Inspiring You to Live a Fantastic Life

No. 292 Vol. 24 October 2014

THE VAMPIRE
DIARIES:
DON’T LET DIFFICULT PEOPLE
SUCK THE LIFE OUT OF YOU

Learn Two Ways to Protect

Yourself from a Vampire
Transform a Vampire
with Love
God Believes
Scan the QR code and enter your details
in the website
KERYGMA to download
BARCODE.pdf FREE 5:43:58
11/16/06
Kerygma Interactive!
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in You
Philippines P70
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By Bo Sanchez
AUS $ 7.00
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RUPIAH 64,000
HANDA KA NA BANG BUMYAHE?
Manong, bayad po!

Lahat tayo ay may iba’t ibang byahe sa buhay. Anuman o saanman tayo patungo,
siguradong may mapupulot tayong kwento at aral mula rito.

In his first book, JC Libiran shares his adventures, misadventures and reflections as
he journeys through the metropolis as a commuter.

This book reflects everyone’s journey. It allows us to look deeper into our daily
travels in order to recreate our story into something greater.

Let’s R.I.D.E. together and become the best BYAHEro we can be!

Manong, dyan lang po sa tabi!

BUY YOUR COPY NOW!

For orders call 725-9999 local 101 to 108

or log on to www.KerygmaBooks.com
God’s name will be exalted like never before
at the biggest inspirational event of the year.

NOVEMBER 20-23
WITH BO SANCHEZ, JASON EVERT,
THE KERYGMA PREACHERS AND OTHER RENOWNED SPEAKERS

KERYGMACONFERENCE.COM
725-9999

#KERYGMACONFERENCE
#LIFTEDHIGH
 ARE YOU SURROUNDED
BY VAMPIRES?
No, not the blood-sucking, fang-baring, garlic-hating kind. Those
exist only in the movies.

We’re talking about the ever critical, perpetually controlling and forever complaining people in your life.
In other words — the toxic people. The ones who do nothing but make your life difficult.

If your answer is a huge “YES!”, then this book is for you.

Let’s face it. Most of the time, we hate dealing with these difficult people. The moment they enter the
premises, we’d rather leave the room — or even the building — just to get off their radar. But sometimes,
what we don’t know is that we are difficult people as well.

In his newest book, How to Deal with Difficult People, Bo Sanchez discusses how you can protect yourself
from the “vampires” in your life and how to love them wisely.
It gives you a deeper understanding not only of the people
that surround you, but also yourself.

After all, YOU might be a vampire, too!

Learn how to:

• Spot the Most Common Types of Vampires
• Protect Yourself from a Vampire
• How to Transform a Vampire
• How to Transform Yourself (If You’re the Vampire!)
• And many, many more!

ORDER your copies now!

CALL 725-9999 loc. 101 to 108
or log on to www.KerygmaBooks.com

GO DIGITAL! Buy the e-book and read it straight from your gadget! Visit www.KerygmaBooks.com/
ebooks.
 O
ne day, I was talking to an atheist.
The young man told me, “Bo, I don’t believe in The
God.” By Bo Sanchez Boss
“That’s OK,” I told him. “God still believes in you.”
He raised his eyebrow, not understanding what
I meant. Permanent change cannot come from fear.
So I told him a story… Permanent change can only come from love.
When I was a kid in school, I had a teacher who my classmates Fear cannot change you.
called “Monster.” She never smiled. Every day, she’d enter the Only love can.
classroom with a ruler in her hand, ready to punish. That’s why the Bible says, “There is no fear in love,
It didn’t help that she also looked like a monster. When she but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with
got angry, we thought she had fangs. And her hair was so thick, punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in
we wondered if her hair was hiding two pointy horns. love” (1 John 4:18).
Everyone called her monster because she liked punishing A lot of people think that God is like my first religion
kids. If you were a first-time offender, she’d make you kneel teacher. Angry. Cruel. Punitive. That’s why some people
down on salt. If you were a repeat offender, she’d make you kneel become atheists.
down on salt and carry books with your outstretched arms. If you But let me announce to the world today that God is like
deserved capital punishment, she’d make you kneel down on salt, my second religion teacher.
carry books, and chew siling labuyo (chili).  When you fail, He’ll come to you and say, “I believe
Today, you’d call that child abuse. Back in my time, this was in you. I believe in your goodness. You’re an amazing
just normal school discipline. (Yes, I’m old.) person! You can do better than this. Take the exam again!”
She’d punish for the slightest reasons. It was almost like she God believes in you so much. You may have failed, but
enjoyed catching us doing something wrong. And if she couldn’t He doesn’t believe you’re a failure. He’ll give you another
catch us doing something wrong, she’d imagine that we were chance. And another. And another…
doing something wrong. Friend, I don’t want you to just believe in God.
Once, while she was lecturing, I opened my drawer to get I want you to believe that God believes in you.
my pencil. She walked up to me and slapped my hand with her And this will change your life forever.
ruler. “Stop fidgeting!” she screamed, “Just listen!”
At another time, I was asking my classmate a question — May your dreams come true,
and from the front of the class, she shouted, “Eugenio, you’re so
talkative! Come here!” (Yep, that’s my first name.)
She also called my classmate, “Ralph! Come here!” Poor
guy. Ralph didn’t even talk. He just listened to me. So, in front of
everybody, she made us kneel down on salt and carry books.
By the way, did I tell you what subject she taught?
Religion. 
Imagine how that affected my image of God! Here’s my point.
Did my classmates change because of her? Absolutely not. In
front of her, we were like little angels. When she was away, we
were like little demons. We’d stand on our chairs and jump from
one table to another.
But when I was in Grade 4, Dad’s company transferred him
back to Manila. So I transferred school and had a new religion
teacher who was the total opposite of my old religion teacher. First
of all, he smiled at everyone. But the most shocking thing about
him was that he believed in his students. He believed in me! 

GOD
How did I know? At the start of the school year, we had an
exam. And I failed. That was pretty common for me, so I wasn’t
surprised.
But he was. My religion teacher walked up to me with a
Bo’s outfit in this issue courtesy of Golden ABC/MEMO

smile and said, “Eugenio, you’re so intelligent, I know you can do

BELIEVES in
better. Take the exam again!”
Huh? I wanted to tell him, “Sir, it’s OK that I failed. I’m used to
failing. I’m a failure. That’s who I am.”
But I didn’t say those words. I just went along with him and
his crazy belief about me. I took the exam again — and for obvious

YOU
reasons — passed it.
Because of him, I changed. I began to believe in myself. On
that year, my religion grade was 95. (That was the only subject
I excelled in. I still got 72 in Math and Pilipino.)
OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 1
 Mail
room
A million thanks to Kerygma. You are a blessing of empowerment
and guidance to your readers like me. I felt great after reading some
of your articles. They touched my heart and gradually strengthened
my faith in God.
Chain Pearl Sumampong
Surigao del Norte
Thanks, Kerygma magazine, for giving good information and helpful
tips to us. I enjoy reading your mag. God bless and more success.
Merlynda Llantada
Antipolo, Rizal
I’ve been reading Kerygma magazine for a long time now and I really
find it so enlightening especially for people who have some problems
in life.
God bless you all for lifting up my spirit. Reading your magazine
just made me realize how beautiful my world is.
More power!
Nene Mendoza
Dasmariñas, Cavite
It was in 2011 when I first read Kerygma magazine. Glenie, my
co-working student, introduced it to me. Bo Sanchez’s writings
inspire me. I am very thankful for my faith is strengthened because
of Kerygma. I was confused with my identity and this magazine
enlightened me. I hope someday I may be able to attend The Feast
and become an active member.
Now, I am already a scholar and God has provided me a lot. Back
then, I just borrowed from Glenie, but now I have my own monthly
copies.
God bless and I hope all people would discover Kerygma.
Rockhem Jade M. Raclip
Dumaguete City
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For subscription-related concerns, text or call Sarah Discutido at 0922-814-7031 or email subscription@shepherdsvoice.com.ph.
2 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014
Only Kerygma magazine taught me how to make
impossible things become possible. Thank you for this
magazine for inspiring my life even if I’m in the midst of
discouragement and pessimism at times. This magazine
helped me to deepen my faith in God, our Father. Thanks
also to Bo Sanchez — you’re my favorite inspirational
author. May you continue to inspire and motivate us.
Claudine Ablay
Nabunturan, Compostella Valley Province
I missed you, Kerygma. God allowed me to reconect with
you when I need you most.
I am a Bar reviewee here in San Sebastian College.
Reading thick books drain my brain power, but when
I flip through your pages, my heart feels great joy and
unexplained happiness. I feel like crying and I could only
say, “God, thank You! I am in the library but You have a
special way of sending Your Holy Spirit — through this
magazine.”
Sheryl Arcales
Catbalogan City, Samar
If there is one magazine which is close to my heart, it’s
Kerygma. I never grow tired of reading and re-reading the
articles, even issues from many years back. They are my
source of strength and inspiration. I feel God is speaking
to me through its pages. That is why I consider Kerygma
magazine as an addiction with a positive influence to
one’s earthly life.
I thank the Lord for sending us your magazine,
Kerygma.
Shirley Isorena-Bertes
Legazpi City, Albay
 Living by Just
Grace Breathe

By Rissa Singson-Kawpeng

Sometimes,
beautiful gifts come
50 Shades of Grace in dreadful wrapping

I
don’t know how I could have missed it. Sure the page was full of medical Yes, the mirrors sometimes reflect
gobbledegook. But the word — I knew that word. It may be a mouthful but frightful scenarios. But when I train my
I understood what it meant. For sure I understood it more than “hyperplasia.” spiritual eyes to focus, I see shades of grace
Or “metaplasia.” Or “atypical.” shining through, shattering the fearsome
But maybe I was looking for the word “malignant.” Or “benign.” That’s why darkness that the word “cancer” brings. My
I missed the word “carcinoma.” friend, author Dr. Romy Paredes, told me,
But it was there. “Rissa, God loves you so much! God gave
Right smack in the middle of my breast biopsy results. you a so-powerful, so-beautiful gift —
I knew something was not right when my sister-doctor called me on my cell cancer.”
phone to tell me that she had seen my pathology results. “Call me when you get I believe that. And I’m determined to
home,” she told me grimly. unwrap every layer of this present and
The poet Jason Shinder wrote, “Cancer is a tremendous opportunity to have enjoy every blessing it brings.
your face pressed against the glass of your mortality.” “But what patients see
through the glass is not a world outside cancer, but a world taken over by it — “You intended to harm me, but God
cancer reflected endlessly around them like a hall of mirrors,” added Siddhartha intended it for good to accomplish
Mukherjee in his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Emperor of Maladies. what is now being done, the saving
For a while, that’s what it was for me. For a person who abhors going to of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20)
hospitals, I found myself frequenting its sterile, bleach-scented halls for biopsies,
consultations and tests I can’t even all name now. Cancer invaded my consciousness Email me at justbreatherissa@gmail.com,
— from my readings to the food I ate and everything I used on myself. subscribe to my Facebook updates, and visit
The diagnosis put me in a vise-like grip of fear. No matter how I did the math, my website rissasingsonkawpeng.com.
even a 20-year remission would put me at 65, still too soon to leave my young
daughters. Echoing Matthew 5:30, I thought, Do a radical mastectomy — cut off my
arm too if needed! Better to go through life with one arm than lose my life to cancer.
Rissa’s outfit courtesy of Elite Garments/ENSEMBLE.

But I recognized it was a decision based on fear, not on faith. What was the Lord What to Expect:
teaching me in this season of my life? I also realized that I wouldn’t be making this
journey for myself alone. It would be for the many others I would share my lessons Kerygma Conference, the biggest
with, the countless women who have walked this way before and the many others Catholic learning event in the
who will follow. And for this I prayed that I would be found a faithful steward of His Philippines, is happening again on
precious lessons. November 20-23, 2014. This year’s
Thank God I live at a time when breast cancer can be detected even before you theme is “Lifted High.”
can call it that. I had to bring my tissue samples to the top three breast pathologists Bo Sanchez and Jason Evert,
in the country and only one outrightly called it the big C. The lumpectomy later internationally renowned speaker on
revealed that it was indeed cancer but in situ, meaning it was non-invasive, and the purity, will lead the pack of powerful
surgeon had removed all of it. speakers. There are more than 50
The “hall of mirrors” are ever before me. Especially since I opted not to do the classes to choose from.
35-day radiation therapy that the oncologist strongly recommended. “I won’t be For more details, visit www.
able to sleep at night every time I see you,” she told me out of concern. So I gave her kerygmaconference.com or call (02)
a copy of my book, Something Happened on My Way to Happy Ever After, for her to 725-9999.
read when insomnia attacks.
OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 3
 Hi, Lost copy?
I’m Sarah! Changed address?
Defective copy?

