The Problem of Being a Girl

ON MY MIND TODAY, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2022:

THE PROBLEM OF BEING A GIRL

I DON’T have many problems being a woman. But early on, I had problems being a girl…

     A number of reasons…

     1. All in the Family. I am the third in a family of seven. I have 2 older brothers,  1 sister after me, 1 brother after her, then 1 more sister, and then, our youngest, another brother.  4 BROTHERS!

     During High School, I so felt ugly because I hardly had suitors— until I realized that my eldest brother was Boy Scout leader and my second eldest brother was a PMT officer— so, ALL the boys in school were  under the mercy of my elder brothers! 

      It didn’t help that my brothers were BIG. Actually, with their size, they didn’t need to do anything to scare away the boys.  

      Well, one day, one boy dared follow me as I was going home from school. He was kind of mauled, not by my brothers, but by their gang mates— I guess, thinking it’s their duty to protect the girls in our village.

      The incident spread like wildfire in school— making all the boys, I guess, to vow to the gods never to touch me with a ten-foot pole, ever!

      So, I was like, “God, why didn’t you make me a boy? Would it spoil Your Vast Eternal Plan if I were male?

2. Courtship Complications. In College, I happened to be president of the Student Council. As student leader, I was invited to attend student conferences outside school. Our Admin allowed me to attend— but since I was a girl, they told me not to entertain suitors because entertaining suitors outside your home is being “cheap” and would destroy the wholesome image of the Escolarian.

     I was told to give suitors my home address and tell them to court me there. 

     I did as I was told— gave my address to one guy. Little did I know, that, in itself, was being “cheap!” Because you’re a girl, you’re supposed to play hard-to-get— so, the last thing you do is give your address to suitors!

      Thus, again, I was like, “Gaaad…”

3. Student Powerlessness. During my time, the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, when we still didn’t have social media, the “in”-thing was the Student Power Movement— mostly justice-for-the- poor or education issues rallies at the Plaza Miranda.

     CEU allowed us to join those rallies. But to our chagrin, with no less than the head of the school’s Security and a couple of his men watching over us! That’s because we were girls, you know.

      Well, for this I am really grateful, actually. Because before it got dark— the time the molotov bombs began to explode— our Security had already motioned us to jump into one of those buses  passing by Plaza Miranda.

4. Media Moments. After college, I began my career in Media. Not easy.          

I didn’t get things done by being, well, soft as a girl. I had to be a tough boss taskmaster, to the point I gained enemies, people who never liked me— never like me to this day!

      My reputation actually preceded me. I happened to be editor-in-chief of MOD magazine. 

     My husband Ed accompanied me on my first day in MOD. Later, Ed told me that as we entered the office, he overheard one of the staff — perhaps who used to be my staff in the previous company I worked in— said, “Naku, humanda na kayo!  

    To paraphrase in English, “Get ready for this monster!”

    Gaaad…

The Problem of Being a Girl

Hidilyn Diaz at The Feast

The FEASTFAMILY      

Special Report

August 8, 2021

AT 3 a.m. on Tuesday, July 27, 2021,  Hidilyn Diaz sent a text message to our founder, Bro. Bo Sanchez, thanking The Feast Family for praying for her.

       By this time, the world already knew Hidilyn Diaz made history on Monday, July 26, 2021, as she won the first ever gold medal for the Philippines since our country has been competing for close to a hundred years in

the Olympics. In the recent Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan, she snagged the top place in the women’s 55-kilogram class, after she lifted a combined weight of 224 kilograms, breaking Olympics record in that category of the women’s weightlifting competition.

        And, yes, among the first to whom she expressed deep gratitude for her victory is our Feast Family through Bro. Bo. That’s because Feasters prayed for Hidilyn before the Olympics. More on pages 6-7.

        Actually, we have always been praying for Sis. Hidilyn. Yes, we call her “Sis” because she is a member of our Feast, and thus our sister in Christ. In  2014, a friend invited Sis. Hidilyn to The Feast which in interviews after  her victory, she has well acknowledged as instrumental in her faith journey. Bro. Alvin Barcelona shares Sis. Hidilyn’s blessings at The Feast, pages 3-5.

        Here, we share with you this Special Report  on the success of Sis. Hidilyn, of The Feast, and above all,                             of our God of Victory!

                                             All for His Glory,

Randy Borromeo

The Feast Family

Publishing Director

Feast Blessings for Sis. Hidilyn

By BRO. ALVIN BARCELONA

SIS. Hidilyn Diaz has been a Feaster since 2014 when she was just starting to compete in weightlifting events.  She was invited by a friend to The Feast Bay Area at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) afternoon session, where I am preacher and she has been a regular attendee– even now

during this Coronavirus Pandemic, via our online gathering we call Feast-at-Home.

     She always asked to be prayed over every time

she competed…

      Then came her first big win– the silver medal in the Rio Olympics in 2016.

      We invited her onstage where she gave her testimony right after her Rio victory. I prayed over her onstage as I had been doing for her offstage for years.   

       We prayed and claimed that in her next Olympics competition she would get the gold…And before the big    event, led by Bro. Bo, we mounted online posters with the cheer, “Go Hidilyn!”

The FEAST FAMILY SPECIAL REPORT  3

Loving Life

       Sis. Hidilyn is an active Feaster, and she started serving at the Feast Bay Area afternoon session as among our ushers.

       She even joined our Love Life Retreat for single members. Above, that’s her at the front row of this souvenir photo of the Love Life Retreat Batch 28.

