It is better to light just one little candle . . .

The Aurora Aragon Quezon Peace Foundation gave a special award to Ambassador Howard Q. Dee for his constant, persevering efforts, over the long years, to bring peace to the Philippines.

In his response, Ambassador Dee said: "I am grateful to God for the opportunity to serve. . . . Service is its own reward." Doctor Jose V. Abueva, in his welcoming remarks, quoted Howard Dee in a book which Abueva himself has edited: "Towards A Nonkilling Filipino Society." Ambassador Dee said, among many other things:

"In our aspirations for Philippine society, I propose that we expand the concept of a nonkilling society to include the attributes of a life-sustaining society, a society that does not kill but serves, gives and sustains life.

"The precept not to kill is a command of God. This ideal must be realized in a larger context of a loving, caring, life-giving society. Such a society cannot be formed by a people whose faith is without deeds, whose poor have no hope and whose leaders govern without love. A nonkilling, life- sustaining society must be founded on the bedrock of moral and traditional values because man cannot live by bread alone.

"A nonkilling, life-sustaining society, to be able to endure, must respect human rights, protect human freedoms and promote an authentic total development of the human person, a development that is just and equitable, caring and healing.

"We are living in prophetic and perilous times when a culture of death prevails over life-sustaining forces. To save our nation from this death trap and attain the society we aspire for, we need to make a moral about-face and redirect our freedoms from our sinful ways toward a new vision of life, so that we could survive the onslaught of evil.

"The root causes of our death-dealing society are so deep-rooted in our history of unjust structures that their eradication would require the whole of Filipino society to rise up from the present quagmire in a resurgence of patriotism and nationalism and love of fellowman, to cleanse and reform itself and thus to bring about the total transformation of our society."

Beautiful testimonials were given by Teresita Quintos Deles, by Rene V. Sarmiento, by Alexander Prieto Romualdez, by Reuben Dasay A. Lingating, by Bishop Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J., and by Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, OMI. Ambassador Dee deserved every tribute, down to the last intimate, personal phrase.

Despite his recognition of the difficulty, he continues working for peace, with all his heart. He has never given up hope. He is always trying to transform our society, to lead our people to God, to the Gospel of life and love. His whole life has been a candle, lighting up the dark.

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The National Office of Mass Media has copies of two books by Father Horacio de la Costa, S.J. on the history of the Jesuits in the Philippines:

The Jesuits in the Philippines, 1581-1768, his doctorate dissertation in history, at Harvard.

Light Cavalry, the history of the Jesuits from their return to the Philippines in 1859 to the outbreak of World War II in 1941.

The Society of Jesus was suppressed, all over the world – except in White Russia from 1768 to 1859. "The Jesuits in the Philippines, 1581-1768" is a masterpiece of scholarship, of which Harvard was justly proud. Light Cavalry was written at the Ateneo de Manila on Padre Faura, when Horacio de la Costa was in regency, not yet a priest. He wrote it when he was 23, 24 and 25. It is filled with the romance and enthusiasm of youth and reads like a novel.

Both these books tell the story of the Jesuits, but actually they are a beautiful history of the Philippines during those complex, adventurous, stormy years. Father de la Costa loved this country, and loved the Filipinos. His reflections, his insights, are beautiful. He is always positive. He throws a warm, human light on those troubled years. He never curses the dark. He was given an award , after his death, as the finest Catholic writer of the twentieth century.

The Jesuits in the Philippines, 1581-1768 is available only hardbound, at P500. Light Cavalry is available only softbound, at P350. Contact: National Office of Mass Media 2307 Pedro Gil, Santa Ana, Manila.

Phone: 5644518

Telefax: 5637316

E-mail: [email protected]

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Maria Andrea Y. Santos Mendigo has published a beautiful little book called: Sacred Feminine – The Story of a Woman. It is a presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a model for all Filipinas.

It comes at the right time. The Philippines has received terrible publicity as a paradise of prostitution – "the most beautiful girls at the cheapest price." A foreigner, after visiting this country, wrote: "The tragedy of the Philippines is this: in one of the world’s most beautiful countries, some of the world’s loveliest girls are being sold for money to some of the world’s ugliest men."

Andrea Mendigo presents the simple, heart warming story of this poor peasant girl who was the mother of God. She portrays the gentle, affectionate, prayerful, courageous Virgin as a girl, like any other girl. She is hoping to re-light a candle that once burned in every Filipino home, and in the heart of every Filipina – the desire to be chaste and pure, and close to God, as Mary was.

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And, for the young men of our day, who see hopelessness and despair all around them, and who are wondering how they should invest their own lives, the Jesuit Vocation Promotion Team is offering seminars in Manila and in Cebu.

The seminars will take place on Sunday, March 12, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In Manila, at the Garage, Sonolux Building, Ateneo de Manila Campus, Loyola Heights, Quezon City. In Cebu, at San Carlos University, which once upon a time was a Jesuit school.

The seminars are designed for male college students and young professionals. In fact, you need not be too young. Some men have started their studies for the priesthood when they were approaching forty . . . . . .The seminar will concentrate on: "How do you know that the priesthood, or the Brotherhood, is where you belong?"

God certainly calls many, as he called Peter, Andrew, James and John. But sometimes the Filipino boy does not listen to the call. He feels that being a religious – living in a barracks, devoting years to study and to prayer, then consecrating your life to the service of people who are in need spiritually or materially – he feels that this life is too dull, too hard. But every priest, and every Brother, realizes that he is the spoiled child of God. He has peace of soul. He is in the place where he belongs. He has not chosen God, but God has chosen him.

Instead of leaving the country, or lapsing into despair, some listen to the voice of God. Then they consecrate themselves to the service of God’s children, hoping that their life will be one little candle, lighting up the dark. That is what the seminar is for.

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There is a daily texting service called: "One Minute With God."

You can reach it on Globe by texting: "Reuter @ 2978"

You can reach it on Smart by texting: "Reuter @ 326"