PASSION FOR LIFE

How do you build a culture of excellence? It takes passion for beauty. An appreciation of work at its finest. The pressure to give your best for the sake of excellence. How do we encourage a people to behave in such a way? One is to have a group that makes excellence their way of life. This group strengthens itself, models to others, and the behavior catches fire. Excellence of a leader exudes and it catches on to his members. Excellence is the refusal to take on mediocrity as a way of life. Excellence seeks out a "give-all" attitude. Excellence is strongly linked with clear vision. A culture of excellence is built when the atmosphere for passion is established. It can come in the form of a dignified and creative workplace that emits energy to fuel your work. It can come from a model leader who talks with conviction and walks his talk more than anyone else. A Culture of excellence does not consider mistakes as failures, but a learning step to become the best in one's field.

I experienced losing sight of my 2 year old son, Sev, for about 15 minutes. It was the longest 15 minutes of my life. We were in a mall filled with people and there were lots of other kids. I was called out by one of the salespeople because I accidentally left something. It was only for three seconds that looked away from my boy, then he was already gone! I started telling myself, 'okay don't panic he's just here somewhere.' I then started to ask other people if they have seen an adventurous little boy wearing an orange shirt with curly hair. I searched high and low, front and back, going to every nook and cranny of the sections of the department store. My heart started pumping fast and my imagination was running wild. I was desperate! Until a comforting message came upon me from one of my friends in community who crossed my path. He said,'don't worry your wife already found him.' Suddenly all the panic and pressure was gone. What a relief!

What or who do we hold dear in our lives? What or who can't we live without for more than a minute? There are many things we deem important; our degrees, career, possessions, knowledge, connections, and wealth. These are seemingly important things we value in our life. These things though, are replaceable and temporary. What should matter are the things that last. These are our friends, family and most specially our faith. Friends who enrich our lives, family whom we love dearly, and our faith that gives meaning to our existence. These are lasting and most important. It is sad to know that many people are willing to loose them, not for a minute, but even for years. Some even go through life without the slightest effort to embrace these 3 f's.

May we be alarmed when we lose sight of our friends, family, and our faith. May we search for them with much urgency and desperation, until we are reunited and embraced by these precious gifts from God.

