MikeLigalig.com

Now Jesus and his disciples set out for the village of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"

They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets."

And he asked them, "But who do you say that I AM?"

Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Messiah."

Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.


--Mark8: 27-30

The Blind Bartimaeus


They came to Jericho, and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept on calling out all the more. "Son of David, have pity on me."

Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage; get up, he is calling you." He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?"

The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see."

Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you."

Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

--Mark 10:46-52

My main goal is to return to the Philippines one of these days and visit the grave site of my Mama Luz and Lola Nating.

In my mind, it is as if time has gone so fast. I can still remember hearing my Mama Luz's voice when she would tell me, my cousin and sister to get ready to go to Panglao Beach.

I can still remember Mama Luz feeding my little sister ginamos with her hands, lol. My baby sister Angel used to eat that stuff whenever Mama Luz fed her. And every afternoon we would visit Mama Luz's house (after coming back from BWS) and have pandesal and coke. Mama Luz always wore her black and white pockedotted dastirs.

I really miss you, Mama Luz. In my heart, you dwell. I can picture you and Papa Titing dancing

One thing that I would like to share with readers is the brilliance of Almighty Providence in his design of man's body.

From spending countless hours in studying cadavers this semester and knowing the names of upper limb muscles, the original insertions of muscles, their distal insertions, innervation, arterial supply as well as prime action, secondary action and synergistic action; has led me to fall on my knees and marvel at Providence's designs.

I marvel at the miracle of the human body and how it operates. It is amazing how we operate, from the collagen type I that forms the bone, to the synovial fluid that forms in between ligaments, to the periosteal layer that forms above the bone itself that allows it to be fed through a nutrient artery. How every bone is attacked to each other through a ligament; and a tendon's connection of bone to muscle. In awe, I am marveled at how there are so many kinds of muscles that vary in specifics. We have muscles that supinate, that pronate, that flexes, that extends, that abducts, that adducts, that circumducts etc.

I am amazed that throughout the entire body, every single muscle is fed through a arterial supply, and a nerve ending; as well as the presence of a venuol pathway that allows any deoxygenated blood, stitial fluid as well as wastes to be returned back to the venous system back to the heart to be re-oxygenated. The presence of leukocytes within the venous system that attacks pathogens via antigenic markings.

I am amazed by the superficial as well as deep fascias that invests around the cutaneous tissue layers as well as the deep muscular layers.

I am amazed that there is a categorical organization of every single fiber, every cell, every tissue, every system, throughout the entire body.

I am amazed that tissue itself is already programed during the 8-9th week of intrauterine life (embryonic to fetal period).

How we form within the womb, how we grow and develop appendages through pre-programmed development. The manifestation of hematopoeitic stem cells to differentiate into specific cells: fibroblasts, chondroblasts, primordial mast cells, erythrocytes, neural cells, skeletal muscle, smooth muscle as well as cardiac skeletal etc. etc.

The fact that there is a system of check and balances within the body, and the processes that operate to maintain internal homeostasis of the body.


It deigns one to shout the supreme brilliance of Providence in his design of Man.

The thread will be to invest the daily miracles, and the aponeurosis of the brilliance of Divine Providence in the world, to be witnessed and marveled at by Man.

Share any personal experiences that have invigorated your own Faith.   

For the past three weeks I've been meeting up with 5 fellow medical students for our daily study sessions after class; usually we meet up from 5pm and review till 10-11 pm. Payal, Korosh, Gary, Githu and Adriana are my study mates and I cannot thank God enough for His blessings on me in allowing me to meet them and forming our closely-knit study group. Individually, we have strengths in different subject(s) either it be in Embryology, Anatomy, Histology and Medical Ethics; however, when combined we have the ability to move the mountains

What I mean by this is that it really does take humility to accept one's weakness in a particular subject and the need to supplement that weakness in the help of a friend and what better a way to augment learning and self study than to share knowledge with one's fellows.

I was reminded of this when I took a break from studies earlier this afternoon and decided to read from Proverbs. And as I poured my fingers through Proverbs, Providence led me to a beautiful verse in Proverbs Chapter 15. There is a specific verse, 22, in it that poured into my heart today, "Plans fail when there is no counsel, but they succeed when counselors are many." as well as in verse 31 to 33: "He who listens to salutary reproof will abide among the wise. He who rejects admonition  despises his own soul, but he who heeds reproofs gains understanding. The fear of the LORD is training for wisdom and humility goes before honors."

Reading this particular message in Proverbs reticulizes my understanding and at its whim, has obliterated any doubts I had in some of my fellow's abilities. I learned from it that it is also important to trust individuals as they trust you. And my study group mates trust me, as well as depend on my lesson plans. But I realize that I have learned alot from them; especially in the Histoogical aspects. And as I thought about it today, I really realized the blessing Providence has given me. He has given me the ability to communicate with my fellows, and most of all, He has given me their wise counsel so that any doubts I may have would be corrected.


In obeisant adoration and in reflection, I give glory and shout the Omnipotence and Wisdom of Providence. From which, Man has received the grace of understanding and reasoning.

 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.  And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

And Jesus answered and said unto them:

For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.  But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.  And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.  And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.  And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.


--Mark 10:2-12



The WORD of the LORD

Woe to those who plan iniquity,
and work out evil on their couches;
In the morning light they accomplish it
when it lies within their power.

They covet fields and seize them;
houses, and they take them;
they cheat an owner of his house,
a man of his inheritance.

Therefore thus says THE LORD GOD:

Behold, I am planning against this race an evil from which you shall not withdraw your necks;
Nor shall you walk with head high, for it will be a time of evil.

On that day, a satire shall be sung over you, and there shall be a plaintive chant:
"Our ruin is complete, our fiends are portioned out among our captors,
The fields of my people are measured out, and no one can get them back!"

Thus, you shall have no one to mark out boundaries by lot in the assembly of the LORD.


The Word of the Most High
Micah 2

Thus, the word of the LORD came to me:


Son of man, what is the meaning of this proverb that you recite in the land of Israel:
"Fathers have eaten green grapes,
thus their children's teeth are on edge."

As I live, says the LORD GOD:

I swear that there shall no longer be anyone among you who will repeat this proverb in Israel. For all lives are mine; the life of the father is like the life of the son, both are mine; only the one who sins shall die.

If a man is virtuous- f he does what is right and just, if he does not eat on the mountain, and if he does not defile his neighbor's wife, nor have relations with a woman in her menstrual period, commits no robbery; if he gives food to the hungry and clothes the naked; if he lives by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances, that man is virtuous- he shall surely live, SAYS THE LORD GOD.


But if he begets a son who is a theif, a murderer, or who does any of these things (though the father does none of them), a son who eats on the mountains, defiles his neighbor's wife, oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery does not give back to the poor and does abominable things; he shall surely die. His death shall be his own fault! THUS SAYS THE LORD!

On the other hand, if a man begets a son who, seeing all the sins his father commits, yet fears and does not imitate him; a son who does not eat on the mountains, does not defile his neighbor's wife; who does not oppress the poor or commit robbery; who gives his food to the hungry and clothes the naked; who holds off from evil doing  and keeps my ordinances and lives by my statues--This one shall not die by the sins of his father, but shall SURELY LIVE!

Thus SAYS THE LORD GOD:

The virtuous man's virtue shall be his own, as the wicked man's wickedness shall be his own.

Return and Live!

EZEKIEL 19

Thus says the LORD:


Lo, the hand of the Lord is not too short to save,
nor his ear too dull to hear.
Rather, it is your crimes
that separate you from your God,

It is your sins that make him hide his face
so that he will not hear you.

For your hands are stained with blood,
your fingers with guilt;
Your lips speak falsehood,
and your tongue utters deceit.

No one brings suit justly,
no one pleads truthfully;
They trust in emptiness and tell lies;
they conceive mischief and bring forth malice.

That is why right is far from us
and justice does not reach us.
We look for light, and lo, darkness;
for brightness, but we walk in gloom!

Like blind men we grope along the wall,
like people without eyes we feel our way.
We stumble  at midday as at dusk,
in Stygian darkness, like the dead.

Four our offenses before you are many,
our sins bear witness against us.
Yes, our offense are present to us.

ISAIAH 59


LORD, forgive us for our sins! Our grievous sins, our offenses are great.

