Oops...
Again mainstream media has fallen prey to the trap of misinformation, broadcasted.
Such was the case when 10 pm of July 10, 2004 the ANC reported live that Angelo Dela Cruz was already on his way to a hotel room after being released by the militants that captured him. But then again its just to darn good to be true, that its spell of disinforming the warring public has even afflicted major broadsheets except for Today.
I just arrived home at around 11 PM when the news of the 'apparent' release of Dela Cruz was broadcasted live by ANC as a breaking news, and after hearing the said report I was glad because I have been proven wrong in lacking faith in the government to resolve this crisis but dissapointment came when I got home on the following Sunday of July 12, apparently the supposed relative of Dela Cruz who got the alleged call from President GMA was unverified and in fact false, and that the present state of Dela Cruz was still unkown to the government and that the only success reached since Friday was that the deadline to pull out the troops were extended for another day, but as of this moment I am still in a haze of heresay since I've yet to know the outcome of this crisis since I've no access to the television.
But still I'd like to express again my dissapointment on the media for its lack of competence in carrying out the task of reporting their so-called breaking news and for giving false hope and assurance to those that care for the plight of Dela Cruz.
And again I'd also like to express such disgust over the present administration's reactionary response to the present plight of Dela Cruz under the hands of those who presently have custody of him.
We must understand that for whatever reason it may be the government still stands proud to be hand-in-hand with the USA on their supposed war against terror, but the sad thing is that we as a 3rd world country is also being an imperialist in itself by milking out the absence of Saddam by bringing our corporate contractors to monopolize on the task of nation building and for encouraging our citizens to go there to work.
Let the task of nation building be in the hands of the Iraqi citizens and moreover let those work be given to the deprived Iraqi people.
Lastly we must understand that our voice of opposition of such interests perpetrated by the US and its allies, must be heard and that we must come to recognize the fact that US hegemony does not translate to democracy, the whole idea of foreign pressence in Iraqi soil is immoral and is in violation of a whole lot of treaties, international laws and agreements that have been legislated in the context of the post-cold war global spectrum and such actions merely promote injustice which violate human and devine law.
Continue to contend with the struggle against imperialism in all its forms.
Unite-Resist-Refuse US/RP Bullying Rights Over Iraq.
Boycott yellow journalism in all its forms.
Contend for the people's right for journalistic integrity from the corporate media.
OUR UNIFIED OPPOSITION IS OUR COLLECTIVE ACTION
Weekends
I can remember the time when I was in elementary when I'd be happy come wednesday since it signals the approaching of the weekend. Though it wasn't that way last wednesday I could still say that this weekend (again) was worth writing about.
Saturday was one of the coolest days though I didn't get to spend that much time with Jeanie, but still it was day where I was able to put my life to praise God and spend time to hang out with my friend Laix who to my surprise has really taken the initiative to go to the youth service that we attend on Saturdays, which basically led to a realization that God gave me to continue to persevere in my walk with Him. After the service we both went to Tandem to pay a visit to our punk cohorts there where we got a chance to see of cool new records at Radiation Area.
And later on we had a glass of ice water in Ever wherein also I begged for a glass of ice at the Jollibee there. Which we later topped by walking from Recto to Nagtahan where we got to talk about stuff concerning our faith. Where later on I got the chance again practice bass guitar at church which ended quite fine, and I was also cheered by the fact that we now have a saxophone player with us.
But the downside there was that I lost all my money that on my way home I walked all the way from Anonas to Sikatuna which measures about 1.5 kilometers. WHen I got home I was greeted with the apparent release of Angelo Dela Cruz whom I dedicated a post earlier. But the apparent serenity ended when a fire broke out a this house accross the street where it took 3 hours for the firemen to put out. Which ended up with me being late for the praise & worship at church I arrived and they were already half-way through the songs that we practiced the day before and I was quite ashamed of myself since it reflected the fact that I wasn't giving God that much of a priority in my life, but all went okay again when I attended Sunday School where a lot of things concerning the doctrine of repentance was cleared to me thanks to the discussion given by Pastor Lito & Pastor Jong who were there filling in for the absence of our teacher Kuya Ponch. Later I had lunch at Jeanie's house where I also spent the afternoon to eat qiquiam and mojako chicharon while talking with Jeanie and her cousin Tutoy, and also she popped my zits that same afternoon and to top it off I got a chance to take a 5 hour nap. And later on I ate supper watched an HBO movie and had a latenight talk with Jeanie and again slept.
Which eventually led me to sitting here right now.
Saturday was one of the coolest days though I didn't get to spend that much time with Jeanie, but still it was day where I was able to put my life to praise God and spend time to hang out with my friend Laix who to my surprise has really taken the initiative to go to the youth service that we attend on Saturdays, which basically led to a realization that God gave me to continue to persevere in my walk with Him. After the service we both went to Tandem to pay a visit to our punk cohorts there where we got a chance to see of cool new records at Radiation Area.
And later on we had a glass of ice water in Ever wherein also I begged for a glass of ice at the Jollibee there. Which we later topped by walking from Recto to Nagtahan where we got to talk about stuff concerning our faith. Where later on I got the chance again practice bass guitar at church which ended quite fine, and I was also cheered by the fact that we now have a saxophone player with us.
But the downside there was that I lost all my money that on my way home I walked all the way from Anonas to Sikatuna which measures about 1.5 kilometers. WHen I got home I was greeted with the apparent release of Angelo Dela Cruz whom I dedicated a post earlier. But the apparent serenity ended when a fire broke out a this house accross the street where it took 3 hours for the firemen to put out. Which ended up with me being late for the praise & worship at church I arrived and they were already half-way through the songs that we practiced the day before and I was quite ashamed of myself since it reflected the fact that I wasn't giving God that much of a priority in my life, but all went okay again when I attended Sunday School where a lot of things concerning the doctrine of repentance was cleared to me thanks to the discussion given by Pastor Lito & Pastor Jong who were there filling in for the absence of our teacher Kuya Ponch. Later I had lunch at Jeanie's house where I also spent the afternoon to eat qiquiam and mojako chicharon while talking with Jeanie and her cousin Tutoy, and also she popped my zits that same afternoon and to top it off I got a chance to take a 5 hour nap. And later on I ate supper watched an HBO movie and had a latenight talk with Jeanie and again slept.
Which eventually led me to sitting here right now.
ONWARD WITH OUR STRUGGLE
It's been quite a while since I've posted here and to start with a lot of things happened to me just this weekend which I would try to give you an account of at a later post which hopefully I'd be able to accomplish. But for the meantime here's a statement worth reading:
ONWARD WITH OUR STRUGGLE
FOR P3,000 ACROSS-THE-BOARD SALARY INCREASE!
Fare prices have already gone up. In a span of 6 months, oil prices have increased 6 times already. But, after three years, the salaries of government workers remains pegged without a centavo of increase. Under such dire economic condition, it is only just to ask for immediate relief and salary increase.
Our campaign for a P3,000 across-the-board salary increase started in 1999 when the monthly basic pay of a salary grade 1 employee is P4,400 and the cost of living for a family of six is P13,674.60 a month.
YEAR
SALARY GRADE 1
(MONTHLY PAY)
COST OF LIVING
(NWPC-DOLE)
COST OF LIVING
(IBON)
1999
PhP 4,400
PhP 13,674.60
PhP 14,239.50
2001
PhP 4,840
PhP 15,900.30
PhP 15,317.10
2004
PhP 5,082
PhP 16,860.00
PhP 16,975.50 (Feb)
A 10 % salary increase was given to government employees under the Estrada administration in response to our collective mass action in 1999. In 2001, another 5% increase was put in to effect in July of that year. Under the Arroyo administration, not a single cent of increase was given to state workers.
