Tuesday, October 8, 2013

PRAY FOR ZAMBOANGA # 15: TAKE ME OUT OF THE DARK

This was taken at the Centro Pastoral in Gov. Camins Street after the Novena to the Lady of Pilar de Zamboanga last Sunday.

This looks like the R.T. Lim Boulevard, with the reflection of the street lights on the water, but there is supposed to be no water... this is water from flooding on the Centro Pastoral grounds. 

After 23 days of the MNLF Stand-off, the Zamboanga Crisis continues on as heavy rains pour, now on Day 6 of the continuous rains and flooding in most of central Zamboanga.

We continue to pray for Zamboanga!

Our outlook remains positive...
our spirits steadfast!

We are appreciating so many more things in life...
and we realize how temporary material things are!

It is not OUR WILL... but THY WILL BE DONE! 

I'd like to share the lyrics of a Gary V. song:
TAKE ME OUT OF THE DARK
Just what is it in me?
Sometimes I just don't know
What keeps me in Your love,
Why you never let me go

And though you're in me now,
I fall and hurt you still
My Lord, please show me how
To know just how you feel

You have forgiven me
Too many times it seems
I feel I'm not what you might call
A worthy Christian after all

And though I love You so
Temptation finds it's way to me

Teach me to trust in You
With all my heart
To lean not on my own understanding
I just forget
You won't give me what I can't bear

Take me out of the dark, my Lord
I don't wanna be there

You've never left my side
You gave Your hand to me to hold
Oh Jesus, I'm no longer in the cold

And yet, I leave You there
When I feel satisfied
I'd like to thank You every day
Not only when I feel that way

I've never known a Man
Who'd give His life for sinners like me
And yet, because He loves us so
He's promised us eternity
And we can have that promise
And be His if we have faith
And just believe

Teach us to trust in you
With all my heart
To lean not on my own understanding
We just forget
You won't give us what we can't bear

Take us out of the dark, My Lord
'Cause we don't want to be alone
Take me out of the dark, My Lord
We don't wanna be there, My Lord

Trust in You with all my heart
Lean not on my own understanding
I just forget
You won't give me what I can't bear

Take me out of the dark, My Lord
Cause we don't want to be alone
Take me out of the dark, My Lord
I don't want to be there

Monday, October 7, 2013

PRAY FOR ZAMBOANGA 14: LEAD US LORD

Zamboanga is now experiencing 
a series of misfortunes...
WAR...FIRES...and now, FLOODS!!!

We try to keep the positive outlook,
but somehow... and sometimes this falters... 
when the calamities come one after another!

We continue offer our prayers to You, Lord
and appeal to You
LEAD US LORD
LEAD ZAMBOANGA, OH LORD.

As part of the song, Lead Me Lord goes:
Lead me Lord
Even though at times
I'd rather go alone my way
Help me take the right direction
Take Your road
Lead me Lord
And never leave my side
All my days
All my life


You are my light
You're the lamp upon my feet
All the time my Lord
I need You there
You are my life
I cannot live alone
Let me stay 
By Your guiding love
All through my life

Please, Lord, help us take the right direction and take your road.
Our path has been so dark for so long and we need you to lead us there, as all of us take part in rebuilding Zamboanga!!!

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

ONE ZAMBOANGA!


As we view Zamboanga City after the Crisis, we are more firm in our conviction in Zamboanga City's new "battlecry" as expressed by our Mayor Maria Isabelle "Beng" G. Climaco: 
As always let us remain under One Flag, One Philippines, One Zamboanga!

Sunday, September 29, 2013

LEVANTA ZAMBOANGA 2: LANTAKA HOTEL

Lantaka Hotel circa 2005
Day 21.

I know the War is not yet done, even if they say, the Zamboanga Crisis is over!
And I heard the Clearing Operations may still take two more weeks!!!

Yes, some flights are back... some banks are open... businesses are also now open!

Classes are supposed to resume... but apprehensive parents are not sure if it is already safe!
Last Friday, only 12 students came out of the 3,000 students in one school.
Some parents came over to check if the other students came!

Offices are also said to resume, although, many offices have also moved to safer places!

Traffic is back!

BUT, people still can't go back to the affected places!
... AND I am still "afraid" to see more injured soldiers...

