Look How Far You've Come

While waiting on one traffic jam, I spotted this yellow marker. It has a KM 16 mark on it. I remember that the KM 0 is located somewhere in Luneta Park. I also remember that there's a KM 64 somewhere at the entrance of UPLB. That's why the bus conductor always punches the 64km in the bus ticket when you're going to UPLB. :)

While walking in the UP campus, I suddenly saw a yellow marker with KM 15 mark on it. For some weeks, I got curious with these yellow markers. I tried to spot the other yellow markers. I was able to see the KM 18, 19, 20, 21 on my way home. This morning I saw the KM 14 near the U-turn slot going to C. P. Garcia Avenue. :) I wonder what's the last KM number. Is it located in Mindanao?

Just a thought: In life, there comes a point when I think I'm not making any progress or any improvement. God reminded me of this song of Chris Christian. What a timely encouragement! :)



LOOK HOW FAR YOU'VE COME
by Chris Christian

So you've lost your will to live
Seems you're down to your last friend
And the weight of the world
Keeps tryin' to pull you in

Chorus
Don't give up, don't give in
Give it all to Him
'Cause He cares so much more
Than you know
When it seems who you really
Want to be
Is someone you'll never become
Just look how far you've come

Though you've failed at plans you've laid
Don't forget all the steps
You've made
He has brought you this far
He can take you the rest of the way

(Chorus)

I know it's not always easy
But don't you throw it all away
I know that He will take care of
You everyday
(Chorus)


For mp3 of this song click here to download.

To See Is To Believe?

I wasn't able to see the eclipse last night. I was excited because I was finally at the roof deck of PAGASA observatory in UP Diliman. The place was quite crowded. Students, lovers, enthusiasts and families went to the observatory wanting to gaze at the expected beautiful red moon. I saw Kuya Kim of Channel 2 and Mariz Umali of Channel 7. Media crews were busy setting up the lights and video cameras. Members of Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP) were also busy setting up their cool telescopes. Based on the information I read from PAGASA, greatest eclipse would be at 6:37PM and the totality will last for one hour and thirty minutes. It was really cloudy.
My ever supportive mom accompanied me. She knows that it was my long-time plan to visit the observatory since last year. My brother drove her to my office. She even brought some snacks. :)

Waiting, waiting, waiting. I overheard that the moon should be visible at the eastern side of the sky. While looking at the cloudy sky where the red moon should be visible, I was thinking if the red moon was really beneath those clouds. To see is to believe?

At exactly 7PM, I decided to go home. My mom was patiently waiting for me at the old CHE building. She cheered me up by quoting Kuya Kim's line, "laging tatandaan, sa buhay ay weather-weather lang." Oh well, there would be next time... some time in 2011.

Just a thought: We don't always have to see in order to believe. Do you believe in love? Can you see love? Do you believe in the wind? Can you see the wind? Has anyone seen love or wind?

Total Eclipse of the Moon

The partial phases and totality during a 1982 lunar eclipse.

I wonder if we could see the total lunar eclipse tonight? Hoping for clear skies. :)

"A total lunar eclipse will occur on August 28 and will be visible in the Philippines, the United States of America, the Pacific, eastern Asia, and Australasia. The totality will last for one hour and thirty minutes.

The eclipse will begin as the Moon enters the penumbral stage at 3:52 PM (Philippine Standard Time), and the umbral stage will begin at 4:50 PM as shown in the illustration. The eclipse will end at 9:22 PM (PST). The Moon will rise at 6:08 PM and sets on the following morning at 5:16 AM." -- from Astronomical Diary at PAGASA WEBSITE

Love Them While We Can

It's my lolo's birthday today! He passed away 13 years ago. It was my first encounter with death in the family. I don't know what to feel. I could not cry but I was sad. I saw how my mom and my aunties and uncles mourned on my lolo's sudden death. One lesson I've learned on my lolo's death is "love them while we can". "Love Them While We Can" is a Chris Christian song. It talks about loving our parents while they are still around and while we are still around. :)

Does Anybody Hear Her

DOES ANYBODY HEAR HER
by Casting Crowns

She is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
She is trying
But the canyon's ever widening
In the depths of her cold heart
So she sets out on another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older
And she's three more steps behind

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

She is yearning
For shelter and affection
That she never found at home
She is searching
For a hero to ride in
To ride in and save the day
And in walks her prince charming
And he knows just what to say
Momentary lapse of reason
And she gives herself away

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we never even met her

If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we never even met her

Never even met her

Does anybody hear her? Does anybody see?
Or does anybody even knows she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me

Does anybody hear her? Does anybody see?
Does anybody even know she's going down today?
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Does anybody see?