Before the May elections, Mrs. Arroyo promised to certify a bill allowing a 10 % salary increase if she’s elected as president. This increase is not acceptable to us. Besides being meager, this tends to increase the disparity of salaries among employees and it doesn’t address the need to increase the salaries of the lower rank and file employees who needs the increase more urgently.
The usual official response to our clamor for salary increase is that it would only worsen our budget deficit and cause inflation. We must not forget, however, that government workers working under extreme economic hardship have always been a steady source of taxes. Studies also show that corruption and lavish spending mostly done by higher officials account for about 40% of the depletion of government fund. It is also important to note that the P52 billion needed to fund the salary increase is not even more than 20% of the yearly payment by government for foreign debt.
Year
NAT’L BUDGET
Debt servicing
(interest)
Debt Servicing (principal – excluded in the budget)
Military /Defense
2002
PhP 742.0 B
PhP 185.9 B
PhP 172.1 B
PhP 38.9 B
2003
PhP 811.5 B
PhP 230.7 B
PhP 195.0 B
PhP 40.6 B
2004
PhP 804.2 B
PhP 325.0 B
PhP 270.7 B
PhP 43.2 B
10 % DI SAPAT, P3,000 DAPAT
As the union of employees in the DSWD, we declare that we are not in favor of the 10% increase. What we want is the P3,000 across-the-board salary increase. We call on our members and fellow government workers to continue our just and legitimate struggle. The key to our success is our collective strength and action!
On July 14, 2004, let us join our fellow government employees in a nationwide mass action to show our unity for this call. We ask our chapters to coordinate their actions with other government unions in their regions while our chapters at the National Capital Region shall join the government workers rally from UST Espana at 10 AM and then march to Mendiola, Manila in the afternoon on this national day of protest of government workers.
MAKIISA AT MAKIBAKA HANGGANG SA TAGUMPAY!
SOCIAL WELFARE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES
(SWEAP)
ONWARD WITH OUR STRUGGLE
FOR P3,000 ACROSS-THE-BOARD SALARY INCREASE!
Fare prices have already gone up. In a span of 6 months, oil prices have increased 6 times already. But, after three years, the salaries of government workers remains pegged without a centavo of increase. Under such dire economic condition, it is only just to ask for immediate relief and salary increase.
Our campaign for a P3,000 across-the-board salary increase started in 1999 when the monthly basic pay of a salary grade 1 employee is P4,400 and the cost of living for a family of six is P13,674.60 a month.
YEAR
SALARY GRADE 1
(MONTHLY PAY)
COST OF LIVING
(NWPC-DOLE)
COST OF LIVING
(IBON)
1999
PhP 4,400
PhP 13,674.60
PhP 14,239.50
2001
PhP 4,840
PhP 15,900.30
PhP 15,317.10
2004
PhP 5,082
PhP 16,860.00
PhP 16,975.50 (Feb)
A 10 % salary increase was given to government employees under the Estrada administration in response to our collective mass action in 1999. In 2001, another 5% increase was put in to effect in July of that year. Under the Arroyo administration, not a single cent of increase was given to state workers.
Before the May elections, Mrs. Arroyo promised to certify a bill allowing a 10 % salary increase if she’s elected as president. This increase is not acceptable to us. Besides being meager, this tends to increase the disparity of salaries among employees and it doesn’t address the need to increase the salaries of the lower rank and file employees who needs the increase more urgently.
The usual official response to our clamor for salary increase is that it would only worsen our budget deficit and cause inflation. We must not forget, however, that government workers working under extreme economic hardship have always been a steady source of taxes. Studies also show that corruption and lavish spending mostly done by higher officials account for about 40% of the depletion of government fund. It is also important to note that the P52 billion needed to fund the salary increase is not even more than 20% of the yearly payment by government for foreign debt.
Year
NAT’L BUDGET
Debt servicing
(interest)
Debt Servicing (principal – excluded in the budget)
Military /Defense
2002
PhP 742.0 B
PhP 185.9 B
PhP 172.1 B
PhP 38.9 B
2003
PhP 811.5 B
PhP 230.7 B
PhP 195.0 B
PhP 40.6 B
2004
PhP 804.2 B
PhP 325.0 B
PhP 270.7 B
PhP 43.2 B
10 % DI SAPAT, P3,000 DAPAT
As the union of employees in the DSWD, we declare that we are not in favor of the 10% increase. What we want is the P3,000 across-the-board salary increase. We call on our members and fellow government workers to continue our just and legitimate struggle. The key to our success is our collective strength and action!
On July 14, 2004, let us join our fellow government employees in a nationwide mass action to show our unity for this call. We ask our chapters to coordinate their actions with other government unions in their regions while our chapters at the National Capital Region shall join the government workers rally from UST Espana at 10 AM and then march to Mendiola, Manila in the afternoon on this national day of protest of government workers.
MAKIISA AT MAKIBAKA HANGGANG SA TAGUMPAY!
SOCIAL WELFARE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES
(SWEAP)
You know you're a kid of the 80s when...
This has been e-mailed to me a long time ago, and the reason I posted it here is because it never fails to make me smile every now and then since it reminds me of how cool it was to be a kid before there was Ragnarok, Linkin Park, PS2 and all those other high tech fads around today.
1.) You have scars on your knees and elbows.
2.) You owned a bike.
3.) You had a barkada around your neighborhood (all of you had bikes).
4.) You loved climbing on your house's roof (and your neighbor's roof as well).
5.) You went inside an abandoned house in your neighborhood just to see what it looks like inside.
6.) You ate all the aratilis in your neighborhood.
7.) You plucked all the gumamelas in the area for soap bubbles.
8.) Your parents forced you to take afternoon siestas with the threat that you will not be allowed to play outside.
9.) You are never found in your house in the afternoon. You are often found playing in the street with your neighborhood friends.
10.) You loved exploring vacant lots for hidden knick-knacks.
11.) You just can't resist jumping in a sandpile.
12.) You know all the street games (patintero, agawan base, langit-lupa, etc., etc.).
13.) You owned a Family Computer.
14.) Your hand-to-eye coordination is terrific due to Family Computer.
15.) You'd rather go outdoors in the afternoon than play Family Computer.
16.) You gleefully boast that games today are so easy because of the character's life bar (remember when we used to play Mario? we died the minute a goomba hit us).
17.) You know this code by heart: UP-UP-DOWN-DOWN-LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT-RIGHT-B-A-B-A-START (select-start for 2 players)
18.) You owned a superhero costume (especially a Superman costume).
19.) For the girls: You dressed up like Punky Brewster, Madonna and Debbie Gibson. For the boys: You dressed up like David Hasselhoff's Knight Rider, David Bowie or had Clarke Kent's little bang. And now you think that the 80s had the suckiest dress sense.
20.) You had a denim jacket.
21.) You had a sticker book especially that Age of Dinosaurs sticker book.
22.) You were addicted to Rainbow Brite, Carebears, My Little Pony, Thundercats, Bioman, Voltes V, Mazinger Z, Daimos, etc., etc.
23.) You played PC games like Tapper, Moonbugs, Alley Cat and Prince of Persia.
24.) MS Word did not exist in your vocabulary but WordStar did!
25.) You love 80s music even if you don't want to admit it.
26.) You've climbed up mango trees to catch salagubang, tie a sting around its neck and let it fly around in frenzy.
27.) You've spent hours in the afternoon catching tutubi...yellow-green was the easiest to catch, blue being finicky, and red being a rare breed...
