The Divine Mercy of GOD

BY: NINO A. CALAMBA, RN


“My mission will not come to an end upon my death. I will draw aside for you the veils of heaven to convince you of God’s goodness.” – from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska of the Most Blessed Sacrament. These words started the strong devotion to the Divine Mercy of God. From the diary of Sister Maria Faustina, a young nun then from Poland, the devotion to the Divine Mercy of God began spreading throughout the world in the 1930s.

The messages from the diary of Saint Maria Faustina is a reminder of what the Church has always taught her faithful people through the Scripture and traditions. People are reminded that God is merciful and forgiving and that as children of God, we too must show mercy and forgiveness. However, in the devotion to the Divine Mercy, a powerful new focus has been brought about by the messages of the Divine Mercy.

The devotion to the Divine Mercy provides us the message of mercy that God loves all of us despite of how great our sins are. The message tells us that God wants us to recognize that His loving mercy is greater than all our sins, in order that we will call upon God full of trust and be able to receive His mercy wholeheartedly, which we are encouraged to let it flow through us towards others. So that, everyone will come to share in God’s joy. As EWTN Devotionals puts it, “(the message of the Divine Mercy devotion) is a message we can call to mind simply by remembering the ABC: (A) Ask for His Mercy; (B) Be merciful; and, (C) Completely trust in God.”

EWTN Global Catholic Network explains that because God wants us to approach Him through our prayers every minute of our lives, we are then asking fervently for His Mercy as we repent for all our sins and as well by begging Him to shower His Mercy down upon us and of the whole world. Secondly, we would be merciful to others because God wants that upon we receive His Mercy, we would let it flow freely towards others. God wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He has unconditionally done to all of us. Lastly, when we completely put our trust in God, it is a way of God wanting us to know that the graces of His Mercy are dependent upon our trust in Him. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive His loving mercy.

The prayer to the Divine Mercy is being said every three o’clock in the afternoon, and it goes: “You died Jesus, but the source of life flowed out for souls and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fountain of Life, immeasurable Divine Mercy, cover the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us. O Blood and Water which flowed out from the heart of Jesus as a Fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You! Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and the whole world. Amen. Jesus, King of Mercy, we trust in You!”

For prayer leaflets, devotionals, and prayer schedules to the Divine Mercy, the Divine Mercy prayer group of the Archdiocese of Davao can be reached through phone numbers 298-0488. Ms. Emilia Sitjar is the Divine Mercy Lay Coordinator in the Archdiocese of Davao.

P.S. I would like to give thanks to my Aunt, Dr. Casilda “Sising” Aparis, for encouraging me to grab this blessed opportunity of writing a story about the Divine Mercy of God, especially on its feast day every first of May!

Mesmerizing ENCHANTED RIVER & Marvelous TINUY-AN FALLS

BY: NINO A. CALAMBA, RN


During the Holy Week, most people always grab the opportunity to see places and have the time to reflect on the loving goodness of God for mankind. It is also the time when most people go to sought-after tourist destinations wherever in the country, or even in the world, it may be. Because it is during the Lenten season that all folks have one of the longer vacations in the entire year.

For my friends and I, we chose to see natural tourist spots found in Caraga Region – the Enchanted River in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, and the Tinuy-an Falls in Barangay Burboanan, Bislig City. After spending our times reflecting on the sacrifices of Jesus Christ by visiting nine churches on Holy Thursday and commemorating the Way of the Cross on Good Friday, we headed to Wow Caraga! to prepare for thanksgiving early dawn on Black Saturday.

The Enchanted River (named as such because it seems enchanted by fairies and other spirits), the more popular one because of the unstoppable uploading of pictures by friends on Facebook who have been there (whether by themselves or through an educational fieldtrip), is a 12-kilometer drive away from Hinatuan Proper. It is a river located in the mouth of an underground cave, and its stream rushes towards the seas of the Pacific Ocean. Some islands and islets can be readily found outside the Enchanted River, where one or a group can hire a pump boat to go to the island and islets and enjoy the fish cages and turtle sanctuary found in there. One island named Pangasinan White Sand literally stands by its name because its sands really resemble the sands in the Hundred Islands in Pangasinan.

What is unforgettable in the Enchanted River is the “fish-feeding” time. Authorities assigned to take care of the river have to ring a bell for several times at exactly 12 o’clock in the afternoon. This informs people to come out of the water for a while to make way for fishes to go up the water surface and eat their lunch. And when the caretaker starts to throw fish feeds like bread crumbs, small and big fishes alike competes in slurping on the water surfaces to catch their feed. The sound of slurping fishes is really audible, even if you are standing up the hill a little far from the river. This event draws people to become awestruck and starts to capture what they have witnessed on camera.

