Yearend Review: Relationship with God

I end looking back at 2014 by finally examining my most important relationship.

Earlier this year, I wanted to know God more. To do that, I resolved to really strengthen my prayer time and scripture reading. 

I would like to say I was successful but there were a lot of days when I wasn't consistent. There were times when I rushed in reading the scriptures, when I forgot to pray the Examen, when I missed going to mass on a Sunday. In short, there were way too many times that I failed in my goals.

Still, even the half-hearted attempts drew me closer to Him. It's surprising that every time we strive to know Him, we end up knowing ourselves even more; awareness of God begets awareness of self. In my case, striving to pray consistently has brought some newly found changes in me. I think and I feel that I've become more patient, more loving, perhaps more understanding. 

Again, the challenge for next year is consistency. How do I strengthen these habits? What are the ways that I can be more in tune with God? How do I recover faster from setbacks and sins?

To cap this post, someone shared to me (I don't remember who) his perspective of the Beatific vision:

The Beatific vision, as a background, is defined in the Catholic Encyclopedia as "the immediate knowledge of God which the angelic spirits and the souls of the just enjoy in Heaven. It is called "vision" to distinguish it from the mediate knowledge of God which the human mind may attain in the present life. And since in beholding God face to face the created intelligence finds perfect happiness, the vision is termed "beatific".

For us Christians, the Beatific vision is what we aspire to see. And so, in this life, we strive to become more and more like God. Eventually, we die and when we meet Him face and face, whose face is it we're going to see but ours, this time, made in His splendor and glory? 

That's one more thing to ponder upon. 

Lord, I pray that I'll be your face to the world. Amen. 

Yearend Review: Family

Good news: We have a new member in the family. She's Sophia, my niece.

Bad news: Surprise family debt.

It's just money, some would say. But it also points to a new reality that we have to live with. Our reality now involves the fact that my parents' retirement plans have been compromised, our family's name (yep, our reputation) is no longer as it was, and the family's finances will be bleaker than usual. Still, it's just money.

Admittedly, I've been busy avoiding the brunt of the bad news by being busy in other places, notably in Lingkod. 

Still, when I had my dinner with Bro Mon, Lingkod's national director, he had this to say about family. I shared to him about my desire to leave again the family home (for the third time). He suggested instead that my current situation, staying with my parents, is an opportunity to bring my family closer.

For awhile now, I've observed that all of us have grown old and have grown apart. They say that this trend is inevitable but I beg to differ.

I resolve that, next year, I'll help knit the family back together. As to how, that's something I have to ponder for the meantime.

Yearend Review: Friends

I didn't attend our high school batch reunion last night. I had two excuses: I attended a funeral service and I have to report for work today.

To be honest, I was never interested in the first place and I think that sums up my attitude on people. Thanks to another year of maturity, I finally convinced myself that it's okay to let go of some and hold on to the few that matter. And yesterday, I decided I can get away with not meeting strangers who simply happened to be my high school batch mates.

For the rest of those who are or were a big part of my life, I resolve next year to work harder at maintaining our relationship, however tenuous it may have become. But I can only go so far; if I pull and no one grabs the rope, then that means it's time to let go once more.

Yearend Review: Service

It's been a long time since I've served or volunteered. I made sure that this year, I went back to service.

I give credit to Bro Rommel, a fellow brother in the community, for pushing me to service. Since I didn't know where to start, he gave me the idea to serve the community first, Ang Lingkod Ng Panginoon (ALNP).

So I began my renewed call to service by doing the little errands. First, Bro Jeff and I scouted the venue during the anniversary. Then, during events, I did the little things like cleaning up, doing the arrangements, and so on. During the Christian Life Series (CLS), I was tasked to be an assistant Discussion Group Lead (DGL). Inevitably, with this assignment, I was assigned as the assistant Action Group Lead (AGL). Then, I gave talks during the Lingkod Weekend and the Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS). Eventually, the year culminated with me being tasked to join the Online Evangelization team of the ALNP-Davao branch. Throughout the year, I also had a privilege to join feeding programs organized by the brothers.

Looking back, when I said yes, God also qualified that yes by giving me a lot of opportunities to serve Him. To be honest, there were times when I felt overwhelmed. But He, time and again, never failed to give me the necessary provisions that I needed to do my work.

To close, during one of our meetings in our Action Group (AG), one brother remarked that most of our service was confined only to the community. In that case, what about the people who need us outside the community?

Back then (and probably even now), I was tempted to ask him if he is serving.  But it was a valid observation nonetheless. My take is that each of us is obviously called to service. Yet, despite the call, we also have to start with the places we are familiar with.

In my case, the ideal starting point was the community and how we can help each other become better Christians. Later on, my level of service and commitment may evolve to such an extent that I have to venture outside to serve. But the fact still remains that, at least, I started serving. At least, this year, I decided to say yes.

Yearend Review: Career

This year reminded me of how great God's plans are. I bear witness to the cliche "Everything happens for a reason" and I am humbled that, despite the many moments of doubt and anxiety, He saw me fit to place me where I am now.

Palang, a former colleague, shared to me the favorite question that her boss would ask the newbies. The question was "Nakikita mo ba ang sarili mo sa trabaho mo?" It was a loaded question and it was something that I threw at people and also to myself.

"Nakikita ko ba ang sarili ko sa trabaho ko?" Now, I can finally say yes. 

Yearend Review: Finances

With a new job came a salary bump. Of course, with the increase in salary came a host of additional expenses. For the third time, I started installment payments on a life insurance policy (thanks Bro Rommel!). I also purchased a new laptop and renewed my phone plan for another two years. I volunteered to help out in the payment of a big family debt. My expenses skyrocketed along with my increased participation in my community's activities. Also, I shelled out money initially in almost all of my sales trips this year.

But, over all, my financial prognosis is good. I end the year with no debt on my credit card or anywhere else. I manage to save small sums of money for my favorite investment vehicles. I did set up a budget way back January and, though I've strayed every month, my deficits were manageable.

I didn't however start installment payments on a property I paid reservation for. In fact, I abandoned the purchase since I couldn't afford it in the light of new payables (e.g. "family debt"). Still, the setback was an opportunity to give more through charity.

For next year, I resolve to be more fiscally responsible. I aim to reduce even further my expenses and to stick to my budget for once. I also plan to give more.

One other thing I resolve to do next year is to hustle. Since I'm not going to go back to law school anytime soon, I intend to start again another business next year. I plan to be more serious with my real estate brokerage practice. Mervin and I are going to discuss in detail how to go about launching the market research agency we've been talking about. I feel that another little side project is in order.

