Weekend Getaway in Boracay

I need a vitamin sea. That's how millennials or young travelers would say whenever they need a break.

The sea is medicine. Prescribed not by physicians but by none other than our very own friends, our colleagues, or people closer and special to us. We feel calm and relaxed when we are in a body of water. And so, our mind becomes clear and our soul uplifted. Our well-being is healed and rejuvenated, and that's the ultimate goal to achieve.

The truth is we want to escape reality once in a while. To live in a fantasy land where there are no pains and stresses. We pause, pack our things and go for a travel and adventure.

Dream on and go on.

In April 2016, I had a great weekend getaway on a small island on the west coast of Panay Island in the Philippines. Boracay Island. One of the world's best.

It's a hotspot for the world's beach and island lovers. A multi-cultural hub where the east meets the west.
That was my 5th time visiting Boracay in about two decades. And each time I saw it, its ecosystem and culture had undergone several transformations. I the old Island culture I missed.

I may have seen Boracay during its pristine days when it was less developed and had its Island vibe. So that brings back vivid memories worth remembering. 

Last year when it underwent temporary closure, it became like a ghost Island. Only a few tourists and businesses closed for about half a year. If we humans deserve a break, a busy Island deserves a much-needed break too.

When there is damage in an ecosystem due to commercialization, it has to clean and heal itself before serving people again. And so other more popular Islands in the country and Southeast Asian region followed suit. They also rehabilitated their Island paradise. That's a great move with great sacrifice and love. 

Take a break from the crowd. The party. The noise. The pollution.

I love Boracay. It has a different vibe among Philippine Islands and beaches. And so, I am pro-rehabilitation if needed, so it can breathe again and rejuvenate -- just like us human beings.

The Nami Resort will bring you over the hills and experience exhilarating fun from an old-style elevator reaching the hilltop. Nami resort got the best view of the Island, and it was just fantastic. The food, the music, and the ambiance are great. The experience was magical.

Boracay once again was closed just recently. This time due to the pandemic. And so, when people can travel again without restrictions, Boracay will open its paradise for responsible business owners and kind travelers.

Boracay is for everyone. One day, I may be able to swim in its water again. Witness its captivating sunset. See the sandcastles and leave footprints in the sand.

© 2020 Del Cusay

Stairway to the Mountain

Nature's spring is nature's best. That was a tremendous and meaningful adventure on the foothill of the Mountain, Mount Arayat National Park.

To be closer to nature is a weekend and holiday destination for most city dwellers. An escape from noise pollution and the hustle and bustle of city life. Escaping from the real world of unending work and tasks. Escaping from reality, even for a short while.

An adventure worth sharing 6 years ago brought me to the beautiful and peaceful town of Arayat in the Province of Pampanga in Central Luzon Island, Philippines.

Two months after I arrived in the Philippines after a year of living abroad was a great adventure and soulful healing. That was April 2014 when I finally had a closer glimpse of Mount Arayat, which can only be seen from a distant highway when going to the Northernmost provinces in the country.

Nature's retreat offers excellent healing results for the body, mind, and soul. This is all we need after a long and tiring work week. And for the physical grounding, a day hike to the Mountain feels like rooting to the earth. Nature's Way to be reconnected to the world as our mind wanders and boggles, accompanied by anxiety, worries, and fears.

At the park's entrance to the hilltop community are a serene environment and the soulful sound of nature. The park is also home to different species of birds and wildlife under conservation. 

The park is an excellent escapade for families, team building, and even solo retreats. There are cottages, picnic areas, playgrounds,s and campsites for everyone's needs.

A hundred-step stairway to the hilltop community is a great calorie-burning and offers a stunning view of the Mountain. Closer view to the roof of Pampanga -- the province's highest peak.

Take a deep breath and a little more hike passing through the treehouses and all the Way to the Arayat Bikers Club. A solemn spiritual community awaits where one is closer to nature. Truly a heaven on earth for the residents and for the visitors.

Before heading down to the lowlands, I paused, meditated, and reflected on the Divine presence and a meaningful journey ahead.

The Mountain of Arayat and its Natural Park provides excellent service for people seeking respite from suffering, loneliness, stress, and grief.

