Lord Jesus Christ, be present now,
And let your Holy Spirit bow
All hearts in love and truth today
To hear your word and keep your way.
Give us the grace to grasp your word,
That we may do what we have heard.
Instruct us through the Scriptures, Lord,
As we draw near, O God adored.
To God the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit, three in one;
To you, O blessed Trinity
Be praise throughout eternity.
Translation in Filipino/Tagalog (made this translation 2 years ago) :
Panginoong Hesus kami’y samahan
Banal na Espiritu, kami’y tanglawan
Aming puso ngayon, sa pagmamahal at katotohanan,
Iyong Salita’y pakinggan at tupadin ang ’Yong kalooban
Bigyan kami ng grasyang kailangan upang Salita Mo ay maunawaan
At sa aming buhay magkaroon ng kaganapan
Panginoon, sa pamamagitan ng Banal na Kasulatan kami ay turuan
Sa paglapit namin O Diyos ng Kaluwalhatian
Sa Diyos Ama, Anak at Espiritu Santo
Iisang Diyos, Banal na Sangtatlo
Ang walang-hanggan kapurihan magpakailanman
This is a personal prayer (in Filipino/Tagalog) I wrote 3 years ago:
Salamat po, Panginoon
sa Pagliligtas sa amin sa kamatayan at tiyak na kapahamakan,
Pagpapatawad sa aming mga kasalanan,
Pagpapagaling sa aming mga karamdaman,
Pagpapalakas sa aming mga kahinaan,
Pagliliwanag sa aming mga kaisipan.
sa Pagtugon sa aming mga karaingan
Pagkakaloob sa aming mga pangangailangan,
Pagdamay sa aming mga kapighatian,
Pagpawi sa aming mga kalungkutan,
Pagtitiwala sa aming mga kakayanan.
sa Pagpapalawig ng Iyong kaharian,
Pag-gabay at pag-aakay sa amin sa kabutihan at kabanalan,
Pagdudulot sa amin ng Iyong kapayapaan,
Pagmamahal sa amin nang walang katapusan,
at Pagbibigay sa amin ng Buhay na walang-hanggan.
Amen.
Translation in English:
Thank You, Lord
For saving us from death and destruction,
forgiving our sins,
healing our sickness,
strengthening us in our weakness,
enlightening our minds.
For hearing our pleas,
providing for our needs,
drawing near in our tribulations,
wiping our tears,
trusting our potential.
For advancing Your Kingdom,
guiding and accompanying us towards goodness and holiness,
granting us Your peace,
loving us endlessly,
and giving us Eternal Life.
Amen.
These are personal prayers I wrote a year ago:
Personal Prayer of Reparation
inspired by Mark 10:47-48 (Bartimaeus) and Luke 19:1-10 (Zacchaeus)
Your Mercy, O God, fills me with a holy desire to make reparation.
Jesus, Son of God and our Lord, King, Redeemer and Savior, have pity on me!
Like a little child and like Zacchaeus climbing a tree and really wanting to see You Lord, desiring to be seen by You Lord, I welcome and receive You with joy. I repent of all the sins that I have committed.
As I see you Lord Jesus forgiving me, I promise an act of reparation and pray, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.”
Amen.
Panalangin Pagkatapos ng Banal na Pakikinabang
Binubuksan ko ang aking sarili sa Iyo, O Panginoong Hesus,
at nakikipag-isa ako sa Iyo, O aming Diyos.
Puspusin Mo ako ng Iyong Banal na Espiritu.
Punuin Mo ako ng Iyong Awa at Pagmamahal.
Baguhin Mo ako ng Iyong Pag-ibig.
Gawin Mo akong kawangis Mo.
Amen.
Their respective translations:
Panalangin ng Pagbabayad-puri
Ang Awa Mo, O Diyos, ay nagbibigay sa akin ng dalisay na hangaring magbayad-puri.
Hesus, Anak ng Diyos at aming Panginoon, Hari, Manunubos at Tagapagligtas, mahabag po kayo sa akin!
