A Very Long Weekend - Intramuros


After going to church at Word Community Church in Pasig, John, Frank, Peter and I went to Edsa Shangri-la Mall to have our lunch. We ate at Cravings. I ordered something small cause I'm afraid my stomach will ache again. I was planning to go to SM for an afternoon stroll before going back to Baguio but John invited me to accompany the elder guys with him at Intramuros. Peter said he loves history and was very eager to visit the place. It was a 40-minute taxi ride under scorching noon heat. When we got to the Intramuros town square, the old Manila Cathedral stood pridely in sight. It's architecture is a cross of Gothic and Baroque style and I was quite amazed with it. I have only seen buildings of this type during our classes in Humanities. When I get inside, it was breathtaking. The altar was adorned with ancient statues. You could've imagined it was like something of a Sistine chapel.


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Manila Cathedral


Entrance to Fort Santiago

Anyway after that, we got to Fort Santiago, an ancient walled fortress occupied during the Spanish era by the guardia civil. We got to visit the old areas restored, after being destroyed during "The Battle of Manila" in 1945. Finally, we get to heart of Fort Santiago, the Rizal Shrine. Most of Rizal's work are shown on there and when we get to the prison cell. It felt creepy! Like a forlorn spirit was trapped there inside. I felt goosebumps rising on my arms, I immediately left that place. At the final room, where Rizal's last poem, "Mi Ultimo Adios" was carved in a marble stone, I learned how Rizal spent his last night before he was executed. It was a painful story, where his brothers are not allowed to see him and his sisters and his mother could not even touch, let alone embrace him. Exiting Rizal Shrine, there was a tunnel going underground. I went down on it, but it became too dark to continue, even the light from the flashlight seem to have no effect. I bet it leads to Pasig River, just a few meters ahead. After that, we saw the dungeons but their entrances were locked. Nearby, there was a huge cross dedicated to Filipinos and Americans who died of suffocation in the dungeons during the Japanese era.

It was an hours due of adventure inside the fortress so we decided to take a rest. After that we went out and toured the whole of Intramuros community, visiting the National Museum and San Agustin Chruch but I was too tired to appreciate everything, let alone to share to you the whole details of it. It was about 5 when Peter and Frank decided to call it a day and they went home. Meanwhile John and I, took an FX to Cubao. We have a short dinner at Chowking, and John prayed a for me before I went home to get my things nd go back to Baguio.

Well, it concludes my very long weekend! Good night to you all and God Bless You.

A Very Long Weekend - Tired in Westin Plaza


When we got back to Manila, we stayed at Frank's place for a while. I'm supposed to go to Megamall after that but John invited me to Westin Plaza to meet a friend. We had lunch (Nilibre ako ni John!) and by 1:30 we were at the hotel. Minutes later his friend came and we went into the office of someone's whose in-charge of the whole thing they are going to do. As I learned later, John's lady friend works for Globe and she's going to evaluate the weak signal spots in the entire Westin Plaza. First we got to the pavillion, enjoying the view of the beach and the people sun bathing in there, mostly foreigners. After the pavillion, we got to EVERY floor of Westin Plaza to survey for weak signals. On the 10th floor, I was so tired, I decided to go back into the lobby and take a nap. When I woke up, I saw John and his friend coming toward my direction. I guess they were done. I looked at my cellphone, I must've slept for an hour. We rode a jeepney to Vito Cruz and we departed with John's friend at LRT. Meanwhile John and I passed by SM Manila to watch "Sahara" starring Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz. It was a feel-good movie, I wish I could be in one adventure even if just once in my entire life. After that we have dinner and we decided to watch Closer - an eye-opening story about what is love in terms of sex and fidelity. The roles were played by starling actors like Julia Roberts (Pretty Woman, Notting Hill), Clive Owen (King Arthur), Jude Law (Alfie, Talented Mr. Ripley) and Natalie Portman (Cold Mountain, Star Wars). It was about 11 o' clock when I got back. I was so tired, my stomach aches and I really want to go flat on the mat and sleep as soon as I lay there.

A Very Long Weekend III will be continued...

