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Editor’s Note

Ikaw ay Ilaw

Ikaw Ilaw

Oo, IKAW ay ILAW! (You are LIGHT)

Ilaw na magsisilbing tanglaw sa landas na mapanglaw Ginagabayan ka ng Diyos araw-araw sapagkat hindi Nya gustong ika’y maligaw Ikaw ay mahalaga sa Kanya at ang mawalay ka sa Kanya’y Kanyang ayaw

Kaya sa isa nanamang edisyon ng ating magasin, amin kang inaanyayahan na muli, ang puso y buksan at ang pagdududa y iwanan Ang pagmamahal ng Diyos na wagas, sabay-sabay nating saksihan

Sa pamamagitan nawa ng mga buhay at repleksyon sa mga pahina ng magasin na ito, Maipadama namin kung gaano ka kahalaga sa Diyos at kung gaano kalaki ang tiwala Nya sayo

Sa papagamitan nawa ng mga kwento at teksto sa magasin na ito, muli mong mapag-alab ang iyong pagmamahal kay Kristo at kay Maria At iyong laging maalala na itinakda ng Diyos na maging ilaw ka para sa iba

-Maron Anthony RodriguezEditor-in-chief of Mater Spei

Mary,OURGUIDINGLIGHT

by: Ate Ghen Soriano

You know that feeling when you ' re lost in a mall, walking in circles, and you can't seem to find the exit? Parang ganun din minsan ang buhay natin. You think you ' re

going in the right direction, but then you realize, "Wait, where am I?" It’ s like every turn feels the same, and you ’ re stuck. But here's the good news —Mary is like that reliable friend who always knows the way. She’ s the person who never gets lost, no matter how complicated the path is. Think of Mary as your spiritual “Waze.”

Kahit gaano pa kagulo ang daan o gaano pa kalayo ang pupuntahan, siya ang magtuturo sa ’ yo ng tamang direksyon. Minsan hindi mo pa naiintindihan ang buong ruta, pero may tiwala ka

na kayang kaya ka niyang dalhin sa destinasyon She's not just a map; she's a living, breathing guide who lights the way even in the darkest of times. Sa buhay, madalas tayong nakakaranas ng moments na sobrang dilim. Minsan, hindi lang tayo naliligaw, pero parang wala na talaga tayong pagasa May mga problema, may mga pagsubok, at may mga pagkakataon na gusto na lang natin bumigay. Pero si Mary, para siyang streetlight na laging nariyan, steady at hindi nawawala. Hindi siya flashy, hindi rin siya pabida, pero nandiyan lang siya, tahimik pero siguradong gumagabay. Think of all the teleseryes we love to watch Diba may bida, tapos may laging taong nagpapaalala sa kanya ng tama? That’ s Mary. She’ s like that wise character who doesn’t need to be in the spotlight, pero alam mong siya ang rason kung bakit nakakayanan ng bida ang lahat. She’ s the silent strength behind the scenes Mary is like the mom we all need. She’ s not the kind of mom who nags or forces you to do things, pero sa bawat payo niya, you know it’ s coming from a place of deep love.

Kapag may problema ka, sasabihin niya sa ’ yo, "Anak, magdasal ka." It’ s such simple advice, pero sa dami ng sinasabi ng mundo, minsan yun lang pala talaga ang sagot —just to pray and trust. Imagine, si Mary din ang unang nakakita ng mga hirap ni Jesus. She was there from the very

Think of Mary as your spiritual “Waze.”

beginning, hanggang sa pinakamahirap na moment sa cross. Kung tutuusin, she had every reason to give up, pero she didn’t She stayed strong, kept believing, and trusted God’ s plan.

Kaya nga, if there’ s one person who knows how to face life’ s toughest moments, it’ s her. So when life feels confusing, when it feels like you ’ re lost or walking in circles, remember Mary. She is our guiding light, our spiritual compass Hindi siya nawawala kahit gaano pa kadilim ang paligid. She’ s not just there to show you the way, but she’ s there to journey with you, to remind you that no matter how lost you feel, you ’ re never really alone. Let’ s take comfort in the fact that Mary is always by our side. Hindi siya mapapagod na gabayan tayo, hindi siya magsasawa na ipaalala sa atin ang tunay na daan—ang daan patungo kay Jesus.

Mary is not just our guide; she’ s our constant companion, the light that shines even when we can ’t see the road ahead. So, trust her, follow her lead, and you ’ll never be truly lost.

She is our guiding light, our spiritual compass. Hindi siya nawawala kahit gaano pa ka-dilim ang paligid. She’s not just there to show you the way, but she’s there to journey with you, to remind you that no matter how lost you feel, you’re never really alone.

