When I was younger, I remember praying this prayer in my quiet moments with the Lord: “Lord, hold me and don’t let me go. Huwag mo ko bibitawan, please?” I prayed it because, deep down, I knew this truth about myself—no matter how much I profess my love for God, my own grip would fail me. I could not fully trust myself to remain faithful to the faith I claimed to believe in. There might come a day when I would loosen my hold, when I would betray the very values I hold dear.

Love covers a multitude of sins. — 1 Peter 4:8 Have you ever heard this verse? Most probably, especially if you are a Christian. You’ve likely heard it preached from the pulpit or seen it paired with inspiring images on social media. There was a time when this verse made me cry in gratitude. To think that a love so great could cover my sins—what beauty, what grace could do that for someone like me. But grace does not pretend that sin does not exist. It does not excuse harm, n

I used to believe—when I was younger, more optimistic, a little naive, and wildly idealistic—that I would grow up with no regrets. I thought every decision, every turn, every possibility would lead me exactly where I needed to be, shaping me into the person I was meant to become. But growing older changes you. Reality touches you in places you never expected, and the world reveals a kind of cruelty you once thought you were exempt from. I’ve lived through things I never imagi