Reflection

It's 4am and I still can't sleep... so I just decided to visit my blog and write something.  The topic at church last Sunday is indeed an eye-opening for me. It reminded me of the "many" things I tend to forget and historically has been neglecting.  


I think this is the best time to think, ponder and reflect. This is the best time to have that 'quiet time' again. I'm sure there's a reason why I woke up at the middle of the night. As much as I want to go back to bed and sleep, there is this force that keeps saying 'stay awake, stay awake'... and so here I am, writing.


I've been wanting to really have that time to reflect. I once told a friend that I just need to have a long hour ride,  sitting on a bus, seeing trees and stuff, going nowhere.  I just need that time alone, my 'ME-time' cause all I want to do is to think and reflect. Deeply. 


Why is there a need for reflection? I think that moment in life where you need to stop for a while, take some time off of your busy life and ponder about things is necessary to assess who you are now and what have you become. Having a time for reflection is like facing a mirror and seeing your real yourself - no inhibitions, no pretensions, just the REAL you.


It has been  9 long years... from the day I started my relationship with You. And like any other relationship, I want THIS to last. Things have changed but I want a portion of my old self to be back again.


Hoping.

Seven signs of PEKENG LOVE

LOVESTRUCK : Love mo siya? Sure ka ba?

By Ronald Molmisa

What many young people consider love may only be infatuation.  Infatuation is an intense, short-lived and irrational passion for somebody.  Madalas apektado ang pag-iisip ng nakakaramdam nito.  To further explain the qualities of infatuation, here are it's seven major signs :


1. THE AXE EFFECT

Sikat ang mga commercials ng AXE cologne sa buong mundo.  Ang mensahe nito : Mababaliw at mahuhumaling ang mga babae sa mga lalaking gumagamit nito. Dahil sa bango ng AXE, nawawala sa sarili nilang bait ang mga babe at susundan kahit sa kailaliman ng dagat ang Adonis na gumagamit ng mala-gayumang pabango.  Pagdating sa pag-ibig, kalimitang nakatuon sa pisikal ang mga nararamdaman ng infatuation.  Hindi lang sa amoy, kung hindi sa higit na nakikita.  Infatuation focuses on the physical traits, nagustuhan dahil sa dimples, maputing balat, kasingkitan ang mga mata (lalo na sa mga nahuhumaling sa Korean boy bands), mapuputing ngipin o kaya ay dahil sa mala-Mark Herras sumayaw.
Nagugustuhan ng mga infatuated ang isang tao dahil sa kanyang mga piling katangian.  Pero dahil walang taong perpekto, makakakita sila ng ikadidismaya.  Kabilang sila sa UY... AY Group.  Sa ga boys : "Uy ang ganda niya...AY may bad odor pala?" Sa mga girls : "UY ang cute nya... AY bad breath pala!" Matapos makita ang kahinaan at masamang katangian ng nagugustuhan, nawawala ang paghangang nararamdaman.




2. THE KISAP-MATA COMPLEX

Infatuation starts and ends fast.  Bakit?  Kasi nagbabago ang mga nararamdaman ng mga infatuated ayon sa kondisyon ng emosyon nila.  Sa simula,  napakatindi ng spark ng pag-ibig.  Laging may stars sa mga mata.  Tatawirin ang isang libong kabundukan, mapasaya lang ang minamahal.  Magtatalunan ang mga hormones sa kanyang katawan at kayang ipagsigawan sa buong mundo na mahal na mahal niya ang kanyang partner.  Pero matapos ang ilang araw o linggo, lubos na nakikilala ang iniirog.  Sasabihin sa sarili : "Hindi na sia ang dating nagustuhan ko. Nagbago na siya".  Ang resulta : Ayawan na! Ayawan na! Ayawan na! Parang isang batang nakikipaglaro at kapag naasar dahil siya lagi ang taya, iiwan ang mga kalaro at uuwi ng bahay. Ang mga infatuated, kapag hindi na nag-i-enjoy, unti-unting mawawala ang interes sa relasyon.