Over all this, I still pray not only for a bigger capacity to give but also for a generous heart to go with the blessings. I'm hoping things pan out as planned.

Yearend Review: Physical

So I end this year with a noticeable gain in girth and darker rings around my eyes.

The bigger love handles I credit to my lack of regular exercise because I was busy with a lot of extracurricular activities. The rings beneath my eyes I credit to the many nights I slept past midnight. 

But the one thing going for me though is that my acne receded (yehey!) this year. There are still occasional breakouts but not as severe as before. 

I promised early this year to hit the gym more often. I wanted to bulk up, put on more muscle, but I missed out on way too many gym weekends this year. 

Belatedly, I tried to compensate by incorporating morning stretches and exercises in my routine. But the problem was still the lack of consistency.

Overall, I'm not satisfied about how I maintained my physique but I'm still glad I took on the necessary first steps. 

For next year, I resolve to be more consistent in going to the gym, in running, and doing my morning routines. I also intend to guard more zealously my bedtime and really make sleep a bigger priority.

Also, for the first time, I'm regulating my diet. I'm fortunate that I'm not yet hypertensive but I want to make sure that won't happen. Right now, I'm limiting my rice intake, cutting off on soda drinks, and minimizing sweet treats. For next year, I'm incorporating at least one vegetable viand per day and a fruit.  

Cheers.

Morena

Velia was one of my colleagues when I was working in Manila. She had a bubbly personality, a shiny smile (she had braces back then), and she sported a chocolate complexion due to many activities under the sun. To put the long story short, if I had known she was a rarity back then, she would have been the ultimate crush. 

When I came back to Davao, I began working among fair-skinned women. With the exception of Ma'am Jocelyn and Ma'am Beth, my other lady bosses and colleagues were from affluent families and it showed through their pearly white skin. 

Most of our clients in the bank also sported the same look: gleaming, white complexion from a combination of genetics, facials, glutathione products, and avoidance of the sun. 

Looking back, I began forming a hunch as to why foreigners typically perceive beauty as a woman with dark skin. Aside from the obvious fact that foreigners often perceive dark-skinned women as 'exotic' or at least different from the white Caucasian women they're accustomed to, they also perceive dark-skinned women as inherently healthier than their fair counterparts. 

Call this perception The-sporty-girl bias and the bias simply deduces that a physically active and fit woman is most likely a woman of dark skin. Why? That's most probably because being healthy  in our climate invariably means going outdoors and getting dark. For foreigners, this notion of good health is ultimately tied with their concept of beauty and sexiness. 

Anyways, these are just conjectures and anyone can prove them wrong anytime. But there is also one reason why I think dark women are more beautiful: they're comfortable under their own skin. Most of these women I've known are self-assured and that level of self-esteem is difficult to see nowadays. You'd likely see girls fretting about looking for shade than women happily basking underneath the sun. For dark skinned women, conforming to societal norms on what 'beauty' should be (e.g. pale, flawless skin, no blemish etc.) is no way to live a life. 

For me, that's sexy. 

A Different View On Courtship

I want to share something I picked up in my community. Way back, I attended a talk by McDo Millana, our branch head in Lingkod, which was about Christian sexuality. McDo gave a basic outline of the matters relating to how brothers were expected to conduct themselves and behave towards the opposite sex. 

One area that was discussed in depth was courtship. It was explained that brothers are encouraged to adopt a different view of it. Jessie, a fellow brother, would later explain that this view is merely recommendatory, not mandatory, but it is something which each brother should at least consider and aspire given how much success it has spawned for couples in the community, many of whom are leading stable and happy marriages.

How different? Well, first, the motive to court someone has to be grounded in the anticipation of marriage. This is in stark contrast to the motives behind most courtships. In the latter case, the guy is courting a girl without thinking about marriage. He simply wants to court a girl because he loves her and wants to be her companion. Most often, courtship is merely a prelude to consensual sex or an avenue for both to experiment and discover their preferences in a partner. 

The second differentiating factor is in the readiness of the man. The community encourages men to court only when he is certain that he is emotionally ready and financially stable. This is a pretty big hurdle, especially on the financial aspect. But it does limit the pool of suitors to only those who are ready to go through the process. Boys with unresolved emotional issues or are downright broke have no place engaging in this business.

The third differentiating factor is in the timing of the process. Courtships, from initial dates up to the marriage proposal itself, should last anywhere from two to three years. Anything beyond that and you have to wonder if the couple is really suited for marriage. This turns on its head the more popular notion that couples have indefinite timelines and are entitled to postpone marriage until both are ready.

What is the end result? Personally, by putting a premium on the value of courtship, this different view aims to ensure that a marriage starts well way before the couple actually says their vows in church. In the words of Sir Chris, a colleague and a member of the Light of Jesus, these 'restrictions' minimize the hurt that people can inflict on each other in such an intimate relationship. Likewise, in the words of McDo, arrangements like these reduce the waste in time, money, and emotions typically spent in a prolonged courtship between two unprepared individuals, resources which are better served spent elsewhere in either service or self-discovery.

Of course, such a view is unpopular. Tessa, another colleague, pointed out the inherent disadvantages of adopting this perspective: What if the girl is courted by someone else because you aren't ready? What if both of you simply love each other? 

Again, this view is only a recommendation. Still, Jessie has only two words to support this view: it works.

Goals And Systems

This is an interesting read from James Clear.

In this article, he emphasizes the need to establish systems instead of goals so we can accomplish our objectives. He starts by saying:

We all have things that we want to achieve in our lives — getting into the better shape, building a successful business, raising a wonderful family, writing a best-selling book, winning a championship, and so on.

And for most of us, the path to those things starts by setting a specific and actionable goal. At least, this is how I approached my life until recently. I would set goals for classes I took, for weights that I wanted to lift in the gym, and for clients I wanted in my business.

What I’m starting to realize, however, is that when it comes to actually getting things done and making progress in the areas that are important to you, there is a much better way to do things.

It all comes down to the difference between goals and systems.

Let me explain.

Read the rest of the article here.

Planning

'Tis the season to plan for the next year.

This year's Christmas season features a lot of non-working holidays. It's a good time to just relax, reflect, and think about the coming year.

For the next day or so, I'll be doing just that. But before I plan, I'll review first whatever has transpired for 2014. 

I hope you don't mind if my year-end review consists of putting up several blog posts about several key areas of my life. 

I suggest you do the same and review your year with gratitude and thanksgiving. That way, our plans for 2015 will be born of the same spirit.

Bowling

Bowling is fun especially when you're doing it with loved ones.