28.) You used to take Flintstones vitamins (which you didn't mind 'cause it was yummy) and Scott's Liver Oil.
29.) You know the cartoon show, Beverly Hills Teens.
30.) You know Kuya Bodgie from Batibot.
31.) You watch Uncle Bob's Lucky Seven Club.
32.) You used AQUA NET to fashion ur 4-inch-high bangs.
33.) Your blouses had paddings.
34.) You owned wide studded colorful belts.
35.) You watched some of your favorite shows on betamax or even UHF 17 (the channel from Clarke Air Base - or was it Subic?)
36.) You collected and "swapped" perfumed stationeries with your classmates and friends, but followed the unwritten rule that you never write on them.
37.) The only place you go to for summer vacation is BAGUIO !
38.) On that note, camp john hay served BEST ice cream.
39.) Most of us were brought to the EDSA revolution.
40.) You remember what Ricky Martin used to look like back then.
41.) ...when you think that Julie Vega is a better actress that Judy Ann Santos.
42.) You get confused playing PlayStation because of all the buttons on the keypad (Nintendo only had the direction pad, a & b buttons and the start & select keys).
43.) You know all the Bagets and Ninja Kids.
44.) You got to ride the train ride at Greenhills Shopping Center.
45.) Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were the players at the time.
46.) ...when you know more 80s music than the song "Buttercup".
47.) You were allowed to bathe in the rain.
48.) You were taught to comb your hair one-sided.
49.) You've collected matangpusa and mongo beans so you can have ammunition for sumpit
50.) You knew who Manang Bola and Sitsiritsit and Alibangbang were.
51.) Every Christmas you anticipate going to BIG Bang sa Alabang - with the giant slide.
52.) You know the Ewoks.
53.) You had Mighty Kid shoes and Greg shoes.
54.) You know what Time Space Warp means (and you know who Fuma Lae-Ar is).
55.) You and your barkada had a specific Bioman name.
56.) You sucked all the nectar from the santan plant hence your mother got really pissed at you for destroying the santan plant.
57.) You played with marbles and text (yung cards ha!!!) And you count cards like this: I-SA, DALA-WA, TAT-LO, A-PAT... walo na iyon!
58.) For girls: You wore denim miniskirts with rubber shoes. For guys: You had those bitin na pantalon which you wore with high-top rubber shoes!!!
59.) You loved cheezels and chicakdees because of the great prizes it had (remember sticky hands, bear popups, and the stick on tattoos which were "banned" due to drugs daw?)!
60.) Puffy cone still existed!!!
61.) Sosy ka if you bought a Magnolia drumstick.
62.) Twin Popsies were meant to be shared with a friend.
63.) Ice Drop was the cheapest treat.
64.) You have those Disney bow biters for your rubber shoes.
65.) You know who Alf is.
66.) You're familiar with the show "Perfect Strangers".
67.) Idol mo si McGyver.
68.) That's Entertainment" ang "the bomb" nung mga panahon na yun.
69.) Sikat ka kapag alam mo ang WordStar at Lotus 1,2,3.
70.) Six digits lang ang telephone number niyo dati.
71.) Tatlong .25 cents lang eh makakatawag ka na sa pay-phone.
72.) Cute pa si Aiza non sa Eat Bulaga.
73.) Si Amado Pineda pa ang nagbabalita ng panahon.
74.) You drank Chocolate milk from the Magnolia glass bottle which you kept for holding water in your ref.
75.) Brown Cow tasted better than Hersheys!
76.) Shake Rattle and Roll 1 was the most horrifying movie for you then.
77.) The most comfortable shoes for you is still Sperry Topsiders.
78.) Dress shoes mo eh loafers pa rin.
79.) The best movies of all time are Pretty in Pink, Breakfast Club, 16 Candles and Some Kind of Wonderful.
80.) You show off your pencil case which have hidden compartments that pop-out at the press of a button...
81.) You have Bensia pencils which are refillable...
82.) Fiesta Carnival was the place to be (kumbaga Enchanted Kingdom sya ng 80s).
83.) Takot kang mag-year 2000 ksi baka magunaw ang mundo.
84.) Masarap ang Goya and Serg's.
85.) Nakakasakay ka pa sa kotseng walang aircon.
86.) You know the lyrics ng "Tinapang Bangus" at "Alagang-alaga namin si Puti" ng Batibot.
87.) You know these commercials:
a. YCBIKINIBRIEF - remember this one?
Ycbikinibrief / ycbikinibrief / ycbikinibrief for the man who packs a wallop / YC had fashion / YC has style...
b. RA Homevision - those guys from Cash and Carry Makati couldn't have done it better.
Sports. Adventure. Cartoons. Award Winners and More.
Featuring the voice talent of Frankie Evangelista. I will never forget the creepy hand at the start of the ad. Parang ET na nasa spaceship!
c. Arthur's Legaspi Towers - nuff said.
d. La Germania Mama Mia commercials - ditto
88.) Bumibili ka ng caramel candy, Texas or Bazooka bubblegum, tira-tira at Tootsie Roll sa tindahan.
89.) Naabutan mo pa na korteng flower ang singko.
90.) You're familiar with this song: si nena ay bata pa, kaya ang sabi niya ay um-ah-um-ah-ah. hanggang patanda siya nang patanda at pabastos ng pabastos hehehe!
1.) You have scars on your knees and elbows.
2.) You owned a bike.
3.) You had a barkada around your neighborhood (all of you had bikes).
4.) You loved climbing on your house's roof (and your neighbor's roof as well).
5.) You went inside an abandoned house in your neighborhood just to see what it looks like inside.
6.) You ate all the aratilis in your neighborhood.
7.) You plucked all the gumamelas in the area for soap bubbles.
8.) Your parents forced you to take afternoon siestas with the threat that you will not be allowed to play outside.
9.) You are never found in your house in the afternoon. You are often found playing in the street with your neighborhood friends.
10.) You loved exploring vacant lots for hidden knick-knacks.
11.) You just can't resist jumping in a sandpile.
12.) You know all the street games (patintero, agawan base, langit-lupa, etc., etc.).
13.) You owned a Family Computer.
14.) Your hand-to-eye coordination is terrific due to Family Computer.
15.) You'd rather go outdoors in the afternoon than play Family Computer.
16.) You gleefully boast that games today are so easy because of the character's life bar (remember when we used to play Mario? we died the minute a goomba hit us).
17.) You know this code by heart: UP-UP-DOWN-DOWN-LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT-RIGHT-B-A-B-A-START (select-start for 2 players)
18.) You owned a superhero costume (especially a Superman costume).
19.) For the girls: You dressed up like Punky Brewster, Madonna and Debbie Gibson. For the boys: You dressed up like David Hasselhoff's Knight Rider, David Bowie or had Clarke Kent's little bang. And now you think that the 80s had the suckiest dress sense.
20.) You had a denim jacket.
21.) You had a sticker book especially that Age of Dinosaurs sticker book.
22.) You were addicted to Rainbow Brite, Carebears, My Little Pony, Thundercats, Bioman, Voltes V, Mazinger Z, Daimos, etc., etc.
23.) You played PC games like Tapper, Moonbugs, Alley Cat and Prince of Persia.
24.) MS Word did not exist in your vocabulary but WordStar did!
25.) You love 80s music even if you don't want to admit it.
26.) You've climbed up mango trees to catch salagubang, tie a sting around its neck and let it fly around in frenzy.
27.) You've spent hours in the afternoon catching tutubi...yellow-green was the easiest to catch, blue being finicky, and red being a rare breed...
