Let me say that this humble person is not a Lawyer but somehow having law and political subjects back in college somehow made this  humble person writing this understand some points in the recently concluded impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The respondent Chief Justice was impeached on Article 2 of the impeachment complaint, which is the non-declaration of all his accumulated wealth in his SALN. The whole “fiasco” begun to hold and have weight on this article.

Pondering on the decision of the senator judges I see the two main issues at hand. The one side is the RULE OF LAW, in terms of proper adherence to procedural law or due process, which the senators who voted NOT-GUILTY considerably used and explained very well to justify their vote.  On the other hand is the RULE OF MORAL OBLIGATION which was also thoroughly explained by those who convicted the respondent.

It was simple, those who convicted the Chief Justice was convinced that he was guilty by the fact that he admitted before the impeachment court that he indeed had some bank account that he did not declare in his SALN. This was the hammering point that nailed the case to its close. It was sheer luck for the prosecution that the Chief Justice made this blunder of “admission against interest”. It was their saving grace to secure a conviction.

Some important points:

1. I especially liked the point of Sen. Gringo Honasan. He said in his speech that the court DID NOT PROVE that the Chief Justice was corrupt or did any form of graft and corruption, but that by his intentional withholding of some of his wealth in his SALN, he has stained his integrity. Honasan eloquently said that when the integrity of such an officer of public office as lofty as that of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has been compromised, it is enough for the same to step down. Hence he gave a guilty vote.

2. I may not fully comprehend the technical and highly legal language of Sen Miriam Santiago, however I do understand somehow where she is driving at and the compulsions she has for her vote as well as with her outbursts.

Miriam Santiago was a former RTC Judge whose main driving principle in any judicial or even quasi-judicial proceedings is the RULE OF LAW. She is guided on the principle that it is on the shoulders of the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused and NOT the accused to prove his/her innocence. Hence therefore, in the obvious lack of proper discretion and due diligence of the prosecution, (as many senators even on the conviction side pointed out) they submitted a half baked and almost baseless complaint against the Chief Justice. It was indeed plain stupid and out of the principles of law to file complaints that holds no weight. Probable cause and the weight of the accusation are NEVER determined within a trial but are done even before a complaint is to be submitted to court. It is very elementary and basic in law these principles or rules of due process. So it is no wonder why the lady-senator was going ballistic over the obvious blunders of the prosecution team.

The lady-senator also openly said that Article 2 is not an impeachable offence as it is not the same as those listed violations that would constitute impeachment, such as treason or graft and corruption. Hence for the Senator Judge it merits that the Chief Justice is acquitted for the fact that DUE PROCESS was not followed properly and that in her brilliant mind, Article 2 is not an impeachable offence. To which I also agree if we really take the letter of the law seriously. However, as she herself mentioned, the impeachment court is a quasi-political court. The conviction is open to subjective socio-political factors. So even if the legal side of the proceedings was a bit rail-roaded in a way by the powers that be, a conviction may still be accorded specially on the mere fact that the Chief Justice himself mistakenly admitted to have withheld several accounts with substantial amounts of cash. The question was simple to the court, did the chief justice violated ARTICLE 2 of the impeachment complaint? YES HE DID by admittance. And since Article 2 was accepted by the court in the beginning of the proceedings as part of the impeachment complaint, then technically I would presume that it holds to be an impeachable offence as establishment by the court itself. If Miriam had that legal question that article 2 is not an impeachable offence as provided by the constitution and by legal authorities here and abroad she could have said so at the very beginning and motioned to strike down or not accept Article 2. I don’t know if that motion is possible. If not, she could have made at least a manifestation in the beginning saying  “Mr President, Article 2 is not an impeachable offence because of the following points…” But I don’t think there was such manifestation made by her or anyone in the reception of the articles of impeachment nor did the prosecution. Hence having received the articles and then put on the table for trial, then it is impeachable as it was accepted as part of the articles of impeachment.

3. However, there was also a good point that Sen Bongbong Marcos pointed out which would put a dilemma on the issue had anyone notice it, especially if it was given weight in the very beginning of the trial. Bongbong Marcos mentioned in his speech that while it is true that the Constitution is the highest Law of the land, the BILL OF RIGHTS is the highest fundamental law and the most important one inside the constitution. Since to him, as with Joker Arroyo and Miriam Santiago, (and as also mentioned by the other Senator Judges like Pia Cayetano), due process was not properly followed. Evidence not properly obtained within the guidelines and policies of procedural law cannot be accepted. Hence, the proceeding with all the shenanigans of the prosecution team does not and cannot merit a guilty verdict.

