Diwa ng Pinoy

Getting Rougher

2010-06-14T22:11:00.000-07:00

Things have gone a little rough for me these days.

Series of events led to my emotional downfall, though I've pondered on these things,
some I have managed to cope, however few left unprocessed.

I have been keen in keeping up with my schedules, things and space, in short I love neat and order. But there are things in which my power could no longer have impact on. Am I so powerless over these things.

People surrounding me and life's condition had dominated me instead of me leading them to what they're supposed to be.

Setting up expectations on things and people had brought so much frustrations on me. Then I tried not to expect, I tried to live by faith, yet I grew weary.

At times I've been wondering why my works have no significance or equal to other people, good deeds result to nothing. My works were ignored, disregarded, worst rejected.

I've been trying to gather some realization on these things, ponder on to ideas that could give me some specific answer. But I failed. Nothing have I gained.

In thoughts, am I the only one having these imaginings and realities? Or am I just too emotional not to cope up with these?

Have I been dependent on men and on to what they do? Or have I been ignoring my God in ways that I have not realized?

No matter how you perceived it, guilt is eating me up.

I'm pretty well aware that I'm not perfect nor anybody else, yet I have always been aiming to be better. Not with anybody else but a better me everyday - which I believed is way more important than comparing yourself to others.

May the Good GOD Bless us all.

For Reason, Season and Lifetime

2010-05-30T04:58:00.000-07:00

As I have been trying to re-evaluate my purpose, I have came across an essay from an unknown author, and it did not only stirred me to write my thoughts but more it shook me up inside.

A R E A S O N A S E A S O N O R A L I F E T I M E

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway); and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Author Unknown

As what the saying goes, "no man is an island" and so had been our pursuit of making lots of friends and how to influence people.

Several suggestions were posted on every corner of the net to teach us how to fish friends, and some on how to find a true friend. As for me, true friend goes with a long term relationship and experiences shared, including bad times.

I have a number of friends, but few have I chosen to be special. By that, you probably know what type of person I am. Indeed I'm Skeptical, in which I believe we all need to be.

In this world that is full of criticism and condemning, we have to aide our hearts and kept them from prejudices of people, unfortunately at times these unfavorable opinions came from people we believe are our friends.

And when we realized it, then we turned our backs from people we know are friends and made them enemies.

However, through recollection, in order for you to win your enemies you have to know them closely.

"Keep your friends close, your enemies closer!"

Does this mean that I have to deny my feelings and continue spurring as to what I, have perceived as friendship?

Thus I've taken a glimpsed on Matthew 5 : 43 - 48 :

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I've been anxious about these things lately, and in so much struggle in keeping my friends and those who I thought are special. Or maybe the reason is still not clear enough as to what their purpose in my life would be.

What if reaching out to those whom I feel special does not work? Will I just walk away and forget about the friendship built?

What if the people I believe for lifetime, yet later signs are telling me they're just for a reason?

Things are blurred and there's no turning back. Happy moments were gone, yet eager to be remembered. Mistakes were done and time spent will never be returned.

How will you escape and brake through all these anxiety that people had brought me?

And the funny thing is, I don't have any answers to my questions. Would this be the part when I just have to put my questions on the sand and leave them swept by the waves? Or better cling on to my GOD whom is way too big for my petty problems and let time answer it all?

I admit I am troubled by these. And yet I am told to continue to be friendly - and upon thinking, and by doing so, what will I lose if in time I'll regain what was lost.

Though I may not answer all the questions for now, I'm glad to know that I have faith that puts me on a passing grade - no matter what.

Still all for the Glory of God!

Born to be Reborn

2010-04-22T03:04:00.000-07:00

April 20, 2010.

Days have gone old and so do I. Yet as I looked back all these years I saw nothing but few spots of good deeds that I have done. There are more blank spaces in which I interpreted as my unwanted ways.

And so while I'm reflecting on the years gone by, I realized that I'm almost half way to setting.

What did I do with my life? What have I done with my dreams? Where's my youth? How did I not focus?

I've had lots and lots of regrets with all the things and opportunities that I had not took chances, I grieved on what I have done wrong and on what good have I not done.

As I try to scan the pages of my years, with remorse I sigh a lot. Humbled I cried.

I felt hopeless for I know nothing I could do to change my past. Regrets, regrets and full of it.

Through the years I have tried to cover up my regrets with things that would cheer me up. Not realizing that there's always two sides in everything, I chose the wrong side of the coin.

Now my past has a foothold on me. And the torn is not something easy to bear. It eats up my endurance to hold on to life. My present is totally impaired. I've been feeling it - I am dying.

And my faith is slowly wearying out too. It frightens me a lot. Though I know GOD hears my cries, yet most of the time I let anxiety blurred my vision of HIM.

So I turned to people. Family and friends whom I can trust. But even in their presence, I felt hopeless. I felt fear. So I urged them to encourage me and to lift even a single part of me for hope, and it helped. It helped to the point that I gained my strength, to the point that I feel living again, yet it only remains for a very short while, then it's gone. And so I asked and asked - to the point of their exhaustion. And when they're all exhausted I felt pity for them, much more I pity myself.

So then I turned to church. I tried to explore few ministries that I could keep myself busy with. I let myself be part of activities that I know I enjoy. I tried exploring the remainder of my talents and gifts. And I have given it all. It made me glad that I tried not to get away with it. But it too remains for a very short while, then it's gone.

Now I'm damaged and emptied out of joy. In my everyday dealing with people I tried to hide the feeling. I hid the pain. I pretended I'm alright but am I not. And then I cried, a lot.

I have been searching for GOD yet I always fell into something ungodly. Things that add to my regrets.

I know I'm still holding on to my childhood dreams, yet doing what I'm doing at the present, my dreams are way out of my sight.

In hopelessness I turned to listen to our pastor's teachings on ways how to know GOD in a practical way.

So then it came.

Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Like a shepherd, Jesus is there all along waiting for me to call for Him. I was lifted up.

As I continue listening to the teachings of Jesus, I was humbled in faith. And I cried. I cried a lot.

I know I am damaged and hollow, yet God's words had given me hope. Words that are full of compassion to sinful people - I myself included.

I know once in my life I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, yet I kept on forgetting it. Though I was holding to God, I too was clinched to my old worldly ways and ideas. I confessed I forgot I have Jesus at times.

And so I realized that my life had turned out this way because I, myself let it be and not let God be in it at all times. I've took control of my life, more I welcomed sin in it. In my comprehension, it's clear that without God in me, sin, suffering, pain and hopelessness took over.

And upon hearing His words again, I hungered for more words from Jesus. I hungered for salvation. I hungered for life.

Through my Zen Creative mp3, as our church's pastor was delivering a message of healing and salvation, I was moved by it. And I cried. I cried a lot.

The date was April 20, 2010 that I finally realized, comprehended and understood that it's Jesus I need, as my God and my Savior in my life. That I rebuked all sins and evil ways.

No one else but only Jesus completes, heals and saves.

I took note of the date for it's now a very important date of my life, the date when I was reborn through Jesus Christ.

And now living as a responsible Christian, with all my heart I have to proclaim and shout it. That beyond all miseries, heartaches, diseases and pains, I have my God, my Jesus that heals, protects, hears, comforts, cares, loves and saves me from eternal death. That when I am with Jesus I know I can do anything, for I believed that He is the God of the impossibles.

Phillipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Jesus is a living God who reigns!

And though I know that my physical body may wear out and die, my soul will be lifted up through Jesus Christ.

All these years I've realized that living a life in this world is not simple, nor easy. There will be a so much pain, agony, discomfort, criticisms, condemning, hatred, jealousy, worldly pleasures, lusts, heartaches, rejections and all sorts of fears.
But living in simplicity through Jesus will you then say that life isn't just about pain, for there's healing in Jesus, not all about agony for there's serenity, not all about discomfort for in Jesus we are comforted, not all about criticisms and faultfinding for Jesus sees all the good in us, not about condemning but acceptance, not all about hatred because Jesus has first loved us, not about jealousy for Jesus has provided what is enough for all, nor it's about worldly pleasures for we are sons and daughters of God, citizens and heirs of heaven, not all about lusts for in Jesus there will be fulfillment of real and true happiness, not all about heartaches for in Jesus we all are emotionally secured, neither rejections for Jesus considers you as a member of the family and there will be no more fears for there's salvation in Jesus.

All you have to do is believe.

And when you finally do, then you'd say that life in this world, no matter how tough and hard it may be, only through Jesus then it's definitely worth living.

As my days are coming to an end, knowing Jesus Christ led me to eradicate all my regrets and live my present to the fullest. We've been given once shot in life and life is too short for us not to enjoy God's creation. And even if we believed that we have wasted much time, use the remainder of your life to praise and glorify God here on earth. So practice now, for we will continue praising and worshiping God for eternity in heaven.

Our pastor has shared a simple equation on how to live life to the fullest. In everyday life, we've been given choices, it's an opportunity to do good or a chance to do bad. You always have to choose, and in choosing, forget not to pray, and always remember to consider :

none for satan

less of Me

ALL for GOD!

2010-03-22T06:16:00.000-07:00

It was the 11th of March.

Last night's dream wasn't as vivid as I have had once but it was somehow clear.

I arrived at an island, with a tiny old house that seemed isolated. The house, as I recall it, appeared as a single story building, with Capiz-tiled windows. It seemed almost like a typical Spanish-era house. Definitely made of wood.

I then realized that I was with a group of people. Seemed like a tour.

We moved around the house, when I recognized that the walls are full of paintings, different masterpieces all inside this small house.

Masterpieces that ranged from portraits, landscapes to panoramas.

The feeling was odd as these masterpieces were I hardly ever seen. Pictures of faces yet unknown to me. Landscapes taken ashore, some on top of a hill, forests and few with rivers and streams. Being a lover of art, I confessed, I was totally amazed by what I saw.

Though the amazement has filled me up, yet there was an awkward feeling of uneasiness. When the level of anxiety increased, I decided to get out of the house and breathed some air.

I walked to the back of the house, trying to familiarize myself as to whom it belongs, yet I could hardly recognized any of my relatives had ever lived in such a lonely place.

Few meters from the house ran the shoreline. Raging waves came crushing the shore and on boulders. Winds hushed roughly as if a storm is about to hit the island.

An old house will not stand a heavy storm I guessed, then I tried looking for some options where I would consider a safer place to be.

A stall stands not far from the back of house. Then I found myself walking towards it.

As I looked back, an open window of the old shanty made me see pictures hanging on the walls. I decided to ignore it.

Walking near to the stall I've seen few men, wearing hard hats and orange overalls, eating "lugaw".

This served as their dining area after a hard days in construction. Though I hardly seen any buildings being built around the area.

I asked for direction from a lady serving "lugaw" to these men.

And she pointed eastward.

As I walked towards the direction, I realized that this stall, which I have seen at a distance, was as fine dining resto, resting at the edge of the island.

The weather has changed. Then I recognized ferries sailing at the back of this resto, just like the ferry boats of Pasig river.

Once what I known to be an island settling at no where, was now an island right at the center of Pasig River.

Across the river were factories that are familiar to me. The infrastructures that I've been seeing everyday when I go to work are the same buildings that I've found in my dreams.

I felt peace when I saw familiar places.

As I walked toward the direction that I have been directed. I found myself standing at the middle of a crowded sidewalk just right below a light railway train station.

A small "sari-sari" store was on my right. As I was looking at the local phone machine, I was offered something to eat.

Then I woke up.

My dreams are getting clearer nowadays, and until now I'm in awe as to what could be the heavens trying to tell me.

Things that has happened may have lingered in my thoughts and unconsciously, these experiences could have affected my rest. But what about those unfamiliar places, things, faces and events? Could they be telling me something.

One thing's for sure, I may not know what lies ahead, but my GOD knows. Therefore I could and would and should not hold on to my dreams for things to come, but to GOD who knows me, my past, present and future.

Hold on to GOD my friends, and put your faith, no matter how small it could be, to HIM and HIM alone!

Be blessed!

A Vivid Dream

2010-02-23T21:44:00.000-08:00

The feeling was awful when I woke up this morning. My throat seemed to hurt a bit and my body's too weak to face the day. I felt helpless that I decided not to go to work and simply stayed at home...and rest.

As I was trying to reminisce the reasons behind my indisposition, I remember a dream, so vivid that it made me look for it's meaning, reason and purpose.

Let me share to you, as far as I can remember it, my dream. I've posted some pictures that serves as a resemblance to what I've perceived.

I was in a room with my office colleagues (Lyle and Sela - the images I only remember), which I have interpreted as a sleeping quarter. There in the middle I saw a bed, with a striped cotton yellow and white bedspread. Blurry but I remember a double deck too. The room was a bit dim, as colored curtains covering two perpendicular windows, blocked the light from the outside. The room resembled mostly like my boarding room when I was in High School. There were no talking inside the room. "Clicks" and "Cellphone Rings" were the only sound I heard.

Then I went out of the room, leaving both my cellphones on the corner table, right beside the bed. I was wearing a t-shirt (the color I could not remember or hardly could I recognized), a khaki cargo shorts a pair of green sandals. Just as I walked out the door, I realized I was on a second-story building.

But it wasn't just a building, it was the main building of Don Bosco Technical Institute, the place where I studied in high school. And as I could remember it, and by the looks of it, the place was somehow converted as an evacuation center. The place wasn't tidy as it used to. Dirt and dusts were all over the hallway. I walked downstairs and found myself walking on a highway.

I was wandering the length of Baywalk in Pasay City.

I wasn't surprised in my dream, as it came to me nearly real. It seemed very realistic. I even looked back and saw the roof of the building I was in.

All my emotions are there, except for a hint of my sense of smell.

I passed by people, faces that I've never known, yet I believed had existed and had I probably seen at one point in my life. It was a typical day in Baywalk. I've seen summer skies with fluffy clouds meeting horizon, and the palm tress shading my path made my spirit glad.

Ships and small boats sailing peacefully at the Manila Bay has never been but a perfect view to me.

As I shifted my eyes on my right, I saw towering buildings which have been there as always. Then at a distance, which I assumed somewhere around Manila Capitol, my eyes caught a group of towering buildings which are new to me. They were about four to five of them, with different heights and designs, but all made up of glass. They didn't seem to protrude any special in them, except for few noticeable smokes projecting from below.

Then I was stunned with what I saw.

The rear most building started to collapse, then by the order of distance, the others followed with a quake. A distinctively humongous gray smoke fumed up whenever a building collapsed. Explosions were heard there after.

Then I heard screams and shouts. People on different locations ran, opposing the scene. Cars screeched as drivers trying to avoid to hit a thing.

Chaos was all over.

As I was standing still, buildings wobbled and one by one they too fall. In front of me were few buildings, considerably skyscrapers, left standing. Based on the manner of events I knew somehow they too will go down.

Then I was shaken, to the point that I've lost my balance. The ground excessively trembled. It was then I only knew that I was standing above an active fault line, so do the rest of the buildings in front of me. I step backwards slowly, and with a thought I remember my calling my family and friends, only to realize that I don't have my cellphones with me. Too late, I reckon. Cracked lined and ran Roxas Boulevard, grounds shoot few feet upwards and debris were pouring all over the place. I have no idea but I had a feeling that it was coming for me.

Frightened, I ran as fast as I could. Then I was relieved when I reached the fountain of Malate.

The place seemed untouched, and no ones in panic, yet I could still see the turmoil from where I've been at a distance - and is still coming. I knew I ran fast, but I didn't know how I managed to run in a dash...surely the energy was there.

PUVs were taking U-Turns in this area when they saw what was coming. There I took a tricycle driven by a young lady.

As the face wasn't familiar at all, I never had a chance to know her name. The driving was slow and while she does, tears flowed down her cheeks. She has a pretty small face with a tan complexion and a heavy black straight hair, a typical Filipina. She was wearing a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. We talked a little, in which I learned that her boyfriend dumped her. But I've forgotten the rest of her story.

As we drove, I've noticed that the bay's activities had changed. Towering waves is fast approaching our way. And it hit the land. Chaos has taken over the place, this time it was caused by water.

Terrified, I took the wheels and zoomed our way out of Roxas Boulevard. I drove it straight, until we reached a small fishing village.

There I saw unfamiliar faces, a lot of them. Faces ranged from children to grannies. Yet even though they were only part of my dream, their faces remained in my mind as I am writing this - as though they were part of me. It seems like they were real. The area was new to me. It was like a typical slum around a port metro, surrounded by water. The water here was a little less calm than where we came from. Winds blew hard and here I felt peace.

But my mind wasn't at peace. I thought of my family, I thought of mama. I have to go back. But how? I made several attempts to get some answers from the villagers but all they did is stare at me. Without a single word.

The lady driver was still sobbing and I felt pity for her.

I've left with no choice but to find my way out - alone. To find my family and friends. To warn them as to what is happening and what might happen. And so I drove off believing that I'll be headed back to where I came from - and so I was.

Floods are rising in the area of Malate. Unmanned cruising ships crashing the buildings. I gazed on the unimaginable frozen. And then I saw a dry porch of a convenient store in the area. Bay's at front and I saw dozens of shipwrecked. I have witnessed how some of the fishing vessels were pushed by the water towards the land clashing with the buildings. And I have no idea why there's a dry place despite of a rising water, but I stood there for a while waiting and hoping that somebody will come to offer assistance.

Standing for a certain time that seemed endless, I saw a ferry boat. This one is almost as big as a regular passenger's bus (resembled like a ferry boat used to cross-island in some parts of US and Europe), full of people (probably passengers) sailed towards me.

But as I realized, it wasn't sailing as people inside are all screaming and shouting. The waves took control of the boat and it was moving slowly towards my direction. I knew somehow it will hit the store, the porch and me. So I kept prepared and ready to face it. As the boat drifted sideways to my direction, I dash out of a small exit before it crushed me. With few inches left, the boat almost collided with the building - but was left with no scratch at all.

