Survey thing from Matt

Luigi told me to do this, so i'm giving it a shot.

Name 25 people you can think of right off the top of your head. Don't read the questions underneath until you write the names of all 25 people. This is a lot funnier if you actually randomly list the names first.


?1. Najee


2. Luigi

3. Yuna

4. Abbey

5. Sean

6. Jonathan

7. Jonats

8. Ben

9. Alan

10 Sam

11 Rajsh

12 Strong

13 Dags

14 Wella

15 Ginger

16 Tanya

17 Herlyn

18 Abi

19 P. Mau

20 P. Eug

21 P. Ro

22 Kuya Mike

23 Majar

24 Jairah

25 Angel


How did you meet 3?
- Well, it was like this, we were all hanging out at the old choir room preparing a surprise thing for my parents 30th anniversary. While waiting for Brian and Gayle to show up, this girl comes in the room and just sits there and is all quiet. Short curly hair. That's the first time I saw Yuna. First time I was officially introduced to her was...hmmm...can't remember. But the first conversation I EVER EVER had with her was by the pool at the 007 camp. I said something like "It's hot." And she says, "Yeah," in that deep voice of hers. Yeah....


What would you do if number 4 and 5 were going out?
- Going out to mcdo for ice cream? I'd join them.


What do you know about number 6?
- He has long hair, yet a peach fuzz mustache


What do you think of number 8? 
- Loves to read books, like all the time, and is just the weirdest person when he is with Alan...why couldn't I have put the two of them as 4&5?


What would you do if 7 confessed he/she loves you?
- I'd be very very afraid. Those Manzanos are...vigorous.


A fact about 21?
- the only pastor who is comfortable giving a sermon in a baggy shirt and shorts.


Who's going out with 1?
- I don't think she's going out with anyone...however...however...France can do stuff to you :-P


What's 9 do for a living?
- He reads Hitchhiker's Guide and annoys Ben.


What do you like about number 22?
- He always has LSS - LAST SENTENCE (in a movie) Syndrome. He has this way of quoting a movie line OVER and OVER and OVER...like the energizer bunny :-)


Do you miss number 24?
- I don't really miss her...blah blah blah. accidentally erased it. sorry, Jairah.


What is your opinion of number 10?
- Has the record of hitting someone 5 times in under 5 minutes. Tough love.


What do you think about number 23?
- BIG SUNGLASSES


What would you do if 11 and 20 were going out?
- Rajsh and P. Eug?!!!! Well...I'd tell them they have to leave the singles ministry cause they are no longer single.


Who does 2 like?
- He likes hot sauce on everything...wait, oh, WHO...he likes hot sauce on EVERYTHING. I don't know who he likes...(sayang)


Would you ever go to the movies with number 9?
- Yep! As long as it is not a movie adaptation of a book or else we'll be the noisiest people in the theatre.


Is number 4 hot?
- In the words of my brother, "I think she'd kill me if i answered yes or no." But I don't want to give a cop out answer...but I will. Sorry na lang. Hey, it's better than the "As a Christian, we are not supposed to say girls are hot or not, I think the term hot is degrading to women :-P"


What can you say about number 19?
- He's my "back up" discipler when P. Eug isn't around. He's really good at listening and has a prayerful heart. Btw, girls, he's single! (well, duh, he's in the singles ministry)


Does 18 know 16?
- Um, don't really know. Once upon a time, maybe. But they are never really seen together.


Will 17 and 15 work out as lovers?- WHAT KIND OF SURVEY IS THIS?!!!!!


Is 12 friendly?
- He's so friendly, I dare to say that his friendliness level is going on strong :-P


Would you go out with 24?
- Go out to ice cream at Mcdo? Of course! Hey, I'd invite Sean and Abbey to go with us!


Are you close to 2?
- I question that sometimes...he won't tell me who he likes.


Ever dated 14? 
- Yes. Period. *hides from Dags*


Is 15 a good friend of yours?
- We went to college together and have gone through so many valleys and mountains that I know our friendship is like so good that I'd dare to say our friendship is STRONG :-P


What would you like to say to 1?
- Feel better and get well soon!


What would you like to say to 4?
- Hey, other people read this, I'll say to her what I want to say to her when I'm with her...lol. No, I'd tell her, "Hey, Abbey, let's play literati some time again. It was fun and slightly funny last time, though you beat me."


Ever gotten into a fight with 11?
- I haven't known her that long, and she has two scary brothers.


Describe 17.
- Her sense of humor is awesome. Love the sarcastic tone she constantly carries.


What if 11 and 15 dated?
- Well, I'd say 15 would have to break up with her boyfriend first.


Would 16 and 19 make a good couple?
- Nooooooooooooooooooooooo...age gap too vast.


Is 14 a good kisser?
- She'd kill me if I said yes and she'd kill me if I said no. Go ask Dags.


Who does 3 love?
- Oh that's easy. It's her bass guitar.


If 4 were to go out with 9, would 5 get mad? 
- Out to mcdo for ice cream? No, i'm sure he wouldn't get mad.


Was 20 ever with someone from your list of names above? 
- I highly doubt it.


Who does 25 like? 
- Pacey!!!!


Is 24 nice? 
- Yes, but she's not nice on an xbox. that girl can be mean!


Is 11 weird?
- YES! Super weird. Lol. Rajsh, you know i love you.

?Would 2 ever be caught wearing a pink head band? Yes.

?Is 3 hot? Well, just today, 1,2,3, and I were commenting on it because 1 couldn't stop saying how hot 3 is. :-)

?Who is taller: 18, 24, 25? Wait...I have the feeling that this question was added.

