You Make Me Want To be the Best

As I am accustomed to do, I went to solitude on Sept. 3 to 5 in Laguna. It was a time for prayer, reflection and relaxation in preparation for the anniversary of my priestly ordination. This poem is an expression of gratituded to God for the gift of this wonderful vocation and to all who continue to encourage me whether through words or action in this awe-inspiring life and ministry. Salamat po sa lahat!

You
make me want to be the best
the best priest God wants me to be.

Every time you take my hand
and choose to be blessed
you make me want to be a priest of God’s blessings.

Every time you offer your time
and choose community over privacy
you make me want to be a priest of solidarity.

Every time you volunteer what you can do
and choose service over apathy
you make me want to be a priest of charity.

Every time you share what you have
and choose giving over keeping for yourself
you make me want to be a priest of generosity. .

Every time you kneel in adoration
and choose to pray than be astray
you make me want to be a priest of prayer.

Every time you fall in line
and choose to receive communion
you make me want to be a priest of compassion.

Every time you say yes to Jesus
and choose to be faithful
you make want to be a priest forever.

Every time you say sorry
and go to confession in humility
you make me want to be a priest of honesty.

Every time you open your ears
and choose to listen over indifference
you make me want to be a priest of clarity.

Every time you follow Jesus
and carry your cross
you make me want to be a priest of resurrection.

Every time you say Amen
and trust in the Lord
you make me want to be a priest of faith.

Every time you move on
and not tied down by trials
you make me want to be a priest of hope.

Every time you consult me
and ask questions
you make me want to be a priest of the Spirit.

You
make me want to be the best
the best priest that God wants me to be.

1-4-3

I pity you; I pity you
who were chosen to be on top
yet know not how to lead

who are looked upon for direction
yet know not where to go

who try to hear everyone
yet know not who to listen to

who desire to please everyone
yet know not how to say no

who can tell good stories
yet know not the important ones

who fear what others say
yet know not what the heart says

who believe to be a listener
yet know not how to be sincere

who attempt to be friendly
yet know not how to be a friend

who shout ‘love’ with all of your lungs
yet know not what it truly demands

who excel in ‘the talk’
yet know not how to walk [the talk]

who are not aware
who know not how to turn around
I pity you; I pity you

meron akong paboritong t-shirt

meron akong paboritong t-shirt
dahil paborito, lagi kong suot
dahil laging suot, sa labahan laging nasasangkot.

meron akong paboritong t-shirt
dahil laging nilalabhan, laging sinasampay
nakasabit sa alambre, parang bandilang kakampay-kampay

meron akong paboritong t-shirt
dahil laging nakasampay, laging sabit sa alambre
butas sa balikat, tastas sa kili-kili

ang paborito kong t-shirt
minsang nilabhan sa bahay
pagbalik, isang sorpresang tunay

ang paborito kong t-shirt
pagsuot ko’y wala ng mga butas
sinulsihan bawat tastas

ang paborito kong t-shirt
ang mahilig mag-repair ng tastas na pundya
si tatay, di si nanay, ang talagang matiyaga

ang paborito kong t-shirt
tuwing kukunin ko’t isusuot
kalinga ni tatay ang bumabalot

ang paborito kong t-shirt
ordinaryong tanda ng pagmamahal
sa bawat tastas na sinulsihan

Isang Taon

‘sang taon na
ng magpaalam sa haring kristo
at tumawid ng boni serrano

‘sang taon na
ng lumusong sa kalye labing walo
at si san roque’y makatagpo

‘sang taon na
ng makasama si Santiago, Juan at Pedro
at lumangoy sa agos ng pagbabagong anyo

‘sang taon na
ng pumikit sa tuktok ng mundo
at dumilat sa haplos ng simoy na totoo

‘sang taon na
ilang taon pa
Panginoon, bahala ka na

[I was installed as the new parish priest of Transfiguration in the month of June, but I spent my first night there on April 26, 2006.]

Kailangan Kang Gumising

Kayong mga anghel, dinggin ang aking samo
Kayo’ng nagbukas ng libingang bato
sa araw ng Pagkabuhay na totoo
Buksan din ang libingan nitong puso
Nanlamig sa pag-ibig, singtigas ng semento

Si Kristo, isinakdal muli sa kamatayan
Sa mundo ng kawalan siya’y nararatay
Halikayo makakapal na anghel
Si Kristo’y gisingin sa pagkahimlay.

Mga anghel, walang imik, balot ng katahimikan
Hanggang mga pakpak sa aki’y yumakap
Simoy ng isang mahinang tinig
Bumubulong: Ikaw. Ikaw. Ikaw ang gigising.

Ikaw ang gigising kay Kristong nakahimlay.
Sa iyong pusong madilim at nanlamig
Basagin ang mabigat na batong tumatakip
sa daluyan ng liwanag at bagong buhay
Kailangan kang gumising
upang si Kristo’y muling mabuhay!

(Inspirasyon mula sa Awit ni Gertrud von le Fort [1936] na sinipi ni Adolf Adam sa kanyang aklat The Key to Faith: Meditations on the Liturgical Year, Collegeville, 1989, 79-80.)

Happy Easter to all!