3. THE CRAZY-FOR-YOU SYNDROME

Infatuation can make a person disorganized, distracted and ineffective. Sabog ang isip mo. Kapag infatuated ka kasi, halos lahat ng tingnan mo, feeling mo naroon siya. Tumingin ka sa langit, mukha niya ang makikita mo sa ulap. Kumain ka sa canteen, ngiti nya ang makikita mo sa pinggan mo.  Hanggang sa kalye, mukha niya ang naaaninag mo sa billboards at posters.  In short, hibang na hibang ka. Hindi mo na iniintindi ang mga nasa paligid.  Ang mahalaga sa iyo ay lagi kang masaya.




4. JUST-THE-TWO-OF-US FEELING

Infatuated people often isolate themselves from others.  Umiikot ang buhay ng magkasintahan sa kanilang dalawa lamang.  Walang makapaghihiwalay sa kanila.  Kahit saan magpunta, laging magkasama at HHWWPSSP (Holding Hands While Walking Pa-Sway Sway Pa) - sa school, sa mall, sa park, sa pagbili sa tindahan, kahit minsan sa pagpunta sa CR.  They tend to lose interest in things that used to motivate them.  Binibitiwan na kasi nila ang dating pinagkakaabalahan at nakatuon na lamang sa karelasyon.  Hindi na napapansin at nabibigyan ng sapat na atensyon ang mga ibang mahal sa buhay.  Kung dati rati'y laging present sa family affairs, ngayon kailangan pang itanong sa BF/GF kung pwede silang sumama.  Dahil meron ng beloved, hindi na rin madalas sumama sa activities ng dating mga kabarkada.




5. THE NEED-YOU-HERE SICKNESS

Kung peke ang pag-ibig, madali itong mawala kapag magkalayo ang mag-partner.  Mababaw ang pundasyon ng relasyon dahil nakatuon sa pisikal na aspeto.  Kapag hindi na nakikita, nahahawakan o nakakausap ang partner, unti-unting manlalamig ang damdamin hanggang sa mawalan na ng interes.  Pero ang tunay na pagmamahal ay hindi kayang patayin ng distansya.  Kahit ilang taon pa kayong hindi nagkita, kung talagang tunay ang inyong nararamdaman, gagawin ninyo ang lahat para mapanatili ang pagtingin ninyo sa isa't isa.




6. "KUNG-AYAW-MO, HUWAG-MO" PROBLEM

Madaling nasisira ang relasyon ng mga infatuated sa mga simpleng away at tampuhan.  Dahil laging may LQ (Lover's Quarrel), unti-unting natutuyo ang damdamin. Nag-aaway dahil hindi magkasundo sa maliliit na bagay (e.g. hindi tinext, hindi nagustuhan ang gupit ng isa o nakalimutang magsabi ng "I LOVE YOU").  Ang mga hindi pagkakaunawaan ay dahil sa pagiging self-centered.  Sa isip ng bawat isa : Ako muna bago ikaw! Hindi rin maiwasan na makapagbitiw ng masasakit na salita.  Pagkatapos ng away, parang mga batang magbabati.  Pero sa halip na mapatibay ang relasyon, unti-unting nanlalamig ang damdamin sa bawat isa.  Ang laging pag-aaway ay tanda ng lumalaking lamat sa relasyon.  Kung gusto ng makipagbreak ng isa sa kanila, no big deal.  




7. AKIN-KA-LANG ATTITUDE

May pagka-possessive ang mga infatuated.  Ayaw na ayaw na mawala sa paningin nila ang kanilang partner.  Jealousy becomes part of the relationship.  Natatakot kasi na mabaling ang atensyon ng partner sa iba.  Parang sinasabi sa ka-partner : "Gusto kong lumigaya ka, pero wag ka nang titingin sa iba.  Kailangan ako lang sa buhay mo."  Hindi lang tao ang pinagseselosan. Kahit ang mga bagay o gawain na umaagaw ng atensyon ng partner, pinagdidiskitahan din? 

Cobra Ironman 2011 Photos

Re-PETE victory with 2010 and 2011 Champion Pete Jacobs!           

