What Happened Here?

What just happened here?

It's been a long time since I last wrote here. I never realized so much has changed to this site. My last post was in august. So much has happened since then. It's actually hard to maintain several blogs. 

Now, I'm seeing more changes as the days roll by. Come, next year, there are bigger and higher things that needed to be done. I'm just excited with the new line up of people. I pray that a lot of blessings will pour out after this. 

I'm just too optimistic.

Meanwhile, I expect to revive this site. More things to write about. More rants. :P

Jitters.

My hands were clammy and cold. I felt like the smallest person in the universe. I mustered all my strength to talk in front of a crowd. I couldn't quite find my voice at first. I sounded like a squeaking mouse. I really am not good at preaching.

I could write full sermons or a full essay but I couldn't get myself to deliver it in front of a large crowd. I believe it is completely normal. Anyone would really feel scared when asked to stand in front of a large congregation and share a little piece of your life. 

I'm really glad it's over. Praise be to God.

TRESE

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Comics & Graphic Novels
Author:	Budjette Tan and KaJO Baldisimo

Don't get me wrong. It's 3 1/2 because I want more. Other than that, it deserves 5 stars. I received the first two TRESE books as a gift. The next week, I bought the third and most recent installment. Now I can't wait to get the fourth when it comes out.

The story is not your cliche mystery whoddunit although some of the stories have that kind of ring to it. The story revolves around Alexandria Trese a vigilante type of heroine whose specialty is supernatural crimes. It sounds funny at first but the moment you opened the book, you'd be amazed at how cool it is. The places are real Manila locations and with almost accurate portrayals (almost because some names had to be changed by the authors). The criminals and the victims come from our very own Filipino supernatural - aswangs, kapres, tikbalangs and the like. What amazes me is how it also has some supernatural creatures that I have heard just now - Santelmo among others. It also adds a touch of creativity with regards to how they portray these creatures as clannish and exists among us - not that I believe it though.

Of the three volumes released, the third book has the highest excitement.The story revolves around Trese and the Kambal's origins. It differs from the other two in style in that the first two were divided into stories that seem to have no or little connection with each other. Whereas the third one is like a great graphic novel with one story.

I surely hope though that the authors would continue writing more. I can't wait for the 4th installment.

Looking Back Series

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	History
Author:	Ambeth Ocampo

Browsing through the Filipiniana section of some bookstore in ortigas, I found this seemingly thin book with a curious cover. It was by Ambeth Ocampo so most likely it was history. I was previously taken aback by his "Rizal Without the Overcoat" so this should be as compelling. I was glad that I was right. This mentally stimulating book allows us to look back at the trivial and obscured facts from our history books. The second book in the series "Dirty Dancing" and the third, "Death by Garrote" were bought consecutively. These three books are compilations of his columns with the same name.

The three books bring us back to the land of heroes whose names have become almost legendary if not mythical. Ocampo managed to pull those men and women down to the human realm. Imagine learning that McArthur (yes, the "I shall return" guy) had a Filipina mistress and that Gen. Gregoryo del Pilar could be lined up among the ranks of Rizal for being a playboy. Know who has a greater mastery over the English language: Rizal or Mabini. Learn the histories of our surnames, first names and middle names. The only down side with the book is that you'd want to read more after you've read all three books.

This is a history book that differs from most as the humor and wit of Ocampo has been laid out. It offers a conversational presentation of articles that doesn't bore readers and still produce vital information on our history.

Water: The Two Whites

October 10, 2010. The famed 10.10.10.

I awoke to the sound of my alarm. It was still dark outside but most of us were already up. I got up with quite a struggle. My body still bore the muscle pains of hiking the other day. It was hard to move my knees and my ankles. They were still tender. However, had I not dipped my body in the Hot springs, I might not be able to move at all. It was still a struggle moving from the bed to the bathroom and back. I had lean onto something, but it would be too embarrassing. Read more.

Air: The Wind Rush

October 8, 2010. Dawn came. I was awake the moment my alarm went off at 4:30 in the morning. People were still singing so I figured my companions might still be struggling from lack of sleep. I plugged my ears again and set my clock at 5:00 AM. By the time the alarm started, I was drowned by the sudden silence.  The singing stopped and the drunken revelers had packed and gone. It was still dark outside though so I went back to snooze.

I was suddenly awakened by someone grabbing my foot. Read more.

First Flight: Prelude to Adventure

Flight to Cagayan De Oro on this plane

I have been cooped up in the city all my life. So if there are times when an escape from the city life is possible, I instantly grab the opportunity without question. I welcome that change of environment with open arms. Yet for all those times I have travelled, I take shame to admit that I haven’t tried riding in an airplane before.

