Simply My Thoughts

Making decision for life is really that hard. hindi siya ganun kadali gawin.

Why did i say this, simply because for the past 4 years of my life in here (seminary), it was really a very difficult thing to make decision. Making one makes m so anxious, sometimes it makes me depressed and a little bit out of my world. These things happened to me. These may not be applicable to all but it was the experience i had.

Making decision for my life here demands my total openness to every process in decision making.

Dapat daw nasa tamang desposisyon ka kapag gumawa ka ng decision sa buhay mo. Bakit kaya? kasi daw your decisions will change your world into something newer than the latter. Dapat daw maingat sa pagdedesisyon, sabi ng ng isang kasabihan, kumbaga sa mag-asawa, "ito'y hindi parang kanin na iyon isusubo na kapag napaso ang iyong dila ay bigla mong iluluwa." I guess it can also be said or attributed in making decisions in life, hindi yan bundok na sa malayo eh parang mababa lang pero habang palapit ka na ng palapit ay lumilitaw ang kataasan, na hihinto ka na at babalik dahil hindi mo na kaya pang akyatin hanggan tuktok.

Making decision is a life changing action. Why? simply because in your decision you are aiming to change something in your life and you are into considering other better options for your growth or whatever benefits, you found so suitable for you.

Many would say, you need to think not only once, not only twice but a hundred times because you need to make sure of everything. Yung mga taong hindi kayang mag-isip ng mabuti, kadalasan ang nagiging desisyon nila ay yun padalos-dalos na kapag lumabas na ang resulta ng kanilang desisyon at napansin nilang hindi yun yung bagay na inaasahan nila it will become a great burden to them and can result also in discouragement and lost of hope.

As i go on forward in this journey I realize something, and that is, the success of your life will depend on how you view it and how you make decisions for your life.

We need to think many times in order for us to make sure that everything will fall into its proper places. Huwag tayong magmadali, ika nga sa isang kasabihan sa Latin na, "FESTINA LENTE", sa English make haste slowly.

March, panahon ng graduation!

Ganito pala yung feeling kapag gagraduate kana. Before i used to ignore the feeling kasi wala lang, nung elementary ako and nung High school, pero ngayon, iba talaga yung feeling eh,,,I feel something different unlike the other two graduations that i had, maybe because I have matured already or maybe this was just brought by the passing time in my life, or maybe i just learn how to identify my feelings.

Before, nung magstop ako sa schooling ko,I felt I am doomed simply because i really do not want to stop schooling but then i need to face the fact that my parents cannot afford my education anymore. Pumasok sa isip ko na hindi na ako makakapag-aral, dahil nga dun sa situation na iyon. Honestly, I really don't know what to do then, so i try to apply for work so i can support my own education just to finish college and have a degree. I tried many times but i failed to have a job then, until one time, one of our parishioner and legionary called my up and ask me if i wanted to work for her in her business. I was not expecting it to happen, i was a little confused then, how does this opportunity came to me, kasi hindi ko naman talaga alam na tatawagan ako sa bahay and aalukin ako ng work. Malayo talaga, hindi ko lubos maisip yun nung mga time na iyon.I arrivedat a conclusion while still listening to the phone, "Ang bait bait talaga ni Lord, grabe, hindi ko ito inaasahan." While my heart is still pounding so hard i said "yes, opo, cge po!" then the voice on the other line told me to report immediately to her office. to cut the long story short they accepted me to the work, computer encoder and nung tumagal tagal ay na assign din sa field, for collections and delivery.
For almost five moths I worked. i enjoy a little bit of it and it was really good, " its hard pero talagang ganun," i told my self.
After that working experience i have decided to enter the seminary since I'm discerning it from almost two years narin nung mga time na iyon.
I made it! I was accepted and I am happy for I have given the opportunity to discern inside and ofcourse makakapag-aral na ako ulit.

After almost four long years of studying and struggling so much with my studies and the challenges I faced then i have proved my self that really can do it up to the end.

The last thing of my stay here is my College graduation, and compare to the other graduations I have had this was simply different!=)

MABUHAY ANG LAHAT NG GRADUATES SA TAONG ITO!

AD MAIORA NATUS!
(We are born for greater things!)

Hello, it has been so long since my last log-in here on my blog account. Hindi ko na masyadong nabisita sa sobrang daming pangyayari na dumating sa buhay ko the past months. Nandyan na yung hectic schedule because of the demands of my studies, kasabay nito yung formation ko here in the seminary and other things which made me so occupied.
I never intended to neglect or discontinue my account, kaya nga lang maraming dapat pagtuunan ng pansin sa mga nakaraan buwan.

