Sunday, October 26, 2008

SFC Bicol Regional Conference - SFC ABLAZE

Ablaze may mean keenly excited or indicating excitement, or lighted up by, or as by fire or flame or resembling flame in brilliance/color, or lighted with red light as if with flames.

These past few days, I ablaze in one way or another.

SFC Ablaze!

I just came from a life-changing experience. It is indeed an honor being part of the first ever SFC Bicol Regional Conference (previously with Southern Tagalog for the SFC STaB Regional Conference). The SFC ReCon entitled SFC ABLAZE (anchored on the verse "I have come to set the earth on fire and how I wish it were already blazing." -Luke 12:49) is, as expected, a revealing and moving meeting with God. With sessions about the Holy Trinity and how to ablaze the world for Him, who would not be inspired?

This is how I (together with the SFC Albay Delegates) spent my weekend in Masbate City.

Friday, October 24:
For our 9 am meeting time, as usual, some were late and I definitely cannot be excluded. We left for Pilar, Sorsogon at 9:30 am. After an hour of travel and another hour of waiting, we departed through the Montenegro Shipping Fastcraft. We reached Masbate National Comprehensive High School at around 2 pm. Upon arrival, we had our lunch and immediately looked for a place to settle at (DepEd Masbate City Division Office warmly accomodated us for only Php150 - the place is very nice and the people there were very kind; thanks for the pair of basketball shoes that was lent to me and for the Indian mango fruits and seedlings that were given to us). We toured around the city through a motorcade at 4 pm and attended the opening mass at 6 pm. After the preliminary activities, we had our dinner, took a bath, dressed formally (okay, just semi) and proceeded to the hall for the evening session: Embraced by the Father [Lessons learned: That God is so rich that He can and He will provide all our needs; we just have to trust Him. That our Father loves us so much that if we offer everything to Him, we will be truly blessed.] The night was concluded by a short disco party of the knights and princesses - the heirs to the throne.

Saturday, October 25:
Woke up at 6:30 am and started preparing for the morning activity: Workshop Sessions. I attended the Counseling Workshop (Gift of Wisdom) with Fr. Felix Ponferrada. The workshop was truly nourishing; Fr. Felix is really a gifted counselor. Not only I learned about counseling but I also learned how to deal with my 'back subjects'. Listening to the unsaid, unearthing, forgiving yourself, cherishing yet treating the wounded past and printing good memories are just some of the things that I will keep in mind. After a couple of hours, we had our lunch break, took a short break and prepared for our basketball games wherein we played against Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur. With only 5 players in the team, mostly haven't played an officiated game, both games resulted against our favor. Nonetheless, we sweat hard and enjoyed the game. After the games, we went back to our 'barracks', rested for a while, freshened up and attended the anticipated mass. After which, we ate dinner and dressed up for the evening sessions: Saved by the Son [Lessons learned: The if we are to love and trust the Father, we ought to be more like Jesus - an obedient son of God. That whatever hardships and difficulties we encounter as we live our Christian lives and as we serve God, all we need to do is to simply remember what Jesus went through - His passion to abide by the will of God.] and Empowered by the Holy Spirit [Lessons learned: That it is by Holy Spirit that God is able to manifest His love for us. That if we learned to acknowledge the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we will be richly blessed and be able to go just about anything in serving God.] The night was concluded with a party with the Lord through worship.

Sunday, October 26:
Woke up at 6:30 am, packed our things and started preparing for the final session: Ablaze - Set the World on Fire [Lessons learned: That if God and His Spirit is with us, who can be against us? That if God and His Spirit is with us, we can set the world ablaze, we can conquer the world for Him, we can build the Chruch of the Home and the Church of the Poor.] Praisefest, symbolic pray-over of the continents and awarding ceremony concluded the conference. We rested for a bit, had our lunch, headed to the port and boarded the Fastcraft. We then bid goodbye to Masbate and say hello to Camarines Sur. After 2 hours of sea travel and an hour of land travel, I am back home - physically tired and exhausted but emotionally and spiritually nourished, inspired and invigorated.