On the new best normal and after the pandemic, people would reconnect with nature, taking a deeper breath and breathing out of toxicities of the body and mind and purifying their soul. And when we need to reboot or restart, there will always be a mountain to climb for soul searching -- to heal our being.

© 2020 Del Cusay

Father's Day at The Farm

Life at the farm. That's our best new normal during this time of Pandemic. We get the benefits of a clean and green environment for healing and rejuvenation.

Today, we celebrate a special day since it's Father's Day. We decided to visit and spend our Sunday at the farm, a sanctuary we had developed for about a year now.

As I swing through a hammock, I reminisce how it all started back in June 2019, from when it was conceptualized until it materialized.

Today, a year after, we are harvesting fruits and vegetables, which my parents started to plant since the lockdown and home quarantine due to the Pandemic. My parents didn't stop their usual organic farming activity, and it's paying off-- it's harvest time.

We have varieties of vegetables like eggplant, bitter gourd, string beans, spinach, and squash. We also have fruits like Philippine lime or Calamansi, tomatoes, avocado, banana, watermelon, and coconut. These and many more in weeks to come as we expand and develop other areas for planting.

We aim for sustainable farming practices to provide our own food on the table in this time of crisis and as a way of living -- a new lifestyle.

In previous years, I may not have celebrated Father's day at home, so this year is an opportunity to be present and to show gratitude and appreciation to our dear Father.

I will forever be thankful for the love and inspiration; this crisis allows us to plant, grow and harvest what we've produced.

Father's day isn't only for a day; we celebrate it in our lifetime. Wherever we are, he will always be in our hearts. Our Father, our hero, our motivation, and our source of endless inspiration. 

© 2020 Del Cusay

A Journey of A Thousand Miles

Life brings us to the place of our dreams. That's the beginning of a beautiful journey ahead. We dream it, we believe it, and we live it.

We manifest and hold on to that dream, we bring our intentions to life, and it starts with a single with— a single step.

Life may bring us to several places in our lifetime. Some destinations may still need to be planned, but opportunities and destiny take us there.

In 2016 after a thousand miles journeys abroad, life brought me to a lovely place; known as the city of love— Iloilo City, Philippines.

The place is special to me since I lived there for about a year, from mid-2002 until mid-2003. It is where I studied my first year in college, being the center of higher education in the Region. Back then, the city had its charm with century-old churches and old ancestral houses preserved and restored— such a timeless beauty.

The city has to live up to the expectation dubbed as the 'City of Love,' and true to its name, it is the loving nature and the lovable character of the people that captivates the soul.

13 years since I left, I came back to live and practice my profession by working in a medical center near the esplanade, where I used to spend some morning strolls and sunset viewing. I have seen the city's growth as it embraced modern development in infrastructure while preserving its old heritage. Now the city is a fusion of the ancient and contemporary world. It has a more charming vibe among the developing cities in the Philippines.

That journey to the 'City of Love' brought memories to cherish for a lifetime, until one day, another journey began to another place; to the country's capital region of Metro Manila, back to the site where I started to work and discover places and the world.

Today, our world may have stopped. Life may have led me back to my greater comfort and security, to my birthplace, and to be with my family — my loved ones.

The thousand miles journey brought meaning to life, but away from my family. But now, a journey of a thousand miles includes a 'home sweet home' closer to my family.

Life is good to return to their loving and warm embrace during this crisis, where uncertainty unfolds. I was far away from them for years, searching for a living, but now I am living with them, searching for meaning.

Now, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Wherever we are in this world, no matter how far the distance we've been. Still, we'll always return to the most special place in our hearts. 

Life will always protect and comfort us, and life will always lead us back, even after a thousand miles journeys and beyond. 

© 2020 Del Cusay

122nd Philippine Independence Day: Holding the Line

We can never attain absolute freedom if we're still a slave through the colonial mentality and feeling inferior to other races. The same thing is that we can't be free when our government is terrorizing and putting down its people. 

That may be our very own story today. The state of our current societal freedom. A prisoner of faith and hope.