A Very Long Weekend - Trip to Biñan


Last Friday night, I went back to Manila to visit my friends in BP. Just a few hours ago, John called and told me that BP will visit the ministryit supports at Biñan, Laguna. It is a "Feeding Program", where a local church would gather children from depressed parts of the community, tell them Bible stories and feed them afterwards. I arrived at Frank's place at 8 and just in time, I saw Frank, John and Peter Lane came from the elevator. Peter is Exodus Asia's director and was a guest speaker at BP's Friday meeting. Outside the hotel, an FX was waiting for us and by 8:30 we are on the road along South Superhighway going to Biñan. It was tiring journey, due to the fact that I'm still tired from yesterday's travel however, it's really good thing there's Peter around. He talks animatedly and shares his experiences while living in India, in England and from his home country Australia.

By 9:30, we arrived at the place and Bible lessons are going on. The scene reminds me of a VBS in our own church. The kids were divided according to age. It makes my heart happy, seeing these kids having a good time while you can see the sting of poverty in them - those round lonely eyes ,tattered clothes and soiled feet. I felt so humbled, I'm fortunate when I was a kid. John and I rounded the entire church area and when we got back, the feeding began. Children were eating caldereta. John took some pictures however, the cam's battery ran out so I was asked to buy some digital batteries at the market. It took me quite a while. When I got back, the children were gone but Peter wants to visit the area where those children lived. So we hopped onto the tricycle and have a short ride to the place. We stopped in front of concrete houses but when we got around them, the shanties came into view and some children who were in the church a while ago were washing their clothes, some carried pails of water. The children happily greeted us and were having a good time imitating Peter's way of speaking. (He had a British accent and man, his accent is so infectious!). Well, watching the entire scene reminds me of the documentaries shown in I-witness about families living in the slums. This is just one face of the Philippines. Anyway, it was 10:30 and we decided it's time to go back to Manila. So we got back and bought a Biñan puto specialty along the way.

I Am One of Them!


My friend, Butch Dako posted his latest pic at his friendster account and it's nice to see those pictures, collated - of all his friends. It reminds me of a compressed photo album of long lost friends and loved ones - people who touched the lives of that person. Quite sentimental, quite nostalgic. And by the way, you can see me at the bottom right. :)



The picture is really nice! Visit also Butch's blog!

From Now on You Will Catch men


This famous statement made my Jesus Christ is found at Luke 5:10 along with the story of the calling of the first disciples in Luke 5:1-11

⁵ Simon answered, “Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

However, the core of my message is verse 5. Peter had said, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything,. What does it has to do with us?

Personally I have prayed to God about a dream an ambition and make it a life purpose that someday, I'll produce a large musical. A remake of "My Utmost for His Highest". It will be a grand production, involving costly costumes and props, with big stars singing the solos and world-class choir. I prayed about it day and night with so much enthusiasm and sentimentality, developing a strong hope within me. One day there was an opportunity for me to work as Production Assistant in the show business industry. I prayed to God and told him that this must be His answer to my prayer request.

I was exposed in a world of illusions - where being good-looking is all that matters, where people appear nice as they look but wolves dressed in sheep's fur, where lies, immorality and sin are the norm, where at the surface there is laughing but deep inside is the unexpressed loneliness. During those times, I struggled emotionally, feeling so less important and it makes me feel sorry for myself. However, I still worked hard, not even minding even if I have to sleep at 4 am in the morning and sleep for 4 hrs or being insulted, stepped-down by people who think they have the authority to do that. I didn't mind. This is God's will.

Financially the money was instant, I receive my "talent fee" upon agreement. I entrusted a friend, or so I thought he was with some of the show expenses with my earnings and some of the personal allowance thinking that I will get all of them back when the show is done. Many people including almost all of my friends, and especially my parents advise me to look for a more stable way to earn money but I did not listen. I even turned down a job offer for this. I'm still clinging to the perceived will of God even if at any snap, I could be ruined. To make the story short, I ended up losing a couple of thousand pesos and that friend of mine was nowhere to be found.

And so like Simon Peter, I declared, I have fished all night and caught nothing. I have worked hard to realize a dream but I was ruined. I prayed to God and asked why he let it happen. It happened because God is showing me I have the wrong motives, I was not really seeking His will. Sometimes when God acts, you experience it the hard way to knock us out of our worldliness and to focus on Him. And now I say, "But because you say so... I will let down the nets". To be sensitive to God's will, he have to set aside our worldy intentions and to focus on things that will glorify Him and only Him. Letting down the nets, means surrendering and denying yourself, letting Him to take control over your life.