In Tagalog para mas may feelings!

First time ito. First time ito na magsususlat ako sa blog ko na may Filipino words. Bakit nga ba hindi ko ito ginawa noon pa? At bakit nga ba ngayon nagta-Tagalog ako?

Kasi ang blog post na ito ay para sa mga Pilipinong kagaya ko. Grabe, ang tindi pa rin kasi ng hangover ko sa pelikulang pinanood ko nung nakaraang Sabado pa--Heneral Luna.

Image from Heneral Luna FB page

Aaminin ko, bago ko mapanood ang pelikulang 'to wala akong masyadong alam sa buhay ni Antonio Luna. May bloopers pa nga ako the first time I heard about this film! Ang tanong ko pa, "Ah, sya ba yung sa Battle of Tirad Pass?" Mali!!! Si Gregorio Del Pilar pala yun, haist! (Pero at least alam ko kung bakit parating naka-upo si Apolinario Mabini hehe.)

Image from Heneral Luna Meme FB page. Sorry naman benta lang sakin mga meme na 'to haha! Paolo Avelino as Gregorio del Pilar.

Nakakahiya, kahit noon pa man favorite subject ko ang History (Ito ata yung subject na enjoy ako mag-aral at excited mag-exam. Mag-memorize na ko for this kesa sa sumagot ako ng problem solving at kung anu-ano pang equations!), hindi naging popular si Heneral Luna sa'kin. Kaya bago ko panoorin ung pelikula, I made a personal research about Antonio Luna, the Philippine-American War and some tidbits about our politics during that time.

Uso na yang "Bigyan niyo ko ng tatlong araw" line na yan haha! Image from Heneral Luna Meme FB page.

Tingin ko, hindi ako magsasawang sabihin 'to... Ang ganda ng Heneral Luna!!! Though may disclaimer ako na hindi po ako isang film critic or movie enthusiast. Maganda sya hindi dahil entertaining lang sya (sa mga pinanood kong heroes/history-based movies, ito ung ang dami kong tawa! I believe the minds behind this movie took that creative liberty para mas um-appeal sya sa masa at lalo na sa kabataan), maganda cinematography, panalong lines, magandang casting, etc. Pero mas naging makabuluhan sya dahil pinakita nya yung several negative cultures of us Filipinos na kailangan nang bigyan pansin dahil mula noon hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin nababago. Bakit? Anyare ba? Isa itong vicious cycle, para tayong nasa chubibo na pa-ikot ikot lang. Para syang curse na napasa-pasa mula sa forefathers of our government hanggang ngayon.

TV na nga lang hindi pa magka-isa? Hehe. Image from Heneral Luna Meme FB page.

Kanya-kanya na 'to
I remember back when I was still in grade school in our Hekasi class. Our teacher asked the class, after we had a run down of all our presidents from Aguinaldo down to Ramos (the Philippine president during that time) and yung mga naging plataporma nila. Ang tanong was something like, "Tingnan nyo ang mga presidents ng bansa natin... Mula sa kanila bakit sa tingin nyo hindi pa rin umuunlad ang bansa natin?" And I remember walang nakasabi ng saktong sagot sa class namin nun. The answer that our teacher was expecting is, iba-iba kasi ung mga plataporma ng bawat presidente. Ung wala bang continuity? Parang sa bawat pangulo na iluluklok babalik sa stage 1 ung bansa kasi parating iba nanaman yung plano mula sa nauna. Parang lahat sila may gustong simulan, may gustong patunayan at gusto yung credit sa kanila lang at sa administrasyon nila. Pero when something goes wrong, no one wants to take responsibility. Blame game it is.

Na-connect talaga yung traffic sa Manila sa movie eh no? Haha! Image from Heneral Luna Meme FB page.

Dagdag mo pa ung naglalagay ng mga tao sa katungkulan hindi dahil sa galing at husay nila, pero dahil kaibigan sila ni ganito or konektado sila kay ganire. Kung nabubuhay pa si Mabini ngayon, baka lalo pa sya malumpo. Here's one of his writings about his dismay on Aguinaldo's leadership. He eventually left his post as the Prime Minister before Gen. Luna's death. Read on. Sounds familiar 'di ba?

Image credit to the owner :) Hindi man sya makatayo, Mabini have brains.

Wala kayo sa lolo ko!
Divide and conquer. Eto ung strategy na ginawa ng mga Spaniards para sakupin nila ang Pilipinas noon through Regionalism. Very evident ito sa movie... Iisang bansa naman pero may kompetisyon pa rin. Iisang gobyerno naman pero hindi magka-isa. Pinakita sa movie ang patigasan ng ulo nila Gen. Mascardo at Gen. Luna. Dahil Ilokano si Luna at hindi Caviteño, ayaw niyang sundin ang heneral kahit mas mataas pa ang ranggo nya. Nakakalungkot pero matindi pa rin ang Regionalism sa'tin. Isama mo na rin ang crab mentality that was also shown in the movie. Totoo yung sinabi sa Bible sa Mark 3:25, "And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand."

Bigyan ng kabaong! Hehe :) Image from Heneral Luna Meme FB page

Don't English me, I panic!

The train scene! Ang lakas ng tawa ko rito sa sinehan haha! Image from Heneral Luna Meme FB page.

