Saturday, November 10, 2007

10 Things I'm Grateful About

Saw this on TLW website, and I'd like to share my list of 10 things I'm grateful about too :D

1.) Jesus - without him, the hole in my heart wouldn't be filled in & I won't understand that the road to heaven and hell are completely different and that there's no bridge from hell to heaven when you get there....
2.) My family - though conflicts arise occassionally, I know that we loved each other.
3.) Job - there's no perfect job, and anywhere I go, dissatisfying things on it are present. Hence, since my current job had been sufficing my every need with extra penny to spent for some gifts or sharing to the ministry, I'm grateful about it. Besides that, I had free time for Sunday school, free internet to deal with new friends online, and check about anything that interests me.
4.) Bible, The Daily Bread, The Daily Word, etc. - God's means of communication....without the help of these, life is just an empty cycle everyday...
5.) 4PM - my favorite time of the day where the sun shines @ its best
6.) Blue Skies and cottony clouds - nice things to see and feel you closer up there
7.) Music - can't imagine life without this
8.) Sky Flakes - to the rescue during starvation and weight management
9.) Iced Tea, Iced Green Tea, Lipton Red Iced Tea - refreshing, when you need that thirst quencher
10.) Television, radio, cellphones, computers - total entertainment package!

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Let's see your list too, I'm tagging you guys:

Nie, Harbie, Tinsters, Pafe

Silent Annoyance

I can't sleep so I decided to blog about the cause of my insomiac-like scenario. My rude and rubbish neighbors strikes again with their volume to the max sounding videoke machine. I wish the rain pours down tonight so they would go inside their empty houses and just shut their mouth out. I'm so annoyed, but I can't go out and yell at them to make them stop or else, I'll  be in trouble knowing how would they react. It'll be less of a torture if they sounded like a singer, the thing is, they are like drunken masters, singing the so-called "beerhouse songs" till their throat broke down. I wish I was outta here at this moment.

I really wish it rain tonight...these are the times when i love the stormy seasons...

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

The Season for all Seasons

Christmas has been long time celebrated everytime December comes. But do we really appreciate the true value of Christmas? Perhaps yes, as we grew up in a norm of belief that it is the time for love, sharing and forgiveness. But is it worthwhile practicing these virtues every once in a year only?

The word Christmas comprise of two words compounded in one, Christ + mass. As the word implies, its Christ's legacy that earth came to know and celebrate Christmas. But why do we love only during these time? I came to the think that it could be because Christ promotes and teaches love, which is the ultimate cause of all things that Christians should do according to His word, and the ultimate cause why God send his Son to this world.

Christmas per se is a tradition passed from generations to generations, in varied languages and culture. Celebration is portrayed in different form from festive to solemn commemoration. This is because we are not bounded to follow any form of celebration, as long as it signifies the fact that we are celebrating Christ's birthday though December 25 is not the exact one. But the true fact nowadays is that, this occassion has become so secular that people are more inclined to the festivity rather than the meaning of it. Everytime this time of the year approaches us, we thought more of buying this, that and everything, from new clothes, to glazy food, etc. We tend to focus more on material things to make the feel of the season rather than the spiritual value attached to the reason of the season, and moreover to feel its importance in our lives.

Why is Christmas an important season?

I was always told since grade school that Christ is the reason for the season. But then, I realized that it ain't true to the fact why Christ was sent here. It took me 21 years before I could learn and ponder the truth that Christ is only the "Bridging reason" why we have this occassion, but it is us people, man, who is the "Ultimate Reason", with love as the ulitimate basis.

John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Christ was born, lived and died on the cross just to become our Saviour. If not for us, Christ would have not come to the world and live with us. The Father sent him because man is binded by sin to the punishment of death, and just because of this priceless love the Father have, we have Jesus who saves us.

Therefore I must say, because of this fact, it is just right to keep Christmas as an everyday occassion, a season for all seasons. A season that dwells not only during Decembers but live in our hearts for the ultimate reason that we, ourselves is the cause of it.

There is much joy accompanying this season of the year, isn't it more joyful if we celebrate it all year round?

:D GBU!

Saturday, September 15, 2007

STEPS TO WISDOM

Just sharing these simple teachings from a Filipino pastor. His program aired live every weekday evenings in DZAS AM band radio.

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STEPS TO WISDOM
As shared by Pastor Ed Lapiz in DZAS.

WISE – means utilizing life with common sense and wisdom.


1. Listen to reason.

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.” – Prov. 19:20 (NIV)Listening is a way to wisdom. In life it is important to collect wise/reasonable people.

2. Associate with the wise.

“He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” – Prov. 13:20 (NIV)

If you are to social climb, be sure to climb with the wise. Blessed people, especially those blessed with wisdom can be a blessing to us.

3. To learn even from unlikely teachers.

“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!” – Prov. 6:6 (NIV)
Even in animals, we can learn to be wise. To be wise, you’ve got to listen to good counsel. Greed, passion, vested interest, and emotions can block the way.

(Also read Numbers 22:27-33)

4. To observe history (LIFE)

History keeps repeating, learn from it.

5. To start with little wisdom.
“He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” – Daniel 2:21

To the wise adds wisdom…wisdom attracts wisdom. What you do in the little given to you will depend how much more you will receive.

“To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God…..” – Ecclesiastes 2:26 (NIV)
The business of life is to please God. We should please God and to the man who pleases God, He gives wisdom.

