Enlightenment

This week is a particularly odd one because I've felt happy, sad, enlightened, uplifted, victorious, worrisome, lazy, purposeful, and productive--all within the week.

I've challenged myself to go to church every 6 in the morning. It's been nothing but an extremely wonderful and uplifting experience! I never thought that waking up to God's word and receiving His body first thing in the morning would be this rewarding.

Apart from that, I've also managed to break my personal record. I was able to fast one full day! No food or water involved. Nothing. All that's in me at the moment is the bread and body of Christ.

Being a devout Catholic, I never miss Sunday mass, but this is my first time to commit to a full week of going to church. It is the best place to "hang out," as most teenagers say. It is quiet and sacred; not to mention it evokes a certain peace within one's self.

Funny though, I am the ONLY young one (yes, I am "young". lol.) among the oldies who go to church early in the morning. It's sad how people these days have really been swallowed by worldly passions that they tend to forget spending a good amount of their time for God.

I hope and pray that by these sacrifices that I have done, my relationship with God will be much closer than ever. In fact, it's not until recently that I have decided to sit down and explore the Bible in-depth! With a little bit of researching, I found out that, although Catholics believe that we will all gather before our Lord in the second coming, we actually do not believe in the theory of the Rapture! The information I found was so extensive and backed with a rich amount of history! And all this time I thought it was bound to happen (with all due respect to all other Christian groups who believe in this theory)! I also found so many intriguing verses that seem to speak to me (even though I just found out that God has never promised to use the Bible in such a way, wherein He will answer us through "random verses that we read when we open the Bible"). I loved reading the verses where Jesus assures us that ANYTHING is possible as long as we BELIEVE. Also, I felt touched when I randomly read a verse that said "your knowledge is beyond that of human understanding." Wow! That really is something, isn't it?

Best of all, I've read a couple of lines that apply to me and more particularly to a bunch of other people I know. And it went like this:

“For if you should forgive people their offenses, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you should not forgive people, neither will your father forgive you your offenses.”

(Matthew 6:14-15)

If those verses apply to you, then go figure. We're all sinners, we're all unclean, and more importantly, we have no right to point our fingers at others without looking at our own faults. Shame on those who are so confident to point their fingers at other people without looking at their own filth. I could call it nothing else but hypocrisy!

Either way, I am still happy with the experiences I've encountered lately, not to mention another semester of success, thanks to God! He never ever fails me, that's why I am extremely thankful beyond words.

How about you, what have you done for Him lately? Share your stories!

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Mama's Boy

Here's a quick greet to all the moms on their very special day!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

For keeping all of us children sane in times of stupidity, and for making us feel triumphant in times of trials, you are the most awesome-EST people ever.

To all the children out there, don't let a day pass without making your mom feel that everyday is, in fact, her special day.

Love you Ma! :)

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Put Up or SHUT UP

Sa mga nangyari in the past few months, may narealize ako about myself: I hate it when people have a lot to say, but don't even have the nerve to do it. And because of that, I have a new motto:

"Put Up or SHUT UP"

It's different to just say something than actually doing it. Kung may sasabihin ka, siguraduhin mong kaya mong gawin yung sinabi mo. If you say that you mean to spur BIG changes, then by all means, DO IT.

I'm not just a man of words. I'm a man of ACTION. I start something and I ALWAYS finish it. Ever since high school I've always considered this a principle. When you promise a lot, you have to do a lot. Hindi ako yung tipong 'pag nagplano ng isang bagay, iooverstate ko yung mga kakayanan ko. If I know that I am not in the capacity to do something, then I won't even dream of saying it. Mas mabuti nang hindi mo na lang banggitin kesa imention mo tapos hindi mo naman pala kayang gawin.

Finish what you start, and if you know that you're not capable of doing so, then in the first place, SHUT UP.

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Kansas

It's that time of the year here in the land of Oz where it rains one day and becomes very hot on another. It's also the time of year where, it's extremely sunny the first half of the day and then, out of nowhere, enormous clouds start looming over the sky. It's extremely scary. They get so huge and close you feel like they're either going to eat you or you'd be able to grab them. Check out four shots I took before deafening (but extremely common) thunderstorms started.


I hope that's as far as I'd witness. I'm not interested in seeing tornados forming, no thanks.

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My Workstation

Meet my 'little piece of heaven'. It's where the contents of my head come to life, through this blog, of course.

The blog writing happens in the desktop PC 80% of the time. The laptop is only around for when I'm in school or away from home.

Yes, I'm a semi-geek (Yeah, I said semi).