For all subscription-related concerns

Call Sarah
725-9999 local 105 • 411-7874 • 726-9918 • 0922-8147031
subscription@shepherdsvoice.com.ph

Subs Concern ad 2013.indd 1 3/12/13 3:55 PM

HOW HAS KERYGMA CHANGED

YOUR LIFE?

For 25 fantastic years, Kerygma has been featuring stories of ordinary people, whose lives are
made extraordinary by the grace, blessings, healing and miracles of God.

These amazing stories have inspired and changed thousands of other ordinary lives. It’s now your
turn share your K story!

For its special 25th Anniversary Edition, we are inviting you to submit stories on how Kerygma has
transformed your life.You may submit your testimonials and stories to Tess Atienza at theresa.a@
shepherdsvoice.com.ph. Or call us at (02) 725-9999 local 219 if, for some reason, you cannot
write.
 THE BO FILES SPECIAL SECTION What’s
01 The Boss
GOD BELIEVES in YOU 19 VAMPIRE DIARIES: Don’t Let Difficult
Inside
40 Point of Contact People Suck the Life Out of You
20 How to Protect Yourself from a October 2014
Vampire
26 HOW TO TRANSFORM A VAMPIRE

TESTIMONIES

24 Taking flight, finding ground

30 HITTING THE BULL’S EYE

DEPARTMENTS COLUMNS
2 Mailroom
3 Just Breathe 33 Seasons
6 New You
50 Shades When Hovering is
7 Real Stuff
of Grace Overfunctioning
8 Wounded Family, Wounded Healer
God’s Faithfulness Healed Me
10 Dear K
12 KFam Insider
Slaying the Dragon
13 Feast Snapshots 35 Faith@Work 37 K Preacher
FEAST IMUS SUPPORTS FAMILIES OF OVERSEAS Work and Play: Wi-Pie!
FILIPINO WORKERS AND SINGLE WORKING MOMS How Can You
15 It Happened: Turn Them into
“SPIRIT... SPIRIT... ARE YOU IN?” a Business?
39 One Last Story:
THE BEST PLANS

ABOUT OUR COVER MODEL

Einj I. Santos is a huge ball of energy, passion and love packed in a bubbly, various television, movie and event
five-foot tall body. productions as script supervisor,
 She shares cheerful thoughts and spreads love, happiness and stage manager, floor director, assistant
positivity over the Internet through her public Facebook page: www. director, associate producer, and events
facebook.com/EinjSpeaks. By God’s grace, her life mission is to use her host. She is also a virtual assistant
writing and speaking skills to compassionately bless, give hope, and inspire specializing in social media management.
people to rise and be healed from broken pasts, live empowered presents,  
and look forward to fulfilled dreams and bright futures. * Connect Groups are small groups of Feast attendees
who meet regularly to share stories, talk about God’s
She has been a member of the Light of Jesus Family since 2008. She blessings, and pray together. 
currently serves as Secretariat Ministry Head and Singles Missions Council
Member and Connect Group* Head in Feast** Pasig. Once in a while, she ** The Feast is a weekly prayer gathering of the Light of
also helps out as usher in Feast Bicutan. Jesus Family. For more information, visit http://www.
 With a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from the University lightfam.com/index.php/the-feast.
of the Philippines Baguio, Einj is and has been professionally involved in

founder and publisher BO SANCHEZ • editor-in-chief RISSA SINGSON KAWPENG • managing editor TESS V. ATIENZA • creative director MIKE CORTES • graphics director REY DE GUZMAN • assistant
layout artist LEAH KIM RECTO • staff writers MARJORIE DUTERTE, KARREN RENZ SEñA • contributing writers DINA PECAñA, JUDITH CONCEPCION • photographer DANIEL A. SORIANO • columnists
DEAN PAX LAPID, MICHELE ALIGNAY, VELDEN LIM
chairman of the board and CEO BO SANCHEZ • president HERMIE R. MORELOS • vice-president for finance and administration WENG CEQUEÑA • assistant vice-president for production RISSA SINGSON
KAWPENG • production manager TESS V. ATIENZA • sales and marketing manager JOSEPH MARTINEZ
Kerygma. A Greek word meaning “Proclamation of the Gospel.” It is a Catholic inspirational magazine. It aims to be an evangelistic tool to all nations, providing Scriptural,
practical and orthodox 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. 2014. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without
permission. Kerygma is published monthly by Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc., whose editorial and business offices are located at 60 Chicago St., Cubao, 1109 Quezon
City. Tel. Nos.: (632) 725-9999, 411-7874, 725-1190. Fax: 727-5615. Email: editsvp@shepherdsvoice.com.ph. Website: www.shepherdsvoice.com.ph.
 Tips for
New personal
You development

Relationships

Make Those Wow

Connections

E
Money very day we are bombarded with information on Facebook
and Twitter, most of which can be considered noise. Yet the
Helpful Tips for Early original purpose of mobile technology and social media is
Christmas Shopping to build relationships and make personal connections.
There is a way to break through the noise and make those

T
o save money and time and avoid the holiday rush,
it’s wise to plan ahead. October’s a good time to start
your Christmas shopping. Here are some tips:
1. Prepare your Christmas list. Write down the names
of family and friends you want to give gifts to. You might
also like to include your boss, colleagues, employees,
hairdresser, or anyone to whom you are thankful.
Consider including the less fortunate in your
Christmas list this year, especially those you see in the
streets, at the overpass, or for your chosen foundation.
2. Brainstorm gift ideas. What gift would each person
like to receive and how much is your budget for each?
Brainstorm ideas and write them down beside each
name on your list. Find out what the person likes.
Buy people what they want, not what you want for
yourself. For the person who wants nothing, consider
making a donation in his or her name to a special cause.
3. Keep track of your gifts. Set a deadline for shopping
and commit to it. Store your gifts safely in a designated
area like a covered box or a portion of your closet. Label
your presents. Keep the gift receipt for expensive items
that may need returning.
Source: http://www.wikihow.com
one-to-one connections that have impact. Take the example of
Gary Vaynerchuk, who creates those wow connections.
Gary, on Twitter, constantly asks, “How can I help you?” Many
skeptics abound on whether he really means what he says, so one
of his more than one million followers decided to test him.
One day, Gary posted, “Good morning everyone — need
anything?” His follower Daniel Bentley replied immediately, “Eggs,
I’m out of eggs.” Gary then replied, “Address? I mean it.”
After sharing his address privately with Gary, Daniel Bentley
received two boxes filled with dozens of eggs at his apartment
door. Daniel, of course, shared his experience on social media and
it went viral.
The key to building relationships on social media is to
become a giver. Success Coach Darren Hardy advises to look at
your calendar for the next week. Identify at least five meetings
or encounters you are going to have with other people. Prepare
at least three gifts of generosity for those people in advance of
those meetings.
What are gifts of generosity? It could be an introduction to
someone who can help them with something they are working
on. It can also be knowledge that has been super-helpful to you
which you know they would enjoy.
Connection — that’s the purpose of mobile technology and
social media when it all started.
Source: http://darrenhardy.success.com

Quick Health Tip: PROBIOTICS

Y
ogurt, cheeses and other food containing “live cultures” are good for your health.
Probiotics, or the “live active cultures” found in yogurt, help maintain a strong
immune system. They keep the intestinal tract free of disease-causing germs.
Any yogurt with a “Live and Active Cultures” seal contains some beneficial bugs. For
optimal dosage, take two six-ounce of yogurt servings a day. Taking probiotics is safe and
has few side effects.
However, for people with weakened immune systems or serious illnesses, probiotics
may be dangerous. Patients with severe pancreatitis who are given probiotics had a higher
risk of death, according to a study.
Sources: http://www.prevention.com, www.webmd.com

6 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014

T
hirty-two-year-old Randy Halasan, head
teacher of Pegalongan Elementary School, is Real
the recipient of the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay Stuff
Award, considered as Asia’s version of the Nobel
Peace Prize.
Randy, who teaches an indigenous tribe in one
of the remotest villages in Davao City, received the
award for emergent leadership.
The Foundation recognized “his purposeful

© rubycomm
dedication in nurturing both his Matigsalug students Filipino Educator receives
and their community to transform their lives through
quality education and sustainable livelihoods in ways Asia’s Nobel Peace Prize
that respect their uniqueness and preserve their
integrity as indigenous peoples in a modernizing
Philippines.” A PRAYER FOR TEACHERS
Aside from education, Randy also inspired fellow
teachers and villagers to create a food-sufficient community Giver of all Wisdom and Greatest of all Teachers,
by planting fruit trees and vegetables. Pegalongan farmers Look upon our teachers with love.
now have collectively owned rice and corn mill, a seed Grant them the resolve to nurture our eager minds
bank, a cattle dispersal project and a horse for transporting And to never give up on us who fall behind.
their produce.
Bless their hearts for they rejoice when we succeed
In 2007, Randy was assigned in Pegalongan and had
And encourage us when we fail.
turned down offers of reassignment since then, despite the
Endow them with gentle patience, for the path of learning is
seven-hour journey it takes to reach the village from his
family’s home in the city. never easy.
He took his postgraduate and undergraduate degrees Kindle a spirit of passion in them.
in Educational Management and Elementary Education It is the flame that ignites the love of learning in us.
at the University of Southeastern Philippines. The young Help them see the potential in each student.
educator has proactively lobbied for the expansion of the Their belief in us means much more than the grade we make.
Pegalongan school, believing that education is key to the Instill in them a commitment to keep on learning.
survival of the Matigsalug tribe in a changing world. It shows us to not fear new knowledge and experiences.
Randy joins the community of 301 other Magsaysay Inspire them to touch the future.
laureates to date from all over Asia. They influence how big a dream we dream for ourselves.
Named after the late Philippine President Ramon Bless our teachers who have come before, for their work
Magsaysay who died in a plane crash in 1957, the award endures to this day.
is given every year to individuals or organizations in Asia Let the light of Your example shine upon all teachers:
that deal with issues of human development in the region To build up with their words
with courage and creativity and in doing so have made To love with their mind
contributions that have transformed their respective To share with their heart.
societies, the RM Foundation said. Amen.
Source: http://www.goodnewspilipinas.com

St. Therese of the Child Jesus

Born and Died: January 2, 1873, Alencon, France - September 30, 1897, Lisieux, France Saints-at-a-Glance

S
t. Therese loved God like a child loves her father. Her mother, Zelie, wanted to be a nun
and her father, Louis, wanted to be a monk. But God had other plans for the would-be
parents of this future saint. Five of their daughters became nuns.
Therese was the youngest child. One time, she got very sick and turned her head to a
statue of the Virgin near her bed and prayed for a cure. “Suddenly,” Therese writes, “Mary’s
face radiated kindness and love.” Our Lady of the Smile healed her with her smile.
As a Carmelite cloistered nun, young Therese knew that she would never be able to
perform great deeds. Therese trusted in Jesus to make her holy and she expressed her love
for Him through small daily sacrifices done with love. Called the Saint of the Little Way,
Therese realized that her vocation was love.
St. Therese’s “the little way,” her path of love consisted of a commitment to the tasks and
to the people we meet in our everyday lives. You can learn more from St. Therese’s little way
by reading her book, Story of a Soul.
Sources: http://www.catholic.org

OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 7

 Marj’s journey to wholeness is
documented in her book, Love Yourself
as God Loves You.

W
hen I was as a child, I was extremely shy. I often

God’s
kept to myself, listened to music, and studied
on my own. I’m the eldest of two siblings but
my sister came eight years after me.
Daddy would often be away since he was
working out of town. When he would come

FAITHFULNESS
home, he would often be drunk. Plates would find their way in
the air and come crashing to the floor. He was a broken man
and I felt broken, too.
Most of my life he had been drinking. He did not come to
my graduation days and he would always be shouting curses
at home.

HEALED ME
Growing up, I did not know the love of a father. I could
barely count the times he held me in his arms nor did I hear
words of endearment or affirmation that I was loved.
I grew up in a broken home where we did not talk about
our feelings, and hurts were swept away and set aside. I learned
how not to communicate and bottled up my feelings inside. I
grew up feeling unwanted and unloved.
I felt I wasn’t valuable, not worthy of love, and not good
By Marjorie Duterte enough. I would often hear words like bobo, sira-ulo, and
stupido.
Growing up, I really thought that there was something
wrong with me. And I believed the hurtful words that were
being said.
The rejection from home made me feel unloved and
unloveable. I became withdrawn and melancholy. I didn’t like
myself and my behavior followed my belief.

