Blog
All Saints Day ,Nov 1
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Catholic Answer
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CATHOLIC: November is a wonderful month. On the first day of the month the Catholic Church celebrates All Saints Day, which remembers all who have died and are in heaven. It is great comfort to us on earth to have those in heaven who pray for us.
OBJECTOR: I don’t see why that would be a great comfort. In fact, it seems to me to be just a pagan holiday that Christians co-opted. The early Puritans of this country, for example, rejected it.
CATHOLIC: Yes, many of them even rejected Christmas as a Christian holy day. It’s too bad, because such austerity deprives the Christian people of what is rightfully theirs. All Saints Day does have a counterpart in the pagan religions of Europe before Christianity arrived, but it is not a pagan holiday. In fact, the Church instituted the day to substitute for the pagan holiday so that Christians wouldn’t be tempted to return to pagan practices. When you take something away from people, it’s wise to replace it with something positive.
OBJECTOR: Well, the whole concept is inconsistent. It’s called All Saints Day, but the Church considers only some of the people in heaven saints. I mean, all I ever hear about is Saint So-and-So.
CATHOLIC: Anyone who is in heaven is a saint. It’s just that we don’t know the vast majority of those who died in the grace of God. When the Church canonizes a person, it is saying that we know for sure that this particular person is in heaven, but the Church recognizes that there must be countless others in heaven whose names we do not know. That in fact is the purpose of All Saints Day: to recognize all who have died and gone to heaven.
OBJECTOR: But it doesn’t fit with the Bible. The Bible uses the word saints for people living in on earth, not in the next world. Paul speaks of those in Corinth as being "with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia" (2 Cor. 1:1). If the saints are in Achaia, then they can’t be in heaven. In 2 Corinthians 9:1, Paul speaks about "the offering for the saints," by which he means fellow Christians who are poor.
CATHOLIC: The word saint in the New Testament translates the Greek word hagios, which simply means "holy." When it is used substantively (as a noun), it means "holy one" (ho hagios). Thus, it could refer to God, the angels, or human beings. In the verses you cited, Paul is referring to Christians as "holy ones" because they have been made holy by God. A related word is used in 1 Corinthians 6:11 when Paul says, "But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." The word sanctified here is hagiazo, meaning "to make something or someone holy." So saints are those who have been made holy by God.
OBJECTOR: That just confirms my point that saint or holy one is used of people today, not those in heaven. Paul is speaking to the Christians in Corinth, not about those who have died.
CATHOLIC: But think about it: If Christians on earth can be called holy because they have been sanctified through the washing of baptism, then are Christians who have died any less holy or saintly than those on earth? Those in heaven are closer to God and more in love with him than those of us on earth. The Bible calls those who have died in Christ "the spirits of just men made perfect" (Heb. 12:23). To be perfectly righteous is to love perfectly. So why would we not call Christians in heaven saints if we can use the word of those on earth?
OBJECTOR: I thought Catholics used the word saint only for those in heaven. Now, you seem to be using it for people on earth and in heaven.
CATHOLIC: If we keep the root meaning of hagios in mind—that is, a holy one—then we can use the word both of those living on earth and those in heaven. But keep in mind that we Catholics distinguish between saints on earth and the saints in heaven. It’s simply a matter of reasoning from the lesser to the greater. As we on earth are saints in the making, so those in heaven are saints who have been perfected in faith, hope, and love (cf. 1 Cor. 13:13).
OBJECTOR: Your distinction may be convenient for you, but I still don’t see the Bible saying that Christians who have died are "saints."
CATHOLIC: Actually, the Bible does use the term for believers who have died. Matthew 27:52 says, "The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised." These saints are obviously holy people in the Old Testament, or at least those who died before Christ was crucified, but it still applies the term saints or holy ones to the dead. Even more relevant is 1 Thessalonians 3:13: "So that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints." Here Paul almost certainly is referring to those in heaven who will return with Christ at his second advent. And Jude quotes an apocryphal book with approval: "Enoch in the seventh generation from Adam prophesied, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord came with his holy myriads’" (Jude 14). These "holy myriads" are clearly those who are with Christ in heaven.
OBJECTOR: But those are just a few of the verses where the word saint occurs. The great majority of texts use the term to refer to those on earth who are living.
CATHOLIC: True. But good interpretation of the Bible requires us to relate these two uses of the term hagios to one another. The Catholic dogma of the communion of the saints does this. It says that a saint is anyone who has been made holy by God. Now, it should be obvious that holiness is not achieved all at once; it takes a lifetime. It begins at baptism when the Holy Spirit comes into the soul of the recipient of baptism. This act of infusion is what Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 6:11 quoted above. Being "washed and sanctified" refers to the washing away of sin and the internal renewal of the Holy Spirit, as Paul says in Titus 3:5. This is the beginning of holiness, but the pursuit of holiness lasts a lifetime.
OBJECTOR: If Paul is referring to baptism in 1 Corinthians 6:11 as you say, then perhaps the sanctification referred to is also a one-time act by God to make the person holy. This would fit, since baptism too is a one-time event. Maybe this is referring to an act of God declaring the baptized person holy rather than to an infusion of grace.
CATHOLIC: The question of the relationship between justification and sanctification is too big a topic for us now. My only point here is that Catholic dogma explains the full range of the Bible’s uses of the term hagios by saying that those baptized into Christ have started on the path of holiness that is completed only in heaven. The reason the Bible can use the term holy one or saint of both those on earth and those in heaven is because it is really just a single process.
