude of being a “good soil” who allows the seed to penetrate and absorb us!

God was so pleased with Solomon because he knew so well his whys that to govern Israel so well amid his many weaknesses, he needed God more than ever. Unlike Adam and Eve who tried to usurp God in his power in knowing right from wrong, Solomon recognized it as divine prerogative we can only share with God. Actually, what he asked for was God himself who is the treasure hidden in the field and the fine pearl found by the merchant. Solomon did not want to be like God inasmuch as he never thought of being wealthy and powerful nor famous that are of no value at all compared to having wisdom, in having a discerning heart to know right from wrong.

Photo by author, shore of the Lake of Galilee in Capernaum, Israel, May 2017.

I have realized in my 25 years as a priest that what we treasure most are not the ones that give us pleasure but the ones who complete us. We ask and pray to God for something or someone not because of need but more of fulfillment found only in Jesus Christ who promised that whatever we ask from his Father would be granted to us in his name if it is for the mission he had entrusted to us. That is why in my prayers, I no longer ask God for anything except of being with him in eternity because I am so sure that whatever I need, he would give. Most of all, if I have God, then I am complete.

The parables of Jesus are inexhaustibly rich yet so accessible to everyone with open minds and open hearts to meet God in Christ through the simple realities of life. That is why St. Paul tells us in the second reading today that “all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

Let us pray for more zeal and enthusiasm in being the good soil, in choosing wisely the only treasure worthy in this life who is Jesus Christ, our Emmanuel or God-is-with-us. Let us welcome him in the many parables of life we take for granted that are all part of God’s plan of salvation for us leading to glory that is our destiny. Amen. Today is Sunday, go to Mass and pray for those severely affected by super typhoon Egay especially our brothers and sisters in northern Luzon.

Becoming the good soil

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday in the Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 28 July 2023
Exodus 20:1-27   ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'>   Matthew 13:18-23
Photo by Ms. Nikki Vergara in Victoria, Laguna, July 2020.
God our loving Father,
make me a good soil,
a real "good earth" who
welcomes your word
to penetrate my heart.
Let me be a
good soil, O Lord,
by allowing myself
to be absorbed 
by your word, 
your seed.
Let your word,
O God, grow
and bear fruit 
in my heart!
Forgive us
that until now
from Mount Sinai
where you gave us
your Ten Commandments
to the shores of Galilee
where Jesus spoke to us
in parables of your kingdom
up to now in the comforts
of our homes and 
parish church amid
the squalor of our many
brothers and sisters
without decent home,
your words seem to have
fallen on deaf ears.
O how you amaze me
so greatly, loving God
for your patience in 
continuing to speak to us,
inviting us to enter into a 
dialogue and relationship
with you; and yet, here we 
are, not listening,
still stubborn;
teach me to give myself
to you completely so
you would absorb me
and fill me with your life
and energy.
Amen.

The parable of our lives and time

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday in the Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 27 July 2023
Exodus 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20   <*{{{{><< + >><}}}}*>   Matthew 13:10-17
Photo by author, Mt. Sinai in Egypt, May 2019.
You said it perfectly well,
Lord Jesus Christ,
our very own parable
of life
and of time:
"because they look but do not see
and hear but do not listen or understand"
(Matthew 13:13).

Why, O Lord,
 despite the modern communications 
meant to bring us closer,
the more we have actually
grown apart from each other?

Why, O Lord,
despite the great speed
 of our communications,
the more we cannot be reached,
or slower we have become
in reaching out, 
in coming to everyone
especially those in need?

Why, O Lord,
despite the clarity of signals
of communications, the more things
and persons are blurred,
including our relationships?
When you spoke 
to your people in the Old Testament
with peals of thunder and lightning,
they were scared to death;
when your Son Jesus came 
and lived among them, 
speaking their language,
they found him too ordinary, 
even a nobody;
today, you continue to speak
to us in nature and in person,
through our many experiences,
through the people we meet,
through the sacraments,
through many means and occasions
even right in our hearts
but still, 
we neither see,
nor hear nor listen.
What a parable we live!
Open our hearts, O Lord,
so we may believe,
hear and listen,
allow ourselves to be surprised
and amazed by you with the 
most simple things to make us
realize you are 
true and so real
right within us.
Amen.
Photo by PhotoMIX Company on Pexels.com

May birthday pa ba sa langit?

