Tugon

TU GO N Tugon: volume 22, issue 5 God'sExhibiting Presence in the lives of Filipinos

Table of Contents P Eternal Warmth................................................................. 3 A God's Here................................................................................ 4 G Light in the Dark................................................................. 4 E Someone Loves You....................................................... 5 If I reach out to you, are you there?................ 6 Safety Net................................................................................. 7 God is with Us...................................................................... 8 Model of Faith....................................................................... 9 God in the Church.............................................................. 10 Acknowledgements......................................................... 14

Eternal O1 Warmth By Breanna Daphine Santos Where is God?” We've likely asked ourselves this question at some point in our lives. Well, I'm sure I did, at least a few times in my life. This question constantly comes up when I'm going through a difficult time in my existence. I suppose my uncertainty stems from the fact that I cannot perceive Him with my five senses, and since He is recognized as the epitome of goodness, thoughts like \"What did I do to deserve this?\" and \"if He's there, why am I suffering?\" occur. My family practices Catholicism, and my religious upbringing instilled three core values: respect, gratitude, and faith. The respect for authority, cultivating the habit of appreciation and having faith in God. With this, it feels frustrating to doubt God as catholic ideals taught me to have a strong belief and relationship with Him. If doubts aren't addressed, they might spiral out of control, leading to destructive thoughts and eventually unbelief. However, if managed correctly, they have the potential to improve my faith and understanding of my beliefs. God is here. A simple glance around our surroundings may remind us of His existence. He makes Himself known through creations that are seen everywhere. This is one reason we shall be reminded that He loves us since He has gifted us with numerous resources. God is here. His words and actions are more than enough to prove His love for us. He has sent His child, Jesus, to save us. The church serves as our safe place. A community where we can be ourselves, be encouraged to do more good, experience great connections, have more fulfilling relationships, and the goal is to achieve happiness. Another way to communicate with Him is through the Bible. At any time in our lives, especially when we are at our lowest, we can turn to a chapter of the Bible for guidance. With the direction of the sacred text, we can reflect and learn how to do better. It contains both encouraging and corrective messages, and it inspires us to strive for continual growth and live in harmony. His everlasting love and protection will always serve as a beacon of hope for us. We may not see him physically, and our wishes may not be granted immediately, but all our desires will always come at the right moment. God provides us with all we need and lifts us up whenever we stumble. In the darkest days, our relationship and faith in Him will be our light. Page 3

02 God's here By Chryshane Ocampo Uncertainty's past, he's here now W H E Come what may, here he shall stay R E No naked eye can see Him But fret not, he is here He who is ever-loving Comes at the most uncertain times Times, where we do not expect He'll be there with open arms In times where we're broken He'll come where we're hidden To break open The shell that we're in hiding WH O3Light in ER the Dark E By Marianne Rosete Alone in a dark room, Eyes scanning to look for an escape from her doom. The feeling of being consumed was felt, Her mind drowning as if it is her last breath. A sudden urge came to her, The feeling of emptiness felt could be forever. She thinks how a single taste of victory, You'll yearn more until you fall from your misery. Keep on devoting they said, \"He is with me,\" she thought as she kept on praying in her head. \"Why is it not enough?\" she asked, He always makes sure it is what he planned. At long last, the lights were now open, Her heart has finally spoken. The meaning behind the desire was revealed, Letting a sigh of relief, knowing that she is healed.\" It was by a chance that she looked in the past, As her darkest time has passed. Truth be told, she thought she would never be free, As there are whispers in her head asking, \"Where is He? Page 4

