Waiting In The Wings

Nostalgia

2012-02-29T23:23:00.008+08:00

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. (Brigette Bardot)

What I like about old photographs-- those that saw the light way back in that era when Photoshop and digital editing were still unheard of, like in the heydays of Instamatic cameras when the labels Kodak and Agfa were synonymous to good pictures-- is that no matter how cringe-worthy they appear to be for how they were badly framed or poorly lit, they are honest to goodness.

I treasure this photo of our kindergarten class which was taken during our graduation. To me this feels both old and young. Old for the obvious reason that its dated-- March of 1991 and I had just turned 6-- and young because whenever I look at it, I see a huge deal of my innocence and youth, that good part in me that is frozen in a frame for a lifetime.

This photo is always a nice memento of that milestone moment when I learned how indispensable education is and why it's proper behavior to clasp your hands when you're seated in front of an audience (I learned that from my great grand lola, by the way). It was also the day I learned what nerves could do as I delivered my very first of any kind of podium speech (in English, with a microphone).

It's a shame I can only name a few of my classmates who were with me in this photo. But for sure their lives have changed so much in ways like mine (or maybe mine is more turbulent than theirs, haha). Some of them have been married already for years, some have become noble OFWs in the middle east while some have stayed in the province, and some I have not seen since then or heard from. Thankfully I have this photo, and a small part of their lives will always be with me.

Now I can really say how time does fly. Sigh.

Thirty days from today I will be turning 27. The past two years of my life have been really shaky, putting my self-esteem to the test. But every time I see that kid in the photo, I am reminded of that quiet confidence I used to have. And for me that's a beautiful photograph, the kind that connects straight to my heart.

Racist, but not racy?

2012-02-28T16:51:00.001+08:00

This may not be a good time for some avid FHM Philippines readers. Word on the street is that the best-selling men's magazine in the Philippines (and in the words of the great Lourd De Veyra, the most "subliminally gay") is pulling out its March 2012 cover, featuring actress Bela Padilla. This after netizens reacted negatively, calling the cover racist. How so? Gaze on and go figure.

I would hate to be very academic about it but let me put my two cents worth.

The cover obviously rubs the wrong way if we talk about color politics here. Color is a very powerful language system especially in a world that is fond of stereotypes (the media plays a huge role here). We have witnessed in our history how the world was and is being divided by our color ideologies (e.g. the black discrimination in the US, the twisted concept of the Aryan race, etc.).

Semiotically, the positioning of the fair-skinned Bela in the center while she is being surrounded by those dark-skinned women alludes to the much-contested glorification of the pale-skinned beauty and marginalization those who are not. Simply ask: Why does Bela have to be surrounded by women who are opposite to her color? Perhaps a visual metaphor to the phrase: "stepping out of the shadows"?

The ideology of this image paints a binary opposition between Bela and the "other women", and if we extend our reading of this cover, we could come up with few more binaries: the actress and the unknown, the pale and the dark, the light and the shadows, the central and the periphery, the superior and the inferior. The danger of binaries is that it limits our understanding of the world and divides our view of things simply into A and B as opposites, such as that, if it is not beautiful then it is ugly.

Images like this obviously doesn't help create a world without borders, without prejudices and racial discrimination especially to women.

But while I'm amused at how discerning and reactive the mass media audience could get nowadays, and that I found their concerns valid, I also notice a double-standard in the reaction. I mean, shouldn't we be complaining, first and foremost, about the magazine being offensive to women?

Perhaps if we had been proactive about questioning the intentions of a magazine like FHM and scrutinized their objectification of women far sooner, then we didn't have to complain about the cover being racist.

Which plateful suffices?

2012-02-24T01:04:00.002+08:00

The contest between the Pro and Anti RH bill sentiments lately takes a "creative" turn (or mabye not) and social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr prove to be their battlefield. Two contrasting images depict each side of the coin. The common of both posters is the use of the plate as the central theme.

Pro-RH Bill by Jovert Bantilan of Workshop One, Inc.

Anti-RH Bill allegedly by people from UST

Now which one suffices you?

From Whitney, to Charice, to Creepy

2012-02-18T22:51:00.013+08:00

There's probably no other Whitney Houston song that is more recognizable in airplay, more memorable at the slightest mention of the word "diva", and more popular in every kind of singing contest in the Philippines than "I Will Always Love You" (although, strictly speaking, it's a Dolly Parton song but who gives a damn, right?). And with her recent passing, it is no surprise how this song instantly became emblematic of the great singer that she was.

Amateur and professional singers in the country have all gone testing their vocal mettle with this song, like a baptism of fire to every aspiring diva. If a girl can seamlessly wing it, then she maybe is just a few steps closer to a coveted television reality singing contest trophy, or better yet, a life-changing worldwide YouTube popularity like Charice.

In the case of this international Filipina singing sensation, her brilliant ~~copycat~~ rendition of Houston's classics "I Have Nothing/I Will Always Love You" has earned her various standing ovations in large venues in the US and abroad and sold-out concerts, making her a lucrative investment for David Foster (oops!) who mentored her and eventually "godfathered" her blossoming global career by producing her first US Billboard-entrant album.

At the tender age of 16, Charice showcased her vocal prowess at the David Foster and Friends concert in Las Vegas in 2009, much to the obvious delight of her live audience, and of course, her obsessed online fans who now dub this performance "the greatest tribute to Whitney Houston".

When she died, not Charice but Whitney, malls in the metro were playing her songs constantly until closing time, like looping Christmas carols during the holidays. (Reportedly, in the US, "I Will Always Love You" was played over 2000 times on the radio on the day of her demise. And on her home-going service, the same song was played as her coffin exited the chapel.)

Now to prove how crazy Filipinos are with Whitney, and insanely ingenious to a creepy level, here's the video to top it all.

R.I.P. Whitney Houston.

Because I Like You

2012-02-14T18:30:00.070+08:00

"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart," says William Wordsworth.

How many of us living in this computer-mediated age-- when saying "I love you" gets more technologically creative, not to mention fast, through a heartfelt text, an email, a tweet or an FB post-- still opt for the traditional way of expressing love: writing letters?

