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

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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.
{ 14 } KerygmaMay2009 Want more Frappr.com friends? Add us! www.frappr.com/kerygmafamily.com

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.
Want more Frappr.com friends? Add us! www.frappr.com/kerygmafamily.com KerygmaMay2009 { 15 }

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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