Ang Matagumpay na Paghihirap ng Aliping Hari

Ang katawang ibinilad sa init at kahihiyan
Kasama ang ulong pinadugo ng tinik at dusa;
Ang tagilirang sinugatan—sinaksak;
Ang mga kamay at paang binutas ng pako;

Ang mga latay, sampal at pagdura,
Paghampas, pagtadyak at pagdayuta,
Sa isang taong natagpuang walang sala:
Subalit iniharap at isinakdal ng mga
Nagdudunung-dunungan,
Nagbabanal-banalan—

Pinaglakad buhat-buhat ang isang kahoy patungo
Sa kamatayang di dapat niyang tahakin—
May mga iyak at luhang itinapon
Ang iba’y nanlibak;
Habang pasan ang kabigatang
Higit sa alinmang paghihirap.

Habang ang kanyang laman
Ay namamaga sa pagbugbog

Hindi siya dumaing.
Buong kaya niyang inihandog
Ang sarili sa isang dakilang layunin

Hindi naunawaan ng kasaysayan
Ang tagpong ito—
Hindi natanggap ng pilosopiya
Ang ganitong kadakilaan
Hindi nalirip ng talino
Ang kanyang pagpapakasakit:

Na isang tao’y magbigay
Ng kanyang buong buhay
Di lamang sa kanyang mga kaibigan
Lalo’t Higit sa kanyang mga kaaway
Maging sa mga di niya kilala

At ang sanlibutang sa kanya’y nagtatwa
Ay di naarok ang pagkadalisay ng
Pag-ibig na ipinamalas
Ng isang haring namuhay bilang
Alipin.

Na ang pagsigaw na ipako siya sa krus ay
Naging hiyaw at iyak para sa kaligtasan
at paghingi ng awa at habag

Upang ang kamatayan sa libingan
Ay di doon magtapos—
Upang ang hagupit ng parusa’y di na
Danasin ninuman,
Upang sa isang araw ay magising o di kaya’y
Mamulat ang mga mata
Na Makita ang taong pumalit sa ating
Kalalagyan—

Sa katapus-tapusa’y naitanong ko
Sa aking puso ang dahilan ng
dakilang pasakit na ito?
Walang kulog at kidlat na sumagot
Bagkus isang malamyos na hangin ang umihip
At ang isinagot at humawan sa aking kaluluwa:

Pag-ibig. click to continue...

Why do we need God?

We are drawn to need God in our lives not because His presence is a surety bond for a successful life. Neither our quench for God, to fill us, is felt and necessitated merely because it sufficiently guarantees a less quandary living nor the irresistible conviction to walk in is precepts, felt by all Christians, avail to assure us of moment-by-moment undisturbed peace and serenity. One author said, that our knowledge of God determines our relationship with Him, the more we are personally intimated by the Word of God and His laws, the deeper our understanding of our lives would be: past becomes illumined and the future becomes clear.

Our need of God is primarily based on our purpose—the very reason why we were created; it is also entirely premised on the voidness of our existence without serving the ultimate objective of God and the reason of our creation, and that is for Him to be glorified.

This glorification solely intended to serve the Creator, is not confined and must not be defined within the limited, finite understanding of men. This glorification is not selfish, arrogant, pompous or proud as human beings feel when adulated. This assuredly, is beyond our narrow comprehensions; however, our need of God is explained as it is the only way to fill the gap, so immense created by our transgressions. It is the only way one can derive purpose and meaning, not of course, it becomes, a stoicist object of our displaced affections, rather it is the sole answer by which our soul responds positively. Because deeper in our hearts and spirit, the need of Him is indispensable truth not merely fact. It operates even without even having to explain or even without having to give any logical presumptions. Minds need not answer where heart and spirit claim to have conceived.

