My Promise

Today is my wife’s birthday. The love of my life is celebrating the nth anniversary of her 40th birthday. Hahaha. She already knows what I am going to give her; we just have to go and buy it. This Delta variant of Covid-19 is forcing us to be extra cautious and stay home always.  Before …

As a Matter of F.A.C.T.

Today is expected to be manic Monday. As hundreds of thousands of employees in Metro Manila go back to work, they must contend with a severe lack of public transportation. They should expect longer trips to and from their workplaces compared to pre-pandemic days because the only rides available would be the MRT-3 and buses operating …

The Direction of Delay

Amos 6:3 delivers a sobering reality check: “You push away every thought of coming disaster, but your actions only bring the day of judgment closer” (NLT). Israel wasn’t suffering from a lack of information. They were suffering from a lack of clarity. They chose comfort over responsibility, and denial over truth. In doing so, they drifted. The …

“Tahanan”: Where the Heart Finally Rests

The Tagalog word tahanan (home) comes from the root word “tahan.” Tahan means to stop crying, to calm down, or to be still. When a child is hurting and someone says, “Tahan na,” it’s an invitation to breathe, settle down, and feel safe again. Our language captures something beautiful: a tahanan is meant to be the place where the heart finally calms down. Home …

Stolen Throne

The 40th anniversary of the People Power Revolution got me into thinking about Athaliah. Athaliah’s story is not merely ancient history; it is a warning written in bold letters across time. Power seized through cruelty, secured by fear, and defended by pride is power already decaying. In 2 Chronicles 23, we witness the inevitable collapse …

When God is With a Leader

As of this writing, several prominent government officials are being investigated for blatant corruption in flood-control projects—funds meant to protect communities from disaster. You're seeing headlines like this on repeat. New administration, same story. Promises of reform. Then exposés. Then public outrage. Then fatigue. Most of us want accountability. We’re tired of seeing public office …

Misogyny

International Women's Day, commemorated yearly on March 8th, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This year's theme, Accelerate Action, marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality. Is the world seeing progress in this regard? In the recent US Presidential elections, one of the candidates had …

Failure

There are times when we fail at something. But I believe no one enjoys failing all the time. I know I don't. In college, I failed all the exams in my basic Statistics subject. To this day, I still remember my exam scores: 55, 55, 51 and 54. The passing grade was 60. That was …

Being Clingy

We've all heard the word "clingy," right? Maybe you've been called it, or perhaps you've felt the urge to, well, cling a little too tightly to someone or something. Today, “clingy” often carries a negative connotation, implying a lack of independence or even a bit of desperation. But read what Joshua commanded the Israelites toward …

Notes to My 18-year Old Self, Part 1

October, the Pastors’ Appreciation Month, is winding down. Thanks for all the expressions of love and appreciation. What an honor and privilege it has been to be of service to you. Thirty-five years ago, Dahl and I decided to commit to the pastoral ministry. They say that hindsight is 20/20. Reflecting on my experiences so …