Not a sound was heard from the people inside the boat. They all came out unharmed and in silence they're all gone.

Left inside the boat was my mother holding a little girl.

The girl's face wasn't familiar at all, no name was even mentioned, but it seems like she was part of the family - co'z I felt like it.

My mama was amazed to see her son escape a death defying act. And so I recall her saying "Ang galing ah!". I've never seen my mama in two years and I miss her much. The dream had brought us together, though it wasn't a happy ending. I told her what was happening, and what we need to do. However the unthinkable happened. She went back to the boat, still holding the girl in her right and said that she has to do the right thing.

And then the boat left.

Sun's setting and the place's back to normal again.

So I woke up tired and sick.

Dreams do tell something. As for me, I've checked the meaning of this vivid dream of mine and I'm still trying to digest how my unconsciousness affected the outcome of my dreams. The meaning revealed in the internet and I wasn't pleased.

So from now on, I will leave everything that is about to happen to GOD. For HE knows everything that has happened, is happening and is about to happen. And nothing's more safer than that of HIS hands.

As for you my dear brothers and sisters, be safe in the hands of GOD.

GOD SPEED!

A Day to Remember

2010-01-08T20:34:00.000-08:00

We celebrate the day of our birth annually - and we can never deny it. We are getting a year older every year. Though the thought of being an old man one day frightens me when I was just a kid. And it still frightens me to know that I'm halfway there.

At the age of 10, grown ups who's 25 years old and above I considered old people. When I reached the age of 18, I considered grownups to be around 35 years old and above.

And now that I have reached my 29th birthday, I considered people around 50 and above to be old people.

But I realized that one day I too will be 35, 40 and hopefully 50 years old, in which will be considered old. But who then will I considered old when the average lifespan of a human being is just around 60 - 80 years old.

When I was a kid, I did ask a whole lot of questions to people around me and most of the time to myself. Some were answered vaguely, some were clear but most of the time I got no answer.

Inquiries started to pile up in my mind as to why we really have to grow old, when we can enjoy the fruits while young. The idea of getting old, wrinkled face and slow motion activity, really frightens me as a kid.

However as time passed by, I realized that wisdom and knowledge has to be earned. And through life's experiences will you only understand things in a much more clearer perspective. You have to grow old to experience these things.

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon expressed his ideas about living life here on earth. For him it was "utterly meaningless".

Utterly meaningless?! - So then why do we have to grow old? And growing old in wisdom and in truth?

Then through wisdom, a realization materialized.

For the same reason that GOD wants us to experience and enjoy life here on earth as gift from heaven. GOD loves us so much that HE provided us with our needs. GOD wants us to grow in spirit, wisdom and in truth so we'll be able to sing our praises to HIM. Only then we will understand.

Instead of complaining for additional wrinkles and soggy arms, be grateful. Every birthday is a gift from GOD.

For I am grateful that GOD has extended my life here on earth to enjoy the fruits of my labor. I am grateful that GOD had provided me incomparable blessings, for me and my household. I am grateful that GOD is still the same GOD yesterday, today and tomorrow.

A GOD justice yet full of compassion, full or mercy, full of love. I really might not be able to express who really GOD is in each of our lives, for the reason that understanding and searching GOD is a personal approach that each must take.

I am still on my journey in understanding GOD in my life. And so on this day, September 11, 2009 - my 29th Birthday, despite all the sickness, heartaches, pains, sorrows and struggles, I humbled down myself to the Lord, acknowledging, praising, worshiping and thanking HIM for everything that happened to me.

These all for the glory of GOD. Amen.

Blog Offered to a Woman

2010-01-08T19:52:00.000-08:00

It was on the 5th of August, last year, when Malacanang declared it as a non working special holiday in order to give respect to funeral and burial rights of President Cory Aquino.

Private sectors however were exempted, therefore I have to work, and only get an extra bonus for the effort exerted. August 5 was just one of the normal days before, not until the burial of our president.

As I ran through my old pictures, I've realized that on this occasion, our group in the office had been united in one color - yellow. The color of liberty which was exemplified by President Cory Aquino.

Unity comes handy when and only when people expressed the same feelings. Filipinos in general tend to comfort those who are mourning, sympathy to loss. And when we lost someone who we believed have contributed to us, as individuals and to the country, we patronized it.

While most in the country were on the streets, mourning and waiting for the convoy our president's burial, some might be at home simply watching the news, we (together with my office mates and I) were at office, wearing yellow shirts to show our gratitude, for an exceptional service to the country.

The burial of the president was one of the historic events in the Philippines with an anticipated hundreds of thousands of Filipinos, rich and poor, young and old to participate.

Though I might not know her totally, the stories from my folks and grand folks made it clear to me that she has indeed gained the trust of the Filipino people - through democracy and freedom.

Camp's Last Fun Day

2010-01-08T17:03:00.000-08:00

On the 3rd day of the our camp, we spent the rest of the day exploring places in Tagaytay.

Our first stop, People's Park in the Sky.

The design was a blend of natural and man-made attraction. This tourist spot perching at the highest point of Tagaytay was our first destination for our tour. Overlooking Taal Lake, Laguna de Bai and Tagaytay Highlands.

There, we've taken thousands of pictures. Photos that after a year, has reminded me how wonderful and glorious GOD had been, creating all the beauty that surrounds us. Making Philippines one of the nicest place to visit and explore. I agree 100%.

I used to think that Philippines has really nothing much to offer to the world. Talking about the economy's stability and government's morality (corruption and killings). However I then came to realize that the more I dig into the negativity of it, the more I drawn myself into it - the more I struggle to survive, the more I blame the government for the increase number of poor people, the lesser the hope for our country to prove itself to the world that it will improve, then I wasn't proud.

But I was wrong! There's always hope for eveything...for there is GOD.

Poised at the very top of the building, looking down over the wonder that GOD had created, I believe that our country has still so much to offer. I believed that change must neither be imposed nor demanded from the government, for it must start from each citizen's attitude towards life. If only and if only we (all - including government officials), as citizens of the Philippines, believe that we can make a difference and a change, be united and act on that belief, then the change will eventually materialize. Making the Philippines a brighter country to live in.

After we enjoyed a couple of hours orbiting the place. We then moved to our next stop, the Picnic Grove.

The place has improved since the last time I went to visit it. There were additional rides and lots of souvenir items were in store. As I remember it, though it has been more than three years since the last time I enjoyed the place, the overall feeling of looking over the majestic Taal Volcano was enough. But when I recently saw it, the potential for it to be a busiest touriest spot is still sprouting.

Just like the People Palace in the Sky, this spot is located on a lower hill, but still overlooking the beautifully crafted Taal Volcano, surrounded by the lake.

Picnic Grove offers several aminities, such as horseback riding, unique kites for rentals, roller blades, and new attractions like Zipline and Cable Car.

We definitely took several pictures of the place, but I'm afraid I haven't found any pictures of my Bro and Sis doing the Zipline thing. Though I remember Sis Jan and Sis Janice enjoyed the ride. Tight as my budget was, I preferred not to.

The place and the company of friends are definitely more than to be enjoyed. And I hold on to it as it's what's more important.

At the end of the day, everyone was exhausted and tired, yet eager to climb and to drift.

Upon the last moment of our camp, there were a whole of reminiscing and realization. And the sense of actualization on what lies ahead.

We were about to be snapped back to reality - we were going home. The three day camp was exceptional. And as I said it was different.

Maybe I haven't mentioned or posted a topic about praising and worshiping within the main hall of the camp, yet the entire trip itself was a praise and worship offered to GOD.

Looking back upon these memories, I thank GOD for all the goodness and greatness, triumphs and victories, mercy and compassion that HE had made possible for us.

I still urge each and everyone to strive to live life to the fullest. No matter what age, gender, or race.

As our time is short here on earth -
Time is short for us not to enjoy the beauty of our nation.
Time is short for us not to use our talents.
Time is short for us not to thank our family, relative and friends for the company, comfort and fun.
Time is short for us not to reminisce the happy times.
Time is short for us not to surpass the trials and overcome fear.
Time is short for us not to forgive and forget.
Time is short for us not to love.
Time is short us not to pray.
And time is so short for us not to praise and worship GOD here in earth.

Therefore, let us make that short time worthwhile - and be overwhelmed for a greater glory in heaven...where short time is no longer present - simply be prepared to embrace eternity.

I offer this blog to GOD, to my family, to Y.A.M.A.N and to all my friends who have walked with me through my journey called life.

Until then...

Faith and Fun Continues...

2010-01-08T06:58:00.000-08:00

The fun at camp has not ended yet, in fact it has just started, and is getting even exciting.

Then here comes the game part of the camp. The campers were then again divided into different groups. There were new people in group, young ones and not so young ones - these are campers who's age maybe a year younger than mine and some probably years older.

The good thing about being part of Y.A.M.A.N. is that - age doesn't matter. This ministry believes that as long as you live in Christ, you will always have a heart of a child. Therefore, live young, beautiful and rich (in all aspects of life - but most importantly invest in spirituality).

In every game I considered it as a battle. And in every battle, the strongest emerged as a winner. Since my childhood, I always hate to lose. "Retreat and live than fight and die" had always been may childhood ideals, and it was until I came to know 2 Timothy 4:7.
2 Timothy 4:7 - "I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith.

Keeping the faith in all you do is what's important. It was my faith that brought me believing that something good is about to happen in this camp. Indeed - My faith has not failed me.

And Never Fear when you have Faith in your heart - this I realized.

The game organizer had given us a series of instructions for the game. There were different puzzles in the game, and each are to be played by a certain number of players. The puzzles require team effort, team work and team Trust - this is the main function of the gain - to practice Faith.

However Faith without action is nothing. Therefore we believed and we acted on that belief. That each member will surely be able to surpass the trials given, and each one of us believed that we will succeed. To think and strive to win sounds like a gamble - for me it's an act of Faith.

And Faith has not failed us. We have overcome the trials, completed the puzzles, and we've made it first. Turned we were victorious!

The rest of the team did good as well. All were able to finish, time is the only difference.

This game however, unlike any other games where winners were proudly announced, had been different - it acknowledged everyone as victorious. All are winners!

If GOD is in our lives, then consider we are all winners. Romans 8:31 "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?".

Each of us have our own obstacles, trials and problems in life. If we come across Faith, believed in GOD and act on that belief, then we will emerge victorious over problems and heartaches.

Just like the game, we might be victorious over life's puzzles, though there might still be more. then we simply just have patience in dealing with GOD in every puzzles. Because every triumph has it's time, reason and purpose - all for the glory of the Lord our GOD!

The realization that Faith has indeed bound Y.A.M.A.N. (Young Adults) together for the glory of GOD.

And as part of GOD's fellowship, friendship has been given as a gift. We all had another fun moments after the game - another gift given by heavens.

As what Ralph Waldo Emerson (essayist) had noted : "The only way to have a friend is to be one.", and since "no man is an island", people need friends to company each other. And I realized that I won't have many if I'm not a friend myself. And most of us would agree that real and loyal friends are treasures you can never find once lost - therefore gaining and keeping loyal and trusted friends is more than winning.

Do you consider yourself as a winner?

Romans 8:31 "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?".

The Camp Continues...

2010-01-08T05:29:00.000-08:00

So as the first day had passed, then comes the second day - mind nurturing around early in the morning, then comes a whole lot of fun and enthusiasm for the rest of the day.

The learning obtained from our pastors has to be simplified in our own personal life. We were then divided into smaller groups for sharing and testimonies.

Lives of every individuals have been so different, yet linked. Problems that concerns young adults about love and life have been discussed. When you are in a group learning and discovering something, you will always find a certain topic that will open another topic to a deeper realization of life.

And every lessons discussed, I can certainly relate myself into. It was another learning piled up as an added weapon and armor upon life's journey. I have learned and will still continue to learn.

Then the fun comes.

I was a bit dismay for I have not saved a whole lot of pictures during the camp. But was optimistic to realize that there's a multiply.com. I then gathered a whole lot of pictures from Bro Harold, Bro Jonard and Sis Thess collections in their album, and was starstruck with what I saw.

Another picture perfect scenes were collected and will be forever reminisced.

After we've listened to our pastors, ate together, known each other (some are still on getting-to-know each other until now), teach each other, shared tears and comforted one another - I think, as sons and daughters of GOD, we truly deserved happiness - in fact that GOD wants us to be happy and enjoy life.

This picture was taken just right outside the hall. Can't make any comment on those, the pictures simply tell a whole lot of stories that you'll find very interesting.

Le'mme give you some trick, each picture has a story to tell. They're not on the right order and who knows if they'll ever be. But you can make one if you like.

And when you're done, there's only one thing for sure upon thinking closely on these pictures - I have just made your imaginations work for you. Isn't it cool?! And I just got another one.

This picture was taken shortly after the first one. I bet you want to make stories out of these pictures? Can't help you with that, but please help yourself.

And when you're done on your imaginations, please don't it again. Hahaha!

Campers had so much fun...it shows!

The camp has not only mold us to be better persons, but has created a unique individual that promotes friendship and unity. The friendship that enticed each one to become better, not just a person but a Christian through the journey called life.

Fear Factor vs. Faith Factor

2009-05-19T07:38:00.000-07:00

Whew!

It has been a year since the last time I peeked on my blog. Some of you might have been wondering where have I gone.

Well the answer seems pretty obvious, I've been around looking for picture perfect moments for this post. Hmmmm...have I just given you an acceptable alibi? Okay, it will probably take another year to explain where and what I have gone through, but to make it short...I've been "busy". Believe me, it's harder for me to explain than understanding it.

So for the sake of this blog, I'll refresh you with memories that had happened during our Y.A.M.A.N. camp. As I have been stressing on the pre-blogs, it was remarkably different.

Fear Factor vs. Faith Factor

I could not remember the exact date but it was one of May's Friday night. I remember bringing my stuffs (backpack) at work, had a busy day and feel relieved to know that I'll then again be traveling to another place where I haven't been to.

The group met up at Folk Arts Theater. The "Bulwagan ng Panginoon", the same place where Day By Day Community praise and worship.

When I arrived, the group was already there. All things were packed and ready. The anticipation even grew when I've seen new faces joining the camp. The thought of new people, going to a new place to praise and worship GOD had boosted up my energy to participate in this camp even more. Y.A.M.A.N. will be accommodating a bigger family after this event. And after a year of reminiscing, yes I was right, it did.

Many people had physically left Y.A.M.A.N., (ok so I myself included), but not the hearts. And this camp had brought people together - again. And the best thing about this camp?! - it has brought us to another level of relationship - a much more deeper friendship, closer to GOD.

From Folk Arts Theater, riding in a van, we travelled for almost more than two hours to reach Tagaytay (camping area). As I remember it, 2 vans (including ours), even got lost finding the place. We've gone far enough to know that we were in another province (Batangas). Funny as it was but the thrill of adventure has just started.

The pictures will tell it all.

Because we have lost our way, we arrived late in the camping site. The area was really not a scout-campsite, as I always thought it was.

That thinking of scout-camping was introduced to me when I attended one of the YFC (Bacolod Area) Camping Event held at the lower part of Mt. Kanlaon. Scout-camping was a total adventure, exciting and fun, though I wasn't really prepared for such an event - indeed, I wasn't scoutboy that time. Since then I think that camping was always like that, thus I make myself ready all the time - I have been a boyscout since.

In this camp, we didn't have to build tents or make fire to cook food. We stayed in a building (our camping site).

The building is sort of a 2 story coliseum, just a smaller one. A large door meets you at the entrance. Blocked by a huge bulletin board, a large meeting hall occupies the center for all events. Corridors and rooms occupy both the left and right upper and lower wing of the building. It was a very good venue for another spiritual camp. A totally different one, indeed.

The entire picture of the building, from the outside, looks like a church. Aside from it's architectural design, it's on pure white.

Shortly after we arrived, house rules were given. then we were gathered in groups (depending on our assigned room), and have been provided instructions on what to do next. I just can't remember really what the instructions were, except that I have fallen into a deep sleep - that I'm sure.

Then breakfast came.

We didn't have to cook - the best part of the camp. The cafeteria is located on the left side of the main building.

There were eight long tables to be shared by the campers. We ate on the same time together, but on our table we ate by groups. Male on the right and ladies on the left row of tables.

Foods were great, pinoy-style cooked meals were served - making you feel at home. Servings were simple, yet it was a sumptous feast. To make it even more at home, Bro Val preferred a hot cup of taho instead, though I remembered I grabbed a cup of tahoo too. Perfect breakfast.

Several pastors have joined us in our camp. They've shared their wisdom on topics concerning fear and faith, young and old, life and death. Indeed, through them, GOD had manifested in our camp. It was a remarkably different one - and I was grateful to be part of it.

Pastor Ed shared more on Life - Fear and having Faith. The choices that each one of us will make and the faith that holds us to GOD to make the appropriate choices in life.

Pastor Gammy testified GOD's works in his life's journey as a pastor and a father. How he struggled through difficult times and situations. How GOD manifested His compassion in his life. How GOD comforted him amidst the pain and prejudices. How wonderful GOD at all times - and I believe GOD is good all the time!

Just like most of us, I too have felt the same pain, and as a person who have heard the same cry - I definitely undertand. I have to mention that I was one who's tears flowed upon hearing Pastor Gammy's testimony. There was a warm feeling after that, comforting in a way that I could never understand. For me it was GOD manifesting His presence among us - even closer.

This was only the first day, yet we have two more fun days that I'll share...until then...

Faith Factor

2009-05-19T05:33:00.000-07:00

It was totally a different one. The feeling has just not faded yet, and I hope it will stay for good.

The anticipated moment drew nearer. And though the entire scenario as to where to go, who are going with, and what are to be expected weren't clear, there's something in this activity that excites me most. I'm sure it another journey to a place that I've never been to.