I practically know no one. And it would not surprise me if many of my generation (and the much younger ones) have already evaded, if not completely abandoned, the practice of letter-writing. So old-school, perhaps a young lover of this day would say. Even I have not been writing letters anymore, not since Grade 1 when I made my parents a Valentine's day letter/card.

But I remember it well how letter-writing was a fad before in terms of finding new friends or lovers and connecting with old ones. I'm still familiar with the term "pen pal", referring to a friend whom you gained and with whom you maintain communication through letters. Tabloids used to have dedicated pages, like a directory, containing published names, age and respective addresses of people who sought like-minded potential friends.

I was too young then to engage myself in the "pen-pal" craze, but my older cousins freely would. I recall how enraptured they would get whenever they would receive a mail from their friends. I understand the excitement because letters before would arrive in days or weeks hence the giddy anticipation. And what greater excitement whenever photos would accompany the letters. Simple joys!

Then we know how technology drastically changed the game. Now we have the speediness of the computer and the Internet to remedy the snail pace of the traditional mail. Moreover, technology supposedly affords us more creativity in our message by enabling us to use a variety of font styles and sizes, and to incorporate graphics, emoticons, pictures, music, and video into the content. The case now is very McLuhan: the medium is the message.

But what I like about letter-writing is the experience of harmonizing your mind, heart and hand. The kind you get from carefully inscribing your thoughts on paper, thinking what to say and how to say it, and perfecting your penmanship so that you give a complete good impression. By your swirls, your swings, your slants and your curves, somehow you turn into a beguiling writer and a passionate lover.

And there is that irreplaceable aroma of ink on paper.

--------
An ad by Poste Italiane on writing letters.

Hi, I like you.
I’ll tell you now so you won't think I'm writing about something else.
I liked you the first time I saw you, not before ‘cause I didn’t know you and I didn’t know if I liked you.
But ‘cause I do like you, I think I love you ‘cause you’re beautiful and you’ve got freckles.
And, you know what, I’m not that ugly. I think I’m quite cute.
If you like me too, then we could get married; but not today ‘cause I’ve got swimming.
I promise that as soon as I get home, I’ll come and bring you all the flowers in the world or buy a whole flower shop and bring it to you because I like you.
I’ll take you out for dinner, not somewhere horrible, it'd be the bestest place in the whole wide world.
I’ll always be good-looking so you won’t even look at other boys--- just at me.
If you want, when we see each other, I can give you a kiss.
If you like kisses, (I think their yucky) but if you like them, I’ll give you lots and lots just like they do in films.
Because I like you.

Copywriter: Clement De Muro
Agency: CRIC, Milan, Italy
Award: Bronze, Cannes Lion International Film Festival of Creativity 2011

Sleep tight, dear loved one*

2012-02-05T23:36:00.001+08:00

On Death, Without Exaggeration
By Wislawa Szymborska, 1923-2012

It can't take a joke,
find a star, make a bridge.
It knows nothing about weaving, mining, farming,
building ships, or baking cakes.

In our planning for tomorrow,
it has the final word,
which is always beside the point.

It can't even get the things done
that are part of its trade:
dig a grave,
make a coffin,
clean up after itself.

Preoccupied with killing,
it does the job awkwardly,
without system or skill.
As though each of us were its first kill.

Oh, it has its triumphs,
but look at its countless defeats,
missed blows,
and repeat attempts!

Sometimes it isn't strong enough
to swat a fly from the air.
Many are the caterpillars
that have outcrawled it.

All those bulbs, pods,
tentacles, fins, tracheae,
nuptial plumage, and winter fur
show that it has fallen behind
with its halfhearted work.

Ill will won't help
and even our lending a hand with wars and coups d'etat
is so far not enough.

Hearts beat inside eggs.
Babies' skeletons grow.
Seeds, hard at work, sprout their first tiny pair of leaves
and sometimes even tall trees fall away.

Whoever claims that it's omnipotent
is himself living proof
that it's not.

There's no life
that couldn't be immortal
if only for a moment.

Death
always arrives by that very moment too late.

In vain it tugs at the knob
of the invisible door.
As far as you've come
can't be undone.

*To my Uncle Sonny -- father, brother, and a hardworking man

Close call

2012-02-03T18:04:00.005+08:00

It can be a total spoiler when you're in the middle of a friend's birthday shindig, happily crooning a BSB song to the delight of your generation, and suddenly your phone starts ringing and you look at the screen and it flashes MAMA, but you just hang up the first time thinking the doting mom can wait. But then it rings again and you hang up again, rings again and you hang up again, rings again and you hang up again, and when you think she'll grow impatient and just give up, she makes some more rounds of missed calls. Finally, the persistently ringing phone wears you down just as you end your second song (from Westlife this time). So you rest the microphone down, put on a poker face and take the call. But before you can even say a word you hear your mom utter, "Take me to the hospital."

--------

The trouble was mama's worsening UTI, which had been keeping her seriously ailing the past few days. Last night she got very feverish with periodic chills. I hurried home from the party and we made it to the nearest hospital just in time for her much-needed tests and subsequent medication. The doctor immediately assessed her and gave her a couple of injections of antibiotic and pain reliever. Her fever and pain ultimately went away and we went home with a list of her medicines. It was already the wee hours of the day.

I would have instantly become the worst kind of a heartless living person in this world if I had failed to take my mother's call last night. As I write this, I feel a nagging sense of guilt, realizing how the matter could have turned into something much worse. In my mind I am still being haunted by a series of what-if scenarios: What if she had no other means to call me? What if my phone was battery dead or without a signal? What if I had completely ignored her call? What if she just went unconscious? Then I could be writing a different entry now. And that would have been the total spoiler.

Oh, how great Thou art, Lord.

This Amy, I like

2012-01-15T04:43:00.003+08:00

No one is here today because they did it on their own… You’re all here today because someone gave you strength. Helped you. Held you in the palm of their hand. God, Allah, Buddha, Gaga—whomever you pray to.

And then I died.

Kidding aside, I think she gave some of the most sensible, heartfelt words about life that I have ever heard from the podiums.