OBJECTOR: But doesn’t the crux of the issue have to do with communication between heaven and earth? Even though both groups may be called saints, that doesn’t mean that Christians on earth should pray to the "saints" in heaven.
CATHOLIC: But think about the implications of what I have said. If pilgrim Christians on earth and perfected Christians in heaven are all part of one body, the body of Christ, then they are just Christians residing in two different locations. Now, if a Christian in America can ask a Christian in Europe to pray for him because they both are part of the one body of Christ—the Church—then why can’t he ask a Christian in heaven to pray for him as well? I trust you understand that the Catholic practice of asking the saints in heaven to pray is not attempting to go around or ignore Jesus but is asking the saints to go to Jesus and the Father in prayer.
OBJECTOR: Yes, I understand the explanation that Catholics give of this, but I still don’t see anywhere in the Bible where it says that those in heaven do or should pray for those on earth. Dead people can’t pray.
CATHOLIC: That’s my point. The saints in heaven are not dead. They are more alive than we are because they are closer to the source of life: God. Consider this: Jesus tells us in Mark 12:26–27, "He is not God of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong." He said this to the Sadducees who denied the possibility that the dead could live (i.e., the resurrection). But notice his statement. It means that all people are alive to God, even if they are dead to us.
OBJECTOR: Yes, that is my point. They are dead to us. We cannot communicate with them nor they with us.
CATHOLIC: But if Christians who have died in Jesus are alive to God and are in his presence, then they must share in the union that Christ has with his body (the Church) on earth. Remember that Paul says that "we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:8). Christians in heaven are absent from us but present to the Lord. If they are present to Christ, then they must be united to Christ and to all who are in Christ. Now, if we are united with all other baptized Christians in the church on earth—that is, in the body of Christ—then how could we be separated from the heavenly members of that same body? Now you see the theological basis for asking the saints in heaven to pray for us. If we can ask other Christians on earth to pray for us, then there is simply no reason we can’t ask Christians in heaven to pray for us too. If we deny this possibility, aren’t we depriving the Christian people of powerful intercessors that they are entitled to? And don’t we end up with an emaciated and sub-Christian view of the Church as the body of Christ if we deny that some of its members can’t enter into prayer for the whole body?
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On Christmas Day "Jesus " Birthday.
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Thinking about Jesus birthday ,As my life routine every year , since the day God blessed me materials; having all these gifts in my plans .the endeavor to familiarize the Christmas with my child and a budhist husband .Having a plans to send money for my family expenses ,and to share it with friends and the needy ones on Christmas holiday.Not thinking about what will I buy for myself , I used not to prioritize my desire . Used to practise it in my life , as I always murrmuring .,to simplify my needs ...unless if I find something extra attractive and useful thing that I can buy in a very low price.
As changes is always expected in my plans what to do to share my blessings and who will be added in my list .But I always thought is this is the only focus of mine?What God wants more ? Something taunting my mind some challenge although. or a burden for someone who doesn't believe in Christianity. I know materials cannot satisfy the rejoice of the one's will received ,just like me ,missing to touch them personally ,to eat together ,wrapping gifts,sing Christmas Carols,hear the jokes ,seeing the children in "Mano Po "attitude as a very touching inthe Philippine Culture .No limitation attitude of happiness , a happy holiday.. As I talked to a few friends and asking them every year ,Do you have any plans in december ?any occasion to attend?Are we going to cook and make exchange gifts with a glass of wine? Obviously no evening mass for 9 days in the church I attended. My friends positively responded ,of course ! let us celebrate Jesus birthday this is the climax of life! Full of hope to hear the excitement .Yes! my spirit really rejoicing to hear that in this place of non- Christian , I could still have people around me to know the importance of December 25 every year.Then again a shadow of question came back in my mind .It is a month ago, when I came back home and sitted in a couch. I feel sad and finding out the reason ,why just a while ago I was excited. I closed my eyes and say a prayer help me Lord , I don't know why I have worries because worry loses my faith. Then while looking at the altar I saw the images and not intentionally voice it out to Jesus .I said ,do you know that some people said your birthday is not december 25 ,as many people spreading it ? There's a mixed emotion of mine questioning Him or did those people influenced me not to believe the authencity of that holiday ? .I really feel God knows my heart ,confusion like a child who often ask and ask the parents .Then something power pushed me to think and say Got it ! this is what I wanted to know .The history of Christmas ,Jesus birthday.! Day passing by, I search the internet but cannot concentrate to study about it .But reading? some giving me courage to discuss the history with different people's around me .Knowing their spirit if they know the roots of rumours .Then one day I was surprised to hear about the history of it even in a ramdom topic .As Geshi (a Jap term.) season in Rome .It is St John's birth day June 24 ,The one who said in the bible " I am the voice crying out in the wilderness:Make straight the way of the Lord". (John 1:23) John born i n a brightly season while the world is in the darkness.How about Jesus? Six months after the born of John , then Jesus born in the Bethlehem it was December 25 a Tojite season means long night ,Dark of the world welcomed Jesus... it is a long night ,season in Rome .The lights break in the earth where the light breaks the darkness in the world .The sinfulness world received the Love of the Father in heaven through his son Jesus Christ. Though the pagans people celebrating it without the truthfulness of this holiday .The Church corrected the spirit of celebrating a holiday in December through proclaiming that Jesus in Bethlehem is the one true celebrant ,to celebrate . Proving in the life of Virgin Mary 's humbleness in God plan. My spirit fully rejoice .the complete happiness to know the history of His Son the one whom I love . Just a ramdom explanation which cast off all the confusion that affected many peolple I had met . In celebrating His birthday and who do not like to accept the true fact so sad they know the Father Almighty but couldn't accept Christianity.. .And I am proud to say I am a Christian who never intended to make any trick and be thankful not to believe in many business gimmickry a flickering of branded things in the department store whom the devil always saying "come buy me !come buy me! tempting rich people then envy the low class or poor people in the world. What they offer is just for rich and some fake pagan god celebrant of Christmas.Lights of the world that gives hope for souls. And wishing to see people in honest giving not just on Christmas holidays .As Charity not for materials but for the true meaning of it as God's wanted to see in our hearts ,It is LOve .