Tulad ng isang bata at tulad ni Zaqueo na umakyat sa puno at lubos ang pagnanais na makita Ka Panginoon, naghahangad na mapansin Mo Panginoon, tinatanggap Kita nang may kagalakan at kaligayahan sa Iyong pagdating.
Nagsisisi ako sa lahat ng nagawa kong kasalanan.
Sa pagpapatawad Mo sa akin, ako'y nangangakong magbabayad-puri at nananalanging “Panginoon, ipamimigay ko po sa mga mahihirap ang kalahati ng aking mga kayamanan. At kung ako'y may nadayang sinuman, isasauli ko ito sa kanya ng maka-apat na beses.”
Amen.
Prayer After Holy Communion
I open myself to you, O Lord Jesus,
And I unite myself to You, O God.
Fill me with Your Holy Spirit.
Fill me with Your Mercy and Affection.
Change me with Your Love.
Make me like You.
Amen.
Transcript of Video Interview (in Tagalog) that we, I and my wife, produced and edited on December 2019 for the promotion of Family Is A Gift in the Archdiocese of Lipa:
Video Title:
Nagmahal, Nagtiyaga, Nagtagal
Totoong Kwento ng Pag-Ibig
Pagdiriwang ng ika-75 Anibersaryo ng Kasal
Lolo Enrique & Lola Felicidad:
May Forever…Kiss again…
Lolo Enrique:
Noong kami’y ikasal ay Disyembre 10, 1944, doon po sa barangay sa gubat, sa sulok. Kasalukuyang gera po noon. Second World War noong kami ay kasalin. Kahigpitan, binobomba itong ating Fernando Airbase. Kami nga ay nagkakainan noong kami ay kasalin, ang Amerikano, ang eroplano ay parating nasirok, nagma-machine gun dito.
Paano po ninyo itinaguyod ang inyong pamilya?
Lolo Enrique:
Kami ay nagtiyaga sa pagtatanim ng mga halaman sa gubat, yang mga saging, lansones, at nagpapaupa ng pagtatabas...noong panahong iyon
Lola Felicidad:
Ay ayos naman, kasi ang ipinakakain naman namin ay sadyang pinaghirapang buhay, sa magaling na paraan kinukuha ang aming ikinabubuhay, tarbaho. Yan ang aming sistema, wala naman kaming pinakain sa mga batang kumbaga’y mga kinukuha laang basta kung saan-saan, ninanakaw o nanghihingi. Wala naman noon.
Basta siya’y naghahanap-buhay, ako nama’y talagang sa pamamahay at pagka noong malalaki na naman ay natulong din naman kung merong dilehensyang magagawa ako ay ako’y nagawa rin ng akin para magka-tulong, yan.
Para sa akin ay parang hindi mahirap eh kasi kung anumang dilehensya mo, anumang kakainin mo, laging kasalo mo. Yan ang masasabi ko.
Ilan po ang inyong mga anak at nasaan na po sila ngayon?
Lolo Enrique & Lola Felicidad:
Walo…
Lolo Enrique:
Apat na lalaki at apat na babae. Iisa ang hindi nakatapos sa aking anak ng pag-aaral, yang panganay. Masasakitin noong maliit pa. Yung aking walong anak ay awa ng Diyos yung pito nakatapos sa kolehiyo. Yung pito ay nasa New York.
Ano po ang inyong sikreto?
Lola Felicidad:
Anong sikreto?
Lolo Enrique:
Ang sikreto namin ay…pagmamahal. Sapagkat 'pag walang pagmamahal ay...alam na. Pagka minsa'y sampung taon, labinlimang taon, nagkaka-agwat. Kung nagkakasalitaan man…
Lola Felicidad:
Ako pa ang magalitin. Miski walang gasinong kasalanan ay galit eh. Galit namang pag nagsalita ay maya-maya’y wala na. Hindi naman kagaya ng mga nagtataniman, hindi.
