bare-naked...

i stand!

2012-01-19T00:00:00.001+08:00

january 2012

2012-01-18T21:45:00.000+08:00

CCF Prayer and Fasting Week was an eventful way to start 2012!

Fasting from food, even for just 1 meal, was difficult for me
and honestly, i barely made it through...
dinner fast for 4 out of 6 nights, yay!!!

But prayer...

Wow!!! Prayer was soooo good!

HE did say in Jeremiah 29,
" 12 Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 When you look for me, you will find me. When you wholeheartedly seek me,
14 I will let you find me, declares the Lord".

it was so awesome to talk with the Prince of Peace!

the past weeks of restlessness simply faded in the background of HIS all-encompassing calm that pervaded my being in soothing stillness...

!! two rainbows !!

2011-12-31T00:00:00.000+08:00

what do you do when you literally feel the pain gnawing at you?

i did double, triple flips in my bed...
punching the pillows, kicking out the pain?!!

i cried, i went to work and had fun with my team (good).

i cried, i gobbled junk food (bad).

i cried, i snuggled in mama's bed and laughed with my family (good).

i cried, i sent drama emails and sms (bad).

i cried, i talked to my God (the best!).

i was near doubt but HE kept reminding me of HIS promise day to me in April of 2006.

The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost
to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts,
the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts.
It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.
Joel 2:25 NLT

And as if to seal HIS assurance with kisses to my cheeks,
my sweet God let me see 2 rainbows this week.

He sees me/ hears me,
He cares for me/ God is not a man that HE would not keep HIS promise!
:-)

:-(

2011-12-17T22:47:00.001+08:00

i should be fine when you're out of reach

that's an assurance that everything's good with your life.

but why am i crushed?!!!

steady.

2011-10-21T23:55:00.001+08:00

if not for you, Jesus

i have lost all my hopes

lonely nights make me...
grope for a hand.

you.

you keep me steady tonight.

lonely

BUT

grounded.

and faithful.

NOYP!

2011-09-06T20:34:00.000+08:00

tnx!

2011-09-05T23:57:00.001+08:00

salamat po, my Lordyou always amaze me.you do things i do not really ask for, or even think about. you're so much a father to me... :-)

love God, love others

2011-07-30T23:14:00.004+08:00

2nd day of GLC class at CCF Naga.
S = 1st out of the 8-letter acrostic of CCF's Core Values, SERVANTS.

Sacrificial love for God and others

i turn to my friend Jigs and shared that this is an area i've been struggling with the past weeks.

loving God is not a problem but loving others... i feel is draining me... sometimes.

and the "others" is not even a stranger but a person i adore.
this "testing" opened my senses to the truth that i'm as selfish as can be... happy when i'm satisfied but sulking when i don't get the response i crave for.
i consider myself as "unselfish" by my standards but God is making me see myself as normally selfish looking at HIS perfection.

my inner voice cries out, "if i have a hard time loving others i surely like/love, how on earth do i love difficult people or those i don't really care for?"

Help me, Jesus! in my weakness, you are my strength!

Matthew 22:36-40
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
36"Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?"

37Jesus answered:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. 38This is the first and most important commandment. 39The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, "Love others as much as you love yourself." 40All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets [a] are based on these two commandments.

an unborn child in a virtual existence

2011-06-19T23:11:00.012+08:00

i'm not sure i want to be out there.

talks are ripe, end times is just a bend away
a first hand experience of tribulation is quite scary, you know.

my supposed to be nanay ain't scared
she welcomes the thought of a pre-trib rapture, that's why.
with a strong pleading though... that her loved ones follow the Truth.
she's smart... best of all, she's saved :-)

if the Big Boss gives me to her to nourish, i bet she'll take me in.
not that she likes children a lot,
but because she believes in what she just sang in the shower...

"Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise.
When the darkness closes in, Lord,
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Blessed be Your name.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Blessed be Your glorious name.

You give and take away.
You give and take away.
My heart will choose to say,
Lord, Blessed be your name..."

and... checkin' out my supposed to be tatay,
i like the eyes, the nose, the lips, the complexion...
nanay likes his smooth thighs, strong hands and strong teeth (?)
she giggles and says the teeth takes care of its own, works out on its own
hahaha, sounds funny even if i don't understand the hows and the whys...

i like it that he's in the same level of smartness as nanay.
i heard them talk about Jesus and the Bible recently.
his questions and opinions are valid for someone who's searching...
her answers are real, but i sense she is too affected and overcome with emotions.
aahhh women... i think i'm somewhat lucky that i'm a man.

it's almost 12 midnight and Father's Day is closing...
i almost forgot why i wanted to speak up... well, it's about tatay.

i may be "unborn" but "if" i get to see the world, i'm excited to be with him.

nanay glows when she thinks of him.
not that he's perfect. far from it.
she was pained in the past and i guess it throbs once in a while.

but she thanks him for pointing her to the faith.

ironic that she credits him as part of the "why",
the "how" she came to the saving grace.

whew! she is so grateful to the Big Boss for the love and peace
she has in her transformed heart.

and the love overflowing is uncontrollable.
how she loves people in her midst is only by grace.

how she loves tatay is so special...
no more ifs, no more buts, no conditions
only sheer delight.

if a woman like nanay adores him, he must be really, over-the-top special.
and if i can just pop in, i surely would come up to him,
hug him tight and kiss him
"tatay, you sure is a beautiful gift, you have a wonderful purpose, you are loved!"

hillsong united aftermath concert in manila june 2, 2011

2011-06-08T20:08:00.004+08:00

*** photo taken from Hillsong United's Facebook page

** YAY... i can see our seats!!! :-)

the crowd was crazy.

as soon as the cool Aussie guys stepped on the stage, it was hysteria!

it was an awesome night of music and i was so blessed...

3 Js in 1 night.

i was praising Jesus through the songs...

Joel houston was a nice sight on stage...

and papa Junrie was beside me, too!

but then again,

it was all about Jesus, Jesus, JESUS!!! :-)

call center life

2011-04-29T00:22:00.003+08:00

it's 12 midnight and i just got off the shuttle bus from sgs.
i haven't been to the office... at night... for so long now.

yes, i work at a bpo, a call center as how most people call it
but since i moved to a back-office account,
i became a "normal" person.
a day-shifter.
literally, "anak ng Diyos" :-)

on my way to the office at around 7pm for a workshop,
i went to the pick-up point at the plaza.
i lined up at the front, not knowing which is the starting line
and the guard motioned to me where the tail end was at.

i can imagine my workmates, led by Manette, jeering "O'rayt... newbie???
dai tuod mag linya an pang-aga wahahaa"

inside the bus, i felt a bit odd.
the people around me were either yawning, dazed,
or keeping their eyes tightly closed running after
the sweet word that is, "sleep".

i was looking at the road ahead and can't help praising my God
for His blessing of work for my shuttle bus-mates
and His special favor of an undeserved daytime work hours for me.

i am one grateful, happy to be home at night creature! :-)

a song to keep your eyes hydrated :-)

2011-04-11T22:37:00.006+08:00

I am healed of past hurts.

I can now listen to sad songs and actually enjoy the melody/lyrics even as I get flashes of not so pleasant memories.

Thank you, Jesus for your love that covers over the multitude of my sins and my pain!

and speaking of sad songs, I like "the heart of the matter" by india arie. (original version by don henley)

The Heart of The Matter

I got the call today, I didn't wanna hear
But I knew that it would come
An old true friend of ours was talkin' on the phone
She said you found someone
And I thought of all the bad luck,
And all the struggles we went through
How I lost me and you lost you
What are these voices outside love's open door
Make us throw off our contentment
And beg for something more?

I've been learning to live without you now
But I miss you sometimes
The more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought I knew, I'm learning them again
I've been tryin' to get down to the Heart of the Matter
But my will gets weak
And my thoughts seem to scatter
But I think it's about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you don't love me anymore

These times are so uncertain
There's a yearning undefined
And people filled with rage
We all need a little tenderness
How can love survive in such a graceless age
And the trust and self-assurance that lead to happiness
They're the very things we kill, I guess
Pride and competition cannot fill these empty arms
And the work they put between us,
You know it doesn't keep us warm

I've been trying to live without you now
But I miss you, baby
The more I know, the less I understand
And all the things I thought I figured out, I have to learn again
I've been tryin' to get down to the Heart of the Matter
But my will gets weak
And my heart is so shattered
But I think it's about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you don't love me anymore

All the people in your life who've come and gone
They let you down, you know they hurt your pride
Better put it all behind you; cause life goes on
You keep carrin' that anger, it'll eat you up inside

I wanna be happily everafter
And my heart is so shattered
But I know it's about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you don't love me anymore

I've been tryin' to get down to the Heart of the Matter
Because the flesh will get weak
And the ashes will scatter
So I'm thinkin' about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if you don't love me anymore
Even if you don't love me anymore

i can love.

2011-03-08T22:43:00.003+08:00

loving others outside my family is a struggle,
loving strangers and my perceived enemies is impossible,
by my own strength.

but God supplies the flow of loving thoughts,
even prayers, for these people.
it doesn't happen everyday,
or as much as i will it
but it does happen

I CAN LOVE.
BECAUSE HE LOVED ME FIRST!

700 years before Jesus came,
Isaiah the prophet wrote of God's awesome love for me:

it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.

he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.

He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.

saying you believe in Jesus doesn't make you a Christian...

2011-02-27T13:34:00.002+08:00

Christianity is properly defined by certain doctrines that are revealed in the Bible.
It is not defined by simply saying that as long as you believe in Jesus, you're a Christian.

Mormons believe in Jesus, but their Jesus is a brother of the devil in the pre-existence.
The Jesus of the Jehovah's Witnesses is Michael the Archangel.
So, just saying you believe in Jesus doesn't make you a Christian.

