PDF

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!
PM
in You
Philippines P70
US $7.00
By Bo Sanchez
AUS $ 7.00
Euro 5.00
UK 4.00
CDN $7.00
SING $9.00
HK $47.00
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
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 Only Kerygma magazine taught me how to make
and guidance to your readers like me. I felt great after reading some impossible things become possible. Thank you for this
of your articles. They touched my heart and gradually strengthened magazine for inspiring my life even if I’m in the midst of
my faith in God. discouragement and pessimism at times. This magazine
helped me to deepen my faith in God, our Father. Thanks
Chain Pearl Sumampong also to Bo Sanchez — you’re my favorite inspirational
Surigao del Norte author. May you continue to inspire and motivate us.
Claudine Ablay
Thanks, Kerygma magazine, for giving good information and helpful Nabunturan, Compostella Valley Province
tips to us. I enjoy reading your mag. God bless and more success.
Merlynda Llantada I missed you, Kerygma. God allowed me to reconect with

Antipolo, Rizal 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’ve been reading Kerygma magazine for a long time now and I really I flip through your pages, my heart feels great joy and
find it so enlightening especially for people who have some problems unexplained happiness. I feel like crying and I could only
in life. say, “God, thank You! I am in the library but You have a
God bless you all for lifting up my spirit. Reading your magazine special way of sending Your Holy Spirit — through this
just made me realize how beautiful my world is. magazine.”
More power!
Sheryl Arcales
Nene Mendoza Catbalogan City, Samar
Dasmariñas, Cavite
If there is one magazine which is close to my heart, it’s

It was in 2011 when I first read Kerygma magazine. Glenie, my Kerygma. I never grow tired of reading and re-reading the
co-working student, introduced it to me. Bo Sanchez’s writings articles, even issues from many years back. They are my
inspire me. I am very thankful for my faith is strengthened because source of strength and inspiration. I feel God is speaking
of Kerygma. I was confused with my identity and this magazine to me through its pages. That is why I consider Kerygma
enlightened me. I hope someday I may be able to attend The Feast magazine as an addiction with a positive influence to
and become an active member. one’s earthly life.
Now, I am already a scholar and God has provided me a lot. Back I thank the Lord for sending us your magazine,
then, I just borrowed from Glenie, but now I have my own monthly Kerygma.
copies.
God bless and I hope all people would discover Kerygma. Shirley Isorena-Bertes
Legazpi City, Albay
Rockhem Jade M. Raclip
Dumaguete City
We Want to hear from you!

Send your message via email to editsvp@shepherdsvoice.com.ph, through text to 0923-378-4941,
or by snail mail to The Editor at 60 Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines 1109.
You can also reach us through Kerygma Family. Simply log on to

www.kerygmafamily.com. Or like our Facebook page and post your message there.
For subscription-related concerns, text or call Sarah Discutido at 0922-814-7031 or email subscription@shepherdsvoice.com.ph.
2 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014

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

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

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.

I started to doubt myself. I felt unsure of my own The Journey to Wholeness
opinions and I did not trust my self. I was like a walking open The Holy Spirit led me to the verse in Romans 12:2. It says, “Don’t
wound, sensitive and misunderstood. let yourselves be shaped by the world where you live, but rather
Despite my insecurities, I would top most of my exams be transformed through the renewal of your mind.”
in my class. I had very good grades despite my very low self- God made me realize that those negative words that I had
esteem. I realized that there were things I could do well. picked up when I was growing up were all lies. I started filling my
But my insecurities got the better of me. My brokenness mind with His truth. He said that I am fearfully and wonderfully
prevented me from fulfilling my potentials. made (Psalm 139:13-14) and that I am His masterpiece
Because I was thirsty for real love from home, I looked (Ephesians 2:10).
for love in romantic relationships. The Lord started to heal me by first changing the way I
thought about myself and allowed me to see myself as He saw
Love in the Wrong Places me. I drew closer to God and His love gathered the broken
I had my first boyfriend in college. But because I was broken pieces within me and put me together again. He restored me
inside, I became needy and clingy. I was jealous even when and transformed me. With His love and faithfulness, I learned to
there was no reason to be. I became co-dependent, basing love myself.
my self-worth and value on another person’s love and The devil had succeeded in making me believe all those lies
approval of me. I was also plagued with negative thoughts, in the past. I started to trust and believe in God’s words instead.
those words I heard while growing up. I was so desperate I also opened myself to the unconditional love of a loving
for love that I would stay even if the relationship became Father who is extravagant in His love. I started to get love from
emotionally abusive and unhealthy. I was “needy” for love. I the Source of Love. I started to trust in His mercy.
couldn’t let it go, even if it was bad for me, I felt that I would I grieved for the love that I did not receive from my dad.
die if I was left alone. It felt like an addiction. God made me realize that he had no love to give because he
It was also during college when I learned that my father also did not receive it when he was growing up and that it is true
has three other children from another woman. He had an what Bo Sanchez says, “Hurt people, hurt people.”
affair when I was just a toddler. I realized that I had absorbed I have forgiven Dad a long time ago and have decided to
the fears and anxieties of my mother when I was a child. The love him unconditionally. God became the Father I needed.
irrational fears came out when I entered into relationships. He healed my wounded roots and exchanged it with a solid
At that time I did not know my behavior had roots foundation, restoring my true identity as His child who is deeply
from the past that makes one do irrational things like stay loved. He will not leave us abandoned to our brokenness and
in unhealthy relationships or settle for crumbs. All I wanted pain. He is Healer and Restorer.
was to be loved. I now know for certain that God turns beautiful things out
I felt broken inside and got more broken when I was left of the dust, out of our wounds. He even turns it into a book.
behind. It reinforced my feelings that I wasn’t valuable, not Love Yourself as God Loves You is a testament to God’s love and
worthy and not good enough. I started comparing myself faithfulness. I share here the internal spiritual medicines, biblical
with others and felt even worse. verses and life lessons that God gave me to heal me that can
I knew I was broken and that I needed healing but I did help you, too.
not know where to go. I pray that we will truly love ourselves as God loves us. His
I looked for love in all the wrong places, to fill the empty Word and His Perfect Love casts out all our fears, sets us free and
spaces, until I found a love to call my own. I learned to love makes us whole. Thanks be to God who loves us so!
myself. The truth is, God taught me how. He showed me how
through His Love and His Word.
Are you ready to take the first step towards
My Father Who Loves Me
The journey towards wholeness took time. In truth, it was a
wholeness?
process that took three decades. It started one sad night. It This book will help you to truly love yourself, the way God does.
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 Love yourself today.
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 Available in print and e-book versions at www.kerygmabooks.com.
about me in the Bible. Call us at 725-9999 local 101 to 108.