6. Ask God for wisdom.
If we are wise, we could still be wiser. We ask God for wisdom to recognize that we are unwise.

“For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” – Prov. 2:6 (NIV)

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Killsome

It had been a while since my last post. I was so busy at work, with all the Monday holidays for 2 consecutive weeks, what more could I expect but a compressed day of work. The bright side is that I could take my backlog and work on it at home by just connecting to VPN tunnel. But its not an advantage at all time because once you're trouble with the factory folks, you cannot say no and avoid working during midnights and weekends.

I once thought that being a planner is quite rewarding, but with all the redundancy of the cycle and the extensiveness of details you're dealing with everyday, I now realized that its "killsome".

Killsome, yes, it is. Because you plan a lot of things to help your company excel in satisfying its customer, yet you cannot plan your personal life well due to the fact that the time spent at work is killing what supposed to be for the time for yourself.
If "Patience is a virtue" does not exist, I guess I wouldn't be around this workplace.

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Its weekend, and I felt that I need a whole day sleep...well I don't blame it all to work coz I just got off so late today, I got hooked again to Pexing and browsing forums and blogs. Just like now......

I'm stubborn, isn't I? :P

Christian ways to reduce stress

I just found this in my Inbox, an email circulating around. Nice trying these folks, these are proven ways to breakaway from that chronic syndrome that we often experience. However, don't ask testimonials from me, coz I am not able to follow all these for some unavoidable circumstances, but at least I have done half of these steps. :D

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An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.'

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you Jesus.'

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.

GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. 'If God is for us, who can be against us?' (Romans 8:31)

Sunday, August 5, 2007

The Real Rest

All of us get tired, feels exhausted and sometimes seems unable to find strength.

Where do you go when you are empty? Where do you go when your batteries are low, or drained and you have no energy and your spirits are low? What do you do when you are burdened and weary and wondering if you still have what it takes to keep going?

These questions sounds familiar. Are you there now?

Where do you find rest?

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When the world seems so narrow that you can't find a hiding place, just go to Jesus, because he understands all these feelings.

Jesus said, "Come to me, and I will give you rest."

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Sometimes, we are so preoccupied with the things of the world that when feel burdened, it seems like its the end of the world. But Jesus is there, all we neeed is to go to Him, go to where He is, and spend time with Him.

With Him in our hearts, we can learn to live freely and lightly. Let us just acknowleged His constant presence in our lives and dwell in it, for He is the God who loves us despite all our iniquities.

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

8 Random Things About Me

I have to talk about myself coz I'm being tagged again by Chuckster.

Now here's some random facts about me:

1.) I never ever smoke, and I really hate smoking. I hate smokers in public, they are risking other people's health, not only theirs.

2.) I seldom drink liquor, only when needed for social purposes but you will never see anything at home. The bible says don't get sober and be awake all the time. :P

3.) I don't buy pirated vcds, cds, dvds sa bangketa. I just don't know, even if everyone is doing so, I just couldn't watch a film or listen to a song when a pirated cd is in my player.

4.) I love music, the best way to start and end the day. I'm a frustrated musician coz I never got a chance to study and play piano when I was young, so I end up being just a music lover per se.

5.) I love the Philippines because of the happy people around, but I want to live in another place soon and take a new start. I got frustrated by the way Filipinos are accustomed to what was long been societal illness.

6.) I was so much into Sarah G nowadays, I was drawn to her amazing singing prowess, comic ability and humble attitude as testified by fans and people close to her. She's the predominant common denominator between me and my sister, hence, any conflict between us was superseded by the things about Sarah. (isn't it weird?)

7.) They say that I am chubby, but I say I'm sexy (lah!) haha, just kidding aside, I'm actually crossing the border of my ideal weight, that's why I'm trying my best to bring it back to normal. And I am finding this MUST-DO task quite difficult, esp. when you see those tempting sweet stuff like chocolates which I do love.

8.) I like children a lot, I find them very easy and fun especially when you're talking to them in a childlike manner. You could find the kid in you when you deal with them, sometimes its hard to manage particularly when tantrums attack, but then, its part of the deal. I like talking to them about their stuffs during our Sunday School session, and they are all stubborn. But I do really enjoy being with them a lot.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Of Stars and Blessings, the real gratitude

I originally post this in PEX...just want to put it in its suppose to be original repository.

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Of Star and Blessings, the real gratitude

What a day for me to start and end in a not so typical way, starting off with travelling back home from Sarah's bday party with the popsters and ending it here in SG Pex thread, savoring everything that had passed by like a whirlwind that just blew my senses.

Back work this morning, everything seems wrong and yet I was able to stay still and very happy, ang dami kasi blessings ni Lord since yesterday at isa na dito ang nakita ko up close si Sarah, buti na lang pinatulog pa niya ako kagabi. Nakakahawa siguro ang pagiging blessed ni Sarah, promise. There are so much for me to thank the Lord since yesterday, lahat unexpected.

I'd like to thank again the Popsters, though short notice, thank you very much esp. to Ate Mhel and Ate G for inviting and accomodating us. It was an unforgettable experience, first time seeing Sarah up close and personal.

