I Thirst, Too
A reflection after 33 days with Mary Today is my 33rd and last day of 33 Days to Morning Glory, my 33-day consecration to Mary’s Immaculate Heart, and tomorrow will be my 40th day of prayer and fasting. I thought…
Grace in every moment
Through Mary’s Hands
There are seasons in life that only make sense when you look back. This has been one of those seasons for me. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been amazed at how God quietly brought together what first seemed like…
Gamayng Tingog, Dako’g Kaisog
Gahapon, nag-chat akong manghud. Pagbasa nako sa iyang message, nagtanga rako, wala ko kalihok dayon. Ana pa siya, “Te, naa koy isulti…” Akong pag-umangkon na si Ziqi, naa daw “secret” nga gusto isulti sa iyang daddy. Dili pa siya kahibalo…
Reflection: Before We Blame Parents
It seems that hardly a week goes by without another disturbing headline. A student stabs a classmate. A young person brings a weapon to school. Bullying continues to claim victims. Teachers are insulted, threatened, or even physically harmed by the…
What Remains
For a long time, I believed that my value was tied to my usefulness. I felt most alive when I was consulted, when my opinion mattered, when someone needed my help. Whether in relationships, ministry, or work, I drew a…
Fifty Shades of Grey Hits Differently Now
I rewatched Fifty Shades of Grey recently, and surprisingly, I cried. Not because of the romance.Not because of Christian Grey.Not because of the fantasy. I cried because, for the first time, I finally understood Anastasia’s pain. Years ago, when I…
Love that never truly left
“Describe your mom in one word.” Mao to’y pangutana sa staff sa Pinoy Big Brother pag-audition namo sa akong best friend back in 2012. Klaro man siguro nga wala ko nakuha kay wa man gyud ko nigawas sa TV. Pero…
Why Do We Need to Suffer?
What if we were not created simply to be happy? I used to believe that the goal in life was happiness. I see it in parents today—doing everything they can to keep their children from ever feeling bored, frustrated, or…
Why the hesitation?
I didn’t expect healing to reveal itself in something as ordinary as a grocery shelf. Not in prayer alone.Not in long reflections or painful conversations. But in a quiet hesitation over Nutella. I stood there, mentally weighing whether I deserved…
Between Knowing and Showing Up
Last night, I attended the Easter Vigil Mass.There were adult baptisms and confirmations—beautiful, hopeful moments. Families and friends filled the church, celebrating new beginnings. Some of them were seated beside me. At first, I noticed they weren’t participating—no responses, no…
A Sinner Still Praying for Conversion (Part 2)
Fasting is something deeply practiced in our community. We fast as a way of offering sacrifice, believing that when prayer is joined with fasting, our intentions are lifted more sincerely to God. In the Catholic Church, we are required to…
A Sinner Still Praying for Conversion (Part 1)
Last 2024, during the National Social Communications Convention, I met a priest who eventually became a friend. Recently, he invited me to give a recollection to his community. At first, it wasn’t really a serious plan. It began as a…