The excitement of discovering new areas, for me, in this planet. Places where some people might have been before, few have seen at times or none has ever experienced at all. All of these I want to see and feel, in which I'm sure GOD would like me to experience.

And when all seemed so perfect, a thought bumped my mind as to what am I going to do in this camp? I haven't been involved with Y.A.M.A.N. for quite sometime - therefore I wouldn't enjoy it that much. I might waste my time, effort and my friend's money (Thanks Bro Bren for being a channel of GOD's plan for me). The thought had gotten worst when Bren had plans of not coming due to his aching tooth. Woah! It could mean one thing, the trip might no longer possible for me too.

The anticipation had suddenly changed to anti-participation. Series of questions ran through my head. What are my options? Where will I be if I won't go? When will I feel peace? Why do I have doubts? Am I having lots of Fears?

And just when I was about to quit. I remembered my notebook's cover with a phrase : "Walk with Faith!" , and so faith came.

Those questions which I have asked earlier had remarkably turned upside down. Still I got lots and lots of questions, but all of them now flows with optimism, with full conviction. What do I have to lose? My GOD stays at my side anyway. Where is the highest peak that I could go to? I got GOD's wings to help me soar high. When will be the soonest time to burst out, sing praises and shout for joy? Why would I let doubt interfere when in fact I hold GOD's trust in me?

Never Fear when you have Faith in your heart.

Several definitions of Faith runs across www.dictionary.com. As for me, Faith is something I believe in, seen or unseen, the trust in GOD and in His promises as made through Jesus Christ.

Only then that I knew, all along, it was faith that brought me believing that something good is about to happen in this camp. Indeed - My faith has not failed me.

I'll fill you up with picture perfect moments. And as I always say, let the pictures tell the entire story of my Journey to Mission Camp.

Hope you will enjoy, co'z despite my sneezing and running nose, I did 100%.

Fear Factor

2009-05-19T03:47:00.000-07:00

It was totally a different one. The feeling has just not faded yet, and I hope it will stay for good.

That's what pops out of my mind whenever I think of the camp that I've recently joined in. Out of the stressful work and busy life in Manila, I was so grateful that I was able to make an escape and be revitalized again.

It wasn't so sudden, but the days had made it quick. About a month or two ago, my close friend and brother in church, Bren, informed me that there's an upcoming Y.A.M.A.N Camp sometime in May. I wasn't so sure about it yet, as I have already made my plans to visit my cousin in Cebu around May 14 - 25, to celebrate her 28th birthday. In short, Bren's message had slowly faded.

My excitement grows as days passed by. Seeing my cousin and again be able to step in the Queen Island of the South had been my inspiration in waking up each day, full of energy, knowing that there's something ahead waiting for me.

However, things have changed. On the last week of April, my cousin advised me that she has enrolled in an IT Course in which she has to give her full time and attention. Ouch! I thought, my plans are ruined. But then, it was my cousin's choice and I always respect her decisions in life, therefore I thought I could still go to Cebu and just be there myself. Lonesome as I think of it so I have to think of other plans. I have plans visiting my online-game friends in Bacolod, but it wasn't what my heart dictated. A thought of visiting my grandmother and relatives on the northern part of Negros even came across my mind, but my heart did not find peace on that thought.

I was then full of dismay, thinking that the first week of May had passed by, and nothing have I done and accomplished but all stress from work. I cried a lot. Life seemed full of fear, so meaningless now. Without me knowing it...my God heard all my cries.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30

Suddenly, HIS message, in a form of text, made it clearer. I was then again introduced to join the camp.

Could this be possible? I asked. In times when you think you have "good things" under control, GOD simply takes it away and replaced it with "best things" you can never imagine. Indeed, in GOD, nothing is impossible - I agree 100%!

Just Remembered

2009-05-06T03:28:00.000-07:00

February 14, 2009

Heart's day as they call it, but it's more than heart's day for me. It was a day full of love and unity, bond and trust unite.

I woke up early and was excited to celebrate the day with my family and closest friends. Since I am single and is still "looking", I tried to spend the day fruitful, in thoughts and in my heart.

I decided to spend it with my close friend and buddy in Church, as I believed it would be a nice day to talk about things in life, lessons that my workplace had never provided.

It was a long talk with movie watch in between. The movie didn't seem to have so much impact on me, but what made that day meaningful and fun was when I took the ferry ride back home.

Just as my friend dropped me off the port, so has the ferry arrived. I departed alone with other people. I realized I was the only person who rode the ferry without any companion. Most are teenage couples, holding hands, smiling at each other. Some are old couples, still holding hands, and talking with so much endearment. The rest are middle age couples with kids clinging on their arms happily boarding the ferry. Am I alone?

Lonesome as it may seemed, but I kept my eyes wide open and be busied on sceneries alongside the river. As the ferry drifted along, I was caught by the video that has been viewed for a couple of minutes just right after all passengers have boarded.

And to my surprise, it was my favorite band playing "Air Supply".

My priorities shifted, from the outside scenes to the big screen in front of me.

Air Supply's live band performance on a recorded video disc, playing right in front of me. I never got to see to one, but I always hear them sing every Sunday morning when my uncle turns his "component" on.

It was somewhere in the middle of their performance when I realized that I started to sing along with the band. And to my surprise, it wasn't only me who was singing, but the lady beside me as well, while her boyfriend, I assumed, leaning on her shoulders. Gosh! Sweet isn't it?.

The song was "All Out of Love". I guess you heard it, and most probably have sung the song many times as I did.

The song echoed inside the boat, and as I looked around, I saw almost everybody's now singing the same song that I'm singing.

I got this feeling that I could hardly imagine. It was almost like heaven. So it is indeed possible that even during crisis times, trouble hours and hardships, for just a couple of seconds to a single minute, people in all genres could be united in a song, people could become one in spirit.

Do you ever think what will happen if all these people could be one in Christ? I think the feeling would be more than a song...it could be a rhythm that never ends.

I could still feel that thrill of excitement every time I remembered all the details on that trip that I made. It was one of best days of this year. Loveless as you may described me that time, but I was never Out of Love of Christ.

Till then...

So Here It Goes...

2009-04-07T06:27:00.000-07:00

Another fun-filled trip had I experienced. This time it's somewhere down the South, got no idea of it's exact location but the beauty of the place was hidden behind hills and mountains of Tagaytay. Do you now picture out what I am talking about. It's the Banio Kreek.

Another year had passed that I almost forgot all about this. Fortunately, I always tend to think of things and places where I've been through to revitalize my mind from a stressful day, only to find out these old memories yet to be shared.

It was around cool September when the same group, with few people added, decided to re-pack our things for another adventure. To be exact I have to check my emails for the preparation threads we've made. And this I've noted, happened last 26 and 27 of September.

Sooth by the coolness of 'ber' season, the group didn't mind brainstorming all ideas as to how to make this event possible.

Hah! Just like the old times, the pictures will tell exactly what I'm talking about.

Okay, so I have to include the office preparation.

Is it proper for me to say that thinking or planning how to spend a tight budget was probably the worst responsibility to be given to you? Ha ha ha. Proudly we got one of our colleague, Khaye, to manage all that.

I bet you already know what she looks like when all the planning and budgeting have to be sorted out in a short time.

Luckily I wasn't around that time to partake such load. You should have seen me and my disgruntled face if I'll be the one doing it. Boy! I hate budgeting, all I know is how to spend. Trust me, I'm good at that. Ha ha ha.

Well, to be fair, I was present during the spending time. I got no photos of me doing the picking of goods though, but honestly I've proud to be 'at least' and 'somehow' part of the preparation.

Alright, so what comes next was the excitement on seeing another beauty of wonder that my eyes is yet to discover.

For all who knew me, or perhaps understood me, I love travel. And every time an opportunity to travel comes along I rarely refuse. It's not about the destination that I'm after, but the feeling of peace when you're inside a comfortable vehicle traveling miles and miles, never really knowing where to go.

Maybe it's because of people you travel with that makes you comfortable with things. Converting travel stress into a time of happiness and laughters.

Most had just gotten out of work, yet the work's anxiety had faded the moment we were inside the van.

Just like with the previous story I've shared, never there was a dull moment if you are with your friends - every single second seems like forever and every single distance traveled seems like eternity.

After two hour ride we've reached Tagaytay...ops! It wasn't the exact destination yet. We made several turns and swerves and stops just to get to our spot.

Night time when we arrived and since we could hardly see the entire place, we dwelt on indulging ourselves with the microphone.

It's videoke time!

Oh my gosh! almost everybody got talents to share. I honestly believed that Filipinos are born music lovers. Some turned singers, composers and musicians.

Only few that I know hate music, that's when music turned it's back on them too.

If I had exposed the beauty of Montemar on my previous story, here I have to share the gifts given to us. And we got lots of those.

The photos will definitely tell you the talents most of us got. Alright, so I have to be specific they say. Off course we got singers, chiefs, clappers, laughing agents and do I have to forget, drinkers.

Ha ha ha. My point is that everybody was comfortable with the level of joy that they felt on that trip.

Morning came at last. Though the music never really ended. It has made me discover things I could hardly imagine.

Trust me, the beauty was indeed hidden behind the hills and mountains of Tagaytay. A small creek was supposed to be the main attraction of the place, but the man-made garden encompassed it. The renovation had just perfectly blended with the natural wonder.

...Being there was living in a fantasy world...where fairies, elves and dwarfs live.

I could imagine me an elf sitting on that bronze chair wondering what magic to perform next. But off course, the wand of magic had been swished already, and the result was brilliant.

Another picture perfect for you to see.

Well, it wasn't just about the natural beauty in Tagaytay that this post is about. But it's about exposing the beauty that came with the trip. I bet you know what I'm talking about.

And that's the reason why it has to be on the center of this post. Really I could hardly see freshly posed ladies in the office everyday, to be general in most offices. Often that's seen before the day started, and what I've captured was just absolutely perfect.

Oh well, just like any other trip, there's always a 'bye bye' part.

Then again, we left nothing but footprints and brought nothing but memories. Yeah yeah, I got some pebbles, I forgot where I put those stuff. Ha ha ha. Just kidding!

This trip had then brought another lesson for me to ponder. It wasn't about drinking, but the bond that tightened the beauty of friendship. It wasn't about the clapping, but the beauty of appreciating the talent. It wasn't about cooking, but the beauty of each helping hand that satisfied hungry stomachs. And it was everything that GOD had made that made everything beautiful for us to see.

Let us not stop discovering the gifts that GOD had bestowed upon us. It could be you singing or you looking over a peaceful valley from the top of a hill.

T'was Quite a While

2009-04-03T02:57:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends,

I had been away for quite sometime and never really had a chance to scribble down my thoughts. It's hard to explain where I've been and how I got there, to friends who knew me all along, but it's even harder for me to explain to myself the same questions.

The path that I have been walking through this journey had gone blurry. Smoke and fog, I had came across, these made me fall.

I descended deep into burrows which I hardly survived. My mind is eager to escape, but my body was weakened. I stayed there for a long time.

The burrow had tried giving me relaxation at some point. The mud stuck in my flesh is eager to revitalize me, but I was not. They say mud is a good source of anti-oxidant, releasing all stresses and pains I have, but it has not. The coolness it brings gave me chill, but not for long.

The more I got stuck, the more I realized I wasn't home. The burrow never was a home.

I am always afraid being alone. But alone in the dark for a long time has given me strength. It made me endure frightfulness.

I prayed long for heavens to give me light. To give me more strength and courage to strife.

And it came. Heavens that reached out for me, I knew it.

My prayers were not directly given, heavens made me realized that the burrow was my opportunity to gain courage, to strife and to live.

When I finally came into my senses, I found the path I was once walking...though it wasn't near as I thought.

It's visibility gave me hope that life must go on no matter what. It has always been GOD's will to follow, and only by walking down the same path that GOD had made, will you feel home.

I haven't seen Evan's Almighty yet, but I heard this quote and just loved it :

Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?

I have kept a number of photos for you to see on another vacation spot that I've been. This, off course was another memorable place for me. It was the Banio Kreek.

I'll walk you through my journey on that place on our next meeting. See you next time.

But for now, I'm glad that I'm back. Hope you are too.

Always a friend,
=)
Pinoy Diwa

Memoirs of Montemar

2008-03-28T23:29:00.000-07:00

I totally have no idea what to write on this one. As far as I can remember, the rest of our stay in Montemar had been memorable to me.

It was not just about the sand, the beach, nor the view that wrapped us with relaxation, but it's more of a deeper thought of friendship for everyone who had been a part of that trip. That fellowship that I had with my officemates, I would say a GOD given time for us.

The smile made us comfortable to share and the extraordinary laughters showed how eager we were to become like child again.

A Child free of worries and of hesitations to know and experiment what's the real world is like. A Child that I longed to embrace until the last day of my stay in this world.

The pictures showed the activity of the second day of our stay in Montemar.

Funny as it was, but it was the time when everyone got to have their share in bringing out the kid in them.

We were supposed to take a good picture of everyone taking a leap off the sand, the usual scenario being done by a group like us whenever there's a good chance of having a memory to keep. However, after several attempts of doing so, we were not kinda satisfied...not until we finally saw the outcome of every picture...wasn't that bad at all..in fact it's another picture perfect shot.

Indeed Montemar had been our gateway to experience life beyond our daily tasks. It was quite an amazing experience that even before we left, the group had decided to plan another stressful-life-get-away-trip. I for sure will then be part of it.

As we left Montemar, we took nothing but pictures and left nothing but footprints...hoping that when time comes for us to trace our track...those footprints will lead us to where once we had been...a peaceful mind, relaxed heart and an uplifted spirit to live life to the fullest.

Don't be deprived of such things, GOD had made these for man to enjoy, in accordance to HIS will!

Until then...

More Than a Beach

2008-03-21T02:57:00.000-07:00

Whew! It's been quite a while, since I've spoken about my funny trip experience all the way to our vacation spot, yet the entire story had never been told. Well, hope I could fill you in with more pictures this time. =)

After we left Jollibee Pampanga, the team decided that we headed for a tour on a beautiful Corrigidor Island, and it took about another hour before we came to a stop to check our plans feasibility, only to find out that hiring a private boat was quite expensive. Ouch! But it wasn't so much pain for us, and to compensate it, we filled the area with jokes and laughters instead. No bitterness, no pressure, no worries. I then caught myself realizing that the feeling was exactly the same as when I was a kid - Hakuna Matata. A heavenly feeling that I know God would like everybody to experience.

The trip from the supposed port to Corrigidor to Montemar was a bit exciting as well. The zigzag roads, had given us idea that we're in roller coaster ride. Seating at the rear side of the van gave us a thrill on that ride. And it took about another hour until we finally reached our destination - The Montemar Beach Resort.

Trust me, I've seen the eyes of the group, just like me, we were engulfed by an awesome place. We could hardly wait on what to do, so we decided to take a li'l tour inside. The pictures tell it all.

And with an empty stomach, our supervisors had been so kind enough to feed us in the resort's restaurant. I realized that most of us who had been there aren't really starving for food, instead we craved for a relaxing time to realize things and to regain oneself from a hard days of work. I have then told myself that I will never be deprived of such things in life. God wants everyone to be happy and light - a promise that never fails.

Full Fun Trip

2008-02-29T03:50:00.000-08:00

Gaya ng ating napag-usapan nung nakaraang Blog ko, magpopost ako ng mga pictures ng experiences ko sa Montemar Bataan.

Hayaan ninyo naman akong ibahagi ang Blog kong ito na nasa English na format. Marahil sa mga susunod kong mga Blogs ay English na rin ang aking gagamitin.

May the pictures tell the entire story of our journey :

It was early as four o'clock in the morning, still dizzy due to such minimal amount of sleep, my good friend Lyle and I packed our things and head straight to the meeting place, McDonalds West Ave.

Everyone's so anxious on what's waiting for us throughout the entire journey.

Almost all of us have not yet seen Montemar, the very reason why we are all so excited to go. For us, this would be an escape that happens once in a lifetime.

Even before we got all into the van, I got a feeling that the journey would be the an awesome one, and my guess has not failed me. Inside the van were laughters that were never been heard, smiles that were seen in children's faces and weary eyes yet full of anticipation to where we're heading.

After an hour ride from West Ave., we have come to a stop at Jollibee Pampangga or our breakfast before we move on to another hour of ride.

T'was not only about breakfast, but a funny morning routine were jokes and pranks are always on our menu.

Then whole lots of pictures followed even before we head off the actual location. Quite a picture perfect for everybody isn't it?

For me, the anticipation to our destination wasn't really the highlight of our outing, but the lessons learned throughout the journey's experiences.

On our next Blog, we still got lots and lots of pictures to post, lessons to share and memories to relive.

Hope you join me in exploring more lessons in Life till our next Blog. Then again, this is the Diwa of Pinoy - speaking, bursting, reaching out.

A Friend's Hospitality

2008-02-23T17:06:00.000-08:00

Kamusta kamusta? Sa muling pagkakataon nakasama ko na naman kayo. Matagal tagal na panahon din tayong hindi nagkasabay, nagkasama, nagkausap. Mahirap man ipaliwanag ang mga nangyari sa buhay ko nitong mga nakaraang araw, iisa lang ang naiisip kong rason para lubos niyong maunawaan kung bakit hindi ako nakapagsulat at nakapagbahagi ng buhay ko - abala lang sa dami ng trabahong ipinukol sa akin sa opisina. Oras at panahon para magpahinga ay naniig sa araw araw.

Pagod sa kakaisip, kakasalita at pakikiramdam ang siyang naging pabigat sa buhay ko. At pahinga ang tanging paraan para ako'y makapagpatuloy.