Benta tong scene na 'to sa movie haha! Si Luna na marunong mag-Tagalog, mag-Spanish at mag-French pero hindi marunong mag-English! Napamura tuloy ang heneral... "Nagi-Ingles ako sa sarili kong bayan! P******!" (Op! Op! Maganda ung movie ok, pero wag nyo lang gayahin ang pagmumura guys :) Speak blessing tayo :)) Ang mga Pilipino very particular sa English grammar. Minsan (o di kaya kadalasan) pag may makitang grammatically incorrect kala mo naman ang mangmang na nung nagkamali. Pero kung titingnan mali-mali naman ang Filipino grammar nila, and it seems like nobody cares! (Case point: may tamang paggamit ng "din" at "rin". Sobrang common mistake 'to.) Nagtataka ako at bahagyang nalulungkot dahil may mga Pilipinong ayaw mag-Tagalog dahil mahirap daw. English na lang daw. Naalala ko ung isang batang naka-usap ko minsan. Ang galing nya mag-English, very fluent. Sinabi nya, "Teacher, I don't like speaking in Tagalog. It's so hard. Let's just speak in English." Then I told her, "You can speak in Tagalog. Pilipino ka eh! It's in you, it runs in your blood." :) Ayun, she agreed naman. :)

Kailangan in English? Oh my goodness!  Image from Heneral Luna Meme FB page.

Pano nga naman tayo uunlad kung mismong wika natin neglected? Yung Konstitusyon natin written in English, yung masa hirap silang intindihin ung batas ng bayan nila. Sabagay, tingin ko hindi naman bago yung hirap kang aralin ang sarili mong wika. I remember one time when I was in Korea, may naka-usap akong student dun. Parang ang tanong ko sa kanya, "What is your least favorite subject?" At ang sagot nya, Korean Language. Mahirap daw eh. Hmmm. So hindi pala yun naiiba sa'tin hehe. Mahirap nga naman talaga mag-Tagalog, mas mahaba kasi ung words at minsan ang hirap din bigkasin at basahin. Kahit ako ngayon hindi sigurado kung grammatically correct ang pagta-Tagalog ko rito. But it doesn't mean mahirap na eh hindi mo na mamahalin. :)

Ang sakit kung bagsak ka sa Filipino subject... Oh my goodness! Image from Heneral Luna Meme FB page.

Who's your mama now?
Si Mother Luna at Mother Aguinaldo. I also noticed yung mga pagkaka-iba nila sa pelikula. Si Mother Aguinaldo, sa buong pelikula andun lang sya sa kwarto nya at mukhang yayamanin ang lola mo. Sa bandang dulo ng palabas, nung tinadtad na ng bala at saksak si Luna, tinanong pa nya mula sa kwarto kung gagalaw pa ba yung bangkay. Hmm, harsh... Sa kabilang banda si Mother Luna. Mukhang yayamanin din sya pero fierce! For me she was portrayed there as someone who is a strong woman pero gentle pa rin (Ikaw ba naman na dalawa sa anak mo naging bayani) Andun pa rin ang pangaral nya sa bunso nya. Andun yung naglalakad sila sa bakuran nila. Hindi sya fully sold out sa desisyon ng anak nya to be in that war pero andun pa rin ang suporta at gabay nya. Ikaw, paano ka magiging isang ina o ama sa susunod na henerasyon? :)

Antonio Luna was also a Thomasian just like Jose Rizal. Go USTe! :) Image from Heneral Luna Meme FB page. 

Si Isabel, ang love interest ni Luna sa pelikula ay isa ring fictional character. Sabi na. Sa na-research ko kasi si Ysidra Cojuangco ang love interest ni Antonio Luna nun (na ancestor ni Pnoy). Ang character pala ni Isabel dun ay parang combination ng mga love interests ni Luna. Parang sa lahat ng babae nya, mas pinili nya ang krus nya--ang giyera. Ang ta-tragic talaga ng mga love story ng mga bayani natin hay...

Yaya Dub, Pastillas Girl... Ensaymada Girl! Hoho!  Image from Heneral Luna Meme FB page.

Ung pagkakahawig ng Spoliarium sa ending, ang galing nun! Juan Luna's Spoliarium painting shows fallen gladiators being dragged and stripped off of their armors and even their social status. They were warriors, pero yung death nila is something not honorable. They died just for the entertainment of the Romans. Hindi ako sure kung bakit ginaya ung last scene wherein Luna's and Paco's bodies were dragged na mala-Spoliarium. Siguro it can be something na, kung hindi tayo umunlad sa pagiging Pilipino natin, ung death nila could be just a waste or something not honorable, gaya nung mga gladiators na nasa painting.

Si Joven, ang batang manunulat sa pelikula ay isang fictional character. Sa tingin ko sya yung representation ng kabataang Pilipino sa movie. May eksena nga run when he was caught in the middle of the battle tapos tinamaan yung right hand nya. I was like, "Oh no hindi na sya makakapagsulat..." Ang pag-aaway away nating matatanda at hindi pagkaka-isa, apektado ang kinabukasan ng kabataan.

Ok yung idea na may fictional character sa movie na 'to to whom, I think, majority of the viewers can relate with.  Image from Heneral Luna Meme FB page.

Yung watawat ng Pilipinas na nasa backdrop ni Luna whenever Joven is interviewing him, habang tumatagal lalong pumapangit. At dun na nga sa ending, nasunog na. Aww ang saklap... :( Hindi na nga rin nabigyan ng hustisya ang pagkamatay ni Luna.

Bakit? Bakit kapwa Pilipino pa? :( Image from Heneral Luna Meme FB page.