The day is about to end, I'd like to encourage everyone here to take time to say a little prayer before you sleep, kahit "Thank you Lord" lang...constantly, God had continually letting us experience happiness kahit may mga lowlights tayo sa buhay. Having Sarah around is a blessing, kaya let's thank God (kahit paulit-ulit) for making Sarah who and where she is right now, on this day of her birth. If she did not bravely cross the line towards stardom, we wouldn't have been here in a community with common interest.

Being a fan had let the faculties of our mind to set aside whatever unwanted circumstances we are in or the things we have right now. It gives us the feeling of excitement, inspiration and encouragement because of the symbolic image and personal experiences that our apple of admiration is projecting that transcends through the valves of our brains and emotions, making us forget our lowlights. Thus, we are all gathered here giving value and importance to this person who had touched the lives of people more than us.

However, I would like to re-affirm to everyone not to forget the respect and honor due to the Lord (I know most people does give due respect and honor naman). Sarah (so the other artists) is an instrument that God uses to inspire and encourage people. Let us not forget the line that draws between admiration and worship. Worship is for God alone, while admiration and love is for both.

I hope I am not misunderstood here, but I am speaking of this because of the intensity of Sarah's impact to each and everyone here. There's a tendency that we may not realize that we are already crossing the line that separates the two actions. Let us reflect on these three words and I pray that everyone of us may acknowledge the limitations bound in following through an artist and dwell into the right steps only.

I don't mean to offend anybody as well (if I have done so), I am just moved to reiterate these things to remind us of our seem-to-be addiction nowadays (I am guilty obviously). Its quite hard to explain or assess how would we know as to what side of the line are we being pulled in.

Bottomline is, let's continue to love and support Sarah as a person who deserves to be, while extending our praise, worship and thanksgiving to God as the supreme one whose everything is due to. Thanking Him for making Sarah and each and everyone whole, well, satisfied and happy with the lives shared among each of us.

That's all, good night and God Bless everyone!

Friday, July 6, 2007

Speaking Your Mind: Do young Pinoys make sense of it?

“Speak Your Mind”.

Perhaps, most internet savvy Pinoys knew this phrase very well. This is the famous tagline from the leading online Filipino internet community portal – http://www.pinoyexchange.com/ where around 2 million Pinoys are registered users exchanging thoughts about almost every aspect of the society - from simple day to day living & spirituality, to showbiz buzz, politics, and up to the latest on technology. You can even look for jobs through the Classified ads forum.

Of all the forums it cater, the entertainment forum is the most popular. Most Pexers (the term coined to refer to the users and forumers) here are between age brackets of as early as 12 years old to 30 years old. But albeit, a 31~49 year-old is also present, mostly acting as either the elder of the sisterhood/brotherhood or as a motherly figure serving as a guide for the youngsters.

I’ve been a registered Pexer since 2004. I saw this from a Yahoogroups community and become curious about it. Since I am fond of watching teleseryes, I was drawn to join this online community to check any updates or future happenings in the local entertainment world from time to time. During the old days, I do not usually participate in discussion because its quite hard to make yourself immersed in the conversation unless you could talk sensibly about the topic. Despite of this, I could commend the Pexers I first recognize because they do not only post arguments with sense, but they know how to post responsibly with respect to other’s opinions, even if its all about showbiz and television. Perhaps, it is because these people are all in their 20s and 30s.

As years passed by, the emergence of teenage Pexers had been very noticeable as fast as how the young teenybop stars nowadays rise to fame. One fascinating thing about them is that, about half of them are not here in the Philippines (Thanks to TFC for bringing Filipino programs to our Kababayans who live almost all their lives outside the country.)

But for one who would crave for meaningful discussion as the forum’s essence implies, the rise of young forumers has been proportionate to the degradation of sensibility, maturity and usefulness of discussions. Moreover, the present manifestation of threads (or discussion topic) in Pinoyexchange Local TV and Movie Forum is like an amazing race to multiply the thread fast from Part 1 to as many as a couple of hundred.

Each thread should contain 5000 posts before it will be closed down and another thread of the same title or topic is created to be tagged as Part 2, 3 and so on. Prior to this format, threads could contain more than 5000 posts, however, the administrator decided to trim down the thread sizes for some technical reasons.

Particularly in the common zone, which is the TV and Movie program forums, fans from all corner of the showbizlandia are free to express their mind. It could be on how they praise the artists, how they praise the story of the teleseryes or movies, how they enjoyed the show, how they are dismayed on everything about the program extending it to the networks and many more. This forum had once been a meaningful source of suggestions and constructive criticisms on how Philippine entertainment is doing. However, with the bunch of youngsters present, disrespect, profanity and derogatory posts has been eminent. Impulsive, aggressive, disrespectful, and immature are what describes most of the youngsters, though it does not mean that all of them are like that. There are a number of those you can consider good and young, but they do not post or participate in the discussion at all, for reasons of they don’t want to get provoked and display disrespect, or maybe its just don't make any sense to them.

I wonder what could have affected the young generations’ minds, that most of them nowadays are so awful and lacks true sensibility. The alarming part is that, these kids are merely half of the visible forumers who are know to be residing in the Philippines. Somehow, this reflects how our manners and norms had been gradually changed by the current landscape of technological advancements in communications.

Because internet portals are virtual means of communication, you cannot see in person the people you get to talk to. Thus, it is the tendency of these generation to just speak whatever they like to blurt out without considering the word “respect”. Even if the site's administrator campaigned the shoutout “You are what you post”, it doesn't seem to make any improvement at all.