8 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014

 I started to doubt myself. I felt unsure of my own
opinions and I did not trust my self. I was like a walking open
wound, sensitive and misunderstood.
Despite my insecurities, I would top most of my exams
in my class. I had very good grades despite my very low self-
esteem. I realized that there were things I could do well.
But my insecurities got the better of me. My brokenness
prevented me from fulfilling my potentials.
Because I was thirsty for real love from home, I looked
for love in romantic relationships.
Love in the Wrong Places
I had my first boyfriend in college. But because I was broken
inside, I became needy and clingy. I was jealous even when
there was no reason to be. I became co-dependent, basing
my self-worth and value on another person’s love and
approval of me. I was also plagued with negative thoughts,
those words I heard while growing up. I was so desperate
for love that I would stay even if the relationship became
emotionally abusive and unhealthy. I was “needy” for love. I
couldn’t let it go, even if it was bad for me, I felt that I would
die if I was left alone. It felt like an addiction.
It was also during college when I learned that my father
has three other children from another woman. He had an
affair when I was just a toddler. I realized that I had absorbed
the fears and anxieties of my mother when I was a child. The
irrational fears came out when I entered into relationships.
At that time I did not know my behavior had roots
from the past that makes one do irrational things like stay
in unhealthy relationships or settle for crumbs. All I wanted
was to be loved.
I felt broken inside and got more broken when I was left
behind. It reinforced my feelings that I wasn’t valuable, not
worthy and not good enough. I started comparing myself
with others and felt even worse.
I knew I was broken and that I needed healing but I did
not know where to go.
I looked for love in all the wrong places, to fill the empty
spaces, until I found a love to call my own. I learned to love
myself. The truth is, God taught me how. He showed me how
through His Love and His Word.
My Father Who Loves Me
The journey towards wholeness took time. In truth, it was a
process that took three decades. It started one sad night. It
was the aftermath of a failed relationship.
I was seated on the floor, nursing a broken heart, I
wondered if I would ever be OK and if I’d ever be well. I was
in much pain, I did not know what to do.
I put on the tape of Himig Heswita when a song struck
the core of my being. “How lovely is your dwelling place,
Mighty God, Lord of All!” the Jesuits sang a verse from Psalm
84. I felt the Lord was singing the song to me. He called me
lovely, was it true? I had never heard those words before. I
cried my heart out at His words of affirmation.
I realized that what I needed was the love of a father.
God revealed Himself to me as my true Father and told me
that I could call Him Papa. I began reading what He thought
about me in the Bible.
The Journey to Wholeness
The Holy Spirit led me to the verse in Romans 12:2. It says, “Don’t
let yourselves be shaped by the world where you live, but rather
be transformed through the renewal of your mind.”
God made me realize that those negative words that I had
picked up when I was growing up were all lies. I started filling my
mind with His truth. He said that I am fearfully and wonderfully
made (Psalm 139:13-14) and that I am His masterpiece
(Ephesians 2:10).
The Lord started to heal me by first changing the way I
thought about myself and allowed me to see myself as He saw
me. I drew closer to God and His love gathered the broken
pieces within me and put me together again. He restored me
and transformed me. With His love and faithfulness, I learned to
love myself.
The devil had succeeded in making me believe all those lies
in the past. I started to trust and believe in God’s words instead.
I also opened myself to the unconditional love of a loving
Father who is extravagant in His love. I started to get love from
the Source of Love. I started to trust in His mercy.
I grieved for the love that I did not receive from my dad.
God made me realize that he had no love to give because he
also did not receive it when he was growing up and that it is true
what Bo Sanchez says, “Hurt people, hurt people.”
I have forgiven Dad a long time ago and have decided to
love him unconditionally. God became the Father I needed.
He healed my wounded roots and exchanged it with a solid
foundation, restoring my true identity as His child who is deeply
loved. He will not leave us abandoned to our brokenness and
pain. He is Healer and Restorer.
I now know for certain that God turns beautiful things out
of the dust, out of our wounds. He even turns it into a book.
Love Yourself as God Loves You is a testament to God’s love and
faithfulness. I share here the internal spiritual medicines, biblical
verses and life lessons that God gave me to heal me that can
help you, too.
I pray that we will truly love ourselves as God loves us. His
Word and His Perfect Love casts out all our fears, sets us free and
makes us whole. Thanks be to God who loves us so!
Are you ready to take the first step towards
wholeness?
This book will help you to truly love yourself, the way God does.
Love yourself today.
Available in print and e-book versions at www.kerygmabooks.com.
Call us at 725-9999 local 101 to 108.
OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 9
Dear
K
I’M GETTING IMPATIENT
WITH MY BOYFRIEND

My boyfriend and I have been going steady for four years. He is a nice person and I
really wish that he will ask me to marry him. He told me that he plans to marry me in
2015, but he has not proposed yet and it’s already September 2014.
He says that he still wants to help his two brothers finish their schooling. His
brothers are both in college. One is graduating next year.
I am already 31 years old and he’s just 27. He’s an Overseas Filipino Worker. I’m
also getting pressured by my mother, relatives and friends to get married. How should
I deal with this? It’s causing me stress.

Bubbly

Dear Bubbly,
I can relate with you. I was in your shoes many years ago as a and he gives you enough reason to do so, then roll up
single woman, except that I was already in my late thirties and your sleeves and get ready to wait some more despite
my boyfriend had not yet proposed marriage! the pressures you get from family members. But if you
What I did, as you will read in my book, Confessions of think you can no longer wait and want to take your
an Impatient Bride, is that I made it clear to him that I was chances in finding someone else, then go for it.
looking for a marriage partner and not a boyfriend. I set clear Just know that it has to be your decision — not
boundaries and told him that if he was not yet ready to marry something that you did because you were pressured
me — because he wanted to build a house first — then maybe by relatives or gave in to his plans. That way, you won’t
I was not the one for him. But bear in mind that I had seriously be able to blame anyone for the outcome but be able
considered my options. That if I let him go because I couldn’t to own your decision.
wait for him, there was no assurance I’d find another man. I had Praying for God’s guidance on your life.
no other suitors then to choose from. So it was really a big risk
on my part to even suggest that we part ways. I was risking that Rissa
I’d be single for the rest of my life.
Thankfully, he wasn’t willing to let me go and we got
married when I was 38.
I suggest you dedicate a prolonged time of prayer to discern Rissa Singson Kawpeng has
your relationship with your boyfriend. Is he someone you want been proclaiming God’s Word
through radio, TV and print
to spend the rest of your life with? Do you see him as a good media for over two decades.
father to your future children? Is he someone who can provide She has served extensively in
for you and your family with a secure lifestyle? youth and singles ministries
If you are convinced that he meets your non-negotiables, and is an inspiration to many in
living godly lives.
have a heart-to-heart talk with him. Be honest. But also be Rissa has written four
open to understand his situation. He has been frank with you books, the latest of which is
regarding his intention to put his brothers through school. It’s Something Happened on the
up to you to decide if you are willing to support him in this Way to Happy Ever After (Visit
www.shepherdsvoice.com.ph
endeavor by waiting for him. If you think he’s worth the wait for orders).

10 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014

I have a son who has a problem making friends
in grade school. When I go to his school events, I
observe that other kids would talk to him but they
won’t interact or play with him.
He tells me that he plays alone during recess.
He does ask others if he can play with them, but
they turn him down, saying there are only a certain
number of players that can be accommodated or
they will tell him that they don’t like him outright.
I’m worried about him. It just breaks my heart
what he goes through at class. I don’t know what
to do. Can you give me some advice on how to help
him?
Worried Mom
Dear Worried Mom,
Indeed, our child’s happiness is ours, too. I
invite you to reflect on some questions and
objectively gauge the possible causes of your
son’s interpersonal dealings.
How’s your son’s social skill as a baby
and until now that he is in school? Is he shy
to begin with? In new situations or people,
does he adjust easily or warm up slowly? How
is his confidence in expressing himself? Does
he communicate his needs clearly or does
he keep things to himself? At home, is he
given opportunity to speak up and decide on
matters about himself, or are these taken care
of by the adults?
If he is a shy person and does not
readily adjust to others, then extra work is
needed. At home, give him encouragement
to speak about what is on his mind, whether
pleasant or unpleasant. Keep yourself from
commenting. When you eat out, train him
to order for himself or request for things like
water or extra napkin. If others will ask you
about him like his age or school, coach him
to reply confidently. If invitations for kids’
MY SON HAS A DIFFICULTY
MAKING FRIENDS
Email your questions to editsvp@shepherdsvoice.com.ph. Or if you need to talk to someone, call (632)
726-4709 or 726-6728 to contact a Light of Jesus Pastoral Care Center counselor. Pastoral counseling
by telephone is 24 hours from Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Face-to-face
pastoral counseling is by appointment. For correspondence pastoral counseling, email lojcounseling@
yahoo.com or go to www.kerygmafamily.com.
Or Call (632) 725-9999
Pregnant? Confused? Abortion is not the answer. Contact Grace to Be Born at 0917-816-4700
or email reylindo.ortega@gmail.com. You may also contact Pro-life Philippines at (632) 733-7027.
parties or reunions come, make it a learning opportunity to be comfortable
with different people. Assure him for the little efforts he put in boosting his
interpersonal skills. It may not be an overnight success, but it can be done.
I suggest, too, that you seek the help of your son’s teacher or guidance
counselor in order to assist him in this area. They may offer solutions to help
you in developing your son’s social skills.
Lastly, balance your efforts in being there and boosting his confidence
versus being hovering. While you are not in control of the outside situation,
what you can do something about is your attitude about this as well as
establishing the mother-son bond that will build on his confidence. The Lord
sees your best intentions and will bless your son with good lasting friendships.
This is the best time to prepare him for that.
Michele
Michele is a Registered Guidance Counselor (RGC) and is
currently pursuing her doctorate in Family Studies at the Miriam
College. She holds an M.A. in Family Psychology and Education
from Miriam College. For 12 years, Michele worked as a guidance
counselor handling grade school children for premiere exclusive
schools. At present, she juggles her time between her role as
a wife and a mother to two kids, as lecturer for undergraduate
students at Miriam College, and as a private counselor at Miriam
College and an associate of the Love Consultants. Aside from that,
she co-authored Growing Up Wired: Raising Kids in the Digital Age.
OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 11
 Bien may be blind —
K Fam physically — but he
definitely sees God’s
Insider mighty work in his
life through this
sharing.
By Bien Canonizado
Photo by Jessie Lejan Bello
Slaying the
Dragon
“A man of genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and
are portals of discovery.” — James Joyce Ulysses, 1922
T
here comes a time when a person’s soul is forged
in the crucible of life, struck by the hammer of
tribulation, pounded by the anvil of despair. But
through the fire, one comes out stronger and
tougher. I am such an individual, tested in the fires
of depression.
I am a employee in the provincial administration office of
Cavite. I was a graduate of Political Science from the University
of Sto. Tomas.
I’ve been blind since college. I’m also deaf in one ear because
of a birth defect. Aside from my disability, I’m your typical guy
in his late twenties, enjoying a relatively generous salary, taking
care of both my parents, having fun, and being an ordinary Joe.
Where My Dragon Came From
Suddenly and violently, the comfort zone I had built for myself
came all crashing down. The world as I knew it shattered before
me, never to be the same ever again.
My parents, happily married for 32 years, suddenly found
themselves with irreconcilable differences. My mom, our primary
provider and breadwinner, no longer wanted to live with me and
my father. She has been dealing with depression for a long time
now. She would get angry for no apparent reason and this would
cause me great anxiety.
The turning point came one fateful Sunday. My parents
had the biggest fight. Fed up, Mom chose to leave me and my
father to fend for ourselves. My world turned upside down. I felt
completely powerless. I was worried for my father while at the
same time struggling to pay for basic necessities. To add to that,
my mom had the title to our house and Dad and I were afraid that
she’d decide to sell the house and throw us out into the streets.
I felt like the guy in the famous (or infamous) Vincent Van
Gogh painting, “At Eternity’s Gates,” long regarded by psychiatrists
as an archetype for depression. The old man slowly dying in the
Van Gogh painting most resembles my mood at this point.
I felt so depressed that I wanted to take my own life. I had
a .22-caliber revolver in my collection of historical weapons. I
got bullets from a friend working in the security office of a big
corporation. I even made a last will and testament, getting my
12 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014
affairs in order before I took my own life.
Then one of my concerned Facebook friends with
whom I chat regularly suggested that I try out a free
telephone counseling service. She introduced me to
the Light of Jesus Pastoral Care Center (LOJPCC) of Bo
Sanchez.
I Sought Help
Upon calling the LOJPCC, I was entertained by Ms.
Carmen, a counselor. She felt like such a warm and
caring person. I immediately felt at home. I told her of
my troubles, of my secret wish for our family to become
whole once more.
She introduced me to a community of caring persons
called The Feast. Through the intervention of Tess Atienza,
managing editor of this magazine, Imus Feast builder Rex
Robillos visited me at home.  
I was soon given reassurance of God’s love for me. I
was introduced to a community of people in The Feast
who could act as a support group and help me with my
depression.
Slowly, I learned to cope with my fears and to
manage my anxiety. Meanwhile, Ms. Carmen monitors
my progress and recovery from my mental instability.
I was amazed at the closeness and comfort provided
by The Feast family for me. Every Sunday, they would
fetch me from my house, bring me to The Feast and then
back to my home afterwards.
I am no longer like a poor and disheveled villager,
cowering in my small hut when the proverbial dragon of
depression visits.
Now, I’m a knight in shining armor, equipped with
sword, shield, hauberk and my faithful charger ready
to face that metaphorical dragon, if and when it comes
knocking on my door.
And so, this October, as the Light of Jesus Pastoral
Care Center celebrates its anniversary, let us spread the
word about this great and free service provided by this
ministry of Bo Sanchez.
Let us give armor and weapons to other frightened
villagers, so they may  also slay the dragon of depression
as I have done myself. This is not a one-time battle;
rather it is a war fought daily against pain and emotional
suffering.
God’s love is our armor, and our friends at The Feast
are our proverbial weapons in order to finally slay this
dragon named depression.
Depressed? Need someone to pour
out your problems to?
Dial 726-4709 or 726-6728 to talk to a Light of Jesus
Pastoral Care Center counselor. Open 24 hours from
Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
Don’t delay!

