Heavy Traffic Makes a Happy Trip

Something has been puzzling (or unsettling, or troubling, or bugging—the exact word is elusive) me for the past year. That something is the unexplained explosion of hits on this blogsite.

I actually blogged about this hit surge three months back when I noticed the spike. I thought it was a fluke. But the rise of traffic continues and gets heavier every day. Here’s the latest---and the day or month has not even ended yet. 

I have zero knowledge of how statistics work. I blog because I love writing. Not a day passes that I don’t write a paragraph or two about anything and everything that prick my senses. As I wrote in my very first blog in November 2006 . . .

"[Creative writing] It's a process I fell in love with years ago, and which I continue to enjoy. This love for writing can only come from the One without Whose grace nothing is or will ever be.”

Two years later, I had summarized this love affair: Nine Chongisms.

The ninth explains why I write, “Creative writing is for God’s glory. It is honoring the light within me, letting it shine, to glorify its Source. It is baring what chaos and choices have taught me, so others may find their own light.” 

Son #1, a techie, explained that the soar could be due to crawler bots, scraper bots, or referrer scam, or ghost spam, or algorithm.

It’s all Greek to me. My left brain is in a coma.

But I have this nagging thought, Why would bots be interested in my blog when it is not monetized? 

I consulted AI: “During the COVID-19 pandemic, leavesofgrace.blogspot.com became a central hub for online ministry, ‘Book tours,’ and storytelling webinars. This expanded its audience globally, drawing massive hits from readers in the US, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, the Middle East, and the Philippines.”

Overthinking changes nothing. 

My trajectory remains the same. I will keep writing because—in addition to the nine Chongisms—it is how I now breath joy, since January 20 of last year, when my chat mate of 55 years left for His eternal home. 

Care Partners

After losing my care partner to heart failure last year, I was at sea for a while. Tony used to handle everything: car maintenance and registration, bills, and anything that needed a system. He understood my right brain or often wandering mind.

I had to adopt a left brain and take over fast.  Our three sons come to the rescue, but they are all busy and I am the one left at home, holding the fort.

But grace helps me with the gaps. There are two angels who keep the caring continue in ways I could never do. 

Sammy cares for all car issues and travels on the road. He is a “nag,” reminding me when vehicle obligations are due. The safest driver I know, he has not had a single run-in with the law for over 12 years. He knows his routes well and waits patiently when needed.

Mother Teresa is a spoiler. She has taken over all the things I used to do for myself (organizing my meds, sorting my documents, checking my schedules). I know that is not good for the brain, because I now rely on her so much I no longer pay attention to my everyday routine. She has been with us since the pandemic and has no plans of retiring.

But caring is not a one-way traffic. I try to do my part whenever I can. In August, Tony’s birth month, Sammy and Mother Teresa asked me if I could accompany them to his graveside—a gesture to honor his memory.

It was a touching request. And so we went. On our way home, I asked them to join me in Tropical Hut, one of Tony’s favorite snack haunts.

We ate, we laughed, we had fun, and we remembered how “Sir Tony” loved being there and bringing home more than enough food for everyone. 

READemption Book Launching

All 25 new titles of Hiyas of OMF were dedicated to the Lord (the Author of life and every book) in the first week of September. Five days later, they made their debut with the theme READemption at the MIBF.  

Authors, illustrators, and everyone involved in the production of these books gathered for a celebration and thanksgiving.

I wrote three of these books (all focused on the Redeemer), but they would never have been possible without the empowering of the great Author. 

During the event, I was asked by the emcee, “What is your encouragement to your fellow authors, our illustrators, and also our readers?”

"This year’s theme,” I said, “sums it all up. READemption is a movement. It is about moving our readers from one end of the spectrum to the opposite end: darkness to light; bad to good; pain to joy; black to white.  There should never be shades of gray or compromises." 

I addded, "As believers in redemption, we [authors, illustrators, editors, translators, staff, etc.] need to hold hands in guiding our readers toward God's grace and forgiveness. Our books should invite our readers to bring their hidden mistakes into the light—towards healing and restoring—or we don’t write at all.”