Thus says the LORD:

Where is the bill of divorce
with which I dismissed your mother?
Or to which of my creditors
have I sold you?
It was for your sins that you were sold,
for your crimes that your mother was dismissed.

Why was no one there when I came?
Why did no one answer when I called?
Is my hand too short to ransom?

Have I not the strength to deliver?
Lo, with my rebuke, I dry up the sea,
I turn rivers into desert;
Their fish rot for lack of water
and die of thirst.

I clothe the heavens in mourning,
and make sackcloth their vesture.

The LORD GOD has given me a well trained tongue,
that I might know how to speak to the weary
a word that will rouse them.

Morning after morning
he opens my ear that I may hear;
And I have not rebelled.
have not turned back.

I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who plucked my beard.
My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.

The LORD GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put into shame.

He is near who upholds my right;
if anyone wishes to oppose me
let us appear together.
Who disputes my right?
Let him confront me.

See, the LORD GOD is my help;
who will prove me wrong?
Lo, they will all wear out like cloth,
the moth will eat them up.

Who among you fears the LORD,
heeds his servant's voice,
And walks in darkness
without any light.
Trusting in the name of the LORD
and relying on his God?

All of you kindle flames
and carry about you fiery darts;
Walk by the light of your own fire
and by the flares you have burnt!
This is your fate from my hand;
you shall lie down in a place of pain.


ISAIAH 50

Brownman,

Maayong Gabii to you (its night time over here for us)!

God Bless you, and all of us.

The History behind it:

The Emperor Constantine I was exposed to Christianity by his mother, Helena. Helena was one of the many early Christians who practiced Christianity secretly under the pain of death if caught by Roman officials.

Christian sources record that Constantine experienced a dramatic event in 312 at the Battle of Milvian Bridge, after which Constantine would claim the Emperorship in the West. According to these sources, Constantine looked up to the sun before the battle and saw a cross of light above it, and with it the Greek words "Εν ΤοÏ...Ï,,ω Νικα" ("by this, conquer!", often rendered in the Latin "in hoc signo vinces"); Constantine commanded his troops to adorn their shields with a Christian symbol (The Holy Cross), and thereafter they were victorious.

Before the battle, a-convinced and evangelized Constantine, ordered his legions to remove the Roman Eagle from their standards and replaced it with the Cross.

Following the battle, Constantine ignored the altars to the gods prepared on the Capitoline to receive sacrifices appropriate for the celebration of his victorious entry into Rome, and the new emperor instead went straight to the imperial palace without performing any sacrifice. Constantine, unlike the hundreds of Roman Emperors before him did not accept the Divine offerings that citizens gave to him. Rejecting the old notions of the Divinity of the Emperor.

The accession of Constantine was a turning point for the Christian Church, generally considered the beginning of Christendom. After his victory, Constantine I took over the role of the patron for the Christian faith. He supported the Church financially, had an extraordinary number of basilicas built, granted privileges (e.g. exemption from certain taxes) to clergy, promoted Christians to high ranking offices, and returned property confiscated during the Great Persecution of Diocletian. The most important thing of all, was that he officially was baptized into the Christian Faith and made Christianity the religion of the Roman Empire.


With that, the Roman Empire was conquered by Christ.

The very empire that crucified the Lord centuries earlier, ultimately, became Christian.

One of the greatest miracles of all.

St. John, the son of Zebedee, and the brother of St. James the Great, was called to be an Apostle by our Lord in the first year of His public ministry. He became the "beloved disciple" and the only one of the Twelve who did not forsake the Savior in the hour of His Passion.

He stood faithfully at the cross when the Savior made him the guardian of His Mother. His later life was passed chiefly in Jerusalem and at Ephesus. He founded many churches in Asia Minor. He wrote the fourth Gospel, and three Epistles, and the Book of Revelation is also attributed to him.

Brought to Rome, tradition relates that he was by order of Emperor Dometian cast into a cauldron of boiling oil but came forth unhurt and was banished to the island of Pathmos for a year. He lived to an extreme old age, surviving all his fellow apostles, and died at Ephesus about the year 100.

According to Tertullian (in The Prescription of Heretics) John was banished (presumably to Patmos) after being plunged into boiling oil in Rome and suffering nothing from it. It is said that the entire colosseum were converted to Christianity upon witnessing this miracle.


Christ Jesus glorified in the works of his disciples!

Jesus Christ, God Blessed Forever, declared to Blessed Peter:

"You are Peter, and upon this Rock, I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. To you have I entrusted the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Matthew 16:18-19



The Crucifixion of Blessed St. Peter in Rome. His teachings in Rome would evangelize the entire City and change the entire demographics of Europe. Christ Jesus glorified in the works of his followers.


Jesus told him:
"When you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk about where you wanted. But when you grow old you will stretch out your hands and another man will gird you and bear you where you do not wish.”

John 21:18,19

Quote from: hofelina on September 18, 2008, 02:19:17 PM
Let Me Be a Rock                                                                           


God, 
let me be a rock on which others can lean
in their times of hardship.
When all seems bleak,
send me signs of your presence,
signs as simple as rainbows and smiles.
Amen. 

Thanks for accepting a senior citizen like me !

May the LOVE of our Lord continue to shine in our homes as well as in our hearts.

Ma'am, thank you for being part of our little home.

Again, welcome to the site.

See you in the forums.


Bran,

Madam Lee,

The verse from John 4:23-24 preaches, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

And we do worship Him in the spirit. The presence of Church and Tradition are what strengthens the Family of Christ and invigorates the faith of many. It is a constant reminder of the need to pray, the need to seek redemption and to NEVER forget one's covenant with the Almighty. By right of the compact with Prophet Abraham. The prayers of men that are directed unto the Throne of the MOST HIGH, rises to him like incense that is burnt in offering.

As it is told to us in Sacred Scripture:

Let my prayer be incense before you; my uplifted hands an evening sacrifice.
Psalm 141: 2

And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand.
Revelations 8:4


As a Roman Catholic, I pray in the Spirit. Through mind and heart. And know that the Blessed Holy Spirit, the sanctifying Grace of The Lord dwells within me and all of those who believest in Him.

As it is said in scripture:

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost
which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and
in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Corinthians 6:15-20




Salvation and Communion with the Almighty is Given to Me and my brothers and sisters.
Christ Jesus Has come to Save. His merciful hand has wiped away my sins and the sins of all even the wicked who believes in Him and finds sanctifying grace in Him, has been saved by that right.

AS IT IS PRONOUNCED in Sacred Scripture:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1

and again,

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
Romans 8:9




In the Name of Jesus Christ, Who is Lord and Saviour.
Who has died for our sins and rose on the 3rd day.
And who sits on the right hand of the Almighty Father in Heaven.

Fiesta, In Spain








Fiesta, In Mexico








Fiesta, In The Philippines

I've never dated a Filipina. Ever.

So for me to judge a Filipina in terms of passion and or romantic fervor is out of the question. It's not that I'm not attracted to Filipinas, its just the fact that where I'm located and from where I've been brought up, is primarily white-oriented. Most of my childhood has been with fellow American youth, throughout high school, college and now in medicine. I've dated several White-Americans, Latinas, African-American and some Chinese and Koreans. You really can tell the difference

I would say that I feel more comfortable with White-American women as well as Spanish girls. From my experience, are very open to different points of views, and have a spicy interest in foreign men.

White women love to be fed. They love it when a man cooks for them and pampers them, lol. They love the occasional roses, they love being surprised with chocolates, they love talking on the phone till she actually falls asleep. There is no inhibition in their part to tell you their feelings (sensual, personal, etc). I personally find it very attractive whey they make pouting sounds or whining sounds haha.


And the Spanish girls..
I've dated several Argentine girls, Spaniards and Columbian girls. Spicy, Hot. Spanish girls are just..lol. Boy are they something.

In Classical Latin



    Pater noster, qui es in caelis

    Sanctificetur nomen tuum;

    Adveniat regnum tuum.

    Fiat voluntas tua

    Sicut in caelo et in terra

    Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie.

    Et dimitte nobis debita nostra,

    Sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.

    Et ne nos inducas in tentationem;

    Sed libera nos a malo.

    Amen.

Old Armaic, the Language of Jesus.