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Not Worth It

Is it worth it na pagka-aksayahan ng panahon ang lahat ng bagay sa mundo? Dapat bang magkaroon tayo ng puntong maggive-up?

Sa mga naranasan ko, may iilang bagay palang hindi na dapat pagkaaksayahan pa ng panahon.

1) Kapag nagkaroon kayo ng 'di pagkakaunawaan ng iyong kaibigan, at wala siyang ibang ginawa kundi ipasa sa'yo ang lahat ng pagkakamali at ibunton sa'yo ang lahat ng sisi, it's not worth it. Gaano mo man pinahalagahan ang pakikipagkaibigan ninyo, kung hindi niya magawang umako ng mga pagkakamali niya, wala nang dahilan pa para ipilit mo ang sarili mo sa kanya. Learn to let go. Ang sinseridad ng pakikipagkaibigan mo ay hindi nararapat mapunta sa mga katulad niya.

2) Kapag may naka-argumento kang isang tao, kilala mo man o hindi, 'wag mo nang pagkaaksayahan pa ng panahon 'pag ang una niyang sambit patungkol sa'yo ay "I will not stoop down to his/her level." Ang mga ganitong klaseng tao ay hindi nagpapadaig, gaano pa man kabulok ang prinsipyo nila. Mas masahol pa ang mga ganitong tao sa mga hindi edukado.

Kung ikaw ay makikipag-argumento sa isang tao, 'wag mong isiping mas mataas ka sa iyong kaaway dahilan lamang sa hindi kayo magkasang-ayon ng opinyon. Ika nga, matuto kang lumaban ng patas.

3) 'Wag ka nang makipag-away pa sa mga Pilipino sa YouTube na walang ibang sinabi kundi mga pangungutya at kabastusan. Hindi sila tao. Alien sila na nag-aral sa ibang planeta. Dahil diyan, iba ang ugali nila at hindi na kailangan pang pagka-aksayahan ng panahon. Be kind to animals.

4) Walang libre sa mundo. Kahit ikaw na ang tumulong nang walang kapalit, bibigyan ka pa ng ikasasakit lang ng loob mo. Hindi ako makapaniwalang may mga taong, bukod sa inialok mo lang ang iyong kamay at hinila nila ang kabuuan ng braso mo, may gana pa silang balasubasin at traydurin ka ng patalikod. Kung sa lagay na 'to ay hindi pa rin nila magawang akuin ang pagkakamali nila, 'wag ka nang mag-aksaya pa ng panahon. Maghanap ka ng bagong hobby. Bukod diyan, 'wag ka nang tumulong nang walang kapalit, lalo sa mga taong hindi mo naman kilala ng lubos. Learn to charge.....to experience (and to your wallet). Hehe.

5) Hindi natin kailangan ng mga taga-payo sa buhay na labas sa mga taong katulad ng mga magulang at mga kaibigan natin. Bukod diyan, ang Diyos ang pinakadakila nating adviser. Sila ang tanging nakakakilala sa'tin ng lubos, kaya't huwag nang mag-aksaya ng panahon sa kakahanap ng iba. Ang mga tunay na taong mahihingan mo ng payo sa buhay ay ang mga taong malapit sa'yo. Hindi ka naman presidente ng bansa para mangailangan ng advisers mula sa labas.


At 'yan ang listahan ko ng mga bagay na hindi na dapat pang pagka-aksayahan ng panahon. Sa pagtahak natin sa buhay, hindi na dapat tayong mag-inarte. Lahat ng mga nakikita nating abot-kamay na ay mga bagay na dapat nating bigyan ng halaga. 'Wag na tayong tumingin pa sa malayo para maghanap ng kaibigan, tagapayo, o mga taong magmamahal sa'tin. Bukod diyan, may mga bagay namang kahit ano pa ang gawin natin, wala nang mangyayaring mabuti. Sa ganitong aspeto, hindi na rin natin kailangan mag-aksaya ng panahon. Kung hindi magbubunga, 'wag nang umasa pa; ngunit hindi na kailangan pang hugutin mula sa lupa at tanggalin ng kusa. Bukod sa masasayang lang ang lakas at panahon mo, kusa rin namang huhupa at mawawala ang mga ganyang bagay at tao.

Bilang pahuling salita, iiwan ko ang mga linyang ito mula sa isang kaibigan:

"Kung saan-saan ka pa tumitingin, hindi mo naipagtatanto na sa iyong patuloy na paglalakad, ang mga napupulot mo ay puro na lang mga bubog at bato. Nalampasan mo na pala ang tunay na ginto."

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