Sa mga nakapagbasa ng dati ko nang naisulat tungkol sa aming magkakaopisinang pagbakasyon, ngayon ko lang ulit ito mauungkat. At sa pagkakataong ito, hayaan ninyo akong ibahagi ang aking naging karanasan sa pagpunta ko sa Montemar, Bataan.

Mahaba-habang kwentuhan ito, kaya't kung ako sa inyo, magbaon na kayo ng inumin at makakain. Hmmm hindi naman ito nobela, maikling kwento lang po.

Gabi ng Ika-walo ng Pebero, napagdesisyunan na namin ng kaopisina at kaibigan kong si Lyle na dun na matulog sa kanila dahil maaga pa ang alis namin kinabukasan. Sa McDonald's Quezon Ave. ang magiging tagpuan ng grupo, at mahihirapan nga naman ako kung manggagaling pa ako ng Taguig, samantalang iilang bloke lang ang layo nun sa bahay nila Lyle.

Maghahating-gabi na rin ng dumating ako sa bahay nila Lyle. Ang buong akala
ko ay tulog na ang mga kasama niya sa bahay, subalit halos lahat ay gising pat nanood ng movie. Medyo naiilang ako dahil hindi ko pa lubos na kilala ang mga kapatid at magulang nito. Pero kung iisipin, malaki ang naging utang na loob ko sa pamilyang ito, dahil sa kanila nanggaling ang monitor na ngayong ginagamit ko. Dalawa sa apat na kapatid ni Lyle ay nanood ng pelikula, at sa katagalan ng panood namin ay naging kampante naman ang pakiramdam ko. Maliban kasi sa nakakausap ko na sila, nakakasama ko rin sila sa larong Lineage, kaya't hindi rin gaanong kahirap para sa akin ang makibagay.

Alien vs. Predator 2 ang pinapanood namin, eto rin ang naging paksa ko nung nakaraan. Pero manghang-mangha lang ako't kahit na pirated ang copy nito ay mas malinaw pa ito keysa sa sinehan.

Pagkatapos ng palabas ay isa na namang palabas ang pinanood, The Invisible. Tungkol ito sa isang matalinong batang, napaghinalaan, sinaktan at naka-coma ng tatlong araw - resulta upang lumabas ang spirit nito. Ang masama nito, ang buhay niyang katawan ay itinago kaya't hirap na hirap sa paghahanap ang pamilya at mga pulis sa kanya. Sa katauhan ng espiritu, gumawa siya ng paraan para makita ang kanyang katawaan. Naangkop ang palabas sa mga kabataan, dahil sa bata pa ang bida at ang pagiisip ay naayon sa mundo ng mga kabataan.

Halos mag-aalas dos na ng madaling araw nang kami'y natapos sa pelikula at natulog.

Alas kwatro ay mulat na ang mga mata, ngunit tulog pa ang diwa namin ni Lyle. Medyo nagising na lang kami ng tuluyan ng nagkitakita na ang grupo sa nasabing tagpuan.

Hmmm...mukhang napahaba na naman ata ang sulat ko...teka teka...putulin muna natin 'to at sa susunod na araw ay buong pahina niyo nang makikita ang ibig kong sabihin. Bitin ba? Hehehe.

Abangan ang susunod na kabanata....

Demon Possession

2008-02-06T03:59:00.000-08:00

Dahil sa okupado ang oras sa trabaho sa opisina at sa bahay, medyo matagal-tagal din tayong hindi nakapag-usap. Aaminin ko, sabik na rin akong makasama kayo muli sa paglalakbay sa buhay.

Kund iisipin at bibilangin ang mga sandali, ang mga aral at ang mga pinagdaanan ko sa nakalipas na dalawang linggo, marahil ay kukulangin na naman ang isang Blog ko para lahat ng ito'y aking maibahagi sa inyu. Hayaan ninyo akong ibahagi ang mga importanteng leksyon na natutunan ko sa mga sandaling tayo's panandaliang nagkawalay.

Hindi ko marahil naibahagi sa inyu ang mga aral na nakamit ko nung lumipas na Huwebes, 31 Pebrero, kung kelan ulit nagkikita-kita at nagtipon ang mga kapatiran at mga kapanalig upang muling magbigay puri sa Maykapal.

Nung panahong iyun ay naisama ko Pinky upang makibahagi sa pagtitipon sa mga sandaling iyun. Sa abot ng aking naalala, ang sulat ni Pablo sa Romans 12 ang tinalakay ng aming butihing si Pastor Daniel. Inisa-isa niya ang kahulugan ng nakasulat upang itoy lubos naming maintindihan. Tinalakay din dito ang kahalagahan ng mga biyaya at regalo na ipinagkaloob sa langit - at ito'y lubos na tumatak sa aking isipan - na kung ika'y may talentong umawit, umawit ka ng buong puso, kung may kakayahang mamuno, mamuno ka ng buong dignidag, at kung may kayang magbigay, magbigay ng may kagalakan.

Ibang aral naman ang natutunan ko pagdating ng Linggo, kung kelan muling nagtitipon-tipon ang lahat ng miyembro ng organisasyon, at sa Bulwagan ng Panginoon - Folk Arts Theatre yun ginaganap. Dati ko ng nabanggit ang simbahang aking kinabibilangan ang Day by Day.

Tinalakay ni Pastor Ed ang tungkol sa 'Pagsanib ng Demonyo' sa tao. Marami-rami ring siyang tinalakay sa paksang ito, pero naging simple ang aral na napulot ko - maraming tao ang sinasaniban ng kung anong espiritu at nawalan ng katinuan sa pag-iisip, dahil na rin sa kawalan ng pag-asa, pag-aaruga, pagtanggap at pagmamahal.

Kung ating susuriin ang kalagayan natin sa bansa, higit na marami ang nangangailangan ng pag-aaruga, pagtanggap at pagmamahal - nanaisin mo bang mabuhay sa bansang puno ng baliw at nasisiraan ng bait? Nawa'y matuto tayong umunawa sa kalagayaan ng mga nakararami, tumulong sa higit na nangangailangan at mahalin ang isa't isa.

A Friend's Company

2008-01-27T02:35:00.000-08:00

Ang kabuuang report para sa aming departamento ang ginawa ko buong maghapon. Pinakiusapan kasi ako ng aking bisor na gumawa ng ulat tungkol sa mga pangyayari sa loob ng departamento at kelangan kong ilahad lahat ng numero, eto'y ipipresenta sa nakakataas upang mapagbigyan ang aming hiling na magdagdag ng tao.

Hindi ko akalain na ganun pala talaga ka-hirap ang maging isang bisor.

Litong-lito na ang aking isipan at nananakit na rin ang aking mga mata sa kakatitig ng mga numero, pangalan at linya. Sa pagkakataong ito ay gusto ko ng itigil ang aking ginagawa at hayaan na lang kung anong natapos ko. Subalit napag-isip isip ko na sa katapusan ng araw, ako rin naman ang dehado. Kaya't kahit namimikit mikit na ang mga mata't nagluluha luha na ay tuloy pa rin ang trabaho.

Sa awa ng DIYOS ay natapos ko rin lahat ng dapat kong tapusin bago pa man matapos ang araw. Nailathala ko na sa isipan ko ang mga dapat kong gagawin pagka-uwi sa opisina, ngunit nagyaya ang isa sa mga kaopisina ko na si Mark ko na manood ng sine.

Hmmmm...ito ang naging bisyo ko dati. Sa halos bagong palabas na pelikula ay hindi ako absent upang panoorin ito. Sa madaling salita, adik ako sa panonood ng mga pelikula, at hilig kong manood ng mga pelikulang may mga mahika, dahil kaka-bilib ang mga special effects na ginagamit.

Alien vs. Predator 2 ang palabas, at hindi naman naging mahirap sa kasamahan ko na yayain ako dahil naging paboritong pelikula ko rin ang unang sekwel nun.

Medyo maselan nga ang naging reaksyon ko sa unang palabas nito. Marahil dahil na brutal na pinapakita ang pagpatay sa isang tao. Kahit na ba sabihin nating pelikula lang yun, malaki ang magiging impak sa mga kabataan kung yun ay napanood nila.

Kaya't dapat na mag-ingat ang mga sinehan sa ganitong mga bagay, dahil sa kanila nakasasalay ang magiging ugali ng mga nanonood.

Pero dahil medyo maaga-aga pa ay kumain muna kami sa Teriyaki Boy.

Naging paborito ko rin ang kainan na ito, maliban sa masarap ang mga pagkain nila ay napaka-kumportable ang lugar para lumamon..hehehe...

Isang All Time Favorite Chicken ang inorder ko, at ganun din sa kasama ko. At aaminin ko, sa buong pagkakataong kumakain ako dito ay iisa lang ang inoorder ko.

At hindi maikakailang kapag masarap ang kainan ay mapapasarap din ang kwentuhan. Gaya ng kwentuhan sa opisina, nauwi sa buhay buhay, pamilya at pag-ibig. Nakow!. kahit kelan hinding hindi nawawala ang diskusyon sa bagay na ganyan sa halos lahat ng talakayan na maririnig sa radyo man o sa telebisyon.

Itanong ninyo na lang kay Mark kung ano ang napa-usapan, medyo personal na rin kung iisipin, kaya't hayaan na lang natin ang bagay na yan sa kanya.

Mabait itong kasama kong si Mark, sa pangalawang pagkakataon ay nanlibre na naman siya. Nung una ay nung kumain kami sa Buddies Pancit, at ngayon ay ang manonood kami ng sine.

Sa pagkapasok ko pa lang sa loob ay medyo nanigas na ako sa lamig. May sipon at medyo makati na ang lalamunan ko sa umaga pa lang, senyales ng trankaso. Pero binalewala ko lahat yun, at itinuon ko ang isip at mata ko sa panonood.

Hindi nga ako nagkamali, nakapaselan nitong palabas, sa una pa lang ay pinakita na kung pano namatay ang isang bata. Hmmm...kaya siguro nung bumibili pa lang si Mark ng tiket mag-isa ay tinanong siya kung sino ang kasama. Hahaha, marahil inakala ng mga nagtitinda na isang musmos na bata ang kasama niya.

Matinding aksyon din ang aking nasaksihan sa buong palabas. Nag-iisang Predator kalaban sa napakaraming Aliens - astig hindi ba?. Subalit hindi naman siya ang tinuring na bida, dahil sa huli binombahan na lang ng mga National Guards at Security ang area kung saan nagkalat ang mga Aliens. Sa higit kumulang limang libong katao sa bayan na yun, apat lang ang nakatakas at nabuhay.

Marahil ang leksyon natutunan ko sa pelikulang ito ay ang manatiling matatag at magtiwala sa DIYOS, kahit sa napakahirap na sitwasyon. Dahil sa huli ang DIYOS lang ang nakaka-alam.

The Anticipation

2008-01-27T02:16:00.000-08:00

Biyerner, at ito na dapat ang huling araw ko sa trabaho sa linggong itom, subalit dahil sa hindi ako pumasok nung nakaraang araw, kelangan ko ngayong pumasok sa Sabado.

Sa araw na ito ay napag-usapan na naman ang tungkol sa binabalak ng grupong lumabas. Sa pagkakataong ito ay napagdesisyunan na ang lugar ng pupuntahan. At ito ay ang Montemar Resort sa Bataan.

Hindi pa man nakapunta ang karamihan sa amin sa Bataan ay damang dama na namin ang bakasyon. Gaya ko marahil ay sabik na rin sila upang makapagpahinga. Makalanghap ng sariwang hangin at malinawagan sa gusto nilang gawin sa buhay.

Iilang araw na lang at makakapagpahinga na rin ako...sa gawa, isip at salita.

Sa paglalakbay kong ito, sana ay samahan ninyo ako sa aking pagbalik. Nang sa gayun ay maibahagi ko naman sa inyo kung ano man ang magiging karanasan ko sa pagbabakasyon ko.

No Matter what may come to pass,
God's precious Word still stands,
This universe is held intact
Within His mighty hands.

- Williams

Problems and Laughters

2008-01-27T01:22:00.000-08:00

Hindi maiwasan sa bawat araw ang mag-isip kung gaano ka hirap ang mabuhay. Marahil halos lahat sa atin ay ninais ang mga paraan ng madaliang pag-unlad sa buhay. Subalit hindi naman talaga ganun kadali ang mabuhay, dahil tayo mismo ang ang nagpapahirap sa ating mga sarili.

Habang tayo'y nabubuhay, tayo'y balot ng problema. Ang iba marahil katatapos lang ng problema, karamihan ay sadlak pa rin sa problema at ang ang iba ay nagsisimula pa lang ang problema. Ika nga balot ang tao sa problema habang nabubuhay. Ito marahil ang bunga ng pagkakasala nila Adam at Eva. Kaya't baon-baon natin ito, at pati na rin ang mga ka-apo apohan natin.

Subalit, hindi naman puro problema ang buhay. Kung susuriin ng maigi, napakabait ng DIYOS upang bigyan tayo ng kasiyahan datapwat may problema. Ito ay ang pananalig at pagtitiwala na ang mga nangyayari sa buhay natin ay may mga rason. Hindi naman kung gaano ka-hirap ang isang problema sinusukat ang kakayahan ng tao, higit dun ay kung gaano katatag and isang tao sa pagharap sa problema.

Sa opisina namin ko lubos natanto ang ganitong pag-iisip. Sa bawat araw na nagdadaan, lagi na lang na may iisipin ka pa paglubog ng araw. Masamang araw? hmmm...pwedeng sabihing ganun na nga, subalit iniisip ko rin ang mga masasayang oras na lumipas, kaya't kung susuriin lamang pa rin ang masasayang sandali. Hahayaan ko na lang ba na balutin ako ng problema at sakit sa ulo?

Ang isa pang nagpapa-gaan sa aking isipan ay ang activity na ginagawa namin tuwing Huwebes. KoneK - isang midweek service na ginaganap sa Jollibee, Makati Ave. Sa gabing ito, naging backup ako para sa aming music ministry.

Kaya't higit abot langit ang saya ng makita ko na naman ang aking mga kapanalig, kapatiran...tinuring kong mga kaibigan at pamilya.

Natapos ang araw na kahit may bakas ng problema ay tuwa naman ang naibaon nito sa aking labi hangang sa pag-uwi.

When God Made You

2008-01-27T01:21:00.000-08:00

When God Made You Chords by Newsong, www.Ultimate-Guitar.Com

C G Am
It's always been a mystery to me
F C
How two hearts can come together
F G
And love can last forever
C G Am
But now that I have found you, I believe
F C
That a miracle has come
F G
When God sends the perfect one
Dm G Am
Now gone are all my questions about why
Dm F G
And I've never been so sure of anything in my life

Chorus:
C F
I wonder what God was thinking
C G
When He created you
Am F C
I wonder if He knew everything I would need
F G
Because He made all my dreams come true
Dm
When God made you
F G C
He must have been thinking about mme

D A Bm
I promise that wherever you may go
G D
Wherever life may lead you
G A
With all my heart I'll be there too
D A Bm
From this moment on I want you to know
G D
I'll let nothing come between us
G A
And I will love the ones you love
Em A Bm
Now gone are all my questions about why
Em G A
And I have never been so sure of anything in my life

Chorus:
D G
I wonder what God was thinking
D A
When He created you
Bm G D
I wonder if He knew everything I would need
G A
Because He made all my dreams come true
Em
When God made you
G A D
He must have been thinking about me

Bridge:
Em
He made the sun
He made the moon
Bm
To harmonize in perfect tune
G
One can't move without the other
A
They just have to be together
Em
And that is why I know it's true
Bm
You're for me and I'm for you
G
Cause my world just can't be right
A
Without you in my life

Chorus:
D G
I wonder what God was thinking
D A
When He created you
Bm G D
I wonder if He knew everything I would need
G A
Because He made all my dreams come true

Tag chorus:
E A
He must have heard every prayer I've been praying
C#m
Yes He knew everything I would need
A C#m
When God made you
A C#m
When dreams come true
A B E
When God made you He must have been thinking about me

A Word Anger

2008-01-22T01:45:00.000-08:00

Sa talakayan ng 'Our Daily Bread - January 22' ay may mensaheng nais iparating si Apostol Juan.

What did John mean when he said that if we hate someone we are murderers? (1 John 3:15). How does this truth help us to forgive those who hurt us?

You shall not murder

- Exodus 20:13

Sa pagkakataong ito, sana ay masamahan ninyo ako na pag-isipan ang nais iparating sa atin ni Apostle John. Sa mundo nating puno ng karahasan at kasamaan, hindi mo maikakailang magkaroon ka ng sama ng loob sa kapwa mo, subalit naangkop ba sa Kristiyanong pamumuhay ang magtanim ng galit?

Anger is just one letter short of danger

God Sustains

2008-01-22T01:15:00.000-08:00

Pagkatapos ng apat na araw na bakasyon ay balik na naman ako sa trabaho. Minabuti kong pag-igihan ang trabaho ko sa araw na ito dahil alam kong marami-rami na naman akong tatapusin. Hindi nga ako nagkamali, dahil sa bungad pa lang ng araw ay iilan na nagtanong sa akin tungkol sa hinahawakan kong mga kaso.

Hmmm, mukhang gagabihin ako nito sa dami ng kelangan kong tapusin, ngunit hindi yun ang naging problema ko sa araw na ito, kundi ay ang kakarampot na baryang natira sa bulsa ko. Pilitin ko mang huwag isipin ang tungkol sa pera ay hindi ko maiwasan. Kampante naman ako dahil meron pa naman akong inaasahan sa araw na ito, at yun ay ang chequing nakuha ko sa pagloloan ko sa Pag-Ibig, na sa araw na ito ay papalitan na ng aking kapatid.