Take a quiz on Mark (everybody is doing it, guess I have to now)

Here's the link so you can find out how much you really know about Mark...
http://www.quizyourfriends.com/quizpage.php?quizname=071106050521-735898&

50 first things thingy from SJay from Khat from whoever she got it from...

So you're supposed to write down the first thing that comes to mind regardless of relevence...

1.Beer: Just don't.
2. Food: Pizza!
3. Relationships: Why does everyone make such a big deal out of it? Singleness doesn't always equal holiness, you know.
4. Your CRUSH: Crush? Crush? At my age, you don't get crushes :-P
5. Power Rangers: Go go power rangers!!!!
6. Life: Savers
7. Death: Silence
8. School: Glad that's over.
9. The President: ...Channel 7
10. Yummy: Gummi Bears
11. Cars: Lightning McQueen!
12. Movie: Darkhorizons.com/news.php
13. Halloween: The Rob Zombie remake sucks
14. Sex: Every Young Man's Struggle
15. Religion: Worship
16. Myspace: Obscene Amounts of Ads and Crap
17. Phobia: Fear of Pho Bah
18. Marriage: Too....many....group....photos
19. Blondes: Naw, man, I go for brunettes or girls with black hair.
20. SLIPPERS: Flip Flops
21. SHOES: Addidas
22. Asians: Coconut Trees
23: Past time: Spaghetti!!!! Oh wait, I thought it said something else.
24. One night stands: Dane Cook
25: Cell Phone: better than an iPod
27: Smoke/Cigarette: Smokes..Booze...Ooooo Cigarettes - Basically quotes from video games where a cigarette or smoke was involved in.
28. Dreams: Clouds, bubbles, what the?
29: COLLEGE: Glad that's over
30. Highschool Life: Rejection!
31. Pajamas: One piece red pajamas with footsies and handsies :-)
32. Stars: Dusts
33. Fitness Center: Sad guy standing crying at the window of a gym, "Please don't lose any more weight! I love you the way you are. No! Not another pound. Please, stay chubby, stay cute"
34. Alcohol: Casino
35. The word Love: L is for the way you look at me...
36. Friends: Why in the world does everyone like that show?
37. Money: Shane and Vince
38. Heartache: Green Day
39. Time: Time...Mr. Freeman. Isn't it that time again?
40. Divorce: Dinah and Ollie - you know it will happen
41. Dogs: Must love dogs
42. UndiES: "these are low rise jeans and it is too early in the day for the moon to come out" - a friend
43. Parents: Yeah/
44. Babies: Remember they are not toys
45. Stripper: the reason why women have lost faith in men and the reason men have stopped truly loving and caring for women the way they should.
46. Blogs: Why? WHY DID THEY INVENT THIS????!!!
47. News: Entertainment
48. Paris Hilton: Helen Keller
49. Pizza: Rosa's Pizza in the Empire State Building
50. kleenex: Napkins?

God is amazing...

Dear everyone,
Again, I posted this before, but I'll just repost it. It's a section from my favorite Five Iron Frenzy song and then I'll blog a bit...
" Man versus himself.
Man versus machine.
Man versus the world.
Mankind versus me.
The struggles go on,
The wisdom I lack,
The burdens keep pilling
Up on my back.
So hard to breathe,
To take the next step.
The mountain is high,
I wait in the depths.
Yearning for grace,
And hoping for peace.
Dear God...
Increase.
Healing hands of God have mercy on our unclean souls once again.
Jesus Christ, light of the world burning bright within our hearts forever.
Freedom means love without condition,
without a beginning or an end.
Here's my heart, let it be forever Your's,
Only You can make every new day seem so new!"
God is just so amazing. I had probably one of the best Sundays I've had yesterday in a week (0kay, fine, technically there were no Sundays separating sunday to sunday, but still)... I don't know, God is just so good. He just does so much to simply bowl me over with his grace, his love, his amazing amazingness. How can peopel say god doesn't love us? Too many coincidences happen for you to not to say that God is doing something. I mean, how can all these litlte things line up perfectly? God hast o be the one. There is no other way. It just is not possible for me to bump into the right peopel at teh right times.
Today, I was reminded once again about why I am here in the Philippines. I came across Nehemiah 1 during the Call Center Ministry message and was reminded that this was the passage that God put on my heart to come back to teh Philippines. Before that, I was going back to the Philippines out of duty, not out of calling or desire. But then I read the passage about Nehemiah hearing about the broken walls of Israel and I felt that way about the Philippines. My heart really goes out to everyone here and I can see that God has asked me to come back and begin building the walls of the church up once again for Him. That's why I am here. I'm here because God really put it on my heart and serving Him above all is what matters to me. It's such a blessing especially when God uses you to bless others. Sometimes I think of like hwo many people shoudl one impact with God's love in your life time? And then I think, "one person" that is all we really deserve. If we can guide someone or help someone live their life for God, just one person, that is more than enough. I know that I have been blessed beyond measure, being able to bless so many people and being able to really give so much to help people know that God does love them. Try to also. I honestly am the most fulfilled when I am encouraging others. It's strange that it's not one of my spiritual gifts (supposedly). HUG!
So all of you hang tight and keep on leaning on God. I just praise Him for everything and give it all back to Him. God is the reason I breathe, I live, and I do what I do. It's all Him.
Have a good day and God bless!

Eye of the storm?

