Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Naaalala niyo pa ba ito?
I was looking for a particular CD this morning. Next time, I should put the labels on my CDs. Its hard for me and for my computer (or any computer for that matter) to open each CD. I couldn't help but laugh when I saw this picture. Whoa! It's been a long time. hehehe.
Monday, March 9, 2009
A Ship Called Doulos
There was once an announcement of the return of one of the famous vessels to sail the waters of the world. They call themselves the floating United Nations for you could clearly see the representation from each continent. It was a wonderful sight, giving you hope for the possibility of Utopia, if certain things were met. Enough of the philosophical introspection, just to keep it straight, I'm talking about MV Doulos. More than five years ago, I was a giddy student who wanted to visit that ship. An avid book collector, I was not one who would let go of the prospect of going to a floating bookstore. In fact, I really don't mind if it were a floating, flying, running, bouncing or even digging bookstore. As long as it has books of good value, expect me to be there.
Two years ago, my wish was fulfilled twice. I was able to visit the floating bookstore twice in a week and was able to buy a great volume. But being a common warm blooded sinful human, you get to ask for more.
So there I was again. I stepped on the planks of MV Doulos yet again for another trip to dreamy land. To those who have not yet been there, the bookstore is no ordinary bookstore. It contains precious volumes of inspirational material enough to have you rationalizing for a whole century. Its vast stores of books range from children's coloring and activity books to self-help books to references to inspirational and religious books including Bibles. But those who are not really into books are not forgotten, music with labels ranging from Hillsong to Sixpence non the richer, bags of different styles and colors, and souvenirs and other paraphernalia were sold as well. (Take note: I was not paid to advertise the bookstore, OK?)
So we went there. There was me, my sister and my cousin. Amidst the bustling crowd most of which were there for the heck of it and not for the books, we squeezed in and out of every bookshelf checking on some of the volumes. I, for one, checked, rejected, enjoyed, dreamed and drooled at some of the volumes that I could see there. It was some sort of a haven for the knowledge seekers and book lovers.
The ship is docked at pier 13 behind the Manila Hotel and will be there until the end of the month and if you happen to see me there, don't just holler, buy me a book for a change cause chances are my head is already in a book and I don't want to go out.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Habang Atin Ang Gabi
Ang daming taong pumunta ng MOA. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero ang haba ng pila na dati naman ay wala. Dun ko lang naisip na Eheads concert nga pala.
Wala naman akong balak sumama. Hindi naman ako ganun ka-fan. Kaya kung naging masaya ang mga tao sa concert na yon, mas masaya kami.
Nang gabing iyon, sampung kalalakihan ang nagbubunyi matapos makapaglaro sa basketball court ng PAC. Puro tawanan at kalokohan ang laro na dalawang linggong naudlot dahil sa kung sino-sinong tao. Pero nung gabing iyon, sa amin ang gabi.
Nagpapawis. Nagpatakbo-takbo. Nagpatalbogtalbog ng bola. Nanghagis ng ilang bola na hindi naman pumasok. Tapos tatawa nalang. Napakasaya. Walang seryosohan, laro-laro lang.
Maraming salamat at nakalaro na tayo sana next time ganun ulit. Tayo-tayo lang.
Ito yung ilang moments bago ang laro... Ayos... ehehehe....
http://vinzmatias.multiply.com/photos/album/123/Basketbol?replies_read=12
Wala naman akong balak sumama. Hindi naman ako ganun ka-fan. Kaya kung naging masaya ang mga tao sa concert na yon, mas masaya kami.
Nang gabing iyon, sampung kalalakihan ang nagbubunyi matapos makapaglaro sa basketball court ng PAC. Puro tawanan at kalokohan ang laro na dalawang linggong naudlot dahil sa kung sino-sinong tao. Pero nung gabing iyon, sa amin ang gabi.
Nagpapawis. Nagpatakbo-takbo. Nagpatalbogtalbog ng bola. Nanghagis ng ilang bola na hindi naman pumasok. Tapos tatawa nalang. Napakasaya. Walang seryosohan, laro-laro lang.
Maraming salamat at nakalaro na tayo sana next time ganun ulit. Tayo-tayo lang.
Ito yung ilang moments bago ang laro... Ayos... ehehehe....
http://vinzmatias.multiply.com/photos/album/123/Basketbol?replies_read=12
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Unreachable Volume
I have a new craze right now. I learned that aside from playing computer emulation games, I can browse the net while writing patient reports (yeah, it's bad I know!)Just today, I had the mind to look up the websites of some of the famous bookstores in our country. Those ranging from the specialty bookstores to bargain bookstores. Of course you may expect the names national bookstore, powerbooks, books for less, fully booked, and booksale to appear. They all have websites that would definitely make you drool, especially if you're a book worm like me.
I browsed through their vast collections and make myself want to empty up my wallet, my savings (I have one? I don't think so), sell my computer, our house, our vehicle and everything else just to acquire those volumes.
Man! why are books so expensive?
I tried to make myself feel good. So I still browsed through their titles. I tried to look up those books that are already standing in my book shelvesssss (mind the S's). I have a fairly vast collection so imagine how much time it took (I'm guessing it's the whole morning for just one shelf).