But I go back again to my point in answering Miriam. The proceedings are also quasi-political. Hence the strict adherence to the letter of the Law will really somehow be forgone. Therefore it is not merely a legal question but more so it is a moral question. Because in Legal proceedings, even if the person by truth (not necessarily legal fact), is truly in violation, or has committed a crime, if the police obtained evidence or a confession through torture or outside proper procedures, then automatically, the case is either dismissed or is decided in favor of the accused. But such cannot be applied in a quasi-political court, because in this venue, I feel and think that regardless of technicality of the law and whether procedures of law was done properly or not, if the senator Judges are given a shroud of truth to the veracity of the violation, then it would really merit a conviction as a sign of their compliance to their moral obligation towards finding out the truth. They decided according to whether the person was in violation or not, regardless of how the truth was arrived at. In this case, it was not a shroud of truth but a direct ADMISSION by the accused, hence the senator-judges, most of them are left with the decision to convict.

4. Most of the Senator Judges, directly stated the fact that the LAW must be applied to all. Hence the case of the court clerk in Davao who was removed from office because of non-declaration of her market stall/booth, was also a hammering point to the case. I don’t even need to explain further on this. Aside from the “Admission against interest” of Corona, this was also the main back-bone of the conviction verdict. If such lowly civil servants can be evicted from officer and devoid of benefits due to non-declaration of SALN, then the same should apply even to the highest officers of the land (as explained repeatedly by most senators who voted guilty).

In summary Corona nailed himself to the cross of conviction by admitting that he did not declare some of his bank accounts. It was a simple question that was answered by no other than himself. The impeachment court ruled and convicted Corona not by strict RULE OF LAW, but by its MORAL OBLIGATION to seek out the truth and execute judgment base on TRUTH, which Chief Justice himself provided by admission. The court had a moral obligation to remove Corona, by the same promulgations and decision of the Supreme court in other cases of far less known government employees who were removed due to far lesser value of non-declared assets. In the famous cliché, “Nahuli ang isda sa sariling bibig,” and “Ginisa sya sa sarili nyang mantika.”

I specially would like to commend Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile in his ability to balance everything within such a historic, controversial and delicate impeachment case. He showed utmost regard towards fairness and equal opportunity for both the defense and the prosecution. He reprimanded the prosecution several times in its deliberate haste and half-cooked case, and the obvious action of the powers that be that was setting the public opinion in order to influence the court. He also in certain times questioned the defense in its own minor blunders. It even allowed the Chief Justice to speak in length as courtesy to the Chief Justice but pronounced distaste to the walk-out scene of the Chief Justice and reprimanded the defense for such a scene. In his remaining years, being in his late 80’s he has made a legacy for himself in this impeachment court. I applaud him!

I applaud the 3 senator Judges who voted non-guilty. They are the true guardians of the LAW in understanding the importance of the RULE OF LAW and the BILL OF RIGHTS rather than public opinion or the prevailing of the quasi-political nature of the impeachment court. More than ever I admire the brilliance of Miriam Santiago and Joker Arroyo. I too admire Bongbong for such. However, the mere fact that Bongbong is his father’s son, He will never have my vote on any position in government. Joker on the other hand was silent in all the obvious irregularities of former President Gloria Arroyo, hence for me he has lost his moral ascendency. But on their vote to acquit on the basis of RULE OF LAW AND BILL OF RIGHTS I applaud them.

In conclusion, I repeat, Did CORONA violate the Law and does it merit impeachment? Yes he did, by his own words. Article 2 being included in the articles of impeachment, he committed it and therefore must be impeached, and the senators did.

My thoughts and reflections on the many loves that came into my life and how far I’ve come in my Zen-Buddhist notions on break-ups

I’m an early bloomer. My first Bf was when I was in 4^th year High School and since then I’ve had partners, dates and flings everywhere. Considering some factors I could say I had 7 serious relationships already. OOOpppsss. Let me correct that, its already 8 serious relationships.  3 of which had 2 years time frame. So I would say I’ve had a bit of an expertise on the subject matter of gay love and break-ups.