Salvation (Are Catholics Born Again?)
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--Catholic Answer-
Catholics and Protestants agree that to be saved, you have to be born again. Jesus said so: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).
When a Catholic says that he has been "born again," he refers to the transformation that God's grace accomplished in him during baptism. Evangelical Protestants typically mean something quite different when they talk about being "born again."
For an Evangelical, becoming "born again" often happens like this: He goes to a crusade or a revival where a minister delivers a sermon telling him of his need to be "born again."
"If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and believe he died for your sins, you'll be born again!" says the preacher. So the gentleman makes "a decision for Christ" and at the altar call goes forward to be led in "the sinner's prayer" by the minister. Then the minister tells all who prayed the sinner's prayer that they have been saved?"born again." But is the minister right? Not according to the Bible.
The Names of the New Birth
Regeneration (being "born again") is the transformation from death to life that occurs in our souls when we first come to God and are justified. He washes us clean of our sins and gives us a new nature, breaking the power of sin over us so that we will no longer be its slaves, but its enemies, who must fight it as part of the Christian life (cf. Rom. 6:1 :22; Eph. 6:11?17). To understand the biblical teaching of being born again, we must understand the terms it uses to refer to this event.
The term "born again" may not appear in the Bible. The Greek phrase often translated "born again" (gennatha anothen) occurs twice in the Bible John 3:3 and 3:7 and there is a question of how it should be translated. The Greek word anothen sometimes can be translated "again," but in the New Testament, it most often means "from above." In the King James Version, the only two times it is translated "again" are in John 3:3 and 3:7; every other time it is given a different rendering.
Another term is "regeneration." When referring to something that occurs in the life of an individual believer, it only appears in Titus 3:5. In other passages, the new birth phenomenon is also described as receiving new life (Rom. 6:4), receiving the circumcision of the heart (Rom. 2:29; Col. 2:11?12), and becoming a "new creation" (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15).
Regeneration in John 3
These different ways of talking about being "born again" describe effects of baptism, which Christ speaks of in John 3:5 as being "born of water and the Spirit." In Greek, this phrase is, literally, "born of water and Spirit," indicating one birth of water-and-Spirit, rather than "born of water and of the Spirit," as though it meant two different birth's one birth of water and one birth of the Spirit.
In the water-and-Spirit rebirth that takes place at baptism, the repentant sinner is transformed from a state of sin to the state of grace. Peter mentioned this transformation from sin to grace when he exhorted people to "be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
The context of Jesus statements in John 3 makes it clear that he was referring to water baptism. Shortly before Jesus teaches Nicodemus about the necessity and regenerating effect of baptism, he himself was baptized by John the Baptist, and the circumstances are striking: Jesus goes down into the water, and as he is baptized, the heavens open, the Holy Spirit descends upon him in the form of a dove, and the voice of God the Father speaks from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son" (cf. Matt. 3:13?17; Mark 1:9?11; Luke 3:21?22; John 1:30?34). This scene gives us a graphic depiction of what happens at baptism: We are baptized with water, symbolizing our dying with Christ (Rom. 6:3) and our rising with Christ to the newness of life (Rom. 6:4?5); we receive the gift of sanctifying grace and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27); and we are adopted as God's sons (Rom. 8:15?17).
After our Lord's teaching that it is necessary for salvation to be born from above by water and the Spirit (John 3:1 21), "Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; there he remained with them and baptized" (John 3:22).
Then we have the witness of the early Church that John 3:5 refers to baptismal regeneration. This was universally recognized by the early Christians. The Church Fathers were unanimous in teaching this:
In A.D. 151, Justin Martyr wrote, "As many as are persuaded and believe that what we [Christians] teach and say is true . . . are brought by us where there is water and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of God the Father . . . and of our Savior Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit [Matt. 28:19], they then receive the washing with water. For Christ also said, Unless you are born again, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven John 3:3]" (First Apology 61).
Around 190, Irenaeus, the bishop of Lyons, wrote, "And [Naaman] dipped himself . . . seven times in the Jordan [2 Kgs. 5:14]. It was not for nothing that Naaman of old, when suffering from leprosy, was purified upon his being baptized, but [this served] as an indication to us. For as we are lepers in sin, we are made clean, by means of the sacred water and the invocation of the Lord, from our old transgressions, being spiritually regenerated as newborn babes, even as the Lord has declared: Except a man be born again through water and the Spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven [John 3:5]" (Fragment 34).
In the year 252, Cyprian, the bishop of Carthage, said that when those becoming Christians "receive also the baptism of the Church . . . then finally can they be fully sanctified and be the sons of God . . . since it is written, Except a man be born again of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God [John 3:5]" (Letters 71[72]:1).
Augustine wrote, "From the time he [Jesus] said, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven [John 3:5], and again, ?He that loses his life for my sake shall find it [Matt. 10:39], no one becomes a member of Christ except it be either by baptism in Christ or death for Christ" (On the Soul and Its Origin 1:10 [A.D. 419]).