For this year, I've had the chance to go bowling with my colleagues at work, my fellow Action Group (AG) brothers in Ang Lingkod Ng Panginoon (ALNP), and my family.

Am I good? Well, at least I now score consistently above 100 for every set. But that's missing the point. 

You see, bowling is akin to the middle class version of golf. One need not be good at golf because that's not the raison d'etre why the elite are playing the game. They are playing golf as a means to bond and network with fellow businessmen or partners. The game itself is merely a tool to facilitate the activity. 

That's similar to bowling. One isn't playing the game to win (unless you're hard-core about it) but to foster camaraderie between friends and initiate conversation. I mean, why should the game feature long gaps of doing nothing between turns if not to compel people to talk to each other?

For next year, I intend to make bowling a regular part of the month. Who's with me? 

The Beard

The last time I shaved was last December 16. I don't intend to shave until the morning of January 5 when I shall report for work.

This is going to be fun. Rare it is that circumstances allow me to let the beard be and I'm giddy at the prospect of finally seeing my facial hair in full bloom. 

Will the beard look awesome? Will I look like the Filipino version of Zach Galifianakis? Will I look like a 45-year old homeless guy? Who knows?

I'll post a picture later once this experiment is over. Peace out.

Huwag Na Si Binay

To whom it may concern:

I belatedly apologize for voting for Jejomar Binay as Vice President last 2010.

It was a grievous error on my part and something that I have to carry to my grave. I ask that you forgive me for my ineptitude and ignorance inasmuch as I have already forgiven myself.

Rest assured, to atone for my wrongdoing, I hereby consider it my duty to ensure that the Filipino people be not misled into voting for Jejomar Binay or his kin should the former or even the latter run for the presidency or any other high-ranking government office come 2016. 

I further pledge that I shall, with all my heart, will, and soul, prevent the travesty of voting a Binay to the presidency from ever occurring. 

So help me God.

Online Evangelization

Several months ago, Rechie, a fellow brother in Ang Lingkod Ng Panginoon, told me I was going to be part of the branch's online evangelization effort.

At first, I wasn't keen on the assignment. I wasn't the typical freak who was online all the time. All I had then (and even now) was a Facebook and Blogger account. I wasn't interested in Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, or all those other social media tools.

But the idea grew on me and I was especially infected by the enthusiasm of not only Rechie but also the rest of the guys who would form the team: Chamee, Mel, Olive, and Jepoy.

Honestly, I still have to get the gist of the team's mission vis-a-vis the other ministries of the branch. But I already know what I hope will happen. During one of our initial meetings, I mentioned that I wanted something to go viral for the Lord. As to what that is, I don't know yet but, rest assured, given His Providence, we will figure that out.

My concern as of the moment is how we could build the necessary foundation in the community for such a creative spark to occur.

There's a saying that goes: "Ritualize the mundane to make way for the brilliant". In line with this idea, the first step, I think, is to make everyone comfortable about online evangelization. This could mean different things to different people. This might mean finding ways to exhort and sustain those who are already evangelizing online. This can also mean increasing the comfort level of those who have yet to post a single tweet or update online about God, Christianity, or the Church.

It's my hope that, after this is done, the community will be ready for bigger things and more ambitious ideas.

Clearly, I'm excited about what's going to happen next year.

To God be the glory.

Why I Don't Post (Almost) Anything On Facebook

Earlier this year, I tried to become more active on Facebook. I resolved to update my feed on where my current location was during my sales trips. I also resolved to record what food I ate and in what restaurant just for the kicks. I also vowed to put cute status updates every now and then.

But that was it. Old habits die hard and, in my case, I was more content simply consuming whatever it is that other people are posting online. I admittedly was too lazy to follow through with my resolutions.

That this happened is good. That's because, apparently, the motives behind those resolutions are misplaced. Once I got to know the thought process or the "why" behind the sudden urge to be active in social media, I felt that I had to have better reasons for doing so. Below are some examples:

First, I need to update Facebook on my current location every time I go out of town. Why? So other people will know where I've been. Why? So...okay, real reason? So they'll know where I've been. It's for the purpose of bragging and that's not cool.

Second, I need to update Facebook on what I'm eating. Pictures are highly encouraged. Why? So other people will know where and what I've been eating. Why? So I can help my friends pick out the best from the menu every time they come across the restaurants I've been to. Really? Uhmm.. It's for the purpose of bragging and that's not cool.

Third, I need to update my Facebook status frequently. Why? So people will know what I'm feeling. Wow. That's narcissistic and that's not cool. Besides, who cares anyway?

So there you go. Why I don't post anything on Facebook is because every time I try to, the reason behind doing so is ultimately egotistical in nature. 

Some people do contend that posting online is necessary as a means of recording life. Good for them. As for me, I probably cannot live under such a delusion. 

Anita Sarkeesian, Laci Green, Jim Paredes, and Death Threats

The first time I came across Anita Sarkeesian was on one of her earlier viral Youtube videos where she criticized the costumes worn by female characters in video games. Today, she's one of the recognizable feminists in the gaming industry.

Laci Green is a Youtuber who was the first to stand up in alarm and rightly accuse Sam Pepper of sexual harassment in the latter's videos. She's also known for her work as a sex educator and is also a well-known feminist.

Jim Paredes is a Filipino musician especially known for being a part of the musical group, APO Hiking Society. He's also a political activist who has not yet flinched from sharing his personal views on some key issues in our government.

What's common among the three is the fact that each had her or his share of death threats. All three were subjected to the inconvenience of reading one too many crazy internet trolls prophesying their impending deaths.

This is symptomatic of the internet right now where death threats are thrown with increasing impunity with no regard for the psychological burden borne by the recipients. It's also a clear sign that, over time, websites should take on the cudgels of policing its users' ranks to weed out those who inflict emotional harm to fellow users.

For me, I don't mind seeing these trolls who throw death threats get banned from their favorite websites. I don't mind internet companies modify their policies to better guard their respective communities from abuse.

Just to be clear, many will see this as an act curtailing the freedom of expression. But, with the way some people are acting now, this is inevitable and admittedly necessary. 

StayFocusd

This is the ultimate remedy: I installed StayFocusd in my Google Chrome browser.

StayFocusd is an app that restricts my access to chosen websites. Right now, the app allows me only a total of ten minutes daily to access Facebook, Youtube, and 9gag. When I report for work next year, I plan to include Grantland, Digg, NBA, and other websites to my list of "banned" sites.

Why am I doing this? That's because I have the most convincing symptom of an Internet addict: I "involuntarily" spend an inordinate amount of time browsing the net. 

