A SHORT WAY OF THE CROSS

First Station – Jesus Condemned to Death

O Jesus! so meek and uncomplaining, teach me resignation in trials.

Second Station – Jesus Carries His Cross
My Jesus, this Cross should be mine, not Thine; my sins crucified Thee.
Third Station – Our Lord Falls the First Time
O Jesus! by this first fall, never let me fall into mortal sin.
Fourth Station – Jesus Meets His Mother
O Jesus! may no human tie, however dear, keep me from following the road of the Cross.

Fifth Station – Simon the Cyrenean Helps Jesus Carry His Cross

Simon unwillingly assisted Thee; may I with patience suffer all for Thee.

Sixth Station – Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

O Jesus! Thou didst imprint Thy sacred features upon Veronica’s veil; stamp them also indelibly upon my heart.

Seventh Station – The Second Fall of Jesus

By Thy second fall, preserve me, dear Lord, from relapse into sin.

Eighth Station – Jesus Consoles the Women of Jerusalem

My greatest consolation would be to hear Thee say: “Many sins are forgiven thee, because thou hast loved much.”
Ninth Station – Third Fall of Jesus

O Jesus! when weary upon life’s long journey, be Thou my strength and my perseverance.

Tenth Station – Jesus Stripped of His Garments

My soul has been robbed of its robe of innocence; clothe me, dear Jesus, with the garb of penance and contrition.

Eleventh Station – Jesus Nailed to the Cross

Thou didst forgive Thy enemies; my God, teach me to forgive injuries and forget them.

Twelfth Station – Jesus Dies on the Cross

Thou art dying, my Jesus, but Thy Sacred Heart still throbs with love for Thy sinful children.

Thirteenth Station – Jesus Taken Down from the Cross

Receive me into thy arms, O Sorrowful Mother; and obtain for me perfect contrition for my sins.

Fourteenth Station – Jesus Laid in the Sepulchre

When I receive Thee into my heart in Holy Communion, O Jesus, make it a fit abiding place for thy adorable Body. Amen.

 

The Station of the Cross is a popular devotion consisting of appropriate meditations before each of 14 stations representing successive stages in the Passion of Our Lord. The Way of the Cross is the most heavily indulgenced devotion in the Catholic Church; it is a devotion reputed to have been originated by Our Lady herself, who, legend has it, set up the original Way of the Cross in Her backyard in Ephesus. Moreover, the great saints all affirm that meditation on the Passion and Death of Our Dear Savior is the most fruitful that one can engage in.

 

 

Brother Estanislao (1903 – 1927)
At the age of 18, a young Spaniard entered the Novitiate of the Brothers of the Christian Schools at Bugedo. He took the Vow of Regularity, Perfection and Pure Love. In October 1926, he offered himself to Jesus through Mary. Soon after this heroic donation, he fell ill and was obliged to rest. He died saintly in March 1927. He was, according to the Master of Novices, a Privileged Soul, who received Messages from Heaven. Confessors and Director asked him to write the Promises made by OUR LORD to those who have devotion to the Way of the Cross.

 

1. I’ll grant everything that’s asked of Me with Faith, when making The Way of the Cross

2. I promise Eternal Life to those who pray from time to time, The Way of the Cross.
3. I’ll follow them everywhere in life and I’ll help them especially at the hour of death.
4. Even if they have more sins than blades of grass in the fields, and grains of sand in the sea, all of them will be erased by The Way of The Cross. (Note: This promise doesn’t eliminate the obligation to confess all mortal sins, and this, before we can receive Holy Communion.)
5. Those who pray The Way of The Cross often, will have a special glory in Heaven.
6. I’ll deliver them from Purgatory, indeed if they go there at all, the first Tuesday or Friday after their death.
7. I’ll bless them at each Way of The Cross, and My blessing will follow them everywhere on earth and, after their death, in Heaven for all Eternity.
8. At the hour of death I won’t permit the devil to tempt them; I’ll lift all power from him in order that they’ll repose tranquilly in My Arms.
9. If they pray it with true love, I’ll make of each one of them a living Ciborium in which it will please Me to pour My grace.
10. I’ll fix My Eyes on those who pray The Way of The Cross often; My hands will always be open to protect them.
11. As I am nailed to the Cross, so also will I always be with those who honor Me in making The Way of the Cross frequently.
12. They’ll never be able to separate themselves from Me, for I’ll give them the grace never again to commit a Mortal sin.
13. At the hour of death I’ll console them with My Presence and we’ll go together to heaven. Death will be sweet to all those who have honored Me during their lives by praying The Way of The Cross.
14. My soul will be a protective shield for them, and will always help them, whenever they have recourse.
“Jesus, Mary, I love you, Save Souls”
“Next to the Mass, The Way of the Cross is the most beneficial of all devotions for the Holy Souls in Purgatory”. “Make the Stations of the Cross everyday”. Our Lord to Sr. Josefa Menendez.

 

 

St. Alphonsus Liguori wrote:
“If you pray you are positive of saving your soul. If you do NOT pray you are just as positive of losing your soul.”

THE MIRACLE DRUG: VCO a.k.a. VIRGIN COCONUT OIL

Metro Manila is a cesspool of bacteria and virus thanks to global warming and air pollution. The flu season is in our midst and it’s first victim is my eldest son. He has a weak immune system because he loves to eat white rice and fried foods particularly hot dogs and pork products just like a typical Filipino kid. He doesn’t fancy a variety of fruits that is why he gets sick more than my other children. But things started getting really serious when I myself suffered the flu together with my youngest baby. I was bed ridden for 2 days and was ailed with high fever and severe cough. It was heartbreaking to witness my 2 year old looking so weak because of very high fever. I had to try so hard not to give her paracetamol and antibiotics eversince I have vowed not to give my kids any kind of allopathic drugs. It is not a good idea to stop fever especially in children since it is the body’s natural way of killing bacteria. To suppress a high fever using drugs like paracetamol actually does more harm than good. So it is better to let nature takes it’s course and help it heal naturally. According to Babycenter.com:
Fever is part of the body’s defense against bacteria and viruses, some researchers suggest that the body may fight infections more effectively when its temperature is elevated. (Bacteria and viruses prefer an environment that’s around 98.6 degrees F, or 37 degrees C.) A fever also tells the body to make more white blood cells and antibodies to fight the infection.On the other hand, if your child’s temperature is too high, he’ll be too uncomfortable to eat, drink, or sleep, and that will make it harder for him to get better.If your child’s fever isn’t affecting his behavior, you don’t need to give him anything to lower it. Offer him plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration, and don’t overdress him or bundle him up when he’s sleeping.If his body temperature is higher than normal because of extra clothes, a scorching day, or a lot of active play, help him cool down by taking off a few of his layers and encouraging him to rest or play quietly in a cool spot.
You can try to lower your child’s fever by sponging him down with lukewarm (not cold) water or giving him a lukewarm bath.Never try to reduce a fever by sponging down your child with rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol can be absorbed into your child’s bloodstream through the skin. It can also cool him too quickly, which can actually raise his temperature.