Nawa'y mas dumami pa ang ganitong klaseng pelikula. Yung may social relevance and speaks about our History. Ngayon kasi panay about infidelity at rom-com na lang ang palabas. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching rom-com movies. Lalo na kung Toni Gonzaga yan o Sarah G. at kinikilig din ako ng sobra sa AlDub loveteam haha! Pero sana wag naman panay ganun na lang ang movies at mga palabas natin di ba?

I seriously thought Alden's breakthrough in his career would be yung role nya as Rizal sa primetime series na Ilustrado. Pinapanood ko pa naman yun pero natapos agad, hindi bumenta. :(  Image from Heneral Luna Meme FB page. 

Yes, the Filipino can!
I've always believed na kaya naman nating mga Pilipinong gumawa ng mga dekalidad na pelikula. Yun nga lang yung award-winning movies natin sa ibang bansa hindi lang sumisikat dito dahil hindi patok sa mainstream. Thank God that Fernando Ortigas agreed to produce this film! The script was originally written in English and was even banked for 17 years! Labing-pitong taon na ang nakakaraan mula nung sinulat ang script ng movie na 'to pero can relate pa rin tayo sa mga negative cultures natin na pinakita sa pelikula.

Ayokong maging reklamador dito. I don't want to be part of those people na panay reklamo sa bansa pero wala namang magandang tinutulong o solusyon na pinre-presenta. Ipagdasal natin ang bayan natin. Yung hindi lang panay reklamo at curses ang lumalabas sa mga bibig natin. Maging mabuting mamamayan, kahit sa maliit na paraan (please, ang munting basura ibulsa muna! Ung simpleng hindi pagkakalat at pagsunod sa traffic rules). And let's guide our next generation. Kaya rin siguro nauulit ang maling nagawa ng mga ninuno natin dahil hindi natin alam ang mga ito. "Forgive and Forget", tama yan. Pero sa History, forgive but never forget. Dahil kung nakalimot tayo, History will just repeat itself.

I pray na mag-improve ang school curriculum natin. Sana wala nang lalala pa run sa case ni Mabini na hindi na alam ng ibang kabataan bakit naka-upo lang sya sa buong pelikula. Aabangan ko ang Gregorio del Pilar movie! :)  Image from Heneral Luna FB page.

The Artsy Fartsy Challenge

Few days ago, I gave myself a self-induced challenge and called it the "Artsy Fartsy Challenge". The challenge is this, for 15 days I have to make at least one artwork in a day. My reasons are pretty simple... Number 1 is so I will not get tired, lazy or dormant with the talent that was given to me by God (I also believe in the saying, "If you'll not use it, you'll lose it."), and the other one is because I also believe that practice makes bongga. :) ("Bongga", for those who didn't understand this word is an informal Filipino word that could mean "Great" or "Superb"). ;) I also try styles and stuff that I haven't did before or did for a very long time.

Sharing the artworks that I did for the past 5 days (Sorry for the low-res pictures. I'm still praying for a new phone with a bongga camera with it ^^).

Day 1

Used black pens with felt tip on paper. I just draw on paper whatever things, words or images that crossed my mind during that time. It's like a... umm... "vomit artwork" (for lack of good terms) ;) Sometimes random things can make a beautiful whole picture when they are put together.

Day 2

Used black pen with needle tip on paper. I was watching the PBA All-Star Games during this time and was very entertained with the Slam Dunk competition. :) You know, inspirations can come very randomly to you! ;) I haven't drawn a man's anatomy in action for a very long time so I think it's just a right time making one. :) I searched for an action shot from the internet and copied it.

Day 3

Ballpens with black and red inks were used for this one on paper. I copied it from a shawl that my aunt gave me that got eagle heads all over it. A Bible verse crossed my mind before drawing this eagle head--

Isaiah 40:31- "But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint."

Just a trivia about how an eagle soars. The eagle is the only bird (correct me if I'm wrong) that can fly ABOVE the clouds. It means the eagle can fly above the storms. It means if you "soar like an eagle", you can soar above your troubles (not soar away from them but soar above them). Waiting or trusting in the Lord will give you that strength to soar on wings like an eagles.

And yep, I've read this Bible verse several times before making this artwork (from my own Bible reading, from a friend's text message, a Facebook status, etc.! This could be a Word of God for me or for you my dear reader. :)

Day 4

Oil pastels and black ink on paper were used in this one. This is one of the days wherein there's no enough inspirations and I don't feel like doing it. Indeed feelings are not always right and could be very unstable... Now that's the time wherein commitment and diligence should kick in, bringing it over your feelings to stay true to what you've decided. I read a definition of "commitment" during the time I attended the World Vision Loyal Donor Dinner last year and it got stuck on my mind since then-- "Commitment is staying loyal to what you have said... Even when the mood already left you on the time you said it."

From you hands are much opportunities and possibilities... don't let yourself miss those just because you don't feel sticking on your commitment. Much realization for this simple artwork haha!

Day 5

The latest one, watercolor on paper (paper specially used for watercolor). This is not the initial artwork that I made for day 5 for the first artwork that I made for this day is something that I didn't really like haha! It didn't turn out the way I wanted it to be. It's like a "vomit artwork" too but this time it didn't look very pleasing unlike the artwork that I made for day 1. Watercolor is really not my forte and I have to practice on this medium more than any other.