I also want to be more productive with my time and that means forcefully shutting off my own tendencies. Internet marathon browsing is one of those.

Good luck to me.

Yaybahar

Have you heard of the Yaybahar?

What?

No?

How dare you!

Go listen for yourself and get a glimpse of heaven.

Click here.

The Roast

I recently watched The Roast of James Franco and found the perverse humor to be funny. It consisted of celebrities hurling insulting jokes to each other all in the name of comedy. Wikipedia defines it better:

Roast (Comedy)

A roast is an event in which a person is subjected to a public presentation of comedic insults, praise, outlandish true and untrue stories, and heartwarming tributes as a mock counter to a toast. The implication is that the roastee is able to take the jokes in good humor and not as serious criticism or insult, and it is seen by some as a great honor to be roasted. The individual is surrounded by friends, fans, and well-wishers, who can receive some of the same treatment as well during the course of the evening. The party and presentation itself are both referred to as a "roast." The host of the event is called the "roastmaster." Anyone who is honored in such a way is said to have been "roasted."

Again, the concept itself runs against what I've been taught as good humor and most of the jokes were below the belt. But, admittedly, the show is exceedingly entertaining and the celebrity "roasters" are top-notch; the jokes come fast and are unusually creative, giving a glimpse to the amount of time spent preparing the delivery and doing research on trivia and facts.

I'm pretty sure such a comedy show has no place in our culture, especially since Filipinos have a remarkably low tolerance for social self-flagellation. That's one thing you have to hand over to Americans: most of them, even the big names, know how to laugh at themselves.

ASMR

ASMR. Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response.

The first time  I encountered this phenomenon was when College Humor produced a YouTube spoof about ASMR. It was funny and it did show what an ASMR video would consist of: a bit of whispering, things being brushed against surfaces, and a lot of silence.

I encountered the phenomenon again lately when Digg pointed to a Washington Post article featuring Maria, a Russian expatriate who is an ASMR advocate. Maria had several ASMR YouTube videos which were meant to give a sense of relaxation and calm to its viewers.

Intrigued, I viewed her most popular video and was promptly relaxed to boredom. Because of the whispering, her words blended to a pleasant background noise. Her props' sounds, the hairbrush being  scraped and the paper being crumpled, brought back childhood memories of lazy Sunday afternoons just dozing on the banig ("mat") listening to nothing but the drone of tree branches rustling.

After several minutes, I had to stop listening and get back to work. I wasn't feeling light and easy after but maybe that's because I wasn't in an ideal disposition to savor the sounds. 

But, definitely, the phenomenon is alive and well despite no scientific study confirming its efficacy or even its existence. Again, maybe, ASMR is just one of those neurological mysteries that science has yet to grasp.

God And Calamity

Hagupit (Ruby) is coming and she’s packing quite a punch.

The prevalent response has been to ask for God’s intercession to spare us from the storm’s fury. Some pray that the typhoon’s path be diverted to nearby Japan (which is brilliantly insensitive) while others pray that the storm’s force be significantly reduced upon landfall.

Before I dissect this reaction, it’s notable that, this time around, people are actually worried about the typhoon. Gone are the days when both the government and the private sector are lackadaisical in their preparations. Now, we see relief operations building up and advisories abounding way before the storm arrives. I guess this is the silver lining of having consecutive Christmases decimated because of the likes of Pablo (2012), Sendong (2011), and Yolanda (2013).

To begin, below is the Oratio Imperata, a community prayer commonly said at the end of the mass:

Almighty Father

We raise our hearts to You in gratitude, for the wonders of creation of which we are part, for Your providence in sustaining us in our needs, and for Your wisdom that guides the course of the universe.

We acknowledge our sins against You and the rest of Your creation. We have not been good stewards of nature. We have confused Your command to subdue the earth. The environment is made to suffer our wrongdoing, and now we reap the harvest of our abuse and indifference.

Global warning is upon us. Typhoons, floods, volcanic eruption, and other natural calamities occur in the increasing number and intensity.

We turn to you, our loving Father, and beg forgiveness for our sins.

We ask that we, our loved ones and our hard earned possessions be spared from the threat of calamities, natural and man-made.

We beseech You to inspire us all to grow into responsible stewards of Your creation, and generous neighbors to those in need. Amen

In brief, the prayer recognizes that the calamities we've experienced are man-made and that God alone can spare us from imminent destruction. It's a prayer to save our lives and property from calamity.

Let's contrast this with the spirituality imbued in Jesus Christ' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. The prayer goes like this:

My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will but as Thou wilt.(Matthew 26:39)

Both prayers are similar in use and context; it is a prayer for deliverance from an inevitable event. However, Jesus Christ' prayer differs that he utters the second part which, I stress, is "nevertheless, not as I will but as Thou wilt". The first asserts only the petition but the second prayer asks that God's will prevail over ours. 

Jesus Christ's prayer highlights the depth of his spiritual maturity and humility. How then should we respond in kind?

First, we acknowledge that God allows suffering. We believe in a God who didn't spare his only begotten son from dying on the cross. We also believe that, regardless of this, God has an infinitely good plan for us and he will use everything that we are - our strengths, gifts, joys, family, friends, and, yes, even our sufferings - to bring that plan into fruition.

Yes, it is right to pray that we be spared from calamity but our prayer must come with the tacit acknowledgment that God is with us in any circumstance and that, despite what we want, His will should be made manifest. For some, this may seem fatalistic but for us Christians, this is how we are taught to pray.

This acknowledgment also brings with it a shift in perspective. If it is God's will that I perish, how then should we pray instead? Then, we pray that, if it's our time, we'll be ready to face Him and that He bring comfort to those we'll leave behind.

To God be the glory.  

Catching Up

Here we go again.

A lot has happened these past few weeks that I want to write about. Unfortunately, I usually don't have the time to write and when I do find time, I'm either tired or suffering from writer's block. 

Anyway, I'm still committed to this blog. Don't be surprised if, one of these days, I'll go on a spree.

Peace out.

The Ideal Woman

A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her.

The quote is from Maya Angelou, an American writer noted for redefining the autobiography genre.

I got the quote while I was browsing Facebook and came across one of the wedding pictures of Bro Franco and Sis Mae. It was a simple photo of the newlyweds with the quote strategically overlaid via Photoshop on the groom's suit.

The quote got me thinking about how the brothers in my community, Ang Lingkod Ng Panginoon (Lingkod), perceive women and what their criteria of the ideal girlfriend should be.

For me, the criterion was simple: someone just has to be smart for me to be infatuated at her. I've shared this to a lot of people that if a girl is smart, everything else follows. My thinking was that, considering their rarity, intellectually engaging women are and should be more attractive (Unfortunately, most guys don't share my sentiment). 