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).

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
MY SON HAS A DIFFICULTY
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
MAKING FRIENDS
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
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.
Dear Worried Mom,

Indeed, our child’s happiness is ours, too. I parties or reunions come, make it a learning opportunity to be comfortable
invite you to reflect on some questions and with different people. Assure him for the little efforts he put in boosting his
objectively gauge the possible causes of your interpersonal skills. It may not be an overnight success, but it can be done.
son’s interpersonal dealings. I suggest, too, that you seek the help of your son’s teacher or guidance
How’s your son’s social skill as a baby counselor in order to assist him in this area. They may offer solutions to help
and until now that he is in school? Is he shy you in developing your son’s social skills.
to begin with? In new situations or people, Lastly, balance your efforts in being there and boosting his confidence
does he adjust easily or warm up slowly? How versus being hovering. While you are not in control of the outside situation,
is his confidence in expressing himself? Does what you can do something about is your attitude about this as well as
he communicate his needs clearly or does establishing the mother-son bond that will build on his confidence. The Lord
he keep things to himself? At home, is he sees your best intentions and will bless your son with good lasting friendships.
given opportunity to speak up and decide on This is the best time to prepare him for that.
matters about himself, or are these taken care
of by the adults? Michele
If he is a shy person and does not
readily adjust to others, then extra work is Michele is a Registered Guidance Counselor (RGC) and is
needed. At home, give him encouragement currently pursuing her doctorate in Family Studies at the Miriam
College. She holds an M.A. in Family Psychology and Education
to speak about what is on his mind, whether from Miriam College. For 12 years, Michele worked as a guidance
pleasant or unpleasant. Keep yourself from counselor handling grade school children for premiere exclusive
commenting. When you eat out, train him schools. At present, she juggles her time between her role as
to order for himself or request for things like a wife and a mother to two kids, as lecturer for undergraduate
students at Miriam College, and as a private counselor at Miriam
water or extra napkin. If others will ask you College and an associate of the Love Consultants. Aside from that,
about him like his age or school, coach him she co-authored Growing Up Wired: Raising Kids in the Digital Age.
to reply confidently. If invitations for kids’

Bien may be blind —
K Fam physically — but he

definitely sees God’s affairs in order before I took my own life.
Insider mighty work in his
life through this
Then one of my concerned Facebook friends with
sharing. whom I chat regularly suggested that I try out a free
By Bien Canonizado telephone counseling service. She introduced me to
Photo by Jessie Lejan Bello the Light of Jesus Pastoral Care Center (LOJPCC) of Bo
Sanchez.
Slaying the
I Sought Help
Upon calling the LOJPCC, I was entertained by Ms.
Dragon
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
“A man of genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and Robillos visited me at home.
are portals of discovery.” — James Joyce Ulysses, 1922 I was soon given reassurance of God’s love for me. I
T
was introduced to a community of people in The Feast
here comes a time when a person’s soul is forged who could act as a support group and help me with my
in the crucible of life, struck by the hammer of depression.
tribulation, pounded by the anvil of despair. But Slowly, I learned to cope with my fears and to
through the fire, one comes out stronger and manage my anxiety. Meanwhile, Ms. Carmen monitors
tougher. I am such an individual, tested in the fires my progress and recovery from my mental instability.
of depression. I was amazed at the closeness and comfort provided
I am a employee in the provincial administration office of by The Feast family for me. Every Sunday, they would
Cavite. I was a graduate of Political Science from the University fetch me from my house, bring me to The Feast and then
of Sto. Tomas. back to my home afterwards.
I’ve been blind since college. I’m also deaf in one ear because I am no longer like a poor and disheveled villager,
of a birth defect. Aside from my disability, I’m your typical guy cowering in my small hut when the proverbial dragon of
in his late twenties, enjoying a relatively generous salary, taking depression visits.
care of both my parents, having fun, and being an ordinary Joe. Now, I’m a knight in shining armor, equipped with
sword, shield, hauberk and my faithful charger ready
Where My Dragon Came From to face that metaphorical dragon, if and when it comes
Suddenly and violently, the comfort zone I had built for myself knocking on my door.
came all crashing down. The world as I knew it shattered before And so, this October, as the Light of Jesus Pastoral
me, never to be the same ever again. Care Center celebrates its anniversary, let us spread the
My parents, happily married for 32 years, suddenly found word about this great and free service provided by this
themselves with irreconcilable differences. My mom, our primary ministry of Bo Sanchez.
provider and breadwinner, no longer wanted to live with me and Let us give armor and weapons to other frightened
my father. She has been dealing with depression for a long time villagers, so they may also slay the dragon of depression
now. She would get angry for no apparent reason and this would as I have done myself. This is not a one-time battle;
cause me great anxiety. rather it is a war fought daily against pain and emotional
The turning point came one fateful Sunday. My parents suffering.
had the biggest fight. Fed up, Mom chose to leave me and my God’s love is our armor, and our friends at The Feast
father to fend for ourselves. My world turned upside down. I felt are our proverbial weapons in order to finally slay this
completely powerless. I was worried for my father while at the dragon named depression.
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. Depressed? Need someone to pour
I felt like the guy in the famous (or infamous) Vincent Van out your problems to?
Gogh painting, “At Eternity’s Gates,” long regarded by psychiatrists
as an archetype for depression. The old man slowly dying in the Dial 726-4709 or 726-6728 to talk to a Light of Jesus
Van Gogh painting most resembles my mood at this point. Pastoral Care Center counselor. Open 24 hours from
I felt so depressed that I wanted to take my own life. I had Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
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 Don’t delay!

Feast
FEAST IMUS Snapshots
F
east Imus, which started SUPPORTS By Bien Canonizado
FAMILIES OF
in 2010, is the first and Photos by Jessie Lejan Bello
oldest Feast community
in Cavite.
On July 27, 2014, they
held the first fellowship OVERSEAS by Feast Imus’s regular priest, Fr.
session specially dedicated to the
wives of diligent Overseas Filipino FILIPINO Joseph Biliran.
The worship session was
WORKERS AND
Workers and single working moms. facilitated by the Feast Imus Jewels, an
Conceptualized earlier this all-women support group designed
year, the special 4 to 6 p.m. session for married women. Feast Imus is only
is a predominantly female-targeted
fellowship session. This was created SINGLE WORKING the second such Feast community
after Feast Ortigas to have a “Jewels”
within the Feast Imus because of
a perceived need to address the
increasing number of OFW families
MOMS support group.
The worship and musical session
was led by long-time Feast member
located in the growing residential Eliza Fariscal, daughter of council
sector of Imus City. members Peter and Shirley Fariscal.
After several case studies, the The inspirational talk was given
Feast Imus Council concluded the by Feast Imus preacher and builder
feasibility of launching this special Rex Robillos, while the musical band
session. was chaired by Kulas Basilonia.
Primarily geared to providing Overall, the first session was
spiritual and pastoral care, the a success with over 50 people
new session is also designed to in attendance — a great start to
offer financial advice to maximize spreading the Word of God in the
their husbands’ dollar remittances, bourgeoning city of Imus.
as well as provide parenting and Other Feast Imus sessions are at
counseling tips to the children of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., also held
these families. at the Feast Imus Center, Cinema 1,
As in the other Feast sessions, it FRC Mall, Aguinaldo Highway, Imus,
began with a Holy Mass celebrated Cavite.