Parents should be aware of what their kids are doing with their desktops or laptops. You won’t know if you’re kids are one of those I’m referring to. Its time for us to help correct our deformed manners and go back to the basics.

IMHO only…

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Blessing Fathers

This is kinda late for Father's Day, however, it is better late than never. :D
Some thoughts from The Daily Word.

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Blessing Fathers

With love and gratitude, I pray for fathers everywhere.

Jesus shared the essence of our Creator's love when He prayed, "Our Father." We recognize and give thanks for our "heavenly Father," who loves each of us unconditionally.

Today is an opportunity to celebrate the sacredness of fatherhood in all its forms. As we pray for fathers today, we give thanks for their wisdom, patience, humor, and love. As nurturing caregivers and thoughtful mentors, they encourage us to develop our strengths and reach for our dreams, while modeling integrity and character. Ideally, they support, but do not interfere with, us becoming all that God created us to be.

We honor these dear ones and our memories of them in their roles as parents, teachers, and friends.

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."--Matthew 5:16

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Let us always be greatful to our fathers because they have loved us. As our Pastor's preaching implies, it is the Father's great responsibility in nation building because their guidance and role modelling is what the children are looking up to.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Why It Feels Great to be a Pinoy?

My cent-worth opinion, more than a week delayed for me to post it here, i was sort of busy last week and its just now that i find time to put together my thoughts...

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Why do it feels great to be a Pinoy?

Honestly, there's so many things why I had to be ashamed of being a Pinoy, but then, I would like to say I'm proudly Pinoy for the following reasons:

- When I was working with a Japanese national during my freshmen days in electronics industry, they were so amazed to the dedication that Filipinos do, despite the very low salary that Pinoy's are being offerred, still, we can deliver excellent and high quality output because that's what we are binded to do. Filipinos, as my Japanese mentor once said, are very smart people, hardworking and easy to deal with.

- In the events of calamities and havocs, I really admire how these people could recover after the storm. Perhaps, we are used to these kinds of situations, but even though, its not very easy to lend a smile after unwanted circumstances. Moreover, I love how Filipino people are keeping the faith after all. I believe that we are still God's blessed people because when things gets rough, and nothing's left to resort to, we leave it all to God. Unwanted events must be God's way to remind us that He is still here for us, and I'm amused to think that Filipinos must be one of God's favorite people.

- Pinoys are great inventors. Imagine if Agapito Flores did not discover the development of flourescent lamp? The discovery of bio-fuel as well is monumental, one of the most promising energy source today, that if only given the rightful support from different sectors, I guess we could have cut costs one of the primary expeditures we have.

- Pinoys are regarded as one of the happy faces in the world (I heard this in the news recently)...even if we are sick, we are used to say that we are ok and lend a smile. I remember a relative who's sufferring from a breast cancer. When we visited her in the hospital, we knew that she's not really well, but despite of the weakness and pain, she still extend her fading energy to accomodate her visitor and kept on smiling all the time. It was hard to laugh when you feel the pain, but nonetheless, being a Pinoy, we can carry on to laugh. I believe that the saying "laughter is the best medicine" (as taught by our teachers since primary schooling) dwells within each one of us.

- Pinoys are sweet, gentle and loves like no other - this is in the sense of true blue Pinoy culture...Take for example the traditional "harana", the musical Pinoy-style courting...that even foreigners find it enjoyable and sweet. Perhaps our custom of being family-oriented caring individuals had greatly impacted the way we could love others.

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This will be all I guess, could think of other reasons, but my time is constrained now :D

Saturday, June 9, 2007

In Flight - Sarah's New Album

I just wanna express our big thanks to Chuckie for keeping us up to date on what is happening on Sarah's upcoming new studio album. This was hyped to contain a different Sarah music, not much of the "birit" thing where Sarah was made to known.

In Flight, according to Chuckie is planned to be released by July, more or less simultaneous with the concert or her birthday but nothing is concrete yet.

Among the composers who contributed their songs are: Chuckie Dreyfuss, Louie Ocampo, Medwin Marfil (of True Faith) and Trina Belamide.

(info courtesy of chuckie in his blog hehe)
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Sometimes, I felt like Sarah's album was out there so I would enter the record bar to find reality back that I was just hallucinating! :P haha

kaloka! super kaloka!

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I hope its July already...para may something new naman na mapakinggan :D

Friday, June 1, 2007

Answered Prayers

I was figuring out yesterday morning how to get through the pile of stuff that I have to resolve in my work. When suddenly, a YM window pops-up...its my sis, and surprisingly, she was so excited to tell me that we got a feedback about our MPNP application - we were approved.

I couldn't describe how I felt upon learning the good news...after all, I was quite misguided in my job lately. It was a praise and thanksgiving moment...and the big frown in my face that morning turns up to be a reflection of a joyful relief.

Next step now is to finish the processing in the Visa Office here. Hopefully, nothing trouble the papers again :)

Thanks for those who prayed for me. I owe you a lot.

Friday, May 25, 2007

If You Only Got 100 Years To Live

As I listen to this Five for Fighting song-100 years, I realized that what if I only got 100 years to live??? (I wish so...)

I'm 20+<30 right now, and I could say, achievement wise, I don't have that much except that I have made myself commit to serve in the ministry, vindicating myself while glorifying God as I see how my kid students are learning.