Someone 04 Loves You Song by Rudolf Paragas Jr. When your love is gone, and you feel so done Though you’re still alright, to smile when down But you cannot hide, your sorrows and pain Feeling alone And you are drowning from your own tears You’ve been through much that it made you numb When you feel so tired, that you can’t sleep Could it be worse? God will guide you home And ignite the passion in your heart He is there, through hard times And high up above, or down below Just have faith in, and He’ll do the rest But if you doubt Him, you’ll never know But he’s always there His light will shine through He will guide your heart He will be right there for you. His spirit leads, you on your life When you’re feeling broken he will come and take your pain See his light, shine through the rain And He’ll Save your life, from darkness I promise you that He’s alive and he will come back for us His spirit leads, you on your life, and his Lights will guide your heart And define your life God will always, love you EXPLANATION:There are moments in our lives when we try our best, and we don’t succeed even though we get what we want, but not what we need. Sometimes, we lose something that we can’t replace. The worst part is when we love someone, and it all just goes to waste. We often feel alone and lead astray to darkness with our love and passion gone. During frustrating times in life, we often ask ourselves, “Where is God in trying moments of our life?”. This song reminds us of God’s eternal love and care for everyone. Sometimes, we may feel like we’ve lost our purpose. But God will always remind us of our purpose in life and that we are bound for more extraordinary things that He has planned. We can smile through the pain, but we cannot hide it no matter how hard we try. God has always been aware of our situations in life. It may seem that nobody in this world loves us, but little did we know, God always cares. We may not feel it physically, but He has His ways through sending blessings, opportunities, time, and people in our lives for us to be the best version of ourselves. This song is also universal, just like God’s love and presence. It is for the broken, lost, depressed, anxious, tired, and also to those who are faithful to Him. The meaning of the song underlies its aim. This song aims to motivate and spread the thought that God is always with us, high up above or down below, as stated in the song’s lyrics. As shown in the lyrics, it is evident that God has never failed to reveal Himself to us despite what circumstance we’re in. Despite the fact that our sins are legend, He was present to atone and bleed for us. No matter how far we fall behind, He is always there to catch us. If we get lost in darkness, His light will shine upon us, and He’ll guide us to the right path. Although we may not feel His physical presence, God has His own ways of making us feel loved and special. He will come again, in full glory, to shine through us all and lead us into His paradise. Page 5

If I reach out Page 6 to you, are you O5there? By Leyna Isabel Pira “Where is God in trying moments of our life?” In life, you will always face two types of difficult situations: those that we can solve on our own within a snap of a finger, and those that are simply beyond our ability. The first type, which has workable solutions, is difficult, for sure, but not overwhelming. Most of us can deal with them by being creative and devising solutions. The second type, on the other hand, is far more difficult, with problems that are far beyond our abilities and resourcefulness. When we are struggling at this level, it is difficult to see where God is. We can pray fervently but receive no response, at least not a solution or a \"yes.\" It is difficult to believe when there is no actual solution. We are especially put to the test when there is no other option but to endure and be faithful. This is the most difficult situation for most of us, because we are all control freaks who despise helplessness. As you can see in my artwork, its duality is what makes it unique. It is a bible and a diary at the same time. In trying times of despair, we tend to feel agitated, bombarded and cannot find our chill. We always try to seek for an answer but cannot do so because we are too clouded. Too clouded that everything piles up and we cannot see positivity anymore. But it is simple. Calm down and you’ll feel God’s presence in the silence. You’ll feel His wonders and mysterious ways in the silence. Whether or not we can perceive or experience God, He is always present with us in our trials. Even when we can't feel Him, His presence is an objective fact. That is why we pray, read the Bible, and seek the Holy Spirit. This reality encourages and empowers us to keep going. When we compose ourselves, we are able to organize our thoughts and emotions easier. Us humans are always seeking for our purpose. Us humans are wired for significance. We feel useless, unproductive, and frustrated when we feel and see that there is no purpose. But God assures us that even in the darkest of times, there is a higher meaning that glorifies Him and is not in vain. When we are faced with extreme circumstances, it is natural to feel helpless and powerless. We do not cope well with helplessness; it is extremely unpleasant. However, there are times when there are no other options but to endure. However, God provides us with options, even if they are minor, to keep our energy engaged. That is where the diary in my artwork enters. “God is my Diary, not just because He knows everything that occurs to me, but also because He knows a side of me that no one else understands. He has seen all of my flaws and accomplishments. God has been around in my difficult moments, and I am grateful for him because of that. He guided and helped me through that battle of mine. I had no idea what to do at that time. I was so confused and lost. But, He heard my prayers. And as a result of that, I have been completely healed from all the pain and damage.” We must understand that everything has a purpose in the eyes of God. We may not comprehend or grasp what the \"reason\" is, but the only way to overcome this battle is to believe in His will and pray for the best. The only point is that we will always face devastating problems and circumstances in our lives. This is unavoidable. But even when there is no clear path, solution, or answer from God, we are not alone.

