The document is a magazine from Shepherd's Voice Publications with the theme of changing money habits and achieving financial freedom. It includes articles on finding God's embrace, getting out of credit card debt, creating multiple income streams, and holding onto false money myths. It also advertises other magazines for different ages from the publication including Mustard, Fish, and Kerygma.

1. Inspiring You to Live a Fantastic Life
A Wayward Son Finds His Way
to God’s Embracel
Help! I’m Drowning
in Credit Card Debt
No. 228 Vol. 19 MAY 2009
Change Your Money Habits
and Work Your Way
to Financial Abundance
PAID!
How to Achieve Financial Freedom
By Bo Sanchez
Don’t Settle for Just One —
Create Multiple Income
KERYGMA BARCODE.pdf 11/16/06 5:43:58 PM
Streams
Philippines P60
US $7.00
AUS $ 6.00
Euro 4.00
UK 3.00
Are You Holding on to False Money
CDN $7.00
SING $8.00
HK $38.00
Myths?
RUPIAH 103488

2. From Shepherd’s Voice Publications —
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Start right with MUSTARD — through KERYGMA — the
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3. Ladies, Be Impatient
No More!
Find grace in waiting, just as
Rissa Singson-Kawpeng did.
In her first-ever book, Confessions of an Impatient
Bride, Rissa shares her funny, tear-jerking or
sometimes downright embarrassing experiences
as a woman finding her place in this world.
These originally appeared in her “Just Breathe”
column in KERYGMA, the country’s no. 1 sell-
ing inspirational magazine.
Rissa’s struggles and victories as a young woman
serving the Lord and at the same time “im-
patiently” waiting for the realization of God’s
promises to her regarding marriage and family
life can be a source of grace and hope for women
still in the “waiting” stage. New moms can relate
to her stories, too.
For more information log on to
www.shepherdsvoice.com.ph
or call 725-9999/725-1115/725-1190

4. For all that she’s done for you,
Your mother deserves all the best in life.
This Mother’s Day, give her your best — YOUR LOVE.
From Shepherd’s Voice,
“Happy Mother’s Day” to all mothers!
Let Shepherd’s Voice inspire you!
The Boss, Bo Sanchez’s column in KERYGMA, has turned into bestselling books.
Get all four and be very inspired. Give them as gifts and you’ll be doubly blessed.
For more information, log on to www.shepherdsvoice.com.ph
or call 725-9999/725-1115/725-1190

5. boss
thethe boss bo sanchez
O
ne day,
my wife Marowe was interviewed on TV. bothers me. You can wear black all you want. It’s the
Bishop Tagle’s show on TV5 wanted to ask negative, surly, snobbish attitude that steals a lot of life
her some questions. So they sent a TV crew to from them.)
the house, complete with lights, cameras and a Some Christians have their own version of holy
truckload of stuff. angst. These good-hearted people like to focus on their
Obviously, that doesn’t appeal to her at all. Being sufferings as a way of pleasing God. They like to moan
interviewed on TV is as appealing to her as being trapped and groan about how difficult life is, thinking they earn
in a steel cage with a thousand giant scorpions crawling brownie points in heaven.
all over her body. Sheesh.
She doesn’t like the spotlight. She has never given Well, excuse me, but I don’t have any angst.
a talk in her entire life. (OK, that’s not true. Once, she I’m happy with my life.
was asked to give an eight-minute talk to kindergarten Each day, I wake up expecting miracles to happen.
kids. Two weeks before that talk, she was so stressed, I I also expect the sun to rise, the day to be lovely,
couldn’t talk to her.) and my friends to be terrific. And most of the time, that’s
In the TV interview, she was asked a question that she exactly how it happens.
has heard a hundred times before. “How is it like being Sure, once in a while, it doesn’t happen that way.
married to the Bo Sanchez?” Hey, I can’t win all the time. That’s OK. All I have to do is
The following day, she was so relieved that the wait for the next beautiful morning.
interview was over, she hugged me and giggled, “Bo, Don’t get me wrong. I’ve got problems.
doesn’t anyone ever ask you, ‘How is it like being married But here’s the key: I don’t focus on them.
to the Marowe Sanchez?’” I acknowledge that they’re there. But I move on and
“No one,” I smiled, “but if someone were to ask focus on my blessings instead. Because I believe my mind
me, I’d say, absolutely wonderful and phenomenal and is a magnet. Thoughts attract.
fantastic.” If I always think of my blessings, I attract more
It’s really true. blessings.
Not just my family life though. If I always think of my problems, I attract more
My whole life is really wonderful. problems.
Today, it’s popular to be a little angsty. “Teenage Dear friends, I pray that you attract more blessings in
angst” is very “in” today, even among 40-year-olds who your life today.
still think they’re teenagers. And you see it in how they May your dreams come true.
look — black nail polish, black circles around their eyes,
and a cigarette between their black lips. You’d rarely see
them smile. (Don’t get me wrong. It’s not the style that
How to Live a
Wonderful Life
Yes, You Can Make Blessings
Happen Every Day
Watch Bo Sanchez in a new Internet Show MONDAY to frIDAY at www.preacherinbluejeans.com KerygmaMay2009 { 1 }

6. mailroom
Thank you for your great magazine. People coming to our house,
including our mission rector, can hardly leave because they read
and read the accumulated issues we love to display. Do continue
to inspire us.
C. Valera
KERYGMA serves as an inspiration Kalinga Province
every day of my life. I feel the
presence of God and I look forward I consider KERYGMA a blessing to me and my family because
to reading the monthly issue.Thanks, you help us to realize that God is everywhere, even in the simple
KERYGMA, for shining through my things, and to learn how to appreciate Him more! God bless
dark nights. you!
Ace Galileo Gervacio
Polomolok, South Cotabato Binangonan, Rizal
Thanks to KERYGMA magazine
because when I read it, it gives
enlightenment to both my mind
and my heart. More power and God From Members:
bless!
Donna
I love reading KERYGMA magazine. It’s so inspiring and
Davao
it adds to my knowledge, especially that I give Pre-Cana
seminars in our parish. More power!
Hallelujah! I really want to thank
KERYGMA for changing my life, for
Naomie R. Labalan
helping me have a close relationship
with God, and helping hopeless people
I am really inspired by reading KERYGMA magazine. I am
to realize how much they are needed
blessed to be one of the KERYGMA Shepherds spreading
in this world for God. God bless you!
the goodness of God.
Keziah Agura
Corazon S. Reyes
Dipolog City
You’re such a great speaker, Bro. Bo, and I most especially
I always make it a point to buy this
like your illustrations and stories. They touch the inner core
super magazine. I just hope Bo and
of my being. Thank you so much.
company can visit Cotabato City.
Ruben
Ding Estaniel
Cotabato
We want to hear from you!
email us at editsvp@shepherdsvoice.com.ph, text at 0917-800-5535, or write
to The editor at 60 Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City. you can also reach us by
becoming members of KeryGMa Family (www.kerygmafamily.com).
{ 2 } KerygmaMay2009

7. just
L breathe
ong before
Patrick Dempsey
landed his role in
the movie, Made living by grace
of Honor, I had my
very own. It was there printed
on my wedding invitation for rissa singson-ka
wpeng
all to see. I had a matron of
honor and a man of honor.
The latter was Randy
Borromeo, the big guy —
literally and figuratively
— behind the TV shows of (L-R) Rissa, Thessa Barj
Randy Borromeo and
a-Borromeo,
Chris Kawpeng MY BEST
FRIEND’S
Shepherd’s Voice. He’s also the
director of all those cameras at
The Feast, our Sunday gathering
WEDDING
at the Valle Verde Country Club Ballroom.
I’ve known Randy since we were teenagers. I was
already serving in our Catholic community when he
attended one of our prayer meetings. Many years later, God provides. Always.
he would confess that the reason he was enticed to keep
going back to the prayer meetings was because he saw
many pretty tisays there. his dreams. It was so cool that evening — it felt like the
Rissa’s clothes courtesy of Limited Couture. Available at Greenhills Shopping Center; HP at Power Plant Mall, Rockwell; Festival Mall, Alabang and SM City, Bicutan.
But no matter how hard we tried, we couldn’t remember whole garden was air-conditioned.
any tisays attending the prayer meetings. Pretty girls, yes. KERYGMA preachers George Gabriel, Alvin Barcelona,
(Ahem.) Obet Cabrillas, Jon Escoto, Arun Gogna and Adrian
We could only conclude that it was the Lord at work. Panganiban were there to lend good music and humor to
Knowing Randy’s weakness for tisays, God tweaked his the occasion.
eyesight to bait him to attend the community gatherings. It was a memorable, fun wedding.
While our friendship goes way back, Randy and I Weeks later, Randy told me how much they had spent
became close when I experienced a major life crisis. At a for their wedding and marveled at how he was able to
time when I desperately needed friends and all my closest earn all that money.
ones severed ties with me, Randy was the only one who’d What can I say?
call and listen. God provides. Always.
We’d talk through the wee hours, sometimes hanging Whether it’s a friend in time of need, a woman of your
up only because the sun was about to shine. dreams, a rainless day, or money to pay for your perfect
One Christmas, he was hired to direct a presentation at wedding.
an office party. There, he saw a pretty tisay dancing with a
friend. This time, God played no tricks. She was a gift from The works of God are all of them good; every need when it comes
heaven named Thessa Barja. he fills. (Sirach 39:33)
Last January 10, the day Randy married Thessa, time Email me your reactions/comments at justbreatherissa@gmail.com.
stopped — literally. (To match my gown and shoes, I had to
wear a gold watch and the only one I had wasn’t working.
I wore it anyway.) All of creation cooperated to give the WHAT TO EXPECT TH
couple the most beautiful wedding possible. IS MONTH:
The day before the wedding, it was raining. A worried If you can’t wait to find
out what life has in sto
Randy called me to ask for prayers. The reception was you, grab my hot-off-the re for
-press book, Confession
Impatient Bride. Yes, thi s of an
going to be in a garden and he had no more budget for a s is my first book ever
published and it’s alrea to be
giant tent. “Lord, take over,” we prayed. dy a bestseller — as so
on as all
KErYGMA readers buy
The next day, the sun was out. The newspaper also their own copy! It’s the
read for women waitin perfect
announced that the biggest and brightest moon of the year g to find their one true
young wives starting on love and
would be out that evening. the family way. Laugh,
inspired by life lessons cry and be
from one woman’s heart
So under the canopy of stars and a large, radiant moon, Available in bookstores to yours.
nationwide or call (02
we celebrated the union of my best friend and the girl of 9999. )725-
Listen to Bo Sanchez’s PODCAST! Audio and Video available! www.preacherinbluejeans.com KerygmaMay2009 { 3 }