"When you feel scared, hold someone’s hand and look into their eyes. And when you feel brave, do the same thing. You are all here because you are smart. And you are brave. And if you add kindness and the ability to change a tire, you almost make up the perfect person.”

Not without a last post for the year

2011-12-31T22:22:00.007+08:00

WE ARE ALL ON THE VERGE of writing this year off and turning the page over for a brand new one. As we pack our experiences of the recent past and fold them into our suitcases of memories, may we all feel a sense of gratitude for making it through 2011 despite what each of us had to face. To be able to see the dawn of a new year is indeed a blessing in itself. Let us count ourselves lucky, or rather blessed, in this game of life that we get to complete 365 days of living and loving. God has been so kind. Let's pass this kindness on tomorrow and in the days ahead.

Here's to more blogging! May we live and write a better story of our lives in 2012 :-)

Happy New Beginnings! Cheers!

I don't know which is worse about the Philippines--

2011-11-08T00:20:00.003+08:00

NAIA Terminal 1 being among the world's "most hated" airports,

...or "Praybeyt Benjamin" becoming the highest grossing Filipino film of all time!

Oh, to be Filipino these days! :p

I Survived!

2011-11-01T23:44:00.006+08:00

AND JUST LIKE THAT, October is overrrrrrr! (Insert cartwheeling, head-standing, air-splitting avatar.)

What a grueling month of merciless deadlines (and what a feat of mine just coming out of it alive, haha.) Seriously, I'm grateful October ended so much better than I have expected it. It was just a crazy time meeting all those taxing school requirements (I knew I should not have underestimated doing MA!) on top of dealing with other bigger issues in life (this deserves another entry).

I really don't know how things just perfectly fell into place. But it can't be mistaken: God is sooo good! (This is even becoming an understatement.)

Now hello there, November. BE MUCH KINDER

A night of Mraz

2011-10-30T23:50:00.003+08:00

FANTASTIC EVENING! Hours ago I was still caught up in the frenzy of Jason Mraz' live acoustic concert with Toca Rivera at the Big Dome. What an awesome, purely musical show sans the unnecessary frills! With just him on vocals and lead guitar, and Toca on percussions and back-up vocals, it was impressive how this whole understated set-up produced the evening's beautiful music.

Event Poster

A pleasant treat, indeed, just seeing and hearing this incredibly talented guy perform! They say you can play a musician's record over and over on your player, but until you've heard the tunesmith play it him/herself, it's all no good. Consider me lucky then!

Without the faintest air of self-importance, Mraz performed onstage clad simply in jeans, a bandana wrapped around his head (which he later tossed away to the audience, much to their delight) and a T-shirt with the word "Peace" on it. If that and his ungroomed beard were any indication, he channeled out a hippie vibe all through the night.

Every number was a showcase of his prolific guitar skills that it felt he was just toying with the instrument. And his voice-- exactly how he sounded on his records! Now that's one real vocalist. No doubt about his passion for music and virtuosity.

It was obvious how the crowd loved every number he did, giving him generous cheers, screams and quite a number of standing ovations.

His repertoire was comprised of both originally-written and cover songs selected from his various albums. I definitely enjoyed his versions of "Across The Universe" originally by the Beatles and "Fly Me To the Moon" by Frank Sinatra. But as expected, the crowd-pleasers were his popular hits such as "The Remedy", "You and I Both" (which personally brought back some fond memories), "Lucky" and his encore's closing performance of "I'm Yours", which rightfuly gave the show a jovial punctuation. How cool to hear the entire audience (myself included) sing along!

Some LQ pics I took with my phone.

I have been a fan of Jason Mraz' songs but until that evening, I had no idea how great a live performer he is! In this age of auto-tune and digital fake-ups, I think this guy is the real deal.

An Apple a day

2011-10-06T23:51:00.002+08:00

SOMEDAY THEY WILL call me luck for owning this piece of your legacy. See you in the morning, Stevie.

Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

Because when it rains

2011-10-01T20:05:00.002+08:00

IT POURS! But this badass UP payong will help me rise to every drenching occasion, LOL.

Got this from a friend/colleague as some kind of a birthday gift-- albeit a very premature one, considering that my birthday is in the summertime. But with the current, berserk wet weather condition, I say it could not have come at a better time! Cool, eh? :p

That Crucial 9/11 Whisper

2011-09-11T15:41:00.000+08:00

Photo by PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images

President George W. Bush was informed by his chief of staff Andrew Card of the attacks on the World Trade Center during a school reading event in Sarasota, Florida. Ten years later, one of the kids who was there in that class, Chantal Guerrero, told Time magazine that to this day she's grateful that Bush -- obviously profoundly upset about something that Card had told him -- maintained his composure and stayed with the students until the book they were reading, The Pet Goat, was finished. "I think the President was trying to keep us from finding out," Guerrero said, "so we all wouldn't freak out." Whether or not the president was trying to keep calm before a group of schoolchildren, in Paul Richards' unforgettable picture, his eyes tell the tale: here, right now, is where so much of what followed on the heels of 9/11 was put in motion. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; the hunt for Saddam and for bin Laden; the still-unknown ramifications of the sweeping and controversial Patriot Act; even, arguably, today's revolutions in the Middle East -- many of the signal events of the past decade began here, with a whisper in a tense, unprepared president's ear. (Yahoo News' 9/11: The 25 Most Powerful Photos)

Gotta do it right

2011-09-03T00:21:00.001+08:00

Acad mode is on

2011-08-01T17:39:00.007+08:00

THESE DAYS I SHALL BE officially catching up on my grad school duties. Whoopee. Confetti shower.

No, seriously, it may not seem like it but I'm really excited. (Insert jumping avatar). I'll tell you why. After a very long hiatus from doing anything that has got to with video productions-- most of which were requirements in my undergrad years ago-- I shall be tinkering with a camera again for my Film 201 class on film, under the prolific Prof. Anne Marie De Guzman of UPFI :-)

So, the challenge is to create a piece in the tradition of "Lumiere et Compagnie" (Lumiere and Company)-- the unprecedented collection of 41 short films by 41 renowned directors from all over the world, each shot using the old cinematographe camera as a fitting tribute to the centenary of the Lumiere brothers' invention. (Check out the trailer of this rare collaboration below.)