    Abwun d'bashmayâ

    Neth qadâsh shmâkh

    Tithe malkuthâkh

    Nehwe tsevyânâkh

    Aykanâ d'bashmayâ

    Ã,f bar`â

    Hav lan lakhmâ d'sûnqânan yaumânâ

    u'Shvâq lan khaubayn

    Aykanâ d'âf khnan

    Shvaqan l'khayâveyn

    u'Lâ te`lan l'nisyûnâ

    Elâ patsân men bîshâ

    Metul d'dhilâkh hî malkûthâ

    u'Khaylâ u'theshbukhtâ

    `Ã,lam `âlmeyn

    Ameyn

In Bisaya:


    Amahan namo, nga anaa sa mga langit,

    Pagdaygon ang Imong Ngalan.

    Moabot kanamo ang Imong gingharian,

    Matuman ang Imong pagbuot,

    Dinhi sa yuta maingon sa langit.

    Ang kalan-on namo sa matag adlaw,

    Ihatag kanamo karong adlawa,

    Ug pasayloa kami sa among mga sala,

    Ingon nga nagapasaylo kami sa mga nakasala kanamo,

    Ug dili mo kami itugyan sa mga panulay,

    Hinonoa luwasa kami sa dautan.

    Kay Imo man ang Gingharian,

    Ang gahum ug ang himaya

    Hangtud sa kahangturan. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. For ever and ever. Amen

Pa sagdi na lang siya, Buwad.

Kaning mga Catholic tawo, we are called to faith kai we are called in the Spirit and in Faith. Ug gusto ang tawo mo leave sa Catholic Faith, let him do it as it is his decision.

Perhaps your friend finds more solace in biblical reading. And there is absolutely nothing wrong in focusing more in biblical adoration, as it is afterall, the Word of God.

We must not impress our faith on others forcibly if they have chosen to take another path toward The Lord.

As for myself, I have shared many conversations with Baptists, Methodists, Orthodox Christians, Coptics, Evangelical Born-Agains. We are all the same, pare, as we are all Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

The language may be different, and the manner of prayer may differ, but we are praying directly to the same Almighty Creator.

Given, we catholics are a bit more conservative than most; as we adore not only the Blessed Sacred Scripture but also hold true to our hearts Sacred Tradition, which has been passed unto the Ages since time immemorial of the Early Church Fathers. We pray, as Catholics, as the First Christians did.

There may be differences between us and other Christians, but we have so much more in common than we are different. Let us dwell in our similarities and our common Love and Faith in Christ. And let us not linger on the things that divides us, as it is what the Devil wants. Brothers fighting against brother. Let us not loose the sight of the clear picture and the Goal. Which is Christ Jesus.


Brother Buwad, remember this beautiful verse from scripture and keep it in your heart.

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

1 Corinthians 10:16-17

We are all One in Christ Jesus.



My prayers are with your friend; that you friend is continued to be justified by Faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Despite his or her manner of worship.

awwwwwww!!

I know what you mean, My kaiser boy always does the 'sigh' puff whenever he's bored too. lol!

Sometimes whenever Im downstairs and watching TV, I'll let him inside and he expects to play around with me as in he expects to play tackle-tackle or expect to pounce on me haha.

But instead, I deliberately ignore him and watch TV.

And it is so cute because he literally walks towards me, his head is facing me by the way, and he stares at me for say a good 5 minutes. He moves his head to the direction of the door because he wants me to go out with him and play around outside. If I don't respond to him, he will literally go to the dining table, grab his leash with his mouth and bring it to me and drop the leash next to my feet and make a typical 'Kaiser boy' whine to get my attention. LOL!!!

I pretend to not listen to him, and when he notices that I am ignoring him, he will just "FALL" on the floor with a big thump and make a very loud sigh. LOL!


Smiffy, Ms. Toby is so cuuuuute! She looks just like my Kaiser Boy!!! hahahaha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLNxObCbRFo



Paul adds immediately: "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup"
(1 Cor 11.27-28).

St. Paul teaches: "As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes"
(1 Cor 11.26).

It follows that only those who have made the baptismal commitment of faith and are faithful to it may share fully in the Eucharist by receiving Holy Communion.

Quote from: buwadsanga on September 17, 2008, 10:44:28 AM
no it's not sour gripping mis dabinz, its a love for country and to cherish the won freedom from the blood of our heroes. im proud of it and would never surrender it to the americans.

a relative of my great great grandfather's guerilla group who fought for independence in jagna was massacred by the americans during the pilipino american war. they were sold to the americans by a fellow jagnaanon. what a shame. the massacre was immortalized by a brass marker from phil. historical society in bgy. lonoy so that future generations will not forget on their heroic deeds.

i firmly believe God will not abandon our country and we could have a better life in the islands soon. a country thru time and experience will grow for the better it's the trend and history or expereinced from other countries substantiate my belief.

mabuhay ang pilipinas!

Buwad,

I will submit to the fact that you have a very beautiful nationalistic feeling. It is ideologically similar to the Filipinoismo of the past. I admire that raw patriotism. And I mean it.

Ang view lang nako, Buwad, is that so much more could have been given to my fellow Filipino brothers and sisters. I want my Filipino brothers and sisters to have the benefits of the life that I am living as a proud Filipino-American.

Dili lang for me or for the 2.5 million Fil-Ams here. But for All Filipinos!

It always pains me, my friend, to hear and read stories of Filipinos starving and dying. I just read an article posted here that over 10,000 Filipinos a year die of preventable conditions (malnutrition, infection etc). 10,000 deaths!

Sakit ahong CORAZON to hear and read stories like this because things like that is so easily prevented here in the United States. Sa akong view lang, my friend, is that why should my fellow Filipino countrymen be subjected to a difficult life when I and other Americans have a comfortable life. Dili pood fair.

Oliver's points are very credible and I totally sympathize for him.

The Philippines could have enjoyed all the fruits of the wealth of America, yet not be directly an American-administered state.

The Philippines could have, had it wished, been an American Protectorate.

By meaning of this, the Philippines would have retained its provinces, self autonomy, a military, a national government, yet would at the same time, would be given the rights of Americans (as in citizenship for all Filipinos) as well as the benifits of unbridled American Investments in the Philippines.


-Bran Lorenzo

Oh Mari!

I'm so sorry, Mari. My heart is saddened after reading this, Mari.




I'm so sorry, Mari.

Aira,

I read that book 2 years ago. A really great read, I admit.

It is not meant for the faint of heart, I submit to that. But it really is a good book, as you said, to remind us of the crimes committed by the Japanese in World War II.

It illustrates the savagery that Man-Kind can inflict on himself.

Peace be with you, Buwad.

¿Qué hago yo?

Entraste como un rayo de luz
Como un aire encantador
Liberaste con tu hechizo a mi recluso corazón
Tu dulzura corrió por mis venas
Creí en tu intención
No pensé que fuese un engaño
Ni una mentira tu amor
Me dices que te está llamando
Te vas sin un adiós
Sé muy bien que harás en sus brazos
Dime que hago yo.

Que hago con mis labios si me ruegan tus besos
Que hago con mis manos si suplican tu regreso
Que hago con mis noches que hago con mis días
Que hago con tu esencia si se aferra a la mía
Dime que hago yo.

Hablamos solo cuando puedes
Te abrazo al esconder
Que no haría para tenerte a mi lado al amanecer
Mis amigos dicen que te olvide
Que antes de ti no era igual
Antes de ti mi vida no tenia sentido
Antes de ti no sabia amar.

Que hago con mis labios si me ruegan tus besos
Que hago con mis manos si suplican tu regreso
Que hago con mis noches que hago con mis días
Que hago con tu esencia si se aferra a la mía
Dime que hago yo.
Que hago con mis labios si me ruegan tus besos
Que hago con mis manos si suplican tu regreso
Que hago con mis noches que hago con mis días
Que hago con tu esencia si se aferra a la mía
Dime que hago yo.

Beautiful, beautiful song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHNZkVJVz2o&feature=related

performed by a Romantic Spaniard!

Ah the hairs of my back stood in hearing this beautiful rendition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0ecsiSQZG0

Bravo! Bravo!

Way Nada,

I accept and have read your points and your thoughts.

I will acquiesce to the fact that you have a beautiful mind and your thoughts on this matter is eloquently analytical.

However, I will choose to refrain from further analyzing the what ifs and the would bes in this given situation.

I will not, given my imperfections as a lowly man made of dust and to which I SHALL return after death, analyze the life of my Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus God BLESSED Forever.