That's not what our valiant heroes have fought for, just to free us from hundreds of years of foreign invasion and rule. The pain and struggle may have left an imprint on our being as passed on the blood flowing from our veins by our Forefathers.

Today, Philippine society may have evolved through the years. The new generations of young Filipinos may have been detached from history but attached to the modern living of comfort and convenience.

Today's society, however, is still struggling with defending our freedom to be free in our speech. That's the freedom of expression being threatened to be taken away.

We can be the most law-abiding citizen, but that doesn't mean we will remain to be silent and blind to what's happening in the government; how it's being run affects the way we live. We follow the rules and regulations, but that doesn't mean we will also track and have a higher tolerance for wrongdoings, abuse of power, and rampant human rights violations.

The Philippine society today is at threat of losing its voice. The voice of the masses -- the powerless and the most vulnerable.

People critical of the government are being silenced through harassment and false accusations; the worst is detention. If this can happen to political personalities and mass media, it can happen to almost anyone with the most vital voice of dissent or opposition.

I believe we have a good democracy, but what happens when the government has massive power for manipulation, tripping, intimidation, and control. Slowly, public dissent is being killed. No more voice to speak up, or you may be served a sentence without due process of law.

Democracy is what this country survived and thrived for over a century; otherwise, we may still be a colony and in control of a mighty nation. But, with our excellent resistance to put an end to foreign rule, we became a winner -- we regained our independence and freedom.

People can now discern right and wrong, what is real or just manipulation. People can express their thoughts with higher judgment and discrimination.

If the government shuts us down, let us hold the line. We know our limits. The government must know its limits too. The power vested in our leaders comes from the people, and we can take it away from them. Eventually, management has to come to an end. It's always temporary.

It's when we know how to hold the line that we can protect ourselves and uphold our freedom. The freedom that we Filipinos deserve. 

© 2020 Del Cusay

Lost in a Paradise

If there's one thing that this Pandemic has taught us, it is to embrace the stillness. To be present.

Life teaches us about what is essential versus what is luxury or leisure.

Life teaches us to embrace individual uniqueness and societal differences.

Life teaches us to be alone, lost, and regain ourselves.

What would happen if you got stuck on an Island. How would you imagine living?

There are no convenience stores, cellular phone signals, or internet.

You only have basic survival needs and equipment; tents, hammocks, cooking utensils, and just enough food good for two days.

I dared! I trekked a muddy road less traveled back in 2015. And my destination was the Island Province of Guimaras in the Philippines.

In just two days, I enjoyed the serenity of the place away from the people. The water was clear, and I jumped off a cliff. That was a safe jump rather than a risky dive I never dared. And I survived!

Now I'm living in the present. I am thinking about the time in our lives when we go on an adventure of a lifetime. There's no attachment to things and people. And the absence of one of the most essential things today -- getting online and social media.

Today, during this time of Pandemic and social isolation, our connection to the online world is our most important survival tool. We go online for news updates which sometimes can be toxic and causes sadness, loneliness, and grief. If there's no internet and social media in the present time, how would we live everyday life?

Our survival tool in the new best normal is connecting to the online world. For most of us, being offline is not alive since, nowadays, everybody seems to go digital, going online to communicate with coworkers, families, friends, and special loved ones.

I learned to be detached and offline, even for a short while. To go on social media detox. Honestly, I have lived in that present moment, living in stillness. That adventure taught me a lesson about basic survival skills and survival when the most essential thing is out of reach even for a while.

The next Pandemic may come in our time, and how we prepare for the worst is essential for survival.

To be stuck in an Island Paradise is just one learning experience that I have benefited from in the present times and the next crisis.

And today, we can always learn not to just survive. But, just be alive.

© 2020 Del Cusay

Now Rowing Forward

We can't wait to move on. We've been stuck for some time, and we want to move forward and be able to live our life's next chapter. A life where mystery meets uncertainty. A life of ups and downs -- our current reality.

Today, I've seen how we go a few steps backward. When the Pandemic struck, we froze, could hardly move, and went on to reminisce about our past life. We remember the good old times and learn from the bad times. We have time-traveled, and it just feels so good.