SUBSCRIBE KERYGMA MISSION PARTNER 2014
NOW! 24th ANNIVERSARY RAFFLE PROMO
Trip To Singapore
by being a kerygma Mission Partner, you will not just subscribe to our highly inspiring magazine. You will also contribute to all our ministries and be a
blessing to Anawim – our home for the aged; he Cares and Tahanan ng Pagmamahal – our ministry for street children and orphans; grace to be born – a
halfway house for unwed mothers and their babies; Shepherd’s Voice Radio and Television, Inc. – our media ministry.
PRIZES: Consolation Prizes:
3 units Samsung galaxy tab 3
Grand Prize – Trip to Singapore for Two
2 units 29” Lg Flatscreen Television
1 package SVP Products worth P15,000
24
KERYGMA Amount FREEBIES
Ø 24th Anniversary T-shirt Y E

Regular 1 year q P700 One raffle entry
A R
#Keryg
ma24y
S
ears
Ø One-Year kerygma Subscription sent via courier

Ø 24th Anniversary T-shirt
Silver kMP q P2,500 Ø Thank god I’m blessed
Three raffle entries
Ø One-Year kerygma Subscription sent via courier Available
Ø Thank god I’m blessed while supply
Ø My Conspiracy Theory lasts!
gold kMP q P5,500 Ø Awaken the healer in You
Ø how to Live a Life of Miracles
Ø 8 habits of the happy Millionaire
Five raffle entries
Ø One-YearSubscription of kerygma/Fish/Mustard and All Stars sent via courier

Ø Thank god I’m blessed
Ø Memoirs of a great Person
Platinum kMP q P10,000 Ø Awaken the healer in You
Ø 8 habits of the happy Millionaire
Ø how to Live a Life of Miracles
Ø how Your Words Can Change Your World
See Poster
Ten raffle entries and Print Ad
For International Subscriptions: P2, 600.00 / Year – No Freebie for details.
FOR PROVINCIAL REGULAR SUBSCRIPTIONS:
Option 1: Snail Mail. NO ADDITIONAL FEE- Send monthly via Post Office unregistered mail.
Option 2: COURIER plus 300 /year– sent every two issues
SUBSCRIBING IS EASY! Given by:

B-day:
• By Mail: Return this form with your payment Zip code:
(PMO or check payable to Shepherd’s Voice) Date Sent:
to 60 Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City
P. O. Box #1331 Quezon City Central Post Office Start of subscription Signature
1153 Quezon City, Philippines q ChARgE ME: q CASh/COD q ChECk/PMO q DIRECT bANk DROP
Contact Nos.: 725-9999 local 105
411-7874 (Direct Line) Bank Deposit thru Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc. BDO S/A No. 397-000070-4 or BPI S/A No. 0123-4832-94, Allied Bank S/A No.
3160-00255-7, Metrobank S/A No. 3-2655-0807-4 (validated deposit slip enclosed)
Email: subscription@shepherdsvoice.com.ph I am authorizing Equitable Card Network to charge my Visa/Mastercard in the amount of P
Mobile: 0922-8147031
Cardholder’s Name: SPONSORS:
Card No.
Expiry Date:
Please allow three weeks delivery time for your Signature:

first issue, together with your free items.
ThIS SERVES AS A RAFFLE COUPON Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 2767 Series of 2014.
“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

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

KeRygma mission PaRtneR
24th anniversary Promo
Trip to Singapore
for Two
With free hotel accommodation,
including breakfast and dinner
for three days and two nights
Here’s How:
1. Subscribe to Kerygma from April 1, 2014 to December 21, 2014 and receive a FREE GIFT. Plus a chance to win a trip to Singapore for two or other minor
prizes.
2. To subscribe, tear off the subscription form from Kerygma and fill it out with your complete name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, mode
of payment, affix signature and mail to:
Shepherd’s Voice Publications Inc.,

c/o KMP 24th Anniversary promo
#60 Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City 1109
3. To get a subscription form, buy a copy of Kerygma at Shepherd’s Voice’s head office or at any of our distributors/outlets.
4. The winner of the trip to Singapore will have free hotel accommodation for two, including breakfast and dinner, for three days and two nights. Prize
is exclusive of tax.
5. Promo runs from April 2, 2014 to December 21, 2014.
6. All entries received until December 14, 2014 qualify for the draw. Grand Draw: January 11, 2015 at The Feast, PICC, Pasay City
GUIDELINES
9. The Winners shall claim their prizes at the Shepherd’s Voice office at 60
1. Lucky winners will be drawn. A participant can only win once per draw. Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City upon presentation of the notification
2. If a name is drawn more than once, the prize of higher value will given. letter, claim stub and a valid ID with photo and signature (e.g. driver’s
license, company ID or passport). Winners may send a representative
3. A notification letter via registered mail will be sent to winners for confirmation provided they present the following:
and will be published in the March 2015 issue of Kerygma. Instructions on a. Letter of authorization from winner
where to claim the prize will be detailed in the letter via registered mail. b. Proper identification
c. Letter sent by SVP and claim stub
4. The winner of the trip to Singapore and his or her companion will secure
their own passport. 10. The promo organizer’s decision is final with the concurrence of a DTI
5. Prizes are transferable but not convertible to cash. Representative.
6. The winner of the trip to Singapore and his or her companion shall shoulder 11. All SVP employees are not eligible to join the raffle promo including
all the taxes and documentations related to the trip, and the 20 percent tax their relatives up to the third degree of consanguinity or affinity.
for prizes exceeding P10,000.
12. A DTI Representative will be on hand to witness the draw on January
7. Prizes must be claimed within 60 days from receipt of notification. The
validity of the trip shall be for a period of six months from issuance. 11, 2015, 10:30 am at the PICC during The FEAST.
8. Prizes unclaimed will be forfeited in favor of SVP with prior DTI approval. 13. Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 2767 Series of 2014.
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.

