My mom's friend invited me last weekend to take part in a two-day class called Catholic Life in the Spirit Seminar (or CLSS) at Christ the King Parish along E. Rodriguez Avenue in Quezon City. There I was introduced to The Holy One of the Lord Catholic Foundation, Inc. that has been conducting seminars for years. It was the first time I ever attended a catholic charismatic community and I was delighted and amazed to see how fired up the congregation was that kind of reminds me of a Baptist church I used to attend and take doctrinal classes a year ago. Suddenly an idea played in mind that thankfully and finally, Catholics are learning from other Christian denominations on how to study and evangelize their faith.
One of the gifts that I received on the second and last day of the seminar was an opportunity to partake on what they call the Vineyard and Pre-Servanthood Formation Program that are similar to subject courses I will be taking just like regular classes every Friday. I think it was the highlight of my experience since I’ve been longing to be a part of a Catholic community that will train and foster me for deeper personal sanctification so as to practice and live the Christian way of life. I mean, really really live the Christian way of life.
Up till now, I still can’t believe that all these are happening. I always pray for growth and spiritual nourishment aside from the usual Sunday masses and service in the music ministry of our parish. I’m just happy that I’m finally undergoing a formal training and education about my Catholic faith.
I notice it's been almost a week since my last post. I don't know. Maybe I just got tired from literally spending my whole day in front of the computer screen endlessly fidgeting mindless applications in Facebook or just freely surfing the Web; wasting precious time then go to bed feeling beat, guilty and useless for not accomplishing any purposeful activity. It’s justpointless.
Anyways, my high school circle and I went over the weekend to some military residential camp to spend the littlest amount of time we could be in each other’s company before classes in our respective universities start. Yeah, I know it’s an odd location for some resort to have a quality time together, but since we’re looking for a cheap place that is not so far from the city, we decided nonetheless to continue.
Above were just a few of the many photos I took in the short period of time we stayed inside the site. It’s incredible to imagine that you’re in a remote place because of the towering trees, abandoned buildings, and deserted roads we went through though we knew all along that on the other side of the high perimeter concrete fence that accompanied us all the way, was a national highway. We waited for about an hour before we could enter because of a private party reserved for military folks and their families until 5p.
In the end, I came home at exactly 10p while the rest of them spend the night in San Mateo, Rizalat one of our friend’s place after our gathering. Though a bit tired and hungry, I certainly had one of the most superb summer gatherings of my college life.
Radiohead, one of the world's top bands, has joined the MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking) campaign, a partnership between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and MTV to raise awareness about human trafficking. The collaboration takes the Asia MTV EXIT campaign to a global audience, reaching as many as 560 million households worldwide.
Filmed by Oscar-winning cinematographer John Seale and award-winning director Steve Rogers, the video depicts a day in the life of both an affluent youngster and a child making shoes in a sweatshop, sending a message that everyone plays a role in trafficking and exploitation.
USAID is funding the production of the MTV EXIT films for Asia. Top Asian pop and film stars, including Lucy Liu, Rain of South Korea, Tata Young of Thailand, Lara Dutta of India, Christian Bautista of the Philippines and Kris Dayanti of Indonesia have volunteered to narrate the films in their native languages and in English.
The campaign capitalizes on their images and MTV's brand appeal, transforming people's views about trafficking and exploitation and provides a platform for NGOs, governments and law enforcement agencies to prevent trafficking and assist victims.
MTV EXIT television programming is produced rights-free and is free of charge for all broadcasters and organizations. The programming is also available to be streamed and downloaded from mtvexit.org.
For more information on USAID and its programs to combat human trafficking around the world, visit www.usaid.gov.
A majestic visionary photo taken during our April Fool's gathering.
We had a small gathering yesterday on a friend's place as we celebrate her 18th birthday. Even though it rained (unbelievably, this happens every year on her birthday; a rain of blessings from above!), we enjoyed ourselves with loads of talks and updates, some food, and the nonstop cracking of jokes. I missed them so much I wish we could do these gatherings more often. But I digress; we wouldn’t really miss each other that much if we would meet regularly.