28.) You used to take Flintstones vitamins (which you didn't mind 'cause it was yummy) and Scott's Liver Oil.
29.) You know the cartoon show, Beverly Hills Teens.
30.) You know Kuya Bodgie from Batibot.
31.) You watch Uncle Bob's Lucky Seven Club.
32.) You used AQUA NET to fashion ur 4-inch-high bangs.
33.) Your blouses had paddings.
34.) You owned wide studded colorful belts.
35.) You watched some of your favorite shows on betamax or even UHF 17 (the channel from Clarke Air Base - or was it Subic?)
36.) You collected and "swapped" perfumed stationeries with your classmates and friends, but followed the unwritten rule that you never write on them.
37.) The only place you go to for summer vacation is BAGUIO !
38.) On that note, camp john hay served BEST ice cream.
39.) Most of us were brought to the EDSA revolution.
40.) You remember what Ricky Martin used to look like back then.
41.) ...when you think that Julie Vega is a better actress that Judy Ann Santos.
42.) You get confused playing PlayStation because of all the buttons on the keypad (Nintendo only had the direction pad, a & b buttons and the start & select keys).
43.) You know all the Bagets and Ninja Kids.
44.) You got to ride the train ride at Greenhills Shopping Center.
45.) Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were the players at the time.
46.) ...when you know more 80s music than the song "Buttercup".
47.) You were allowed to bathe in the rain.
48.) You were taught to comb your hair one-sided.
49.) You've collected matangpusa and mongo beans so you can have ammunition for sumpit
50.) You knew who Manang Bola and Sitsiritsit and Alibangbang were.
51.) Every Christmas you anticipate going to BIG Bang sa Alabang - with the giant slide.
52.) You know the Ewoks.
53.) You had Mighty Kid shoes and Greg shoes.
54.) You know what Time Space Warp means (and you know who Fuma Lae-Ar is).
55.) You and your barkada had a specific Bioman name.
56.) You sucked all the nectar from the santan plant hence your mother got really pissed at you for destroying the santan plant.
57.) You played with marbles and text (yung cards ha!!!) And you count cards like this: I-SA, DALA-WA, TAT-LO, A-PAT... walo na iyon!
58.) For girls: You wore denim miniskirts with rubber shoes. For guys: You had those bitin na pantalon which you wore with high-top rubber shoes!!!
59.) You loved cheezels and chicakdees because of the great prizes it had (remember sticky hands, bear popups, and the stick on tattoos which were "banned" due to drugs daw?)!
60.) Puffy cone still existed!!!
61.) Sosy ka if you bought a Magnolia drumstick.
62.) Twin Popsies were meant to be shared with a friend.
63.) Ice Drop was the cheapest treat.
64.) You have those Disney bow biters for your rubber shoes.
65.) You know who Alf is.
66.) You're familiar with the show "Perfect Strangers".
67.) Idol mo si McGyver.
68.) That's Entertainment" ang "the bomb" nung mga panahon na yun.
69.) Sikat ka kapag alam mo ang WordStar at Lotus 1,2,3.
70.) Six digits lang ang telephone number niyo dati.
71.) Tatlong .25 cents lang eh makakatawag ka na sa pay-phone.
72.) Cute pa si Aiza non sa Eat Bulaga.
73.) Si Amado Pineda pa ang nagbabalita ng panahon.
74.) You drank Chocolate milk from the Magnolia glass bottle which you kept for holding water in your ref.
75.) Brown Cow tasted better than Hersheys!
76.) Shake Rattle and Roll 1 was the most horrifying movie for you then.
77.) The most comfortable shoes for you is still Sperry Topsiders.
78.) Dress shoes mo eh loafers pa rin.
79.) The best movies of all time are Pretty in Pink, Breakfast Club, 16 Candles and Some Kind of Wonderful.
80.) You show off your pencil case which have hidden compartments that pop-out at the press of a button...
81.) You have Bensia pencils which are refillable...
82.) Fiesta Carnival was the place to be (kumbaga Enchanted Kingdom sya ng 80s).
83.) Takot kang mag-year 2000 ksi baka magunaw ang mundo.
84.) Masarap ang Goya and Serg's.
85.) Nakakasakay ka pa sa kotseng walang aircon.
86.) You know the lyrics ng "Tinapang Bangus" at "Alagang-alaga namin si Puti" ng Batibot.
87.) You know these commercials:
a. YCBIKINIBRIEF - remember this one?
Ycbikinibrief / ycbikinibrief / ycbikinibrief for the man who packs a wallop / YC had fashion / YC has style...
b. RA Homevision - those guys from Cash and Carry Makati couldn't have done it better.
Sports. Adventure. Cartoons. Award Winners and More.
Featuring the voice talent of Frankie Evangelista. I will never forget the creepy hand at the start of the ad. Parang ET na nasa spaceship!
c. Arthur's Legaspi Towers - nuff said.
d. La Germania Mama Mia commercials - ditto
88.) Bumibili ka ng caramel candy, Texas or Bazooka bubblegum, tira-tira at Tootsie Roll sa tindahan.
89.) Naabutan mo pa na korteng flower ang singko.
90.) You're familiar with this song: si nena ay bata pa, kaya ang sabi niya ay um-ah-um-ah-ah. hanggang patanda siya nang patanda at pabastos ng pabastos hehehe!
Foreign Intervention In Iraq Takes Its Toll on The RP
I didn't post anything yesterday since I thought it was best if I'd leave my birthday greetings to Gato alone for the moment so that there won't be any distractions. By the way I'm also glad that my niece Lorie visited this blog and has already signed my guestbook. Another is that I just submitted this and Pinay Blood Rush to the Philippine Blog Awards and I hope they'd find consideration to this site. On a more serious note I've reserved a greater portion of this post for current tragedy that has happened here in the Philippines, please read on...
One of these days we knew it was coming but we were just too stubborn to consider the possibility.
Yesterday, pan-Arabic television station, Al-Jazeera broadcasted the image of one of our greatest fears.
Angelo de la Cruz, a truck driver for a Saudi Arabian company was abducted in Fallujah after his convoy was attacked by a group of insurgents.
The broadcast shows de la Cruz in an orange shirt as presented by three masked and heavily armed militants. The militants demand of the withdrawal of Filipino troops in Iraq, and has give the Philippine government to withdraw its 50 man 'humanitarian' envoy on Iraq.
Up to this moment no one knows the fate that awaits de la Cruz, but one thing is certain. For its consistent lap-dog response to US Imperialism the newly re-established Macapagal-Arroyo administration will once again seek out help Westward to the direction their yankee masters.
It's not really difficult to comprehend that such an event was already sealed to its fate, eversince the Philippines joined the so-called 'Coalition of the Willing', (i.e. US Pupet Allies). Which has since then gone under fire from all fronts for supporting such an unjust war since it goes under the pretext of waging a war to respond to the USA's alleged discovery that Iraq harbors 'weapons of mass destruction'. Needless to say it was merely an act of agression since it goes under the reasoning of waging a war as means to prevent Iraq from utilizing its nuclear capabilities. So then again its merely a war agression. In other words the war is merely a ploy of the US to 'shock and awe' us of their capabilities to dispose of any regime that does not adhere to their notion of "democracy." Its not about a just cause its about American bullying rights. And no matter how we look at it a preemptive war is still war and the sickening thought about it is that preemptive wars are basically just the same as an act of
terrorism, which is no different from what happened in 911.