In this present generation, we hear a greater deal of environmental issues compared to any other time in history. Just 10 years ago, warnings of global warming were not taken seriously by some key countries, specially the United States, who would rather sacrifice the possibilities of the damaging effects of greenhouse gases in favor of its economy by not signing the Kyoto Protocol. Now, global warming is no fairytale, it is a fact. Global warming will happen. Actually, we are already experiencing some of it today. There are already symptoms of what is to come. We learn of polar caps melting, experience unusually hot days at certain times of the year, and visited by more typhoons in abnormal frequency, just to name a few.
It is not anymore a matter of preventing, but a matter of adapting. We can stop further damages to our ecology, but we will still experience many environmental back lashes caused by man’s irresponsibility and lack of action. In more than one way, all of us are guilty. So, what do we do about it? We follow God’s command for us.
“Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all living things that move on the earth.” Gen 1:28
From the very start, we are mandated to have dominion, to be stewards of His creation. In Couples for Christ, we are evangelized and brought to a community where we can all experience the love and support of our brothers and sisters. Yet, we also must remember to also love and support the rest of His creation. Here are compelling reasons why each should be challenged to be a steward of the environment:
7 reasons why we should be a STEWARD of the environment.
Supply is limited.
Natural resources can be classified as renewable and non-renewable. Renewable means that these resources can be replenished by means of natural cycles through water, air, plants, and animals. Non-renewable resources are those that once are used cannot be replenished. Examples of these are ores of different metals, coal, and oil. When we destroy the ways in which our natural resources will be replenished, through pollution, we might ran out. Ours is a finite earth. We all live in one planet and share the same resources.
Time is running out.
Everything must go somewhere.
The waste that we throw away does not disappear into oblivion. It goes somewhere else. Unless our waste is put into right use, it will cause problems like the plastics that clog up sewage, causing floods in urban areas. Harmful gases doesn’t just vanish into thin air, it contributes to the greenhouse effect that causes global warming.
We are all affected.
We are all living in a global ecosystem. Once a major change happens in one part of the world, then all of us get affected. The melting of the polar caps is rapidly increasing the sea levels, threatening the existence of some islands. The elimination of some animal species due to poaching can cause imbalance in an ecosystem by disturbing the natural food chain.
Apathy is widespread.
In spite of the many campaigns, reminders, and tips on saving the environment, still there are millions out there that think that it is someone else’s job to take care of nature. Many feel that they have bigger problems to tackle. If we do not convince others to be proactive for the environment, then we are fighting for a lonely cause.
Responsibility for God’s creation
We are not requested to be stewards of creation, we have been commanded. This should be reason enough to take care of nature. We must own up to our responsibility, for God entrusts us to love what He has wonderfully created. We hear of dynamite fishing, kaingin (slash and burn) farming, and illegal logging which violate our call to preserve and beautify nature.
Degradation of the quality of life.
Because of man’s sinfulness, we lost paradise. The slums that surround us are results of our greed and selfishness. Instead of building places of beauty, we breed depressed areas. In these places we see that trash and waste matters are dumped into the rivers. There are mounds of garbage in many different locations, swarmed by flies and mosquitoes that may bring disease.
With the above mentioned reasons, here are their respective action steps;
7 action steps in becoming a STEWARD of God’s creation.
1. Save as much as you can.
Save water, save trees, save electricity, save gas, save energy. Save, save, save. Conserve resources at all times.
2. Today is the day to start.
There is no better time to start than today. Each day that we delay our decision to help save the environment, affects our not so distant future.
3. Ecological Waste Management
Segregate! It is crucial to separate non-biodegradable and biodegradable wastes. Wastes such as plastic bottles can be recycled for profit, animal dung turned into fertilizers, and some hard plastics into containers. Segregation also lessens the collection of garbage in your neighborhood, leaving only residual wastes to be collected.
4. Work with others.
Since we are all affected, we should work with other groups. Not one group can solve the problem of the environment. Everyone should do their share and collaborate.
5. Advocate.
Education on the environment will help open the eyes of many people and move them into action. Be an advocate for the environment by first of all being an example. You can organize forums on the effects of global warming and how we can affect change in our simple ways. Turn the apathetic into energetic advocates.
6. Restore what has been ruined.
We are to restore what we have damaged and lost. Planting as many trees, helping preserve wildlife, actively reporting smoke belching, and reporting dynamite fishing are just some of the initiatives that we can do to help bring back and flourish our flora and fauna.
7. Develop environmentally healthy communities
By building Gawad Kalinga communities, we are also helping save the environment. We give values formation to the homeowners as to handling proper waste disposal and becoming caretakers of the trees, plants, and animals in their surroundings. This way, we prevent diseases from spreading. We uplift the quality of life of the poor and empower them to be stewards of the environment.
“God looked at everything He had made, and He found it very good.” Gen 1:31
Let us not disappoint the Lord further. Honor God by loving His creation. We are preparing this world for our children to inherit. May they swim in clean waters, breathe fresh air, and enjoy the scenery of forest covered mountains because of what we have done in our lifetime. Never forget that the earth is our home, our oikos.

