Tuesday, January 30, 2007

LET ME TELL YOU WHO MY FRIENDS ARE..

Travelling in this lonely planet is somewhat full of solitary confinement, wrapped around...thanks God,He created friends..they help shape who we are.
They guide us into discovering all the things that make us unique.I can't imagine myself without a friend..Friends are really hard to find in this lonely world now a days.. Most of us have had a good friend or two during different stages on our lives.Recall the times of your life when you made special friendships...well, I have lots of them but I can count on numbers that are truly there, though distance sometimes separate us yet it always connect the moments that molds the yesteryears I had with them. Some may not be considerably as close or dear ones but they're just there when you call them on SOS. According to Zenaida Amador one of the founders and an active director of Repertory Philippines "If we could pour the contents of our lives into a measuring cup, I wonder if we can then gauge better how much of the happiness there is due to the fact that we have good friends." "Friends are indeed a necessity.Nobody would choose things in life.People who are poor and unhappy need friends because in times of difficulty, friends seem to be their only refuge. Aristotle says there are three kinds of friendships.First, the friendship of utility when friends care for each other only in so far as they can derive benefits from each other.Second, is the friendship of pleasure.Some people are bound together because they find each other pleasant and the company pleasurably. Of course, we dont need Aristotle to tell us what a good man is.Our hearts are quite enough to recognize goodness of a friend.
Wikipedia.org define friends; A friend is a person on whom you can confidently rely to help pull you through the hard times, and hold you accountable for your actions. A friend is loyal, and a brother is born in a time of need. A friend will not judge you for who you are, but they will help you to grow in life. Which is honestly true...Good thing that I have them and loves me for being what I am the simply being me.These are the pix I collected just to show that they are my friends...some of my friends aren't in these pix but I'll try to post them in here..




Ibea Perdon....an exotic pal.....isn't she?


helen....songbird of the 17th batch missionary.....I'm proud of her




France.....another close pal


Benjamin....not just a friendster from England but a dear buddy


Another group of English majors...wearing the dark shirt is Jack a bosom pal


My buddies from English Dept.


Roselle....a fella missionary


Aldwin..my cousin and childhood pal


Bambi...a childhood pal


Jen...a fellow missionary and a true pal


Ryan..fellow missionary and a close buddy


Shie and Jake are one of a kind dear pals


A distant buddy Chey..but she prefer to look like this


Kartini Mansmoor...a foreign pal from North Irian Jaya...


Rancee....a dear pal who always willing to help


Amiel..a close buddy with a very extra ordinary talent in writing

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

YOUTH IMPACT : FAITH WEEKEND SUMMIT

Week end holidays or rest is a great balm for the weary both soul and physical......Well, I went out this previous week for a great youth oriented retreat in Lemery Batangas.
My other family of small group in school conducted a very one of a kind unforgettable retreat in Bible Base Camp, Lemery Batangas for three days.
As an active Elite Ministry member, I could not refuse but restlessly excited to experience the warm impact for youth to youth fellowship.
The theme of the retreat was Fusion/Ignite - Fusion is to be reunited or coalition between youth from the othet places including the non SDA students in school and Ignite to be flamely inspired to work in God's cause.
Lemery Batangas was just two hours drive away from the school.Before, you'll reach the place, scenic views of the high ways were the usual picturesque spots that you'll see as you travel down to Lemery Batangas.
We left school friday afternoon, bus-filled with the first batch who joined the retreat included foreigners from Indonesia, Palau, Guam and Africans. The site wasn't splendidly representations of a usual resort that gives you a panting breath but a very provincial,yet, simple camp site.
It was called Bible Base Camp of CBCF-owned by a groups of Christian churches in Batangas. Located at the bay side, with 20 rooms capacity of 12 occupants and 3 rooms for the staff fully aircondition.It has volleyball area, spacious chapel and a cafeteria.
Tranquility and peacefulness was the top I like most of the place.Beautiful sunset at the beach area is the perfect view representation of the place.
I met and gained a lot of friends from my school whom I never meet along the campus itself.Groupings, suggesting ideas for the improvement of the Religious small groups was among the program.
Of course, spiritual rejuvenations for youth was the main purpose of the retreat.YOung christians of today needs spiritual nourishment to fatten our future workers so that when they get out and see the real world they will be spiritually equip to face the challenge of this lonely world.


Monday, January 22, 2007

THE YOUNG TERRORIST

It's been awhile that I was disconnected online, if I would just count it-it has been four days. Cybercally, I used to be online checking my two sites which is my personal website and my blog.
Day to day records, especially the significant and credible one's must be evidently recorded in here so that everyone could read and spiritually be blessed ( I hope so).
I have this beautiful story which I got from a high school book..that indeed touches and moved me...I truly love to share this story and hopefully melts your heart as well.

The Young Terrorist
Anonymous
There was a violent encounter between a group of terrorist and an army detachment in Mindanao.The terrorists succeeded in wiping out the group of soldiers whom they had ambushed. After the last shot was sounded, the terrorists went around among the dead with the hope of salvaging whatever was useful to them. As the youngest of them was doing the search, he found an unmailed letter in the pocket of a young soldier.
Curious to know the contents of the letter, he opened it and hurriedly read it.