But Rommel, a fellow brother in the community, shared to me another thing that guys should be looking for instead. During our prior conversations, he talked about the 'essential' stuff that should be in every single guy's wish list when he's out looking for someone to court. It's non-negotiable. It's something that's more important than brains or beauty. And it goes something like this: the woman has to have a relationship with God.

It's simple really but it's something that's very hard to fake. I've had only glimpses of it observing everyone during the prayer meetings or even during our fellowships.

But it was during the Regional Lingkod Training Conference (RLTC) that I saw how transformative the quality was and how evident it is. For close to a week, I was surrounded with women whose aura were pleasantly different. Their genuine smiles spoke of the joy and happiness they felt inside. Their confident demeanor reflected the peace and serenity that pervaded their inner selves. The way they spoke, honored, and encouraged one another showed how much love they had to give. These were women of God and they were beautiful.

Angel, another Lingkod brother, shared to me the need to be with such a woman. A woman who has a strong relationship with God inevitably pushes her man to "level up": to be more Godly and holy. The man wants to become a better man for her and, because of the standard set by the woman, he does become one. He becomes more loving, more generous, more life-giving.

To end, the quote mentioned earlier sums it up: a godly woman chooses to love her man because she loved Him first. And a man, seeking to win her love, must be ready and willing to seek and find God.

Never Again

This is saddening. 

With a generation like this, it wouldn't be far-fetched to think that another Marcos can stay again in Malacanang.

To the younger generation: Please. Never again. Utang na loob. Study your history.

God and Suffering

God is not the source of suffering. But he allows suffering to happen. As to why, that's one of the biggest questions in history and also one of the biggest mysteries of Christianity.

This was the nugget of wisdom I got from the priest's homily last September 30 (sorry, I forgot the name of the priest). The first part was not new; I've heard Fr. Manny, a Jesuit, say this one time. But the latter part, where it says that even the Catholic Church has no answer to why a benevolent God would allow suffering, was novel. 

The first reading in that mass was about Job lamenting about his dreadful situation, specifically cursing the day of his birth. But, surprisingly, Job never got around to cursing God. 

Unfortunately, the book of Job doesn't answer the question on suffering either. Instead, the final parts of the book exhorts us to put our faith and hope in God in our times of distress, to lift up our suffering to Him who knows everything. 

This reminds me of a dialogue from the movie God on Trial. After Nazi soldiers begin herding Jewish prisoners into the gas chambers, a prisoner, Moche, asks the resident rabbi, "What do we do now?"

The answer? "Now, we pray."

There's no clear answer to why we suffer; the only thing we can do is to take solace in our God.

Human Personhood and Abortion (Part 2)

In a previous post, I shared an article by Peter Kreeft, a Philosophy professor, who debunked the position held by pro-choice advocates by demonstrating that their arguments are not logically sound.

In another article, Nina Martin writes about Justice Tom Parker and how he's subverting the precedent established by the Roe vs. Wade case, which legalized abortion in the U.S. How he is doing it is based on a simple assumption: that, in order to illegalize abortion, the fetus must be considered a person in the eyes of the law.

In the Philippines, abortion is already illegal. The 1987 constitution protects both the life of the mother and the unborn from conception. The Revised Penal Code of the Philippines (RPC) provides criminal penalties against women who undergo abortion and those who assist in such procedures.

In our country, most people recognize that unborn fetuses are indeed persons, as contemplated by law, and are to be accorded rights, including the right to life.

In the U.S., this assumption is still taking root several decades after the Roe vs. Wade case. What judge Tom Parker is doing is laying out the foundation, the jurisprudence necessary to overturn the current precedent. He is doing so by establishing in his opinions that fetuses already enjoy fetal rights, rights which show that existing statutes recognize fetuses as persons. From there, it can already be argued that fetuses also have a right to life or have the right to seek legal protection against abortion. 

As to whether Justice Tom Parker is successful in pushing this position if and when the right case comes along, we'll have to wait and see.

Here's the article: This Alabama Judge Has Figured Out How to Dismantle Roe v. Wade

The Questions To Ask

This is a good article. 

It features questions you could ask during a date to "foster romance" or during a tight gathering of friends to promote deeper intimacy. It's also a good way to check for new perspectives on life:

36 questions to bring you closer together

Enjoy.

Pusod

Puso!

That was the rally cry of Filipinos supporting Gilas Pilipinas, the basketball team representing the country in  the FIBA world cup a couple of weeks back.

I wasn't a fan of the team, knowing full well that tournaments like these don't favor underdogs. It wasn't about being an un-patriotic citizen but more of being the casual observer who simply knows upsets in favor of Gilas Pilipinas are unlikely. 

Still, I have to commend the grit and determination of those who competed. But it doesn't change the fact that the team was woefully equipped, financially and genetically, against the juggernauts of the basketball world. 

I remember the lamentation of my PE teacher, a soccer coach, way back in college. He shakes his head whenever he mentions the nation's love affair with basketball and insists that it is soccer which offers the best chance to win gold medals. He backs this up by saying that soccer is a game which nullifies the advantage of height and favors petite players who can perform intricate footwork (think about Lionel Messi, for instance).

Anyways, arguments like these are rehashed. A lot of experts have already argued about prioritizing other sports (e.g. dragonboat racing, boxing etc.) where our Filipino athletes have a better chance of winning. But these sports don't seem to capture the nation's passion as much as basketball.

As to why this is, that's a question that demands a lot less heart and a lot more navel-gazing.

We Need Songwriters

I've already mentioned this sentiment to several people: this country needs songwriters. 

Nowadays, many people are clamoring to be the next big singer: the one who's going to belt out those high notes on live television. Everybody wants the glamour associated with being the sole singer on stage.

But there are only few good Filipino songs around in contrast to the hundreds of English songs that many of our artists sing nowadays. So the tendency for most Pinoy pop artists is simply to adopt a UK/US/Swedish English song, put a little twist, and present it as, ironically, an "original rendition".

It's sad because there are a lot of things in our culture that demands to be written and sung. 

This phenomenon, our tendency to sing foreign songs, only lends credence to what an artist, Freddie Aguilar, said several years back. Although politically incorrect, his remarks then speak to a truth which our artists should take to heart:

"Hindi ako nagsasabi ng monkeys, ang sabi ko kaya tayo binabansagang mga Pilipinong unggoy dahil manggagaya tayo. Ako, magtatanong sa lahat ng mga singers na mga Pilipino, bakit puro mga banyaga ang kinakanta ninyo? 'Yan ang tanong ko, hindi yung tinatanong n'yo kung bakit ko kayo tinatawag na unggoy, kayo ang nagpatawag na unggoy, dahil gaya-gaya kayo."