He is running a hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction

=======================================

I first heard this song earlier this year. But I was moved by this song when a classmate of mine let me watched its MTV. I remember this song this morning when our senior pastor Peter talked about "Love One Another" in our church's 23rd anniversary. "...We should love one another." - 1 John 3:11. As Christians, we are commanded to love one another. Jesus said in John 13:35, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

The video is shared in this link and a downloadable mp3 is available in this link. :)

Almost A Savior

I was able to watch "Ninoy" documentary the other night on QTV 11. As I was watching the documentary I had a feeling I was watching a modern-day documentary on Jesus' death. I don't know but I saw some similarities in the lives of Ninoy and Jesus...like both were falsely accused and beaten while in prison. But there were major differences also, unlike Ninoy, Jesus rose from the dead and he is a savior. I think Ninoy was just almost a savior. Ninoy's famous statement is "The Filipino is worth dying for." I'm grateful to Ninoy for the democracy and freedom that we have now. But then, this freedom of ours is only for this lifetime. God so loved the world that He gave His Only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Would Jesus say "the world is worth dying for"? I believe He already did when He said, "It is finished!" while hanging on the cross. The freedom that Jesus offers will last here and after. Have you accepted His offer?

Earthquake or not

Sitting still, I saw my PC's monitor was moving. I was not moving in my chair but the monitor was still moving. I think it was an earthquake. I asked my officemate who's about 2 meters away from my desk if he felt the earthquake. He said no. "Was I just feeling dizzy or what?" To remove the nagging question in my head, I searched for the PHILVOLCS telephone number . I contacted PHILVOLCS and the operator connected me to the Seismology Department. The lady on the other line informed me that "yes, there was an earthquake, intensity 1 in Quezon City area, intensity 4 in Subic, intensity 3 in Clark and intensity 2 in Makati area." Yes, it was an earthquake, I thought I was just feeling dizzy.hehe :)

FYI: PHILVOLCS telephone number is 426-1468.

Potholes Ahead

POTHOLES AHEAD

I walk down the street. There is a big hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in. I am lost. I am helpless. It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
I walk down the street. There is a big hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it. I fall in.
I can't believe I'm in the same place, but it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
I walk down the street. There is a big hole in the sidewalk.
I see it there. I still fall in. It's a habit. My eyes are open.
I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately
I walk down the street. There is a big hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
I walk down a different street.

- Author Unknown

I remember this piece I read from my old Campus Journal devotional book when I was driving and didn't remember the new potholes on the road. Because of the recent rains and floods the "ice-phalt" (asphalt) on the road melted. I have to memorize the new potholes added to the previous ones. There were times I forgot the locations of the new potholes and ran over them again. The other day, I made a mental note of all the new potholes. I hope next week I've learned my "lesson" already and will not run over those potholes again. :)

In life we commit mistakes but what is more important is to learn from it and not commit the same mistakes again.

"I got to keep my eyes on Jesus through the weak days..." sings Steven Curtis Chapman in "Weak Days", a song included in his First Hand album in 1987. (Visit Steven Curtis Chapman's new website www.stevencurtischapman.com to listen to his albums online.)

Retreat and Surrender (part 2)

Along Felix Avenue

Still along Felix Avenue

Heavy downpour of rain with lightning and thunder plus quite heavy traffic...
A week ago I decided to retreat and surrender. This time I made a choice to apply "No retreat, No surrender"! :)
After almost 2 hours of travel, I made it to our office. Thank God! :)

FYI: For the latest in weather news, call PAGASA's new 24-hour hotline at 433-ULAN (433-8526) It has a pre-recorded weather bulletin and you have an option to listen in English or Filipino versions. Cool! :)

Good Food

I have a growing appreciation for food lately. I don't know why but I look forward for eating time.hehe
And I discovered that eating with family and friends makes the food tastes even better. :)

Random list of foods I recently appreciated:
- Nissin's Ramen Noodles Seafood Flavor (local and imported)
- Vanilla Ice Cream
- Meatballs in Sweet and Sour sauce
- Purefoods' Longadog with Fried Rice
- Hot Pandesal with Kraft's Cheez Whiz
- Monay with Coco Jam
- Magnolia's Mango Tea
- Rodic's Tapsilog
- Rodic's Tocilog
- Mang Jimmy's Sizzling Pusit
- Mang Jimmy's Sizzling Tapamix
- Mang Jimmy's Sizzling Tuna
- Mang Jimmy's Sizzling Sisig
- Mang Jimmy's Lechon Kawali
- Fruits in Ice Cream's Cappucino Ice Cream
- Fruits in Ice Cream's Pistachio Nuts Ice Cream
- Fruits in Ice Cream's Raspberry Ice Cream

Happy eating! :)

Additional foods as of Aug 29:
- Holy Kettle Popcorn
- Tokyo Tokyo's Miso Soup
- Homemade Fried Chicken
- My mom's adobo
- Knorr's Chicken Noodle Soup paired with Fried Galunggong
- Lucky Me's Instant Pancit Canton Toyomansi Flavor
- McDo's Twister Fries
- Nestle's Koko Krunch Duo Breakfast Cereals
- Bread dipped in hot Milo for breakfast
- Ham Sandwich

Happy happy eating! :)

Retreat and Surrender

"No retreat, no surrender" is not always applicable.

