Happy Birthday, Kuya!

"The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call him Emmanuel, which means 'God is with us.'" (Matthew 1:23)

I'd always thought it would have been COOL to have a "kuya" (older brother). Until one day during choir practice (circa 1998), I learned a song that blessed me:

Mariang Ina ko
Ako ri'y anak mo
Kay KRISTONG KUYA KO
Akayin mo ako*

And just like that, all my years of longing for an older brother went away - the moment I realized I had a Kuya in Christ all along...

*Mary, my mother
I am your child, too
To Christ, my Kuya
Guide me


Everyday, I catch a glimpse of what it's like to have a Kuya - little ways that Edward shows he cares for Alison. One time after I picked them up from school, I was ready to back the car up when I saw Edward putting the seatbelt on for his baby sister. "Aww, look at you! That's why I've always wanted a Kuya!" I said. "You know, Mommy doesn't have a Kuya. That's why Jesus is my Kuya."

Edward just looked at me, perplexed.

I then continued, "You don't have a Kuya either, so Jesus is your Kuya."

"What about me?" asked Alison.

"Eventhough you have Kuya Edward, Jesus is your Kuya, too," I smiled.

There is just something amazing about seeing Jesus as part of our family. Nobody's ever closer to me than my family. That's why when ABS-CBN came up with "May Bukas Pa," where the show's little hero refers to Jesus as "Bro," I was ecstatic! The show shed some light on how we're supposed to treat Jesus in our lives - talk to Him, ask help from Him as if He were your own brother because He is!

And when my sister told me that I should look up ABS-CBN's new Chistmas Station ID because it was about "Bro" being the "Star of Christmas," I already knew I was going to cry.

Click here for "Star ng Pasko," ABS-CBN Christmas Station ID 2009

And of course I did!

Ondoy, the tropical storm that "brought the worst rainfall to Metro Manila among recorded typhoons since the start of rainfall record keeping according by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration," was such a heartbreaking calamity! It was depressing enough that such a disaster was experienced by our countrymen, but I think it was particularly difficult because it hit Manila in late September. (As you may know, Christmas in the Philippines begins on September 1st.)

"Star ng Pasko" was such a beautiful reminder that the wrath of Ondoy will not rob us of the real meaning of Christmas:

Salamat sa Liwanag Mo
Muling magkaka-kulay ang Pasko...
Dahil Ikaw Bro
Ang Star ng Pasko!

"The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of pain, thanking God during a trial, trusting Him when tempted, surrendering while suffering, and loving Him when He seems distant." (Rick Warren, The Purpose-Driven Life)

It is often wished upon us:
May the spirit of Christmas be always with you through the coming year!

I hope we all remember what this wish means:
Kuya gets center-stage everyday!
Star ng Pasko, Star ng Buhay Natin!
God is with us!

Happy Birthday, Kuya! *<:-)

From our family to yours, we wish you a Blessed Christmas and a Beautiful 2010!

Please accept our humble gift of prayer to accept Jesus as part of your family...

Consecration of the Family

Almighty Father, we consecrate ourselves and our home to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who loves us with a tender and everlasting love. Strengthen us with Your grace that we might return His love in the way we treat, respect, and love each other.

We welcome Jesus as a living member of our family and ask Him to be the Heart of our family. We accept Mary as our heavenly Mother and seek her protection and help in our daily lives.

Heavenly Father, grant that our love may go beyond our home into the world so that we may do our part to build up Your kingdom, to feed the hungry, to help the poor, and to lead all souls to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Amen.