Just a few days ago I had another break-up with my latest partner. No 3^rd parties, love is not the issue (we both love each other very much), sex is not an issue and money is not an issue. Anyway, I don’t want to get into the details of that particular relationship and break-up. However, with that recent incident in my life I feel and think I have come full circle in my life in terms of the romantic scene.

Just a backgrounder, as mentioned I have been in 7 relationships prior to the 8^th one. And I’ve experience great highs and the great lows of such relationships. I have experience being dumped like a hot potato; being depress like hell, crying in the UST chapel with a choir singing “sayo lamang”. I have cried in the rain and almost got hit by a delivery truck (you think it only happens in the movies? Well that’s what I thought, but it actually happens in real life). I have experienced being drunk as hell over someone drinking days and weeks in a row over what seemed to me the love of my life. I endured 11 months of living with a partner who cheated on me and continued to cheat on me the whole time. He had sex on several men within our area and sometimes in the very bed that slept in. I endured all of those and in each failed relationship, in each break-ups I experienced, its very true, its cliché even that it really does make you stronger.

Such break-ups and failures in love made me stronger in the sense that I try to learn as much as I can about myself and about the things that happened. I guess I am a thinker, a rationalized of things. I tend to reflect on so many things including the great questions of life. I’ve learned the great wisdom of Christian love with my 3^rd bf. I’ve learned to get into a relationship with someone you truly love with my 2^nd bf. I’ve learned that age does matter with my 1^st . I’ve learned the greatest joys of love with my 6^th BF. I’ve learned the martyrdom of love with my 7^th Bf. I’ve learned so much about myself, about sex and about relationships in all my experiences. I have explored the deepest parts of sorrow and I’ve traversed the highest peaks of joy with all the men (and boys) I have been with.

Over all, I have come to the great realization that happiness is a choice (don’t we hear that a lot). We hear that a lot. It’s a cliché even, right? I come to the realization that happiness is from within ourselves and not outside of us; to be found in things, persons and places. That’s another cliché. I realize that with or without a partner I can be happy, content and at peace (of which I am right now). And like all cliché, they speak of such universal truths. That’s why they are even called clichés because they are based in actual experiences of people who come to the realization of those so called clichés. But don’t get me wrong. With so much break-ups and heartaches, I continue to believe in love. Having experienced a few of its infinite number of faces and colors, I still continue to believe and honor it.

So when we broke-up, my latest “mahal”, there wasn’t really much drama for me. No tears, no depression, no drinking at bars or drinking and crying out with friends. Nothing of that melodramatic stuff that most break-ups tend to have. Someone even said to me that it is as if nothing happened with my demeanor. Don’t get me wrong, the break-up has some effect on me. As I always say (and feel), when you break-up with some you have grown intimate with, a part of you is lost. A part of you is stripped away. It’s like a part of your soul has been hacked away with a knife.  You suddenly feel awkward with yourself. And I do feel that these days. However the very reason that makes this break-up different is not that I seem to be insensitive (cause I definitely feel bad about it), but it’s the fact that I have grown to the wisdom and self-assurance that I am complete with or without a partner. I am self-assured and grounded on the enlightenment that life continues to be beautiful and wonderful for me regardless of a partner. This is especially true, knowing the fact that in all my relationships I know and feel in deepest parts of my heart that I have been good and sincere with my partner.

It is as if I don’t feel the normal pain and depression that one who loses a love feels. I tend to think have I grown too ZEN-like, had too much Buddha in me to feel any sort of pain. It even seems way too un-human already to be in a state of self-assurance, grounding and enlightenment.

As I’ve said earlier I have come full circle. I think I have attained the summit of what I needed to learn about love and romantic relationships. I don’t know, if there is anything else I need to experience or learn about it, only God and time will tell. I even think the only constant lover I will ever have is God and that may be it is what God is telling me, that my life’s purpose is for the service of the Lord and of his people. Anyway, I nonetheless, I think I’m happy with the thought that I have been blessed with so much experience and color in my life. I think I’ll simply be celibate now (but not chaste).

December 4, 2011

My Homily for 2nd Advent of 2011

Metropolitan Community Church of Quezon City

In the Gospel today, we see the clear role of John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus, in the history of Salvation. He was the one to prepare the way of the Lord in the first coming. Now, in the second coming, there still lives John the Baptist in our midst (and this is not necessarily the Baptist denomination).  All Christians, one way or another are John the Baptists of our times. We are called to prepare the way of the Lord for his 2nd coming. We have been given the Great Commission: “Go forth to all the ends of the Earth Baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”. ...Go forth to all the lands, teaching them what I have taught you.” That all may know the Parent Creator through Jesus Christ and may know also Christ commandment of Love; and be baptised by the Spirit.