O6 Safety Net By Justine Avrielle Rara Seen in the artwork is a girl, just like any of us, can experience grief, regret, and loss. These times often leads us questioning: Where is God in the trying moments of life? Black. Less than a colour and more of a void, a space, can be interpreted in many things. These usually being of loss, death or evil. I wanted to point this out since the illustration features a woman wearing black, a symbolism for dark times she must face. Despair may flood us during these times, but God has ways of making sure we are not lonely, for he is always here and everywhere. God is our safety net after a high fall. God is our home that gives us a pat on the back and a warm \"You did well\" after a long day. God constantly reminds us that he will always be there through his revelations, teachings, and the thought of him alone. He never left us, we were only ignorant. Which is why now that we seek for comfort, we look for him. We look for him and he embraces us with open arms. God is our light in the darkest of nights. He shines like gold to guide us, to encourage us to fight through the darkness. The same way how God has commanded the world to have light, he would enlighten us to combat this devouring darkness within us and replace it with his shining warmth and everlasting love. In our trying times, he has a way to remind us that he is there, always ready to catch us. Remind us that we've done a good job through silent pats on our backs. Page 7

07 God is with Us By Frances Johan Robles Several and various events have occurred in our life, whether they were challenging or not. It can happen at any time, and it can happen unexpectedly or predictably. We've all gone through rough times in our lives, and we've somehow all prayed to God for guidance. We don't know if we can handle the situation anymore at that moment in our lives, and we get exhausted at some point. However, this is also a time when we must cling to hope, which is God, who shines brightly. We may not be able to see or sense God's presence, but we know that God is right alongside us and is always present. In elementary school, I had a rough patch when I was rushed to the hospital owing to my own negligence, which led in consequences. I would always eat all of my meals, including my lunch, during recess so that I could play with my friends. Most of the time, I would also have iced tea or a soft drink. Until one day, I had an exam and had to leave school early, so I slept as soon as I came home. I ate my first meal of the day when I woke up in the afternoon. That night, I couldn't sleep at all because my stomach was upset, and after a few hours of holding it in, I vomited about 8 times, which was obviously difficult as I was also dehydrated to the point where my mother obliged me to drink water just to have something in my stomach, but I still vomited the water I drank. I was diagnosed with \"acute gastritis\" and told that I was acidic, and I was confined for a week as a result. It was a terrible time for me since I assumed it was more serious than it was, and the symptoms were also more difficult to endure than they seemed. During the pandemic, we faced numerous challenges, the majority of which were related to academics. When we were in ninth grade, the pandemic broke out. Moreover, it had a major negative impact on us between grade 10 and the beginning of grade 11 or even until now since we were constantly bombarded with requirements and the like. At the time, I was in a difficult situation since adapting to online setup was challenging. It came to a point of having anxiety and breakdowns. Those moments of feeling like giving up, I felt the presence of God as if he was telling me to be strong and not let myself down. Challenges and low moments have been a part of our lives. Basically, our lives do not go as smoothly as we would like. God has always been there for us, especially through tough times in our lives, guiding, protecting, and embracing us. Praying on a daily basis has been a part of us ever since as we always thank him. We also seek his advice and place our trust and faith in him when we are at our worst or even when not. With that, we feel at ease as God gives us the strength and courage to go on and overcome these obstacles. This clearly shows that His presence can be felt even when we are in need and that He will not abandon us. As said in Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Page 8