       Many times, we invited her to have dinner with us after The Feast. And as part of our pastoral care, we counsel her and extend actual help to her during her struggling moments.

        She has become a close friend as we continued to disciple and pastor her… At right, here we are celebrating her birthday!

4 The FEAST FAMILY SPECIAL REPORT 

Where She Belongs

       Feeling so blessed, Sis. Hidilyn mentions The Feast in media interviews as she claims that it is here where she found a strong relationship with God and where she feels she truly belongs.

      In a recent interview, she recounts how she used to lack self-worth and thus she had no self-confidence. And then she says why she loves to be at The Feast:

     “Nagustuhan ko kasi na-feel ko na belong ako

sa lugar…

       Yun ang kulang sa akin: na wala akong personal relationship with God… Like, pag close ka kay God, nagsisimula kang mahalin ang sarili mo…nagsisimula ka na paniwalian ang sarili mo…sa mga ginagawa mo…na may goal ka nga…

      Sis. Hidilyn continues to communicate with us regularly–before her actual competitions, asking for prayers, and right after she wins. When she eventually won gold at the weightlifting event in the Tokyo Olympics, she even sent a personal video to us thanking us for our prayers and support for her.

      I just talked to her last Saturday (July 30, 2021) and she said she loves being called God’s Powerful Champion. Here, she is all smiles as Bro. Christian Aroza, co-servant at Feast P.M., declares her so.

The FEAST FAMILY SPECIAL REPORT  5

Prayers for the Gold

The day before her competition at the Tokyo Olympics, Sis. Hidilyn sent a prayer request to The Feast… like this one she sent to Bro. Didoy Lubaton  

        Thus, led by Bro. Bo, the Feast Builders, in turn leading their members, prayed for

Sis. Hidilyn, and cheered her up with posters mounted before the event.

Saying “Go Hidilyn,” from top left:

Bro. Didoy Lubaton, Bro. JC Libiran,

                                                             and Bro. Adrian Panganiban, here lighting

                                                            a candle for Sis. Hidilyn’s success.

6   The FEAST FAMILY SPECIAL REPORT   

REWARDS

       Aside from her Olympics gold,              Sis. Hidilyn’s victory merited for her hefty rewards.

       After her victory, she paid a virtual courtesy call on President Rodrigo Duterte who presented to her                     the Presidential Medal of Merit.

       The Philippine Air Force where she served as sergeant promoted her            to staff sergeant.

       As of this writing, Sis. Hidilyn Diaz has received whopping rewards—in cash—over P40 million and counting– and in kind, such us                      the pledge of Feast Builder,                   Dr. Ryan Capitulo.

    Read on for the tentative list of her rewards…

The FEAST FAMILY SPECIAL REPORT  7

Millions for a Winner

Government incentive

through the National Athletes

and Coaches Benefits

as provided by Republic Act 10699      P10 million

San Miguel Corporation as pledged

by Ramon Ang, president                    P10 million

MVP Sports Foundation as pledged

by Manny Panglinan, chairman          P10 million

Denis Uy, Siklab Atleta Sports                                                                                            Foundation head                                                                                                                                and Phoenix Petroleum chairman.       P5 million and free fuel for life

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,                                                                          pledging from his own funds                P3 million  Plus house and lot in Zamboanga

Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero,                                                                                       1 PACMAN Party List                        P3 million

Zamboanga City local government.    P2.5 million

Megaworld                                           P14-million condo unit in Eastwood, Q.C.                          

PHirst Park Homes                         P4-million house of her choice

Century Properties                               House and lot in Tagaytay                            courtesy of Bambol Tolentino,                                                                            Philippine Olympic Committee chair

AirAsia Philippines                          Lifetime free flights

Philippine Airlines                                  80,000 free miles flights per year for life

          In his recent podcast Full Tank, Bro. Bo Sanchez says you too, can be

a champion. Here, he presents the qualities that made Sis. Hidilyn a champion:

The FEAST FAMILY SPECIAL REPORT  9

… And God Will Do the Rest!

       Bro. Bo says

Sis. Hidilyn told him that she wrote her dream of winning the Olympics gold on her copy of the Novena to God’s Love, a booklet which has blank pages where you may write seven dreams you wish God will fulfill.

      Every Feast member receives a copy of the booklet which begins with a Novena prayer (right) composed by Bro. Bo.

      Yes, it’s a prayer fulfilled for thousands

of Feast members, including Sis. Hidilyn…

      Aside from the Novena,

for good measure, she petitioned

for the intercession of Mother Mary

who did not disappoint her.

     And so, in her hour of Victory,

she shows her gold medal

and one other medal, the first

she clutched the moment she won

—the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.

10 The FEAST FAMILY SPECIAL REPORT 

FAMILY

Thank You!

          The Feast Family, now organized as the Feast Mercy Ministries,

is a spin-off ministry of the Light of Jesus Family founded by Bro. Bo Sanchez,

earlier named as Kerygma Family, a unique online, non-physical, borderless,

international community of friends who support each other’s personal growth.       

         Partner beneficiaries of the Feast Mercy Ministries flourish because

of your generous support. Thank you for being with us. We pray that you find

your daily source of inspiration from the resources that we send to you.
           We pray too that you may consider giving to The Feast Family.

           No gift is too small.
          Thank you very much in advance for your gift. Our prayer is that God will continue to reward you as you give.

