Oxo-Biodegradable

Davao City had implemented a ban last June banning food containers made from non-biodegradable plastics and polystyrene products across the city.

One result of this is the ubiquitous use of so-called "oxo-biodegradable" plastic bags as eco-friendly substitutes to the actual plastic bags we've come to know.

Oxo-biodegradable plastics, according to Wikipedia, are plastics added with metal salts to facilitate the rapid degradation of these in the natural environment. Usually, it takes plastics decades or even centuries to degrade into compounds which can in turn be absorbed by the soil. Oxo-biodegradable plastics remedy this since they only take years or months to degrade fully.

However, these plastics are not essentially "eco-friendly", according to the Wikipedia article above. First, there lies the danger of increasing the metal toxicity of a given environment if it be exposed to huge amounts of this kind of plastic. Second, we still have to contend with the issue of these plastics lying around for a long time. Third, the lack of research into these kinds of materials make it, at the moment, difficult to incorporate the same into existing recycle streams.

And With Your Spirit

Okay. They made some changes in the liturgy of the mass.

Foremost among these is the change in the response to the priest's exclamation, "The Lord be with you." Whereas before, the response is "And also with you", now the response is "And with your spirit."

According to this article from catholiceducation.org, the said change more accurately reflects "the Latin text of the mass and the biblical language of St. Paul". It also elevates the response from a mere reciprocal greeting to an acknowledgment of the Holy Spirit in the other person.

As for me, my response is: "Okay. Whatever".

Testify Chronicles: I Am A Man Because... (Part IV)

An excerpt from the Testify Chronicles

I have a healthy love for myself but do not indulge in acts of vanity, which can only succeed in cheapening my body. I may have rebellious hair and a big nose. My face may have more craters than the moon. My fats may be bigger than my muscles. I may not be defined as a hunk.

I reject false pride and self-conceit. Selflessness and humility are the paths I struggle hard to follow for these are the paths that bring me closer to God.

I free my mind from evil thoughts and strive hard to focus on what is pleasing to God. Therefore, I say no to anything that pollutes my mind. I choose movies to watch, music to hear, books to read, places to go.

I desire peace. Violence is not the language of my manhood. I reject war. I choose the path of peace and of love because this is the path of Jesus.

I have self-control. My flesh does not have power over me. I have dominion over it. My thorns in the flesh I bear with humility and joy, in total surrender to Him who has the power and dominion over me.

Testify Chronicles: I Am A Man Because... (Part III)

An excerpt from the Testify Chronicles

I have the grace to see a woman as whole and complete even if she were no longer a virgin. A woman does not lose any of her potentials to be a good wife just because she already lost her virginity.

I court a girl to get to know her better with the end in view of finding out if she's God's personal gift to me. I do not court a girl just because I don't have better use of my time, or because she has nice legs, or because she has a crush on me.

I court a girl with the willingness to commit and the ability to sacrifice and give of myself and not just because I'd like to collect and parade her around like I do my car or my laptop or my new cellphone.

My idea of fun are activities that liberate and not enslave me. They give me eternal joy, not momentary pleasures. They bring out what is godly and not what is beastly in me. They make come closer and farther away from my God.

I do not allow myself to defile my body, which is the temple of the Spirit. Therefore, I do not smoke. I do not get drunk or stoned. I am not a glutton. I eat right. I sleep right. I keep fit for the fight.

Testify Chronicles: I Am A Man Because... (Part II)

An excerpt from the Testify Chronicles

I pray. Prayer is not for sissies. In fact, to pray is a measure of true manhood. For to be a man is to accept that one is weak and needs the kind of strength that can only come from the Lord.

I am a good steward of the gifts and talents that the Lord has given me. I, therefore, study hard to improve and harness my abilities and competencies. I do not neglect my education for it is a tool to make me the person the Lord has planned me to be.

I see women as divine creations of beauty and not targets of conquest or objects for my gratification. Therefore, I respect them and recognize their talents and individual uniqueness as God's gifts to the world.

I am still a virgin and have dedicated myself to give up my virginity only on the night of my honeymoon with the woman I will have taken before God to be my wife. My virginity is my choice, not a product of weakness or fear. I am proud of my virginity. It may make me less in the eyes of men, but it makes me more in the eyes of God.