Model Of Faith By Leyna Isabel Pira First, what is a model of faith for me? A model of Faith can be anyone that has a deep connection and trust in God. When I first read the essay's topic of choice, there was a person that suddenly entered my head and thought of him as my model of Faith with no hesitation. This person is my late Lolo - Dr. Romeo Pira. My Lolo's story is truly Page 9 moving and inspiring. He came \"Wfrom an indigenous family, wherein his father is a carpenter and his mother, a laundress. owThey were 5 siblings in total and imagine, they had to share !\"2 pieces of fish and a mango amongst themselves. Imagine being in a situation like this, who wouldn't be demotivated? But at the age of 12, my Lolo became an altar server in their local parish. This is where he found his purpose and motivation to keep on going. Even in this kind of situation, they were a very religious family, which my Lolo carried on unto us. My Lolo now strived hard and worked his way up to the top, of course, with his strengthened Faith in God. With this, he was able to be a doctor and built a clinic last March 10, 1982, which eventually became a hospital, now known as \"Pira Hospital\". He always tells us, his grandchildren, that all the blessings we have were from God alone and it wouldn't be possible without Him. To add, they were blessed with 5 children. 2 who became doctors, 1 who became a pharmacist, 1 became an OFW in Canada and 1 became a priest. Statements cannot vouch for someone to be considered as a model of Faith. Instead, it should come hand-in-hand with actions and consistency. I can grow my own Faith in God in numerous ways to be honest. But here are some I believe that is effective and i'll be doing: 1) I should make the best possible representation of Jesus, 2) I should set a good, kind, and godly example for others to follow, 3) I should obey God and submit to authority, 4) I should ask God to open a door for me and; 5) I should know more practical ways to strengthen my Faith in Him.

Monthly God in the Reflections Church of the Authors about God's presence in the life of the Church Rudolf Paragas Jr. Says... Leyna Pira Says... In Christian Doctrine, the Church has two different God’s presence in the life of the Church is meanings; it is the Christian community as a whole, what makes the Church alive and glorified. and on the other hand, it is a place where Christians Without God, the Church is nothing but a worship God, for it is considered as God’s house. four-wall building that has no significance to Either way, as children of God, His Holy presence is anyone. We shall witness God's presence, always within us. God's governing, the flow and supply of God's life, and God's light as the Church is built up. God’s presence in the life of the Church is there for a God's presence is everything to all the saints reason, as long as we accept Him genuinely in our in a built-up Church today. Today, God is lives. Relating it to Thomas Woods’ “How the present in the Church, and His presence is Catholic Church Built Western Civilization,” it was vital to us. It's not about doing the right thing mentioned that the Church had a vital role in or making the best decision; it's about having resolving issues that hindered Western Civilization’s God's presence and blessing in whatever we advancements. As Christians, God’s presence is do in the Church today. Without God’s everything to us. He dwells within the Church, the presence, may it be in the Church or not, we body of Christianity, wherein He leads His people to lose everything. Everything that we see and the right path through His light and glory. God has feel every single day will be gone. He is the given us a unique purpose and mission to sole reason why we exist. Personally, every accomplish to create a better world for everyone. It’s time I attend mass, I feel His presence. Even not about the right or wrong decisions we surmise, before I set foot to the sacred place, the but it’s about having God’s presence and His calmness surrounding me makes me feel that blessing in everything we do for the good of the He is real, that He is here. Church and the Christian community. In return, we should also let God feel our As a child of God and a member of the Church, I presence. Our faith and our unity is the best have always been thankful and grateful for God and that we can offer. We should not let our His blessings. Without Him, I wouldn’t reach this high selfishness and arrogance rule over us. on my life’s ladder to success. In times of quandaries Numerous ways that we can make ourselves in my life, I feel His Holy presence more. Through present to God are 1) Pray to Him with a prayers, I am able to communicate with Him in the humble heart, 2) Take time to reflect and most intimate way that provides me assurance of ponder about the things we do and how we strength, hope, and grit that will enable me to act lately, 3) Praise Him and glorify Him overcome difficult circumstances. always, 4) Continue doing good unto others, 5) Be connected and united with the As I walk through my life, God has always guided me community 6) Attend the Holy Mass and a lot for every step and path I take. Practicing acts of more. All God wants us to do is love, help, and gratefulness to God and other people is my way of be kind to one another. In chaos, God is still continuing my service to our almighty Father. God there but our presence is a blur. Respect is an has blessed me with so much more than I deserve, utmost value we need to be able to cherish which fuels me with the courage to lend a helping and rejoice in His reign. Our sole presence is hand to others that are struggling and stuck in more than enough for Him but as a form of reverse. With strong faith and fidelity, I am sanguine giving thanks, we take extra strides as this is to act as an eye-opener to anyone that lost hope what He also does for us. and feels alone in each of everyone’s wars. Page 10