Some realization for this one, or maybe a reminder, that for something to be beautiful you gotta put more time for it. Now that's the difference between my "vomit artwork" day 1 from my "vomit artwork" supposed-to-be-for-day-5... Time. Yep, I put just random things on paper before BUT it took me a long time to finish it, unlike my supposed-to-be-for-day-5 artwork wherein I just put some random colors on paper in a much shorter time (not to mention that the medium that I used is something I'm not used in using).

So how will I apply it to other areas of my life??? Haha! Well here it is (and maybe you can also apply it to your own life, too) Time makes things beautiful or makes them MORE beautiful... or you can say it this way, "Waiting can make things beautiful..." for rushing some things can make them ugly even though they're supposed to be beautiful. And don't rush things just because you just have to do it, put some lovin' in it. You know that there's much lovin' in someone's work or effort if he/she took more time in pulling it off, not because this person's a perfectionist freak, but because he/she wanted it to become "great" from "okay". :)

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Will be sharing the rest of my artworks and the inspirations and realizations that comes with them in the following days. :) Now, this self-induced challenge is more than just an art challenge to me. :)

For the Courageous and Humble

After my first two jam-packed weeks of December, this week came like a rest week for me. :) I should really be resting now since I got a stiff neck... :( Never thought that having this was pretty hard-- when I look up, down, left, right... Or just have a simple sneeze, there's pain in the neck. Ouch. :(

Since it's pretty hard to move or do something really physical (but still thank God I got to do some of my laundry), I got more time to do some contemplating about the weeks that passed, some reading and writing. Activities that you don't need to move much haha!

And also I still have my hangover from these weddings and got some revelations about love in the context of a husband and wife (told ya, I still have my hangover!). :)

I heard from many people (mostly men), that love is only for the courageous. A man needs to be courageous when he lays his intentions of pursuing the woman that he loves. A woman needs courage to say "Yes" to the man and be completely vulnerable before him. A couple needs courage to face challenges together as a team and not anymore as individuals. And the list goes on. It's like embedded on my mind that if you want love, you got to be courageous.

One of my favorite shots from the #MikLang wedding :)

But God somewhat revealed to me, through these weddings that I have recently been to and through some conversations and observations from the couples that I know-- that if you want love (or you want somebody to love and be with that person for the rest of your life) you got to have not just courage but also humility. :)

People tend to just focus on the "sugar and spice and everything nice" when entering marriage that they almost neglect this part of the reality that marriage is also hard work and the wedding is not an ending but only a beginning (I was never married though, but most of the married couples that I know usually say this, or at least that's the idea when they relate some of their husband-wife stories).

"Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church..." -Ephesians 5:22-29

It's a commitment to forevah! (Image from fashionplaceface.com)

Marrying someone comes with a string of commitments...

Commitment of service

Commitment of sacrifice

Commitment of submission

Commitment of purity

Commitment of pursuit

Commitment of purpose

If we are not humble enough, we will not be able to do these. God's grace is needed, and God gives grace to the humble.

We need humility to serve, whenever we do our sacrifices, whenever we submit to God and also for us ladies, to our husbands. We have to have it to keep our purity, to keep pursuing the one you love and to continue to live under God's purpose (this is intertwined with our commitment to submit to God). And yes, I think we got to also have courage to swallow up our pride and be humble. That we are not always strong and not always right. Be brave and humble to know and accept that we have imperfections too, that we are not perfect, so we won't be hard on other's failings.

Just like Jesus, who showed our love for us when He humbled Himself. God became human and made His dwellings among us. He's been so humble that He chose to die a shameful death on the cross just to prove His love for us. And He was also courageous when He chose to do that. He was courageous AND humble.

Love is then, not just for the courageous... It's for the courageous and humble. ♥

3 Weddings and a Birthday

The first two weeks of December feels like a year! A lot of things had happened... or should I say, many couples got married for it's becoming a norm to get married on December here in the Philippines. All of the 3 weddings that I've been to are weddings of my friends from the church. :) (And I was also present to all of their bridal showers!)

#PeeweeIrisIDo

This year, it was my first time to celebrate my birthday in a friend's wedding! :) I wasn't really a guest but I was part of the team who prepared for it (I was more involved in the creative and styling part). :)

Last meeting (night before the wedding) for the Peewee-Iris nuptials

I had sleepless nights before the wedding because of the preparation but it's fine with me. It's always been my desire to be involved in a wedding specially if it's for a friend and when I'm with my friends! :) Thank you Lord for the roaring strength! :)

Happy wedding and happy birthday! :D

December 6 started early for me since I have to be in the wedding venue early in the morning. Thank God for my parents who went with me there early and had a breakfast with me at Coffee Bean! :)

This was also a test of faith for all of us! It was really a risk to held a wedding ceremony outdoor since there was a threat that typhoon Ruby will visit us with her rains and thunderstorms. But! Thank God He answered our prayers! It was a sunny-windy day and not even a single drop of rain came! What a happy wedding for the couple, Peewee and Iris and a happy birthday to me! :)

The wedding ceremony and reception ended and it has been a long day, so I thought that we will don't celebrate my birthday anymore but! Surprise! We celebrated it at again, in Coffee Bean! :) God knows how I really appreciate this, even though we are all feeling groggy and sleepy, my friends and my sister still made some time to celebrate my birthday with a few hours remaining for the day. :) A pleasant surprise indeed... :)


#MikLang Wedding

The following weekend (December 12, 2014), I witnessed another glorious wedding! A sunset and the Taal lake in front of us and a rainbow behind us! No event stylist or wedding coordinator can intentionally pull this off... only God. :) Both of the couple are my friends and I've been with them in Cambodia to share God's love to the Khmers. I'm thankful and I appreciate this couple, sooo much! One of the reasons is that they are so generous with advises and imparting wisdom when it comes to courtship and being in a relationship. :) They honored God in their relationship and they are proud of it! And it was also their first time to kiss on their wedding day! ♥

(Dear Papa Lord, can You also bless me with a glorious wedding like this one when Your right time (and the right man) comes to me to get married? ^-^)

God somewhat "spoiled" us with these: a sunset and a rainbow!

