Saturday, March 31, 2018

Holy Week 2018: A Loving and Merciful God

Visita Iglesia 2018: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish; Divine Mercy Shrine; San Roque Parish - Mandaluyong

This year's  Holy Week reflection may differ from my previous years' celebration since I have contemplated the reality in today's society, where there's no light in the hearts just for cleansing or renewal. 

In our country, where the battle between good versus evil is such a big challenge to be won when thousands of lives were not saved but have left a scar and darkness from deep within. It's a terrible and sad reality where darkness has invaded the souls, not just of the sinners but also the righteous men, the so-called protector of the state and its people.

When killing has been a normal thing produced in the mouth of the most powerful man...
When abuses of women have been a standard form of mockery...
When the biggest offenders are protected while the poor men are executed...
When young minds are becoming influenced and confused about right and wrong...
When violently dealing with things to prove righteousness and justice...

In this new generation of believers and non-believers, we have allowed ourselves to be defeated by the darkness. We have permitted being tempted to commit a sin to eradicate the dark, yet it's done wickedly, a barbaric practice that is unacceptable today.

Is there some light hidden in our hearts that needs to blossom and enlighten the people that surrounds us? That might be a reality to some, but indeed a mystery that only a few understand. Today's society is focusing on wars that will never be triumphant. The absence of love and inhumane behavior to defeat evil is never easy. Just like defeating our inner demons is a challenge that we have to fight forever. We have not resorted to other means but to seek the Divine light to renew us and strengthen our faith that we could defeat evil in our hearts and minds.

Our society is becoming sick that we have allowed anger, resentment, aggression, and violence to solve the unending problems. It has become an instant solution to ward off negativity. This created a cycle of violence in our emotional, mental, and physical states. We have been defeated by the darkness, and our solution is not to seek the light but to create chaos, another darkness that has enslaved our souls.

Let this Holy Week remind us that we have goodness in everyone's heart, no matter how evil people may have become. We may have sinned in the eyes of men, yet there's always a loving and merciful God who can forgive us and renew our life. A God will always take us out of the darkness and allow us to live illumined lives. Evil will always exist in this world, but we can always defeat them through the purity of our hearts and thoughts.


Let this Holy week be the time to renew our faith to be strengthened by God's love and mercy. Let us not allow evil to influence our thoughts and intentions. Let us remain to be meek and humble like a child. Let us stay innocent and forgiving and not plant seeds of harmful intentions or harm to other people.

Let our Divinity rule us to be kind and loving...
Let our conscience dictate what is right and wrong...
Let our humanity rule instead of insecurity and bigotry...
Let us be the light in the world of wickedness and lies...


Our society is dying regarding human values and virtues; let us help resurrect our old and good ways. When raised as a good child, we will never forget that goodness in us no matter how sinful we may have become. We can better appreciate the light when we have been in the dark, but let us not prosecute those who are already in the night, but lift them up and help them towards spiritual renewal so that they may appreciate the light after a long journey of the darkest moment of their lives. If God is loving and merciful, how could we not forgive and help them lead better lives?

There's always the opposite in this world...
There's a light after the dark...
There's a day after the longest night...
There's joy after loneliness and sorrow...


Let the resurrected Christ be our shield to rule our hearts, win over evil, and bring light to our society and the world today and forever.

© 2018 Del Cusay

Related Post:

👉 Holy Week 2017: Leading the Way


Sunday, February 25, 2018

The Road Ahead: Setting A Goal and Getting Started


Often it's hard to get things done when everything seems to be just a plan or a goal to be set in the future. Yes, there are times when we are preoccupied with thoughts about what to happen in the distant future, but all we do is keep rehearsing until it becomes polished or perfect. However, no matter how refined our thoughts may be, something will only happen with our goals if it's just a thoughtform with necessary action. For years, this has been the reality for most people who are dreamers, setting a plan but only acting on it once everything is perfect. A certain perfection would mean no room for failure, and everything must be smooth sailing.

Whether our intention is directed towards personal development, such as developing our self-esteem to finally quit the corporate job and become a freelance professional, such thing brings excitement through a vivid imagination. A dreamed reality is hard to distinguish from a real-life achievement, though the latter is the most real and not just pure fantasy. Just like an absolute dream when we thought that it had happened already. The moment we wake up seems natural and not a dream state. A Deja Vu, or whatever we call it, a dream will remain a dream, and action will become a reality.