Yes, as you've been noticing, there has been a regular lag between blogs. I've gone from a daily to a weekly to now a monthly. Hopefully I can get it back to at least a weekly blog. Anyway, right now I feel like i'm in the eye of a storm. Things have been quite crazy for me the past few weeks. I've not had much to complain about other than just being bombarded constantly with stuff. I can do it, don't get me wrong, I just get kind of tired putting out fires, so to speak. So now things have calmed down. But tomorrow is college camp. What? It's already tomorrow? Yeah. Hasn't hit me either. I don't know what to think. It's not a youth camp, heck, it's not a fall retreat. I don't know how to even think about this. See, here's the the thing...
Camps are either a ton of fun or a ton of just a lot of "alone time while others hang out with each other". Usually at Fall Retreats, I would have my camera, so even if I didn't get to talk to that many people, I still had my moments, not to mention that I knew that I was WORKING. I was the official photographer. Now, I'm not. I'm not gonig to be taking pics, I'm not going to be helping out, i'm not going to be counseling. I'm just going to be a camper. Should be fun. Supposedly. That's what I'm told. But here's the thing, will it be a fun time had by all, or will it just be a lot of seminars and me being by myself a lot? I need coffee. Man, if I get enough coffee in me, I'll be awake and in more of a socializing mood. I won't be so inhibited. Lol. Funny, huh?
I remember watching this one episode of Scrubs and Elliot said that "you know, deep down every woman still has that insecure teenager in them". I wonder if it's true for guys too? Like do we ever lose that feeling of insecurity? Do we ever feel confident enough to not rely on people for self worth or confident enough that seeing everyone hang out without you not phaze you? Shrugs. I don't know. I'm twenty-two already and I still haven't figured this whole "life" thing out. I don't think we're supposed to. After all, if we're supposed to figure life out, than it means that we're supposed to stop relying on God. No, we should always rely on Him. Can we say "Thy Will Be Done?" Or is it "My will be done". Like P.Eug said, "Do you work for God or does God work for you?"
So in a coconut shell, I don't know what's going to happen at college camp. It's gonig to rain, at least that's what the weather says. But it's going to be nice, I guess. All I ask is for some quiet times with some friends. That's all. You know? Like I just want to have a moment with each of my friends there, a moment that lets me know that our friendship moved forward. There are times I feel my friendships with everyone is stagnanting, or plateauing. Like, is our friendship getting any stronger, any deeper? I really want it to. I really want to reach the point where I know we're both comfortable with each other and not like that I'm annoying you or interrupting something. There's that teenager talking again.
There's my daily grind for the day. Dunkin Donuts Coffee is the best. Can you believe it's been probably more than a year and I can still smell the Dunkin Donuts on 32nd and 5th in my mind's nose?

I'm just here...writing a blog

So blogging. What is it? It's journaling? Is it thinking? Is it venting? I don't know. All I know is that I type really really fast. It is kind of funny watching how fast I can type. Souns like rain on an aluminum roof. Lol! Most people in the States would always say that I was too noisy in the classroom because I typed so fast and so loud. Man, I miss those days. But we can't keep dwelling on the past, we must KEEP MOVING FORWARD. Sigh. I liked Meet the Robinsons. I don't know why so many Christian reviewers online are bashing the film. It was so good. I mean, ther ewas so much Biblical truths in the film.
Let's see what else is going on? Yesterday was fun. I actually felt like I accomplished something and had fun doing it. I don't know. M aybe its because I didn't get so caught up in stuff and actually enjoyed the day that God gave me. It's interesting how if you focus on God in everything you do, you actually get a better view of things. Like I acknowledge that my skills here aren't really my own, but they are given to me by God. This life I live is a gift from God. Each good thing that happens in my life, even though painful at times, is a gift from God. God is just so amazing how he does that.
Right nwo I feel liek I need a restart in the mind. Or rather, I need a restart of a book. I'm tired of reading hte CS Lewis trilogy. I've been stuck on That Hideous Strength for over two months (given that I read Robinson Crusoe side by side with it for two weeks of it). I just, I don't konw, I want to read something new. I bought A Wrinkle In Time. Yeah, I know, far from what you'd consider a worthy follow up to Lewis. But it's supposed to be good and people tell me it's a fun read. So I'm going to giv eit a shot probably this weekend. I mean, how hard can it be? I bet I could finish that baby in a matter of a day. Maybe less. If Brad Meltzer can read the last harry potter book in five hours, I can get through A Wrinkle in Time in probably two. Who knows. Then there is the Stephen King book I got about his Dark Tower series. Looks creepy. Lol! But no, I'ts more a behind the scenes of his books. I like the way his mind works. It's so cool.
Work is going well. Is'nt it always? Correction. Serving God is great. I'm actually relizing more and more why I am here at Messiah. It's not so much work, it's more serving God and being able to watch Him work. That excitement is there. Sure, I could be earning a lot more money in, say, a Call Center (with my English), but why go there when I can serve God here. It's cool seeing how God is working, seeign lives changing. That's what else is so awesome! I can see it in the students here. I can see them really growing in Christ. All at different speeds and different maturity, but they are all growing! It's so awesome seeing them fired up about God and seeing them get this very God focus in life. How cool is that? You don't see that everyday, you don't hear testimonies about that everyday. It's just exciting!
Church is good too. I feel that I'm not as involved in ministry as I want to be, but I need to balance everything out. Here, let me list for you below everything I'm doing...