The Tinuy-an Falls is 15 kilometers away from Barangay Mangagoy in Bislig City. Like I said in the anecdote I have made in my “Tinuy-an Falls” photo album in Facebook, we passed through barrio after barrio, bridge after bridge, hill after hill, ricefield after ricefield, and one wide Lake, before we have reached the foot of the Tinuy-an Falls. When we were already down on our last slopes going to the foot of the Tinuy-an Falls, we can already hear the water falls like heavy rainfall, even if the falls itself is not yet visible. The name of the Tinuy-an falls is derived from a local term “tinuyu”, which means intentional. Therefore, if one must decide to go and see the Tinuy-an Falls, one must have the conviction and greatest of intentions.

At the foot of Tinuy-an Falls, four layers of waterfalls can be seen. The third layer is the tallest and the strongest. It is where we have enjoyed pulling ourselves on a bamboo raft we have rented for an hour to get ourselves nearer the waterfalls. There immediately below the waterfalls, we have experienced a natural massage from the water, a heavy and strong massage at that. After enjoying the water massage and diving and swimming in the third layer of the waterfalls, one can go further up the second layer through a man-made steel stairs (which is for another fee). Up there you can see the best view down below the waterfalls. You are like up in a mountain looking down on people who are swimming and enjoying.

These recent Lenten vacation me and my friends have experienced is a basketful of inspiring and enlightening situations. There were times that we almost meet accident while riding a habal-habal en route to Hinatuan after swimming at the Enchanted River. Memorable and happy moments were always printed on our minds even up to this very hour. Bloopers and funny experiences never fails to brought us into laughter everytime we remember them. But the most important thing of all, we were able to realize that God who can never be outdone in generosity and loving kindness always protects His children from harm. And lastly, we were able to strengthen our faith, that God who made heaven and earth is the source of all that is good and marvelous! We praise and thank the Lord for giving us such wonderful natural treasures in our very own land!


P.S. Thank you very much to Roy Vencent Miano and his Mama, Gladys Calo and Family, Aladhin Repollo, and Alrish Dar Joy Romero!

CARRILLON OF PRAYERS

BY: NINO A. CALAMBA, RN


In general sense, prayer is said to be the application of the mind to Divine things, it is not merely an acquisition of knowledge about them but it is making use of such knowledge as a means for a strong and unique bond with God. Praying is done by acts of praise and thanksgiving.

By praying, we acknowledge God’s power and awesome goodness, as well as our own neediness and dependence on Him. It is therefore an act implying the deepest reverence for God and inspiring us to look to Him for everything, not because the things we ask are good in itself, or advantageous to us, but mainly because we sincerely wish it as God’s gift to us His faithful children.

Prayer strengthens our faith in God and energizes our hope in His magnanimous goodness. Hence, God, to whom we pray, moves us to fervent prayer. Our knowledge of God will always inspire us to look to Him for help, and positively dispose us to receive His loving graces.

According to some prayer experts, in hearing our prayer, God does not change His will or action in our regard, but simply puts into effect what He had eternally decreed in view of our prayer. It adds that, “this He may do directly without the intervention of any secondary cause as when He imparts to us some supernatural gift, such as actual grace, or indirectly, when He bestows some natural gift.”

“When we pray, we lift our thoughts, feelings, intentions and our hearts’ desires to God. When praying, we bow our heads with respect and surrender; with submission and gratitude; and with joy and sorrow. We look up to God with faith, hope and love.” These forewords from the latest publication of the Mary Immaculate Health & Educational Foundation, the “Carrillon of Prayers”, becomes an invitation for all of us to commune with God in constant prayers.

Wikipedia says , a carillon (also spelled in Spanish as “carrillón” as in the Carrillón in the Basilica of the Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, from which the title of the book was partly derived) is a musical instrument which is played by striking a keyboard (with keys called “batons”) with the fists and by pressing the keys of a pedal keyboard with the feet. The keys mechanically activate levers and wires that connect to metal clappers that strike the bells, allowing the performer named carillonneur, to vary the intensity of the note according to the force applied to the key. A carillon’s sound comes from numerous bells (23 bells to be exact) to produce a musical melody. The “Carrillon of Prayers” book, therefore, is like an array of musical chimes offered to God in continuing praise and thanksgiving.

