This was something I wrote just before I left the Jesuits. It’s a very special poem for me, not only because of the things I went through when I was writing the poem, but because in many ways, it is something that continues to be true for me today. We journey through life thinking that … Continue reading Prayer of the Prodigal Son
The Our Father of Our Generation
It is the prayer Jesus taught us, as the priest would remind us at mass. It’s Jesus’ answer to the question, “Lord, teach us to pray.” How are we supposed to pray? Is there a particular way? Are some prayers better than others? The answer of Jesus gives us a sense of the heart of … Continue reading The Our Father of Our Generation
The Fighter
Yesterday was one of the longest days of my life. It began with an unexpected phone call in the middle of the night. With a tremble in her voice, my sister told me that my father suffered a cardiac arrest. He was successfully revived but remained unconscious. I frantically stuffed whatever I can inside my … Continue reading The Fighter
The Son Who Stayed
by Eric Santillan One of the most iconic stories of the bible is that of the Prodigal Son. I've written a poem from the perspective of the younger son before. This is a reflection on the story from the perspective of the Elder Son, the one who stayed behind to be his father's heir. May … Continue reading The Son Who Stayed
Whistling for Hope
When I was a young boy of six or seven years old, my dad taught me how to make a kite. He first taught me how to make what looked like a crossbow out of walis tingting, cover it with glue and attach plastic over it. Then he taught me how to tie the ends of the walis tingting with thread. He also taught me how to put plastic on the two ends of the kite for balance. The secret was attaching the thread and/or nylon string: it has to be attached strongly enough to withstand the winds but flexibly enough to allow for movement. He then gave me a used can of Alpine evaporated milk to wind the long thread.
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