Sunday, August 14, 2011

7 DEADLY SINS


Last night, my husband and I together with our friends were talking about the seven deadly sins. We don’t know what the 7 capital vices are; we only know 3 or 4. Some of us are aware that we are already committing those sins and some are not.

Why are these called deadly sins, capital vice or cardinal sins? According to Fr. William Sunders, these sins are the source of all sins. "A capital vice is that which has an exceedingly desirable end so that in his desire for it, a man goes on to the commission of many sins, all of which are said to originate in that vice as their chief source" (Summa Theologiae, II-II, 153, 4) stated by Saint Thomas Aquinas.

Here are the definitions of the seven deadly sins:

1. LUST - excessive thoughts or desires of a sexual nature. This includes dwelling on impure thoughts, masturbation, fornication, adultery and viewing pornography. "Inordinate love of the flesh is cruelty, because under the appearance of pleasing the body we kill the soul." In the end, lust leads to an idolization of sexual pleasure.” stated by St. Bernard of Clairvaux

2. GLUTTONY - over-indulgence and over-consumption of anything to the point of waste. There are 6 ways to commit gluttony as per Thomas Aquinas: eating too soon, eating too expensively, eating too much, eating too eagerly, eating too daintily and eating wildly. To avoid committing this sin, we should be mindful of the physical consequences to abusing food and drink and always be mindful of those who are less fortunate and who suffer from lack of proper drinking water and food.

3. GREED - excessive or rapacious desire and pursuit of wealth, status, and power. It is an inordinate desire to acquire or possess more than one needs, especially with respect to material wealth.[15] Also include disloyalty, deliberate betrayal, or treason especially for personal gain, scavenging and hoarding of materials or objects, theft and robbery, especially by means of violence, trickery, or manipulation ofauthority. A person committing this sin is easily becomes hard-hearted and blind to the needs of those less fortunate.

4. SLOTH - is not just laziness, but especially spiritual laziness.According to Archbishop Fulton Sheen, “Sloth is a malady of the will which causes us to neglect our duties. Sloth may be either physical or spiritual. It is physical when it manifests itself in laziness, procrastination, idleness, indifference and nonchalance. It is spiritual when it shows itself in an indifference to character betterment, a distaste for the spiritual, a hurried crowding of devotions, a lukewarmness and failure to cultivate new virtue" (Victory over Vice, p. 73). It also includes ACEDIA meaning a person has a lack of attention to daily tasks and an overall dissatisfaction with life.

5. WRATH - inordinate and uncontrolled feelings of hatred and anger. St. Thomas Aquinas listed six effects of the vice of anger: indignation, mental disturbance, noisy speech, blasphemy, abuse and quarrels. To guard against anger, a person must be true to the virtue of justice in thought, word and deed; be in control of himself in addressing an issue.

6. ENVY - a desire to deprive other men of theirs. Envy breeds hatred, gossip, detraction and resentment against one's neighbor. Sin of envy resent that another person has something they perceive themselves as lacking, and wish the other person to be deprived of it. Remedies for envy include the practice of humility, being grateful for one's own goods and thinking of the consequences of envy, whether loss of friendship or divine punishment.

7. PRIDE - desire to be more important or attractive than others, failing to acknowledge the good work of others, and excessive love of self. It is considered the original and most serious of the seven deadly sins because a person is so susceptible to it due to the woundedness of original sin. It can easily creep into our lives, grow quickly without recognition, and take hold, infecting all that we do. It includes VAINGLORY or VANITY.

After learning these 7 deadly sins, I felt guilty. I don’t want to receive divine punishment. It’s not too late to repent, ask God’s forgiveness and do the best you can to avoid committing these sins. Or simply do the opposite of the cardinal sins which are the cardinal virtues.

1. Chastity - It overcomes the sin of lust.
2. Liberality (generosity) - It overcomes the sin of Greed.
3. Temperance - It overcomes the sin of Gluttony.
4. Brotherly Love - It overcomes the sin of Envy.
5. Meekness - It overcomes the sin of Anger.
6. Humility - It overcomes the sin of Pride.
7. Diligence - It overcomes the sin of sloth.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

How to make it last


On August 16, 2011; my husband and I will be celebrating our 9 years of togetherness. We became boyfriend and girlfriend August 16, 2002 and got married 5 ½ years after. Our relationship is not perfect; same with other couples, we also have our ups and downs. We also have misunderstandings. There was a time in our relationship where we thought of giving up. 6 years ago, I almost gave up. But I’m happy I didn’t because if I did, I wouldn’t have a wonderful daughter right now.

