Marcelo: My One and Only Uncle!

Uncle, Tiyo, Tito, Tata are some of the endearing names we call our uncle in the Philippines. But for my family, we call our one and only uncle, Tata Elo or Telo for short. Tata Elo is the first cousin of my Inang (mother) as both their mothers are siblings.

According to my Inang, my uncle lost his parents at a very young age. He lived with his sister for a while but because of personal issues and conflicts my uncle had to leave. Thus, he walked for 5 to 8 hours going to the place of my Inang.  Every time he would share it, he cannot imagine having to survive it and be able to walk for very long hours without eating and drinking at all. Tata Elo would usually share that vivid experience he had which will be forever in his mind.

Since Tata Elo only finished Grade 3, he can only land a job decent enough for him to earn for a living. He worked as a factory worker in a textile company near our residence in Taguig. I can say that he has enjoyed his work as he has showed his love and dedication to his job.

I will never forget the very first movie I have watched at Pinoy Theater in Pasig together with him. It was a very exciting and happy experience for me as it was my first time to be in a movie house. Also, he would bring me together with my youngest brother to a church in San Pedro Laguna, even if he knew that I would vomit because I usually get dizzy from a long travel.

Tata Elo as an uncle played multiple roles in my family. He would be a father and at the same time mother as well. I recall the time when I got sick and he wanted me to drink medicine. It was very difficult for me as he was instructing me to swallow it with a banana. I was crying like a baby while trying very hard to swallow it. When he asked me to put my tongue out, he got very mad because the banana was gone while the medicine was still in my mouth. Whew! That was a hard but loving moment I had with Tata Elo.

As I grew older, it was my chance to show my love, concern and service to him. I will never ever forget the time when I brought him to a public hospital for his eye cataract operation. We commuted going back and forth of the hospital. We have to ride a sidecar going out of the place. The road was like a moon crater flooded with water. The driver lost control of the sidecar and swerved down on the road with muddy water. I was shocked and don’t know what to do as I have to protect his eyes because it was newly operated. I felt very sorry for Tata Elo because I cannot give him the best service at that time.

Every time we would visit his doctor for his eye check-up, he seems to feel good and excited about it as Tata Elo is one person who loves to go out and roam around. Maybe because he was deprived of these opportunities when he was young. I felt good and happy seeing him enjoying every single fun time we spent together. He requested that I bring him to Manila Zoo and Luneta which I did together with my nephews and nieces. We also visited the National library and while we were moving around the museum, I heard a very loud sound like a big stone that fell from a tall building. I was taken aghast to see Tata Elo on the floor like a baby because he fell off from an elevated stage. Thank GOD he was not hurt at all. GOD must really love my Tata Elo very much.

Knowing how he lived a poor and hard life, it was my dream for Telo to ride in an airplane. I would narrate to him how beautiful the blue clouds and the big ocean and all other God and man made creation our eyes could ever see from above.  Finally, the day came when I was blessed to have the means to give him his first experience to fly. I can see the happiness and excitement in his eyes as we got inside the airplane and slowly fly up to the air.  My heart was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude as I finally realized my dream for Tata Elo. We went to the beautiful island of Bohol where we visited century old churches, the majestic Chocolate hills and had our first floating restaurant experience while listening to the angelic voices of the Lomboc children's choir. I never heard and felt my Tata Elo complain during our whole trip and he even said that he wanted to go to Palawan for our next trip.

With all the happy and loving moments I had with Tata Elo, I will try my best to emulate three things that he has shared to me. First, being happy all the time without complain. He has always been very happy and I never heard him complain about his condition in life despite his being single. Second, his unconditional love to serve us especially Inang. He never got tired of serving us until the time he aged. Third, his commitment and dedication to love GOD through his daily mass and praying of the holy rosary as his devotion to the blessed Mother Mary.

Tata Elo, you have shared your life to us and I will never ever forget every single moment I had with you. I am very thankful to GOD for having you in my life as you have influenced and inspired me in many ways. You are my one and only uncle that GOD has given me and for that I felt very blessed.

I know that in GOD’s loving time I will see you again Tata Elo and I can’t wait to hug and kiss you and spend happy moments together and hear you laugh and talk in your “ngongo” way. See you in heaven Telo. Thank you for everything.  

Where Is Your Faith Now?

Faith simply means as confidence or trust in a person. In a human relationship, we can only put our faith and trust in someone we are interested in or experienced good things and kind treatment from that person. If things go wrong, then our faith slowly dwindles up to the point of losing our interest, love, and respect to the person we put our faith and trust in. Sometimes people even lose their sanity and ruin their lives because the faith they have valued, treasured and nurtured for someone they cared for was tarnished, broken or not reciprocated.