Testify Chronicles: I Am A Man Because... (Part I)

An excerpt from the Testify Chronicles

I am answerable to no one but my God. I bow before no man except those anointed by my Lord to have authority over me.

I do not just talk. I also walk it. What I cannot walk, I do not talk. Or better yet, it's less talk, but more walk for me.

I do not lie. Only the truth passes through my lips. My word is my honor. Every word I say has my integrity on it. I do not allow the evils of this world to corrupt me. No amount of wealth or power or fame or whatever worldly treasures can be more important than my dignity.

I love and honor my parents. I strive to be a good man so that I may shine out as their legacy. I am proof that they have made this world a better place than when they found it.

I do not allow myself to be influenced by my friends to do bad. Instead, I compel myself to influence them to do good. What my friends do for me is God's gift to me; what I do for my friends is my gift to God.

Testify Chronicles: Excerpts From JP II's Message To The Youth

An excerpt from the Testify Chronicles

"...The aspiration that humanity nurtures, amid countless injustices and sufferings, is the hope of a new civilization marked by freedom and peace. But for such an undertaking, a new generation of builders is needed. Moved not by fear or violence but by the urgency of genuine love, they must learn to build, brick by brick, the city of God within the city of man.

Allow me, dear young people, to consign this hope of mine to you - you must be those "builders." You are the men and women of tomorrow. The future is in your hearts and in your hands. God is entrusting to you the task, at once difficult and uplifting, of working with Him in the building of the civilization of love..."

Testify Chronicles: Sex Addict

An excerpt from the Testify Chronicles

Ever since I discovered what that thing between my legs was for aside from peeing, I used it both for business and pleasure.

I came from a well-off family. I had a fat allowance from my dad who was a banker. But because of my expensive lifestyle, which included fast cars and fast women, I was always short on cash. I augmented my allowance by modeling and giving SEXUAL FAVORS to rich gays and matrons. Most of the time, I used the money I got from having sex with them to have sex with younger girls.

Yes, I loved sex a lot.

I loved it when it was free, but I also bought it when it was for sale and sold it when somebody wished to buy it. The only thing I was allergic to was scandal. That was why married women achievers were my specialty. They usually wanted sex. No commitments, no responsibilities, no tears.

These were women who found it more exciting to have sex with men other than their husbands simply because their husbands also found it more exciting to have sex with women other than their wives.

Which was just fine with me.

I had my share of gonorrhea and syphilis but it didn't scare me. I knew what to do. I knew the names of all the branded antibiotics. Besides, I got a free consultation from the gay doctor I regularly visited for reasons that had nothing to do with medical matters.

My first lessons on sex I learned from my elder sister's best friend. She had four boyfriends. I caught her with one of them making out in the servant's quarters one time when my sister threw a shindig at our house. When they were done, she did me too.

I was 13 then.

Since that time, I have lost count on the number of sexual conquests I've had with females, males, and others.

Now I'm 36. And I'm dying. I have no idea where I got the AIDS virus.

Please say a little prayer for me before you sleep tonight.

Testify Chronicles: Why They Say No To Premarital Sex

An excerpt from the Testify Chronicles

We surveyed 100 YFC* brothers and here are their top 14 answers:

1.) Because it is a special gift from God
2.) I'm scared!
3.) Sabi kasi ni God, masunurin ako.
4.) Because it is sacred and I'm too young.
5.) I'm not ready. Takot ako makabuntis.
6.) Sawa na ako.
7.) Walang lugar.
8.) Baka hindi na matigilan.
9.) Because I am not yet ready for the consequences it might lead to.
10.) Because it is not yet time...diba? Bata pa tayo!!!
11.) I respect the girl
12.) Ayoko mawalan ng integrity
13.) I want to have a sweet, perfect first night with my wife.
14.) I want to present my wife to God pure and clean.

*Youth For Christ

Testify Chronicles: If You Can Talk To God, What Will You Ask?

