(A different) Superman returns

Two nights ago, my wife and I along with our three sons (our youngest, Faith is about 1 year and 4 months old stayed at home with our 2 housemaids) watched the movie, “Superman Returns”. It was a highly anticipated sequel to the Superman series placing itself sometime after the second movie and seemingly discards away the third and the fourth episodes altogether.

The movie was cinematic. The special effects obviously astounded moviegoers worldwide. But two thirds to the movie’s end, I can’t help but feel upset at the obvious changes they have made to the Superman storyline that I grew up with.

Please correct me at any point if I don’t get my “facts” straight. According to the movie, Superman leaves Earth five years ago, to look for his home planet, Krypton (as if there was something left of it after the supernova explosion). Prior to leaving, he had sexual relations with Lois Lane (whom he didn’t even say goodbye to), not even considering that he may have sired a child in the process. He comes back does his super hero work (even Clark got his job back) discovers Lois living in with a man whom she is not married to, and during the end part, finds out he is the real father of Lois’ “sickly” son.

I mean, what message are we exactly giving to our children?!....that’s its all right to have pre-marital relations just because you’re a super hero! The last time I checked fornication was still a grievous mortal sin. The Superman I knew as well as many of the comic book super heroes I grew up with had good and strong moral and family values. Bruce Wayne for all his playboy activities didn’t get into the same predicament. Superman if memory serves me right got married to Lois. Spiderman got married to Mary Jane. I’m very disappointed the people in DC Comics even allowed these changes to happen!

Another thing, I didn’t like the messianic overtures of the man of steel. During the dialogue between Superman and Lois up in the evening clouds, Superman said something like “Do you here anything? ....I hear everything” or “You say the world doesn’t need a savior when everyday I hear people asking for a savior.” Remember how Jor-El, Superman’s father saying that he sends out his only son as mankind’s savior. Why not use the word hero instead? This is based on his belief that humans have the capacity to do good and to be a good race but they only need a “light” to guide them. In almost all contexts, the word savior especially when in relation to all of mankind connotes a religious messiah. Has the world of Superman become utterly secular, devoid of any spirituality or belief in a supreme deity? I realized Superman or many comic book heroes (at least in the Hollywood movie versions) rarely if ever, acknowledge the existence much less the divine providence of God.

God’s laws are eternal. Jesus the only true Savior is the same, anytime, anywhere (Hebrews 13:8). I only pray that God-fearing people simply stand up for what is right and what is good, regardless of how Hollywood views the world!

On a related note, I saw a car a couple of days ago with a bumper sticker on it saying something like:

“I can handle anything!
I have children!”

Parents indeed, those who truly care and love their spouses and children are the true superheroes in my book! When you have the patience, strength and love to nurture and guide your children as they grow, chances are they will not stray from the right path. Figuratively speaking, that’s even harder than being faster than a speeding bullet or being able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!

Peace and God’s blessings to all!!


P.S. My (traditional) Superman action wish list:

1. Dismantle all nuclear warheads
2. Locate and safely detonate all landmines in the Balkan states, the Indochina area, etc.
3. Participate in alternative energy source research (assuming he doesn’t have any crystals left)
4. Volunteer in helping out tsunami, earthquake and hurricane victims rebuild their lives
5. Volunteer in massive relief efforts to famine victims worldwide
6. Help prevent ozone layer depletion
7. Enforce environmental laws
8. Join interfaith services in worshipping the one true God!
9. Do missionary work in places like Sudan, Saudi Arabia and the Amazon where his head cannot be chopped off from spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ!
10. Move out of Metropolis and into Boston. At 6’4, (as Clark Kent) play either point guard or shooting guard for the Celtics and help them win their 17th NBA championship!

Do you have your own wish list for Superman to do if he did exist in the real world?

Please share it on the blogsphere! Thanks!

Happy 25th Anniversary, Couples for Christ!

On May 18, 2002, my wife Odette and I graduated from an integrated course called the Christian Life Program (CLP) organized by the Couples for Christ (CFC) community, a Christian Family Life Renewal Ministry. It was an activity that led participants into a renewed understanding of God’s call to Christian couples. The CLP ran for a total of 13 separate ses­sions, usually held once a week. Most sessions consist of three basic ingredients: a teaching, a group discussion, and a time for fellowship. Each session would normally last for about 2 1/2 hours.

The CLP has two basic purposes: evangelism and spiritual renewal.

The CLP takes the basic message of Christianity and proclaims it anew so that those who hear it can make a renewed commitment to the Lord in a way which will allow them to receive a fuller experience of the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

On the other hand, spiritual renewal functions in three ways:

1. For the individual, it brings a person into a stronger rela­tionship with God by discovering and living more fully the power and gifts he or she received through the Holy Spirit.

2. For the family, it brings married couples to a renewed commit­ment to Christian family life and it starts to build up a commu­nity of committed Christian families.

3. For the Church, it brings people within a particular parish to a fuller experience of life in the Spirit. Consequently it strengthens and revitalizes community life in the parish.

The CLP starts with an orientation session, followed by 3 modules of 4 sessions each.

The first module presents the absolute fundamentals of Christian life. The second module presents the kind of life that God calls us to, and helps couples to make a reorientation of their lives around Jesus. The third module helps couples to appropriate for their lives the power of the Holy Spirit, and provides the basis for continuing spiritual growth.