After the bacteria made its rounds and infected my second child, it struck again after a week. My eldest suffered another bout of high fever but with vomitting and severe headache too. I was so worried that it might be dengue so we had to rush to the doctor. He was then diagnosed with Urinary tract infection (UTI). The bacteria infected his kidneys because he loves to eat pork and beef. I waited for the good doctor to look for the right antibiotic and its dosage while scanning his MIMS manual. We waited a full 10 minutes for him to find the right drug (the horror) out of respect for him and relief that it wasn’t dengue. I had to restrain myself from telling him not to bother because my kid was getting weary. When we got home I took out my magic drug, VCO, and made him drink 15 ml. every 2 hours and also Coconut juice and Banaba tea to clean the kidneys. I saw him gradually get stronger each day. Now he’s totally cured. Thanks VCO, you are God’s gift to the poor people of the Philippines. No thanks to pharmaceutical companies for getting me in debt and weakening my children’s immune system.
Here are some of the 200+ known medical uses of VCO:
Skin (mosquito/insect bites, itching, rashes, cuts, bruises, scratches, acne, sun-burn, burns, blisters, wrinkles, warts, moles, fungus, skin cancer, pre-cancerous lesions, eczema, stretch marks, massage).Hair (dandruff, scalp care, hair growth, lice infestations).Mouth (cracked lips, gum disease, dental cavities, toothaches, mouthwash, throat infections, sore throat).Thyroid Function (overweight, cold hands/feet, fatigue, migraines, PMS, irritability, fluid retention/swelling, anxiety/panic attacks, depression, memory, concentration, low sex drive, low body temperature, constipation, insomnia, itchiness, food sensitivities, brittle nails, bruise easily, heat/cold intolerance, hypoglycemia, frequent/persistent colds, UTI, yeast infections, immunity, joint pains, poor coordination, irregular menstrual periods).Bacteria (ear, throat, sinus, genital infections, UTI, pneumonia, rheumatic fever, dental cavities and gum disease, food poisoning, toxic shock syndrome, meningitis, gonorrhea, gastric ulcers, parrot fever, septicemia, endocarditis, enterocolitis, E.coli, staphylococcus, strephtococci, strephtococcus).Virus (influenza, measles, herpes, mononucleosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, hepatitis C, AIDS, SARS) Fungus (ringworm, athlete’s foot, jock itch, candidiasis, diaper rash, thrush, toenail fungus). Parasites (giardiasis, tapeworms, pinworms).Cancer (colon, breast, skin, liver, inhibit tumor growth).Others: Asthma, diabetes, psoriasis, artherosclerosis, hypertension, Alzheimer’s, Sjogren syndrome, Crohn’s, headaches, colds, aches and pains, fever, flu, bronchitis, colitis, cysts, dysentery, dysmenorrhea, hemorroids, cough, dropsy, kidney stones, jaundice, scabies, scurvy, syphilis, hematemesis, hemoptysis, phthisis, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, stomach ulcers, Parkinson’s, prostate, gallbladder, malnutrition, maintain intestinal health, normalize body functions, reduce body weight by boosting metabolism.
Please spread the word. Amen!

How To Make Your Own Cold Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil

Select only fresh and mature quality coconuts. Split coconuts and collect coconut water. Grate coconuts and collect coconut meat. Bag the coconut meat. Use white nylon mesh bag. Place bag in a Cold Press machine. At home, you can hand press using gloves. Collect coconut milk. Soak the pressed bag in coconut water and press for a second time. Collect more coconut milk. Allow the coconut milk to settle undisturbed in a cabinet at 32degC for 10-17 hours. Coconut oil will naturally separate from water and proteins. Carefully collect and filter the oil and avoid mixing with the bottom water layer. The oil is colorless. While virgin coconut oil has been documented to help alleviate, ease, protect against and even cure many ailments, it is still vital that the individual maintain a healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly, eat a balance diet of the right kind of food, and drink lots of water.

GOOD HABITS VS. BAD HABITS

We Filipinos do not value patience and perseverance unlike the Chinese. The Chinese pass on to their children how hardwork and frugality are the tools for success. And they teach their young how to become great entrepreneurs. While Filipino parents through blood, sweat and tears educate their children how to become employees. So in the end, we Filipinos end up working for Chinese businessmen. In the past I thought there was nothing wrong with that. But after reading up on financial literature and being a slave of my employers for more than a decade now, I realized how twisted and totally idiotic it is to rot in an office cubicle. Okay I may not afford put up my own business now but I have plans to be a successful entrepreneur in 2-5 years and be free from being an employee forever.I will definitely teach my kids how to be creative and to dream big. Office life can really suck one’s dreams and imagination. They must learn how important it is to be patient and dilligent and not to succumb to the happy-go-lucky and get rich quick attitude of most Filipinos. I will teach them the importance of delaying gratification (as I’ve read from Dr. M. Scott Peck’s “The Road Less Traveled”). Hopefully they will not incalcate the following Bad Habits that can ruin their lives and their souls. You might recognize one of them.
Bad Habit #1. FENG SHUI. My mother used to redecorate her friends’ houses in order to attract good luck. This is the art and science based on Chinese belief where the positioning of furniture and lucky charms can affect the success of people in all aspects of life. Many Filipinos think it is harmless to practice Feng Shui. I totally disagree. First of all , it goes against our Christian faith. It is an insult to the Lord to depend upon Chinese good luck charms and furniture to influence our lives. We must bear all the trials and tribulations that God sends our way. It is not healthy to avoid bad luck and attract good luck because the Lord has His reasons why good and bad things happen to us. Without suffering, life will not have meaning and we will not learn from our mistakes. Our souls will not grow in love and understanding. Everything will be shallow and banal in our lives for we will never attain spiritual growth and awareness.
Bad Habit #2. PLAYING LOTTO/GAMBLING/GAME SHOWS. Every household I know has at least one member who is an avid lotto player. This is the reason why PTV Channel 4 is still in business. Every night at 9 p.m. millions of Filipinos are glued to the boob tube in the hopes of becoming the next instant millionaire. There is nothing wrong to yearn for a better life. Don’t we all want to win the lotto someday? But the sad part is when people revolve their lives around gambling to the point of obsession. You see the unemployed waste their hopes and dreams on lotto games, card games and game shows. The imagination is dead and their dreams are wasting away. Imagine what they could have accomplished in their lives if they had the same enthusiasm in their careers and their family life. Take this co-worker of mine. He is still under probation at work. One day he tells us that he is joining this popular game show on tv. He is a No call, no show at work for 2 days while participating in the said show. Revealing his plans and jeopardizing his work for the sake of easy money was not a very smart move. And to top it off he only took home 2 days worth of salary that he could’ve earned at the office if he came to work. He didn’t win the millions that he was hoping for. If he only focused on his career he could’ve secured his family’s future instead of gambling it all away on get rich quick schemes. Whatever you call it, may it be game shows or playing the lotto, they are all just the same, gambling in different shapes and forms.
Bad Habit #3. COMPLAINING OR BLAMING OTHERS. The great Maya Angelou said it best… “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.” If something goes wrong, we always make excuses or blame others. We have a million reasons why we failed and it takes real courage to be humble enough and say it was my fault. To take responsibility for our actions is a sign of a healthy spiritual and emotional well being. Nobody wants a chronic complainer as a companion.
Bad Habit #4. BOOB TUBE OR TELEVISION. I admit it is very hard tear away from the TV. And I even ignore my children just to hear the latest local news or sing along with American Idol contestants. I have promised myself that I will follow Padre Pio’s advice and shut out this brainwashing tool. It is a work in progress, yes. Once I can afford more spiritual and financial books and my own laptop, I will surely break this stupid habit. So help me God.
Here are some good habits that I myself try very hard each day to practice.
GOOD HABIT #1. SACRIFICE. I read this book recently entitled IN HIS STEPS by Charles M. Sheldon. It’s about how following Jesus entails a life of sacrifice. In order to do it, one must ask oneself What would Jesus do?. This simple question when applied in daily life is entails a life of hardship because this world revolves around money and ego. And following Jesus literally is a step closer to living a spiritually mature and happy life. If one is brave enough to detach from the world and it’s crazy pull.
GOOD HABIT #2. PROJECTS. Do you have any little projects up in your sleeve for God? Or even just a simple one like helping out your church or visiting prisoners or reaching out to orphans. Get in touch with our less fortunate neighbors or help out your church give better service. God appreciates all your efforts no matter how small they are.
GOOD HABIT #3. FASTING. Holy week has officially started last Ash Wednesday. Same time last year, Bro. Bo Sanchez invited his readers to go on a 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting. It was the most exciting and rewarding experience I have had in my entire life. This year though I will be a little late. My kids and I all got bacterial infection and it was really devastating. I had a very high fever including my little baby. It was too scary. But I didn’t succumb to antiobiotics. And it was a real pain to watch my little one self-heal very slowly but I had to help her fight it and not kill her body with drugs. I used Virgin coconut oil instead of the usual allopathic drugs and administered it 3 times a day for a week together with Lagundi syrup. Now she is back to her own bubbly self, amazing! If only people knew how cheaperand easier it is to be cured. No artificial chemical can do justice to our bodies.
GOOD HABIT #4.You guessed it. PRAYER. CONFESSION. Only God can help you. Only God can set you free. So talk to Him and tell Him what is ailing you. Reach out to Him and tell him all your sins. Ask Him for mercy and be humble enough to admit Your mistakes. He will listen and He will understand. His love is boundless, His mercy is overflowing.I hope you will find the time to alter your habits and help make this world a better place. God be with you!

