Month: August 2019

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What I Learned from Recon 2019

by josecaliwag, posted in CFC-SFC, Uncategorized

ImageMy Identity

As I entered the venue and start listening to the talks, my real identity was slowly revealed. A lot of struggles and shortcomings attacked me for the past months especially when it comes to maintaining chastity. It was so hard for me to get away from the vices related to chastity because of the longing of having a partner in life but failed.At the end of the talks, before the praisefest. I declared myself that I am Chaste and Pure. Being chaste to protect my sexuality and avoid promiscuity. Then the other one was I am excellent because I believe that the Lord is trying to teach lessons for me in order to grow in my career. I remember last Sector Conference 2018 that I surrendered my career to Him as a professional teacher because of the past that I failed to make in the academic industry many times so I said to Him with conviction that “Lord, kahit hindi mo na ako gawing professional teacher. Gawin mo na lang akong provider sa pamilya. Kahit anong trabaho ay papasukin ko, matugunan lang ang pangangailangan ng aking pamilya, makapag-ipon para sa kinabukasan, at magbigay ng maraming kaloob sa Inyong Kaharian.” That was the statement I gave to Him. Same as my lovelife wherein I also surrendered it to Him for the sake of focus. Before the year ends, I believe that I can achieve those two identities I have and everything will be alright. The Lord will be the one who will fix my career and it will be a full blast blessing if there will be a comeback in me as a Filipino major teacher. Bahala na ang Panginoon sa aspektong iyon.

 

Financial Stewardship

I joined the seminar called “I am Steward” because I am always tempted of getting rich. Inaamin ko na medyo hindi ako nakinig masyado sa talk dahil service team din ako. Ang natutuhan ko sa panayam na naabutan ko is about sharing treasures to everyone. What is the sense of being rich if you are living with discontentment, and what is the sense of being rich if you have a mindset of being yourself a rich just to gain respect from the people. The speaker also mentioned about joining the networking at tinamaan ako doon dahil dumaan ako sa iba’t ibang klase ng networking businesses and praise God because all of them were failed. Natuto na talaga ako and I will claim na hindi na talaga ako sasali sa kahit anong networking business dahil sobrang laki ng isasakripisyo mo at isa pa, napagtanto ko talaga na wala sa marketing strategy ang talent ko. But you know what, I am also entering the industry of stocks investing. I always tell the Lord na hindi ako sumali just for myself but in a good intention that the money that I will earn from stocks will contribute for my family, especially for my mother. I want to have her own grocery business once our family will be moving somewhere in Rizal.Always remember that our riches should be shared equally. Always remember that we work not to earn money but to provide the needs of our family. If we want to become rich, make sure that it is on a good motive and it is aligned with God’s will. Never forget to share treasures to the unfortunate.

Music ministry

I was so happy and this is the first time that I am going to serve in the music ministry for SFC Metro Manila conference. Grabe na talaga, lumelebel up na ang kuya niyo and not only that. Most of the members of the music ministry came from Central B which I belong and I am the lone member from Central B1C. Grabe, nakaka-overwhelmed talaga. Salamat sa Panginoon sa napakagandang oportunidad na ibinigay sa akin. Sabi ko nga, naniniwala ako na Central B will be the home of talents and one of the music ministry powerhouse of SFC Metro Manila.

Happiness

The RECON 2019 is the happiest conference so far because I met a sister who is so friendly to me not only through words but loving actions. During that time I was seated in the back row and it was a bit cold there so I had no choice but to take a seat now. Then she always approach me all the time after the workshop and keeps on talking and greeting on me. The most memorable was when she gave me a float. I didn’t say that I don’t need it because I had a cold feeling but for the sake of her effort, I received it with love and care. I noticed that she keeps on greeting me anytime with a smile that made me smile during the entire conference until the clubpraise. What a moment. That was
E P I C. Thank you sister, who knows uhmm…. Kinikilig ako ano ba iyan hehehe.