I drank mouthfuls after mouthfuls (well, not really) of cool red wine and lavished myself without any guilt on those yummy chocolate cake a friend brought from Amici, an Italian casual dining restaurant in Tomas Morato where she works.It is clear that we were as idealistic as ever when we were back then. We were intermittently talking about our future plans and dreams in life; adventures and experiences in college; and yes, the more serious stuffs that mattered most to adults nowadays. You know, things that you never thought you’d talk about or even come into mind as a minor or as a naive student.
I came home at around 10. I had so much fun, had great food, and reconnected with the circle I grew with in high school. We are truly growing…
There is nothing like a crisp afternoon walk after a short drizzle around the streets of Araneta in Cubao. It's been a while since my last visit among its many department stores and shopping malls so when a friend asked me to accompany him, I couldn't turn him down. I hear there are lots of on-going developments in that area including the Manhattan Garden City which is an '8,500-unit real estate project housed in 20 residential condominium towers' (model units available at their showroom in Gateway Mall on the third floor), and the current facelift of the old Ali Mall.
It just enthralls me to witness all the refurbishing and revitalization effort that the Araneta Center is conducting to the places I’ve loved and associated with maturity.
*******
For more information about the Araneta Center, visit theirwebsite hereand check out the latest with their interactive vicinity map.
The British alternative rock band Coldplayhas really got me this time. Ever since I heard their Viva La Vidasong with it's catchy tune and lyrics (that had me thinking if they were Catholics), I can't seem to have enough from them. Conducting a little bit of research from the Net, I learned what a great group they are giving 15% of the band's profits to charityand actively supporting various social and political causes. And yes, they even give free downloads of their songs for a limited time in their official website (so be sure to click that link below!). If you go there now, you can download their free live album, LeftRighLeftRightLeft.
Wow, now that is something we could totally look up to.
Yesterday I went to school to see for my own the news I've been receiving continuously since last Tuesday. And there posted on the Bulletin Board of our college truly is the list ofAQE passersthat made it successfully to their junior year of loads more of sleepless nights and tireless days of planning and working on their drafting tables. Providentially (see, I hate to use the term ‘luckily’), I'm one of them with an overall average grade of 80 percent. Asked by a peer how it feels to have passed the notorious exam I've been cramming and preparing for the late weeks of March and early April, frankly, though I didn't really told them this, there wasn't really any endorphin-jerked ‘I’m-on-top-of-the-world’ feeling I have always observed on student-oriented shows on cable TV.
Sure, I’m happy to have conquered the assessment that causes delays on most architecture students in our school, but seriously, though I’m not anticipating that I would pass on the first place, I’ve always had this sense of confidence and tranquil inside that I’m going to make it. That no matter what will turn out of the exam; it is by His will always that all these things are happening.
I’ve been praying all weeks and hours before the said exam on top of my studying. And maybe, He sure heard them and guided me through. Fast-forward to the results, I guess I don’t need that ‘high’ feeling to overly express that I’m happy making it to my third year of studies. Knowing that I took that exam with all respect and dignity (ahem! you know what I mean), and that calmness that lasted even after the exam surely is enough to draw a silent smirk not only on my face but as well as inside me.
Another English break-out pop artist we're hearing often nowadays in the radio and seeing more frequently on Channel V and MTV is this London-born pop music singer and songwriter, Lily Allen. She started making noise as early as 2005 but her music only got here in our country early this year.
Her single, “The Fear” is what caught my attention although I’m not really into the rest of her compositions. It’s not only the music that got me hooked with this one but as well as the lyrics that fit today’s norm and my definition of pop culture. I’m not promoting any of it but certainly it’s the subject of modern-day culture that I’m compelled to scratch further lately. After listening to the song, won’t you agree that her words are oh so true?
I want to be rich and I want lots of money
I don’t care about clever I don’t care about funny
I want loads of clothes and I want f**kloads of diamonds
I heard people die while they are trying to find them
And I’ll take my clothes off and it will be shameless
Cuz everyone knows that’s how you get famous
I’ll look at the sun and I’ll look in the mirror
I’m on the right track yeah I’m on to a winner
I don’t know what’s right and what’s real anymore
I don’t know how I’m meant to feel anymore
When do you think it will all become clear?