It will still be a "Wait and See" situation in the next week...

Meanwhile, we still have to keep our hopes up and plan for the rebuilding of Zamboanga!
Definitely, not an easy task but we have to start somewhere!

LET US CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR ZAMBOANGA!
LEVANTA ZAMBOANGA!!!

Let us share the feeling and infect others so Zamboanga can rise higher than before!!!  


Saturday, September 28, 2013

LEVANTA ZAMBOANGA 1: TIN WITH JOY

Today, September 28, 2013, is Day 20 and Palace says "Zamboanga Crisis over".

Then, we still hear some gunfire
... we see fire (the 34th I heard) from afar
... and some injured soldiers!
... So more likely, not yet over!

But, we hear that there are more than a hundred bodies (rebels) found
... and the hostages are all free! (Is this right?)
... And the supposed Jihad never came about (as propagated by text messages)!
... And where did this story come from?

Somewhere along the way, some people are using the MNLF stand-off for their own purpose and want to confuse issues...

We know the end of this atrocity is coming soon
... we are willing to wait
... not willing to negotiate
... with the hope that this disastrous event would never be repeated!!!

Whatever the situation is right now... 

The message throughout Zamboanga City is still LEVANTA ZAMBOANGA... and is a song we hear so often in the air waves!

As said before, Zamboanga will rise again!!!







Levanta Zamboanga!!!

Even, if the "WAR" is not a hundred per cent over (because the clearing operations are not yet through!), we already see traffic coming back and stores opening up!!!

It is the time to start the ball rolling for recovery...
No need to wait for the end...
No need to wait for Malik to be found...

Some negative characteristics are again felt.
A friend said... "akala ko tapos na ang gulo...dahil for two consecutive days iv been dealing with abusive tricycle drivers, normal na ugali na ulit!"

Let us all learn from our misery...

Let it be a reminder for us to do better and to be better!
Let us start with ourselves!!!

Levanta Zamboanga!
Let it start now!!!

Monday, September 23, 2013

ZC CRISIS INSIGHT: GRATITUDE

I saw this message from my niece Karen's FB status...

So fitting for our present situation...

We live life full of joy, laughing out loud, all the excitement, going through our daily routine, making plans, believing nothing will go wrong...

Many times we become proud and feel on top of the world!

Then, reality strikes!!!

We can't leave for a travel abroad...considering the registration was an $800.00 equivalent prize... and everything else will be paid for!

We can't leave for my son's birthday... but happy enough he is away already!

We don't have money (no banks OR no work!)... and no flights!

We can't leave because we feel we are needed here... even if we sense the danger and the fear!

The former three are twists of fate...
The latter is a CHOICE!

Many of us had opportunities pass because of the MNLF Stand-off...
and even, more as Day 16 doesn't seem to be the last day! 

Many of us are now shaken from our comfort zones!

Going on duty for 16 to 24 hours... when the need arises!

Seeing more bloody patients and death in line of duty!

But, we realize others even had more nerve-wracking experiences...

...coming face-to-face with the MNLF while you have 8 children with you as you were evacuating
...seeing armed MNLF men down the road with view of the hostages
...being hostaged!
...listening to eerie silence
...fleeing from their homes 
...walking several kilometers through mangrove areas and muddy fishponds
...crossing one bamboo and a thin rope with a kid on the back, trying to balance so as not to fall in thigh-deep waters
...fear of having houses burned
...and with houses really burned
...injury and death while in the line of fire or even from stray bullets and mortars
...staying in evacuation centers
...living with friends and relatives
...listening to explosions and fire exchange as though it is just behind our back
...listening to hovering choppers
...panicking over inside information
...our friends really and actually leaving because they could not stand the pressure and the terror... for their children... for their elderly parents... and also for themselves!... and I do hope not because of any "inside information!"   
...and the list goes on!!!

Simply put, the bad things in life!

But, everyone is now thinking of ways to help...
Others encourage others to help... in whatever way!
Someone said, if you do not have the money to share, why not donate blood to the Red Cross!

The young kids and the adults, too offer their talent in their own schools, agencies, place of work, community groups and even among friends
...continuing their present work responsibilities against the odds
...in cooking, repacking, distributing goods for the displaced
...and also being part of the Therapeutic shows!
...of just sharing time to those who need them!

