Lolo Indo

I never learned how to swim.
So it would seemed a given that I never rode any boat of any size during my youth.

Not necessarily.

You see, our Lolo Indo was a skilled fisherman since he was young. He raised and supported his family of 6 riding his small un-motorized banca into the long and winding Atlag-Panasahan river leading into the vast green sea. Legend has it, or should I say, all our uncles and aunts testified to his swimming and boating expertise. I personally have no doubt about it because my father was so good a swimmer and trainer that he became the swimming team coach of his university.

So I have but little qualms everytime our Lolo Indo would invite us all his apos to ride the banca with him to have a swim in the nearby low-water level areas of the riverside. We were beaming with pride as our lolo deftly paddle left and right with relative ease yet with extreme care.

One time I remember when my kuya and I went together with him to our uncle’s house a few hundred meters far and one our way back, our banca was caught by the strong water current caused by a humongous dredging machine. We were slowly being sucked into the machines’ tunnel dredge and I started to get scared. Glancing back at our lolo, I saw nary a bit worry on his face as he muscled his paddle left and right, faster and stronger on every stroke. With a firm voice he reminded us to sit still and hold strongly on the side. His steel and undaunted presence inadvertently calmed my troubled self. And as we slowly inched our way away from the dangerous current, I know that we will be safe and sound in no time.

Lolo Indo and his banca is the only boatman and vessel that I would dare to put my life into.

Catholicism is my spiritual boat that my parents lovingly taught and up-brought me into and our beloved pope is my one and only reliable and experienced boatman whose lineage is directly rooted to the first apostles of our Lord. The rich apostolic traditions and biblical writings have been preserved and passed on from generations to generations. Only their combination can bring calm and sense of direction to my spiritual journey. I will forever remain in my conviction that other vessels are either defective boats or with unskilled boatman that can make my travel uneasy and uncertain. Hence I would never dare to try to jump off to another vessel for whatever reason. I will live and die a Catholic.

But this is in no way to pass judgment against my fellowmen traveling on those “other” boats, because in the end, we are on the same river of God’s mercy and grace that is carrying us towards Him and only those who set their sights and keeps paddling to the other side will miss His presence.

What concrete and definitive proof can I show for this personal belief?
Only one - our Lord Jesus Christ hanging on the cross.

Not for Christians only.
Not for Jews only.
Not for Muslims only.
Not for Buddhists only.

Not for a select few.
He died for ALL of us.

Another Baby Lesson

My spiritual zeal has been on the downside lately. I have weeks of unread daily bible reading subscriptions and reading any inspirational story felt like a “drag”. Even writing which is the one thing I have always loved to do is taking a back step. I felt physical exhaustion every time I come home from work that I see myself simply looking at my son play instead of me partaking in that father and son moment. I toss and turn during my sleep without any apparent reason. Thoughts easily come by and go.

Maia, our 7 month old baby, is trying to learn to stand up by herself. What a sight to delight at her skills and natural instincts. Carefully observing her made me recognize the crucial basic steps she takes for her to reach her goal – look for something to hold on, grab and pull herself up, balance herself and let go of both hands before taking steps. She would eventually fall down but would amusingly smile and simply try again.

Her innocent and intrepid actions led me to re-discover some basic truths on how I should respond to the daily grinds in my life.

Look around my immediate environment and see what kind of God-works can be done. The challenge is to look first inside myself and change any hindrances or hang-ups for me to start my daily goal. Search my inner self and discover the strengths I can use and detours I may encounter. Focus on the strengths and, thereafter, hold unto them.

Procrastination is a no-no and instead grab each opportunity as it presents itself.

Balance myself with regards to my time management, what needs my utmost and undisturbed attention, what are secondary in significance and what are clutters that can be filtered out.

Let go of things that are beyond my control and let God have His way in the end.

I will experience “slowing or falling down” moments but I can pick myself up and try again with a smile. Because just as our baby Maia has known, the secret is not primarily in my efforts, but in believing that my Father will raise me up if I find it hard to get up. He is lovingly watching over my every step no matter what pace I’m into. Nowadays, I know He waits for me because I have slowed down a bit.

I’m taking a breather to pull myself up once again.
I will learn to stand and run again.

Thank you, Lord for speaking to me through my child, through my fatherhood.


You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be
- Josh Groban