Rowing on a small boat from my last year's retreat on a beach was one of the most solemn and soulful experiences ever. That gave me a lot of realization about how I lived my life. That was a preview of how to live and survive in silence, without a crowd, and just a moment of detachment and social isolation.

As I looked at the horizon from afar, where the blue skies meet the sea, indeed sky is the limit regarding our life's desires and realizations. There are a lot of opportunities and foresight waiting for us to be discovered in total silence.

As I walked closer to the shore, the horizon seemed endless, even when I reached the deepest sea. When a big wave is coming to hit me, I may either swim as fast as I can back near the shore or just go with the flow as calmly as I can.

Life's like that. When something big hits us, like an overwhelming challenge or adversity, we can choose how to react; we panic or stay calm and focused on taking the best action and not get drowned.

Fast forward to today, a year after, comes the Pandemic. I remember how I enjoyed the silence and solemnity of a place where I said I could survive in that environment for a long time.

How many of us could live without a noisy and distracted world? How many of us can enjoy being detached from worldly possessions and relationships? How many of us can survive alone, having just enough and with no luxuries but only a natural world of purity and simplicity?

Today, as people and communities have started to mobilize again after isolation, we have learned a harsh lesson and a deeper awareness of our being. That we can indeed live alone for some time and depend on ourselves for our own happiness. That we are responsible and in control of our life -- our destiny.

Life has brought us to a different era and future we never imagined. This time, we are not only moving on or moving forward. We are now rowing along in the direction of our will, our life purpose. We are the captain and in control of our destiny. The director of our own reality.

© 2020 Del Cusay

Living Our Best Normal

We want to live our best life. That is not just an aspiration but a realization of our life purpose. Our goals and dreams are what fuel our being towards not just success but also fulfillment -- our heart's desire.

In these times, we are now one world and one humanity, which used to be divided by the color of our skin, the amount of money in our wallet or in a bank, divided by religious affiliation and social status.

Today, we feel the oneness of humanity. That we are united through a shared experience. We are all vulnerable to the global threat to human health;  either we survive or continue to suffer -- we're all in this together.

We are slowly adapting to a 'new normal,' which is an initiation of how much we have learned about survival skills and the test of our life's top priorities.

In the 'new normal,' people may realize that money may not save a life at some point. That money isn't our ultimate purpose of living. And the health we sacrificed for cash will be gone when we lose the battle. 

Living in the city would start to lose the appeal, and people will see the value of life in the rural area-- in the countryside.

There is so much learning the pandemic taught us. People in the metropolitan now see the natural world uncovered to them. The surrounding mountains from afar, the chirping of the birds, and the clear blue skies used to be enjoyed in rural areas. Still, nature showed a glimpse of the natural environment people in rural areas want while in isolation.

People will now invest more in health and wellness rather than living in a highly stressful environment to gain wealth. Sustainable living in a safe and peaceful rural area is what can give us the peace of mind that we all need. If there's a shift to this mindset, people will live healthier and livelier.

Between life in the city and in a rural area, the 'new normal' would point the arrow to the less crowded place where one can breathe fresher air and enjoy a fantastic view of the natural environment free from pollution.

And hearing from someone I highly respect, Master Del Pe, a Modern Sage and an International Life Mentor, inspired people about living not just the 'new normal' but living our 'new best normal' because we put the highest priority on health and wellness to survive and live longer, we strive to live with our best self no matter the challenges and threat that will arise on years to come.

To live our most extraordinary life and our 'new best normal' is beyond living not just a safe and secure life but a sustainable life we all deserve. 

© 2020 Del Cusay

Life in The New Normal

Life on the beach. That is what people miss on a hot summer day. This is supposed to be a fun-filled dry season for families, groups of friends, coworkers, or solo travelers. But this season has fallen into isolation.

The last year's summertime was one of the best vacations ever. I never thought that it would be the last summer to get sunburned. The last time to enjoy the summer breeze and the serenity. The last time to leave footprints in the sand.

After several weeks, our economy and the rest of the world are slowly returning to life, but it may be hard for people to get back to life -- the kind of life we used to live.