This is why the Bible tells us who Jesus really is, God in flesh, creator of the universe.
Likewise, there are essential doctrines, and if any of those essential doctrines are violated,
then a church would only appear to be Christian but not really be Christian.

What are those doctrines?
The Bible tells us. Let's take a look.

There is only one God and you are to serve no other gods (Exodus 20:3; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8)
Jesus is both God and man (John 1:1,14; 8:24; Col. 2:9; 1 John 4:1-4)

Jesus rose from the dead physically (John 2:19-21; 1 Cor. 15:14).

Salvation is by grace through faith (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 3:1-2; 5:1-4).

The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus according to the scriptures (1 Cor. 15:1-4;Gal. 1:8-9).

God is a Trinity (Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14)

Jesus was born of the virgin Mary (Matt. 1:25)

*** taken from Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry http://carm.org/

the only one-song that "revived" me :-)

2011-02-20T00:05:00.000+08:00

started with me saying "i like that" as the DE boys played the music,
googled the lyrics,
sang and swayed...
and officemates noticed.

after some thought, it seems like they have a reason to look at me and smile...
after all, it must really have been the first time they saw me singing happily to a ... "love song" right??
... however upbeat the groove is!

nyahaaaaaa!!!

and neslaine thinks i'm in love...
and chris believes her...

yay!!!

so i went home and found that the original version was sitting inside the music folder of the laptop...
a lionel richie cover with genius david foster as the composer.

played the music repeatedly while i surfed the net,
posted the lyrics as my status in ym and fb,
even downloaded the big mountain version, the one i heard that started this happy "addiction".

loaded the 2 versions to my phone, pulled out the forgotten earphones,
played the song on and on...

what's with the song? you see, it's just like any other song...

what's with me then???

thank you, Bob Steinkamp!

2011-01-09T01:35:00.011+08:00

photo taken from: http://rejoiceministries.org/

i shed tears for Bob, a man i never met up close
but has impacted my life in such a caring and personal way.

Bob and Charlyne Steinkamp, through their ministry,
kept me company
in a walk that i still tread,
on a road that most people will not wander onto.

strangers as they are,
this couple comforted me countless times
in a way that only they knew how.

Bob: thank you for a wonderful testimony!
"WE" will meet you in heaven someday to bask in Jesus' glory!

Charlyne: thank you for having shared so much of your life to us,
and i know you will continue to do so even without Bob's physical presence.

you are loved!!!

special blessings in the year that was 2010

2011-01-08T01:11:00.007+08:00

mama (turned 78, january 1) is healthy in body and mind,
regular san mig light and peanuts keep her happy and the people around her sane ahihihi :-)
her dear sister (aged 85,keeps busy teaching neighborhood kids as a love gift)is also sharp in mind and body... great genes!

brothers, sisters,
nephews, nieces,
babies in the house
are all healthy in body and mind.

i am healthy (need to lose weight, though),
wealthy ( definitely not starving ha! )
and wise ( since birth :-)

work is good, friends at work are even better!

2010 is such a short breeze when joy, love and peace is shared.

my 2011 prayer for myself, family and loved ones
is the special blessing of physical/emotional/mental health
and the best gift of knowing Jesus, loving Jesus!

HE will!

2011-01-05T22:51:00.001+08:00

" I don't know what's happening on the other side of the mountain

but God can and will do ANYTHING for those who believe.

Keep pressing; He hears the cries of your heart."

-- thanks for lifting my hopes up with your statement, stander from CA! :-)

i'm a sour grape!

2010-12-29T22:30:00.002+08:00

can somebody really change "too much"
... leave their old rusty life
and bask in the exciting lifestyle of the middle class richies and lil bitsy famous?

people don't really matter that much to them.
it's plainly the new, cultured air they breathe that does.

mind attack

2010-11-22T20:26:00.002+08:00

had a bad case of it last night.
it was awful to be asleep and stressed at the same time!

i thank God that HE has made me well...
and aware that spiritual warfare is real.

help me to overcome, Lord!

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (GOD’S WORD Translation)

3Of course we are human, but we don’t fight like humans. 4The weapons we use in our fight are not made by humans. Rather, they are powerful weapons from God. With them we destroy people’s defenses, that is, their arguments.

papa is still in our hearts, he's 87!!!

2010-09-30T23:59:00.000+08:00

had a cozy family dinner at home to remember Papa's birthday.
nothing fancy, just a casual get together, no dramas :-)

i guess we just need the assurance that in the 10 years that we are without the man of the house looking us over,
he's still a major reason that we stick together.

in good times,
in bad times,
at all times!

we have you tucked inside our hearts, we love you, Pa!

only JESUS!

2010-09-18T18:43:00.004+08:00

the procession of the image of the Virgen de Penafrancia has just ended with cheers and fireworks.
watching the joyous celebration live on television makes me feel sad.

and think...
that...

if only the throng of people who were there would truly recognize their need for God.

if only they would look into the face of Jesus...

just Jesus.

they will see no one else.

thank you!

2010-09-04T22:57:00.002+08:00

i give you praise, Father God for the blessings you poured out on me and my friends in the workplace today.

salamat po!!!

Our LORD and our God,

victory doesn't come

from the east or the west

or from the desert.

You are the one who judges.

You can take away power

and give it to others.

Psalm 75:6-7 (Contemporary English Version)

wow, quick response!

2010-08-15T23:10:00.002+08:00

been thinkin about prayer lately.
honestly, long prayers is not one of my strengths.
and i've long wanted to kind of, "organize" my prayer life,
to make more time for it and develop a serious prayer habit.

last night, i was having these thoughts and shot a quick prayer request to Him in the process.

and whoa!

the night did not end without a concrete answer, and he made the move so sweetly that i'm totally floored!

thank you, Lord! you made me smile, and grin and wink at myself hahaha

so off i should go, to pray and pray until i can really say that i am able to pray without ceasing!

YOU're AWEsome, LORD!

2010-07-29T23:09:00.006+08:00

i'm overwhelmed with YOUR display of love and power in my life.

your timing fits so right,
on my birthday and onwards,
my blessings overflow!

who else but YOU can know my thoughts?

YOU who knit me together in Mama's womb.

i can never understand why YOU love me with so much depth
to answer my questions and doubts with perfect clarity.

thank you for the show of clouds and rainbows...

teach me to walk in faith and patiently wait for your promises!

birthday rains...

2010-07-28T00:20:00.003+08:00

it always rains on the 28th of july.

the soft sound of the rainfall outside my bedroom window

is like a sweet lullabye.

happy birthday to me!

thank you, Jesus!

you're my shield!

rain or shine,

you hold me close.

a rainbow means hope

2010-07-26T22:03:00.004+08:00

a rainbow flashed a wide grin at me as soon as i got out of the gym this afternoon.
ahhh, there's hope for me!
in the simplest worry of excess pounds,
to the complex fear of relationships.

Matthew Henry wrote,
"The rainbow is the reflection of the beams of the sun, which intimates that all the glory and significancy of the seals of the covenant are derived from Christ the Sun of righteousness…
As God looks upon the bow, that he may remember the covenant, so should we, that we also may be ever mindful of the covenant, with faith and thankfulness."

i stand

2010-06-13T00:24:00.002+08:00

there's no turning back,
no quitting.

i will not be ashamed
even if people may think i'm nuts.

yes, i'm a stander!

plan, prepare, PRAY!

2010-05-03T22:16:00.001+08:00

yesterday, i read nehemiah 2:1-10 where he had this burden of rebuilding the walls of jerusalem.
he dared ask the help of king artaxerxes who looked to him with favor.

today, i read nehemiah 2:11-20 where he pushed with determination the great task of doing the work.

today i shared with a trusted friend my desire of restoring a broken relationship and asked her to partner with me in prayer.

tonight, i again came across the same verses and i thank the Lord for speaking to me.

from scripture union's devotional:
nehemiah's focus was on God and he therefore never wavered at the task on hand.

from chuck swindoll:
We then must map out a plan we'll follow, just like Nehemiah did when he took a walk around the city.
That involves preparing our minds and hearts for whatever it will take to reach our goal(s).
And then? With enthusiasm and determination, we get underway . . . one day at a time.
Let's plan well.
Let's prepare diligently.
Let's pray hard.
And then, let's go after it with our whole hearts.

i heart you, Phil Collins

2010-05-01T14:08:00.004+08:00

pic taken from http://joshtheinternsblog.wordpress.com/

i have rediscovered my appreciation for Phil Collins and his music and so i find myself singing and dancing along with him, watching his concerts on dvd... oblivious to the time...

simple pleasures... hay..... life is sooo masaya :-)

i heart you, Caramoan!

2010-04-24T22:00:00.004+08:00

i'm not a big fan of traveling, going places even if it's just within Bicol but i definitely have no regrets spending my weekend with friends at Caramoan Peninsula in Camarines Sur.

we had 1 full day of island hopping and it was sooooo beautiful...

God is really an awesome designer:-)

of all the islands in Caramoan, Manlawi Sand Bar is the best, hands down gorgeous!

para ki skeptic ko :-)

2010-04-11T00:25:00.002+08:00

taken from http://www.godandscience.org

Is Our Copy of the Bible a Reliable Copy of the Original?
by Rich Deem

Introduction

Many skeptics believe that the Bible has been drastically changed over the centuries. In reality, the Bible has been translated into a number of different languages (first Latin, then English and other languages, see History of the Bible). However, the ancient manuscripts (written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek) have been reliably copied over the centuries - with very few alterations.