Frances Robles Says... To us, God's presence is everything. He is also present everywhere, as the Bible clearly states. Aside from that, it was said that God is specially present among his people. He is present not only in times of difficulty, but also in times of triumph. His presence in our life can be felt in our daily activities, as we are guided by our actions and decisions. We all make poor decisions, but I believe they teach us something and provide us with experience. There are difficult periods that we go through on a frequent basis. Not only do we get through tough moments, but we usually see the results of our hard effort, which is an achievement. Each of us feels ecstatic in different ways when we accomplish something. God's presence can be felt as if he were there beside us, witnessing our joy as he helped us lead to that point in our life. That was how I felt years ago at my elementary graduation, when it finally hit me that I had survived the 6 years of my life's biggest ups and downs. It felt incredibly enlightening and comforting because there were opportunities awaiting me at that point in my life that I also couldn't have done without God's help. Accordingly, I felt as though I was being led to a fresh and different beginning. Walking around with fresh air would be another. As we go around, we sense the Lord's presence in the trees and plants we see, as they are His creation. I've had this kind of calm feeling where you can meditate. I suppose we all went through it in different ways and at different times. Not just God, but also ourselves, as a way of responding, creates presence. We make ourselves present to God by setting aside time to pray, attend church, and so forth. It's a method of making ourselves available, because we should approach him with open arms and present ourselves to God first. The key to any successful matter is for us to be in action and for God to be at the center of everything, since I feel that without those, you wouldn't be able to present yourself if you didn't make time for him. Justine Rara Says... God, despite not being visible to us all, has always been there. He’s always present and watching. It’s his presence and glory over us is what established the Catholic Church in the first place. Now when we hear of the word “church”, its less of the building, but more on the community centered on God, and him alone. This group of people, this open community, helps and allow us to feel God’s presence more, especially in times of doubt. For me,the Church itself is God’s presence looming over us- A community that is willing to accept us openly with no judgement. God is the reason why we exist. Our existence ourselves is a way for him to make his presence known. Everything we see around us, and all the blessings is his presence known. Knowing this, I always reassured myself that I’m not alone. I felt his presence everywhere, and this should be reciprocated. I’m still a child and barely an adult, but when it comes to things like these, I know that praying is a good start. Praying to him is us basically acknowledging that he is the supreme power amongst all and that we trust him, the same way of how he trusts us back. Simple but intimate, that's how I would call it. Page 11

