According to Wikipedia, Pabasa (Spanish: pasión) is a narrative description of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ woven into a poem with stanzas of five lines and each line having eight syllables. Pasion is very popular in the Philippines during the season of Lent which is usually read (actually sung) at home or any other place where people gather. The article also said it is a form of religious expression, meditation and reflection.

The indigenization of the pasyon was begun by Gaspar Aquino de Belén in Ang Mahal na Passion ni JesuCristong Panginoon Natin na Tola (The poem of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ), published in 1703 or 1704.

The more popular version of the pasyon is the Casaysayan nang Pasiong Mahal ni Jesucristong Panginoon Natin na Sucat Ipag-alab nang Puso nang Sinomang Babasa (The History of the Passion of Jesus Christ our Lord that will set afire the heart of whosoever reads it).

An 1852 erudition by Aniceto de Merced, El libro de la vida (The Book of Life), did not, however become popular with the masses.

Today, we can hear Pabasa being sung into modern tunes. Some are even playing musical accompaniment like guitar or rondalla.

Our church, Day by Day Christian Ministries' flagship ministry is cultural redemption. Briefly, this means cultures must be filtered, consecrated, and offered back at the feet of Jesus Christ, to be used only for His glory. I'll be writing a post on cultural redemption soon. Anyways, pasyon or pabasa is one of many Filipino tradition that needs to be redeemed. And we have redeemed it for the glory of God!

Pabasang Kristiano as we call it is being conducted yearly at different Day by Day daughter and satellite churches. Last Saturday was my first time to witness how Pabasa is being done. I had a hard time singing the verses. haha. We used the book that Pastor Ed Lapiz wrote, which is being used for years now. FYI, the content was based on the Bible.

As I hear them singing, the words I heard were painting on my mind the picture of what Jesus did during His time. By just listening, I was able to reflect on the sufferings that my Savior experienced for me to have an everlasting life. Many people find it so "badoy". But for me, the time spent listening to the chants made me realized the great things about my Redeemer. In between chapters of the Pabasa were exhortations by assigned members. The messages were great. They even challenged me to preach the Gospel that was shared to me. I'm talking Matthew 28 which was the last part of the Pabasa. It was time that Jesus ordered us to go and make disciples of all nations.

This season, take time to reflect. Go back to the Bible and remember the work that Jesus did on the cross.

Saturday, March 01, 2008

It was such a long day - a day worth remembering. It seldom happens that I go to work before eight in the morning. I had my breakfast on time and signed in on time. I planned to finish all tasks within four hours but I was loaded with jobs. I logged out at 1 in the afternoon. I had to rush to Folk Arts Theater to attend Day by Day's Multimedia Ministry's seminar on handling video camera. New learnings were added on my mind. I learned different "magic" that can be done with the video camera. We were taught how to correctly shoot different scenes. The best thing is, I became an actor for few minutes. Haha. We applied what we learned from the seminar. I acted as a student viewing photographs in an exhibit. We've watch each others videos, made some reactions and recommendations. At the same time Praise and Worship rehearsal was ongoing. I immediately went to the main stage to join the recording for Praise and Worship.

This afternoon, we also scheduled a gathering of Joshua Movement Alumni. It was scheduled 2pm but I had lots of appointments during the day. It was expected that I'll be late. We met at KFC in SM Megamall. I was blessed when I heard their testimonies. Seeing those people brought me great joy. I shared to them an answered prayer. The doctor who checked me up did not find anything (to worry about) on my X-ray result. The pain on my back and muscles were gone. Medications also did a great work here. I currently take two brands of pain relievers. Praise God for the healing!

I was also challenged to give portions of my income to Joshua. Their situation cut my heart. i don't know the picture but i feel they're in need of Financial support. upon hearing their stories, I decided that the 10% of my Adsense income last February will be given to Joshua. The amount is small but I know it could help.