Serving God at Messiah
Communications Department
Video, Slideshows, Ads, Handouts, Fliers, etc
Event planning
Games and games coordinator; innovator
Greg Leader
Lead discipleship group once a week and check up on my guys to make sure they are
okay regularly.
Guest Chapel Speaker
Speak in Chapel twice a sem
ESL teacher (former)
Leadership Seminar teacher (will start again in Feb)
Serving God at Home
Clean the kitchen every night
Clean the bathroom once a week
Encourage the family by encouraging family times, movie times, etc
Serving God at Church
ChannelS
Overall editor and planner and coordinator
Y-Group Leader
Teach 1st & 2nd year high school Sunday School twice or three times a month
Yacies Friday
Bible Study (may be leading a few of them soon)
Call Center Ministry
Monday early early early morning service for Call Center workers
Go to encourage them and will possibly be speaking there soon
Serving God in TKC
Checking up on friends as best as I can, try to encourage them as much as possible
Recently did the Robinson Crusoe study notes thingy
Serving God through Training My Abilities
Reading a lot of books to enhance what I know in literature, education, and business
Learning new technology through research

So there, that's pretty much what I do. That's my life. It's busy. But it's fulfilling and satisfying.So there you go.

So I finally made a cool video

Why do I struggle making videos? Either way, I finally made a really cool video. I'm probably going to post it here. The only thing is, yes, it's a suped up version of older ones. But it's pretty much from the ground up. It's not so much a refinement of the other ad, its' more that we got the good ideas of the otehr one and put it in here. :-) Well, oh well.
Today is going to be an interesting day. Just cause I'm so burned out by everything and I'm trying to figure out how to redo my entire wall of expression in my office. I usually have all the pics of friends from TKC along with comic characters. I'm thinking I'll put up some new comic pics (maybe the 52 covers printed out as wallet images?) and then print out new pics of all my TKC friends with a few nice shots of GCFers and Messiah students. It should be fun. Plus I got a bunch of cool new quotes to add. I'll attached it here on the bottom along with my famous old ones that I love.
In other news, I'm kind of bummed that ChannelS got delayed yet another week. It's okay, I guess. It's better that it comes out during a youth wroship compared to just another Sunday Y-Group day. I was just so looking forward to holding it in my hand. Oh well. First week of October we're going to have to meet up again for another ChannelS meeting and planning. I don't know what will happen. We'll see. I hope that peopel actually come because we all have so much work to do before then. I, especially, have so many things to get done before October 1. I'm writing out this one personal project and it's due by the last Sunday of the month. I have to make three new videos and a DVD for Messiah. I need to print out a bunch of stuff for Messiah. I need to try to figure out a way to bring in more students and also raise funds for the school. I need to also work on ChannelS (as I said). I need to spend time with the family too somewhere in there. And I need to spend time with friends too. Like I've completely put off my whole celebration of getting my diploma in the mail simply because there is no time. Every weekend is nothing but meetings all day. And I need time to myself too! Or else I burn out. Ike! Sheesh.
Well, that's all for now. Thanks for reading and I'll keep you posted hopefully more often.

Own your destiny. Best friends, best doctors, best outlook – no worries

Do I judge you by what you say or by what you do? – The Question

A hero is someone who stands when their legs are gone. – Barry Allen

I chose this life. I know what I’m doing. And on any given day, I could stop doing it. Today, however, isn’t that day. And tomorrow won’t be either. – Bruce Wayne

You wrote that the world doesn’t need a savior, but every day I hear people crying out for one. – Clark Kent

It’s not about where you were born; or what powers you have; or what you wear on your chest. It’s about what you do. It’s about action. – Clark Kent

People look to you to save them, probably most of the time from their own mistakes. They do things knowingly wrong. And they look to you afterwards to make them right. Why do you bother? “Because I can.” – Clark Kent

The question which once haunted my being has been answered. The future is not fixed, and my choices are not my own…and yet, how ironic! For I find I have no choice at all! I am a warrior…let the battle be joined…-Dinobot

Everything that exists has a specific nature…each entity exists as something in particular and has characterizes that are part of what it is. A is A and no matter what reality he calls home…Luthor is Luthor. – The Question.

Being a hero isn’t about being honored. It’s about taking the gifts we’ve been given and helping as many people as we can. – Barry Allen.

End of the day, you only need to know two things about me: I run fast…and I help people. – Bart Allen

The world spins mad. The people are so intoxicated by luxury, they have forgotten everything that makes us more than house pets: reason, truth, justice, freedom. Yet I will not yield. I will not accept the corrupt new way of things. The mind of man must be reclaimed. If not by this generation or by the next, then some day, some decade. It is not in my power to affect the change. I haven’t the might. I am not the answer. I am only the question. – The Question

The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference. – The GMan

With great power comes great responsibility – Peter Parker

Even in a universe where every sub-atom and monad can be calculated, in a time where science and technology run to the pinnacle, the universe still has enough bluster and stubbornness to remind us that no matter how smart we get, there’ll always be something called justice – Wildfire

Perhaps there exists a possible benefit when hardship is also accepted as part of human life. These challenges have given each of us a desire for justice, a hatred of injustice. It has changed us. It could changed anybody. Everybody. Imagine, if you will, a world to come, a world transformed, a humanity beyond even our wildest imaginations. If our lives and the struggles we face were able to purchase that future, how could we not be grateful for the opportunity to fight for that possibility? That tomorrow? – Bruce Wayne

We can’t be everywhere at once. It’s a cliché, because it’s true. And it’s not just a cop out. Maybe if we all worked all day long, every day of the week, every week of the year, every year of our lives – we could do everything for everyone. But then it’s no longer just an issue of can we, but should we? – Alan Scott

Mr. Scott said we can’t be everywhere at once. But we all have to be somewhere, right? And wherever that is – wherever you are – you can make a difference. It’s not magic. It doesn’t’ matter how big or small a difference, really…just enough…to help out a little. If all of us could do that, just once in a while, that would be so cool. – Jakeem Thunder

Just because something has a crack in it doesn’t mean you throw it away. – Rick Tyler

