Yes, I believe!
Third of four parts
I don’t have to see the Creator to believe in His existence. All I have to do is marvel at His creation. In Rome, I saw the landmark ruins such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum dating centuries back and I knew that somebody long gone had created them. Closer to home, every time I watch a show at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), I know that somebody created that sprawling building by the sea. The creation proves the reality (the existence) of the creator.
In this third of the four-part “I believe” forum, six doctors answer the question “How do you know that there is God?”
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• Dr. Hayden Kho
“I believe that there is a God because 2,000 years ago, a righteous man who knew no sin claimed to be the Son of God. His enemies hanged Him on a cross in Calvary and there died the most vicious death.
“He rose again on the third day and showed Himself to many, proving His claim that He is the Son of God. That is what we are celebrating now — the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And we celebrate because we have reasonable faith that the power who raised Jesus from the dead is the same power who will raise us up as well after our death.
“I also believe that there is a God because when I look at the moon and the stars at night, and examine the wonder of human life represented by the DNA, and think about the wonder of childbirth as when Scarlet Snow was born, I am convinced that behind the design is a Designer. This Designer is omnipresent and He is personal. He cares about us and it matters to Him how we live our lives.
“Back in 2013, He reached out His hand to me and I came to know Him. My life changed for the better. How then can I not believe?”
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• Dr. Danny Chua
“November 1981. We had a long weekend during our internship at the Metropolitan Hospital. We rode a small boat from Batangas Port to Puerto Galera. Six of us with my friend Welson (Yap, also a doctor) and only one bankero were on the boat. The motor broke down midway. We were struck by giant waves, as high as a two-storey building, and the boat was on the brink of capsizing. I prayed hard and asked God for help. And so did the rest of us. We paddled our way back to the shore for four hours. We landed safely.”
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• Dr. Nonoy Zuñiga
“Our Universe didn’t just form by itself with all the stars and the galaxies existing in an orderly fashion. And our solar system is still in its place holding all planets together.
“There’s an Unseen Hand who did all of these and is in control. He is God, the Creator of all things, living and non-living. And He is the reason why I’m still alive today.” (Flashback: Nonoy was among the victims of a bomb explosion at a five-star hotel years ago while waiting for his turn to sing at a show. He lost his leg and lived to tell the tale.)
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• Dr. Nellie Yu
“I would say, look around you. There must be a Master orchestrating the universe. Planets not colliding with each other...the cycle of birth and dying of all creatures...the magnificent beauty of mountains...the ocean...and the sky.”
(Food for thought. Here’s the poem All Things Bright and Beautiful, it is oh-so-beautiful and meaningful and it touches your heart oh-so-deeply as you recite or sing it over and over again: All things bright and beautiful/All creatures great and small/All things wise and wonderful/The Lord God made them all/Each little flower that opens/Each little bird that sings/He made their glowing colors/He made their tiny wings/The purple headed mountains/The river running by/The sunset and the morning/That brightens up the sky/The cold wind in the winter/The pleasant summer sun/The ripe fruits in the garden/He made them every one/He gave us eyes to see them/And lips that we might tell/How great is God Almighty/Who has made all things well.)
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• Dr. Danny David
“When I was a kid in school, I remember part of that poem which our teacher asked me and my classmates to recite in class. The poem’s first stanza (highlighted in bold letters above) convinced me that there is God.
“Fast forward to my adult life and I still believe there is God. He must have secretly appointed me to be His spy in this part of the universe to observe and find out how people are doing. If I were to report to Him on a daily basis, I could definitely tell Him examples to show how relevant He still is in my life and other people’s lives. His name is forever internalized in our multilingual vocabulary.
“When people are shocked and frightened, notice how they say, ‘Oh, my God!’ or ‘Dios mio!’ or ‘Diyos ko!’ or ‘Susmaryosep!’ (a contraction of Jesus, Mary and Joseph). I believe God exists when I hear people say, ‘Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.’”
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• Dr. Emerita Andres Barrenechea
“Yes, I know that there is a God.
“We all are enjoying the beauty and fascination of the natural world, whether it’s the vast blue sea or the lush and verdant land. Also, how the sun and stars realign and the certainty of day and night. The uniqueness of the human being, complete with dividing cells capable of reproduction and a brain that can reason right or wrong.
“Hiding behind the complexity of all these wonders and beauty must be Someone great and strong...God! Why is there so much good in the world (although we are more accustomed to hearing about the problems of evil).
“So there is a God, and not just any god but a God who is all-good and all-powerful. I strongly believe there is a God with the multitude of blessings I have received, my family and friends, and the gift of healing others. Aren’t these enough proof that Someone Up There looks after me and my well-being? There must be a God and I think I am His favorite.”
(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)
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