Mary, MYMOTHER

by: Kuya Jipo Perez Hipolito

I Have Two Mothers

Growing up, most people had one adjective to describe me: orphan My mother died when I was only nine months old, and I

only knew her from photos and the stories of my relatives This is the reason why most people were kind to me, often saying, “Kawawa naman yan, ang agang nawalan ng Nanay” This was a concept I did not understand back then because I never felt inadequate, primarily because there was Mamsy my paternal grandmother who took care of me and my older siblings She stood in as my mother

Mamsy only stood 4 feet and eleven inches tall, but she had the spirit and determination of a Goliath She was a disciplinarian who sent shivers down our spines whenever we committed indiscretions Oh, how we dreaded her “pamalo” and her classic “sitsit,” which we could hear even from a great distance from our house This fear, however, is balanced by her other attributes, namely her culinary skills Despite my years of experience in the kitchen, my cooking still pales in comparison to her dishes Some of them I was able to replicate, but there are others, like her Menudo, that I can’t imitate

If there is one legacy that I am thankful for, it is her devotion to Our Blessed Mother She was the one who introduced me to her family altar,

where an image of Our Lady of Fatima occupies a significant place I remember always being drawn to the altar even as a kid, and I would spend long hours just staring at the face of Our Lady Whenever I was sick, she would bring me on Saturday mornings to the Church of Malate, where Nuestra Señora de los Remedios is venerated Kissing her mantle usually brings me healing

AIIlthough her usual utterance was “HesusMaryosep”, in times of trouble, it was the Blessed Mother that she would call: “Ina ng Laging Saklolo!” That helped me to develop my own love for Mary

Ialmost became a Born Again Christian during my junior year. This was when the YMC Brothers stopped coming to our school because

they were exiled in 1984 (Oh yes, I am that old! Haha.) Since my knowledge was still limited back then, I was easily swayed by the pastor who spoke with me However, when he started speaking against Mary, no amount of reasoning could make me turn against my Mother! That's where the good reverend failed!

Mary has been a constant guide in my life. I can see my Mamsy in her person and much more

ying it Although she did not really on me the idea that it is a way to be

As a kid, I saw Mary only as a character in our Belen during Christmas But when I grew up and learned about the events that led to it, I developed a better understanding of Mary’s importance Indeed, it was not easy for a 14 year old girl to give her “Fiat” and become the Mother of Jesus It was her deep faith and docility to the will of God that made Mary say yes.

MIamsy also became a young mother during World War II They were evacuating from Manila to Pampanga to

escape the bombings and had to board a makeshift boat on a pitch-dark night. Unfortunately, the boat capsized, throwing a very pregnant Mamsy into the dark waters She did not know how to swim, and she reached the point where she thought she was about to die It was the thought of her unborn child that made her hold on to dear life She waded through the waters until she reached the riverbank Like Mary, who wanted to protect Jesus, she overcame herself to save another life

It was because of this example that I also said ' yes ' to God when I felt that He was calling me to become a YMC Brother at 16 years old

Despite Mamsy’s opposition (and you know how strong she can be), I had to run away from our house in the middle of the night so that I could become a Candidate of the YMC

Iwas afraid of the dark, especially when I was already ascending the road towards Antipolo (I had no money for fare, which is why I just

walked from San Andres Bukid ) In my mind, I was praying to Mary, who, like me, had to run to Egypt

to save the Baby Jesus from persecution The feeling that I was heading towards something noble gave me the strength to reach the seminary in Antipolo

There were many occasions when the inspiration of Our Blessed Mother carried me through The most arduous I can recall

was in 2017 when I had to deal with three deaths in the family First was my father, who succumbed to cancer in January. My heart was still dealing with the pain when my cousin Cindy and Mamsy had to be brought to the hospital together I had to be there to watch over them There were times when I felt exhausted both in body and spirit, but there was this image of Our Lady at the hospital that gave me the strength to keep going

Mamsy was able to return home after that hospitalization Unfortunately, it was time for Cindy to bid us farewell It broke my

heart immensely, but the rosary in my hand made me understand that I needed to let go and obey the will of God, just like Mary did during the Annunciation and Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

On the 10th of January the following year came the biggest blow My Beloved Mamsy was the next that God wanted me

to surrender It felt like dying a thousand deaths holding my Mamsy s hands when she expired It was only then that I finally understood what people were saying when I was a kid: “Kawawa naman yan, wala nang Nanay ”

But then again, Mary, my mother, was there to lift my already dying spirit. It was the prayer of Tita Letty Albert to her that I

remembered saying: “Give me the same strength you had at the foot of the cross It was the grace of God, through the intercession of Mary that made me stand again

The pain does not go away; we only get used to it Offering it to God, just like Mary did, makes it bearable It is the prayer and penance that Our Lady asks for the salvation of souls O dearest Mother Mary, I offer you the remaining years of my life Please continue to guide me on the path toward your Son.

The pain does not go away; we only get used to it. Offering it to God, just like what Mary did, makes it bearable.

