Today I decided to walk all the way home from the train station and I noticed a long line near the church I go to.

It was a line for buying lottery tickets and there was a sign that said “P160 Million – baka ikaw ang manalo (you might be the winner)”.

There were about 15 people standing in line and I saw a familiar face, a tricycle driver, and he had a couple of tickets in his hand. In his face, and with everyone else in the line, I saw a lot of hope in the tickets/numbers they held.

I prayed about the people when I arrived at the church, my favorite stopover before reaching home. I shared with God what I saw — that life is just so hard nowadays and people find it difficult putting their hopes in Him. I prayed for a better situation.

I immediately felt good about my prayers after, which included continuous guidance and protection. I remember making a special prayer also for those in dire need of financial help — especially those who are sick but couldn’t afford the medical expenses. I hope they are assisted in some way through my prayers.

I still hope for the best in everything because God is there.

Have a great week!

M

I finally tried yoga!

Two BIG factors: beach thing this weekend and inspiring friends.

I started last Saturday and have attended two classes. I’m so proud of myself! I think I did pretty well by following all steps on my first day.

I just couldn’t do the back bending so much (Pose # 20) and lifting of both feet with arms tucked inside the body (Pose #17). But my teacher Carol says I did well and one of my classmates, Hazel, said she fainted the first three times she attended. It’s pretty hot inside also so that must have been a factor.

Anyway, one resolution down.

Kung hei fat choi in advance and also a Happy Valentine’s Day!

M

I was waiting for the train to arrive today when I remembered a song by Chicago but I just couldn’t remember the title or even the chorus.

So I ended up researching all the Chicago songs upon logging on to the internet and voila! There it was! What kind of man would I be.

It’s such a beautiful song. I hope you like it or remember.

Sharing the love for Valentine’s Day!

80s M

P.S. It was written by Jason Scheff (the one singing), another guy, and Bobby Caldwell  (composer of Kalapana’s  “Real Thing”, one of my favorite songs).

New year, brand new super serious resolutions!

Hi everyone!

It’s 2010 and I started the year very differently:

#1. I had foot surgery (nothing serious);

#2. My dad started talking about really serious stuff for breakfast (he’s 74);

#3. For the get-together with my family on New Year’s eve, for the first time, my sister-in-law cried (she lost her mother the previous year);

#4. I oddly got Seat 48A in the plane — in front of the bathroom and in the section where there’s a curtain. This is where patients airlifted get in, I figured — 6 seats are collapsed to accommodate a stretcher (although I have never seen one);

#5. Because of my foot injury, I had to change my style of shoes.

…and the list goes on.

But I think this year is going to be different because I feel it will be plus I intend and plan to. Just have to make a lot of prayers along the way!

I’ll elaborate next time on my thoughts and resolutions but here’s hoping we all look forward to a promising 2010!

Glad it’s Sunday!

Happy New Year!

M

I just have to add this in my blog — it’s my favorite!

While I like the versions of Esmee Denters and American Idol Season 8 contestant Anoop Desai, I’m still loving Monica’s version more. We normally feel that way about original versions, right?

Hope you like it.

Happy New Year everyone!

M

First, I’m so happy that Manny Pacquiao won again! Ye-hey!!! I’m so happy for my kababayan from General Santos City!

Manny battled Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico today for the WBO welterweight title and even if I couldn’t watch (pay per view) and just relied on news updates on TV, I’m overjoyed with the news now of his victory! Go Manny! Congratulations on becoming the first boxer to win seven titles spanning four weight classes from super featherweight to welterweight!

I included Manny’s win in my prayers today. I went to St. Paul the Apostle Church after my jog and I remember that while listening to the gospel, I wished I could talk like the priest because he was a really good inspirational speaker! He delivered the message very clearly and wasn’t at all boring. I can’t help compare myself with him because I spoke in front of a crowd a week ago and I think I did fairly well — but too far compared to this priest. Haha. He’s my idol now. Anyway…

The gospel was about the end of the world or the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ — “He will come again to judge the living in the dead” (Apostle’s Creed) and how people fear it. The upcoming movie “2012″ flashed in my mind and I agreed. But the priest said it wasn’t something to worry about. He gave an example of a nun friend of his who he asked what she would do if Jesus came already and she said, “I’d probably be dancing!”

The nun was very confident that there was nothing for her to fear because she knew she lived each day doing what she can for others. Not only was she prayerful but she also acted on various good deeds. The priest said:  “Quality than quantity”. I think it’s about heart. A LOT of “heart”.

The priest said, “Love every individual” — love everyone, the environment, community. Loving means you would not wish any harm to come unto anybody or anything and we can do this. I know we can. The challenge is to do it everyday, for the rest of our lives, because if we do, then we shouldn’t fear anything, even the end of the world, just as the priest said and assured us about.

This message isn’t new to us but it’s always nice to be reminded about what is really important — how we should be living our lives. I hope to do more so I could be a better person and Christian.

Thank you Lord for everything — for the hints you constantly give me that I can be a better person  (e.g. through the priest-public speaking/oratorical challenge) and Manny’s win in Las Vegas today! Haha. You’re the best!

I hope that through this blog, I did my little way of glorifying God to others.

Happy Sunday!

M

I found it!

I found Charlie Masso and Lea Salonga’s really old duet in YouTube today called “I still believe”. Charlie is from the boy band Menudo (with Ricky Martin) and he recorded the duet with Lea in 1988.

I wasn’t a fan of Menudo — I was fiercely devoted to Duran Duran at the time, period. But I liked Charlie Masso because of this particular song (yi-heeee!). Hahaha. I like his voice (not the chunkiness). I think Charlie looked gwapo in the video and had chemistry with Lea.

Check him singing some lines in Tagalog:

Happy,

M

It worked!

In an earlier post, I talked about not involving people in my projects so I can control everything and ensure no room for error. I changed that after watching this cool YouTube video about a group of Koreans coming together to give a spectacular show.

In the recent volunteering (relief operations) program related to Typhoon Ondoy, I decided to rely on two people to deliver critical tasks and looking back, I couldn’t imagine my life without them last Saturday! Life’s so much easier now.

Teamwork is awesome.

To many more discoveries!

M

I’ve been prayerful lately. I just feel sad looking at the news these past few weeks.

Typhoon Ondoy just left and then a stronger one comes along — and returns 3 times!

All sorts of catastrophes are attached to these “visits”. Now vegetables are at astronomical prices because roads have been destroyed or unpassable because of land/mudslides and floods. Then more and more families are displaced; many living in evacuation centers or homes still flooded with water.

I’m not going to write a news story about it but I just can’t imagine how life is right now in these affected places.  My Indonesian friend empathized with me saying, “At least you have typhoons… here we have earthquakes”. I don’t know which one’s worse. The recent earthquake in Sumatra killed more than a thousand people so that’s also catastrophic. (sigh) But I know we will rise from these disasters — we always do.

I thought about how I could help in my own small way and I got that chance last week when I managed to encourage 30 people to help repack relief goods for distribution to 855 families affected by Typhoon Ondoy.

I’m thankful for the opportunity, or the instances where I can make a difference especially in a time of need.

Thank you Lord for this chance.

M

Dear Lord,

Thank you for everything.

For every single moment, experience, frustration, happy feeling, bad situation.

For the things I could not understand before but now see clearly.

I feel blessed.

Forever grateful,

M