As an author, that is my prayer (in advertising lingo, my brand essence). It is my hope that after every book launching, I will continue to focus on the reason for whom I write. One book at a time. 

Rhythm of the Falling Rain

There was that time last month when all we heard was the rhythm of falling rain for three weeks, causing floods in many places. Sunshine peeped, but only for a few minutes, and the rain poured again. 

Those rhythm took me back to faraway Chicago, where I often sang, while picking and strumming my guitar, the Cascade’s Listen to the Rhythm of the Falling Rain.  As I listen to the zippy but melancholy tune on the Net now, I feel nostalgic.  

Physicians say that rain affects our emotions because it alters our body's chemistry. Gray clouds and drizzly skies trigger psychological and biological shifts.  Less sunlight during rainy days forces our brain to produce less serotonin (the "happy" hormone). At the same time, it increases melatonin (the sleep hormone), leaving us feeling sluggish, tired—and for me—reflective. 

Relentless rain reminds me of God sending a global cataclysmic flood to a deeply wicked world in ancient times. Human life was erased except for Noah, his family, and all animals in pairs of every kind.

There is nothing to fear about floods anymore, except for the havoc it wreaks in places where flood-control budgets are stolen by corrupt powers that be. 

In Genesis 9:11, we are promised, “I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

So what will erase mankind? 

Man will be no more at a time we do not expect. And what a glorious and triumphant event it will be: earthly suffering and evil will cease. Everyone will see His true identity as Lord of lords, unlike His humble first coming as a servant.

Today, we live in the age of grace, but His second coming will be the ultimate "harvest" of the grace already given.

While awaitinng His return, may we enjoy the rhythm of the falling rain. 

Out-of-this-world LOVE

To describe something extremely impressive, excellent, beautiful, or unusual, we use the idiom, “out-of-this-world!” with matching gasps.

So when I heard our guest pastor describe God’s love in his message (on our church’s 51st anniversary worship service), I gasped.

Suddenly, in my head, the idiom was not only figurative. It. Is. Literal.

God’s love cannot be found in this world in the hearts of men. No one can come close to duplicating God’s love on earth or in the universe. As demonstrated through the life and death of Jesus, and as shown clearly through key scriptures in the Bible, God’s love is unconditional and unending.

Then our guest preacher read Romans 8:30, "And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."

In layman’s terms, he explained that this is the golden chain of redemption--God's plan for believers from beginning to end. The verbs are explicit: 

• Predestined: God chose ahead of time to make His people like His Son, Jesus.
• Called: God invites people and draws them to Himself through the Holy Spirit.
• Justified: God forgives a person's sins because of Jesus, declaring him right and innocent.
• Glorified: Believers will share in the glory of Christ in heaven. 

He stressed that the verse uses the past tense even for "glorified" even though it has not happened yet.  Meaning, God's plan is completely certain and absolute.

Where else can we find this kind of love? Full of grace, He came as a Man to show love in our world. Yet this mortal place we call Earth mirrors the ways shown us way back in the Old Testament—on a larger scale now because of population growth. We are all witnesses today of massive:  

• Exploitation and Corruption
• Idolatry
• Bettrayal
• Decline of Moral Values 
• Violence and War       

No matter. Paul wrote in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  

Out-of-this-world LOVE. What else can it be?

Weavers of Magic

National Literacy Month is observed every September in the Philippines. This aligns with International Literacy Day on September 8.

That was why I was invited by the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Education to talk about my picture books, focusing on selecting children's literature for the intermediate grades.

Would I consider sharing my experience as an author to students and teachers to commemorate Literacy Month? “Weavers of Magic,” they called the celebration.

“Yes!” I replied in two seconds. It would be a nostalgic trip after so many years.

UP was where I spent four years for my college degree. I call that era my ancient of days, when I was young, reckless, and furious.  

