Choose Love

"At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity..." Matthew 9:36

It took me a while to write another article about inspiring Filipinos because I had to research about this one particular person. I was watching Pinoy Meets World last week and it featured Thailand. More than the wonderful sights and interesting facts about this country in the Southeast Asian region, it caught my attention about an unheralded Filipina caring unceasingly for the unwanted and abandoned. Her name is Sis. Eliza Dumapit.

Sis. Eliza Dumapit, a member of the Daughters of Charity, has been working in St. Clare's Hospice in Thailand for 11 years. Her job? Nursing people afflicted with AIDS (Acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome). Despite many awareness campaigns to educate and foster understanding regarding this illness, not very many will be willing to care for those afflicted with it. But not Sis. Eliza. Everyday, she attends to the medical needs of her 16 wards. Everyday, she would lovingly feed them, dress them, listen to their stories, bring smiles on their haggard faces and bless them with her presence. She has seen death many times but still she continues to do what she does every single day. I don't think a lot of people will be willing to work or endure a day in the company of people with AIDS but Sis. Eliza negates this seemingly unthinkable task. What is the reason why she continues to do so? COMPASSION. It is SELFLESS LOVE for others.

I am reminded of Mother Teresa because she belongs to the same congregation as Sis. Eliza. And who would not know her? Just like Sis. Eliza, she cares for the poor and the sick in India. She continued to do so even until her death. Her simple acts of charity showed how much love this world can still give only if people will allow themselves to do so. I believe this is also what heroism is about -- to love others more than yourself.

In Jesus' time, we have read how he spend most of his days helping the needy and preaching the good news. He had died in the cross for our sins and the single reason for that is His UNCONDITIONAL LOVE for all mankind. And there are many people in our present time who, like Sis. Eliza and Mother Teresa continue to care and help -- a love that is UNCONDITIONAL and UNREQUITED!

I believe that God calls us, first and foremost, to love our neighbors. By and through what means is up to us. We are given so many blessings every single day there is no reason for us not to share. So choose to care. Choose to help. Choose to LOVE.

Success is fueled by Passion

I was watching GMA's World Class Pinoy episode on Japan since last Monday. The good thing about the show is that it features Filipinos who made it big abroad. Let me tell you about Maria Mercedes M. Corrales.

Does the name ring a bell? Probably not. But she's a big name in Japan. I don't know if she's related to our Philippine singer Pilita Corrales, the mother of actress Jackielou Blanco. Currently, she is the Representative Director CEO & COO of Starbucks Coffee, Japan Ltd. Prior to her involvement with the largest coffee company, she worked for 31 years with Levi Strauss and Co as an executive officer in charge of international marketing. In the TV interview, she said that the ingredient to her success is that she loves what she's doing. She loves meeting people and learning more about their culture. This is her motivation. I call that Passion.

Time and again we have proven to be a very resilient and hardworking people. Wherever we go, no matter what the obstacles are we continue to strive, to dream and succeed. The key to all these is PASSION. If a person REALLY DESIRES to make her dreams come true, it will come true. But PASSION must be complemented with ACTION. As Albert Einstein says, nothing changes if nothing moves (or something to that effect.) One must ACT to REALIZE her goals. PASSION is what sustains her.

If you have read my article about Soul Dreams then it's time to ACT on those dreams. They won't come on a silver platter. They will not be easy to realize. But as I said, if you are determined to get it (and if it will bring you closer to God), then God's resources will flow to you like a rampaging river! I learned that from Br. Bo (watch the July 1 & 2 videos in www.preacherinbluejeans.com).

We need to be inspired. Enough of the bad news. We have enough disappointments to deal with. Now is time to be motivated to live another day and fulfill our dreams.

Choose your thoughts for they become your words.
Choose your words for they become your actions.
Choose your actions for they become your habits.
Choose your habits for it forms your character.
Choose your character for it forms your destiny.

BELIEVE in the POWER OF YOUR DREAMS (THOUGHTS), for even if it takes a long and winding road to reach your DESTINY, PASSION will make you reach your destination in the end.

Read more about Ms. Mercy Corrales at http://www.ea-tokyo.com/seminars/speakers/MercedesCorrales.php