God is good all the time

God is good all the time. For the past several days one spot near my nipples suddenly became itchy and left a mark that would not go away. I thought it would go away, but it didn't. I hid this from my friend because I didn't want her to get worried. As days passed by, I was alarmed and I thought it was something serious. 

I prayed and prayed to Jesus, Mama Mary and all saints. On the third week we went to the shrine of St. Ephraim, who has done miracles especially in curing diseases and sicknesses. We got blessed oil, which I applied on the area with prayers. But the itch and the mark didn't go away.

This did not dampen my spirit and belief in God. Since the area was near my nipple, I got scared. But I kept on praying, reciting the rosary everyday crying out for the Lord's help. I called on Jesus, Mama Mary, St. Ephraim and all saints. Please, don't let this be a dreaded disease.

Yesterday  (June 25), we went to see a doctor at the Uyeia hospital, reportedly the best in the area. I was nervous about what I might learn. Fortunately, after breast ultrasound, the doctor said there was nothing wrong with my breasts. And this might be a case for the dermatologist. 

God is really good. Now, I am praying again that the medicine that the dermatologist prescribed will finally cure it. I am confident that my prayers will be granted.

Visa and turning 59....

It's 6:10 pm here in Athens. I just finished my phone call to my oldest sister. We discussed the situation in our house, the problems and plans for the next few years. I am glad to hear they are okay, thank God. Of course there are some issues to be resolved, but otherwise not something that can't be resolved.

I expressed sadness about the denial , again, by the US Embassy of my tourist visa application. The Affidavit of Support from my friend who is a high ranking official of the Philippine Embassy didn't help. The questions as usual centered on my daughter who is now a citizen living in California and my marriage to her father. I emphasized that I have gone to the US three (3) times on Bi/B2 and A2 visas in 1981, 1994 and 2005, and that I have always returned to the Philippines. But the officer didn't see that as significant. How else can I convince the US Embassy that I am not an intending immigrant?

To my mind, the US Consular officers are one-track minds. If they are that strict about the rules, how come there are tourist visitors in the US who have gone TNT? How come there are so many illegal immigrants there ? 

I am really very sad. This is one prayer which has not been granted. But this has not dampened me, nor diminished my belief in Mama Mary and Jesus. I know there are better things in store for me. I believe God is good.

What really made me angry is the treatment that my friend got from the US Embassy here in Athens. She was not allowed to accompany me the interview to reiterate her support for me and assure them that I will return to the place of origin after a short visit to the US. Worse, she was made to wait outside the building, with nary a chair to sit on. I believe that was an insult to a high ranking official representing the government of the Philippines. Sure, she didn't have an appointment with any of the officers.But she could have been treated with more hospitality and courtesy considering she was not just an ordinary Filipino citizen.

I told her I wanted to bring this shabby treatment to the concerned US authorities. But she dissuaded me from doing so. She said she will bring this up herself when she meets with her counterpart in one of the official gatherings or meetings.

I am gradually psyching myself to be happy and accept that I may not be given a tourist visa in the near future. So I urged Maribelle, my daughter, to start her petition for me ASAP. I think this is the only way I would be able to visit her in the US again.

As I turned 59 last April, I thank the Lord for the small blessings. I have not added any monetary fortunes to my name, but I thank Him everyday that I wake up in good spirits. I thank Mama Mary and Jesus for keeping us always safe, and alive. And I always pray that we remain healthy and live long lives. 

                                         Photos taken on my birhday, April 25 at the Philippine
                                         Embassy with the Ambassador and  officers and staff.

Thanks again, Mama Mary!

The new year 2013 had me worried about Maribelle,my daughter, who now lives in California. I was supposed to call her up as we previously agreed upon on New Year's day. But then she texted me she was so sick  she practically stayed at home. She promised to inform me the moment she would be well enough to receive the call. I waited, and waited but after about two weeks. And when the message seemed not to be forthcoming, I got worried.

I prayed to Mama Mary, Jesus and all saints that nothing serious happened to my daughter. As a mother thousand miles away from her daughter she has not seen for about nine years, I found it difficult to concentrate on my day to day activities. I emailed her every four days but no reply. Then when I called up Momi Tuazon, our spiritual adviser, she said something about a sickness which had no name. What could that be? But Momi assured me Maribelle would get well and live long.

I prayed and prayed as I always do that my daughter would get well soon. And I believed in my heart that the Lord will keep her well. And sure enough, on January 19, Maribelle emailed me that I could call her next day. That was one of the best messages  I have ever received.

Maribelle told me not to worry too much. "I am an adult now Ma, and I can take care of myself," she said. 

We had a good conversation, updating me on why she was sick, but it's good she didn't have fever. So I surmised it must have been some kind of flu. There were reports of flu epidemic in the US at that time. Then they had to return to school after the Christmas break, so they were busy. I was also able to talk to Fernando, her partner who told me he got sick first. And they are now both okay.

Prayers and faith in the Supreme Being really provide relief to the life's woes. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you,Mama Mary. Thank you St. Expeditus, St. Ephraim and all saints for answering my prayers...

Got my renewed residence permit!

 October 31, 2012 is another lucky day for me. After only about 2 1/2 months, I got the renewal of my residence permit here in Greece. That is extraordinary because the bureaucracy here is such that important documents such as this would take more than 6 months, at the least and even almost a year. Some of my friends who arrived here before me don't have yet their residence permits.

All this because of my novenas to St. Expeditus, saint of urgent cases. He has helped me and my friend since I started praying to him for urgent cases, such as passing of examinations, promotions, and now my residence permit. This novena was given to me by Momi Tuason, our leader in the Mama Mary congregation in Manila laowst 2011.

The residence permit allows me to stay here in Greece and work. This also serves as my visa whenever I travel out of Greece to other countries. Now I can look forward to another trip somewhere in Europe, God willing. My first trip was to France with my friend.

St. Expeditus was a commander of a Roman legion and was martyred in the 4th century under the Diocletian at Melitene in Armenia. His statue shows him holding a cross on which is the word "Hodie" meaning "Today". He is stepping on a crow,  the black  bird of despair which is opening his mouth to cry 'Cras,cras,' (tomorrow) in order to remind us not to doubt even for a single moment the great mercy of God and not to postpone for tomorrow the devout and trusting prayer but to call on him always as our advocate by the side of our Blessed Virgin. (copied from a novena prayer).

The novena is for St. Expeditus through Jesus and Mary...thank you, St. Expeditus, thank you, Jesus, thank you, Mama Mary, as always...

I tell my friend about him and how he has answered my prayers. And I also give them xerox copies of the novena.