Breanna Santos Says... God’s presence has a profound influence on our lives. It is more than a theoretical or abstract concept; it inspires and enhances our religious devotion and commitment. His presence is observed through the physical blessings He bestowed upon us, by supernatural occurrences, from the church, the validation from a group of people sharing the same feeling, or that strong passion that arises from within when talking to Him through our prayers. Now that our country is in the midst of elections, I sense His presence more than before. Every disappointing news that flashes through my screen, I pray for a better tomorrow, and I have a strong impression that He is listening. Not just to myself, but everyone. When a pleasant event occurs the following morning, thousands of people gaze up and praise God for a brighter today. His presence offers peace and delight to everyone regardless of what transpires. He is always here with us. For a healthy relationship to work, all involved should exert effort to strengthen it. We must open our hearts to God the same way His heart is open to everyone. There are several approaches to making ourselves present to God and improving one’s relationship with Him. A delightful way to express gratitude to God’s creations is by being grateful for all blessings and favors received. Attending church and listening attentively to the priests, volunteering in the local church, praying every day, and participating in bible studies to share thoughts and ideas with others are excellent practices to strengthen one's faith and relationship with Him. Chryshane Ocampo Says... God’s presence in the Church is what makes the Church relevant. Without God, the Church is nothing but an empty vessel or shell, perhaps a mimicry of a temple. We as Christians hold on to God’s presence as something that is Holy and gracious. Without us accepting Him and everything else that comes with His presence, we won’t be able to find true peace, happiness, and unity. Through His right governance and proper administration, we men and women–children of God, can pull through any inconvenience or challenge we face from day-to-day. Gos is the very reason for the Church. It is why churches are made. Especially for Him, and Him only. God has proven His love for us over the decades—centuries even. And now it is time for us to prove our love and devotion to Him in return for His grace and compassion. Without God, let us remember that we won’t be in the place we are in right now if not for Him, and His ever-forgiving nature. Compassion connects us all. His love for us goes deeper than any ocean. In return, we must follow His commandments, simple rules we ought to follow. As we journey through this plane of challenges, we must follow His teachings through and through as it will guide us through everlasting life. Page 12

Marianne Rosete Says... God has always been present in everything that we do. Evidence in the Bible gives us the idea of God’s presence in the life of the Church. Reading stories and parables from the bible, the trust and faith in me keep growing as I see His involvement with the people. The pandemic that has kept on threatening the lives of many, the war between countries, and the elections that had brought so much hatred between people, God wanted to unite His people by way of having peace on the grounds of the Sacred Church. With all the chaos around in this time, I have come to realize that the presence of God can be exceptional, yet it can also be ordinary. God's presence is exceptional. Feeling His holiness during rites and ceremonies inside the church made me feel that He is with me. He knows what He is doing and that I should trust Him. Leading me into the path that I believe is a better place for me. On the other hand, I get to feel his active presence in my day-to-day activities. In triumph and worst, I get to experience His unconditional Love for us, His children. Ready to give the path into the light that He has planned for us. Knowing that He is with us every time, it is now my duty to give my response to God, after all he had sacrificed for us. As a devoted Christian, being grateful for all His works led me to bring back to the people who are in need. Putting the words of God into practice in my life includes attending the Holy Mass and joining several Religious Organizations, volunteering and donating necessary needed things to the deprived, treating people with respect and humility, and more ways to make ourselves present to God. As I see people doing the best they can, the volunteerism to make our world better, made my faith grow, and to hope that Humanity still feels the holy presence of God and acknowledge it according to their will. Page 13

Alecdkgne mowent Meet the ama zing team! Leader Leads the group, proofreads, spearheader, double checks outputs, researches needed images (if applicable) 1st Quarter output contributor Model of Faith article (chosen article with most votes from the group) God in the Church article contributor Managed the acknowledgements Leyna Isabel Pira Editor-in-chief Head of layouting and designing the magazine 1st Quarter output contributor God in the Church article contributor Justine Avrielle Rara Page 14

Alecdkgne mowent Meet the ama zing team! Team Leader Proofreads, spearheader, double checks outputs, researches needed images (if applicable) 1st Quarter output contributor God in the Church article contributor Participated in writing the acknowledgements Frances Johan Robles Team Leader Page 15 Proofreads, spearheader, double checks outputs, researches needed images (if applicable) 1st Quarter output contributor God in the Church article contributor Chryshane Ocampo

Alecdkgne mowent Meet the ama zing team! Team Editor-in-chief Participated in the making and layouting of the magazine) 1st Quarter output contributor God in the Church article contributor Rudolf Paragas Jr. Daphine Santos Marianne Louisse Rosete Page 16