FOR EXISTING DONORS:

          Thank you for the Love.
          Your monthly donation helps us continue extending support to our Light of Jesus spin-off organizations, including our partner beneficiaries. Your gift will sustain our operations and, we hope, help us reach out to the persons our Lord has called us to make disciples and give them renewed hope.

Be a Feast Family member. Write or call us. Now.

Email Address: jocelyn@kerygmafamily.com  

Website: https://kerygmafamily.com
Telephone Numbers: 8725-9999/ Fax 725-1230

Our Partner Beneficiaries

Jeremiah 33 Foundation                  Grace To Be Born is a halfway home

is a shelter for girls                             for pregnant women in crisis.

particularly victims of

sexual abuse

He Cares Mission 

provides shelter

for street children.                       Pag-asa ng Pamilya Foundation

                                                   gives scholarships to poor students.

Jesus Christ Cares for Cancer

provides financial assistance and pastoral care

for indigent cancer patients.

The Light of Jesus Pastoral Care Center ministers to those who are emotionally and spiritually wounded.

 HAIL MARY is acronym for Healthcare Assistance for Indigents and Lepers

of Mary, adopting the Blessed Mother as the patroness of its mission to eradicate leprosy in Abra within 8–10 years.

     The Light of Jesus Prison Ministry brings Jesus to the Correctional

      Institution for Women to give them hope for a life of dignity.

Anawim Lay Missions Foundation provides a home to poor elderly who have been abandoned by their family and have nowhere else to go.

CHOOSE HOW YOU WANT TO GIVE

1. Donate ONLINE (through credit card) Go to www. kerygmafamily.com

and click ‘DONATE’ box Paypal I US Donations.

2. Pick Up from Your House or Office
(Metro Manila Only) Cash or Checks Address Checks to Shepherds

Voice Radio and Television Foundation and call Joy at (+632) 725 -9999 loc 112 or text (+63) 922-828-9890 and we’ll pick them up from your home office.

3. Mail 12 Post-Dated Checks to Our Office
For US and CANADA: Address Checks to Kerygma Family, 848 n

Rainbow Blvd # 1937, Las Vegas, NV 89107
For Other Countries/Philippines: Address Check to Shepherd’s

Voice Radio and Television Foundation and mail (registered mail) to Shepherds Voice, 60 Chicago St., Cubao QC Philippines 1109

4. Directly Deposit to Our Bank Accounts. Deposit to Shepherds Voice Account   in any branch of these banks:

Account name: Shepherd’s Voice Radio and Television Foundation

BPI: Savings Account no: 0123-4849-67 Cubao Aurora Branch

Banco de Oro Savings Account no: 3970019804 General Araneta, Cubao Branch Banco de Oro – Savings Account no. 160506123 SM Cubao Branch

PNB – Current Account no. 371157500015 SSS branch

Metrobank-Savings Account no. 265-3-26509112-2 e Rodriguez Branch

Allied Bank Savings Account no. 3160-12345-1 E Rodriguez Branch

Union Bank Savings Account no. 00-206-000940-1 Tektite Branch

Note: Text, Fax or email to us your name, date and amount of deposit, and the branch of the bank where you deposited your donation, or fax the deposit slip to us. Email us at support@kerygmafamily.com or text us at (63) 922-828-9890/             (63) 998-968-4416 or Fax to (+632) 725-1230.

FAMILY

ONLINE

NEWSMAGAZINE

The Feast Family online newsmagazine is produced

by the Shepherd’s Voice Radio and Television (SVRTV) Foundation,

which is also our partner beneficiary, with editorial services

by the Light of Jesus Family Library Ministry.

                                     Founder: Bo Sanchez      

Mercy Ministries Chairman:                                Editor-in-Chief:

Hermie Morelos                                                       Cynthia U. Santiago

Feast International                                                Chief Photographer:

Region Head:                                                          Ed L. Santiago

Vic Español   

SVRTV Executive Director:                                 Reporter:

Randy Borromeo                                                     Cybill P. Bayto

Publication Consultant:                                        Contributors:

Chelle Crisanto                                                        The Feast Builders

Finance Officer:

Rowena Cequeña

Human Resources Manager:

Erika Ventura

For comments, article contributions, write or call us:

         Email Address: lojlibrary2819@gmail.com

         Landline phone numbers: 8725-9999, Fax 725-1230

         Mobile phone: 0998-953-0657

Go and make disciples of all men.

                                                             — Matthew 28:19

CORONA: COVID as My Crown of Life

Chapter 7

Coronation

SINCE our COVID experience is about “crown” naturally, there’s a Coronation. Not mine, nor Ed’s. But for those who have had amazing experiences following our battle— yes, they who were crowned with blessings.

     Some names are withheld to protect the privacy of our “crowned” friends.

1. Tough Guy. Once drug addict, ‘black sheep’ of the family, cried when he heard about our ordeal. A rare moment manifesting his heart of stone has turned into heart of love he now wears as a crown.

• Not ‘With the Lord.’  He squirmed every time I said “Lord, Lord.” Never mentioned the word.  During a chat while Ed and I were still confined, he said, struggling with lump in his throat, “I really asked the Lord to heal you.”                                                                 That transformation is a glittering crown worth more than the biggest diamond!

• Long Lost Friends. I had not heard from you for ages. Some of you not even my Facebook friends. But  you sent messages, you sent support,  you prayed like never before. Simply reaching out to someone in need is kindness which, as I always say, will come back to you a hundredfold as the Lord promised cheerful givers. A precious crown.

