two questions

has it ever occured to you even once, what is your real calling in life? and have you ever feel at one point in time that you’re sort of lost and trying to deviate from the real purpose of your existence?

heath ledger of a knight’s tale & brokeback mountain found dead

you read it right.

click this LINK to see BBC’s report on his untimely demise.

I didn’t like what he’d done in brokeback mountain but I fell in love with him in a Knight’s Tale though.

Reality of death is knocking. Would you open your mind to it?

the bell

THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God’s child (John 1:12)
I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15)
I am united with the Lord(1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price(1 Cor. 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt.5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ(1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant ( Phil.3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31-34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God(2 Cor.5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God(Rom.8:35- 39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor.1:21-22)
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8: 28)
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God’s temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God’s co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God’s workmanship( Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected (Phil 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col. 1:14). I have been adopted as God’s child(Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
who you
are!?Keep this bell ringing…
“The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn His face toward you
and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26 – a forwarded email from a buddy

kilig daw

nakakatawa….

roasted manok

Dave sent this to our friends back home. Naka-CC din ako at mga kaibigan namin sa cell group sa FCCD (Filipino Christian Church of Dubai) dito sa dubai.
To say that my heart was tied into knots and that I was deeply touched by his letter is an understatement.
Sobrang malungkot yung pasko namin pero ang diwa nito ay hindi dapat mawala anuman ang sitwasyon o kalagayan namin noon.

     

   This a December 25 email. Im at work today. I wasn’t able to open my emails for almost 2 weeks, napaka busy talaga sa work, kahit ngaun dapat off ako, pinapasok pa din ako kc may tatapusin daw, kaya lng until this time di pa sya (boss) pumapasok sa office.

Anyway, miss ko na ang Pasko sa pinas, kahapon nga eh buong araw akong nasa labas ng office, nag punta sa apat na malls sa Dubai para mag collect ng natapos naming promos, 8 am kami nagsimula, 9pm na ko nakauwi…nakakapagod…. but Christmas is still Christmas, it doesnt change its meaning kahit anung bagay ang naranasan ko, sabi nga ng kanta “tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang pasko”. Kumain kmi ng pritong isda na hiningi ni Ice sa kasama nmin sa bahay, di pa kasi kmi nakapamimili, wala pang katapusan pero di ako nakuntento, kinalkal ko ang wallet ko at bumili kmi ng walang kamatayan roasted chicken (dahil roasted chicken lagi ang inuulam namin kapag hindi nakakaluto sa gabi galing sa trabaho), kinain namin ang kalahati at binaon ung kalahati, may laman man o wala ang hapag kainan Pasko pa din ito, di kayang pantayan ang tunay na diwa at halaga nito.

     Habang pauwi ako kagabi mula sa nakakapagod na trabaho outside ng office nmin, as I walk on the street before I got a ride back home… I looked up and talk to God…. Merry Christmas po Panginoon….salamat sa lahat ng bagay na ipanagkaloob nyo sa araw na ito. Inaalala ko ang dakilang araw ng inyong kapanganakan Panginoong Hesus…mahal na mahal ko po Kayo…. As I pray these things tears slowly flow down from my eyes… I was great to greet the Creator of this universe a merry Christmas…

Soon I’ll be back to my beloved country, my friends, home church and family…
Missing you all this Christmas…

Dave

Lutang

Inaantok ako sa mga oras na ito.

At gusto ko ng pumayat.

Hindi ko alam kung paanong ang dalawang magkaibang konsepto(plano) na ito ang naiisip ko.

Marahil sa kape.

Tara kape tayo…

Hayaang ang mainit na likido ang dumaloy sa tuyot na lalamunan at magpakulo sa tyang walang laman.

PS. Salamat nga pala ng marami Enmely (is this your name’s anagram which is Mylene? guess lang)…

I appreciate you reading my blog. Sana magkita tayo minsan. Wala lang. Kung kailangan mo lang ng tatambling sa harapan mo, I’m more than willing to perform such an antic. Hehe. Salamat talaga. Ayan, magkapit bahay na pala tayo. Salamat uli.