In my heart, and in the being of my SOUL I know that Christ Jesus is LORD.

He is The WORD that made everything. Before there was rationalization, He was There. He Was, He IS, and HE WILL BE. Even after all of us are dead.

He is Divine and His Divinity transcends the Humanity.

That is all that I will say about this topic.


Please accept my kind refusal to further go into this topic. For both personal as well as spiritual reasons.



Kindly and Respectfully Yours,
Bran Lorenzo

Buwad,

It is just a quote from scripture. It is a rhetorical question within scripture.

It means to tell us that even with all the wealth of the world, all the knowledge of the world, and all the pleasures of the flesh, if one does not submit to the Will of God and accept His presence in our lives and in His Son, Christ Jesus, the Word Incarnate, then all is lost.

Everything and all the pleasures in this life, this material world, are fleeting. It is in the here-after that one must be concerned with, despite the secularization of this world.

It is better to live a simple life, a humble life and still cling Hope to the promise of God and Hope in the Salvation promised to Us through His son, Jesus Christ.

Than to live a rich and luxurious life, yet devoid of spirituality and communion with the Almighty.

Quote from: buwadsanga on September 18, 2008, 08:32:58 AM
whats your point mam dabinz? lorenz, mag ka sinabut ta ani pre youre right inspite of the ups and downs abuses of some church authorities and from defectors. nia gihapon ang simbahan for more than thousand years proclaiming the glory of God!

Buwad,

Despite the positions of our priests, and men and women of holy Orders, we are all sublimely and imperfectly HUMAN.

And because of that, fall prey to all the sins, imperfections, and vices that are attributed to Human Kind.

The sins that you, myself and our brothers and sisters experience and are tempted with, so too are our priests, our nuns, ministers, bishops, cardinals and even the Pope himself.

But despite our imperfections and our gregarious sins, we submit to the FACT that our Saviour and Redeemer, Christ Jesus, God Blessed Forever, has come to renounce our sins and redeem us through our submission to His Will. Salvation of our eternal soul is for Him and his Heavenly Father to prescribe. Not Man.

But even with our sins, we praise and look to direction of our Lord and Savior. And that is what it means to be a follower of Christ. To be a Catholic.


Unending glorious praise are Yours, Heavenly Father.
Now and Forever.



Through Christ Jesus, God Blessed Forever.

Peace be with everyone.

Buwad is right.

For others who are not catholic, they think we pray to a statue. They think so because they are not Catholic, and do not understand our motive of prayer.

We pray in Faith. In the Spirit.

For Our Father in Heaven is in the Heavens. All the world is His. The statues that are inside chuches are nothing but beautifications that are similarly found in the Jewish Temples. It is to glorify His wonders, His church that He created when He came down from Heaven into Earth.

When Christ came down to Earth, man saw Him. Man saw how our Lord looked like. St. Peter the Apostle, the first Pope of the Church, saw him, kissed him, hugged him, and was there with Him.

There is a reason for the things. The Catholic Church has survived revolutions, wars, protestant splinterring, survived the plagues that the Devil has given to attack the faith of those within the Church.

And Like as Jesus told Peter, ""I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it."
-Matthew 16:18


There are reasons for things that we cannot understand. And as a lowly man who is made from dust, I acquiesce to that. Faith, it is faith that calls me to pray. And it is Faith in Christ Jesus that brings 1.5 billion Catholics to pray as well.

Way Nada,

Before the splintering of the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, both churches existed as one; and one thing that they made sure was the proliferation of a united bible; one that agrees to teaching. Even to this day, the bibles used by both Orthodox Churches as well as Catholic Churches are identical, given the Orthodox bible is written in Cyrillic. However, the texts are the same.

Priests and the ecclesiarchy of both Orthodox and Catholic Churches united all the writings and utilized the ones that were identical and wiped away those that were considered blasphemous.

The bibles that we read today stem from the compilation of writings that the Catholic Church has created; given, protestant bibles are far more simplified. However, the texts that they read were organized and printed and approved by the Roman Catholic Church. Which headed the West. And the Orthodox, headed the East.

Every time I look at you
You always look so beautiful
Driving on the road again
the Chevy's packed
And it is dusk
And I will take some photographs
So I can dream of you

Can't say I've felt such twisting
In my heart this way we pitch a tent
and have one sleeping bag
To stay away The fires burning,
softly singing songs
So close to you

Ms. Sanguenza,

Please come back. We all miss you here.



Bran,

Ethylene,

I will be frank. It's been boring without you. We all miss your soothing chemical presence. I miss your funny jokes, your homeopathic posts, your sisterly aura.

Aha naman ka? If you are busy with work and or studies, please stop by from time to time.

I miss you. And many of us are missing you.



Missing You,
Bran-Bran

I know you all know this song.

Such a heart-warming song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWX_OAcFjK8

I agree with you, insurectus, this song definitely touches the heart.

Aira, thank you for sharing that lovely piece.

A pleasure to read your thoughts, Tito Benne.

Well stated.

Ping is a primordial dwarf. Mutanogenesis occured during interuterine development where his AER (apical ectodermal ridge) did not develop properly as well as genetic deficits led to development of the entire thorax in proportion, however, a fragment of natural size.

This is an example of chromosomal disjunction.

Today we had lab and I led my group in exposing the posterior fore-arm muscles as well as opening the palmar surface. We identified the extensor carpi radialis, extensor digitorum, as well as attachment muscles.

Today was awesome as we were able to peel the palmar fascia of the hand; exposing the thenar as well as the hypothenar muscles. We were able to see the hypothenar prominence and the thenar prominence; and in the central surface, identified the ulnar and median nerves that passed through the carpal tunnel region.

My partner in Anatomy Lab, Korosh, helped me in reticulating the entire superficial fascia of the posterior and anterior forearm. We worked in unison in exposing the superior muscles as well as the identification of deep muscles, their innervations and the septum that divided them.

We had a lab practical today. Perfect score.

Quote from: ms da binsi on September 17, 2008, 02:35:43 AM


Bebe he looks like Kaaiser lagi dear!!! he is sooo cute! look at him He seemed very attentive kay he looks at you eye to eye jud!

Ay mao na ang doggie ni Feliciana ug Steve?

hahaha! Yes he does doesn't he?

German Sheppard kaayo iyang porma.

Quote from: smiffytheninja on September 17, 2008, 12:25:33 AM


A very friendly dog.

Is Toby a black German Sheppard?

What a cute dog! Handsome breed!

Quote from: oliver on September 12, 2008, 10:31:33 AM
boys and girls, yes we could be just like hawaii, to tell you the truth the japanese descriminate the whites in hawaii. I think , we are to see what hawaii is doing now a days, see for yourself and witness how the hawaiians are very much in better shape than our own.
      Let us not close our minds, if we do not know what its like. even Puerto Rico,,,, look at them, they are led by the US, come and see Puerto Rico today as a US territory.
     Yes the the upper class got it made here. But i think if we do not concerns ourselves to the poor, we are living a selfish life, blinding ourselves on what we see everyday.

Open your eyes, do not look away when you see a child selling cigarettes on the street, when a child is trying to earn a living because the parents cant do enough..
   Sorry, i could get carried away

Oliver,

Very interesting perspective.

Pray, do tell me, what do you think can be done to alleviate the situation?

And despite this, the United States continues to spend $10-15 BILLION a day in Iraq and Afghanistan.

There is a classical saying, Aesope's actually, that goes well with this subject matter.

The Hare may be fast, but the slow and steady turtle will win the race.

The meaning of this age-old saying is the stressing of the importance of strategic reasoning. When presented with a problem; you don't respond to immediately with haste and irrationality and fervor. No, the former leads to stupidity. Look at the American situation in Iraq, which was launched by Bush's inability to compromise with other world leaders and his insistence of "attack first, ask questions later" attitude.

Rather, when given a problem, you need to first research the history of the problem; actions made by past leaders as to know what policies and actions to use and not the ones that failed. It is the same in Medicine. When a physician is presented with a patient's clinical problem; say the patient has lymphatic edema, the physician cannot just immediately take the patient into the operating room and surgically remove the lymph; as it would lead to damage to either the thoracic duct or right thoracic duct.
Rather, an educated and well-informed physician will CONSULT with his peers and colleagues who have a better understanding of the problem and then from their views, determine a proper prognosis/diagnosis of the said problem.