THE HEALING POWERS OF OIL PULLING

I was experiencing a bout of PMS that was very painful and distracting. The pain was very unusual and it riled me up especially when I later learned that undergoing ligation was the biggest mistake I ever made in my entire life. At the time, I was ignorant of the evils of surgery and western medical practice. I thought ligation was another solution to my financial woes. But apparently, it was the beginning of my physical suffering. Feeling restless and anxious I went to DLS-STI Mega clinic in Megamall to find out if my suspicions were right. I have heard many people who have died because of cervical cancer at a young age and I don’t wish to die without a fight. I poured my heart out to the OB-GYNE that I talked to and she expressed her shock that I would think so negatively about the safety and reliabilty of ligation. But to calm me down she made me undergo transvaginal ultrasound to check what is causing such pain. And to my utter and total embarassment, there was no tumor or abcess at all. My lower half was filled with poop. I was just plain constipated. I wanted to wither and die in front of the good doctor. Another funny story for her to talk about with her interns.
But I was glad I came to that clinic. If I never went there then I wouldn’t have been able to discover the wonders of Oil pulling. While I was waiting for my turn with the OB-GYNE, I chanced upon one of the doctor’s rooms there that promotes alternative medicine. The name is Living Life Well Integrative Medical Center. I was very impressed. Alternative healing therapies available in a Western medical facility. Just my lucky day. Of course it came with a high tag price but I was just overjoyed that the truth was available to us even in this hall of lies and greed. I entered nirvana and checked out what they had to offer. It was amazing, they offered exciting servies like Accupressure, Chinese herbal medicine, Ion cleanse detox, Massage and even Chelation and Quantum Medicine. I love it! But the best part of that day was when I picked up this book by Dr. Bruce Fife on Oil Pulling. Dr. Fife is the authority on Virgin Coconut Oil and he showed the world it’s healing powers. I didn’t have time to finish the book but when I searched the web I found out what the benefits of oil pulling is. It was discovered by Dr. F. Karach and according to him it totally heals headaches, bronchitis, tooth pain, thrombosis, eczema, ulcers and diseases of stomach, intestines, heart, blood, kidney, liver, lungs and women’s diseases also diseases of nerves, paralysis, and encephalitis. It prevents the growth of malignant tumors, cuts and heals them. Chronic sleeplessness even is cured. This kind of detoxification is very effective and yet it is so simple to do.
What you need:
1 Tablespoon of any kind of vegetable oil (sunflower oil or sesame oil or even Virgin coconut oil can be used).
What to do:
In the morning when you wake up with an empty stomach consume the 1 Tablespoon of oil in your mouth but do not swallow or gargle it. Slowly swish the oil in your mouth, sipping and sucking it through your teeth for 15-25 minutes. Use a lot of saliva, and mix the two together often. Doing this will use your enzymes, which in turn will draw out harmful toxins out of your bloodstream. So make sure the oil isn’t swallowed for it will absorb toxins. Continue swishing. As you continue swishing the oil, it eventually gets much more thin, and even turns white. Spit out a little into the sink. If the color is not white, it means you are not done. So continue oil pulling until the oil turns white. After you’re done, clean your sink, because it may contain lots of harmful toxins that you just eliminated. If you take a specimen sample and view it under a microscope, you would see microbes in their first stage of development. You must understand that during the oil-pulling/swishing process one’s metabolism is intensified. This leads to improved health. One of the most striking results of this process is the fastening of loose teeth, the elimination of bleeding gums and the visible whitening of the teeth. It is recommended for sickly people to repeat this three times a day but always before meals on an empty stomach to accelerate the healing process. The following is an article by Dr. Fife about oil pulling. Many people who have tried it swear to its efficacy after trying it for a minimum of 1 month. I have tried it for a few days and I can safely say that I have felt some improvement in my general well-being. I feel more energetic and healthy because of oil pulling.

Oil Pulling for a Brighter Smile and Better Health
by Bruce Fife

“That sounds ridiculous,” exclaimed Rick in disbelief. “It will never
work. How could it? It doesn’t make any sense.” Rick suffered from
chronic sinusitis. At night when lying down, his nose would stop up,
making it difficult for him to breathe and to sleep. The congestion
also caused him to experience frequent headaches.

The therapy I was telling him about was oil pulling. Although oil
pulling has its origins in Ayurvedic medicine, which dates back
thousands of years, this modern version is relatively new, at least in
the United States. Oil pulling is very simple. Basically all you do is
rinse your mouth out with vegetable oil, much like you would with a
mouthwash. As simple as it sounds, if done correctly it has a very
powerful cleansing and healing affect not only on the mouth and
sinuses, but the entire body.

A few days later, Rick called me on the phone. “Wow! This oil pulling
stuff really works,” he exclaimed. “My sinuses began to drain
immediately. I expelled a lot of dark yellow, gross looking mucous.
I’m breathing easier and sleeping better and my headaches are gone!”

