Haven't I told you yet?
My brother won a flat-screen T...
Blood-curdling romance . . . unbelievable
This sounds silly, but, yes, I went out to see the blood-sucking vampires in Twilight. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not such a waste of money, especially when you consider the low, low price you pay to watch it in this part of the country—a whopping Php 30!I watched it with friends from UP SOX after our regional quiz show—which was a huge success, by the way. Now I can understand why it’s causing...
We sleep on Christmas Eve
Yesterday I've been with my father to do Christmas grocery shopping at KCC Mall. As in Manila, the mall was packed with people rushing to buy fruit cocktails, pastas, and hams, just in time for the noche buena that night. Tatay and I were on my mother's strict instructions to buy the tried and tested ingredients she'd use for her salad. My mother doesn't cook (and seriously, you don't want her to),...
Orhan Pamuk's The Black Book is a must-read
Orhan Pamuk doesn't mince with words; he plays with them.In what many people call "his masterpiece," The Black Book weaves the story of young lawyer, Galip Bey, and the mysterious life of one newspaper columnist who happens to be his cousin and his wife's ex-husband.Pamuk, among the best of Turkey's writers and winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature,...
What I plan to do this Christmas
1. Rest. I resolve not to bring any academic-related materials at home. I wouldn't read them anyway.2. Meditate. I have more to study and meditate on God.3. Share the gospel to my classmates. 4. Party. The family is usually swamped with Christmas party invitations, so much so that at one point, we weren't eating dinner at home!5. Read. In my reading list are The Black Book (Orhan Pamuk), Franny and...
When studying gets hard
One last exam for the year. Studying is hard when you all you think of is the Christmas vacatio...
Connected again!
For a moment, I actually contemplated going back to Windows. Last night I couldn't connect to the internet. New fiber optics cords were being installed in the dorm's internet facility. As part of this change, the administrators decided to change our IP addresses, as well.For 99% of the Link Yakal subscribers, that wouldn't have been a problem. But for me, the lone Linux user in the corridor, it was...
Encapsulating Christmas
Lenny Magalit, recently diagnosed with breast cancer, sang at the YCF Christmas party at Kuya Dave's this evening. Her song? A musical version of John 3:16, one of the verses that best encapsulate the meaning of Christmas.For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.I'm...
A monk's life. And death.
Among the best suspense novels I've read thus far, The Name of the Rose isn't just an ordinary detective story.Set in the 14th century, in a rich Franciscan abbey in Italy, the novel is told from a viewpoint of an old Benedictine monk, Adso, whose memories of the past events form the backbone of this literary masterpiece.For seven days, heinous crimes are committed in the monastery. But just as notorious...
Scientia - Second Issue
I'm the news editor of the college magazine, Scientia, and I write the column (Parenthetical). Here's the second issue just released last week, in case you don't have a cop...
MBBS wins first prize in College of Science Carolfest 2008
We won! We hardly mastered the dynamics, barely ran through the choreography—and here we are, bright and shining with our first place distinction.For three years, I've been joining the CS Carolfest. I've been a part of the UP MBBS Star Activity (a fancy name we call our org choir). MBBS placed second in 2006, third in 2007—and my batchmates and I...
NaBloPoMo is almost over!
The National Blog Posting Month is almost over! The challenge to write at least one blog entry a day was daunting, but it was worth it. November has taught me to value each day that comes my way. I thank God for each lesson and experience He's allowed me to go through. This month has been soaked with His mercies.For the one last time, let me recap...
You're never too young
“I came from my mother's womb” was his answer when we asked him where he came from. Adam Hussey, a young missionary affiliate with Action International, spoke yesterday at the Youth Fellowship in Higher Rock. He first shared this life testimony—how he went to church only for the sake of attending it, how he broke his knee when he played tennis,...
Pastor Bob
Except for his tooth that perpetually shines when he is at the pulpit, my pastor looks like any other guy. But once he speaks, Pastor Bob Amigo of Higher Rock Christian Church speaks with authority.I'm thankful for him because he has shown devotion to the study of God's word. He never preaches human wisdom but speaks truth from the Bible, even if it means hurting our egos, our self-esteem, and our...