It is the same in law, in political analysis, in finance and in the military.

Quote from: oliver on September 16, 2008, 10:09:12 AM

   But why would someone like BUWAD, is so hard shelled that he's idiology about selling souls to the americans still choose to neglect the reality of our situation..Nobody is selling anything..I lived in the US for 30 years and still proud to be a filipino, I just wish that our govt seizes to provide hope, opportunities, security and peace of mind to be in our own homeland...at any time i will come home..

Mr. Oliver,

I would dare to say that it is the pride of men like BUWAD, who would rather choose to ignore the langours and pains of his fellow countrymen than even consider the self acclaimed 'treachery' of considering American intervention. Or any other, for that matter.

It was Filipino Pride that promulgated the independence of the country in 1946 (only 1 year since the end of the Second World War), despite the fact that the United States was willing to propose a bill with the Philippines in rebuilding the war-torn country; all provided for by the Americans, had the Philippines chosen to remain an American Protectorate for another decade or so.

We became independent too soon, too fast. Infrastructure was minimal (considering the massive damage the Philippines experienced from both Japanese and allied bombing in the Second World War).

It was Filipino Pride and irrationality that placed us in this unequivocally provocative situation.

(This is grounds for another topic of debate, though)

Quote from: oliver on September 16, 2008, 10:09:12 AM
Lorenzo,
   You are brilliant in your reasoning, you ought to be a lawyer!! LOL. And yes you are right in your rationals, except i take exemption on the fact that only filipinos can solve our problems. The deeper the whole we are in, the less hope we have. We are owned and controlled by the rich corrupt filipinos unfortunately. I hate to think that they are getting richer and the poor getting poorer. The attitude of a hopeless people like us tend to get selfish just to survive, it doesn't matter if it hurts someone else..
       That's why I only wish that there would be another way to unseat the ruling corrupt, that the poor mass elect disperately just to make a meal...
       What a life....
   But why would someone like BUWAD, is so hard shelled that he's idiology about selling souls to the americans still choose to neglect the reality of our situation..Nobody is selling anything..I lived in the US for 30 years and still proud to be a filipino, I just wish that our govt seizes to provide hope, opportunities, security and peace of mind to be in our own homeland...at any time i will come home..

Thank you Oliver,

I owe much to the teachings of my professors and my 4 years experience in the collegiate Debate Club. Lincoln-Douglass Debates, were a particular hobby-favorite.

And likewise, yourself, sir.

I personally found your thread rather intellectually stimulating!

Keep it up, Oliver. Keep it up!


Yours,
Lorenzo

Quote from: buwadsanga on September 15, 2008, 12:27:19 PM
miss da binz, dia ko daris manila nag trabajo ga agwanta sa luoy nga ekonomiya with hopes that in the future it will change for the better for our future generations.

Lor, whatever you may say for the sake of reasoning and rationalization. i will always be me and that Philippines is for Pilipinos! No one can take that pride from me!

You can sell your souls for rock n roll!

I understand your point of view and I respect your point of view, Buwad, we're all entitled to our own opinions. However, you don't have to result in petty words and rhetoric that is quite frankly uncivil. Childish. No one is selling our souls to rock and roll.

It's called a difference in opinion. Ms. Dabinsi, being an educated woman, and a professional medical provider, deals with patients who have different points of views. However, respecting their views. It's just part of the decorum of the exchange of views, Buwad. And my views will not change in response to petty comments that have no bearing on the said subject.

It's called professionalism, and educated decorum.


I wish you would have provided a better defense of your position. It was rather minuscule in content. I was expecting something more. You leave me wanting.

Additionally, Buwad, it is rationalism and reasoning that prevents society from spiraling into unchecked nihilism and ectopic rhetoric. It is reasoning that has driven man away from the blind superstitions of the past. It is rationality and reason that has spearheaded man into proper discourse with one another; it is rationalism and reason that has declared what is wrong and what is right. It is rationalism and reason that has provided the bases of human understanding that great men such as Rizal, Washington, Lopez. Del Pilar, Jackson, Lincoln, Voltaire, Robespierre, etc stand on the shoulders on.

Know what you're talking about.



Absolutely,
Lorenzo

Ah for 22 hours diay ka ning labor, Ms. Orchids?
My Goodness..

Seriously, I do not know how you guys do it, kaning mga babae, they really know how to experience pain jud. I cannot even, in my mind, imagine how much pain it takes to give birth to a child.

I would say I am very close to my Mom. As a kid I was always a mommy's boy. Even as recently I would still and still do refer to my mom as 'Mommy' lol. I can't change it jud. Kai she is my one and only Mom.

You know it was so hard for me when my mom left Bohol back in 1990 to go to the US. She got a nursing position back in 1990 and worked there for a while. And it was really hard on us kids, jud.

Because you know, my Dad was in Saudi at the same time my mom was in the US. My little sister (then only 3 years old) and I were left alone in Bohol with our yayas. Thankfully we lived not too far way form our Mama Luz (my paternal grandmother) cuz i remember running to her place to have breakfast or just to be around my Mama Luz, and my uncles and aunt and cousin. Sometimes my Lola Nating and Lolo Ciano (maternal side) would visit us.

Pero you know, I can still remember being a 4-5 year old little kid and go to bed with my sister. And both of us would go to sleep with our mother's dastir/dasteer because we would miss her so much. Can you believe? I was only 4 and my sister only 3 we were already separated from our parents. I could remember my baby sister ask me, "Doy, aha man si mommy ug si daddy? mingaw ko ni daddy". My sister always asked for our dad. And I would always asked for mom.

Ah, thinking about this really brings me to tears, Ma'am Orchids.

I have God to thank for uniting our family when my mother was able to bring me, my sister and my Dad to the 'states by 1991.

It's painful to talk about it, pero you know, its good to let it out.

I really love my Mom. I guess that won't ever change for us boys. I thank God everyday for giving me such a wonderful mom.

I'll send her your regards, Ms. Orchids, when I go back home this Christmas Break.

Mari, here are some  names:


Boys:

Faron Jaime

Ponce Ramon

Seferino Fracisco

Francis Leopold

Cassander

Christian

Christopher

Any wars an island and a little kingdom, a tribe had prior to Hispanization does not warrant it to be a 'Philippine War.' Rather, such petty fights and clashes are banditry. As it was.

There was no full scale concept of nationhood and unitarianistic idealism before Spain colonized the islands.

The Tagalogs were their own people, the Illocanos their own, the Pangasinanos were their own, the Bicolanons their own, the Sinugbuanos their own, the Bol-anon tribes were their own, etc etc.

PHILIPPINES did not exist prior to 1565.

PHILIPPINES was created after the Proclamation of Unification by Order of the King under the Audencia Real of the Spanish Empire, which ratified the ENTIRE Philippine Archipelago (named after Philip) as one coherent political unit; to be subdivided into provinces.

It is the very identity, PHILIPPINES, that was later adopted by nationalists such as Marcelo Del Pilar, Jose Risal, etc in their writings and in their litanies. And used until independence in July 4th, 1946. Till this day.

Quote from: buwadsanga on September 15, 2008, 08:33:14 AM
no Lor, not independence day but since time imemorial!

These wars initiated after independence, Buwad.



Huk War started in the 1950's and was crushed by combined Philippine and American military forces.
The MNLF wars started during the late 1960s and ended in the 70s with clashes in the 80s. The MILF wars was later in the 20th century and was brokered through peace; though clashes occur. Other radicalists such as Abu Sayaff are splinters of MILF insurgents.

'Philippines' was not a state nor a unified state that we know of today prior to Hispanization.

You should know that. You're a Filipino.

Prior to Hispanization, the Archipelago was composed of independent tribes, small settlements, little kingdoms. There was no unified government throughout the Archipelago.

The concept of the 'Philippines' and the 'Filipino' did not manifest until Spain conquered the entire Archipelago and grouped the native people as 'Indio Filipino'. Thereby uniting a once regionalistic group of islands.

Cheers,

Oh so very true, Ma'am Orchids.

There really is nothing like a Mother's Love. Mommies look past every mistake and love a child unconditionally. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain my Mommy experienced to deliver me and my siblings. Long labor jud siya. Out of all my siblings though, I was the longest to deliver (lol i was a big baby ). Over 25 hours my dear Mommy was in labor for me. And she was alone at the time, kai Dad was working in Saudi as an Engineer when I was delivered.