Except for new buildings, the campus has not changed much. The places where I used to run to be on time for classes, and the sunken garden which I crossed to go to the library---they are there.  Unfortunately, it rained intermitently; it was unwise to walk around.

I remembered how intense UP students could be (compared to the Gen Z’s and Gen Alphas I now encounter). Everyone listened with rapt attention, abandoned their phones, and asked incisive questions.

It is grace that enables me to be seen as a weaver of magic today. Looking back, I think my UP days wove magic into me. 

In the car on my way home, I sang the university hymn, UP Beloved (it is now sung in Filipino).  

U.P. beloved, thou Alma Mater dear

For thee united our joyful voices hear . . .

(Oops, the rest of the lyrics I can't remember)

Rise and Sign!

D-day has arrived. I wake up early (I always wake up early) for my book signing date at the Manila International Book Fair. 

I feel a massive adrenaline rush while on the road. At the same time, spicy shivers attack my excitement because the rain buckets down (visibility zero) and driver Sammy inches our way to the venue.

But the happy spirit rises when the readers come in droves—asking questions, telling anecdotes, chatting about this and that, taking photos, and cracking jokes while I sign my books. 

And grace pours . . .

 . . . unleashing a deluge. 

If Happiness Had a Face

After the MIBF, I am definitely zonked! Time was when I would spend four whole days (from opening to closing hours) there and still feel zippy after. Not anymore. 

But while sorting out photos taken by people to whom I entrusted my camera, I found this.

Despite the rigor of speaking before hundreds of guests in seminar rooms, book signing, and traversing two huge floors jampacked with book lovers, I couldn't contain the joy at that happy place.  

Can Happy be Any Happier?

Like a kid in a candy store, I rush from booth to booth. There are just too many books at the MIBF! Joy never runs out in a place like this.  

What's keeping me bursting with zest today is my official book signing schedule. I have been doing so since day one of the MIBF, but those have been, as the OMF staff would say, "incidentals." So today is the day. If you happen to be near the area, please drop by for a chat. 

An hour after the book signing, Hiyas and OMF Lit will officially launch these new titles (plus 24 more) with the theme READEMPTION in a hall.  And then, tomorrow, my happy place will close--to open again next year.

Like a tic, I sing this old hymn (written by Julia H. Johnston in 1910) when joy overwhelms:

Grace, grace, God's grace,
grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God's grace,
grace that is greater than all our sin.

The Happy Place Opens Again!

Adrenaline has kicked in, and it will keep pumping up at the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) as it continues to welcome book lovers everywhere. 

On the first day, I had an hour talk before educators and any advocate for picure books. The event was oragnized by the The National Book Development Board (NBDB), a Philippine government agency tasked with developing and promoting the country's book publishing industry

My topic centered around the role of picture books in developing empathy towards peace. My cup of tea! 

From day 1 of my writing journey, the trajectory has always been peace, through Christian values. All my 50 plus published picture books today focus on these values, each one showing how moral ethics (from the Book on grace that I read every day) can be lived through relatable characters illustrated in unique ways. 

Son #1 took pictures of the talk perhaps to document how his mother has kept her life busy even after leaving the corporate world. Talks in events such as this usually follow a published book. 

A lecture? Never. I speak about how and why I write and hopefully, the audience can have some meaningful take-away on how books on grace can help them guide the young teward the right path. 

As writers and illustrators love to instruct tthemselvs, "Show, don't tell!"  

From a select audience to the crowd at the OMF lit booth with the theme READEMPTION: 

To book worms, this is the happy place for happy days! 

New Books: READemption

Redemption is powerfully told in the greatest book ever written: the BIBLE.

A non-theologian, I define it in the simplest of words: Believers’ past sins are completely wiped out, because the Savior paid the total penalty on the cross.

This is where my faith is anchored on, and which keeps me writing--to always remind myself of His sacrifice for insignificant me. Redemption (and soon, restoration when the Savior comes again) will hopefully be understood and believed by readers, one book at a time.

That's why joy stole my breath when I received this invitation from OMF Literature. 

