MANTRA for the week: “Loving myself gives me the capacity to love others.”

Your moments with God are now. And as you realize how truly wonder-filled the Universe is, you will begin to see these wonders are the reflections of what you are within, proving what Jesus said in Luke 17:21, “The kingdom of heaven is within you.” And naturally, that is where God is.

When you fully understand this, you will begin to love yourself more. You will start to realize that self-love begins from your realization that all your thoughts, feelings and actions are affecting your life, are creating your life.

When you comprehend this, you will move to change your thoughts about yourself, about other people, about life. As you change your mind about life being a struggle, you proceed to handle all the situations in your life differently.

So, today, resolve to praise yourself and notice your wonderful qualities—your strengths, uniqueness, the power of your prayers, the effects of forgiveness, and as you cease to think negatively about yourself, you discover how much there is to praise about you and you will love yourself the way God loves you.

Eddie Park and Kiwa

Once upon a time, Eddie Park, a top Korean executive working in Thailand came to the Philippines as a tourist, fell in love with the country, and wanted to work here.

As circumstances would have it, he flew back to Korea for reasons of family and found a temporary job that led him to work with Solaire Korea.

His good fortune continued when Solaire Korea assigned him to Solaire Manila to put up a Korean restaurant, which is part of his expertise.

The restaurant, Kiwa, recently opened to the public. It has a total seating capacity of 170, including the private dining rooms.

Eddie is Kiwa’s chief operating officer.

Sex and the Vatican

I am ecstatic that “Spotlight” won an Oscar for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay, which are most highly deserved. I trust that the film will be watched by everyone in the Vatican, so that they may hopefully realize the ill effects of the vow of celibacy.

I believe it is only saints who can sublimate sexual urges and not priests who continually get bombarded with other people’s sexual encounters through confession—the results of which are clearly shown in “Spotlight.”

‘Mabining Mandirigma’

Catch the rerun of the musicale “Mabining Mandirigma” at the CCP Little Theatre. I watched the play for the second time with its new leads, Liesl Batucan as Apolinario Mabini, and David Ezra as Emilio Aguinaldo.

Both talents were a revelation since this is the first time I’ve seen them perform on stage, although Liesl has already been elevated to the Aliw Awards Hall of Fame and is a two-time Philstage Gawad Buhay Awardee.

David’s stage presence and sterling voice will go a long way in his quest for stardom. He proudly banners his participation in the multi-awarded group FORTEnors, but is now working on a solo career.

“Mabining Mandirigma” is something all government officials should watch, not only for their cultural upliftment, but also for lessons they could learn from our political history. Maybe some of them would become better public servants and the more sensitive ones could resign from shame.

It runs today, March 6, 3 p.m.; March 11, 8 p.m.; March 12, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and March 13, 3 p.m. Call the CCP Box Office, tel. 8321125 loc. 1409.

E-mail [email protected]; visit www.GeorgeSison.com and www.iamism.org; listen to his “Positive Session” radio program on DWIZ 882 AM, Saturday, 9-10 p.m.