Of course we are not required to use the cinematographe camera (although it must be interesting to futz with it :p). Unlike in the "Lumiere et Compagnie"-- which obliged its filmmakers to make no more than 52 seconds, no more than three takes and no synchronized sound-- our TRT requirement is generously between one to three minutes long, and no sound and takes limit. Nevertheless, the shorts featured in this compilation give us a good guide on what a short film should be in terms of content and purpose, and we can sum it up to two words: methaphor, texture.

Exciting, eh? Let's see how I will fare in this. Now time to dust my creative guns off!

Hulidap!

2011-07-28T17:45:00.018+08:00

IT'S A CATCHPHRASE for "a fake arrest in which a supposed suspect is nabbed for drug or any other criminal charge. The arresting police personnel would then extort money from the 'suspect' for the latter’s freedom. The term is a combination of Filipino and English words huli (apprehend) and hold-up" (doubletongued.org).

It's nothing new, really-- for years this modus operandi by the so-called "rascals in uniforms" has been a favorite dish in the news, served Mike Enriquez or Tulfo style-- but you would never know how ugly this sh*t is until it unfolds right before your eyes. Such was my learning last night.

You see, I was on my way home to Cubao so I took a taxi from Q Ave going the direction of Araneta Avenue and E. Rodriguez (google map it if you have no clue :p). So it was already ten thirty and our cab was happily breezing through the fairly car-less avenue (thanks to the flirty storm that put the night life on hold).

Obviously the driver was so engrossed at the uninterrupted speed that he seemed not to care about traffic. And ignore the red light he did. As we made our turn to E. Rod, lo and behold-- a couple of policemen surfaced from the dark. They waved at us to pull over and beamed their handheld flashlights like in the movies. As soon as we stopped-- imagine this happening under 15 seconds-- the driver took out a bill from his wallet and discreetly (though I knew it was coming)-- gave it to one of the men. We resumed on the road immediately.

I asked the driver how much he gave those men and he said fifty pesos. (He just bought his cheap way out to freedom.) We left it there and talk nothing more about it. I finally reached home.

I thought to myself, it can't be the worst form of corruption that I could ever bear witness to in my entire life. I mean, I've seen far worse in the news. (There's like Gloria the Mother of Corruptions, etc.)

But no matter how petty it appears to be, it still does not feel right knowing that such crookedness continues. From the seamless dynamics I saw between the cab driver and the police, it proved it has already become a culture of mutual corruption--the former violating simple traffic rules and just paying his way out, and the latter feeding on such violations. And this symbiosis between abusive law enforcers and undisciplined drivers, I think, is a huge boulder to break if we want our streets rid of lawlessness.

So I guess it's not just the magnitude of corruption that should alarm us, its the culture of acceptance that is being bred. True enough, the accomplice to the crime of corruption is frequently our own indifference, says Bess Myerson. We could only hope there are no more people willing to break the law just because they can buy their way out for measly fifty pesos.

Jolt me, quick!

2011-07-28T01:04:00.006+08:00

If there's anything that this blog needs it's a defibrillator! (Cue "Bring Me To Life" by Evanessence :p)

Oh, to maintain a blog these days is tougher. With the overwhelming variety of social media that incessantly distracts and divides our attention, to commit to blogging is to enter in a more demanding relationship with a virtual space that is to become your lover-- one that embraces your meanderings about personal dreams and aspirations and make them valid; one that shares with your triumphs and culls your adventures of a blissful day; one that listens to your endless rants about your shitty life and does not complain; one you can count on to remind you of past memories that are otherwise forgotten; and one that simply keeps you company in your lonesome existence.

I am already a bad lover.

And in the tradition of ~~second~~ ~~third~~ brand new chances, here on I promise to attend to this blog with more zest and passion.

(Now segue music to Journey's "Faithfully".)

A Time to Sing, A Time to Build

2011-06-14T14:13:00.011+08:00

On February 7, 2011, about ten in the evening, a fire of still undermined cause occurred in Brgy. Central, Quezon Central, a "squatters area" teeming with shanties and illegal settlers just the same as the rest of Metro Manila. Within six hours of inferno-like state, around 500 houses were destroyed, leaving nearly 3000 families homeless.

But like a much-needed miracle, the fire spared the lone Seventh-day Adventist church in the vicinity, inspiring church members to remain grateful despite the tragedy.

Ultimately, however, this church building will be demolished along with all the remaining houses and structures as soon as the government decides to reclaim the land. After the fire, it would have to be relocated just like all other affected families.

Now the point of this rambling:

On Sunday, June 19, 2011, a spiritual bayanihan is underway through a concert-for-a-cause entitled "Music and Harmony" at the PHILAM Life Auditorium, UN Avenue, Manila at 6PM. Our all-male singing group, The Verses & Voices Male Chorus, is honored to be one of the two main featured artists (alongside child singing sensation Jeramie Sanico). Other talented SDA musicians are also going to give special numbers as we all come together to help raise funds for the Quezon Central church-building project.

I hope you can join us on this meaningful evening! :-) Check out the poster I made for our group!

For ticket inquiries, you may contact Richard Sanico of the organizing team at 09484710056.

...

2011-05-24T16:59:00.001+08:00

"Waiting Outside The Lines" by Greyson Chance

2011-04-26T16:17:00.004+08:00

Try to have no regrets
Even if it's just tonight
How you gonna walk ahead
If you keep living blind?

Talented kid :)

Noted!

2011-04-24T17:56:00.002+08:00

Reblogged from Raymond Carver, This Is For You

On A Good Friday

2011-04-22T18:04:00.002+08:00

DONSOL, Sorsogon-- On our way back to the resort from today's butanding interaction, a lonesome whaleshark, probably 9 meters in length, appeared very close to the water's surface. No other boat was around, as if it were a moment created only for us to behold. But the gentle giant in its carefree swim almost hit our vessel. Fortunately it escaped the possible mishap by swimming under our boat, wiggling its tail as it disappeared from our sight. What a memorable encounter!