READEMPTION was a gathering of everyone involved in the production of 25 new books for launching at the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) from Sept 9-13, 2026. A Christian publishing house, OMF acknowledges that everything comes from the Savior and dedicating our work to Him means giving back all the glory that is never ours, but belongs only to Him.

Over snacks, each round table was given three topics to discuss and reflect on:

1. For authors: What are the Christian and Filipino values that your books redeem from today’s challenging world?

2. For illustrators, Editors, and Translators: Did the story inspire you to live out specific Christian or  Filipino values?

3. For OMF Lit: As a publisher, what are the new realizations that you had in producing this batch of books?  

READEMPTION is a beautiful cacography of redemption, the message we want our readers to understand, one book at a time. 

READEMPTION, OMF Literature and Hiyas's theme for the MIBF. is  a celebration of the Savior's grace.  

The CEO's moving talk revolved around OMF’s mission "to publish and distribute Christ-centered, biblically sound, and culturally relevant resources for the equipping and spiritual growth of Filipinos, all for the glory of God.”

The dedication of 25 books was not about us, but about the loving Redeemer who gave us all--talent, creativity, knowledge, wisdom, and so on and so fortth ad infinitum.  

Cut or Copy and Paste

People of my generation can scream all they want, but we are in this digital era (an alien!) where almost every information can be taken from the Net. It is now difficult to see who is thinking critically and who is copying intensely.  

My cohorts and I are wary about this phase in our world. But the younger ones have embraced it. I have not met any person below the age of 40 who has not done a "cut or copy and paste" for a research paper, speech, or just congratulatory message. It’s quick, convenient, and leaves the brain at rest. 

Yet it is a fact we can no longer ignore. I am no longer an exception either. 

Beyond curious about my blogs’ extremely high hits, I asked AI, “Tell me something about leavesofgrace.blogspost.com.”

I copied and pasted its reply, in toto—and gasped at the accurate data. 

These are more than eerie for this non-tech-savvy blogger.  

Working Birthday

“How would you like to celebrate your birthday?” son #3 asked me.

My quick reply, “By thanking God for His grace through my long years—and by treating the kids in church to dirty ice-cream [local nickname for sorbetes].”

He replied, “Okay.”

Then he added, “Why not invite the Dacs (my siblings and their families who are in the country) for an early dinner so we can work and finalize plans for the Clan Reunion.”

(We Dacs are hosting our 82nd annual Clan Reunion at the end of this old year and the beginning of the new one. It’s a job tattooed on our souls. Every nine years—there are nine siblings on my mother’s side—we toil. Every hour has to be planned to make the gathering meaningful for every attendee: from infants to octogenarians, now spanning six generations. We’re more than 400 living to date, but majority are abroad. So the meet-up each year gathers only over a hundred.  Still, the planning is a challenge because a clan covers all demographics.)

Being the eldest of the Dacs, per tradition, I should be chairman. But lethargy by wear and tear has set in, so I passed on the title to a nephew and a niece as co-chairs. Both smart, creative, and techies, they’ve actually been planning before being officially designated as leads.

Ribbing dominated the meeting, plus photo ops, masked as documentation. But our co-chair (the other was abroad at that time) got everything down pat.

Coincidentally, the theme they chose is “Pass it on.”

And oh, my dirty ice-cream birthday treat for kids went so well that even the youth, the middle-aged, and oldies crowded the sorbetero after the worship service.

Not only was it a working birthday, it was a simple celebration that worked well.  

The Green light of Writing

Q: “Throughout your writing career, what has been the most fulfilling part?”

This question follows me like a shadow wherever I am asked to speak about my now 26-year journey as an author since I left the workplace for good. It was an unsettling early retirement, but it finally gave me the chance to pivot to my first love: creative writing.  

After my first book was published, it has felt like I am on a road with a series of green lights. Non-stop. With writing comes book talks, where I am often asked that question.

My last book talk was with literature students in one university, where a magazine was a school requirement. They asked me that same question. 