Anyway, I found some of the fond titles that I really treasured. From the classics to the modern best sellers, I tried to recall the plot of each and tried to stop myself from writing a book review about those volumes myself. Apparently, I was successful in stopping myself stop my self from stopping myself. Get it?
I stood up to look at my copies and tried to compare. Some changed others didn't. But what really shocked me were the price differences. Sadly, I now wonder how the teens nowadays who had the flair to read but had no money like I was a few months back afford these titles? Imagine a 50-75 peso difference could mean a lot. What more with those Filipino titles that I managed to acquire (by hook or by crook, hahaha). Most of the good titles were waay more expensive than the foreign publications.
Haaay, the cost of good books is so high nowadays. It seemed unlikely for the next generation to use these books for book reports. e-books anyone?
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Making Lives Count For Something
Two boys rushed passed me towards the vacant lot where we were setting up some chairs. They kept on running around. Later on, they were siting on the chairs we have prepared while still pulling pranks at each other. One would stand and pretend to fall down on the floor and pretend that it had been the other child's fault. Of course, a scuffle would start and they would fight until someone intervenes or one of them starts to cry.
Had they been patients in our clinic under my watch, I would have chased them around. Yet they weren't. In fact, they were miscreants from one of the yet to be demolished slums in Manila. Most of them were filthy and smelled of sweat, dirt, and something else. One even had something on his hair that I dare not identify not even where he had been playing before coming here.
Had it been someone else, say some wise-ass-social climbing maniac, they would definitely faint or even run away either from the stench or from the unruly kids. I had been used to that since childhood. I had some classmates from prep school before and had the experience of talking to them since high school and college. So their smell or even their looks would be normal to me. Besides, I saw no difference between them and the kids that I handle in private clinics. They both had great need to be understood.
That was why I was there together with the members from our Wednesday small group. There were seven of us that day. Two guys, including me, and the rest were women. We brought the kids snacks, some activities, and a bunch of chairs for them to sit on. We were armed with only our voices, our hearts and our prayers. It was a ministry we took over from a hard working couple who roam around the vicinity of Pasay-Manila and spread God's love to these kids. It is what we called a Branch Sabbath School.
If there was one word to describe this kids, it was chaos. We tried to break up fights, force them to stand and even try to get them to sit down. My friends tried everything, even bribing them with gifts and prizes, but they seem to have understood that everyone get food afterward anyway. So their ramblings and fighting ensued.
That was how we started the program. Some of them refusing to stand up, some of them fighting amongst each other, some were crying. It was utter chaos. No one could pacify these bunch of rowdy kids. We even thought of leaving, but that would mean admitting defeat. So we went ahead with the program.
What struck me most was not their ramblings, it was their silence. We finally made them to silence even for just a few precious minutes. And I would believe that it was not really me. Although I was the one who stood in front of them at that time, I believe it was the story that hushed up their mouths. The story was a Gospel classic: Jesus feeding the multitude.
I saw their faces hungry for the word of God. Not one kid spoke a word. Not one tried to run away or play around. All eyes were on me as I told them the story. All of them were in complete attention. Their eyes were bright with wonder as the story progressed. For a moment there I felt that relating that simple story to them made my life count for something.
Just the morning before that, I heard our elder preach that to make your life more meaningful, count your days. Maybe this is what counting your days mean. Counting your days working for the most High and seeing the precious faces of young souls famished for a story or even a comforting word from God. It is seeing how truly blessed we can all be who can afford the Bibles, and the Devotional Books to be inspired and look at life a tad more differently than these kids who would have to wait for someone to tell them about the good news from God.
It is their need, unruly and carefree as they are, and it is our duty to teach them. We who are able bodied, and can read, we who may be out of jobs but can see through the God behind all misfortunes, we are all accountable in God's sight.
So if you seem to find your life meaningless and short, just try to see to the spiritual needs of these children, something they would forget the world around them for.
More on making lives count visit:
http://manacled.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/numbering-our-days/
Had they been patients in our clinic under my watch, I would have chased them around. Yet they weren't. In fact, they were miscreants from one of the yet to be demolished slums in Manila. Most of them were filthy and smelled of sweat, dirt, and something else. One even had something on his hair that I dare not identify not even where he had been playing before coming here.
Had it been someone else, say some wise-ass-social climbing maniac, they would definitely faint or even run away either from the stench or from the unruly kids. I had been used to that since childhood. I had some classmates from prep school before and had the experience of talking to them since high school and college. So their smell or even their looks would be normal to me. Besides, I saw no difference between them and the kids that I handle in private clinics. They both had great need to be understood.
That was why I was there together with the members from our Wednesday small group. There were seven of us that day. Two guys, including me, and the rest were women. We brought the kids snacks, some activities, and a bunch of chairs for them to sit on. We were armed with only our voices, our hearts and our prayers. It was a ministry we took over from a hard working couple who roam around the vicinity of Pasay-Manila and spread God's love to these kids. It is what we called a Branch Sabbath School.