Subalit hindi pa man kalagitnaan ng araw ay tumawag ang kapatid ko upang ipaalam sa akin na hindi ppalitan ng bangko ang cheque hangga't hindi ang may-ari mismo ang kukuha. Maliban dun ay kailangan ng tatlong IDs para makuha mo ito. Arrgh! dalawa lang ang IDs na binigay ko sa kapatid ko dahil ang pasaporte ko ay nasa Ahensyang pinag-aplayan ko.

Tuliro ako sa mga sandaling iyun, kaya't pati ang bisor at mga ka-opisina ko ay kitang kita ang pagkadismaya ko sa aking nabalitaan. Ngunit kahit na sa ganoong sitwasyon, higit pa rin akong nagpapasalamat sa DIYOS dahil sa mga kaibigang nais tumulong sa kalagayan ko. Andun ang inalok ako ng perang pautang para lang may pantustos hangang sa susunod na sahod. Subalit tinanggihan ko ang mga alok nilang yun, masaya na ako at dinamayan at inunawa ang sitwasyon ko. Napag-isip isip kong kakasya pa naman ang kukurampot na baryang nasa bulsa ko, marahil ang kelangan ko lang gawin ay ang mag-tiis.

Mabait ang DIYOS dahil natapos ang araw na hindi ko narasanan ang magutom o ang mangamba ng kung anong wala bukas.

Marahil ito ang leksyon ko sa araw na ito. Na kahit walang wala ka na, kapag nasa tabi mo ang DIYOS, magkakaroon at magkakaroon ka, hindi man sa material na bagay kundi ang kakuntentuhan ng pag-iisip.

'Our Dail Bread - January 21' tinalakay ang The World Without. Dito nais iparating ni Mateo na hindi sapat ang panalangin upang matugunan ang pangangailangan ng kapwa mo. Kung meron ka naman bakit hindi mo kayang bahagian ang nangangailangan - nakakalugod sa mata ng tao at higit lalo sa mata ng DIYOS.

You pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.

- Matthew 23:23

If I can right a human wrong, If I can help to make one strong, If I can cheer with smile or song, Lord, show me how.

- Kleiser

Gathered in Worship

2008-01-21T04:44:00.000-08:00

Muli na naman akong nakadalo sa lingguhang pagtitipon naming magkakasama sa pananalig. Sa Blog ko nung 6 Enero, nabanggit ko ang tungkol sa Iglesiang pinaglilikuran ko.

Day By Day Christian Ministry ang pangalang ng iglesiang kinabibilangan ko. Pebrero 4, 2007 nang una akong isama ng isang malapit na kaibigan at kaopisina na si Bro. Dex. Nai-kwento ko na rin lang, hayaan ninyo na lang akong simulan ang bagong kabanata ng aking buhay nung makilala ko ang mga kapanalig ko ngayon.

Marahil may alam na kayo kung saan ako nagtatrabaho, at likas sa pinagtatrabahuan ko ang mahilig at magnais sa mga makamundong bagay. At ito'y dala dala ng pag-iisip hangang sa pagsasalita - problema. Kung susuriin, nababalot sa tukso upang magkasala ang tao - problema. At ang mga bagay na ito'y nasabi ko dahil ako mismo ay kabilang sa ganitong mundo. Magkamali man ako pero sa isip ko, ang ganitong uri ng sitwasyon ay marahil nangyayari din sa ibang uri ng trabaho. Datapwat ang lahat naman ng sinulat ko ay pawang base sa personal kong naranasan, naobserbahan at nasasalamuha.

Kaya't hindi ko akalain na sa pinagtatrabahuan ko ay makikilala akong mga taong magbibigay inspirasyon na hindi lamang puro problema ang buhay, kundi ito'y biyaya na dapat ipagpasalamat.

Maliban kay Bro. Dex ay dito ko rin lubos na nakasama si Pinky. Magkasama na kami sa dati kong pinagtatrabahuan, subalit hindi naman kami gaanong nakakapag-usap. Marahil dahil sa iba ang grupong kinabibilangan ko at ganun din naman siya.

Para bang pinagsanib na pwersa ang ginawa nilang dalawa upang ako'y maimbita sa kanilang paniniwala. Noong una ay hindi ko lubos matanto ang kanilang ninanais, subalit nang ito'y tumagal tagal ay nalaman ko na ang kanilang sadya - na ako'y mapabilang sa Kristyanong Pananalig. Hindi naman naging mahirap para sa kanila na gawin yun, kahit pa nasa isip ko na ako'y isang deboto ng Birheng Maria at sa Simabahang Katoliko lang sumasamba. Marahil dahil naging aktibo na rin ako dati sa 'Youth for Christ' sa probinsya namin kaya't nasa puso ko pa rin ang maglingkod sa DIYOS.

Ibang-iba at medyo balisa ang una kong naramdaman nung nakilala ko na sila pareho ng lubusan. Naalala ko pa nang binigyan nila ako peraho ng Inspirational Book. Isang NIV Bible na binigay ni Pinky (31 Enero, 2007) at ang Daily Bread 2006 na siyang naging katuwang ko sa aking pang-araw araw na debosyon at repleksyon.

Kaya't lubos akong nagpapasalamat sa kanila, na sa kunting panahon ng aking buhay dito sa mundo ay naging bahagi sila nito. Malaki ang naiambag nila sa buong katauhan ko sa ngayon at mga darating pang araw.

Balikan natin ang kwento ko sa araw na ito. Isang leksyon na naman ang natutunan ko galing sa butihing pastor naming si Pastor Ed. Sa araw na ito kasi tinalakay ang importansya ng pagpapahinga ng DIYOS. Ang pagpapahinga ay isang biyaya na bigay ng langit na kung minsan ay nakakaligtaan nating mga tao.

Maliban sa talakayan, kwento at aral, ang higit na nakakapagpa-antig ng damdamin ko ay kung papaano pinagsamasama ang higit kumulang isang libong tao upang makinig sa magandang balita na ito. Paniniwala - ang tawag dito, at ito rin ang leksyon na siyang tinalakay sa 'Our Daily Bread - January 20' na pinamagatang The Difference Faith Makes.

The fool has said in his heart, "There is no GOD".

- Psalm 14:1

Come to the Light, 'tis shining for thee, Sweetly the Light has dawned upon me; Once I was blind, but now I can see - The Light of the world is Jesus.

- Bliss

Life's Experiences, Life's Lessons

2008-01-21T04:31:00.000-08:00

Tinalakay sa 'Our Daily Bread - January 19' ang importansya ng mga turo ng buhay. Sa lahat ng mga nangyari sa buhay natin ay pawang mga leksyon na dapat matutunan.

Marahil kaya ko nasimulan ang Blog na ito dahil ang tanging nais ko ay ang matuto sa mga aral ng buhay na pang araw araw.

Hindi ko na siguro kelangan palawakin pa ang talakayang ito dahil sa aaminin man natin o sa hindi, kelangan nating matuto sa bawat araw na lumipas upang tayo'y lumago, lumaki at lumawak sa salita at pag-iisip.

Have you considered My servant Job?

- Job 1:8

Hayaan ninyo akong ibahagi sa inyo ang dula na kasama sa talakayang ito :

Affliction has been for my profit
That I do Thy statutes might hold;
Thy law to my soul is more precious
Than a thousands of silver and gold.

- Psalter

The Results

2008-01-18T19:13:00.000-08:00

Marahil nabitin kayo sa nai-kwento ko sa inyo sa kahapong Blog. Minabuti kong ilagay sa araw na ito ang kasunod na mga nangyari dahil sa mahaba-haba rin ang maisusulat ko.

Sa isang daang aplikante na nagbaka-sakaling makapagtrabaho sa Singapore, iilan na lang ang natanggap. Pagkatapos kasi nang unang interbyu ay may kasunod pang isa. Pumasa ako sa unang interbyu, at bali-balitang mahirap ang pangalawang interbyu. Sobrang bait ng DIYOS at nagpapasalamat ako at sa araw na iyun ay hindi ko naramdaman ang matinding kaba sa kung ano ang tatanungin sa akin, bagkus ay kusang lumalabas ang mga salita sa aking bibig. Alam kong nasa tabi ko ang Panginoon nung mga oras na yun.

Matapos ang pangalawang interbyu ay pinhintay ulit ako, hudyat na upang isipin ng mga kasabayan ko na pasado na ako.

Matagal-tagal na proseso din ang pinagdaanan ko. Kinain ang buong araw ko sa paghihintay. Madali akong mabagot sa paghihintay, pero sa araw na yun ay nagawa kong magtiis.

Ilang minuto pagkatapos ng huling interbyu ay tinawag ako ng tagapangalaga ng ahensya upang sabihin sa akin na tumawag na lang daw ako upang kumpirmahin ang status ng aplikasyon ko. Ayun sa kanila, pasado ako, subalit puno na ang listahan ng hinahanap nila, ika nga - nasa waiting list ako, na kung merong aalis o mag-back out, ako ang susunod sa hanay.

Medyo dismayado ang naging reaksyon ko nang sabihin sa akin na ganun. Ang sa akin lang, tanggap kung tanggap at uwi kung hindi.

Hindi naging malinaw ang usapin na yun dahil hindi ko lubos nakuha ang ibig nilan sabihin. Subalit masaya namang akong umuwi, dahil alam kong hindi ako bigo. Napatunayan ko na sa tulong ng DIYOS, kaya ko rin palang makipag-usap sa ibang tao, ibang lahi, nang walang bahid ng takot at pangamba. Na pwede mong ipamukha sa kanila ang iyung dignidag at lahi. Na sa kabila ng lahat ng pangit na nakikita nila sa bansa natin ay may likas tayong harapin sila. Na sa kabila ng lahat, may maipagmalaki pa rin natin ang lahi ng Pinoy na higit nating ipagpasalamat sa DIYOS.

Sana nakuha ninyo ang punto ko, dahil ito ang naging paksa ng 'Our Daily Bread - January 18', Get The Point.

Lord. I know that salvation is by faith because of Your grace. Help me not to require anything else from myself or others, so that I cannot boast in my goodness - but only in Yours. Amen

A man is not justified by the works of the law.

- Galatians 2:16

The Interview

2008-01-17T07:24:00.000-08:00

Maaga akong nagising sa araw na ito, may importante kasi akong lakad kaya't hindi pwedeng mahuli. Ito kasi ang araw kung kelang darating ang mga may-ari ng kumpanyang ina-aplayan ko sa Singapore, at lahat ng mga nag-aplay ay pinatawag para makita at makausap nila.

Hindi na rin bago sa akin ang ma-interbyu, dahil sa pinagdaanan ko na rin yun sa tuwing nag-aaplay ako sa mga kumpanya. Pero iba ang araw at pagkakataong ito. Ngayon kasi, hindi lokal na mamayan ng Pilipinas ang kakausapin ko kundi isang dayuhan.

Sa trabaho ko, marahil nakausap ko na ang lahat ng klase at uri ng tao. Pero ang kinaibahan nito ay makakausap ko ngayon ang isa sa mga lahi ng personal.

Sa Bayview Hotel nagkita-kita ang mga may-ari at ang mga nagsipag-aplay. Marami-rami rin akong nakilala sa araw na iyun, maliban na sa mga nakasabayan ko nung orientation. Higit kumulang isang daan ang mga taong andun, nagbabaka-sakaling tanggapin at makapagtrabaho sa ibang bansa. Isang daang taong sinagad na sa teknolohiyang trabaho dito sa bansa. Isang daang taong puno ng ambisyon sa buhay.

Matagal-tagal din akong nag-intay para tawagin at ma-interbyu. Mabuti't may hinandang kape. biskwet at mani ang ahensiyang nagpatawag sa amin, kaya't kahit papaano'y nababasawan ang antok at pagod sa paghihintay. Maliban dun, sa tapat mismo ng hotel ay ang napaka-gandang tanawin ng Manila de Bay, kaya't naiibsan ang pagod at buraot sa kahihintay.

Isa-isa nang tinawag ang mga aplikante, at dahil sa marami, nasa kalagitnaan pa ang pangalan ko. Habang kami'y naghihintay isang representante, isang Instik, ng kumpaya ang pumasok sa silid namin upang bigyan kami ng impormasyon ukol sa bansa nila.

Maka-ilang ulit niya ring ikinumpara ang buhay dito sa Pilipinas at ang buhay sa Singapore. Marahil ay naka-ilang beses na ring siyang pabalik-balik dito kaya't alam na alam na niya ang ugali, buhay at baho ng mga Pinoy.

Hindi pa man ako nakapunta sa Singapore ay nakikita ko na ang lugar nila sa mga kwento niya. Maliit lang ang Singapore kumpara sa Pinas, subalit isa ito sa mayamang bansa sa Asia. Malinis ang paligid at higit niyang pinamamalaki ang malinis nilang hangin. Ang kaayusan sa kalsada at ang tahimik na kapaligiran.

Ang problema lang sa Singapore, dahil sa maliit nga lang ito ay ang kawalan nila ng likas na yaman. Biruin mong sa ibang bansa pa kumukuha ng tubig inumin? Pero ganun pa man, napapanatili nilang maayos ang kanilang bansa. Marahil sa mahal ng mga Singaporean ang kanilang bansa kaya't nananatili itong maayos, at hindi naging hadlang ang mga kakulangan upang hindi umunlad ang kanilang bansa.

Napag-isip isip ko na kung tayong mga Pilipino ay may ganung pag-iisip gaya ng mga Singaporean, marahil mas higit na maunlad ang bansa natin. Hindi lang dahil sa may tubig na nakapalibot sa atin, kundi dahil likas sa ating mga Pinoy ang magtulong-tulong, iyun nga lang nakalimutan na natin na walang magagawa ang pagiging matulungin kung alang pag-kakaisa at pagmamahal sa bansa.

Loving The Unlovable ang naging paksa sa usaping ng 'Our Daily Bread - January 17'. Gaya ng nai-kwento ko, maabot lang ang kasaganahan at kaayos kung makukuha nating mahalin ang bansa natin, gaya ng pagmamahal ni Jesus sa atin, na dahil sa kasalanan hindi naman karapat-dapat mahalin.

The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

- Luke 19:10

We need to see through Jesus eyes
Our neighbors who are lost;
For then we will reach out to them
Regardless of the cost.

- Sper

Words Can Change You

2008-01-16T06:46:00.000-08:00

Nagkaroon ng kunting aberya sa opisina ngayong araw na ito. Hindi ko lang kasi matanggap ang mga salitang narinig ko sa isa sa mga kliyente namin. Hindi ko rin lubos akalain na sa tinagal-tagal ng pagpoproseso ko sa kanyang problema ay nakuha pa niyang maniwala sa iba at imbes na pagtuunan ng pansin ang problema ay sa akin ibaling ang inis at galit sa hindi pang naayos na problema.

Higit kong ikinagulat nang bigla niyang sabihin na ikinulo ang mga prosesong ginawa ko ng isa sa mga kasamahan naming higit naming pinagkakatiwalaan at inaasahan. Ayun sa kliyente, pinasinungalingan daw ng kasamahan namin ang mga proseso ng kanyang kahilingan at mga pakiusap.

Pumintig ang tenga ko at sa inis ko ay ibinaling ko sa kasamahan namin ang puno't dulo ng problema. Sa wari ko, total makikita naman ng lahat ang mga detalye ng mga pangyayari dahil sa ang lahat ng transaksyon ay nakatala at nakatago sa sistema ng companya.

Sa bandang huli, hindi ako nagpanaig sa takot at hinarap ko ang araw ng buon tapang at dignidad. Napagtanto ko na hindi sa lahat ng bagay ay kelangan mong magpakumbaba at magsa-walang kibo na lang, lalo na't ang karangalan, dignidad at pangalan mo ang nakataya. Importante ang lakas ng loob upang harapin ang anumang pagsubok na dadaraan sa buhay, at higit na magpursige kang lumaban kung alam mong kakampi mo ang tama.

Hindi ko man marahil naekwento ang bawat detalye ng mga nangyari, dahil hindi ko naman hangad na palawakin at pahabain pa ang diskusyon ng giyera, subalit ang nais ko lang iparating sa madla ang importansya na alamin ang tama sa mali. At kung ito'y natukoy mo na, piliin mo sana ang kumampi sa tama. Dahil kung nasaan ang DIYOS andun ang laging tama.

Sa pagmuni-muni ko sa araw na ito, higit akong natuwa dahil ito rin ang usapin sa 'Our Daily Bread - January 16' na pinamagatang Doing Justice. Ang kwento ko marahil ang siyang makakapagbigay linaw sa paksang ito.

You shall not follow evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.

- Exodus 23:2

Justice is the clarion call for all Christian -
We cannot step aside from what GOD said
He has told us how to treat our neighbor,
And we must follow in the path He's led.

- Hess

Reminisced Puerto

2008-01-15T04:29:00.000-08:00

Salamat sa DIYOS at maayos ang naging takbo ng mga gawain ko sa araw na ito. Kahit hindi gaano kaganda ang simula, dahil sa ako'y nahuli na naman pumasok sa trabaho, subalit nagtapos naman ito ng tama. Bungsod marahil ito ng isa na namang masayang usapin at talakayan kasama ang mga ka-opisina ko.

Hindi ko pa marahil naisama sa mga kwento ko ang tungkol sa plano naming magkaka-opisina ang magbakasyon. Matagal-tagal na rin naming plano yun at ngayon nga'y napag-isipan na namin na sa dinami dami ng aming mga ginagawa, ngayon lang ulit kami makapag-relaks. Yung tipong wala kang ibang iisipin kundi ang magpahinga, matulog, kumain...magpahinga.

Kaya't sa araw na ito, todo paghahanap sa internet ang mga kasamahan ko kung saan ang magandang lugar para sa mga kagaya naming pagod.

Noong nakaraang taon ay sa Puerto Galera sa may dakong Mindoro kaming magkakasamang pumunta, kaya't ngayon taon ay napagdesisyonan naming huwag na dun ulit magbakasyon, ika nga, ibang putahe naman.