Special By Bo Sanchez
Section
How to Protect Yourself from a
Vampire
G
od says, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). The first response is what people usually do.
You know this already. When you don’t protect yourself from difficult
But what if your neighbor is a difficult person — a people, you get punished psychologically,
Vampire? Should you still love him? Does loving a neighbor physically and spiritually.
mean allowing a Controlling Vampire to trample on your
dignity? Does it mean allowing a Clinging Vampire to suck Many Get Beaten to Eat the Bread
all your time? There’s this old crazy man behind you, holding his
Here’s my big message for you: Unless you protect yourself from stick above your head, warning you, “If you eat that
difficult people and gain freedom from them, you cannot love them. bread, I will beat you with this stick. If you don’t eat
that bread, I will beat you with this stick.”
A Mysterious Old Man This is what many people do: If they are very
Imagine that you’re riding your mountain bike through the countryside. hungry, they suffer the beating just so they could
The view is incredibly breathtaking. You decide to park your bike, carry eat. And this is one of the most common responses
your backpack, and walk inside the forest. towards a difficult person. They choose to tolerate
But soon, you get lost. You try to walk back, but it is hopeless, the difficult person because of real benefits.
because you realize you are going in circles. After almost a whole day Examples?
of walking, it’s eerie that in the entire time, you’ve not seen a single I know of employees who tolerate the childish
human being. You now feel tired and hungry. screaming tantrums of their boss because they
And then lo and behold, you see a small house in the distance. need the job. Because the hunger for food is more
Your heart is filled with excitement. You walk up to the door and knock. urgent than the hunger for dignity.
An old man opens the door. You beg, “Sir, I am totally lost. I’ve not eaten I know of wives who tolerate the cutting
anything for almost a day. Can you spare me some food?” remarks and putdowns from their heartless
The old man says, “I have some bread. Come in…” husbands because they have nowhere to go.
You’re very grateful. You take your place in front of the dining Because the hunger for security is more urgent than
table, starving. The old man puts a large piece of bread in front of you. the hunger for self-respect.
You grab the bread quickly. But before you could bite it, you hear the I know of kids who daily tolerate the toxic
old man say, “By the way, if you eat that bread, I will beat you with this barrage of soul-killing words from their very
stick. If you don’t eat that bread, I will beat you with this stick.” insecure, immature mother — just because they
Alarmed, you turn around. And you see a stick over your head. You feel they have no choice. Because the hunger for
realize that the old man is crazy! the familiar — no matter how painful — is more
Here’s my big question: What will you do? urgent than the hunger for freedom.
Damn If You Do, Damn If You Don’t What Happens When You Don’t Protect Yourself
This is the perfect picture of dealing with a difficult person. It’s a “damn When you don’t protect yourself from difficult
if you do, damn if you don’t” situation. Why? people, you get punished psychologically,
Whenever you’re dealing with a difficult person, you can never physically and spiritually.
please him no matter what you do. So don’t even try. (You’ll be very First, you get punished psychologically. Imagine
frustrated if you do.) Why? the massive stress that you bombard yourself with
Because it’s not about you. It’s about him. His immaturity. His every day. The sleepless nights. The daily worry. The
woundedness. acid in your stomach. The tightness in your chest.
Example? Second, you get punished physically. I’ve met
When a Criticizing Vampire is judging you, it’s not about you. people who, because of the Vampire in their lives,
You could be Mother Teresa and he’ll still find something to criticize have asthma, ulcers, cough, allergies, headaches,
about you. (He’ll say, “I admire your love for the poor, Mother Teresa, shoulder pains, breast cancer, and brain tumors.
but you’re not doing enough for global warming and you don’t seem In fact, their symptoms appear right after meeting
to care about the extinction of whales. And by the way, you have no their Vampire.
fashion taste.”) It comes from his insecurities, wanting to make you Third, you get punished spiritually. Because of
inferior so that he’ll feel superior. their Vampire, some people lose their identity, their
When a Controlling Vampire is trying to control you through anger vision, their purpose, and their dreams because
and intimidation, and you don’t follow him, he’ll throw a tantrum. He’ll they allowed a Vampire to rule their life. When you
shout. He’ll threaten and bully. Please know that his tantrum is not don’t protect yourself, you send a clear message to
about you. His tantrum comes from his immaturity, from his deep fear yourself that you don’t value yourself, that you’re
of losing control, which in his mind is connected to losing self-worth. not important.
When a Complaining Vampire is “chronically” complaining about Which brings me to a very important
being a victim of life’s catastrophes, you cannot solve his problems. He question…
will not allow it. He will find another catastrophe to complain about.
It’s not about you. Did Jesus Protect Himself from Difficult People?
So let me go back to my analogy above and ask you again: What Because some religious people ask me, “But Bo,
will you do? why protect myself? Jesus didn’t protect Himself
from bad people. He allowed them to kill Him on the cross! can get your “bread” (benefits) elsewhere.
Shouldn’t we do the same?”
But before the crucifixion, Jesus protected Himself Walking Out May Also Mean Decreasing Time
from a string of difficult people. Let me name three… Walking out may not mean cutting the relationship totally, but
decreasing your time, exposure and involvement with that
1. Debating Pharisees and Scribes difficult person.
These were Criticizing Vampires. They wanted to catch If your friend has a victim mentality or is incurably pessimistic
Jesus saying something wrong, capture it in their or overly sensitive or highly temperamental, and he’s driving you
hidden video camera, so they could use it in court. But nuts, you could choose to spend less time with that person. In fact,
Jesus didn’t fall into their trap. He protected Himself. the Bible says, “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
2. Demanding Crowd do not associate with one easily angered” (Proverbs 22:24).
These were Clinging Vampires. They wanted Jesus to But sometimes, it isn’t that easy.
open a 24-hour bakery that multiplied bread for free What if your boss is your Vampire?
— so they didn’t have to work anymore. But Jesus What if your husband is your Vampire?
escaped this crowd and went to a lonely place to pray. What if your father is your Vampire?
He protected Himself. You can’t just walk out.
3. Doubting Villagers This reminds me of my friend Steve. Steve’s father was a
These were Contradicting Vampires. They didn’t Controlling and Criticizing Vampire. In his father’s twisted mind,
believe Jesus because, in their eyes, He was one all his children can’t do anything right.
of them — the guy who repaired their farm tools, a Every single day, he was always angry, always shouting, always
former classmate, someone in their FB and Twitter telling his children that they were no good. He held his children in
account. Some thought He was a lunatic. But despite an iron vise grip. He never wanted them to do anything on their
their doubts, Jesus stayed His course. He protected own. He wanted everyone to work in the family business, under
Himself. his Stalinist dictatorship. He was the king and they were all his
Jesus lived with difficult people yet protected Himself pawns. But my friend knew he had to get out. So after two years
from them. Why? The biggest blessing of protecting of working in the family business, Steve struck it out on his own,