I wasn’t surprised with Rick’s success. I hear many similar responses
from others with various health problems. “I was skeptical at first,”
says Cynthia. “I couldn’t see how swishing oil in my mouth could help
with my arthritis. After eight days I noticed the pain in my hands
diminished considerably. There was also marked improvement in my neck
and I could move my head from side to side without any pain. I was
amazed at how quickly I got results. I haven’t felt this good in along
time!”

Some people think I’m crazy when I tell them that oil pulling can help
those with asthma, allergies, chronic fatigue, diabetes, migraine
headaches, PMS, and chronic skin problems. Oil pulling works by
detoxifying or cleansing the body. In this way, disease promoting
toxins are removed, thus allowing the body to heal itself. As a
consequence, health problems of all types improve.

“I’ve suffered for several years with joint and lower back pain,”
says Anna. “Every morning it was difficult getting out of bed because
the pain. After two months of oil pulling the pain is all but gone.
I’m amazed. Although I began oil pulling to relieve the joint pain, a
few other things happened that I didn’t expect. I’m surprised to see
that the eczema on my arm and hand disappearing and my skin becoming
smoother and softer. Nothing I had tried before had helped. I sleep
better at night too, so I have more energy during the day. I no longer
need my mid-day naps. I have so much energy I almost feel like a
teenager again. My periods have become more regular with less cramping
and less mood swings. Also, my teeth, gums, and tongue are cleaner
than they’ve ever been.”

The first thing that most people notice when they start oil pulling is
an improvement in their oral health. Teeth become whiter, breath
becomes fresher, and the tongue and gums take on a healthy pink color.
Even problems such as bleeding gums, tooth decay, and gum disease are
greatly diminished or completely healed.

“I had a really bad infection in my mouth,” says Brittany. “It was so
painful that I could not sleep. Pain medication helped temporarily. I
was sure that I needed another root canal. After hearing about oil
pulling I decided to give it a try before going to the dentist. I
began oil pulling three times a day. By the very next day the pain was
gone! No soreness, nothing. I was shocked. I continue to oil pull and
my teeth are whiter and healthier looking then they have ever been. My

gums have stopped bleeding, they used to bleed after every brushing.
They are no longer receding and my teeth feel tighter. On my last
visit to the dentist he was amazed at how much better my teeth and
gums looked. He told me to continue to do whatever I was doing.”

Oil pulling traces it roots to oil gargling practiced in Ayurvedic
medicine. Oil pulling as we know it today, was introduced in 1992 by
Dr. F. Karach, MD. Dr. Karach claimed that oil pulling could cure a
variety of illnesses ranging from heart disease and digestive troubles
to hormonal disorders. He said it cured him of a chronic blood
disorder of 15 years duration and within three days it cured his
arthritis, which at times was so painful he was bed ridden. He used
the method in his medical practice with great success.

Dr. Karach’s method of oil pulling consists of swishing, not gargling,
vegetable oil in the mouth. The oil is “worked” in the mouth by
pushing, pulling, and drawing it through the teeth for a period of 15
to 20 minutes. It is done one to three times a day on an empty
stomach. The best time is in the morning before eating breakfast, but
can be done before any meal. The used oil is discarded and the mouth
rinsed out with water. The oil is never swallowed because it is loaded
with bacteria, toxins, pus, and mucous.

Sunflower and sesame seed oils are the most commonly used for oil
pulling, but any vegetable oil will work. People have had success with
olive, coconut, almond, and other oils. I prefer to use coconut oil
because of its many health benefits. If you use a mild flavored
coconut oil it is very pleasant in the mouth. Some oils, such as extra
virgin olive oil, are so strong flavored that many people find them
difficult to use.

The oil acts like a cleanser. When you put it in your mouth and work
it around your teeth and gums it “pulls” out bacteria and other

debris. It acts much like the oil you put in your car engine. The oil
picks up dirt and grime. When you drain the oil, it pulls out the dirt
and grime with it, leaving the engine relatively clean. Consequently,
the engine runs smoother and lasts longer. Likewise, when we expel
harmful substances from our bodies our health is improved and we run
smoother and last longer.

As simple as it is, oil pulling has a very powerful detoxifying
effect. Our mouths are the home to billions of bacteria, viruses,
fungi and other parasites and their toxins. Candida and Streptococcus
are common residents in our mouths. It is these types of germs and

their toxic waste products that cause gum disease and tooth decay and
contribute to many other health problems including arthritis and heart
disease. Our immune system is constantly fighting these troublemakers.
If our immune system becomes overloaded or burdened by excessive
stress, poor diet, environmental toxins and such, these organisms can
spread throughout the body causing secondary infections and chronic
inflammation, leading to any number of health problems.

Oil pulling is one of the most remarkable methods of detoxification
and healing I have ever experienced in my career as a naturopathic
physician. It helped me overcome a chronic skin problem that other
forms of detoxification, including numerous juice fasts lasting up to
30 days, were unable to cure.

Oil pulling can work its magic almost instantly. Some people report
relief from certain conditions after doing it only once. Minor
problems often clear up within a few days. More serious, chronic
problems may require a few weeks or several months or more depending
on lifestyle issues.

Toxins are pulled from the body the very first time you try it. One of
the first cleansing symptoms you will experience is an increased flow

of mucous from your throat and sinuses. Mucous drainage is one of the
body’s methods of removing toxins. While you are pulling, mucous may
build in the back of your throat. You may even have to expel the oil
and clear the mucous from your throat before reaching a full 20
minutes. That’s okay, take another spoonful of oil and continue until
you’ve pulled for a total of 15-20 minutes. You may also experience a
little nausea and perhaps even need to vomit as your body expels toxic
waste. Other symptoms may also arise temporarily. These symptoms will
subside as your body becomes cleaner and you become more comfortable
with oil pulling. Unlike other methods of detoxification that last for
only a short time, oil pulling should become a regular part of your
daily schedule, like brushing your teeth.

Oil pulling is incredibly effective in brightening teeth, healing
gums, preventing bad breath, quenching inflammation, and healing oral
infections. It is also effective in treating many systemic conditions
throughout the body.

As good as it is, the simple oil pulling method described in this
article isn’t always enough. Some people and some conditions require a
little extra care. For this reason, I took oil pulling and developed
it into a more complete, more effective method that I call Oil Pulling
Therapy. This program incorporates medicated coconut oil (which you
can make yourself), diet, select nutrients, oral pH balancing
procedures, and, for those who have amalgam (mercury) fillings or
metal crowns, a detox procedure designed specifically for removing
heavy metals, all of which combine to greatly enhance the effects and
healing properties of oil pulling. The details of this program are
covered in my new book Oil Pulling Therapy: Detoxifying and Healing
the Body Through Oral Cleansing.