Augustine also taught, "It is this one Spirit who makes it possible for an infant to be regenerated . . . when that infant is brought to baptism; and it is through this one Spirit that the infant so presented is reborn. For it is not written, Unless a man be born again by the will of his parents or by the faith of those presenting him or ministering to him, but, Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit [John 3:5]. The water, therefore, manifesting exteriorly the sacrament of grace, and the Spirit effecting interiorly the benefit of grace, both regenerate in one Christ that man who was generated in Adam" (Letters 98:2 [A.D. 408]).
Regeneration in the New Testament
The truth that regeneration comes through baptism is confirmed elsewhere in the Bible. Paul reminds us in Titus 3:5 that God "saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit."
Paul also said, "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:3?4).
This teaching that baptism unites us with Christ's death and resurrection so that we might die to sin and receive new life is a key part of Paul's theology. In Colossians 2:11 13, he tells us, "In [Christ] you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision [of] Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ" (NIV).
The Effects of Baptism
Often people miss the fact that baptism gives us new life/new birth because they have an impoverished view of the grace God gives us through baptism, which they think is a mere symbol. But Scripture is clear that baptism is much more than a mere symbol.
In Acts 2:38, Peter tells us, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." When Paul was converted, he was told, "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16).
Peter also said, "God's patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 3:20 21). Peter says that, as in the time of the flood, when eight people were "saved through water," so for Christians, "[b]aptism . . . now saves you." It does not do so by the water?s physical action, but through the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection, through baptism's spiritual effects and the appeal we make to God to have our consciences cleansed.
These verses showing the supernatural grace God bestows through baptism set the context for understanding the New Testaments statements about receiving new life in the sacrament.
Protestants on Regeneration
Martin Luther wrote in his Short Catechism that baptism "works the forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and grants eternal life to all who believe." His recognition that the Bible teaches baptismal regeneration has been preserved by Lutherans and a few other Protestant denominations. Even some Baptists recognize that the biblical evidence demands the historic Christian teaching of baptismal regeneration. Notable individuals who recognized that Scripture teaches baptismal regeneration include Baptist theologians George R. Beasley-Murray and Dale Moody.
Nevertheless, many Protestants have abandoned this biblical teaching, substituting man-made theories on regeneration. There are two main views held by those who deny the scriptural teaching that one is born again through baptism: the "Evangelical" view, common among Baptists, and the "Calvinist" view, common among Presbyterians.
Evangelicals claim that one is born again at the first moment of faith in Christ. According to this theory, faith in Christ produces regeneration. The Calvinist position is the reverse: Regeneration precedes and produces faith in Christ. Calvinists (some of whom also call themselves Evangelicals) suppose that God "secretly" regenerates people, without their being aware of it, and this causes them to place their faith in Christ.
To defend these theories, Evangelicals and Calvinists attempt to explain away the many unambiguous verses in the Bible that plainly teach baptismal regeneration. One strategy is to say that the water in John 3:5 refers not to baptism but to the amniotic fluid present at childbirth. The absurd
implication of this view is that Jesus would have been saying, "You must be born of amniotic fluid and the Spirit." A check of the respected Protestant Greek lexicon, Kittel Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, fails to turn up any instances in ancient, Septuagint or New Testament Greek where "water" (Greek: hudor) referred to "amniotic fluid" (VIII:314?333).
Evangelicals and Calvinists try to deal with the other verses where new life is attributed to baptism either by ignoring them or by arguing that it is not actually water baptism that is being spoken of. The problem for them is that water is explicitly mentioned or implied in each of these verses.
In Acts 2:38, people are exhorted to take an action: "Be baptized . . . in the name of Jesus Christ," which does not refer to an internal baptism that is administered to people by themselves, but the external baptism administered to them by others.
We are told that at Paul's conversion, "he rose and was baptized, and took food and was strengthened. For several days he was with the disciples at Damascus" (Acts 9:18?19). This was a water baptism. In Romans 6 and Colossians 2, Paul reminds his readers of their water baptisms, and he neither says nor implies anything about some sort of "invisible spiritual baptism."
In 1 Peter 3, water is mentioned twice, paralleling baptism with the flood, where eight were "saved through water," and noting that "baptism now saves you" by the power of Christ rather than by the physical action of water "removing . . . dirt from the body."
The anti-baptismal regeneration position is indefensible. It has no biblical basis whatsoever. So the answer to the question, "Are Catholics born again?" is yes! Since all Catholics have been baptized, all Catholics have been born again. Catholics should ask Protestants, "Are you born again the way the Bible understands that concept" If the Evangelical has not been properly water baptized, he has not been born again "the Bible way," regardless of what he may think.
NIHIL OBSTAT: I have concluded that the materials
presented in this work are free of doctrinal or moral errors.
Bernadeane Carr, STL, Censor Librorum, August 10, 2004
IMPRIMATUR: In accord with 1983 CIC 827
permission to publish this work is hereby granted.
+Robert H. Brom, Bishop of San Diego, August 10, 2004
Christmas Is Coming
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Pag tumuntong na ang september iisa lang ang sasabihin ng mga Pilipino.."Uy , malamig na malapit na christmas " Obvious sa tropical country ang pagdating ng Pasko kasi nga the climate change and the amibience is different.