‘Cuz I’m being taken over by The Fear
Life’s about film stars and less about mothers
It’s all about fast cars concussing each other
But it doesn’t matter cause I’m packing plastic
and that’s what makes my life so fucking fantastic
And I am a weapon of massive consumption
And its not my fault it’s how I’m programmed to function
I’ll look at the sun and I’ll look in the mirror
I’m on the right track yeah we're on to a winner
I don’t know what’s right and what’s real anymore
I don’t know how I’m meant to feel anymore
When do you think it will all become clear?
‘Cuz I’m being taken over by The Fear
Forget about guns and forget ammunition
Cause I’m killing them all on my own little mission
Now I’m not a saint but I’m not a sinner
Now everything's cool as long as I’m gettin’ thinner
I don’t know what’s right and what’s real anymore
I don’t know how I’m meant to feel anymore
When do you think it will all become clear?
‘Cause I’m being taken over by fear
This photo was taken right when I woke up yesterday morning. My beloved cat, Muning, started to sleep at the foot of my bed once again and I can’t fancy away the idea that she’s been watching out for me all night while I’m tucked away in slumber. I don’t mind the few cat hairs stuck on my bed covers whenever she does this and I don’t think it’s any threat at all on my health so I just let her sleep beside my foot. Sweet and heart-warming, I found that I wouldn't have to worry about my freezing foot every night anymore.
Photos of my pet Schnitzel in his different fashion statements.
Ugh! I haven't been posting anything recently in my blog because of my current addiction in Pet SocietyinFacebook. I've been at it for weeks not stopping until I get my pet Schnitzel to level up each day. It's like a drug that haunts me when I'm not getting my fix of it.
Well, things have got to change and this has got to stop! I don't know the concept of outdoors anymore and I haven't left our home for days. I long for fresh air to breath; I have to BREAK FREE!!! Agh! Help!
Sumptuous food from a high-end restaurant filled the pages of the newspaper that will literally make someone’s mouth brim over with saliva. Another page promotes a line of cosmetics and various beauty products promising an age-defying miracle touch granting your ever dearest wish to be physically (or more like facially) immortalized. And yet another one spills the inside scoop on all the latest bar openings and party happenings around the block clipped with several camwhore moments of different elite jocks frocked in designer-labeled luxury couture.
All the latest cars, clothes, gigs, gadgets, personalities, and food - it is not really hard to find bits of glamorous contemporary livingin the media today. Tell it to the boy who grew up living in the city witnessing all these display in the newspaper, television, music, and online ads. What started as a mere interest in the current culture and values of a modern-day man have drawn me slowly into a conclusion of how money-oriented and pleasure-seeking people are in our present society. Admittedly, a lot of usfancy living the high life and we find pleasure in all things pricey and luxurious. But is this manner enough to justify how most of us judge one being by what one puts on and what one has accumulated and hoarded in life?
*sigh* Sometimes I wonder if the media is the reflection of our society or the driver in our society…
“The darker the night sky, the brighter the stars shine in the heavens.”
Great prophetic voice and discussion from the guest speaker Fr. John Corapi about reading and heeding the signs of the times on the show Living the Abundant Life with Johnette Benkovich on EWTN. It was enlightening they discussed how the majority of us are enamored by the glamour of living the contemporary life and how disillusioned, disenchanted and discouraged many of us are in the neo-paganistic and neo-atheistic idealisms of the modern times.
I felt my heart burning and I was really moved by the truth I heard. There are no coincidences with God and it is not a coincidence that I was born in this time of the history of mankind. Many great saints will be made on the latter daysand now is a great opportunity for me, and for all of us, to be healed, purified, and sanctified; to rise and be a proclaimer of truth; to be the mouthpiece and face of God; to be a Saint.
And how are we able to do all of that? They discussed so many things during that show but below are only some of the things my slow hands could take note of:
Be enamored deeply in your prayer life;
Pray the Gospel of Jesus – the Rosary, live the sacramental life of the Church, and habitually go to confession;
Know your faith because ignorance of it is the most dangerous;
Strive in the state of grace for the enemy will always exploit you weaknesses;
And lastly, practice the Eucharist.
Again, “many great saints will be made on the latter days”… I hope I could and would be one of them.