A few days after the conference….

Two days after the conference, it was a normal day at work and I had a 1 hr and 30 minute class. In a normal situation, I feel exhausted usually at the 30th or 40th minute mark because of the marathon classes but for the first time, I felt like I still have an energy. Until I went home, I was hyper motivated that I don’t want to sleep and celebrate the entire day. And that is because of the joy coming from the secret admirer and the good treatment I received from brothers and sisters outside our sector.But, on the third day, it was a disgrace. One of my friends blocked me on Twitter and IG and unfriended me on Facebook without any reason. Sobra akong nasaktan sa nangyari, hatinggabi iyon so for the entire late night, hindi na ako nakatulog hanggang sa humingi ako ng tulong sa Chapter head namin. When I admit to him that someone is my secret admirer that I am referring to, he admits as well that our chapter is my secret admirer.

The real secret admirer

I was surprised when my chapter head said to me about the secret admirer. He (or they) did it because they noticed that I am still sad despite of the big milestones in my mission. They are just trying to make me happy in the entire conference and I didn’t know that they were the ones who are secret admirers to me. I cried because I got stuck again in my assuming attitude. Being myself as a unit head is like a business cycle in the economics wherein there is prosperity, reccesson, depression, and recovery. Yeah, I cried during that time because I still set aside the missions that I am supposed to do for our chapter. I don’t know where to start during that time. So, after that heart breaking day, I came back in a very serious mode.But, I would still like to give thanks to that situation because God still loves me. That prank/goodtime is on a good intention. The whole chapter this time tried my best to make me laugh and smile. It cannot be erased in my life that I am a very emotional person but when it comes to service, I am open depending on my abilities. Because of that situation, I evaluated myself and the result was still lack of initiative (even though I am start practicing now).

Thank you

1. To the Lord whose grace is limitless. His power to love still offers to me despite of being a sinful being.
2. To ICC Chapter who according to my chapter head, is the real secret admirer. Home of the talents, still looking forward to me as a potential leader for further years of service.
3.To team steward recon 2019 and we made a big break in a wider mission as musicionaries.
4. To (bleep). No more further explanations na hehehe kasi grabe yung happiness na idinulot mo sa akin. Sana…
5.The I Am SFC MM RECON 2019 and I found my real identity in Christ. The Lord knows me better than myself so our unique identity will reflect our milestone in the future as God’s servants and trying to discover something new related to the identities we have

How does she look like if she comes back?

by josecaliwag, posted in Roses of Pain and Joy

“At kung sakali na muling magkita

At madama na mayro’n pang pag-asa

Hindi na natin dapat pang dayain

Hayaan natin puso ang magpasya.” — Ika’y Mahal pa Rin ng Rockstar

I have a syndrome of envisioning the future which is not so good to me kasi pinapangunahan ko si Lord and I set advanced expectations which the more you expect, the more pain you will get. Alam ko ang mga reyalidad na ito. Subalit kadalasan pa rin silang umaatake sa isipan ko at pinipilit ko talaga siyang labanan sa pamamagitan ng pagbaling ng aking sarili sa iba pang bagay tulad ng panonood sa Youtube.

Kadalasan, in every failed courtship, hindi na bumabalik pa ang mga babaeng niligawan ko dati dahil alam ni Lord na nakamove on na ako. Ngunit paano kaya kung isa sa mga niligawan ko dati ang bumalik or nakita sa isang lugar o magkrus kami ng landas? How can I respond to that situation? Simple lang, I just acted like a plant – like nothing happened. There is a glance, but sabi nga ng linya ng isang kanta sa taas, ang puso na lang ang magdidikta kung magkakaroon pa ba ng sparks o hindi na. I never had an ex-girlfriend at AYOKONG MAGKAROON NUN! Pero marami akong mga ex-babaeng nililigawan (hindi ko alam English nun eh, sorry). Anyway, yun nga, I will just act like a plant or iwas na lang siguro para hindi na sumagi sa isip ko yung masamang karanasan.