My life’s great, but it’s not perfect. Nobody in my life is perfect. And nobody has to be. – Jesse Chambers

When you’re chasing something personal, you never start with what’s easiest. You start with what’s most important. – Oliver Queen

Wally, you could be anywhere in the world in a heartbeat. Why do you waste your time by flying? “Spending time with old friends is never a waste.” – Wally West

But then I remembered something you once said, “We’re far from perfect, Wally. We can only do the best we can. But we do it. We always do it.” – Wally West

The only way to win this game is to be better than the rest. Better writers and better reporters. And, bare minimum, that means when the sky is falling, you don’t report what color the grass is. – J. Jonah Jameson

The Daily Planet, Issue 33, August 1

Here we go. Just wanted to put the lyrics to this one song that I absolutely love. This was sung by my friend's friend. My friend in college grew up with him and he wrote this song called I Still Believe and he wrote it when his wife was dying. He was in his early twenties only. Anyway, here are the lyrics below:

Scattered words and empty thoughts
Seem to pour from my heart
I've never felt so torn before
Seems I don't know where to start
But its now that I feel your grace fall like rain
From every fingertip washing away my pain

I still believe in your faithfulness
I still believe in your truth
I still believe in your holy word
Even when I don't see, I still believe

Though the questions still fog up my mind
With promises I still seem to bear
Even when answers slowly unwind
It's my heart I see you prepare
But its now, that I feel, your grace fall like rain
From every fingertip washing away my pain

I still believe in your faithfulness
I still believe in your truth
I still believe in your holy word
Even when I don't see, I still believe

Well the only place I can go is into your arms
Where I throw to you my feeble prayers well in brokeness
I can see that this was your will for me
Help me to know that you are near

I still believe in your faithfulness
I still believe in your truth
I still believe in your holy word
Even when I don't see, I still believe

I still believe (repeat 8 X's)

Ohhh, i still believe, i still believe


Hopefuly when we are all going through hard times, we can look to God and tell him that we still believe that he is always good.

The Daily Planet, Issue 32, July 31

Here we are. It's the beginning of a new day. Sort of. I just got myself a globe sim, but I need to work on spending the load I got on my smart sim first before I load this bad boy in my phone. Then unlimited text on the way! Wooo-hoooo! Sigh. What are we going to do? Anyway, keep praying that God will send money. Trying to raise funds but so far I've only gotten three replies - one yes and two "i'll pray about it"s. Praying is actually just as important. But I'm hoping people would just respond more. I pray God will move mountains soon.
In other news, I have a lot more emails to write and I also have a lot mroe channels articles to hunt down. Yun. So this is a short update, but oh well. Whatever. Gotta keep them coming. Oh yeah, it's something nice to wake up and feel your muscles aching from working out too much the day before. It felt gooooooooood. Lol!

The Daily Planet, Issue 31, July 30

Well here is my first blog that is going to be both on friendster and multiply. Will it work? Will I successfully do this without losing any interest at all?
Today was nice. I woke up at 7am and actually got to work out a bit. It's a start. And I was going to go for a swim, but the pool was being cleaned. Guess I'll go later. Here's the thing with small pools - they aren't popular. Very few people use them. So this is a plus for me because they are by far the most likely place to have your own private pool. No one will bother you. It's just you and the pool and time to relax and do laps in the 8 shaped pool. But either way, I like the idea of it feeling secluded, private, and not public. Makes me not worry about kids and their stuff floating in the water. I don't know. Dave says swimming is good exercise. I need to figure out exactly how it is that swimming back and forth is exercise when your legs tend to do most of the work. But I guess your arms do a little bit. Seems your arms just kind of help you to lift your head above water.
In other news, work is going well today. I have a ton of stuff to do yet am not in a rush to do them. Why? Because it's a Monday. So I'm going to be sending out support raising emails all day. May God bless those emails so that people's hearts are touched. But more importantly, it's a way that I can keep in contact with my friends in the states. I miss them, you know? I wonder what they think of. Do they ever think of me? I got pretty bothered last friday when my class was calling me some tagalog word that meant womanizer or something stupid like that. Just because I have a lot of friends who are girls. I mean, come on. You know what my dad told me? he told me when we were all really young that as guys, we must take care of the girls out there like they were our sisters because there are a lot of jerk guys who would take advantage of them, so we're there to be their brothers to help them out in times of trouble. So that's why I do it. That's why I have a lot of friends that are girls and that's why I'm so loving towards them. I'm supposed to be their big brother, I'm supposed to be there for them in case they need anything. isn't this the way it should be? that guys are gentlemen who lead with honor, who take care of girls with respect and not in a flirty kind of way? Oh well. It seems some girls don't appreciate it as much. But we'll see.
Well, it's time to call it a blog and begin cleaning my desk and begin sending out emails. Later all of you! Take care!

The Daily Planet, Issue 29, July 23

Betsy and Molly - These two girls remind each day to smile at the world. Just when it seems everything is so busy and we have to kind of force ourselves into molds bestowed on us, I see a picture of them and realize that God has nothing against being silly and just enjoying the life that He has blessed us with. They are my beatrice to my dante. They really are by far the two cutest girls on the planet (i don't care who you are, they just ARE). The sisters became my friends...why? I don't know. Why they love me so much despite me not doing anything for them is beyond me. All I know is that they always make me feel loved. They are artsy fartsy athletic fille with a good taste for asthetics and I know that just knowing them has made my day wonderful. Obladiobladah.

Aliza - simply put, i know it's a wonderful world but I can't see right now. I know that I am donig well but I just want to cry now. I know it's a wonderful world from the sky down to the sea, but I can only see it when you're here, here with me.