yourself from difficult people is gaining the freedom to started his own business, and lived elsewhere. From that time on,
genuinely love them. This freedom is important. Because his father refused to talk to him — and the father gave him the
unless you’re free from the power of difficult people, you silent treatment for three years. But Steve never stopped reaching
cannot love them. out to his dad, visiting him every day.
Let me teach you two ways to protect yourself from Today, Steve is a multimillionaire, 100 times more successful
difficult people. than his father. Steve told me, “If I stayed with my father, I would
never be where I am now.”
Protection #1: Walk Out and Find Bread Elsewhere Steve chose to “walk out” of a relationship to find bread
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. The reason why you feel terrible when someone criticizes you
Just walk out of the house! Get away from the crazy harshly or abuses you verbally is because you allow his words and
old man, leave his bread on the table, and try to find even actions to enter your heart.
better bread elsewhere. People do this all the time. Because
of the chronic pain that the difficult person is causing, they Protection #2: Protect Your Head and Eat Your Bread
cut their relationship with their Vampire. Let’s go back to my story.
Jesus said, “And if a town refuses to welcome you, Let’s rewind to that point when the old crazy guy is about to
shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you hit you with the stick… But instead of walking out, you remember
have abandoned those people to their fate” (Luke 9:5). you brought your cycling helmet with you. So you wear it quickly.
Meaning: Walk out. Don’t stay if people don’t like you. Result? The old man can continue to hit you on your head,
Don’t take their rejection personally, because it’s not about but you don’t feel the beating at all. And you eat the bread to your
you. They have issues. Leave them in the hands of God. heart’s content, smiling the whole time.
Do you have toxic friends who suck your joy? This is the second way to protect yourself
Walk out. from Vampires: Protect your head. What does
Do you have a boyfriend who is cheating this mean? There are times when you
on you? Walk out. can’t create physical space
Do you have a between you and the
girlfriend who’s just Vampire. So I suggest
using you and treating that you create
you like garbage? Walk emotional space. If
out. you’re in a situation
Walking out where you can’t get
(figuratively) is the easiest out of the world of the
solution. You can do this, Vampire, you still need to
especially when you know you 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.
BO’S ACTION STEPS
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.
1. Identify a vampire or difficult
Question: How do you create this emotional helmet? person in your life and pray
Answer: Through your imagination. for him or her.
Intrigued? Read on.
Imagine the truth!
Imagination is one of the most amazing things that God has given 2. List down steps on how you
to us. Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge,” can protect yourself from
and I totally agree. Because imagination is how you create your future. that vampire.
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. so much bigger than the immature actions or hurtful
For example, you need to use your imagination to create a words of this difficult person.
compelling vision for the future. Your dreams are true in the future. But You’re a child of God. No one has the permission
it’s not yet evident. So God gave you your imagination so that you can to belittle you. The Vampire is small because of his
picture your future in your mind — so that this picture will fuel you to weaknesses, his woundedness and brokenness.
achieve your dreams. Perhaps he wasn’t loved as a child.
You can use your imagination to heal your body. Perhaps his parents weren’t there for him.
Because your body is a sponge. It will obey whatever your mind So instead of feeling anger or hurt for what he has
feeds it. So always imagine your body getting better, getting stronger, done to you, you feel compassion for him.
and getting healthier. My imagination exercise isn’t over yet. I want you to
And yes, use your imagination to protect yourself from difficult imagine the next scene: Picture an angel who picks up
people. Let me teach you how. that one-inch toy and flies away to God’s repair shop. In
your mind, see that angel carrying that one-inch toy far,
Use the Truth to Protect Yourself from Vampires far, far away — until the angel disappears from view.
Do you have Vampires that emotionally or verbally abuse you — and Not only is the Vampire a one-inch toy, he’s also now
you can’t physically get away from them? geographically separated from you. At this point, pray
Is your Vampire a husband with a poisonous tongue? for him. Totally surrender him into God’s hands.
Or an emotionally disturbed mother who terrorizes you daily? Every time you feel emotionally burdened by this
Or a toxic boss — and merely thinking of him already makes your person, imagine these two scenes in your mind. When
chest tighten and your heart palpitate? you do my “Imagine the Truth” exercises, you’ll notice
The Bible says, “It’s better to live alone in the desert than with a that in 30 seconds (sometimes quicker), you’ll feel as if a
quarrelsome, complaining wife” (Proverbs 21:19). Most of the time, you ton of weight was lifted from your shoulders. You’ll feel
can’t physically separate yourself from your Vampire and build your free and happy. Specifically, you’ll have the fantastic
home in Sahara Desert. But here’s what you can do: You can create freedom to love this difficult person.
emotional distance between you and your Vampire. And then complete the exercise with my
How do you do that? all-purpose meditation:
Do one of my “Imagine the Truth” exercises. Close your eyes and say, “I’m totally,
Here’s one I find very effective. In your completely and perfectly
imagination, I want you to “shrink” this loved.” Say it repeatedly.
difficult person into a one-inch plastic Be flooded with
toy. Shrink him to a one-inch cheap peace.
toy that you buy from Divisoria. At
once, you realize that even if he curses Email me at bosanchez@
and shouts at you all he wants, it won’t kerygmafamily.com.
bother you one bit. Because he’s just a one-
inch toy. Editor’s Note: This article is
Why imagine this? Because this is the truth excerpted from Bo’s book, How to
that your eyes cannot yet see. Immature people, Deal with Difficult People. Visit www.
though seemingly big and terrifying on the kerygmabooks.com or call (632) 725-
outside, are really small people. In reality, you’re 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 for me because I didn’t know exactly where and what.
As told to Karren Renz Seña I don’t have a perfect life, but I had a stable job that mattered
E
not only to me, but also to other people, I had a very stable
ver since I was a little girl, I’ve always thought that there salary, and I had a very stable home. My parents separated
was something bigger, something greater waiting for when I was a kid, but even then, my mother singlehandedly
me. Where it was, I didn’t know, so I kept looking for raised my four siblings and me with the same tenacity that I
it. I made sure to always excel in everything that I do, sometimes see in myself. She was strong and independent, and
in hopes that maybe I will find that ‘great thing’, that she did everything she could to provide us with everything we
‘great destiny’. It always seemed to people that I was needed and more. She threw herself into work in the same way
just going along with whatever wind was blowing the strongest, that I threw myself in mine. We were two peas in the same pod.
or whatever tide that was sweeping me the hardest, but even Everything was great – finances, health and relationships.
then I believed that I was always in control. I was holding the What more did I want?
reins of my life. I was confident I’d find my place in this world, so I I felt like a feather. Lightweight. Floating along in the wind.
plowed through life like a bull running after a red cloth. Lost.
Disquiet in the Soul Finding Ground