• Discovered Readers. Beautiful media colleague, Joanne Ramirez, published my COVID story in her People column in the Philippine Star. And I discovered friends among her readers as they sent messages how we met, or came to know each other, and wishing for my healing.  Finding each other is crown for them and for me.

• Missionaries. Since Ed and I could not attend to our Media Ministry, Chelle Crisanto, Chichi Barba,  and co-missionaries in our Shepherd’s Voice Radio and Television Foundation (SVRTV), along with my co-member in our LOJ Library Ministry, Gail Bayto, IT specialist and writer,  promptly took over and continued publishing our online magazines serving Mercy Ministries founded or supported by Bro. Bo Sanchez.

            As missionaries, each one wears a crown of pleasing sacrifice for God’s glory.

6. Pilgrim-to-Be. After our miraculous healing, a relative who found hard to have true, deep faith in God and answer His Call to be His disciple, told me he received a sign that he will go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. What an amazing crown!

       What about you? Share the Crown of Life you received.  Yes, let your crown add precious gems on God’s Crown of Love, and let’s end this humble sharing with His Coronation.

CORONA:COVID as My Crown of Life

Chapter 6

Thank You, Forever!

THIS Chapter has many parts, and counting…as many more are sending Ed and me messages of prayers and support for our recovery from COVID…

        In its Tuesday, July 20, 2021 issue, the Philippine Star published parts of my COVID story in the section Newsmakers, under the column People by beautiful, beloved Joanne Ramirez, our co-member in the Bulong Pulungan Media Forum at the Hotel Sofitel, every Tuesday (on hold during this Pandemic).

      Joanne expertly put out a tight version of my story, more than I can ever do– Thank you forever, Joanne.

      Joanne wrote her column before I could post my Chapter 6– so, the article does not include my Thank You, Forever, to all of those who supported Ed and me!

     It took a while for me to write Chapter 6 because messages of support kept coming and continue to do so as I write now!!!

     Also, some supporters were listed Unknown — because their names did not appear on the platform they used in sending me their messages. So, I was not able to acknowledge them in the Chapter.

     Best effort, I am sending heartfelt gratitude to those with names appearing in the list– via Messenger or email (as I don’t have your addresses).

     I just didn’t put details to protect everyone’s privacy.

     To summarize, Thank You, Forever, to the following…

          Our Children. Ronaldo and Karen, Paolo and Cyris.  As I said, you were our first front liners. You prayed hard, provided just about everything we needed, you served us, even to the point of breaking your daily family routines, or giving up time for your work-at-home.

           Six-year-old granddaughter Paris, chatting with me via Messenger, showed me three P20-bills and said, “These are my savings. I am giving these to you.”

          I cannot ask more from Life!

          Thank you, forever!

          Our Siblings. My Kuya Noel and wife, Ate Jo, you right away provided for us too. This, even as Ate Jo has family members also suffering COVID.

          Ed and Grace, you sent us sizable donation too. And so did Sam, May and hubby Eric, and Elmer.

          And so did Amanda, Ed’s elder sister, and family.

         Thank you, forever, sibs.

         Our Relatives.                                                                  

         Among the Ulandays, we have chat groups called Helen’s Pride, named after our mother, and Titong’s Flock, named after our father. Cecille and sibs, thank you for the pancit, homemade bread, and peanut butter.                                                          

         Aunts and uncles, cousins, thank you, forever!

         Deep, heartfelt gratitude also to my Manaois clan.

        Ate Nora Manaois Caragan and siblings, still mourning the death of brother Max and Mama Lita, yet you still reached out to us.

         And cousin Ate Pat Manaois Ayson for your kind contribution. And your encouraging text, “Okay lang, cno b mgtulungan kundi tau d ba?” Yes, who else would help each other, but us, right?

          Thank you, forever, family!

        Our Friends who sent contributions, prayed, held healing Masses and novenas…

        Our Light of Jesus Family, Bro. Bo Sanchez, taking from his own savings, and caring group members like Ces Gonzales sending us pancit and Eng Bee Tin hopia.

        Thank you, forever, LOJ.

        My Centro Escolar University Alumni Foundation (CEU AFI) officers—Dr.Rosita Navarro, Dr. Paz Lucido, Prof. Miriam Azupardo you gave from out of your own funds.

        And yes, my CEU bestest friends…Loreto Summers Chamorro, you cheered me up with our age-old chant during those crazy activism days: Makibaka, Huwag Matakot! And Lourdes Lacuna Venegas, you threw back to me inspirational tenets I’d shared with you.   

        Betty Lou Penera, Ethelyn and Cynthia Balenton, thank you for your sweet, fun encouraging words.

        Most of all, thank you for the Masses and novena prayers for our healing!

        Gloria a ti noble Centro Escolar!

        There are more who sent contributions, prayed, held healing novenas…

         My Quirino High School schoolmates.

        My American Field Service (AFS) co-scholars.

         Ninang Chita Joaquin, our wedding sponsor, her daughter Tina Joaquin Claudio, and family.

        My MOD team, led by best friend Mel Cardel, and Atlas families.

        Our Bulong Pulungan Media Forum colleagues and other Media friends.

        Paolo’s co-employees, some of you losing your jobs, still you helped us!

        One boss donated an oxygen tank intended for his child who suffered COVID, but which was hardly used as the child passed away.

        One lady whose family members suffered COVID, still sent us money.

        And so did a worker who lost his job – generously gave us P500.

        Others Paolo had painstakingly recorded, filling up huge Excel files un-techie me don’t know how to upload.

        And others who chose to be anonymous. 

