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Sports Heroes

Filipinos prove their mettle in sports as they harvest medals in different events. In the international level, Filipinos stamp their marks as they prove to be the best among the best.

The birth of the Philippine Sports Commission in the 1987 Constitution affirms the importance of sports in fostering self-discipline, teamwork and excellence in the development of a healthy and functioning citizenry. The Palarong Pambansa provides the venue for professional athletes from all over the country to meet in annual competition.

Private sponsors put up sports clinics to encourage the youth to engage in healthy recreation. Almost all barangays have several multi-purpose gyms which are ideal venues for basketball, volleyball and badminton tournaments. Some public parks are also sites for exercise programs that include aerobics and dance exercises, among others.

Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao

- Light Heavyweight Champion of the World Boxing Council (WBC: 2003), International Boxing Federation (IBF: 2003) and World Boxing Association (WBA: 2004)

Efren "The Magician" Reyes

- dubbed as "The Magician" when he became the 1985 Red 9-Ball Open champion for his ability to execute brilliant shots

Eric Buhain

- the most accomplished swimmer of his generation. No other Filipino male before or since Buhain has won the Best Male Athlete of the SEA Games when he did the trick in 1991 after he took home five gold medals, broke two records and helped the Philippines come to within a breath of the Games overall championship.

Eugene Torre

- became Asia's first chess grandmaster at the age of 22

Elma Muros

- went down in the Southeast Asian Games history as the only track athlete who won in different events. She was also hailed as the SOUTHEAST ASIAN Games heptathlon queen in 1997.

Francisco "Django" Bustamante

- one of billiard's greatest international stars

Francisco "Pancho Villa" Guilledo

- Asia's first world champion in boxing, dubbed as the greatest flyweight of the century

Gabriel "Flash" Elorde

- dubbed as the greatest Filipino boxer of all time

Gerald Rosales

- Asian Games silver medallist and Southeast Asian Games two-time champion in golf

Jennifer Rosales

- the first player from the Philippines to win on the LPGA Tour in 2004

Lydia de Vega

- Asia's fastest woman in the 1980s. Brought home the gold medal twice in a row in the Asian Games in the 100-meter dash; and the silver medal in the 200-meter run.

MIRACLES

A man traversed land and sea to check for himself the Master's extraordinary fame. "What miracles has your Master worked"? he said to a disciple.

"Well, there are miracles and miracles. In your land it is regarded as a miracle if God does someone's will. In our country it is regarded as a miracle if someone does the will of God".

MORSEL:
The highest reward for a man's toil is not what he gets for it but what he becomes by it. -- John Ruskin

BONUS
There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, "Thy will be done", and those to whom God says, "All right, then, have it your way". -- C.S. Lewis

IDEOLOGY

A group of political activists were attempting to show the Master how their ideology would change the world. The Master listened carefully. The following day he said, "An ideology is as good or bad as the people who make use of it. If a million wolves were to organize for justice, would they cease to be a million wolves"?

MORSEL:
Each snowflake in an avalanche pleads not guilty. -- Stanislaw J. Lee

HEALING

To a distressed person who came to him for help the Master said, "Do you really want a cure"

"If I did not, would I bother to come to you"?

"Oh yes Most people do".

"What for"?

"Not for a cure. That's painful. For relief".

To his disciples the Master said, "People who want a cure, provided they can have it without pain, are like those who favor progress, provided they can have it without change".

MORSEL:
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging. -- Will Rogers

GRACE

A young man came to the Master and said, "I wish to be Wise. How can I achieve my wish"?

The Master sighed and said, "There was once a young man just like you. He wished to be Wise and his wish had great power to it. One day he found himself sitting exactly where I am. In front of him sat a young man on the exact spot where you are now. And the young man was saying, 'I wish to be Wise!'"

MORSEL:
Awakening is dynamic,
Constantly evolving in accordance with life's realities;
Unfolding from ego-self to compassionate self,
From enclosed self to open self,
From foolish self to enlightened self. -- Taitetsu Unno

FEARLESSNESS

"What is love"?

"The total absence of fear", said the Master.