F
east Imus, which started
in 2010, is the first and
oldest Feast community 
in Cavite. 
On July 27, 2014, they
held the first fellowship
session specially dedicated to the
wives of diligent Overseas  Filipino
Workers and single working moms.
Conceptualized earlier this
year, the special 4 to 6 p.m. session
is a predominantly female-targeted
fellowship session. This was created
within the Feast Imus because of
a perceived need to address the
increasing number of OFW families
located in the growing residential
sector of Imus City.
After several case studies, the
Feast Imus Council concluded the
feasibility of launching this special
session.
Primarily geared to providing
spiritual and pastoral care, the
new session is also designed to
offer financial advice to maximize
their husbands’ dollar remittances,
as well as provide parenting and
counseling tips to the children of
these families.
As in the other Feast sessions, it
began with a Holy Mass celebrated
Feast
FEAST IMUS Snapshots
SUPPORTS By Bien Canonizado
FAMILIES OF
Photos by Jessie Lejan Bello
OVERSEAS by Feast Imus’s regular priest, Fr.
FILIPINO Joseph Biliran.
The worship session was
WORKERS AND
facilitated  by the Feast Imus Jewels, an
all-women support group designed
for married women. Feast Imus is only
SINGLE WORKING the second such Feast community
after Feast Ortigas to have a “Jewels”
MOMS support group.
The worship and musical session
was led by long-time Feast member
Eliza Fariscal, daughter of council
members Peter and Shirley Fariscal.
The inspirational talk was given
by Feast Imus preacher and builder
Rex Robillos, while the musical band
was chaired by Kulas Basilonia.
Overall, the first session was
a success with over 50 people
in attendance — a great start to
spreading the Word of God in the
bourgeoning city of Imus.
Other Feast Imus sessions are at
10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., also held
at the Feast Imus Center, Cinema 1,
FRC Mall, Aguinaldo Highway, Imus,
Cavite.
OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 13
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“Spirit, spirit…
It
Happened

I
was about 14 years old when I

are you in?”

started saying these words, and
I was saying them a lot. Because
the trend in school at that time
was a game called “spirit of the
From Contacting Spirits, to Living in the Spirit coin,” a home-made version of
the Ouija board. In high school, my
classmates and I were thrilled by ghost
stories and we thought it would be
exciting to see or talk to one.
Particularly around the month of
March, when it was almost summer
and our teachers had frequent
meetings to deliberate our grades, we
often took to playing with the Ouija
board or “spirit of the coin.”
We’d start by calling for a particular
spirit to communicate with us, ask if
“they were in” (the coin), and when
the coin finally slid towards the word
“yes” on the Ouija board, we would
start asking it questions. As long as
we didn’t make too much noise and
kept our “session” short, we could do
it in the classroom while our teacher
was gone. After all, our class president
often joined us in playing, too. It was
fun and exciting.
We didn’t know it could have a
really bad effect on who we were
— that those simple words meant
we had just given strange spirits the
permission to impact our lives.
The Teenage “Fortune-teller”
I’d grown up loving books and it so happened
that the home I grew up in had a lot of books
about the occult: from fortune-telling, to faith
healing, to using crystals, to translated spells
from the Egyptian Book of the Dead.
Don’t get me wrong, we’re a family of
Catholics. Our parents taught us our first
Aileen now uses her gift for discernment as counselor and coach. She is also a powerful
speaker.
prayers, led us in praying the rosary each night,
and sent us to exclusive Catholic schools. Their
faith in God had always been strong and I’ll

By A.S. Santos

OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 15

always be grateful that they raised us the way they did.
But interspersed within their faith in God were also beliefs brought
about by traditions and a lot of superstition. Because my dad was a
policeman and his life was in danger every day, he relied not just on Saint
Benedict for protection; he also had an anting-anting (amulet). My mom
had supernatural experiences of her own. She once had a vision of her
father during a retreat, and days later her father unexpectedly died from
a stroke.
Both of them were also book lovers, so their questions led them to
buying a number of books about faith healing, psychic abilities and the
occult. Books which, for some reason, I only needed to pick up and read
through once, before I found that I could already easily do the things they
were teaching.
By the time I entered college, I was already a “practicing fortune-teller.”
I could do readings for people using ordinary cards, look at their palms
and predict their future, or even study a sample of their handwriting to
tell them things about
their personalities.
Aileen is happily married to Cons, People even thanked
the man that God — and not some
spirit — sent to be her husband. me for the readings
because I apparently
“got it right,” “made them
realize something,” or
“made them sure about
a decision.” In short, I
seemed to be “helping
people” with what I was
doing, which is why it
made me feel good.
Another thing that
made me feel even
better about “fortune-
telling” was the fact that I seemed to have an ability that very few people
have and it made me wonder if maybe this was my special gift, the thing
that made me incredibly unique. And especially when we’re teenagers,
we’re always looking for that something that makes us unique.
But remember: I also had a strong Catholic foundation and grew up
in a school run by nuns. I knew that in the Bible we are explicitly told that
“God hates fortune-tellers.”
I felt confused: How could an ability that I naturally had, which I was
using to help people, be something that God hates? I didn’t know the
answer to that, so I decided to pray before I did my readings, just to make
sure God and everyone else knew He was still the one I trusted.
A Spirit Gave Me My Future Husband’s Name
Because of my involvement in these practices, I learned the name of the
man I was supposed to marry — when I was just 14 years old.
I’d been using the Ouija board at home and because it was something
many teenagers are interested in, I decided to ask: “Who am I going to
marry?”
The coin slowly but surely made its way across the board, spelling
out an answer: seven letters that spelled out a clear first name. A slight
pause. Then eight letters that spelled out a distinct last name. When the
coin stopped moving, I realized the spirit had given me the complete name
of an actual guy, an actual person — a guy I hadn’t yet met, with a very
unique name I couldn’t have thought of myself.
It was an exciting and a disturbing knowledge at the same time. I didn’t
tell anyone about it and tried not to think about it. It was very possible that
no one in existence had that name — it was quite unique — and even if
16 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014
he did exist, I’d probably meet him many years in the
future.
I knew though that if I did actually meet him, I’d
remember what the Ouija board said: the revelation of
your future husband’s name wasn’t really something
you could easily forget.
One week after finding out his name, a classmate
told me there was this guy — about a year older than
us — who went to the all-boys school next to ours. She
said he’d seen me and wanted to meet me, and had
befriended her because he saw us together and knew
she was my friend.
“He seems nice,” my classmate told me. “And he’s
cute.”
A nice, cute guy who had a crush on me and
wanted to meet me? For a teenage girl studying in an
all-girls school, these were enough.
I smiled. “Really? What’s his name?”
And then and there, she gave me the exact same
name I got from the Ouija board.
My heart stopped. “That’s a unique name. Could
you spell it out?”
She did: the same seven letters in the first name,
same eight letters in the last name.
“So,” my classmate finally said, “Should I introduce
you to each other?”
At that moment, I knew I had reached a major
crossroad in my life.
I knew that if I met this guy that some spirit told
me I’d one day marry, it would be like I had said “yes” to
the spirit and sealed my fate.
Because if I met this guy now and he started
courting me, I knew that I would say yes, even if I was
still in high school. I knew that even if this guy turned
out to be a not-so-ideal-boyfriend, I would still try to
make our relationship work. And I knew that even if
I met other guys in the future — better guys, guys
who could make me happier — I knew that I would
ignore them, and end up marrying this guy, the one
whose name came up in the Ouija board, the one I was
supposed to marry.
And it wouldn’t be because I wanted to follow the
Ouija board. No.
Instead, it would be because, at the back of my
mind, there would always be that compelling voice
that says, “What if he’s really the one?” Because his
complete name did come to me in the most unusual
and supernatural circumstances. Whatever kind of
person he turned out to be, I knew I wouldn’t be able
to think about him clearly, because there will always
be that nagging idea that maybe we were meant to be
together — maybe we were each other’s destiny.
After long moments of deliberation, I finally
sighed and told my classmate: “Don’t introduce us,
please.”
I didn’t tell her about the Ouija board and I didn’t
tell her the reason for my request.
After everything that went through my head, the
final reason behind my decision was this: If this guy
and I were really meant to be together — if God meant for us to be together
— then He will create another chance for us to meet each other.
My 15-year-old self somehow realized that she needed to consider
God’s say in this matter, and not just some random spirit’s. And for that, I
will always be grateful to her.
God Spoke to My Heart
Later in college I had a boyfriend, and after we graduated we attended a
six-week “Life in the Spirit Seminar” together at The Lord’s Flock, a Catholic
Charismatic community. It was there that I learned more about having a
deeper relationship with God, about the reality of spiritual warfare, and
about the real reason “God hates fortune-tellers.”
And it wasn’t because one of the speakers talked about it in detail.
Instead, it was because I had a distinct conversation with God in my heart
at the same moment that the speaker in front of us was telling us about
God’s love.
“Does your boyfriend love you?” God asked me.
“Yes,” I replied, knowing this to be true.
“And do you love him?”
I nodded.
“Would you flirt with other men and seek their affection when you
know it would hurt your boyfriend?”
“No,” I whispered.
“Would you keep asking for love from other men when there is already
someone who truly loves you?”
I shook my head.
“Then why, My child, do you seek assurances about your future from
other spirits? When you truly understand how much I love you, then you can
completely trust that I will always take care of you. And it will be enough.”
That conversation dumbfounded me and answered every question I
had about fortune-telling, psychic abilities, and more.
God had waited for the best moment before He answered my long-
ago questions: I was in a truly loving relationship with my boyfriend, so I
could understand what it meant to truly trust in His love. I was also having
a spiritual renewal, so I understood that I had the important responsibility
of helping others trust in God, too.
That moment, I completely gave up all forms of fortune-telling and
have never done a single reading since then. The week before we had our
baptism in the Spirit, my brother helped me gather all the occult items in
our home and turned them over to our community’s prayer warriors, who
burned them in the presence of a priest.
Months after my boyfriend and I became active members and servants
in the community, one of our household leaders spoke to me in private.
“I’ve been praying for you individually,” she told me, “and during one
prayer time I felt that God was telling me something about you. He said you
have the gift for discernment. So I had to let you know.”
The gift for discernment. One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which
meant I could sense the difference between things that were of God and
things that were of the enemy. It also meant I could sense things that were
possibly hidden as well.
When I learned more about this gift, I realized that this was the same
gift I’d been using in my “fortune-telling” all along. But just like “a pair of
hands” or “the ability to make plans,” these were things that God had given
us since we were born, but we always have the freedom to choose how we
would use them: to serve God, or to be used by the enemy.
From Psychic Powers to the Gift of Discernment
Today, I am using my gift for discernment as a counselor and coach. It helps
me help people by allowing me to understand the things they couldn’t say,
and by being able to hear and share God’s message
of hope and love for them. In my service in the Light
of Jesus Family’s Training Ministry, it’s also what leads
me to focus on certain parts of a topic or choose
specific stories to share. I know that in God’s own way,
He’s using my words to reach out to those who are
ready to listen and He’s speaking privately with them
in their hearts, just like the way He did with me, many
years ago.
Finally, it is the same gift I’ve been using the
most as I’m writing the SPRG (Student Paranormal
Research Group) Trilogy — three interlinked teen
romance novels about the paranormal, whose deeper
message is really about God’s power and love. They’re
the books I’d needed to read when I was a teenager
myself and was becoming interested in ghost stories
and the occult.
My own teenage daughter, now 15 and a book
lover herself, told me, “Mom, there are a lot of books
now about simple spells that are directed at teens.
I see them everywhere. If I didn’t know about the
things you told me, I would’ve probably picked up
one of them and maybe tried them out.”
There are many teenagers like her now who are
also interested in knowledge and looking for answers,
and it’s my hope to lead them to the best ones, sooner
rather than later.
Aileen with Cons and their daughters, Fudge and Dawn.
Sometimes when I talk to schools and teens
about my books and my Ouija board story comes
up, they ask me what happened to the guy I was
supposed to marry. I tell them, “Actually, I never got
to meet him. We never found each other again. And
today, I am happily married.”
No, I did not marry “Ouija board guy.” Instead I
married the same boyfriend who attended that same
“Life in the Spirit Seminar” with me, the same man God
used as an example to help me better understand
His love. I chose him after getting to know him and
growing with him, and not because of the influence
of some strange spirit.
Because in the end, that’s how God’s presence
has always been in our lives. He’s always loved us, and
He’s just waiting for us to choose Him, too.
OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 17
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 Introduction Special
Section