8. { 4 } KerygmaMay2009

9. publisher columns the bo files special section
BO SANCHEZ
editor-in-chief 03 Just Breathe 01 The Boss 17 {Paid! How to Achieve
RISSA SINGSON-KAWPENG Financial Freedom}
{My Best Friend’s Wedding} {How to Live a
managing editor
TESS ATIENZA 35 Kitchen Scribbles Wonderful Life} 18 {Change Your Money
staff writers {Disdain Not Thy Thumb} 30 Heroes of Faith Habits}
NOVA ARIAS
37 K Preacher {Rex Mendoza: 24 {Create Multiple
JOY SOSOBAN
creative director {One Plus One Equals Two} The Good Influencer} Income Streams}
STIMPY CORTES
40 Point of Contact testimonies
graphics director
REY DE GUZMAN
contributing writers 22 {Victory Over My
ALVIN FABELLA Debts}
JUDITH CONCEPCION
28 {Money Myths}
JANE GONZALES
CECILLE LIM
DINA PECAñA departments
photographers
ED SANTIAGO 02 Mailroom
DANIEL SORIANO 06 New You
columnists 07 Anawim
ROSANNE ROMERO
08 Dear Kerygma
ARUN GOGNA
chairman of the board 10 Real Stuff
BO SANCHEZ 11 Feast Snapshots
marketing director 13 It Happened:
JOSEPH MARTINEZ {From a Fool’s Life
to a Full Life}
KERYGMA. A Greek word meaning 33 Gawad Kalinga
Proclamation of the Gospel. It is a 39 {I Was Prepared for
Catholic inspirational magazine. It aims My Death, But God
to be an evangelistic tool to all nations, Had Other Plans for
providing Scriptural, practical and orthodox
Me}
teachings to Catholics, particularly those
in the Catholic Renewal, as an alternative
to present-day magazines. It is also
committed to fostering the renewal and
unity of the whole Christian people.
Philippine copyright Shepherd’s Voice
Publications, Inc. 2009 No part of this
magazine may be reproduced without
permission. KERYGMA is published monthly
{18}
J
by Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc., osephine Anne M.
whose editorial and business offices are Agustin isn’t immune
located at 60 Chicago St., Cubao, 1109
to money problems.
Quezon City. Tels: 725-9999, 725-1115,
725-1190, 411-7874 Fax: 725-1230, 727- Recently blessed
5615 Email: editsvp@shepherdsvoice.com. with a baby, Jopay is
ph Website: www.shepherdsvoice.com.ph getting accustomed to
the financial demands
of raising a family.
may But faith and trust in God run strong in the
Agustin household. Jopay and husband, Marvin,
are active leaders of Bukas-Loob sa Diyos
vol. 19 no. 228 Community’s young couples’ group.
KerygmaMay2009 { 5 }

10. new you
new you
tips for personal development
TIPS FOR COMMON
HOW TO CUT DOWN
f inances
ON REGULAR BILLS
b eauty
SKIN PROBLEMS
W ant to cut down on regular bills? Before
you reply with, “How could you ever do that?”
N ever worried about your skiN?
Then this is not for you. But
for those regular gals out there, here are some tips for
common skin problems:
check out the suggestions below. · Conceal breakouts. Use a concealer that’s specifically
1. Install compact fluorescent light (CFL) formulated to cover and to treat blemishes. A
bulbs. They have a longer lifespan and use up treatment concealer or an oil-free foundation will
stay on the trouble spot without migrating. You
less electricity.
should concentrate the pigment right on the pimple
2. Do you have any electrical devices that you by tapping the product on the blemish. Then follow
rarely use but have kept plugged in? Unplug this with a light dusting of powder over the entire
them. Most electrical devices constantly use a face to set your makeup.
small amount of electricity called a phantom · Even out skin tone. Apply foundation over the whole
charge. Eliminate this by unplugging the face, then treat the dark patches with a full-coverage
appliances. concealer. These are usually labeled as providing
3. Look for inexpensive entertainment options. medium, full or heavy coverage. Warm the concealer
Instead of malling, why not lend your time to in the palm of your hand to make it creamier then
a local volunteer group? blend it over the trouble zones using a dry sponge.
· Soften fine lines and wrinkles. Makeup that’s too
4. Cook and pack your own meals. This will
heavy can build up and cake in fine lines, so apply a
reduce the cost of your lunch. Going out has light layer of a sheer foundation to prevent this. Add
a tendency to increase your expenses. concealer, but only on the dark areas under the eyes.
5. Strongly reduce or eliminate travel. This will To increase the sheerness of the concealer, mix it
significantly cut down your expenses. Be open with a pea-size amount of eye cream before gently
to inviting family and friends over to your tapping it on with either a brush or your fingers.
place instead.
Source: www.realsimple.com
Source: www.thesimpledollar.com
QUICK HEALTH TIP:
The following foods are
excellent sources of di-
etary fiber, which help fight
constipation: raspberries,
mustard greens, cauli-
flower, collard greens and
broccoli.
f aith &
Doctrine
BEING RICH AND
LOVING THE POOR
L oving the poor is incompatible with excessive
love of riches. When we attend to the needs
of the poor, we actually give them what is theirs,
not what is ours. More than performing works of
mercy, we are paying a debt of justice.
Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 2445-2446
{ 6 } KerygmaMay2009

11. SURVIVAL TIPS IN
h ealth
DO-OR-DIE
EMERGENCIES (Part 2)
H ere’s a continuation of last month’s article on what to do when
you’re in a do-or-die emergency. Note down these survival
tips: MOISES SU-AMAR:
· Cramps. If you’re in deep water, take a deep breath, lie on your
back and float. If you have muscle cramp, float face down, grab
Still Adventurous at 77
By Tess V. Atienza
your toes and pull them toward you, stretching your calf until
“I
the pain goes away. If it’s a stomach cramp, lie on your back, — just to walk around the town proper
gO Out almOst every day
spread your arms and legs, and float until you can swim back and then go home, on foot.” Lolo Moises does that not
to shore. only for his regular exercise. At 77, he still loves to walk and
· Poisoning. If you inhaled something (like bleach or ammonia), explore places. He wants to reach whatever his eyes could see
get away from the toxic area. If it’s something that got on your on the horizon.
skin, like a cleaning product, wash it off, then call a hospital and
follow the doctor’s advice. Where He Came From
· Severe bleeding. Use your hand or a clean cloth, paper towels, His mother died when he was two; his father when he was in
a scarf or any fabric you can grab, and push down on the wound grade two. He and his siblings grew up far from each other. Lolo
until the bleeding stops. Don’t use a tourniquet. Moises lived with his grandmother in Miag-ao, Iloilo City. His
· Trapped in a burning building. Enclose yourself in a smoke- siblings lived with their adoptive families.
free room and place a wet towel underneath the door to Very early in life, Lolo Moises learned to fend for himself. In
prevent any smoke from entering. Then lie low on the floor, the morning, he went to school; in the afternoon, he tended to
where you can breathe and see better, until help arrives. If the store of his aunt.
you’re in a house, get as low as you can and crawl outside as Eventually, he moved to Manila, got a college degree and
fast as possible. Don’t stop until you’re well away from the fire. then worked in Saudi Arabia for five years. Upon coming back
Source: www.rd.com
to the Philippines, he was hired as a caretaker in the home of
Mr. Gartland, general manager of US Life Insurance Company.
The Gartlands treated him like family, but they had to leave the
SAY “HELLO” Philippines when the company closed.
r elation
ships
TO STRANGERS The Path that Led to Anawim
After his employment with the Gartlands, he only had short-
term jobs and depended on friends for help. He remained
single by choice.
T ake ThekeRYGMa challenge to improve your relationships: Say “hello”
to strangers daily for at least one month. Set your own quota and then
try to build on that. Here are some reasons why you should practice this.
In his early 70s, a friend of his brought him to a home for
the aged in Manila. In 2006, he was brought to Anawim.
Life at Anawim
· It is an acknowledgment of existence. Saying hello is a pause,
“It’s funny,” Lolo Moises relates, “the social workers here remind
however brief, to affirm another person’s worth. In return, you become
me to come back whenever I go out for my morning walk. Why
a person to them, too.
won’t I come back? Anawim is my home now and probably until
· It can raise productivity. A study on this subject had middle school
death.”
teachers greet their students
Still, he wants to visit his hometown one last time and see
individually every month.
his brother Samuel and sister Francisca Su-Amar-Derla.
The brief interaction
He wishes, too, that well-meaning visitors at Anawim would
raised the students’
invite him to spend a day or two in their houses. “For a change
productivity by 27
— and to see other places before I die,” shares Lolo Moises.
percent.
Indeed, age has not changed Lolo Moises. Adventure is still
· It can save your
in his blood.
m a r r i a g e .
C o m m o n
courtesy isn’t
that common. Lolo Moises is one of the 55
When did you abandoned elderlies that Anawim
cares for. To continue caring for
last say hello to
them, we need your support.
your spouse? Contact Anawim at (632) 710-
And don’t forget to say 5273 or visit www.anawim.com.
hello each morning to the person ph for your donations. You may
also join the monthly pilgrimage
who needs it most — yourself.
to Anawim and make the lolos and
Source: www.rd.com lolas happy with your presence.
KerygmaMay2009 { 7 }

12. dear K
dear K
My Vocation or
My Family
I ’m 26, single, have a job and staying
with my family. Just recently, I had a
sudden feeling of wanting to pursue my
vocation. The truth is, when I was 16
years old, after I graduated high school, Dear Vhanie,
I entered a convent to become a nun
because that had been my dream since What you are experiencing right now was the same thing I went through when
grade school. Unfortunately, I failed I was discerning whether to enter the religious life or to pursue a career and be
to continue my vocation because my with my family. Discernment brought me to a “win-win” solution. I finished college,
worked for five years and helped my family before I joined the congregation. I also
homesickness ruled over me and I realized
realized that becoming a nun is more than a childhood dream — not a career to
that I wasn’t totally prepared that time pursue — but a call to live a different kind of life, one that is devoted to God through
for the religious life. prayer and service.
I went out, pursued a college degree, Your case is quite unusual because you entered at a very young age and then
graduated and found a job. But all the left the congregation. It is like getting married early — the chances of broken
time that I was out of the convent, the lure commitment are prevalent. I can understand your situation.
of the religious life kept coming back. But You don’t have to choose between your family and the religious life; you can
then again, after I graduated, I felt that I have both. When I entered the religious life, I never stopped becoming my parents’
had to find a job and help my parents. To daughter, although I cannot anymore give what I used to give them — material
leave my parents after all their hardship things. But they appreciate much my presence during special family gatherings and
simple occasional visits. With my community’s permission, I took care of my sick
in sending me to college stopped me from
mother when she was hospitalized. I am also called to facilitate dialogues among
re-entering the convent. I want to provide family members. And my nieces and nephews express how they look up to me as
for them now that I have a job. But in my their role model. There is so much that you can do as a daughter and a sister to your
heart, I know and I feel that I still want to family.
be a nun and offer my life to God. Vhanie, you are still young. You still have time to spend and serve your family in
I am confused. Shall I choose a life case they really need your assistance. There are congregations who accept candidates
with my family or a life of service and in their early 30s. I suggest that you get a spiritual guide to journey with you as you
being with God as a religious? I’m really search for where God is calling you at this time of your life. I can be one.
weighing things out because I want to
make sure that if I chose to re-enter the Sr. Gemma Dinglasan, RGS
convent, it would be for good this time.
But I have to consider my parents, too,
because I want to make sure that they’re It took Sr. Gemma Dinglasan, RGS, several years to finally face her true
OK before I leave them. calling. An accountant by profession, she worked hard to help her parents
send her younger siblings to school. Later, when the one next to her gradu-
Can you please help me to weigh ated and took on the responsibility of sending the younger ones to school,
things? Thank you. she was left with a void: what to do with her life. She searched and she
found what she was looking for: the Pearl of Great Price. Sr. Gemma
is now the vocation directress of the Good Shepherd Community in the
Philippines.
Vhanie
{ 8 } KerygmaMay2009

13. How Do I Deal
with My Atheist
Friends
it is important that we remember that God is a God of mercy. I
am sure that He will not expect people to live as though they
are disciples of Jesus if no one has ever proclaimed the Gospel
to them. God will judge us fairly and with mercy and love.
Secondly, I think we should first focus upon our own salvation
and ask ourselves whether we are doing everything that we can
to proclaim the Gospel through our lives and through what we
say and witness to others. The Vatican II documents remind us
of this when they talk about our duty to live and proclaim the
I am havIng a hard time dealing with atheists Gospel.
in my life. I love them but they don’t believe Thirdly, we must be sure that we both live and proclaim
the Gospel to the best of our ability while at the same time
in Christ. I also have friends who are Buddhists,
recognizing that each person is free to choose whether or not
Hindus and Muslims. Will they also be saved? he or she will respond to the Gospel once it is heard. The critical
How do I introduce Christ to them without point here is that each Christian ensure that the witness of their
offending them? I love them and so I want them life is true to the Gospel and that we do not deny any truth of
to be saved, too. the Gospel for fear of offending someone. The Scriptures are very
clear that it is the truth that sets us free (John 8:32-36) and thus
Rosan we never do anyone a service by denying them the opportunity to
know the truth about salvation.
Dear Rosan, Having said that, it is equally important that we are guided
by the Holy Spirit in the work of evangelization and wait for the
Your situation is a common one but not appropriate time to proclaim the Gospel to those who need to
necessarily easy to deal with. I think it is important hear and respond to it.
for us to realize that no matter how well we might In summary, I think you should live your Catholic faith to
think we know and follow God as His disciple, there the full without any apology for doing so to your friends, while
is still a great mystery surrounding the nature and at the same time being watchful for an opportunity to share the
mechanics of the work of salvation. Ultimately, it is Gospel when it arises.
God who will decide who is saved or not and I think I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit would use you to bring
your friends into a relationship with Jesus and thus win them
for the Kingdom of God.
Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL
Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL, is the spir-
itual director of the Light of Jesus
and Elim Communities. Fun-lov- Email your questions to editsvp@shepherdsvoice.com.ph. Or if you need to talk to
ing and ever ready for anything,
this Australian cleric is presently
someone, call 7264709 or 7266728 to contact a Light of Jesus counselor. Telephone
the parish priest of St. Benedict’s counseling is 24-hours from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 6 a. m.
Parish in Don Enrique Heights in to 10 a. m. on Sundays. Face-to-face counseling by appointment. For correspondence
Quezon City.
counseling, email lojcounseling@yahoo.com or go to http://supportskerygmafamily.
com.
Or Call725-9999
Pregnant? Confused? Abortion is not the answer. Contact Sr. Pilar at Pro-life.
KerygmaMay2009 { 9 }
Call 422-8877 or email pilar.verzosa@gmail.com.