#JacqDaWedding aka #BIGatinwedding

This was on December 13, 2014 or 12-13-14!

Hahahaha! I was laughing all the time during the wedding ceremony! The bride, Jacq, is also a friend of mine and so far she's the most unique bride that I have known! Why? Because she's the only bride that I know who was howling (like cheering herself) while she's walking down the aisle! Woohoo! :D It think I was smiling big (and howling also) while she was walking towards her groom, holding her pomelo-colored bouquet and wearing that usual big grin on her face! (and Daryl, the groom, was crying by the altar. Aww...)

God's grace was really evident in this wedding... there were a lot of setbacks and it even rained before the ceremony started! But just what Jacq said, the wedding still took place because of God. And I say, "Amen!" :)

It also felt like a reunion for me since I had friends that I didn't have spent time with for some seasons now who were also present in the wedding. :)

The color motif was black and white... Not common colors for a wedding right? :)

So yes, it's been a loooong first two weeks of December! Not to mention I have also attended several Christmas parties too in this span of time... :)

All I can say is... Thank You Lord. :) For the 3 weddings (and more to go) that I attended and for another year (and more) that You have blessed me with. :) I just turned 26 and I believe the 2nd quarter of my life will be better compared to the first one because of You, Jesus. ♥

‘But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.’
-Jeremiah 17:7-8

Bridal Shower Madness

Over this past weekend, I've been to 3 shower parties that started last Friday til Sunday (well, it was a Shag (Shower and Stag) party that I attended last Friday). :)

It's been really a weekend of laughs and sharing of wisdom and encouragements.

I've never been into a romantic relationship, and I will never be unless the goal for that relationship is marriage. Though it's not a popular idea nowadays, I still believe that it is a wise move because it will help you to at least spare yourself from unnecessary hurts and pains and emotional roller coaster rides.

From all of these shower (and a shag) parties that I attended, I just have some thoughts about marriage, relationships and love (don't think that I'm an expert on these, but talking to many godly people who have been there is really like stumbling upon an oasis in hot desert where you can gather enough water for your own journey).

Shower filled weekend!

Enjoy your season of being single.
Yes it's not really new but this still rings true. :) It will going to be a whole new world once you get married. There are many things that you enjoy doing while you are still single that you may not do again once you already have a spouse (example: sleeping alone in bed hehe!). And if you are not happy being single, then most probably you will never be happy being married too! Save money while you still don't have your own family to support, develop yourself as a person, be the right person for the one that you are going to marry by preparing for him/her, be a blessing to many people, etc. There are a lot of meaningful and significant things that you can do while flying solo. :)

Don't rush but instead also enjoy your time being single with the Lord. We need Him in every season of our lives (single or not), and I believe we will be needing more of Him and His grace once we got married with an imperfect person like you and me. :)


Every story is different.
Every love story is different from each other and God have His ways in doing it beautiful for His children. What important is, God is the Writer and the Builder of that story and relationship. :)

Unless the Lord builds the house,
    the builders labour in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain. -Psalm 127:1

Be who you are.
You don't need to be somebody aside from being yourself. Like Jesus, believe that someone will love you and accept you... ♫ just the way you are... ♫ :) Of course there will still be some things that you need to develop like character traits, but what I mean is you don't need to change if your goal is to be liked back by the person you admire, or to change so that men (or women) might notice you. I believe that when we enjoy being ourselves, God will be pleased--who is our Creator. I'm saying this specially to women. Don't think like...

"I think I should be like her..."
"I should be like this because this is what he likes..."
"If I can be more like her, maybe he will notice me..."

Stuffs like that.

Our goal is not to be someone else... Our goal is to be more Christlike! Not to be "very likeable" or be "crushable". It is to be Christlike! So don't focus on them but focus on Him-- Jesus! :)

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:...

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
-Ecclesiastes 3:1 and 11

Image form amendesigns.com

Knock knock! Who's there?

Would you still knock even if the door is already closed? But thinking about it, you would not knock on the door that is not closed. I was reading this common passage in the Bible one day and somewhat it spoke to me in a different tone.

This was during the time Jesus was teaching about prayer (remember The Lord's Prayer?). Then He continued and told about a story of a man who goes to a friend at midnight...

"5 And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs." -Luke 11:5-8 (NKJV)

So I asked God if I got this one right after reading this passage again... That there are times that He will answer and give to us what we've been praying for not because we just know Him (v. 8a- " I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend...), but because we are bold AND persistent in asking Him (v. 8b- "...yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.").

That even though the door is already closed and others have already turned us down (v. 7- "and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’), He will still answer us because we are bold AND persistent in asking Him. Because we are always asking, seeking and knocking... and so He will move and give to us as much as we need (v. 8- "I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.").

Image from intimateweddings.com

There are times when God teaches us two things in praying- let go or hold on. "Let go" because maybe He will give something better to you, more than what you are asking from Him. Or simply because it is not just part of His will... His good, pleasing and perfect will. And "Hold on", maybe because He is just teaching you to be patient or to be bold and persistent.