This Friday was, indeed, good. Thank God :)

Nagsusumigaw kahit walang sinasabi

2011-04-21T16:31:00.002+08:00

My sentiments exactly.

Artist: Edvard Munch

Year: 1983

Type: Oil, tempera, and pasted on cardboard

Dimensions: 91 cm x 73.5 com (36 in x 28.9 in)

Location: National Gallery, Oslo

Hanging on

2011-04-17T19:49:00.003+08:00

Spring Cleaning Your Life

2011-04-16T12:30:00.008+08:00

Because I most certainly need one now :) Here I share this useful piece from my online devotional. I hope this blesses you too!

Spring cleaning is a time when we clean out the mess, open the windows and let the warmth and light shine in. Here are seven ways to spring clean your life:

1) Clean out Pride and replace it with Humility. But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. (Psalm 25:9)

2) Clean out Anger and replace it with Self Control. An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins. (Psalm 22:9) The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

3) Clean out Unbelief and replace it with Faith. See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:12-13) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

4) Clean out Revenge, and replace it with Forgiveness. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord. (Romans 12:17-19) Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9)

5) Clean out Complaining and replace it with Praise. Do everything without complaining or arguing. (Philippians 2:14) Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased (Hebrews 13:15-16)

6) Clean out Wicked Thoughts and replace them with Pure Thoughts. The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.(Matthew 15:18-19) Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

7) Clean out Gossip and replace it with Encouragement. Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. (Proverbs 26:20) Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:29-32)

On Willie Revillame's Rant

2011-04-10T18:00:00.003+08:00

"Susuportahan n'yo ba ang mga taong iyan? Ano ang nagawa ninyo? Ano ang nagawa ninyo sa sambayanang Pilipino?" Willie said after naming his celebrity critics. "Kapwa tayo artista. Nakagawa ba kayo ng tulong? Nagbigay ba kayo sa Bantay Bata ng isang milyon? Ito, huwag kayong manghusga ng kapwa ninyo artista. Dapat magkakasama tayo. Tulungan ninyo kami kung nagkakamali kami, huwag kayong manghuhusga. Tandaan ninyo, yung masang Pilipino ang sumusuporta sa inyo." (Yahoo News)

Just because you have donated a huge sum of money to a charitable foundation does not mean you are any better than the rest of us. Don't ever think you can equate your money and fame with the absolute right to objectify anyone in your show. Enough is enough, Willie.

Against

2011-04-09T21:38:00.008+08:00

adsoftheworld

Very cute :) Perhaps a Vespa one day?

Sidenote:

Ace Saatchi & Saatchi’s “Our Ride” campaign for Vespa was the 15th most awarded print ad/campaign in the world the previous year, in accordance to the most recent edition of the marketplace bible The Gunn Report. This is the Philippines’ greatest at any time ranking on the chart since it started in 1999, beating the earlier documented holder, JWT Manila’s “Trees” print ad for Greenpeace in 2006, which placed 19th that year. (Yahoo News)

Take me to the beach!

2011-04-05T19:12:00.016+08:00

Despite growing up in a coastal town, I had never developed a deep-seated love for the sea, much less learned how to swim. Not that I dread going to the beach, it's just I'm not a giddy fan of it. Ask my friends who had been in "bad company" with me to a few exciting shores and they'd bluntly tell you that I'm a beach bore. (I gotta admit I have some issues with the beach... such as... I cannot stay long in the water because I easily get cold; I would rather stay in the shade than bask out in the summer sun to avoid headache; and, as much as I want to wear just shorts I cannot because I don't have the beach body to flaunt, yadda, yadda, yadda.)

But what do you know? Lately I'm feeling the itch to go to the beach! :D Seriously, I'm fancying now the feel of the powdery sand of Boracay under my feet once again, or the charm of Bohol and all its gastronomia (if there's ever a word), and the luxurious tranquility that is uniquely Calaguas!

Hello, summer! :) Take me back to these beaches, anyone?

PS: To my dear friend, Amer Amor, The "beach bum", who captured all these splendid images, tag me along on your next beachin', will ya? :D

Peace in the midst of the storm

2011-03-11T21:26:00.007+08:00

1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried to the midst of the sea; 3Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. (Psalms 46)

Biyahero

2011-03-07T23:15:00.003+08:00

Kaibigan, if you have a free time on Sunday, March 13, it would be great if you can watch our play "BIYAHERO", inspired by John Bunyan's classic Christian allegory "Pilgrim's Progress," at the Pasay Adventist Church Multipurpose Hall (which is just a short stride from Gil Puyat LRT station). Tickets are sold at P150 and your support is a valuable boost to our drama ministry. For inquiries and reservations contact 09179901724. This is presented to you by Sa Isang Sulok ng Bilog na Mesa Productions (SULOK) and the Communication Department of PAC.

We had a successful first day run yesterday (March 6). Here are some of the stills courtesy of the talented lensman Vinzon Matias of Rockin' Photographer :)

To God be all the glory! :)

I Knew He Was Love

2011-02-08T10:13:00.010+08:00

When you've seen a lifetime of darkness
You know when its finally light
When you've made a thousand wrong choices
You know when its finally right.
In His eyes I found strength for tomorrow
And I felt my heart overflow
For right then and there I knew He was love
And that's all I needed to know

He looked through all my pretenses
Into my weakness and pride
He looked through all my disguises
And into the heart that I hide.
In His heart there is wisdom and healing
And a powerful feeling of hope
For right there and then I knew He was love
And that's all I needed to know

I KNEW HE WAS LOVE
Bright as the first light of morning
I knew He was love
Deep as the river that flows
I didn't know, didn't know where He came from
Or where He was planning to go
I only knew He was love
And that's all I needed to know.

Where do you ought to go?