Transforming ideas into real businesses
We pushed through with the business pitch at the Ayala TechnoBoot Camp, and I think we did quite well. We got the people interested and received pretty good comments from the mentors. Their advice: get patents and establish our own company. That was solid.Aside from us, various teams—mostly from Engineering—presented their business concepts, too. I was amazed at the sophistication of the ideas, ranging...
Filthy rich
There is not a single business gene in my body. This I realized while writing a business plan for the Ayala Technoboot Camp tomorrow. My team (Kino Aquino, Isabel Nabor, Zi Laqui, Ate Xy-Za Oro, and my thesis adviser) is pitching to a bunch of successful businessmen, and we're here trying to sound business-like.Don't ask me how to market my product because my answer would be: "Oh, I'll hire someone...
YM conversation during cramming time
Me: Kumusta ang A2Q [Answers to Questions], Ti?Titus Tan: Heto, kinukumusta ko ri...
On toothbrushes and why I like photography
I experimented with the camera's super macro settings one night when I should've been studying for Immunology. If you've fallen in love with photography, you know it's a worthwhile distraction. It takes your mind off things. The experience of capturing memories and images clears one's mind and offers a different perspective altogether.When I still...
Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom: lessons our country badly needs to learn
I RECALL watching that familiar video clip of Nelson Mandela coming out of prison after 27 years. I had no idea who he was, of course, but from the look on his face and the people's reaction, it wasn't that hard to think that he was a man who shook the world.
Since then I've heard his name mentioned everywhere—in Oprah, in CNN, in the papers. They...
Overheard by Boom
Arielle asks, “We have quiz today?”Gelo grins, has nothing to say.Polo shouts, “No! Please, I pray!”Yeyen thinks, “Do we have to stay?”“Ang chaka naman!” Cheeze complains.“Di ko 'to nagets!” Angeli exclaims.Monchi looks up and feels his tummy.As Wegs cries out, “Oh, help me mommy!”Richard confesses, “Man, this is scary.”Agz wonders, “What's happening...
Why I spend hours inside National Bookstore
Notebooks. I spend hours looking for the perfect set--which brand? what size? how many pages? how much? Acid-free paper, firm binding, and professional cover pages excite me. I hesitate to spend too much on clothes but never on notebooks. I guess that makes me . . . a notebook addic...
Books! Books!
My impulse is to start a book, read the first five chapters, leave it unfinished, only to start reading another book. I guess I don't have to rush things.I'm finishing Nelson Mandela's A Long Walk to Freedom. Still on my To Read list are:The Name of the Rose (Umberto Eco)The Black Book (Orham Pamuk)Night (Ellie Wiesel)What books have you been reading...
Chippy Leo, Chippy Leo!
JP Asong is in town, arranging his papers to resume his studies in UP. He's currently teaching at Ateneo de Davao, his students just about the same age as he is. He's flying back to Davao tomorrow and will return here next year.JP is one of those who made dorm life more exciting that what it actually is. I couldn't imagine Kalayaan without him. We...
Restful sleep
From my private journal which I felt like sharing:Lord, thank you for this day! I've had a restful sleep last night; thank you for the rest. Not everyone has a bed to lie on, a blanket to keep them warm, and a roof to protect them. Thank you, Lord, that nothing troubles me--I have no problems to wrestle with. Thank you, Lord, for the peace that transcends all understanding. And thank you for the...
Singing with the choir
As far as I can remember I've always been in a choir. In Sunday School at Marbel Baptist Church, I'd join my brother Ralph in practices for the Christmas cantata during Saturday afternoons. I was about five. The youngest among all the kids, I simply tagged along. During the actual performance, my brother sang (lip-synched being the more appropriate term) one solo part—was it Silent Night?—while I...
Upgraded to Ubuntu 8.10!
I'm weeks late, but it's better late than never. I've upgraded my OS to Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex. So far, so good. Ubuntu has exceeded my expectations.The new features include:3G SupportWriting and Installing Ubuntu using a USB stick (instead of the more laborious CD method)Guest Sessions (this one's for added security. If a friend wants to borrow...