There is None Like You

Thanksgiving and praises…

Ang post na ito ay gagamitin ko upang pasalamatan ang Lord sa mga bagong bagay at masasayang kaganapan sa buhay ko nitong mga nagdaang araw.

Salamat unang una sa Lord sa isang buhay ng taong nakinig sa akin at siya kong pinagsabihan, pangalawa kay chris, ng mga ‘deepest darkest secrets ko’.haha! Alam mo na kung sino ka, at gusto ko lang sabihin sa ‘yo kung mababasa mo ito, na I greatly appreciate your open mindedness. Salamat at hindi mo ko hinusgahan at tiwala ako na safe ang mga secrets na ‘yon sa ‘yo.

Continue to pray for me. Thanks for the friendship.

Pangalawa, praises and honor unto God sa bagong work dito sa GN. I am really happy with my current job.
Perfect in every aspect.
Buti na lang alam ng Panginoon ano exactly yung laman ng puso ko.

Panginoon ng aking buhay…Salamat po.

Pangatlo, salamat sa Panginoon for continuously healing some areas of my life.
May song akong alam na ang title ay ‘Binabago mo ako araw-araw’. Ganyang ganyan ang nangyayari sa akin ngayon. At ang sarap magbago, though hindi siya madali, pero kapag nakikita mo yung bunga ng pagbabagong iyon kagaya ng pagkakaroon ng karagdagang saya, healed relationship, blessings, peace… lalo kang maiinspire magbago.

Maiisip niyo siguro…kuuu… si Ice naman, masyadong ispiritwal!
Ang masasabi ko lang dyan eh, ok lang.
Ano naman masama sa pagiging ispiritwal?
Maganda nga iyon.
You’re always looking forward to something to be thankful for.
And it’s always uplifting that all of that blessings will bring back ALL the glory to God.

Sa buhay ko, sa lahat ng natanggap ko, hindi iyon dahil sa maganda ako (chenez!), mabait (isang malaking jowk..haha!) at matalino ay sus! loko lang) ako, kundi higit sa anupamang reason, I received these things because God, my Lord, Savior, friend, Dad, wants everything that’s best for His children. And He will provide those according to His riches and glory.

At kahit hindi Niya i-provide yung mga bagay the way I expected it to be, I’ll still sing praises unto Him.
Because the deepest joy and purpose of my life I found in Him.
Kumbaga, lahat ng mga nangyayari ngayon sa buhay ko na sobrang saya, it’s a BIG bonus from God.

Ang sarap talagang gunitain kung gaano kabuti ang Panginoon.

Hep! Kung naiinip na kayo at gusto nyo nang mag ALT + TAB papunta sa ibang window, pakinggan niyo muna ito.

There is none like You
No one else can touch my heart like You do
I could search for all eternity long
And find there is none like You

Your mercy flows like a river wide
And healing comes from Your hands
Suffering children are safe in Your arms
There is none like You

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Heb11:1)

Maraming pwedeng mangyari sa isang araw.

Katulad na lang kahapon.
Umaga, on the way ang tech crew, ang marketing manager at ako syempre, ang dakilang alalay ng lahat,
sa isang Delegation/ Conference sa Ras al Khaimah. Ito ay para i-persuade ang mga Chines investors, na inin-troduce ng
mayutak naming boss, para itapon ipagkatiwala nila ang kaban kabang yaman nila sa lugar na ito.

Brief info:

Ang RaS AL khAimah ay isa sa mga emirates, sampu ng Dubai, na bumubuo sa United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Kasalukuyan itong pinapayaman ng pamahalaan ng RAK sa pamamagitan ng pang-iimbita ng mga foreign investors.
Nilalayon nilang tumulad sa Dubai na may man made islandssssss (Palm Jumeirah, Palm Dubai, Palm Deira), aktibong turismo at bilyong dolyar.
Maliban sa naligaw kami kahapon dahil puro disyerto (na may kaakit akit na malagintong sand dunes) eh masarap ang hinandang pagkain sa hotel (Al Hamra) na pinagganapan ng conference.

Sa aming paglalakbay, nagulat ako ng inabot sa akin ng boss kong si Jenny ang ilang pirasong papel at pen.

“Ano ‘to?” wika ko.