An excerpt from the Testify Chronicles

Am I good enough to go to heaven?
Bakit mo kinuha agad ang Papa ko?
Is there really life after death?
Bakit may mga taong naghihirap?
Where did you come from?
Why can't we fly?
Bakit po may giyera? =(
Am I worthy of your blessings?
WHERE IS MY GG (GOD's GIFT) ?!?!!!
Bakit mo kami sa earth nilagay? Hindi ba pwede sa pluto?
Can you show my future?
Kelan po kayo darating? Sana bilisan ninyo.
When will I die?
Why do people feel pain?
Bakit hindi naniniwala sa iyo friends ko?
Bakit mo ako super love? =)
Will I get married? What is my vocation?
Have I fulfilled my calling to serve you?
Meron po ba talagang HELL? Have you been there?
What happens to the souls in purgatory?
Magagalit ka ba kung magbackslide ako?

Testify Chronicles: Letter To The Baby I Killed

An excerpt from the Testify Chronicles

My dearest child,

I don't know how to even begin to tell you how so very sorry I am for killing you. I don't know what came over me. When your mother told me she was pregnant, I lost my mind. I thought only of myself. How my studies would be affected. How my freedom would be gone. How my style would be cramped. How my future would be ruined. How my parents would kill me.

I told your mom to get rid of you. To kill you. I told her that you were not yet a person, that you were just a blob of blood, that it was best for her that we solved the problem that you were to us. And I brought her to this place where this old woman stabbed you with this piece of metal. Your mom screamed. I heard her. You must have screamed too. I didn't hear you. But it is your scream that keeps on echoing in my mind every day and every night.

Forgive me, my precious one. I pray to GOD to keep you, protect you, take good care of you and give you the love I was too selfish to give. Forgive me, my sweet and beloved baby. Forgive me even though I am the most undeserving of it.

And sleep, my cherished one. Sleep the slumber of the innocent. Sleep the peace that I seek to find for myself but can't seem to have. And pray for me too, my darling child. I know that GOD will listen to your prayer and forgive me for the unspeakable horror I've done...

Dad

Testify Chronicles

Found another gem while cleaning my room for the nth time. I found my copy of the Testify Chronicles.

I bought this one during my trip to Clark Expo, Pampanga for the YFC-ILC (Youth For Christ International Leaders Conference) way back in high school. I had spare money then to buy this and I haven't regretted my purchase since.

Why? It's because the book pretty much helped me define what values I should hold for the next decade. It talked about abstinence from sex, about building up one's self-esteem, about being a Christian youth in today's society. Needless to say, this book was one of the factors I could attribute to the fact that, right now, I have not been addicted to drugs or alcohol, have not fathered an illegitimate child, and have been searching for God until today.

I'm going to "copy paste" some excerpts from the book in this blog. And yes, I did not ask permission from the publisher so I should apologize here and now. But I think every youth needs to be assured that being a good Christian is cool and a lot of people are out there doing the same thing. 

Peace out.

Thinking About My Lovelife (Or The Absence Thereof)

My younger sister had once remarked to my Ate that she was the only hope for her to have a pamangkin (niece/nephew). That was because all three of her brothers didn't have girlfriends and weren't frantically looking for one either.

My mother, on the other hand, had noticed this fact way earlier and had questioned me every once so often if I was seeing someone. I would always have the same answer ("No") and every time I answered this question, I always felt a bit relieved that I was born a boy and a bit guilty that the world could be so unfair to the opposite sex.

For the record, my younger sister was right and wrong. Rayray was admittedly dating someone, a fact he revealed one Sunday morning during my mother's subtle inquisitions. Bulec, my other younger brother, was in love with "Acer" and another computer which he had painstakingly assembled. I, for one, am in love with myself and the problem with that is it leaves me little time to look for a worthy competitor to my attention.

Just kidding.

The truth is that maybe Cupid did leave me behind. As I've explained to others, who pitied me enough to ask me why I never had a girlfriend, I have never had any moment in my life when I felt so driven to date or court a girl. Sure, I had crushes but I have never graduated beyond infatuation nor have craved to go beyond the initial attraction.

Perhaps, that's because having a girlfriend was and is never among my priorities. Or maybe an inferiority complex is what I have, subconsciously stopping me from going any further because I know I'm not yet the man. Or maybe my desire to still be a priest has made me for resolute to remain single.

Or maybe I just can't move on from the fact that my ultimate crush is now married to someone else.

Just kidding. I made that one up.