Clean Up

110. That was my last count.

I found this CD from a pile of old CDs while cleaning up the bookshelves. I looked it up after the clean up of the shelves on our DVD player, but it wouldn't run. I thought it was a broken disc not until after I looked at it in my computer. The moment it loaded, I got a glimpse of history.

Seven years back. When I was roaming the corridors of Araullo High School, I conjured up a list of all my current book collections. I created two identical documents. It was also funny to note that I also made my own logos. It was so juvenile.

Anyway, I collected children's classics which eventually evolved into "anything-I-get-my-hands-into" genre. There were days when I really emptied all my pockets for a book or two that I even forgot to save for my fare home. It happened frequently that there were times where I had to walk home or wait for my brother or sisters to go out of their elementary class and hitch a ride in our school service (we were operating one back then). So because of my rash spending, I was able to have a steady collection growing and I have read them all, mind you.

Back in high school, someone suggested that I make a living out of it by running a book rental. I liked the idea so I made a list of books. However, when I saw how my own classmates treated their books, I backed out but kept the list. I figured it was more organized that way and I would be able to monitor my books. I kept on adding into it through the years so that it totalled 110 books including reference books and school requirements that I owned.

I stopped adding to the list when I started college. I got too busy that the CD containing the document got lost till today. Now, I lost count. Maybe I have more than a hundred or maybe even double the number. I could only guess, but the books keep adding up each day.

Until I have my own library, I won't stop adding more books into my collection.

Pilgrimage, anyone?

Why do people embark on pilgrimages to supposedly sacred sites during these season? I keep on wondering about this every Lenten season. My wonder increased when I saw the people outside today.

I have to make it clear that I have nothing against pilgrimages. After all, aren't we in one? Aren't we in a spiritual pilgrimage towards perfection through Christ? I may not walk the long trek up a mountain to meditate or anything, but life in itself proves a steeper mountain to climb. I am even amazed at how some of our Islam brethren would do everything to get to Mecca just to worship. The whole process including the preparations in itself is a wonder. When I learned more about Islam and other world religions, I got a deeper sense of appreciation for these people. In just the same manner, some of us Christians do retreats and the like to think and increase our knowledge of God. There's really no difference.

Perhaps this is also the reason why some of our Catholic brethren go up to Antipolo every Holy Week.

A pilgrimage to Mecca to a Muslim might require a rigorous preparation. I am not a Muslim so I am not someone who have a say in the matter. Christians are no exceptions. We need to prepare ourselves physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually before we embark on such pilgrimages. Preparations are really necessary. It's a great exercise of faith and a part of the pilgrimage in itself, but what I saw just today made me wonder.

The buzz of going up on a pilgrimage to Antipolo was in the air today as a group of teenagers were preparing for their trip. It's really a great show of courage on their part to go there. They have everything ready including their make up.

Yes, most of them wore their make up. I really thought they were kidding with their outfits. They wore clothes that looked like they were going to a party or something. Frankly, it was as though they were going to perform in a street dance competition than a pilgrimage to a sacred area.

Anyone could argue that in God's sight, the clothes you wear don't mean anything. I agree. I would even support it, but to go on a pilgrimage, what you wear really matters. It's not just a practicality issue wherein the clothes you wear need to fit the place you're going. The motive in going on a pilgrimage is also in question. Why would you wear that if you want to meditate or commemorate Christ's death and sacrifice? Why would you go there if you're going to flaunt your most stylish apparel? Wouldn't it be better to go there with only your barest necessities and look at God at your simplest? Or were you planning on reaching that site with friends just to have fun? And wouldn't it be better to go there on your own initiative?

I haven't been to any pilgrimages, but I guess you have to prepare your heart for it. I guess, I'm not someone who's qualified to say anything. Maybe, just maybe, your heart should be at the right place before you go on any pilgrimages. Maybe your eyes should be set upon that Man who died on the cross and not to your friends or your boyfriend who went with you. Maybe, you should think about the real reason why you're going there? Is it because it's what religion tells you? Is it because it's what your friends tell you? Or is it because it's what your heart tells you to do? What do you think?