- Pep.ph

Reviewing An Old Rule

Since the inception of this blog, I've stuck to one particular rule: never criticize my current company. The only time I can say something negative about a company is when I'm no longer connected with it (which was what exactly happened last year). 

This was due to my background as a PMT officer before when, at one point, I had to ingrain in my subconscious the Loyalty Pledge by Elbert Kim Hubbard:

If you work for a man

In heavens name, work for him, 

Speak well of him,

And stand by the institution that he represents.

Remember, an ounce of loyalty

Is worth a pound of cleverness.

If you must growl, condemn,

And eternally find fault,

Why resign your position?

But when you are on the outside,

Damn to your heart's content.

But as long as you are a part of the institution, Do not condemn it.

For if you do,

The first high wind that comes along

Will blow you away

And probably you will never know why.

As a background, I'm a sales guy and I agree with the rest that my profession is both an art and a science. For me, it's also the latter because selling methods are constantly revised or discarded based on their success and best practices are based on empirical data and not on long-standing policies or tradition.

Unfortunately, the past few months have presented a quandary: I want some things in my current company to change. I want to try out different tactics and strategies. But the inertia to stick with the status quo is strong. In addition, I'm a newcomer to my current industry and my voice doesn't lend the same credibility as those who've been part of IT for years.

This is why it's so enticing to speak up in this blog about my current work, to just lay it out on the floor for everyone to read. But how do I do that without appearing to be disloyal or offensive, without appearing to be too critical? How do I strike the fine balance between constructive criticism and negative publicity for the company?  

Those are interesting questions that I'd love to answer next.

Childhood Cartoon Shows

Those were good times.

Below is a list of childhood cartoon shows* which rocked my world:

Dexter's Laboratory
Robotech
SWAT Kats
Wildcats
Shadow Raiders
The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat
King Arthur and the Knights of Justice
X-Men: The Animated Series
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest
Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs
The Centurions
Batman: The Animated Series
Ghost Fighter
Samurai X
Gundam Wing

*Honorable mention: Phineas and Ferb (This show came out when I was already in college but it is a favorite)

Assistant Action Group Leader

So it's come full circle.

First Talk

Note to self: Just delivered my first talk.

Two weeks ago, Bro Jepoy tasked me to be the speaker for one of the talks during the Lingkod Weekend. It was about honor and respect and how both applied themselves in our community, Ang Lingkod Ng Panginoon. Was I excited? Well, I dreaded it at first. But was I challenged? Of course, yes.

I was fortunate that the preparation time was considerably long because, during the first few days, I had a hard time grappling with the topic. Added to that difficulty was a personal insecurity: I could speak in straight English, yes, but engaging the audience in banter and keeping the talk light and fun were seemingly insurmountable challenges. For your information, I always thought of myself as the serious guy, capable of lulling everyone to sleep.

But having said yes, there was nothing to do except practice and prepare. I started off with what the sequence of ideas should be, then I went about creating my presentation, and then reading and re-reading and re-reading again the talk outline. Added to that was the daily routine of prayer and scripture reading with a daily dose of "Lord, please help; don't let me screw this up".

I was also fortunate that I had a full day to really think about the talk through and a scheduled dry run with some of the council members. Making use of a holiday, I tried to wrap up my preparations. And, during the evening of that same day, I gave my mock talk to the council. As expected, what I gave that night was not  polished and those present - Sis Adz, Bro Rommel and Jesse - saw that. They gave very valuable inputs and I went home thinking about how to put all their insights into my talk.

On Saturday, I was just mumbling to myself the whole day, trying to get sentences right and looking for the "flow" of my talk. On Sunday morning, I was on the first stages of stage fright (it doesn't go away, does it?) and I was simply praying, "Not I but You."

Thankfully, during the actual talk proper, I somehow just managed to pull it off. There were no gaffes or prolonged gaps and the brothers and sisters - bless them - were very supportive and active.

After the talk, I was unprepared for the commendations given to me. Some commended my diction, eloquence, presence, what have you. Some thought I was a teacher by profession (I was flattered to be honest). All the while, I kept thinking to myself, "Lord, ako ba jud to? Lisod man katuohan."

To end, the exercise of giving a talk gave me a chance to see what I was capable. I'm glad I said yes the first time. But I'm also glad that talk's over and done. Now, I cannot wait for the rest to also have their time under the spotlight. 

To God be the glory.

Lingkod Weekend

"Wow. Humana na diay?"

That was the first thing that crossed my mind this morning when I woke up. For the past day, I was with my brother and sisters in the community, Ang Lingkod Ng Panginoon, for our Lingkod Weekend. It was a blast and, even now, I'm still smiling at the memories made and the people I've come to regard as siblings in Christ.

The Lingkod Weekend, as I understand, was the culmination of our Christian Life Series (CLS) and Christian Growth Series (CGS). It was a highly-anticipated event where the community formally welcomes new members into its fold and where existing members renew their commitments.

I still cannot fully describe what just happened. Despite carrying some personal emotional baggage, I still feel greatly blessed to have served and to have witnessed His Love during the event. I feel privileged to have been a part of the Lingkod Weekend and of this community.

I just want to share one realization though. One of the quotes from T.S. Eliot that I found in a geology book is this:

We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started 

And know the place for the first time.

Through the unknown, remembered gate

When the last of earth left to discover

Is that which was the beginning

The quote was meant to highlight the fascinating quirk of geology and that is of scientists trying to understand what was the earth like in its infancy and how life and the world started.

Though a bit off, I believe the quote is still applicable to my journey with Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon. For the past year, I've been immersed in the activities of this group. I've participated in my Action Group's activities. I've served in various capacities to the point that I felt I already knew the community.

But, at the end of it all, the Lingkod Weekend brought me back to the basics: it taught me the reasons why we behave as we are in the group and why there's even a community in the first place. The event taught me  and pushed me to remember how it all started. And, for all this, I could only say, "Oo diay no?"

God bless us always.

Lord's Day

Last Saturday, I celebrated the Lord's Day with my fellow community members in Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon. It was my second time to be part of such a celebration for this year. 

It also brought back a lot of childhood memories. My parents, as members of Couples for Christ, also celebrated the Lord's Day when my siblings and I were still young. We attended Lord's Day dinners with other families and we also had intimate Saturday and Sunday celebrations at home.