It is not surprising that there is such a growing opposition against foriegn pressnce in Iraq even after they have disposed of Saddam, since almost every country that maintains their ties with the United States have been constantly scouring Iraqi soils to look for business opportunities and such is true for the Philippines, in fact you'd be surprised of how long the lines are at the Overseas Employment Offices, for Filipino's trying out their luck on landing a job anywhere outside of our country, and what's even more surprising is that our own government really does give its all out support in their endeavor. I guess they'd rather have our human resources be exploited by others rather than keep them here to strenghthen our domestic economy. They'd rather have them give them dollars, than keep them in their talents for our own country's use.
But who can blame those who want to land jobs elsewhere on the world. With the onslought of neo-liberal globalization on 3rd world countries, anywhere but here in the Philippines would seem like greener pastures anyway. What do we have here anyway? Job security is a very far flung dream for many since the Herrera Law was sanctioned to favor contractualization among companies. The cost of local utilities continue to rise and the prices of fossil fuel continue to become a burden for everyone, making the cost of living here financially intollerable. So the best way to be done with all these problems is simply to just leave this country and hand ourselves to our foreign masters. As the popular saying goes "if you can't beat them join them."
Don't get me wrong I don't blame people for finding jobs outside the country, but what I'm driving at is the fact that if we really would like to make our country better we better give it all by working here despite the low compensation since this is still our country.
Now going back to the capture of Angelo de la Cruz, its sad to say that such would happen to our fellow Filipino, but to think about it is not enough and whatever might transpire in the coming days is regretable, but what would be more regretable is that if ever such a thing might happen again, take not that this has been the second time that a Filipino has been taken captive by Iraqi militants, and take note also that already a handful of Filipinos working there have died due to the violence errupting there.
To merely feel sympathize with the plight of Angelo de la Cruz would mean to simply seat on the sidelines and continue to live our lives apathetically in tolerance to the reality that the event of dela cruz's capture is the by product of our government's support for the USA's imperialist interests and that like other countries in alliance with the US our government is also just there to simply milk the resources of Iraq at the expense of its people. And it is really questionable as to why our country still sides with such imperialists despite the recent discovery of human rights attrocities and widespread torture conducted by its troops. If you sympathize with Angelo Dela Cruz's plight or if you are against the continued pressence of US and Filipino troops in Iraq let your voice be heard, to shut up is to agree with the injustices presented. Do something you need not be part of a political movement it is your initiative let the truth be known, let not the shadow of apathy continue to cover our thougts.
And lastly is to pray for the safety of Anelo dela Cruz and for the peaceful resolve of this conflict. Lastly pray for lasting peace and a change of ideas among countries since present conflicts are merely brought about by the prevailing economic interests of every country to improve its economic stability.
Let not your mind be covered with the dark shade of ignorance, if you do not favor the continued pressence of our troops there or if you do not favor the advancement our the US and Philippine economy at the expense of the Iraqi people speak up let your voice be heard.
"NOISE IS THE MIRROR OF OPPRESSION AND THE HAMMER OF THE OPPRESSED"
One of these days we knew it was coming but we were just too stubborn to consider the possibility.
Yesterday, pan-Arabic television station, Al-Jazeera broadcasted the image of one of our greatest fears.
Angelo de la Cruz, a truck driver for a Saudi Arabian company was abducted in Fallujah after his convoy was attacked by a group of insurgents.
The broadcast shows de la Cruz in an orange shirt as presented by three masked and heavily armed militants. The militants demand of the withdrawal of Filipino troops in Iraq, and has give the Philippine government to withdraw its 50 man 'humanitarian' envoy on Iraq.
Up to this moment no one knows the fate that awaits de la Cruz, but one thing is certain. For its consistent lap-dog response to US Imperialism the newly re-established Macapagal-Arroyo administration will once again seek out help Westward to the direction their yankee masters.
It's not really difficult to comprehend that such an event was already sealed to its fate, eversince the Philippines joined the so-called 'Coalition of the Willing', (i.e. US Pupet Allies). Which has since then gone under fire from all fronts for supporting such an unjust war since it goes under the pretext of waging a war to respond to the USA's alleged discovery that Iraq harbors 'weapons of mass destruction'. Needless to say it was merely an act of agression since it goes under the reasoning of waging a war as means to prevent Iraq from utilizing its nuclear capabilities. So then again its merely a war agression. In other words the war is merely a ploy of the US to 'shock and awe' us of their capabilities to dispose of any regime that does not adhere to their notion of "democracy." Its not about a just cause its about American bullying rights. And no matter how we look at it a preemptive war is still war and the sickening thought about it is that preemptive wars are basically just the same as an act of
terrorism, which is no different from what happened in 911.
It is not surprising that there is such a growing opposition against foriegn pressnce in Iraq even after they have disposed of Saddam, since almost every country that maintains their ties with the United States have been constantly scouring Iraqi soils to look for business opportunities and such is true for the Philippines, in fact you'd be surprised of how long the lines are at the Overseas Employment Offices, for Filipino's trying out their luck on landing a job anywhere outside of our country, and what's even more surprising is that our own government really does give its all out support in their endeavor. I guess they'd rather have our human resources be exploited by others rather than keep them here to strenghthen our domestic economy. They'd rather have them give them dollars, than keep them in their talents for our own country's use.
But who can blame those who want to land jobs elsewhere on the world. With the onslought of neo-liberal globalization on 3rd world countries, anywhere but here in the Philippines would seem like greener pastures anyway. What do we have here anyway? Job security is a very far flung dream for many since the Herrera Law was sanctioned to favor contractualization among companies. The cost of local utilities continue to rise and the prices of fossil fuel continue to become a burden for everyone, making the cost of living here financially intollerable. So the best way to be done with all these problems is simply to just leave this country and hand ourselves to our foreign masters. As the popular saying goes "if you can't beat them join them."
Don't get me wrong I don't blame people for finding jobs outside the country, but what I'm driving at is the fact that if we really would like to make our country better we better give it all by working here despite the low compensation since this is still our country.
Now going back to the capture of Angelo de la Cruz, its sad to say that such would happen to our fellow Filipino, but to think about it is not enough and whatever might transpire in the coming days is regretable, but what would be more regretable is that if ever such a thing might happen again, take not that this has been the second time that a Filipino has been taken captive by Iraqi militants, and take note also that already a handful of Filipinos working there have died due to the violence errupting there.
To merely feel sympathize with the plight of Angelo de la Cruz would mean to simply seat on the sidelines and continue to live our lives apathetically in tolerance to the reality that the event of dela cruz's capture is the by product of our government's support for the USA's imperialist interests and that like other countries in alliance with the US our government is also just there to simply milk the resources of Iraq at the expense of its people. And it is really questionable as to why our country still sides with such imperialists despite the recent discovery of human rights attrocities and widespread torture conducted by its troops. If you sympathize with Angelo Dela Cruz's plight or if you are against the continued pressence of US and Filipino troops in Iraq let your voice be heard, to shut up is to agree with the injustices presented. Do something you need not be part of a political movement it is your initiative let the truth be known, let not the shadow of apathy continue to cover our thougts.
And lastly is to pray for the safety of Anelo dela Cruz and for the peaceful resolve of this conflict. Lastly pray for lasting peace and a change of ideas among countries since present conflicts are merely brought about by the prevailing economic interests of every country to improve its economic stability.
Let not your mind be covered with the dark shade of ignorance, if you do not favor the continued pressence of our troops there or if you do not favor the advancement our the US and Philippine economy at the expense of the Iraqi people speak up let your voice be heard.