Old Testament

How do we know the Bible has been kept in tact for over 2,000 years of copying? Before the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, our earliest Hebrew copy of the Old Testament was the Masoretic text, dating around 800 A.D. The Dead Sea Scrolls date to the time of Jesus and were copied by the Qumran community, a Jewish sect living around the Dead Sea. We also have the Septuagint which is a Greek translation of the Old Testament dating in the second century B.C. When we compare these texts which have an 800-1000 years gap between them we are amazed that 95% of the texts are identical with only minor variations and a few discrepancies.

New Testament

There are tens of thousands of manuscripts from the New Testament, in part or in whole, dating from the second century A.D. to the late fifteenth century, when the printing press was invented. These manuscripts have been found in Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Greece, and Italy, making collusion unlikely. The oldest manuscript, the John Rylands manuscript, has been dated to 125 A.D. and was found in Egypt, some distance from where the New Testament was originally composed in Asia Minor. Many early Christian papyri, discovered in 1935, have been dated to 150 A.D., and include the four gospels. The Papyrus Bodmer II, discovered in 1956, has been dated to 200 A.D., and contains 14 chapters and portions of the last seven chapters of the gospel of John. The Chester Beatty biblical papyri, discovered in 1931, has been dated to 200-250 A.D. and contains the Gospels, Acts, Paul's Epistles, and Revelation. The number of manuscripts is extensive compared to other ancient historical writings, such as Caesar's "Gallic Wars" (10 Greek manuscripts, the earliest 950 years after the original), the "Annals" of Tacitus (2 manuscripts, the earliest 950 years after the original), Livy (20 manuscripts, the earliest 350 years after the original), and Plato (7 manuscripts).

Manuscript Evidence for Ancient Writings

Author Written Earliest Copy Time Span # Mss.
Caesar 100-44 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,000 yrs 10
Plato 427-347 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,200 yrs 7
Thucydides 460-400 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,300 yrs 8
Tacitus 100 A.D. 1100 A.D. 1,000 yrs 20
Suetonius 75-160 A.D. 950 A.D. 800 yrs 8
Homer (Iliad) 900 B.C. 400 B.C. 500 yrs 643
New Testament 40-100 A.D. 125 A.D. 25-50 yrs 24,000

Thousands of early Christian writings and lexionaries (first and second century) cite verses from the New Testament. In fact, it is nearly possible to put together the entire New Testament just from early Christian writings. For example, the Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians (dated 95 A.D.) cites verses from the Gospels, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, Titus, Hebrews, and 1 Peter. The letters of Ignatius (dated 115 A.D.) were written to several churches in Asia Minor and cites verses from Matthew, John, Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. These letters indicate that the entire New Testament was written in the first century A.D. In addition, there is internal evidence for a first century date for the writing of the New Testament. The book of Acts ends abruptly with Paul in prison, awaiting trial (Acts 28:30-31 (1)). It is likely that Luke wrote Acts during this time, before Paul finally appeared before Nero. This would be about 62-63 A.D., meaning that Acts and Luke were written within thirty years of ministry and death of Jesus. Another internal evidence is that there is no mention of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Although Matthew, Mark and Luke record Jesus' prophecy that the temple and city would be destroyed within that generation (Matthew 24:1-2 (2),Mark 13:1-2 (3), Luke 21:5-9,20-24,32(4)), no New Testament book refers to this event as having happened. If they had been written after 70 A.D., it is likely that letters written after 70 A.D. would have mentioned the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy. As stated by Nelson Glueck, former president of the Jewish Theological Seminary in the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, and renowned Jewish archaeologist, "In my opinion, every book of the New Testament was written between the forties and eighties of the first century A.D."

Conclusion

With all of the massive manuscript evidence you would think there would be massive discrepancies - just the opposite is true. New Testament manuscripts agree in 99.5% (5) of the text (compared to only 95% for the Iliad). Most of the discrepancies are in spelling and word order. A few words have been changed or added. There are two passages that are disputed but no discrepancy is of any doctrinal significance (i.e., none would alter basic Christian doctrine). Most Bibles include the options as footnotes when there are discrepancies. How could there be such accuracy over a period of 1,400 years of copying? Two reasons: The scribes that did the copying had meticulous methods for checking their copies for errors. 2) The Holy Spirit made sure we would have an accurate copy of God's word so we would not be deceived. The Mormons, theological liberals as well as other cults and false religions such as Islam that claim the Bible has been tampered with are completely proven false by the extensive, historical manuscript evidence.

2010-03-21T01:45:00.002+08:00

i know i have forgiven...

and so a twinge of pain in my unguarded moments bothers me.

thanks to the article Forgiveness: An Ongoing Process by Greg, Gary and Michael Smalley.

i understand... myself :-)

the pain may show up from time to time, even years after the offense, usually when some event sparks the memory. The pain isn't as severe as when it first happened, but it still hurts.

We think this is one way God helps us to keep humble. It's hard to be overconfident about our emotional or spiritual maturity when we remember how things used to be. The great news is in James 1:2-4, where we are encouraged to remember that our pain only makes us better Christians.

thanks, Charlyne!

2010-03-07T21:35:00.002+08:00

found this strip of paper in my old planner...
wise words from Charlyne Steinkamp.
these words kept me cool during those days when i was so mad.

where are you today? go to your Lord and tell Him all about your problems, and then wait for your Lord to speak to you faith, hope and encouragement. You must keep trusting, praising and believing that God's will and way will prevail. Do not allow the enemy to torment you with the what if's of your life. believe in your Lord and know that no plan of His can be thwarted.

no human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the Lord.- Proverbs 21:30

i want US to be with YOU

2010-01-10T00:22:00.004+08:00

i feel so sad that people i love can say they believe in God, in Jesus, without batting an eyelash and with sincere conviction at that,

but...

they live lives contrary to what a CHRISTian (a believer/follower of Jesus)should be living.

nobody's perfect,i know,

we're all human and we're all sinners

as a Christian, i still sin, but in God's loving grace, my heart is slowly being transformed and in this process, i become more conscious of the things that would grieve my Lord.

as my vision clears, i have this deep desire to have my loved ones go through the same experience, the loving relationship that my Lord offers.

but this is a fallen world...

it's such a throbbing pain to want to pull them out of the deep mires but they just wouldn't take YOUR outstretched arms.........................

Merry CHRISTmas!!! let's do good, go go go! :-)

2009-12-24T21:37:00.003+08:00

it's that "time of the year" when you're soooo happy but a bit sad (?!)

the holiday fever is in full blast!

grrr.. the devil really has a way of intruding into my peaceful world,

trying to mess with my thoughts and feelings

but ... who is the Overcomer but Jesus Christ?

in this season of cheer, keep in mind that it's all about Jesus!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

a timely message for me is Joyce Meyer's December 24 devotional... here goes:

December 24

Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.
— Romans 12:21

We overcome evil with good. I believe this truth is one of the most powerful weapons we possess, and the best kept secret. God wants everyone to know it, but Satan keeps us so entrenched in our problems and personal pain that few of us ever understand the dynamics of it. We can get Satan back for the painful things he has brought into our lives by being good to others. We overcome him (evil) by being good to other people. Actually, it is God who overcomes Satan as we allow Him to work His good through us. Satan wants to use our pain to destroy us, but we destroy his plan by doing the opposite of what he expects.

Being good to someone else not only defeats Satan, it also releases joy in our own lives. Historically, people who have been hurt by someone frequently experience depression. I believe this is partially due to the fact that their attention is on their own pain instead of on what they can do to relieve someone else's pain. God has not called us to "in-reach," He has called us to "out-reach." When we reach out to others, God reaches into our souls and heals us. He is the only one who can heal the brokenhearted and make the wounded better than new.

From the book New Day, New You: 365 Devotions for Enjoying Everyday Life by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2007 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

it's raining, it's pouring blessings...

2009-11-20T23:20:00.004+08:00

just when i was looking outside the fence for "something new"

HE nudges me with a sweet, sweet blessing!

a time/chance to work normal hours again is amazing, Lord!

who would ever orchestrate things so gracefully other than YOU?!!

thank you, thank you, thank you!

fireproof

2009-10-09T00:17:00.004+08:00

* photo taken from http://fireproofmymarriage.com/

Fireproof starring Kirk Cameron

ahhhh... so close to home,

the theme cut through my heart.

and so i cried, buckets of tears!!!

i highly recommend this movie to couples, un-couples and what have yous.

sorry state

2009-10-01T00:10:00.003+08:00

i see how it is.

in my eyes, this is so difficult..

should i ignore the signs?

this is gettin' to be tiring.

impatience comin' in.

are you sure, Lord?

aahhhhhh...

how many times do i have to go through unbelief?

seeking for assurance, YOU reassuring me

and still i doubt.

forgive me, Lord.

i should be calling you Lord in anything, for everything, right?!!

86

2009-09-30T23:59:00.000+08:00

a day to remember.

I miss you, Papa ko...

happy 25th anniversary, CCF!

2009-08-30T09:34:00.001+08:00

Happy 25th Anniversary to CCF (Christ's Commission Fellowship) Live Worship Service at the Araneta Coliseum 10am and 3pm!

We are streaming the worship services live this afternoon 3pm at the Ramaida Centrum, Naga City!

Watch it live: http://www.ccf.org.ph/sunday-messages/live-service/

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!

His love...

2009-08-24T20:18:00.003+08:00

it was a lazy Monday afternoon for me earlier. dark clouds loomed then rain fell. just the right mood to lull me to sleep but i managed to watch Sunday messages at the CCF website.

i can't help but share Pastor Peter Tanchi's words...
taken from the message "Love Fervently" May 3, 2009.

here goes:

the secret of love is not your love for God, it is His love for us.
we love because He first loved us. 1 jn 4:19

that is the motivation of the Christian life.

you need to grow in knowing how much Jesus loves you.
and when you know God loves you,
you learn to love him back,
you learn to love people.

that is the secret of holiness,
the secret of obedience,
the secret of loving one another.

you have never surrendered your life to him because you have never understood His love.

if you are not loving him, it's because you don't know His love.

the beginning of the Christian life is knowing God's love.

alinna faye is 1 year old!

