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It is unusual to see considering it is of a different religion, but this book plus the Bible has taught me the importance of compassion and mindfulness in a world of darkness. There are many beneficial anecdotes, allegories, and methodologies that, like the Bible, delve deep into the human spirituality and enlighten me to consider myself in relation to others and my surroundings. Also, I consider the teachings of the Buddha not a religious dogma but a philosophical discipline as it original was and should be.

--John Divinagracia

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“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

-I think that this verse and the image of a fisherman resonate with me and I want to ask God for guidance, and seek strength from His words, and I want to open doors of opportunity for many people who can, in return, share their blessings to others. want to build a community where everyone helps each other and serve the Lord through their vocation as well.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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I like seeing overlooking points over cities. It reminds me that there are so many other people in this world, and that we need to look out for each other.

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I wish to practice Magis for myself, because I have gone through so many years of my life actively avoiding the more loving option because I feared that I would lose the love of my peers, resulting in many sleepless nights and unnecessary stresses. I now know that it’s not true, which is why this picture reminds me to practice the spirit of Magis, because choosing the more loving option allows me to fall more in love not only with myself, but with what’s around me as well, because I can’t be a person for others if I fail to be a person for myself.

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(I saw this quote for the first time in a church magazine and thought that it made a lot of sense.)

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I love theater and I love acting. I want to use the gifts that God has given me to tell people's stories, especially the ones that we need to hear. I used to think selfishly; about all of the benefits and attention I could get but along the way, I realized that there is a greater reason why I am here and why God chose me to take on this path.

(Valerie de la Rosa)

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This photo I took of Katipunan Ave. reminds me of fond times I have spent on campus. But also imparts on me that beyond the gates there is much more.

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I had a habit of taking pictures of the sky near my window, and happened to take one of clouds that looked like they were holding hands. In a way, the sky reminds me to try and see beyond my perspective and strive to work towards becoming a better person for myself and others. Given that each person has vast potential awaiting them that life’s journey has in store.

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This is a simple picture of a road with trees, and it somehow inspires me to practice the spirit of Magis towards the ‘who’ and ‘what’ that matter to me the most. First, I took this photo when I went on a road trip with my friends, so this picture reminds me to be a more loving person for someone other than myself because I believe that everyone also deserves to be cherished and given the act of kindness. Second, as explicitly shown, this photo also reminds me to be a more loving person to nature because taking care of the environment is very important not only to us, but also to the other living things that co-exist with us on Earth.

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This photo was taken from the vlog of the person on the right (Mike Majlak). Mike was a former drug addict but is now sober for the past 10 years. In this picture, he announces that he will help support the person on the left’s journey to sobriety by funding her stay in a sobriety house as well as giving a donation to the sobriety house itself.

- Jeff Lugay

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I took this photo when I was on vacation last year because I wanted to remember how close I was to God at that moment. It reminds me that as His child, I have to show and express the love I have received from Him first-hand.

- Phyllis Ong

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Looking at pictures of the world reminds me life does not solely revolve around me, my aspirations and my problems. Seeing how big the world is, how there are so many people who have their own struggles is humbling as it helps me be more considerate of others.

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This is my cat who used to be a stray. It inspires me to practice the spirit of Magis, to be a part of a tapestry of people working together to make this world a more comfortable place for everyone; so they can sleep belly up, peacefully, not having to worry about hunger or danger the next day.

- Angel Balucating

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I feel like any picture that has to do with waste/trash and our earth's environment, will always be a reminder and inspiration to me to be a loving person in whatever I do, be a person beyond my talents, be a person to create and empower change. To know that I can harness my potentials and capabilities in the best way by giving back to our world. Seeing the bigger picture and being reminded that as much as it's my life to live, I am living in a world that has other people living in it, other animals living in it too, and other natural species who deserve to be cared for. That in the grand-scheme of things no matter how small my actions are, we collectively affect one another at the end.

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Took this photo during my Japan trip two years ago. I want to live and work in Japan one day. This picture represents what I want for my future. As I work to reach my goal, I hope that I’ll grow into a better person along the way. I want the me that is living in Japan to be someone whose actions are based on love for life.

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The picture I have chosen is a picture of stars. It will remind me to practice the spirit of Magis because it reminds me that I am part of a vast place and there are people who live in the space as well.

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For me, hugs are physical emobodiments of love, warmth, and connection. What is a hug if not the best reminder of the importance of loving your neighbor? When one is enveloped in a hug, one becomes flooded, washed over, showered with love. When I am hugged or when I give hugs, I think of how precious my loved ones are to me, which reminds me of the importance of choosing the more loving option. When I am wrapped up in a big group hug or a small embrace, I think of how much I love the people in my life and I strive to do more for them. Sa bawat yakap ko,ninanais kong maging mas mapagmahal. <3

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This is a picture of a woman cooking while her husband kisses her. It reminds me that in everything we do, we do it with love. Tasks that look simple may be small to others but they can mean a lot more to another person.