I worked as a nurse for four years. I wholeheartedly gave At the time I was searching for that particular ‘something’, I
everything into my profession and vocation. I was very happy, met up with a friend who was making waves in her business.
too. I knew that as a nurse, I was making a great difference in When she presented the business to me, I was apprehensive at
the lives of my patients, no matter how small or big my task was. first, because it required much engaging with many different
For a while, I thought that I had finally found my place. I was people, and I didn’t have enough confidence for that. Still, with
helping save the lives of so many people and I was doing it rather the same vagrant spirit that enabled me to try many different
well. But even then, in my heart, there was that little voice that things, I joined her in the business.
kept nagging at me, saying that there was somewhere else I’d Meeting new people had certainly broadened my world
rather be and something else I’d rather do. It was very frustrating and widened my perspective. I was able to listen to the stories

of many people who dared to dream for something greater in their I also left because I was afraid that if she saw me failing,
lives. I also realized that I was in the position to help them achieve she would say, “I told you so.” I felt as if I had so much to
their dreams by becoming their mentor and guide in the business prove — to her, to the world, to myself, and the only way I
we were in. Soon, the leaders in our organization began to see my could do that is to separate myself from her.
potential, so they trained me further. I was driven and passionate to Leaving my house pushed me to be more responsible.
succeed and I hunger for great things… because I want great things I have always been independent, but at the back of my
for my family and the people I love. I hunger to matter. I hunger to mind, I knew my mother was still there to catch me. I didn’t
be significant. want that anymore. I wanted to stand on my own two feet.
My business gave me that. I worked in my own terms, my own I have never worked and prayed so hard in my entire life. I
time. I was able to sell my products well because I believed in it and worked in order to prove to everyone that I could take care
I’ve seen the benefits it gave other people. But aside from the income of myself and that I could make my way in my business. But
and the independence that my new job gave me, it was the way in the silence of my heart, I was always praying for peace
people’s eyes light up when they hit another milestone, and the way and understanding for me and the people who couldn’t
they smiled at me whenever they were able to achieve their dreams understand my decisions, most especially my mom.
that made this new venture fulfilling for me. My mom was still a constant presence in my life, but
My mentors also brought me to The Feast, where I finally because we weren’t exposed to each other anymore, our
understood the difference between success and significance. Our fights lessened. As the months went by, I slowly found
company values Christ as the center of our organization, so we make my ground and dug deep. As the months flew by, I slowly
it a point to attend The Feast weekly and to bring more people to made my way up the success and corporate ladder. It took
it. Every time I attended The Feast, I felt my relationship with God quite a while, but my mom was finally convinced that I
getting stronger and stronger. I was finally happy to be where I was. could make it.
It wasn’t strong at first, but the longer I worked on our business, Nowadays we go to The Feast together. We’d go to
the stronger the desire to leave my stable job became. The Feast in my brand new car, and afterwards we’d spend
Eventually, I filed my resignation letter and left my life as a nurse the day together bonding with the entire family. We still
behind. have trouble expressing our thoughts to each other, but
attending Mass and The Feast together have taught us
Disquiet in the Home both to be more lenient to and understanding with each
My mom and I love each other very much, but because we were both other.
stubborn people, we always lock horns. We’re two very opinionated Leaving home and my mother was probably the
people and we don’t always see each other eye to eye. I’ve made hardest thing I’d ever done in my life, but it allowed me to,
many decisions that did not align with what she thought was best for pardon the cliché, spread my wings and take flight.
me, so we were always arguing. What we had was the typical mother-
daughter relationship.
Angela is now a mentor and coach, helping other people achieve
But then the fights and arguments happened more often when their dreams as she had achieved hers.
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.
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.

Special By Bo Sanchez
Section
HOW TO TRANSFORM A
VAMPIRE Don’t Heal Their Badness;

Heal Their Brokenness

T
he passage below may be the article that there are only two ways to protect yourself from
most misunderstood passage a Vampire: create physical distance and emotional distance
between yourself and the difficult person.
in the entire Bible. “But to you By protecting yourself, you gain the freedom to love the
who are listening I say: Love difficult person in a genuine way.
your enemies, do good to those Remember our old story? About the lost guy who begged
who hate you, bless those who for bread from an old crazy fellow?
curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Let me share with you four human responses to the
situation.
If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to
them the other also” (Luke 6:27-31). Response One: Get Beaten and Eat the Bread
A lot of people think that Jesus wants Because the man is hungry, he just munches the bread and
us to be defenseless wimps in front of suffers the stick from the old crazy guy.
the Vampires of our life. But if you really In the same way, a lot of people just suffer the abuse of the
difficult persons — whether the abuse comes from a father, a
understood their culture and history, you’d mother, a friend, a boss, a boyfriend, a girlfriend — because
understand how all these steps were about they are hungry for the benefits from the difficult person.
protecting yourself while still showing We allow ourselves to be abused because of low self-
respect and love for the Vampire. worth. We are so hungry for love, we clutch and clasp and
In their culture, there were different grasp at the counterfeit love of this difficult person. And then
we logically justify our sorry behavior by saying this is the
kinds of slaps. A backhand palm slap is the “Christian” thing to do.
slap of a master to a slave. But an open-palm
slap is the slap of equals. So when Jesus Response Two: Walk Out and Find Bread Elsewhere
said, “If someone slaps you on the right Here, the man decides to walk away from the old man.
cheek (which was a backhand slap), turn This is the first way of protecting yourself from difficult
people: creating physical distance.
your left cheek (which will require an open- It’s the easiest way to protect yourself. Sometimes, it
palm slap),” you’re actually protecting your means totally cutting off the relationship. Sometimes, it just
dignity and telling your abuser, “Treat me as means decreasing your time with the difficult person. And
an equal.” during those times when you are together, you still reach out
You can’t transform a difficult person by and love them.
allowing yourself to be abused by him. That Response Three: Protect Your Head and Eat Your Bread
is why the first step to transform a difficult Here, the man remembers that he brought his cycling helmet.
person is to protect yourself from him. 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
Four Human Responses to Difficult People at all.
Imagine you’re walking in the woods one day. There, In the same way, you can create an emotional distance
you hear someone shouting, “Help!” You run to the between you and the difficult person. Because there are times
direction of the voice, and there you see a man when we can’t simply walk out of a difficult relationship. What
sinking in a quicksand. And he says, “Please! Grab my if your Vampire is your father? Or your spouse? Or your boss
hand! I’m going to die!” — and you need this job for at least a year, until you can find
You study your choices. The sinking man is right another job?
smack in the middle of a humongous quicksand. To To protect yourself emotionally, you need to use your
grab his hand, you have to actually walk into the imagination. As I mentioned in the first article, God gave you
quicksand. If you do that, the man will pull you into this amazing gift called imagination to “imagine the truth that
the quicksand — and both of you will die. is not yet so evident.”
You realize that the only way to save him is to I also taught you an imagination exercise of “shrinking”
maintain your distance from him and maintain your your difficult people into one-inch toys and handing them
position of stability. Practically, it means standing over to an angel who brings them to God’s repair shop far,
on solid ground and throwing him a rope. The man far away — and by doing so, you surrender them to God.
grabs the rope, ties it around his body, and from Every time you feel burdened by your difficult person, do this
your position of stability, you pull him out of the exercise and you’ll instantly feel very different towards your
quicksand. And this point is important — he has to Vampire. Instead of anger or hurt, you’ll feel compassion.
do something. He has to actually do something (tie
the rope around his body and hold on). In other Response Four: Take His Stick and Break Bread Together
words, he should want to be rescued. In this response, the man wears his helmet, but he does
I already shared to you in the first teaching something else. He stands up and grabs the stick from the old