2011-02-05T23:33:00.004+08:00

March 6 and 13

Pasay Adventist Church

Multi-Purpose Hall

Eleven in Twenty Eleven

2011-01-24T03:32:00.004+08:00

The first month of the year is almost over and before we know it, it's already the end of the world-- if you care to believe the Mayans, or Roland Emmerich, that is. But before everything sweeps by for a new round of Auld Lang Syne, I'd like to share what I look forward to happen this year. It's best that I've written them down so that I can be reminded that life ceases to be a bore only when you choose it to be :)

1. Birthday celebration in The Lion City. Every new year nudges one's age off the calendar. It's five more years before mine gets written off. Because dreaming is for free, I imagined it would be swell to spend my birthday in a foreign soil for the first time! So, I booked a one way ticket to Singapore where I hope to sing me happy 26th by the Merlion. If I get lucky, may some generous friends will treat me to a blissful day at the Universal Studios :p All this before I scamper to scout for a cheap return ticket!

2. BIYAHERO Redux. Our newly revived church-based theater group, Sa Isang Sulok ng Bilog na Mesa Productions (SULOK), is finally doing our first real theater season! That's with a play entitled "Biyahero", loosely based on John Bunyan's English classic Christian allegory Pilgrim's Progress. We first staged this in 2005 and we're bringing it back with a brand new cast and plot twists. Catch one of our runs in Pasay City on March 6 and 13. More updates on the coming days!!

3. Last semester of M.A. coursework. The reason why I love my job is that I'm paid to go to school. So hopefully, and I cautiously add: "by God's grace," I will finish my final nine units of coursework in the coming semester (en route, albeit, to the dreaded compre exam and thesis). But now I'd be lying if I say I'm seamlessly breezing through and over the moon about this graduate studies experience. I just want it to be over, BUT, honorably.

4. More music ministry. I'm really excited about what this year holds for our church-based singing group, the Verses and Voice Male Chorus, which just celebrated our 5th anniversary last October. Although my coming to rehearsals late would tell otherwise, I'm truly passionate about our music ministry. There's nothing like putting your voice to good use and offering it back to the Lord :) I hope our planned outreach programs finally push through as well.

5. Summer Worksop with OSY. I and a very close friend, who is a teacher like myself, are organizing a theater workshop for the out-of-school and indigent youth of our town this summer. This will be my first "giving-back" to my hometown and I'm thrilled!!!

6. Gaining weight and prioritizing health. Half way through this list I realized that my lack of serious concern towards taking care of my body had taken its toll on me the past year, being sickly lots of times with cough and colds, and even during the first two weeks of the year. This time, hence, I really want to improve my health and achieve my ideal body weight. This a long overdue goal and I earnestly look forward to seeing it happen this year. Gotta push myself!

7. High School homecoming. It's been a decade already since I graduated from high school back in our small, humble town in the province. Come September, I'm excited to see and catch up on my friends and former teachers' lives when we get to meet again for our grand alumni homecoming. I know my roots and I'd like to be grounded, always.

8. Traveling more around the country. Ever since I came to appreciate the value and the priceless perks of traveling, surely through some wanderlust friends, I realize I want to experience more opportunities to see beautiful places in the country and meet new, interesting people. After all, life is just too short to get stucked in one corner, right?

9. Brushing up on my French. I admire the language so much and I feel like I would be putting it to good use in the future. So I hope to enroll myself in French classes this year and ultimately become conversant with it. Who knows I might find myself lost in the Louvre or under the Eiffel someday? :p

10. New gadgets. Just my indulgence. A blackberry or an I-Pad maybe :D

11. More blogging. Because sometimes, amidst the rollercoaster ride of my emotions, all I need is to write my thoughts down and be read.

No Year's Resolution

2011-01-01T22:50:00.016+08:00

Well, folks, I don't have it simmering that thing called new year's resolution. It has become a myth already, at least to me. You see, I have never been good at fulfilling a single bullet point in my previous lists and I have the right reason to stop trying: I realize I cannot plan my life the way God does it.

Hence, what I have now is a fervent prayer, instead:

That I may become more prayerful more than ever;

That I may become more grateful for everything that comes my way--

blessings and trials alike;

That I may become healthier in body, mind, and spirit;

That I may be more loving;

That I may learn to forgive and let go;

That I may be more active in giving back my talents to God;

That I may learn to practice what I preach;

That I may learn to outgrow my darling sins;

That I may be a good Christian-- stronger and more faithful than ever.

Happy 2011 to everyone! And to those who have their new year's resolutions ready, I say, keep reaching for the stars! :p

Phineas and Ferb: City of Love

2010-12-29T22:37:00.009+08:00

It's amazing how cartoons can speak to adults, too :)

New Philippine Peso Bills

2010-12-18T15:52:00.009+08:00

After three years of tinkering comes finally a major "facelift" for the Philippine bills!

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently unveiled the new designs for the Peso bank notes: bolder colors and prime highlight on the country's favorite natural wonders and patriotic emblems.

On top of these fresh visual elements, BSP also assures the public of better security features that would make it difficult for counterfeiters to imitate, but easy for the ordinary to determine the real from the bogus. Aside from the customary embossed prints, serial numbers, security fibers and threads, and watermark, the designs also include the word “Pilipino” written in “Baybayin,” a pre-Spanish writing system, and the Republic of the Philippines seal.

Of course, there is still that traditional honoring of national heroes and former Philippine presidents, but with some interesting development this time. Here are the screen caps of the new bills from Thea Alberto's FTP blog and see for your self:

Look, it's a dandier and younger-looking Quezon this time, is it not? :)

To my delight, Leyte is now represented in the new bank note through the inclusion of the iconic "Leyte Landing" statues.

Those eyebags are quite prominent Roxas might be irked in his graves. Hehe

At last a fitting tribute to Bicol's wealth of wonders, which include the world-famous perfect cone-shaped Mayon Volcano and the gentle giant butanding.

Guess who gets downgraded? It's no less than fromer president GMA whose "oath-taking" image, prominent in the now soon-to-be replaced P200 bill, is repositioned from the center to the leftmost lower corner of the new bill, almost unrecognizable. If it's any consolation, his father's headshot remains enshrined on it.

Bohol, another key tourist destination in the country, gets a much-deserved boost with the inclusion of the Chocolate Hills and the tarsier.