        Our Front Liners

        Doctors, nurses, nursing aides, caregivers– heroes all!

        These are all my COVID-infested mind can remember….  Forgive me, those I have not mentioned…

         Still, suffice it to say our Perfect God knows you, He knows your kind, swift action for our healing. And God has your name in His LIST, under SAINTS.

         No, we didn’t choose COVID. There may be other reasons we got it.

         But now, I very well can say God did not give us COVID. He gave us all of you — His best ever MIRACLES for us, my CROWN OF LIFE!

              THANK YOU, LORD, FOREVER!

                                       -30-

CORONA

COVID as My Crown of Life

Chapter 5

MIRACLES

WATCHING the news on television, I saw people expressing anxieties over getting this COVID, afraid it would kill them.

And I was like, “Bakit, ayaw nilang mamatay? Ayaw ba nilang makita si Lord?” Why, don’t they want to die? Don’t they want to see the Lord?

So, when I got COVID, I kind of got excited that I would already see the Lord. But, I worried I would not qualify to be in Heaven. So, in the hospital, I asked a nurse to go and get me a PRIEST—you know, confess and have a last-minute cleansing of my soul.

But the nurse, eyebrows raising ahead of me up to Heaven, just said, “Ay, no visitors allowed.”

At the time, I didn’t have my battle gears. They took away my bag where I had my Bible, my rosary, my eye glasses… And COVID took away my sense of smell and taste.

No eyes, no nose, no tongue. All that was left were my EARS. Yes, I guess, so I would hear and listen to the One I could really talk to, the great Trinity– God the Father our Creator, Provider, the Son our Savior, and the Holy Spirit our Healer.

And TRUE enough, I got these miracles…

1.BUBBLES AND RAINBOWS. One of the Bible stories that impressed me most was about the Great Flood—about God doing away with the flood and putting a rainbow on the clouds as a sign of His Covenant of love for us (Genesis 9).

Since then, when I am down, I’ve always wished a rainbow would appear as a sign of God’s Presence comforting me amid my “floods.”

One of our problems during our dreary COVID days was deep breathing—prescribed to hasten air to get into our weakened lungs. But COVID immobilizes not only your muscles but also your ability to inhale-exhale.

I got so tired of the exercise that I wondered if God was still with me. So, this was the time I prayed for a RAINBOW as sign of His Presence. From the window, I looked up the sky and to my dismay, I didn’t get to see one.

Then, to help us in deep breathing, our doctor gave each Ed and me this toy BUBBLE MAKER—you know, with a straw which you dip into a bottle of liquid soap, and then blow to make bubbles– making you inhale-exhale.Ed and I happily blew bubbles.

And soon, our room was filled with these bubbles, which reflected MULTIPLE COLORS—as in the COLORS OF THE RAINBOW—from rays of sun illuminating our room!

And so, I realized, to my delight and amazement, that God’s Presence has always been with us! I just couldn’t see Him! So, He must had sent bubbles that I might see!

LESSON: When you think God is missing, blow bubbles, using liquid soap which cleans off dirt—and the soap serves as well as God’s cleansing soap—His love that removes cobwebs in your doubting mind and heart.

2.PENTECOST. I called on the Trinity, especially the Holy Spirit, to heal me. In my mind, again and again, I sang…

Come, Holy Spirit, I need You Come, Holy Spirit, I pray… Oh, let Your sweet Healing Power Touch me and make me whole…

So, I was healed.

HOW do I know the Holy Spirit was instrumental in my healing, you ask.

Aside from my Bible, my rosary, my eye glasses, my bag also contained my Mac computer and my IPhone mobile. So, I continued to cry to the Holy Spirit, “Come, come!”

By His grace, when I already got better, the nurses finally gave me back my Mac. So, I was able to log onto the FEAST-AT-HOME, the LOJ prayer gathering online.

And, would you believe, this was on May 23, 2021, PENTECOST DAY! For me, this was beyond coincidence. You know Pentecost was the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles—then cowering in fear in an Upper Room in Jerusalem after Jesus’ crucifixion. As the Lord promised, the Holy Spirit empowered the apostles to have the courage to come out and preach Jesus’ Good News of Salvation.

And did the Holy Spirit come and empower me too in my fight against COVID?

TRUE: After the Feast-at-Home, I was telling myself, “I’m done being VICTIM.”

Indeed, I claimed I am already VICTOR– just as Jesus made me and all of us when He endured the scourging at the pillar, wore the crown of thorns, nailed our suffering on the cross, and said, “It is finished.”

3.LITTLE FAITH. One desperate, lonely night, when I still needed someone to guide me to the comfort room, I didn’t have the heart to wake up my overworked watcher.

In my despair, I had the temerity to talk to Jesus and said, “If You are with me, if You really love me, don’t let me wake up my watcher. Just let my watcher wake up now and guide me to the CR.”

TRUE: In the next few minutes, my watcher, apparently also needing to go to the CR, passed by my room. I could hardly believe this—this beyond coincidence chance to have my watcher just as I needed her.

But I could hear the Lord telling me, “You of little faith!”

LESSON: Oh, well, even the littlest faith can get you Jesus by your side!

4. SOLUTIONS. No, God does not give us trials. During my COVID confinement, it dawned on me that these we call TRIALS are actually SOLUTIONS to our problems. COVID solved many of my problems. I’ll mention here just one.

Don’t ask me for details, but because of some legal complications, we lost our house—part of what Ed inherited from his parents.

Yes, one November, we were asked to leave our place. So, the following December, we were like Joseph and Mary hastily looking for a house—except I was not pregnant with the Son of God.