“Shusch lai mah! Kow lsiufn. Shing Ching Ping!!!!” sagot niya.

Jowk.

Sabi niya tulungan ko siyang gumawa ng tanong para sa Q&A portion ng Conf. Napailing na lang ako kasi nga naiinis na ‘ko. Hindi mawala sa kanya ang pagiging hindi organisado. Hindi man niya lang ito nabanggit kahapon sa meeting samantalang buong araw kaming magkasama. Di bale na, kako, tatlong araw na lang naman ako dito sa kompanyang ito at lilipat na ko. Konting tiis.

So sige, sulat naman ako ng tanong. Sulat dito, edit doon. Kapag hindi maganda sa pandinig i-cross out agad.
Opo, mahina sila sa spelling. Pero, alam nila kung paano at ano ang itatanong. Kumbaga may ideya na, tinulungan ko na lang sa pag-reconstruct ng sentences/questions at nag-suggest na lang din ako ng pandagdag panggulong tanong.

Bago kami tuluyang bumaba sa Chev ni boss, ok na ang lahat. Hanggang sa makarating kami ng RAK.
Pagkakita sa akin ni pagkagwapong gwapong CEO, (kamukha niya si Daniel Henney. please see pic below), nilapitan niya ‘ko at tumitig sa aking mga mata… eh inutusan nya yung isa naming staff na i-interpret yung sinasabi niya sa akin (ang alam niya lang sabihin ay OK at very good). Kamukat mukat ako ang inuutusan niyang maging reporter sa halip na yung isa naming staff. Hala! Sabi ko , habang nakatitig sa mapupungay at singkit niyang mata at kahit hindi niya naiintindihan ang English ko,

“Sir, this is impossible! This is ridiculous! I wasn’t informed about this and I will not embarrassed myself by asking these damn questions!”

“In short, mukha mo! Kumag ka, kahit gwapo ka, pingasan ko yang mukha mo eh! Tantanan mo ko kundi ipu-pukpok ko ‘yung mic sa ulo mo.”

In the end nakita ko na lang sarili kong hawak ang mikropono at nakaharap sa camera. Grrr. Wika nga ng mga panang taxi driver dito sa dubai

‘ WHAT TO DO?????!!!!’

Dalawang oras ang pagpunta sa RAK mula Dubai, at maghapon kaming nag-stay para i-cover yung conf.
Buong araw sumakit ang ulo ko. Hindi ko nadala yung gamot sa migraine ko. Dusaaaaaaaa.

Matapos ang lahat lahat, naging positibo naman ang reaksyon ng mga interviewees, ng tech crew, ng MManager at ng CEO sa ginawa kong kabalbalan trabaho.

Instant media rep cum reporter ang lola niyo. aw!

Somehow, it made me realize na I enjoyed having my face in the front of the camera. I found out I can do it without trembling hands and shaky voice. I feel more confident. Kaya ko pala. Kaya ko naman pala.

Before, I really prefer mga prod asst at tech staff tasks kasi ayaw/allergic nga ako sa camera pero ngayong nabigyan ako ng pagkakataon (break kuno), naisip ko, uh… not so bad… karirin ko kaya? Pano mangyayari yun? Gwahehe. eh anim na araw na lang, sa newspaper/magazine na ko. Weeeeeee!!! Walang camera. Meron dun, pressure, pressure, pressure. Although hindi naman pure writing work ko dun, editorial asst kasi yung position which demands admin support at manaka-nakang coordination at writing skills.

Pero dahil nga sa ang dakilang plano ko ay ang mga sumusunod:

1. maging nobelista (libreng mangarap)
2. maging screenwriter (super duper libreng mangarap)
3. mag may ari ng isang TV station… (yebah!)

(baka magkaroon TV appearances pa rin ako kaya dapat may training. naks!)

Plans which are a leeway to spread the good news. For God’s glory.
Mga planong kailangan pa ng approval ng nasa Itaas.

Maraming maraming maraming bagay pa kong kailangan matutunan, kailangang malaman, kailangang baguhin.
Pero ngayon, I pray God would bless me with a teachable heart and the right attitude.

