“Our Father knows what’s best for us,
so why should we complain?
We always want the sunshine
but he knows there must be rain.
We love the sound of laughter
and the merriment of cheer.
But our hearts would lose their tenderness
if we never shed a tear.
Our Father tests us often
with suffering and with sorrows.
He tests us not to punish us,
but to help us meet tomorrow.
For growing trees are strengthened
when they withstand the storms
and the sharp cut of the chisel
gives the marble grace and form.
God never hurts us needlessly,
and He never wastes our pain,
for every loss He sends us,
is followed by rich gain...
and whenever we count our blessings,
that God has so freely sent,
we will find no cause for murmuring,
and no time to lament...
 for our Father loves His children,
and to Him all things are plain,
so He never sends pleasure,
when our souls’ deep need is pain.
So whenever we are troubled,
and whenever everything goes wrong,
it’s just God working in us 
to make our spirit  strong."

-Helen Steiner Rice, sent in by Dr. Karen Rivas

This is a well-loved and often quoted inspirational piece by Ms. Rice who wrote for Hallmark Cards during the years people still cared to send them. I am reprinting it to end a year that has seen us rocked by Mother Nature’s might and wrath, and man’s inhumanity to his fellow men, here and around the world.

On the other hand, we have also experienced human kindness and compassion from those we least expected it, and have seen how ordinary citizens among us can rise above themselves to be heroes for others. And when we buried a beloved Icon, all our longings for our leaders to be good and noble like she was gushed forth in tons of tribute for everybody’s Tita Cory.  Her son picked up the gauntlet and we shall see if he can sustain the resurgence of Cory magic!

This year hopefully will not end in a spectacular but deadly show of force and fireworks from Mayon Volcano. We wish everyone a prosperous and peaceful New Year!

Let’s all make resolutions we CAN do—like love one another more or watch our tongues (and pen or computer).

Before we bow out for this year, here’s good news from the group who call themselves Mabuting Filipino. What was only an insistent whisper has grown into an indignant crescendo, a demand for change.

Some private citizens were provoked into action and formed a group called Mabuting Pilipino. It is a people’s movement to transform society and government, to bring government back to the people, to give Filipinos the fullest opportunity to live decent and respectable lives and to take the Philippines to its rightful place in the world.

First there were the "X-Men,’" as in ex-Cabinet members of three administrations—from Cory, Ramos and Arroyo Cabinets, e.g. former Finance Secretary Bobby de Ocampo,  former Local Government Sec. Cesar Sarino, former Transportation Sec. Pete Prado, and former Defense Sec. Avelino "Nonong" Cruz.

Put in the names of businessmen Salvador B. Zamora II, topnotch eye doctor Menguita Padilla, lawyer Ray Francisco—plus some businessmen who are really itching to come out in support of the group! Volunteers have also come out for the cause—teachers, entrepreneurs, doctors, students, laborers.  They were all there during the recent dedication of the Mabuting Pilipino headquarters located at the Cinderella bldg. along EDSA in Quezon City.

By the way, the movement is not directly affiliated with any other political group or other movements supporting presidential candidates. It is solely working in close coordination with the Aquino family as supporters of the Noynoy-Mar campaign.

Mabuting Pilipino has opened its doors to those who are looking for a non-political and legitimate group to belong to and to which they can actively engage in support activities. After the elections, the said movement will continue pushing for its advocacies, such as transparency, good governance and social responsibility. Visit www.mabutingpilipino.com.

***
I have a favorite new drink, the M2 juice which when taken cold is very refreshing. It has two flavors, citrus or pandan and is "malunggay" based. Yes, the lowly "malunggay," moringga in English, "sajina" in East India, the fast-growing vegetable that comes in trees. It has a fruit said to be full of nutrients, which among others, promotes higher semen count!

Malunggay is now known as the “miracle plant” and the Philippines is blessed to have an abundance of them growing in the wild, mostly. Happily now, there are efforts to plant them in commercial farms such as the ones in Pangasinan under forward-looking entrepreneurial souls like Bernie Estrella Arellano. We met her group in Bulong Pulungan and after sampling products made from the green leaves which I knew only as good for lactating mothers when I was breast-feeding my four kids. My mother used to put the leaves in mongo stew and in clam soup to induce more milk. Now, I am convinced of the wider benefits of "malunggay" in my daily diet.

Research has shown that "malunggay" leaves are rich in potassium, iron, calcium (four times the potency of milk), Vitamins C and A, beta-carotene, lipo-protein.

Power Nut, a small company in Mandaluyong has snacks, cookies, tea bags, powder, and M2 and you can call them at 480-2079 for more information.