Heart pounding. Throat drying-up. Knees trembling... Staggering, she steps in front of the crowd, head-up. She speaks but more like stuttering... She then closes her eyes, whispering behind her mind, "Father, give me confidence to lead these people. Let them see Your glory." She opens her eyes full of hope and care...She steps back and bows down very low in front of the awe-filled random crowd, promising, "I, Mariel Felizardo, as your leader, promise to serve thee. May you see the goodness of glory of God."
Four years have passed yet the memoirs about her live behind my mind. Everything is vivid...At the brink of her life, she sang praises to God, consuming all her last energy to praise her Maker because she knew that it was the last minute she could praise the Lord here on Earth and with her mundane body. My grandma walked on Earth as a living testimony. I could never ever describe her with words but I can only tell you how she lived. Lola Lydia was a woman filled with strength and long-suffering masked with captivating BEAUTY. I have known her to be someone who would and could NEVER complain and would keep still in spite the pain she had been agonizing over...she continued to serve the people and the Lord in church without telling anyone that the cancer cells inside her body were expending her whole body. She died of stage 3 going to stage 4 liver cancer. Without our knowledge, she cooked for, taught and serve us yet she smiled a lot. Gifted with golden voice, my mami Lydia sang hymnals all the time(I miss this so much:|).
I would hear,
"Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart fell lonely
And long for heaven and home
When Jesus is my portion
A constant friend is he
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches over me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me
I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me," every morning in the kitchen and I would always tell myself, "Umagang umaga palang kumakanta na." I guess that's why she never told us about her pains, because she depended solely on God and knew that she would never be forsaken because she was being watched over. Anyway, that is how my mami Lydia lived. She IS my role model in life and with her being my role model, I would want to become a woman leader in the future of course, with the aid of my present school.
If I were asked how I see myself as a woman leader after college, I would give two words: A servant. That is how I want to be. It may sound ironic but I guess that is the best way for me to be a true leader and this is my heart's desire. I would want to be someone who listens to the cries and needs of the people. I would want to serve them like how Jesus did ages ago. He WAS and IS a King but He humbled Himself and dressed as a servant to serve US. Like how my lola was, I want to become still and patient in spite of raging storms. Through this, people may see and follow me. Full of compassion and love, I wish to serve the Filipinos and others most especially those who are struggling with psychological problems (lol). Not only do I wish to serve and help the people, but also Mother nature. I owe her my life; so, I plan to join organizations involve in taking care of Mother Nature. I can do all these with the help of our Redeemer. With truth, justice, peace and integrity of creation, I wish to be a SERVANT-LEADER.
I may not become a president or a leader, technically, but I wish to at least ACT like one through serving and may inspire people with my walk on Earth. I am sure that I would not build roads and do projects and stuff for the people but I know with all my wishes and desires to become a servant-leader, I would live a little legacy for the people.
Sabado, Hulyo 9, 2011
Linggo, Hulyo 3, 2011
Quintessence of a Maryknoller
A place for future woman leaders in service... For followers of God... For rebels for the good... It is none other but The Miriam College, a premier Catholic school for women who are to become future leaders yet humble servants of the Lord.
Formerly known as Maryknoll College, Miriam had its plenary sessions starting from 28th of June to the 1st of July. Well, my friends and I were supposed to attend the third session however, due to unexpected and undesired circumstances, we had to just attend the following day's and cut M101(I know how much irresponsible I can be but I did regret what I had done.). Anyway, going back, I had my closer look at my present school, The Miriam College, during the session. So, I HAVE duties and responsibilities as a child of Miriam's foremothers and as a "green" soldier of the world. I have learned that my foremost duties are to carry the "veritas" or truth for the rest of my life and to live fully as a follower of Christ as embedded in the Chi-rho, our school logo.
As the talk went deeper, my knowledge about my school widened especially about the fore core values. Since the time when Miriam was still called "Malabon Normal School," the institution, as well as its people, is deeply rooted in its four core values: Truth, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. Truth, obviously should be carried around anywhere, not only when Maryknollers carry their logos but in everywhere we go and whoever we meet, truth should reign over our hearts; it is one of the signs of a true Maryknoller (who deserves and wants to be fooled anyway? A TRUE Miriam student is sensitive to the feelings of others right?). Moving on, I am not pretty sure how I should interpret justice as a green soldier, but I guess it is the RIGHT thing to do; Maryknollers know the right thing apart from the wrong ones. Probably, I will learn later in my stay in the institution about justice. The campus, obviously, practices "peace" even during the session, literally. Even if I was merely part of the crowd, a half-blind spectator and I could not see everybody, I could 100% assure you that Miriam KNOWS peace(this is no joke). Well, aside form the deafening silence inside the campus, our foremothers knew and practiced peace.They left a legacy to us, Miriam students, that we could only acquire if we abide by the authorities: keep still amidst raging storms. To love the treasures and riches that Our Creator is NEVER the LEAST important thing that each should do, integrity of creation. We are defined as the "green" soldiers because it is inscribed in each Maryknoller to take care of what the Lord has entrusted us(that is why our skirts are green, to suit the trees surrounding us :D ).