Perhaps the most talked about overhaul is with the new P500 bill, which reunites the country's most respected Aquino family: smiling Ninoy and former president Cory, both champions of Philippine democracy, and their president son Noynoy, albeit in signature. The BSP stressed out that this decision to join the celebrated parents was made not long after the death of Cory, even before PNoy run for office and won. Must have been a proud day for 'Noy, right Krissy? :p

All in all, I like the new spanking look, if it's any indication of a stronger, more progressive economy. Now if only there's a true outpouring of money!

But now I go straight to one nagging question in my mind: Where are the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in these new bank notes? Should they not be included as a rightful homage to their contribution in keeping our economy afloat all these years? It's the least our government can do as a sign of gratitude to these unsung heroes. This should have been a proud moment for them, too, right PNoy?

The day the headlines suck

2010-12-14T23:34:00.008+08:00

I imagine the Ampatuans; they must be in high spirits.

Old dog, old tricks?

2010-12-13T18:59:00.001+08:00

The least I want these days is a pile of paper work before the holidays.

But look what I've got at the time being: a 10-page essay to scribble (due for submission tomorrow), of which I haven't even started a dot; a long-overdue report to submit, also due for tomorrow, that's already screaming for my attention; and one more: a play to revise for submission on Saturday.

It's not that I'm having a writer's block of sort, no, blame it simply on my failure to do things according to schedule. It's not my lack of foresight, it's my lack of time management. It's not that I'm too busy, it's just I'm still stuck in my old habits of cramming and procrastination.

Gawd, I need some scolding! The thing is, I've been trying to discipline myself for the nth time. (Well, maybe I'm not pushing myself hard enough.)

Am I becoming a case of "you can't teach old dogs new tricks?" Oh, no...

Snow-fake, not snowflake!

2010-12-12T22:13:00.008+08:00

That snow show.

It's an idea so silly and impractical I would think no local government in this poverty-stricken nation would dare entertain, much more invest around half a million pesos on such a project for the sake of boosting tourism for the holidays. But alas, I was wrong: the Pines City did.

Baguio City, with its natural beauty charming visitors all year-round-- cold holiday weather like no other in the country, to wit-- needed no fake show to ensure tourist arrival or maintain a festive atmosphere for this season. For one, the city is congested already with soooo many people the least it needs are more rowdy visitors exacerbating the city's perennial problems on garbage and traffic.

Second, given that the local government wanted something grand coinciding with the Christmas festivities, why a "snow show" of all possible spectacles? I wonder what they've written on the rationale part of the proposal. Reportedly, the city government earmarked (but now it denies) the amount of P400,000 for that miracle to happen, which, as it turned out on December 4 in front of approximately 50,000 people, was equivalent to seven "snow-making" machines churning out merely floating soap suds, much to the crowd's disappointment. Snow-fake not snowflakes, indeed.

Photo credit: Harley Palangchao via theigorotonline

Ah, that dreaming of a white Christmas!

What now becomes of this is an important lesson on bad imitation, and in greater sense, a reminder of our faulty neo-colonial consciousness. Maybe next time it's still better to take pride on what is genuinely Filipino. Case in point: the Giant Lantern Festival of the city of San Fernando in Pampanga, which does not only provide grand visual spectacle through its array of colorful parols but also celebrate the ingenuity of world-class Filipino craftsmanship. And the project has been around for years already!

Really, who needs snow to feel the cool sweep of the Christmas air? Baguio is cold enough. What every mortal needs now in the City of Pines is some warm loving!

Great Migrations

2010-12-05T23:45:00.010+08:00

Warning: fan post below.

It's been a very long while since I last got hooked to a television program, and we know how good TV hardly comes by these days. But the spectacular Great Migration mini-series of the National Geographic Channel just can't be missed!

This is no junk TV, swear.

What I thought was a just an exclusively human phenomenon, migration is surprisingly so common in the animal world they are actually born to move and follow the rhythm of mother nature. This is what the show essays to capture and present through the idiom of television, and it does so BEAUTIFULLY. Literally a smorgasbord high-definition images.

Apart from the visual grandeur, what I also like about the show is its underrated but genuine concern to remind people about the the plight of our ailing mother nature, without being propagandist to say the least. Its dramatic highlights on human-like behavior in the animal world are just precious and moving.

In the producers' own words, the show is the most ambitious of all of NatGeo's remarkable programs. Certainly it's difficult to imagine Great Migrations turning out this spectacular without an army of dedicated people. So as a form of homage, tonight's episode was a break from the affairs of the animal world and, instead, a focus the people behind the scenes.

Truly, the crew had their own share of memorable, challenging, and often life-threatening experiences as they tag along with the migration. Imagine filming through bizarre weather conditions, unfamiliar territories, and even threats of animal attack. How Herculean a job it must be for these people having to deal with those conditions! Seriously, their passion is so contagious it makes me wanna start working on my own documentary dreams ;p

Props, props, props to National Geographic! Always a fan here :)

In The Living Years

2010-12-04T19:04:00.001+08:00

"Say it loud, say it clear

You can listen as well as you hear

It's too late when we die

To admit we don't see eye to eye"

-Mike & The Mechanics

Anuradha Koirala: CNN Hero Of The Year

2010-11-26T23:19:00.001+08:00

I was able to chance upon the evening's broadcast of the "CNN Heroes", a global recognition given by the giant media company Cable News Network to "every day people changing the world", as its tagline goes. For us Filipinos, the award is of course synonymous to the name Efren Penaflorida, who, in person, won the 2009 top prize for his Kariton Klarum (mobile pushcart classroom) project, which aims to "bring education to poor children in the Philippines."

Prior to tonight, I have not heard of a thing about this year's winner, Anuradha Koirala. But back in her homeland Nepal, her work against human trafficking, particularly in rescuing and giving shelter and new life to young girls and women who have been victims of sex slavery, has already been restoring lives and inspiring change sensationally. Here's an excerpt of an article about her from the CNN webpage:

"Human trafficking is a crime, a heinous crime, a shame to humanity," Koirala said earlier in the evening after being introduced as one of the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2010. "I ask everyone to join me to create a society free of trafficking. We need to do this for all our daughters."