My last post was September pa and i can say that i was really not into keeping up my account. All my other companions are updated with their blog accounts. Ako, huminto ng medyo matagal na panahon at ako po ay muling nagbabalik at magsusumikap na maging updated ang aking mga reflections.

Dumaan ang buwan ng Oktubre and it was really busy month for me and for my partner in thesis. I had also my three week vacation which i consider a very fruitful vacation i had compare to the other vacations i had. Since this month is our semestral breal from our academic concerns, my other fellow seminarians had their immersion and their retreat while the four of us 4th year are on vacation. This is also the month were I discern for my application for postulancy. Fortuantely i was given a very good opportunity to be with the SGSP students for their retreat, and joining them I made also my personal retreat and it was not directed since I only need a lot of time for prayer and meditation for my application. Wow! sobra, it was so good and i feel energized afterwards. And because of this very good opportunity i was able to write the draft of my application letter. I gave my letter to my Rector last October 25, where i also have my enrollment for the second semester.Grabe, alam nyo ba na habang itinatype ko itong mga bagay na sinasabi ko sa inyo eh, unti unting bumabalik yung mga bagay na nangyari nung mga buwan na nakalipas, though it was in my diary but at this point in time while typing thing my diary is safe and sound in my drawer.

November came and again back to school, back to my academic concerns, back to my daily routine, back to my formation in the seminary. I went back in the seminary happy and fulfilled, I feel so consoled though I'm tired a little bit. I cant explain why I feel so much energy coming out of me. The only thing i know is that I came from my three week vacation. Grabe napaka hyper ko, as in parang sobrang narenew lahat ng energies ko.

December enters, one of the very busy months here in the seminary sobra, you know why, because of a lot of preparations for Christmas, decorating the whole house, taking turns in carolings, and still we have classes then. December 6, marks the good events of my life. All of us 4th year aspirants and the three prenovices were called by fr. Rector because of a special announcement. A little bit i thought of something new or it was just an announcement of our conferences with him but it was not. Fr. Rector announces to us that time that all of us who applied for prenovice were accepted. It was a very big surprise for me kasi im not expecting as if parang hindi ako nagapply kasi i was extended nung una. but this is a very good news for me and for my companions who were also accepted. Decemeber 8, 2007, was the date of our induction as Postualnts or Pre-Novices rather to the Salesian Congregation.

January, we then celebrated our foundation day, and we celebrated the feast of our Father and Founder Don Bosco. We had a lot of activities the almost one week of celebration. And for me the Highlight of this celebration is the Holy Mass on the Feast Of Don Bosco(January 31), simply because we the aspirants and Pre-Novices submitted and offered our application letters for the next stage of our seminary formation. We also have the Band and Dance fest name "nuv" and we had invited a band, the band of Slapshock. but what i really admire was the performance of Noel Cabangon on the day of the feast. He was really inspiring and the music was really very very good and i bet he was really a good artist and performer simply because it was in his looks=)

February came, and we are finalizing our thesis and fortunately we were able to make it. and now we are just waiting for March 15 because this date is our final defense for our thesis.

My life here in the is as fast as a bullet fired I am graduating now and I'm almost 3 years and 9 months here and i feel i belong and I'm happy for my decision to be here.=)

A TRUE FRIEND

A true friend is always there

What ever situation you are in,

In sadness,

In troubles,

In problems,

In happy moments,

In critical moments,

A true friend always stays.

A true friend never leaves you.

A true friend does not change.

A true friend is forever.

A true friend is.

A true friend gets angry,

when you commit mistakes, but,

does not leave you behind.

A true friend stays to remind you.

A true friend tells you what is better,

what is good and will be a big help for you.

A true friend does not think

of something that will hurt you.

A true friend laughs with you.

A true friend cries with you.

A true friend touches every part of your life.

A true friend stays.

A true friend never asks in return.

A true friend gives and gives and gives

until it hurt deep within.

A true friend can be leaned on.

A true friend is tested through time.

A true friend never leaves or replaces you

with another friend.

Simply a true friend stays with you forever.

A true friend never gets tired of listening

to your endless stories.

A true friend never gets tired of accepting

you as you are.

A true friend believes in you.

A true friend supports you,

when you feel weak and can't stand alone.

A true friend is someone

who is consistent in the relationship.

A true friend shares also his/her life

to his or her friend.

A true friend, though far from you,

makes effort to keep in touch.

A true friend though far stays the same.

A true friend grows old with you.

Originally made by:

Francis Ramirez Marcelino

dated: August 31, 2007 @ 6:10 pm

Copyright © francisramirezmarcelino, 2007

My sermonette for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

When we hear the words trust, loyalty, courage, hope and believe, it reminds us of one thing and it is FAITH. Because when we have faith we are loyal, we trust and we hope and we only hope because we believed.