***

Kahapon, nagkaroon ng hindi magandang pangyayari sa office nila Chris.
Umere ang French version TVC sa buong Middle east at nasayang ang $135K.

Isang fatal na pagkamamali na nagbunsod sa boss niyang i-threaten siya na tatanggalin sa work.

I really want to thank God how good He really is for intervening in this situation.Naayos ang di pagkakaunawaan, although malaki yung damage. Pero it seems it wasn’t Chris’ fault at all. ’twas his boss’.

Nais kong i-quote ang sinabi ni Chris ukol sa pangyayari, ‘kapag naisip mong maari talagang mawala ang lahat sa ‘yo sa isang iglap, trabaho, mga minamahal sa buhay, mga bagay na pinundar at pinaghirapan mo, may Diyos naman na may kontrol sa lahat ng bagay na pwede mong sandalan. Magbabago ang pananaw mo sa lahat ng bagay.’

I cannot agree more.

***

Mga photos ng event kahapon:

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trillanes and 50 Journalists arrested in another failed Mutiny

“MANILA, Philippines — (UPDATE 3) More than 50 journalists who covered the takeover of the Manila Peninsula hotel were taken into custody, many of them in handcuffs, by police following the arrest of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Brigadier General Danilo Lim and other renegade soldiers early Thursday evening.”

News Crew from both the country’s leading networks, ABC-CBN and GMA, were handcuffed and went under police custody. They, with other 50 more journalists, are sent to NCR Office in Bicutan for interrogation.

***

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.

For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God.

So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad).

Do you desire not to fear authority?

Do good and you will receive its commendation, for it is God’s servant for your good.

But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain.

It is God’s servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer.

Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities but also because of your conscience.

Romans 13:1-5

***

Have these people gone beyond borders?

Are they acts justified by their cause?

Is it really freedom of expression?

Is it really for Filipinos?

Is it really for the nation?

***

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” Proverbs 29:2.

 

On disagreement

Chris has been ignoring me and treating me coldly since this very morning. It’s his special way of saying “this is what you get for not beating my dare”.My fault or not, I just can’t make a 5-minute bath. Period.

I feel deprived of time conforming to this kind of dare. I just can’t do it because I chose not to. Sounds harsh, selfish, unreasonable, call it what you want. I’ll still not give in to it.

Taking a good, long, relaxing bath is a treat for myself. Not that I went brouhaha in the office or been haggled by so many things that tend to snatch sanity out of me. Well, yeah, sort of. It’s just my time for a peaceful reunion of my cluttered mind and the calmed one (two minds? Smack a butt and talk reality!)

Whenever the drops of water intimately unite with my troubled mind and my weary body, there’s this inexplicable euphoria.

A ritual of contemplation and reflection,

of looking back what I did great or worse for today,

of analyzing,

or remembering the funny line a co-blogger dropped,

of visualizing the scenario of the novel I’ve been reading…
of thinking.

What hurts (making me slightly furious) me is that he’s stopping me for doing things I want and is important for me. Imagine he is timing my bath! C’mon!
I might sound a bit overreacting and dramatic. I cannot blame you or Chris.
Maybe I just cannot… whatever.

Chris is far more important that this petty bath.
I just wish he comes to terms with this caprice of mine. Or might as well this afterthought makes me lessen this ‘moment with myself’ time.
Or we can meet halfway, ‘ya know?
Ah relationships! Where do we really draw the line here?

***

Anyway, I’m almost through with the novel I’ve been trying to finish since Stone Age.
Its title is “Sushi for Beginners” by Marian Keyes. A story of three English women in an Irish setting (a kingdom of boredom so as the character says).

Two of them are working for a Magazine called Colleen. “A slave driving b*t**”, a “world class worrier” and “a discontented

mother” intertwined by their own passions and life atrocities.

I cannot really say it’s a page turner until I came on the 504th page. The story started to be real interesting from there.

With new words in my mental vocabulary such as “fecking” (the f-word in Irish colloquial), sacked (fired someone,) and Ijeet (colloquial for idiot), the book by Keyes has been a cool treat and a guide to a life light years far from mine. It’s shouting between the lines ‘I’m Britiish. And this is an English world. Feck off’ for crying out loud!

Lolz. A big lolz!