"What is it we fear"?

"Love", said the Master.

MORSEL:
There are only two emotions: love - our natural inheritance, and fear - an invention of our minds which is illusory.
-- Gerald G. Jampolsky, MD, [Teach Only Love]

Daily Reading & Meditation

Tuesday (6/13): "You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world"

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Meditation: Jesus used ordinary images, such as salt and light, to convey extraordinary truths. What does salt and light have to teach us about God and his reign on earth? Salt was a valuable commodity in the ancient world. People traded with it, like we trade with gold and stock. Salt also served a very useful purpose in hot climates before the invention of electricity and refrigeration. Salt not only gave food flavor, it also preserved meat from spoiling. Jesus used the image of salt to describe how his disciples are to live in the world. As salt purifies, preserves, and penetrates, so the disciple must be as salt in the world of human society to purify, preserve, and penetrate that society for the kingdom of God and of his righteousness and peace.

Jesus also used the image of light and a lamp to further his illustration. Lamps in the ancient world served a vital function, much like they do today. They enable people to see and work in the dark and to avoid stumbling. The Jews also understood “light” as an expression of the inner beauty, truth, and goodness of God. In his light we see light ( Psalm 36:9). His word is a lamp that guides our steps (Psalm 119:105). God’s grace not only illumines the darkness in our lives, but it also fills us with spiritual light, joy, and peace. Jesus used the image of a lamp to describe how his disciples are to live in the light of his truth and love. Just as natural light illumines the darkness and enables one to see visually, so the light of Christ shines in the hearts of believers and enables us to see the heavenly reality of God’s kingdom. In fact, our mission is to be light-bearers of Christ so that others may see the truth of the gospel and be freed from the blindness of sin and deception.

Jesus remarks that nothing can remain hidden or secret. We can try to hide things from others, from ourselves, and from God. How tempting to shut our eyes from the consequences of our sinful ways and bad habits, even when we know what those consequences are. And how tempting to hide them from others and even from God. But, nonetheless, everything is known to God who sees all. There is great freedom and joy for those who live in God’s light and who seek this truth. Those who listen to God and heed his voice will receive more from him. Do you know the joy and freedom of living in God’s light?

“Lord, you guide me by the light of your saving truth. Fill my heart and mind with your light and truth and free me from the blindness of sin and deception that I may see your ways clearly and understand your will for my life. May I radiate your light and truth to others in word and deed”.

JUNE 13
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA

This very popular saint was born in Portugal in 1195. He was baptized "Ferdinand." He received an excellent education from the Augustinian friars and joined the order. When he was twenty-five, his life took an exciting turn. He heard about some Franciscans who had been martyred by the Moors in Morocco. These friars were St. Berard and companions. We celebrate their feast on January 16. From then on, Ferdinand felt a strong desire to die for Christ. He joined the Franciscans. This order was very new. St. Francis himself was still alive. Ferdinand took the name "Anthony." He went off to Africa to preach to the Moors. But he soon became so sick that he had to return to Italy.

No one in his new religious order realized how brilliant and talented he was. They were not aware of how much education he had received. He never spoke about himself. So the Franciscan superiors assigned him to a quiet friary in Italy. There he washed pots and pans. One day, at a large gathering of priests, Anthony preached a marvelous sermon. From then on, until he died nine years later, St. Anthony preached all over Italy. He was so popular that people even closed their stores to go to hear him.

St. Anthony is frequently called on in times of physical as well as spiritual needs. Many miracles have taken place through the intercession of St. Anthony. Large numbers of people have obtained favors by praying to him. That is why he is called the "wonder-worker." The statue of St. Anthony shows him with Baby Jesus because Baby Jesus appeared to him. Other pictures show St. Anthony holding a bible. This is because he knew, loved and preached the Word of God so well. In fact, St. Anthony was so well educated especially in Sacred Scripture that Pope Pius XII proclaimed him the "Evangelical Doctor," or Doctor of Sacred Scripture.

St. Anthony died at Arcella, near Padua, Italy, on June 13, 1231. He was thirty-six.

He was proclaimed a saint by Pope Gregory IX one year later.