Rene Espina, a life well lived

Former Senator Rene Espina, who authored the country’s first anti-illegal drugs law, died on Friday, his son Erik has confirmed in a social media post. The elder Espina was 89.
“Another light dimmed in the passing of a good man who loved his country,” the Espina son said on his Facebook page.
CNN PHILIPPINES

The Senate on Wednesday, September 18, honored the late senator Rene Espina, author of the country’s first anti-drug law.

Espina was a member of the 7th Congress from 1969 to 1972. He died of kidney complications on September 13, 2019.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Espina was ahead of his time as he sought to flag the effects of illegal drugs in the country. Espina authored Republic Act No. 6425 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972.
“Forty-seven years ago, Senator Espina had already identified the country’s illegal drug problem, although it was still at its incipient stage, as an emerging threat to human security,” Drilon said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said that Espina had demonstrated that “a life in public service is a life well-lived.” Espina’s anti-drug law was the precursor to Sotto’s Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
“That he was the author and sponsor of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972 again placed him as a co-warrior in the fight against illegal drugs,” Sotto said.

The Senate held necrological services to honor the late senator on Wednesday.
RAPPLER

Gallery of photos from the Senate of the Philippines
P/V: Thee Media Creations

Prayer for Healing

Got this special prayer from CrossWalk.com and I wept while praying. This is for all who is suffering and desperately need help and healing. Let’s believe in Him. ☝️

God, you know me so well.

You created me. You know the number of hairs on my head, and you even know the thoughts conceived in my heart before I ever vocalize them. You’ve told us to come to you and ask for every need of life. You are the God who heals, and you have the final word on my destiny, the number of years I’ll live and serve you on earth.

I’m coming to you today as your child, longing to hear from you and asking for your divine healing. There’s so much I don’t understand about life. But I do know that with one touch, one word, you can make me whole. Please forgive me of my sins, cleanse me of my unrighteousness, and begin your healing from the inside out.

I don’t always know what your will is Lord, especially in times like now, when I desperately seek your face. I offer you no promises, no bargains, no deals to exchange for my health. I simply bow my heart before you to tell you the desire of my heart: that I want to spend as many years as I can loving you here, loving others, and wanting to become more like you. However you choose to accomplish that is up to you—and okay with me. If you use doctors to provide healing, give them wisdom to know what to do. Regardless of how you accomplish it, the healing you give is always miraculous. And you deserve all the praise.

Amen

Why bad things happen to good people

I finished reading a book – “When Bad things happen to Good People.”(1)

In our lifetime, we experience betrayal even by the ones closest to us. After trusting them, believing them… In the end, their masks fall off & leave. Other “good people” experience physically pain, suffering with incurable afflictions.

It begs the question – Why bad things happen to good people?

One of my favorite author – C.S. Lewis said, “God uses pain to get our attention.”

“We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains..” (2)

And so we suppose, if God really uses pain to speak to us, in order for us to grow. Are there painless means?

Not long ago, when I asked in my prayer. Sulking in tears, “Lord please don’t be far from me.”

I asked God why things go wrong for good people, like they’re being tested the more. Why is it that after hurting us, they can continue to live a good life, why they can get away with their evil ways…

In agony I look at them, as they continue to deceive more unsuspecting preys with their ill intentions and greed.

These people fool us with scheming ways. Faces in misleading masks, gifting us with their exaggerated generosity that’s actually a strategy to lure our innocence.

I opened my bible app and here’s what He said;

1 Lord, you have seen what is in my heart. You know all about me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know what I’m thinking even though you are far away.
3 You know when I go out to work and when I come back home. You know exactly how I live.
4 Lord, even before I speak a word, you know all about it.
5 You are all around me. You are behind me and in front of me. You hold me in your power.6 I’m amazed at how well you know me.
Psalm 139 🙏

I think this sums up everything.

God answered, this verse was His reply. He knows and sees right through us. Relieved, I know that God will never be misled. He hears the righteous and forsaken.