2009-08-12T09:08:00.003+08:00

the bundle of joy at home, our granddaughter (my oldest nephew's daughter)
turned 1 year old August 5, 2009 and her parents decided to have her baptized in Roman Catholic rites ;-( 3 days after her 1st birthday.

the little girl is just funny and smart, talkative for her age and easily memorizes things or words we teach her.

she keeps all of us entertained woohoooo!

Cory Aquino, unforgettable...

2009-08-01T23:50:00.002+08:00

(photo from The Associated Press)

Corazon C. Aquino (Jan.25, 1933- Aug.1, 2009)

Nobody comes close to Cory Aquino as the Philippines' most loved and respected President.

She will always be a sweet reminder of what a gracious leader our country once had.

i am 40!

2009-07-28T23:59:00.001+08:00

i'm officially 40 years old!

and so i thank:

my family...

old friends, new friends...

thank you all for loving me just as i am!

and to the ONE who never leaves me,

i owe everything to YOU, LORD!

thank you for my life,

as it comes... new every morning...

The old life is gone: a new life has begun!

can't let go?!!

2009-07-27T03:48:00.005+08:00

i have nothing to say

except that i have kept this blog window open for hours already...

me and "bare-naked" staring at each other, in between me surfing other sites...

several times in the past i decided to close this blog,
for lack of interest to write, and it's just muffled silence for months...

but here i go again...

here, just here...

resurrection/easter sunday 2009

2009-04-12T19:23:00.003+08:00

the week passed by in such a blur...

it was while watching tv patrol news last monday that i was somehow jolted out of my "memory gap" =-) ... hey, why are people crowding bus stations and airports?? holiday?? yep, it's holy week!!!

now, it's sunday... and i feel like i was not, still is not... in the swing of things...

feels like i should have somehow done some intense "day with my lord"...

hai... hai... hai... it's sad that i have work, work, work...

while people around me are in a holiday mood... kakainggit hehehe

well... as what charles stanley said:

What are you doing with the amazing message of God’s love? The commission to “go and make disciples” is meant to be an integral part of every believer’s life. We should share about Jesus while at home, at work, among friends, or pursuing hobbies. In other words, we are to celebrate Easter every day.

HAPPY RESURRECTION SUNDAY TO ALL! GOD LOVES YOU!

wednesday... holy week 2009

2009-04-08T09:44:00.002+08:00

A crisis always reveals what is really inside.
What life does to us depends on what life finds in us.

Anything – any trial or pain – that drives us to God can be counted as a blessing.

Faith sees the storm as a chance for God to work in a new way.
Faith sees the darkness as an opportunity for His light to shine brighter.
Faith sees pain as an opportunity for God to comfort and encourage His precious child.

The next time the storm churns around you, step out of that rocking boat and walk by faith toward your waiting God.
He is alive!

= Mary Southerland

delete, trash, clear!

2009-03-15T03:07:00.005+08:00

what's the use of having more than 1 personal email add?

that, i cannot explain. my best bet is, free emails abound so why not take advantage of the freebies?

aside from work emails, which i find tiresome to keep ;-)

i have 4 email adds.. 2 for yahoo, 2 for gmail.

i have grown attached to these email addresses that all these years, i kept them active, spam and all.

recently, i made it a point to clean the emails from each of the 4 mailboxes and wow, my eyes drooped and i almost got a headache from the task!

it took me weeks... and voila!

3 of the email adds are free from drafts, spam, even inbox!

yep, bye bye email memories...comedy, drama, whatever stuff there was, deleted!

the one closest to me (if there's such a thing) is now spic and span, contacts properly filed, inbox constantly refreshed!

hai, hai, hai... maginhawa sa pakiramdam ang no clutter... sa email man o sa totoong buhay!

choices...

2009-03-08T02:29:00.004+08:00

"Every day offers a chance to choose
anger or understanding,
bitterness or acceptance,
darkness or light.
And the choices we make reveal the stuff we’re made of."
––Robin McGraw

real simple words i stumbled on, real difficult to deliver!
for a long time, bitterness took root in my heart from pain
caused by loved ones and strangers

but then... almost predictably, though in a slow fashion,
the heavy feeling was lifted up and away
i consciously grasped the nooks of my heart,
and it just wasn't there anymore.

the pain may never go away, but the bitterness, the unforgiveness is gone.

only by God's grace!

i heart naga ;-)

2009-02-25T15:38:00.003+08:00

i've come to terms with naga city again... i don't go to the "centro" as much as i want to...(working at night derails any plan to stroll around the main streets)
but those times i get lucky enough to walk, i enjoy the sights... tricycles making a mad dash for passengers, cars and people are a confusing mix in the streets!

naga is a small place... aptly tagged as the heart of bikolandia...

after years of struggle, it's clear that this is home to me...
like a tiny heart, its beat is indispensable to my past, present, future!

am i back??

2009-02-18T15:10:00.003+08:00

goodness! i can't believe it's been over a year that i last posted some nonsense stuff in here mwehehe...

been super low-techie during my break... over break!

yehey.... i'm back! i'm happy, happy, happy... start of nonsensical words to post... again! ;-D

october, october...

2007-10-31T23:59:00.000+08:00

the month of october was...

new house! i'm back in evangelista st. makati city!!! it's a studio unit but quite spacious with its "mini-loft" naks.. feeling rockwell haha, dream on!!!
thanks so much to frankie dear... and of course, to Papa Junrie!!! =)

babyface concert! i didn't realize he's really good until he sang all his signature songs, i was delighted when he dished out his compositions for madonna, toni braxton, whitney houston etc, such a talented guy! and what's more, he looks like my nephew, Aron mwehehehehe =)
thanks to dearest Midge, you said it yourself, "ang ganda ng seats natin, bonggacious!

i miss blogging huhuhuwahhhhhhhhhhh

2007-10-08T11:37:00.000+08:00

i'm so kawawa... no internet access at work???!!!

i miss IHG.... unlimited surfing at work!!!

i miss the patay gutom E-Masters!!!! =)

don moen's july 28 concert at the araneta was...

2007-08-05T17:46:00.000+08:00

(pic taken from donmoen.com)

another assurance that God loves me =)

i consider myself so blessed when Don Moen performed for me on the night of my birthday hehehe

as a self-confessed s-l-o-w learner when it comes to spiritual matters... it's no surprise that it's only after a few days that i'm absorbing the messages God has for me as I turned 38.

my key takes on the concert???.... here...

1. Keep praying cuz God is listening... He never sleeps... He never slumbers!
(see "He Never Sleeps" lyrics below)

2. In the middle of a storm... when we feel the Lord is so far away... just trust Him!
(see "I Will Sing" lyrics below)

3. If you've come to the end of your abilities, you've run out of ideas... God will make a way!

(see "God Will Make A Way" lyrics below)

====

- He Never Sleeps -
Claire Cloninger&Don Moen

When You've prayed every prayer that you know how to pray.
Just remember the Lord will hear and answer is on it's way.
Our God is able. He is mighty. He is faithful.

And He never sleeps He never slumbers.
He never tires of hearing our prayer.
When we are weak He becomes stronger.
So rest in His love and cast all of your cares on Him.

Do you feel that the Lord has forgotten your need.
Just remember that God is always working in ways you cannot see.
Our God is able. He is mighty. He is faithful.

And He never sleeps He never slumbers.
He never tires of hearing our prayer.
When we are weak He becomes stronger.
So rest in His love and cast all of your cares on Him.

I Will Sing

Lord You seem so far away. A million miles or more it feels today.
And though I haven't lost my faith, I must confess right now that it's hard for me to pray.
But I don't know what to say and I don't know where to start.
But as you give the grace with all that's in my heart.

I will sing.
I will praise even in my darkest time through the sorrow and the pain.
I will sing. I will praise.
Lift my hands to honor You because Your word is true. I will sing.

Lord is hard for me to see all the thought and plan You have for me.
But I will put my trust in You. Lord will meet Your guide to set me free.
But I don't know what to say and I don't know where to start.
But as you give the grace with all that's in my heart.

I will sing.
I will praise even in my darkest time through the sorrow and the pain.
I will sing. I will praise.
Lift my hands to honor You because Your word is true. I will sing.

God Will Make A Way

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way....
He will make a way

Oh God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way.....
He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness
He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and earth will fade
But His Word will still remain
And He will do something new today

Oh God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way...
He will make a way

Oh God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way....
He will make a way

With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way....
He will make a way

ganda points 4 me @ soms etc. etc.

2007-07-27T16:49:00.001+08:00

sunday (July 22) was a busy day with CCF friends... we were at Rockwell, then dinner at Som's and coffee at The Fort...

and as the blog title suggests... this piece is a a narcissistic moment... pagbigyan ko naman ang sarili paminsan minsan =)

a staff member at Som's Noodle House ( a nice place with good thai food and frequented by CCF people )

"lagi rin po yun dito... SOBRAng layo naman sa itsura nyo,Ma'am...
ang ganda ganda nyo..."

the comment mattered to me... cuz it didn't come from a friend, but from a total stranger watching from the sidelines.

a meeting with "Her Royal Proudness"

2007-07-27T15:20:00.001+08:00

weird weird weird...

i found her really weird…
in the sense that she’s totally detached from any point that would somehow bring her close to admitting she had wronged me.

Yeah, I know, I have no right to demand that she say sorry to me, I’m not God after all.