That is, until today... Read More

By One Man’s Error and One Man’s Triumph

The sound of the trumpets and shouts broke the silence of the horizon. Suddenly, another sound louder than the trumpets shook the whole land. It was the sound of crashing. The famed walls of Jericho went crashing down. Once deemed impenetrable by it’s surrounding cities, the city went down after a curious band of men and women marched outside the city walls.

Thus, ended the existence of the city of Jericho by the hand of God through the people of Israel. <Read More>

Finding Joy part 3

The Real Secret of Happiness.

All our lives we thought that life should be fun. Although it is true that we serve a God who wants us to be happy, fun was never written on the Bible in the context of something that God wants us to have in life. In fact, Pastor David Assherick says that the word fun never occurred in the Bible, but the word joy occurs more than 200 times. This tells a lot about the difference between fun and joy. Read more.

Finding Joy part 1

Misconceptions on things that make us happy and things that bring joy.

What makes you happy? Is it wealth? Is it power? Is it possessions? In this God forgotten world, we have gone through depths to find one thing few people could ever find. Some think it’s money, or power or possessions. But more often than not, we could not find joy.

I am not referring to any individual. Read more.

Basketball Fever

I once quipped during the height of the World Cup 2010 in South Africa, that if Filipinos embraced football, we could have been contenders for the World Cup. We could be twice as fast as any World cup players. There's no need to measure height since the height isn't a real big deal in football. If we ever decided to join the World Cup, we could probably be at par with the best teams in the World. We're better off playing football.

Yet a few months after, here I am watching old clips from old PBA games particularly the Toyota-Crispa Reunion in 2003 where most of the old guys sweat it out like they were in their mid-20s. It was a fun match full of heart and passion. Those were times when most of the players wore short shorts and could really fly (yes, guys could wear short shorts and get cheered at by beautiful girls). I don't know about now since I never get to watch any of the games.

Moreover, I bought a PSP three weeks ago. I loaded some games. If you'd look at it, you'd definitely laugh. I have two different versions of an NBA game and I get to play those two more than the other games on my device. I just caught myself today, and had a good laugh out of it.

In another note, the book by Rafe Bartholomew is now out in the Philippines. It's called "Pacific Rims." (The author didn't pay me to promote this. I haven't even read the book yet.) As the author put it, this is about the Philippines where basketball is ingrained in every street in each of the 7,107 islands of our country. In an interview, the author even says that the most basic aspects of our society revolves around basketball, politics for one, is also affected by the hard court.

True enough, this country may not boast of tall players, but watching the game of old guys bumping and bruising each other to get an orange ball inside a hoop is exhilarating. Sure, catching the one point lead of one team in football gives you the thrills as well, but the action of basketball seemed to be more appealing to the hearts of every Filipino.

Sure, anyone could enumerate wonderful reasons why Filipinos should take up football instead. Yet once you hear the "swooop" of the ball hitting the net, the reasons fade and the game begins.

Mis mo!

The Real Never Ending Story

I remember the movie as a kid. A boy named Bastian acquired a book with a story that claims to have no ending. It turns out that Fantasia, the land in the book needs a savior and the only person capable of saving the day was none other than Bastian himself. Thus he was transported in the book, saved the book world and lived happily ever. That is, after Bastian sends the mystical dragon that looks a lot like a dog to literally trash the neighborhood bullies.

Thus was the story within a story called the neverending story. It never does end since the story in the book was connected to Bastian’s story. The story really is never ending.

Read More

New Ear Tingling Addiction

"This city is shouting you down; a personal music player is a form of self defense. It creates a force field around you, shuts out the world that is trying to swallow you whole, and defines, however tenuously, a space that is yours." - Jessica Zafra, Twisted 8 1/2

I bought a music phone just in time before my MP4 player broke down. Yeah, the MP4 that used to have NES games broke down.

That was months ago. Since then, I have been relying on my phone to play music while walking to and from work or wherever. Aside from making it an excuse to join the deaf ministry (joke!), I somehow shared the same sentiments of Jessica Zafra. Hence, I walk around the city with music blaring in my ears.

I only played music despite the advice of a lot of friends to try audio books or audio sermons. I refused most of the time. I figured that my sleepy headed-ness would get the better of me once I listened to a person talking on the head set.

This week I tried to experiment. I loaded an audio sermon on my player and tried to listen to it on my way to work. Instead of falling asleep, I found myself more alert than ever. The sermon even disturbed my innermost thoughts. I was forced to pause the sermon midway because of work and I was left hanging. I was left with a lot of questions that I couldn't wait to hear the conclusion when I reach my break after 3 hours.