For the next few minutes, the ice-cold air stung my skin but I did not mind; I was too engrossed by what Dr. Apuan had been telling us about...Our foremothers. The women who put the spirit of the institution. In the old testament, Moses had a sister named MIRIAM. During those times, Miriam meant "rebel with a cause;" thus, if you want to become s true Miriam woman, you have to be courageous and stand up for what is right. So, do you have what it takes to be called a MIRIAM student?(That is why Dr. Vicky emphasized that our lives in Miriam will never be complete if we do not rally.). Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was borne by a young virgin named Miriam of Nazareth, who is one of the four foremothers of Maryknollers. Miriam of Nazareth was a woman of courage and willingness to God's will; a REAL woman. A happy roly poly, Mother Mary Joseph comes third in the list. She lived in the time of the titanic. This bossy-looking type of woman was very compassionate about the others, unexpectedly. She had HUGE dreams for the us, young ladies, which later solidify into the "Miriam College." (MMJ building was taken from her name's abbreviation). Opposing the roly poly woman was Sister Miriam Thorton, a silent-type, thin yet firm woman so don't ever estimate her. She was a woman who could stay calm and focused in spite of the difficult situations. In spite of their differences, these four women had one thing in common, each of them CARES. So to be like our foremothers, we to be C-caring and competent, A-astute and alert, R-responsible to the needs of others, E-energetic and S-socially-involved.
The plenary ended. The crowd moved to the exit. The murmurs became audible. The excitement to leave the little theater was obvious, almost tangible(lol). And I, started pacing through the exit with something crossing my mind: I am technically a Miriam student, if have to be officially one, I must keep in mind that I must be like my foremothers and must carry for the rest of my life the truth, justice, peace and integrity of creation.
Formerly known as Maryknoll College, Miriam had its plenary sessions starting from 28th of June to the 1st of July. Well, my friends and I were supposed to attend the third session however, due to unexpected and undesired circumstances, we had to just attend the following day's and cut M101(I know how much irresponsible I can be but I did regret what I had done.). Anyway, going back, I had my closer look at my present school, The Miriam College, during the session. So, I HAVE duties and responsibilities as a child of Miriam's foremothers and as a "green" soldier of the world. I have learned that my foremost duties are to carry the "veritas" or truth for the rest of my life and to live fully as a follower of Christ as embedded in the Chi-rho, our school logo.
As the talk went deeper, my knowledge about my school widened especially about the fore core values. Since the time when Miriam was still called "Malabon Normal School," the institution, as well as its people, is deeply rooted in its four core values: Truth, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. Truth, obviously should be carried around anywhere, not only when Maryknollers carry their logos but in everywhere we go and whoever we meet, truth should reign over our hearts; it is one of the signs of a true Maryknoller (who deserves and wants to be fooled anyway? A TRUE Miriam student is sensitive to the feelings of others right?). Moving on, I am not pretty sure how I should interpret justice as a green soldier, but I guess it is the RIGHT thing to do; Maryknollers know the right thing apart from the wrong ones. Probably, I will learn later in my stay in the institution about justice. The campus, obviously, practices "peace" even during the session, literally. Even if I was merely part of the crowd, a half-blind spectator and I could not see everybody, I could 100% assure you that Miriam KNOWS peace(this is no joke). Well, aside form the deafening silence inside the campus, our foremothers knew and practiced peace.They left a legacy to us, Miriam students, that we could only acquire if we abide by the authorities: keep still amidst raging storms. To love the treasures and riches that Our Creator is NEVER the LEAST important thing that each should do, integrity of creation. We are defined as the "green" soldiers because it is inscribed in each Maryknoller to take care of what the Lord has entrusted us(that is why our skirts are green, to suit the trees surrounding us :D ).
For the next few minutes, the ice-cold air stung my skin but I did not mind; I was too engrossed by what Dr. Apuan had been telling us about...Our foremothers. The women who put the spirit of the institution. In the old testament, Moses had a sister named MIRIAM. During those times, Miriam meant "rebel with a cause;" thus, if you want to become s true Miriam woman, you have to be courageous and stand up for what is right. So, do you have what it takes to be called a MIRIAM student?(That is why Dr. Vicky emphasized that our lives in Miriam will never be complete if we do not rally.). Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was borne by a young virgin named Miriam of Nazareth, who is one of the four foremothers of Maryknollers. Miriam of Nazareth was a woman of courage and willingness to God's will; a REAL woman. A happy roly poly, Mother Mary Joseph comes third in the list. She lived in the time of the titanic. This bossy-looking type of woman was very compassionate about the others, unexpectedly. She had HUGE dreams for the us, young ladies, which later solidify into the "Miriam College." (MMJ building was taken from her name's abbreviation). Opposing the roly poly woman was Sister Miriam Thorton, a silent-type, thin yet firm woman so don't ever estimate her. She was a woman who could stay calm and focused in spite of the difficult situations. In spite of their differences, these four women had one thing in common, each of them CARES. So to be like our foremothers, we to be C-caring and competent, A-astute and alert, R-responsible to the needs of others, E-energetic and S-socially-involved.
The plenary ended. The crowd moved to the exit. The murmurs became audible. The excitement to leave the little theater was obvious, almost tangible(lol). And I, started pacing through the exit with something crossing my mind: I am technically a Miriam student, if have to be officially one, I must keep in mind that I must be like my foremothers and must carry for the rest of my life the truth, justice, peace and integrity of creation.
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