Lolo Enrique:
Sa awa ng Diyos ay …
Lola Felicidad:
Ayos naman ang aming pagsasama…Wala naman siyang babaeng iba. Ako naman wala ring lalaking iba.
Lolo Enrique:
...ang away ay hindi namin tinitingnan mag-asawa. A-re kung galit, hindi ko pinapansin. Nagkakasalitaan man ng hindi tama, halimbawa'y a-re medyo galit sa akin, hindi ko pinapansin. Basta tuloy ang aking pagmamahal sa kanya.
Ano po ang inyong maipapayo sa mga mag-asawa?
Ang aking maiipayo, basta sila’y magmahalan at wag dadaanin sa away, kagalitan. Yung kaunting salitaan, wag nilang palalakihin. Kanilang pagagandahin.
Lola Felicidad:
Tuturuan mo ng magandang ugali, magandang kilos, tuturo mo sa mga anak mo. Tuturuan mo nang maayos para sila’y maging maayos
_______
Lolo Enrique:
Ako si Enrique Katimbang, tubong Mataasnakahoy, Batangas. Ngayon ay 94 na taon na.
Lola Felicidad:
Ako’y si Felicidad Hernandez-Katimbang. Ako po’y tubong Tiaong, Quezon. Ako’y 92.
Lolo Enrique:
Ang pamilya ay talagang sa amin ay napakatimbang and Family is a Gift.
Lolo Enrique & Lola Felicidad:
May forever
Lola Felicidad:
Family is a gift. May forever.
———–> English Translation: <———-
Video Title:
They Loved, Persevered and Last Forever
A True Story of True Love
Celebrating 75th Wedding Anniversary
Grandpa Enrique & Grandma Felicidad:
There is Forever…! Kiss again…
Grandpa Enrique:
We got married on December 10, 1944 in the then forest area of our barangay. That was a time of war. It was World War II when we got married. The fighting was intense, the Fernando Airbase was being bombed. While we were eating after the wedding ceremony, we're seeing American planes nosedived. We could also hear the sound of machine gun being fired.
How did you support your family?
Grandpa Enrique:
We perseveringly relied on planting fruits and vegetables and we're dependent on farm produce (like bananas, lanzones) and farm labor during that time.
Grandma Felicidad:
We did get by with that simple life, providing food for our family through hard work and a good, honest way of earning a living. That was how we did it. We were able to put food on the table for our children that we earned in a dignified manner, not through stealing nor begging. Nothing of that sort.
He worked hard for our family. I was a housewife taking care of the kids.
By the time our children were old enough, if there were opportunities for me to earn, then I tried to help him by doing what I could do to have additional income.
For me, it didn’t seem difficult. Whatever resources were available, whatever food we had, we happily shared with one another. That's all I can say.
How many children do you have and where are they now?
Grandpa Enrique & Grandma Felicidad:
Eight
Grandpa Enrique:
Four boys and four girls. Only one of them was not able to graduate from college, our eldest child. She was sickly since childhood. Our children – by God’s mercy – seven of them were able to finish college. Those seven now live in New York.
What is your secret?
Grandma Felicidad:
What’s our secret?
Grandpa Enrique:
Our secret is…Love. Without love, we can already surmise that even though couples are married for 10 years, 15 years, they could end up apart.
If we had arguments…
Grandma Felicidad:
I was the one who’s short-tempered for no reason at all, even if he didn’t do anything wrong. Our arguments easily subsided after just a few moments.
We didn’t harbor the feeling of anger or hatred in our hearts.
Grandpa Enrique:
By God’s mercy...
Grandma Felicidad:
We have a loving relationship…He had no other woman. I had no other man.
Grandpa Enrique:
...we didn’t dwell on our misunderstandings and disagreements. When she’s upset, I kept my cool and didn’t mind her. When argument arose for example and she’s kind of angry at me, I let her be and didn’t mind her. I just kept loving her.
What advice can you give to married couples?
Grandpa Enrique:
The advice that we can give is – continue loving each other and don’t let disagreements and misunderstandings get in the way.