We as MCCers who have received the great message of love of Christ through Rev Troy Perry has the task and the same great commissioning to go out to all the Lands to Deliver the message of Love that is Jesus Christ and a new way of understanding the Bible as it pertains to us, the LGBT community. Actually it is not a new way of understanding the Bible, it is simply rediscovering of our LGBT heritage within the Holy Scriptures. As MCCers, we rediscover the special love between Jonathan and David, the Eunuchs that Jesus mentioned and the promise that God gave to the Eunuchs in Isaiah. We rediscover that Jesus was silent about homosexuality in the 4 gospels, but he did refer to the Eunuchs, which many bible scholars refer to the gay men and women of our times. We rediscover that Levitical Law is no longer relevant and no longer applies to our Christian era. We rediscover that the Levitical Law  is more of a Ritual Law and not spiritual sin. We Rediscover that the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah is not homosexual acts or behaviours rather in Ezekiel, we see that the Lord punished Sodom because of Pride, arrogance, materialism, inhospitality and neglect for the poor (as what we see in the western societies today).  We rediscover that Paul, the self proclaimed apostle to the gentiles, did not specifically referred to Homosexual love and behaviour but rather to temple prostitution of both male and female prostitutes  who do sexual service to honour pagan gods. We rediscover the saintly Lives of St Sergious and Bacchus and of St Aelred who were considered as gay saints, including St Joan of Arc and St Felicity and Perpetua.

In rediscovering the Holy Heritage of the LGBT People through MCC, we therefore learn and understand that our sexual orientation and gender identity is no longer an issue with God. God does not make this distinction on salvation. In reclaiming our Holy Heritage as LGBT Children of God, we have the same salvation as that of our Heterosexual brothers and sisters, who most of them are blinded with literalistic reading of the scripture, as once the Pharisees of old were.Let me reiterate again, in knowing what we have just heard and in knowing more about them as we continue our fellowship with MCC, WE HAVE EQUAL SHARE IN GOD’S SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

But make no mistake my LGBT brothers and sisters, for many have fallen the same literalistic mind-set of some Christians. There is nothing special with us that God will treat and measure us differently from our heterosexual brothers and sisters for if we now know that God makes no distinction and measures us regardless of who and what we are, then the same rod of Justice and the same sword of faith that God uses to the Heterosexual brethren will be used to measure and test us in our faith in Jesus. Marami ng nagkamali sa MCC, na porket Okay na kay LORD na ako ay isang BAKLA, eh gagawin ko na ang lahat ng kabaklaan na gusto ko! Hindi porket may rediscovery ng sex positive theology ay pwede na ang kahit ano. Hindi porket tinuro sa MCC that sex is morally Neutral ay lahat na ng kahalayan gagawin ko at rarampa ako dyan sa kalsada ng Mindanao ave, Road 8 at Road 1 para lang bumooking. As Jesus said, WOE TO YOU! Reclaiming and rediscovering God’s love for us does not entail sexual promiscuity. It does not say that our sexuality can be expressed the way we want it. As with gaychristianonline said, and I paraphrase, our sexuality goes hand in hand with our spirituality and this is no longer an issue with God, however, our Christianity must be the one seen by people and not our sexuality. Christ is seen in our sexuality and not sexuality seen in our Christianity for it is Christ that should be the centre of our lives and not our sexuality.

That’s why also, in the commemoration and remembrance of World AIDs Day, MCC all throughout the world, especially in countries like the Philippines, we CRY for MARRIAGE Equality! We Cry for the Passage of RH Bill. Because MCC knows and understands that when Marriage has been given to the LGBT community, then it will help to lessen the promiscuity of some of our ranks. The same morality of faithful, loving and committed relationship of our parents would be the same morality and safe guards that same sex couples would, one way or another, will follow.  Sabi nga ni Pastor sa mga interview nya, As our parents ay one man woman na, or one woman man na, so it goes with us, one man-man na and one woman-woman na. Hindi yung rampa ng rampa sa madidilim na gilid ng Palawan. In countries that marriage equality laws has been passed, HIV and AIDs infection among its LGBT people have dropped significantly over the years. Do you know that in Countries and US states that same-sex marriage has been made into law, many same sex couples out number the years of marriage from that of their heterosexual counterparts. Most same –sex marriages really last the lifetime. Children of LGBT people do not necessarily turn out to be gay, bisexual, lesbian or transgender. Most children of LGBT couples usually are heterosexual and grow to have heterosexual relationships.