If I got only 100 years to live, I might probably do the following:

- Finish my commitment in my job
- Get out of my job
- Go to the north pole by next year
- Go back to the lower north pole after my adventure to the north pole
- Find a good husband (LOL)
- Get married @ 27 or 28
- Bear kids @ 28 or 29
- Put up my restaurant business with my sis
- Live a hopefully happy family life
- Cope up with the troubles of kid-raising
- Cope up with the troubles of projected cold relationships (hope this won't happen)
- Cope up with the difficulties of aging
- Retire @ 65
- Put up a foundation after my retirement
- Continue to serve in the ministry
- Focus on healthy living while aging
- Be a living guide to my descendants
- Wait for God's final call before I leave earth

Sounds weird, hehe but its all in my thoughts, and I don't know why. Well, its all for the sake of thought, and as I've said before, I should not pre-empt God's plan for me...it might be completely different, but for sure its the best.

How about u? What will you do if you only got 100 years to live?

:D

My today's advice by the way is: Never give up on anybody, miracles happen everyday! wow! hehe

Agony & Surprises: Is this a prelude to Philippines future economic blow?

Work is so complicated this mad Friday, and I was expecting this since last night. As I woke up this morning, I spelled out a short cry for God's help. This day is a torture, it was just my 4th week on board in this new job assignment, and yet, an armful pressure from the effects of issues I had never known is piling up my load. I couldn't imagine how I am able to breathe after the day's troubles.

Thank God that He's making me live another day in this workplace. Good thing that my bonus will be coming soon. *jump* I feel that we deserve that because of our patience with their cleverness in taking advantage of our almost terminated status resulting from the sale of our business unit. They should be really thankful that while they were counting on us to complete the product transition from the company to the new one, our group is able to make it through. And now, it'll be 4 months to go before the business unit fully closed down in the phils. Hence I was now in my new job assignment while waiting for the full transition of the last cellular product I handled (ending in June).

Another iron strike just hit last Wednesday when the management announced that the Flash business will be sold. I feel sad for my friends who belongs to that group. They'll be waiting for 4-6 months before the deal will be closed, and by that time, they'll know if they still have a job or not.

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With the happenings around our company, I feel that this just reflects how the Philippine economic environment had become less profitable as before for foreign manufacturing firms. With the high power costs but intermittent supply, increasing labor cost, political instability, graft and corruption, bureaucracy, and all the other ugly things you could think this land have, firms are starting to divert their businesses to more promising Asian countries.

Taking China as an example, our firm had just pledged to invest around $4 billion dollar by 2010 to build a chipset factory. In Vietnam, a 5000 sq. meter plant is in-progress, and this will pave way for the industrialization of this once war-zone country.

With the sale of our business unit last year, followed by the recent confirmation of long-time rumored sale of the other business unit, the remaining chipsets and microprocessor factory could not be far from ending its life in the Philippines.

If I was in the investor's shoes, I might do the same. Its the businessman's mindset to look for ways to cut operating costs and maximize profitability. Once they start to build the planned chipset factory in China, it will be more or less, the start of the slow down of the company's operations in the Philippines. Should this happen, it will make approx. 5000 people in the neighborhood jobless. :(

We might say that we Filipinos have a language proficiency advantage, but we should be well aware that our Asian counterparts are investing a lot to train their people in this aspect. Though not very fluent, they could express their thoughts well and this once strong barrier to international trade and capitalization is slowly breaking down.

What could possibly be done by our government to prevent this under this circumstances? Our firm, as far as I know, was recently stated to be the Philippines top export contributor in terms of dollar value. As for myself, I don't see myself staying with the company beyond next year. I almost stay out if I was not offered with this new assignment.

Let's just all pray for the best. :)

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

The UPlitista

Blogging has never been this fun, while checking my multiply site, i noticed that Abi, the girl whose part of SGIM site creation had posted in my guestbook. She just made a heads up that the site is all up now. So I went to her Multiply site and leave a note of thanks and congratulate her for a job well done. The site BTW really rocks! hehe

I learned that she's part of that site creation thingy because she posted it in her blog. And as I've run through it again a while ago, I can't help but laughing and be entertained with the way she writes her blog entries in Tagalog. Taga-UP indeed, very humurous with her punchlines and bloglines that just pounds reality in your head. She does mention an account of encounter with the name of that fictitious text world superstar-Ederlyn, whose by the way, I only got to knew last year while everybody else does.

I would say she could make a great writer, however, looks like she's into IT, and she's pretty whining about this nation that gives more importance to nursing and call centers rather than "sining" or art. I was a bit moved by that, 'coz somehow within my nerves, I have some passion for simple artworks. :P

Well, there'll be more days to come and I'll be looking forward for more of her kwela stories.

You can also check her blog link @ http:\\emosuitcase.multiply.com

Awaken

I am awake to God's presence and filled with the joy of Spirit.

I have God-inspired dreams for my future, but I need to be spiritually awake to make those dreams come true. While it may seem odd to close my eyes in order to wake up, this is exactly what is needed for me to be awake in a spiritual sense.

So I do close my physical eyes as I relax into a time of silent reflection. I discover a deeper awareness of Spirit within and around me. In this state, I am awakened again to my oneness with God. I recognize that my dreams for the future are the God-given desires of my heart.

I am awake to God's presence and filled with the joy of Spirit. My God-given dreams become my reality.

