Hannah's Child


Yesterday, I attended Ray-Ray's, a youth in our church, 18th birthday. Familiar faces were around including those previous church goers who are still friends with Ray-Ray's family. It's good to see them around. The program started by 8 (and you bet everyone was hungry) due to the rain. Anyway, the program started with a prayer and followed by special number by Ray-Ray's friends. Ptr. Bert gave a short message for Ray-Ray and he shared with us a little secret about Ray-Ray.

She was a miracle child! The doctors predicted that her parents Uncle Ben and Auntie Edna could not have a child but they prayed and prayed and out came Ray-Ray. Ptr. Bert shared a similar story in the Bible about Hannah, a woman of faith but cannot have a child. Her relatives and the women made fun of her so she was in despair and she cried out to God and prayed for a child. God heard her prayer and came out Samuel, one of Israel's greatest prophets and the prophet who annointed David as King. God is indeed a God of miracles!



Ray-Ray posing for this occasion


I'm one of the '18 cakes'


But other people ate it: Church friends: Crenzy, my brother Aris, Bryan and Love2x


The next part of the program is my favorite. Uncle Ben had prepared a 20-minute video of picture collage of Ray-Ray's pics from birth until she now. It was a wonderful video. It's like travelling back in time. Seeing good memories etched in pictures. Perosnally, the effect was nostalgic on me and I remembered the book my friend, John gave me, "Pictures Your Heart Remembers". It is about how pictures both tangible and those that exists in our memories make us who we are right now - we could use those pictures to bless or curse each other. Selecting those good pictures bring blessings to your life and to lives of other people. According to John Trent, the author of that book, it's up to us to throw away those "bad pictures" if we were to be blessings. We need God to burn those bad pictures and give us the grace to take new beautiful ones.

Anyway, it was 9 o clock already when everyone started eating and we had a really good time... eating, making fun, pissing Crenzy off (Hehehe) ... It was the nicest and simplest debut I have ever attended.

On Eagle's Wings




Originally concepted for an album cover, this piece of graphic art is what I considered one of my finest works since it's a labor of love. It's for God, my Father who carried me on eagle's wings in times I felt like I'm losing flight

Kadayawan in MTS


Last Aug 19, Friday, I decided to spend the Kadayawan festivities at Matina Town Square (MTS). There I met my sister Aiza and her friend, Ed. We toured around the place and we saw the usual stalls. At the activity area, a stage was erected and soon a group will be performing, modernized ethnic (Manobo, Bagobo, etc) music to emphasize the spirit of festivities.


Aris sketches for a client.


Aiza models for Davao Artists Foundation Association artists


Me, Aiza and Ed


Aris... wala lang


Bryan, serious daw


Many people were there: socialites, wannabe-socialites, students, artists, tourists, Korean exchange students, people of all sorts. So we toured around the stalls, visiting a tiangge which offers discounted imported goods. We came back to Impit Purok entrance which features a show. Anyway, nothing much in here until my brother, Aris came with his friend Bryan. They have a stall which offers sketching services for P200. Before we went home, Aiza modeled for them. I was really tired but it rained so we can't go home so Aiza continued her new modelling stint while we treated ourselves, I mean them with Mais Con Yelo...

Keeping Myself Alive


Since Monday, life has been much simpler - to make the story short, I'm bummed. I have updated my resumé, visited father at the hospital, go to gym everyday, watched my favorite CDs and movies from our (pirated) DVD library at home and the only hope I have is living everyday with God living out and continuing to commit myself for His purpose in me.



Warriors on Elks: Unusual


Yesterday, I was again bored and I think I have watched every DVD at home until I saw my brother's copy of "Princess Mononoke". I have heard it's a very good movie since it was made by the genius animator, Hayao Miyazaki. Six months ago, I watched Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" and I was blown away with the wonderful story about sacrificial love, forgiveness and everything. So I watched it and I was not disappointed. Here is the synopsis of Princess Mononoke, I got from Thesia.com.au review:

Princess Mononoke, set in 14th century Japan, is the mythological tale of a war between encroaching civilisation and the beast gods of the forest. In a remote mountain village far away in northern Japan, the young warrior Ashitaka (Yôji Matsuda), is forced to kill a monster to protect his village. Too late, he discovers that the boar-like creature he killed is a protector-god of the forest. In killing the demon boar, Ashitaka has brought upon himself a curse, it's sign: a twisted scar on his right forearm that is slowly spreading. Ashitaka journeys to the land of the Tatara clan where he hopes to uncover the mystery of the curse before it takes his young life. He meets their proud and regal leader, the Lady Eboshi (Yûko Tanaka).
Along the way, he becomes involved in the bitter fight between two warring factions of humans and a race of forest-gods trapped in the middle. During one battle, Ashitaka sees San, the Princess Mononoke (Yuriko Ishida), a young woman raised by wolves, who is prepared to die to defeat the humans. Against his will, Ashitaka is drawn into the struggle between man and nature, tying to persuade the two sides to find another way, one that will halt the endless circle of killing. He seeks a middle ground where forest creatures and humans can live in the world in peace together.

Also, yesterday, I received a large package containing the prosectus of Hillsongs Leadership College. I was so excited and literaly, my hands are shaking as I opened the package awaiting to hold something precious. When I opened it, I found a huge folder with the Hillsongs cover in it. I can't wipe away the smile on my face as opened the folder and saw the brochure containing the information about Hillsongs Leadership College and the courses offered. As I browsed through the pages, I imagined my life if I'd be there studying and doing the ministry in action. As I closed the brochure, I prayed to God and let my desires be known to him. He said, wait patiently for me... and a hope was formed inside my heart. In this time of boredom, it is this hope that will carry me through.

Cheated and Betrayed


When I always go back to my hometown, I have the sense that my future will be bleak or something like a dark force will try to control and manipulate my life. I was setup into a trap and I can't spread my wings to fly.




Dark Force corrupting my "not-so-innocent mind".



Quoting some lyrics from Mariah Carey's, "Butterfly"

I have learned that beauty has to flourish in the light
Wild horses run unbridled or the spirit dies.

When will you finally let me go?