Glenda Bas was a wife, a mother of five, a career woman, and a community servant. I met her in one of our early sessions of Christian Life Program for the Singles for Christ ministry in Hong Kong. Together with her husband Roy, she stood as a quiet testament to what a Christian marriage could…
People
The Long Road of a Lay Servant
There are memories that feel like sacraments: the smell of beeswax at the sacristy and incense from a partially burned incense boat or a cassock that fell several inches past my knees and made me feel both too small and chosen. I remember the first time I walked up the aisle at Immaculate Conception Parish…
Lessons of Fidelity in Mission from Tita Dolly and Tito Tony
To serve in lay ministry is to learn that the spiritual life is built from small, repeated acts of fidelity. It is found in the quiet lighting of a candle, the humble proclamation of Scripture, and the ordinary chores of maintaining a parish. Yet, any long journey of service eventually encounters organizational conflict and personal…
Why We Long for the Good Old Days
There are days when I hear an old song and I am transported in time — no longer as an adult worrying about bills, deadlines, and responsibilities. I am a child again back in the Philippines during the 80s, sitting by the window waiting for my father to arrive from work, counting the nummber of…
Rooted in Christ: 11th MFC Australia Echo Conference
The journey to the 11th Missionary Families of Christ (MFC) Australia Echo Conference began even before we touched down in Queensland. My wife and I had booked our flights to Brisbane early—taking advantage of a rare fare sale—long before we learned that the conference venue would actually be in the Gold Coast. It turned out…
The Single Unattached Guide to Valentines Day Survival
Valentine’s Day in the Philippines is not just a holiday; it’s a national security threat for the unattached. From the moment the Christmas lanterns come down in January, the red streamers go up. Suddenly, every mall smells like a mix of cheap chocolate and expensive desperation. If you are single on February 14th, you aren’t…
A Catholic’s Reflection on Fellowship and Faith During a Visit to a Hindu Temple
As someone raised in the Catholic tradition, stepping into a Hindu temple for the first time was a moment filled with quiet curiosity, a bit of nervousness, and an open heart. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but what I encountered was far more profound and beautiful than I could have imagined. It was…
My 9 Key Lessons and Experiences From 2024
As we wrap up the year 2024, there are lessons we learned and challenges we’ve overcome. It’s that time of the year to reflect on the moments and experiences that shaped us and how they can influence the way forward. Here are my nine takeaways for 2024. The unmatched joy of a wife’s homecoming I…
Why Are Filipinos Good Singers?
While attending the Christmas mass at the Church of the Infant Jesus in Prague’s Malá Strana as part of our European tour in 2012, my wife and I were amazed to hear a familiar song in a familiar language. The recessional song was the popular “Pasko Na Naman”, performed by the Filipino choir. From then…
The Sydney to Melbourne Road Trip
Unlike my first visit to Melbourne in 2021, this upcoming trip is one with contrasts. That visit was during the difficult backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, meant for a change in scenery of celebrating my birthday with people around instead of being alone. Away from my wife, who was undergoing dialysis, the trip provided both…