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.

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.

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 didn’t do anything and just suffered in silence. I became
in school one day. “Where did this come from?” I asked. afraid of them. By just looking at their faces, I was already
“Oh, I took it because I just wanted to copy your notes,” intimidated. My few friends couldn’t defend me for they
my classmate told me casually. had weak personalities and were outnumbered.
“Why didn’t you tell me? I was looking for it all over,” I Two quarters later, the bullying stopped when I
said. I reported her to our teacher. That got her mad. To get became an instant celebrity in school. After I performed
even, she asked the help of our class bullies. They made me feel that a song-and-dance number in a school program, I
I didn’t belong. They made fun of me whenever I mispronounced a immediately had fans who always flocked to our
word. And they did different sorts of things just to hurt my feelings. I 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.

YOU ARE AN ASPIRING AUTHOR AND YOU WANT YOUR DREAM BOOK PUBLISHED.
We can help make your dreams come true!
You have a fantastic message you want to share, and you want to bless the world with it.
Life Dream Books can help you turn your dream into reality through its wide array of self-publishing services. We offer different levels of
editorial, layout, proofreading and printing services that will best fit your need and budget.
Plan that book. Write it. We take care of the rest.
Here are some first-time authors we’ve helped to make their dream book a reality:
In his first book, Be Free from Painful Memories and Trauma in 30 Minutes, Jojo Apolo shares neuro-linguistic programming
(NLP) techniques that will help erase painful memories and traumas in mere minutes.
Discover the stories and insights of world-class Filipinos compiled in Marianne Mencias’ What’s Your Life’s Masterpiece?
and be inspired to create your own masterpiece.
Dra. Josephine Holgado lists down the important habits you need to learn to maintain a healthy body in The Doctor
is in the House. Discover the 9 secret guides to your child health that would help cut down your visits to the doctor.
For a quotation, send your manuscript to lifedreambooks@shepherdsvoice.com.ph or call us at (632) 725-9999 loc. 218 and
look for Karren Seña.
lifedreambooks
We publish your dreams.
lifedreamsbooks halfpage ad.indd 1 3/20/14 5:18 PM
SOMETHING AWESOME IS COMING YOUR WAY!

Kerygma has gone digital! You can now download the interactive version of the
most-loved inspirational magazine in the country!
What to expect in the ALL-NEW KERYGMA INTERACTIVE EDITION?
• Videos from Brother Bo Sanchez

• More testimonials
• More interaction
• More inspiration
• More surprises
• More blessings!
Go to www.shepherdsvoice.com.ph/kerygmamagazine and
subscribe to our newsletter to download your copy.
As our gift to you, you can download Kerygma Interactive for FREE!*
Bless more people by sharing your copies with all your friends and loved ones!
Coming soon on Apple and Google Newsstand.
*For a limited period only, so DOWNLOAD NOW!

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

DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU’RE HERE?
DO YOU KNOW YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
We are called here to create a fantastic masterpiece that will allow you to
magnify God’s glory and bless the world.
Be inspired by the stories and insights of world-class Filipinos who have found their reason for
being here.
Start creating your own Masterpiece.

Order your copy now.
For orders, call 725-9999 local 101 to 108
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 Hi, Dean Pax!
Some aspiring entrepreneurs believe that if they know the I’m coming home at last! I’ll be there from the 23rd to
technical stuff of the business, they could set up the 30th of March. Please grant my request to sit in
sustainable businesses that do that technical stuff. on your Entrep class. I can’t wait to attend your class
Let me cite an example. I know of Aling Luring once again.
(not her real name) who trained under a famous God is really good. By the end of spring, the
salon school in Cubao. She was quite good during preschool that I established three years ago is
the training of hairstyling and manicuring skills. going to move to a bigger place here in Japan to
accommodate 100 students. culture is very matured, male-dominated, and old traditioned.
I learned that being good at something is not the only Schela is very young, a woman and a Filipina. Although the
requirement to realize a dream. I have to build what is unseen. challenges were tough, WORK and PLAY for her meant:
I have to create a vision. But it doesn’t end there. I must - Pursuing her dream business
also have a willing heart, mind, body and soul to fulfill that - Acting with belief (belief in herself, belief in her idea,
dream. and belief that God will always prosper anyone who
I need to have a deeper compelling reason why I want has faith in Him)
to achieve such things and to know the real purpose of my - Sharing the bright ideas with friends/family to test it
existence. As I journeyed into entrepreneurship, I have to know - Keeping the fire burning (failures are lessons that bring
my strengths and do something to overcome my weaknesses. you closer to success)
Most important is to know and praise how great my - Offering her time, talent and treasure to Jesus Christ
Maker is. I’m created in His own likeness. Like you, Dean Pax, through her school.
He has called me to do something impossible to show His
Glory. So friends, have you discovered your preference? Have you
In short, Victory International Preschool (VIP) was developed your competence around it? With some money, you
established to tell the world, especially to the Japanese, about can grow a business out of it.
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. Dean Pax Lapid is an experienced business consultant and a serial
entrepreneur. He was dean of the Entrepreneurs School of Asia from 2004
See you soon, Dean Pax!
to 2011. He also used to be an adjunct faculty at the Asian Institute of
Management conducting workshops on entrepreneurship. He also co-
Schela authored How to Turn Your Passion into Profit with Bo Sanchez.
As a mentor, it is so fulfilling to see that your mentee has Subscribe to Dean Pax’s Facebook pages (Negosyo Mentor and Lead
become better than you. More Development Center) or email him at mentors@lead-more.com.
Schela had big hurdles setting up a business in Japan where the
Dean Pax and Bo Sanchez with Schela and