O dearest Mother Mary, I offer you the remaining years of my life. Please continue to guide me to the path towards your Son.

by: Br. Justin Ma. Tayko, MMHC

Lthing is to embrace that vocation and renew it every day But for the one writing this narrative, it was different Looking back, he was like any other child from the province he came from

He woke up early in the morning not to dust the house or help with the chores, but because you’d see him at his neighbor’s, playing what ever the children were sharing You’d see him playing tag, not only on the ground but also up in the trees You’d see him and his friends throwing stones at fruit trees He would go to small streams with his friends to catch fish and bring them home to eat He ate lunch at whichever house he happened to be in He swam at the beach, sometimes alone He woke up early by the light of a kerosene lamp to gather sweet mangoes for breakfast He went to school mostly for his friends and the allowance; academics weren’t his thing. He didn’t even care if his school records had red marks There was nothing particularly special or spiritual about him, except maybe for the fact that he joined the May Flores every summer and went with his Lola for the 'Birhen sa Barangay' processions, mostly for the sliced bread and Tang orange juice

Have you noticed anything special? I don’t think he has

Fast forward to high school, he became part of the Diocesan Youth Ministry on campus, led by the Marian brothers He loved the songs and

the learning, but it wasn’t enough, as the struggles during that time were real Questions about the meaning of life and the nature of pain were just a few of the many existential issues he was facing, and the only remedy he found was to redirect his energy into academics He believed in God’s existence, but thought that success was entirely up to him By his 3rd year of high school, he rose to the top and graduated in the top 10 of his class in 2012

College was where his intimacy with God happened He attended a Catholic school administered by the St Paul of Chartres He

joined the University Choir throughout college, which led him to attend Mass regularly when the choir was scheduled to sing It was the music that guided him into his inner self During this time, he also realized how deeply loved he was by God He grew to love the Mass and hasn’t missed it since He began praying the rosary daily and visited the Blessed Sacrament almost every day His heart was filled with a desire to love genuinely, just like the One who loved him for who he was

When he graduated and began teaching at his alma mater, his time for the rosary and adoration to the Blessed Sacrament was limited, and he could only attend mass on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays He missed attending daily mass, praying the rosary, and spending time in adoration while working He loved his job and learned a lot from it, but the question remained: how would he continue to grow spiritually? After a year of teaching, he decided to enter the seminary, where he had the opportunity to deepen his love for God. Now, he has been part of the congregation for six years and counting

M Jou

Fby: Tita Myra Peli

ollowing Jesus as an animat of fulfilling my duties to t and Christ I am deeply grat

trust our students Alfredo Libao, Emilio Santos, and Brian Christopher Tambo have placed in me, and for the opportunity to serve alongside Ms Ceny Moreno as a YMC animator at Cainta Catholic School

Being an animator has taught me invaluable traits such as patience, understanding, and the importance of offering all my sacrifices to the Lord Engaging with the practices, beliefs, and traditions of our youth has fostered a deep respect for every member of our community Each time we have an animators' meeting, I feel a profound sense of excitement, knowing it s a time for reflection and connection with my fellow animators, brothers, and priests

GMpilgrimages, and participating in Mariology and Vigils. Sharing my time with the YMC is one way I give back for all the blessings I’ve received Helping our youth focus on shared values promotes kindness, compassion, honesty, humility, and a commitment to community service

Iratitude to God sustains my dedication to serving as a YMC animator. I have witnessed countless miracles and answered prayers

Patuloy ang biyaya at gabay ng Panginoon sa akin at sa YMC I draw inspiration from YMC priests and seminarians who tirelessly serve our God God has never abandoned me and continues to give me the strength to carry on Sometimes I feel tired, pero sabi nga nila, “Pwede magpahinga, pero bawal sumuko”

am also thankful for my co-animators at Cainta Catholic College, Mr Daniel John M San Pedro and Mr Dennis George E Garais, for being integral to

my Youth Ministry journey I always entrust my family to God, asking for strength and His constant presence in our lives Sa YMC, Buhay ang Nagpapatunay

year 5 year 5 year 5 tagpuan tagpuan tagpuan

“ Si Maria ang naging unang disipulo ni Kristo, sumubaybay mula pagsilang hanggang sa kamatayan Nawa tularan natin ang pagmamahal ni Maria kay Kristo kahit anu pa ang ating sitwasyon sa buhay Kahit pa tayo ay nahihirapan ”

- Br .Samuel Ma, Marian Devotion | May 11 Episode

Whenever we look at the cross, there is suffering But cross does not only depicts suffering, but it is also redemptive And when there is redemption there is joy Whenever we look at the cross it would remind us of a "love with sacrifice"

- Fr. Ralph Ma. Youth in Mission | June 1 Episode

Pentecost is the Feast of the coming of the Holy Spirit The birthday of the Catholic Church because on this day, the disciples of Jesus went out of their rooms (their comfort zones) and started to preach the gospel

- Fr Eric Ma , Christ Centered Community | May 18 Episode

“It's not wrong to purse personal goals, to pursue happiness or to become successful in life, pero huwag sana natin kalimutan ang Diyos dahil sa Kanya galing ang lahat ng meron tayo May God be our compass sa ating mga goals sa buhay

- Fr Eymard Ma Christ Centered Community | June 15 Episode

We have a God who listens Ang pagtugon ng Diyos sa ating mga panalangin ay naayon sa Kanyang kagustuhan ”

- Fr Leo Maria

Padayon sa Misyon | June 29 Episode

A saint is not just those with the capital letter S (those who were canonized), but being a saint also starts with small letter " s " - simply a friend of God ”