Anyway, that is just a little thing that I wish I could tell them. I know that I don't need to, though, because they already know. As Aliza always said to me when i told her I loved her, she'd say, "I know. I love you too." No need to say it. Simply saying "I Love you" says everything. I wish people could do that more today. We're all Christians and we are all brothers and sisters...why can't we just be open and let everyone know that they are loved without this whole taboo being put down? Well it depends. It's just fun to share a meal with people. What cna I say? Life is just so good right now. The sun is shining, sort of, and there is a ton of things to do, but everything is fine. I know I'm not making sense.

We really have to go out and do something fun. Something that is out of the norm. A Breakfast Club? Many people are interested in it, but it seems the idea hasn't caught on exactly as I wanted it to. I ask people who they would like me to invite and they always list their friends. The idea is to get to know people that you are not close to. Hmmm. I really need to send out an invitation already for this Saturday afternoon, I don't know, like lunch? The problem is that so many people keep asking to be on one, but I can't pile everyone into one or else there's not joy out of doing a one shot deal. You knwo what we need? We need a dance. Like a full out club like dance where everyone can just dance and have fun. No being awkward. Just eveyrone being silly and being awkward. We need to help people unwind because everyone is stressed out. It seems everyoen I talk to - from Abi to Saki is burned out from the school work they get.

Oh well. All of you smile and have your self a good day. I have to get to a meeting in a little bit. Take care you all and remember that seafood is good for you :-)

The Daily Planet, Issue 28, July 20

So I'm finally getting texts back. Weird. Here I was ready to spend an extra P300 on something else instead of load. Anyway, today is the DAY. I'm teaching. Woot woot! I have no idea how it is going to go cause I still have to make the powerpoint. I have three hours to do so. So I'll actaully put up a late edition later to say how it went.
As for right now, I'm just worried for someone. Hope they're okay.
Hmmm...that's all for now. I'm always around and if any of you need a hug, just let me know. I miss a lot of you (and you know who you are). It's been too long.

The Daily Planet, Issue 26, July 19

I really want to make this blog work. I really do. But it seems that lately I've just not been disciplined enough to write in this every day. It's become bi-monthly! Oy gubulsh! I need to get my act together. I need to start waking up earlier so that I have time to do push ups and sit ups in the morning, get to work on time, and, oh yes, even write in my blog.
So today is goign to be a fun day. I'm teaching a class tomorrow! Yey! But what is it on? Thankfully, I know what it is on. The problem is that I only have an outline and now I need to spend time writing it all out verbatim. You know what a two hour speech looks like on paper? Average 8minutes a page means that I'll need about 14 pages of notes for this class. Yes. Single spaced 14 pages. And the students think they have it hard! I need to write all this out for one class! Sheesh. So I have to get started on that.
Afterwards, I'm going to be putting the powerpoint together. Will it look good? I don't know. I actually think I'll put the powerpoint together first so that it can have a solid feel to it. I ust want to go home early today and swim. That's been my mantra for the past two weeks. I just want to swim and relax. But it's like I keep coming home late and the brothers never are up to a night time swim. Oh well. God willing it works out some day soon when it isn't raining. Maybe saturday morning.
So what else is new? I've realized that no one texts me back anymore. I sent out around 20+ texts yesterday and not one person responded. I guess this is a good thing because it means that I can start saving on texts now. Go all totally Yuna and not use a cellphone. That would be nice. But as of now, I'm just going to sit and veg. Surf the net a little. I need to warm up my brain and get it set for schoolwork. Either that or I'll do some reading.
But you know what else is today? You want to know what else? It's...whisper...comic book day. :-) I'm going to go to the comic store later, pick up my weekly comics and go home and read them in the comfort of my couch. It's going to be awesome. I can't wait to read through those stuff. See, I order them on Monday. So by the time Thursday rolls around, I can't really remember what I ordered so it's kind of fun to get this package and open it up and read through. It's like a time that I can be taken to another world. Speaking of which, I've been readign Neil Gaiman lately and it's pretty good. I'm enjoying his writing as weird as it is. I hope to continue reading it later. It's totally a fairy tale feeling. Sigh. Good stuff. Good reading. Life seems so much better when you read, don't you think? it gets even better when you write. I remember this time I spent time writing an essay on a blank page. Oh the possibilities a blank page holds! It can say anything. It can change the world or end up as scratch paper wrapping up today's fish. Who knows? And that's the beauty of potential. What will you be tomorrow?
With that thought, I'm heading out. Thanks for listening.

The Daily Planet, Issue 26, July 10

It's been another long long long week since my last post. We finally moved houses! Wooo-hooo!!!! So now what does this mean? It means that now we live nearby and it means that Breakfast Clubs can happen regularly. God willing, we can make this be more of a regular event and truly get some interesting mixes of people together. We'll see, we'll see. Hmmm...It will have to be on Sunday afternoonles, I think. Oh well. I'm so happy. So we live exactly 20 minutes from work now and about 2 minutes from gcf. Fun, huh?
Well what else now? I'm just feeling so blessed by God. Everything seems so great right now. We have good things definately on the horizon. Talk to you all later! Bye!

