But I know one has to get to know a person very deeply, get to know the person first. One has to really spend time with a person through all the times—boring time, fun time, sad time, trying time—before getting together with that person. If that person you like still likes you even if he knows the not-so-pleasant parts of you, then he’s the one.

In the quiet school corridor near the elevator, she stood beside the guy she found cute, keeping her eyes locked straight ahead on the glowing floor buttons to hide how self-conscious she felt. Seconds later, he leaned in slightly with his head tilted, flashing a faint, charming smile that practically begged for her attention. She couldn’t help the soft curve of a closed-lipped smile across her face.

It was a tender moment that made no sense at that particular moment.

(Fiction)

It was a sad, painful evening. While venting to a family member, under my breath, out of the blue, I blurted out “Namimiss ko si … !” He’s a friend I had not seen in a really long time.

The following week, during lunch out, we accidentally crossed paths. I had just finished eating, was looking at my tablet. When I raised my eyes, I saw him at another table to my left. Not sure if he had noticed me so I bought myself a drink first, then I came to approach him from behind and said “Holdap ‘to.” Then I sat across from him. I learned he was actually looking for me when he happened to be attending a seminar in the same building where I work, but I was out of the building already for lunch. And just like that, we talked.

Grateful for the intersection. Even if lines eventually drift apart, a blessing nonetheless.

I remember a Catholic priest years ago who was furious with Bo Sanchez, accusing him of ruining the essence of the Seven Last Words of Jesus Christ by inventing an “Eighth Word.” I recall him going ballistic during an interview. What’s funny is, did that priest watch the whole episode on TV or on YouTube? Was he even curious about what that Eighth Word really was?

According to Bo Sanchez, who once thought of becoming a priest but felt he didn’t receive that grace, eventually falling in love and becoming an ordinary layman, the Seven Last Words of Jesus aren’t over. He explains that God continues to speak to us right here, right now, in the busyness of our lives.

In the special, each of the Seven Last Words is paired with a real-life location or a personal testimony to show how Jesus’ final words apply to modern struggles.

I asked AI to summarize the key points in case you don’t have time to watch the full episode. Here is the summary of what was shared:

1. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”

Location: Antipolo City Jail.

The Message: The segment focuses on inmates who, despite being behind bars, have discovered spiritual freedom. It emphasizes that forgiveness is available even to those who feel they have hit “rock bottom.” The reflection suggests that like the people who crucified Jesus, we often don’t realize the gravity of our mistakes, but God’s mercy remains open.

2. “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise”

Location: A Victory Liner bus station.

The Message: The host compares our life to a long, often difficult bus trip toward a “higher place” (Heaven). Just as the “Good Thief” was granted paradise instantly upon asking Jesus to remember him, we are reminded that no matter where we are in our journey or how difficult the ride is, turning to God brings immediate hope and the promise of a destination.

3. “Woman, behold your son… Behold your mother”

Location: Gracefully Born (A crisis shelter for pregnant women).

The Message: This highlights the story of young girls, some victims of horrific abuse, who found a new family and support system at the foot of the cross. It speaks to the idea that when we are abandoned or hopeless, God provides a “mother” in the form of the Church or a loving community to care for us.

4. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

The Message: This word is framed through the lens of deep emotional and physical pain. The reflection focuses on the “silence” of God during our darkest hours, emphasizing that even when we feel abandoned, Jesus’ own experience of feeling forsaken on the cross means He intimately understands our loneliness.

5. “I thirst”

The Message: Jesus, the creator of the oceans, endured physical thirst so He could relate to our spiritual thirst. A testimony is shared about ministering to both children and maximum-security prisoners, noting that everyone—regardless of status—is “thirsty” for a love that only God can quench.

6. “It is finished”

The Message: The Greek word Tetelestai is explained not as “I am exhausted,” but as “The task is completed”. For the believer, this means the price for sin has been paid in full. It encourages people playing various “roles” in life (parent, student, worker) to finish their roles with hope, knowing Jesus has already opened the doors of heaven.

7. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”

Testimony: The death of June Gabrielle (a mentor’s father).

The Message: The story describes a man who died in total peace because he had practiced “committing his spirit” to God every day of his life, not just at the end. It teaches that surrender is a daily habit that removes the fear of death and attachment to worldly things.

The “Eighth Word”:

The Message: The special concludes by stating that the Seven Last Words are not the end of the story. The “Eighth Word” is YOU. Your Life. Your Story. You are called to be the “Word made flesh” today—representing Jesus’ love and presence in the noisy, busy, and “sticky” reality of the modern world.

Personal Reflection: As a non-practicing Catholic, I once tried man-made traditions like Pilgrimage, Visita Iglesia, the Rosary, and Novenas. However, none of them made sense to me, so I decided to go straight to Jesus when I pray.

The Eighth Word was a beautiful reminder of God’s love for all of us. Bo Sanchez didn’t overstep the sacredness of the Seven Last Words, instead, he made them a part of us by showing that Jesus truly understands our human suffering. He reminded us that we are His hope, and that as we live our lives, we must share love and respect—first for ourselves, then for our fellow human beings.

Regarding the priest’s reaction, it reminded me of the scene in The Sound of Music where the nuns gossip about Maria. It just goes to show that even in religious circles, there is always a bit of politics.