While viewing my digital photo album, I saw smiling and happy faces. I saw how we used to celebrate family gatherings without physical distancing. I saw how we used to travel and go to public places without a mask. That was just a recent past, but now it feels like we have wholly entered a new world; with a new definition of love.

The new normal is tough love. When families at home couldn't even give a hug and kiss. When old friends or acquaintances couldn't even recognize each other due to facial protective covering. When partners couldn't hold their hands. And when young kids and our elderly are best protected by staying at home. All these for the sake of love -- love on the new normal. 

But I still believe in a profound human connection. We may still be able to give a smile to someone we know or anyone we meet along the road. A new definition of a smile -- a smile of gratitude on the new normal.

Our new normal is not only about hygienic measures. It goes beyond our new lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle where most people will give their utmost priority.

We will now be more health conscious and eat the right kind of food, get some physical exercise, get some nourishment from the sunlight, plant and harvest our own food, get adequate sleep, prayers, meditations...

Activities that nourish our body, mind, and soul would be most important. We stay away from worries, fears, and anxiety. Though at times it's normal to feel that way, we can still escape, regain our best selves, and live our most extraordinary lives.

For now, we may have already learned some tools and techniques as we move on to a new normal. You may now have known to quiet the mind and relieve stress through meditation. You may have learned the art of flexibility of the physical body through yoga or internal stamina exercises. You may have started doing backyard gardening. You may have learned to follow your passion for visual/digital arts like painting and photography. You may have started to love reading books, articles, and blogs. You may have found joy in sharing your passion through vlogging.

At this time, we must have overcome our Fear zone and moved to the Learning zone. And now, as we start living on the new normal, we are entering the Growth zone, where we have learned self-mastery and become a higher version of ourselves.

A lot has changed in a matter of weeks in isolation. We may now still be dreaming about that planned summer vacation. You may now be ready to explore what awaits you in the new normal. 

Circumstances may have changed, but hoping they will not change our being, our beliefs and values, our humanity, and most of all, our faith in God.
© 2020 Del Cusay

Timeless Loving Memories

Mother. That's one precious and sweetest word we could hear. It's not just a word but brought into action by a remarkable, loving woman. 

The sweetest smile, the warmest hug, the thoughtful gesture, and the selfless love. That describes our Mother. Someone we can truly lean on; in good times and bad times. Someone who makes us feel loved and cared for. Someone we can depend on.

Today, the world is celebrating "Mother's Day," and we give honor and reverence to them in a unique way of remembering their most significant role in our existence. 

A Mother's definition and worth may differ from someone's personal feeling, but it is universal. The world owes a lot to Mothers who brought and raised us into this world.

Our GrandMothers, sisters, Aunts, and all the Mothers closer to us; this day is about remembering their greatness and the timeless loving memories. We must not forget how they help us mold and transform into better people.

The world is turning into a New world, but our Mother is still the same yesterday, today, and in years to come, even in our lifetime and eternal life.

We love our Mothers, and we honor all the Mothers and those we have known personally that have impacted or influenced our lives.

This is not just a day of celebration but a lifetime of honoring and remembering. Our Mothers, our greatest love who shows us endless love. 

© 2020 Del Cusay

Survive and Thrive

It's been more than a month in quarantine, isolated from people and the community. You can't get out; you can't move freely and comfortably.

Some call it home arrest away from the unseen invader. Others may fantasize about it as an extended vacation, but it should not have been this way— never ever this way.

Our world suddenly stopped, but see! our world is healing itself. Lots of changes in our community and the rest of the world. 

If the world is healing, how can we not benefit from it? We, too, must start to heal, and so like the healing earth, we can become whole again and ready to see the world again.

Healing our body, mind, and soul can significantly contribute to the world. We may have inflicted much pain on our natural world, so we suffer. We suffer from living in uncertainty... beyond our reality.

And now, the world forces us to reflect and heal our minds and emotion. Unless we heal ourselves, we will be a prisoner of fate forever.

However, there will always be an antidote for our suffering. It is when our collective actions benefit the world and humanity.

There is healing in our love, in our hope, and in our faith. That's a healing antidote. Not a vaccine.