Oil pulling is cheap; the only expense is for the oil you use. It is
very easy; you simply swish oil in your mouth. Compared to other forms
of detoxification it is relatively effortless. It doesn’t require
dieting, fasting, or consuming unpleasant, and often bowel loosening,
mixes of herbs and pills. And it is completely harmless. All you are
doing is rinsing your mouth out with vegetable oil—a food. You’re not
even swallowing the oil. What can be more benign than that? Nearly
anyone can do it, regardless of their level of health. If you have
health issues, don’t let the simplicity of oil pulling detour you from
trying it. Sometimes the simplest procedures produce the greatest
results.

FASTING ACTION PLAN a.k.a.How I Lost 20 Pounds in 20 Days

Benefits:
You will flush out all the toxins in your body.
You will kick start your metabolism and body’s self healing properties.
You will lose unwanted body fat.
You will curb your uncontrollable cravings for sweets and junk food.
You will live longer and healthier.

Diet Plan:

BREAKFAST
Ø 2 glasses of water with a dash of rock salt upon waking up
Ø 1 cup rice and viand
Ø Fresh fruit juice
Ø Organic coffee or green tea/mangosteen/ginger/lagundi tea or any herbal tea
Ø 1 glass of warm water with calamansi

BRUNCH
Ø 2 glasses of water with a dash of rock salt
Ø Fresh fruit or freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juice with 1 Tbsp. of dark or raw honey

LUNCH
Ø 2 glasses of water
Ø 1 cup rice and viand
Ø Fresh fruit

MERIENDA
Ø 2 glasses of water with a dash of rock salt
Ø Fresh fruit or freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juice or 1 Tbsp. of dark or raw honey

DINNER
Ø 2 glasses of water with a dash of rock salt
Ø Fresh fruit or freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juice or 1 Tbsp. of dark or raw honey

RESTRICTIONS
v NO SWEETS, CHIPS OR BISCUITS
v NO WHITE BREAD OR WHITE RICE ONLY FRESHLY BAKED BREAD OR BROWN/RED ORGANIC RICE
v NO PORK OR BEEF
v NO INSTANT JUICES OR SODAS
v NO CHOCOLATES/PASTRIES ONLY DARK CHOCOLATE
v NO FAST FOOD OR DEEP FRIED FOOD

v NO IODIZED SALT.USE ONLY ROCK/SEA SALT

RECOMMENDED
v Fish and chicken as source of protein for viands or tofu as substitute for meat, you can have it broiled, grilled, baked, roasted or seared but NOT FRIED in transfat.
v Cook or mix your food with lots of good fat like Extra virgin olive oil or canola oil. Fry with it or drizzle generously on food.
v Warm water with calamansi or apple cider vinegar in the morning instead of coffee to flush out toxins.
v Munch on blanched raw okra to sweep away bacteria in the stomach and intestines with its sticky enzymes.
v Raw salad instead of rice and viand for meals.
v If you can eat fruits of any kind or freshly squeezed fruit juice all day and not eat rice and viand you will kill all the parasites in your body and flush out all the fat and impurities in your system.
v Prayer certainly will be a big help to be successful with this diet and abstinence too.

THE POWER OF PRAYER

I start my day with prayer and end it with prayer. I wake up at 4 in the morning to prepare myself for the busy day ahead. I ride 3 jeepneys to work. While commuting, I pray the rosary, the Angel of God, prayer to the Holy Spirit, St. Michael prayer and the Novena to St. Jude. That is a 1 and a half hour travel time. During lunch at work, I pray the 15 prayers of St. Bridget and the prayer for the Drops of blood lost by Our Savior Jesus Christ. Then on my way home, I pray the rosary again. And before I go to bed I pray to the Sto. Nino, the Infant Jesus to come with me in my dreams.It may seem like I’m a saint or a monk to you. But I’m far from it. I used to have a hard time praying even 1 rosary a day because I keep falling asleep or my mind keeps drifting away. I can only finish 1 decade then I will get too bored and I was never able to finish it. But I kept trying each day but to no avail. I guess I wasn’t really committed to what I was doing because I had no idea that prayer is a very powerful weapon against evil and temptations. If I knew then what I know now about the purpose of prayer and its benefits, I would have been a nun by now. But like most things in life, I had to suffer first before I learned the importance of prayer in my life.I was 19 when my dad lost his job. Eventually we lost everything else…our house, our cars, our money. He was a drug addict. There is no other way to go but down to souls who choose to take this path, and their family suffers with them. It was a very difficult time for us then. And to add insult to injury, my uncle’s mistress is a witch and she would cast spells and send evil spirits to ruin our lives. I didn’t believe it at first when my aunt M. told me about it. But one night, my own mother was visited by 4 evil spirits on her bed. Black shadows flew in the night and hovered over her to strangle her. I was so incensed by this but I knew better than to strangle the witch myself. Besides I had no proof really. I did not fight fire with fire because I do not wish to join her in hell in the future. So I decided to seek refuge in God who is the Most Powerful One than the devil himself. The next day I prayed the rosary aloud with all my heart with a lighted candle. And everyday I would pray to the heavens to save us from her witchery.Within that week, God will answer my prayers in the most wonderful and amazing ways. My aunt M. handed me a St. Jude Novena prayer because he is the Patron Saint of Hopeless cases she says. Then another time I was watching TV when a talk show host would give advice on how to exorcise demons using incense and the St. Benedict Medal. So I would pray the rosary each day complete with incense with lighted sky blue and white candles. Such measures worked wonders to the point that my uncle’s mistress will often get sick and her face will get weird blemishes and outbreaks. She was so irked that she got bolder in showing me her powers. But she is not a natural witch actually. She uses dark orations and incantations to summon demons to do her will. One afternoon while I was eating a late lunch, she sat about 5 meters from me while smoking a cigarette. She was not even facing me. She was sitting towards the west when my spider senses started tingling. Something warned me that she was going to hurt me right then and there and I will get a taste of her black magic. Mentally, I called on all the saints I know and pray to (for instance, I said to myself, St. Michael, pray for us…St. Jude, pray for us…and so on…). She was trying to do a number on me to prove that I messed with the wrong person. But the tables were turned in an instant. After I called on all the saints I know, she suddenly turned her head towards me with her eyes wide open in shock. I was as stunned as she was because in that instant I saw all the 13 saints I called on surrounding me, all enrobed in white like glowing spirits. That was the first time I witnessed the presence of heavenly beings…well maybe not. That was the most remarkable though. Since then I have started collecting prayers and novenas and I vowed to help others become closer to God and to fight evil in all shapes and forms. It was a turning point in my life and I was never the same person again. God showed me the power of prayer and it took a very disturbing incident for me to realize it. So now when anything bad happens to me, I know that God has a purpose for it and it must be bigger than what my wisdom and understanding can fathom. Indeed, it is wiser to surrender everything to Him and continue to live and strive with our daily lives. It’s not that easy I know. But that’s what He wants from us basically. Then eventually, we must help the poor and assist in church. And of course, we must pray the rosary each day and ask for Mother Mary’s intercession. Demons are rampant and virile nowadays. They are out to get you and me. Believe me I know. I exorcised 3 out of my own body. One demon was really colossal. This monster was all about gluttony. After driving it out of my system, I stopped craving for food for every minute the way I used to. The other 2 demons will always stop me from praying religiously or will keep distracting me during prayer.Sometimes prayer is not enough. We have to offer sacrifices for the conversion of sinners and the salvation of souls. When we deprive ourselves of material things, we get more in touch with our spiritual needs. We must also nourish ourselves with soul food (e.g., prayer, sacrifice and penance). To live simply and to give up our worldly ways will help us make more time to be with Our Lord. And if we cannot detach ourselves from our riches and vices, penance is the key to break free from the clutches of the material world on us. Whenever I begin to question my faith or find no more meaning with my life, I go to confession and pour my heart out to a priest. It is better if you have a spiritual director so that you will know how your spiritual life is progressing. Although sometimes I go to a different priest just to get a fresher perspective. It only takes 1 or 2 months for me to lose my grip. Like I said there is so much evil in this world and we need to be wary and always be prepared to fight for our faith and our sanctity. Our best weapon is PRAYER. We need to turn our backs on sin and amend our ways. But we cannot do this alone because the devil knows how to lure us deeper and deeper into the pit. We need God’s grace and wisdom. And we will receive these graces and blessings if we talk to Jesus and ask for His assistance. We must call on Mother Mary, all the angels and saints to protect us and guide us from the snares of the devil. There is an urgent call for each of us to prepare our hearts and souls before it’s too late. Please allow Jesus to come into your heart and change You. In these trying times, we must yearn for His mercy and love to save us from eternal damnation.
“What we do in life…echoes in ETERNITY”