Japan Politics
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Naging hobby ko na ang manood o magkinig ng news sa television ng Japan .Especially pag may forum sila kahit hindi ko naiintindihan ang topic ,lalo na ang words na binabanggit nila. eh,sadyang mahirap intindihin..Kuyashi or nakakachallenge naman talagang malaman ang meaning ng mga salita nila sa Pulitika.
Tayo namang mga Pilipino eh , kahit saang usapan pwedeng pwede sumali kumbaga, felxible daw. .Ako naman I am not good in names unless kung ito ay sadyang maingay na o Famous or infamous like mabahong amoy ng Durian.Sa tagal ng panahon ng aking curiosity sa Japan ,kahit paano natutuklasan ko na ang meaning ng kanilang mabibigat na usapin although wala naman hilig ang paligid ko sa ganitong usapin mas madalas keep inside nalang ang sanang masarap na pulutang topic sa araw-araw.Buti nalang ang sister and other kababatang kinasal sa Hapon eh mahilig din kaya laking tulong na may natatanungan kung absent sa harap ng television.Sa mga haponesa lalo na ang mga wife dito , they are not really interested in politics.Well, I will clap my hands if I know there is one who knows what is happening in the goverment of japan around me.
Dahil narin sa pakikisama sa mga activist leader nuong dalaga pa at nalaman ko ang mala-komunistang pag-iisip ng mga pulitiko. Sabihin nang komunista ang mga ideology nilang lumalaban sa makapangyarihang upuan.Dito sa Japan ilan na ba ang umalis sa makapangyarihang upuan ? ng wala sa panahon. sa bansang may Hari at Reyna wala silang tinatawag na Presidente . A Prime Minister term used for the Head of the Diet or in japanese words "Sori Daijin".The truth nakakaawa ang ilang sunod na pag walk out ng Sori Daijin nila dito.Lately si Mr. Taro Asou "Prime Minister " ay hinahanggan ko dahil nakikita ko ang katatgan niya sa mga matitigas na pag-iisip ng mga kalaban niya .Though minsan bibigay na ang kanyang mata sa pagluha ng makita ang katatagan ng mga kasama sa kanyang tabi.Sa unang upo niya at pag kilatis ng kanyang mga plano at mga binibitawang speech .I said with my husband, Kono hito no kangaekatta mezurashi to kokoro aru ne.( Ang pagiisip ng taong ito at salita may puso ne).OO naman ang Husband ko ,na siyang nagpalakas ng loob ko na tama ang intindi ko sa kapapanood ko sa news.Minsan carried away ako naggalit din ako sa mga criticizer niya lalo na yung tipong maamo magsalita pero ang sinasabi pang-insulto sa Head. bakit nga ba feel nila kanila ang kinabukasan ng bansa? Wala na bang respeto madalas ang mga nagpapalis sa pwesto ?Halos hindi pa tapos ang kanilang panunugkulan heto na ang pagkainip nila sa pagbabago.Sa Pilipinas pabor ako sa mga taong nagsasabing bumaba ka na sa upuan kung ang mga taong ito ay kagalang-galang ang pag-iisip at pamumuhay.
Continuation next time..
Life is not easy even if you take it easy .
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Sa pagtira ko sa napakagandang Japan madami akong natuklasan na masasabi kong hindi ko ito nakita sa pananginip ko even in my day dreamings. Nuong hindi ko pa napupuntahan ang bansang Japan ,Amerika lang ang parang alam kong bansa . ,Sa first day experienced ,,wala pa ang awareness Actually wala akong culture shocked ..Basta may nakita lalagpas lang ang tingin, kung may marinig ano yun? kung may makain o nakahain sa hapag shocks or speechless.Naalala ko pa kahit nakapajama kami lumalabas kami ng kalsada which is bad manner pala dito .Ganyan ako nuong unang salta sa bansang ito.Laging hilo sa pagod at lahat ng place na mapuntahan hindi ko na maremember hanggang piliin kong manirahan dito, hindi dahil sa pera o luhong madaling matikman.Kundi dahil sa matiyaga kong asawa.Sa takbo ng buhay ko una ilan sa kaibigan ko ang sanay na sa buhay dito ang mahigpit na nagpayo " dont trust kapwa Pilipina daw at huwag na huwag makisama sa in-laws. "Bakit kaya sabi ko kasi nga extrovert naman ako paano ko kaya yun magagawa ,naalalang sinabi ko sa sarili ko nuon.Nilibang ko nalang ang sarili ko sa paggarden at pagtabas ng bermuda sa bakuran at sa walang sawang pasyal at pakikipagkita sa mga may asawang kaibigan since my young age na mga kababata ko . Then dumating ang panahon na sadyang may magiging kaibigan kahit hindi hanapin sa everday na buhay ko . May una akong nakilala magandang bata pa na may isang cute na anak at iba pa sa isang class ng Japanese lesson .Mga two years na ako dito ,when I allowed myself to mingled with kapwa Pilipina , hanggang dumami kami then mga kababata kong drive a long hours just to visit me nakikilalala din nila.Masaya ang buhay namin parang nasa pinas kami. Missed my barcada's though na mga may-asawa na sa pinas . Pero dumarating talaga na kapag malaki na mga anak seryoso narin ang bawat isa dahil narin sa lumalaki ang gastusin at mga gawain walang katapusan sa loob at labas ng bahay. .Mas madalas wala nang oras sa pakikipag-kapwa work nalang para sa maraming gusto na mabili o para maibsan ang boring days ng walang anak na kabarkada dito..Magkakapera pa sabi nga nila.Iba naman may dreams sa buhay ,well , nakapagpatayo naman sila ng dreamhouse nila ,new car, o nakapag-paaral sa college.Nakakatuwa may napuntahan ang pinagpaguran o pagsasakripisyong oras sa work and family.