14. real staff
real stuff
VATICAN NOW ON will make information
YOUTUBE and news from the
Holy See more readily
accessible on the
w aNt to be updated on what’s happening in the
Vatican? You can be updated through video
now. The Vatican has launched a new channel on
world wide Web.”
He added, “It is
my hope that this
YouTube.
initiative will enrich a wide range of people — including
The site, which is found at www.youtube.com/
those who have yet to find a response to their spiritual
vatican, was launched in January in time for World
yearning — through the knowledge and love of Jesus
Communications Day.
Christ whose message of Good News the Church bears to
The Pope said, “Undoubtedly, wise use of
the ends of the earth.”
communications technology enables communities
to be formed in ways that promote the search for Source: www.zenit.org
the true, the good and the beautiful, transcending
geographical boundaries and ethnic divisions. To this
end, the Vatican has launched a new initiative which
SAINTS AT A GLANCE
WHO: St. Bernardine of Siena
BOrN & DIED: September 8, 1380, Italy – May 20, 1444,
MEDIA AND YOUR CHILDREN Italy
NOTABLE fACTS: Descended from a noble family, he
I f You’Re a paRenT with young children or adolescents, better joined the franciscans after prayer and fasting about
check this out. it. He played a great part in the religious revival of the
According to the conclusion of a series of 10 short early 15th century. A tireless worker, he once preached
papers by the journal Children and Electronic Media, media every day for seven weeks in Siena. He became vicar-
can be a positive influence in the lives general of the franciscan Order in Italy in 1438.
of these children. The papers, which
are summaries of research carried
out by The Future of Children, a
collaboration of the Woodrow Wilson
School at Princeton University
and the Brookings Institution that
promotes policies and programs
sex scenes are much
regarding children, said that the
more likely than
average modern child spends a total
their peers to get
of nearly 45 hours a week using
pregnant or get a
various forms of media, including the
partner pregnant.
television, movies, magazines, music,
They also found
Internet and video games.
strong connections
According to the study,advertisers
between a negative
are moving to the Internet because
health outcome
marketing to children online is far
and media hours or
less regulated than television. Methods include embedding
content.
ads in games and using online chat forums to promote
“Be aware and be involved” was the paper’s
products.
recommendation to parents. Awareness includes
The paper also concluded that when children view
understanding the various forms of media and types of
media violence, they often act aggressively, experience
content that their children are using. And involvement
fear, develop unrealistic perceptions concerning the
means monitoring the type of media being used by
violence that exists in the real world, or develop less
children, and also the amount of time being devoted to
advanced moral strategies.
media use.
Another aspect of media usage is that between television
and sexual activity. The study found that teens who watch Source: http://www.zenit.org
a lot of television featuring flirting, discussion of sex and
{ 10 } KerygmaMay2009

15. SAFE
BROWSER FEAST
FOR YOUR
FEAST
SNAPSHOTS
SNAPSHOTS
LITTLE ONES
W wreaking havoc on your
orried about your child
computer or going to an unsafe site? Then
Kidrocket is for you.
Bacoor, Cavite
Kidrocket Kids Browser is a free stand-alone
Holds Local Feast
Windows application that’s both an activity center as
well as a browser. It can be locked to the desktop to
prevent your kids from unwittingly wreaking havoc on C avite may not be that far from Pasig City,
where The Feast happens every Sunday
at the Valle Verde Country Club, but many
your computer. It includes a web browser that operates
off a pre-selected white list of kid-friendly sites like Caviteños (especially those from Bacoor)
Crayola, Cartoon Network, Sesame Street and choose to have their own local Feast and
others. There are also other activities that your enjoy a more intimate community gathering.
kids can do like an interactive math flash cards Every first and second Friday of the month,
and a simple paint program. from8to10p.m.,theLightofJesusCommunity’s
For older kids, you can enable a basic Bacoor Chapter gather at the Addas Chapel in
email client and create a safe list for your
Addas IV Village in Mambog. Of course, they
child to email to.
welcome whoever might want to join the
Source: lifehacker.com
worship, Gospel sharing and reflection and to
NEW UNIVERSITY FOR listen to Bo Sanchez’s video talk.
On the average, 40 people regularly attend
TOP MINDS the Bacoor Feast. Anyone who wants to
participate may simply go to the venue on the
W
hat would
happenifthe
world’s top minds
mentioned schedule or may contact Bro. Peter
Fariscal at 0929-722-7080.
came together to
establish a university? Now we have a chance to find
out.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) and Google have teamed up with leading science
and technology entrepreneurs to open Singularity
University (SU). Housed on the NASA Ames campus
in Silicon Valley, the university will open this June and
will offer a nine-week graduate level program along
with several executive level programs aimed at helping
current leaders adapt their businesses to up-and-coming
technologies. The university seeks to compliment
existing programs in a variety of subjects including
biotechnology, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, law,
ethics and finance.
The university hopes to foster collaboration and
innovation “in order to address humanity’s grand
challenges” and to gather “the next generation of CEOs,
University Deans or Presidents and government leaders”
to begin networking and collaborating. SU’s founders
include Pete Worden, the director of NASA Ames, Dr. Ray
Kurzweil, author and futurist and Dr. Peter Diamandis,
chairman of the X Prize Foundation.
Source: http://www.popsci.com
KerygmaMay2009 { 11 }

16. { 12 } KerygmaMay2009

17. From a Fool’s Life
to a Full Life
I
was living a double life.
During the day, I studied
while working part-time as an
appraiser in our pawnshop in
A Wayward Son’s
Ormoc. I earned extra money
apart from the allowance my parents Journey
gave me. Having so much money By Romeo “Junjun” Ocampo, Jr. as told to Dina Pecaña
in my hands made it easier for me
to indulge in my vices again, which
I wanted to get rid of in the first Another most memorable day in Junjun’s journey
was the day he married Vannie
place.
Listen to Bo Sanchez’s PODCAST! Audio and Video available! www.preacherinbluejeans.com KerygmaMay2009 { 13 }

18. My health suffered because I totally gave up group of friends) that led me astray. Instead of focusing
exercise and sports. My frequent drinking spree on my studies and getting good grades, I got entangled
also affected my sleeping pattern. It came to a point in a web of endless partying, alcohol and drugs. I picked
when I could no longer sleep without getting drunk. up the vices merely out of curiosity and a compelling
I would drink beer and take shabu simultaneously need to be accepted by my friends.
and that kept me awake for two days. My freshman year was one of the turbulent times
Unknown to me, my parents, who were renewed of my life. But even then I was sensible enough to free
Christians actively serving in the intercessory team myself from the vices that enslaved me. I decided to go
of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and back to Ormoc after the second semester, thinking that
Professionals (BCBP) in Ormoc, were fervently I could start over if I stayed away from my friends.
praying, in union with their community, for my I was wrong.
conversion. I only sunk deeper into my vices.
Soon, the
Lord answered Life-Changing Retreat
their prayers for I wasn’t expecting anything from the retreat — I only
my conversion — attended it as a requirement for my Theology class. But
but it was also to during one of the talks, I sensed the Lord telling me,
prepare us for the “My son, I love you.” Then it dawned on me how my
trials that were parents cared and prayed for me all these years, how
about to come they continued to love me even though I was a “bad”
into our lives. son to them. I realized how deeply the Lord loves me
through my family. This realization opened my life to
The Good Life the powerful love of the Lord that would change my life
I have to admit forever.
I was spoiled. I God transformed me gradually. First, He separated
got everything I me from my “vice buddies.” Next, He gave me the
wanted while I desire to know, love and serve Him. That inner desire
was growing up — moved me to become part of our parish youth ministry.
be it a TV for my I sang in the choir and helped organize retreats and
room at the dorm, other youth activities.
the latest sound As I immersed myself in service, I still struggled
system, a new with my vices. Through much prayer and with the help
Junjun now works as tennis racket and of my Theology professor, Cris Fernandez, who was our
a financial consultant
for Pru-Life UK rubber shoes, and speaker and facilitator during my most unforgettable
an allowance that retreat and the one who invited me to serve in the
was more than parish youth ministry, my craving for alcohol and drugs
what kids my age received. I guess that came with diminished slowly but surely. Indeed, God’s grace is
being the youngest child, although my parents were sufficient!
caring and generous to my siblings as well. I finally joined my parents in BCBP during my
From their humble beginnings, they worked last year in college. Soon after, our family underwent
hard to establish our retail store and family’s another trial.
pawnshop business in Ormoc. The business grew
and prospered and enabled my parents to send us to Financial Crisis
good schools and give us a comfortable life. I should In 1995, our country experienced a serious economic
have been grateful or, at the very least, content with crisis that affected our family business. We were forced
having a happy family life. But I was not. I chose to to close our pawnshops and the proceeds from the sale
live a wayward life in spite of the love and support of were used to pay off outstanding debts that ballooned to
my family. almost P10 million. We had to sell our car and home.
It was a difficult time — so hard in fact that there were
Entangled in Vice times when my mom did not know where to get our
During my freshman year at the University of San next meal. We went through a test so grueling that the
Carlos in Cebu, I became part of a barkada (gang or strength of our family’s faith was challenged.
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19. My dad, being the head of the family, was hit hardest City, living among lay brothers who were single-
by this family crisis. He sunk into depression that lasted hearted for the Lord.
for three years. He could not accept what happened For three years, I learned to live out the virtues
to our family and he felt that he failed us miserably. of chastity, simplicity and obedience. I was happy
He withdrew from everyone and confined himself at with this life and I truly believed that to live single
home. and dedicate my life to the Lord’s service was my
This was also the lowest point in my life. It was hard highest calling.
to see my idol — my dad — so down, helpless and on
the brink of giving up. Seeing him this way, a broken Meant for Marriage
man, I felt lost. I questioned my own identity. If my dad Little did I know that God had a different plan.
felt he was a “nobody,” then who was I? During Lent 2005, on my third year at the Servants
of the Word, my
Simple Living heart was stirred
Though difficult to bear, our family crisis taught us by a desire Finding God’s best
for him was one of
valuable life lessons, starting with having a faithful for marriage Junjun’s blessings
relationship with God and living simply. In the midst of as I prayed. I in life
our problems, God called each one of us to a personal was confused.
relationship with Him and led us to actively serve in our I sought the
community. advice of my
I developed a more loving relationship with my mentor and
parents and siblings. My mom committed to faithfully fellow brother,
pray for our family and her example encouraged the Ken Knoecker,
rest of us to pray just as she did. Our family prayer time who advised
became our source of hope, strength and unity. me to be open
Though our once carefree and comfortable life to it, to pray
changed drastically to one of hardship, pain and more and to
uncertainty, we gained a new life in Christ. As we investigate it.
surrendered our lives to the Lord, He eventually After days of prayer, it became clear to me that
restored to us what we had lost. He allowed my parents God wanted me to get married. I left my brothers
to reopen our pawnshops; my mom was blessed to in Servants of the Word and joyfully anticipated the
work in an insurance company that enabled us to buy unfolding of His plan.
a new car. In due time, God revealed His plans for me. I
Mom and Dad humbled themselves as they went landed a job as a supervisor in a gas station in Ormoc
to each person to whom they owed money. They asked and later as a financial consultant in an insurance
forgiveness for not being able to pay their debts and the company. Then in one of Lingkod’s activities, Vannie
same time gave their commitment to pay no matter how Siloterio, my good friend and former co-worker at
long it takes. The Lord must have touched the hearts the Lingkod office, came to Ormoc to be with the
of the creditors because they only collected from my women members of our community. Seeing her
parents the principal and no longer applied the interest and being able to spend time with her once again
that would have compounded significantly over the reminded me of the essentials I wanted in a woman
years. who was to be my wife: a deep relationship with the
Lord, unconditional love for her family and a heart
Loving God More Deeply and Following Him More for mission. It was then that I decided to pursue
Closely her.
From my service in our parish youth ministry, to On December 16, 2006, Vannie and I got
becoming part of BCBP, the Lord opened opportunities married. For over two years now, we have been
for me to serve Him and His people through Ang living a serene and simple life in Ormoc while still
Lingkod ng Panginoon Community where I served happily and actively serving our brothers and sisters
as the very first and the youngest branch leader of the in BCBP and Lingkod.
Ormoc branch. It did not end there, though. It continues to amaze me how God has
My desire to serve the Lord deepened to the point transformed a wayward son to become His faithful
that I joined the Servants of the Word based in Quezon servant.
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20. By Bo Sanchez
{ 16 } KerygmaMay2009