MCC in this month of WORLD AIDS Days, believe in our holy heritage as LGBT Christians to be sexually responsible for ourselves and others. To be faithful to our life-partners; to push for marriage-equality law in this country and everywhere in the world. MCC remembers in prayer and reflection the lives that have been taken by this decease. We pray for those who are currently living with this decease to be strong and to always have and that we are one with them in praying for a vaccine and a cure for HIV.

Today is the 2nd Sunday of Advent in the liturgical year of the Old Churches (catholic, orthodox, Episcopalian, Anglicans and etc) As we are presented with the picture of John the Baptist preparing for the way of the Lord, we are commissioned to tell the world and most especially our LGBT community that GOD loves them and they have salvation in Jesus Christ; that it is okay to be Gay and a Christian; that it is okay to be a lesbian and a Christian or bisexual or transgender and be a responsible Christian. We as MCCers , are commissioned to tell them that it is okay to have sex, and that is not an issue with God, but you have to be responsible for yourself and for others and there is a difference between promiscuity and a healthy sex life. We are called MCCers to be voices who cry out from the wilderness of biblical literalism and hatred, “rainbow children of God, prepare the way of the LORD!” Dahil RARAMPA na si LORD!

This is my wish list for my Birthday, in case may magreregalo (na alam kong malabo mangyari). Hehehe

10 Birthday Wish List (Material)

1. 48 Laws of Power By RObert Greene


2. Art of War by Robert Greene


3. Any touch screen phone (wifi capable)


4. A new book of prayers (w/ Latin counterpart)


5. Painting materials (oils, spirits, brushes and acrylic)


6. Lucky in-house plant


7. A big Blueberry Cheesecake


8. 1 yr subscription to TIMES.


9. A customized red sleeveless Chinese shirt


10. A durable and sturdy bag pack

10 Birthday Wish List (non Material)

1. Continued good health for myself, my current partner and my family and my close friends


2. A wonderful, relaxed and sexually content relationship.


3. Be able to save up at least 1/4th of my Business capital by end of the year


4. Be able to provide for the two vaccinations of my Mom


5. End the year with all the Finance Reports in order (monthly, quarterly and Annual Report for fiscal year 2011)


6. Pay all bills and obligations


7. Go on the MCCQC Retreat      


8. Climb Mt Banahaw


9. Finish  half of the document I am working on.


10. Start Planting trees

The tragedy of the young gay lovers in Pampanga was a crime of passion that was brought about by the 13 year old boys LOW COPING MECHANISM that neither can be easily detected nor treated. And I am presuming that it was also inspired by what happened in SM North the previous week before the Pampanga incident.


The event was truly a tragedy. We cannot blame the child not his parents for it. It happened simply because the child could not handle heavy emotional stress, and I guess he saw on the news the event that happened in SM North that he got inspired and took the event as something similar to what he is experiencing. However, for the sake of the other young people out there who are only beginning to experience the complexities of life, I would want to saY that incident of the 13 and 16 year old boy in Pampanga was:


NOT LOVE. IT WAS NOT ROMANTIC AND THERE IS NO GLORY, HONOUR OR EMULATION FOR IT.


It is simply a tragedy and something that SHOULD NEVER BE REPLICATED.

True Love is about life, kindness and forgiveness. Love is also about loving one’s self. Love does not murder the one you love. True love gives freedom. It waits. It gives space and knows its own time and place. Love matures and bears wisdom.
Pwede ka makapatay dahil sa pag-ibig, kung yung iniibig mo ay sinasalbahe o sinasakta. Defense of a love one kung baga. Pero yung papatayin mo ang sarili mo at yung sinasabi mong mahal mo, pagmamahal ba yun? Is that LOVE? It can be called a crime of passion but passion is not synonymous to Love.


We should not romanticize what happened. There is nothing romantic or sweet with the death of two young people that was brought about by senseless rage. We cannot blame the kid but we should not also give him or the incident unqualified “emulation” or “romanticism” as not to bring wrong impressions and notions about LOVE to the young.