"My eyes are awake before each watch of the night, that I may meditate on your promise."--Psalm 119:148


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An inspiring daily devotion. This is in time for my upcoming realization of one big dream. I hope that God will expedite the time, I believe He'll grant me that wish, but we could never pre-empt God's plan and we can never get ahead of what He thinks, so I'll just leave everything to Him! :D

According to my "Today's Advice", it says "Be Unafraid";)

Monday, May 21, 2007

Patience in Motion


I went to a Ticketnet outlet near my place to pick-up my 10 LB ticket reservation for SGIM concert on July 14. I was a bit awkward to spell out what show am I going to buy tickets for, 'coz it seems that I'm the only one whose buying showtickets this afternoon. However, I still manage to get composed and act as if its nobody's business (which really is!)


The saleslady in the counter asked how many am I going to buy, so I told her that I have 10 seats reservation already, but would need 14, coz there are 2 people who asked me to bought them tickets too. The lady seems to be surprised by the quantity I just told her and somewhat misunderstood me, thinking I was just going to buy without that reservation. Good thing she thought of clarifying it to me. So it was cleared and settled.


The first batch of tickets to be printed out were the 4 without reservation. I will have to charge all the tickets to my Visa, coz I don't have cash, and the people who ride in my purchase will pay me sometime later. Well, charging the amount doesn't make a difference, coz the price is just the same as cash purchases (PHP1,575 for LB +PHP 10 res. fee - incl. of tax).


And so the tickets were printed, and the saleslady, to my patience, was really having a hard time transacting my purchase in that POS terminal. Seems it was their first time doing that transaction, if not, perhaps its not often that people buy showtickets in that branch of Ticketnet. It took around 20 mins to finish the first transaction.


Now, come to my 10 seats reservation, it took the saleslady another 20 minutes to check where in that dumbed computer is my reservation. This saleslady had even asked the other cashier in the CS desk how to view that ticket order, and when she does succeed accessing the list of reserved seats, the monitor had shut down (LOL). And the lady, with the other fellow 2 cashier were a little bit rattled there.


To no avail, they failed to do the transaction of my reserved tickets in the next couple of minutes, so I've waited another 10 mins until their Supervisor came to do the transaction herself. It was almost "thanks to her", but again, the problem now is that she doesn't know how to enter the payment in the POS, so she called another saleslady again to do it. I don't know if its right for me to just stare and patiently wait....


Finally, my purchase was fully completed after 1 hour and 20 mins. And whew! my credit card was charged PHP 20K+in just a span of time! I seldom do this, but so to not loose that opportunity to get those good seats. Anyway, I'm happy though, what a day in the mall again!


Next step is to wait until July 14 comes.


Thank God that even if its a Monday, its not really manic so I felt pretty cool until now. :)


Have a good day to you too!



Sunday, May 20, 2007

Getting IN MOTION for that Seats

I just had 10 tickets reserved today for the SGIM concert on July 14. Gonna pick it up this afternoon at SM Ticketnet outlet. I'm not so excited, its just that I want to get good seats :D. I was discussing with someone else what seats are the best, we should be opting for patron , however, we realized its difficult to look up all the time. So in the end, we all agreed for the Lower box section. Good that I've got Row A seats :D at the best possible angle :). Reservation fee costs us an additional PHP 85/ticket, but I guess its better than wasted chance :D

I've pulled off all resources I could think just to get ticket this early! Am I that much obssessive? Haha! You bet! :D

TicketNet number is 911-5555 for phone reservations.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Restless Over In Motion

What a day to start with: I got updates about SG In Motion concert, and it start my stressful Tuesday this 12AM! Its really cracking me up whenever I visit SG site coz the people are so restless waiting for more new press releases for the SGIM event on July 14, 2007.

I'm not used to watching concerts, but I guess, this time will be a good time :D

My day at work was not very good, I had several errors. So there you go, I had been highlighted again, another day with bunch of issues. Really stressed over my work :( Back home, I still work and work 'coz 8 hours seems to be not enough to do all my load. I wish my Monahans could end its life really soon!

I feel so tired right now, but I was rattled by more SG updates and new SGIM poster (the whole one). Sarah was so gorgeous, but, but.... the leggings is still not spared! That's why she stays at the 2nd spot of my gorgeous list...how about that!!!??? haha

At least I was a little bit relieved from my stress learning new updates...what a heck...SG is becoming my favorite hobby now!

Restless maybe, restless over SG, over friends, over PEX...oh, what I life I had! I wish I could just marry a man today LOL!


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Before I wrap this up, I encourage you to listen to Christian praise and worship songs. So uplifting! To God be the glory! You're worthy of praise!

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Oh mighty and Holy God, thank you for this day, for the moments to feel stressed that I may humbly seek Your Kingdom and acknowledge Your power over all things. If I never felt this way, perhaps I could never think of thinking about You and Your mercy, Your power and grace. Despite my shortcomings and stubborness, You keep on making difficult things resolved for me, without my own hands doing the works of resolution. You are working in mysterious ways, ways we cannot see, we cannot understand, but those ways always makes things possible. Forgive me Lord for at times, I loose trust and faith through demonstration of anxiety over things I cannot control. I lay all the things that makes my life difficult before you Oh God. You have the power to control, You have the power to make all things possible, and I rest my trust in You that by tomorrow, when I come to work, You have already make everything alright, with your instruments to the rescue, arriving at the right time and the right place. Thank You Lord!