21. PAID!
HowtoAchieveFinancialFreedom
by bo sanchez
R
when you were taught by your
emembeR the days
parents to drop a coin or two every day in your
piggy bank?
Gone are those days, right?
Today, most people complain that their monthly
take-home pay is spent before they receive it.
Why?
Because they are trapped in the vicious cycle of borrowing for
every need and then working to pay for their debts.
Why are many people stuck in poverty and in never-ending
debt?
Because they spiritualize their financial difficulties — they
want God to do what they can do themselves.
And that’s what ails many people.
Now, listen: God won’t do what you can do yourself.
Because the essence of human life is growth — and we won’t
grow if we won’t take responsibility for our lives.
And that includes managing our finances, raising our financial
IQ, learning new habits and being totally free from the enslaving
power of money — or the lack of it — in our lives.
Friends, God wants you to be prosperous but you have to do
your part as well.
Start now.
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22. Change Your Money
Habits
and Work
Your Way to
Financial Abundance
by bo sanchez
{ 18 } KerygmaMay2009

23. A
long time ago, when I was still single, I led The answer is, “It depends.”
a retreat for a group of college students Why?
from an exclusive girls school. Before the If you do not do something practical about your
start of the retreat, I was alone in my room finances, such as living simply, nothing will happen. No
preparing for my talk. matter how much you give to God, if you do not live
Suddenly a cockroach entered my room and within your means, if you do not save, you will not be
hovered above me. Ziinggg! Zinnggg! I looked at it and prosperous.
said, “In Jesus’ name, come down!” And then it hit an God wants you to prosper but He won’t do for you
invisible wall and crashed to the floor, dead. what you can do for yourself. Because the essence of
I was amazed! human life is growth. You need to keep on growing and
Then during my talk, the granddaddy of the the only way to do that is to take responsibility over your
cockroach I killed entered the room with vengeance life, including your finances.
and it started zooming and shimmying and zapping Many prosperity preachers have spoken and written
around the room. You can just imagine the reaction of about steps to prosperity. They’re good — they tell us to
the students in front of me. They were shrieking and obey God, be faithful to Him, give tithes and so on — but I
covering their heads as the cockroach continued to feel there are some things lacking. They don’t speak about
zoom up and down the ceiling, the walls and all around the practical steps one can take on the road to financial
the room. I didn’t know what to do until I remembered freedom.
what I did an hour ago. So I said, “In Jesus’ name, come
down!” And again the cockroach hit an invisible wall Six Steps to Financial Freedom
and crashed to the floor. Bang!
All the ladies in front of me exclaimed in awe. “Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land,
And there I was, cool as a bee, as if it was something and take the fifth part of the produce of the land of Egypt
that happens to me every day. during the seven plenteous years. And let them gather
After the talk, I entered my room. As I was resting, all the food of these good years that are coming, and lay
up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the
I saw the cousin of the first cockroach crawling up the
cities, and let them keep it. That food shall be a reserve
wall. (By the way, I will not tell you what retreat house for the land against the seven years of famine which are to
it was). I sat on my bed, looked at it and said, “In Jesus’ befall the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish
name, come down!” It continued to crawl. “In Jesus’ through the famine.”
name, come down!” It still kept crawling. For the third — Genesis 41:34-46
time, I said, “In Jesus’ name, come down!” It didn’t.
There’s something wrong, I thought. And then I felt Step 1: Change Your Internal Money Programs
God speak to my heart, “Hey, get your slippers and kill This never fails: If you want to make any improvement in
the cockroach!” your life, change your behavior. But if you want to make
I learned an important lesson there: that there giant leaps in your life, change your beliefs.
are times when God will not lift a finger because He If you’ve always been poor or short of money, your
wants us to do it ourselves. belief system might be the culprit.
If you want to be prosperous, He’s not going to I hear poor people say, “My parents have been poor.
give you wealth just because you obeyed Him, or just We’ve always been poor. I think I’ll grow old as poor, too.”
because you gave tithes. That’s your mental conditioning — and that’s what
Many do that. They blame God for being poor. will happen because that’s how you perceive your life to
They say, “I go to Mass, I serve God, I give tithes, I be.
attend prayer meetings — but why am I still poor?” Change what you believe in and change will happen
It’s like asking, “Why can’t I play the violin? I serve in your life.
the Lord, give tithes and attend Mass and prayer Because what you believe in, you act upon.
meetings.” The answer is simple: Because you didn’t All the other steps to financial freedom will be useless
study how to play the violin! unless you change your beliefs about money. It won’t
Don’t over-spiritualize your problems — your matter how much you save or whether you get into 10
dilemma may not have a spiritual cause. It might be businesses. You will not prosper if you do not change
due to your lack of knowledge. your internal money program or if you don’t expand your
Will God prosper you if you obey Him and if you psychological wallet. You have to believe that you can
are faithful to Him? earn more than you are earning right now — and that’s
The answer? It’s not yes or no. the key: believe that it will happen and it will!
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24. Step No. 2: Get out of bad debt. We need to invert the whole thing. When you receive
What is bad debt? What is good debt? your salary, give 10 percent to the Lord, save 20 percent,
Good debt is when you borrow money to buy a and then live on the remaining 70 percent.
thing that will put money in your pocket. For example, According to the Bible, Joseph told Egypt, you have
you borrow money to buy an apartment that will earn to save the fifth part (or 20 percent) — and that’s how
money for you later. Egypt was spared from drought and famine. So save 20
Bad debt is the opposite — instead of putting percent of your income and you, too, will be freed from
money in your pocket, it takes away money from it, like lack.
when you buy a TV set or a pair of shoes or when you People would tell me, “Bo, how can we survive with
use your credit card to buy those things and pay only 70 percent? We can’t!” So I tell them, “That’s why you need
the minimum each month. That’s bad debt. to increase your cash flow, your source of income.”
Bad debt is detrimental to your financial health
so get out of it as soon as possible. Here’s what I do to Step 4: Get Protection.
avoid it: When I want to buy something, I tell myself I Tell me if this is true. When you get near an insurance
will save for the next six months to be able to buy that agent, your first instinct is to slowly move away from him,
thing. You know what happens? Before I even reach the right? We’re allergic to the word insurance. But you know,
third month, I no longer want to buy the thing. whether you like it or not, you need insurance. It’s your
If you train and discipline yourself, this is what will protection if something happens to you and you don’t
happen. The important thing is to get out of bad debt. have passive income. What will happen to your family
How? if you suddenly die of a heart attack or are debilitated
by cancer? And even just to protect yourself from estate
1. Create a strategy and a deadline. For example, your taxes, you still need to get insurance.
goal is to get out of bad debt within two years. Make a The Bible says, “A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
plan and a strategy on how to achieve that goal. like a high wall protecting him” (Proverbs 18:11). This
2. Face your creditors. Let them know you won’t means that the ultimate goal is to be self-insured. You
renege on your debt. Keep in touch with them. have to work so that you can do this until you reach a
Don’t wait for them to call you; you call them or visit point when you don’t need insurance anymore. And the
them. Negotiate for a restructuring of your debt. Be way to do that is to have multiple income streams.
persistent. Don’t be intimidated if you are dealing
with a bank. Remember, people manage banks and Step 5: Create Emergency and Retirement Funds.
bank policies are made by people, too — people like From the 20 percent you save from your salary, aim to
you and me — so don’t be afraid to appeal to their build up an emergency fund equivalent to six times your
good nature. As long as they see that you earnestly monthly salary. This will serve as your cushion if you have
want to pay your debt, they can be flexible. a sudden need for extra money, like unscheduled repairs,
3. Pay high-interest loans first. If you have two loans illness or, worse, if you suddenly lose your job (a common
where one charges one percent and the other 10 occurrence these days).
percent interest a month, pay off the latter first. Why? After the emergency fund, your next goal should be
Because that equates to 120 percent a year! a retirement fund. Strive to save at least 20 percent of
4. Work for money instead of borrowing money. Here’s your savings from your income to form your retirement
a common attitude among poor Filipinos. Let’s say fund.
there’s going to be an occasion next week, for example Where do you put your retirement fund? You have
the graduation of one’s child. You know what’s the many options: banks, time deposit, mutual funds, money
first thing that comes to mind? Where to borrow market, etc. Improve your financial literacy so that you
money to spend for the celebration. Instead of this will not only be able to help yourself but you’ll help
mental circuitry, why not think of what you can do so others as well.
that next week you’d have money to spend? And that
means doing things you’ve never done before, like Step 6: Create Multiple Income Streams that Give
selling something or taking a part-time job. Do you Passive Income.
know that the quickest way to earn within a few days At this time of economic recession, to rely solely on one’s
is to sell something? employment income is no longer advisable. You need
multiple sources of income — sell something or put up a
Step 3: Apply the “Save First, Spend Later” Principle. small business on the side; invest in a mutual fund, money
The common Pinoy’s spending habit once he receives market and other financial instruments.
his salary is like this: pay bills, buy that, watch movie, eat A word of caution, though: learn all you can before
out and then save whatever’s left. getting into any of these. Get a mentor. Read up. Attend
{ 20 } KerygmaMay2009