Hindi naman maikakaila ito na ang takdang ginusto ng bawat isang nangibang bayan.To get the dreams or to success in life .Though ,ang mag-adjust sa bawat kulturang mararanasan ay isang napakahirap matutunan kung ipipilit ang sariling pag-iisip . But I am sure to say , kakaiba ang lifestyle ng bansang Hapon.Kung pumunta ka ditong easy easy ,mga ilang taong pag-stay isa ka na sa nagkukumahog sa mga pupuntahan( yougi) kahit may gawain ka pa sa loob ng bahay mo.,kahit mahilo-hilo ka pa at bitbit ,mo ang anak o mga tsikiting mo. Isa ka na rin sa magrereklamo kung bakit malamig ang pakikitungo dito ng mga tao kahit kababayan ka pa nila o isa kang dayuhan walang pinipili talaga..Isa ka sa magsasabing hay! sarap umuwi kung may pera marelax man lang.Maging sa isang misis na laging kinukuwestiyon ang mala robot na pakikitungo ng maraming lalaking hapon..O istriktong pamamaraan sa buhay ng lalaki ,lalo kung kasama mo ang biyenan .Lucky are those na kaya nila ang biyenan na sadyang malinis ang pakitungo sa dayuha.Ilan lang sila at pawala na ang mga ganyang matatanda .Nagpunta ako dito na may ugali din naman nilang istrikto .But once na matutunan ang pagiging organize na itinuturo ng bansang ito nawawala ang" mamaya na habit" .Actually ,I am not obvious in my attitude maybe because in the Philippines there's no need to apply ,bansang napakasarap tirhan kahit mahirap ang buhay .Wala na yata papantay sa way ng pagppalaki ng ating bansa kahit napaghuhulihan parin sa original at sabi mahilig mang-gaya. Basta life is easy or take it easy sabi nga sa atin..Japan is a very organize country.Sa entrance palang ng house nila hindi pwedeng hindi mo aayusin ang shoes even the slippers kung lalabas nang pinto.Grabe !!!as in grabe silang komakai o organize .Same din sa buong pagkatao nila.Ito narin ang reason bakit sa bansang ito effective ang salitang tahimik ay dangerous o mahinhin kuno.sa loob palang ng pamilya nila dami bawal .Tumawa ka kaya ng malakas kundi batok ka o mura ang regalo mo.Sasabihin pa nakakaistorbo ka in ang out of this house.Hindi mo pwedeng ilabas ang true sa pagkatao mo.Kaya naman talagang pasa-pasang lahi nila eh, sobrang maselan imagine kahit 5 years old sabihan kang "huwag mo akong tatawagin lang sa apelyido ko dapat buong pangalan ko at kahit ang alaga kong aso ." laban ka diyan ......:D.Pero lumaki naman sa mababait na pamilya yung walang halong kaplastikan ika nga super ang bait naman ng mga Hapon .Maawain sila as in kahit langgam ayaw nilang patayin.
Sa iba naman hindi mo sila (older people) maasahan o makitaan ng pagmamalasakit sa ugaling walang galang , ang maiisip mo pag nakita mo kung paano ang kabataan makipag-usap sa matatanda sa kanila. O ,sobrang smart nga ba ang ganitong klase ng bata. Dito kahit kantiiin takot sila kahit konti baka kasi makasuhan.Pero pakinggan mo naman puro matunog na B*********** eh, very much welcome sa any occasions.Sanay na sila kaya ano nga ba ang sakit ng ulo ng society dito? siyempre ang kibit balikat ng matatanda sa pagmumura sa kanila ng anak o apo, o ang pagtaas ng boses sa kanila na parang sila ang unang ipinaganak sa mundo.Ang pagkaligaw ng maraming Kabataan dito sa utos ng leader sa school man o labas, para magnakaw sa convienience store.kung hindi daw kasi susundin bullying ang mangyayari.O ang maagang pagtatabi sa lalakiat pang-aabort na pinapayagan ng karamihan sa magulang dito.Kaya nga sa mga interview for the past years makikita ang lungkot sa hindi na pagkakaroon ng anak ng karamihan sa dalagang nag-asawa na ,dahil sa manipis na ang bahay bata ,sa pagaabort nuong sila pa ay dalagita pa....Sino nga ba may kasalanan ang takot nila sa batas na huwag mag-anak ng marami o ang kawalan ng oras sa anak o ang kulturang independent? kaya pag may napapanood kami sa teevee na may anak na 12 o 14 na magasawa.....wow!!! God is good sabi namin...Opps!!!!!!! o ang mas mataas na priyoridad na kanilang walang pagkilala sa utos ng Diyos .sabi nga ni kura Paroko ang mga Hapon kahit kristiyano na sila ay matigas parin sa kanilang nakagisnan kaya kayong mga Pilipino inpluensiyahan ninyo sila.OO nga sabi namin kay father ..Ang mga Pilipino wala mang pera masaya Father pero ang mga Hapon lagi nilang inuunahan ang future kaya pag sa tingin nila mawawalan na sila , walang pahinga sila hanggang makuha nila ang gusto nilang makuha. But one thing is sure the Japanese are good follower of their leaders at makikita na rin sa kanila ang Kulturang kinagisnan ay tapat nilang isinasabuhay dahil iyon lang ang kanilang nalalaman walang halo o mixed of other races culture .They have their own originality ;The Linguitistic attitude.kaya naman matigas ( katai) sila sa paninindigan .And one thing more pag sila ay naging malalim sa pagiging Catholic Christian you will feel blessed sa kanilang pagsunod sa Diyos. Makikita mo sa kanila ang sina-unang Pilipino.