 

A: "Feedback from readers," I replied. "Without it, I don’t know how a writer can keep driving." 

Feedback breaks the isolation of writing, validates creative effort, and proves that words resonate with others.

Knowing that my book, or a part of it, made someone laugh, cry, or think deeply shows that the intent landed. Encouraging words chase away an author’s fear that the book is pointless.

      

 Feedback redirects writing from a one-way lane to a two-way traffic that signals comings and goings, greetings and goodbyes, like human dialogue.     

Words of affirmation from readers are a green light, reminding me to never hit the brakes in writing.   

Turning 18 and Still Blogging

Dyslexic I am called by close circles. My doctor says, “Inattention.”

Sometimes I forget left from right in a huge mall; it takes 3 seconds for me to distinguish “push” from “pull;” and I say Dantu Date instead of his real name, Dante Datu. I wrongly put on my clothes backwards. Plus a hundred more. 

So I am qualified to say I turned 18 instead of 81, my age after my last birthday. It was celebrated in church with a surprise birthday cake from the women’s Sunday school, which I help facilitate.  

You are verrrrry oooold,” my youngest ading Dave says to my face. Then he sings the old hymn, “Nearer My God to Thee.”

And yet, at 81, I am still blogging like crazy. My pace has not slowed down—every three to four days, sometimes shorter.

Why?

My default reply, “Writing is my first love.” And now I add, “And my last,” after Tony said goodbye.  

Why do I write? “Why do I breathe,” I wrote in my blog profile.

But I am not old or odd.  

Morrie Markoff (an American) started blogging in his 100s until passing away at age 110 in June 2024. 

I started blogging, midst grace overflowing, in 2006, one year after I turned 60. My sons, knowing  how invested I am in writing, prodded me. 

It’s been 20 years. I will stop only at age_____, when the Lord says, “Time to come home.”

FGD: Inherited Corporate Gene

Research was a must before beginning any work on any idea in advertising. As head of the creative department, I had to attend or participate in qualitative research, one of which was Focus Group Discussion (FGD).

Roughly 12 or 15 people in a closed room with a two-way mirror answered the moderator's questions. Behind the mirror, I’d sit, watch, listen, and take down notes as the participants agreed or disagreed with each other, building ideas in a natural conversation. 

FGD explored feelings and thoughts. In the process, I got to know which direction to take creatively. 

I inherited this “gene” after I left the workplace. While writing a book, I conduct an FGD—the better to understand the reader.

My newest project is a book for Gen Z’s and Gen Alpha. I had read tons of research data about these generations, but I wanted to conduct an FGD to validate them.  

And so I did, among Christian youth.

My purpose was to find out if they still read; what types of literature interest them.

Alas, only a handful read outside of the Bible. The participants were raucous and uninhibited in a wonderful way. I found myself enjoying the fellowship more than the data.

But additional data I now have, and I understand them more than what research results have already revealed. And since the book I am writing is about grace (always!) for their generations, I think I may now have enough material to stand on.  

Christian youth are different from those who are not. While both groups share similar pressures and everyday experiences, Christian youth live by specific biblical guidelines because they believe in God, Jesus Christ as Savior, and absolute moral truths from the Bible.

This I believe. I hobnob with them at every church event and Sunday after Sunday.     

Presidential SONA: Bravo or Boo?

Every year, we listen to a presidential State of the Nation Address (SONA).  And every time, reviews run toward two opposite directions: Excellent or Mediocre. 

Photo credit: Presidential Commission Office 

For me, it is a combination of both.

Pro: it is the president’s constitutional duty to report on the country. He/she uses real economic data, employment figures, and completed infrastructure counts from government agencies. The SONA outlines actual bills, laws, and national budget priorities for the coming year. Journalists and groups use the speech to track government promises against actual performance.

Con: it is a political performance designed to highlight successes, gloss over failures, and polish the administration's image. The president spotlight favorable statistics while ignoring deep crises, persistent poverty, or controversial scandals. The speech frames minor progress as massive victories and recycle old unfulfilled promises to sound impressive.