"NOISE IS THE MIRROR OF OPPRESSION AND THE HAMMER OF THE OPPRESSED"
Happy Birthday Gato
Being the youngest of a family that boasts of seven siblings it was only now that I realized that I am one of those (sort of...) unfortunate kids who were never given the chance to have a kid brother (or sister), for that matter though it may seem obscure of me to think of such you just got to wonder how it feels like, seeing as to how my nephew Arno would stand up for his little brother Ciro whenever I come to the verge of beating him to a pulp whenever we'd be wrestling ala-WWF in my parent's bedroom, really just makes me wonder what it would have been to have a little brother.
Now you may be asking why didn't I have a little brother, well to start with, my mother gave birth to me at a ripe old age of 46 years old and in medical circles that qualifies me as an menopause baby, which at that time made my family kind of nervous that I might turn up with autism, mental retardation, and the likes, but thank God that I turn out normal in terms of my physiology. So basically I grew up with my family where at the time live in the Republic of Cogeo Antipilo, where later on we moved to where we are now to this all normal looking house down the street of Malingap, Teacher's Village Quezon City where I spent most of my existing life with my parents, my sister's family and my Kuya Gerry who is twelve years older that I am.
Well, as I was saying earlier my childhood was almost as typical as any other kid would have lived it, though it wasn't that graced with typical Filipino games like text (which I most hated up to now because I really abhor the idea of gambling for children since I was raised in a very Christian home), tanching, patintero and a whole lot of other twenty something Pinoy games that I see from our gates as well as every time I would watch Batibot. Instead of text I collected those cards (especially the Marvel Super-Heroes series) and insted of playing tanching I played with action figures (GI Joes to be exact) and in place of patintero I would play dumbass soccer and Kamias Jevellin with my nephew Gato.
Yes, it was Gato, Arno's older brother who was only 5 years younger than me who lives just right behind our house, he was sort of for me a little brother since my closest brother was Kuya Gerry who was already way on his twenties during that time. What I remember with Gato is that we never ran out of things busy ourselves with every summer afternoon where we would bum ourselves with silly games, and 'comedy times' together with my dachshund Odie on my Kuya Gerry's bed, as well as when we'd both gather up our angst towards those fat bastard twins at AngTV and how I would hurl Odie at those two fatsos as if Odie were giving them a flying-kick; as well as to how we'd course like sailors whenever we'd see Pudong, Ginoong Boman, and Miss Minchin harass the protagonists of those cheaply dubbed cartoons in Channel 2, and how we both cried when we saw the death of Nelo and Patrash, and on that Christmas episode of Garfield where Odie spent his Christmas on the dog pound. Yes indeed it has always been Gato who'd be there with me during those countless afternoons where we'd be singing our hearts out to the Eraserheads' Ultraelectromagneticpop album, where it would eventually lead us (along with our dog Odie whom I try to give a voice by making Gato believe that it was really the dog who's talking by the way I would blurt out the dumbest stuff I could think of in that Weng Weng sounding voice) to our short-lived DIY recording career as standup comics (sort of like Porkchop Duo) aptly called Comedy Hodie & The Blackout Combo, where we'd be singing our favorite rendition of Oki-Doki Dok's theme song, complete with scratches and badass keyboards and rough guitar playing. Other than that we'd also make stupid mix tapes of that come from a single record that we'd often listen to and we'd pretend that it was a concert or something like that. And not to mention the times when I fondly get a copy of Gato's new homemade comic book that catalog's the continuing saga of Black Dogja, who is our personal adaptation of the Ninja Turtles, by merely twisting it to suit the characters of our two dogs Jiggy & Odie; other than that we also had the chance to bond and talk about the stupidest things ever like that time we thought of putting "Le Ar" after the names of our dogs so that they'd be like Fuma Le Ar of Shaider. And how fun it is when we'd play WWF where I'll be Bret "The Hitman" Hart and I'll be blurting out the silly phrase: "I'm the best, I'm the best in the WWF" and he'll be playing Coco Be Ware. Or how we'd buy Mr. Fruit for the Ultraman cards that came with it and how we'd mix our Mr. Fruit candies with Sprite or how we'd stir our glasses of Coke with lollipops. Or how we'd purposely mismatch the vowels of specific words and names just because we thought it was funny like: the way we'd call our Uncle Gene, 'Uncle Jim' and then we'd replace the name Jimmy Santos with 'Jinnie Santos' or how we'd call a Genie a 'Jimmy', or how we'd mismatch the name of my niece Lea Grace with her dad Leo so that we'd call her 'Leo Grace'. Or how we'd never ran out of names to give to his dog Jiggy who as it turned out is also called Diego, Pupu, Huhu, Memeng, Eeng, Buakulaw and so on. As well as when we both cried when the vet have to put Jiggy to sleep because of his viral infection.
Or how he accidentally launched himself from the window towards their bed, wherein his head accidentally got struck with a Matchbox toy car, which really freaked out my Kuya Benjie who was watching over us at the time and how Gato fearlessly had his head injury stitched by some grouchy doctor. Or like how we spent a day bickering with our neighbor Miguiling just because he got hold of our toy airplane. Or how he stood up for me when Lea Grace's little brother Ejay called me a fag. Or how he stood up against our Tita Yoya because he knows that not everyone in our house agree with her decision to expand their place and build that monstrosity of a construction at our house's backyard.
I must admit I'm a little watery around the eye area right now since I really cherish those good old days when the world weren't that complicated and the only thing that matters at that time was just about making the most of the afternoon brownouts and the idea of Odie being able to get out of the gate every time my late Tita Yoya would arrive in our house at around 3 PM. And the fact that I'd never ran out of stories to tell about those afternoons really brings a lot of nostalgic memories during those innocent times. Well sure it would had also its share of downfalls when Gato and I would fight over Trading Cards, Toy Soldiers and GI Joes especially over that particular Hydro Viper figure, which really brought out the worst in us, and how sorry we both felt for each other when Gato accidentally flushed it on the toilet bowl. And we would fight over who owns which Matchbox and how we'd fight over that particular blue landroaver matchbox. Or how I hated him when I was blinded for two days when he chose to let go of the tennis racket that was attached to rubber band that we stretched from one end of the house to another.