Until now, I still can’t believe that we’re able to hold on to each other for 9 long years. Sometimes I ask myself and my husband how did we make it and what can we do to make it last.

As a couple, we do simple things and these simple things make our relationship works like:

1. We always eat together. And when I cook, I never forget to add the best ingredient which is LOVE. Remember, the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

2. If we have misunderstandings, we make sure we settle things before we sleep. We don’t want things to be carried over the next day. We deal with the problem as soon as it emerges.

3. We reminisce. It’s nice to talk about old times; it brings back memories and old feelings.

4. We never fail to say I love you to each other; we always remind each other of our love for one another and that we'll always have each other.

5. We protect each other. Nobody messes with my man and vice versa.

6. We appreciate each other. We never fail to say thank you.

7. We accept each other’s criticism and complaints. If one of us disagrees, we explain the reason why.

8. We always respect each other. Though we’re couple, we are still individuals.

9. At the end of the day, we always remind each other that we’re not just lovers, we’re also friends. The love, the passion will eventually fade but what will be left behind is the friendship.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always and preserves."

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

To my Jula


My daughter just celebrated her 2nd birthday last July 31, 2011. Since she can't comprehend fully yet, I decided to write a letter for her which I will keep til she's able to read.


For you Jula,

You and I shared private moments that no one else could take part in. Nothing compares to the feelings I felt every time you kick, punch, and poke inside my body and to the happiness I felt when I gave birth to you two years ago, though it hurts like hell.

Your Papa and I were very happy with your development during your first year. Your first laugh, first 5-steps, first time you utter Mama and Papa, first kiss and so many firsts.

Today, as you celebrate your 2nd birthday. I want you to look at me, see through my eyes and feel from my heart how happy your Mama is. I wish you all the happiness like lollipop, ice cream, Elmo and Bruno Mars. I know that these things really make you smile.


Papa and I look forward to a lifetime of experiences with you. Thank you for all the smiles and for making me happy and complete. Thank you for teaching me everyday how to be a better person. I love you Jula and I thanked God for giving me such a wonderful daughter.

2011 Philippine Typhoons

Philippines had 5 typhoons for the month of July. August has just started and we had already dealt with Typhoon Lando.

Here's the list of typhoons for 2011 and the date of their landfall to Philippine area of responsibility.

Amang - Feb. 1, 2011
Bebeng - May 7, 2011
Chedeng - May 12, 2011
Dodong - June 9, 2011
Egay - June 16, 2011
Falcon - June 21, 2011
Goring - July 3
Hanna - July 15
Ineng - July 17
Juaning - July 25
Kabayan - July 28
Lando - Aug 1
Mina - Aug 27
Nonoy - Sept 8
Onyok - Sept 11

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Pedring - Sept 26

Public Storm Signal No. 1
Ticao Island
Masbate
Marinduque
Batangas
Cavite
Bataan
Pampanga
Zambales
Tarlac
Pangasinan
La Union
Ilocos Sur
Ilocos Norte
Abra, Apayao
Calayan and Babuyan group of islands

Public Storm Signal No 2
Metro Manila
Albay
Burias Island
Sorsogon
rest of Quezon
Rizal
Bulacan
Nueva Ecija
Nueva Vizcaya
Ifugao
Benguet
Mt. Province
Kalinga
Cagayan

Public Storm Signal No. 3
Catanduanes
Camarines Sur
Camarines Norte
Northern Quezon
Polillo Island
Aurora
Quirino
Isabela

Suspension of Classes

(September 26, 2011)
All afternoon classes in kindergarten to High School in NCR (Metro Manila)

(September 27, 2011)
Classes in NCR will remain suspended for kinder, elementary and high school, for both private and public schools


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Quiel
Ramon
Sendong
Tisoy
Ursula
Viring
Weng
Yoyoy
Zigzag

Be safe everyone since rainy season is still on.