It was only my Mom and my Antie Leste, who was with her.

The things mothers do for their children..and not even ask anything in return.

Man, I really really really miss my Mom.

I would like to settle a misunderstanding that you have, Buwad, perhaps it was lost in translation throughout my posts.

First, I provided historical reasons for development and the benefits. The United States will not nor has it any wish to rule over the Philippines.

The original poster merely wanted to see reasons for a dependency on the United States.

You need to understand the history, Buwad, in order to have a broader and more educated understanding on the given situation. Its called analytical understanding, as it is referred to in Medicine and History.

Secondly, I would really want to see the responses of men like Rizal had he been alive to see what has happened to the Philippines.

As for Aguinaldo, the man sold out to the Americans during the Philippine-American War. He pledged his allegiance to the United States for fear of death. Unlike Rizal, who chose death and spoke his words. I would not compare Rizal and Aguinaldo in the same pedestal. Rizal was a purist; an idealist. Aguinaldo, was a realist.

Quote from: buwadsanga on September 15, 2008, 09:56:46 AM
Lor,
I'll keep my point of view in KISS(Keep It Short and Simple). Why? Because I want our Philippines to be ruled by the Pilipinos. Our recent woes can be medicated thru a sincere and honest goverment and a quality education to raise our poor countrymen from their present situation.
All countries had gone thru hell in their histories prior to their advancement and america was not exempted by this phenomenom. I mean, we need more time to improve our culture being a young independent country. So dont jump in haste to give our rights to the americans just because you tasted their bread and butter? I'm sure Rizal, Aguinaldo and many other Philippine heroes who shed their blood for freedom will raise an eyebrow on people like you!

HELL NO! TO AMARICAN RULE OR YOU SOUND LIKE A FOOL!!!

Interesting to read your point of view, Buwad.

Though I would like to have read more reasons for independence.

lol, I like your little phrase, "Hell no to American rule or you sound like a fool."

Creative, I give you that.


Any other reasons?

God Bless You, Ms. Orchids.

                        Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
                        And His righteousness
                        And all these things shall be added unto you
                        Hallelu, Hallelujah!

                        Man shall not live by bread alone
                        But by every word
                        That proceeds from the mouth of God
                        Hallelu, Hallelujah!

                        Ask and it shall be given unto you
                        Seek and ye shall find
                        Knock and the door shall be opened unto you
                        Hallelu, Hallelujah!

                        If the Son shall set you free
                        Ye shall be free indeed
                        Ye shall know the truth, and it shall set you free
                        Hallelu, Hallelujah!

                        Let your light so shine before men that they may see
                        Your good works and glorify
                        Your Father in heaven
                        Hallelu, Hallelujah!

                        Trust in the Lord with all thine heart
                        He shall direct thy paths
                        In all thy ways acknowledge Him
                        Hallelu, Hallelujah!

A beautiful, beautiful song.

This touches my heart every time I hear it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO4F5pWK4Gs&feature=related

Hope you enjoy it too.

Lyrics

When you feel the sunlight
Fade into the cold night
Dont know where to turn
I dont know where to turn
And all the dreams youre dreaming
Seem to lose their meaning
Let me in your world
Baby, let me in your world
All you need is someone you can hold
Dont be sad, youre not alone
Chorus:
I will be here for you
Somewhere in the night
Somewhere in the night
Ill shine a light for you
Somewhere in the night
Ill be standing by
I will be here for you

In this world of strangers
Of cold unfriendly faces
Someone you can trust
Oh theres someone you can trust
I will be your shelter
Ill give you my shoulder
Just reach out for my love
Reach out for my love
Call my name and my heart will hear
I will be there, theres nothing to fear

A beautiful religious song.

Performed by Michael W. Smith


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BZsNV0d5VU&feature=related

 “Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
-Isaiah 55:6-11



Mo pardon ang Ginoo sa ang sala sa tawo. His mercies cannot be counted and cannot be understood. Tanan gi called sa Ginoo. Tanan may recieve His graces, and His blessings.

Ang Ginoo is like the FATHER in in the parable of the Prodigal Son, that Christ Jesus told us.

In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the younger son was given his share of wealth and spent it all on wine, eating, women etc. And when the Father found out that the son was working as a tenant and eating from the food of animals, the Father rejoiced with the return of His lost son. He prepared a feast for His son.

But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.
Luke 15:32

Jesus tells us that the Love of our Heavenly Father in Heaven is like that of the Father of the Prodigal Son.

He will wipe away our sins, and forgive us and remember not our past sins.

Quote from: Way Nada on August 04, 2008, 11:01:44 AM
Ms Da Binsi,

Jesus Christ is Jewish... You are correct! But why is it that in the bible Jesus preached to abandon the Jewish tradition?

Well, I put up already an answer to this question in my previous message that; the whole bible is divided between the two religious philosophical principles. The OT which is Hebrew and the NT which is Greek.

The NT which is principally in Greek wanted to reconcile with the OT which is why Christians always philosophize that the NT is the fulfillment of the prophets in the OT. But this Christian logic is always blocked by the owner of the OT who are the Jews. The Jews are not believers of Jesus as the Christ until today. Christianity during the days of the early Church Fathers is called heretics by the Jews. This caused the Christians to hate the Jews and accused the Jews of killing the Christ which the Christians wrote in the NT. Which is why the NT is a filibuster against the Jews as wicked people.

Ms Da Binsi, I hope you can get an idea to what I said. If Christ is a Jew and he wanted to abandon his Jewish tradition therefore the people who wrote the gospels might not be Jewish but Greek. Christ is only a subject to convert the Jews and gentiles to Christianity. In the gospels 3 are synoptic which means that they have almost the same idea... Matthew, Luke and Mark but John is different. The book of John according to bible experts was intellectually written in Greek. The gospels if they were really written by the Apostles it should be in Hebrew and it should not be a message to abandon their tradition. Some believed that the gospels are only pseudepigraphical books, meaning that the authors were not Jews but Greeks. I'll give you an example; The Apostles the way they dressed as pictured by Christians are in Greek style and not like Jewish.

Salamat!

WN   

Way Nada,

For me, I do not care what anyone else says if they criticize me how I worship my Lord, my Creator, and my Redeemer. We do things and we pray the way we do because we are invigorated in Faith and called to pray by The Most High.

I care not what a man calls me, or what his views are in how I worship. Scripture strengthens me because it says, ""Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned." (Luke 6:37)

Sacred Tradition in lieu with Sacred Scripture helps me to see forward and to find my Lord and Savior. If a person has a problem with it, then I say to them, "God Bless You!"


Through Christ Jesus, Our Lord.

Amen.

Reading some verses of the Holy Torah, which was written by Moses and the Prophets, who spoke for our Heavenly Father, brings me to realization of the connection we Christians have with the Jewish people.

And it reminds me of Our Heavenly Father's promise to Abraham when Abraham offered his son Isaac for sacrifice. That there is a covenant between the Heavenly Father and the Jewish People.

They, of all the people on earth, were chosen. That Christ Jesus would be born amongst them.

What a glorious honor!


To God be all glory and praise!

It is our job to praise the Master of everything,
and to give greatness to the Creator of the beginning,
for He has not made us like the nations of the lands,
and He has not made us like the families of the earth,
for He has not made our portion like theirs,
and our lot like their populations.
(For they bow to nonsense and emptiness,
and they pray to a god who cannot save)
while we kneel, bow, and give thanks
to the King of Emperors, the Holy One, Blessed is He.
For He stretches out the sky and establishes the earth,
and the dwelling place of His honor is in the skies above
and the presence of His power is in the highest heights.
He is our God, there is no other.
It is truth!
There is nothing without our King.
As it says in the Torah,
"Today you shall know and take to heart
that YWEH is the God,
in the skies above and on the earth below,
there is no other."

*Note,


In the Jewish Faith, there is no name of GOD. Nor can Jews say the name of GOD. This is why they refer to him as YWEH. In the Jewish Faith, the Name of God is 70 times holier than the torah (The Laws of Moses, which was written by the Hand of God, Literally).

In the Jewish Faith, no one is worthy to say the name of God. As the tongue of man is dirty and unclean. No one, not even the Prophets can call upon the Name of GOD.

An ancient Jewish Prayer, that has been recited by Jews since the Days of Moses.