I was mesmerized by the ritual that went with the occasion. I looked forward to eating the lechon manok, a rare specialty back then, and the soup: instant concoctions back when ready-mix soup packets were still a new fad. I also relished drinking the red wine, my first encounter with alcohol, and learned an early lesson on moderation (because if you drank the whole thing, there won't be any left for the rest of the family). 

Gradually though, the Lord's Day faded from our weekly lives. We, as a family, grew old and grew busy. 

So it was a pleasant surprise that my new community actually observes the Lord's Day every now and then. It's a welcome throwback for me to relive this part of my childhood and to observe it, this time, with a more mature mind. 

That Saturday night, celebrating the Lord's Day was a paradox: it was an occasion that was both new and old.

Stefan Karpinski: Modern-Day Don Quixote

Stefan Karpinski is on to something.

With fellow computer programmers Viral Shah and Jeff Bezanson, he set out to create a universal programming language that's meant to be good at all tasks. That language is now called Julia.

Here's the article:

Out in the Open: Man Creates One Programming Language to Rule Them All

IBM Is Taking Us To The Future

Mimicking nature is not a new fad but IBM is doing something really extraordinary: mimicking the design of the nervous system to make a vastly efficient computer chip.

Check the link below:

IBM Chip Processes Data Similar to the Way Your Brain Does

Mom's First Birthday

It's nice that there are corporate ads which touch your heart first before touching your wallets. Like the Coco-Cola OFW ad two years ago, this one also gets it right. 

Personally, nothing contributes more to branding and marketing than knowing that a company is not beyond celebrating the human condition.

Happy Parent's Day

A birthday is a weird thing: it's meant to be special but, at the same time, can be very generic.

Cliches abound. The birthday cake. The birthday gifts. The dinner with family or friends. The pampering that goes with the day like a massage session, a trip out of town, or a stay-at-home leave free from work and stress. The many greetings that are superficial and the few which are heartwarmingly sincere.

All these are modes to celebrate. But it begs the question: what are we celebrating exactly? Are we celebrating the fact of having lived another year, an accomplishment that only 98% of the world's population can say they've achieved or will achieve in 2014? Are we celebrating the presumed growth and maturity that comes with aging? Are we celebrating it to remind people that we are God's gift to the world?

First, let's think about the most popular birthday: Christmas. Rightfully, we celebrate it because it marks the arrival of Jesus Christ. It marks that historic moment when God dismembered Himself, became powerless and vulnerable, and transformed into a crying baby. 

But this is not the only reason we celebrate Christmas. That's because, in the days leading to December 25, we also commemorate and celebrate the story behind Christmas. The readings point to the family history of the Savior, the shepherds in the field, the wise men (this reading is after December 25 though, if I'm not mistaken), and even the barn animals who are witnesses to a medical miracle: the first and perhaps only human baby who is a product of parthenogenesis and a virgin who gave birth without a midwife or a doctor in sight (and in a completely unsanitary setting if you don't know that yet). 

More importantly, we remember Mary who, with a meek yes, became the Mother of God. We remember also Joseph who got wind of God's plan only in a dream and, even so, still chose to believe it.

In short, when we celebrate Christmas, we actually celebrate both the birth and the story. 

This is important because when we apply this insight to our own birthdays, we become aware that our celebrations are incomplete: we don't usually remember the story behind our births let alone celebrate it.

But when we begin to give a second thought to the story, something opens up. In my case, I begin imagining a young woman who was probably cursing at the universe while she was pushing me out of her womb (This boggles me: after millions of years of evolution, why is childbirth still painful?). I also imagine a man almost my age right now, thinking to himself, "How am I supposed to raise two kids with my (choose adjective) salary?!" Finally, I imagine a young couple who got stupid, fell in love, and created me.

The story matters and it's important that we celebrate and remember it for two reasons.

First, because by doing so, we break down the edifice of narcissism and self-worship characteristic of this hyper-commercialized event. 

And second, when we do so, we start realizing that our birthdays are not really about us. Birthdays are ultimately about our parents: about the mother who gave birth and the father who held her hand afterwards.

In sum, a birthday is never just a celebration of life; it's a celebration of the people who made that life possible in the first place.

So to the two persons responsible for my birth: Happy Parent's Day.

Katangahan

Mabuti naman at ang katangahan ay unti-unti nang kinikilala bilang isang seryosong kundisyon.

Halimbawa na lamang ang nakalagay sa larawang ito na inililista ang mga kundisyon na sagabal sa aktibidad na "white water rafting" o pagbabalsa sa ilog:

"Inability to follow simple instructions". Bawal po ang tanga sa libangang ito.

Is The BIR's Tax Schedule For Employees Fair?

I came across this BIR Income Tax Calculator and decided to give it a try. I wanted to know if the tax rate remained the same regardless of income.

For this experiment, my assumptions are that I'm a single employee with no dependents and I earn a monthly salary. The results, using the calculator, is:

I leave it to you, dear reader, to draw your own conclusions.

Hue Cafe

First, I'm not a connoisseur or an expert in this field. But I'm going to give a quick review of the Hue Cafe. 

For those who are not familiar, the Hue Cafe is located in the Ateneo de Davao University Jacinto Campus. It serves coffee and other drinks to patrons, most of whom are Ateneans. From what I heard, it's managed by the student body though it is capitalized initially by the school (To digress, I am currently writing this post inside the cafe since I'm going to mass later in the University chapel).  

Honestly, my interest was piqued a long time ago every time I pass by the cafe on my way to work. I've always wanted to try it out and see if it could match the service and ambiance of the other coffee shops in the city.

I couldn't order coffee anymore in the afternoon because I'd be awake the rest of the night. But the strawberry cream blended drink was at par and the spaghetti was not bad either. The prices were similar to what you can expect from mall-based coffee shops. 

For the ambiance,  the lighting and the music were okay. The tables though sported water rings and chipped paint. The chair cushions were also dirty with stains all over. The restroom didn't come with toilet paper or a hand dryer.

The Wifi was crappy, slow, and kept resetting. The air-conditioning was non-existent on some areas especially at the back. Finally, the cashier didn't give me an official receipt.

Overall, the cafe is really a work in progress. The menu can be expanded some more. The service can be improved. 

To be honest, I'm not likely to be going back anytime soon. 

The Poor Guy's Guide To Eating Out

There have been countless times when I've wept over my wallet. 

Those times were unavoidable but all of them were very instructive. Those instances have helped me formulate a set of rules which I live by especially when I'm cash-strapped. 

Most are no-brainers but I'm sharing these rules anyway for the sake of humanity.