The Daily Planet, Issue 25, July 4

Yes, I know. This is a very late edition of the daily planet newspaper blog, but I have been busy. See, we had this retreat the other week for Messiah College. It was a blast. I love the new freshman! They are all SMART: Simply Amazing. See, here's the thing, you can just TELL with some people. And I believe that I am a pretty good judge of character. And I can tell you this: this freshman batch is so overflowing with potential of leadership that it is thrilling to watch. What will happen? What will they become? They can accomplish anything, I just know it. There is just one problem with potential: my friend Aliza always said that the problem with potential is that it means that you aren't fulfilling it. It means that you are capable of so much, but are you doing anything about it? It's like a powerplant. It is capable of providing electricity for a whole city, it has the potential to change the entire landscape...but if it isn't turned on, sayang lang. I really hope to see the new Messiah students just grow and really step it up and be the leaders they are. As we say in C.S. Lewis, we should lead with Honor. LEAD WITH HONOR. Think of that. Dwell on that. Really think of what that means.

In other news, I've been sick for the past few days and have been jumping back and forth from asthma to fever. And we're moving soon. Man, I'm hoping we are going to be able to move soon because I want to be living in our new apartment already and just use it to encourage peopel and make dinner ad stuff. I think that God is by far going to be able to use us more when we live nearer.

Also, this is what else I'm so excited about: I'm just finding myself so full of joy despite being sick because of all that God is doing for us and through me. It is such a reminder of why I shouldn't struggle with self worth issues (which we all go through from time to time) because God made me who I am to accomplish these tasks. It's been so amazing.

Anyway, signing out. Will update again in two days. Later my friends!

The Daily Planet afternoon edition

Dedicated to Aliza Jacobs...

Wonderful World

I've been down so low people look at me and they know,
they can tell something is wrong
like I dont belong,
well, staring through a window standing outside there just to happy to care
and I wanna be like them but I'll mess it up again,
I tripped them out and got kicked outside everybody's soul.

And I know that it's a wonderful world
But I cant feel it right now,
I thought I was doing well but I just want to cry now,
Well I know that its a wonderful world from the sky down to the sea,
but I can only see when you're here, here with me.

Sometimes I feel so full of it that it just comes spilling out,
it's uncomfortable to see I give it away so easily,
but if I had someone I would do anything and never never never never let you feel alone
I wont, I wont leave u on your own,
who am I to dream, dreams are for fools, they let you down.

Well I know that it's a wonderful world
But I cant feel it right now,
I thought I was doing well but I just want to cry now,
Well I know that its a wonderful world from the sky down to the sea,
but I can only see when you're here, here with me.

And I wish that I could make it better,
I'd give anything for you to call me,
Maybe just a little letter
Oh it could start again.

And I know that it's a wonderful world
But I cant feel it right now,
I thought I was doing well but I just want to cry now,
Well I know that its a wonderful world from the sky down to the sea,
but I can only see when you're here, here with me.

I know that its a wonderful world
but I cant feel it right now,
Iv got all the right clothes to wear I just wana cry now,
I know that it's a wonderful world from the sky down to the sea,
But I can only see well when ur here, here with me.

And I know that it's a wonderful world
When your with me.

A much long awaited update

Wow.  It's definitely been a long time since my last entry (almost 3 months).  What can I say?  I've been busy. 

What I'm most looking forward to right now is SPIDER-MAN 3 in Imax!  Woooooo-hooooooo!  It's going to be so awesome and totally worth the P350!  I remember I spent like P800 to see Superman in the Imax theatre in Lincoln center at 68th and Broadway.  But now, NOW, here we are in the Philippines going to watch it at Mall of Asia (home to one of the coolest malls, the biggest Imax screen, and the Dell call center).  You know what else is so cool?  I'm watching it with friends!  I remember back when Spider-man 1 came out, we watched it with the brothers, with the family, and I think I watched it by myself a few times.  Then Spider-man 2, well, I was going to watch with some friends but that fell through, sadly.  So now, NOW, it's time to watch Spider-man 3 with a BUNCH of friends!  You want to know why this is so cool? Because, deep down, (and shhh, this is a secret, that's why I'm only posting it on the internet where everyone can see), I'm beginning to feel like the Philippines is my home again.  I really feel like I belong here once more and it's a good feeling.

This, sadly, comes at a price.  I now have to balance my time between emailing my friends in NYC and hanging out with friends at GCF and spending time with the family and reading my book, etc.  But one thing that remains constant?  God.  I've been able to keep my quiet time consistent each day for the past two weeks and it really excites me.  Praise God!  Anyway, that's all for now.  It is now time to begin working on a list of ChannelS volunteers and do some work for Messiah College.

Till then, stay awesome.



Your friend,

Mark

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short update

Sometimes I wonder why I am stressed out. I really shouldn't be. I mean, there are so many things to be thankful for. I just, well, i feel that I have entered into the rat race - that game taht Alex and Erin play at night with the little mouse walking in a circle. It's kind of weird. I don't really know how to turn myself off. Like I feel somewhat like a Sims game. I eat, i work, i leave, etc. I sleep. I complain. etc. I have no luck with girls. so it is the sims. But to be more important, I think i needt o journal more. Writing here really can be something that helps me make it through the long days. I really am in the mood to write a story. Today, however, does not open up the opportunity to do so. I'll try my best to find the time to do it. Pray I do. I'm not even sure if I'll go tot eh photographer's meeting tonight at the church. But I should because it will open up a whole new door of ministry for me.



Yours truly,

Markent

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creatively draining?

Okay, so yesterday was by far a productive day. In one day I got a final draft of a calling card, webcard, flyer, poster, and promotional postcard done. Today they are merely looking it over for any tiny errors (we all are human, after all) and then I need to finalize it tomorrow and send it to print. Yikes! However, today felt highly unproductive. Why? Because I didn't create anything new. It was simple research today. Which, as the com/design department, means that I'm just looking at brochures, pictures, etc and hoping that something clicks. It's like artist's block. I tried everything, even distracting myself by reading and it didn't work. I'm worried cause I have no idea how to counter this. I think I'll try reading or something.