"7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." -Matthew 11:7-8 (NKJV)

So, not all "closed doors" are also lost opportunities. Sometimes, with God's leading, we just have to knock on that door!

"9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" -Matthew 11:9-11 (NKJV)

Bottom line is, our God is the Good Father. He gives good things to His children who ask Him! :)

About Trees, Tierra and Trust

Last Saturday, we had our bonding time with some of our kids church volunteers. We did tree planting and then had our lunch and some games after. :) It was my first time to experience tree planting somewhere in the mountain haha!

We have people from the government who went with us (they are from the DENR- Department of Environment and Natural Resuorces) and they are the ones who guided us all throughout. I had a short conversation with one of them and I think he's been working in the DENR for a very long time and told us some stuff about trees. :)

He told us that you can't just plant trees every where since there are different types of trees. Well I know that there are trees that can only grow in a tropical country, and there are trees that can flourish in countries that have four seasons. He didn't told us that but what he said is more of like a "tree's behavior" and its different functions.

Image from www.typesofeverything.com

Say there are trees that suck up more water than the usual, then there are trees that gives out water. There are trees that are fit to be planted in the mountains for their roots are perfect in supporting or holding the soil together. There are trees that are good to be planted in urban areas but there are trees that are dangerous to be planted in there. Example is the Acacia tree. It is kind of dangerous because on the outside it may look sturdy, but on the inside it can be hallow. Sooo... there's a big chance that it can be uprooted or be cut down by itself. He also mentioned that if the place is endemic with birds, then Mahogany trees are not the best trees to be planted there. He told us that the Mahogany trees tastes bitter to the birds so they don't opt to live there (Ooooooohhh.. (: )

Then I got this "God moment" while I was planting the tree seedlings that I have. God puts us (or plants us) in a place where He knows we will bloom. He created us, and so it is just right that He perfectly knows us... Our behavior, weaknesses and strengths. Or He can put us in a place where He knows our hidden skills or talents can surface. Sure there can be times when we doubt God's ways, we think in ourselves if this place where He is leading us is a place where we can bloom. But then He is God, and He knows waaaaay more than what we know. If we surrender our lives to Him and trust on His leading, then wherever He plants us, that will be a place where we can bloom. :)

"Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
    Nor stands in the path of sinners,
    Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
    Planted by the rivers of water,
    That brings forth its fruit in its season,
    Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper." -Psalm 1:1-3

The Clingy Ruth

I've been recently reading the book of Ruth. Several times I've read this whole book in the Bible (it's only 4 chapters short), and it's always an inspiring story of hope, redemption and love.

While reading this book, these verses somewhat struck me again,

"But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”  -Ruth 1:16-17

This was the time when Naomi decided to go back to her hometown in Israel after her husband and years later, her two sons died. Her sons were married to Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Orpah stayed in Moab but Ruth clung to her and said this strong declaration that she will not leave Naomi... ever. (She's one very clingy daughter-in-law!)

Illustration from distantshores.com

The story of Ruth is also known in the realm of love-- the Boaz and Ruth couple. From them came the lineage of David and so of Jesus. But this will not came to be have not Ruth stayed with Naomi from the start of the story. It's very obvious that Ruth loved her mother-in-law so much that she's very willing to leave everything behind just to be with her, wherever she goes--may it be in her hometown or anywhere else I believe.

In this time of the year, we always have a series of preaching in our church that is focused in world missions. I somewhat had it connected, the statement of Ruth to Naomi, in world missions.

I've been to short mission trips before, and they were really life-changing and fulfilling. Whenever I am asked if I'm going to go someday for long-term missions, I usually say I don't know or I am open with the idea. I sometimes think that I can just marry a missionary so to be in a long-term missions haha! But yeah, that was just a crazy idea that crosses my mind sometimes about going long-term. :)

But the real question is... Can I say and do what Ruth did? Say when the time comes, will I be able to say and do it like she did? Going where God told me to go? In this I was reminded of these verses that I believe God had given to me during our annual prayer and fasting by the start of this year...

"From one man he made all the people of the world. Now they live all over the earth. He decided exactly when they should live. And he decided exactly where they should live. God did this so that people would seek him. Then perhaps they would reach out for him and find him. They would find him even though he is not far from any of us." -Acts 17:26-27 (NIRV)

So wherever God will be placing me (or you my dear reader (: ), it is something that is already been planned even before we became humans. And when He calls, He gives grace. :) It is just a matter of seeking God for His will for our lives and trusting Him as we obey. :)

Three Simple Thoughts

I've been keeping a journal for like four years now. I finished another notebook (actually it's a planner and I turned it into a journal hehe) just yesterday, and did some "throwback" reading of my past journal entries.

Image from www.scribetime.net

My journal entries are my conversations with God written on paper. :) I write whatever I'm feeling, my prayers and even tantrums or just about anything! Most of them are also my devotional entries from His Word, the Bible. I noticed a short yet helpful entry that I had last June 6 that I would want to share here. :)

¹⁹ When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an ax to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees people, that you should besiege them? ²⁰ However, you may cut down trees that you know are not fruit trees and use them to build siege works until the city at war with you falls. -Deuteronomy 20:19-20

I don't know... But three thoughts from this passage came to my mind on the time I read this:

1. Do not tolerate sin. Cut away the things that cause you to sin in your life.

2. There are things from your past that you can learn from them and help you grow.

3. But there are also things from your past that you can't neither benefit nor grow from it. Cut them or let go of them so the burden will be lighter. It can help you advance in your battles in this life.