25. seminars. And don’t be afraid to fail. (More on this Bo’s Action Steps:
in the next article.)
Where are you now in your financial life?
1. Assess your financial life. Based on
Do you still carry in your mind unhealthy
financial beliefs?
the steps mentioned in the article, what
Are you deep in debt? do you need to do to achieve financial
Are you on your way to building your freedom?
emergency fund or retirement fund?
Or does your money work for you now through 2. Set your financial goals for the rest of
your passive income? the year and for the coming five years.
Whatever stage you are in now, never forget
that the real purpose of money is to love. 3. Create a strategy and define action
plans that you would pursue to achieve
(For comments and reactions, email me at bosanchez@
kerygmafamily.com.)
your goals.
Laughingly Yours
Question and Answer from the Bible:
Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married
Ruth?
A. Ruthless.
Q. Which servant of God was the most flagrant
lawbreaker in the Bible?
A. Moses. He broke all 10 commandments at once.
Q. Why didn’t they play cards on the Ark ?
A. Because Noah was standing on the deck.
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26. L
ord God, I also want to proclaim your goodness to
me through a financial breakthrough.”
I wasn’t in a financial crisis when I said that
prayer but I used to envy people in my community
who testified to how God blessed and pulled them out of
their financial difficulties. In my heart, I also hoped that
I would be able to give such testimony. A few years later,
something happened that turned my financial life upside
down. Little did I know that this experience would pave
the way for the Lord’s answer to my prayer.
“Debt” Sentence
I worked as a food technologist in a snack and noodle-
making group of companies. My salary was enough to
provide for my personal as well as my family’s needs and
wants. I was just contented in having a job and receiving
a reasonable amount of income every month. As long as
our needs and wants were met, that was good enough
for me. Savings and investments were not part of my
vocabulary.
As one of the breadwinners in the family, I provided
for the groceries every 15th and 30th of the month. All my
purchases were on cash basis. I didn’t have a credit card
because I feared having debts. But when I transferred to
a sister company where everyone had credit cards, I was
somehow influenced by the culture and found myself
Irma, no longer enslaved by plastic money, getting not only one but two credit cards. And the delay
now pursues her life’s goals peacefully in the receipt of our salaries justified my need to have a
credit card.
I paid only the minimum amount due every billing
Victory Over
statement, unaware of its repercussions. In 2003, our
company closed down. Although I received a separation
pay, I didn’t prioritize my debts.
My Debts:
I availed of a cash loan promo offered by the card
company as a way to pay off my debts and to have
extra cash when I was broke and didn’t want to borrow
How God
from people. But this only worsened my situation. My
outstanding balance ballooned due to finance charges
and interests.
When I defaulted on my payments, I received calls
Raised Me from the credit and collection agent of the card company
almost daily. After each call, I felt pressured, harassed and
embarrassed. I had no more peace because of the guilt,
from Debt fear and humiliation I suffered for many months. But it
never crossed my mind to run away from my obligation.
I applied for an amnesty for both credit cards but my
to Financial application was denied.
Free at Last!
Freedom
On my birthday, I received a gift from my prayer partner
— a Bo Sanchez book, Simplify and Live the Good Life. The
By Irma Francisco as told to Judith Concepcion
{ 22 } KerygmaMay2009

27. practical tips given in this book on how to simplify partner. I am now serious in saving and investing my
one’s life especially in the area of credit cards led earnings.
me to a decision to cut my Visa card, which had a I still have credit cards but I use them only for insurance
higher credit limit. It was liberating. I prayed and premium payments and when I treat clients or hold
through my journal, God spoke to me: “Be not afraid. business meetings over lunch or dinner. Other than that,
I have allowed this crisis in your life to teach you an all my transactions are in cash. I now pay the total amount
important lesson. But I will help you pay your debts. due in my credit card so there won’t be any charges. I have
Just have faith in me.” made a commitment never to allow myself to be enslaved
It took me over a year before I found work. I had by debt again. I have not used my credit cards since the
some tutoring jobs and through the help of a sister start of 2009.
in Christ, I taught part-time at the Lorenzo Mission I also have multiple income streams now. I still teach
Institute (LMI). Then a big opportunity came. Through at LMI and work as a real estate agent-broker. I am in the
the sale of a real estate property that I brokered, process of discerning what kind of business to put up for
I earned a huge commission that was more than my family.
enough to pay for all my debts. In October 2007, I The Lord has blessed me abundantly, more than I can
was finally debt-free. ever imagine. In return, I try to manage wisely whatever
He has entrusted me. I am only His steward; all that I
Financial Freedom have belongs to Him.
The experience was an eye-opener for me. I realized
that I was a financial wreck and financially illiterate. An Answered Prayer
Though I wasn’t a credit addict or a shopping addict, It amazes me how the Lord answered the prayer I made
I didn’t plan my purchases. I didn’t know a thing several years back. I only wanted to witness for Him about
about budgeting, managing of finances, savings and His faithfulness and goodness to me in terms of financial
investments. blessings by sharing my experience with my community.
I have learned my lesson the hard (and costly) But the Lord’s answer was more than I had ever wished
way. I am now prudent in handling my finances. for. He made it possible for my story to reach a great
Before entering into any financial transaction, I plan number of people through KERYGMA.
ahead, consult people who are knowledgeable in He, indeed, is a God of surprises — and He listens to
a particular venture and pray a lot; I make God my every prayer we utter.
Laughingly Yours
A new pastor moved into town and went out to visit his community. He came into a closed house, but it was
obvious that someone was home. He knocked several times but no one answered. He took a card and wrote at the
back, “‘Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine
with him, and he with Me’ (Revelation 3:20).”
The next day, he found the card on the offering plate. Written below his message was, “‘I heard Your voice in the
garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself’ (Genesis 3:10).”
A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. She said that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.
The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human being because even if it was a
very large mammal, its throat was very small.
The little girl said, “When I get to heaven, I will ask Jonah.”
The teacher asked, What if Jonah went to hell?”
The little girl replied, “Then you ask him.”
SEND US YOUR JOKES! Text 0917-800-5535; Email: svp_tvatienza@yahoo.com
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28. I
f you had a mango seed, would you eat It?
Of course you wouldn’t, and you can’t, unless you’re some
weird creature.
But if you plant the mango seed and wait for a few years,
you will have a full-grown tree that will give you about six
thousand fruits in its lifetime.
And if you again plant those 6000 seeds, you will get a
bountiful harvest.
But while waiting for your trees to bear fruit, what happens to
you if you get hungry?
You need something to eat.
CREATE
You need other sources of income.
The sad thing is, majority of our countrymen are satisfied with
just having something to eat. They do not bother to plant seeds
that will bring them a bountiful harvest in the future.
MULTIPLE
This is a situation we call “man working for money. “
But there are two stages higher than this.
The next stage is “man works for the money, which in turn,
INCOME
works for man.”
But the ultimate goal is when “money works for man” —
meaning, a person has multiple income streams that create
passive income.
This is sound financial advice that even the Bible advocates.
STREAMS — Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what
disaster may come upon the land. Divide your portion to
DON’T
seven or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune
may occur on the earth.
— Ecclesiastes 11:2
In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not
SETTLE
your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, this or
that, or whether both alike will be good.
— Ecclesiastes 11:6
FOR ONE
The Miracle of the Passive Income:
Linear versus Exponential Income
The analogy of the mango tree is an example of a source of passive
income. You do something once — plant the seeds — and after a
while, you begin to earn. You continue to earn even while you’re
asleep, doing your regular work or having a vacation.
by bo sanchez Let’s say you were looking for a job. Somebody approaches you
and says, “I am putting up a new business. Can I hire you? I know
you’re honest, faithful, dependable and a person of integrity.”
Because you need a job badly, you’d say, “Yes! But how much
is the salary?”
The man says, “I can give you P30,000 a month for three years.”
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29. You get excited. “Yes, I’ll take the job.” I’m sure many of you would prefer the first option
But the man makes a second offer. “I can give you one — the P30,000 monthly salary.
centavo on your first month. But I promise to double it on the But you know what? The table on the left shows
next month.” that, over time, the second option would give you a
“You mean I’ll get only two centavos on the second higher income than the first.
month?” you ask. The first option provides you with a linear income
“Yes, and on the third month it will be four centavos. I’ll while the second option gives you exponential
double your salary every month. Which do you prefer?” the income.
man tries to convince you. Linear income is like a piece of bread. When you
eat it, your stomach becomes full. But tomorrow,
First Option Second Option
you’re hungry again and you don’t have any more
Year Monthly Monthly Accumulated bread. You have to look for bread again.
Salary Salary Income
Exponential income is like the mango seed I
1 30,000.00 30,000.00 0.01 0.01
illustrated to you in the beginning of this article.
2 30,000.00 60,000.00 0.02 0.03 But to have a healthy financial life, you need to
3 30,000.00 90,000.00 0.04 0.07 have both linear and exponential income until such
4 30,000.00 120,000.00 0.08 0.15 time that the latter is big enough to take care of you
and your family’s needs, and allows you to share
5 30,000.00 150,000.00 0.16 0.31
more blessings with others.
6 30,000.00 180,000.00 0.32 0.63
7 30,000.00 210,000.00 0.64 1.27 Two Sources of Linear Income
8 30,000.00 240,000.00 1.28 2.55
9 30,000.00 270,000.00 2.56 5.11 1. Job
10 30,000.00 300,000.00 5.12 10.23
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will
11 30,000.00 330,000.00 10.24 20.47
serve before kings; he will not serve before
12 30,000.00 360,000.00 20.48 40.95 obscure men.
13 30,000.00 390,000.00 40.96 81.91 — Proverbs 22:29
14 30,000.00 420,000.00 81.92 163.83
15 30,000.00 450,000.00 163.84 327.67
Would you like to serve before kings?
By that I mean not in the manner that would
16 30,000.00 480,000.00 327.68 655.35
make you a servant or a slave, but in the sense that
17 30,000.00 510,000.00 655.36 1,310.71 you would be so blessed in your jobs that you’d rise
18 30,000.00 540,000.00 1,310.72 2,621.43 up and become promoted and get all the bonuses
19 30,000.00 570,000.00 2,621.44 5,242.87 and commissions.
20 30,000.00 600,000.00 5,242.88 10,485.75 But that isn’t usually the case. You do not decide
when you will get a raise or how big it is. You have a
21 30,000.00 630,000.00 10,485.76 20,971.51
boss who decides on such matters.
22 30,000.00 660,000.00 20,971.52 41,943.03 What you need to do to be successful in your
23 30,000.00 690,000.00 41,943.04 83,886.07 job and earn a huge linear income is to have an
24 30,000.00 720,000.00 83,886.08 167,772.15 entrepreneurial mindset or spirit. You must feel as if
25 30,000.00 750,000.00 167,772.16 335,544.31 you are a part-owner of the company.
How do you do it?
26 30,000.00 780,000.00 335,544.32 671,088.63
Approach your boss and say, “Boss, give me more
27 30,000.00 810,000.00 671,088.64 1,342,177.27 work.” Create an image of doing things so fast and so
28 30,000.00 840,000.00 1,342,177.28 2,684,354.55 efficiently so that the higher-ups would notice you
29 30,000.00 870,000.00 2,684,354.56 5,368,709.11 and trust you with more work and responsibilities.
30 30,000.00 900,000.00 5,368,709.12 10,737,418.23 As you go up the ladder, you get rewarded.
31 30,000.00 930,000.00 10,737,418.24 21,474,836.47
2. Self-Employment
32 30,000.00 960,000.00 21,474,836.48 42,949,672.95
33 30,000.00 990,000.00 42,949,672.96 85,899,345.91 Then the Lord your God will make you most
34 30,000.00 1,020,000.00 85,899,345.92 171,798,691.83 prosperous in all the work of your hands.
35 30,000.00 1,050,000.00 171,798,691.84 343,597,383.67 — Deuteronomy 30:9
36 30,000.00 1,080,000.00 343,597,383.68 687,194,767.35
KerygmaMay2009 { 25 }