While the good result of endeavour of our priest to change the Japanese country in their spirituality ,kasama narin ang ibang pinuno ng simbahan kristiyano.,May problem naman ang mga isinilang sa bansang kristiyano na dumayo sa bansang Pagano.Magulong samahan , umpukan ng grupo pag may pinag-kakaisahan, Kinaiingitanng kapwa , Maraming umpukan gagawin kang pulutan kaysa pagusapan kung paano makakatulong o madalas talo ang may mabuting intensyon dahil marami ang negatibo o worst to say against sa isang tao. .Then iba naman nang-aagaw ng oras sa asawa ng iba o hanggang kunin na sa totoong may-ari,pagkalimot sa itinuro ng ninuno pagkalulong sa sugal at pangungutang ng walang plano,marami pa .Mas madalas kung sino pa ang praise ng praise o prayer meeting ng prayer meeting sila pa ang pasimuno para mawala ang pagtitimpi ng totoong naglilingkod at nag-aaral sa Totoong Faith .Socialan na nga lang ang makikita sa mga palasimba o nasa community ?.?Ask mo ano ang gospel kasi hindi ako nakasimba ...hindi maishare.Although sa mga talagang simba lang at walang grupong sinasamahan makikita iyong humbleness na si Lord lang talaga ang kanilang sadya. Marami na ngang Kristiyanong nakakalimot .Mas madalas pag nagsimba ang ilan sa Japanese mass umiiyak sila dahil very solem ang simba ng mga Japanese.Very touching na hindi naman maunawaan pa ng ilang Hapon kung bakit may umiiyak sa pagsisismba,sabi ko kasi our country is a Christian ,Since we were born Christian nararamdaman na namin ang kanyang Holy Spirit. makikita lang sa kanila ang pagtataka parin at reaction salita na honto ?aaaa.
Maganda ng mundo kung maraming makikinig dahil may pandinig, kung maraming nakakakita dahil may mata, kung maraming nakaka-unawa dahil may pang-unawa , kung marami ang magsasalita dahil may pusong nagsasabi o konsensya na sumisigaw kung papansinin ,Tiyak marami ang matutulungan kahit walang pera .Madalas kahit makinig hindi man lang mabigyan ng time angkapwa .Being a good listener is a big help .One time namimili ako sa supermarket may isang lola na kinuwentuhan niya ako sa gitna ng namimili isa siyang staff ng supermarket na iyon ,sinabi niya sa malakas na boses huwag na huwag kang magtitiwala sa mga hapon na kababayan ko wala silang kuwenta ,wala silang kapwa tao, kahit nahihirapan ang katabi nila ,ang kapamilya nila , wala silang pakiramdam .that time nakikita ko ang mga katabi kong nakikinig na galit ang mukha sa kanya at hindi umalis sa tabi ko ang isang nasa 40 edad na housewife na galit sa kanyang sinasabi .Naipit ako sa dalawang malaking bato ...wala akong ginawa kundi makinig at makinig kahit may galit sa paligid .Then saka na ako nag excuse nuong nasabi na niya ang gusto niyang sabihin .Sa totoo lang lahat ng sinabi niya ay true .Hinahangaan ko pa ang matanda sa lakas ng loob niya na mag-salita .Malay natin baka may nakaunawa sa isa sa nakarinig at makapag-isip .Kaya ,kahit makinig nalang kung ang isang nagsasalita ay matalino naman.Kung may naguguluhan tyak sa pakikinig sa tawag ng simbahan na mag-aral ang isang tao ,magiging daan ito para may maitulong ,magkakaroon ng tamang daan sa isang naguguluhan o kaguluhan.Isa lang ang hadlang sa buhay ,na akin ding naranasan sa buhay na ipinagdasal ko na ayoko nang maulit ....ay ang pagiging maingay ng sariling gusto ko at sariling pagpapasya ng isip ko mga plano sa buhay na mas tinignan ko nuong nawalan ako nang relasyon sa Diyos. kaya wala akong saysay sa loob ng ilang taon .Kaya ano nga ba ang mas gugustuhin ng isang tao ang maingay na sarili na halos lumiit na ang boses ng Diyos o o ang tahimik na sarili ? Kaya Life is not easy talaga without the guidance ng Diyos though God give us easy life but often it does not work sa buhay natin.Why? Because even if we take it easy God want us to be aware in our sorroundings na pinaghaharian ng kadiliman.Sabi nga sa kanta ng Church " Walang sinuman ang nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang ". ( Hitori de ikirarenai)Pinatutunayan na kaya ginawa si Eba para kay Adan (otagani) helping each other . At ang pagbibigay ng karapatan to govern the natural resources ang mundong tinitirhan na ginawa ng Diyos para pakinabangan.Kaya naman tiis ako sa pagrerecycle kahit dagdag sa bitbitin papunta supermarket, sa lagayan ng nilinis na styro at ng petbottle Ano man ang mangyari sa future sa bawat isang nilalang , sa bawat kultura at batas na pina-iiral .Lalo na sa bali-balitang magugunaw na ang mundo .Hindi hahayaan ng Diyos na ang kanyang ginawang napakagandang mundo ay matatapos lamang sa kapabayaan nating mga tao.Kaya pansinin mo life is not easy kahit pa sabihing life is easy.Sa kadahilan na mayroon tayong pakiramdam na hindi maitatatuwa na tayo ang pinakamataas na nilalang ng Ama.Magmula sa puso nagmumula ang lahat kung saan sa sulok ng puso naroroon ang kunsensya na tumatapik sa atin .Sa hardened spirit matagal bago maramdaman ang tapik..