Oo, inaamin ko, mahina akong manligaw at sinusubukan ko talagang gumawa ng paraan para kahit papaano ay magkaroon naman ng appreciation sa akin. Inaamin ko rin na sobrang immature ang courtship approach ko, pero sa pagkakataong ito, nakalinya at nakaayon na sa pamantayan ng Diyos. Nakadepende pa rin ito sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon o sa kasalukuyan kong pangangailangan yung kahandaan ko upang magmahal ulit.

Pero balik tayo doon sa paksa ko. I know it is so silly pero tumutukso sa akin yung mga posibilidad na bigla na lang siyang bumalik or bigla ko na lang siyang nakita/magkrus ng landas at may loving approach na sa akin. Yung katulad sa mga kuwento na binasted ng babae yung nililigawan dahil mahirap tapos makaraan ng ilang taon, yumaman yung lalaki tapos yung babae naman ang siyang naghabol. O di kaya binasted ng lalake yung babaeng may gusto sa kaniya dahil mataba siya, pangit siya, pangit ang ugali, may multipolar disorder or whatsoever pero makaraan ng ilang taon nag-improve ang babae at ang lalake naman ang naglalaway sa kaniya. Well, pinipilitko talagang hindi mangyari iyon kahit yumaman pa ako o maging isang sikat na speaker or kahit ano man iyan hangga’t tumutukso pa rin sa akin yung prediction na ayaw ko.

Ngunit if ever na nangyari nga iyon? hmmm? Paano kung mga babae naman ang naghabol after all these years of my self-improvement for the Lord? Well, depende na lang kay Lord at sa puso ko. Kung sasabihin kong “ayaw ko na sa iyo,” ay ayaw ko na talaga sa iyo dahil sa trauma. Kahit hindi ko sabihin, idinadaan ko na lang sa pagiging isnabero – oo, totoo iyan! Mahirap man gawin pero kailangan eh, alang-alang sa focus sa kinabukasan — maliban na lang kung kalooban ng Diyos ang hindi siya isnabin, eh bakit ko naman tatanggihan? Ngayon, kung sasabihin kong “pag-iisipan ko?” Well, may tsansa pero kailangan muna niyang maghintay. Hindi sa marupok ako pero I am just imitating the Lord whose forgiveness is unlimited. I am just imitating Him who gives unlimited chances. Ito kasi ang nakadidismaya sa mundong ito na ok, you forgive the person pero hindi mo na siya pagkakatiwalaan pa – naniniwala akong matigas pa rin ang puso mo. Hindi mo na kailangang sabihin iyan. I have a suggestion like kung papayagan bang magstart ulit ng relationship. I think it will be better to say it in this way: “Pinapatawad na kita, pero mag-iba na tayo ng landas. Hindi magiging healthy para sa atin if we will restore our relationship. Pero kung gusto mo talaga, ask God.” Yun na yun,

Hayaan ninyo akong ibahagi yung experience ko na mayroon akong babaeng natipuhan dati na magaling ding maggitara pero nag-fail yung courtship attempt ko dahil hindi ako nagpaalam. Same as that girl kasi hindi nagrerespond sa mga messages ko dati, panay seen – acting as a cold woman (ugh, that freaking attitude sucks). So, dalawang taon ang nakalilipas, nagkita kaming muli pero wala nang nararamdaman at wala nang usap usap hindi dahil sa ginusto namin kundi nag-rely kami kay Lord. Nag-rely ako kay Lord kung worth it ba na makipag-usap sa kaniya or kahit sa simpleng “Hi” lang pero it was a total silence.

