RAIN OF FIRE

Healing priest
CESAR G. BONILLA

LAOAG CITY -- In a world where materialism and hypocrisy rein, there is urgency that we reflect on our past actions. It is my belief that love can change things for the better if it is focused on unselfish desire to liberate others from ignorance, envy, greed, hatred and revenge.

“Love on another as I love you,” Jesus Christ once said. It is said that true love does not discriminate. In my own observation, some rich and powerful people show artificial display of attention when dealing with commoners and the less favored segments of society.

For some rich people, the poor are taken advantage of, manipulated or made to submit to cruel or unjust whims of the former. The centerpiece of the moral teaching of our Lord, Jesus Christ, is love. One distinctive quality of Christian love is the ability to sacrifice.

He laid down His life for us. We too must lay down our lives for our brothers. Good looking, young or wrinkled, rich or poor, lovable or hard-to-please, true love is unconditional and does not discriminate. Many people have imposed their will on others disregarding Godly verses.

Valentine’s Day is not only for lovers but more for the loveless and unloved. Let love cast away the evil persons in our society no matter how powerful they are. Let the love of God be with you all this Valentine’s Day.
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The advertisement of contraceptives especially condoms through the media or billboards will defile the chastity, sacredness and morality of the family. In my interview with a good priest, Fr. Anthony Dimagiba, he said by watching such advertisements on television, it seems okay to have sexual intercourse as long as one doesn’t get somebody pregnant.

He said use of contraceptives would prevent couples from bear the children. This anti-life mentality is contrary to morality because it is promotes promiscuity and pre-marital sex. The teen-agers are likely to get affected with this kind of publicity. Fr. Dimagiba has added that we can combat this menace in our society though:

First, teachers should educate the young ones or students about dangers of using contraceptives and other related matters. Second, the couple should ready to embrace the sacrament of matrimony must undergo briefings relative to family planning.

Third, the Catholic Radio station through programs dealing with this matter must be strengthened. Fr. Dimagiba said it requires maturity to understand more the capacity to conceive life.
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The healing mission of Fr. Joey Faller was an act of reverence to God. Before the mass was celebrated inside the St. William’s Cathedral where many of our brothers and sisters received their numbers to be included in the list of patients who will seek the healing power of the great priest for their immediate recovery, recipients were also given anti-flu vaccines, courtesy of the St. Peter Community.

Fr. Faller said was his mission to give hope to people who are hopeless, sick and others whose illnesses cannot be cured by doctors. He said miracles do happen for those who believe. He had been going around with the St. Peter Community. His group in the Talitha Kum healing mass on television shares the mission to bring wholeness in the physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological of people.

All people who are seeking divine grace to be healed could be cured by the priest as an instrument of the Lord. Fr. Faller has a place in Lucban, Quezon called “Kamay ni Jesus” shrine. Thousands of people go there. There is a grotto with 305 steps with Station of the Cross and on top is the third tallest resurrected Christ edifice in the whole world.

The great miracle of the Lord was also manifested in our area during the fury of the Typhoon Milenio wherein our place was spared. There is also a place called ‘Luklukan ni Maria.” There is a Seat of Mary where we put the Five Mysteries of the Holy Rosary; the Joyful, the Sorrowful, the Glorious, the Light mystery and on top of that is the assumption of the Blessed Mother. There is also a building called “Retreat House.” It can accommodate 120 individuals for retreat purposes.

His power of healing started when he met a terrible accident on April 8, 1994 wherein he almost died. Because of that accident, his hand resembled like His hand, the hand of the resurrected Christ -- the hand of the Sto. Nino. From that moment on, he exhibited the power saying it could be a confirmation that he has a mission to make and be an instrument of healing.
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Tourism is on the rise in Ilocos Norte due to efforts of the provincial and city government. Rene Guatlo, provincial tourism officer, is the right for the job because of his vision for growth and progress in the field of culture and discovering nature.

I was privileged to tour a group of tourists from Pampanga like: Gerry and Marsha Nepomuceno, Mario and Nono Surla, Rommel and Ofelia Madlangbayan, Dan and Editha Santos, Danny and Wendy Sunga, Dick and Pat Aquino, Remee Santos-Suarez, Nerissa Luciano-Sandico, Lulu Santos-Cayanan, Norma Gigante-David, Eddie Mamaid, Lyn Santos-Fernando and Bel Agustin-Navos.

Madam Marsha and Sir Gerry led this reunion tour and they have chosen Ilocos Norte as one of their places to celebrate this significant event in their lives. They were noted the effective leadership of Gov. Michael Marcos Keon and his cousin Rep, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

I would like to give my high regards to them. During the tour, I saw in their eyes satisfaction and positive impression. Being exposed to the American culture and way of life, they were be reunited once again with their native land as balikbayans. They observed that our streets were clean and no beggars were around.

The Ilocanos, they noted, are industrious and hospitable, but they would like to see more comfort rooms in different tourist spots so that tourists would be more comfortable while exploring panoramic places. The call of nature is inevitable especially during long travels.

I would like to acknowledge the kindness of Madam Lornaflor S. Campanano, the mother of architect Anthony Navarro Campanano who is, at present, a member of the lawmaking body of the town of Bangui, Ilocos Norte. Madam Lornaflor extended her generous hands to the visitors who were inspired to see the windmills, a project of the Northwind and the provincial government.

My thanks to Mr. Guatlo for the trust and confidence he reposed on me to help promote the tourism industry in Ilocos Norte. To Sir Gerry and Ma’am Marsha, more power!