“Carrillon of Prayers” book, compiled by Professor Espie Chinel Aparis, is a compendium of chimes of prayers for God. The compilation encourages us to take our worries and aches to God in prayer. It said that we must remember that we are entrusting our cares to the One who hung the stars and set the planets in motion, who is also the One who created the earth and all that is in it.

The prayer book was made out of the knowledge that some people like to pray with the help of prayer books, which likewise inspired Espie Chinel Aparis to compile her very own “prayer collection” through all the years. Ms. Aparis said that the compilation is meant to be shared to everyone who needs a ‘prayer book’ companion that they can bring with them, wherever they go.

The Carrillon of Prayers book is composed of: Daily Prayers; Prayers to the Lord Jesus Christ; Prayers to the Holy Spirit; Eucharist Prayers; Prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary; The Holy Rosary; Prayers for Protection and Spiritual Warfare Prayers; Prayers for Healing; Prayer for the Sick; Prayer in Time of Illness; Novena Prayers; Prayers of Contrition; Prayers for Abundance; Prayers for the Church, for the Pope, for Priests, Religious and for Vocations; Prayers for our Nation and for Good Governance; Prayers for Families; Prayers for Personal Intentions; Prayers for Students, Workers and Professionals; Prayers for the Environment; Prayers for Near Journey’s End and for the Faithful Departed; Christmas Prayers; and, several Prayerful Quotes.

The Carrillon of Prayers book, with Nihil Obstat by Reverend Father Gene Gilos of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and Imprimatur by Most Reverend Bishop Leonardo Y. Medroso, the Bishop of Tagbilaran, is edited by Professor Greg A. Calamba, Jr. and Bro. Boie K. Jamisola.

The Mary Immaculate Health & Educational Foundation welcomes sponsors and benefactors who may wish to become part of the propagation of the “Carrillon of Prayers” book. It is the prayerful wish of the Mary Immaculate Health & Educational Foundation that a life of prayer and constant communication to God becomes the strongest part in the day to day living of all people.

Therefore, those generous people who may wish to share their gifts in the continuing reproduction and distribution of the “Carrillon of Prayers” book and be able share this blessed prayer book to their friends and loved ones may contact the following numbers: 286-8173; 297-0937; 0922-8866745 and 0917-6927915. Email messages can also be sent to mary_imm@yahoo.com. MIHEF official facebook account is: Mary Immaculate. Proceeds of the prayer book is for the educational scholarships of less fortunate youth and children, for the community health services in depressed areas, and special projects of the Mary Immaculate Health & Educational Foundation.

“Let my prayer arise before You like incense, the raising of my hands like an evening oblation.” (Psalms 141:2)

Children's Gathering for Father Alfeo's Silver Sacerdotal Anniversary

By: Nino A. Calamba, RN



It was an afternoon teeming with kids as the Mary Immaculate Health & Educational Foundation celebrates the 25th Sacerdotal Anniversary of its Spiritual Director, Rev. Fr. Alfeo “Al” G. Botero, DCD, who is now on extended mission in Norway. Father Al was a very hands-on Spiritual Director of the Mary Immaculate Health & Educational Foundation by giving his unconditional guidance and support, spiritual empowerment, and fatherly motivations to its members.

Children from the fisherfolk village of Talomo Beach were invited to a celebration of prayers and thanksgiving for the overflowing blessings and graces bestowed upon Rev. Fr. Alfeo Botero on his grace-filled and persevering twenty-five years in the priestly ministry. Delicious meals were prepared for the children who belonged to families who have less in life by the inspired members of the Mary Immaculate Health & Educational Foundation (MIHEF).

It has been the wish of Father Al to celebrate his 25th Year in Priesthood with the less fortunate children. Despite his absence, his MIHEF Family was able to happily realize his wish. Jubilant members joyfully served each child sumptuous meals and refreshing drinks, which commenced with a thanksgiving prayer ably recited by the children together with MIHEF Founder and President, Professor Espie Chinel Aparis. She said, “it has long been part of the strong thrust of the Mary Immaculate Health & Educational Foundation to be of service for the children especially those who are less fortunate”, which is generously supported and blessed by its Spiritual Director, Father Alfeo. The 6-year-old Mary Immaculate Learning Center in Talomo Beach, providing pre-school education to children in depressed areas, is evident to MIHEF’s undying love for the less fortunate children.

(Published on Mindanao Times today, page 15, April 7, 2011 issue)