Koirala was introduced by actress Demi Moore, who along with her husband, Ashton Kutcher, created DNA, The Demi and Ashton Foundation, which aims to eliminate child sex slavery worldwide.

"Every day this woman confronts the worst of what humanity has to offer," Moore said of Koirala. "She says, 'Stop. Stop selling our girls.' By raiding brothels and patrolling the India-Nepal border, she saves girls from being sold into the sex trade, where they are being repeatedly raped for profit, tortured and enslaved.

"Since 1993, she has helped rescue more than 12,000 women and girls. Through her organization Maiti Nepal, she has provided more than a shelter for these girls and young women, she has created a home. It is a place for them to heal, go to school, learn a skill, and for some who are infected with HIV/AIDS, it is the place where they can spend their days surrounded by love."

This woman is the real deal. Listening to her speak about her cause with so much sincerity and humility was just personally moving. Congratulations, Anuradha, and thank you!

(Image source: CNN)

Everything I Need To Know About Life I Learned From Noah's Ark

2010-11-26T14:51:00.000+08:00

One- Don't miss the boat.
Two- Remember that we are all in the same boat.Three- Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
Four- Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
Five- Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
Six- Build your future on high ground.
Seven- For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
Eight- Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
Nine- When you're stressed, float a while.
Ten- Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
Eleven- No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

Lest We Forget

2010-11-23T01:45:00.001+08:00

Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just. (Blaise Pascal)

Fifty-eight lives lost. One ultimate justice still in the wing.

(Image source: profile.org.ph)

Ad astra, excelsior!

2010-11-21T23:37:00.001+08:00

As I previously wrote, our boyband-- oh, give it to us!-- sang at a concert for a cause sponsored by the AMiCUS-CLC and SAM at Pasay Adventist Church. What I expected to be another simple musical program turned out to be an evening of musical praise and worship --the SDA way! I must admit I was overwhelmed by the wealth of talented singers our church has, ranging from soloists to ensembles, young belters to seasoned vocalists. In no other occasions did I get enthralled by performers who are perhaps as young as preschoolers but are already perfectly pitched and can render well-harmonized quartets, or by crooning men who are in their twilight years but whose soothing voices never seemed to have been twitched by time.

To be in the midst of such prolific singers was truly a treasured opportunity. One by one, splendid performances unfolded, ensuing a lively and encouraging crowd that never failed to graciously applaud or give a resounding "Amen" at the end of each number.

But waiting in the wings, I got unexpectedly soooo nervous. Totally butterflies in my stomach! Who would not be with all those amazing voices? With just a couple of performances away, I had to go outside to do quick rounds of jumping jacks just to shake my anxiety off!

Thankfully, our performances all went well. We first sang a popular hymn entitled Nearer My Heart To Thee arranged a cappella by the group called Vocal Point. I'm not sure how to describe exactly the arrangement, but it is very close to the classical Gregorian style. Here is a video of how the song goes (note that this is not our last night's version, but I hope we got this close, hehe):

The Latin portion of the lyrics, which probably left any non-Latin-speaking-audience dumbfounded, is translated this way:

In articulo mortis --- At the moment of death
Caelitus mihi vires --- My strength is from heaven
Deo adjuvante non timendum --- God helps, nothing should be feared
In perpetuum --- For ever
Dirige nos domine --- Direct us, O Lord
Ad augusta per angusta --- To high places by narrow roads
Sic itur ad astra --- Such is the path to the stars
Excelsior --- Ever upward

This song is by far the most challenging of the pieces we have learned because of two main things: one is obviously the Latin challenge, and two is the nine-voice requisite of the arrangement! For taking on this piece, against all odds, we have obviously dared a possible suicide. But God is sooo good He helped as through!

The second song, another a cappella, was entitled Good News by the Kings Herald. It's oldie but jolly! Here is a video of the Kings Herald performance:

I don't think we came that close to singing it the Kings Herald's way in terms of vocal maturity, hehe, but I hope we did just as jolly a performance as the original's.

At pre-curtain call, our group left the occasion with blessed hearts. And once again, I'm this ever grateful that I have this chance to offer my voice back to the Lord who rightfully owns it.

Rewarding ourselves, we went to a simple but sumptuous dinner to celebrate, incidentally, the birthdays of two of the boys. Indeed, thank God for the night!

Saturday singing

2010-11-20T21:18:00.005+08:00

Saturdays usually suck the most energy out of me, but with a good purpose. You see, I belong to an all-male singing group in the church --we are called Verses and Voices Male Chorus-- and for the previous Sabbaths of the last five months we have been very busy holding mini-concerts in various Seventh-day Adventist local churches or plainly practicing new songs or polishing old pieces. Despite going home tired and vocally worn out, I don't (and never will) complain. Being called to this kind of ministry is truly a blessing.

Just this afternoon, we spent 2-3 hours rehearsing a couple of songs for a special program tomorrow evening: a "concert for a cause" (see poster below) presented by the Adventist Ministry to College and University Students of the Central Luzon Conference (AMiCUS-CLC) and the Samahan ng Adventistang Musikero (SAMM). If you are familiar with the Pasay Adventist Church or anywhere near Gil Puyat, you might consider checking out the event for an opportunity to be inspired by live Christian music.

Our group will be singing the classical hymns Nearer My God To Thee and Good News, both excellently arranged for TTBB. The songs are exciting as they are inspiring :)
Unfortunately we are coping with fully nailing the pieces as they should be, brought by the fact that we are presently short of members. We used to be a ten-strong ensemble, but due to dissimilar priorities we are now merely singing as a quintet. Albeit, I'm happy that there are still few of us left standing and singing about God's message of love and salvation.

I don't mind losing my energy for something this worthy indeed.

A Time For Everything

2010-11-19T16:31:00.000+08:00

There is an appointed time for everything, the book of Ecclesistes tells us:

² A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.
³ A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up.
⁴ A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
⁵ A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.
⁶ A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw away.
⁷ A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak.
⁸ A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace.

And in my case, a time to get blogging again! Here's to rewiring and claiming my worth of virtual space! May I be able to fulfill a productive blog life. So help me God :)

(Image source: kaushik.net)