Avoid fighting. Don’t let little things, like small hurtful words, be blown out of proportion. Be gracious.
Grandma Felicidad:
Teach your children good manners and right conduct. Teach them to your children. Teach your children well so they will grow up to be good people.
_______
Grandpa Enrique:
I am Enrique Katimbang, from Mataasnakahoy, Batangas (Philippines). I'm 94 years old.
Grandma Felicidad:
I am Felicidad Hernandez-Katimbang, from Tiaong, Quezon (Philippines). I'm 92 years old.
Grandpa Enrique:
The family, for us, is very precious and Family is a Gift.
Grandpa Enrique & Grandma Felicidad:
There is forever!
Grandma Felicidad:
Family is a gift. There is forever!
Video Interview (with english subtitle):
Published Articles
THE HANGOVER: What Really Happens To Hubby When He’s with His Friends
- (This article appeared on Family Is a Gift Online Magazine October 2019 issue, Your Man's World section, with a slightly different title – BROING-OUT? What Really Happens To Hubby When He’s with His Friends)
I saw a social media post saying the following: “Si HUSBAND na FEELING BINATA… mas madalas pang lumabas kasama barkada kaysa pamilya…” (The husband acts like a bachelor... he goes out with his friends more frequently than with his own family...)
Reading through the comments, I felt bad for the many wives who could not trust their husbands to go, just because they either had biased negative ideas or had no idea at all of what’s happening to their husbands when they’re with their friends.
But wait. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt.
To all the wives, please accept in advance my apology. I’m not vouching for your husbands just because I, too, am a husband myself. But let me share with you these proven benefits:
Hanging out with friends is good for your husband’s health. This is especially true when we, together with our friends, engage in sports like basketball, cycling, hiking, mountaineering, marathon and other physical activities. These are opportunities to not only catch up with our buddies but also to flex our muscles and exercise in a fun way.
A recent study finds that male bonding is actually a great remedy to light stress, the type of stress we come across everyday at the office or at home. Husbands who have well-integrated social network are less likely to suffer from depression caused by worries about money and job insecurity. For most of us, men, talking is a type of “therapy” that helps our sanity (though for women it may be a natural, regular activity). Sharing stories somehow gives us a sense of adventure and excitement. Science has also shown that for guys, a beer out with their buddies once or twice a week is an essential part of bonding, supporting both social relationships and personal health.
The boys’ night out (not the typical BNO) will make your man happier, more relaxed and balanced. I remember my friend and mentor telling us, “I become moodier, more irritable, more passive in the relationship when I spend days or weeks doing everything together with my wife. When that happens, that’s the time for me to pull away for a while.” One friend also tells me, figuratively, “From time to time, we really need to get out of the forest and look at it from afar to better appreciate it.” In 2012, an exclusive survey done by a known men’s magazine in the US also showed that 74% of men who see their closest friends at least weekly are starting to do a better job of bonding, tend to be more kind and have greatly improved well-being. In short, when we have regular times for ourselves or with our friends, we come home with something better to give to the relationship.
Guy friendships tend to last longer and like any other friendships, we care. Two of our friends, Gab and Marv (not their real names), have known each other for more than two decades now. Twenty-five years ago, Gab used to enjoy every night with his friends, treating them to a drinking spree. This was Gab’s life for a long time – going to beerhouses and nightclubs with his workmates and friends. Gab also loved to watch porn while drinking gin and eating popcorn with his buddy, Marv. After some time, Marv and his wife were invited to join a Catholic family renewal organization. From then on, Marv continued to visit Gab not for the popcorn and porn sessions but to invite him and his wife to join the same organization. Marv’s prayers and efforts paid off when, finally, Gab and his wife joined them after a decade of patient and relentless invitations. Another friend of mine shared that a guy attending their prayer gathering was a former drug addict. How did that guy come up to their prayer assembly? Through the advice of one of his pot session buddies, when his marriage was on the rocks, to seek marriage counseling and couple prayer groups.