In advertising, we called this objective and execution. The objective may be excellent, but the execution can miserably fail because of various reasons: greed, laziness, corruption, status-seeking, and indifference to what is good for others. That’s why the polished numbers do not match the daily economic struggles of ordinary citizens.

I am not a political scientist so I am not qualified to comment on the details of the political landscape on earth. 

But this reminds me of that SONA-like event in the Bible where the leader, Moses (Book of Deuteronomy) makes a speech before the new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab just before they enter the Promised Land. Moses delivers God’s “SONA.” 

Through Moses, God . . .

    • reviews past performance. He looks back on the nation's journey, reminding them of His faithfulness, their parents' failures in the wilderness, and how they arrived at this moment.

    • restates the ten commandments and outlines the social, economic, and religious laws that will govern their daily lives.

    • lists the national blessings for obedience (prosperity, safety, good health) and the severe national curses for disobedience (famine, defeat, exile).

    • concludes with a call to action for the nation to choose life. 

    • renews His covenant with them—that even if they fail and get scattered, He will bring them back if they return to Him.

The Biblical SONA is beyond bravo or boo. It is the unchanging truth. No ifs, ands, buts, ors, maybes. 

Hidden Grace: Unnamed Women

About a hundred women of noble character are unnamed in the Bible. Why?

For one, old cultures recorded public histories through men. Women generally operated in domestic spheres, that’s why their names were not important unless they impacted political, social, and royal concerns.

But the main reason is for readers to focus on the story rather than the name. The message remains on God’s actions and interactions rather than the women’s biography. 

The stories of these unnamed women, whose faith and struggles are vital contributions to our salvation history, represent all strata of society—from the poorest of the poor to royalty

C.H. Spurgeon wrote that marginalized women are “powerful examples of hidden grace; God uses ordinary, unrecognized individuals to achieve His greatest spiritual victories.”

Indeed, the true power of the church often rests in its unknown, unnamed members rather than famous figures. Faith goes beyond social status.  Though anonymous, these women are fully seen, deeply valued, and intimately understood by Jesus.  

I marvel at these stories, which are our series of lessons in our women's Sunday school these months.  They are humbling. They teach us that no one should look down on the unknown. 

One story that has sat with me is found in Luke 21:1-4 ESV:

“Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.  For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Often, we give from what we do not need. But the unnamed widow gave all her money to live on, more than all the others' combined!  

What does this mean? My net takeaways:  

    • Giving is measured by sacrifice, not amount. God looks at what the gift costs the giver, not the size of the contribution.

    • True giving comes from a heart of devotion, not a desire for public recognition.

    • No one is too poor, too young, or too insignificant to make a meaningful impact in God's eyes.

    • Percentage matters. The rich gave a small fraction of their wealth, while the widow gave 100% of her substance.  

What about tithing? To this unnamed widow, tithing is the bare minimum. She gave her all, as Jesus did three days later on the cross. He gave all of Himself--for us all.  

Unknown? To the world, yes. To God, these nameless women are deeply loved and fully known.     

Photo credits: An Army rising (top),Vecteezy (middle),, Shutterstock (bottom)

Still Fruitful

Two trees illustrate long, productive life in the Bible. 

One, the date palm: it can still bear fruit after 3,000 years. 

Two, the cedar of Lebanon: it remains to have unshakable strength and majesty at the same number of years (or longer if beside a stream). 

Psalm 92:12-14 (ESV) reads, “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing…They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green."

“Retirement is not Biblical,” our pastor said.

Indeed. God promises that spiritual vitality and productivity do not have an expiration date; serving God is a lifelong calling, not a standard job. It is rooted in love and relationships, not  employment. We do not retire from them. As long as we have breath, our role shifts, but it does not end.   

I was tasked to expound on this truth among about 50 seniors during a gathering in our church. It was an eye-opener for me as well. 