On another note...I just got my first paycheck! Yes! My first official real paycheck from my first job! oh my gulay! So awesome. Can you guess what is the first thing I'm going to buy? Yup! You guessed it: a good ol' comic. But the rest of it goes into savings and SHOULD not be touched. We'll see if I can live off of 1/4th of it and not touch the rest. Because I have to save up my money for two things - Flying back to NYC and an Xbox 360!



Well, that's all for now. There you go, a simple, short, blog. Cha-ching! Time to listen to Dane Cook!

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Mess-eye-ah wallpaper

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So i was just sitting and thinking of a fun wallpaper to have on my computer screen and I decided to do one based around eyes. It is so cool looking at everyone's eyes from TKC and just seeing the differences between everybody...and the similarities also. Okay, this was just a quick update. I'll probably be posting random essays, thoughts, and images I come up with over the week as today is my first day of work.

Silently Closing the Past

A wise woman once said, "This is gonna start being so different..." Indeed I need to work on closing off the past and begin laying the foundation for a new life. It's not that everything came crashing down - it was just the opposite. I flew. "You're flying, superman." I flew. This past semester was probably the best semester I have ever had and ever will have. I made so many friends and got to grow closer to older ones. I got to be a true friend to so many people. I got to just show love to everyone at King's. It was a blast - no doubt. Yet, college is over. School is done. It's closing time.

My mom was talking to me this morning. She told me that it is important that I begin looking for areas where I can make friends here. She knows me too well. My mom knows that in my sadness and heart that hurts and longs for all my friends in the US that I will bury myself in work, not even caring to look up or ask people how they are doing. If this were a movie, it would be the moment of caressing everything before leaving, as the lights slowly turn off. A slow build up of a ballad begins to linger in the background. I need to move on. I don't want to. My wallpaper right now is a picture of all the TKC peeps. Dang. I miss everyone so much. Everyone. I miss the Herald Towers, just walking the halls and stopping by rooms to see how my sisters are doing. Or coming home to the Erin, Matt, and Alex - Erin with his headphones on (one ear is always kept naked, though), Alex sprawled on the couch playing the economics rat race game, Matt just coming in with that slight bounce in his step and a bag of cookies in his hand. I miss Aliza's hugs. I miss Ashley and Mark's hellos and truly genuine questions of, "How are you doing?" and Mark's, "Hi, Mark" voice. I miss seeing Lechliter walk the halls with his distinct step. I miss Jon Hummel's constantly entertaining tricks. I miss Mike Toscano's hand snap. I miss the way Ricky looks when he gets so excited. I miss Emily's ever constant encouraging hug of a smile. I miss the way Alisa would come and sit with me in the lab for talks and our chipotle together times. I miss Kate's big smiling eyes. I miss Jarin's phone calls. I miss seeing Dilawar stalk the halls. I miss Jenny and Kristen and Tori and the way they would just be there for you no matter what. I miss Stephanie and Matt and their absolutely magnetic interaction with whoever is with them. I miss Lydia eating. I could go on and on...but like Dane Cook said, I just felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned around and "it's the world." And I'm about to cry already. Okay, fine, tears are welling up right now. "I did my best," - Dane Cook. Lol. Always good for a laugh, that DC.





Keep on smiling.







-------------------



RIP - Buddy Baker aka Animal Man

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Everything that is old is new again...

Everything that is old is new again...or so the saying goes. I have heard this quote many times and never found it fitting for anything in life until today. Indeed, the world of the Philippines that I grew up in has become my new home. Thus, the old is new. It's been two weeks since I've left my home in Metropolis. No, this isn't Smallville. It's more like...like...Central City. The city is characterized by speeding cars and scarlet speedsters rather than huge buildings and a man of steel. Manila is a city bustling with car horns and jeepney horns - not much different than the police sirens of NYC.

What I am finding I am missing is the sense of community. It is still here, but it will take awhile. The ground is fertile, so to speak for friendships. I just have to begin planting seeds and watch them grow. The office is almost completely fixed up. I'm excited by how much it converted to almost feeling like home. It still isn't there yet, but what home ever is on the first go around? I hope to have pictures of the office fully "markified" by Valentines day. After all, I'm going to be spending every day all day in this cubicle and thus I must make it be creative central. The walls are still blank, but they can be decorated in due time. As of right now, I have a small figurine of Stich from Lilo and Stitch playign guitar under the shade ofa wire coconut tree that I bought in NYC with Aliza on one of our nightly walks through Times Square. I am going to bring the Green Lantern statuette over here (the one Liz gave me) to display on my desk once the place is in its final stages. I have so many plans for this place. It should be a place that inspires. Like I want people to walk in and know that it is a place of mental stimulation.

On another note, I'm still going to have to print and frame some pictures of all the TKC friends I have so that I can decorate the walls somehow with them. Either that or I'll have everyone on my screensaver.

All in all, it's a quite start. It's a new beginning. And I am finding that this new book of my life is not starting in medias res, but rather, is starting like a story. It has a beginning. And it will take awhile for the characters to all be introduced, fleshed out, goals and adventures to be lived, etc. It will take time.

I think my biggest issue is knowing that I'm no longer a part of King's life no matter how much I still want to be. I feel like I'm the person who played football everyday and now has to only hear about the game from random blogs. At the same time, just ask any Buckeye or Longhorn about sports and they can tell you that you don't need to be in the game or at the game to be a part of the game. I just need to stay in touch as best as I can and be excited with all the fervor that I had when I was there. For all of you reading this, remember that I'm always here, just an email, text message, or IM away. Don't hesitate, please, to drop me a line.



Always around,

Mark

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