Songwriting has always been my passion. In high school, we had songwriting contests and music projects. I was also playing in a band at that time. While trying to come up with a fresh song in my room with my keyboard, my mother suddenly knocked, and had this urge to say, “Why don’t you write songs for God?” She then stepped out of my room and left me with a question that still rings clearly inside my head, up to this very day. I wasn’t in YFC yet at that time. But somehow, God started to reveal his plan for the gift He has blessed me.
When I joined the YFC youth camp in 1995, I fell in love with God’s music. I delightedly suffered a LSS (Last Song Syndrome) of “Sure Foundation” that lasted for a whole two weeks. I always looked forward to every opportunity to worship, and hoping, just hoping, that one of the songs would be Sure Foundation. At the strum of that familiar guitar intro, I just knew it was my favorite worship song playing. I jumped for joy like a little child, excited to see his father. Right there, I then said to myself, “I am going to sing songs of praise ‘til the day I die.”
In 2003, I became very close with this guy who’s “over blessed” with the wonders that he could do with a piece of wood with six strings…Mike Serapio. Besides being a guitar genius, he manifested a passion for music that I’ve never seen from anyone. More than that, he had the undeniable desire to evangelize, to testify his life’s journey with God, through song. Through him, my high school passion of songwriting got reignited, and the haunting words of my Mom visited me once again, “Why don’t you write songs for God?”
Being missionaries in Manila and away from family who were in province, there were times that our faithfulness and dependence on God was tested. There were situations when we were out of money, but God always provided for us through the generous people whom He sends. There were moments when we felt lonely and depressed, missing our loved ones, but by just opening the Bible, God’s unfailing love comforted us. There were instances that confusions beset us, tough choices had to be made, but God always lit our paths and led us to the right direction. Reflecting on His goodness, Mike and I concluded, “God is Enough.” Thus, our first song was born.
Composing songs for the Lord is a result of an overflow of love for Him. It is an expression of thoughts and emotions wrapped in heavenly melody for God’s pleasure. It is a thirst for His presence, inviting the Lord to satisfy us with the peace and joy He pours into our hearts. A song for God is an eternal reminder of His promise, and our faithful response to His Word.
Is there a sweet melody gently playing in your head? Is there a strong force stirring in your heart compelling you to share God’s message? Get a pen and paper, and start to write. You need not know how to strum a guitar or even know how to carry a tune. All you need is love for the Christ, Jesus our Savior.
Psalm 96:1
Sing to the Lord a new song;sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Generations come and go
Leaving a legacy to know
Some created a mess
Others claimed greatness

Dare we choose our fate?
Are we to love or to hate?
The path of peace, narrow
But with faith we will go

There is no easy way
We only strive each day
Unless we will pursue
No freedom, nothing new

Only once we walk on earth
Then a new generation will birth
By our actions they will recall
Will they bow in shame or stand tall?

Generations come and go
It is love I have to show
Come my son, do not fear
God and country I hold dear

A choice between a nation of consumers and a nation of producers.
What happens when a country consumes more than what it produces? Poverty.
The Philippines has so many shopping malls. We want to spend. We love to consume. And what do we spend on? Foreign products. Why? There aren't enough local products with equal quality. Instead of the money going to our fellow Filipinos, it goes to countries that are already rich.
How can we be productive? Simple. Produce something! We all have our special talents and abilities. We've got to have the right mind-set. What can i produce to contribute to nation building? When one produces locally, it cuts trasportation and middle men expenses. Therefore it will be cheaper and more abundant.
To consume is to run out. To produce is to create abundance.
We try to increase our consuming power by looking for jobs. Lets try to increase our productivity power by creating jobs for people. When we produce a product, it will need people to run it. We hire people to run the business, then more Filipinos can have jobs.
Productivity has to start from the grassroots. From the poorest of the poor. Why? Because people are the true wealth of a nation. The more people, the more productivity. Our challenge is to bring out the best of the poor. To be able use their skills to create abundance for them and for the nation. After all, they are the most plenty. When we empower the poor to produce, we also empower them to share. As a Gawad Kalinga saying goes, "Poverty is not a lack of resources, but a lack of sharing."
What talents do I have to produce something of value for the country? What is my passion? What is something new that I can learn to be able to be productive? What can I share to others to make them productive?
Let us choose to build a nation of producers. Great abundance will come. Parating na ang ani ng bayan, ang Bayan Anihan.