Simply put--- Don't tolerate sin. Learn to grow. Let go to grow.

I wrote this on my journal for over a month ago, but I think God is reminding me again of these three simple thoughts from this "throwback" journal entry. Truly His Word is always timely. :)

The "Why" behind the "What"

Hangover.

That would be the one word that best describe what I am feeling right now after our Victory Kids Teachers Summit 2014 last February 20-22 at Island Cove, Cavite. Ever since the first time I attended this Teachers Summit last 2012, it has always been part of my yearly faith goal to be able to attend. It's really a great time for the kids ministry volunteers to be refreshed, equipped and to be reminded again of why we do what we do.

Let me share a short story with you why I ended up being a kids ministry volunteer. It became so influential in my life that I am now an art teacher for kids. I was "forced" by my former small group leader and by a friend who was with the same small group with me to join. Both of them were active volunteers in the ministry here in our local church. They said I would best fit in the Preschool age group, since I was a Fine Arts graduate and they have craft-making there. So I signed up even though I really don't have that great desire to be part of it. I thought before, God blessed me with these talents so it's not bad if I use them for kids ministry, and I have few friends there (and my sister volunteered in this ministry before me) so "jelling in" with the people will not be that hard. :) But as the time goes by, I've spent more time with them and found out that they are the craziest, fun, loving, patient and passionate people that I have known. It's like they are the great combination of both "serious" and "funny". God used this ministry and the people for me to see His vision and know His heart for the next generation.

It's like someone pushed me towards a black hole and I couldn't do anything but to go with the magnetic force that is pulling me towards it. I kind of think that what happened to me. Kids ministry "magnetized" me towards itself... but I like it. I am thankful for it. (naks!)

Just to say since I have mentioned "magnetic force" and stuff, the theme for our Teachers Summit this year was "Magnet". It's making your kids ministry attractive to kids, to the parents and to the volunteers. All of the sessions were great and of good help but I just want to highlight my favorite part-- the worship night! We just sang to God with songs throughout the night with some short exhortations from the Word in between. One of them that struck me the most is this from Luke 2:41-46

"Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions."

Then the pastor asked the crowd, if there's anyone in the room who have been serving in the ministry for a time and that it's already becoming a routine... and didn't realized that Jesus was not with him/her anymore. Just like what in the verses mentioned, Joseph and Mary were just observing a custom (or in our case, serving in the ministry) which is generally not bad. But the thing is they were unaware that Jesus was not with them anymore. Many raised their hands and I'm one of them.

Ouch.

It has been really a super jam-packed February for me-- the meetings, preparations and stuff was starting to take a toll on me and I haven't realized it if it weren't for this worship night. I still have my quiet time and devotions... but it's not enough. It's like I am still not satisfied with it. It's like I'm running on a marathon and the sun is up, bright and shining and I'm all sweaty and tired but I just got to drink an ounce of water. Yet I still go on and run. I go and run and somewhere I don't know, I "left" Jesus and was unaware of it. During the worship night, I realized what was lacking in me was more of God's presence. That is why I feel always tired, I feel like almost giving up, stressed and burned out weeks before the Summit. One of the songs that we sang was a quite old song of Matt Redman, "Better Is One Day".

If I can just find the right words to explain how I felt during that time! Like I said, it's like I'm running on a marathon and the sun is up, bright and shining and I'm all sweaty and tired... but this time someone splashed a pail of cool water all over me! Or it was like God's presence was a pool or a body of cool water, and I dived into it!

AND THAT'S REFRESHING!!!

I realized the importance of really, REALLY in constant presence of God specially when you are serving in the church. You may really know the importance of what you are doing and may be really sold out in serving God and His people. But you know, when you are tired... you are tired! When you are dehydrated, even though in the heart of hearts you don't want to quit, you just can't go on because you are running on an empty state.

The pastor continued and it's should be a constant reminder for all who are serving in the church, in full time capacity or not, that ministry should always, ALWAYS be an overflow of God's presence or love in us and don't go running in the ministry with an empty supply. When you are always in God's presence, remembering the "why" behind the "what"... why are you doing what you are doing... will always be there with you.

A great reminder! I do what I do because of Him. :) ♥

A Love Letter For No One... Yet.

You got mail!

Dear You,

I think this is really a corny/cheesy idea... writing a letter (or a blog post on this matter) for you, but I'm doing it anyway. Maybe because of the season, it's February! It is when my Facebook news feeds are filled with posts about love. It is when the preachings in my home church (Sunday service, youth service and even in our Kids Church Tweeners service) are all about love. And it is when the malls are full of hearts and reds. Maybe somehow these also compelled me to do this. :) A little cheesiness won't kill me anyway. :)

I just want to say that I'm praying for you... Whoever you are. Before I wasn't that consistent, but this time I'm pretty much more disciplined in doing it compared before hehe. :) I think I'm more guided now in what to pray for you, God is just leading me so. :) I'm praying that you will be the man that God wants you to be, that He will bless the works of your hands and will make you fruitful in every area of your life. I'm praying that you will be a man that is after God's own heart and be excellent in your craft, that you will be a leader serving out of love, who is generous and a man of integrity that flees away from sin. A man who have a child-like faith. And above all else your greatest concern is honoring God, pleasing Him and glorifying Him.