Marami-rami din kaming nakitang magagandang tanawin, pools at resorts na nakita, subalit ang talagang nakahatak sa amin ay ang Grande Islang Resort sa Subic. Sa letratong aming nakita, mukhang napaka-tahimik ng lugar, at talaga namang kaaya-aya. Hindi ko lubos maitago kung gano ako natuwa na isa iyun sa lugar na pinili ng aking mga kasama. Hindi naman kasi ako mapili sa lugar, kahit saang tahimik ay pwedeng pwede sa akin. Ang habol ko lang ay mapagmasdan ang araw sa kanyang pagsikat hangang takipsilim.

Ito na siguro ang kailangan ng aking isipan, ang matahimik at makapag-isip ng mga bagay bagay sa buhay. Sa aking pagbabasa ng 'Our Daily Bread - January 15' na may pamagat na No Grudges After Sunset ay napagisip-isip ko na pag-usapan na rin ang tungkol sa bagay bagay an nagpapagulo sa buhay.

Hayaan niyong ibahagi ko ang isang verse na nabasa ko :

Do not let the sun go down on your wrath.

- Ephesians 4:26

Dati hirap na hirap akong patawarin ang mga nagkakasala sa akin. Higit pa dun, hangad ko rin ang makaganti. Subalit nang mabasa ko ang verse na ito, ilang buwan lang ang nakaraan, ay unti-unting humupa ang mga kulog ng galit sa aking dibdib. Marahilm, higit akong tinamaan sa linyang ito kaya't at natuto sa aking pagkakamali.

Sadya nga namang masaya at mas ma-eenjoy mo ang buhay kung sa pagtatapos ng bawat araw ay may tuwa sa inyong mga labi at ligaya sa puso dulot ng pagpapatawad.

Mahirap ang magpatawad alam ko, depende kung gano kabigat ang nagawa sa iyo, pero mas higit na mahirap ang may dinadalang sakit ng damdamin sa bawat araw. Kung ang DIYOS nakakapagpatawad - mas higit na ikinalulugod Niya kung tayong mga tao ay ganun din.

Anger, malice, and ill will Can leave a stain of sorrow; Ask forgiveness by His grace Before it is tomorrow!

- Bosch

Laughters After Work

2008-01-14T08:21:00.000-08:00

Noong nakaraang Biyernes ay nilibre kami ng boss namin sa Giligans sa bagong Trinoma. Nag-aatubili pa ako nung una dahil sa medyo pagod na rin ako pagkatapos ng trabaho. Pero dahil ika nga libre tinabla ko na ang pagod na nararamdaman ko.

Maliban sa libre, makakasama ko pang kumain ang mga kasamahan ko sa trabaho at naging malapit na kaibigan ko na rin.

Masaya ang naging biyahe namin. Sakay sa taxi ay puno kami ng tawanan at halakhakan. Mga katatawanan sa opisina, trabaho at kung anu ano pa ang siyang naging paksa ng talakayan. Sa madaling salita ay napalitan ang pagod ng saya at tuwa.

Ngayon lang ako nakapunta ng Trinoma Mall kaya't manghang mangha ako sa pagkaka-ayos nito. Hindi gaya ng dati na nating nakikitang Malls, kakaiba ang pagkaka-disenyo nito. Puno ng halaman ang palagid at hindi ko akalaing may garden sa taas nito. Para bang hanging garden ang dating para sa akin.

Ang mga tiangge nito ay hindi ang kaswal na bloke lamang, kundi kung ano ang hugis ng gusali ay siyang hugis nito.

Sa tinagal ng ikot namin sa loob ay nakaramdam na rin kami ng gutom, at napagdesisyonan ng boss namin na sa Giligans kami kakain. OK na sana ang lugar, kaso walang bakante sa mga oras na yun, kaya't oras na naman ang siyang aming hinitay. At marahil sa tinagal tagal naming naghintay ay hindi na rin kinaya ng boss namin.

Hmmm, pagkatapos ng mahabang diskusyon at debate sa nagbabantay, nakakuha din kami ng pwesto sa wakas.

Ngunit hindi lamang nauwi sa kainan ang gabing iyun, dahil kagaya ng mga nangyari sa taxi, ay tuloy ang tawanan, hagikgikan at kwentuhan namin. Siguro nga dahil nakakain na kaya marahil dumaloy ulit ang mga enerhiya sa katawan.

Kasama ng mga pictures na kuha sa gabing yun, nakapagbalik tanaw ako sa kung gaano kabuti ang DIYOS sa tao. Dahil sa biyaya ng pagkakaibigan, pagkakaisa at kasiyahan ay napagbubuklod Niya ang mga tao.

What Makes GOD Laugh? - eto ang naging paksa sa 'Our Daily Bread - January 14'. Ang tawa na naiugnay ko sa kwento ko ngayong araw ay kelanman hindi makukumpara sa tawa ng DIYOS, dahil ang Kanyang tawa ay nagbibigay ng katiyakan na si Jesus ay magwawagi sa kasamaan. Kaya't kung sino man ang kasapi Niya ay hindi matatalo kailanman.

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision.

- Psalm 2:4

God dwells in light and holiness,
In splendor and in might;
It's godly fear of his great power
That helps us do what's right.

- D. De Haan

Aspects of Life

2008-01-14T07:45:00.000-08:00

Kapag pera nag usapin, medyo sensitibo dyan ang mga Pinoy. Iba iba kasi ang sitwasyon natin pagdating sa pera, merong mayaman sa pera, tamang tama lang at meron din naghihingahos. Ganun pa man, kahit nasa anong kategorya ka, sigurado meron kang iisiping problema.

Problema ng mga mayayaman kung pano nila gagastusin ang mga pera nila. Meron dyan ang bumibili ng kung anu-ano para lang gumasta. At sa pagtatapos ng araw, namomroblema pa rin kung pano gagastuhin ang pera kinabukasan. Hay! ang sarap siguro kapag nakahiga ka sa pera ano?

Ang mga tamang tama lang ay pinoproblema naman ang mga ekstrang gastusin. Pagkatpos mag-todo shopping ay subsob ulit sa trabaho upang muli'y kumita. At ang mga luho na hindi na pwedeng pagbigyan dahil sa sapat lang ang kinikita ay siyang nasasakripisyo. Ito marahil ang sitwasyon ng nakararami.

At marahil alam niyo na kung ano ang problema ng walang pera, hindi ko na po siguro kelangan palawakin pa, hindi ba?

Pero hindi naman talaga usapin ang pera pagdating sa ating mga Pinoy. Mas importante pa rin ang pakikitungo natin sa kapwa at ang pala-kaibigan upang higit tayong yumaman, hindi man sa salapi, kundi sa mga kaibigan.

Hayaan niyong ibahagi ko sa inyo ang ipinasang e-mail ng isa kong kaibigan :

There was a one hour interview on CNBC with Warren Buffet, the second richest man who has donated $31 billion to charity.
Here are some very interesting aspects of his life:

1. He bought his first share of stock at age 11 and he now regrets that he started too late!

2. He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.

3. He still lives in the same, small 3-bedroom house in midtown Omaha, that he bought after he got married 50 years ago. He says that he has everything he needs in that house. His house does not have a wall or a fence.

4. He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.

5. He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world's largest private jet company.

6. His company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns 63 companies.He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of these companies, giving them goals for the year. He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis. He has given his CEO's only two rules. Rule number 1: Do not lose any of your shareholder's money. Rule number 2: Do not forget rule number 1.

7. He does not socialize with the high society crowd. His pastime after he gets home is to make himself some popcorn and watch television.

8. Bill Gates, the world's richest man, met him for the first time only 5 years ago. Bill Gates did not think he had anything in common with Warren Buffet. So, he had scheduled his meeting only for half hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for ten hours and Bill Gates became a devotee of Warren Buffet.

9. Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer on his desk.

His advice to young people: 'Stay away from credit cards and invest in yourself, and remember:

A. Money doesn't create man, but it is the man who created money.

B. Live your life as simple as you are.

C. Don't do what others say. Just listen to them, but do what makes you feel good.

D. Don't go on brand name. Wear those things in which you feel comfortable.

E. Don't waste your money on unnecessary things. Spend on those who really are in need.

F. After all, it's your life. Why give others the chance to rule it ?

Karangalan ang pinag-usapang sa 'Our Daily Bread - Jun 13' na pinamagatang The Greatest Honor. At gaya nang ibinahagi ko, karangalan din ang nakamit ni Warren Buffet dahil sa pupursige niya sa buhay, na kahit nakamit na niya ang rurok ng tagumpay, pilit pa rin siyang nagpapakumbaba. Nawa'y maging inspirasyon siya sa atin.

I will go to the king, which is against the law and if I perish, I perish!

- Esther 4:16

Life's labor done, as sinks the clay,
Light from its load the spirit flies.
While heaven and earth combine to say,
"How blest the righteous when he dies!"

- Barbauld

Name is Important

2008-01-12T05:40:00.000-08:00

Nakahiligan ko na ang maglaro ng Lineage II, isang Online Game kung saan pilit kong pinapalakas ang tao ko, karakter ang tawag namin dito, at marahil dahil sa mismong ang karakter mo rin ang siyang binabago nito.

Maliban sa nakakatuwa ang larong ito dahil dito kami nagkikita-kita ng mga kaibigan ko, hindi maiiwasan sa laro ang magkabiruan, magkatuksuhan at magka-asaran, na sa huli ay hahantong sa awayan at personalan.

Importante sa laro ang pangalagaan ang pangalan. Hindi lamang ang karakter mo, kundi pati na rin ang pangalan ng kinabibilangan mo, o tinatawag naming 'clan'. Tingnan ninyo na lang sa susunod na mga Posts ko nito sa http://larongadik.blogspot.com.

Sa araw na ito kasi ay nagkaroon ng programa ang bumubuo nitong laro upang lalo itong mabigyan pansin ng publiko. Sa Mall of Asia ginanap ang palabas at mga palaro.

At dahil nga nakahiligan ko ito, pumunta na rin ako sa pinagdausan upang personal kong masaksihan ang mga mangyayari. Mapa-bata man o matanda, lalaki, babae o ung nasa gitna ay hindi mo akalaing madadarang sa larong ito, at andun silang lahat upang saksihan ang mga nagaganap.

Nung una naisip ko na baka hindi papatok ang ganung programa, dahil kukunti lang ang nakikita kong naglalaro, subalit nagkamali ako. Siksikan din para lang makakuha ng mga libreng souvenirs ng laro, hindi na rin ako nagpahuli.

Pero hindi tungkol sa laro ang nais kong iparating sa araw na ito, kundi ang nabasa ko sa 'Our Daily Bread - January 12' na pinamagatang Your Name is Safe.

Gaya sa laro, pangalan ang importante para magkaroon ka ng reputasyon, at pangalan din ang siyang tinatandaan ng mga kaaway, at ito ang ikinakatakot ng maraming mahihina pa lang.

Kaya't nung magkita-kita kanina sa programa, pilit kong tinatago ang 'name tag' ko, dahil baka isa sa mga nandun ay isa sa mga naka-away ko sa laro o sa mga kasamahan ko. Takot akong personalin at mamersonal na rin.

May mga iilan nga akong nakikita dun at sa aking paglilibot ay tahimik at payapa naman ang lahat. Siguro nga napapraning lang ako sa mga nangyayari sa laro. Marahil naipapamuhay ko na ito kaya't ganun na lang ang pag-aalala ko. Hmmm...hindi dapat, hindi dapat. Ang laro ay laro lang. Sa aking pagiikot ay may nakilala akong isang kaibigan, hindi kami nagkakilala sa totoong buhay, pero kung anong pangalan ng karakter namin ay ganun na lang ang tawagan. Nakakatawa dahil pawang nawala kami saglit sa totoong mundo. Pero sa maikling usapan namin, sa kanya ko nakita kung gano niya pinahahalagahan ang buhay, higit pa sa laro.

Sa repleksyon ko ngayong gabi, galing sa 'Our Daily Bread - January 12' na pinamagatang Your Name Is Safe, nagulat na lang ako kung bakit angkop ito sa nararamdaman ko. Higit sa laro, ang pangalan mo ng buhay ay siyang mas importante sa DIYOS.

The Father knows your name - but more than that,
He knows your heart and all you think and do;
With Him your name is safe - that will not change -
But one day He will write your name anew.

- Hess

I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who recieves it.

- Revelation 2:17

Surprised By Joy

2008-01-12T05:09:00.000-08:00

Higit pa man sa naging karanasan ko sa buhay ay maikukumpara sa ko sa naging buhay ni C.S. Lewis, ang batikang manunulat ng 'Chronicles of Narnia'.

Sa kasagsagan ng kanyang kabataan, nagdesisyon si Lewis na humiwalay sa kinalakihang relihiyon at nagdeklarang maninindigan siyang walang pinaniniwalaan. Para sa kanya, pawang mga kathang isip lang lahat ng niloloob ng isang relihiyon, walang katotohanan.

Lumipas ang 30 taon, saka niya tinanggap si Jesus bilang Diyos at Taga-Pagligtas, saka niya naisulat ang librong 'Suprised By Joy'. Aaminin kong hindi ko ito personal na binasa, subalit mai-rerekomenda ko ang librong ito, marahil dahil sa marami sa atin ang makakapag-ugnay sa mga naramdaman niya at marahil dahil sa salitang hinugot sa isang pusong naligaw ng landas :

"No word in my vocabulary expressed deeper hatred than the word interference. But Christianity placed at the center what then seemed to me a transcendental Interferer. There ws no region even in the innermost depth of one's soul which one could surround with a barbed wire fence and guard with a notice 'No Admittance.' And that was what I wanted; some are, however small, of which I could say to all other beings, 'This is my business and mine only.' "

Dahil sa kalayaan, may karapatan tayong sabihin na hayaan na lang tayo ng DIYOS, pero may mas higit na karapatan ang DIYOS na magpumilit na ipagpatuloy ang pagtulong Niya sa atin.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock.

- Revelations 3:20

Lahat ng ito ay nasa 'Our Daily Bread - Jun 11' na may pamagat na Don't Bother Me.

What joy and blessings we can know When Jesus comes to dine! He brings His riches and His love And fellowship divine.

- Branon

Drawn By The Cross

2008-01-12T04:22:00.000-08:00

Kung nasubaybayan ninyo ang nakaraan Post, tungkol ito sa ugali nating magtago kapag may kasalanan. Sa araw na ito, higit lalong nagpa-igting ang mga salitang binitiwan ni Apostol Paul sa akin.

Huwebes ngayon at naging regular na gawain ng kapatiran ang magtipon-tipon para papurihan ang Panginoon, na pinangungunahan ng napaka-buti at responsabling pastor naming si Dan. Higit kumulang isang buwan na rin na hindi ako nakakasama at nakakapagpasalamat sa DIYOS na kasama sila, kaya't sa araw na ito, bagong bago ang pakiramdam ko.

Nakalimutan kong sabihin na kasama pala ako sa mga mang-aawit sa paglilingkod sa DIYOS sa aming samahan, kaya't napakalaking karangalan para sa akin ang mapabilang sa ganung serbisyo. Pagkatapos ng paghahanda at pagsasanay para sa araw na ito, ramdam kong handang-handa na ang lahat...maliban marahil sa akin.

Hindi ko matanto kong nagkataon lang ang lahat ng nangyari, pero bago simulan ang papuri at paghahandog, sinagluban ako ng kung anong sakit sa tiyan. Kaya't sa halip na ako'y nakapagbigay pugay sa langit sa pamamagitan ng pag-aawit ay pilit kong dinadama ang sakit na aking naramdaman. Higit na nakaka-alam ang DIYOS, marahil alam Niyang, hindi handa ang kalooban at isip ko sa araw na iyun kaya't hindi Niya ito pinahintulutan. Ganun pa man, napakabait ng DIYOS, dahil binigyan Niya ako ng pagkakataong mapakinggan ang kanyang mensahe.

At gaya nang nauna kong salaysay, ito'y patungkol sa lumalamig na relasyon sa DIYOS sa tuwing nagkakasala tayo. Isang pagkakataon nga lang ba? Para sa akin, alam ng DIYOS ang karapat-dapat kong matutunan, at 'yun ay ang mapalapit lalo ako sa Kanya, sa pagtatanggap ng mga kasalanan ko at ang matika sa mga pagkakamali ko.

Aaminin kong kahit sa mga oras na ito, may mga kasalanan akong dinadala na kahit anong pilit kong talikuran ay sadyang nagagawa ko pa rin. Marahil kailangan kong isipin na kailanman hindi lalayo ang tukso, subalit may kalayaan tayong pumili kung yayakapin natin ito o magdesisyong layuan na. Nakapagpili ka na ba?

Drawn By The Cross ang pamagat ng talakayin sa 'Our Daily Bread - Jun 10'. Dito tinalakay na kahit gaano kalaki ang problema kung ipagpaubaya natin ang buhay natin sa DIYOS ay walang ibang makaka-alis sa atin sa Kanyang hawak.

I, if I an lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.

- John 12 :32

Hayaan ninyo akong ibahagi ang nilalaman ng pedestal ng Statue of Liberty ng Amerika :

Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore; Send these, the homeless, tempest - tossed, to me : I lift my lamp beside the golden door.

Sa pagtitiwala natin kay Jesus bilang tagapagligtas natin, tayo's nagkaroon laya sa ating mga kasalanan.

Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner and cannot save myself. I need You as my Savior. Thank You for dying in my place and rising again. I believe in You. Please set me free from my sin. I want to live with You in heaven someday. Amen.

