On what occasion do you talk to God?
MANILA, Philippines – Talking to God is my pastime. Try-ing to get to know Him more, trying to please Him in everything I do, is my ultimate happiness. Though I am very blessed to have my family and a few faithful friends with me during the most trying moments in my life, it is knowing that I can turn to God, talk to Him and trust him with my future that gives me the courage to move on.
I’m happy when my friends come to me for advice but in the end the best advice I usually end up giving them is to talk to God and just tell Him to lead them to the best solution.
Life is short, we don’t know what lies ahead and the only thing that’s for sure is His constant love and knowledge of what is best for us.
ROWENA TOMELDAN, vice president, Ayala Malls Group: For anything and everything, I cling to the Lord. I lift up everything to Him and I do not wait for a specific occasion to speak to Him. This just happens spontaneously and on a daily basis. God has always been and will always be my refuge and my strength.
JOHN LESACA, violinist and IP rights activist: When I wake up every day, I thank God for yet another day to enjoy. Just a short thank you, no formal prayers. I have seen so much misery, so many deaths and suffering among both the poor and the rich. But equally, I have seen much joy, birth and happiness from even the smallest act of kindness and friendships. Early in life, I was taught by my mother to thank Him for everything — joy, happiness, luxury, music, loved ones, family, together with sadness, sickness, death and the like (there has to be a reason for everything) — and I have practiced this to this day, although my wife, kids and grandkids swear I’m the grumpiest person in the house! Whenever possible, I hear Sunday Mass with my wife, although I totally dislike the political sermons by the priests (thank God they stopped!). Emotions also trigger my communication with God. Last year, I lost four schoolmates; two weeks ago, I lost four good friends who were in the line of duty. Such extreme sadness instantly makes me look inwards and converse silently with God. Daily, I also thank God for not taking back the ability, the talent and the music that He has so generously lent me.
In 1998, with my wife, I almost lost my life in a bad car accident. I could have been confined to a wheelchair or in a vegetative state. I have kept wondering why He spared me, and I keep on helping people and doing what I think He wants me to do. Thank you, God, for everything.
BONG DAZA, businessman: Though I don’t go to Mass, I pray to God (almost) every day — in the mornings, evenings, especially when I need some advice.
Atty. JB BAYLON, VP for Public Affairs and Communications, Coca Cola Export Corp.: The usual occasions are moments of joy and grief — not necessarily my own, but also that of others. I somehow share these moments vicariously, like watching Sarah Boyle belt it out and astound the world made me say a simple “Thank you, God” for the chance to prove doubters wrong.
CRIS ALBERT, businesswoman: Every single minute. My best moments are when I feel His mercies in the mornings.
CRISTINA MACAPAGAL, mother and entrepreneur: I talk to God before I go to bed and when I wake up, so that He is the first and the last thing on my mind. When I converse with Him, I don’t necessarily ask for anything in particular, I am just grateful for whatever blessings He has given me and my family. I trust that He will continue to take care of my family, especially my children. I think of Him, no matter how brief, before and after my sleep as a way of showing my gratitude for all that He has given me.
PJ PASCUAL, New York PR consultant: In this world full of materialistic needs, people tend to forget to thank our divine creator. God has been my guiding light. I have been living in New York for 10 years and He has been the source of my inspiration. I always speak to Him and tell Him I am grateful for giving me and my family — Mom, April, Nina, and Alexa — countless blessings. The church is indeed the house of worship, but God is everywhere and I thank Him for giving me courage, persistence, will, and might to succeed in all of my endeavors. He also knows the reason I am here in the US is to promote the beauty and talent of my homeland, the Philippines.
LORNA TOLENTINO, actress: I talk to God every day.
Dr. ROLANDO B. HORTALEZA, chairman and CEO, Splash Corporation: Being part of a complex and pressure-packed business environment, paradoxically, gives me the chance to be in touch with God. External and internal pressures abound — the economy, the consumers, the competition, the business organization itself. Very often, challenges, choices, and options become very confusing. When faced with difficult decisions and when human counsel doesn’t suffice, I invariably turn to God for enlightenment and discernment.