Sometimes I think that you are not existing, and yes I'm open in being single for life. If that is the case, then this letter will be "null and void" and all of my prayers and preparations are just in vain, like a "chasing after the wind". But I am just keeping myself open with the idea of single blessedness so I may not be so focused with the fulfillment of the promise (you) that I'm on my way to neglecting/ignoring the Promise Giver (God). I just want to keep everything in good placing but really, I'm still praying for you and believing that one day I will meet you (or maybe I have already, I may still just don't know now).

I have many crushes but I'm praying that God will guard my heart and keep me emotionally pure haha! Please pray for me that I will be pure even in my emotions. I am praying the same to you. :) Reserved and preserved. :) As early as today, I'm already learning to love you and honestly sometimes it is not that easy, but I know God is helping me (He is my greatest "stirrer" you know! Haha!) It is also my prayer that God will not just prepare us but also our families and friends. Geez I have lots of friends who are excited to see you and sometimes I think they are even more excited than me haha! So don't be surprised if you have to meet many people from different groups of different shapes, sizes and backgrounds. :) But still no pressure! All is well in God's perfect time and ways. :)

This doesn't look like a love letter don't you think? Haha! It's quite challenging to write a letter addressed to no one. At least for now. :) And I hope one day when we both figured out who is the "you" in this letter, we will just at least have a good laugh at this! ;)

                                                                        From,
                                                                             Your soon-to-be bestfriend & suitable helper                                                            

Cambodia Love

Cambodia.

Angkor Wat by sunrise :)

Just a mention of its name, number of thoughts starts running in my head. Before, I just know this country for its Angkor Wat, which is one of our UNESCO World Heritage site. I think it was roughly 4 years ago when I saw this nation on a different light. It was during the time when I watched at the 700 Club Asia its dark history under the Khmer Rouge regime during the 70's. From then on I already had a heart for Cambodia and it's been my prayer that someday God will let me come to that nation and be a blessing there. I have friends who went there before me and hearing their stories just made me pray more to God that He will let me come there someday just like them. God answered my prayer, because years after praying He let me come to this nation for a short-term missions last year! I was really joyful when at last God answered my prayers! It was a great time and my love for Cambodia just got deeper that after my last year's trip I have decided that I will return the following year.

Just this October, I'm thankful to God that He again honored my prayers and enabled me to return in the Kingdom of Cambodia. One of my goals this year was really just to see the fruits or the growth of the local disciples that we met from the last year's trip, since we conducted a team building there on having a small group. Even just before this month, we already heard some good reports about our church there, Every Nation Church Cambodia. One of these are they have transferred to a bigger venue and the other was they have sent many delegates at our Ignite Conference 2013 last summer. It was different seeing them here in the Philippines for it's also a proof of God's faithfulness to them because He made them come here in the Philippines.

Ignite 2013!

Some of our Khmer delegates :)

I think until now, I'm still overwhelmed with God's goodness from the trip. Other than seeing my friends at ENCC, I also had chances to see again my friends whom I've known from Korea when I attended a conference there last year.

With Chantra and Sinat :)

Maybe a single blog post is not enough for me to share my experiences and thoughts for the past trip that I had. It was a long but exciting journey by the way... since I applied again for this trip late last year, met the whole team who were with me in this journey (I will also miss those the monthly meetings that we had before the trip) and arriving again in the Kingdom of Cambodia. I pray that those who read this will also be inspired to go and be a blessing to the nations and also see the bigger picture of God's plan to spread His love to every nation. :)

The future is bright for you, Cambodia

I hate rules!

It was during the time when I was teaching in one of my Saturday art classes with kids aged 6-7 years old. We are about to do a side view of a zebra using charcoal pencils.

Before we start I always make them recite our class rules. Originally we only have 3 rules, but since these kids are really active I made another rule which is "Don't go before teacher." (It's because when we are doing an artwork, we do it one step at a time) What usually happens when they go before me, their artworks will look different from what I am teaching. So they will air their concern and comment on their works with "Why is my zebra looks different?" or "My zebra looks abnormal!"

So my answer is (of course), "Because you are going before teacher..." or "Because you are not waiting for my instruction..." And this will happen again and again in one session. One time I asked them, "Why you are not following the rules?" And one of my students answered me, "Because we don't want to follow the rules!" And I answered him, "But rules are for your own good that's why you should follow them. They can make your artworks look great."

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Then I remember a time when I was commuting going home. In a fleeting moment I saw a barber shop by the roadside. And in the barber shop I saw a toddler who is inside a crib, jumping. Good thing the kid is inside the crib or else he could be on the road and get hit by a vehicle!

Image from http://northtexaskids.com

Then I remember God and His rules. There are people who doesn't want to get serious with God because they think that God have "so many rules" that they need to follow. Thinking about the toddler inside the crib, it's like we are the toddler and God's laws are the crib. They keep us safe.

Proverbs 6:20-13 (NIV)
²⁰ My son, keep your father’s command
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
²¹ Bind them always on your heart;
    fasten them around your neck.
²² When you walk, they will guide you;
    when you sleep, they will watch over you;
    when you awake, they will speak to you.
²³ For this command is a lamp,
    this teaching is a light,
and correction and instruction
    are the way to life,

His laws are meant for guidance, instruction and correction. They are not meant to choke us or so we can live boring lives. When we believe and know that God loves us so much, we can be sure that His laws are for our good, following them will not be a burden but a delight and treating them will not be with contempt but with thankfulness.