Day 3: Catching up with an Old Friend

During the homily, the priest spoke of Jesus as being the pearl of great price. He is the only One that really matters. We choose him not for any reason but because of who he is. This made me think - am I seeking him because of who he is or because of what it will bring me? One thing is apparent. I need to ask for the Holy Spirit to lead me. I cannot see Jesus without the Spirit. Everything is grace.

Day 2: The Dentist and the Dark Knight

The day began with mass again. The priest said something about Jesus being the pearl of great price. Jesus being the one whom our heart desires. This is what this blog is about - to seek Jesus himself. Our faith is not a matter of intellectual knowledge or ideology. It is not a matter of the right actions in worship, nor is it only a matter of going to mass on Sundays. Pope Benedict said our faith is an encounter with an event and a person.

This is what I think is wrong with society today, in the Philippines and I would say in Canada also. People have reduced Catholicism to an ideology or superstition, thinking that they are Catholics just because they say so. We see this in the way the law makers and intellectuals are talking about the Reproductive Health bill. They accuse the Church of spreading AIDS/HIV because it bans condoms. Hello!!! The issue is not the use of condoms. The issue is sex outside of marriage.

Another reason is it is good for the economy. The question is whose economy? The law-breakers, I mean law makers or the country's? Europe and North America are slowing down because they have no people to work and pump their economy. Japan and other countries are hiring Filipinos because their population is aging. I also wonder, how can less people be good for the economy? I wonder which idiot thought of that reason. President Noynoy's battlecry during the election was, 'Kung walang Corrupt, walang mahirap'. And he has proven that. He has managed the growth of the country and infrastructure spending without raising taxes. Why? Because as he said, he has improved tax collection and decreased corrupt practices. So the solution to the country's economic growth is not less population but less corruption.

As a Catholic, I respect the bishops. But I think the fault also partly lies on some bishops. You see the bishops condemning evil yet, they willingly associate with these people. Sure, you need to separate the person from the deed, but in this case, these people are not repentant. Jesus associated with people who were seeking him. For those who had hard hearts, he had harsh words for them. He sometimes had harsh words for those seeking him if they could not understand him.

For these people, they will always look for reasons to justify their beliefs just because they do not want to listen to what the Church teaches and the sad thing is these people call themselves Catholics - and they think of themselves as intelligent people.

If they pass the RH bill, it will be the end of the country`s moral compass. This will open up to the culture of death. The only hope is to pray for justice and for true conversion of heart and also that the Lord will intervene again so that this evil plan will not succeed.

One last thing about these 'Catholics'. I just do not think one should call themselves Catholics if they do not totally and fully support the teaching (note the singular) of the Church. The teaching of the Church is one single whole and we cannot pick and choose. It is alright to doubt or question the teaching of the Church but the important thing is to seek the truth not according to what thinks but according to the mind of Jesus. In the end, what we think is nothing because the Truth is dictated by Christ.

Anyway, I went to the dentist yesterday and I spent 3 hours for a root canal. I have to go back on Monday and Wednesday for the cap of my tooth.

Inside IMAX Theater

In the afternoon, I took my children to SM North to watch Batman. I am amazed at the improvements in the recent years. The theater was clean - the seats were better than those in Silver City in Victoria. We also watched the Dark Knight in IMAX - all for P1,200 or P400 per person. That's less than CA$10 per person. You can't even watch a regular movie at that price in Victoria! The sound was excellent.

The movie has a twist at the end but it was very well directed. Excellent direction and storyline.

We had dinner which was a feast because my wife`s nephew was going back to the US the next day. Still trying to adjust to the time so I went to sleep at 8:30 pm.

Day 1: Rest of the Day

Immediately after haircut

After breakfast, I had a haircut. There were 2 options - haircut in an airconditioned room or not. If it was in the air-conditioned room, the cut was P50. Cut in no air-conditioned room was P30. I choose the to have mine in a non-air-conditioned room.

Manila: Day 1 Breakfast

Slept from around 2pm yesterday (5am Victoria time) until around 10:30 pm (1pm Victoria Time). Chatted w/ my family and then went back to sleep. Woke up around 3am and had some breakfast - left over lechon.

Touchdown: Manila

The plane landed 2 hours after schedule. Not bad considering it left 3 hours late. The pilot probably drove the plane like a jeepney driver in Manila.

Victoria to Vancouver to Manila

Flight schedule showing delay

I am here at the airport. The flight is delayed for 3 hours!!! It was scheduled to fly at 12:30 am but now, it`s scheduled to fly at 03:35 am. It's almost 12 midnight and thankfully, the airline provided a $15 voucher to use for meals. I was really hungry.

2012: Seeking God's Face: Prologue

Many may wonder why the title is Seeking God's Face.

This trip is meant to be a rest for me. It has been a while since I took a long vacation. Rest is an opportunity to get a glimpse of God's perfection. One thing I learned years ago is that when one is searching for something, that person is really searching for God.