God's Favor

by Remy A. Bautista

It’s difficult to describe the feeling when a small mistake causes significant harm to many people. I don’t want to emphasize what my mistake was because I believe the enemy is happy when emphasis is placed on the error or sin rather than the good. Thus, I want to draw attention to the generosity of those who supported and comforted me amid my worry and anxiety after discovering that my Facebook and Messenger accounts have been hacked. I was immediately concerned about how to get my accounts back.

One of my roommates received the hacker’s initial message. As soon as she received the message from the hacker, she made a quick decision to instantly notify my contacts of what had happened to my account by writing on my timeline. She then warned everyone else in our group chat by sending a message. She also suggested that I call the friends and relatives I can reach at their phone numbers to warn them ahead, which I did right away. My siblings understood what to do before they even got a message from the hacker, since I acted quickly on her advice. Additionally, she also asked for assistance from our colleagues, who had a wealth of technological experience and were also present at the hotel at the time. They answered her request and went to our room to help.

My body shook when I found out that two of my friends had already sent the requested amount to the hacker’s G-Cash account. It’s really tough to pay off debt you didn’t incur, so my first thought was, “Do I have to pay for it?” However, it was a great consolation that my colleagues stayed with me until my problem was resolved. My Facebook account was returned to me after roughly four hours. Thanks to her expertise, she was able to find my username and use it to inform Facebook what had happened to my account. She also helped me get the footage I needed for the necessary authentication. Another favor came from one of my roommates. She ordered food for our dinner, had it delivered to our room, where everyone was busy helping me, and paid for it.

When the group left our room, I remem bered to do my devotion. I cried with joy as I was praying because of what had happened. The events in our room seemed to have been planned; when I needed assistance, the right help arrived at the right moment with the right people. Even the dinner for everyone who helped that evening had a sponsor.

I couldn’t sleep that night. I remembered my sister’s anointing prayer for me during our Bible study the previous Sunday. It was a declaration prayer for the year 2023. I read it and recited it repeatedly until I fell asleep. It says, “The favors of the Lord are upon you; you will always excel in everything that you do because you are the beloved of the Father, in Jesus’ name.” The verse she quoted for me was Isaiah 40:31 (NIV), “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” “They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and will not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”

I came to realize that the presence of the two ICT personnel who joined the FAWU event was, in fact, God’s favor. God gave them wisdom so that they could help me. The comforting comments I heard from everyone at that time and even after the incident significantly lessened the burden I was carrying, as if God were speaking to me and telling me to relax because He has everything under control. No one said anything bad; rather, they were more concerned for my health and condition.

My colleague told me the next day that the message in the Misa de Gallo that morning was that everything happens for a reason, whether good or bad. So, avoid dwelling on it; instead, move on while keeping in mind the lessons it has helped us learn. By doing so, we will grow stronger and wiser every day.

When I came home, I looked for the meaning of Isaiah 40:31, and this verse tells me that “hoping in the Lord” is believing that the power He has promised will enable me to overcome life’s obstacles and distractions. It also entails having faith in God. Faith helps me be prepared when He speaks to me. Then I will be patient when He asks me to wait and expect Him to fulfill the promises found in His Word.

I want to thank my colleagues who were with me in the hotel for their unselfish time, efforts, and expertise to help me in the best way they can. Thank you, FAWU officers and board, for your kind words, generosity and consideration for me. Truly, when God acts, His favor usually follows. When we make Him the first priority in our lives, He will lavish us with His goodness!

ADSP VP Marylourd F. Rabena Joins AVEP 2022 Academic Visit and Exchange Program in Chulalongkorn University Thailand

by Marjorie C. Quieng-Flores

Marylourd F. Rabena, the Internal Vice President of the Association of Dentistry Students in the Philippines, was among the 32 participants who passed the rigorous selection process for the 2022 Academic Visit and Exchange Program in Chulalongkorn University — the No. 1 University in Thailand and the World’s Top 16.

Held last January 3-7, 2023, the Academic Visit & Exchange Program is an exchange program for undergraduate dentistry students. It aims to build connections among dental students worldwide by providing enriching activities such as clinical exchange, academic visit, cultural exchange, lectures, and city tour.

The faculty tour in the university includes Thai Dental History Exploration in Vach Vidyavaddhana Museum, the Human Body Museum which is the first in Southeast Asia to display the human bodies through the plastination technique, the Dental Simulation Lab which is a high technical 3D digital dentistry for preclinical student practice, and the Dental Innovation Foundation Tour under Royal Patronage.

The clinical visit includes observing local student clinics at Chulalongkorn University.

Associate Professors Atipan Pimkhaokham and Thantrira Porntaveetus gave the lectures on “How digital technology helps improve the implant surgical skill” and “Dentistry in the world of personalized medicine,” respectively.

The city tour includes a visit to the Royal Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Museum Siam, Icon Siam, and Jodd Fair.

The AVEP 2022 culminated with a cultural exchange activity and farewell party.