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-26 ng Hulyo 2023
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, takip-silim sa may Silang, Cavite noong Agosto 2020.

Sa araw na ito, ika-26 ng Hulyo ay ating pinararangalan ang mga nakatatanda sa atin bilang paggunita kina San Joaquin at Sta. Ana, mga magulang ng Mahal na Birheng Maria, Lolo at Lola ng Panginoong Jesus.

Sa aming pamilya, espesyal ito noon pa man dahil kaarawan ng aking yumaong ama na si Wilfredo na isinilang noong Hulyo 26, 1932. Pumanaw siya noong ika-17 ng Hunyo 2000, kaarawan ng aming Ina. Kaya mula noon hanggang ngayon ay parang drama ang aming buhay na magkakapatid tuwing sasapit ang mga buwan ng Hunyo at Hulyo dahil naroon ang magkahalong tuwa at lungkot sa birthday ng aming mga magulang gayon din ang pagpapanaw ni Daddy.

Dahil dalawang taon pa lamang ako na pari nang pumanaw aking ama, hindi pa ako nakapagmisa patungkol sa kanyang kaarawan tuwing ika-26 ng Hulyo. Gayun din sa aking ina. Dahil sa napakasakit niyang karanasan, hindi ko pa rin siya naipagmimisa nang patungkol sa kanyang birthday na death anniversary nga ng kanyang kabiyak ng puso at aming ama. Dangan din kasi ay mahigpit ang bilin ni Mommy nang mamatay si Daddy, hindi na siya magbe-birthday celebration.

Ang aking yumaong ama sa kanyang opisina, Bureau of Forestry, 1972.

Nakakatawang isipin, puwede nga bang hindi magbirthday dito sa lupang ibabaw? Bagaman palaging death anniversary ni Daddy ang aming pagdiriwang tuwing June 17 na birthday ni Mommy, mayroon pa rin kaming pansit o spaghetti, cake at ice cream para sa kanya!

Darating at darating ating birthday na parang kuliling ng tindero ng ice cream ngunit kapag tayo ay namatay, wala na tayong birthday celebration. Ang kamatayan natin sa lupa ang birthday natin sa langit kaya iyon ang higit nating dapat alalahanin!

Kaya sana po ay huwag ninyo masamain itong aking sasabihin: tigilan na po natin itong kalokohan at kahibangan ng pagbati ng “Happy Birthday in Heaven” sa mga yumao nating mahal na buhay.

Inaamin ko na ako man ay ilang ulit napatangay sa kamaliang ito ng pagbati ng happy birthday in heaven sa Facebook. Nguni’t simula ngayon na sana ay ika-91 kaarawang ng aking ama kung nabubuhay pa siya, hinding hindi na ako babati kanino man ng happy birthday in heaven.

Wala na pong birthday sa langit o kabilang-buhay dahil iyon ay kawalang hanggan na po.

Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Mt. St. Paul, La Trinidad, Benguet, Mayo 2017.

Noong mamatay ang aking ama sa kaarawan ng aking ina, iyon ang paliwanag ko sa kanya: ganyan po kayo kamahal ng Daddy; birthday niya sa langit, birthday po ninyo dito sa lupa.

Kaya nga ang kapistahan palagi ng mga banal ay ang petsa ng kanilang kamatayan o nang paglilipat ng kanilang labi. Bukod tangi lamang sina Jesus, Birheng Maria at San Juan Bautista ang ipinagdiriwang natin ang mga kaarawan ng pagsilang sa lupang ibabaw.

Ang kamatayan natin ang ating petsa ng pagsilang sa buhay na walang hanggan. Move on na tayo…

Sa dalawamput-limang taon ko sa pagkapari, isang bagay napansin ko na madalas ang mga petsa ng kamatayan ay sadyang makahulugan kesa petsa ng kapanganakan. Palagi mga petsa ng kamatayan ng mga mahal natin sa buhay malapit o may kinalaman sa mahalalagang petsa sa buhay natin. Sabi nga ng iba, madalas namamatay ang tao malapit sa petsa ng birthday nila.

Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Anvaya Cove sa Bataan, Mayo 2023.

Sa dati kong parokya, nagrereunion ang isang angkan tuwing araw ng Pasko, Disyembre 25 dahil iyon ang kamatayan ng kanilang Lola. Nang suriin ko, ipinanganak ang Lola nila ika-24 ng Marso! Sabi ko sa kanilang angkan ay napakaganda ng petsa ng kamatayan ng Lola nila bagamat masakit kung iisipin dahil araw iyon ng kasiyahan dapat. Nguni’t wika ko sa kanila, isinilang sa lupa inyong Lola sa bisperas ng petsa ng pagkakatawang-tao ni Jesus o Annunciation (Marso 25) habang isinilang naman Lola nila sa langit nang pumanaw siya ng ika-25 ng Disyembre. Tuwang-tuwa sila sa paliwanag ko kaya tuwing Pasko, ako ay pinamamaskuhan ng magkakamag-anak!

Pagmasdan ninyo mga lapida sa sementeryo: palagi naroon ang petsa ng kapanganakan at kamatayan. At pagkatapos ay wala nang kasunod kasi nga wala nang hanggan!

Noong wala pang social media lalo na iyang Facebook na dahilan ng pagkabobo nating mga tao dahil nga puro tayo palabas, kapag dumarating petsa ng pagsilang ng yumao nating mahal sa buhay, ang palaging sinasabi ay “nobenta’y uno na sana siya kung buhay pa ngayon” (he would have been 91 years old today had he not died).

Tingnang ninyo. Mas tumpak ang kaisipan at pananalita ng matatanda kesa sa atin ngayon. Kung araw ng kapanganakan ng yumaong mahal sa buhay, magpost na lang ng simpleng “naaalala ka pa rin namin” o “buhay kang palagi sa aking alaala” o “ikaw pa rin ang aking tanging mahal” na siyang tunay at totoo kesa “happy birthday sa langit” na isang kasinungalingan.

Inuulit ko, wala na pong birthday sa langit.

Huwag na kayong babati ng happy birthday in heaven. Ang birthday ay sa lupa lamang. Mag-level up na tayo ng pananaw, kaisipan at kamalayan katulad ng mga pumanaw na nasa kabilang buhay na. “Ang mga bagay na panlangit ang isaisip ninyo, hindi ang mga bagay na panglupa sapagkat namatay na kayo at ang inyong tunay na buhay ay natatago sa Diyos, kasama ni Kristo” (Col. 3:1-2).

Maraming salamat po at maligayang kapistahan sa mga Lolo at Lola muli!

Larawan kuha ng may-akda, takip-silim sa Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan, Hunyo 2020.

God bless our grandparents

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Memorial of Sts. Joachim & Anne, Parents of the BVM, 26 July 2023
Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15   <*(((>< + ><)))*> + <*(((>< + ><)))*>   Matthew 13:1-9
Photo by author, Bolinao, Pangasinan, 19 April 2022.
God our loving Father,
I have just noticed how we all love
seeing and watching the sun set,
even capturing it in our photos
and yet, we tend to forget,
sometimes neglect the people
in the sunset of their lives.
Our grandparents
and elderlies.
The seniors among us.
On this Memorial of 
Saints Joachim and Anne,
the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
grandparents of the Lord Jesus Christ,
we pray for all our seniors today.
Grant them the patience of the sower
in the gospel, to continue sowing us
with your seeds of faith and 
valuable lessons learned in life
from their experience of you, O Lord.
Like Sts. Joachim and Anne,
may we never lose hope in life
even in our old age in fulfilling
our dreams and aspirations in life;
keep us faithful to you and to one another,
always listening and obeying them
as Aaron had taught your people
in the desert and as Jesus admonished,
"Whoever has ears ought to hear"
(Matthew 13:9).
Teach us, dear Father,
to honor older people
not only today on their feast
but everyday by welcoming them,
helping them, and
making good use of their qualities
as expounded by St. John Paul II
in his Letter to the Elderly, #12.
Most of all, let our young
remain close to the elderly
with great love and generosity 
because older people can give 
them with much more than
they can imagine with their 
"wisdom of heart".
Amen.