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This beautiful picture of the Cross inspires me to practice the spirit of Magis because it reminds me of the great love Jesus has for us. Although we can never fully repay Jesus for what He’s done for us, we can make ourselves a little more “worthy” of His love by obeying one his greatest commandments: Love your neighbour as yourself. This picture inspires me to choose the loving option out of love for my neighbour and out of love for God.

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My family and I often visit the beach when times become too stressful and we need a getaway from an ever-shifting reality; I've begun to associate the sound of tides and smell of saltwater with those happy memories. What motivates me during hardships, crosses, are my loved ones. Just as they've helped me become the person that I am, I, too, want to give them back that same care and love.

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I'm a typically reserved and introverted person, and as much as I want to help others, I often hesitate in doing so at times because I'm always wondering what would happen if I took the leap. Looking at this picture, I see Magis as not just about reaching out to others and helping them, but also letting them reach out to you and receive their help, and I feel obligated to fulfill that two-way connection.

Image source: https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/do-you-have-what-it-takes-to-reach-the-lost.html

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This is a screenshot from a film I watched recently. For me, Magis is doing more for others, but on a more personal note, I'd like to think that it can be shown simply by being there for your own loved ones. You can do so much with the smallest actions for your loved ones and that in itself already shows Magis.

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Behind closed doors, I may never know people's stories and what they are truly enduring, which is why I must make it a habit to exhibit a sense of compassion, empathy, and warmth towards everyone I come across. It is essential to always be kinder than I feel because the peers, colleagues, friends, and even strangers I encounter may be experiencing emotional or mental struggles that put them under internal feelings of stress, fear, grief, and the like. Sustaining kindness through words and actions towards others creates a simple yet huge impact that could positively affect their lives and make them feel better even just for a moment.
- Nina Pile

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This is a screenshot from the movie Encanto. During this scene, Isabelle sings about how she feels with many expectations placed on her. At the end of the song, her and Maribelle have come to understand one another. That's what I believe Magis is. It it is the effort of reaching out to others in order to better understand where they may be coming from. Only from here are we able to do more to nuture relationships.

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The Vanishing Half by the ever so talented Brit Bennett is a very enlightening book that I finished reading just recently. The plot dives deep into themes of racism, colorism, sisterhood and family, and explores what it's like for people of color to exist in spaces made for and by white people as generations of women try to fit in amidst such oppressive forces and make life-altering choices because of them. This book gave me so much insight on love and acceptance and the need to reinvent ideology to become more inclusive and diverse.

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I know I can exert magis in our efforts in life, our gifts and talents, but if there is one thing I know I want to excel more, it is in praying for my life (not like I'm dying, but I know it as a need). There are a million things I will fall short of, a great many ideas that won't turn out as well as its hoped to. Yet as I pray, I know I'll find the strength to keep going, and I will know how to be relevant in this great big World I live in. I do not want a pot of gold, a magic lamp or a scepter of power in my prayer, but a cross that will let me be stronger so I can one day, make bridges and lift loads I other wise would not be able to lift, without it giving me strength.

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This is a screenshot from the CGI Animated Short Film called "Mr Indifferent," which aptly showcases how choosing to become a more loving person helps the community, even if it is through small gestures. In this specific scene, "Mr Indifferent" helps an old woman cross the street, a deed he initially did not care to do until she wordlessly took a hold of his arm before the pedestrian light turned green. As seen above, a car almost hits the both of them, making "Mr Indifferent" realize that the car could have hit the old woman had he not helped her cross the street. This hence reminds and inspires me to practice the spirit of Magis as doing smalls acts of love is more than enough to become a loving person.

Full video:
https://youtu.be/qLGNj-xrgvY

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What reminds me to practice the spirit of Magis is the intention to do good things for the benefit of my country. There is so much that can and should be done because there are so many problems that need to be addressed. Doing the more loving option can hopefully lead to a better outcome for everyone.

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I believe that this book I've recently read allows me to encapsulate what practicing Magis entails. While the title may seem disheartening at first glance, this book honestly helped me overcome a lot of aspects of life I've been struggling with for a long time. Through this book, I've learned to accept that I cannot fulfill each and every role there is out there. I have to live in comfort in the knowledge that I only have so much capacity to do things. The realization of my limits as a human person is something that has greatly helped me come to terms with my faults and incapacity to perform certain tasks. Additionally, this book talks a great deal about how our perception of self-love is intrinsically linked to our relationship with God. It details how God made us the way he intended for us to be, so we must avoid viewing ourselves as lacking. This motivates me to practice Magis as it reminds me to the more and be more with regards to the things that I can do. Rather than focusing on what I lack as a human person, I can focus my attention on what I do possess and how this can translate to the betterment of not just myself but also those around me.