And if I were asked with questions pertaining to who Gato is, all that I could say to them is that I see him as a guy that's driven with passion, from way back to being a 3 year old kid that's into dinosaurs so much that he's memorized each of them by heart, as well as to the diet of each dinosaur; Whether their are carnivorous or herbivores; up to his breakthroughs of finishing Megaman, Keen 4, Duke Nukem Mortal Combat 4 and X-Men: Children Of The Atom (take not that he could do all the fatalities and make the hidden characters appear on the two latter games) way before me or Kuya Gerry were able to go advance to level 5 or something to that effect; or how he learned basketball which I utterly never learned and how he would mimic the dribbling technique of Kobe Bryant when we played it at church and on the basketball court in Claret. Up to the dude that he is now who's getting himself featured on TV for his unquestionable skill in skateboarding. Other than that is also the mere fact that I shared most of my first things with Gato, I got my first chance to go to Star City (for that Lost World of Dinosaurs Exhibit), Megamall (for the book fair); the first time to be a cartoon figure in one of the children's magazine that my sister was working on (I was featured as an explorer wearing a pair of glasses and Gato plays himself in the Gato at Gata comic strip); Robinson's Galleria and my first rock concert where we were able to watch the now obscure Claret band called The Weed and True Faith; as well as when he amazed me and my high school classmates with his impressive collection of NBA cards; not to mention the time when we both learned how to roller skate way before roller blades were the in thing. And how we both got to learn to love the sport of skateboarding and how he taught me to pop my first ollie on his Chicago skateboard, and how he first taught me to log into my brother's Internet account by typing this particular password that he deciphered by merely watching my brother type it. Another was the fact that he believed in me and had faith with what I do and can do, he was one of the very few loyal fans of Life Is Trying, and also of the silk screen venture that I did with Jeanie and my other friends; he was the one who took silly pictures of me and my friends on afternoons with his parents' camera, and how he never failed to listen and believe the most stupid stuff I said to him ranging from my stories about Dragonball Z to my silly stories about the kids at church and my elementary school classmates (especially of Ruel), to the stories I would tell him about a couple of guys named Juan, Pedro and Pepe which were also told to me by my classmates in elementary; to my adolescent rebellion in high school, to my adventures as a punk rocker in Tandem Recto, to my stories of slapstick skateboarding with my friends, and to my fling with student activism. He listened and never failed to hear out what I say. Another is that he always gave me a feeling that saw me as someone who dared to dream groundbreaking stuff and do it for kicks. And I find it at times flattering that whenever we'd encounter his skate-buddy Gino at Alberto's Studio, he'd tell me of how much he learned of me all because of the stories about me that Gato told him. I also remember why it is no wonder that every time we'd play those role-playing games in high school he'd always be the front man and I'll always play the sidekick: he'd be Batman in his costume and I'd faithfully play Robin in my briefs; when we'd play The Wonder Years he'd be Kevin Arnold and I'd be Paul Pfiefer; when we'd play Parker Lewis, he'd be Parker and I'll be Parker's geeky four-eyed friend; and when we'd play Doogie Howser MD, he'd be Doogie and I'll be Vine Del Pino. And if you'd ask what this would mean to me is that because of the fact that I've always seen such potential in him when he was six years old he's already been publishing Black Dogja comics under his Vavi Comics line, while it took me the start of my second year in college to put out the first issue of my zine. When I just started learning Francis M's lyrics he was already well on his way rapping "Meron Akong Ano"; and while I was struggling to lean how to do a running ollie on my skateboard he's already struggling on how to do a running kick flip on his skateboard. And how astounded I am by the fact that God has always blessed him in whatever activity it is that he decided to pour his heart into. Lastly I would also like to say that I've been told by a lot of people I know that he kinda looks like that pro-skater Bob Burnquist and come to think of it he really does look like him,
And right now as I see him going off to college, I see that there really is a lot in life in stored for him and though I may not be as close as I am to him nowadays I truly know I my heart that I wouldn't be much of the person that I am now if God did not allow Gato to play a special role in my life as a nephew, friend and as someone who's the closest to a little brother that I got, and I know that I have a lot of misgivings to him and that I wasn't as available as I am to him when he was growing up, and how I also became a bad example for him by making him a witness to all those unspeakable wicked deeds that I've done in the past, and how at times I'd be irritated with the way goes about in my room, I still really thank God for him, And also of how proud I am of him that he grew up to loving punk rock and not those twenty something hip-hop and lousy metal acts and for being himself and I hope that as I look back now I really want to thank him for all the memories and for whatever worth they may have all I can say is that it was worth all the while. Happy birthday Gato.
To read an interview with Gato visit this link by clicking -----> here <-----
Remember The Past
I have been long thinking of this sort of post and the catch here is just that at the start or better yet the end of a month I'd be posting a list of my past blogs that I think are worth reading and I guess this is quite late for June already but just the same I hope its not too late.
Well here are the blogs that I think would be quite fascinating reads they all come from the month of June & May. Enjoy.
May
Something From Me To You
A Call To Arms
National Liberation Or Imperial Domination?
Uniting for Peace Resolution
Breeding Ground For Terrorists?
A Requiem To Life Is Trying
June
To Experience A Blood Rush Is To Experience Being Human
On The Jologs Phenomenon
Packaged Rebellion Anyone?
In Praise of Emo Game
Pictures Hooray
Freedom Is About Living Free
A Childlike Response To The Nearness Of You
What on Earth is M35B Anyway?
Well here are the blogs that I think would be quite fascinating reads they all come from the month of June & May. Enjoy.
May
Something From Me To You
A Call To Arms
National Liberation Or Imperial Domination?
Uniting for Peace Resolution
Breeding Ground For Terrorists?
A Requiem To Life Is Trying
June
To Experience A Blood Rush Is To Experience Being Human
On The Jologs Phenomenon
Packaged Rebellion Anyone?
In Praise of Emo Game
Pictures Hooray
Freedom Is About Living Free
A Childlike Response To The Nearness Of You
What on Earth is M35B Anyway?
New Look (Again?)
Well, as you may again I've tried to give this blog a new look mainly this is for the reason that the last background that I had made it difficult for me to read since the color scheme that I used doesn't match and to my standards I think its an eyesore. So I hope this new scheme would be cooler than that of the past few days.
There's Nothing In This Post That Would Be Of Value
Anyways I have nothing new to post here, I'm so wrapped up with the workload that it suffocates me and my coffee break would be meaningless (since I've already ran out of coffee) not unless I rest my head for a moment and maybe type something else for a change. Anyways I am also glad that there are a lot of friends that are getting into the blog nowadays. Well, how time flies my breaks almost over I got to go. Lastly I've now switched my search function from Tanikalang Ginto to Google since the latter is far more superior than Tanikalang Ginto and since its search function no longer works eversince last week.
Secular Work Is Full Time Ministry
It's really kind of sad that such a very meaningful weekend has to end, but what can I say all things are really meant to reach its end anyway.
I know you might be asking why I am feeling sorry that the weekend has ended for starters it means
that I would have to go back to work again and at the least endure another 5 days of grueling editing jobs. Another is that I would rate the past weekend as one of the most memorable and most meaningful weekends of my very existence.
The past Saturday was very much like any other Saturday where I would go with Jeanie to attend VCF's Youth On Fire Service where later on we'd be going about whatever it is that we'd find profitable to do later, that (is provided that I would be available bacause Saturday is also the day where I'd be practicing bass guitar for the praise & worship team at our church.) But nevertheless this Saturday was an exception since I am not scheduled to play bass on the Sunday service so that very much leaves a lot of free time for me.
The day started out quite great to be honest since I started it with a devotion time that I was actually able to concentrate on, without the distractions of minding the time because I might get late for work and without the distraction of randomly falling asleep in the middle of the passages. Where it was also kicked off with a sort of long telephone conversation with my Kuya Benjie whom I mostly get to see only on Saturday nights and in Sundays, anyways the conversation was really great we talked about a lot of things and it was really the idea that we're talking again in a carefree manner that really touched me since I never really had the time to just talk to him and share my life with him eversince he got married and eversince I went cold in my walk with God, I've always had that indifferent attitude towards the people I care most about but, lo! Here I am again talking to him about my life and about the books I'm reading, the movies I've seen my present struggles and everything in between, and it was only now that I realized that it was one of my faith goals earlier this year when I participated at a prayer and fasting campaign at church, and I am as equally gracious to God for that for heeding my prayer goal.
So on with the day I was also able to spend my free time to bond with Jeanie via going to get our hair cut together, where I got this haircut that sort of looks like the haircut of Yellowcard's singer, and we also both topped it off with going off to meet my best friend Xander at PUP before we set off to VCF.
From there we went on to the service where I really enjoyed the praise & worship because it was one of the very few instances that I get to sing worship songs as part of the congregation instead of being part of the worship leaders. Well anyways the same day is also the day wherein I promised to treat friends and Jeanie's disciples to Likha Diwa for my birthday.
And so after the service we went there and I am glad that they all enjoyed the meal, since the place serves mostly vegeterian meals, and later on came the part where I would be speaking to share a message from the Bible, well, to be honest I was really nervous, since I'm better at expressing things through writing instead of speaking and even though I have already prepared my message a few days before I am still at a lost with what I am about to share.