30. When you set up your own sari-sari store, you are self- b. Business
employed. If you are a doctor and you put up your own When you hear the word“millionaire,”
clinic, you are also self-employed. who comes to mind? Maybe the
In both cases, you are your own boss. This is a good step likes of Manny Pacquiao, Bill Gates,
but it’s not a real business. It’s what you call a “glorified job.” Kris Aquino and other big-name
There is no exponential income. celebrities, right?
A real business is where you hire people working under But do you know what the
you such that you multiply yourself. When you open up surveys say? Only one percent of
another store and hire someone to work for you, you earn millionaires are famous people. Five percent are
exponential income. salesmen working for companies. Ten percent
So don’t be content with having a linear income — aim are top doctors and lawyers. Another 10 percent
for exponential income and continue to earn even while are top executives. The rest of the 74 percent are
you’re on vacation. entrepreneurs.
Isn’t that amazing?
Some Examples of Exponential Income You can’t be a Bill Gates or a Kris Aquino, but can
In exponential income, money works for you. This is where you be a businessman and start a small business in
passive income starts. your backyard? That’s my challenge to you — even
if you fail!
a. Retirement Fund I’ve failed eight times in business and lost a lot
of money. But guess what? Every time I fail, I pick
And other seeds fell into good soil and brought myself up and say, “It’s tuition month. I’m learning
forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding something new.”
thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold. But you see, when you lose in business, you
— Mark 4:8 lose money but you earn in financial wisdom. Now,
I have 11 income streams. I earn a little here, a little
I asked people who bet on lotto how much they normally there but if you collect them all, guess what? It
spend a week in buying tickets. They said around P50. amounts to something substantial. My goal is to
For many Filipinos, lotto is no longer a game; they look have 20 income streams, so I’m halfway there.
at it as an investment. You see them lining up every week,
hoping to win the draw. But do you know the probability of c. Real Estate
winning in the lotto? It’s like being hit by a lightning twice Real estate is a good exponential income source.
on the same spot. It’s exponential because you can have as many
What I want and pray for is that every Filipino would have lands and properties that you want. Just have the
a retirement fund. Do not depend on what your company knowledge. Buy a property without using your
will give you when you retire at 60. Depend on your own own money.
retirement fund.
Get a P50-bill from your pocket. Look closely at it. Would d. More Aggressive Paper Assets
you believe me when I say that inside the P50 you’re holding There’s the stock market, commodities trading, e-
now is P50 million? trade (I haven’t tried this. If you don’t know anything
You want me to prove it to you? about it, study it — even if it takes one year). You
If you invest it at zero percent, it will never become P50 see, the key is not money. The key is knowledge
million. — knowing what you’re going to do.
If you invest it at three percent a year, it will become P50
million in 468 years; at five percent a year, in 284 years; at 15 The Next Steps
percent, in 99 years. And so on. To increase your income you need to increase your
It might appear absurd — to wait for decades and value. How do you do this?
centuries for your P50 to become P50 million. But hey, you
don’t have only P50 in your wallet, right? a. Learn about money.
So start building your retirement fund now while you’re Listen. Attend seminars. Read all the books on
still young. money that you can find.
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31. b. Talk and teach about money.
Whatever you learn after reading my articles on
money, share it with your spouse, kids, friends and
Bo’s Action Steps:
officemates. Teaching is the best way to learn.
1. Assess your present sources of
c. Change your regular conversation partners. income. What kind of income
If you constantly talk with people who are do you have?
interested only in show business, believe me, you 2. Define your goals for your
won’t learn anything about money.
income streams. How many
Why don’t you talk about money and business? Every time
you see a successful businessman and entrepreneur, tell him, “Can income streams do you want?
we have coffee? I want to know how you made your business a What are these?
success.” Pick his brains for the price of a capuccino. Ask questions, 3. Create a strategy and action
take down notes and learn all you can from him about money and plans, together with a timetable,
business. to achieve your multiple income
d. Look for business opportunities.
streams.
Keep your eyes open for opportunities. Start by selling anything 4. Work on one income stream at
— yes, just anything. a time.
Selling is a very important skill. If you do not know how to sell,
it would be difficult to succeed in your business. You may say, “Bo,
I’m shy. I can’t sell.”
Hey, I know a lot of people who are shy and soft-spoken,
but they do well in selling. Why? Because the bottomline of any
selling activity is relationship building. It’s not how good you are Laughingly Yours
as a speaker. What’s important is the sincerity of your heart. And
people smell that a mile away. If you’re someone that they can
trust, they will buy. But you need to have the drive, that goal, that
dream that you’re working for and you’d be able to sell. So sell A religion teacher announced to her class, “Our
anything. lesson for today is liturgy. Can anybody tell me
what liturgy is in your own words?”
e. Dream big but start small. Twelve-year-old Pedro proudly stood up
Start very small. I started by selling butong-pakwan (watermelon and said confidently, “That’s the letter after F.”
seeds).
And then learn along the way. After a while, you’ll be selling
jewelry. Maybe you’ll be able to sell something on the Internet. SEND US YOUR JOKES! Text 0917-800-5535;
Sell all sorts of products for the experience. Email: svp_tvatienza@yahoo.com
Start small but dream big.
Do you think I’m a happy person?
I’m happy not because I have passive income.
I’m happy not because I have multiple income streams. When you lose in
business, you lose
Every morning when I wake up, I say, “Lord, I’m going to bless
people today.”
Every single morning, I say that.
And the Lord allows me to do that — and that is why I want to
be truly rich: to be able to bless and help more people.
money but you
Let that be your dream, too.
earn in financial
(For comments or reactions, email me at bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com.)
wisdom.
KerygmaMay2009 { 27 }

32. T
about money but let’s just just focus on
here are loTs of myThs
the common ones. They can be represented by the acronym
M-O-N-E-Y M-Y-T-H-S for easy recall. As you read, check
your own beliefs — do you subscribe to any of these tales?
You may not be aware of it, but some of these myths may
be hurting your financial life.
M – Money is the root of all evil.
This is one of the oldest myths about money. I Timothy 6:10 says,
“… the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” The verse clearly
states that the “love for money” is evil and not money itself. Money
How is neutral and can be used for either good or bad. Money makes a
terrible master but is a good servant when used by those who serve
God.
the
O – Only those born rich can have money.
The 40 richest Filipinos included in the October 2008 issue of Forbes
magazine showed almost the same names from the past years’
editions. Except for changes in ranking, it’s easy to anticipate the
Myths
names of Ayalas, Tans and Sys in the list. Does it mean that money
is restricted to their families only?
If you believe in this myth then the probability of you staying
“poor” increases each day. Mark Zuckerberg (CEO and founder of the
popular social networking site “Facebook”) is only in his mid-20s and
About
is the youngest member of US Billionaires list. There are a lot of first
generation millionaires who are slowly sneaking into the elite list of
various countries (Philippines included). This just proves a point that
rich people are not always from rich families.
Money N – No money = Holiness
According to Luke 18:22, Jesus told the rich young man, “Sell all
you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches
May Be
in heaven; then come and follow me.”
Does this mean that if you have money you are not holy? Not
exactly. Spirituality or holiness does not equate to poverty. God
cares for the poor out of compassion but you do not get extra points
from God because you remain poor. Your wealth or poverty does not
Hurting
determine your spirituality, but your service to God and others will
certainly do.
E – Everything you buy in a sale gives you savings
You
We need to qualify this myth because it depends on the reason
why you are making the purchase. If you need something which
happens to be on next Friday’s mall sale, then it’s worthwhile to
buy it. However, it would be a different scenario if you go to a sale,
By Alvin Fabella buy something because it has a big discount but later realize that
you don’t need the item. As much as possible, avoid going to a sale
{ 28 } KerygmaMay2009

33. just to window-shop because the discount T – Tithing is the only requirement of God.
tags might just influence you to buy wants Don’t assume that when you tithe regularly you are free to
rather than needs. do what you want with whatever is left. We should recognize
that all our blessings come from God and we are accountable
Y – You project God’s blessing with as to how we spend our money until the last centavo. Another
money. myth on tithing is when you promise to give more only when
The book of Deuteronomy 8:18 says, you receive (or make) a bigger income. Some people vow to
“Remember the Lord your God, for it is donate a significant portion of the lotto prize if God allows
He who gives you the ability to produce them to win. You cannot give a bigger amount later if you do
wealth.” not practice tithing with what you have now.
It is good to recognize that all your
blessings (material items included) are H – Having insurance or pension is only for “old” people
from God. However, it is not the best way to who are retiring or sickly.
promote God to others. Max Lucado, in his Young people tend to avoid anyone who sells insurance or
book entitled It’s Not About You, encourages pension because of the above myth. They should always
Christians to be God’s promoter here on consider that premiums for insurance tend to be lower while
earth by showing our triumphs over trials. one is young because there is lesser risk for the provider. It
It’s always better to show off our godliness is always best to get an insurance or pension plan while you
by loving our fellowmen and loving God are young and healthy.
regardless if we own a big house or drive
the latest car. S – Saving in the bank is enough.
The answer to this myth is very simple: inflation. Philippine
M – Money makes the world go round. inflation for the past two years has been ranging from six
Sometimes we confuse money with what is to ten percent. This means that our money loses at least six
actually more important. Money is not the percent in purchasing power every year. Majority of banks
most important thing in life but it affects offer saving accounts which pay only two percent interest per
everything that is important in our lives. year (tax deduction of 20 percent on the interest still to be
You need money to give your family both applied). This means that your savings now, no matter how
a comfortable house and food to eat every big, will just continue to decline in value. There is a need for
day. But there is a big difference between one to consider other investment vehicles like bonds, stocks,
being concerned about money so you can mutual funds and others. It should not be a problem looking
be a good provider versus being obsessed for a friend who can help you in this area.
with it. How we deal with our money is important. The above
myths will affect your decisions in money management.
Y – You have God’s approval if you have Always make sure to learn the facts and make proper use of
financial prosperity. your money.
We know that not all rich people acquired
their wealth through lawful means. We (For comments or reactions, email the author at alvinfabella@yahoo.
cannot measure God’s approval by the size com)
of one’s house or bank statement. If you
are blessed with such material wealth then
you should be thankful and find ways you
You cannot give a bigger amount
can help others with it. Your wealth is not later if you do not practice
a sign that God favors you more than a
lesser fortunate brother or sister. tithing with what you have now.
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34. I
absolutely love talking to Rex Mendoza.
Sure, he’s a self-made man and quite successful.
But Rex wants more — he aims for significance. His
purpose is to make a difference in other people’s
lives.
Just doing the interview with him made an impact on
my life. Know why? Listen in on our conversation.
Bo: You’ve been giving talks to people about financial
management. You seem very passionate about it.
Rex: Yes, it has been my advocacy to make people learn
about money management. After my talks, people would
approach me and say, “The money’s really not enough,
Rex. There is nothing to save.” And I ask them, “When
will it ever be enough?” The point is for you to really take
something out of your take-home pay and then, whatever
is left, you try and make it enough. As your income grows,
continue setting aside a part of it and then before you
know it, what you’ve set aside can already work for you.
I think I remember telling you about “man at work, man
and money at work, money at work” — the three stages
of money consciousness. Maybe 95 percent of Filipinoas
are in the first stage of money consciousness. They study,
grow up, get a job, have a family, get that car, try to get
that house and then they retire — that’s it! But if you have
this consciousness to save and invest, you can have man
and money at work at a certain stage and you can enjoy
REX life because you’re not hard-pressed to earn money all the
time. You can enjoy your work without having to look at
the money side.
MENDOZA:
What I’d like to happen is for people to be conscious
of those three stages because the dream should be to
get into the money-at-work stage so that you can stop
The Good Influencer working or just do the things you love to do. That’s the
reason why I admire people who, at a certain stage in
their lives, just become philanthropic. From success, they
switch to significance.
For now, at my age, I’m still looking at more success but
His Purpose Is to Make I see that side of me that says there has to be significance
later. You don’t become a person of legacy with only
a Difference success. There has to be significance.
Bo: You have a very good theory about the lotto. Can
you share on that a bit?
An Interview By Bo Sanchez Rex: Do you notice that wherever there’s a lotto terminal,
there’s a queue? Those guys are probably thinking, “It’s
time to hit that jackpot.” Many of them are already thinking
about what they’d do in case they win. They’re already
planning for something that’s not bound to happen. Why?
Do the math. In lotto, your chances of hitting that jackpot
is 1 out of 14 million. If that doesn’t sound so absurd, let
me describe it to you in a picturesque way. It is like getting
hit by lightning twice on the same spot. interview By
An That’s how odd it
is. Bo Sanchez
{ 30 } KerygmaMay2009