Dear Mother,
Please forgive me for leaving you and my brothers and sisters. Dont ever think that I am a bad son.
I had to leave our family even if it was against my will because I wanted to improve our family's life situations. I just want to earn and help my brothers and sisters get an education.
I know that what you earn as a vendor is too meager to support our family. That's why I joined the army.
As a soldier I have encountered many hardships. Death walks with me everyday. But I'm not afraid, for I know that God will protect me. I do my job faithfully and well. That was what you taught me.
Yesterday I received my first salary and I'm sending you a postal money order for one thousand five hundred pesos. With this amount you can buy a sack of rice, a few cans of sardines, and pay the tuition fees of Lita and Caloy.
I should have sent you twice this amount but I'm not so sure if it wont be lost in the mail. I'll send you the rest after you have answered this letter.
How's everybody? Is Terry still no.1 in her class? Does Dan give you anymore problems? Tell baby she'll have her dream doll when I come home. Tell the others that we'll go shopping and eat out when I return.Just be patient.
Give my love and regards to them all. And of course to my dearest Cherry. Tell her I miss her. I'll write her soon.
Please take care of yourself, Ma. Don't work too hard. And please don't worry about me. I shall be home this Christmas, perhaps.

Love,
Arnold

The young terrorist was beside himself with grief for the first time in his life. Deeply touched by the soldier's letter, he felt and upheaval, an internal turmoil. As he took one last look at the young lifeless soldier, he saw himself in him.He began to reexamine his own choice, his ideology, his own life-style. This event, this tragic encounter arose deep stirrings within him. For the first time he was confronted with the enemy--the war. But now it has put on a new face. The impersonal enemy became an enemy with a name, a person with the same aspirations as he. He remembered his own family, his mother, trying to make both ends meet to feed his little brothers and sisters.
This encounter revealed to him a universal and a personal aspiration and cry for help. The cry kept ringing in his ears.
At the break of dawn the next day, he headed for town with the letter in his pocket. As he dropped it into the mail box, there was only one thought in his mind. Then slowly he walked toward the camp of the 23rd Army detachment.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

GREENBELT & GLORIETTA....A PLACE FOR PROMENADING OF STATELINESS & POMPOSITY

Before I hit going west of Subic; Michael, Aldwin & I were at the fave rendezvous of the higher strata in Manila.
Where else should we chill out during Christmas? Greenbelt and Glorietta are the places to be.
These are the malls that I love to stay on weekends instantaneously.
You can simply bump into some celebrities unknowingly, specifically in Greenbelt.
I really have no plans of going there for some reasons that I was totally dead (to) broke that time.
Thanks to Mike, a dear pal who has the great accumulations of all.
Everything was paid by Michael and so with the idea of watching the Christmas carols.The saunter was leisurely enjoying yet exhausted in the end.
Nevertheless, I could not have more the ideas how Greenbelt was improved and truly world class destination.
Greenbelt wasn't beautiful as stately frivolously as it is today.
Grandeur stores and expensive boutiques to mention were usual to be found in Greenbelt.
If you were just a relatively low in rank, you could not find a store that is within your reach.
Your budget will directly lead you to the place where the multitude has in store, SM.
But if your intentions is just a leisurely walk, hit out for Makati and ended to contemptible food chains around to define your budget.
Moreover, no matter how costly Makati is, it never restrains the small Filipinos of going there. DO they choose the kind of mall rats? I don't think so, as long as you follow the dress code of the place you wish to be.






With Mike again.......


Was it an expensive CR?



That's in Glorietta Mall


I love to shop.......really



On our way to Landmark Mall


Me again.......


Just Mike & I


Las Vegas fountain.....does it look like in Vegas?


Why I was closing my eyes?


Stairway to 2nd floor not in heaven...huh


Another shot with Aldwin


I gave the most sarcastic smile in the world..hahahaha


Wishing to have it soon...


Outside Glorietta Mall


We try to shop there but its too costly...


With Michael...Ayala fountains behind us


Seemingly...the flowers were the subject of this shot


Glorietta Mall on Christmas


Looks like in Hongkong


Filipino version of Santa Claus


Ayala....

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

SABBATH DAY WITH FELLOW EDUCATORS....to be

January 13 was the second Saturday of the month. The interns of the College of Education (included me) were scheduled at AIIAS Tagalog church with our Dean. We led out the AY program, as it was prepared.
AIIAS tagalog church had frivolously improved such a small nothing to a pompous extravagant one. I love so much the structural design of the church.Tainted glasses at both sides and photographic transparency up high at the pulpit which give a panting breath to the congregation.
My Sabbath could have been so piously perfect if it weren't so of my health condition.However, God has been so good to me after all, the pain was manage ably tolerable as I was able to smile and extended my handshake for greetings. Sad to say, I hesitate to participate 'coz of my plight on that day. The whole day was being inspired by a fiery message of Pastor Gulfan Jr. the President of the Adventist churches in Southeast Asian territory.That was my first time to see him again, after ages. He might not recognize me at all but his one of the fave speakers I have met.
He never change just as the same humble Pastor I met way back then. The group was enjoying as well and most of all, the exciting part was the Potluck.The foods were so palatable and mostly served vegetarians.
I just thank the church where I am today because of the health practices that we have which strictly implemented, as I must say. There could have no other day that makes me so holy and just.....that's Sabbath day...which is the Lord's Day.



These are my colleagues


Interns meeting...........






With our Dean..wearing the blue sleeve
Just showing off our teeth...

Inside our van headed to AIIAS Tagalog Church


A living dead trying to scare me....sorry I wasn't scared..


exotic ladies in my time....


what are we doing Jack???


was my tummy protruding?


SSD.....it was a very sun shiny day...


Hearty potluck......I'm wearing yellow jacket.


AIIAS Tagalog church with the Educators of today

My Favorite Instrumental Music