We ended up a little bit late but that was worth. I even missed my favorite magazine show that night. I was not interested to watch Imbestigador , so I turned off the TV and faced a laptop and read an e-book about Adsense. That was 199-page e-book. I only finished reading 50 pages. By one in the morning, I stopped reading. I had to prepare myself for the Sunday worship service.

That was it - My Saturday. time is gold and we have to make most of every opportunity. I was happy for the new learnings, meeting old friends, grateful that I maximized my time. David once prayed, " Teach us to number our days so we may gain a heart of wisdom. " Let us pray that we may be wise in spending our time. Spend it on things that could build up our spirit and others. Continue to encourage one another (daily).

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Thanks for reading. God bless..

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

- Genesis 2:15 NIV

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.
- Psalm 90:17

There's a group of young professionals in Makati (Philippines) called Thy Marketplace. They have a slogan "work is a calling". What does it mean?

Most people separates spirituality with the secular work. Some are Christians on Sunday and "another person" on office days. Some have to be reminded that work is a sacred calling. Our God is a working God.We too should work like Him and just as what He intended for us.

Our ultimate goal is to glorify our Creator. One way to glorify Him is accomplishing His purpose for us. We are created to serve God. Serving Him is not only done on a Sunday Service but all of the seven days!

Your boss is an agent of the Lord's good purposes. You may not agree with me. Consider yourself a travel agent. As an agent, how do you see your worth in the travel agency that you're working? Expand your imagination. As an agent, you face different kinds of customers. Can you see yourself being used by God in reuniting families from different parts of the world? Parents coming from another country put their trust in you to arrange their flight going to a place to see their kids.What a noble work! Can you see yourself being a channel of foreigners for them to enjoy great sites of your country?

Whether you are a travel or a call center agent, God has a purpose why He put you in that area. You minister to people by meeting their needs. You minister to the company by giving them profits. You minister to yourself. You are paid because of your labor. You minister to God. You are accomplishing His good purposes!

As long as the task is not unethical or will not lead us to sin, we are serving God. Do you know someone (or you mismo) is discouraged with his or her job? Your encouragement may help the person's struggle with work. Help that person know his or her worth in the organization where she belongs.

Hope you realized something. By the way, Thy Marketplace meets every Thursday 7:30pm at 1415 Cityland Hererra Tower Rufino st., Makati City. You may visit their website at www.ThyMarketplace.com

In fairness with Day by Day YAMAN K-O-N-E-K, we also meet every Thursday 7pm at 2F Jollibee Jupiter st., Makati.=)


Work is a ministry and should reflect the beauty of the LORD.

God bless us.

This message was shared by Pastor Ed Lapiz last January 20. I added some of my insights based on my personal realizations.

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.

-Genesis 2:2

All of us are familiar with the Creation account of Genesis 1. As we open the bible, we can see a working God. God worked for six days. On the seventh day, He rested. Why? Was he tired?

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

- Isaiah 40:28

God rested because He was done with the work. Everything was complete. From the light, which is the source of energy, to the sky or space, to the land and seas, to the heavenly bodies, to every living creature (including man), He created them all. On the seventh day, there was a reasonable source of energy and life. There were order and governance. There were two human beings who would manage, promote and maintain order in creation.

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

-Genesis 1:28

God was able to rest because He created the two managers to whom He gave the first commandment, "Rule!". It means to govern. Governance! In Tagalog language, it's equivalent is "Pamamahala" which came from the word "Bahala". Bahala implies responsibility and trust. One would say, "Ako na ang bahala." (I'll take charge). We are confident when we hear these words because we know that the person will o what he promised. Not, "Bahala na."(Come what may). BAHALA can be traced to the word BATHALA (lord). To rule is to govern with responsibility. It is to lord over the creation which God entrusted to humans.

RULE-MAMAHALA-BAHALA-BATHALA-MAMATHALA

The Filipino language has a nice word for government - PAMAHALAAN. I hope this word reflects how the government should act according to the meaning of this word. =)

God rested because humans would and could manage. God governs through delegation and rules through a chain of command. He now works through us! He rested because He is God, not a servant, a maintenance crew or a genie who would obey all our wishes. God rested so He could enjoy His creation! God rested so we could follow His example and we too would rest.

