ab epistvlis

A s defined, it meant the state or fact of being present; current existence or occurrence. B ack when Yuppeace had more than a hundred members, you wouldn’t notice if someone was not around. Now with a few Yuppeace who makes themselves visible, it is easy to notice if someone is not around; and so, missed him or her. W e meet every Wednesday. The togetherness that each one brings to the community gives a feeling of warmth and belonging. At times, when there are just but a handful members attending, somehow you feel alone. As soon as members start to arrive, that sad feeling is replaced with joy. P resence preludes bonding. A community gather together not just to meet and greet but to identify oneself with the group and be one with them. Presence is important so that the group continues to be one in spirit and mission. T housands people had attended the Wednesday nights since Yuppeace started in 1995. The community was open for everyone. People come and go but it didn...

My Priesthood Journey I COME FROM A POOR FAMILY. Papa worked as a kargador. I remember Mama preparing to two to three shirts for him, but he would still come home grubby. During paydays, the cinematic arguments at home were about how the few hundred pesos couldn't cover the long list of payables. Papa would desperately propose to rob a ban. During penniless days. I would be asked to go to the nearest suking tindahan, not to drop any raffle entry, but to by a can of sardines on credit. One time I was turned down. I was told they ran out of stock, but I could hear the Ligo and 555 sardines screaming from the shelves. I was a consistent honor student, but was removed from the roster in fifth grade simply because Mama could not pay the Php40 PTA contribution for eclectic fans. I wanted to electrocute them all! My parents never gave up on their desire to give us the best. They enrolled us in a private school for our secondary education. Our payments scheme improved from the pede...

By Liza Tanopo A Child's Journey I’ve always believed what Father Armand said during his homily in one of those Eucharistic celebrations he presided, that “ Prayer in silence is always answered ….” For indeed, it was last Wednesday, March 26, when Irene texted me and informed me about YUPPEACE Easter celebration with sexually abused young girls at Laura Vicuña Center (LVC) that weekend. More than seeing old friends, spending a while with the girls would be an extra-ordinary experience, if I may say, and that’s exactly what I prayed for – to spend quality time with the last, the least, and the lost, as Fr. Anton Pascual, formerly of Sto. Niño de Paz Chapel at Greenbelt, puts it. Little did I know that somehow there would be twist, what you may call a nudge from Christ. Saturday came and I was supposed to meet Ging at the MRT Station – Araneta, Cubao but just in the nick of time, I decided to call up Avic who lives nearby and told her that I’d be joining the activity. When...

By Edward Alivio  ( Yuppeace based in Dubai) That was mid-summer Thursday afternoon. Everyone’s rushing to hit home before the late afternoon traffic build-up for the weekend reverie. Temperature outside reaches at sweltering 45 degrees and relative humidity is high enough to sweat out every drop of water deep within the body. Only in this place of the world where humidity level also inch up along with every rise of the temperature during summer. Bank Street in Bur Dubai as the name suggests is where most large bank in this part of the world merges and intermingle. A place where inching for a mere parking space is a horrendous thing and cabbies dreaded not to go avoiding the traffic caused by brimming mixture of people doing all sorts of wares; bankers, salesmen, applicants, and shoppers in the nearby IT shops. A hush of people is teeming out in the bus stop after I had my late lunch in a walk-in Japanese restaurant nearby. It was 2:30 in my watch as I prepare to try my...

courtesy fotografik mind By Flora Aguilan In this era of multi-tasking, the state of being in solitude and doing nothing is a big crime. It is thought of as a waste of time. We are expected to be in action at all times to accomplish many things for growth and advancement. In this modern environment, we are consumed with a lot of work and leisure activities to better our lives. But wait, can we slow down for a while? Is retreating from this demanding world liberating? Well I should say YES! We need to hold back for a moment to give us time to think and analyze what we are doing and where we are going. Slowing down, finding a place of shelter and reflecting gives us a clear view of our lives. I learned the 3Rs in this moment of solitude. The first R is for Retreat , second R for Recollection and the last R for Reflection . These Rs are intertwined that leads us to better knowledge of ourselves and towards maturity.  We need to Retreat from the maddening crowd ...