ON BEING PROCLAIMED A FALSE PROPHET AND HOW TO HANDLE PERSONAL ATTACKS ON ONE’S CHARACTER

I visited the Catholic Planet website today to review The Secrets of Garabandal, Medjugorje and La Salette interpretations in light of the recent Mumbai, India attacks. I fear that this may be a sign that the revelations are coming true and the Warning is close at hand. I have to prepare myself and my family for hard times ahead. I have to stop slacking off and pray harder, offer more sacrifices and serve the poor. As I was looking for inspiration and clarification in these trying times, I chanced upon the author’s page on Claims of Private Revelation: True or False? . And on no. 173 it says: Wenko Pasco – Taguig City, Manila, Philippines (http://deathtomycreditcards.blogspot.com/) – her website is about her problems with credit card debt and mishandling her own money; she claims a private revelation in which she was chosen by God to raise a very large sum of money to build a cathedral; there is no involvement of the Bishop or diocese in her project; she claims the cathedral will be a replica of a cathedral in Italy. She claims its garden will provide food for a city during a famine, but it is only on one hectare of land. She claims those who donate get special protection from Michael the Archangel, and that the cathedral will be a place of refuge during the tribulation (an idea often found in false private revelation). She claims that the present time is the ‘end of days’. She claims that her parish church has hauntings from demons, and that she was chosen by God to exorcise those demons.

The first time Mr. Conte emailed me himself about me being a false prophet of some sort I was enraged. I wrote a blog about it and gave him a piece of my mind when I replied to his email. But I had no idea that I was even published on his site. Now that I actually saw myself listed in there I was pretty amused. Wow! I felt like some sort of celebrity. Important and smart people are actually reading my blog and commenting on my work. This is a very good accomplishment for me. You probably think I’m crazy but as Winston Churchill once said : You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life. It means that I have touched their lives or have awakened their spirit in some way. Yes, Mr. Conte you’re probably right. God did not choose me to raise money to build St. Michael’s Cathedral. We even lost that 1 hectare of land that was donated to my friend Fr. Bernie, for the owner changed his mind and retracted it. I am still in debt and poor and lukewarm in faith. I have yet to be married in church because I can’t afford it. I’m not a perfect wife or parent to my children. I’m no Mother Teresa to my neighbors who beg on the streets looking for food. Heck I even have a hard time praying the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget religiously everyday. But you know what sir, I will never give up. How can I stop believing and praying when Jesus and Mary and the Sto. Nino (Infant Child of Prague) have shown me their faces and have visited me in my dreams. They have shown me the truth about the evil of medical doctors and pseudo-science. We have been blessed by all the wonders of nature and the abundant resources of this planet. I have been humbled by Jesus’ mercy and the lovings Hearts of His own and His Mother. Inspite of the evils of this world, I see beauty and peace because Jesus and Mary and St. Michael are alive in my heart, my mind and my spirit. Yes I am a big failure and I don’t have many accomplishments or awards. But I fear the Lord and I live to serve Him. I listen with an open heart and mind and I long for others to feel the same way about God and His Church. This is why I have this blog. I want others to be closer to God and show them that God is reachable and is ever present even to ordinary moms or everyday losers like me. Folks, it is possible to see Jesus and Mary while you are still alive and sinning and unworthy. It took me almost 30 years of mediocrity to finally grasp the presence of Jesus and Mary and St.Michael in this life (not to mention other saints as well, but that story is for another blog article) but it is well worth the wait. I don’t really have advice on exactly what one should do in order to have your own Marian apparitions. But if you persevere in prayer (especially at least one rosary a day and pray the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget everyday until you pass away) God will work miracles in your life, I guarantee it. He or Mama Mary may not show their faces in your life but you will feel their loving Hearts and you will never be alone in fighting the evils of this world. You will experience Jesus and Mama Mary embrace you one day during prayer and if you fast and sacrifice for others then They will truly touch your lives. Or you can just read or watch Bro. Bo Sanchez and his show the Preacher in Blue Jeans and you will be inspired and invigorated. I love Bro. Bo because he is so humble and funny. And like me he has his own detractors ahehe.
Not everything in my life is tragic. No siree. Believe it or not 3 weeks ago Mama Mary came to me. She didn’t speak but she let me know that there is good news for me and my family. If anyone of you will remember in the Introduction of this blog that God will deliver me from my debt, well things are looking up. You see my grandfather died and he owned hectares of land all over the city and he didn’t have time to impart his riches to his children. After more than 3 decades these properties were found by God’s grace and my children will soon be heirs and one cute heiress. I believe God wanted them to be found so that the money we will raise will go back to His church. I may not be a celebrity (not quite) or an important political or social person but Jesus is good and non-judgemental. He has made my life incredibly blessed and meaningful and I want to share it with others. I will still push through with my plans to honor St. Michael and build Sanctuary, a Cathedral in his honor. I will help spread devotion to him and to Padre Pio and of course to the Sacred Hearts of Our Lord Jesus Christ and Mother Mary. And don’t worry dear readers, you are all in it for the ride. Thank you Lord and Mama Mary for loving me and choosing me as Your humble and faithful servant. I pray that I will make a difference with this blog and with my inheritance. I will give it all back to You Lord, the source of everything good and eternal. Amen.

OF GREEN PAPAYA, BUKO JUICE AND RIPE SABA BANANAS…MY BARE ESSENTIALS (or things I could not live without)

Padre Pio was right. Watching too much TV and reading the newspaper is bad for your soul. But he didn’t mention that it is also bad for the health. I wish I had known everything I know now 15 years ago. During my teenage angst-ridden years I was very bored and restless and overweight. I was also very unproductive, i.e. lazy and most of the time glued to the boob tube watching MTV. I believed every commercial ad I saw and gobbled on junk food and chain smoked for years. I had no idea that all that garbage was the reason for my chemical imbalance. My metabolism was stagnant and my moods were spiky. I wasn’t good at anything I did. I was such a loser, Yaya.