As humans, how can we rest? Like God, we should put everything in order. Let's start in our own room, then to our home, to our our workplace, to the community then to our country (if we are able). I could sleep well on my bed if everything in my room is arranged accordingly. I can write my thoughts if the environment is orderly. I can easily look for things if they are in their proper place. We have peace of mind if everything is in order. If we have peace of mind, we can rest. Like God, we can also rest if we delegate some work to others.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work

- Ecclesiastes 4:9

Have a buddy, a companion to help you in your tasks. A manager can do his work through and with other people. Parents should train their children while they are young. They should be taught household chores as well as paying utility bills. Leaders should train their subordinates who will later replace them.

How to let God rest? First, let us do our part as manager of creation. God has given us all the powers to govern the Earth where we live in. God gave us the authority to manage our home and the environment that surrounds us. Second, let us do everything that is humanly possible. as God has given us the power to do the possible. We should use and develop the talents and strength that we have. Do not over-depend on prayer. Find and move God's power that is WITHIN YOU!

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

-James 2:15-16

If our abilities are not enough, then it's time to ask for miracles. Miracle is asking God to break or intervene with the laws of nature which He seldom do.

LET GOD REST. LET OTHERS REST. LET US ALSO GIVE THE GIFT THE GIFT OF REST TO OURSELVES.

But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him." - Habakkuk 2:20

Yesterday, two shocking news reached my ears. Tears streamed down from my eyes as those stories came flashing again and again on my head. I was sad but happy. Why?

The first news: Bianca Morales died last Sunday. Remember her? I posted her message here last month. You can read it here. I read a post on Christianster.com about what happened. She was an inspiration to me. She's the one who encouraged me to continue writing on this blog. Bianca's friend, Olivia Sayo posted a message on Christianster which is reproduced below. If you want to leave a comment, you may click this link for the original post on Christianster.

Second, my sister informed me yesterday that she's pregnant. And i don't want to talk about that here.

Whatever the situation, I am convinced that everything works together for good to those who love God.

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Bianca taught me a lesson that life is so short. I should make the most in every opportunity. I will not waste my time, money and effort for things that are not important. Life should be lived for the greater glory of God alone. And never will I take part of the glory that belongs to Him alone.

My sister's situation taught me to be understanding. All of us have our own weaknesses. There are times that we are strong in one area and weak in another. Judgment has no place in here. I think that's all for now. I dont want to talk about this topic.

I'm happy because Bianca has joined our Creator and I still praise God for His goodness in my life. Day by day, new lessons are being taught by Him. And im so grateful for that.

Tomorrow, God willing, I will post Bianca's last two posts before she died. As promised above, here is the post of Ms. Olivia Sayo:

In Memoriam Of Bianca Morales [Bianca_fella] (Oct 30, 1984 - Jan 6, 2008)

It is with great regret but also of great joy to inform you that Bianca already joined her creator on January 6, 2008 at the Asian Hospital at excatly 3:56am. She died of multiple organ failures brought about by cancer that tortured her body day in day out.

I am Olivia Sayo, a friend of Bianca. She gave me her password to her christianster account and allowed me to view her profile. Within the past few days, I was the one accessing the account. Bianca would like to extend her apologies for not replying to her friends here since she was no longer able to type with her fingers and eventually lost her vision.

Bianca's death came earlier than expected. All of us were in despair but also joyful that she now have come to experience her dream. No more tears and no more pain.

I would like to thank, on behalf of the late Bianca Morales, those people who never stopped praying and encouraging her through the most trying times of her life.

As our token of thanks to Bianca, may I request those people whom Bianca's life have touched to leave your euology or last words on comments of this sharing. Please share how Bianca's life have moved and changed you in any way. I believe that Bianca would love to hear that.