The Lord assures us in our sunset years (despite the aches, pains, and dulled senses) that we can continue bearing fruit to honor Him.  I presented four how-tos that, I pray, grace will enable me to do myself:  

1. Deepen the Roots: Dedicating regular, unhurried time to scripture and prayer.

2. Mentor the Next Generation: sharing our hard-earned wisdom, faith stories, and life lessons with younger believers. 

3. Adjust our Service: focusing on spiritual work (listening, comforting, staying) due to physical limitations.

4. Guard our Heart: avoiding complaining, bickering, or longing for the good old days; cultivating a habit of gratitude.  

Still Fruitful. It’s living a life that continues to bless others for God's kingdom.   

Sistahs

How can two sisters, only two years apart, who grew up in the same house, be polar opposites?

This still puzzles me when my ading (younger sister) and I get together, now a rare phenomenon in this era of aching bones, wasting muscles, and fading eyesight. She lives 188 kilometers away, or four hours by car, six hours by bus, and—the way she actually does it—"nine hours by tricycle, buses, and modern jeep inclusive of waiting time!" 

I had written about this in one of my books (Gifts of Grace 1). But it seems like those pages are way too few. I missed to include that she loves the soil and I love the tiles. 

Why then can two opposite poles have marathon talks—now interrupted by some gadget scrolling—and intent walks in a book-sale shop?

Well, we are actually Siamese twins in the one area that counts: faith. Both deeply-invested in the redeeming grace of our one true King, Jesus. And that can take several volumes of matching tastes—in values, principles, moral code, standards, rules of conduct, and conscience. Here, we are on the same page. 

Sistah, we call each other in text messages. And sistahs we both are in the faith that keeps us alert, alive, enthusiastic in His service.   

Silent Saturday

A Long and Winding Road to 10K

When I turned 80, I did a happy dance while reading this:  

"Under the Expanded Centenarians Act, Filipinos aged 80 and above receive a one-time cash gift of ₱10,000 every five years upon reaching the milestone ages of 80, 85, 90, and 95. When they reach 100 years old, they receive a centennial cash gift of ₱100,000."

Easy peasy. Or so I thought.

First, the tedious application process at the Barangay Hall. Requirements: photos in all angles, birth certificate form the Philippine Statistics Authority, three government IDs, a long form to fill out.  It took a month of back-and-forth trips to different government offices.

Sam, son #3’s driver, was a blessing. But I worried about the hundreds of others who didn’t have a Sam. Those in wheelchairs with tired caregivers. Those with weak knees but had to ride tricycles and jeepneys.

Second, the long, silent waiting. “We’ll call you,” a clerk said. She did after two months  with more requirements, “You also need to submit . . .” 

Third, the urgent call one year later, just before my 81st birthday. “Come to the Barangay Hall tomorrow.” I was close to drooling. Finally! The queue was longer than the San Juanico bridge. I waited for an hour, only to be given a small piece of paper with my name on it and a table number. 

“Bring this to the gym tomorrow for the distribution of the 10k.”

Fourth, the 10K extravaganza.  The gym was dressed up to the max, like a venue for a grand miting de avance--complete audio-video equipment, wel-dressed usherettes, a stage with a backdrop, where the mayor spoke in a language that could rivet everyone, including street bystanders. To say it was patronizing is an understatement. It was to ferret out gratitude from the over 700 80-year-old-and-above audience. 

A singing duo, a dancing couple, a karaoke singer, etc. prolonged the waiting. Then, at last, after 2.45 hours of numb digits, aching back, and stiff neck, my decrepit hands held the precious 10K.

But hey, this is a blog on grace. It took a one-year-long-and-winding road, but it came. Still grateful.  

Guilty? The VP’s Impeachment Trial

On the first day of VP Sara's impeachment hearing, I sat rigidly in a chair and listened to every word.

When son #3, a lawyer, came home, I concluded, “She will be impeached.”

As though he was talking to a grade schooler, he replied, “Mom, ask two lawyers one question, and they will have two different answers.” 

That shut me up. I stopped listening to or reading about the proceedings after that. Comments and emojis on socmed mean nothing. 