ANG NAKAKAPESTE AY ANG SM SECURITY AND MANAGEMENT:
I will say it again, pasalamat na lang sila at crime of passion lang ang ibinunga ng pagiging inutil ng mga security nila eh pano kung terrorist attack? Buti yung mga involve lang ang nateggi, eh kung terrorist attack, eh di ilang inosenteng tao na walang kamalay mala yang NAMATAY.



Ganyan naman kasi sa Pilipinas ang karamihan sa ating mga Pilipino. Hindi matutotuto. Parang may continuous Amnesia or short term memory lost.



Hindi na natuto sa bombing sa MRT/LRT or sa Ayala Mall bombing. Maghihigpit pag may nangyaring tragedy. After ilang months. LAX na naman. Hay, banana Republic talaga. It will take another 100 years I guess before the Philippines ever prospers (harinawa).

By Sanity Pen 

Sinong gusto ng title at korona ng Ms Universe kung ito ay ibibigay sa iyo? O kaya Ms Earth? Or Binibining Pilipinas?
Okay, sino dito ang boss sa isang kumpanya, Manager or supervisor?

One time or another I would think all of us would have had a title to our name. Pastor has a MDiv sa hulihan ng pangalan. Sato is the Vice Moderator. Ako yung Madam Finance. Nga pala lahat ng nagiging finance daw according to previous MCCers ay nagkakaron na automatic na titulong “MADAM”. Kasi nga naman daw, nasa kanya ang kayamanan, dona na dona ang dating. Hehe
I would think that in one side of things titles are good. Maganda rin na may titulo sa pangalan and tulad ng sabi ko I’m sure all of us had a title one time or another. Napakasaklap naman kung ni minsan wala kang nagging titulo. You would be the perfect example of a WAKABU, walang kabuhay buhay or the Patay na bata.

Looking back at my life, I had several titles; I have been an Artistic Director (president) of my Theater organization in college and recently a Stock broker.

Titles are good in a way because there is something behind the title. More than the glamour and the status effect of a title are the responsibility and the duty.

Being the Messiah and the Son of God, parang wow na wow. Powerful at fabulosa! Behind the title is also the power and the majesty. Bonggang bongga nga naman kung ikaw ang Messiah at anak ng Diyos na kataastaasan. Beauting Beauty dava. Yun kagad ang unang pumapasok sa isip. Pero kung mag-iisip lang tayo ng mabuti, ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng pagiging Messiah?

Ikaw ay Diyos na kailangan bumaba sa level ng mga insekto. Kumpara sa pagkaDiyos ni Kristo, tayo ay mababa pa sa mga insekto. But no, Jesus had to remove his godhood; hubarin ang kanyang pagkaDiyos at kinailangan maging TAO. “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God”, Says Simon Peter. But beyond the power of the title, being the Messiah meant that Jesus would eventually by despised by his own “CHOSEN” people, be tortured, humiliated and suffer the most painful kind of death, Crucifixion. I have watched history channel, and they said that Crucifixion is the most torturous kind of capital punishment. There are people who would be alive and crucified for so many hours, even days. It puts a lot of pressure in the lungs and the heart. It also puts great strain on the muscles while trying to adjust yourself on the Cross through the nails on your hands and feet. Can you possibly imagine the amount of pain that such a thing can put on your body?

That is what is meant by being the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Pero bongga pa rin, kasi after 3 days, he rose from the dead, and much more gwapo si Papa JC after resurrection. He was God again. This time he was true God and true man. Pero yun nga lang bago sya nagging fabuloso, he had to under go CALVARY or GOLGOTHA. That is what is involve in being a Messiah. Dahil kung title lang, wala yang effect.

Para din yang sa lovelife, just to be on the more secular experience. Status is similar to Titles. Pag ang status mo na ay COMMITTED, Ate, magpakatotoo ka sa status mo. Hindi yung may jowa ka na titikim ka pa sa iba. Title at status mo na yung COMMITTED. Title mo ay Joseph, partner ni Raphael Banaybanay. Pag ganun, panindigan mo ang titulo mo. Ang problema kasi, dami gusto magkarong ng titulong COMMITTED pero hindi naman nauunawaan what it means to be in a relationship, to be in a partnership. Ang nakikita lang kasi is yung kilig moments, yung passionate bakbakan sa kama, yung may kasama mag-gym, kasama magsimba, kayakap matulog and etc. pero hindi naiisip what it means na maging mapang-unawa sa makulit na jowa; maging mapagpasyensya sa imperfections ng partner; maging mapagpatawad, mapagbigay, mapagsakripisyo.