By Bo Sanchez

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:

DON’T LET DIFFICULT PEOPLE SUCK THE LIFE
OUT OF YOU

S
even years ago, historians discovered the diary of Hitler’s younger
sister. (Before this, no one knew anything about the childhood
home of Hitler.) It turns out that Hitler was severely beaten by his
father. As he lay on the floor being thrashed, his mother would
rescue him by covering him with her body, thus absorbing the blows.
The diary also revealed how Hitler would bully his sister, slapping her
on the face when she made a mistake.
After over 30 years in ministry, I believe that Vampires were once
upon a time little kids who failed to receive love. Behind all the external
arrogance, self-righteousness, bluster and bravado is a deep sense of
insecurity. Every day, they’re trying to convince themselves that they’re
superior. That’s why they act in that “difficult” way.
The goal of this month’s teaching articles isn’t to change other
people. The goal is to change you. Because you may be the Vampire.
You may be the difficult husband, mother, father, wife, sister, brother,
son, daughter, boss, employee, leader or member.
I repeat: It’s very difficult for a Vampire to know he’s a Vampire.
Because the difficult person is living in his own altered state of reality.
He lives in his own imagined universe. And in that imagined universe,
other people are difficult — not him! He is an angel living among
demons.
Every difficult person in your life is a mirror. By asking why that
person is difficult to you, you’ll discover more about who you are — your
past, your wounds, your weaknesses.
But even if you’re a difficult person today, I believe God can
transform you. Why do I say that? Because nothing is impossible with
God.
I repeat: There’s hope for you. You can change.

OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 19

Special By Bo Sanchez
Section

How to Protect Yourself from a

Vampire
G
od says, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).
You know this already.
But what if your neighbor is a difficult person — a
Vampire? Should you still love him? Does loving a neighbor
mean allowing a Controlling Vampire to trample on your
dignity? Does it mean allowing a Clinging Vampire to suck
all your time?
Here’s my big message for you: Unless you protect yourself from
difficult people and gain freedom from them, you cannot love them.
A Mysterious Old Man
Imagine that you’re riding your mountain bike through the countryside.
The view is incredibly breathtaking. You decide to park your bike, carry
your backpack, and walk inside the forest.
But soon, you get lost. You try to walk back, but it is hopeless,
because you realize you are going in circles. After almost a whole day
of walking, it’s eerie that in the entire time, you’ve not seen a single
human being. You now feel tired and hungry.
And then lo and behold, you see a small house in the distance.
Your heart is filled with excitement. You walk up to the door and knock.
An old man opens the door. You beg, “Sir, I am totally lost. I’ve not eaten
anything for almost a day. Can you spare me some food?”
The old man says, “I have some bread. Come in…”
You’re very grateful. You take your place in front of the dining
table, starving. The old man puts a large piece of bread in front of you.
You grab the bread quickly. But before you could bite it, you hear the
old man say, “By the way, if you eat that bread, I will beat you with this
stick. If you don’t eat that bread, I will beat you with this stick.”
Alarmed, you turn around. And you see a stick over your head. You
realize that the old man is crazy!
Here’s my big question: What will you do?
Damn If You Do, Damn If You Don’t
This is the perfect picture of dealing with a difficult person. It’s a “damn
if you do, damn if you don’t” situation. Why?
Whenever you’re dealing with a difficult person, you can never
please him no matter what you do. So don’t even try. (You’ll be very
frustrated if you do.) Why?
Because it’s not about you. It’s about him. His immaturity. His
woundedness.
Example?
When a Criticizing Vampire is judging you, it’s not about you.
You could be Mother Teresa and he’ll still find something to criticize
about you. (He’ll say, “I admire your love for the poor, Mother Teresa,
but you’re not doing enough for global warming and you don’t seem
to care about the extinction of whales. And by the way, you have no
fashion taste.”) It comes from his insecurities, wanting to make you
inferior so that he’ll feel superior.
When a Controlling Vampire is trying to control you through anger
and intimidation, and you don’t follow him, he’ll throw a tantrum. He’ll
shout. He’ll threaten and bully. Please know that his tantrum is not
about you. His tantrum comes from his immaturity, from his deep fear
of losing control, which in his mind is connected to losing self-worth.
When a Complaining Vampire is “chronically” complaining about
being a victim of life’s catastrophes, you cannot solve his problems. He
will not allow it. He will find another catastrophe to complain about.
It’s not about you.
So let me go back to my analogy above and ask you again: What
will you do?
The first response is what people usually do.
When you don’t protect yourself from difficult
people, you get punished psychologically,
physically and spiritually.
Many Get Beaten to Eat the Bread
There’s this old crazy man behind you, holding his
stick above your head, warning you, “If you eat that
bread, I will beat you with this stick. If you don’t eat
that bread, I will beat you with this stick.”
This is what many people do: If they are very
hungry, they suffer the beating just so they could
eat. And this is one of the most common responses
towards a difficult person. They choose to tolerate
the difficult person because of real benefits.
Examples?
I know of employees who tolerate the childish
screaming tantrums of their boss because they
need the job. Because the hunger for food is more
urgent than the hunger for dignity.
I know of wives who tolerate the cutting
remarks and putdowns from their heartless
husbands because they have nowhere to go.
Because the hunger for security is more urgent than
the hunger for self-respect.
I know of kids who daily tolerate the toxic
barrage of soul-killing words from their very
insecure, immature mother — just because they
feel they have no choice. Because the hunger for
the familiar — no matter how painful — is more
urgent than the hunger for freedom.
What Happens When You Don’t Protect Yourself
When you don’t protect yourself from difficult
people, you get punished psychologically,
physically and spiritually.
First, you get punished psychologically. Imagine
the massive stress that you bombard yourself with
every day. The sleepless nights. The daily worry. The
acid in your stomach. The tightness in your chest.
Second, you get punished physically. I’ve met
people who, because of the Vampire in their lives,
have asthma, ulcers, cough, allergies, headaches,
shoulder pains, breast cancer, and brain tumors.
In fact, their symptoms appear right after meeting
their Vampire.
Third, you get punished spiritually. Because of
their Vampire, some people lose their identity, their
vision, their purpose, and their dreams because
they allowed a Vampire to rule their life. When you
don’t protect yourself, you send a clear message to
yourself that you don’t value yourself, that you’re
not important.
Which brings me to a very important
question…
Did Jesus Protect Himself from Difficult People?
Because some religious people ask me, “But Bo,
why protect myself? Jesus didn’t protect Himself
from bad people. He allowed them to kill Him on the cross!
Shouldn’t we do the same?”
But before the crucifixion, Jesus protected Himself
from a string of difficult people. Let me name three…
1. Debating Pharisees and Scribes
These were Criticizing Vampires. They wanted to catch
Jesus saying something wrong, capture it in their
hidden video camera, so they could use it in court. But
Jesus didn’t fall into their trap. He protected Himself.
2. Demanding Crowd
These were Clinging Vampires. They wanted Jesus to
open a 24-hour bakery that multiplied bread for free
— so they didn’t have to work anymore. But Jesus
escaped this crowd and went to a lonely place to pray.
He protected Himself.
3. Doubting Villagers
These were Contradicting Vampires. They didn’t
believe Jesus because, in their eyes, He was one
of them — the guy who repaired their farm tools, a
former classmate, someone in their FB and Twitter
account. Some thought He was a lunatic. But despite
their doubts, Jesus stayed His course. He protected
Himself.
Jesus lived with difficult people yet protected Himself
from them. Why? The biggest blessing of protecting
yourself from difficult people is gaining the freedom to
genuinely love them. This freedom is important. Because
unless you’re free from the power of difficult people, you
cannot love them.
Let me teach you two ways to protect yourself from
difficult people.
Protection #1: Walk Out and Find Bread Elsewhere
Sometimes, we have to love people from a distance. elsewhere, but he did it at the right time and in the right way.
This is the first way to protect yourself.
Just walk out of the house! Get away from the crazy
old man, leave his bread on the table, and try to find even
better bread elsewhere. People do this all the time. Because
of the chronic pain that the difficult person is causing, they
cut their relationship with their Vampire.
Jesus said, “And if a town refuses to welcome you,
shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you
have abandoned those people to their fate” (Luke 9:5).
Meaning: Walk out. Don’t stay if people don’t like you.
Don’t take their rejection personally, because it’s not about
you. They have issues. Leave them in the hands of God.
Do you have toxic friends who suck your joy?
Walk out.
Do you have a boyfriend who is cheating
on you? Walk out.
Do you have a
girlfriend who’s just
using you and treating
you like garbage? Walk
out.
Walking out
(figuratively) is the easiest
solution. You can do this,
especially when you know you
can get your “bread” (benefits) elsewhere.
Walking Out May Also Mean Decreasing Time
Walking out may not mean cutting the relationship totally, but
decreasing your time, exposure and involvement with that
difficult person.
If your friend has a victim mentality or is incurably pessimistic
or overly sensitive or highly temperamental, and he’s driving you
nuts, you could choose to spend less time with that person. In fact,
the Bible says, “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
do not associate with one easily angered” (Proverbs 22:24).
But sometimes, it isn’t that easy.
What if your boss is your Vampire?
What if your husband is your Vampire?
What if your father is your Vampire?
You can’t just walk out.
This reminds me of my friend Steve. Steve’s father was a
Controlling and Criticizing Vampire. In his father’s twisted mind,
all his children can’t do anything right.
Every single day, he was always angry, always shouting, always
telling his children that they were no good. He held his children in
an iron vise grip. He never wanted them to do anything on their
own. He wanted everyone to work in the family business, under
his Stalinist dictatorship. He was the king and they were all his
pawns. But my friend knew he had to get out. So after two years
of working in the family business, Steve struck it out on his own,
started his own business, and lived elsewhere. From that time on,
his father refused to talk to him — and the father gave him the
silent treatment for three years. But Steve never stopped reaching
out to his dad, visiting him every day.
Today, Steve is a multimillionaire, 100 times more successful
than his father. Steve told me, “If I stayed with my father, I would
never be where I am now.”
Steve chose to “walk out” of a relationship to find bread
The reason why you feel terrible when someone criticizes you
harshly or abuses you verbally is because you allow his words and
actions to enter your heart.
Protection #2: Protect Your Head and Eat Your Bread
Let’s go back to my story.
Let’s rewind to that point when the old crazy guy is about to
hit you with the stick… But instead of walking out, you remember
you brought your cycling helmet with you. So you wear it quickly.
Result? The old man can continue to hit you on your head,
but you don’t feel the beating at all. And you eat the bread to your
heart’s content, smiling the whole time.
This is the second way to protect yourself
from Vampires: Protect your head. What does
this mean? There are times when you
can’t create physical space
between you and the
Vampire. So I suggest
that you create
emotional space. If
you’re in a situation
where you can’t get
out of the world of the
Vampire, you still need to
protect yourself. And the only
solution I know is to wear an extra-thick “emotional” helmet.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “No one can make you feel inferior without
your consent.” No one can make you feel bad without your approval.
The reason why you feel terrible when someone criticizes you harshly
or abuses you verbally is because you allow his words and actions to
enter your heart.
Question: How do you create this emotional helmet?
Answer: Through your imagination.
Intrigued? Read on.
Imagine the truth!
Imagination is one of the most amazing things that God has given
to us. Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge,”
and I totally agree. Because imagination is how you create your future.
Thoughts create things. Everything is created twice.
The biggest building in the world began as a sketch on a piece of
paper. And even before that, it began as thoughts in the imagination
of its owner.
Why did God give you imagination? One main purpose: To imagine
truth, especially during times when the truth is not yet obvious.
Especially during times when our senses cannot see, hear, smell, taste
and feel the truth.
For example, you need to use your imagination to create a
compelling vision for the future. Your dreams are true in the future. But
it’s not yet evident. So God gave you your imagination so that you can
picture your future in your mind — so that this picture will fuel you to
achieve your dreams.
You can use your imagination to heal your body.
Because your body is a sponge. It will obey whatever your mind
feeds it. So always imagine your body getting better, getting stronger,
and getting healthier.
And yes, use your imagination to protect yourself from difficult
people. Let me teach you how.
Use the Truth to Protect Yourself from Vampires
Do you have Vampires that emotionally or verbally abuse you — and
you can’t physically get away from them?
Is your Vampire a husband with a poisonous tongue?
Or an emotionally disturbed mother who terrorizes you daily?
Or a toxic boss — and merely thinking of him already makes your
chest tighten and your heart palpitate?
The Bible says, “It’s better to live alone in the desert than with a
quarrelsome, complaining wife” (Proverbs 21:19). Most of the time, you
can’t physically separate yourself from your Vampire and build your
home in Sahara Desert. But here’s what you can do: You can create
emotional distance between you and your Vampire.
How do you do that?
Do one of my “Imagine the Truth” exercises.
Here’s one I find very effective. In your
imagination, I want you to “shrink” this
difficult person into a one-inch plastic
toy. Shrink him to a one-inch cheap
toy that you buy from Divisoria. At
once, you realize that even if he curses
and shouts at you all he wants, it won’t
bother you one bit. Because he’s just a one-
inch toy.
Why imagine this? Because this is the truth
that your eyes cannot yet see. Immature people,
though seemingly big and terrifying on the
outside, are really small people. In reality, you’re
BO’S ACTION STEPS
1. Identify a vampire or difficult
person in your life and pray
for him or her.
2. List down steps on how you
can protect yourself from
that vampire.
so much bigger than the immature actions or hurtful
words of this difficult person.
You’re a child of God. No one has the permission
to belittle you. The Vampire is small because of his
weaknesses, his woundedness and brokenness.
Perhaps he wasn’t loved as a child.
Perhaps his parents weren’t there for him.
So instead of feeling anger or hurt for what he has
done to you, you feel compassion for him.
My imagination exercise isn’t over yet. I want you to
imagine the next scene: Picture an angel who picks up
that one-inch toy and flies away to God’s repair shop. In
your mind, see that angel carrying that one-inch toy far,
far, far away — until the angel disappears from view.
Not only is the Vampire a one-inch toy, he’s also now
geographically separated from you. At this point, pray
for him. Totally surrender him into God’s hands.
Every time you feel emotionally burdened by this
person, imagine these two scenes in your mind. When
you do my “Imagine the Truth” exercises, you’ll notice
that in 30 seconds (sometimes quicker), you’ll feel as if a
ton of weight was lifted from your shoulders. You’ll feel
free and happy. Specifically, you’ll have the fantastic
freedom to love this difficult person.
And then complete the exercise with my
all-purpose meditation:
Close your eyes and say, “I’m totally,
completely and perfectly
loved.” Say it repeatedly.
Be flooded with
peace.
Email me at bosanchez@
kerygmafamily.com.
Editor’s Note: This article is
excerpted from Bo’s book, How to
Deal with Difficult People. Visit www.
kerygmabooks.com or call (632) 725-
9999 locals 101 to 108 to order.
Special Testimony
Angela and Mommy Pinky now have a more peaceful relationship.
Section
TAKING FLIGHT, FINDING GROUND
By Angela Michelle C. Tantoco
As told to Karren Renz Seña
E
ver since I was a little girl, I’ve always thought that there
was something bigger, something greater waiting for
me. Where it was, I didn’t know, so I kept looking for
it. I made sure to always excel in everything that I do,
in hopes that maybe I will find that ‘great thing’, that
‘great destiny’. It always seemed to people that I was
just going along with whatever wind was blowing the strongest,
or whatever tide that was sweeping me the hardest, but even
then I believed that I was always in control. I was holding the
reins of my life. I was confident I’d find my place in this world, so I
plowed through life like a bull running after a red cloth.
Disquiet in the Soul
I worked as a nurse for four years. I wholeheartedly gave
everything into my profession and vocation. I was very happy,
too. I knew that as a nurse, I was making a great difference in
the lives of my patients, no matter how small or big my task was.
For a while, I thought that I had finally found my place. I was
helping save the lives of so many people and I was doing it rather
well. But even then, in my heart, there was that little voice that
kept nagging at me, saying that there was somewhere else I’d
rather be and something else I’d rather do. It was very frustrating
24 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014
for me because I didn’t know exactly where and what.
I don’t have a perfect life, but I had a stable job that mattered
not only to me, but also to other people, I had a very stable
salary, and I had a very stable home. My parents separated
when I was a kid, but even then, my mother singlehandedly
raised my four siblings and me with the same tenacity that I
sometimes see in myself. She was strong and independent, and
she did everything she could to provide us with everything we
needed and more. She threw herself into work in the same way
that I threw myself in mine. We were two peas in the same pod.
Everything was great – finances, health and relationships.
What more did I want?
I felt like a feather. Lightweight. Floating along in the wind.
Lost.
Finding Ground
At the time I was searching for that particular ‘something’, I
met up with a friend who was making waves in her business.
When she presented the business to me, I was apprehensive at
first, because it required much engaging with many different
people, and I didn’t have enough confidence for that. Still, with
the same vagrant spirit that enabled me to try many different
things, I joined her in the business.
Meeting new people had certainly broadened my world
and widened my perspective. I was able to listen to the stories
of many people who dared to dream for something greater in their
lives. I also realized that I was in the position to help them achieve
their dreams by becoming their mentor and guide in the business
we were in. Soon, the leaders in our organization began to see my
potential, so they trained me further. I was driven and passionate to
succeed and I hunger for great things… because I want great things
for my family and the people I love. I hunger to matter. I hunger to
be significant.
My business gave me that. I worked in my own terms, my own
time. I was able to sell my products well because I believed in it and
I’ve seen the benefits it gave other people. But aside from the income
and the independence that my new job gave me, it was the way
people’s eyes light up when they hit another milestone, and the way
they smiled at me whenever they were able to achieve their dreams
that made this new venture fulfilling for me.
My mentors also brought me to The Feast, where I finally
understood the difference between success and significance. Our
company values Christ as the center of our organization, so we make
it a point to attend The Feast weekly and to bring more people to
it. Every time I attended The Feast, I felt my relationship with God
getting stronger and stronger. I was finally happy to be where I was.
It wasn’t strong at first, but the longer I worked on our business,
the stronger the desire to leave my stable job became.
Eventually, I filed my resignation letter and left my life as a nurse
behind.
Disquiet in the Home
My mom and I love each other very much, but because we were both
stubborn people, we always lock horns. We’re two very opinionated
people and we don’t always see each other eye to eye. I’ve made
many decisions that did not align with what she thought was best for
me, so we were always arguing. What we had was the typical mother-
daughter relationship.
But then the fights and arguments happened more often when
I started to come home late. I had to talk and present to people with
different schedules, so I had to match mine with theirs. My mom
didn’t like it. She also didn’t like that I left my stable job behind in
exchange for something that, at the time, had very little guarantees.
Our fights became more serious. She couldn’t understand why I had
to throw away everything I worked hard for in order to chase after
something that I couldn’t even define. I couldn’t explain myself to
her as well, because I’ve never been good at expressing my feelings.
In my mind, she was the villain and I was the lost hero who had
finally found her place in the world. In her mind, I was the stubborn
and hardheaded child who recklessly did what I wanted. We were
both very bad at communicating our thoughts. I mistook her concern
for anger and she mistook my determination as disobedience.
It came to the point that it became very difficult to live with her.
Eventually, I spoke with my mom and told her that I was leaving
the house.
I also left because I was afraid that if she saw me failing,
she would say, “I told you so.” I felt as if I had so much to
prove — to her, to the world, to myself, and the only way I
could do that is to separate myself from her.
Leaving my house pushed me to be more responsible.
I have always been independent, but at the back of my
mind, I knew my mother was still there to catch me. I didn’t
want that anymore. I wanted to stand on my own two feet.
I have never worked and prayed so hard in my entire life. I
worked in order to prove to everyone that I could take care
of myself and that I could make my way in my business. But
in the silence of my heart, I was always praying for peace
and understanding for me and the people who couldn’t
understand my decisions, most especially my mom.
My mom was still a constant presence in my life, but
because we weren’t exposed to each other anymore, our
fights lessened. As the months went by, I slowly found
my ground and dug deep. As the months flew by, I slowly
made my way up the success and corporate ladder. It took
quite a while, but my mom was finally convinced that I
could make it.
Nowadays we go to The Feast together. We’d go to
The Feast in my brand new car, and afterwards we’d spend
the day together bonding with the entire family. We still
have trouble expressing our thoughts to each other, but
attending Mass and The Feast together have taught us
both to be more lenient to and understanding with each
other.
Leaving home and my mother was probably the
hardest thing I’d ever done in my life, but it allowed me to,
pardon the cliché, spread my wings and take flight.
Angela is now a mentor and coach, helping other people achieve
their dreams as she had achieved hers.