We now appreciate more what we have... and what we have taken for granted!


Indeed, "Be thankful to the Bad things in life, for they open your eyes to the Good things you were not paying attention to before!"



#PRAY FOR ZAMBOANGA 13

Here is another song calling for PEACE!

Oh, Lord, we cry out and plead for PEACE!
All we want is PEACE...
And we pray that we achieve it very soon!

Many hearts are bleeding...
as we experience surprise and disbelief...
as we see suffering and death...
as we feel fear and panic...
as we get lost and not know what the new day brings!

But, we also see compassion and generosity...
We see simplicity and appreciation...
We see unity and dedication...
We see creation and innovation...
We feel wholehearted service and willingness to do more!

This is so inspiring...
This will be the foundation where rebuilding Zamboanga would lay upon!

Let PEACE reign in Zamboanga City, Oh Lord!


,

#PRAY FOR ZAMBOANGA 12: PEACE BEGINS WITH A SMILE

When children smile, our hearts melt! 

According to Mother Teresa, PEACE begins with a smile.

Now, during the MNLF stand-off or what we call the Zamboanga City Crisis, a simple smile may not stop the war!

Life is no longer simple now... 
It is so difficult to understand the differences in ideology... which for us, is distorted on their side!
I really cannot fathom their minds!

And I am sure, parents only experience fear when they think of the safety of their precious children!
For ourselves, we feel lucky our kid is already away from Zamboanga.

Now the Zamboanga Crisis has already dragged on to Day 15 and we continue to hear exchange of fires, snipers, mortar hits in residential areas, airstrikes, stray bullets and sirens.

We, then, see that parents want to bring their children away from Zamboanga City.

Children already want to bring their elderly parents to another place.

As we said, a simple smile may not stop the war...
But, I see a smile from the wounded soldier I talked to... so positive that the war will end soon...
Smiles from healthcare workers just after caring for bloody patients...
Smiles from hostages and evacuees, who now have a difficult life... but still can do so!
Smiles from my friends (from all walks of life) who have exerted extra effort to share their time, talent and treasure to the evacuees, the soldiers, the informal sectors!

With these, YES!!! It may not stop the war, but it continues to infect the people around them... for them to continue to HOPE for PEACE!

We continue to pray that Zamboanga City will attain PEACE very soon!

Let PEACE reign in Zamboanga City!!!
  

ZAMBOANGA CRISIS: HEAL THE WORLD

During our mass last weekend, our recessional song was "Heal The World".

I just like to share this song which really touches our heart and very apt for our emotions this Zamboanga Crisis 2013! 

"Heal The World"



There's A Place In
Your Heart
And I Know That It Is Love
And This Place Could
Be Much
Brighter Than Tomorrow
And If You Really Try
You'll Find There's No Need
To Cry
In This Place You'll Feel
There's No Hurt Or Sorrow

There Are Ways
To Get There
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
Make A Better Place...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

If You Want To Know Why
There's A Love That
Cannot Lie
Love Is Strong
It Only Cares For
Joyful Giving
If We Try
We Shall See
In This Bliss
We Cannot Feel
Fear Or Dread
We Stop Existing And
Start Living

Then It Feels That Always
Love's Enough For
Us Growing
So Make A Better World
Make A Better World...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

And The Dream We Were
Conceived In
Will Reveal A Joyful Face
And The World We
Once Believed In
Will Shine Again In Grace
Then Why Do We Keep
Strangling Life
Wound This Earth
Crucify Its Soul
Though It's Plain To See
This World Is Heavenly
Be God's Glow

We Could Fly So High
Let Our Spirits Never Die
In My Heart
I Feel You Are All
My Brothers
Create A World With
No Fear
Together We'll Cry
Happy Tears
See The Nations Turn
Their Swords
Into Plowshares

We Could Really Get There
If You Cared Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
To Make A Better Place...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me

Heal the world we live in, save it for our children
Heal the world we live in, save it for our children
Heal the world we live in, save it for our children
Heal the world we live in, save it for our children

Writer: JACKSON, MICHAEL / PAICH, MARTIN
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.