Son #3 explained furher, "Although the Senate has the final say on whether to convict or acquit VP Sara during an impeachment trial, the Supreme Court (SC) has the final word on the legal validity of the process itself." 

Sigh.  

“The SC, as the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution, has the final authority to declare an impeachment complaint valid or invalid." 

I don’t count. You don’t count. We, who are non-members of the SC, don’t count.

That is justice on terra firma, the temporary world we live in.

Only in eternity, where God is the ultimate supreme Judge, can true justice exist.      

The Bible describes God’s perfect fairness in His defense of the oppressed and His ultimate judgment of sin. He promised to right every wrong.

Verses on justice in Scripture are many, but these will do for now:

Deuteronomy 32:4 (NIV): "The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A faithful God and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

Psalm 103:6: "The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed."

Isaiah 30:18: "For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him."

So, will the VP be impeached?

May grace give us peace when the final verdict--wherever it goes--of the SC is announced. 

Take heart, true justice will come when the new earth and new heaven will be upon us. Soon, I pray.  

How Should We Celebrate Father’s Day?

My dad left us for his eternal home 44 years ago. The dad of my children bade us goodbye last year.

How then should Father’s Day be celebrated?

A song entitled You Are Strong, Dad is a tribute for the head of the home. The exact songwriter or composer is uncredited because it is an independent production for socmed, not written by a commercial music artist. The track is a copyright-free, specialized Christian worship and reflection music.

The lyrics are told from a child's POV, recognizing the silent sacrifices, quiet strength, and hard work of a father. It is a Father’s Day tribute, focusing on the subtle, everyday endurance of fatherhood. It is about aging, gratitude, and the shift in perspective when children grow old enough to appreciate the heavy burdens their dad carried for them in silence. 

This we witnessed in our church on Father’s Day. 

While all the fathers stood behind the pulpit, a seven-year-old girl sang the song. You could hear a pin drop and tears cascading freely over many cheeks in the pews. 

“Today may God bless your tired hands,

May heaven give you peace. 

For every quiet sacrifice,

You gave much to me.

You are strong, Dad,

I finally see it now.”

After the song, our chuch community prayed for the dads standing there, trying hard to be stoic and unemotional but visibly moved. 

Then I remembered the dads no longer with us but were just as strong.

And for me, that’s how Father’s Day should be celebrated: Paying tribute to the dads the Lord blessed each child with, and being grateful to our Father in heaven Who created earthly dads in His footsteps.

Top photo credit: PVGC Media Team

Broadcasting is in ICU

Broadcast television isn’t dying, but it is going through a massive transformation. Traditional radio and TV networks have evolved into digital-first, multi-platform media organizations.

While over-the-air audiences are shrinking, the strengths of broadcasting have shifted to streaming to capture viewers who have moved away from traditional media. Content is now distributed across podcasts (YouTube, TikTok, and mobile apps) to reach younger audiences.

A huge part of my workplace life was on broadcasting (advertising and radio hosting)—it was like my home, my comfort zone.

It’s because I had always been behind the scenes: voice-over, critic, writer, creative director. But when I became an author, it became necessary to face the camera in interviews and messages to readers. Those freak me out. My common excuse, “I am better at writing than speaking.”

But.

I got invited to DZAS, operated by the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) Philippines, with the mission slogan: "Communicating Christ Until All Have Heard." It’s similar to the reason why I am an author—the Gospel should reach people and Christian writers need to help spread the Word till our last breath.  

I could not pass it up. It was a venue—with its wide reach of audiences—to talk about my books on grace and my writing ministry. I was asked about the W’s of my writing: what, why, when, where, who.  Although I tried not to show it, the jitters crept into every part of my anatomy.

The host and the production staff were so calming; the tour around the place were my sedatives.

Collection of old radios and a huge Bible, perfect for fading eyesight

Watching the taped interview again a few days later, I saw the numbers: 3.4K views.

Broadcasting in ICU is not a bad thing. There, patients receive round-the-clock care and life support to keep breathing—till the second coming.