We had to settle on a unit on the third floor of a townhouse – which had no elevator. Since we were not getting any younger, we planned to transfer to a flat where we don’t have to climb stairs. We couldn’t find one we could afford.

When we got COVID, Paolo and Cy, bless them, got us a unit in the condo where they live. Kuya Noel sent money to augment our rent budget.

5.MARY. For good measure, I also called upon our Blessed Mother Mary to come to my aid.Mother Mary did not disappoint me. HOW do I know, you ask.

We’ve been told that we live out the name we are given. Like the Lord renamed Simon as Peter which means ROCK—for he would be the rock on which the foundation of our Church would be built.

So, I’ve gotten the habit of looking into the meaning of the names of people playing a role in my faith journey.

TRUE: Mother Mary manifested her presence during my COVID days through my caregivers—who all happened to be named after Mary.Here, all recruited by daughter-in-law, thank you, forever, Cy from the Internet:

MARITESS – Nickname for Maria Therese. Maria also reminded me of my best friends LORETO and LOURDES —named after places where Mary miraculously appeared. Thinking of Mary, I was reminded of my best discipler in the Light of Jesus Family—CHELLE, or CONSUELO —from another title of Mary, Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Maritess’ middle name is ESTRELLA—also last name of my closest LOJ caring group member, beautiful BELLA ESTRELLA.

And thinking of my best friends, I am reminded of my very first best friend and remains so, IMELDA, whose name means warrior woman, powerful fighter — like she has always been for me!

So, in a sense, through Mary, my BFFs were all with me too.

And it definitely is also beyond coincidence that Maritess’ last name is RESURRECCION. For isn’t it I somehow died and then resurrected to this my new life?

By the way, THERESE is the name of our PATRON SAINT back in the parish where we once lived, of whom I’ve been devoted too. Not surprisingly, she was with me too in the hospital.

CARMELA. She’s my second caregiver. And it must be also beyond coincidence that the name Carmela is from Mt. Carmel, another place where Mary appeared.

MARY GRACE. Cy hired her to be our housemaid, and would you believe, she had experience in caregiving because she once took care of her ailing grandpa.

Mary, you know already the meaning. And for me, Grace is the amazing word for this miracle about the people who saw me through my illness.

GRACE is also the name of my sister born next to me.

MAY, our youngest sis, is actually named MAY MARIE.

6. SAINTS AND ANGELS. Over a hundred of them all came around to make Ed and me feel we were not alone. A great miracle! REALLY??? you ask. Read on…

NEXT: THANK YOU, FOREVER!

CORONA

COVID as Crown of My Life

Chapter 4

HOW WE GOT HEALED

SINCE they were born, I sort of vowed I won’t rely much on our sons, Ronaldo and Paolo—since each one would be padre de familia, each one would have his own family to take care of. But our sons promptly moved heaven and earth to fight COVID and get Ed and me healed. They were our very first front liners. Thank you, forever, Ron and Paul!

STEPS TO OUR HEALING

1. CONSULTATION. We consulted Paolo, and thank you, forever, his wife Cy and they recommended that we be confined to a hospital. Thank you, forever!

Meanwhile, Ron and, thank you, forever, his wife Karen, promptly took care of our house while we were away. Thank you, forever, RonKar!

2.EMERGENCY. COVID made us see for the first time front liners in action. From our house, nurses, aides, guided me to a waiting ambulance. Ed was so weak that he had to be carried on a stretcher. My heart thumped as the ambulance, siren screaming, the driver expertly negotiating the morning traffic, took Ed and me to the hospital in a jiffy. At the emergency ward, more front liners so quickly hovered around us, I was like, maybe they thought we were Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes.

FIRST, they put on each one of us an oxygen mask. Then, we underwent X-ray procedure. THEN more front liners wheeled us to a room at the end of a hall which I surmised must be the isolated COVID ward. RON and PAUL, in complete PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT (PPE), managed to visit us, making sure we were okay, comfortable.

3.INTENSIVE CARE. I was simply happy Ed and I were together in one room. But during the night, so I was told, I inadvertently hit off my oxygen mask. A nurse coming in at scheduled routine checkup saw me already turning blue, right away called in my attending physician.

Declaring I was in CRITICAL CONDITION, the doctor ordered that I be taken to Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

4.SEPARATION. At the time, Ed didn’t have COVID anymore, but he was suffering its complication– PNEUMONIA. So, he had to still stay in the hospital—while I was taken to the ICU of another hospital. Speaking of pain, being separated from Ed, THAT hurt.

I thought I’d be isolated, imprisoned in a cold, dark, lonely room, LEFT TO DIE ALONE—as news sensationalized COVID would do. Contrary, the front liners now and then kindly attended to me, fighting with me the fight of my life, never left me alone.

5.STRONGEST COVID CURE. My COVID was so bad, if not the worst, that– I was told– I was given the strongest medicine ever for COVID cure. And in the ICU, they have, not only medicines, but the machines, gadgets as well, for everything. I once slightly scratched my eyes and promptly, they gave me eyedrops. I guess to prevent more of the virus from entering me through my eyes.

6.INTUBATION. I was so weak that I could not inhale-exhale enough oxygen coming from a ventilator. So, I had to undergo intubation. The way I heard it on television news, INTUBATION was like your DEATH SENTENCE already.