Yaikks ...ang init talaga !
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Sa mga oras na ito eh hindi namin malamang mag-anak kung saan pupunta although kakasimba lang naming mag-ina .Walang magawa ,eh, wala namng makausap dahil lahat busy mga amiga hanggang cellphone nalang buti mura ang Softbank kahit ilang oras mag chatting . no problem huwag lang maubusan ng battery.Mag-ama ko kung hindi may hawak na libro, watch t.v, pagnapagod higa at idlip naman.
Bakit nga ba pag mainit o summer na sa Japan sobrang nakakapanglata.( Darui ) Sabi eat mga may luyang sangkap at apple vinegar or maasim,pati yelo laging ubos sa fridge.. Lahat na yata gagawin makaraos lang ang araw na sooobrang init.Sa Pilipinas mainit pero sabi nga ng ilang nakakauwi ng summer duon hindi ganito sa atin.Iba ang init ng japan talaga ,masakit sa balat kaya yata daming product for UV.Marami na ngang tumatakas sa araw dito gabi na aalis para makaikot somewhere..Mga patience days just to apply the pampapaputi o pampakinis ,nasasayang. Mahal ba nang beauty product...Iba naman hindi mo na mapagkamalang bata pa sa dami ng extra care na ginagamit para lang makalabas ng kalsada . nandiyang magsumbrero at mag gloves hanggang balikat may shades para huwag masira ang mata parang pupunta sa farm.Pero ito daw ang tama para sa skin care kung like maglakad sa init ng araw. Like sa Australia meron silang mga product for the skin na ipapahid before lalabas at nakamahabang maggas pa sila pag lumabas.Uso narin ang Matsuri dito o Fiesta sa bawat places .Uso narin ang malamig na pinya, milon ,pakwan anything na pedeng ipalamig at cucumber or tomato sa eyes para feeling fresh ang face..Ice cream naman kahit nagsnow mabili.Huwag naring magtaka kung wala nang matiising mag-swin lagi sa dagat man o pool.unless kung may bubong like Hawaiin Resort sa Fukushima.
Hay.....Sobra init ilang electric fan na naka-open may aircon pa yan ha! Kami no aircon gastos kasi luma na itong inuupahan namin at like ni mister ng pinapawisan siya chance daw pag summer ..Lagyan mo naman kurtina ng makapal feel nasa kuweba ka walang makikita outside ..Sakal ang pakiramdam.Pero sanayan lang daw sabi nga ng maraming hindi puwedeng walang aircon.Siyempre pagod ba sa work iyan nalang ang pangpasaya while nakarelax sa bed..Kaya ang batian ng mga hapon "Atsui ne " o mainit ne.Sabi nga ngkapitbahay ko sabi sa napanood niya naku ang mundo daw ilang taon nalang kasi nga nasisira na ang ozone layer , marami na nga raw reason bakit mapapansin iba na ang panahon paibaiba na ang timpla ...Science talaga marunong pa sa Diyos ..Paano matatapos ang mundo ? Puwede ba iyon?
Let's talk with the cup of coffee or Tea?
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Wala akong hilig talaga sa coffee pero dahil ito lang ang nakalakihan ko sa bansang Pilipinas na pambungad sa mesa everyday, umiinom din ako lagyan ko lang ng gatas na delata taste good with pandesal o sinangag.Typical morning ng mga tao sa atin. Nuong single palang ako bukang bibig ang "let's talk with the cup of coffee" sa movie ,drama, especially sa magazines like Woman, Women, Mods and even Reader Digest lagi ko itong nababasa .Parang sosyal sa pandinig... Bakit nga ba ito ang unang naisip kong Blog ? Actually cocoa ang favorite ko . I realized nowadays na I cannot live without a cup of coffee or tea with milk ,...........since when ko ba ito nagustuhan ? Starting the time I indulged myself with many people here in Japan.First natuto ako na maki-ride sa kumpulan sa mesa na may kape taste good pala pag sinamahan ng fresh milk. ang ayoko lang sobrang tamis ang timpla ng pinoy . Kakaiba sa mga Japanese pure black coffee ,no sugar .First time kong natikman ang timpla ng japanese leader namin sa PTA ,hindi ko malaman paano ko ito lulunukin ..Then next is may bisita ako haponesa ganuon din black coffee natake ko din. ,Masarap din pala ang caffein maganda din daw sa kidney or sa mga middle ages , old people for brain function . Kaya naman sikat na sikat na Starbucks ay napakaraming klase ng timpla ng kape ,nasa maraming sulok na nga iba't ibang bansa ang kanilang Starbucks.Any enough age to drink kape gustong gusto itong puntahan.
Masarap ang kape kun masarap ang kwentuhan o nasa mood ka ng harap ng computer or tv, reading something ,kahit nga walking time ang kasabayan ko naglalakad may bitbit na can of coffee .Pag wala we stopped at Macdo (nomihodai drink as long as you can coffee for only hacken .What about tea ? actually kung hindi imported tea ang nabibili ko o pasalubong ng panay lipad kong kumare hindi tasty sa akin. Green tea nagsawa kasi me .But be carefull to much intake of caffeine is not god in the mental health.
Midnight na sa susunod na may time uli. Next time kayo naman..........:):):)