That’s the problem with so many people and admit it or not the Philippines as a whole. Most people only see and focus on the benefits and privileges of the title, the position rather than the responsibilities of the position. And daming gusto magkaron ng posisyun sa gobyerno dahil sa kaakibat na kasikatan, pera at impluwensya na meron ito. Pang sariling interest, pang sariling gratification ang mas nangingibabaw sa pagpasok sa LEADERSHIP. Sa corporate world, madami gusto maging CEO or Chairman of the board. Why not? Laking pere involve at dami pang privileges. Pero maraming CEO at Chairman ang hindi makatulog sa gabi sa bigat ng responsibilidad nila. 50,000 Employees ang kailangan nyang isipin sa bawat desisyun na kanyang gagawin. May mga CEO na walang oras sa kanilang mga asawa’t anak. May mga CEO na halos sa eroplano na nakatira, going from one country to another for their business. Pero ang nakikita lang ng marami ay yung magagrang kotse, yung jet setter life at yung mga branded na damit. We fail to see the weight of their position.

Aminin natin madami sa LGBT ganyan din. Some people, sadly to say, pumoposisyun lang because of the glamour it entails; pumuposisyun lang para may mailagay na maganda sa resume; pumoposisyun lang dahil sa FUNDING na makukuha mula s ainternational community. Pumoposisyun lang dahil sa libreng trip abroad for seminars and conferences. Sa MCC nga nung dark-ages nito, ayun sa balibalita, halos magpatayan sa isang very insignificant officer position dahil lang sa ito ang position na magbibigay daan sayo na makupunta sa ibang bansa ng libre, All expense paid.

Merong mga gusto maging Pastor at deacon kasi ang nakikita lang nila ay ang pagiging media personality ni Pastor, ang holy union fee, free swimming and accommodations sa mga lugar na pagdadausan ng holy union, madami naniniwala at nakikinig sayo and etc etc etc. Yun lang ang nakikita at dun lang nakafocus ang attensyun kaya nagmamadali, kaya ayaw magpaawat, kaya ayaw magpasakop sa wisdom ng nakatataas sa kanya. Naisip ba ng marami kung ano ang sakripisyung ginawa ni Pastor Ceejay and ni Marlon para maging ganito ang MCCQC? Narerealize ban ng marami kung anong GOLGOTHA ang inakyat nilang dalwa kasama si JP, Mark Adlawan and other old timers para maging ganito ang MCCQC?

Having a position gives you the power and the influence it has, in order for you TO CHANGE THE WORLD not for you to enrich yourself or feed your ego. Sayang ang posisyun mo kung wala ka man lang nagawang pagbabago sa iyung term or wala ka mang magawang pagababago na malaki, at least man lang ginampanan mo yung trabaho ng posisyun mo. Eh hindi ka na nga nakagawan ng pagbabago pati gampanan yung duties mo, hindi mo pa rin magawa. Sayang ang oportunidad, sayang ang chance at ang resources upang baguhin ang dapat baguhin.

A true servant leader is someone who does not rush and who does not decide out of whim or impulse. A sincere leader is someone who thinks before acting. His actions are always with a thought of, “ano ba ang better way?” A servant leader, is someone who always thinks “eto bang ginagawa or gagawin ko ay consistent sa aking mission”. A servant leader is someone who is serious with the responsibilities and duties of the Job. He may not be perfect, he may have some lapses and delays but he gets the JOB done eventually, as what Jesus did. He is consistent with what the TITLE means.

Kung finance officer ka, nagrerecord at nagrereport ka ng Finace ng simabahan. Naniningil ka ng pledges. Kung secretary ka, you prepare the meeting, you write resolutions and memorandums, you record minutes, you make sure all records, memos and agreements are orderly and duly signed. You arrange schedules of everyone specially the pastor. Kung membership ka, you make sure the membership is increasing and you retain everyone. Kung officer ka anu man ang position mo, dapat nasa meeting ka most of the time.
Pag deacon ka, you assist the pastor in his ministerial duties. If you need to go to the Golden Gays foundation sa Pasay to provide for their spiritual needs, you would have to go, consistently . If you are assigned to do Bible fellowship and make it grow, you have to do so. If you are assigned to do transgender ministry, you must follow-through. That is what being DEACON means.