It is called The Adon Olam, meaning 'Master of the World'



Master of the World who was king,

before any form was created.

At the time when He made all through His will,

then His name was called 'King'.

And after all is gone,

He, the Awesome One, will reign alone.

And He was, and He is,

and He will be in splendor.

And He is One, and there is no second,

to compare to Him or be His equal.

Without beginning, without end,

to Him is the power and rulership.

And He is my God and my living Redeemer,

and the Rock of my fate in times of distress.

He is my banner and He is a refuge for me,

my portion on the day I cry out,

In His hand I entrust my spirit,

when I sleep and when I wake.

And my soul shall remain with my body,

HaShem is with me and I am not afraid.

YWEH is LORD!

Praying while on duty.
The Chosen people of GOD.

Hehehe.

B-52 bombers are long ranged strategic bombers of the United States Air Force.

These bombers carry conventional strategic bunker buster bombs, conventional hazmat incendiary bombs, mini nukes, as well as conventional 'Thermonuclear Bombs'




China, North Korea, Iran, most of Asia-Eurasia are within targeting range of these bombers.

Broccoli is a good fiber source. It helps sweep the stomach.

Makes you 'poop'

The Philippines has been in conflict with itself since independence. Think about it.

Huk Wars, NPA Wars, MNLF Wars, MILF Wars.

Secondly, from reading posts by Mike, I realize that there are too many 'ghost projects' in the Philippines. Its so true.

Funds are used to build so called 'projects' that aren't even completed. Billions of Dollars worth of capital are used to build things that aren't even finished. And a considerable amount of capital are pocketed by public officials.

Its disgusting. And totally deplorable.

This is called abuse of power; and taking advantage of the people.



Where is the accountability, the transparency, the responsibility?

Given this parasitic trend; the United States Government needs to weed out governments that have a history of pocketing funds that were meant for the people. Since majority of the funds don't even go to the intended target.

The United States needs to adopt a more stringent policy in regards to economic aid packages. Washington needs to be more like the EU in this matter.

Washington is too 'giving'. Too much tax-payer money being used for matters that do not benefit the AMERICAN people.

Ultimately its our money.

A parliamentary system wouldn't be sufficient for the Philippines; given the fragility of regional politics. A government would be sacked too quickly. I think it would be wise to adopt a Presidential-Federal government. Its far more unitarian; and would give power to the Executive and reduce the hogwash and political BS of the legislative.

Too many corrupt senators and congressman in the Philippines. Reduce their power.

Presidential-Federal Form would benefit the Republic.

Go for it.

Quote from: kiamoy` on September 13, 2008, 04:02:26 AM
it is okay for me if we were to be like hawaii...
haii..

and oh..Japanese don't need visas to go to US or any other country.. truE?

You know that during the late 19th century, the Philippines was considered 'Paris' of the East? The city of Manila under Spanish Administration was so highly modernized and westernization was so visible by Europeans who frequented the former Spanish Bastion. After Spain's relinquishing of the Islands to the United States after the Spanish-American War and subsequent brief Philippine-American War, the Philippines' growth was unprecedented.

By the early 20th century, large percentage of the population was fluent and literate in the English Language (decades earlier, most of the Filipinos were fluent and literate in Spanish; of course, given the 3 centuries it was part of the Spanish Empire).

However, in terms of economics, the Philippines' economy was superfluous. Second only to Japan during the early 20th century. We had rail cars, trains, large ports, a blossoming plantation economy, and a growing industrial economy; producing and exporting coal, timber, etc.

So many western writers and poets used to frequent Manila; as it was a romantic setting for them in the day. It was the 'Europe of Asia'.

The Philippines was decades ahead of most of its Asian neighbours such as China, Korea, Malaya, Siam, Vietnam etc who weren't well versed in the ways of the West as say the Philippines, who was and is the bastion of Christianity in Asia. Over 90% of Filipinos are Christian (a majority of whom are part of the Roman Catholic Faith; a European christian denomination).

Under the United States; the cost of living and way of life in the Philippines was higher than that of Hawaii at the time; even higher than Puerto Rico at the time.

Given our situation at the time; had the Philippines remained a territorial part of the United States; or even a protectorate, I am definitely sure that the Philippines would have been ahead of Japan, Korea, Singapore. Absolutely definite that we would be ahead of them.

Before these countries even knew how to speak or communicate with the West, the Filpinos were already being schooled in Europe! By the late 18th century, there were already Filipinos schooling in Spain, France. No Asian country can boast such education advancements. By the early 20th century; there were hundreds of Filipinos schooling and studying in the United States. No other asian country can boast it.

And even today; the Filipino-American is the 2nd largest Asian ethnicity in the United States; second only to the Chinese-Americans (given they have the numerical advantage due to the shear number of Chinese in the world) but still; it says alot.

The Philippines was poised for economic and political greatness. Given the deep relations the Archipelago has with the West and Europe.

And I believe we, as a people, can rise up. How we will do that, I don't know. But in my heart I know and I believe the Philippines can rise up.

Quote from: ms da binsi on August 23, 2008, 11:48:24 AM
Give? or utang? I hope they will use that money with a good cause...
I dont trust our government when it comes to money yet!

Ate Belle,

Doesn't it just infuriate you how much we pay in taxes every year? And US government just gives it away to governments that don't even use it for national building? Ive read an article just recently how the United States gave $30 Billion to rebuild Iraq; for civic purposes. Since the lack of banking systems in Iraq, they were literally bringing CASH to the region. Money was given away to security guards, to Iraqi politicians and less than 1/5th of the original amount was actually used for civic purposes.

Less than 1/5th!

What happened to the rest of the $24 BILLION?

That's American tax payer money wasted away.

That $24 BILLION could have been used to build more schools, increase pay of teachers, building more roads, improving roads, providing medical care for the 40 Million Americans who don't have medical insurance. For Medicare, for our elderly, for building of parks and streets. Providing homes and shelters for the homeless. etc.

The absurdity of the situation!

The United States gives too much to the world, imho. We need to start investing on our own people, the American people. Specially our citizens who have been hit by Hurricane Ike in Texas; as well as the 1 million Americans who have been hit by the Mortgage Situation.

Put American Tax Dollars to good use and use it for Americans!

Quote from: L1Technician on September 13, 2008, 10:24:31 AM
America is not the solution to solve the corruption in this country.

I do, however, agree with this statement. As the United States has no wish to take over any nation and impede the democratic processes. The Philippines must solve its own problem, despite the profundity of the situation.

Politics will always be dirty, imho.

You talk of American interevention in the Middle East as something that was done by a whim. Absolutely wrong. It is the Middle East and OPEC nations that drive fuel prices throughout the world; which branches in varying politico-economico ramifications throughout the world. Their raising of oil prices could translate in riots in an African country, causing political crisis that can cause revolutions; their raising of oil prices can cause instability of a South East Asian country that is already struggling with rising rice prices as well as a rising population. Their raising of oil prices can harden the situation for American citizens who have been hit hard by the mortgage financial crisis in the 07-08 fiscal year. Their rising of oil prices can influence the debate of the need to move away from oil dependency; a debate that continues to go on in the 08 Election.

So as you see, L1tech, who actually influences global political dictum? Is it the United States or is it OPEC countries?

American intervention in the Middle East is only manifested as to secure the free flow of oil to the world; as the United States has already seen what happened when the Middle East refused to pump oil due to radical religious-political differences in the 1970s-causing the Oil Crisis that debilitated the entire Western Block as well as the struggling Free World. Even the USSR was hard hit during this time epoch.

The United States sends its carrier task groups to international waters in the Arabian Gulf as to prevent and protect oil tankers from piracy, as well as prevent hostile nations such as Iran from impeding international oil supply. Which if severed or hindered in any way, will have global repercussions. The United States, being the sole military super power and having the power to secure this free-flow of resource needs to keep the flow easy and constant because its interests throughout the world is magnanimous. It has interests (economic and military) in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. So, naturally, any trouble in a given region will elicit American response. As a revolution, or war will impede the free-flow of Globalization. Which benefits all of man kind, not just the United States.

Remember, prior to American presence in the Middle East, were the British, the Turkish, the French and even the Germans (during Rommel's African incursion to take the oil rich middle east). The United States merely stepped up to plate (colloquially speaking) as the British Empire's military and political sway fell.