If there was one word to describe this kids, it was chaos. We tried to break up fights, force them to stand and even try to get them to sit down. My friends tried everything, even bribing them with gifts and prizes, but they seem to have understood that everyone get food afterward anyway. So their ramblings and fighting ensued.
That was how we started the program. Some of them refusing to stand up, some of them fighting amongst each other, some were crying. It was utter chaos. No one could pacify these bunch of rowdy kids. We even thought of leaving, but that would mean admitting defeat. So we went ahead with the program.
What struck me most was not their ramblings, it was their silence. We finally made them to silence even for just a few precious minutes. And I would believe that it was not really me. Although I was the one who stood in front of them at that time, I believe it was the story that hushed up their mouths. The story was a Gospel classic: Jesus feeding the multitude.
I saw their faces hungry for the word of God. Not one kid spoke a word. Not one tried to run away or play around. All eyes were on me as I told them the story. All of them were in complete attention. Their eyes were bright with wonder as the story progressed. For a moment there I felt that relating that simple story to them made my life count for something.
Just the morning before that, I heard our elder preach that to make your life more meaningful, count your days. Maybe this is what counting your days mean. Counting your days working for the most High and seeing the precious faces of young souls famished for a story or even a comforting word from God. It is seeing how truly blessed we can all be who can afford the Bibles, and the Devotional Books to be inspired and look at life a tad more differently than these kids who would have to wait for someone to tell them about the good news from God.
It is their need, unruly and carefree as they are, and it is our duty to teach them. We who are able bodied, and can read, we who may be out of jobs but can see through the God behind all misfortunes, we are all accountable in God's sight.
So if you seem to find your life meaningless and short, just try to see to the spiritual needs of these children, something they would forget the world around them for.
More on making lives count visit:
http://manacled.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/numbering-our-days/
Thursday, February 19, 2009
This Little Light of Mine
Would you believe that the moment I breathed a sigh of relief, I received a sudden call?
I was truly thankful that the Dear Kuya Episode 2 was canceled. I was downcast, I admit. I really wanted to hear the stories these couples would share to us. At the same time, I felt really glad. This week was like hell for me. The papers that I needed to rush because I set my own deadline were the agenda each night. Added to this is the daily race around the clock to provide quality service to my puny but restless clients. They were kids and I was a bigger kid, just imagine the games we play. So this is what working 6-8 hours a day in a week feels like. It burns.
So I have already set my mind on a blissful sabbath with only the deaf ministry to think about. I thought things would have been set to the right mood. That was what I thought, until my phone rang.
I was alone at home. I wanted to rest. The rest of the family went to church. I was not expecting any other commitments since I already informed my small group that I can't make it. Suddenly my phone rang. It was kuya mike, one of YM's leaders. What I heard shocked me! He told me to be the superintendent this sabbath.
It was like a shockwave to my ears. I never knew that I would reach this point. To be supe or superintendent, means to be incharge of the sabbath school program. It's the program where most people attend. It is also one of the most busiest and tragically, most pressuring program. I've seen a few of my AMiCUS-UPM friends bend and fold at the pressure of keeping the program well.
I guess I am really over reacting. Kuya Mike told me that I'll just be reading the remarks. But it seems to be the start of some new ministry. Once more, God has given me another fuel to keep my fires burning. It may be a small ember but heck, I'd do anything to keep it going.
Well, I guess if it is God calling and telling me to go, I'd definitely keep it aflame. I don't want to find myself inside a big fish or be banned from entering somewhere for my resistance. It's for the Lord, and I believe He will strengthen me to conquer it.
I was truly thankful that the Dear Kuya Episode 2 was canceled. I was downcast, I admit. I really wanted to hear the stories these couples would share to us. At the same time, I felt really glad. This week was like hell for me. The papers that I needed to rush because I set my own deadline were the agenda each night. Added to this is the daily race around the clock to provide quality service to my puny but restless clients. They were kids and I was a bigger kid, just imagine the games we play. So this is what working 6-8 hours a day in a week feels like. It burns.
So I have already set my mind on a blissful sabbath with only the deaf ministry to think about. I thought things would have been set to the right mood. That was what I thought, until my phone rang.
I was alone at home. I wanted to rest. The rest of the family went to church. I was not expecting any other commitments since I already informed my small group that I can't make it. Suddenly my phone rang. It was kuya mike, one of YM's leaders. What I heard shocked me! He told me to be the superintendent this sabbath.
It was like a shockwave to my ears. I never knew that I would reach this point. To be supe or superintendent, means to be incharge of the sabbath school program. It's the program where most people attend. It is also one of the most busiest and tragically, most pressuring program. I've seen a few of my AMiCUS-UPM friends bend and fold at the pressure of keeping the program well.
I guess I am really over reacting. Kuya Mike told me that I'll just be reading the remarks. But it seems to be the start of some new ministry. Once more, God has given me another fuel to keep my fires burning. It may be a small ember but heck, I'd do anything to keep it going.
Well, I guess if it is God calling and telling me to go, I'd definitely keep it aflame. I don't want to find myself inside a big fish or be banned from entering somewhere for my resistance. It's for the Lord, and I believe He will strengthen me to conquer it.
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