Open Book

2008-01-12T03:18:00.000-08:00

Kalagitnaan ng linggo at sa normal na araw, ito marahil ang nakakapagod. Miyerkules kasi kaya't lahat ng hindi natapos na trabaho noong nakaraang araw kelangan tapusin. Base sa tinagal ko sa pinagtatrabahoan ko , ito rin ang araw kung kelan marami raming tawag kaming natatanggap.

Umph..matagal tagal na rin pala tayong nagsasama sa paglalakbay kong ito, pero marahil hindi niyo pa ako gaano kilala, o kahit ang pinakasimpleng personal na impormasyon man lang. Hindi ko naman hangad na kilalanin ninyo ako ng lubos, at lalong hindi ko hangad na ma-publiko. Pero bilang kaibigan, kasabayan, kapatid at kababayan, hindi ba't mas nabibigyan natin ng halaga ang isang bagay o tao lalo na't alam at kilala natin. Ganun din ang nararamdaman ko sa tuwing bumibisita kayo sa Blog ko. Hangad ko lang ang maibahagi sa inyo ang mga nararanasan, nararamdaman at naiisip ko sa araw araw. Sana'y sa pagbabasa ninyo at pagsusulat ko ay magkaroon tayo ng pagpapahalaga sa bawat isa.

'Makoy' ang tawag ng pamilya't kaibigan ko sa akin. Nais kong ganun din ang tawag ninyo sa akin, kung saka-sakaling mag-kros ang landas natin. Nagtatrabaho ako ngayon sa isang 'Call Center' - marahil alam niyo na dahil sa mga una kong salaysay.

Nagkahiligan ko ang pag-baBlog pagkatapos kong makita ang Blogs ng mga kaibigan ko. Tulad marahil ng nakararami, ang buhay ko ay isang bukas na aklat, handang sulatan at ipabasa sa nakararami. Aaminin kong marami-rami rin akong punit na pahina, buradong kabanata, subalit hindi yun ang naging hadlang upang ipagpatuloy ko ang nasimulan ko na.

Sa mga nakasubaybay, matagal-tagal din akong hindi nakapagBlog, kinkapos din sa panahon at oras ang inyung lingkod, na kahit anong pilit kong pinagkakasya ang oras upang maibahagi sa inyo ang personal na leksyon na natutunan ko sa lumipas na araw, ay siya ring pilit na pinagsiksikan ng oras ang mga responsibilidad ko sa buhay.

Sa katatapos ko lang basahin ang 'Our Daily Bread - Jun 9' na pinamagatang Burying Our Heads, dito isinalaysay ang nagiging ugali natin sa tuwing may pagkakasala tayo o ang mga kaptiran natin, reaksyon natin ang magtago at lalong lumayo. Subalit iba ang nagiging reaksyon ni Apostol Paul. Ayun sa kanya, mas lalo naging pagtibayin ang paniniwala natin kung tayo'y nagkakamali. At kung tayo'y malakas sa paniniwala, hindi ba't dapat nating damayan ang mga mahihina.

If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.

- Galatians 6:1

Father, help me live today
With thoughtfulness in what I say,
Confronting wrong with truth and fact,
Expressing gentleness and tact.

- Hess

A Weary Mind

2008-01-08T02:22:00.000-08:00

Nakakapagod ang araw na ito, sa paggawa sa pagsasalita at sa pag-iisip. Ito rin ang kauna-unahang araw ng taon kung kelan ako nahuli sa trabaho ko. Kaya't naisip kong ibahin ang tema ng aking pakikipagsalamuha sa tao, pinilit kong maging masayahin, palatawa at palabiro - subalit panandalian lamang ang mga iyun.

Pagkatapos ng araw ay muli na naman akong sinakluban ng lungkot at takot. Nangangambang wala na naman akong malinaw na daan na tinatahak sa patuloy na pagdaan ng oras. Naiisip kong isang araw na naman ang nasasayang. Panahon na kailanman hindi na pwedeng ibalik pa.

Bunsod marahil ng matinding pag-iisip kaya ako nagkakaganito. Problema sa bahay, ka-pamilya, trabaho, mga naglahong pangarap at pera ang siyang pilit kong binibigyan linaw.

Subalit sa pagpupumilit kong isa-isahin sa lohikal na pamamaraan ng pag-iisip ay mas lalong lumabo ang mga solusyon na nakikita ko. At kahit anong pilit kong iwasan ang mga ito, ay mas lalo pang nadadag-dagan ang problema ko, na kung minsan ay umabot na pagkakataong takbuhan ang aking responsibilidad sa buhay. Kaya't kahit mahirap, patuloy pa rin akong lumalaban. Hindi ko man alam kung hangang kailan at saan, pina-uubaya ko na lang sa DIYOS, dahil siya lang ang tanging nakaka-alam.

Aamin ko na kung minsan ay nakakaligtaan kong nandyan ang Panginoon ko para ako'y gabayan, kaya't ang 'panalangin ko sa araw na ito at sa darating pang mga araw na ako'y Kanyang hawakan at huwag bibitiwan kailanman, dahil ako'y mahina at sa oras na ako'y gipit at akmang bibitaw, hawak Niya'y hihigpit, ang Panginoon ko ang magiging lakas ko sa pang-araw araw. Amen.'

Ang mas lalo Siyang kilalanin marahil ang kulang kung bakit minsan ay sadyang marupok ang mga tao. Kaya't ito rin ang nagiging paksa ng 'Our Daily Bread - Jun 8' na pinamagatang Our Eternal GOD. Lahat sa mundong ito ay maglalaho, ngunit hindi ang ating DIYOS at ang Kanyang Kaharian. Marahil iwas-iwasan an natin ang matitinding pag-iisip ng kung ano anong solusyon sa buhay, dahil sa huli, tanging ang DIYOS lang na makapangyarihan ang may alam - magpaubaya lang, siya na ang magiging daan.

[Jesus said,] "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish."

- John 10:28

Marahil ito na ang leksyon ko sa buhay sa araw na ito. Na kahit anong pilit kong aalamin at suriin ang tamang daan ko sa paglalakbay, hinding hindi ko yun malalaman, hangga't wala ang DIYOS na siyang magbibigay ng liwanag sa aking tinatahak na daan.

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inacessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious - Thy great name we praise.

- Smith

The Art of Sharing

2008-01-07T06:03:00.001-08:00

Lunes na naman, ito na araw na maituturing kong balik sa normal ang lahat, halos lahat ng mga nagsipagbakasyon sa iba't ibang lalawigan bunga ng selebrasyon ng Pasko at Bagong Taon, ay bumalik na sa kani-kanilang mga gawain - maging estudyante, empleyado, negosyante o kahit isang tambay lang. Para sa akin, ito ang araw kung saan nagsisimula ang bagon taon ng trabaho.

Kahit nung nakaraang linggo kasi, wala sa isip ko ang pagtuunan ng pansin ang trabaho. Ramdam ko pa kasi ang init ng bagong taon, kaya't pilit ko pa itong nilalasap. Ika nga, minsan lang kung mag-bagong taon, kaya't kung ano man ang nararamdaman mo sa mga panahong iyun, malamang bibilang ka ulit ng 12 buwan upang ito'y ulit na maramdaman.

Marami-rami din ang trabaho sa araw na ito, halos kalahati kasi ng bilang sa departamento namin ay hindi pumasok, kaya't resposibilidad ng mga pumasok ang gampanan ang kanilang mga trabaho. Pagtutulungan ang tawag namin dito, nang sa gayun, kapag pwede na ulit pumasok, hindi na matatambakan ng trabaho.

Isa sa aral ng pagtutulungan ang natutunan ko sa matalik kong kaibigan, kapanalig at kapatid na si myBro Bren, na kahit kakarampot na lang ang meron ka, at ibahagi mo ito sa walang wala na, ay daig mo pa ang pinakamayamang tao sa napanalunan mo - ang pakikipag-kaibigan. Hindi kasi kayang bayaran ang aspetong ito sa buhay natin, lalong lalo na sa mga pinoy. Importante sa atin ang may kaakibat at kaagapay, lalo na sa panahon ng pangangailangan.

Sa araw na ito, pinansyal na kinapos na naman ako. Higpit na higpit kong hinawakan ang 20 pesos na natira sa bulsa ko pagdating ko ng opisina, takot akong baka mawala ito, dahil alam ko na ang magiging kapalaran ko sa hapon...malamang maglalakad ako pauwi sa amin.

Bilang ko na rin ang gagastusin, kaya't kahit papano ay kampante pa naman akong kakasya ang natirang pera ko pamasahe pauwi. Mabait ang DIYOS at yun ang lagi kong sinasaiisip. Hindi naman naging problema ang pananghalian ko dahil may nagrarasyon ng pagkain sa opisina namin. Kaya't kay buti ng DIYOS sa lahat ng oras.

Naikwento ko ang lahat ng ito kay Bro Bren, at laking pasasalamat ko't handa naman siyang tumulong sa pangangailangan ko. Subalit dinaig ng isip ko ang bugso ng bulsa ko, na marahil matutukso akong bumili ng mga bagay bagay na hindi naman talaga kelangan kung may extra pa ako, kaya't napagdesisyunan kong pagkasyahin na lang ang kung anong meron ako.

'Natuto akong mamaluktot habang maikli ang kumot' ang naging leksyon ko sa araw na ito, at hindi na baleng mamaluktot, ang higit na importante ay ang leksyon na natutunan ko sa kaibigan ko at yun ay ang makapagbahagi ng kung anong meron ka sa walang wala na.

Be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share.

- 1 Timothy 6:18

Ito rin ang tinalakay ng 'Our Daily Bread - Jun 7' na pinamagatang Willing To Share. Naging madamot ba tayo sa kung anong meron tayo? Marahil maitatanong natin sa ating sarili habang patuloy ang ating paglalakbay sa buhay - at sana sa mga oras na yun makakasagot na tayo sa kung ano ang tama at karapat - dapat.

Love is giving for the worlds needs,
Love is sharing as the Spirit leads,
Love is caring when the world cries,
Love is compassion with Christlike eyes.

- Brandt

In Times of Hardships

2008-01-06T03:19:00.000-08:00

Linggo, araw sana kung saan pupunta ako sa Iglesia para makiniig sa magandang balita. Araw kung kelan sana may mga bago akong matutunan. At araw kung kelan ko sana makakasama ang aking mga kaibagan na matagal-tagal ko na ring hindi nakita.

Marahil, binigo ko ang araw na ito, o marahil binigo ko ang sarili ko dahil sa araw na ito, nakapag-desisyon akong huwag na munang pumunta. May sa kung anong hatak sa isipan ko ang pumigil sa akin, marahil dulot ng pagod ng mga nakaraang araw at gusto ng isipan kong magpahinga na muna. Pero meron pang ibang rason, isa na dun ang pinansyal na aspeto. Kung iisipin kasi, magastos ang pamasahe ngayon, medyo may kalayuan ang sa amin sa Iglesiang pinaglilikungran ko, kaya't medyo mahirap din ang kinakapos ka sa pamasahe. Subalit higit pa pala akong kailangan sa bahay sa araw na ito.

Nawalan kami ng tubig dulot ng pagputok ng isang linya ng tubo ng tubig sa may karatig baranggay. Apektado marahil ang buong lungsod dahil sa nakitang malaking sira nito, at ang masama nito, hindi pa tantya kung kelan ito maayos. May mga bulong bulongan na oras lang ibibilang, meron din araw, ang kinakatakot ko kung abutin ito ng linggo o buwan. Mahaba haba na rin ang pila balde.

Hmmm, mukhang mahirap ata pumasok sa trabaho na walang paligo, kahit na ba ginawa ko na minsan yun, talaga namang hindi ka magiging komportable kapag ganun, at lalong hindi mo magagampanan ang trabaho mo ng maayos.

Sa ganitong mga pangyayari, naalala ko nung minsan nawalan din kami ng tubig sa probinsya. Higit na mas malaki ang pagkaka-iba ng sitwasyon, kung dito sa lungsod ay meron na mga de-motor na pusong naka-abang na gamitin, dun ay hirap kaming pupunta sa maayos at malinis na balon upang mag-igib. At milya din ang layo kung iisipin. Hindi puro patag ang sinasabi ko, aakyat pa kami sa mabato, maputik at madulas na burol para lang marating ang balon. Bitbit ang mga balde, kelangan namin itong punuin para sa pagbalik namin sulit ang hirap at pagod.
Kasa-kasama ko ang nanay ko sa mga panahon na ganito. Dala dala ko ang mga balde o tapayan, habang bitbit naman niya ang mga labahin.

Higit pa akong humanga sa nanay ko kapag may mga unos sa buhay na dumating. Dito niya kasi pinapakita kung gano siya katatag at katibay upang itaguyod ang pamilya namin. Kuwento pa niya, nung bata pa sila, napakahirap kumuha ng tubig, wala pa kasing serbisyo ng tubig noon. At hindi lang minsan nilang gawain ang pumunta sa balon upang mag-igib at magpondo ng tubig, kundi araw araw.

Sa ganung kalakasan ko nakita ang nanay ko, subalit may mas higit siyang lakas na lalong nagpahanga sa akin, at yun ay ang pagpapalaki niya sa amin ng maayos at maka-DIYOS. Minsan ko man makita ang nanay ko na bitbit at nagbabasa ng Bibliya, pero hindi importante sa para sa akin yun, ang mas higit na tinitignan ay kung pano niya naisabuhay ang kanyang mga nababasa.

Ito rin ang naging paksa ng 'Our Daily Bread - Jun 6', kung saan tinatalakay kung pano naisabuhay ni Ezra ang sinasabi sa Bibliya.

Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinancies in Israel

- Ezra 7:10

When we take time to read GOD's Word,
Out heart is filled with pleasure;
So let's relate the truth we've heard -
With others share the treasure.

- Hess

Life's Options, Life's Choices

2008-01-05T17:40:00.000-08:00

Isa lang ang nakatatak sa isip ko sa araw na ito, at yun ay ang text na natanggap ko sa isa sa mga agencies na inaplayan ko abroad.

Tuwang-tuwa ako nung makatanggap ako ng ganung impormasyon, sadyang bumalik ang sigla sa isipan ko, ito na marahil ang sagot sa mga pangarap ko. Matagal tagal na ring hindi ako nakapagpasa ng application ko matapos akong tanggihan ng una kong inapplayan. Dahil ito sa kapansanan ko.

Isa kasi akong 'colorblind' at hindi ang mga kagaya ko ang tinatanggap sa mga kumpanyang gumagawa ng mga masisilan na mga electronic na kagamitan. Hirap akong tanggapin nung umpisa, dahil unang una, mahilig akong gumuhit at magpinta, subalit noon pa man, problema na sa akin ang pag-susuri ng mga kulay. Kaya't nung pinagdaanan ko 'Ishihara Test', dun ko nakumpirma na ang aking kahinaan.

Kayo din pwede nyo nang suriin kung isa kayo sa mga pinalad na maging 'colorblind'. Puro kulay ng bilog ang aking nakikita, pero sa totoo, may nakatagong numerong 6 at 45 sa mga pictures na nilagay ko.

Hindi nga ako't mapakali pagkatapos kong malaman yun, kaya't nagsaliksik ako kung pano nangyari, san nagsimula, ano ang kagalingan at kung ano ang implikasyon nito sa buhay ko.

Kahit colorblind ako, hindi ibig sabihin wala ng kulay ang mundo ko at yun marahil ang kapalaran ko. Buhay na buhay at puno pa rin ng kulay ang mundo ko. Bisitahin ninyo ito http://www.toledo-bend.com/colorblind/aboutCB.html upang higit na maunawaan ang pagiging colorblind ng isang tao. Sa aking pagsaliksik ko rin nalaman na 3 sa 10 ka-empleyado kong lalake ay kapwa ko colorblind...hindi ako nag-iisa, kampante na ako dun.

Sa bago kong inapplayan, hindi linya ng paggawa ng electronic devices ang magiging trabaho, kundi sa opisina, kaya't hindi magiging balakid ang kapansanan ko.

Bago pa man ako pumunta ng orientation ng agency, nagdadalawang isip ako kung itutuloy ko ang applikasyon ko, may kaba akong baka hindi na naman ako matanggap at masaktan lang ako. Subalit nanaig ang pagpupursige sa isip at puso ko, ito ang options ko, may choice ako at pinili kong ipagtulukan ang sarili ko upang maabot ang matagal ko ng pinangarap.

Ikinuwento ng 'Our Daily Bread - Jan 5' ang options natin sa buhay. Na higit nating alamin ang mga choices at options na binigay sa atin, isa yun sa mga biyayang nakakaligtaan nating ipagpasalamat sa araw araw. Sa pinakasimpleng Oo o Hinde, ang kalayaan mo ang siyang natutupad. Kung pipili tayo ng buhay ; (a) walang sakit, walang kalungkutan, walang problema (b) puno ng sakit, puno ng kalungkutan at puno ng problema - siguradong (a) ang pipiliin ng lahat. Sino ba naman ang ayaw ng problema?

Pero kung susuriin, si Jesus namatay sa cross para ibigay sa atin ang ganitong oputunidad. Kung magbabalik loob lang tayo sa Kanya, ipaubaya ang buhay natin, at magtiwala sa Kanya, mas higit na buhay ang magiging option natin - buhay na walang hanggan na kasama ang Panginoon.

Marahil sa lahat ng 'options' na binigay sa atin, isa lang ang gustong iparating ng Diyos, sa piliin siya higit sa lahat.

'Being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes.'

- Luke 16:23

Jedsus is calling, "Today you must choose!"
If you delay, you will surely lose;
Listening now, you can hear the Lord's voice,
Take His salvation - make heaven your choice!

- Hess

Freedom Fighters

2008-01-04T17:11:00.000-08:00

Thank GOD its Friday! - ito na lang ang laging binabanggit namin ng mga kasamahan ko sa bawat pagdating ng Biyernes. Marahil dahil ito ang last day of the week kung saan ibubuhos namin ang aming natitirang lakas sa trabaho at ihanda ang sarili para sa bakasyon, sa dalawang araw na pahinga.