So long as there are radical islamofascists in the region that threaten Israel and American Interests, the United States will remain in the region. Indefinitely.

Additionally,

Are you going to tell me that the Philippines would not champion actions and operations that were to the best interests of the nation, had it been a richer country with a more superfluous military?

I will tell you right now, given the philosophical mastery of the Filipino, his innate intelligence in the sciences and mathematics, his vehement patriotism as well as militaristic tendency, I tell you that had the Philippines been more powerful in terms of politics, military and economics, the Philippines would have already proceeded with its claims of Sabah (if not already reclaimed it from Malaysia), as well as reclaimed territories that were historically part of the Philippines during the Spanish Administration of the Islands.

The Philippines would have already claimed the Marianas Islands, Guam Island, Palau Island, the entire Spratley Chain and possibly even southern Formosa and Sabah; as these territories were historically part of the Philippines during the Spanish Administration of the Islands form the 16th century to the late 19th century.

Its called 'Historical Claimant Rights'.

Its the very basis of nation's claiming territories from other nations. And continues to this day. It all depends if that given nation has the military power to project His claims.

Am I saying that if Philippines was more powerful, that it would adopt an aggressive policy for national interests a.k.a 'Strategic Interests'. Of Course.


Yours,
Bran Lorenzo

Quote from: L1Technician on September 13, 2008, 10:24:31 AM
The rise of the United States to the rank of a coercitive superpower is a synthesis of supremacist ideologies and practices. Slavery, settler colonialism, imperialist diktats, military interventionism, organized military coupes in developing countries, mass destruction, financial piracy of foreign funds deposited in American banks, blackmail and blatant robberies of the wealth of nations as in Iraq, Libya, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. We already have the freedom and our heroes fought for it. America is not the solution to solve the corruption in this country.

Good point L1tech,

However the rise of any state revolves on the need of the given state to defeat an enemy or states, at that. America is not the one that set the precedent, on the contrary the United States follows natural law. As a bear overpowers and defeats competitor predators such as wolves and mountain lions for the given resources in his or her domain. The same as a lion must outcompete his competitors, the hyena, the jackal, the leopard, and other lions in order to protect and acquire resources for survival. What about the powers of the classical epoch such as the British Empire, the French Empire, the Spanish Empire? Did they not colonize continents and spread their seed to produce and attain resources for the mother state? The United States, in actuality, was a colony of the British Empire, set up by the British Empire in order to reduce the congestion of the English mainland as well as to proliferate British seed into the new world as to acquire not only tobacco, but cotton, timber, wheat, coal, fur, etc to be exported back to the mother state as well as to trade with other powers, thereby facilitaitng the growth of not only the mother state's economy, but the growth of the colony itself. Its based on the concept of survivalism; one must overpower his or her competitors and enemies in order to survive. One cannot blame the United States for His Manifest Destiny. He inherited his supremacist ideals and positive outlook not from himself, but from His colonizer. The United States, afterall, is a colony and its original colonists were decedents of the British Empire. That come from Anglo-Saxon stock. And we know that the British ruled the largest empire in the world, controlling over 1/4th of the world's land mass.

The United States, freed itself from British yolk in 1776, but didn't totally eradicate its British roots. And the American Psyche of Manifest Destiny comes from primordial British notion of Supremacy. The child inherits traits from the mother, so to say.

What about the Romans? Didn't they utilize settler colonialism (throughout Europe, Africa and Asia Minor), didn't they use military intervention to champion their own cause (Roman-Etruscan Wars, the Punic Wars, the Thracio-Roman Wars, Roman-Gaulic Wars, Roman-Germanic Wars, Roman-Hispanola Wars, Roman-Dacian Wars etc). Every power, in the history of man kind has initiated wars to champion its own cause for the benefit of its own people, L1Tech.

Every nation, every state, every republic, monarchy, empire etc whatever you  want to call their political system, will champion a cause that is beneficial to their own interests. Either you be Filipino, Chinese, French, American, Russian, Japanese, Mexican etc. No nation in this world wants to be dependent, no nation in this world wants to langour in desolate isolationism. That's the point I want to stress out.

Just as humans are innate born with the passion to succeed and outcompete their competitors; so too will be nation states, who are composed of millions of humans. Driven by the same instincts as the human that composes the nation state.

The United States is a proponent of globalization; money and wealth is what makes the United States keep on working. Its the definition of a pure capitalist state.

And for your information, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and many other OPEC nations own large stocks of American interests. So this goes back to the notion you pointed out of American 'blackmail and robberies' of the wealth of nations. Considering that the United States is gorging on their oil and totally dependent on the oil they produce; the said OPEC states are actually profitting from the United States, which is the world's largest consumer of oil and petroleum. Consumes over 1/4th of the world's oil production. Strategists and analysts would go so far as to champion the antithesis of your statement. That the OPEC nations actually have their thumb and control of the United States.

Who ever controls the oil and natural resources, will influence the United States, which is totally dependent on the said resources for its day-to-day operation.

Ah what a blessing! You are welcome, future-mom!

Give my congratulations to your husband, as well, Mari!

Welcome to the the Tubag Bohol family. Enjoy your stay here.

See you in the forums!

Good afternoon Tessie,

Thank you for sharing your cause here in Tubag Bohol. And thank you for becoming a member!

God Bless,
Bran

O Jesus,
I pray for Your faithful and fervent priests; for Your unfaithful and tepid priests; for Your priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields; for Your tempted priests; for Your lonely and desolate priests; for Your young priests; for Your dying priests; for the souls of Your priests in purgatory.

But above all I recommend to You the priests dearest to me; the priest who baptized me; the priests who absolved me from my sins; the priests at whose Masses I assisted and who gave me Your Body and Blood in Holy Communion; the priests who taught and instructed me; all the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way. O Jesus, keep them all close to Your heart, and bless them abundantly in time and in eternity.    Amen.

      I asked God for strength, that I might achieve
      I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.

      I asked for health, that I might do greater things
      I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

      I asked for riches, that I might be happy
      I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

      I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.
      I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
     
     I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
     I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
     I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.

      Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
      I am among all men, most richly blessed.

            Christ be with me, Christ within me,
            Christ behind me, Christ before me,
            Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
            Christ to comfort me and restore me,
            Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
            Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
            Christ in hearts of all that love me,
            Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

(St. Patrick)

My failure to be true even to my own accepted standards:
   O Lord, forgive!"

"My self-deception in the face of temptation:
   O Lord, forgive!"

My choosing of the worse when I knew the better:
   O Lord forgive!"

My failure to apply to myself the standards of conduct that I demand of others;
   O Lord forgive!~

My blindness to the suffering of others and my slowness to be taught by my own:
   O Lord, forgive!"

My complacence toward wrongs that do not touch my own case and my over-sensitiveness to those that do:
   O Lord, forgive!"

My slowness to see the good in my fellows and to see the evil in myself:
   O Lord forgive!"

My hardness of heart toward my neighbor's faults and my readiness to make allowance for my own:
   O Lord for give!"

My unwillingness to believe that You have called me to a small work and my brother to a great one:
   O Lord, forgive!"

I was just inducted into this fraternal Organization. And would like to share it with anyone in here. If you're interested, you can reach them at:

Catholic Medical Students Association
P.O. Box 214
Oak Park, Illinois 60603
Tel: (312) 948 - 2506
FAX: (312) 948-2509
E-Mail: info@cathmsa.org


Through Christ Jesus,
Bran Lorenzo

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me: branlorenzo@gmail.com

A professor of Ecology mentioned this in class 2 years ago. It still echoes in my mind.


'Stercus pro celebro habetis, Nos Mortem, Vermi no vora fama. Vermi vora humae'


Translation:
To have popularity and fame is useless. We all Die. Worms can't eat fame. Worms eat man.

Ars longa, vita brevis.



Translation: Art is Long, Life is Short.

How long do you think that someone who wields power in a state should stay in office?

In the USA, under normal circumstances, the President can stay in power for only two terms.

This usually means that he can stay in power for up to eight years.

Hugo Chavez is trying to change the constitution of Venezuela so that it is legal for someone to stay in office for unlimited terms.

So, what are some of the opinions here on how long should the ruler stay in power?

Congratulations, Mari!

Boy or Girl?

Thought of some really nice names:

Alex Romero
Anthony
Edralin
Leopold
Ambrose


Louisa
Aloise
Katherine
Alsace