But I was looking for a hint of remorse… and there was zilch.

Do I believe everything she said? Of course not! She won’t even budge to admit she was not totally innocent… as if I don’t remember the past, noh??

she was...so full of herself...impeccably proud!

and again... weird! why? 'cuz she's no dummy naman siguro, and not that young naman... to not, as in NOT know that something doesn't seem right... i mean... no amount of justification would do if your conscience tugs at you, right? so sad pero some people may just simply be blinded... and far from being guilt stricken... hardened by the constant lies they make...

how dare you, how could you!

2007-07-27T02:22:00.000+08:00

i want to know.

can a person's heart be as hard as a rock

that he/she is unable to feel a tug, a nudge

and somehow have a nagging intuition

that he/she is willfully causing too much pain

in the heart of another person???

i want to know.

how can you sleep in peace at night

with no remorse creeping into your heart

how do you shrug off the guilt

how can you even hope

that the passage of time would shed the sin

i want to know

what kind of a person are you?

ang kabit, bow! (a jovita-maldita post)

2007-07-27T00:12:00.001+08:00

spent time chatting it up with "catwoman lissie" and we had a blast!

our animated conversation revolved around our views on mistresses (with all the Kris-James talk abounding) and although the two of us do not have the same experience, or played the same role, our minds does meet somewhere along the way.

it's weird that even with the so-called modern times, there's always a stigma attached to the women who allow ( allow cuz it's ultimately their choice) themselves to be a mistress, much worse to be labeled "kabit". certainly, the reason lies in our innate sense of what's wrong or right.

on a personal note, i firmly say that a mistress can always say sorry but the proof of a "real sorry" is showing remorse to God, to the wife and to the families hurt by correcting the mistakes of the past.

(if it's still a continuing affair, wow, good luck... time's ticking against you! why wait until you're a burned out, blow-up mistress? ;-) *pun intended

well... if she cannot find it in her heart to own up to the pain and trouble she maliciously put upon the shoulders of a wife...

i wish she would just stop complicating things and settle on the basics...
the man is married, married, MARRIED!

is there anything more simple than that?

Dating a Married Man-Dr. Phil

2007-07-27T00:01:00.000+08:00

Are you the "other woman?"

If you're involved with a married man, and you're waiting for your turn, it's time to re-evaluate your situation. Dr. Phil offers advice:

It's time to move forward.
If you're putting your life on hold for a married man, he's stolen not only your heart — he's stolen your brain!

No matter how you justify it, you are attacking his family unit.
Even if he is separated from his wife, that is their business and you are a threat to their marriage. You aren't welcome and you don't belong.

You may feel that he's your soul mate, but think again.
A real soul mate would not set you on the sidelines. He wouldn't allow it, let alone entice it.

Keep in mind that you only know what he tells you.
You already know that he's a liar because he's living a lie with his wife and children. How can you be sure whether you're the only "other woman" he has? Entertain the possibility that he is lying to you, and you are being used.

Think of his wife.
Is it fair to her? She's been married to him for however many years, cleaned up after him when he's sick, raised children with him, sacrificed with him, dealt with the "damn dailies," then you come in at the 11th hour and provide a contrast to that that's new and exciting and fun. You are intruding upon her turf. You are a trespasser. It is no different than being a thief in the night. It is no different than breaking into their house and stealing their things.

Even if your married man decided to leave his wife and family for you, that doesn't guarantee success.
Relationships born out of affairs survive less than 5 percent of the time. If he'll do it with you, he'll do it to you. If he's living this deception with you today, how could you ever trust him if you did get into a legitimate relationship with him?

Break off this relationship today.
You'll hurt, you'll feel broken-hearted, but you'll be better off. Take some time to get really clear with yourself about who you are and what you want. The most important relationship you'll ever have in this world is the one you have with yourself. And eventually, you'll fall in love again — with someone who's willing to make you first in his life.

-Dr.Phil-

i cry... again.

2007-07-14T15:20:00.000+08:00

when it gets me down
it moves me to cry my heart out
to my God

i cry
in the stillness of the moment
i cry
in God's watchful eyes

then He breathes for me
when i cannot catch a single breath
then He lulls me to sleep

like a child clinging to her Father
i hold on tightly to His hand
to His promises

that His plans are to prosper me
not to harm me

time will come and
His glory is to be revealed
and i, His daughter
firmly hold on to the truth

that with Him
nothing is impossible

so i cry

and it's gonna be
hard enough
to move the heavens
strong enough
to move my mountains...

ouch, trials!

2007-07-13T16:25:00.000+08:00

who would want to face trials anyway??? i wouldn't dare ask for it, i would gladly shout, "please spare me" everytime i see a hurdle coming my way. but even as i duck and scamper to avoid it, i really cannot... unless i'm not human, nyak! =)

==

nice tagalog version this is:

Hindi lang ito, kundi sa paghihirap ay nagmamalaki rin tayo dahil alam nating ang paghihirap ay nagbubunga ng pagtitiis.
Ang pagtitiis ay nagbubunga ng magandang ugali at ang magandang ugali ay nagbubunga ng pag-asa.
Hindi tayo pinapahiya ng pag-asa sapagkat ang pag-ibig ng Diyos ay ibinuhos sa ating mga puso sa pamamagitan ng Banal na Espiritu na ipinagkaloob sa atin.

Mga Taga-Roma 5:3-5 (Ang Salita ng Diyos)

==

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.
And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Romans 5:3-5 (New Living Translation)

i miss/wab Papa... 7 yrs.and counting =)

2007-07-04T00:00:00.000+08:00

letters to Papa... the 1st was an hour after he passed away.
the 2nd was the night of his funeral.
memories... memories...

Quarter to 2 AM, july 4, 2000

PA…

This is my first real taste of the unexpected. You’re sick, but in my mind, it’s just a passing thing. You’ve weathered difficult times in the past, your failing health is not so bad compared with the hard times you’ve gone through… but now…
You’re gone and I still can’t absorb the reality… you’re dead.

Dead is a word that’s just that… dead… death… farthest thing from my mind… but right this very minute it’s all there is to life… death is staring at me, right through my innermost being.

Pa, I don’t want you dead… your death caught me unexpectedly… I hate repeating the dead word but it’s a way of coming to terms with where you are now.

I just pray to the Lord that He keeps you close to His heart… to make you breathe LIFE forever.

I love you!

11:10 PM, Saturday, July 8, 2000

Pa, this is the first night of grappling with the painful reality I’ll never see you and hold you again in this life… not like the last time I was holding your hands in a strong grip… me reading the Bible, you gasping for breath… just minutes before you died.

Papa ko, nami-miss ta ka na. I don’t know how to go about this intense pain in my heart and mind.

training day

2007-06-23T15:23:00.000+08:00

my batchmates and i capped the end of the 12-day Culture and Communication Training by heading off to Dencio's Grill at Paseo Center Ayala yesterday afternoon.

looking back, i knew i failed miserably on the final assessment but thanks to Nina, she took into consideration my earlier scores. if not, i might have been left crying huhuhuwahhhh =(

on monday, we're starting with the Product Training, the more serious stuff... 4 weeks at that!

i'm looking forward to the challenges ahead. as it is, all of us are simply awed by the fact that we really have a hard time understanding the Australian accent.

i just hope and pray for the best, help us Lord haha =)

i'm gonna work days! yihaaaaa =)

2007-06-03T14:03:00.000+08:00

I feel a lot happier with the thought that I’m starting a new work schedule… as they say, I’m getting my life back after 3 years of graveyard shift. I’m definitely looking forward to my new job, new company… training’s all set for June 7, 6 AM! wow! this was my sked back at PNI and just an hour ahead from my MRT days =)

Oh, I’m a lot excited! And who do I have to thank for?... thanks, Lord!... you rock hehehehe =)

the story of us...

2007-06-03T13:59:00.000+08:00

Stuffed myself with old and new movies Thursday, Friday and Saturday… uhm… cried at every possible tearjerker scene hehehehe, what’s new??? That’s just the way I enjoy movies… laughing and crying like crazy!

So touched with “The Story of Us”, Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer there, struggling with the realities of marriage. I have seen this film with Junrie years back but it hit me with a different tone now.

Well, we were then… and we are now…

Ben: My high was about you… tonight I saw myself through your eyes.
Katie (after a long stretch of words) : I say Chow Fun’s because…
I love you…

I like… bay-WALKING!

2007-06-02T14:02:00.000+08:00

Wonderful time at Roxas Boulevard this morning… woke up at 4:00 AM, took a quick shower, boarded the bus to Metropoint Mall at Pasay (MRT doesn’t run till 5:30)... took the LRT to Pedro Gil, ordered coffee and hash brown at McDo to go… and walked to the Baywalk area.

Breakfast at the bay… I forced myself not to look at the murky waters below the spot I was slumped on… and focused on the far end… where the rowers on the boats gracefully push on, passing the ships peacefully anchored above…

All around me were men and women jogging, walking, talking, dancing (aerobic sessions, huh?)... I texted Joyce to tell her what I’m up to, where I’m at… adding that hunks are actually in this place mwehehehehe =)

The activity in the place was contagious… I had to stand up from my comfortable nook and walk around… and walk I did… all the way to the Harbour Square and to the CCP Complex, where the action was more alive… joggers, walkers, cyclists, various groups and varsity guys doing their exercise thing…

Whew… I sooo… have to go back on Saturday… with proper attire this time… sneakers and sweat pants so I can blend in… unnoticed… and if my guts can sustain me… dance my way around, too HA… HA!!! =)

ciao, IHG!