Hindi ko na lubos namalayan ang oras sa araw na ito, dulot na rin marahil sa dami ng trabahong kelangang tapusin o gawin bago magtapos ang araw. Pero kahit na gaano ka-busy ang karamihan sa amin, hindi kelanman nawala o maiwasan ang tuksuhan at biruan sa mga empleyado na siya lalong nagpatibay ng samahan sa loob ng departamento. Marahil ganun din ang nangyayari sa ibang kumpanya, ika nga may sari-sariling diskarte ang mga tao para libangin ang sarili nila habang nasa trabaho, iwas antok nga naman. Ngunit d ko maiwasan mapagmasdan ang mga katrabaho ko, lalong lalo na ang mga taong binigyan ng designated na trabaho upang humawak ng maliliit na grupo para sa isang proyekto.

Alam na natin na ang mga bisor ay itinakda upang pangunahan ang gawain ng isang departamento, kapangyarihan kung maituturing pero kung susuriin, pawang boses lang naman ang naging instrumento ng kanilang kalakasan.

'Influence' ang tawag diyan. At marahil sa lahat ng bagay, lugar o tao, kelangan may nangunguna, na makapangyarihan at may impluwensya. Ito rin ang magbibigay ayus o kaguluhan sa mga bagay bagay na hawak ng taong nasa kapangyarihan. Iyun din ang pilit kong itinatanim sa isip ko. Marahil kung higit ko nang matutunan ang pamamaraan na iyun, hindi malayong nasa tugatog na rin ako ng aking career.

Ganun pa man, higit sa kapangyarihan upang humawak ng grupo ng tao ang naiisip ko. Hindi ako naging ganun ka-agresibo ngunit naiisip ko rin kung pano mang-impluwensya sa magandang paraan. Makapangyarihan daw ang salita, ang boses na kung ano ang nilalaman ng isip ay siya nitong inilalabas ng bibig, at sa pananalig na kung ano ang sasabihin mo ay mangyayari, may mga oras na talagang nangyayari ito.

Ang pamilya, mga kaibigan, organisyan o sekta na ating kinabibilangan ay may malaking bahagi ng impluwensya sa ating buhay. Aminin man natin o hindi, nakakapag-contribute sila sa kabuuan natin. Subalit, nasa atin pa rin ang pagdedesisyon sa anong tama o mali para atin, 'freedom' ika nga at yun ang dapat nating pakaka-tandaan.

Ito rin ang nabasa ko sa aking araw-araw na pag-rereflect. 'Our Daily Bread Copyright 2006 - Jun 4' ay tungkol sa impluwensya na nakakapagpabago ng pagisip, pamaraan at pamumuhay. Subalit dapat din nating suriin ang impluwensyang nakapalibot sa atin, at higit nating pahalagahan ang mga bagay na makakapagdulot ng dagdag na karunungan at anumang mabuti para sa atin at sa pangkalahatan.

Higit pa dun, wag nating kalimutan na iisa lang ang dapat na manguna at makapag-impluwensya sa atin, sa paraan ng pananalig, at yun ay ang Dakilang DIYOS.

'Let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.'

- James 1:6

We cannot live our lives alone,
For other lives we touch
Are either strengthened by our own
Or weakened just as much

- Anon

Crossroads

2008-01-03T02:49:00.000-08:00

Balik trabaho na naman at sa araw na ito, kelangan kong pumasok para ayusin ang mga naka-pending trabaho.

Pilit ko mang inihahanda ang sarili ko para makapag-concentrate sa trabaho, subalit ang unti-unting pagkasawa sa dati ko nang ginagawa ang nakakapagpahina sa akin. Kelangan ko ng diversion, kelangan may bago. Pero kahit anong pilit ko mang gawin ganun ang uri ng trabahong pinasok ko at kelangan kong panindigan ang responsibilidad ko sa opisina.

Para bagang ang isip ko'y nasa bakasyon pa rin. Gusto kong puntahan ang mga lugar na hindi ko pa naabot, mga lugar na mga panaginip ko lang nakikita...Ito ang buhay sa isip ko, ang dumako sa mga lugar na hindi abot ng realidad, walang iniisip na trabaho, walang problema at puro pahinga...sarap siguro kapag ganun.

Hmmm...kelangan ko na atang bumalik sa realidad ng buhay.

Sabihin niyo man o hindi, marami sa ating mga Pinoy ang mahilig magpantasya habang nasa trabaho, kung hindi man ang tumaas ang pasahod, magkaroon ng magagarang kotse o mala-mansion na bahay. Ika nga mangarap ka na lang, lakihan mo na, dahil sa pangarap nagsisimula ang mga ambisyon. At sa ambisyon nagpupursige ang tao para mabuhay, upang makamit ang mga ito.

Sa pagmuni-muni ko sa trabaho, dito ko nakilala ng lubos ang isa sa ka-opisina ko. Dito ako nagkaroon ng pangarap upang mas lalong pagbutihin ang buhay. Hindi naman sa ikinukumpara ko ang buhay ko sa buhay ng ka-opisina ko, pero mas higit na matatag at mas malakas ang loob ang niya sa pagtugon sa buhay.

Isang separada ang ka-opisina ko, ang tatlong an babatang anak niya at isang kasambahay na lang ang kasa-kasama niya sa buhay. Ito'y matapos na umamin ang asawa niya na meron itong ka-relasyon. Sa kwento niya, hindi ko nabakas ang pagkamuhi niya sa kanyang asawa, kundi higit niya itong inunawa.

Siguro nga iba ang nagagawa ng tunay na pag-ibig, na kahit ang pinakapangit na ugali ng isang tao ay kaya mong tanggapin, kahit 'self esteem' mo ang kapalit ay kaya mong tiisin. Sa aming pagkikwentuhan, napag-isip isip ko kung gaano kabigat ang mga pinagdaanan ng ka-opisina ko.

Kahit na mahigit isang taon pa rin ang nakalipas nang ito'y naganap, ngunit hindi kelanman hindi ko nakita sa mga mata nito ang pagkalungkot. Inamin naman niya na sa mga unang buwan ng kanilang paghihiwalay, pakiramdam niya'y gumuho ang kanyang mundo. Naglaho lahat ng mga pangako pati na ang mga pangarap nila sa buhay.

Malungkot man kung iisipin, pero naging matatag siya sa pagsubok na 'to sa buhay niya. Higit niyang naalala ang kanyang mga anak. At ang mga iyon ang nagin inspirasyon niya upang ipagpatuloy ang buhay.

Hindi ko lubos maisip na may mga martyr pa palang natitira sa mundong ito. Kung sa akin marahil nangyari ang ganun, siguro naghamok na ako ng away.

Sa katagalan ng aming pag-uusap, nabatid ko na hindi lang pala ang kanyang mga anak ang naging inspirasyon niya upang mabuhay, higit pa dun ang pinaghuhugutan niya ng lakas...ang DIYOS.

Mas pinili niyang mabuhay ng tapat sa kabila ng lahat. Ayun sa kanya, hindi na mahalaga kung ano ang iisipin ng ibang tao sa kanyang katayuan ngaun, o kung ano man ang naging reaksyon niya sa mga pangyayari, ang mahalaga, nanatili siyang tapat sa kautusan ng sakramento at kabanalan ng kasal.

Isa ring Christian ang ka-opisina ko, at yun marahil ang naglapit sa amin upang mas lalo naming maintindihan ang bawat isa.

Ika nga may kanya kanya tayong landas na tinatahak sa buhay, kung iisa ang pananalig at pagtitiwala natin sa DIYOS, naniniwala akong sa susunod na may crossroad magkakasabay tayo upang alalayan ang bawat isa.

Ganito rin ang nabasa ko sa 'Our Daily Bread - Jan 3 Copyright 2006' na pinamagatang A Three-Step Conversion. Tinatalakay dito ang pagtanggap kay Jesus Christ, ang pagsilbi sa Iglesia tapos ang pagbalik sa mundo upang ibahagi ang magandang balitang ito.

Kung babalikan ang buhay ng ka-opisina ko, matapos niyang tanggapin si Jesus at magsilbi sa simbahan, binalik niya sa mundo, sa asawa niya, ang tunay na pagmamahal na sa mga darating na araw ito'y masuklian ng karapat dapat na pag-ibig.

Once we recieve GOD's saving grace New life in Christ has just begun; Then as we study, serve, and pray, We'll seek that others may be won.

- D. De Ham

Those who gladly recieved his word were baptized...They continued daily in the apostles' doctrine.

- Acts 2:41 - 42

Dark Light

2008-01-02T07:17:00.000-08:00

Medyo pagod at puyat ang pasok ng araw na to. Marahil dahil sa katatapos lang ng pagsaluong ng Bagong Taong at halos lahat ng tao'y ayaw munang pumasok. Yung iba gusto pang e-extend ang bakasyon, sino ba naman ang aayaw ng pahinga, isa na ako dun.

Ngunit sa araw na to, naisipan kong pumasok dahil sa mga naka-pending trabaho, kahit alam kong hindi kakayanin ng katawan ko, nasusunod pa rin ang isip.

Pero sadya atang may mas makapangyarihan pa sa isip ng tao...ito ay ang kapangyarihan ng DIYOS na makakapagpapasya kung ano ang nararapat at tanging karapat dapat para sa kagayang pagod...hindi lamang ang katawan pati na rin ang isipan.

Dahil sa umaga ding ito, inatake ng sakit ng tiyan ang aking kapatid, dulot nito'y matinding pagkahilo at pagsusuka.

Kelangan ko mang pumasok, pero mas higit na mahalaga pa rin sa akin ang buhay. Lalo na't ang kapatid ko ang nangangailangan ng tulong at kalinga. Higit pa dun, inaalala ko ang ang kanyang munting sanggol, ang natatangi at pinakamamahal kong pamangkin. Ang munting anghel namin na rin ang nag-udyok para ako makapagdesisyon na wag nang pumasok.

Sa araw na to, napagtanto ko na higit na nakaka-alam ang DIYOS sa kung anong magiging tama at karapat dapat sa atin. Hindi man ako tuluyan nakapagpahinga, dahil kelangan ko silang bantayan at kalingain, pero nakapagpahinga ang isip ko dahil alam kong magiging nasa ayos na sila kinabukasan.

Hindi ko akalain na ganito rin ang mababasa ko sa 'Our Daily Bread - Jan. 2 Copyright 2006' na may pamagat na Dark Light. Tungkol ito sa liwanag na nakita sa mukha ni Moses pagkatapos niyang makausap ang DIYOS, datapwat ganun na lang ang pagkamangha ng mga tao nang makita nila si Moses, sinabi dito na mas hihigit ang liwanag ng Banal na Espiritu kumpara sa anumang liwanag na nakikita ng mata. Hayaan nyo akong i-quote sa inyo ang nabasa ko...

The law in itself is pure and good
And shows to us which way is right,
But the grace has a glory that excels ,
Flooding our path with Christ's true light.

- Bosch

'Even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels.'

- 2 Corinthians 3:10

Sa anumang bagay, lugar, kundisyon at posisyon na kelangan mong gumawa ng desisyon, d ba't mas makabubuti kung sa nakahihigit na ILAW tayo tumugon. Nawa'y nakatulong to para mailawan ang daan na ating tatahakin sa susunod pang mga araw.

Into the Unknown

2008-01-02T00:36:00.000-08:00

Sa bawat pagsabog ng mga paputok, kasabay nito ang hiyawan at katuwaan ng mga taong nagcecelebrate ng New Year's Eve. Ito kasi ang panahon kung saan pwede na namang gumawa ng New Years Resolution ang mga Pinoy.

Teka, taon taon na lang atang ginagawa ng mga Pinoy yan ah. Hmmm, sana naman kahit papano natutupad ang iba sa mga nilista nila.

Eto rin ang naging sentimento ko sa mga panahong iyun. Medyo malaungkot nga lang sa taong ito dahil kulang kami ng isa sa pamilya. Simula ng umalis ang nanay ko papuntang ibang bansa, naramdaman namin ang pangungulila sa kanya. Halos sa araw araw na dumaan, lalo lang namin siyang kinasasabikan makita. Buti't nagka-usap na kami sa internet paminsan minsan, pero iba pa rin kung harap harapan mong nakakausap ang tanging nanay mo. Salamat sa DIYOS at kahit malayo ang nanay sa amin, ay hindi NIYA ito painababayaan.

Dumating ang ika-1 ng Enero at sumigabong ang mga fireworks, ang mga pagsabog na gawa nito ang nagsilbing mumunting ilaw sa kalawakan. Habang nasa terrace ako ng aming munting bahay, napag-isip isip ko na marahil kung nasa space ako, kay gandang pagmasdan ang nagkikislapang mga ilaw, sa pagkasunod sunod na ayos, mula Asia hangang Amerika.

Tahimik lang ang Bagong Taon sa bahay namin, dalawa lang kaming magkapatid, ang tiyahin ko at ang pamangkin ko ang tanging nag-iingay sa loob ng bahay. Kinapos din kami sa budget kaya kahit iisang triangle ay wala kami. Ok na rin un at nakuntento na kami sa panood na lang. Maigi nga't hindi na namin pino-problema ang maputulan ng daliri o mawalan ng kamay.

Nang huminahon na ang lahat, kasunod nito ang katahimikan na animo'y gugulatin ka kapag hindi ka handa. Eto rin ang naisip ko...

Ano kaya ang magiging kapalarang ng tao sa taong 2008. Ano kaya ang mangyayari sa akin sa taong ito. Hindi ako mapakali at kelangan mag-isip...at mag-isip...pero blurred ang lahat para sa akin.At dito ako takot. Takot akong hindi nalalaman ang mangyayari sa akin, tinuruan akong huwag matakot mamatay dahil wala naman exception dun, pero ang masaktan ka dahil sa hindi mo alam ang siyan ikinakatakot ko.

Kasama sa Blog kong ito ang reflections ko sa araw na ito, at marahil sinagot ng DIYOS ang mga pangamba ko, dahil sa pagliligpit ko, nakita ko ang lumang 'Our Daily Bread Copyright 2006' na binigay ni Pinky, isang matalik kong kaibigan, dito ako nakatugon ng kasagutan.

'Into the Unknown' (January 1). Dito tinalakay kung pano sumunod si Abraham ng walang pag-aalinlangan sa DIYOS, pananalig at paniniwala sa Kanya lang ang kelangan natin upang matahak natin ang daan na hindi natin alam.

'By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called...And he went out, not knowing where he was going.' - Hebrews 11:8

Abraham knew that GOD had called him and had given a promise - and that was enough. He was willing to entrust his future to the Lord.

Sa paniniwala pwede rin tayong maging kagaya ni Abraham. Sa pagharap natin sa pinto ng bagong taon, sana ang panalangin ni David McCasland ng pananalig mapa sa-iyo...

O Lord GOD, who has called us, Your Servants,
To ventures of which we cannot see the ending,
By paths as yet untrodden,
And through perils unknown,
Give us faith to go out with good courage,
Not knowing where we go
But only that Your hand is leading us
And Your love is supporting us. Amen

- David McCasland

Bagong Taon, Bagong Simula, Bagong Pag-asa

2008-01-01T19:14:00.000-08:00

Bago ko isambulat ang lahat na aking naiisip, kung meron man, hayaan nyo muna akong batiin kayo ng Manigong Bagong Taon...

Bago ko simulan ang Blog na to, marami rami ding akong naiisip para ito'y mabuo. Una na dun ay ang matutunan kong maisaayos muli ang baluktot kong buhay. Hindi ko naman hangad ang maging perpekto dahil kelanman hindi ako magiging ganun, at sa katotohanan, wala naman talagang taong perpekto, tanging ang DIYOS lang natin ang nag-iisang perpekto na hindi kayang lampasan o ang kanyang kapangyarihan na tumbasan nino man.

Sa paraang ito, mailalahad ko ang aking mga pinagdadaanan sa taong ito. Maitama ang dapat iwasto, mapag-isipan ang mga bagay bagay nang sa gayun magkaroon ng kahulugan itong maikling buhay na binigay sa akin.

Hmmm, medyo huli na nga kung iisipin, dahil dapat noon ko pa ito ginawa, pero naniniwala pa rin akong, habang may buhay, may pag-asang naka-abang upang ako'y muling i-ahon at tulungang pagtagumpayan ang buhay.

Kung bakit ko ito ginagawa, ay para na rin mairecord ang lahat ng aking maiisip sa pang-araw araw. Sabihin na nating ito ang magiging 'diary' ko sa buong taon. Marahil ang gagawin kong to ay hindi lang records ng mga naganap sa aking buhay, kundi pati na rin ang bugso ng aking damdamin, nang sa gayun ay mapag-tuunan ko ng pansin ang mga bagay bagay sa buhay.

Isa rin sa mga rason kung bakit ko to gagawin ay ang makatulong sa paglaganap ng 'advertisement' na makakatulong sa paglago at pag-unlad ng buhay ng tao. Sa pamamagitan nito, sana makatulong din ako sa mga taong nangangailangan, hindi lang pinansyal, kundi pati na rin sa moral na suporta.

At higit sa lahat, ginawa ko to, dahil lubos akong nagpapasalamat sa ating DIYOS sa bagong buhay na binigay niya sa akin. Nawa'y sa pamamaraan kong ito, napupuri ko ang kadakilaan niya. Higit lalo sana akong mapalapit sa kanya, sa pamamagitan ng Iglesya, Kapanalig, mga Kaibigan at Pamilya.

Salamat sa pagtangkilik ninyo sa Blog ko...Samahan po ninyo ako sa aking Araw Araw na Paglalakbay sa Buhay...Ito po ang Aking Diwa...Ito po ang Diwa ng Pinoy...