Monthly Archives: April 2010
>Standing up for what is RIGHT.
>Last night Des and I shared at the CFC FFL Seniors Assembly in Starmall. We shared about our International Youth Forum experience (you can check them out in this blog). About the miracles that happened to get us there, what we learned and what we still want to do for the community and for the Church.
We also shared about the World Kids Conference that happened last weekend in Lipa (also on this blog). We shared that kids, no matter how young, are young enough to know Christ and be good examples to others.
One major realization from all those experiences is that the world needs people to stand up for our faith and our beliefs. Pope Benedict XVI is being attacked left and right by people who want to bring down what it means to be Catholic. And some other Catholics are one with those who are attacking him. It boggles the mind how they can do that.
Here, in the Philippines, we need people who will stand up for what is right as well. We spend so much time teaching people about God. About living out their faith. About being pro-life. About serving others. And when the time comes to practice it, we hope that we taught them well enough for them to make the right decisions. The world is looking at the Philippines for leadership in terms of being Pro-Life. We are practically the only country left that is Pro-Life!
That’s why I am SO PROUD to be in CFC FFL. A few days ago, we came up with a letter to the Bishops talking about pro-life. And with regards to this upcoming election, who we should be considering for the highest position in the land. We cannot say we are Pro-Life, and then elect someone who is for the RH Bill. It just can’t be done.
And I am so proud that my community has taken a stand on this. Not many people would do that. For fear of reprisal. Fear of people leaving the community. For fear of not getting in the good graces of people in power. But when we think about those things, and get blocked by those things, then we end up not being the LIGHT to the world that God wants us to be. We HAVE to speak up, even if it makes us unpopular.
I shared also that CFC (and now CFC FFL) started when Marcos was president. It grew leaps and bounds when Cory was president. I joined when Ramos was president. I was fulltime when Erap was president. And started serving with my own family when GMA was president (until now). This community will be around no matter who is president. No matter what storms come. No matter what controversies come. No matter if people agree with us or not. We will survive and thrive because WE ARE STANDING UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.
And that is what matters.
Yes, I am in CFC FFL. And I am proud to be in CFC FFL. And I am beaming with joy that we are a community that is not only Pro-Life and Catholic in name, but we are Pro-Life and Catholic in who we are and what we do. From the Inside Out.
>After fighting the RH Bill so hard last year… after all those prayers and rallies and ads… Will we vote someone who will make us do it all over again?
>I was one of those who went to Congress last year to fight the passage of the RH Bill. I was helping out with convincing Congressmen to vote against it. I was privy to backdoor meetings and organizing committees all trying to educate people on what would happen if it was passed.
I distributed the ads that were published in the newspapers. I debated with people about it – on Facebook and in person. I researched on people. I researched organizations. I studied the Bill itself (while others just go against it without even reading it).
So now, when we actually have the chance to choose people who will make sure this Bill will never pass, we forget how much we fought against it. People are willing to vote RH supporters into office! Pro-Lifers are willing to vote RH supporters into office! It really boggles my mind.
If they win, and then the RH Bill gets on the floor of Congress again… How can we ask people to rally against the Bill? When we had the chance to fight it, and didn’t do it. How can we stomach that? It makes my head spin and my stomach turn.
I am striving to be pro-life. And I am making difficult decisions that others may not understand or agree with. But that what it means to be pro-life and to live a life with integrity. It means standing up for what is right, even amidst oppression and opposition.
I am proud to be in CFC FFL. The statement that my community came out with the other day sums it all. We need to vote someone who is PRO-LIFE into office. And there really are only two choices: Manny Villar and JC de los Reyes. Of course, now we are getting feedback from all over. People applauding and people against. But this is all part of the way to standing up for what is right.
I came across a blog entry of a Pro-Lifer from Human Life International, Brian Clowes. And I want to end this blog with what he said:
“I thought about the importance of the Philippines to the international pro?life movement. We have to do everything we can to protect the Faith of this country and the lives of its people, because if the Philippines collapses into the anti?life swamp along with virtually every other nation in the world, who will we have left to give us a good example?”
>What would you have done differently?
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I gave a recollection before the start of the World Kids Conference to the Service Team. This is done to just re-focus everyone on the reason why we do things like this – to glorify God and to make Him known. It is easy to get distracted by everything we need to do for a conference. All the deadlines and props and designs and dances – that sometimes we may miss out on the REAL REASON for it all.
Our community has been around for almost 29 years now. And I joined it when I was 20 years old. When I go to different areas and hear the sharing of older couples, they always say that if they had joined YFL or SFL when they were younger, they would not have done many of the mistakes they had done in their lives. They just weren’t able to join, because at the time they were Youth or Singles age, there was no YFL or SFL.
And same with me. If I had joined YFL earlier. Or if there was KFL for me to join when I was younger, I would not have done a lot of the mistakes I did growing up.
So I asked the service team. If you were in KFL when you were 9 years old, what would you have done differently in your life? I won’t share for them, but suffice to say, all of us would have done so many things differently.
I got exposed to the world quite late. My early years were in Maria Montessori Cooperative School in Pasay. And it was a small school with a different learning and teaching style. And I have to say, I was not exposed to any vices or ill-qualities while I was there. And then I moved to Ateneo when I was grade 5.
In Grade 5, I was exposed to teasing and bullying.
In Grade 6, I was exposed to pornography.
In Grade 7, I would say I had been desensitized already, that those things had no more effect on me.
