We don’t know how God works in our lives but we are certain He does it for the best.
I received a text message from a pastor quoting Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
When I posted a prayer brigade for the healing of little Kadpay, I felt she will recover soon because many responded. I felt the prayers of many people through their comments and well wishes.
I recently saw Kadpay’s father and some barangay officials having coffee at the Sagada Cooperative where he told us that Kadpay will be brought home from Luis Hora Hospital. His tone was of helplessness. Last Jan. 18, Juliet Doyog and Fe Dolyn Aspilan messaged me about the passing of Kadpay.
When sick, you cannot smile.
Last Jan. 18, I left for Teng-ab, Bontoc for a seminar on good governance but I arrived, only to be attended to in my sick bed. Muscle pain, back pain, severe headache, nausea, stomach anxiety, joint pains, difficulty in getting sleep, and lack of appetite troubled me a lot.
The common text message I received was, “Force yourself to eat so that you will have energy and get well.” I will eat to smile. Smiling and laughter are signs of getting better.
Thank you for the prayers and for visiting me. Pray for all the sick. Pray for Bishop Val Dimoc too for his quick healing.
It was past 6 p.m. on Jan. 10 when four girls who were in front of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church got my attention. I approached and greeted them happily. Their ages may be ranging from nine to 12.
The three girls were shy while the fourth one was so engrossed with her phone and a bottle of beer. I talked to them in a very friendly way, “Are you drinking beer?” The girls pointed at their friend who was seated on the stone fixture with the bottle of beer.
I tried to get her attention and asked, “Why are you drinking beer? You are a kid!” She just smiled but her companions chorused that their friend was “broken,” which explains why she was drinking beer.
The incident revealed something regarding children and their parents. Alcohol can never solve problems. It is just a temporary escape. Youth must not resort to drinking when problems come. Music is a better solution to manage problems. Music will surely set one’s soul to tranquility then we start to see problems with solutions.
On the Feast of the Sto. Niño, the Sagada Broken Guitar Project (BGP), reached out to the Baang Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) and Aguid BEC to serenade them with the hope that the Feast of the Sto. Niño be given more life by the children. After the mass, the BGP sang and danced gracefully for and with the children.
It is true that nobody is exempted from life’s troubles and challenges. It is more true that having good peers and having music around will help cheer up everyone.
The BGP has proven several times that music is life animating and life inspiring. Instead of getting addicted with vices, youth joining their fellow youth to the different barangays is giving a beautiful room for healing, letting go of bitterness, and letting go of vices.
The children of Baang were entertained and will surely look forward to another activity where they will be involved. Happy gatherings are occasions for children to nurture good attitude and to have good memories to remember when they grow up.
The Feast of the Sto. Niño was indeed a feast of the children and the youth in Sitio Baang, Kilong, Sagada, Mountain Province.
Some of the BGP members went to Sacasacan, Sadanga for a reach-out activity to teach their fellow youth on how to give life to the liturgy.
The BGP is doing good in Sagada and to other neighboring BEC. We accompany the children and the youth while they serve. We accompany them while they find joy in their services. We accompany them while their interest is burning.