                                                                                                 

  with Drew Arellano

  with Xander Angeles 

                                                               

with Drew and Richard 

                                                           

      with Richard Gutierrez

                                                       
                                                                   

with Angelika Dela Cruz

with David of David Salon

with Mark Zambrano

with Jaime Gatchitorena

With Noy Jopson and Arland Macasieb

with Erich Felbabel and Philippe Gaeng

with Kim Magrobang and Monica Torres

with Jesse Thomas

Ephesians 4:29

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. -Ephesians 4:29

Today, I thank the Lord for reminding me about this verse. I thank Him for giving me the wisdom to understand His Word and the grace to apply it in my life.

WORDS we say can never be back. Good as sold, no return, no exchange. It is a tool that can break hearts and break lives that's why we really need to choose every word that we will utter. Let Him and the Holy Spirit guide us and guard our hearts in our everyday walk with God.

WORDS are like swords - it can kill, it can hurt. So we better be careful and mindful of how we say things. May the words that come from our mouth bring joy, strength and encouragement to other people's lives. Let these words be a tool to edify our brothers and sisters. May it be a BLESSING to them.

Now I'm praying forgive me Lord for all the unkind words I have said. I'm sorry if the words that I uttered have caused so much pain to my brethren. I pray for a life that is pleasing to You. Amen.

Cobra Philippine Dragon Boat Federation Team - World Champs!

The story can now be told...

After 5 days of grueling competition at the 10th International Dragon Boat

Federation World Championships in Tampa Bay, Florida; the Cobra Philippine

Dragon Boat Federation Team won 5 gold and 2 silver medals, bringing honor

to flag and country.

In spite of the challenges, the Cobra PDBF team defeated other powerhouse

countries in the following divisions of the small boat category (10

paddlers):

Men's 1000 meters (gold)

Mixed 200 meters (gold)

Men's 200 meters (gold)

Mixed 500 meters (gold)

Men's 500 meters (gold)

With the 5 gold medals, the Cobra PDBF team now has 8 gold medals under its

name; 2 of which were bagged last 2007 for the Men's 200-meter and Mixed

200-meter divisions held in Australia and 1 last 2009 for the Men's

200-meter held in Czech Republic.

Cobra Energy Drink fully supports the PDBF and the advancement of Dragon

Boat as a sport because of their shared values in the embodiment of true

strength through perseverance, determination and the will to succeed.

Yan ang pusong Cobra, pusong Pilipino.

Matthew 6:31-34

³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The Lord clearly tells us in the book of Matthew not to WORRY. In this world where it is inevitable to worry or rather it is hard not to worry at all can be pretty much exhausting. Worrying what will happen next, worrying what to do next and how to cope with this situation so on and so forth are just some of the common things that may bombard one's mind.

But we have to remember that the Lord promised us that everything we need will be given to us, but we have to know the right key that will open these great things : SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

In seeking His Kingdom, it means we have to follow the King. We have to live under His policies, rules and regulations. Same thing as well if we talk about our KING, the question is : Are we living under His rules? or are we still bound to live by our OWN rules? The Lord said BUT Seek first His Kingdom, by putting BUT it clearly states that a certain action must be done first before earning certain reward. And it doesn't end by just seeking His Kingdom, there's an AND word that connects one from the other, meaning it cannot be separated. In order for us to put this into completion we also need to SEEK HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. And by seeking His righteousness it means we have to live in righteousness.

How are we before God? If we will be the same judge that will give justice to ourselves, what verdict shall we give? What sentence can we recommend? Or are we automatically guilty?

Take time, ponder. Why do we still have prayers that haven't been answered?

Now stop and think. Did we seek His Kingdom and His righteousness already?

No one can answer this except YOU.

**I pray that Matthew 6:31-34 will be alive in our lives. Praying for you all!

Kutless - Everything I Need

When every step is so hard to take
And all of my hope is fading away
When life is a mountain that I can not climb
You carry me, Jesus carry me.

You Are strength in my weakness
You are the refuge I seek
You are everything in my time of need
You are everything, You are everything I need

When every moment is more than I can take
And all of my strength is slipping away
When every breath gets harder me
You carry me, Jesus carry me

You Are strength in my weakness
You are the refuge I seek
You are everything in my time of need
You are everything, You are everything I need

I need You
You are everything I need
I love everything about You

You Are strength in my weakness
You are the refuge I seek
You are everything in my time of need
You are everything, You are everything I need