Dearest wives, in the hope that you have been reading up to this point…how can you benefit from this too? Simply, trust and send your man out – he will be better company once he comes back. Remember also to pray for them to have good friends. After all, the quality (the character) of your husband’s friends determines the quality time and activities they will spend together. The old proverb says, “Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are”. And more often, we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.
I pray that you and your husband may have true friends to stand by you, both in joy and in sorrow.
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN
DENY MYSELF, TAKE UP MY CROSS AND FOLLOW HIM
- (This article appeared on the Silver Book of the Couples for Christ Archdiocese of Lipa, published ©2012)
A Christian is charitable, compassionate, humble, honest, righteous, reverent, industrious, inspiring, selfless, servant-hearted, truth-seeking, thankful, immaculate, innocent, affectionate, noble, nurturing. As a Catholic Christian, I do not possess all these qualities.
Foundation of Faith
Having been raised in a “traditional” Catholic family, I practiced what most Filipino Catholics do: attend Mass with family on Sundays and holy days, pray the rosary, avail of the sacrament of confession especially during Lent, abstain from eating meat at least on Ash Wednesdays and Good Fridays and the likes. I studied high school at Sta. Teresa College in Bauan, Batangas. There, I learned more about the Catholic faith. At a young age, I began to appreciate the Bible especially the Gospel. Echoing the message of Christ, the school taught me to value character and virtue more than success, honesty more than high grades or academic performance.
Desire for Faith Community
Our high school class adviser introduced us to reading the Kerygma magazine, a Catholic & family-oriented magazine. In one of the issues, I read an article about the Youth for Christ (YFC) members serving in various Gawad Kalinga (CFC-initiated poverty alleviation and nation-building movement) sites. This article struck me so much that I pondered and asked myself, “Do I bring God with me outside the church after the Mass or do I just leave Him there?” I resolved that I wanted to be part of a faith community. I wanted to be like those teenage boys and girls of YFC! I promised myself that I would join this community!
Christian Life Program, the Couples for Christ (CFC) and the Singles for Christ (SFC)
The Lord heard me and granted my heart's desire when I was in my fourth year college. I was invited to the Christian Life Program (CLP) at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Batangas City by Bro. Boyet Dela Cruz, then the Power Plant Assistant Manager of JG Summit Petrochemical Corporation where I was a student intern. In November 2007, I started to attend the weekly CLP of CFC. Together with a single sister attendee, I finished the CLP on March 16, 2008 along with other couple participants.
The community of the Singles for Christ helped me deepen my faith, know the Lord in a more personal and intimate way by daily living in His presence and communing with Him in the sacraments. As an SFC brother, I learned to follow the Lord relentlessly. I strove eagerly to live my Catholic faith in practical ways. For instance, I tried to be more patient and be a responsible driver on the road – enjoying the traffic with Christian music, instead of recklessly overtaking. I also taught myself to make the habit of “pagmamano” or the Filipino custom of giving respect by asking our elder's hand as a sign of blessing. By God' grace, I faithfully practiced good stewardship of all the blessings that the Lord has so generously given me. Supporting Pondong Batangan and the vision of ANCOP (Answering the Cry of the Poor) Foundation of CFC in sharing and bringing Christ's transforming love to the less privileged and less fortunate of our brethren were my tangible acts of loving my neighbor.
I serve in CLPs and hope to participate in the mission of the Church by seeking the lost specifically through SFC and fulfill its vision that every single man and woman all over the world may experience Christ. I work with CFC in its mission of building the Church of the home and the Church of the poor. Through the benevolent mercy of God, I live out my Christian calling by doing what the Lord is asking me...to die to myself, to my wrongdoings and sinful desires, to my pride and arrogance, to my impulsiveness and hot-tempered behavior and to my judgmental and presumptuous attitude – to deny myself, to take up my cross daily and follow Him.
Small acts...great love...like what Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, “We can do no great things; only small things with great love”...all made possible by God.