2007-05-30T00:15:00.000+08:00

my last working day (errr... night) at the office...

sad... i'm gonna miss my friends here... in the past days, i keep dismissing comments about me leaving... i don't wanna delve into it much... cuz i'm gonna feel bad... only 2 months short of 3 years at IHG is a long time, enough to form strong bonds of friendship.

i still haven't written a "pamamaalam" to the E-Masters... i can't write it now, words are elusive at this point.

all i can ever think and write about is...

i'm gonna miss my friends here...

i feel a heavy heart =(

a song for worship

2007-05-26T00:04:00.000+08:00

1 I look to the hills!
Where will I find help?

2It will come from the LORD,

who created the heavens

and the earth.

3The LORD is your protector,

and he won't go to sleep

or let you stumble.

4The protector of Israel

doesn't doze

or ever get drowsy.

5The LORD is your protector,

there at your right side

to shade you from the sun.

6You won't be harmed

by the sun during the day

or by the moon [a] at night.

7The LORD will protect you

and keep you safe

from all dangers.

8The LORD will protect you

now and always

wherever you go.

Psalm 121 (Contemporary English Version)

i wab... kapamilya visits!

2007-05-23T23:59:00.000+08:00

summer of 2007 saw the comings and goings of my "kapamilya" from Naga to here in the big city. i had meaningful moments spent with my sister's family (the Felipes) , my brother's family (the Pabileñas)

my most recent kapamilya guest was my sister who gamely attended a special retreat at CCF, without any harrasment from me, huh?!

tally goes:
mama ( absent =(
nonoy and ate angie, aron, aneal, ace, alijah (5 out of 6 present)
matet and jess, jessa, justin, jea (perfect attendance!)
dada (single in status, growing double in size... present!)
papa Junrie ( depends on the mood, last check in date was may 22 mwehehehehe)

well... the only ones i have missed... and misses... Mama and Nonoy... i may be able to hug and kiss when i go home probably 1st week of June or 2nd week of July.

ahhhhh.... the sweet, soothing touch of family gives me such joy.... (baduy!) =)

What Pleases God - Psalm 50

2007-05-17T22:52:00.000+08:00

*** my thoughts:
God doesn't need our sacrifices,our offerings...
what He wants is our thankulness and us, keeping our promises, our vows to Him...
He wants our obedience!

*** and... take note of His warning when we think He lets us get away with our mistakes...
verse 21 When you did all of this,
  I didn't say a word,
   and you thought,
  "God is just like us!"
  But now I will accuse you.

Psalm 50 (Contemporary English Version)

What Pleases God

1From east to west,
   the powerful LORD God
   has been calling together
   everyone on earth.

2God shines brightly from Zion,
   the most beautiful city.

3Our God approaches,
   but not silently;
   a flaming fire comes first,
   and a storm surrounds him.

4God comes to judge his people.
   He shouts to the heavens
   and to the earth,

5"Call my followers together!
   They offered me a sacrifice,
   and we made an agreement."

6The heavens announce,
   "God is the judge,
   and he is always honest."

7My people, I am God!
   Israel, I am your God.
   Listen to my charges
   against you.

8Although you offer sacrifices
   and always bring gifts,

9I won't accept your offerings
   of bulls and goats.

10Every animal in the forest
   belongs to me,
   and so do the cattle
   on a thousand hills.

11I know all the birds
   in the mountains,
   and every wild creature
   is in my care.

12If I were hungry,
   I wouldn't tell you,
   because I own the world
   and everything in it.

13I don't eat the meat of bulls
   or drink the blood of goats.

14I am God Most High!
   The only sacrifice I want
   is for you to be thankful
   and to keep your word.

15Pray to me in time of trouble.
   I will rescue you,
   and you will honor me.

16But to the wicked I say:
   "You don't have the right
   to mention my laws
   or claim
   to keep our agreement!

17You refused correction
   and rejected my commands.

18You made friends
   with every crook you met,
   and you liked people who break
   their wedding vows.

19You talked only about violence
   and told nothing but lies;

20you sat around gossiping,
   ruining the reputation
   of your own relatives."

21When you did all of this,
   I didn't say a word,
   and you thought,
   "God is just like us!"
   But now I will accuse you.

22You have ignored me!
   So pay close attention
   or I will tear you apart,
   and no one can help you.

23The sacrifice that honors me
   is a thankful heart.
   Obey me, [a] and I, your God,
   will show my power to save.

may 14 elections

2007-05-14T22:40:00.000+08:00

i did not go home to Naga to vote ;-(

but it seems i cast my vote anyways ;-)

my nephew aron texted me to say he's not interested in the process but if i want to, he can vote for my bets HA! HA!!!

so.... i gave him my list...

noynoy aquino, joker arroyo, kiko pangilinan, manny villar, ralph recto and miguel zubiri.

that's all the senatoriables that appeal to my senses.

i hope they all make it!

happy Mother's day!

2007-05-13T00:00:00.000+08:00

(image taken from crosswalk.com)

to all mothers... esp. to my Mama Thelly ;-)

have a blessed Mother's day!

and to me?... Lord, ako man daw? hehehe...

as a preview, i was given a mom's day flower sa office...

well, well, well...

nancy drew the movie

2007-05-10T00:25:00.001+08:00

(image taken from nancydrewmovie.warnerbros.com)

as my dear, young friends are all agog over spiderman 3 and impatiently waiting for pirates of the caribbean....

i'm secretly (hA!) waiting for the nancy drew movie hahahahahaaaaaaa

what can i do??? i'm 37! ... i grew up with nancy drew books ... for goodness' sake!

and besides... my love for reading i credit to the nancy drew series.

if not for the interest i had in her adventures, i would not have the

"you have a way with words" comment on my essays...

scribbled by a well-respected english prof back in

"Ar-neyow" de Naga ( another round of HA! HA! ) ;-)

i like... philippine tatler

2007-05-09T00:00:00.000+08:00

(image taken from www.philtatler.com)

yes, the magazine! i've been a trash magnet for magazines since high school... large boxes of mags filled my room in naga and it was only recently that i disposed of it.

now, i guess i'm back on track with the phil.tatler... i like the articles, a little bit of everything.. fashion, business, travel, lifestyle... i learn from it and i gloss over the pages, really stylish!

ha! joyce would taunt me with the "i knew it" look ;-) she was kidding me about a job at the tatler... i dare not say what her "imaginations" of how i would fare goes ehehehe

long weekends-holidays sa 'Pinas

2007-05-05T03:43:00.000+08:00

** from my 2007 inbox... deleted the 1st 2 holidays cuz' it's past the dates... thanks to the person who made the list ;-p

3. Independence Day Long Weekend.
Take advantage of June 9, Saturday to June 11, Monday (regular holiday in lieu of June
12). No need to take a vacation since this is a 3 day weekend. It starts to rain during
this time, but still a perfect time for the last minute summer getaway.

4. Ninoy Aquino Holiday.
August 21, is a special holiday which falls on a tuesday this year.
So you just need to file a leave on August 20, and you already have a 4 day weekend from August 18,
Saturday to August 21, Tuesday.
It is difficult to fly during this time since this is in the middle of typhoon season.
This is perfect time to start Surfing or White Water Rafting.

5. Halloween Vacation.
Yes, another 4 day weekend without taking a leave. November 1 (Thursday) All Saints' Day is a special holiday and November 2 (Friday) is a Special non-working day (Proc No. 1211). So, take advantage of the Cebu Pacific Crazy Fares during this time from Nov. 1, Thursday to November 4, Sunday. Yahoo!

6. Eidl Feitre or End of Ramadan.
This is usually in November but there is no date yet. Anybody knows when the end of Ramadan is this year?

7. Christmas Season 4 day Holiday .
December 24 (Monday) is declared as a Special non-working day (Proc No. 1211) and December 25 (Tuesday)
Christmas Day is a regular holiday. So similar to last year, we have a 4 day Christmas holiday from December 22, Saturday to
December 25, Tuesday.

8. New Year Holiday .
December 29, Saturday until January 1, Tuesday is another 4 day holiday weekend. It is best that you
just take a leave during the entire last week of December so enjoy an almost 12 day holiday!

tayong mga corrupt... election fever ito! ;-)

2007-04-27T00:15:00.000+08:00

tayong mga ordinaryong mamamayan ng pilipinas often look at our government officials as corrupt men and women...
sadly, most of them are.

no wonder we all feel that our country is doomed, been that way for so long now that most of us leans toward apathy whenever talk comes around to what the future holds.

i definitely agree with spiritual leaders that we need a spiritual revival... strengthening our moral values...

no matter what political reforms are sought, brilliant leaders elected... if we all continue to rot inside, there would be nothing at all.

corruption is a disease of the heart. we are all guilty of this. we may think we are better than others but think again...

do you take a pen, a paper, small stuff from your office to your house? ( ako nag pi print ng kung anik anik sa office... yikes, i'm corrupt!)

do you feel that the allowance given to you on a company sponsored activity is yours for personal use?... do you twist and turn figures for the liquidation papers? ( di na kaya ng powers ko to! yikes... )

but... see? a sin is a sin... stealing 1 peso is the same as stealing 1,000 pesos!
pantay pantay lang kasalanan natin.. mas makapal nga lang yung mas malaking amount ang ninanakaw hehehehe

heinaku... magbago na tayong lahat, please!!!! kawawa naman ang future generations!

reminder lang... vote wisely sa may 11... di ko sure kung uuwi ako sa naga ;-(

may '07 elections coming up!... a funny story ;-)

2007-04-27T00:05:00.000+08:00

***from my 2007 inbox

While walking down the street one day a Philippine senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the man.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven.
Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down,down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises ...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him, "Now it's time to visit heaven."

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around shoulders. "I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The devil smiles at him and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning ......