Today, I learned that there are times when it is better to retreat and surrender. Due to strong downpour of rain last night, our village's main road became flooded this morning. I was hoping that the rain would stop and the flood would be gone. My mother told me not to go to work today because based on the information she got from our village's security personnel, the main road is not passable already for vehicles except for fire trucks and big trucks. I was quite persistent and keep on rationalizing that my car could make it through the floods. My mom suggested that maybe I could go after lunch. After a few minutes of "deliberation" and weighing my options, I decided that I would wait for the flood to subside.

A couple of hours before noon, I thought the flood is gone and decided to survey the streets. My brother accompanied me and we rode his car. The main road was still flooded. When we were approaching the "deepest" portion along the main road, we saw quite a long queue of cars hesitating to face the deep flood. Few cars already made their decisions and made U-turn. We were still taking our time weighing the situation when a fire truck appeared from a distance. The fire truck hitched people from our village's gate who wanted to go home. As the fire truck was approaching, my brother looked at me as if I'm the "captain of the ship" and asked, "what's next?" Well, seeing the situation, as much as I want us to go ahead, I ordered him to retreat.

Just a thought: As we were going back home, I remember a chapter about surrender in Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life. Thoughts about surrender flooded my mind. Most of the time we are wrestling with God for control of our lives. But there will come a time when we need to make a decision: are we going to continue to fight with Him or simply surrender? I made my decision to surrender to Him several years ago. I'm sure it was the most important decision in my life that would affect my eternity.

Adventures of Tintin

In France, almost everyone knows who Tintin is; in the Philippines, I don't know.hehe

My brother and I like to watch Tintin series on TV when we were younger. We bought volumes of Adventure of Tintin comic books but we weren't able to complete the set. It is a series of Belgian comic books created by Belgian artist Herge, the pen name of Georges Remi (1907–1983). Tintin is a young reporter and he travels a lot with his white terrier dog named Snowy.

I just remember Tintin because a friend asked me if I was able to read all of the "episodes". I think I've read almost all. I have to find the lacking volumes in order to read them "all".

Just a thought: Good thing the Bible comes in one volume, 66 books-in-1. One could not say, I haven't read this "book" because I wasn't able to find a copy of that. And besides the Bible is the best selling book of all times. :)

I Will Be Here

I was listening to Steven Curtis Chapman's All About Love album on my way home couple of days ago. I pressed the "repeat" button when "I Will Be Here" track was being played. Good chillin' out music when stuck in traffic. :)


I remember I was able to watch Steven Curtis Chapman sang this song with our very own Gary V on national television a month ago. Thanks to Mary Beth (SCC's wife) for the picture. Check her blog entry about it on their Asia and Beyond blog. SCC sang the Gary V's version of the song. The original singing the cover's version, huh? ;)

Tara na, byahe tayo! (Come, let's travel!)

I visited Corregidor Island last month. This catchy travel advocacy song stayed in my mind for quite some time. It was played several times when we were in the ferry boat. I was able to watch the MTV of this song on government-owned channels several years ago. Recently I discovered this cool site "Lakbayan: How much of the Philippines have you visited?" Got a grade of D. I only visited places mostly in Luzon area. 7,105 islands to go! :)

To view the lyrics and MTV of "Byahe tayo!" song, visit this site - http://www.lakbaypilipinas.com/biyahe_tayo.html

My Lakbayan map:

My Lakbayan grade is D!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Please signal your intention

"Please signal your intention" is my begcry (I'm begging and crying at the same time.hehe) for the past weeks for all the drivers out there. I didn't get formal driving lessons but one thing I've learned from my good "teachers" in driving is to signal your intention a few meters away before making a left or a right turn. I'm not an excellent driver but I'm trying my best to make "signal" a second nature to me when driving. Wish all drivers could make the same effort. Hmm.. oh well, they are not under the circle of my control so might as well guard myself. I'll try to be more understanding and patient on the road.

In relation to this, I'm just wondering if I could say this begcry to God whenever I encounter not-so-good circumstances. Most of the times we are wondering what is God's intention in letting us go through certain circumstances. Hmm... I remember Pastor Peter's message last Sunday, we need to go through difficult circumstances in order to grow. Well, if God would say His begcry for me it would've been, "Shut up, just grow up!" :)