When you say that you are a Christian, that is a brand, a title to you. Regardless of your denominational back round, you have been set apart by the grace and power of God through Jesus Christ. Inaring buo ka na ni Kristo pag ikaw ay Kristyano. Kaya dapat panindigan mo ang pagiging Christian by Thoughs, words and deeds. When you are a Christian, your title is Teacher Marlon, Child of God. You have to keep the word of God and live it progressively. It doesn’t mean you expected to be perfect na parang santa santahang hindi mabasagan ng pinggan. But what is expected of you is that as a Christian, having that title, that brand, people must see that you are growing and changing to be a better person. Kung dati 4 boyfriend mo ng sabay sabay, ngayong 2 na lang. Chos! Kung dati kailangan mo magbayad for chorva, ngyon, dahil Christian ka, dapat ganda lang teh, getlak mo na sya. Kung nuon mabilis iminit ulo mo at nanggegera ka kagad, ngayon, deadma effect ka na sa mga maaasim. When your Christianity calls you into MCC, at nandito ka na, as an MCCer Christian, you have to do and share your part.

If we take a certain title or position in life, we do it because we are passionate of the work, the ideas behind the position. Having a title, being a title holder is not just a beauty contest na pa-istaran lang. being a title holder, Pastor, Deacon, LCAB officer, MCC member, CEO, COO, community organizer, Congressman, senator, bishop, reverend and/or CHRISTIAN, you have to live up to the title that you have as Jesus did, who by being the Messiah, delivered himself into DEATH so that all of us might be SAVED.
Be careful my dear, because as we have heard in the first reading:

Thus says the Lord, the GOD of hosts: Up, go to that official, Shebna, master of the palace,
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I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station.
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2 On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah;
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I will clothe him with your robe, and gird him with your sash, and give over to him your authority. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.
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3 I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open.
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I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot, to be a place of honor for his family;

He who does not function, he whose intentions are whimsy or self appointed, self centered will be as the God of Hosts says, he shall give your Duty to someone capable and worthy.

“Who do people say I am?” Some say you are the Pastor, some say you are a Deacon, some say you are the Finance officer, some say you are a company manager, some say , you are a senator, some say you are the President of the Philippines.
We are a Child of God, own it. Claim it and DO IT. Walk the talk!
Yes we are this and we are that, and we serve for the love of God and his people. We do not serve ourselves nor for the benefits of Titles and positions.

The stories of two prominent same-sex couples in the Scriptures provide gay men and lesbians with Biblical models of committed love in stressful circumstances.

Ruth and Naomi

The Book of Ruth is a romantic novel but not about romance between Ruth and Boaz. Naomi is actually the central character, and Ruth is the "redeemer/hero." Boaz' relationship with Ruth, far from being romantic, is a matter of family duty and property.

This story contains the most moving promise of relational fidelity between two persons in all of the bible: "And Ruth said, 'Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whether thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God". (Ruth 1:16)

Although used in heterosexual marriage ceremonies for years, this is a vow between two women! When their husbands die in battle, Ruth makes this vow to Naomi, her mother-in-law. Ruth marries Boaz, a close relative, and redeems Naomi's place in her own family, also bearing a child for Naomi. Did Ruth and Naomi have a lesbian relationship? There's no way to know, but it is clear the two women had a lifelong, passionate, committed relationship celebrated in Scripture.

United in a Covenant of Love…David and Jonathan

Another story, that of David and Jonathan, occurs in a time when male warrior/lovers were common and considered noble.

This tragic triangle of passion, jealousy and political intrigue between Saul, Jonathan and David, leads to one of the most direct expressions of same-sex love in the Bible: "I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; you have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was more wonderful than the love of women." (II Samuel 1:26)

The author is clearly attuned to David's classic male beauty (I Samuel 16:12) in this story of love and loyalty marked by romance (I Samuel 18:1-5), secret meetings (I Samuel 20:1-23; 35-42), kissing and weeping (I Samuel 20:41), refusal to eat (I Samuel 28:32-34), and the explicit warrior/lover covenant which David keeps after Jonathan's death (I Samuel 20:12-17; 42).

One cannot read this account without discerning that Jonathan was the love of David's life. Centuries of homophobic Biblical interpretations have kept them in the closet too long!