I believe in Him.

Bad things happen, but God is working for the good of those who love Him.

Romans 8:28

Let us not be bitter in wondering why good people are being examined and tested in endless ordeals.

God sees everything. And He knows each one of us.

(1) When Bad Things Happen to Good People: Harold S. Kushner
(2) Problem with Pain: C.S. Lewis
Bible NIV

vitex on endometriosis

Vitex or chasteberry is a female friendly herb that’s been used for centuries. It is proven effective and in scientific studies, too.
Vitex is one of the most popular herbal remedies for PMS and cramps. In fact, one study published in the Journal of Women’s Health & Gender-Based Medicine found that after being treated with vitex for three menstrual cycles, 93 percent of patients reported a decrease in the number of PMS symptoms or a complete end of PMS complaints. (1)

As with every herbal I take, I make sure I read reviews, facts, history and testimonies if there’s any. To lessen mistakes, wastage and to save money. Plus, I’m doing the homework for you, saving you time on research & mobile data, you’re welcome 🙂

If you are like me who’s in 1 out ten. Taking tried and tested herbs could be beneficial for us. To lessen symptoms, alleviate pains and discomfort, and help in normalizing of our hormones. I’m currently into injectable type of hormones (luprolex) and thus gives me menopausal like symptoms, the more reason I should take vitex together with my other supplements including Organic Spirulina, Vitamin B-complex, non-acidic vitamin C and Evening Primrose Oil.

Please keep in mind that vitex is not a hormone, it’s a medicinal plant or fruit that reminds our bodies to produce the actual hormone – progesterone.

There are other herbal remedies available and are mentioned in my previous post https://mypanoplies.com/2018/05/31/herbal-supplements-for-endometriosis/

Zig Ziglar on marriage

Sharing one of the best Zig Ziglar’s writing and meditations… a valuable lesson for this generation and generations to come…

Coming home on a plane, I noticed that the fellow seated next to me had his wedding band on the index finger of his right hand. I couldn’t resist the temptation so I commented, “friend, you’ve got your wedding band on the wrong finger.”

He responded, “yeah, I married the wrong woman.”

Many people have a lot of wrong ideas about marriage and what it takes to make that marriage happy and successful. I’ll be the first one to admit that it’s possible that you did marry the wrong person. However, if you treat the wrong person like the right person, you could end up having the right person after all…

On the other hand, if you marry the right person and treat that person wrong, you certainly will have ended up marrying the wrong person.

I also know that it is far more important to be the right kind of person than it is to marry the right person. In short, whether you married the right or wrong person is primarily up to you.

Research, personal observation, and experience prove that stable, sound marriages are not built on the passion of the moment. Realistic (and positive) expectations lead to marriages that last.

I have been following and reading Zig Ziglar. For me he is one of the world’s best motivator, I thought at first he was an inspiration for entrepreneurial only. But he has great life principles and writings too.

You can reach the top. (Zig Ziglar)

9-Day Novena to Sto. Niño de Cebu

ACT OF CONTRITION

Oh, Dear Jesus, You are our King and our God, because of your love for us, You came down from heaven and born of the Virgin Mary. We repent all the transgressions we have committed against you. Forgive us, Oh Jesus, for our sins of ingratitude. Strengthen our will to resist temptations. Grant us the grace not to sin again that we may enjoy the blessings of Heaven.

Oh, Holy Child Jesus, son of the living God, who is ever-good and loving. We kneel before you our True God. We humbly ask to give us your mercy and grant us all the favors we ask of You in this Novena.

AMEN.

Day 1

Oh, ever-wise Jesus, son of the living God, in your infinite wisdom, You sent zealous missionaries to our shores in the Philippines to preach the Gospel to our forefathers. You had drawn our people to the light of your Catholic Church, we humbly ask you to give us the living faith so what we may always please you in all that we do. We ask you this in your Holy Name. Amen.

Pray 3 Our Father; 3 Hail Mary & 3 Glory be…