​What a beautiful and grace-filled St. Francis Day! Missionary Journeys of Justice, Mercy, and Inclusion (M.J.J.M.I.) was blessed to visit St. Joseph Friary and Formation House in Tagaytay City to deliver five desktop computers, donated in loving memory of the late Manuel Montesines. These computers will be used by the Conventual Franciscan friars and their seminarians for their studies and formation. Our heartfelt gratitude to the Montesines family and the Crescendo Group of Companies for making this generous donation through their Corporate Social Responsibility program and, more importantly, for supporting and advocating for education. What a beautiful way to honor Manuel’s memory—by helping young men prepare themselves for a life of service.

​And just like that, we did it again! We were able to turn over the newly retrofitted classroom to the teachers and students of the Special Needs Education Department of Camp Olivas Elementary School in San Fernando City, Pampanga!

​“Jesus in my heart, I believe in Your tender love for me, and I love You.” This prayer of St. Teresa of Calcutta, which I learned from Fr. Yulito Ignacio back in high school, came full circle today. I visited Fr. Itoy at Cardinal Sin Welcome Home in Sampaloc, Manila, where elderly and sick priests now spend their days.

​At 3:00 PM, I was surprised and deeply moved to hear the women of Bacoor City Jail praying the Divine Mercy prayer—a prayer that asks Jesus to forgive sins and bring sinners back to Him. Today, MJJMI and the Rainbow Warriors served 150 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) and 40 police officers with hot chicken macaroni soup. Despite the heavy rains brought by Typhoon Maymay, the afternoon was flooded with the mercy of Jesus.

​Despite nonstop rain caused by a Low Pressure Area passing through Bacoor, our team and the Rainbow Winners gathered once again for the third Wednesday feeding program for 270 children of Maliksi Elementary School. The cool weather made the warm egg lugaw extra comforting. The children also enjoyed wafers, biscuits, and juice—the perfect rainy-day snack!

​"May food na kayo?" I asked after hearing soft little voices behind me. Lily (not her real name) looked up and smiled. "Meron na po akong egg lugaw... ay, chicken sopas pala. Nalilito na ako, ang sarap kasi," she said with a shy laugh. That simple moment said it all.

​"Anong gusto mo? Juice o bottled water?" tanong ko kay Alfred (hindi niya tunay na pangalan). Sumagot siya, "Kahit ano po diyan, nanghihingi lang naman ako. Wala namang bayad ito, di ba po?" Sabi ko, "Hindi dahil libre at nanghihingi ka, hindi ka na pwedeng pumili. Kunin mo yung mas gusto mo para solb ka." Napaisip ako pagkatapos ng usapan namin. Minsan kasi akala natin kapag wala tayong pera, mahirap ang buhay, o umaasa tayo sa tulong ng iba, wala na tayong choice. Pero hindi iyon totoo. One of God's greatest gifts is free will. He created us with the freedom to choose. Araw-araw may choices tayo. We can choose kindness over selfishness, hope over despair, honesty over corruption, generous leaders over selfish ones, life over death, and love over hate. Hindi natin kontrolado ang lahat ng nangyayari sa atin, pero lagi nating kontrolado ang pipiliin nating maging tugon. Kaya pili tayo nang mabuti lalo na sa 2028.

​I overheard one conversation today that stayed with me long after the mission ended. "O, bakit 'di mo kinakain yung tinapay?" The Grade 2 student quietly replied, "Pasalubong ko po ito sa kapatid ko. Gusto niya po ito." Our volunteer smiled and said, "Bibigyan kita ng iuuwi mo sa kapatid mo, pero kainin mo muna yung food na para sa'yo." That simple exchange reminded me that kindness and generosity come so naturally to the human heart. The little boy was thinking not only of himself but of his younger sibling waiting at home. Even before satisfying his own hunger, he wanted to bring joy to someone he loved. The volunteer, in the same spirit of generosity, gently encouraged him to eat first so he would not go hungry, while making sure he would still have bread to take home for his sister. Two hearts, each putting someone else first.

​The opening of a new school year is always an exciting time for children. It is a season of new friendships, new experiences, and new opportunities to learn. Yet learning becomes much more difficult when students lack the basic tools they need to succeed.

​On the first day of school, M.J.J.M.I. visited Ciudad de Strike Integrated School in a developing area of Bacoor as part of its Balik-Eskwela mission.