When can we say that we have faith? Surely it includes attending mass and praying. These practices are signs of faith. But faith entails action and these actions affect our life.

When can we say we have in God?

Faith is Something deep within us. They said the FAITH is so beautiful when translated into Tagalog, which is PANANAMPALATAYA. And what makes this word pananampalataya so beautiful? It is because of its root word which is "TAYA", pagbibigay ng sarili in our Filipino context. This makes this virtue more challenging for me because I need to act, I need to do something and doing something demands my wholeness as a person, I will give my self to him, to his plan.

It is very hard and challenging to give our selves, mahirap ITAYA ang ating sarili, we fear because of pride and selfishness, mahirap ITAYA and sarili ng walang katiyakan. Mahirap ITAYA ang sarili ng walang kasiguruhan. But Jesus himself said, "Do not fear for I am with you." "Take courage my son I am with you forever."

Mahirap para sakin ang iwan ang aking pamilya para sumunod sa kanya. Ang totoo nyan, ng araw na papunta na ako sa seminaryo, habang ako'y nakatingin sa aking mga gamit na nakaayos na at iniintay na lamang ang sundo na maghahatid sa amin sa semianryo, naramdaman ko na parang sinasabi ng isip ko na wag nalang. Huwag nalang tumuloy. Ng mga oras na iyon, hindi ko alam ang gagawin, pero sinasabi ng puso ko sige tumuloy ka. Siguro kaya nagdadalawang isip ako ng mga panahong iyon ay dahil narin sa mga problemang kinakaharap ko noon. Tumahimik ako pansamantala habang naghihintay at kinalma ang ang aking sarili. Wala akong ibang naririnig kundi ang ang tinig ng mga ibon nang umagang iyon. Naghari ang aking nararamdaman at pinatibay pa ito ng isang tinig na waring nagsabi na, "Tumuloy ka, ako ang bahala sa iyo!" Pagkatapos ng ilang sandaling katahinikan na ibinigay ko sa sarili ko, unti-unti kong dinampot ang aking mg agamit at nagsimulang umalis patungo sa sundo. Ang totoo parang kumikilos ako ng mga panahong iyon na parang wala sa aking isip. At duon nagsimula ang lahat.

That time I was so confused, but I follow the voice I heard, "Tumuloy ka, ako ang bahala sa iyo!"

And how did the Blessed Mother show her faith?
Mary was a simple woman in her time. Yet we see her strong faith not only externally but it's coming from within, within her very own heart. When the Angel Gabriel visited her to announce to her the good news that she would become the mother of the Son of God, though having little doubt in her mind, with great faith she offered and gave her whole self to the plan of God and she gave her "yes" to Him. We know that after that she encountered a lot of challenges, difficulties and sufferings in her life but she still gave her whole self and offered it to whatever God has planned for her and for her son.

Mary teaches us that we too can be used by God to change the world. We learn from her that, Faith positions us to be part of the mystery of Jesus, faith help us do what God says regardless of the cost.

As my tribute to the Blessed Mother, I have made a poem for her and this poem is not just a poem but it became my own personal prayer to her who is my guide and refuge a true mother who raised me up in times of trouble, confusion, persecution and hardship.

There is this story of migratory birds. One day the birds were flying and they were going somewhere. The curious cloud asks him self “were this birds going?” Then, he tried to ask the bird at the end and said, “Where are you going?” and the bird answer his question, “I don’t know I am just following those in front of me.” Therefore, what the cloud did he catch up with the one in front and ask the same question, “Where are you going?” and the bird answered the same as the first. The cloud still catches up with those in front and asks the same question he asked the first two birds, “Where are you going?” but he received the same answer as the two at the back. Therefore, the cloud finally made up his mind to ask the one in front of them all and surely, this one knows where they were going. Then, the cloud catches the one who is in front of all and ask the question, “Where are you going?” and the bird answer, “I really don’t know where we are going they just pushed me to fly and fly.”(from GNT of Fr. Joey Paras, SDB)

When we start a project or something that needs preparation, where do we begin?

We start in the end right? We start with the end in our mind. The end is our goal and our objective.

Medyo,,,napaisip ako dito=)ahm, Oo nga anu, tama! Kasi pagnagsisimula tayo ng isang project, we set our goal and that goal is the end product of our plans. Well, that is how to go on also with our life.

I consider my life as a project and in order to start it i need to have my goals in my project. It should be set as clearly as possible.=)

Pero maraming bagay ang pwedeng mangyari,which is totoo,,,we sometimes do not expect bad things to happen and maybe it part not of our plan but the plan of God for us. those bad things that would come on our way can be a hindrance on our plans but take courage, bad things make us more stronger and tougher in facing the plan we have made for our lives.