Loving Her from a Distance

I left my home with a bag full of clothes and a heart full of fear.
I was trying to find my own way, yes, but I knew how difficult it
would be without the comfort that I was used to. I knew I was just
running away from our fights, but more than that, I wanted to make a
stand as well. I knew how great my potential in this business was, and
I knew how many people I could help in it, so I stood by my decision.

OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 25

Special By Bo Sanchez
Section

HOW TO TRANSFORM A

VAMPIRE Don’t Heal Their Badness;

Heal Their Brokenness

26 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014

T
he passage below may be the
most misunderstood passage
in the entire Bible. “But to you
who are listening I say: Love
your enemies, do good to those
who hate you, bless those who
curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to
them the other also” (Luke 6:27-31).
A lot of people think that Jesus wants
us to be defenseless wimps in front of
the Vampires of our life. But if you really
understood their culture and history, you’d
understand how all these steps were about
protecting yourself while still showing
respect and love for the Vampire.
In their culture, there were different
kinds of slaps. A backhand palm slap is the
slap of a master to a slave. But an open-palm
slap is the slap of equals. So when Jesus
said, “If someone slaps you on the right
cheek (which was a backhand slap), turn
your left cheek (which will require an open-
palm slap),” you’re actually protecting your
dignity and telling your abuser, “Treat me as
an equal.”
You can’t transform a difficult person by
allowing yourself to be abused by him. That
is why the first step to transform a difficult
person is to protect yourself from him.
Four Human Responses to Difficult People
Imagine you’re walking in the woods one day. There,
you hear someone shouting, “Help!” You run to the
direction of the voice, and there you see a man
sinking in a quicksand. And he says, “Please! Grab my
hand! I’m going to die!”
You study your choices. The sinking man is right
smack in the middle of a humongous quicksand. To
grab his hand, you have to actually walk into the
quicksand. If you do that, the man will pull you into
the quicksand — and both of you will die.
You realize that the only way to save him is to
maintain your distance from him and maintain your
position of stability. Practically, it means standing
on solid ground and throwing him a rope. The man
grabs the rope, ties it around his body, and from
your position of stability, you pull him out of the
quicksand. And this point is important — he has to
do something. He has to actually do something (tie
the rope around his body and hold on). In other
words, he should want to be rescued.
I already shared to you in the first teaching
article that there are only two ways to protect yourself from
a Vampire: create physical distance and emotional distance
between yourself and the difficult person.
By protecting yourself, you gain the freedom to love the
difficult person in a genuine way.
Remember our old story? About the lost guy who begged
for bread from an old crazy fellow?
Let me share with you four human responses to the
situation.
Response One: Get Beaten and Eat the Bread
Because the man is hungry, he just munches the bread and
suffers the stick from the old crazy guy.
In the same way, a lot of people just suffer the abuse of the
difficult persons — whether the abuse comes from a father, a
mother, a friend, a boss, a boyfriend, a girlfriend — because
they are hungry for the benefits from the difficult person.
We allow ourselves to be abused because of low self-
worth. We are so hungry for love, we clutch and clasp and
grasp at the counterfeit love of this difficult person. And then
we logically justify our sorry behavior by saying this is the
“Christian” thing to do.
Response Two: Walk Out and Find Bread Elsewhere
Here, the man decides to walk away from the old man.
This is the first way of protecting yourself from difficult
people: creating physical distance.
It’s the easiest way to protect yourself. Sometimes, it
means totally cutting off the relationship. Sometimes, it just
means decreasing your time with the difficult person. And
during those times when you are together, you still reach out
and love them.
Response Three: Protect Your Head and Eat Your Bread
Here, the man remembers that he brought his cycling helmet.
And he wears it — so, even as he munches on the bread and
the old guy starts hitting him on the head, he doesn’t feel it
at all.
In the same way, you can create an emotional distance
between you and the difficult person. Because there are times
when we can’t simply walk out of a difficult relationship. What
if your Vampire is your father? Or your spouse? Or your boss
— and you need this job for at least a year, until you can find
another job?
To protect yourself emotionally, you need to use your
imagination. As I mentioned in the first article, God gave you
this amazing gift called imagination to “imagine the truth that
is not yet so evident.”
I also taught you an imagination exercise of “shrinking”
your difficult people into one-inch toys and handing them
over to an angel who brings them to God’s repair shop far,
far away — and by doing so, you surrender them to God.
Every time you feel burdened by your difficult person, do this
exercise and you’ll instantly feel very different towards your
Vampire. Instead of anger or hurt, you’ll feel compassion.
Response Four: Take His Stick and Break Bread Together
In this response, the man wears his helmet, but he does
something else. He stands up and grabs the stick from the old
OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 27
 crazy man. He invites the old man to sit with him at table to
“break bread” together. His message: “Don’t lord it over me,
don’t go about abusing me. Let’s sit as equals and share our
stories together.”
This is tough love in action.
Why is a difficult person difficult? Because he’s a broken
person. Deep down, he lacks love. He’s very wounded
inside. He could be a vicious monster outside, but inside
he’s a small whimpering child, crying and begging for love.
Bad people are broken people. You can’t heal their
badness. But you can heal their brokenness.
How? With tough love.
At the end of the day, only love changes people.
Transformation is never instant.
Transformation is always a journey.
That is why it’s very important that during this entire
journey, you protect yourself — either by creating physical
distance or emotional distance.