When we think beyond ourselves and do more excellent service to others, we contribute to healing. And so today, no more fear! No more anxiety! It has been replaced by love and understanding.

Yes, we are surviving! But in our desire to stay, we also dare to thrive, grow, and become better and stronger. Our life journey never ends after these challenging times. Hence there are endless possibilities for us to learn and be of service— even in our own way.

Don't just survive, but thrive! 

© 2020 Del Cusay

Opportunity in Crisis

We feel people's fear. This pandemic teaches us to be sensitive to different kinds of emotions. Anxiety, panic, boredom, anger, irritability, and depression are some of our common reactions. People may not say it, but we sense the negative vibe of people's lower emotions. 

We sense fear because our consciousness detected a new threat to our being; in humanity. Hence, what we feel is just average and expected.

But how can we escape this threat? How long shall we feel fear? How can we go back to living an everyday life?

During these times, education experts say we live in 3 different crisis zones.

Fear Zone. This is our initial tendency to threaten. It's normal! Feel the fear. Acknowledge this feeling and not be in denial. Our physical expression can't mask our feelings deep within for one main reason we are all together. We are wired to feel for each other.

Learning Zone. This is an excellent opportunity in times of crisis. We make use of the time we are in isolation. Most people might still be stuck in a fear zone, but learning shouldn't stop us. Students, working professionals, parents, young kids, and even old retirees can learn something new during this time. New knowledge and skills are our weapons as we return to living a 'new normal' during and post-pandemic.

Growth Zone. This is about taking control of our emotions and mind.
When we achieve a certain level of self-mastery, we grow and transform into a more fantastic version of ourselves. We succeed because we refuse to remain a victim of circumstance and prisoners of fate.

So, in what zone are we now?

From the 'fear zone' during the first few weeks of quarantine, I am now in the 'learning zone' where I feel a lot of positivity and personal empowerment. 

I have attended several webinars offered by local and international organizations and have learned from Thought leaders about different subjects of expertise.

I listen to educational podcasts and read valuable insights from online articles. I keep on learning and auditing existing knowledge and beliefs. I keep on pondering and updating obsolete information that hinders growth.

There's growth in learning.

Soulful Sunday is a great opportunity not to be stuck but to learn to adapt and engage in new interests and habits.

Farming has been a great activity for us even before the pandemic, and we continue to plant seeds for a bounty harvest in this uncertain time.

This is an opportunity to cultivate, develop and create sustainable living. Organic farming practice is what we need for a healthier body and immunity to fight the unseen enemy.

Life in the countryside will always be exciting. It's just a matter of changing our mental state and the definition of success. There's a lot of learning and an opportunity to live a more comfortable and healthier life. 

As we move on, we will look back to realize that fear sabotages and taking in control of our destiny. And so, our antidote is a dosage of learning to become better and bounce back more vital than ever.

© 2020 Del Cusay

Positivity in Uncertainty

Energy follows thoughts and intentions. That's one of the most essential pieces of wisdom I have learned and adopted for years.

We can make things happen when we pay attention to our thoughts and with a higher level of optimism. We can let almost impossible things happen.

But how can we stay positive in a world full of negativity? With the recent global crisis due to the pandemic, people get scared and anxious about what lies ahead of our uncertain future -- the coming days and years.

We are all at risk. But at this time, somebody must be ahead of us. Somebody must not be so scared as we are. They are our elders, our parents, and our grandparents.

What makes them have the highest level of positivity is the struggles and life experiences that they have survived through the years.

Yes, they may be the most vulnerable, but they have the most positive spirit all through these times.

They are not the weakest but strongest because of their faith in the highest Divine power. Their religious or spiritual affiliations and activities are what make them truly alive.

My Soulful Sunday is spent at the farm, and on this day, my parents show us how to live and survive this crisis.

The striking statement I have heard from them is that extensive farmland only serves its purpose if cultivated for sustainable farming.' That's the reason why they put their energy into it.

As I visit the farm after a week of home quarantine, I am glad to see the vegetable farm, which they have spent most of their time and energy on.