For some, learning to drive and owning a car is a dream. It's not just a luxury but a necessity in everyday living. Since childhood, we have been dreaming of driving even the fanciest car. Anyway, it's just a dream, but we have yet to realize that it's a simple dream that can make a reality. Through perseverance, we have worked on this goal, and there will come a time when we have achieved it. Owning our dream car has become a reality; for others, it's a fantasy, but that is now their reality. As a Sales Consultant, helping people acquire their dream car is my goal, and once they have owned it and driven for the first time, it brings a certain level of happiness and excitement to discover the road ahead. It's the imagination of reaching a desired destination that brings us joy that no matter how tough the journey, we still have the courage to finish the trip.

Another thing is about the journey to entrepreneurship, when some may have planted in their thoughts that someday, they'll run their own business and manage their own people who will help them achieve personal goals. It takes years of endless planning, but action must be taken to start owning it. It's not merely based on fear alone; it's not about lack of knowledge but about the lack of courage and perseverance. How about pursuing post-graduate studies? Do you aspire to get ahead in the corporate world? That's just 2 yrs, and you'll have an advanced degree deserved to get promoted and eventually raise in salary. So many dreamed realities will remain in a state of inertia unless acted through force. That's a law, and the universe tells you otherwise.

Even simple goals have remained as a thought form. Is it the goal to achieve physical fitness? Going to the gym and getting rid of some unwanted cellulite? How about hiking and mountain climbing? Was it last year that you promised to climb a mountain before the year ended? What happened? Simple goals, yet so hard to start. I may be like that, or you may be like that somehow. That's my story, and you have your own story to tell. I always remember a famous quotation: "The best thing to get ahead is to get started," and that must be true. It gives us the courage to make a brand-new start. Not to live based on fear and anxiety, but living a life of power and mighty.

When is the right time for it to happen? In the future? When exactly? Well, there's no perfect time but to act now. I've written something about The Power of Now: Being Aware and Present and about the present awareness and consciousness of relevant events in our lives. Similar to our goals, we have to stop chasing perfection and instead enjoy the journey along the way and correct things as it goes... the journey goes on, and setting a goal is just a single step, but getting started is when we get ahead in life beyond our wildest dreams and aspirations.

© 2018 Del Cusay


Friday, February 16, 2018

Celebrating Chinese New Year 2018: Prosperity and Abundance


Chinese culture and tradition were preserved by the Chinese-Filipino living in the Philippines for several generations, and they have continued to influence Filipinos in many ways.

Our lifestyle, which includes food, clothing, belief system, and even modern technology, is embraced and valued. We are always delighted by the colorful sights and architectural designs and entertained by classical musical instruments. These are some of the influences we've adapted for centuries and will continue to exist for generations. 

Chinese tradition is worthy of preservation since they show us how to love our culture, show respect to older people and share blessings with others.

It was in 2013 when I first experienced the Chinese new year in Binondo. The street was less crowded than at the celebration in 2018, yet people enjoyed the scenes and the Chinese cultural presentation. Celebrating the Chinese New Year 2013: A New Beginning is worth reminiscing about since it awakened my curiosity and fascination with Chinese history and culture and their massive influence on Filipino culture. Today, Binondo is a great cultural hub and an important economic center in Manila. 

The district is vibrant and creates nostalgia as the world's oldest Chinatown. Centuries of cultural and economic ties have formed great friendships and closer relationships. There's a particular bond that unites us, and by embracing each other's culture and beliefs, we're leaving a legacy to future generations of the lasting friendships we have formed through the years. 

The video above; click the arrow to view

Celebrating Chinese New Year 2017: An Auspicious Celebration was about optimism and higher hopes of what will happen or a prediction of fate. Truly a magnificent celebration becomes surreal, and it does a beautiful thing about present and future living. The forecast has become magical with the Chinese zodiac, bringing a wondrous surprise. Being hopeful to the highest degree attracts opportunities, which was a reality in 2017. Something extraordinary happened, and another chapter has opened, which is bigger and brighter. 

2018 was also welcomed, with hopes and aspirations for a more abundant and prosperous life. We have been dreaming of a comfortable and simple life dedicated to service. No matter what influences we have embraced, still, we are Filipino in words, deeds, and thoughts. 

We will continue to be more optimistic about what is unknown and not live in fear but dare to face the challenges with perseverance and a positive attitude. Like the Tsinoy or the Chinese-Filipino, they have succeeded because of their mindset of abundance, having enough, and always asking for more to share what they have. 

Prosperity is about receiving and acknowledging the blessings coming into our lives and taking a part of it to give back and become a blessing to others in need.

May 2018 give you a meaningful life, a prosperous and abundant life, and dreams coming true in the years to come. 

© 2018 Del Cusay