My pointless lifestyle went on for awhile until I accidentally got pregnant with my first child. My parents were very disappointed and I was really ashamed. I was 20 already and yet my parents had so many plans for me. I was still studying and was planning on working in Australia that time. And their unwelcome reaction was enough for me to elope with my husband to the far province of Muslim Mindanao just to get away from the pangs of regret that they are having. Me? My attitude in life is to have no regrets. I welcomed my child with open arms and married my partner. I decided to quit smoking and learned how to cook and do our laundry. My family was my first priority. Even though I had a tough time adjusting to a domesticated life in the province I persevered and did my best to take care of my family. In reference to Ephesians 5:22-33:
Wives and Husbands
22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31″For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[c] 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

When I look back on my life now, I feel contentment and joy. Sure I’m broke and in debt. Yes I’m not a successful writer or entrepreneur. And yet I have so many blessings in my life that I am very grateful for. I have a loving husband and 3 beautiful and bombastic children to take care of. There are 2 blogs/websites that keep me busy. I like my job and I have learned to accept my fate. Some people, my parents included, might think that I should strive for more. To be more precise they think my family would be better off migrating to another country, particularly Australia. I used to feel the same way. Before I kept bugging my husband for us to live and work there. But he has always refused, for the simple reason that rice is not the staple food there. Shallow perhaps. But after all the trials I have been through ever since we got married and for all the miracles, apparitions and graces that I have received from God for the past couple of years I have learned my real mission in life and what my purpose in this world is. Sure I was a dazed and confused teenager and I’m flat broke as of the moment (living hand to mouth) but I feel that that is just part of the puzzle of the big picture of my life. It is not finished yet but at least I have a clearer sense of what I was meant to do. Everything I have been through is a learning process and I am happy to have gone through all the ups and downs and still see myself standing and loving and praying with a heart filled with gratitude. And I would never trade my life right now to anyone living in luxury in any country or continent. No way. Sorry mom. The Philippines may have corrupt officials, dirty rivers, filthy streets etc., etc. but my heart belongs not in NY but in the P.I. All the poor people are in here. And they need all the help that they can get. Dyahe naman kung foreigners na mahihirap ang tutulungan ko kaysa mga Pinoy.Panget naman yata iyon (It’s not right to serve foreigners first before my fellow Filipinos). Although poverty comes in all colors, my people need me more. And there is so much work to be done. There’s no time to live in comfort and luxury if God’s people in my own country are sick, hungry and suffering. If most Filipinos don’t want to help their own, let’s not expect foreigners to help us.

I am getting carried away again. Where does green papaya, buko and bananas fit in with this blog entry you might ask. Okay here it goes. With the strong influence of media in my life I would never have imagined that I would go organic when it comes to food, toiletries and cosmetics. My mom would have teased me that I’m taga-bundok (living from the mountains) ten years ago. But now she is a little more conscious of the chemicals that she exposes herself to. Let me emphasize just a little, because she still dies her hair chestnut brown or auburn and she uses tons of make-up on her face. She eats junk food all the time as she also likes to eat at fast foods. I fill her in on how a person’s diet and use of everyday stuff can harm the body. I do not use stuff on my body that I cannot eat. Budget constraints may affect my ability to go organic all the way but as long as I have these 4 very affordable and very available components in my life…I’m good to go. First and foremost is VCO or virgin coconut oil. I’m one of its very big fans. This mojo has saved my wallet and most importantly my children’s lives. If I had known it’s magic before, I would’ve saved myself from huge debt. Live and learn I guess. I administer 5-10 ml. a day of VCO to my children as vitamin supplement. When they have fever I massage their upper body with this oil and it works wonders. They get cured the next day and they are back to their old playful selves again. It is my all-in-one wonder drug! I would rather stack up on VCO than buy pharmaceutical drugs any day. When it comes to throat problems we take raw ginger to kill all that bacteria that gets trapped in the mouth. I also let it soak in baby oil and use it as massage oil to eliminate infection. Buko juice or coconut juice on the other hand cleans and purifies my kidneys. Not only that, it rejuvenates and revitalizes my cells. It is said that when you have a headache it is a sign of dehydration. If you drink water it goes straight to your kidneys and you just urinate it. But if you take buko juice your cells will be nourished instantly. For the stomach and over-all nourishment of the body, ripe saba bananas will help you feel better. Albularyos (faith healers) use this fruit to heal the sick. It may not be a cure-all but I am sure it will benefit the body in so many ways. I am sooo addicted to green papaya soap, too. My stretch marks and my ass and underarms are so silky and smooth and fair because of it. Green papaya is the beauty breakthrough for me. Lastly, I don’t use deodorant on my underarms because I cannot comprehend all the chemicals that are listed as its ingredients. That terrifies me. So instead I put on tawas (alum) not just to smell fresh and clean but to stay clean. Go ahead call me old-fashioned or jologs (cheap) I don’t care. At least I’m healthy and disease-free. Now if I could only afford that fancy- schwanzy alkaline water system.

THE POWER OF PRAYER….HOW WE BEAT THE DEVIL IN ONE WEEK

He was weaned from a witch’s breast in his infancy. And through this, mysticism has been passed on to him naturally. A strong intuition and a sense of power has pervaded in his later years as a young adult that is why he dabbled in the paranormal. He practiced levitation, ESP and astral projection. But one of his travails went too far on the day he actually reached the burning gates of hell. As he witnessed the reality of this wallowing pit of doom, he realized the implications of all his actions and what consequence awaits those who defy God. He then joined the seminary to appease for his sins and live a blameless life. But he was disappointed, or should I say, repulsed by what he saw. That man is weak and sinful even under the supervision of the Most Holy Church. His dreams to join the priesthood diminished. He then pursued a worldly life outside the seminary free of all constraints. He lived life to the fullest. He drank, smoked and did drugs. He was also a very handsome and tall, dark man. Whichever way he looked and however he tried to avoid it…women were all over him. And who was he to reject such sweet delights. He had the whole world in the palm of his hands. At one point, he was even convinced that he was God.

This extraordinary man is none other than my father. His life may have been very exciting but now in his 60’s he has become even more remarkable after surrendering his life to the Lord. He spends most of the day praying for his loved ones, retired from his worldly ways. He even bothers to text me bible passages and lovely prayers when I feel depressed or troubled. He has stumbled upon life’s meaning in the arms of the Lord and he is at peace with himself. He finds solace in Jesus. And his experience in the seminary has made him a master at praying just like Jesus. When he prays for others a miracle happens. You can feel that God has truly touched your life and He has shown His face full of mercy and love. That was how me and my dad beat the devil in one week…through intense prayer.