You have got to see Citizen Kane
I'm a big fan of old movies, especially those in black and white, with special effects that kids my age now like to make fun of. They have an enduring quality, a timeless message, and a deep portrayal of humanity—things that are hard to find in today's Hollywood flicks.Citizen Kane (1941) is one of these movies. Directed by Orson Welles, it ranks number 1 in the American Film Institute's (AFI) list...
Handwritten
Nothing beats a handwritten letter.My friend, Paul Velasco, sent me this postcard from Wellington, New Zealand about a month ago. It bore his familiar handwriting--strong, calculated, and shaky strokes--that gave it more personality, something an email can never accomplish.When it comes to letters, I prefer analog to digital. Call me a tree-destroyer,...
What would you do if someone spat at you?
I hailed a jeep on my way to a church meeting. Just as I was about to alight, I heard a spewing sound, followed almost instantly by a warm oozing feeling on my right hand. Yep, someone from the jeep spat at me -- unintentionally, of course, so I never took it against the boy.That started movies of bacteria and viruses playing in my head. Later I learned...
What will I do after graduation?
The only time I didn't want to be a scientist was when I dreamt of being a doctor. Now I want to be both.Will I do research? Will I proceed to medical school? Where will I study after?These are the questions bugging me these days. College graduation, after all, is just a couple of months away.But instead of being overwhelmed, what I should be praying for is God's will for me.I'm encouraged because...
Joe and I had dinner with Hazel's mother
Hazel's mother invited us -- Joe and I -- to dinner tonight at the Mall of Asia. We had a great time. Her mother was very animated and didn't run out of topics to discuss. I can't forget the funny moments when she talked about her childhood experiences in Cebu.Here are a few things I was reminded of:1. Do not covet other's properties. Be thankful for what you have.2. Strive hard to reach your dreams.3....
Sen. Miriam Santiago is here to stay
I recall going to the marketplace with Tita Ging when Miriam Defensor-Santiago emerged out of a van and waved her hand at us. It was the first time she was running for a senate seat, and she spoke of the Philippines of our dreams—aside, of course, from cursing President Ramos who she has since claimed to have cheated her in the 1992 presidential election. She has since been in the country’s political...
Who'd be the first person in heaven you'd shake hands with?
During the Isabela missions trip, we frequently had time to kill -- especially after a heavy dinner when it was hard to walk around.We'd gather in one corner and muse about things. To make the conversations more edifying and useful, we'd play games. This time, the drill was that one person would ask a question; the rest should answer. It was an unstructured getting-to-know you game, and I learned...
Why I can’t bring myself to read long e-books
1. My eyes hurt.2. The icons distract me.3. I end up chatting online.4. I don’t feel or flip through anything.5. I scroll so fast I don’t get the point.6. I can’t smell the pages.Call me old-fashioned, but I still prefer the real one...
The new presidency will usher changes that are set to turn the world upside-down
Barack Obama is the 44th president of the United States. His election is set to usher changes in policies that will turn the world upside-down.After all the excitement of the recent election, it is sobering to read Albert Mohler's thoughts:Given the scale of the Democratic victory, the political landscape will be completely reshaped. The fight for the dignity and sanctity of unborn human beings...
I tell people I know how to ride a bike
. . . but the truth is, I still don't know how to make a sharp U-turn. (Zi Laqui drew this for me on my birthday...
Obama vs McCain, and the great abortion debate
It's the height of the American presidential elections, by far a landmark in democratic history because, for the first time, a colored man is vying for the most powerful seat in the land.So far, Barrack Obama is leading John McCain in the Gallup Polls, and political analysts, at least those I've heard, are almost unanimous in declaring a landslide...
A countdown of lasts
Today is the last time I’m enrolling as an undergrad in UP.As I look back at some five years ago and the years that would follow, I see a miracle—my shifting to MBB, CRS’ extraordinary kindness, and the lessons God has taught me in the process.The easiest thing to do in UP is getting there. After the UPCAT, one has to contend with exams, papers, and,...
Eyes
I was 14 when I started wearing glasses. People never looked at me the same way again. Now it's different. I look weird, like a three-eyed monster (instead of a four-), without my pair o...