TODAY, YOU VOTED."*

old job, new job

2007-04-25T23:54:00.000+08:00

should i take a risk and jump ship from IHG to _ _ _ ????!!!

i say risk because...

there's absolutely nothing impressive with the pay and
the job is more difficult than what i do at IHG.

but...
seems like i have a lot to learn from the training... sounds exciting!
and... i get to work mostly dayshift... yahhhhhoooooooooooooo ;-D

aaarrrgggghhhhhhh....... i have until friday only to let them know if i'm interested in a job offer!

*** buti pa si alma, mukhang mabilis nagdesisyon about changing jobs... sigh.... (sabagay kung bossing ko ang boss nya, gudlak hehehe... 1 sigaw lang and i'm outta her sight! ;-)

WAKEBOARD IN CAMSUR!

2007-04-20T22:43:00.000+08:00

To all sporty and not so sporty people...

CAMARINES SUR ROCKS!

WAKEBOARDING IS THE "FUN" THING TO DO IN CAMSUR!

take a peek at... this

*** my nieces had a blast here... i guess i'll just be starstruck if i was with them cuz celebrities are flocking to this place...
thanks to the goodlooking and hardworking Camarines Sur Governor LRay Villafuerte!

pic taken from the CWC website...please see the link above!

grace and truth

2007-04-17T00:03:00.000+08:00

the other week in church, there was a teaching about being full of grace and truth.
what i remember most was Pastor Peter Tanchi's reminder to balance grace and truth
as he told the story of how Jesus dealt with the woman caught in adultery.
the people condemned the woman and wanted to stone her but Jesus said,
“He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Jesus said to the woman, 'Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?'
She said, 'No one, Lord.'
And Jesus said, 'I do not condemn you, either.
BUT Jesus also said... Go. From now on sin no more'”.

*** Jesus forgives whatever sin we have in our life, but He also wants us to change.

i quote from the CCF chronicle...

On Grace:

Too much of grace without truth leads to deception and licentiousness.
People who buy the idea of too much grace with no grain of truth will go
right ahead committing sin without batting an eyelash, with the pretext
that it's quite alright to sin, because God will understand and God has already forgiven them.
Nothing can be farther from the truth.
True grace will never become permissive to the point of licentiousness.

On Truth:

Truth without grace leads to despair and legalism.
Too often, we become critical and judgmental, pointing out people's faults so pointedly
that they end up feeling hopelessly condemned.
So the Bible shows us how to balance 100% grace with 100% truth.

*** i'm so much guilty of unbalanced scales... i tend to go full blast on grace toward people that matter to me, but strong on truth only, for people that i don't care about.

for hurting spouses...

2007-04-12T04:19:00.000+08:00

The disciples thought all hope was gone when Jesus was crucified.
No doubt someone was telling those first Christians to
"get on with your life,"
just as people are telling you to do.

An empty tomb bore testimony that the crucified Jesus was alive!
His empty tomb bears testimony that your dead-appearing marriage
is also alive.

Jesus is alive!
He alone is the One who forgives, forgets,
heals, and restores.
Blessed be His precious name.
May you call out to Him today.
=from charlyne cares=

*** are we like "doubting Thomas?"

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed;
blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."(John 20:28-29)

salvation is for all!

2007-04-10T04:06:00.000+08:00

Jesus died for our sins... please keep in mind that forgiveness is for all of us... every human being is sinful, there is none righteous... we only have to turn our eyes on Jesus and repent... He is always present, He hears our cries for salvation.

*****
if My people who are called by My name put away their pride and pray, and look for My face, and turn from their sinful ways, then I will hear from heaven. I will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Now My eyes will be open. And My ears will hear the prayer that is made in this place.

2 Chronicles 7:14-15 (New Life Version)

happy Resurrection Sunday!

2007-04-08T10:00:00.000+08:00

(image taken from crosswalk.com)

black saturday

2007-04-07T00:34:00.000+08:00

image taken from crosswalk.com

thoughts on a good friday

2007-04-06T22:00:00.000+08:00

"i want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices" from matthew 12:7

this is the verse that struck me as i read the bible today, a Good Friday.

He may want me to stop focusing on what i have given or offered but instead, start showing kindness toward an offender and other people He chooses to put in my path.

and to that, i have to say, "yes, Lord, give me the grace... please" ;-D

salcedo saturday market

2007-04-01T02:15:00.000+08:00

of all the usual breakfast fares we have along ayala ave. and even roxas blvd. on saturday mornings, the saturday weekend market at salcedo village is the most interesting and i truly enjoy it every time.

quite a selection of food fare... my fave tuna belly and lechon tops the list... lechon baboy and baka, thai coffee with condensada, the fresh fruit juice and the vietnamese sapin sapin is a-ok, too... then there's the pasta deli with the french guy and i guess, his filipina wife... the pizza with an equally mestizo guy manning the stall... the korean food with the koreana girl who i think is more fit to sell beauty products than food...the paella, the barbeque, sweets and desserts abound, the assorted ulam carinderia style...

for us ever starving PG Emasters, (our term of endearment is patay gutom hehehe)... the parade of yummylicious food is sooooo tempting and makes us even more hungry we can't wait to zero in on our tummy's choice, sit down and attack!!!

for the "sosi" people in the nearby condos or villages, they stuff on fruits, veggies, fish... aside from having breakfast, of course.

we have this joke that the masa crowd (that's us) invades the sosi turf.. poor them hahaha... and we even get them to serve us when we buy from them... quite nice!

we frequent the place and we're still not crossing it out on our list, i guess... until we can't take the taste of the food there any longer. with plenty of choices, it may still be a long way off...

the place is so comfy.. and celebrity sightings is fun, too! i remember gloria diaz, hindy weber, raya mananquil, susan calo medina... well, most noteworthy for me is my dreamboat back in the cory administration, the uber cute and smart teddy boy locsin!

if you haven't been there, do visit on a saturday, 7 am to 2 pm at the Jaime Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village, Barangay Bel-Air. take a peek/bite at the foodstuff, fresh produce, even plants! it's worth your time!

where am i today?

2007-03-24T02:14:00.000+08:00

You and I may have to walk through many afflictions in our Christian life,

but believers are "shielded by God's power" though faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

In a Christian's life we each may go through sufferings, testings, afflictions and trials,

but our Lord is there to teach us His will and way in our life during that difficult time.

During these afflictions, you will see God's mercy, if you will seek God.

These trials may bring you back to your Lord God

as you may have walked away from Him

or possibly God is allowing you to go through a testing for a season.

Where are you today?

-from charlyne cares-

======

So be truly glad.

There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.

These trials will show that your faith is genuine.

It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.

So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day

when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

-1 Peter 1:6-7 (New Living Translation)

enuf is enuf!

2007-03-22T02:10:00.000+08:00

i say to myself.... STOP!

been in a bitchfest mania since sunday...

and i hate myself when i'm like that ;-(

THANK GOD, i'm back to normal!

so what if i cry?

2007-03-21T02:31:00.000+08:00

i do cry, because i'm in touch with my emotions and i never run away from it.

i'd rather cry and face my problem head on than simply walk away,
leave unresolved issues,
in the hope that time will take care of it.

and so i cry...

because in every tear, there is strength to fight.

my soul is downcast

2007-03-19T23:59:00.000+08:00

nag maldita ako yesterday and i feel bad.

i gave in to my impulse, to my anger, that i hit people with stones, figuratively.
i have valid reasons to do it, and in the past, others have prodded me to do much more...
but i can't... not because i do not have what it takes.
but because i'm such a coward when i think of God.

and so it happened... a burst of rage and my fiery words flew!
yes, this is not the first time, but it's such a shame
cuz i thought i was in control of my reactions by now,
since the root of my anger has been going on for so long...

i'm deeply troubled, because i know i have offended God,
and worse, i have confessed to Him that i feel sorry for losing my cool...
to Him alone.
as for the people concerned, i have no regrets.

and this is why my soul is downcast...
my head is bowed, my lids are lowered...
i'm too shamed right now to hold my face up to God.

i heart you, batanes ;-)

2007-03-15T04:03:00.000+08:00

(isn't she such a charming lady? pic taken from www.photonski.com)

i was attracted to batanes when it was featured on a mel and jay episode about what... 8 or 10 years back???

... what struck me was the sheer beauty of the place and its people, the ivatans with their cute native hats. i was amazed at the stone houses and the fact that they can leave the doors open and take off! wow, with zero crime rate and less than 20,000 people, who would be susceptible to a heart attack hahaha

i've been wanting to visit, but the only open window to go is summer. and so summers came and went, it's 2007, still, no batanes for me ;-(

at one point, netnet and ninapot and me talked about going but so far, no solid plans yet. hey, zarahbabes! tara na!

... besides, i still have to save up for it, there's just so much expenses rearing its monstrous head on my finances, waaaaaahhhhhh ;-)

sige na nga, sa 2008 na lang!

a sweet story on married life ;-)

2007-03-13T22:07:00.000+08:00

A couple had only been married for two weeks and the husband, although very much in love, couldn't wait to go out on the town and party with his old buddies.

So, he said to his new wife, "Honey, I'll be right back."

"Where are you going, Coochy Coo?" asked the wife.

"I'm going to the bar, Pretty Face," he answered. I'm going to have a beer."

The wife said, "You want a beer, my love?" She opened the door to the refrigerator and showed him 25 different kinds of beer, brands from 12 different countries: Germany , Holland , Japan , India , etc.

The husband didn't know what to do, and the only thing that he could think of saying was, "Yes, Lollipop... but at the bar... You know... they have frozen glasses... "

He didn't get to finish the sentence, because the wife interrupted him by saying, "You want a frozen glass, Puppy Face?" She took a huge beer mug out of the freezer, so frozen that she was getting chills just holding it.