After that, I found myself deleting more than half of the songs on my playlist and replaced it with audio sermons and lectures. I was daily captivated by the likes of Ivor Myers, Allan and Nicole Parker, Karl Tsatalbasidis, among others. Their dynamic delivery of messages and great insight on a spirit filled living propelled me to load more sermons.

This is a brand new addiction. It's healthy and inspiring. So if you see me spacing out with a headset on my head, don't worry I'm just listening to a new insight.

I still have apprehensions with audio books though.

All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Nonfiction
Author:	Robert Fulghum

This is really over due.

I was walking around a mall when I spotted this book in a bargain bookstore. It's pages somewhat old. However, I recall a faint memory of receiving an email message with this in the subject heading. I got curious especially when I read the first few pages. I bought the book even though I still had a long reading list.

Never did I regret my decision. It lead me to transcend from the novels to the essays.

The book is the the first of many by American minister and author Robert Fulghum. It's a book of essays on life and ironies of life. The title refers to the list of rules and guidelines taught to kindergarten students and how good it would be for the world if adults follow these simplistic set of rules.

However the book cover more than just those rules. It also features essays on life, death, birth, surprises, washing clothes and dishes among others. No joke, it really has an essay about washing clothes and dishes. There's even one featuring a mermaid.

What's fun about reading this book is it's style. The somewhat simple and and sometimes straight forward way of delivering the essays seem like talking to the readers. It wouldn't even feel like your reading a book, it's more like listening to a good teacher or a having a conversation with a friend.

Those Petty Little Things

A month from now marks my second year in the real world. And as I vaguely keep track of where I am now two years after graduating from college, I could proudly say that I am BROKE. 

No, I do not spend a lot shopping. I detest going around the each store at the malls looking for shoes, clothes and other stuff unless I am assisting someone. Although you can find me inside a mall more than 3x a week, it is still a struggle to shop for my own things. 

I also don't splurge on travel. Although I do love to see places, I always end up dreaming of those places instead of going to them. I practically find myself stuck in the city for several months before going out.

Neither do I spend on expensive gadgets. I do dream of them. Most of the things I wanted are fancy electronics, yet the moment I face their price tags, I chicken out. 

What really made me broke are not those big things like shopping or travel. Instead it's those little things. I realized this after reading this 5 Money Mistakes You Might Be Making (and How to Avoid Them) on Shine. The first mistake had my name all over it.

Money Mistake #1: My Money Is Disappearing

No one starts the month planning to fritter away a small fortune, but that’s what can happen when minor expenses spiral out of control. It’s not just shopping at Saks that gets you into trouble. Seemingly innocent purchases — $15 jeans at Target, a few things for the kids at a two-for-one sale, the occasional Frappuccino — can do real damage to your bottom line.

What does it take to waste $10,000 a year? Just $27.40 a day. “You can undermine some of your most important goals with purchases you’ll never remember,” says Suzanna de Baca, president of Private Capital Solutions Group, a Des Moines, IA, investment advisory firm.

I am guilty. I get to spend on food that costs less and find myself broke at the end of the day. I also spend for petty little accessories to my gadgets or pens or books or things that doesn't really matter but are dirt cheap. 

I probably need to keep track on these petty little things. They are like small leaks to the big bucket. They may be so small, yet the bucket ends up empty because of these.

Remembering Maslow

According to Abe Maslow, people’s needs have levels – five levels to be exact. Somehow it fits the mold perfectly well. The things he mentioned really mirror the magnanimity of people’s needs. Yet that is the only thing worth mentioning about his Hierarchy of Needs Theory because not all the time to we get them.

Maslow mentioned five basic levels. They are as follows in order of importance:

1. Biological and Physiological Needs: refer to food, nourishment, air, etc.
2. Safety Needs: refer to protection, security, etc.
3. Belongingness and Love Needs: refer to affection, relationships, etc.
4. Esteem Needs: refer to achievements, responsibility, status, etc.
5. Self-Actualization: refer to personal growth and fulfillment

As we look at it, they only remain as figures and approximations.
Read More

Gamersville Yet Again

I have just posted some blogs about games and gamers, now I never realized that I would post again after a few hours. Try reading it here and here for a change.

I admit I am a gamer. Not hardcore though. I still sleep and eat at the right times. I even have enough time to do my work.

Although I could be hardcore if I wanted to. In fact anyone could be one.

While browsing through the news online, I hit upon one cool article that really amazed me. Try to read it here <-click link

The fact that you could actually trace someone while playing games is cool enough. Wait till you learn that the game company actually helps out in tracing people and they do have the access codes for that.

So does that mean it's the end of privacy?

Whatever, I've got nothing to hide. I just revel at the fact that 2010 is a year for innovations and amazing ideas. Just beware that surprises, though cool, could not always be helpful.