They may never know what tomorrow will bring, but they know how to survive and thrive. There are no excuses, but only developing habits and a positive mindset.

In days and weeks to come, we will harvest vegetables and fruits that will give us nourishment and a healthy body. Our goal is to strengthen our immune system, starting with healthy food on the table. Farm-fresh produce for better health and stronger immunity is all we need.

A lot of positivity for today. A lot of flashbacks and realizations. A lot of energy, but with positivity in uncertainty.

© 2020 Del Cusay

A Hopeful Easter

In the absence of fear, we live with courage. We live with hope. For us, this happening in this world, where we live with uncertainty, is a test of faith and our humanity.

The holy week that we celebrated was a new world experience. A totally different dimension on the physical plane of existence.

Even if we are in lockdown and quarantine mode, we are still blessed to have expressed our faith digitally; in an online world. We have celebrated the Holy masses through online streaming and on television from a live broadcast of different parishes in the Philippines, and the Holy See in the Vatican.

Our Parish Priests, Bishops, and the Pope sent us a message of hope in these times of global crisis. We are not alone, and God is with us in all these trials. 

God may not show his wrath, but we are tested with perseverance, endurance, the will to abide faithfully, and the will to survive.

We learn to go back to what are essentials for our survival. We connect with nature and live in a natural world away from too much noise, stress, and fast-paced living.

Take it slow. Recognize the wonderful nature around you. Touch the soil. Go barefoot outdoors. Take a deep breath. Watch the sunrise and the sunset. Have a glimpse of stars and the galaxy. Listen to the sound of silence. Meditate. These are the messages I received and the fulfillment of my heart's desire. 

We all have different messages from the Divine. Be in solitude and receive the news with an open heart. 

As we continue to learn how to live in this new world, Easter gives us a message of hope. Our hope is that we will adapt to the recent earth's changes. We hope to be protected and healed. We hope for a better world. By God's will and grace, we will hold on. Not to surrender, never to give up. For our hope is more significant than our worldly desires. For our hope is beyond physical. It is eternal.

© 2020 Del Cusay

Holy Week 2020: Faith in Uncertain Times

In observance of the Holy Week, we focus our energies and strength on the solemnity of the passion, death, and the coming resurrection of Christ. 

We leave our worries behind. That's the most respectful thing we can do since we are living by the promises of Christ. GOD is in control, and we put our trust and faith in Him.

The lenten season and the Holy Week this year are extra special. We haven't experienced this in decades since we came into this world. We are confined in our homes and celebrate masses on a live TV broadcast. We can't do the Good Friday procession and be able to celebrate Easter with greater freedom of expression of love and gratitude.

During this Lenten season, families celebrate Sunday Holy Mass at home, we do the virtual Visita Iglesia online, and we get to kneel on our Holy Altar at home.

This year, we can't go to places on a pilgrimage. We can't show our love through hugs and kisses, but we offer a different kind of love in the distance. To show love to people, we need to keep our distance. A tough love.

But in these uncertain times, we are comforted with love through the Religious leaders of God. Our Pope, our Bishops, and our Priests are there to provide for our spiritual needs.

We can gather with our family at home and listen to the words of God. We light a candle and offer a prayer. 

As I make my Holy week retreat in our sky garden, I can see, hear and feel God's Holiness and loving presence through His natural creations and masterpieces. We have been blessed to live in a natural sanctuary of solemnity and solitude to experience God's Divinity.

He is not absent, but He is there with us in the comfort of our home, wrapped in His loving arms. He is forever in our hearts and transforms our lives.

Yes, we may be living in this time of uncertainty, but we are learning to slow down, to live in stillness, and to notice and appreciate even the little things that matter in our lives.

On this Good Friday, we continue to pray and observe the Holy burial through the Holy image of the Santo Entierro. It is our belief that Christ has died to save humanity. Its significance lies in our personal experience and journey when He reveals his Holiness on our being.

May this silence and solitude be a time to realign our hopes and dreams? This is the right time to reassess the things that matter and are of actual value. Is this the time to listen and redirect our lives to living meaningful life?

© 2020 Del Cusay

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👉 Holy Week 2019: Our Personal Journey to Calvary