I'm not really sure.

Maybe I'm just ignorant about it.

By the lamp post

These pics were taken right after barry's graduation. I won't put the graduation pictures here since my sisters and barry might have uploaded it to their accounts. What I would like to emphasize were the lamp post pics, lolo's great smile, and others. There are more since I was the one holding the camera that time.

2009 Manila Auto Show

Due to the scarcity of tickets for barry's graduation and dahil in-indian ako ng mga dapat kong kasama (Kilala niyo kung sino kayo!!! hahaha), Bianca and I went to the autoshow.

The cars were fewer this year. The crowd favorite last year, Mazda, did not have an exhibit, so don't expect an MX-5 here. There were also a handful of motorcycles - actually, only 2 were on the exhibit. The other two-wheeled vehicles on display were scooters.

I learned a valuable lesson when I went to this car show: Bring the right gear! As you can see, these photos are poor in quality. We used bianca's camera phone for the pictures. So no matter how hard I try to focus the pictures on the whole car, only part of it could be seen. If ever I try to move farther to get the whole picture, people would pass by.

Dizzy Wizzy

This is the second time in two weeks.

I was utterly confused for two straight Sabbaths.

I was confounded by the silence and knocked over by the excessive visual stimuli. Ever since this ministry started I was really dazed.

Who else to blame but me? I was so eager to put up this ministry together that I had no choice but to bear with it for a while. This is only temporary I guess. I would just have to bear with it until I get used to it and increase my vocabulary.

OK, so I'm telling a story as if I'm already wrapping it up. But that's simply how I feel whenever I try to look at the deaf ministry as they were having a Bible study. Last sabbath, my friend, Myrtle and I dozed off out of confusion. It was too much given our limited knowledge of sign language. I could personally recognize some of the gestures. By some, I meant like less than 10 signs. Myrtle knows 10 more than I do. But it was not enough. And to think that they were discussing about the creation!

But that's alright. Most of them are not Christians yet so it was a very welcome notion to teach them more about the Bible. I wouldn't mind getting dizzy so much as long as it is for others to learn more about the person I love the most: God.

Dizzyness and confusion aside, I really enjoyed looking at those people. They were so amazing to look at. I just pray that this ministry will go on and would continue to grow. I have a vision for this group and I pray to God that things will go His way.

Numbering Our Days

An elder's message one sabbath said that man strives to find meaning in his life. He said that it is man's greatest fears. I especially like the part where he said, "when all is said and done, we want our lives to count for something!"

It was the only thing that remained after listening for his sermon twice. True enough it may seem to be the only reason why we keep on living. We currently experience a global crisis that even the smaller kids see with their own innocent eyes. The carefree days were long gone. A day when kids could just play in the streets while their parents watch them with sheer wonder and amazement.

Looking at the lives of some people around me, I can see...

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Graceful Gestures

It is hard to talk to someone you hardly know, much more if it is a foreigner with a different language. It is something that I find hard to do particularly when you were the one who approached him or her. The greeting part is easy, but how to start a friendly conversation and where to steer it, is hard. It seems to be hard particularly if you have no idea of what their culture is like. That's tough! You wouldn't even know if they are already feeling awkward with the conversation.

Much more if the person you are trying to talk to cannot hear at all.

I made a fuss in church one day when... Read Further...

Lengthened Lent

I took a walk around the neighborhood one Sunday. It was one of those rare days that I really loved. I had nothing important to do. Normally, I would be rushing evaluation reports and progress reports for submission that week. Yet this time, the heaviest task ranged from buying something from the store next door to finishing my regular meals.

No patients. No reports. It was a Sunday with no rush. Life seemed to be at ease. I love it.

I met life as I went around. I saw children playing the remnants of some of the street games we used to play long before PSPs and the like came into the picture. Parents were also there sitting at the doorsteps, laughing as their children ran around. It wasn’t chaos. It was life at its most basic: Fun.

As I made my way through the teeming crowd of children, a curious sight caught my eye. Read on...