Two high students – Nonito Cabrera Jr. and Roy Genovia Jr. -- reflect on what the Holy Bible means to them on the occasion of the National Bible Day this week. The two students, both seniors at Negros Occidental High School , have recently qualified for the National Schools Press Conference in Koronadal City next month after they both topped the news writing competition in English and Filipino categories, respectively, in the Regional Schools Press Conference held in Iloilo City in December.

A Daily Habit
Nonito Cabrera Jr.

Growing up a Sunday-Schools student in a Christian church, I have learned to appreciate the Bible as a source of sound advice and as a constant guide in every day. I believe that the Bible is God's gift to humanity, and he gave it to us so that we could have something to reflect on and something from which we can learn valuable lessons. I also believe that the Bible is from the Lord and the prophets through divine inspiration wrote it.

The Bible does not only tell us stories and parables, but it also sends us Gods clear messages. It teaches us moral lessons, virtues and yet another gift from the Lord which is Salvation.

I try to read the Bible as much as possible as part of my devotion, and I often turn to it in times of high emotion. I always thank God for the gift of Good News that I have in convenient reach, thinking about other people in other places that are deprived of the right to possess a Bible, or those people who are persecuted for having one.

Furthermore, I remember reading about the prophets who wrote the books of the Bible in prison or during a great famine and calamity. I have also read about monks and scribes copying volumes and volumes of the Bible in their monasteries just to preserve it and to spread it to the world.

I once heard of a story of missionaries in Communist countries who smuggled parts of a Holy Bible, page by page, and brought it back together once they cleared the customs. They strived hard to bring the news to a harsh and anti-Christian environment in order to evangelize them about Jesus as our Savior.

One can also hear accounts of countless Christians, who are persecuted because they refused to blaspheme, defile and desecrate the Bible by spitting, urinating or just plain vandalizing its sacred pages. Thinking about these people, it makes me stop and reflect on how lucky I am that I have a Bible that I can read at any time.

The Bible comes in many sizes, shapes, colors, translations and versions but it brings a single message, the word of God that is given to us so that we can learn how to live like Jesus did and to follow his footsteps.

I make it my daily habit to talk to the Lord and hear his word through reading the Bible and I hope you make it yours, too.

Very Valuable volume
Roy Genovia Jr.

It may look like a typical book that comes in different sizes – small, medium, large and even extra large; it may also have different colored covers – blue, green ad many other. The text of this book may be limited on its four corners but the value of the message that it conveys means a lot to me and to you for it doesn't only enriches our mind and enlighten our hearts but it also cleanses our soul.

This book does not tell of fairy tale with its happy endings but of story of sacrifices and good deeds. This book is not about fictional, characters but of real people, people who have lived to proclaim the word of God and who have lived by the word of God. Do you know now what book I am talking about? Yes, it is the Bible.

Personally, the Bible is not merely a book. It is more of a magic mirror where I could see myself and reflect on the deeds and works I have done. It is also a teacher that tells about valuable lessons in life and even love. It is no ordinary book for me because it has all the things I want in a book – adventures, romance and mystery. It is more than a computer for it is living and it can touch every ones heart.

It is more than a cell phone for it does not only send messages of inspiration but also the message that says, “God loves US”. The Bible is more than a movie that tells of partners who have fallen in love with each other but of the sacrifices that God did for us and one of those sacrifices is giving us His only Son, Jesus Christ. And last, for me it is a door, a door that leads us to life everlasting with our one and only God….

You may see the Bible as one of those books in the library but for me it is more valuable than those one displayed on the racks. The Bible is a gift from a God. It is gift that should be cherished and loved by all people.

This one thing I want to share with you-- we live in this world created by God and so we shall live in this world proclaiming His words and shall live by his words….