But still I decided to share the Word since the night would be a complete waste if the Word of God was not spoken I mean after all that's actually God's word and that what He would've wanted me to speak about rather than my rantings about how life works and so I started with a word of prayer where I asked God to guard my lips and to open our hearts that His word would enter it and later on I just spoke.
And to my amazement I was just speaking out words which up to now are a mystery to me that I could explain and expound on Scripture and that I could fluently convey my thoughts to the people I am with at the moment. Truly it was the Holy Spirit that spoke since I know for a fact that I am not that great as a speaker.
The message was that I spoke was about the question: 'what am I living for?' and so it went on for I think about more than an hour but it was worth it I have never seen the Spirit worked with such in my life that he turned my weakness in speaking a strength to speak up and it was one of the things that I also asked my kuya Benjie to pray for earlier the boldness to speak up and as it turned out it was God who chose to speak His word through me.
After that we all decided to go to UP Sunken Garden and on our way there I also had a very in-depth talk with Xander with regards to his question with regards to his faith and his relationship with God and I think it the talk really did clear a lot of things for him. And until that moment I am still at a state of amazement that I could answer his questions in light of Scripture, and later on I was also able to talk with Jeanie's students concerning Christian stuff, and I must say it was really quite an experience since I have never talked so much about God to a number of people.
So as the talk went on one of Jeanie's disciples asked me about my question with regards to what am I living for and in surprised I just gave her this answer which actually came from the apostle Paul where I just said I chose simply to live for God using this passage: "To live is Christ to die is gain." I wasn't quite sure if it was the best answer that anyone could give here but that was what I just spoke there, but as the night ended and as I got myself ready to go to bed the question still lingered to me since what I answered was really vauge and not as specific to pertain to the details of my life.
'What am I living for' anyway? When I was in college I was living to advance a lot of good causes, but now that I am 24 and have already been assimilated into the system that I used to oppose a lot, what really am I living for?
Then as if out of nowhere it a phrase that I believed I saw a long time ago at a bookstore shelf, suddenly poped out of my head. The phrase reads like something like this: "Secular work is fulltime ministry."
And come to think of it its really true God gives us ministries where he predestined us to be effective and my work right now is involved involved with website maintenance and development, which I suppose that's where I ought to make my life a witness to others. And in this case via using this blog, since it really is about me giving away stuff about my life, and therefore I chose to use it and I know that this is this one place where I could be as transparent that I could get to you people since as I've said earlier I am not good at speaking but in writing so I guess this secular 'thing' that I am doing is the means that I must use to be a witness to the world and therefore I chose to use it.
I know you might be asking why I am feeling sorry that the weekend has ended for starters it means
that I would have to go back to work again and at the least endure another 5 days of grueling editing jobs. Another is that I would rate the past weekend as one of the most memorable and most meaningful weekends of my very existence.
The past Saturday was very much like any other Saturday where I would go with Jeanie to attend VCF's Youth On Fire Service where later on we'd be going about whatever it is that we'd find profitable to do later, that (is provided that I would be available bacause Saturday is also the day where I'd be practicing bass guitar for the praise & worship team at our church.) But nevertheless this Saturday was an exception since I am not scheduled to play bass on the Sunday service so that very much leaves a lot of free time for me.
The day started out quite great to be honest since I started it with a devotion time that I was actually able to concentrate on, without the distractions of minding the time because I might get late for work and without the distraction of randomly falling asleep in the middle of the passages. Where it was also kicked off with a sort of long telephone conversation with my Kuya Benjie whom I mostly get to see only on Saturday nights and in Sundays, anyways the conversation was really great we talked about a lot of things and it was really the idea that we're talking again in a carefree manner that really touched me since I never really had the time to just talk to him and share my life with him eversince he got married and eversince I went cold in my walk with God, I've always had that indifferent attitude towards the people I care most about but, lo! Here I am again talking to him about my life and about the books I'm reading, the movies I've seen my present struggles and everything in between, and it was only now that I realized that it was one of my faith goals earlier this year when I participated at a prayer and fasting campaign at church, and I am as equally gracious to God for that for heeding my prayer goal.
So on with the day I was also able to spend my free time to bond with Jeanie via going to get our hair cut together, where I got this haircut that sort of looks like the haircut of Yellowcard's singer, and we also both topped it off with going off to meet my best friend Xander at PUP before we set off to VCF.
From there we went on to the service where I really enjoyed the praise & worship because it was one of the very few instances that I get to sing worship songs as part of the congregation instead of being part of the worship leaders. Well anyways the same day is also the day wherein I promised to treat friends and Jeanie's disciples to Likha Diwa for my birthday.
And so after the service we went there and I am glad that they all enjoyed the meal, since the place serves mostly vegeterian meals, and later on came the part where I would be speaking to share a message from the Bible, well, to be honest I was really nervous, since I'm better at expressing things through writing instead of speaking and even though I have already prepared my message a few days before I am still at a lost with what I am about to share.
But still I decided to share the Word since the night would be a complete waste if the Word of God was not spoken I mean after all that's actually God's word and that what He would've wanted me to speak about rather than my rantings about how life works and so I started with a word of prayer where I asked God to guard my lips and to open our hearts that His word would enter it and later on I just spoke.
And to my amazement I was just speaking out words which up to now are a mystery to me that I could explain and expound on Scripture and that I could fluently convey my thoughts to the people I am with at the moment. Truly it was the Holy Spirit that spoke since I know for a fact that I am not that great as a speaker.
The message was that I spoke was about the question: 'what am I living for?' and so it went on for I think about more than an hour but it was worth it I have never seen the Spirit worked with such in my life that he turned my weakness in speaking a strength to speak up and it was one of the things that I also asked my kuya Benjie to pray for earlier the boldness to speak up and as it turned out it was God who chose to speak His word through me.
After that we all decided to go to UP Sunken Garden and on our way there I also had a very in-depth talk with Xander with regards to his question with regards to his faith and his relationship with God and I think it the talk really did clear a lot of things for him. And until that moment I am still at a state of amazement that I could answer his questions in light of Scripture, and later on I was also able to talk with Jeanie's students concerning Christian stuff, and I must say it was really quite an experience since I have never talked so much about God to a number of people.
So as the talk went on one of Jeanie's disciples asked me about my question with regards to what am I living for and in surprised I just gave her this answer which actually came from the apostle Paul where I just said I chose simply to live for God using this passage: "To live is Christ to die is gain." I wasn't quite sure if it was the best answer that anyone could give here but that was what I just spoke there, but as the night ended and as I got myself ready to go to bed the question still lingered to me since what I answered was really vauge and not as specific to pertain to the details of my life.
'What am I living for' anyway? When I was in college I was living to advance a lot of good causes, but now that I am 24 and have already been assimilated into the system that I used to oppose a lot, what really am I living for?
Then as if out of nowhere it a phrase that I believed I saw a long time ago at a bookstore shelf, suddenly poped out of my head. The phrase reads like something like this: "Secular work is fulltime ministry."
And come to think of it its really true God gives us ministries where he predestined us to be effective and my work right now is involved involved with website maintenance and development, which I suppose that's where I ought to make my life a witness to others. And in this case via using this blog, since it really is about me giving away stuff about my life, and therefore I chose to use it and I know that this is this one place where I could be as transparent that I could get to you people since as I've said earlier I am not good at speaking but in writing so I guess this secular 'thing' that I am doing is the means that I must use to be a witness to the world and therefore I chose to use it.
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