How Do You Take the Stick Away?

By protecting yourself, you’re already taking his stick away.
But let me share the two steps of tough love…

Step 1: Say What You Feel

“Say what you feel” means confronting a Vampire and
saying, “I was hurt by what you said…”
You don’t say it harshly, or you’ll trigger the Vampire’s
sophisticated National Defense Satellite System to red
alert. It will blink like crazy and he’ll shun you like you were
an attacker. So say it calmly. That’s why the Bible says, “A
soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up
anger” (Proverbs 15:1).
So, is shouting in anger totally ruled out?
Sometimes, saying what you feel isn’t enough.
Sometimes, you have to mirror their behavior, so
they’ll understand why you felt that way.
Let me explain…

How Do You Take the Stick Away? Mirror Their Behavior

My friend did this to her Vampire.
Her friend was a Controlling Vampire. When agitated,
this Vampire would get out of control and scream in
anger. So my friend told her in a calm way, “I got hurt by
what you just did (Strategy 1). This is how you sounded
just now…”
And right there and then, she imitated her friend’s
screaming, using the same words, the same tone, and
the same facial expressions.
Her friend was absolutely shocked. She said, “Did I
really sound like that?”
My friend nodded her head. “And worse.” Her friend
felt very ashamed. Many times, Vampires don’t know how
“bad” their actions are because they can’t self-reflect. You
need to mirror to them their behavior.
To confront a Con Vampire, you need to speak directly
and mirror to him his lies. Say the exact words he said, how
he said it, and imitate how he said it so sincerely. And then
expose the lie.

28 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014

Don’t Forget to Protect Yourself When you deal with difficult people, tell them
“Say what you feel” is the direct approach. they’re difficult, but don’t forget to tell them —
Warning: Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. through your words and actions — that they’re
If it works, it will help the Vampire realize that his behavior is hurting worthy of love.
others. But I must also warn you that even if he admits and asks for By doing this, you address the very root cause
forgiveness, there’s no guarantee he’ll not do it again. of their being a Vampire — which is the lack of love.
A Con Vampire will be tempted to lie and steal again. Romans 12:20 says, “If your enemies are hungry,
A Criticizing Vampire — in his unguarded moments — will be tempted feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something
to criticize again. to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals
A Controlling Vampire — in the heat of the moment — will be tempted of shame on their heads.”
to blow his top again. So, is there a Vampire in your life?
Love him or her — and chances are you’ll be
Step 2: Love Them to Shame able to help him heal his woundedness.
Bible teacher Graham Cooke says there’s a difference between “speaking
the truth” and “speaking what is true.” For some people, speaking the truth Email me at bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com.
means, “Here are your faults, your errors, your weaknesses… and I’m saying
this in love.” Editor’s Note: This article is excerpted from Bo’s
To these people, Graham Cooke says, “You’re not speaking the truth, book, How to Deal with Difficult People. Visit www.
you’re speaking what is true.” kerygmabooks.com or call (632) 725-9999 locals
Here’s the truth: That person has a new identity in Jesus. You didn’t 101 to 108 to order.
remind him of that. You just reminded him of his weakness. You didn’t remind
him, “You forgot, right? This is who you are now… Look how wonderful you
are!” That’s the truth.
And that truth will set him free.
Tough love doesn’t only mean correcting people.
Tough love means you believe in the truth. BO’S ACTION STEPS
That deep inside, he isn’t really a Vampire. That his fangs are plastic.
That deep down, he is a child of God — beautiful, and glorious, and
lovely, and amazing, and kind, and honest, and holy.
This is reality: We live up to the expectations of the people around us. 1. List down steps on how
Parents, if you don’t speak the truth to your kids, but simply speak what you can transform your
is true — your kids will have problems. If you keep reminding them of their
faults, their mistakes, their inadequacies — watch out — they’ll grow up
vampire.
“living up to your very poor expectations.”
2. Pray for your vampire, for
yourself, and then act on
those steps.

OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 29

Special Testimony
Section
HITTING THE BULL’S EYE
How I Dealt with the Bullies in My Life
An Anonymous Sharing told to Judith Concepcion
I
saw my missing notebook on top of my table when I arrived
in school one day. “Where did this come from?” I asked.
“Oh, I took it because I just wanted to copy your notes,”
my classmate told me casually.
“Why didn’t you tell me? I was looking for it all over,” I
said. I reported her to our teacher. That got her mad. To get
even, she asked the help of our class bullies. They made me feel that
I didn’t belong. They made fun of me whenever I mispronounced a
word. And they did different sorts of things just to hurt my feelings. I
30 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014
didn’t do anything and just suffered in silence. I became
afraid of them. By just looking at their faces, I was already
intimidated. My few friends couldn’t defend me for they
had weak personalities and were outnumbered.
Two quarters later, the bullying stopped when I
became an instant celebrity in school. After I performed
a song-and-dance number in a school program, I
immediately had fans who always flocked to our
classroom and who even wrote me letters. I became
untouchable by these bullies probably because I had
many “allies.”
That was my first taste of bullying.
When I started working, I realized that bullying is
as real in the adult world as it is in the young. Then and
now, I have encountered difficult people who came in
different shapes and sizes. Dealing with each one of
them entailed different approaches, which I had to learn
slowly and painfully.
Workplace Bullying
I am the quiet and non-confrontational type of person.
In school, I was well-liked by my teachers and the
principal because I was well-behaved and obedient. In
the workplace, I have earned the esteem and respect
of top management and most of my direct superiors
because of my dedication to my work and for always
going the extra mile.
 After two years in my work, I was appointed
as assistant branch head since my direct superior
went abroad. Upon my superior’s return, she
learned about my appointment and wasn’t
pleased with it. She made it clear to me that I
was just a mere fallback. When I was given the
allowance for attending meetings in head office,
she was infuriated. Since then, tension filled
the air. I learned from my co-workers that my
superior was backstabbing me. But I was scared
to confront her because I didn’t know how to
express myself
So the cycle continued. My love for my job
was the one that kept me going and made me
stay.
But the worse was yet to come. One day,
she called for a staff meeting and berated and
humiliated me in front of everybody because of
her hurt ego. Her allies ganged up on me. I was
still able to keep my composure but after I left
the room, I burst into tears.
When I was already getting bored with my
job and wanted to explore a different field that
was still in line with my course, I expressed my
intention to resign. This sparked a new issue. My After my encounter with some co-workers, I felt
superior called me a snake, accusing me of pirating customers. This so down. That night, I prayed to the Lord that I might
time, I found the courage to reason out with her. “Ma’am, how come be able to focus on my work and to see the good
you accuse me of that despite my being nice to you after all these things that these people had done. And like magic, the
years? I didn’t convince these customers to follow me to where I’d feeling of hatred disappeared. So whenever negative
transfer. It was their personal decision.” thoughts enter my mind and I feel the hurt again, I just
After this incident, the more resolved I was to push through with refocus.
my resignation. My superior and I parted ways without reconciling I have always prayed, “Lord, grant me more
our differences. wisdom, knowledge, intelligence, confidence and
courage, more inner beauty and a matured mind.” I was
Gaining Courage just surprised that whenever I was in a tight situation,
In my succeeding jobs, I slowly came out of my shell, became the Lord provided me with the right words to say or
more outgoing, and mustered enough courage to voice out my the inspiration on what to do.
sentiments whenever necessary.
In one of the companies I worked for, I was appointed as officer- Source of Grace
in-charge when our department head went on an indefinite leave. I believe that difficult people will always be part of
Eventually, I assumed his position officially when he didn’t come our lives. No matter what we do, there will always be
back. Being a disciplined worker, I made sure that reports and other someone who didn’t like us and will make our lives
requirements complied with management’s specifications and were miserable. As I matured in age and experience, gained
submitted on time. My staff resented me because, for them, I was too more wisdom, and sought the loving support of godly
rigid, so unlike their previous head. Later, they learned to appreciate people, I have overcome my fear of confrontation and
and accept my management style and became cooperative except developed strength of character.
for one stubborn staff who blatantly refused to follow instructions, In dealing with the difficult people in my life, I
all because of professional jealousy. I tried to be diplomatic with him realized that in certain cases, keeping quiet or simply
but he continued to defy my authority, so I elevated the matter to ignoring them was not the best way to put a stop to
top management. I issued him a memo, copy furnished his 201 File. bullying. It only encouraged their bad behavior. I have
He then complied but only to do it again, hence another memo. also learned that in confronting someone, I have to be
In my current job, I also had my share of unpleasant encounters calm yet firm. My goal is to resolve or eliminate the
with some co-workers. One even threw tantrums in front of me conflict, not to get personal, and to stick only with the
and other people just to get her message across. Since I was still a real issues.
newbie, I considered it best to report the persons concerned to my Our Lord Jesus commanded us to “love your
superiors who in turn talked to them. They reminded them of the enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
company’s mission because they were acting against the common (Matthew 5:44).
good and in an immature manner, and were only pursuing their Thanks to the difficult people in my life.
selfish interests. They are my source of grace.

OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 31

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When Hovering Is Overfunctioning
Training Young Kids to Have a Sense of Independence
I
magine a helicopter hovering above a child wherever he
goes or whatever he does. Inside the helicopter is the parent,
ready to jump any moment the child needs something or
cries for help, or even just the thought of the child having
difficulty. Ideal? Yes. Helpful? No!
It is a given for parents that we want what is best for
our children. Yet we need to recognize that our goal is not to do
everything for them but to “train” them. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train
up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will
not depart from it.” To train means to guide and educate, which is
different from actually doing.
In parenting sessions, one common realization of parents is
that it is hard for them to “let go.” Another is that they are anxious
of letting their kids be independent from them. They also reason
that it is convenient to keep doing things for children. The reality
oftentimes is that the children are ready to do things on their own
more than the parents. And so the dependency cycle persists.
While this holds true for kindergarten parents, it also applies for
children in different stages and despite varying degrees.
“I can manage!” “I’ll be the one to do it!” These are the common
statements I hear from my kids, aged five and eight. Sounds good
at times, but on other occasions, I hear a tone of rudeness. If I
disagree to what they’re saying, they follow the statement with,
“But Mom…”
Defiance to Authority?
When the little angels assert themselves, is it defiance to authority?
Do we take it personally? While we do not tolerate impoliteness,
allowing them to express themselves is actually acknowledging
their growing need to be on their own and to find their way to the
real world — physically and emotionally. They need us to a limited
degree.
Children around five to eight years old are starting to separate
from their parents comfortably. They are also trying to assert their
independence by saying, “I can do it.” This displays their readiness
to take on a task and a positive sign of their more secure and
stronger sense of identity. It becomes the golden time to train
them. Upon going to school, their world expands and children
God in Every
Stage of Seasons
Your Life
Michele S. Alignay, MA, RGC
show eagerness to be with
friends, teachers and other
adults outside the home.
This strongly signifies their
growing independence.
One important area to
train the children to have a sense of
independence are self-help skills. These are the daily
routines that are directed on the child taking care of
himself or herself. Some of these skills are dressing up,
bathing and grooming, eating neatly by themselves,
packing away their toys, and doing some home chores.
I encounter some cases of children in the early-grade
school who have a hard time coping with the routines in
the classroom, like they cannot eat neatly, cannot pack
away their bags, or they keep on losing and forgetting
their school materials. Most likely, these young kids have
a mom or caregiver who takes care of their every need.
An overfunctioning parent who attends to all
the moves and whims of the child may lead to an
underfunctioning child, and eventually an adult. The
difficulty is observed not in the home, but in school and
in the world where the child moves.
Starting to train kids at home greatly matters in the
latter stages of their lives. We are both boosting their
skills as well as their confidence in their own capacity and
perception that they can do it on their own.
This calls for some reflection, parents. Do you keep
doing things for your children? Think of what could
happen when you are not there to do it for them. How
will they thrive? Will they be physically and emotionally
skilled to take on real-life tasks — now and later?
While we care very much for our children, it is our
parenting responsibility to raise independent and life-
ready individuals. To quote Ann Landers, “It is not always
what you do for your children, but what you have taught
them to do that will make them successful human beings.”
OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 33
 DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU’RE HERE?
DO YOU KNOW YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?