CONTRARY, intubation means that from an oxygen ventilator, a tube– did not feel like hard metall, more like flexible rubber or plastic–is inserted from your mouth, down your throat, down your windpipe, right directly to your lungs, so you get the oxygen right away. NO PAIN, coz I guess I was under anaesthesia. Actually, I was happy about it.

Before intubation, I was nourished only through dextrose. I was not allowed to drink water, coz they said the liquid might flow into my lungs. My lips, mouth, throat were so dry I now and then begged for at least a sip of water. I guess that’s when they decided to let me go through intubation– and, getting enough oxygen, I felt much, much better.

7. REUNION. Well, all the front liners’ heroic attacks against the virus were so menacing, all right, that COVID left me in a hurry—I guess grudgingly, running away to silently creep into another victim. So, finally, they took me back for a reunion with Ed. And after what seemed like endless therapy days, we were DISCHARGED!

LESSON: There’s a time to get sick, there’s a time to get healed. Be patient.

PRAYERS. All the procedures would have come to naught without your beloved family and friends. Read all about it…

NEXT: MIRACLES

CORONA

COVID as CROWN

of MY LIFE

Chapter 3

WHY WE GOT HEALED

LET me just first dwell on reasons people offer for my suffering.

These thoughts ran in my mind while COVID was pinning me down on my bed…

1. TRIAL. There’s this notion that sickness or, for that matter, any other misfortune, is a TRIAL that is ALLOWED by God to test one’s faith.

Sorry, I cannot, for the life of me, accept this idea. If you tell me God gave me COVID and allowed it to happen to me, then, I am like, He was just standing by, arms akimbo, watching me gasping for breath. So, I would be like, He is the one to be blamed for my suffering.

But God is good. Nothing evil comes from Him. Experts say environmental hazards caused COVID. Clearly, COVID is MAN-MADE. And why would God test me? Isn’t His love for me and you UNCONDITIONAL?

2.PUNISHMENT. Yes, GOD IS LOVE. Like when Adam and Eve sinned, God did not actually punish them by ejecting them away from Paradise. Tainted with sin, they could not live long in that holy place. So, He put them in this place we call Earth. And He so loved them that He sent His only Son to fetch them and their children—all of us—and bring us back to Heaven.

In the same manner, I don’t punish my children by hurting them. Okay, once, I lost my temper and pushed a child away from me. I regret this to this day. So, I correct by giving advice– so long sermons that they probably wish I’d just give them one wack and get it all over with:). No, God did not punish me for my transgressions by giving me COVID.

INSTEAD, HE HEALED ME. WHY?

1.RENEWAL. Way back in the early ‘80s, my sister May invited us to join the Light of Jesus faith community embracing the Charismatic Life in the Spirit way, where she was among the pioneers. We dodged her efforts until one day, our son Paolo got seriously ill. May brought LOJ friends led by Bro. Bo Sanchez to pray over Paolo. Before praying, Bro. Bo made me promise to join LOJ if Paolo got well. I promised. Paolo got well. So, Ed and I have been LOJ members to this day– and, as the Charismatic phrase goes, giving our time, talent, and treasure to the Lord. I gave my entire life to Jesus.

DON’T BE IMPRESSED. Not surprisingly, I fall, I sin, I offend a couple or so persons, causing them to stumble in their own faith journey. I am very much still, as another Charismatic phrase goes, God’s work in progress. And, well, we still didn’t qualify to be in Heaven…

LESSON: God does not test us. But because He is perfect, He is also a God of Justice and Order. Like, He gives us free will. We, like Adam and Eve, have a choice to obey or disobey Him. We disobey, we choose to separate from Him, we suffer the consequences of our sin. That’s justice and universal order. We disobey environmental rules, we get COVID.

2.MISSION. Since we are in media, we’ve been assigned to make Bro. Bo’s online publications— about LOJ’s Mercy Ministries. Led by Bro. Hermie Morelos as chair, the Mercy Ministries serve abused girls, pregnant women in crisis so they won’t resort to abortion, street children, out-of-school youth, women in prison, cancer and leprosy patients, people emotionally and spiritually wounded needing counseling, and abandoned elderly.In the morning, when we feel lazy, not wanting to get up, we remember our beneficiaries and we simply jump out of bed.

TRUE: Para sa kanila kami bumabangon.I guess God wanted Ed and me to continue this mission, so He let us live.

3. CROWN OF LIFE. Some people tell me, “You have been serving God for so long. Why did you get COVID and suffer this horrible disease?” Honestly, the question also crossed my mind. So, I googled the cause of suffering, and I came upon Jesus’ own suffering. Since COVID is about a “crown” I focused on Jesus’ Crown of Thorns. Why such a crown?

Bible experts say the crown is not a punishment but actually, it is a REWARD.

The experts point to James 1:12 as the source of this truth: “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the CROWN OF LIFE which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

So, humbly, I claim this promise, looking at the CORONAvirus as simply part of my CROWN OF LIFE.

NEXT: HOW WE GOT HEALED

CORONA

COVID as Crown

of My Life

Chapter 2

WHY ME?

FIRST, let me answer your questions…

1. How did we get COVID?

     Yes, WE– because Ed got COVID too.

     So how did we get it?

     God knows from Day 1, Ed and I followed protocols— wash hands, wear face mask and face shield, observe distancing.

      Okay, confession: We didn’t stay home 100 percent. See, we were un-techie. I particularly did not know, didn’t bother to learn how to do things online. I had millennial staff who did this for me while I did what I only knew all my life—write, edit, write edit.

      LESSON: Be flexible enough to learn what’s new—even if you’re already 70.

