(An honoring for a brother among brothers in Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon - Makati who will be pursuing graduate studies abroad.)
Tonight, dahil sa feel ko hindi pa naman nagsawa ang brother na 'to sa mga honoring ko (pang-ilan na 'to bro?), I want to honor him for three things before payagan natin syang umalis ng Pilipinas para sa NZ.
GENEROUS
I want to honor this brother for his generosity. This is a brother who, in St. Paul's encouragement to the Corinthians (2 Cor 8:2), gives according to his means and beyond his means out of his pure heart.
We can all testify to this. Ako mismo, nabiyayaan nito kasi magkapitbahay kami ng brother na 'to at parati siyang sumasabay sa akin pauwi. hehe This brother's vehicle and his driving skills are always at the disposal of Lingkod Makati for events - that's of course if he's not off to some farm in a faraway province or in a conference somewhere in Asia.
This brother is not generous only with his physical resources. He also openly shares his leadership and organizational skills having successfully led several community events. Once in a while, in his geek moments (yes, maraming geek sa Lingkod Makati, nagpapanggap lang yung iba na hindi), he shares very useful and informative agricultural facts (amazing yung mga alam ng brother na 'to!). Above all, it is time, the most precious of resources, that he is abundantly generous with. Once, coming from a business trip in Indonesia where he just celebrated his birthday alone, his very first appointment upon arriving in Manila, straight from the airport, was with us, his action group which he led with Paul.
GENUINE
Next, I honor this brother for his genuine heart. In the incident I shared where our AG meeting was his first appointment, please note that he didn't even take a leave from that meeting, which was very much understandable if he did! He could have gotten some rest first, or maybe met up with his family to celebrate his birthday, but no. That night, he blessed us with his presence and wisdom. This can only happen when the heart is true to one's commitment. And that, my friends, is because of this brother's sincerity.
With this brother, what you see is what you get. His support to his family and service to his sisters and brothers in the community comes from a genuinely caring heart. Alam mong 'pag binati ka ng brother na 'to at kinukumusta ka, hindi yun pabati-bati lang. Sabihin mong may concern ka, pag-uwi nyo baka mag-1:1 pa kayo!
WALANG PINIPILI
Lastly, gusto kong I-honor ang brother na 'to kasi siya, walang pinipiling taong pinaglilingkuran. His generosity and genuine care is not limited to his family, nor to his community in Lingkod or Ligaya, nor just to his officemates. How you see him being sensitive to the needs of the people that he knows is the same genuine service and care that he blesses other people around him such as the taxi driver or the saleslady he speaks with or even the stranger he sits besides with. Using his own words from a recent discussion, although medyo iba nang konti ang context ng pinag-uusapan namin noon, *ehem*, sabi nya, "...one really has to go out of one's comfort zone and think of the other person." *cough* alam na *cough*
I was led to these words of St. Ignatius of Loyola while preparing for this honoring:
"Love consists in sharing what one has and what one is with those one loves."
I could not explain more how fitting this description of love is based on what we concretely experience from the service and care of our dear brother, Spencer. His generosity overflows from a genuine heart that blesses everyone around him. He radiates a profound joy that can only come from being firmly rooted in the Lord.
To honor Spence, a unique character in the midst of a Lingkod branch filled with bankers, accountants, auditors, business analysts, and entrepreneurs, I'd like to throw a question to everyone here tonight: Kung si Spence ay isang halaman, anong halaman siya para sa 'yo?
I entitled this honoring Musa Sapientum, which means "fruit of the wise men." This is a nod to the geek moments that we will probably miss from the only agriculturist in the branch. Musa Sapientum, for those who know, and of course for Spence who knows, is the scientific name for the humble banana.
Maraming backstory bakit saging yung pinili ko kaso di ko na makwento sa honoring na 'to. Pero para mashare ko lang, etong brother na 'to, sumesenti 'to. Pansinin niyo FB wall niya. If the photo collages that he makes are not enough proof for you, pansinin nyo mga muni-muni na pinpost nya! At dahil dyan bro, para sa akin, kung ikaw ay isang halaman, ikaw ay isang saging - pinipitas, binabalatan, nilalaga, piniprito, kinakain…pero higit sa lahat isa kang saging kasi ang saging lang ang may puso. (BOOM.)
Kidding aside, Spence, we are all excited for the adventures of the student life ahead of you. You are no stranger to travelling and settling down in new places every once in a while, but nevertheless, know that we are and will always be here to support you. We will just be here in Makati and BGC *wink* when you get back after the couple of years. We will definitely miss one of those with the warmest smile and the tightest hug that greets everyone at events. That's you, by the way! Until then, our branch theme for the year could not be any more apt in leading our prayers for you:
Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Cor 16:13-14)
Just as you lifted up the desires of your heart and discerned the Lord's will in the next chapter of your life, stand firm in your faith. Continue to serve the Lord in love in the new mission field that He has led you to, Bro. All the best and God bless!