company.
Schela, the letter sender, with her Japanese

school directress

K
Preacher
Wi-Pie By Velden Lim
I
used to be a manager in one of the biggest fast-food Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that it’s bad
chains in the country. In this fast-food chain, the kitchen to desire progress, growth and success. I am not even
crew and the counter crew cannot cross from one area saying that you should stop having dreams. That’s not
to another due to food safety reasons. what I mean.
One day, Erwin (not his real name) approached me All I am saying is that you should embrace whatever
and asked, “Sir, can you transfer me to another station? situation you’re in right now because God always places
Can I be a counter crew?” you in a certain place, at a certain time, in a certain
Erwin was among the oldest in the crew, approaching way for a big purpose. He is the “Perfect Manager.” He
his fifties. He was always assigned to the egg station because knows where to place you every single moment — be
he cooked eggs better than anyone else. However, Erwin felt it beautiful or not. Why? Because He sees the bigger
that his role was boring. That was why he wanted to change picture.
stations. In Erwin’s case, he was too focused on his desire to
As his manager, I knew very well that Erwin lacked the skills get out of his work station that he forgot the real and
of a counter area crew since he did not train for it. I also knew bigger purpose is to provide each customer the best fast-
that Erwin’s demeanor and appearance were “less-pleasing” food experience, which is quality food served quickly.
compared to other counter crew. That’s why I said no to his And in the greater scheme of things, I, being Erwin’s
request. manager, knew that his original role in the egg station
However, as soon as I turned my back, Erwin rushed to the was his best position. He could add the most value there
counter area and started to accommodate customers. I was than being in the counter area. Unfortunately, Erwin
about to command him to go back to his station, but I was a opted to get out of his position, which eventually led to
little too late when I heard a customer ask him, “Hi! Do you have his major embarrassment.
Wi-Fi here?” Wherever you are, be there.
With full conviction, Erwin answered, “Sorry, sir, we do not Obey your Perfect Manager, for His only desire and
have Wi-Fi here. We only have apple pie and pineapple pie!” purpose is to provide you the best life-long experience.
Everyone who heard their conversation, including the His goal is to bless you more than you can ever imagine.
customers on the line, burst into laughter. If we keep this principle in mind, we will experience
Friend, are you like Erwin? all the joy that God has in store for us. And we can save
Do you find yourself easily discontented in where you are ourselves from our own “Wi-Pie” moments.
right now?
I have a word of advice for you: Wherever you are, be there! “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be
Oftentimes we are like Erwin. We want to be in another content in whatever circumstances I am.” (Philippians
situation, thinking that we can only be happy if we are 4:11)
someplace else. But that’s not true. If you really want to be
Velden Lim is the builder of Feast Bicutan, which happens every Saturday,
happy, you have to appreciate where you are right now and 4:30 p.m. and 730 p.m., at the Cinema 1 of SM City Bicutan, Parañaque
be completely there. (Note: This doesn’t apply to things that City. .
destroy you as a person, like sin, vices, harmful habits and toxic
relationships.)

ChitChit
Chti’s trip to Baler, Quezon

Chti’s trip to Baler,
Quezon 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?
THE BEST PLANS

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
All Is Well When God Plans for You my passion is to travel, meet new people and experience new places and
cultures. This discovery inspired me to become a licensed tour guide.
B
Since I am a freelancer,
I have the time to Chit’s latest visit to Mauban, Quezon.
ack in 2010, I planned to migrate travel to different
to Canada. Everything was going local destinations.
smoothly and I was able to submit all More importantly, I
of the requirements. So I gave up my was able to undergo
full-time job as academic head and the five-week training
Hotel and Restaurant Management course for accredited
professor. I became a freelancer while I waited for tour guides. Being a
the approval of my application. Aside from my job, professor, I thought
I also no longer pursued my doctorate degree. I the training would be
thought I would not be able to benefit from it once a walk in the park. I was
I move to Canada. wrong. The training was
It was a major life decision and I prayed to grueling with research
God for guidance about this. But things changed. work, exams and other requirements I needed to do simultaneously. But
Feedback from the immigration consultant in my hard work bore much fruit. I became the class valedictorian — another
Canada and his counterpart here in Manila became big blessing from God.
less. All the while I thought moving abroad was But guess what? The Lord gave me a bigger blessing — He drew me
where I was being led. But what was happening? closer to Him and nourished my spiritual life through The Feast Alabang.
Sadly, my Canada dream did not become a The first time I attended, I thought how happy the people are in this
reality. The $2,000.00 I spent just disappeared in 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.
Chit with her dean and fellow professors from
Philippine Women’s University.

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.

PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Inspiring You to Live a Fantastic Life

No. 292 Vol. 24 October 2014

Learn Two Ways to Protect

Manong, dyan lang po sa tabi!

BUY YOUR COPY NOW!

For orders call 725-9999 local 101 to 108

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

After all, YOU might be a vampire, too!

Learn how to:

ORDER your copies now!

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

Merlynda Llantada I missed you, Kerygma. God allowed me to reconect with

If there is one magazine which is close to my heart, it’s

We Want to hear from you!

You can also reach us through Kerygma Family. Simply log on to

2 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014

For all subscription-related concerns

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

HOW HAS KERYGMA CHANGED

24 Taking flight, finding ground

ABOUT OUR COVER MODEL

Make Those Wow

Quick Health Tip: PROBIOTICS

6 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014

St. Therese of the Child Jesus

OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 7

8 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014

OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 9

10 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014

Or Call (632) 725-9999

Dear Worried Mom,

OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 11

K Fam physically — but he

12 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014

OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 13

Ø 24th Anniversary T-shirt Y E

Ø One-Year kerygma Subscription sent via courier

Ø One-YearSubscription of kerygma/Fish/Mustard and All Stars sent via courier

SUBSCRIBING IS EASY! Given by:

Please allow three weeks delivery time for your Signature:

are you in?”

OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 15

16 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014

OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 17

Shepherd’s Voice Publications Inc.,

5. Promo runs from April 2, 2014 to December 21, 2014.

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:

OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 19

How to Protect Yourself from a

TAKING FLIGHT, FINDING GROUND

Disquiet in the Soul Finding Ground

24 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014

Loving Her from a Distance

OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 25

VAMPIRE Don’t Heal Their Badness;

26 KERYGMA • OCTOBER 2014

OCTOBER 2014 • KERYGMA 27

How Do You Take the Stick Away?

Step 1: Say What You Feel