1.) Love the karinderya (eatery) and the mobile food cart

2.) Drink plenty of water

3.) Be a suki (loyal customer) to get more freebies (e.g. bigger portions, free soup etc.)

4.) Become a vegetarian

5.) Avail of free meals whenever and wherever possible

 

Payat

Check out this photo:

Let me explain. This was taken when I was riding a jeep in Davao City. The placard with the sign "Payat" ("Thin" if translated into English) is meant to be used during rush hour, when many passengers are waiting on jeeps. During rush hour, drivers perform triage against "healthy" or "big-boned" people by placing this placard on their windshields. That way, passengers are notified that the jeep only has seat room for persons with small butts. 

Wacky Pose

"Walang basagan ng trip." 

I fully expect you to utter this phrase after you finish reading this post. But I still firmly believe that the wacky pose has lived its life. Now, it's time to discard it and look back at those wacky pictures with nostalgia.

Why? Well, the wacky pose was fun to begin with because it was "new". With digital cameras and unlimited takes, many found the freedom to explore more ideas and, ultimately, to find new ways to capture moments. One of these ideas involved taking pictures of ourselves featuring contorted facial expressions and convoluted emotions.

At first, the wacky pose was fun, cute, and novel. Many people thought so too and began imitating wacky poses from other friends and so on. Ultimately, the popularity of the wacky pose tugged at its appeal. The sheer ubiquity of the wacky pose in our photos and our friends' photos transformed it from a unique way to pose to a mandatory drill in any photo shoot.

It's interesting how something which has become so common loses its attraction in the process. The same goes with the wacky pose. When everyone is doing it, doesn't that make the wacky pose the new 'normal'? If it is, where's the fun now in that?

The Reinvention Of Senator Miriam Santiago

Recently, Senator Miriam Santiago announced that she has cancer.

Based on the comments in the news articles about her condition, many are sympathetic at her plight. Many are expressing their support, fully siding with the feisty senator's fight against cancer.

Though the reaction is understandable, still, this is surprising considering how polarizing the senator is in recent years. She has butted heads with several key people in the administration, including her beleaguered colleagues in the Senate who have a lot of masa supporters in tow.

Still, Miriam Santiago has come out as the darling of the crowd and this is a testament to her PR guys who've made her, should I say, "likeable" despite the odds.

One thing that has endeared her to the masses, especially the youth, is her newly found sense of humor evidenced by her extensive use of pick-up lines in her speeches. These comedic stunts have served to both project an image of an approachable and fun senator and to belittle and berate her enemies at the same time.

Another is her obvious aura of high-brow intelligence and wisdom. This is perhaps the most important reason why many are rallying behind her, not because she has the brains but because, in a Senate humiliatingly low in IQ and intellectual discourse, she is a rarity and a fragile link to the Senate of old dominated by Recto, Salonga, and other heavyweights.

Despite what the senator is going through right now, rest assured she has won over more people than she ever had in the past decade. Playing the role of the underdog this time around only serves to boost her popularity and mythical status. 

Trypophobia

I encountered this term when Papa posted this picture (briefly) on his Facebook feed:

Yuck.

This picture gave me goosebumps. After a few minutes of internet sleuthing, I traced this picture to an article on Trypophobia which is loosely defined as an irrational fear of holes. Interesting, right?

Okay. Stare at the picture again.

Community

The Big Bang Theory.

How I Met Your Mother.

Community.

Yes. I'm late when it comes to binge-watching TV shows but I'm catching up. Right now, I'm finishing Season 1 of Community, a US TV comedy which was recently resurrected for its sixth season by Yahoo!

Honestly, based on what I've watched already, it's funnier than TBBT and HIMYM. I've got a mild infatuation with Alison Brie (who doesn't?). And the show is very addictive. 

I'll update you once I finish my marathon. But, so far, I've enjoyed every bit of this weird show.

Artistic License

Artistic license (also known as dramatic license, historical license, poetic license, narrative license, licentia poetica, or simply license) is a colloquial term, sometimes euphemism, used to denote the distortion of fact, alteration of the conventions of grammar or language, or rewording of pre-existing text made by an artist to improve a piece of art.

- Wikipedia

I guess if someone points out a misspelled word or grammatical error, I should just raise this defense. I'm getting lazy nowadays. 

Cotabato City

I guess it's all in my head.

Last month, I had the chance to tag along with my colleagues for a client presentation in Cotabato City. I wasn't particularly nervous about the trip but I was clearly thinking about what a typical war zone in Mindanao would be.

My imagination demanded that I see potholes of past IED explosions and dozens of checkpoints en route.

To my dismay (and fortune), there was none. In fact, our road trip was very pleasant. The roads were fine and there was no hint of danger all the way. Even as we were passing Pikit, the notorious place where skirmishes between the government army and Muslim rebels have been very frequent, we've only witnessed the normal bustle of a small town.

In Cotabato City, the streets were still busy past seven o'clock in the evening, a far cry from what I heard that the city was a ghost town after six o'clock.

Still, precautions were still followed. We couldn't travel back to Davao in the evening. We had to look for a hotel with a private parking lot for rental cars. We opted to stay inside our hotel for dinner.

I wonder what the other cities in Mindanao look like?

Missing Dog

What a way to start the week.

I just lost Wiggles, one of our dogs, during my Sunday jog this morning. Papa was visibly upset when I told him the news and I spent over an hour tracing my route looking for her.

The dog wasn't on a leash because she would usually just follow me wherever I jog. 

It seems, this time around, that wasn't the case. 

Here's to hoping she's coming back. 

Kilala Mo Si Jun Sabayton?

I've already talked about Lourd De Veyra. But I failed to mention his director, friend, and now fellow news anchor, Rodolfo "Jun" Sabayton, Jr.

Guess who Jun Sabayton is. A picture from his Facebook page

At first, I thought the guy was an extra, just a regular tambay plucked from nowhere for the show Word of the Lourd. However, when his appearances in the show became more frequent, I also became more curious.

Jun has been known for a lot of antics, from his half-naked looks to his nonconformist clothes. But his recent habit of appearing in other networks' shows has upped the ante:

What the heck. Guess I have a new idol now huh? 

Mabuhay ka Jun Sabaton!

Team Luy-A

L-R: Rodel "Yotz" Malagum, Ramy Baltores, Anthony "Tonyo" Salva, Paolo Ray Bataller, Mary Grace "Grasya" Uayan, Henry Awab

This is Team Luy-A. 

The group also includes Sam Porras (the one who took the picture) and Rommel who we haven't seen for quite awhile. Grace is also an honorary member standing as the muse.

Sir Ramy had asked me sometime ago to write a post about the group. Well, here it is.