On a personal level, as this has been confirmed by almost all believers, that the need of God is undeniable fact of living of every Christian. Not even aware of it, there is certain ethereal force, not comparable to any known human emotions that do not stop until the act of holiness has been practiced not for a time or moment but in everyday dealing. It would be known, that it is not merely a force, but the Holy Spirit who convicts us, and teaches us, just the same as Jesus has promised. It is not just conscience as the common erroneous belief is, but a strong leading to repentance and leading to a righteous path of every circumstance that confronts us, where truth and God’s precepts must and shall be applied. The need of God is call of the soul longing for its Giver, the longing of the spirit to its Creator, and the end purpose of flesh by its Master Designer. The philosopher and mathematician, Blaise Pascal, had perfectly described this intense longing, and he capsulated this idea to wit:
“There is God-shaped vacuum in the heart
of very man, and it cannot be filled by
any created thing but only the Creator”

The wise king Solomon also admonished in the book of Ecclesiastes, the entire duty of man in these very piercing words, to quote:
“And further, by these, my son, be admonished:
of making many books there is no end: and much
study is a weariness of the flesh. (v.12)

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this
is the entire duty of man. (v.13)

For God shall bring very work into judgment,
With every secret thing, whether it be good,
Or whether it be evil. (v.14).” 1


1 Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, p 721, (c. 1978), Gideon’s International, KJV.

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Who is Me?

This text was typed by "My Rose" during our regular chats over the net. I edited this version because the original is physically (due to text chat format) not so easy to read. This is her thoughts about me. I giggle whenever I re-read the lines. And of course, she forgot something...private.

(dankingkong) is loved by everyone. He always finds time helping other people even though that means taking much of his time for personal relationships. He, however, knows how to make up for the lost time. It is never difficult for him to make people laugh and be comfortable with him. You will actually always find him getting into a crowd, and though the party or gathering is not his, later on he becomes the center of attraction. However, he can also be mean at times, but still funny for people.

He is not difficult to love because he is naturally lovable, talented friendly, sincere, down-to-earth, handsome, cute, but again, mean at times, Hehehe.
He can be your best friend and your worst enemy at the same time, yet at the end of the day, you'll realize that you can never love any man as much as you can love him. I’ve been with this man for almost 8 years of our lives and still counting...oh, and there are still a lot of things about this guy...he is faithful, responsible in all ways you can ever imagine (though there are times, he needs help when arranging things).

He's an attention seeker, you'll never be able to deny him of attention. He's a baby he never wants his ears to be cleaned...he's very particular with the public toilet bowls--he actually has purchased a toilet bowl at cover to protect him whenever he has to attend to some call of nature. (i have never seen anything like that in the supermarket) he could be the vainest man you could ever imagine
(like invite me to view his webcam without asking me to open up my webcam..hehehe).

He snores whenever he sleeps but denies it to death. He sometimes talks when he sleeps, He loves Japanese food. He says no whenever I ask him if he wants anything like whenever I have to buy myself food but shares with me anyway after he strongly said that he does want a share. He enjoys dancing like the a-go-go dancers even if we're standing anywhere along the streets. He plays 'cerebral palsy' patient, even if everyone is looking.

He has made me laugh my heart out... and made me cry like I’ve never cried before he makes surprises not even a good actor can think of. He's a naturally born poet. He easily gets jealous but hates it whenever I get jealous of his girlfriends.

He has mastered the art of self-pity. His voice is music to my ears; his prayers are the sincerest that I’ve heard. His company is enough for me for all the days of our lives. He has not courted any woman but got the woman he wants anyway. He has a lot of alibis whenever he doesn’t want something. He can talk for four hours without getting interrupted. He claims to be independent but depends on people anyway especially for cleaning his room and reminding him of things that he forget forgets there are still a lot of things about him and finally, he's true friend, the real gentleman, a sweet lover, my best imperfect partner he truly is God's gift to a lady he calls rose... click to continue...

The Lady Rose--and who she is...