Please take care of my family afar from us. Good night God....Amen.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

It's Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all moms! Its already Monday so this is kinda late. Anyway, I have greeted my mom today via Tiramisu Meltdown Cake :D

I thought I would not be able to get one, good thing there's still stocks left in Red Ribbon at SM Sta. Rosa, the other RR branch here ran out of cakes! OMG!

Glad that mother is happy...and its their wedding anniversary today! Happy Anniversary too to you our parents! I just pray that may God continually bind you and this family's relationship together. Whatever storms we have gone through, its all in the past, and let's learn from our mistakes. Moving forward, I am delighted to open another chapter in our lives. And I hope i could be able to start my own too.

In God's time, God only knows the best for us! :D

God bless our family! I love you all! :D

Sarah Geronimo In Motion Concert

I got excited after learning that Sarah Geronimo's next concert series will begin in July 2007 and will be brought to the US from August to September 2007. I am really hoping that I could watch this in Araneta (per initial press release). This sounds big, and something new and hip will be seen from Sarah.

I really like this kid since she emerges as the most promising total performer of this generation. Truly, one Multimedia Superstar :D

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Here's her IN MOTION USA TOUR schedules, hope they could release the Philippine playdate soon!
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Photo credited to Ledina Productions Weblog


18-Aug - Sarah Geronino & Mark Bautista - Dayton, Ohio
25-Aug - Sarah Geronino & Mark Bautista - San Jose Civic Auditorium. San Jose Cal.
26-Aug - Sarah Geronino & Mark Bautista - Bakersfield, California
31-Aug - Sarah Geronino & Mark Bautista - San Diego, California
01-Sep - Sarah Geronino & Mark Bautista - Los Angeles, California
07-Sep - Sarah Geronino & Mark Bautista - Las Vegas, Nevada
08-Sep - Sarah Geronino & Mark Bautista - Lisner Auditorium, Washington D.C.
14-Sep - Sarah Geronino & Mark Bautista - Arie Crown Auditorium, Chicago, Illinois
15-Sep - Sarah Geronino & Mark Bautista - New York, New York
21-Sep - Sarah Geronino & Mark Bautista - Juneau, Alaska
22-Sep - Sarah Geronino & Mark Bautista - Kodiak, Alaska


Source: Viva Concerts & Ledina Productions

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Breaking Tears: Mon-mon @ Wowowee

If you have watched Wowowee today, you might have seen Mon-mon singing Hawak Kamay.

He is a special child of one of the contestants in Wowowee and I am certain in saying that is child is a wonder boy. :D Despite his condition, he's a smart kid, who's good in spelling and could even sing that Yeng Constantino's inspirational hit song. I was wondering how he could deliver the song when being asked by host Willie Revillame to come to the stage and sing 'coz its his favorite according to him.

But then, silence dwell among the people in the studio as he starts singing. He could hardly speak because of his defects, and when he sing out the lines of the song...God...you must have been using this boy to realize how blessed we normal human beings are! It seems every words of the song is well matched to what he is going through that even if me and my mother was only watching in television, tears broke out as we hear his song.

I couldn't contain my tears...its a mixed emotion of happiness, pity, encouragement, and inspiration...I will find a video link for you to check it too.

An added blessing for Mon-mon, Willie announced later in the show that the famous movie director Maryo J. Delos Reyes is interested in getting Mon-mon for a movie.

Whew!

Missing Praises

Thank God its Saturday! It was a very busy week and I really miss so many things. One of those is doing the daily praise and worship song jamming I used to have with either myself or my sister. This is when I listen to purely Christian music along with my supposed to be daily devotion. Unfortunately, I was so hooked up with tons of work in my job and with PinoyExchange - SG kingdom thread. PEX is where I enjoy having forum conversation with other SG fans whom some happened to be a believer. However, I failed to do what's supposed to be my first priority.


Is this worth doin'? My conscience is knockin' my head, and my heart moresover.


On the other hand, while im mingling with other people in PEX, i got to share as well the goodness of the Lord through grace sharing with material blessings and encouragement. But still, my conscience is telling me not to forsake the most important thing which devotion. It's where I could reinforce my spiritual being and be alive and fighting against the odds of living in this complicated world...


It'll be Sunday tomorrow, glad that I'll be able to come to our worship service again. Thank God that we're living in a free country where we can freely do this. And it's Mother's Day tomorrow! :D HAPPY MOTHER's DAY NANAY! :D


What's more? It's my day off from Sunday school too...good time to spend the day with my mom :D

Monday, April 30, 2007

The Teacher's Vindication

Being a Sunday school teacher is not a joke. If it seems easy to deal with young kids, well, its certainly not true. Kung may pinakamahirap gawin, yun eh yung turuan ang mga bata. Its actually very critical, 'coz whatever you teach them, then they will adapt and they will think that its right. So if you're giving them misleading facts or knowledge...then, there's a high risk that they will grow up downsidedly.

I teach to kids ages 10-12, and I must say that these were the most inquisitive stage as they really ask every single detail and every single why and how on the things you're talking about. Since we're practically tackling values, Christianity and being Christ-centered individual, a very sensitive care should be given off.

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Last Sunday, I was on my day-off in Sunday teaching. We attended the 7:30AM service. To our surprise, our head pastor have asked that the testimony be shared by the children. Then I saw two of my students getting ready to testify their wacky but sensible stories.