35. At your age, Bo, have you been hit by lightning? Not
yet. But supposing you were struck once, then you have to
stay there and get hit a second time. That is your chance
of hitting the jackpot. Now, look at our countrymen —
instead of setting aside the money, they bet on chance.
Bo: That’s right.
Rex: They’re actually projecting their future based on
chance. It’s largely culture-based. A lot of poor people One thing Rex is passionate
say, “That probably is what God wants for me.” That’s a about is teaching people to be
responsible for their financial
defeatist way of looking at things. As far as I’m concerned, lives.
God gave you the freedom to decide. He probably knows
what will happen, yes, but you still have the freedom
to decide. So would you like to live your life based on easier for a camel to get through the eye of the needle
chance? Or would you like to put up the building blocks than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” I think
that will be the foundation of real wealth? As I was telling it’s OK to get rich as long as you have the right purpose.
my driver, P20 in my pocket is more secure than putting So, in my case, clearly it’s not only getting rich but also
P20 into that lotto. (I haven’t bet my money on the lotto providing a template for people that says, “Hey, follow this
and I take pride in saying that.) Others would rationalize track because it works.” I’m still young, my dad’s still alive
that if they don’t win in the lotto, at least they’ve given (my mom just died a few years ago), but they lived in my
something to charity. Well, if you want to give, you have house for the past 12 years because my mom had a stroke
to do it as charity itself, not through lotto. and I asked them to move to my place where it’s safer.
When you try to win a jackpot on a regular basis, that’s What am I trying to say here? I’m pushing the idea that,
investing. You just chose a bad instrument. Why? People “Hey, I’m not getting any inheritance. I’ve worked for the
line up with a small sheet of paper with the numbers money I have. I never really got anything from anybody
they regularly bet on. Some people even bet on the same that says, ‘OK, Rex, this is your capital.’” I started working
numbers for years! If you set aside P10 to P20 a week with a company that paid me P1800 a month. Everybody
for lotto, hoping to make a withdrawal one day, that’s started off that way. The reason why I’m energized to share
investing. But obviously, 99.99 percent are not going to this story is to tell people they can do it, too. Anybody can
have that payback. do it. You just need discipline and you have to be really
grounded with your purpose. If you’re just looking for
Bo: And then they hear stories of really poor people money, not purpose, you can be successful but it’s going
winning the jackpot — a farmer, for instance — so the to be short-lived. Because as long as you don’t have a
more they put their hope in the lotto. sense of purpose, you’re not going to be grounded. And if
Rex: They want to be emancipated from their lot. But you’re not grounded, you’re going to do the wrong things.
that’s not what they need. What is necessary is a mindset That is very crucial.
shift — that their future, their life, their destiny is in their
hands. If you have the talent and you can harness it, why Bo: What is your purpose, Rex?
not use it to improve your situation? Rex: To make a difference. I feel that I have a way of linking
But some poor people even spiritualize their poverty up with people that can move them. I have the gift of gab.
and point to that verse in the Bible that says, “It will be I will not be humble about it. But I use that not to con
people into something but to teach and educate well. I
have taught in the graduate school of business of a big
university for a long period. It’s a matter of throwing back,
breeding a kind of idealism into the young guys. Making
a difference for me is on the influence side. I know I’m a
good influencer.
Somebody did a psychological exam on me and it’s
very enlightening. It revealed that I’d rather believe the
purpose of a task than the money it’d bring in. You know
what I told them? “Hey, that’s what brings in the real
money.”
His family is the reason why Rex does what he does and why having a secure
(Email the author at bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com.)
financial future is a must for him. They deserve nothing but the best in life.
Above photo shows his real treasures in life: eldest daughter Peevee, wife
Anna, youngest child Reanna (front) and only boy Enro. KerygmaMay2009 { 31 }

36. Receive Bo’s INVITING!!!
All Catholic Charismatic communities, prayer groups and
weekly email ministries throughout the Philippines
letter for 5th
National Catholic
“Spirit-Filled Communities Growing
Together as the Body of Christ”
FREE! Charismatic Congress
If you want to grow in your Date:
Venue:
May 28-31, 2009
Cebu International Convention Center
spiritual, family, emotional, Cebu, Philippines
Spiritual Directors, formators and key leaders are specially
and financial lives, each week exhorted to attend.
REGISTRATION FEE (includes meals, kit and handouts)
Bo Sanchez writes On or before February 15, 2009 – P 800.00
February 16 to April 30, 2009 – P 900.00
The Bo Sanchez
May 2009 & On-site Registration – P 1,000.00
For information, contact the Congress Secretariat:
Soulfood Letter.
Nacing Gonzaga: Telafax No. (032) 256-0659
Cell. No. 0917-752-3244
Rhea Mantuhac: Tel. No. (032) 516-4749
Cell. No. 0927-631-5865
It’s consistently powerful, often funny, and always Log on to: www.catholiccharismaticcongressphil.org
inspiring.
Join the Force.
By the way, it’s absolutely free.
Change the World.
Log onto www.bosanchez.ph now
and click on SOULFOOD.
We’re looking for volunteers who want to
bless others with God’s love.
Be a Shepherd today.
Bo Sanchez
Catholic Lay Preacher
Call
and Bestselling Author
{ 32 } KerygmaMay2009
725-9999

37. By Jonathan Rickard
T
he village of gK Baseco has in recent
years been renowned both in the
Philippines and around the world for its
transformation from hopelessness to
hope, from despair to dignity. Visitors
New life emerges for Baseco residents
from diverse backgrounds have graced the village
— from the president of Singapore, to students from
Manila’s universities, to employees and executives
from multinational corporations
and government departments.
In turn, residents of Baseco Baseco GK Caretaker Team’s Presence
are often found building houses
for others in remote areas of the
Philippines as part of GK’s Bayani
Caretakers When asked what makes the biggest difference
in Baseco’s ongoing transformation, Jun has no
hesitation in crediting his caretaker team.
Challenges.
Giving Care “It’s the presence of caretakers!” Jun exclaims
unreservedly. GK’s strength over the years has
A Difficult Transformation been the presence of couples, singles and youth
Such are the manifold success from Couples for Christ, working alongside the
stories of Baseco that it’s easy to forget how difficult it is to residents and witnessing to them with their hands, not just
achieve transformation. For Project Director Jun Valbuena their words.
and his Caretaker Team, the struggle has been a labor of love “It is showing them the love that we share with them,” Jun
forged over the last four or so years of their lives. Many of notes, sounding a word of caution. “I would say that whenever
them have worked alongside the villagers in Baseco since the we see a site that is deteriorating in any way, it’s because of
start — when GK Baseco was resurrected from the ashes of a an absence of caretakers.”
fire in the slum area in 2004. Conversely, the most significant transformations have
And given the many obvious changes, Jun Valbuena is come about as a result of doors opened by the work of addressing
startlingly circumspect. poverty. “We’re able to invite people into our community — to
“After four years we’ve seen a little change,” Jun witness to them — because they see something good in us.”
says, surprising those who see the incredible before-after “We run the Christian Life Program (a Catholic renewal
contrasts. “You cannot change the people overnight. But seminar) here because we want the GK residents to be
we’re experiencing some changes, some transformation in protected. If there is no one to take care of them, to mentor
the people.” them, they will go back to being in a slum again. The survival
“Habits of a lifetime can be hard to change,” Jun says, mode is very hard to leave.”
especially for adults who have lived most of their lives in For Jun Valbuena and his team, commitment to the
a slum. And GK works hard to prevent their villages from residents of Baseco arose from positive change in their own
slipping back into the slums. Still, over four years, things lives. “For me, I’ve been in our community for the last 24
have progressed significantly. years. There was a big change in my life since I joined and I
want to share it with the people, with the couples here. I am
Renewal of Minds and Spirit encouraged to do even more to show them our love when I see
“Little by little we’re transforming the people,” Jun says. transformation in the lives of the residents.”
“Each Monday for the last four years, we have a prayer and He smiles and says, “I think for every GK worker it is like
worship session at 8 a.m. We pray together and talk about this. That’s why we stay — it’s because of love! We want to
their problems and challenges.” share the love that we’re experiencing in every GK site.”
Where in the past, GK provided leadership to a community “It’s bringing glad tidings to the poor,” he affirms. And
struggling to face life’s trials, many residents are now forging walking around Baseco meeting children with a future brighter
their own way forward. “They’re the ones bringing the than ever before, visitors can see the legacy of the caretakers’
solutions (to problems),” Jun relates. “We just talk it over love taking shape day after day, step by persevering step.
with them.”
Looking for a friendly Internet forum for advice and fun? Go to www.kerygmafamily.com/forum
KerygmaMay2009 { 33 }

38. { 34 } KerygmaMay2009

39. kitchen
T
his is going To be another one of those articles
scribbles
about little things we take for granted. I’ve
already written similar articles in past issues,
so if you’re sick of it, email the KERYGMA editor
two polite words — “Point taken.” Or write
by rosanne romero me two words (“Quit it”) on my blog (rosanneromero.
wordpress.com).
I want to focus on that small, fat and short finger we
call the thumb. You’re thinking, “What’s the big deal?”
Disdain
Some months back, I lost the use of my right thumb.
At first, it just started getting weaker. Later, it became
stiff, inflexible and painful. It was hard for me to make
people see why this was upsetting me. After all, I still
Not Thy Thumb had four fingers left, right?
Without a thumb, there would still be four fingers
functioning and with four fingers there are many things
you still can do. Like? Flush the toilet. Switch off a light.
Pat your dog. Scratch your head. Put your hair back
in place. True. But listen to this — when Julius Ceasar
waged war over Gaul, he ordered his men to amputate
the thumbs of all the captured warriors so that they
would go back to their homeland and never be able to
bear arms again.
See that? So, verily I say unto you: “Disdain not
thy thumb.” (That’s in Fake-lesiastes 78:19.)
Other than bearing arms for war, there are
unpolitical, everyday tasks that become maddeningly
difficult without the thumb. Try frying anything with
just your four fingers — hmmm. Try buttoning a shirt
— tsk! Try pulling a zipper up or down — double tsk!
Use a nail clipper — sigh! Get bills from your wallet or
get a coin from your coin purse — darn! Hold a bar of
soap? What the…! Turn a doorknob? Grrrrr. Tie your
shoelaces? Double grrrr. Try holding a toothbrush.
Arrrgh. Try flossing your teeth! Double arrrrgh! You can
drive without your thumb… if you can get the key in
and start it with four fingers — qwjd!!#nchfgiuhvj@#!
The thumb is quite a big deal. It’s not an insignificant
body part. It only seems insignificant because yours
functions normally. Go over all the things you do in
one day that requires using your thumb. If you suddenly
lost it, you would have a better appreciation of it.
This is why I write about these little things I suffer
on account of my multiple sclerosis (MS). I want my
life to honor God — this life now — the one that has
a problematic thumb, wobbly legs, slightly deteriorated
vision, etc. I want this life of mine to honor God. And
I honor Him by bringing to fore the little blessed things
we rarely thank Him for.
(Email the author at kitchenscribbles@gmail.com)
KerygmaMay2009 { 35 }