One of the best ways to move on as what they said is to find more fish. Sabi nga sa isang kanta ng Parokya ni Edgar: “ang dami dami naman diyang iba.” so, OK, I am somehow convinced. Parang gusto ko ngang panoorin yung isa sa mga vlog ni Mark Ballenger tungkol sa mga paraan kung paano ka magtitiwala ulit sa isang tao. Well, so far, my healing process when it comes to courtship is around 85% na mula sa 40% noong January 2019 (huwag niyo nang alamin yung detailed explanation) and I hope na magtuluy-tuloy na. Yung katulad ng dati, 8 taon ang nakakaraan…

SFC and Philosophy

by josecaliwag, posted in CFC-SFC

SFC and Philosophy

1. Perennialism

Definition: Perennialism suggests that nature, including human nature, is constant. Return to classics — mind, reason.

Its integration to SFC:

Perennialism happens when a leader focuses on the topic which should be followed by the members.

Service-oriented leadership. Giving emphasis on service

It is important to do good and relevant works.

2. Idealism

Definition:

Ideas are the only true reality, the only thing worth knowing.

Its integration to SFC:

Leaders teach members by imitation/demonstration

Leaders as a role model for the members who can become in the future.

Discovery of the members not only as a normal servant of God.

3. Realism

Definition:

Reality exists independent of human mind. World of physical objects ultimate reality.

Its integration to SFC:

Members are the ones who see the reality through senses and experience.

“Realtalk” approach can also be applicable.

The leader should give accurate teaching/s to the members and there is a mute of biases and personality.

4. Pragmatism

Definition:

Universe is dynamic, evolving. Purpose of thought is action. Truth is relative. Rejects the idea of absolute, unchanging truth, instead asserting the truth is “what works.”

Its integration to SFC:

Members have experiences.

Learn to deal with their environment, depending on their reaction and consequences of it.

Leader is also a follower. Leader is also a learner.

Leader guides.

5. Existentialism

Definition:

Reality is subjective, within the individual. Individual rather than external standards.

Its integration to SFC:

The leader is just giving instructions and teachings and then gives freedom to the members.

Members are choosing, free, and responsible agent. There will be the ones who will do the instructions given by the leader/community.

6. Essentialism

Definition:

Teach the common core “the basics” of information and skills needed for citizenship.

Its integration to SFC:

Teaching the basic principles of SFC such as formation activities, CLP, GMT, and the like. Such formation includes discipline as an SFC member.

Chapter head is the locus of chapter authority. Same as unit and household heads.

Members’ improvement through formation activities s/he attended.

7. Progressivism

Definition:

Ideas should be tested by active experimentation. Learning rooted in questions of learners in interaction with others. Focuses on real-world problem solving and individual development.

Its integration to SFC:

Leader is a guide than a boss.

The chapter is a microcosm of the larger cluster/community.

The social atmosphere of the community should be cooperative and democratic.

Members emphasize purpose finding more actively.

If there is a problem in the community, there is a solution.

8. Reconstructionism

Definition:

Analysis of world events, controversial issues and diversity to provide vision for better world and social change.

Its integration to SFC:

The leader can have topics that focuses on social issues or what is happening nowadays and this is applicable in Households, GMTs, or chapter assemblies.

Members can express their opinions about existing issues that has solutions made by them.

9. Behaviorism

Definition:

Behavior shaped by design and determined by forces in environment. Learning by observing and imitating others.

Its integration to SFC:

Leaders should lead by example to members.

Members have the right to observe and imitate their leaders – depending on the leader’s personality, approach, and actions.

10. Cognitivism

Definition:

Learner activity constructs own understandings of reality through interaction with environment and reflection on actions.

Its integration to SFC:

Through the environment that surrounds the member. S/he understands the reality and learn to accept it. Just like the same with realism but the difference here is cognitivism requires realizations. This can also be applicable to the leader.

11. Humanism

Definition:

Personal freedom, choice, responsibility. Achievement motivation towards highest levels. Control of own destiny.

Its integration to SFC:

This is the lowest form of Philosophy when it is integrated in SFC because it focuses too much on a member/leader itself. But there are times that God gives enough wisdom and power to make personal decisions. Sometimes the final decisions comes from the member itself (of course aligned with the Holy Spirit).