Thank you Bianca, my friend.

Olivia Sayo

Leave your comments here.

Faith without work is dead..

- James 2:20

While writing this, I witnessed on the TV a report in Review Philippines about a woman who has compassion on the less fortunate people. She usually gives grocery items every New Year's Eve where everyone is busy preparing for their Media Noche. This is an example of FAITH that is working. This is the faith that God desires for all of us. god doesn't want us to stop at level 1 wherein we only prayed the sinner's prayer. We should work out our salvation.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

Philippians 2:12

The faith that we have in Jesus should bear fruit. This faith should manifest in us. Jesus said, " Let your light shine before men.. "If our faith is genuine, it will manifest through our good works. Faith leads to action and faith in God leads to obedience. To have a working faith, we have to refer to the Bible and test whether we are obedient or not.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

- Matthew 5:3

Many are confused by the term "poor in spirit". The truth is, most of us are familiar with this phrase. To be poor in spirit is to be humble before God, to surrender to him, to accept God's standard and follow them. It is to put God's will first - not our will. We should let God lead us in all we think or do 24/7.

God is the Real Boss. He's the one that we should aim to please in every task that we are assigned. The verse above simply says, we should give our best regardless of the pay we receive. We're giving our best even though nobody is praising the job we've done.

For a supermarket cashier on a Christmas eve, it means smiling at the customers and treat them with great respect. For the internet surfer, it is the courage to resist the temptation to visit the web's red district. For the manager, it is to put people above profits. For the call center agent, it is to answer the 999th call with great enthusiasm just like the first call.

Why? Because when we are poor in spirit, we no longer work for some company, for the pay or the promotion. It is working for the One who created our ability to work. We can experience the kingdom of heaven while here on earth. Being poor in spirit enables us to experience this kingdom within.

Jesus said in Luke 17:20-22

Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."

We need to change our mindset towards work. We work because we want to glorify God. Let's ask God to give us a sense of purpose for everything that we do. ;)

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
- 1 Corinthians 10:31

"Create in me a pure heart, Oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me"

-Psalm 51:10

The whole Psalm chapter 51 is a cry of David after he committed his sin with Bathseba. When we come to God, he desires the truth from us. He wants us to be open to Him. What good or evil thing can we hide from Him? Nothing!

Psalm 139:3 says


You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

I know of a certain man who would review his whole day before going to sleep. He thinks of everything that he did - in action, words that he uttered and even the thoughts that conceived on his mnd. Then, he would ask for forgiveness for all the things that offended God and others.

Nothing is hidden from God. Before worshipping the Lord, we should be clean before His eyes. The Lord does not delight in evil (even evil thoughts0. We can't have fellowship with Him if we cherish a sin in our hearts.

David was a great man of God. Each time he commits sin, he humbly go back to God. God wants reconciliation each time a sin is committed. Many are ashamed if they commit a sin against God. But God said in Isaiah 1:18

"Come now, let us reason together,"
says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

God can accept us with open-arms each time we ask for forgiveness. In application, at the end of the day, we should review what we did for the whole day and search our heart for any sin that might have offended God and other people. ;)

Journal Entries of Bro. Bren

Last Friday, i went to my old home in Sta. Cruz, Manila. I found my old journal there. I will share my devotion dated November 18, 2005



Reading : Isaiah 28:23-29

Consider the farmer: He not only plows the ground, he keeps on breaking and harrowing the soil. When the surface is leveled, he would plant the seeds. Wait. Harvest. The same with the believers of Jesus. Hardships, Sufferings, they make us mature and strong. God will not give us things that we can't bear. The farmer waits for the harvest so the believers of Jesus. We can be assured that we have a Wonderful in counsel and magnificent in Wisdom God. The things or circumstances we have right now are ways of God for us to be more dependent on Him. Serving God maybe hard. But one day, He will say, "Well done. My good and faithful servant!"

Hebrews 12:11 (New Living Translation)

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.

11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.