The husband, looking a bit pale, said, "Yes, Tootsie Roll, but at the bar they have those hors d'oeuvres that are really delicious... I won't be long. I'll be right back. I promise. OK?"

"You want hors d'oeuvres, Poochie Pooh?" She opened the oven and took out 5 dishes of different hors d'oeuvres: chicken wings, pigs in blankets, mushroom caps, and little quiches.

"But my sweet honey... at the bar.... you know there's swearing, dirty words and all that..."

"You want dirty words, Cutie Pie? LISTEN UP CHICKEN SHIT! SIT YOUR ASS DOWN, SHUT THE HELL UP, DRINK YOUR BEER IN YOUR FROZEN MUG AND EAT YOUR HORS D'OEUVRES BECAUSE YOUR MARRIED ASS ISN'T GOING TO A DAMNED BAR! THAT SHIT IS OVER, GOT IT, JACKASS?"

and...they lived happily ever after. Isn't that a sweet story?

xmen

2007-03-08T00:10:00.000+08:00

who would ever cry over an xmen movie? hahaha... who else but me? such a crybaby huh?

i got this trait from my late father... i remember, we would be glued on the tv and whenever my eyes fill with tears, i would take a peek at Papa from the corner of my eyes... sure enough, he's wiping tears underneath his eyeglasses hahaha....

i miss him ;-(

anyways, i was watching xmen the last stand on dvd the other morning and i shed tears over professor charles xavier's death...
i wanted to dye jean grey's hair purple in that scene! ggrrrr....

but i like wolverine, as always... and i like hugh jackman as wolverine... well, i like the guy, period!

as for bad boy magneto... he's charming as ever, simply because i can't take Gandalf off my mind when i see him.

herself...

2007-03-07T12:01:00.000+08:00

i'm at a loss as to, what do i do when i see somebody so wallowing in herself?

yeah, she tries to amuse herself but all i see is a hollow space...

how can i ever, so gently... prick her bubble and diffuse the air of despondency she fills herself with?

sure, having a man to love and cuddle and share everything with is such a wonderful thing...

and i love that! a lot! ;-)

but then, i see that the longing for a man consumes her... and i sense her emptiness... and i'm bothered... and i'm sad... ;-(

things we learned from our parents, pinoy style

2007-02-26T23:37:00.000+08:00

from my 2005 inbox- still doesn't fail to amuse me ;-D

1.      Si Inay, tinuruan niya ako HOW TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"Kung kayong dalawa ay magpapatayan, doon kayo sa labas!

      Mga leche kayo, kalilinis ko lang ng bahay."

2.      Natuto ako ng RELIGION kay Itay.
"Kapag yang mantsa di natanggal sa carpet, magdasal ka na!"

3.      Kay Inay ako natuto ng LOGIC.
"Kaya ganyan, dahil sinabi ko."

4.      At kay Inay pa rin ako natuto MORE LOGIC.
"Kapag ikaw ay nalaglag diyan sa bubong, ako lang mag-isa ang manonood ng sine."

5.      Si Inay din ang nagturo sa akin kung ano ang ibig sahibin ng IRONY.
"Sige ngumalngal ka pa at bibigyan talaga kita ng iiyakan mo!"

6.      Si Inay ang nagpaliwanag sa akin kung ano ang CONTORTIONISM.
"Tingnan mo nga yang dumi sa likod ng leeg mo, tignan mo!!!"

7.      Si Itay ang nagpaliwanag sa akin kung anong ibig sabihin ng STAMINA.
"Wag kang tatayo diyan hangga't di mo natatapos yang lahat ng pagkain mo!"

8.      At si Inay ang nagturo sa amin kung ano ang WEATHER.
"Lintek talaga kayo, ano ba itong kuwarto nyong magkapatid, parang dinaanan ng bagyo!"

9.      Ganito ang paliwanag sa akin ni Inay tungkol sa CIRCLE OF LIFE:
"Malandi kang bata ka, iniluwal kita sa mundong ito,
maari rin kitang alisin sa mundong ito."

10.     Kay Itay ako natuto kung ano ang BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
"Tumigil ka nga diyan! Huwag kang mag-inarte na parang Nanay mo!"

11.     Si Inay naman ang nagturo kung anong ibig sabihin ng GENETICS.
"Nagmana ka ngang talaga sa ama mong walanghiya!"

12.     Si Inay naman ang nagpaliwanag sa amin kung anong ibig sabihin ng ENVY.
"Maraming mga batang ulila sa magulang, di ba kayo nagpapasalamat at mayroon kayong magulang na tulad namin?"

13.     Si Itay naman ang nagturo sa akin ng ANTICIPATION.
"Sige kang bata ka, hintayin mong makarating tayo sa bahay!"

14.     At si Itay pa rin ang nagturo kay Kuya kung anong ibig sabihin ng RECEIVING.
"Uupakan kita pagdating natin sa bahay!"

15.     Si Inay naman ang nagturo sa akin kung ano ang HUMOR.
"Kapag naputol yang mga paa mo ng pinaglalaruan mong lawnmower, wag na wag kang tatakbo sa akin at lulumpuhin kita!"

16.     At ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat, natutunan ko kina Inay at Itay kung ano ang JUSTICE.
"Isang araw magkakaroon ka rin ng anak, tiyak maging
katulad mo at magiging pasakit din sa ulo!"

i like... alcohol

2007-02-23T05:13:00.000+08:00

not alcoholic drinks, excuse me! but rubbing alcohol!

i have no particular preference although the best smelling one is the Cleene brand, really! my office friend Melissa swears to this brand and most people mistake the scent as that of a baby cologne. if i have to choose, i would opt for it but since i use alcohol to shower on just about anything, even to wipe my shoes clean, right down to the soles... might as well go for the least expensive ones!

as soon as i reach my post at work, i lather on alcohol on my mac and the entire space on my desk. i clean my hands with alcohol every so often when i feel i have made contact with something icky.

my officemates kid me that my desk would, in time, turn white with my daily ritual. well... soon after, my habit caught up with most of them anyways ;-D

(this trifle blabber is dedicated to... the mighty alcohol ehehehe)

thinking thoughts

2007-02-22T23:06:00.000+08:00

it's an effortless thing to think of bad thoughts. when i wake up and i'm in such a bad mood, i just shun off everything cuz it's a bad day... when i'm too lazy to dress up for going out, i just pick whatever clothes i first take a hold of and wear it cuz it's a bad day... when my hair's all messed up with frizz, i simply tie it up in a bun cuz it's a bad hair day...

what i'm learning now is how much easier it is to think of good thoughts despite the hassles of daily life. it was a slow process to finally come to terms with the fact that whatever's on my mind rules me for the whole day, even for weeks... and if i refuse to control the waywardness of my thoughts, i'm in big trouble.

i now wake up without a frown, i rush to take a shower, get dressed, comb my hair, powder my face, curl my lashes, gloss my lips and off i go with just the right twitch of a smile... looking forward to be with office friends, unmindful of the night's work ahead.

*Christian brothers, keep your minds thinking about whatever is true, whatever is respected, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever can be loved, and whatever is well thought of. If there is anything good and worth giving thanks for, think about these things.
-Philippians 4:8 (New Life Version)

post valentine brouhaha

2007-02-15T03:41:00.000+08:00

my niece sent me a message and she somehow resents the way her ex calls the new gf the same term of endearment he called her... posting messages he used to say to her...

well.. what can i say but... let it go! it's probably back breaking for most guys to think about a new expression or sweeping statement to impress a new dearie hahahaha.....

uhm, i had my share of this thing, too... some years ago...

imagine my line for him... "you are the air i breathe" finding it's way to something he posted online!

and the wistful thoughts i had, we had... like having a house with a spacious garden, me lying on a hammock outside, sunday lunch with the family, all the works!

what do you know... i read it all on a chat session they had!

... whhhoooaaaaaaaa.....very original, huh???

but as i told my niece.... hayaan mo na lang....

in my case.... the girlalu's declaration says it all...

their twisted dreams are all "suntok sa buwan" hanggang may jovy ... that's me!

and it still holds true... until...

forever, i guess! ... with the way things are going...

hay..... ang saya saya... makes me realize how true it is that God fights for me pala talaga ;-D

happy hearts day

2007-02-13T01:21:00.000+08:00

(pic taken from crosscards.com)

it's Valentine's week!!!!

Valentine's Day is on Wednesday and it's a day of love for all of us.

first things first... the day is a wonderful reminder of the greatest love there is, God's love!

then on to other things...

the most celebrated love for Valentine's day is of course, the love between lovers... aw! aw! awww!

it really is a nice feeling to look at lovers in love, by this i mean, real lovers, no hitches ok? age doesn't matter but please... no messing up with people who are already taken! ;-D

a wonderful Valentine's Day ahead for people who love truly, madly, deeply!

and for the bitter people who dread or hate Valentine's.. (sorry joyce, you're just kidding, right mwehehehe???)... grow up! there' so much love in the world to give and receive if you'll just take your focus off your selfish, insecure "You"!

--- a reaction from joyce when i told her i'm dropping her name on the "bitter" list ...

"I think Valentine's is the most selfish holiday on the calendar. I mean, this day was supposedly for everyone who can love and be loved...and not just for lovers. But over the years this day has become an exclusive lovers' day! Huh, the evolution of this occassion can be traced to the businessmen who wanted some extra revenue. Notice that everything goes "so up" during February. Who would buy overpriced flowers, teddy bears, and chocolates in the first place? "

sya sya.... joyce.... bitter ka nga! pero ang mga taong nagpapaka bitter kuno... naghihintay lang yan na mapansin ng inaasam asam nila mwehehehee..... aminin! but in the meantime, bitter na muna! lab u jowes!