It all started with an innocent text message about a guy asking me to be his text mate. I tried ignoring it but he is very insistent so I texted him back that I was pregnant and wasn’t interested. He stopped for awhile but after a few months I started getting obscene and malicious text messages from the same prankster (or number). He claims to be part of an international syndicate that sells nude photos on the internet for $200.00 a piece. If I don’t give them my nude pictures they will forcibly get it from me and will not stop harassing me. I couldn’t believe what he was saying but I was always nervous and jittery whenever he would text me. I chose to ignore all his messages each day. I told my husband about it and he exclaimed that this was serious. He was being harassed by the same stranger. We were both shaken and to add insult to injury he would text us very personal information like where we lived and where we worked and that they were out to get us if we didn’t comply. It was horrible. I would force myself to go to work not afraid for myself but scared that they would harm my children. They can torture or rape me but please hands off my kids. They are my precious angels. I would die painfully if they get kidnapped. So I got in touch with our local Barangay and the Captain told me that it was probably someone who was jealous of my husband. I thought of anyone who might do this to us who may have the capability to delve into criminal activity. I could think of a few names but I don’t have any evidence to back it up.

I told my parents about it and they prayed real hard for my family’s safety. I also continued praying even though I felt that God must be mad at me which is why this is happening to us. Maybe I deserved all of this. Or He probably abandoned us this week. Still I prayed for comfort and peace of mind. Then one day my husband gets this phone call from his cellphone. It was them and they were really mad why we were passing on their messages to other people. I couldn’t believe that they were actually monitoring our text messages just like what they were claiming. My husband and I were so scared that we finally gave in. We sent our pictures (without our faces) just to stop all of the agony. Then 2 days have passed and there were no more text messages from them. But later on that night I got a very crucial phone call from my mom. She was half-hysterical and she kept telling me that God has finally answered my father’s prayers. My Aunt L. is the one who did this to us along with her son, my cousin R. It was a simple slip of the tongue in a fit of a jealous outrage that gave them away. You see my mom was talking to them at a family gathering when she told cousin R. that I can help him get a job in our company. He said that me and my husband don’t deserve our jobs because we were stupid. Then my Aunt L. added in her shrill and loud voice that my husband is being hunted by criminals and he would not live very long. My mother was shocked at what she heard. No other person in the world knows about our blackmailers. How could my aunt have known? Of course she was the master mind of it all. The Brgy. Captain was right, jealousy was the reason why we were being harassed. And by my very own cousin and aunt who hates us so much just because we had jobs and they don’t. Well, at least not the legal kind. My cousin is 40+ years old already and he never had a regular job in his life. My aunt is a hustler and gambler since her youth. My parents and I have been aware that they were cursing us through witchcraft. But our faith in God together with our active prayer life has made all their evil attempts unfruitful. We never get affected because of all the angels and saints and Mama Mary’s grace and Jesus’ mercy that has protected us from their sorcery. Apparently, they have given up on this and have pursued us through more physical means. You might be thinking I don’t have any clear evidence. But that was enough for me. I asked my aunt over the phone why she did this to us when we never mistreated her or my cousin. We never boasted about our jobs nor insulted any of their shortcomings. She kept denying it though. The next morning she kept saying sorry to my mother. But as two-faced as she will always be, she had a nasty looking beggar go to my mother’s house to scare her that she is being hunted down too. What evil, evil people they are. Our own relatives…such dirty scoundrels, petty criminals. They were also tapping my mother’s phone that is why they knew every personal information about us. Unfortunately, my parents and my aunt and cousin all live in the same house, my grandmother’s house. I’m really concerned for my parents’ safety there. I asked her to leave the house before more damage is done. My parents decided to leave soon enough.

After this tragic incident, I felt more grateful to the Lord because He didn’t actually abandon us. He helped us find out the truth and he made us saw what evil lurks in the hearts of men. It reminded me of the book I read years ago entitled The Sicilian by Mario Puzo. In the end your closest and dearest friend or ally will be the one who would betray you, if not your own flesh and blood. Just like the inherent selfishness of Cain, his jealousy, rivalry, and aggression that drove him to murder Abel. God showed us the ugly truth about our relatives and it was a foreboding of what will happen to us if we weren’t careful. We must be wary of them from now on. Today will be indecent text messages and tomorrow, who knows? We beat the devil in one week and we came out scarred but triumphant. Thank you Lord for keeping Your promise, particularly Promise # 7 for those who pray the 15 prayers of St. Bridget, which is: I will place before you the sign of My Victorious Cross for your help and defense against the attacks of your enemies. Praise the Lord! Let my enemies be vanquished and may God have mercy on their souls.

KEEP YOUR FAMILY LIFE HAPPY IN THIS ANTI-FAMILY WORLD

There are a lot of factors that keeps married couples together. There’s love, money, fear of being alone or even for political gain. Personally, I stay married to my husband because I love my family. I care for my husband and my children’s well-being. I would rather suffer than to see them suffer. I would sacrifice and turn the world upside down just for them. Trust me I’m no model mom. They do get on my nerves sometimes especially when I get home from work feeling tired and run down. The last thing I wanna do is to baby sit. But I don’t really have a choice. I must attend to my family no matter how I feel because no one else will. And it is such a wonderful feeling whenever I make them happy or just to see them smile whenever they see me. This is the greatest gift from God. To have a family that motivates me to be a better person. To be loved and to love should be enough to be grateful to God each day.My husband and I have been through a lot for the last 9 years of our marriage. I must say that our relationship has been an ongoing learning process. Without the three P’s, I don’t think we would have survived even a year together. PRAYER, PATIENCE and PERSEVERANCE are the essentials to stay married and keep the family together. No matter what the reason is for your union, without these three P’s no marriage can last. Everyday Satan will do every dirty trick that he knows to ruin your family. I can even hear voices inside my head about petty or trivial issues that will easily spoil any relationship. But I choose to persevere and lift up these problems through prayer. Patiently, I hope for the best and try to look at the bright side when things really go awry and challenging. Sure enough things do improve when you treat each problem or issue with utmost care and sensitivity. Of course sometimes one cannot help but blow up in a rage or break a piece of furniture now and then. But apologizing almost always works. And children have a magical way of making you feel better in an instant. Any problem will melt away with only a wet kiss or a tight hug from them. Kids are God’s little angels sent from above. They can force you to be a better man or woman just by their mere presence. If they don’t have this effect on you, man you need to go to confession ‘cause I’m sure you’re possessed by a demon. Prayer can help too I guarantee it.Each person must undergo a personal metamorphosis in order to maximize his full potential. If one refuses to face trials or hurdles in one’s life, he cannot grow mentally, emotionally and most important, spiritually. Marriages suffer because partners refuse to give their time and effort to improve their relationship or their situation. The only way to solve any problem is to change one’s self like what Maya Angelou, poet and artist said: “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.” It is so easy to complain and point a finger on your partner. It is so hard for people to take responsibility even if they are not the one at fault. But bottom line is no one else but you and your partner can fix your problems. The key here is humility and forgiveness. Jesus is a master of both. You have to admit without such virtues mankind will be doomed. God’s mercy is what keeps you and me still alive today and not reduced to salt and ashes.Personally, I have swallowed and regurgitated my pride countless times. I have also been driven to the edge but it does pass after gallons of tears or completing decades of the rosary. When the storm has passed and the smoke clears I’m still standing. I survived. I learned. I forgave. I loved. And what you give comes back to you. That’s how it always works. Then another day brings on a different challenge to face and I have no fear anymore because Jesus is with me. I am not alone.