The topics of the sessions are:

Module 1: THE BASIC TRUTHS ABOUT CHRISTIANITY
1. God's love
2. Who is Jesus Christ?
3. What it means to be a Christian
4. Repentance and faith

Module 2: THE AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN LIFE
5. The Christian ideal: loving God
6. Loving your neighbor
7. The Christian family
8. Life in the Holy Spirit

Module 3: LIVING A SPIRIT‑FILLED CHRISTIAN LIFE
9. Receiving the power of the Holy Spirit
10. Growing in the Spirit
11. The life and mission of CFC
12. Transformation in Christ


In many ways, after undergoing the CLP, my whole life has never been the same again.

It has led me to further repentance and a renewed faith in Jesus, a closer and more personal relationship with our Lord and Savior. It has also empowered me through my baptism in the Holy Spirit, opening me to many aspects of my faith that I have never realized or utilized until now. My acceptance of the CFC’s invitation to join their community enabled me to integrate my family into a healthy environment for Christian support and continuous formation.

Like other CFC couples, my wife and I still fight, sometimes even over silly things and we still fall down due to sin. But we always find a way to get up, ask forgiveness and continue to be in the Lord’s service. Often we are referred to as “works in progress”, always in the struggle but never out of the fight. Besides, God never promised a smooth life after CLP, but that He will also always be with us until the end of time.

Couples for Christ has grown rapidly through the last twenty five (25) years from an original number of 16 couples way back in 1981 to roughly a million members in around 153 countries today. Its womb to tomb outlook has brought forth family ministries like the Kids for Christ (KFC) and Youth for Christ (YFC) ministries, as well as various special and social ministries and in the last few years our work with the poor in collaboration with non-CFC partners, Gawad Kalinga (GK). While Couples for Christ members are predominantly Catholics (in fact the CFC is the only Asian National Private Association of the Lay Faithful currently recognized by the Vatican), the CFC community and its CLP is open to all Christians from different denominations.

More than four years have passed since that fateful day in 2002 when my wife and I accepted God’s call. Much has happened since then. We now have four children, instead of two. Not long after our CLP graduation, Odette and I have been tasked to serve as our Chapter’s Couple Coordinators for our local KFC. Later, we facilitated during a succeeding CLP in 2003 and were subsequently anointed as household leaders. We have also been called upon to serve as Value Formation Sessionaires since 2004. We have also been serving as Unit leaders and handling the SAGIP program (KFC counterpart in a GK site) in Phase 1 of GK Kapamilya or more popularly known as GK Ruby, an underprivileged community composed of more than a thousand families. I feel honored to be invited time and again to give out various values and pastoral formation talks in many places where Christ’s message needs to be heard. I feel humbled and privileged to be God’s instrument for His plans wherever it may be. Many times have I also experienced a weakening of my interest to serve in the midst of trials, intrigue and oppressions. It is saddening to know that some of these intrigues and difficulties come from a number of people within the CFC community. But God’s grace and strength is sufficient and I thank him I am still here with my family ready to meet the challenges ahead.

Happy 25th Anniversary, Couples for Christ!

May my family and many more families around the world share your next 25 years in God’s steadfast love!

P.S. Pictures that couldn't be viewed in this post can be seen at my other blog http://familiesforchrist.lifewithchrist.org

Man's best friend

If you happen to pass by our street in Quezon City one day and see a fairly big Labrador half breed menacingly looking at you, don’t worry and cheerfully call out… Brownie!

Actually, while our dog might have a natural rowdy side to him, this 5 year old (or is it six?) canine is quite faithful and generally friendly to people who cross his way. He does have a loud and solid bark that will beat the heck out of any would be prowler or super- villain for that matter. In the past, my wife has tried to convince me to give him away several times due to a number of misadventures which included tearing up clothes, “dog” handling some people including one small kitten (who eventually died). It would seem that what might appear to some as actions of an angry dog are actually playful expressions of a hyper active Labrador. I remember bringing Junior our eldest child to the hospital for a series of anti-rabies shots that ran through several months just to play safe after he showed what appeared to be either a small bite wound or scratch from Brownie’s claws. Based on Junior’s account, this apparently happened after he gave the dog a kick for not listening to his command. Basic lesson to be learned: don’t hurt animals -especially big ones who can hurt you back!

Brownie during his formative years

Brownie seemed to have “mellowed” through the years….but he still roams around Daffodils St., probably looking for his one true love…still greets us with his intense playful pouncing movements when we arrive at home…still the loyal pet that has deservingly received the culture-transcending accolade ---“man’s best friend”.

Time flies....

Sonny Boy’s 10th birthday (December 2005)

Faith’s 1st birthday (March 2006)

My Wife

My wife Odette is a Legislative Committee Secretary in the Philippine Legislature’s House of Representatives. She teaches part time at DLSU where she also graduated from college with a double Bachelor in Arts degree in Behavioral Sciences and Psychology. An excellent cook and constant workaholic, she is a professional civil servant and a dedicated mother to her children. As a training consultant, her HRD training skills are way above par! She could whip you up a training design for your corporate needs pronto!
Now that’s my wife!