And those led to more things in High School and College. A lot of mistakes that didn’t have to be done, if I had known Christ earlier. If I had experienced community earlier. If I had the support of kuyas and ates, titos and titas earlier. If I had realized that the community of my parents was the community for me as well. If I had that Revolution in my heart earlier, to witness Christ to others, instead of being beaten down by the world.
Thank God for the chance given to the generation now. To those 6 year olds who know how to Worship. To those 9 year olds who realize that it is God that they Worship. To those 11 year olds who dance with all their heart because they dance for God. To all those kids who are going to be GOOD examples to their classmates, cousins, friends. Because of them, this world will be a better place.
>Kids Revolution: Young Enough to Know Christ!
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It is only the second day since the World Kids Conference, and already I am feeling nostalgic about the whole weekend. Seeing all the pictures being posted. All the comments and status messages on Facebook. makes my heart grow even warmer.
We took a leap last weekend. We wanted all the kids to experience the Awesome God! The Junior Kids (kids 8 years old and below) were going to learn that through their workshops and games.
We decided to teach the Senior Kids (kids from 9 to 12 years old) more. Teach them how to Worship. And teach them about the God that they Worship. We decided to teach them more about the Gospel. And how each story in that Storybook of God called the Bible, is about them. Is about us.
We decided to teach them about being Pro-Life. And how important it is to be good in thought, word and deed. And deeds especially involving the environment. We decided to teach them about studying well! And about making sure that you have ample time for studies. We decided to teach them about honing their talents, and doing their best, because God gave that to them.
And we decided to challenge them to live out all that, and show other kids that they can do it, too.
We wanted to create that REVOLUTION in their hearts and in their lives. That they are not only kids, but they are witnesses to Christ. And they can witness for Christ to others. No matter how young they are. And the 6 year old worship leader (Daniel Guico from Batangas) on opening night proved that early on.
They are YOUNG ENOUGH TO KNOW CHRIST! Because Christ is for everyone, young and old. The Kids Revolution has started!
>"I learned how to Worship!" – Joshua
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Last weekend was the World Kids Conference 2010. It was held in Lipa, Batangas with the theme KIDS REVOLUTION! We wanted to create a revolution within the kids hearts, so that they can witness Christ through worship, prayer, pro-life, environment, talents and studies; and in the end, be witnesses of Christ to other kids.
Sure, it seemed to be a big task. But with God nothing is impossible, right?
At the start of the last day, I asked my 9 year old brother, Joshua, what he learned. He said he learned how to worship.
I was floored. I seriously got teary eyed. I didn’t expect it!
I am so used to Joshua just running around, playing with his PSP – that when he answered me that, I was humbled. Yes, it is possible to have kids know who Christ is. And it is possible to have them worship Him. And KNOW WHO, and WHY they are worshipping Him.
I always say that if I knew Christ sooner, or if I was a member of KFL, I would have done less mistakes in my life. And now, after this weekend, I can say that those kids who were there have that chance to live better lives and make less mistakes. Because they experienced that revolution in their hearts. A revolution to make them better witnesses to and of Christ!
Josh is the last sharer in this video 
>It is going to be a Revolutionary weekend!
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You know it is going to be a good conference when things beyond your control start happening, and oppression comes from all around. Just like what a feisty Senator said years ago: “I eat oppression for breakfast!” (of course, hers was death threats and not oppression).
Some of our team are getting sick, some assignments are changing, the PFO is constantly improved, etc etc. But in spite of (or because of) all of this, we are secure and we cling to the Grace of God. We only want what is best for the kids.
I always say that the best laid out plans are only purified when they are changed. Changed to glorify God more, of course.
2 more days, KIDS REVOLUTION na!
>We are grateful.
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Thank you for coming to Aida’s 1st birthday party yesterday It was even more special for us after everything that had happened days before, so thank you again.
Even with the magician who made fun of your kids, it was a great afternoon for us. And he was good.
Thanks again!
Give aways
:-)>What does it take to get on the cover of Time magazine? And other news.
>Noynoy Aquino graces the cover of Time magazine this month. What does it take to get on that magazine’s cover?
It took a simple housewife to overthrow a dictator to get on the cover of Time magazine in the 80s.
It took a provincial man to win 6 world titles in boxing to get on the cover of Time magazine a few months ago.
Phew. I thought I had to wait for another dictator to come along and overthrow him (or her). And now I don’t need to take up boxing, either. I don’t really need to do much. Just have parents who are heroes.
***
Manny Pangilinan is also in the news for tendering his irrevocable resignation from the Ateneo board.
This follows his commencement speech fiasco where it was found out he plagiarized portions of it from other popular speeches. He offered to resign, but Ateneo rejected it.
I think it was right for MVP to resign. I also think it was wrong for Ateneo not to fire him. So is it ok to cheat in THE Ateneo now? As long as when you are found out, you apologize?
***
Manny Villar is leading in the new survey released.
And Gibo was offered a position by Noynoy in his Cabinet.
Well, that’s if Noynoy wins. If not, the only cabinet Gibo will end up in is the one with all Noynoy’s dirty secrets
***
And the biggest news so far is…. Aida got her first haircut! She is wonderful
>Aida Therese Yupano Padilla is ONE!
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Happy birthday baby girl!
You probably won’t remember the “turning-one” birthday, but I hope you always remember and feel that we love you. Because we do. We are always here for you. And will support you. As you learn to walk, learn to talk, start school, learn to drive – in every moment of your life.
We will always be here for you.
We love you baby!
Enjoy this day! And on Sunday, enjoy your party!