      Heniway, once a month, we went to our acupuncture doctor for health checkup, and because we didn’t know how to do things online, we took this time to do essentials–we went to our bank to withdraw cash, then paid our bills, then bought our groceries for the month.

      But Ed likes to have fresh meat and fish. I like fresh fruits and vegetables. There was this guy pushing a cart of the goodies we wanted right along our street—— yes, Mamang Kariton. Lately, there appeared more Mamangs Kariton—those who lost their job following the Quarantines.

       And Ed now and then went down to buy the fresh stuff from them.

       So, perhaps, somewhere in those excursions, COVID caught on us.

       LESSON: Be quick to change your ways and adjust to your clear and present situation.

2. What were the symptoms?

     Cough. Early January up to March 2021, I was already coughing— a COVID symptom. But I thought I was just coughing because of the cold weather during that time.

     Diarrhea. Then, Ed and I suffered diarrhea, another COVID symptom. But we thought this was due to our irregular diet.

     No sense of smell. I had this spray deodorant to get rid of foul smell in our toilet. I couldn’t smell the scent. But I was like, because the spray was kind of old already and so it must had already expired. Didn’t occur to me to tie this with COVID.

     Hyperacidity. Following prescriptions to avoid COVID, we drank lots of pineapple juice, said to be rich in Vitamin C that wards off COVID. But

perhaps because he had too much juice, Ed suffered hyperacidity, so the more he could not eat properly. He became so weak that we went and consulted our acu doc, Dr. Eddie Concepcion.

       LESSON: Pay attention! Get professional help ASAP.

      Our doctor recommended that I go already for a COVID SWAB.

      Why just me? Why not both Ed and me?

      Well, he said, if I have it, most likely, Ed would have had it too.

      So, from the doc’s clinic, we went straight to this clinic offering swab service. Four days after my swab, I got the chilling sentence: I was COVID positive. And yes, later test showed Ed had it too.

       And, SHOCK!

       I was like, we have neighbors who went out to work every day. I see on Facebook friends who travel, celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, eating together, side by side, and, take note, without masks, face shields…

       Not that I wished they would, but they didn’t get COVID.

      SO, OKAY. WHY US?

1.We needed to be horrified. At the outset, I guess like a hundred dozens, I did not pay attention to COVID. Not that I was not aware of its horror. It’s all the daily news harped about. But I wasbusy beating deadlines for publications I serve. Ed was also busy with his own tasks.

      So, I guess we had to experience COVID to be really afraid of it.

2.Others needed to be horrified. Early on, it was difficult to get everybody to follow protocols, believe in vaccines—so that we’d all achieve herd immunity. What? Herd? Unheard of. Or, naaah, won’t hear of it.

We are in media. So, I guess if someone like us would encounter COVID—lungs-to-lungs—imperfect as we are, we could be Poster Couple about its horror. And maybe, someone, even just one, would also be afraid and listen.

 Now you know why I am exposing the gory details of my COVID.

 Okay, whether you’re not yet afraid or already are, read on…

3.We still have a mission here. Read on…

NEXT: WHY WE GOT HEALED

CORONA

COVID as CROWN

of MY LIFE

To my grandchildren Dylan Anthony, Amanda ‘Paris’ Marie, Pio Luis, their generation, and succeeding ones.

 

Chapter 1

MY COVID

TODAY, I begin to write my story as I recover from the Coronavirus Disease.

         During a Facebook chat with my younger sister May, she asked, “Was it painful?”

         No.

         Long time ago, in 1981, I suffered miscarriage. My husband Ed promptly took me to a hospital. At the emergency ward, while I waited for my gynecologist, I lay on a bed grimacing. It was like there was a huge stone forcing to get out from my uterus through this closed hole down my private part. THAT was painful.

         My COVID wasn’t like that. It was like this:

1.Silent. Yes, just as the news said. Without me noticing, COVID-19 just crept into my lungs. I felt no pain.

2.Sucker. My COVID gradually sucked up my oxygen. Oxygen makes our blood flow which in turn makes our muscles move. So, with little oxygen, I could  not move. Every time I attempted to turn on my side, I coughed, and huffed and puffed, gasping for breath.  I couldn’t move even my hands. There was this breakfast dish on my bedside table and I just stared at it, wondering how the food would reach my mouth.

          I lay flat on bed like forever, wearing adult diaper because I could not get up to go to the toilet.

3.Shameful. Since I couldn’t move,the front liners did everything for me— from helping me take my medicines, feeding me, to washing my private parts when I peed.

         If there was something that hurt, it was the pain of shame. This was at the height of the Pandemic when hospitals were running short of front liners. So, there were  times when I peed and my diaper had to be changed, tall, burly male nursing aides—I heard  pulled out from the emergency ward— came to take off my soiled diaper, wash me down there, and put on me fresh diaper. I cringed in shame.

        In fairness, everyone who attended to me were professional medical practitioners— doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, aides, caregivers. And even the janitors. They all focused on doing their job well, regardless of who I was.

         Like, when I edit an article, I don’t think much of the person who wrote it. I just focus on the words or sentences I have to correct.

         In the same manner, the hospital people did their job with clockwork precision.

         One guy cleaning me up even gently pacified me, “Ma’am, huwag ho kayong mag-alala. BAKLA po ako.”

          Which explained why his Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  and mobile phone were both in GAY PINK.

           So, I eventually forgot about the shame and I was actually simply grateful that someone— female, male, whatever— came to make me comfortable. And heal me.

         NEXT: WHY ME?