It was Aldie who came first, I was surprised and clueless what will he share about the goodness of God in his life. Being his teacher, I must admit that I don't know if I'm being effective every Sunday sharing and telling them bible and people stories contemplating on the right attitude and Christian values for children and as an individual. Then he started by saying, he had stole 100 pesos before, and he was not contented, so he attempted to stole an even bigger money amounting to 500 pesos, however, he was to get caught so he never pursue. But because of God's grace, he was enlightened to the fact that stealing is bad...through reading the bible and by the influence of his teachers.

The second one to testify was Horace. This kid is not an ordinary boy, he was one of the naughtiest and stubborn in the group. He always tease the other kids or make fun whenever he sees something he thinks as funny. He share the story of how he used to cheat with his school exams. Whenever he would fail in his test, he would take his papers and put a check mark on the wrong answers so his score would pass again. Then he would show it to his mom who's trustful to the boy. For a time, he said he was doing this until his teacher told them that cheating is a no-no.

I felt glad upon hearing them, 'coz it was really unexpected that day. That morning I was feeling low about my teaching, the way the system goes, but then, hope comes again that I can make a difference even if the system is not outstanding. Its just a matter of perseverance and focus on glorifying God through these children. In my heart, I know that I am really thankful at that moment. The feeling of being like a robot who stands in front of those kids every Sunday, talking endlessly, seems melted. What I felt that moment is an urge to do more...to do better...'coz God is helping me make these kids respond. I witnessed God's miracle in a simple way.

Again, I bring the honor, praise and Glory to God...

Monday, April 23, 2007

Unwell

I'm not feeling well today, I really feel that the heat of the weather is filling up my whole body, my throat was coarsy & dry.

Today was another manic Monday, so many stuff to do at work, and when 4 pm hits the clock, my boss told us that there's more to do so we should stay :(

I travel back home using mass transportation, and I felt even worse when I smell the smoke and dust bursted off by the rampaging vehicles.

Too bad, still I couldn't go to bed 'coz I've got to finish preparing my passdown so my workload could be eased.

God help me. Amen.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Surprise Day Off...

Well, this morning was a relief....God must have noticed me...I really felt tired 'coz I haven't got a day-off from teaching in Sunday School since we began re-formatting the class last February. I was teaching children of ages 10-12. Most of the time, I would tell the story related to the topic assigned for that Sunday, then later on, I would bring back the question and analogy of the values and story to our present time. Glad that the children are responding at anyhow.

Today, Avic, the teacher's team leader, brought me the good news that Dess' sister (Dess is my counterpart handling ages 10-12, we are shifting in short) will join us handling the 10-12 group. Thus, she told me to take the day-off next Sunday :)

Its not that I'm complaining or getting tired of serving in the ministry. As a matter of fact, this duty is only a dot compared to what God is doing in my life now. He has been so faithful to me even if I am unfaithful. I just felt that my physical body just don't go in harmony with my spirit at this point, need some time to refresh myself and ponder on how I could improve in my way of teaching and influencing those children to be the person that God wants them to be.

2 Hours with a Friend from Beyond

Just arrived home an hour ago with my 'lil sis from a full packed-2 hour meeting with someone we met just today. She was our friend we got to know from PEX. I thought I was the only one who's shy during first meeting with someone I only knew by the net, somehow, today just proves again that I'm not alone. There are people who's even more shy than me...haha. Perhaps, the emotions that startling most of the not so outgoing people doing their first so-called eyeball is a "strucked moment". Its a feeling like you don't know what to say because the person from the other side of the cable is now in front of you. I felt the same way when I met up with Mira, she's the first friend from the space that i met personally. Our first meeting was not really dull, 'coz I tried to be as friendly and relaxed as possible. Good thing that there's a lot of things we commonly like. Mira is also with us today, and she was amply generous in paying for our EK pass.

Entering the park today was unplanned 'coz we are to go to another commitment by 5PM, and its already 3 o'clock when we arrived there. Somehow, the 2 hours was worth the time 'coz I've seen my sister and the 3 fellows with us enjoying each other.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Apple iPhone to hit the market in June

Teleclick.ca reports that AT&T will be launching iPhone this June 11 in the US. iPhone is the much hyped new mobile phone offerring from the company that gives us iMac and iPod - Apple. This is the first mobile phone to be offered by Apple to the public after their success with iPod.

"iPhone combines three amazing products — a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and a breakthrough Internet communications device with desktop-class email, web browsing, maps, and searching — into one small and lightweight handheld device. iPhone also introduces an entirely new user interface based on a large multi-touch display and pioneering new software, letting you control everything with just your fingers. So it ushers in an era of software power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, completely redefining what you can do on a mobile phone. "
www.apple.com/iphone

Check this out soon...might land in Asian soil too :)



Of Stones: In the heat of summer..

Its almost midway through summer, and as days pass by, temperature is swinging from 30~38 degrees Celsius, and humidity is way way high. My officemates and I went on a lunch out for 3 consecutive days just this week and I couldn't describe if I am getting sick because of the extremely hot temperature outside. Night time makes no difference irregardless of how long you take that cool shower, at the end you'll still feel heat.

This circumstance reveals the adverse effect of man's carelessness to his mother earth. The fact is, whatever destructive actions we do to the environment are irreversible. And whatever man is experiencing today is only a vindication of what the earth had suffered from the irresponsible acts of humankind.