What One Man Can Do

As Peter Parker was watching the sliding bulletin news of how Spiderman save another New Yorker from tragedy, a man casually walked behind him and said, "You know, I guess one person can make a difference. Enough said." And with a smile, he casually walked away again while Peter pondered at what he just heard.

One man? One woman? Yes, one person can make a big difference, even a sweeping revolutionary difference that will ripple into the people's hearts for years and years to come. Remarkably, these persons, let's call them "difference-maker", did not even need to have superpowers to do that.

Each person only needed love.

In my lifetime, I have been blessed to be a media-informed witness to some of these difference-makers.

Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino once said, "The Filipino is worth dying for." He peacefully battled the Marcos regime from the inception of martial law in 1972 up to his death in 1983.His assassination paved the way to our world-recognized bloodless revolution that toppled the dictatorial rule and gave freedom back to the common Filipinos. His death made the difference

Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, endearingly known to all as Mother Theresa, dedicated her life to total selfless and dedication to the poorest of the poor in India's Calcutta. She did this from 1948 until her death in 1997. Her service made the difference.

Karol Josef Wojtyla, as our beloved Pope John Paul II, reached out to all beliefs and religion without undermining the Catholic's church traditions and beliefs. As Pontiff of the Church from 1978 until 2005, he travelled a lot to all point of the world where he felt the Gospel of God needed to be preached or renewed. He tapped the world's youth to help in propagation of the gospel. His energy and openness made the difference.

Normal people with absolute resolve to love. Amazing persons they truly are.

This Holy Week, however, we are called to celebrate the person with the greatest love for all of mankind. Humbling his Godly stature to become one of us here on earth in order to save those who lived before Him and those who are yet to be borne. He, whose intense sacrifice we will commemorate in the coming days, will suffer at the very hands of the people He created and loved unconditionally. He, who took all spit and spite, was scorned and thornly adorned, mocked and flogged and eventually put to death on the cross in Calvary by each one of us whether one is a believer or not. And as unimaginable as it may sound, He already forgave us all even as He was still hanging bloodied on the cross. The heart-piercing proof will be the truth of His resurrection on the third day after His death. His love for us has brought us back from death and into eternal life.

Dear friends, please think about Him this week.
More importantly, let Him be the difference-maker in your (struggling) life to holiness.
Enough said.

God bless.

Big Brother Big Sister

This is the 2009 community outreach program of the passionate and kind-hearted mountaineering youth-group of the Philippines. You can visit their website at http://bbbs.freehostia.com

For those interested to volunteer or share their blessings to the less fortunate children of Mt. Asog, Buhi, Camarines Norte, please contact helpbbbs@gmail.com or Ms. Angie T at agt.angie2@gmail.com

Thanks and God bless.

Zek at ZIC

Mommy Chie did it again.

She saw, she inquired and she got the tickets!

Yesterday was another first for our family as we brought Zek to the exciting quarterly racing events held at Zhuhai International Circuit (ZIC). With one drawback of being uncomfortable with lots of thunderous roaring engines, Zek feasted on his fascination for fast and casts. And in between races and stunt exhibitions, he was having a great time with newfound friends Chase and Hunter, the 8 year and 4 year old son of an American businessman who went to the car show with us as well together with his daughter Madison and his special someone Meileen. Another Filipino friend, Tibs provided timely respite for me as well when Zek vented his wrestling energy to him at some point (sorry about that, bro :D). Other than that, it was the usual run and gone games for me and Zek as we tour the entire facility teeming with booths and promotions. There was even a go-cart race track which is open for the paying public.

The races provided variety with sport cars, speed cars, motorcycles and F1-like racing cars taking the track circuit to the delight of several thousands of audience from near mid-day to dusk. This is why my wife’s sandwiches and hotdog on sticks bring-along were a hit and so were the drinks and Doritos which we munched with a lot of gusto.

Back in our homes that night, my wife started complaining about her terrible headache from staying the whole afternoon under the sun as I felt my terribly aching body for all the time I have to carry Zek on my back. Still, we slept soundly because we know we all enjoyed it.

Thanks, honey.

Thank you Lord for another memorable moment with my family.