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I took this photo of my nephews before the pandemic. I have always loved this picture because this was the first time they  hugged one another. This photo reminds me that in anything and everything I do, I choose to do it for their generation. I choose to dedicate my time and energy to making this world better for them. To me, magis is being able to do small acts of love that contribute to the betterment of society.

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When I first saw this picture, I was in awe at how beautiful the shot was. It made me feel like if I wanted to ever be able to capture life like this, I need to practice Magis; I need to push myself in a way that will put me in the face of my dreams. I hope one day I can achieve greater than I am if it means to give myself a chance to live, and not just survive.

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Everyday, I feel, is both a continuance and a beginning in itself. A new day is a resumption of your everyday life, but also it is another opportunity start or change anything you put your mind into. This picture to me serves as a reminder to choose the loving option because it is in love where all is built. We have the freedom to do what we want to each day, but knowing that our actions affect others, may they be people, plants, or even animals, there then is a duty to act also in accordance to their existence and dignity. Whenever I see lush forests like these, I am in awe at how so many living things coexist in that vast space. From that I come to bear in mind that in terms of our association with our neighbors, we must regard one another with love and goodwill.

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My grandparents have always been endlessly supportive of my hopes and dreams. In particular, it was my lola (a professional dancer), who has been a constant source of inspiration in my life as a performer. It is through their love and guidance that I am inspired to explore the world around me, and share the love that they have given me to my community.

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This picture of our team helping-out a local community has since inspired me to pursue goals that are done in pursuit of serving others. It inspires me to plow forward in the face of difficulty and hardship throughout my academic journey and career prospects.

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Although this is just a photo that I had gotten from the internet, I would like to say that I would want to help these children in pursuing their dreams and to show them their capabilities. In saying that, I want to be the person they can go when they feel troubled. Additionally, I think I can learn a lot more from them.

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This is the photo of 2022's first day break that I took from outside the dorm room. I spent every holiday and birthday for the past 3 years scrolling through my phone and being jealous of every single family who got to celebrate and be with each other while I was bitterly sad in the shadows of my bunk bed. I look at this photo to remind myself what my parents taught me and hopes for me to understand, magis is also choosing the more loving option for myself. That I should also choose to free myself from the emotions that hold me back from focusing on the road I must take ahead. Magis is being brave to take the next step, and continuing to do so.

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I choose a picture of this quote because it reminds me that at the very heart of our existence is human connection. We truly need to choose love in our every day lives to give us meaning. This makes me think about all the people in my life that I care about, and how I want to be good and loving to them as much as I can.

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Seeing people in unison and solidarity shows me that I am not alone. My family, friends, and even those that would consider me an enemy, we are all part of one community and we must all strive to make it better for everyone.

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This is a picture of our adopted dog, he died years ago but I wont forget him. He was already grown up when we took him in and based from his behavior, we could tell he lived a hard life— we showed him love and care during the time he was still with us, and during his last moment he went to my mom and let her cradle him till he closed his eyes permanently; we took it as his sign of saying thank you. Until this day, he reminds me of how our little acts could help somebody, even if my reach is small; I shouldn't stop as even if it is just one person/animal, at least I could do something.

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We used to have an askal dog when I was young but he just suddenly disappeared one day, though I don’t have photos of him anymore, he looks similar to the dog in the picture. He reminds me that the world is full of different life forms, that we are all interconnected and we have the capacity to make an impact in each other’s life. We must try to help each other out in life.

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While my father and sisters aren't in the picture (distance reasons, y'know abroad), my family is my reminder that I work towards the joy and happiness of others. They are reminders that as a family of readers, it will be my responsibility to tell my own stories to others.

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I used to love taking pictures of the sky. I mean I still do, but I used to too. I feel that taking photos cements the memory as it passes. The photo above is an example of such. I feel that the sky is the one thing that connects us all, and in that sense it's a reminder of how we're not alone. Given this, this photo of the sky reminds me to practice the spirit of Magis by going outside of myself and using my gifts, skills, and talents to be a more loving person—to use my gifts for the benefit of all others who reside in this world.

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I think that being able to see the happy and smiling faces of others are what will remind and inspire me to practice the spirit of Magis. Through Magis, I am reminded that there is no "me", "you", or "them", but there is an "us". By including everyone and not leaving anyone out, we are able to show our solidarity and justice. Through all of our struggles and hardships, we can proudly laugh and be happy and look to the hopeful future ahead.

- Allison Beatriz Uy

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I personally believe it is hope that keeps me motivated always to do good and to do more. Hope reminds me that better things can always come at the right time. It inspires me in a way that I know, at the back of my mind, that I can always look forward to something good or better soon.

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I took this photo just before my 8 am class because of how blue and bright the sky was. It inspires me to start a new day by striving to do my best. It reminds me to do more and become more for every tomorrow to come.

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Seeing pictures of kids smiling gives me so much hope because it pushes me to do my best to serve my country to the best of my capabilities so that people can keep smiling .