Getting to know a person is one of the most formidable pre-occupation one could ever hurdle. And for me, the wonders, and thrills of knowing someone, whom you have devoted yourself to love and to hold is no Cupid's arrows act, rather it is a Herculean task.

Donna means, Lady. I have found this definition in an old Baby Book of my sister. At first, I find the name very common, but later, I have realized that, that name would be the name next to my very own heart. And if I want to live in blissful life here and thereafter, I have to join that name and string it to my heart. My Lady, is no ordinary woman. Yes, you may find her in a very casual ordinary look in a crowd. But, it would take a good heart to discover her real treasures. I remember the story of the Emperor's New Clothes...those who can see her would have to be sincere and pure otherwise, you wont see nothing at all, (and I don't mean her naked....that picturesque side, would be solely for my eyes only).

But, she is extra-ordinarily beautiful. She is so soft in her ways like a cotton candy in pushcarts. She is so amazingly womanlike in the chores that she does, from folding clothes, she neatly takes from clothesline up to the very fine means whenever she lifts a page of a book. Her penmaship is unscathed by no other scribble but fine calligraphy.

She cooks like a pro: mastered carbonara (in any color of sauce), adobo, barbecue, lumpia and all the sumptuous home dishes you can think of. Though, she would claim that the reason for her, overly soupy menus, is that her brothers would like "saucy" if not too "watery" dish, her cooking skills had greatly improved, no one can contest. If before, she had been much hated for her so tasteless viands, now, she is sought after cook, for children's parties, and potluck fellowships.

Her kindness sweeps like a tsunami and whirls like tornado. She is generous and so heartwarming. Generally quiet person, but she laughs like a kid, whenever she feels like it. She is so motherly, a trait that made me think she can be a very potential "Uliran Ina Awardee" come future time, and her being thoughtful and caring made me no less to think, she is can be a future gem to her husband (that's me, oh please let me be).

She is the most naturally gifted and brainy lady you can ever find. Though she vehemently denies she is intelligent, her wisdom and knowledge speaks for herself. She graduated with honors when we were in College and impressed my classmates when I flaunted to them, her straight A's and 1's in her MA transcript. She is naturally born a manager--having been arranged so many personal and professional school events. She is a gifted teacher, and I think all of her students will agree. Those who don't are not welcomed to comment.

She makes me happy like no other, drives me crazy like no one can. Make me hide under the pillow and SCRRREEAAAMMM. She is my prayer partner and prays so sincerely and honestly. She is my devotion partner mostly at night. Her devotion to God is personal than public. She has this genuine love for Jesus, whom she knows had saved her.
She is gifted with intuition and instincts, I myself, I stand in awe, with such precision. A great dreamer yet realistic thinker.

She is understanding, she has the capacity to hold enormous mistakes (which I most of the time commit). She loves so passionately like Barrio girl meeting her lover at the wayward river. Does anyone know, she sings? She writes, and she is a talented agogo dancer too?

She is a great casual dresser. She is a great encourager and made me drive roads I have never driven, go places I have never been, do unusual and corny things, I really love to do. She makes me think and crack. My Lady knows my weakest point, and strongest link. She talks with sense and giggle like a babbler. Helping me with chores I cannot do, but make me realize that I am just a human being after all...

A college classmate, a co-officer in the Club, schoolmate, a friend, a sister in the Lord, my only one, my prayer and soul partner, my great confidante, my worst enemy and my bestfried. And of course my One and Only Rose.

You may hate her, love her, find her dull, or blunt. You may find her boring or bubbly. But for me, she would be all my life, the things that I have wanted, the person I truly need, but no matter WHAT SHE HAD BEEN, no matter what SHE HAS DONE,I am here, because God sent me, for her, and SHE for me. She taught me bravery. She encouraged my faith, she listened. She was simply there for me, and for all of those whom she loved (and those whom she doesn't).

And, she will be, for all the life of me, my One and Only Rose, now and for eternity.... click to continue...