What a weekend; what a bliss! God is truly an awesome God; I couldn't ask for more. I wished that the said conference would not come to an end. Conferences, for me, are like charging devices wherein I am being re-supplied with spiritual energy or power after a 'hard day's work' serving God. It is like taking a break, going home, resting, freshening up, nourishing and equipping yourself, reviewing your battle plan, and getting ready once again for attacks. It is paying homage to God and asking His grace, blessing, wisdom and 'encouragement' to enable you to keep going and conquer more territories for Him.

Looking forward to the SFC International Conference on February 20-22, 2009 in Cebu City!

Maktub!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

A Nail In The Coffin

Just when most things are not going your way, here comes another one. Indeed, when it rains, it pours. And I couldn't say anything more. My heart is crushed and slowly crumbling. I am emotionally and psychologically pinned down to the ground. Been fighting hard to keep my head above the water, to stay away from resting in peace. But unfortunately, life just handed me a nail in the coffin. Good grief!

I don't know what to do now. Where and how to start. I am in a total mess. Please God, help me. I'm down on my knees.

Maktub!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Elisha Ann Cuthbert

Lucky Girl. Love Actually. Old School.
The Girl Next Door. House of Wax. The Quiet.
Captivity. He Was A Quiet Man. My Sassy Girl.

Recently, I found myself so into Elisha Cuthbert. Even if I already watched the abovementioned flicks, I still can't get enough of her. Got to find the materials for the episodes/seasons of Are You Afraid of the Dark and 24 where she starred in. The way Elisha looks, giggles or laughs, speaks and bites her lips, not to mention her beautiful face and damn hot figure, just knock me off my feet.

Elisha Cuthbert

My addiction to this fascinating gal started when I was watching My Sassy Girl, the Hollywood version. I got to appreciate the movie because of the character being portrayed by Elisha. But not until the cast crawled in at the end of the film, I did not know who she was. Upon knowing the name of the person behind Jordan Roark, I did a little research and that was the only time when I learned some basic things about her.

I admit I am a such a big loser when it comes to Hollywood stuff. I don't pay attention to who's and what's in and who's and what's not in the American film industry. This is reason why even if Elisha has been in the business for half a decade now, I'm still clueless about her. Perhaps also, because I have not watched any of her television shows and flicks that I haven't got any single idea who is responsible for the characters of Katlin, Kim, Carol-Anne, Darcie, Danielle, Carly, Nina, Jennifer, Vanessa and Jordan. After watching her big screen appearances, I must say that she is a fine actress, personally speaking.

This 25-year old Canadian actress will be seen/heard in the following upcoming movies and shows: Guns, The Six Wives of Henry Lefay, Ny-lon and Cat Tale.

If you're wondering as to what am I talking about, better watch her films. Who knows, you might also be starstruck by her.

Maktub!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Some Recent Realizations


I realized..

..that no matter how 'experienced' you may be, never assume that you already know how to handle some things on your own to the point of doing away already with the vital things called preparation and coordination; otherwise, you will just make yourself look stupid, really stupid. worse, make others look the same.

..that no matter how good or intelligent you perceive yourself may be, never think that you are infallible. you can never run away from mistakes. keep your standards low to keep yourself from hitting the ground hard.

..that no matter how cautious you may be, time will come when you will find yourself at the wrong place and at the wrong time. and worse if there is nothing you can do about it. damn!

..that sometimes, your efforts will be just put to waste because of another person's effort. but i ask, when must you insist and when must you give way?

..that although you know that certain problems are to be left where they should be and not to be brought somewhere else, sometimes, you just can not. a simple reminder that you are not an electronically controlled or programmed creature.

..that Thai foods taste good. thanks Ate Cora for the treat; indeed, you are a talented Chef.


How about you?

Maktub!