Every year, my wife takes the kids away for 2 weeks to her sister’s camp. And every year, I face the same demon named porn who tempts me to masturbation.  I met “this guy” back in high-school and I almost went blind. But when I entered the seminary in college, I was able to control [...]

During these tough economic times, I’d like to share the Filipino secret to coping. The Philippines is like Haiti in the East.  But despite widespread poverty, Filipinos have the lowest suicide rate in Asia.  Japan, the wealthiest, has the highest.  How do Filipinos face their hard lives daily without sinking to despair?  Is it with [...]

Machismo is defined as a strong or exaggerated sense of masculinity stressing attributes such as physical courage, virility, domination of women, and aggressiveness.  It is downplayed as cultural and even backwards.  But it appears to be deeply planted in nature – genetic even.  Does it have a place in bringing up boys who are followers [...]

I was taken for a heart procedure last week and brought back a few lessons that may be helpful to you. Before the procedure, I was asked if I had a living will or end of life directive.  I didn’t and my wife doesn’t know if I want to fight on or have the plug yanked [...]

From psychology I learned that women need to be loved as men need to be trusted.  It’s just how the sexes respond to affirmation.  So I keep this in mind and drop casual and subtle messages of appreciation to my wife every now and then.  Like when we went for buffet tonight, I saw some [...]

St. John Bosco housed homeless boys. Before going to bed, he gave them a “goodnight talk” right after night prayers.  This drew from a event during the day and concluded with a moral lesson. It is short and entertaining – drawing from the lives of the saints or from his visions.  After that, there is [...]

Even if our daughters don’t respond to our parenting, we must never give up or get bitter.  We plant the seed of counsel and discipline now and leave it to the good Lord to let it blossom in His time.  Always bear in mind the good word that St. Paul has written in his first [...]

At a men’s retreat, someone brought out a point that clarifies a misconception about chastity in married life. This guy thought that just because he’s married then he can do a lot of sexual stuff as long as he does not commit adultery and that there is no contraception involved.  First of all, my insights are [...]

My comments: Our kids will be just like us. That’s either a blessing or a curse depending on what we’re doing to and for them today.  Before we know it, all the activities that keep us away from them are over.  Then we want to spend time with them.  But, if they turn out to [...]

It’s true. Those of us who sailed past the Statue of Liberty came to a country of unbelievable freedom and opportunity. America Truly is the Greatest Country in the World. Don’t Let Freedom Slip Away – After America, There is No Place to Go” Next to religious and inspirational stories, this is one of the [...]