40. BUILDING PERSONAL WEALTH
- THE EASY WAY
Learn to invest successfully through online stock trading.
Leading online stock brokerage firm performing. “The beauty of this program would often be interrupted by telephone
CitisecOnline (COL) is helping raise up a is that customers direct and control their calls from his other clients. Moreover, it
new breed of investors ready to make own investments by deciding on the would take a while for her broker to buy
the most of opportunities offered by the amount of money you want to invest and and sell stocks for her so she would
stock market. As part of its commitment for how long with the help of COL’s often not be able to trade at the prices
to help Filipinos achieve their financial platform and stock selection”, Bate adds. she wanted.
goals, COL has launched a simple yet
effective investment program that has Through COL’s EIP, customers need “I can trade on
generated a stream of inquiries, many of not have determine when to buy or sell hard data, not
which were from investors who have little and what stocks to invest in. COL Vice- on speculation.“
or no knowledge of the stock market and President and Head of Investor
at the same time, may have minimal Education Juanis Barredo explains that BILLIE SYLING
BUSINESSWOMAN &
funds to invest initially. online trading has made it a lot more HOUSEWIFE
convenient for customers to enjoy the
The COL Easy Investment Program benefits of cost averaging. "We have
(EIP) employs an effective and proven simplified the process so that even first-
investment method called cost-averaging time investors can profit from it." The
that minimizes risks in the stock market COL Easy Investment Program pares
while offering the benefits of wealth down the choices of investors to a pre-
generation through investments in any of selected list of Premium Growth Stocks.
the pre-selected list of Premium Growth These companies with a proven track
Stocks. The cost averaging method is an record and posse’s qualities that will
established wealth-building tool continue drive shareholder value in the The internet which provides
employed by many individuals as well as long-term. information and automated access to the
some financial institutions worldwide. stock market changed all that for her.
According to Dino Bate, President of To help first-time investors learn Through COL, she now gets company
CitisecOnline, "We’ve simplified and about the stock market and to get started and stock market information real-time.
aided the investment process by trading online, CitisecOnline launched She appreciates that she can check
automating the cost averaging method the COL Investor Seminar Series, which issues traded, volume of transactions
and providing additional features in our offers various seminars and briefings, and ever find out who are buying and
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
online platform to make it convenient for free-of-charge to all interested investors. selling. She says, “I can trade on hard
all investors to access and invest in the Over the past two years, over 10,000 data, not on speculation. When I hear of
stock market”. Filipinos nationwide have attended the good buys from my friends, I can check
COL Investor Seminar Series. People the hard data myself and use that to
COL customers simply have to from all walks of life, including back my decisions.”
choose from a list of pre-selected employees, students, entrepreneurs,
companies carefully qualified by COL’s overseas Filipino workers and policemen Catholic lay preacher and best-selling
seasoned financial analysts. They can learn about how to spot opportunities in author, Bro. Bo Sanchez was one of
schedule their investments by setting up the stock market. Until recently, investors those who took up COL’s challenge to
a fixed amount to be invested at regular like Billie Syling, who with her husband learn more about online stock trading
intervals through COL’s online platform. runs a family business supplying industry even if he did not have any financial
Customers will be reminded through mills and heads the Alumnae Association training. He attended a COL seminar in
email prior to their scheduled investment of Immaculate Concepcion Academy, March 2007 and since then has been
dates and they will be able to track their used to rely on a broker for advice and to buying selected shares from what he
portfolio over the internet anytime and execute trades. She found it frustrating believes are solid, enduring and growing
see how their investments are when her conversation with the broker companies.
Continued on page 38.
136 } KerygmaMay2009
{

41. k
M
y one-year-old daughter,Helene, is a math genius.
When you ask her, “One plus one?” She will answer,
preacher
“Two!”
But you may say that there are a lot of one-year-
olds who can answer that simple question. However,
when you continue to ask her a series of math questions, you will
agree with me that she is really a whiz kid.
We tried to do that and it blew our minds away.
by arun gogna “Helene, four minus two?”
One
She blurts out, in her same high-pitched
tone, “Two!”
“How about ten minus eight?”
Plus
She answers, “Two!”
So we continued. “One hundred divided by
fifty?”
“Two!”
One
And now we ask the hardest one, “Square
root of four?”
Without batting an eyelash she answers,
Equals
“Two!”
She’s a genius (like Daddy)!
Seriously, let’s get to my point. I was thinking
Two!
about this one day — how it is so amusing that
she can answer every single math equation we
ask her with just one number. Then it dawned on
me: Life could be as simple as that.
We may have a host of questions about
the cards life deals us, but to it all we can only
supply one answer in order to live serenely.
The answer? “Jesus, I trust in You!”
Living day to day could be a great challenge, especially
nowadays, but there is only one key answer: trust.
Did you just lose your job? Say, “Jesus, I trust in You.”
In times of sickness or confusion, find the strength to utter,
“Jesus, I trust in You.”
If friends or family abandon you, just pray, “Jesus, I trust in
You.”
Always remember the phrase, “Jesus, I trust in You,” when you
are in pain.
When you are questioning everything that is happening to you,
just believe in this one mantra — “Jesus, I trust in You.”
Even when (and especially if) God seems to be silent, cry out,
“Jesus, I trust in You!”
This simple prayer was prayed by our great saints in their deepest
time of tribulation. That is why they were victorious. That is why they
are holy.
If it is prayed from the heart, the phrase will give us enough
faith to face not just your day but your lifetime.
“Jesus, I trust in You!”
Let’s make it a habit.
It doesn’t only answer the “math problems” of life, but every
possible life subject we can think of.
So, what is our answer if we want to be a genius in this course
called life?
Yup, you got it, “Jesus, I trust in You!”
It’s simple really! Take it from my Helene.
One trusting heart and one all-loving God equal two.
To invite Arun in your events, contact Creative House at 401-8238. Also check
Helene’s a real beauty like her mom, Lallaine his website at www.arungogna.com.
KerygmaMay2009 { 37 }

42. Learn to invest successfully through online stock trading.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Bro. Bo takes five to ten minutes each day from his busy
schedule as a leader of a large Catholic charismatic “I take a peek to see
community, international speaker, TV host and family man, to
check his stocks. “I take a peek to see what’s happening. I
what’s happening. I
buy about once or twice a month, and much more when prices buy about once or
are down.” twice a month, and
much more when
Having delved into stock investing at a time of market
volatility, Bro. Bo is adding on to his portfolio of quality stocks
prices are down.”
as he sees this as an opportune time to invest in these BO SANCHEZ
companies. He intends to cash in on his investments at the CATHOLIC LAY PREACHER &
right time and encourages all to become financially literate BEST-SELLING AUTHOR
through programs like COL’s education seminars.
Like Bro. Bo and other investors who are very busy with CitisecOnline posted a 22% growth in net profits in the
their own schedules and are just starting to invest in the stock first half of the year to Php73 million. COL conducts free
market, Bate says that the COL Easy Investment program is one-hour briefings every week on the Easy Investment
an ideal entry point to the stock market for all investors. "This Program and twice a week 3-hour sessions for the Basics
program caters to all even if they do not have the time and of Stock Market Investing at the COL Training Center, 24-F
experience to invest in stocks. As investors become more Philippine Stock Exchange Center in Pasig. Learn more
confident in the stock market, they can avail of the greater about CitisecOnline at www.citiseconline.com or call (632)
opportunities offered to them by online trading." 6-333-777.
2{ 38 } KerygmaMay2009

43. one last I Was Prepared for
story My Death
By Raymond C. Eli
caño But God Had Other
Plans for Me
ly
The Elicaño Fami
A
s I prepared my farewell The Sweet Scent of Roses rare condition called cystic nephroma
letters to my wife and children, My brother Mike, a devotee of Our Lady, — and that means my cyst was benign.
I recalled a prayer I said almost Mediatrix of All Graces, encouraged Only around 200 such cases were
20 years ago when a senior me to make a pilgrimage to the Carmel documented in the United States since it
executive in the company I Monastery in Lipa, where our Blessed was first identified in 1890. A pathologist
worked for died of cancer. Mother Mary appeared in 1948, said that my condition was so statistically
“Lord, I pray that when I die, it would accompanied by showers of rose petals. improbable that it was like I had won first
be of cancer so I can prepare myself The shower recurred in 1991 and my prize in lotteries and sweepstakes several
spiritually.” brother got one petal with an image of times over!
Convinced that God was granting Jesus. He lost his petal a few years ago. Deep in my heart, I firmly believe
me one final blessing by allowing me to Miraculously, my brother’s wife found that through intense prayers and the
contract cancer, I started preparing myself it the day before my operation and she intercession of
spiritually before I went under the knife to immediately brought it to me. Our Lady, Mary
remove a 7.6-inch cyst (19 centimeters) On August 19, weak and in pain, Mediatrix of
in my left kidney. Despite my wife’s I made a pilgrimage to the Carmel All Grace, my
reluctance, we made legal preparations in Monastery. While praying in the vigil operation went
case I didn’t survive the operation. room, I smelled a very strong scent of successfully
What I wasn’t prepared for was how roses, which I attributed to what I thought and the cyst
God, through Our Lady’s intercession, were real roses adorning the walls of the was rendered
would answer my prayer. prayer room. I felt being embraced by so benign. The
much love that it moved me to tears. scent of roses
Falling Ill that she sent
Around February 2008, I started Comfort During Surgery my way gave
experiencing pain in my left rib area and On August 26, 2008, I went through a me strength
lost more than 20 pounds. On August 14, radical nephrectomy, lasting for 8-1/2 to survive the
2008, during my annual executive checkup, hours, to remove my cyst, left kidney and operation and
a cyst almost the size of a small watermelon adrenal gland. Just before I was brought quickly recover
was found in my kidney. It was so big that into the operating room, I smelled a faint from it.
it completely engulfed my left kidney so scent of roses although there were no
that the kidney was barely functioning. It flowers in the room. This comforted me The Best
pushed aside the organs in my abdominal greatly and I felt peace. Preparation
cavity and compressed my left lung so that it Anticipating heavy blood loss, the But more than
couldn’t expand fully. In addition, the cyst doctor advised us to prepare seven blood the physical
was beside the aorta, making the operation donors. Everything went smoothly during healing, the
to remove it somewhat risky, giving me the operation. I recovered quickly and miraculous occurrences before, during
only a 50 percent chance of survival. The this surprised my doctors. Two days after and after my surgery led my family and
urologist said that 90 percent of all cysts the operation I could walk around the me to the path of spiritual renewal.
larger than 10 centimeters are malignant. hospital room. We have become more prayerful and
An oncologist said that treatment for kidney cognizant of the many blessings that
cancer is long and painful and, again, the Rare Finding God has given us. My wife and I have
survival rate is only 50 percent. A team of six pathologists from the committed to contribute to church and
All these prognoses led me to prepare National Kidney Institute and Asian other worthwhile activities to help the
myself for death but not without losing Hospital examined the cyst. After more poor and the needy.
hope in God’s love for me and in our than a week of careful examination and And that, I guess, is the best
Blessed Mother’s intercession. research, they concluded that I had a very preparation of all!
KerygmaMay2009 { 39 }

44. point of of contact
pointcontact
bo sanchez
I pray that you receive your
miracles in Jesus’ name!
I PRAY THAT GOD LIFT YOUR TRIALS, heal your
diseases, bless your problems and direct
you to the path He wants you to take. I pray
that God remove your fears and give you the
courage to surrender your burdens to Him.
So place your hand over my hand, and
let’s pray with trust, together with our
prayer team of intercessors praying for you
right now…
This page is our Point of Contact, our
spiritual connection.
Say after me…
In the Name of the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit.
Lord, I surrender to You my worries and
anxieties. I surrender to You my needs, my
problems, my trials. I place them all in Your
big hands! And I open myself to all that You
want to give to me! On this day, I say yes to
Your love, to Your blessings, to Your healing,
to Your miracles! And Lord, specifically, I
ask You for the following miracles for my
life...
I believe that You answer my prayer
in the best way possible! And I thank You
in advance for the perfect answers to my
prayers. I also ask for the special intercession
of Mama Mary. I pray all this in the Name
of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Amen!
SPECIAL INTENTION FOR THIS MONTH:
Bless the readers of KERYGMA, Lord. Plant in their hearts the desire to be truly rich in all areas of their lives —
spiritual, emotional, social and financial. Inspire them to study and learn all they can so they would grow and be fully
alive. Purify their hearts of any wrong motivation for desiring wealth. Let loving You and blessing Your people be their
ultimate goals. Grant them courage to stand up again when they fail or lose in their endeavors. May they find their
true blessing in a rich relationship with You. Amen.
Praying for you,
Email your prayer requests to me at bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com or write to me at
Shepherd’s Voice Publications, #60 Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines 1109.
Let me know, too, if your prayers have been answered.
{ 40 } KerygmaMay2009