Visiting the dead
Here's my first entry for the NaBloPoMo. For each post, I'll be posting my sketches, scanned using HP 1315. I was highly inspired by Austin Kleon.Around this time, the family would be off to Banga, some 15-minute drive away from Koronadal, to visit my mother’s side of the family—my grandmother, a number of my aunts and uncles, and my noisy cousins.November...
Lafug v.2
Finally got the chance to do a blog overhaul, just in time for the NaBloPoMo this November.It's the first time my blog is having two opposing sidebars. I personally handcoded the CSS codes, with a lot of help from Firdamatic. The color theme I used was borrowed from ColorCombos.The photo above is Cagayan River viewed from Cabagan, Isabel...
Sign up for NaBloPoMo!
Got nothing else to do this break? Sign up for the National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo). It's simple: post a blog entry every day for the month of November. I just di...
Isabela
The trip to Isabela was 12 hours long, and I embarked on it with a bag loaded with clothes, a thick study Bible, and a pair of shoes.The goalI was part of the UP DCF Missions Team. The missions exposure trip is an annual event of the DCF to spread the gospel of Christ, and to equip the local churches, especially the youth. This was to be my second...
Off to Isabela
At 10 pm tonight I’m leaving for Isabela. God has been so gracious as to give me an opportunity to be part of the DCF missions team this year.I’m excited to see how the Lord will do wonders there. He always has, and it has left us all amazed, our lips overflowing with praises.Please pray:1. That the people there be responsive to the gospel.2. That Christ’s name be ultimately exalted and lifted up.3....
Morning snapshots
Manong's law readings clutter much of the floor's surface area.Here's his trusted Macbook that I borrow once in a while, especially when I have presentations to do.Ate Pie Sobrepena is Renan Laruan's niece who regularly visits the apartment, usually with a meal idea in mind. Here she's reviewing for the board exam this Thursday.Kuya John Dasmarinas...
A time to rest
It’s the stillness after the storm.As far as I know, yesterday marked the end of my sem. A lot of friends, especially in MBB, think this has been the hardest. And it’s been hard, considering our academic load, lab internships, and org responsibilities. I’m just relieved that, at least for the moment, I won’t be thinking much of them.Right now there...
The troubles of losing something
To declare someone (or something) is missing, 24 hours should've passed since the time that person (or object) was last seen. The last time I saw my personal journal was Sunday afternoon. It doesn't take a genius to understand that it's been more than 24 hours. I remember leaving it on my desk beside my mug when I went out of the dorm. I didn't bother bringing it—it was a matter of great importance....
Death
Two days ago Shean texted me the news that Herman's father is dead. Herman was our high school classmate who's now teaching part-time at Ateneo de Davao while taking up his Law degree. I called him this morning to express my condolences, but I was at a loss for words. This was history repeating itself. Reinier's father died last year, too, and I had nothing else to say, except for a text message...
Jogging reminded me of my heavenly home
Today was the first time I jogged in a long time. It felt good—the first few hours after my first and last round—and right now I'm not too sure if, with all the lactic fermentation going on, I'd still be able to walk tomorrow.Jason knocked at my door at 6 am. Coming from Yakal, we (Jason, Jaylord, Remrick, and myself) walked to the Grandstand where we met Luther and Arnold. Rashel and Steffi arrived...
And now: my 500th post
For my 500th entry, I was trying to piece up all the things that happened since 2004, the year I started this blog. And I couldn't think of anything else but God's greatness and goodnes...
I find rest in Thee
I'm so full of myself—my worries, troubles, desires—that it's hard to look on to Christ. As I write this, Be Still My Soul is playing in the background.Was it Augustine who said, “Our hearts are restless until they find rest in Thee...
Lakbay-aral sa Bundok Banahaw
After more than two weeks, I still wish I were in Banahaw, in that crazy field trip we had for our PI class.
Most of the time, we didn't ride inside the jeepney; we rode on top of it. Imagine the thrill of getting slapped by tree branches. The three Americans with us had the time of their lives.
After we arrived at the ministry center of the...