From a Christian perspective, faith is an act of trust and of self-abandonment by which people no longer rely on their own strength and policies but commit themselves to the power and guiding word of Him in whom they believe.

According to Lumen Fidei, it categorically states that faith illuminating life means Christ affecting our life and our convictions. Indeed a christification of our life and commitments, convictions and values are called for. It is in this sense, "Faith in Christ brings salvation because in Him our lives become radically open to a love that precedes us, a love that transforms us from within, acting in us and through us." (Cf. Chapter 1, no. 20.) The encyclical is clear: What is communicated in the Church, what is handed down in her living Tradition, is the new light born of an encounter with the true God, a light which touches us at the core of our being and engages our minds, wills and emotions, opening us to relationships lived in communion.

In fact, the heart of the message which Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith) communicates provides an assurance that both consoles and consolidates the faith community by calling its attention towards a genuine awareness of the gift of faith- who is Christ Jesus Himself.

As it is clearly defined and presented by the Catholic Church, the very core of faith is Christ Jesus himself. He is the ONE and ONLY reason for us to live a faithful life. In the holy mass, we are all called faithful that gather and pray together to declare and affirm our love and devotion to God, our loving and faithful Father.

In reality, faith seems to be a neglected and slowly dying gift instituted by God to humanity. People nowadays are likely to be succumbed to all forms of self-serving and self-fulfilling activities that only gives earthly and temporal pleasures and happiness. A lot of intellectualization and rationalization are consumed by human beings to explain their enormous and selfish desire to things they wanted to do not realizing that they are slowly walking to a path of oblivion. Seemingly, they are putting their faith to the outside world where GOD is out of the equation.

In my life, I have all faith in God that He will always provide and bless me and my family especially in moments of need. I have proven many times that God has always prepared something especial and great for me that I just have to patiently wait and work hard for it.  God has impressed in my heart and in my mind that no matter what happens, His plans for me will always be wonderful. In Jeremiah 29:11 it says,” For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Now I ask you, “Where is your faith now?”

Are you afraid of JUDGMENT DAY?

Judgment day, Dooms day, End of the World, the Rapture, Armageddon, these are just some of the many terms we associate in the second coming of our LORD Jesus Christ. These words obviously solicit different thoughts and feelings from people. Most of them express their feelings of fear because they think that it is the last day of their lives and death is inevitable. Rarely, I hear people say; “I am excited” or “I am very happy”.  We imagine it as one scary scenario where there is no place for us to go. But why do many people afraid of the Judgment day?

For many Filipinos, singing is not just a hobby but a passion, a way of life. I remember myself at a very young age of four standing on top of a milk can holding a “sipit” (a long wooden object use for hanging clothes) as my microphone while singing the song “May Bagong Silang”. Eventually, I see myself joining singing competitions. I will never forget the first time I participated in a singing contest in my hometown.  When the emcee was about to call my name, my knees were shaking, my tongue was getting dried as if I was choking, I wanted to go to the toilet to pee even if I know I don’t need it and my whole body was feeling weak.  Finally, my name was called. I went up to the stage and belt out my contest piece. It was like the end of the world for me. Now I wonder if I would feel the same way when the judgment day comes.

Losing both my parents in the year 2010 and my uncle in December 2013, were the most painful and depressing moments of my life. I was heartbroken and I felt that it was the end of the world for me because the three most important people I loved and cared so much were gone. I have this feeling that I will never see them again for a very long time and that makes me feel inadequate. 

Judgment Day! Now I feel blessed that there is “Judgment Day”. “Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God”. (1 Corinthians 4:5 ESV) I feel blessed because this is the great opportunity for me to be commended by GOD and to see my loved ones again and most especially to be with GOD in heaven. Ate Lily, one of the holiest persons I met in my life who lives in the Philippines said, “We should have the longing in our hearts to see GOD and that will only happen at the end of this life”.

Are you afraid of the Judgment day? I can wholeheartedly say now that I am glad for this day to come. Everyone will have the opportunity to be with their loved ones again and most especially GOD who is the ONE and TRUE reason why we are all trying our best to live a good and humane life.

As we continue to live our life, let us make the most out of every single time we spend with people around us. When the judgment day comes, we can humbly face GOD with anticipation and say, “LORD, I am here your humble servant. I am ready to accept your judgment. I am not afraid because I know that Your will for me is to be with You in heaven”. Amen!