365 days later... an oddyssey for 2009 and a question for 2010

I haven't made it a habit to make any resolutions, and I never planned to start now. Maybe a story or a question will do. Let's start with 365 days.

365 days. Yes it's that long. Let me tell you about it.

I thought of the perfect present for me for Christmas. Not that I believed that Christ was born on Christmas. Rather, I find that the season is appropriate to give myself a gift. Several people told me that sometimes one should indulge and treat oneself after one heck of a work load. One of those people was me.

Yes, I took the liberty of giving myself a gift. I planned it carefully. I saved up for it actually. It’s something I needed badly so maybe it was as well.

To those who know me, you might have guessed that it was a book. You’ve guessed it right. You really know me. It is a book, a very important one, too. It’s something that I really wanted since graduating. No, I really wanted that book even before I graduated high school. It was around 3rd year or something.

So this was my chance. I waited for a long time.

I wanted a Bible.

Not just any Bible. A Bible from my own blood, sweat and tears, I can identify anyone from our church or any other church who could give me a Bible the moment I asked. But I really wanted something that I would treasure because I bought it. This ought to be the perfect gift for Christmas for me now that I have a job. I waited long enough for this.

I browsed around the bookstores even before December. NBS, Powerbooks, Fully booked, even Booksale. I wanted to find the one that would definitely suit my needs, something really applicable to my current sinful condition – the depressed, and hopeless sinner type.

It’s the perfect gift, isn’t it?

It probably is.

That was last 2008.

Whatever made me hold back on buying a Bible at that time was entirely forgotten. It took 365 days – 381 to be exact for me to get a hold on that elusive Bible. It was like a treasure that took forever.

Shame on me.

In the span of 365 days, I bought a cellphone, an mp4 player, new parts for a desktop computer and many other things – but not a 450pesos worth of a Bible. A real shame, I was able to buy all those expensive things, but never the one thing that would get me at least one step closer to God.

I was able to buy the BIble. At long last, it took a long time. Just before 2010 started, I went out and made a great decision to buy the long sought after BIble. It's nothing grand at all. Just a regular Bible that I could call mine.

The experience made me wonder, how easy it is to make a split second decision to buy gadgets that we coveted and other material things that we wanted – not needed. Yet we forget to forge the strongest link with the person who could give you more than those things many times over.

But what could we humans do? We are sinful as it is. How could we make the decision to strengthen our relationship with God more than the things on this world?

We have another 365 days to think about it and probably change it.

HAPPY 2010!!

The Bucket List

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Comedy

If you've got only months to live and billions of money, what would you do? Two cancer patients (played by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman) explored this question in the comedy-drama star-studded film. The story shows Edward Cole (Nicholson), a multi-billionaire, and Carter Chambers (Freeman), a mechanic, sharing a room in a facility owned by Cole. Tension builds up at first that eventually turn into a deep friendship. With only months to live, the two embark on a journey to the skies and around the world all the while crossing out their bucket list. From sky diving to a safari trip to standing on top of the world, the two old men strive to find the fun that they've been missing and at find the meaning of life along the way. But at the heart of it all, nothing beats being in the arms of someone you love: your family.
This film is a must to see.

Studio Ghibli Rocks!!

It all started with Spirited Away. I have heard of the film before as the first animated feature to win an Academy Award. Michi (as with most of the anime I know) showed me the film through her ipod. I didn't get to finish the film at that time since her ipod ran out of juice somewhere in the middle of the film. So, I was forced to download the film to my delight. It was really a great film with simple yet artistic cinematography. I wouldn't deny it its right to win that prestigious award.

From then on, I watched Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke and just today, Tales from Earthsea. Each of these animated films have their own stories. Like Howl's Moving Castle and Tales from Earthsea, which were adopted from novels of the same title, tried to follow the plot on the books they were based on. On the otherhand, Princess Mononoke, as wikipedia put it, was an environmental film portrayed by Japanese mythology. Yet all these films seemed to have the same simplicity in terms of visual effects and artwork. It's not overly digitalize like most animated films of this age, rather, it used the old method of hand-drawn animation with just a few touches of computer CGI to give it flavor. What made them amazing was that they were made by one creator, Miyazaki.But before I start typing reviews for all of these films (which I have been itching to do and I nearly did right now!), I have learned that it was hard to find and acquire each of this films. There's a lot on the list even if I have to just look for Miyazaki's works, I wouldn't be able to get them all. Just today, I came from Makati Cinema Square where I found a complete Studio Ghibli collection (as of 2007) a year ago. With it's thousand peso price back then, it was impossible for me to purchase the collection considering I still had no work then. However, my search today was not as fruitful as it was before, I may have the buying power now, but the collection was gone.


I hope I could find that collection soon.