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or log on to www.KerygmaBooks.com
 Faith
@
Work

By Dean Pax Lapid

How Can You Turn Them into a Business?

A
fter I spoke at the 2012 Kerygma Conference, I got a Unfortunately, she could only be
lot of emails thanking me for an inspiring session on self-employed doing home-service
“Taking the Field.” It is just consistent with my motto: “I haircuts and manicures within the
aspire to inspire before I expire!” neighborhood. She could never set
Some of the emails requested me to expound up her own salon business.
further on the topic of work and play becoming Setting up a business is a lot more
a business. Furthermore, they asked, “How do we know if our things other than the technical stuff.
preference or hobby can become a business?” Unfortunately, a lot
of aspiring entrepreneurs believe that preference alone can make COMPETENCE ALONE
a good business. = PROFESSION (some practice for
Not true. the sake of self-expression or an
advocacy)
Preference Alone Equals Wishful Thinking
To prefer something or someone means to have a liking for it COMPETENCE + MONEY (from
but not necessarily loving it. This is similar to a love affair where somebody) = SALARY as employee or
liking (infatuation) a girl does not necessarily lead to loving her for consultant
eventual marriage. The key to commitment (marriage in life and
also in business) is passion. Your emotions must lead to devotion You need to work ON the business, not
and obviously into action. work IN the business. Working in the
business makes you an employee while
PREFERENCE or PASSION towards a meaningful activity working on the business potentially makes you an
= HOBBY entrepreneur.
Real sustainable business is brought about by the
PREFERENCE or PASSION towards a meaningful activity combination of:
+ some MONEY = SIDELINE
WORK + PLAY into product that people will PAY
Some of the aspiring entrepreneurs (Competence) (Preference) (Peso)
will try to make a business out of their
“favorite cake” or delicacies. Most Let me share with you an inspiring
of the money generated will come letter from my entrep student who knew
from friends or family especially this the “secret’ of WORK and PLAY” several
Christmas holidays. years back.

The Other End of the Scale: Work or Competence
Some aspiring entrepreneurs believe that if they know the
technical stuff of the business, they could set up
sustainable businesses that do that technical stuff.
Let me cite an example. I know of Aling Luring
(not her real name) who trained under a famous
salon school in Cubao. She was quite good during
the training of hairstyling and manicuring skills.
Hi, Dean Pax!
I’m coming home at last! I’ll be there from the 23rd to
the 30th of March. Please grant my request to sit in
on your Entrep class. I can’t wait to attend your class
once again.
God is really good. By the end of spring, the
preschool that I established three years ago is
going to move to a bigger place here in Japan to
OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 35
 accommodate 100 students.
I learned that being good at something is not the only
requirement to realize a dream. I have to build what is unseen.
I have to create a vision. But it doesn’t end there. I must
also have a willing heart, mind, body and soul to fulfill that
dream. and belief that God will always prosper anyone who
I need to have a deeper compelling reason why I want
to achieve such things and to know the real purpose of my
existence. As I journeyed into entrepreneurship, I have to know
my strengths and do something to overcome my weaknesses.
Most important is to know and praise how great my
Maker is. I’m created in His own likeness. Like you, Dean Pax,
He has called me to do something impossible to show His
Glory.
In short, Victory International Preschool (VIP) was
established to tell the world, especially to the Japanese, about
Jesus. God has blessed me in return, pouring out His favor —
pressed down, shaken together, running over!
Sorry, I got carried away with so much joy.
See you soon, Dean Pax!
Schela
As a mentor, it is so fulfilling to see that your mentee has
become better than you.
Schela had big hurdles setting up a business in Japan where the
36 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014
culture is very matured, male-dominated, and old traditioned.
Schela is very young, a woman and a Filipina. Although the
challenges were tough, WORK and PLAY for her meant:
- Pursuing her dream business
- Acting with belief (belief in herself, belief in her idea,
has faith in Him)
- Sharing the bright ideas with friends/family to test it
- Keeping the fire burning (failures are lessons that bring
you closer to success)
- Offering her time, talent and treasure to Jesus Christ
through her school.
So friends, have you discovered your preference? Have you
developed your competence around it? With some money, you
can grow a business out of it.
Dean Pax Lapid is an experienced business consultant and a serial
entrepreneur. He was dean of the Entrepreneurs School of Asia from 2004
to 2011. He also used to be an adjunct faculty at the Asian Institute of
Management conducting workshops on entrepreneurship. He also co-
authored How to Turn Your Passion into Profit with Bo Sanchez.
Subscribe to Dean Pax’s Facebook pages (Negosyo Mentor and Lead
More Development Center) or email him at mentors@lead-more.com.
Dean Pax and Bo Sanchez with Schela and
company.
Schela, the letter sender, with her Japanese
school directress

I
used to be a manager in one of the biggest fast-food
chains in the country. In this fast-food chain, the kitchen
crew and the counter crew cannot cross from one area
to another due to food safety reasons.
One day, Erwin (not his real name) approached me
and asked, “Sir, can you transfer me to another station?
Can I be a counter crew?”
Erwin was among the oldest in the crew, approaching
his fifties. He was always assigned to the egg station because
he cooked eggs better than anyone else. However, Erwin felt
that his role was boring. That was why he wanted to change
stations.
As his manager, I knew very well that Erwin lacked the skills
of a counter area crew since he did not train for it. I also knew
that Erwin’s demeanor and appearance were “less-pleasing”
compared to other counter crew. That’s why I said no to his
request.
However, as soon as I turned my back, Erwin rushed to the
counter area and started to accommodate customers. I was
about to command him to go back to his station, but I was a
little too late when I heard a customer ask him, “Hi! Do you have
Wi-Fi here?”
With full conviction, Erwin answered, “Sorry, sir, we do not
have Wi-Fi here. We only have apple pie and pineapple pie!”
Everyone who heard their conversation, including the
customers on the line, burst into laughter.
Friend, are you like Erwin?
Do you find yourself easily discontented in where you are
right now?
I have a word of advice for you: Wherever you are, be there!
Oftentimes we are like Erwin. We want to be in another
situation, thinking that we can only be happy if we are
someplace else. But that’s not true. If you really want to be
happy, you have to appreciate where you are right now and
be completely there. (Note: This doesn’t apply to things that
destroy you as a person, like sin, vices, harmful habits and toxic
relationships.)
K
Preacher
Wi-Pie By Velden Lim
Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that it’s bad
to desire progress, growth and success. I am not even
saying that you should stop having dreams. That’s not
what I mean.
All I am saying is that you should embrace whatever
situation you’re in right now because God always places
you in a certain place, at a certain time, in a certain
way for a big purpose. He is the “Perfect Manager.” He
knows where to place you every single moment — be
it beautiful or not. Why? Because He sees the bigger
picture.
In Erwin’s case, he was too focused on his desire to
get out of his work station that he forgot the real and
bigger purpose is to provide each customer the best fast-
food experience, which is quality food served quickly.
And in the greater scheme of things, I, being Erwin’s
manager, knew that his original role in the egg station
was his best position. He could add the most value there
than being in the counter area. Unfortunately, Erwin
opted to get out of his position, which eventually led to
his major embarrassment.
Wherever you are, be there.
Obey your Perfect Manager, for His only desire and
purpose is to provide you the best life-long experience.
His goal is to bless you more than you can ever imagine.
If we keep this principle in mind, we will experience
all the joy that God has in store for us. And we can save
ourselves from our own “Wi-Pie” moments.
“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be
content in whatever circumstances I am.” (Philippians
4:11)
Velden Lim is the builder of Feast Bicutan, which happens every Saturday,
4:30 p.m. and 730 p.m., at the Cinema 1 of SM City Bicutan, Parañaque
City. .
OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 37
 ChitChit

Chti’s trip to Baler, Quezon

Chti’s trip to Baler,
Quezon
THE BEST PLANS
All Is Well When God Plans for You
B
ack in 2010, I planned to migrate
to Canada. Everything was going
smoothly and I was able to submit all
of the requirements. So I gave up my
full-time job as academic head and
Hotel and Restaurant Management
professor. I became a freelancer while I waited for
the approval of my application. Aside from my job,
I also no longer pursued my doctorate degree. I
thought I would not be able to benefit from it once
I move to Canada.
It was a major life decision and I prayed to
God for guidance about this. But things changed.
Feedback from the immigration consultant in
Canada and his counterpart here in Manila became
less. All the while I thought moving abroad was
where I was being led. But what was happening?
Sadly, my Canada dream did not become a
reality. The $2,000.00 I spent just disappeared in
Chit with her dean and fellow professors from
Philippine Women’s University.
One
Last
Story
By Chit Mendoza
As told to Dina Pecaña
smoke together with the Canadian consultant. I discovered that there was
no visa and no job waiting for me.
A Blessing in Disguise
At first, I was disappointed at what happened. But I realized that the
unfortunate situation was a blessing in disguise.
You see, my parents are already very old and, because I am single, I am
the one living with and looking after them. Had I moved to Canada, I would
not be here for them in case the inevitable happened. Aside from that, I was
worried of getting sick again and who would take care of me there should
it happen once more?
God blessed me with new opportunities while I dealt with the loss of
my Canadian dream.
I met new friends in the tourism industry who helped me realize that
my passion is to travel, meet new people and experience new places and
cultures. This discovery inspired me to become a licensed tour guide.
Since I am a freelancer,
I have the time to Chit’s latest visit to Mauban, Quezon.
travel to different
local destinations.
More importantly, I
was able to undergo
the five-week training
course for accredited
tour guides. Being a
professor, I thought
the training would be
a walk in the park. I was
wrong. The training was
grueling with research
work, exams and other requirements I needed to do simultaneously. But
my hard work bore much fruit. I became the class valedictorian — another
big blessing from God.
But guess what? The Lord gave me a bigger blessing — He drew me
closer to Him and nourished my spiritual life through The Feast Alabang.
The first time I attended, I thought how happy the people are in this
community. I felt at home and went there again and again. Today, I serve
in the Connect Group (CG) of the sessions held every Wednesday evening.
I am amazed at how the Lord directed me to where I should be at this
time in my life. When He closed the door on my Canadian dream, He opened
many windows of opportunities for work, travel and newfound friends.
He also presented the upcoming implementation of the K-12 education
program as a new challenge that I have courageously accepted, being a
teacher. Why not? All I need to do is to continue to trust in His wisdom as I
have done in all that He has allowed me to experience in my life. I hold on
to His promise in Jeremiah 29:11, which says, “‘For I know the plans that I
have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity, to
give you a future and a hope.’”
God’s plans are truly the best, and I am grateful that His — instead of
mine — were fulfilled in my life.
OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 39
 Point
of By Bo Sanchez
Contact

I pray that you

receive your
miracles in Jesus’
name!
I pray that God lifts your trials, heals your
diseases, blesses your problems, and
directs you to the path He wants you to
take. I pray that God removes your fears
and gives 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, and of the

Son, and of 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
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, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.

SPECIAL INTENTION FOR THIS MONTH:

Bless the readers of Kerygma, Lord. You want all of us to have harmonious relationships. You want Email your prayer requests
us to love one another. But sometimes, no matter how much we try, it simply is very difficult to to me at bosanchez@
do so. The people around us sometimes bring out the worst in us. Deep within, Lord, we want to kerygmafamily.com or write
love them. Help us to follow Your example in loving the difficult people in our lives. Amen. to me at Shepherd’s Voice
Publications, #60 Chicago
Praying for you, St., Cubao, Quezon City,
Philippines 1109.

40 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014