Denying Thyself is an Art

It's funny how the longer you live your life, the more you realize it's a contradiction. Especially if you anchor your life on a certain faith--for me, it's faith in Jesus.

It's funny, because the older you get, the more you realize the word of God is just...hard to live by. For a lot of people like me, with ambitions and goals that fulfill a certain need, it's just plain struggle when you come to a point of deciding to live for yourself or to live for Him. Let's just say being a wife and mother really hits close to home when talking about struggle. :)

But at the end of the day, when you get past that struggle point, do the right thing and live by His will instead of yours, you realize He rewards obedience. He raises the meek. He makes the last first, and the first last.

The feeling of denying yourself is not pleasant at all. But realizing what it means to God I guess eases the burden, and turns it into an act of worship. 

For didn't Jesus tell his disciples --  "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." (Luke 9:23-24)

You know what, I'd rather lose my life here on earth and gain eternity with Him. It's hard to take in, yes. Especially if you've been so used to doggedly having your way, making things happen. But who said the Christian life was ever easy, anyway? Only by grace. And only when we give Him back the glory.

And so I say denying thyself is an art. It's not easy, it takes a long time to master, and it's beautiful to our Maker. 

Photo credits: http://www.blogtheword365.com/2012/08/15/8-15-2012-what-if/

When writing the story of your life...

...don't let anyone else hold the pen.

Happy Friday!

Pilipinas: The Story Behind the Glory Roadshow

The book I helped write, Silver Linings: 25 Years of the EDSA People Power Revolution, is touring the country and the US starting this September with Pilipinas: The Story Behind the Glory book tour and documentary roadshow. The roadshow will also promote the documentary on the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force produced by former DILG Secretary Rafael Alunan III entitled Tagaligtas.

Book cover of Silver Linings

Here's the link to the roadshow teaser video: http://vimeo.com/49236869

We're kicking off the tour at the Lyceum Northern University in Dagupan on September 14 and  Philippine Military Academy in Baguio on September 15. Not sure where to next but I'll surely post about it.

Go Pinas!

More killers today than ever

So today I woke up early to make it to my 9 am meeting. And then they started.


Grandmother, 90, bathing in her own blood
Two ladies beaten to death by armed men
Yaya murders entire household where she was employed for 6 years
48-year old man beats his 83-year old mother to death

Only four among other murder news. On one of the few mornings I get up early expecting to greet the day with joy.

After government official Jesse Robredo's unfortunate death from a chopper crash and tributes for him every which way you turn, this.

I don't want to think that Filipinos are becoming a rotten kind of people. But maybe that's what we're turning out to be. Maybe it's inevitable.

But maybe we can at least all have soul and think beyond this rotten planet. I mean come on. Eternity awaits.

I'll Miss the Smashing Pumpkins Concert

That, among other sentiments, makes this already overcast Saturday a tad bit gloomier. The concert will be at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, this coming Tuesday, August 7.

I think my bandmate Musselli is watching. Maybe even Rico, the one who introduced me to Smashing Pumpkins' 90s hits, is too.

For those I know who get to watch, sing your hearts out for me if they do sing 1979 or Tonight, Tonight at all. Although I've heard the new tracks they have on their new album and they sound pretty awesome, too.

It kind of sucks that I haven't blogged for nearly a year and this is the first one I talk about, I know. The sentiment is an affirmation for me to really begin pursuing the higher things in life. My not being able to watch this is just the tip of the iceberg of all other things I suddenly seem to not be able to do, or cannot do, or cannot decide to do. So I'm turning to focusing on priorities. What matters most. My very purpose on Earth, what God created me for.

I hope I don't take another whole year just figuring that out.

Stackers made me wait an hour for soup

Yes, the Stackers Auss'm Burgers restaurant in Metrowalk did this to me, just about an hour ago while having breakfast with my office teammates Karla and Lea.

To think I was the first person who told the waitress my order, and "One clam chowder" was the first thing out of my mouth, especially as the photo of the soup on their wall displays and the menu really looked yummy.

So the waitress first brought in the fries--perhaps the only surprisingly impressive thing about the place as the P60 order turned out to give you a huge serving--and then Lea's Corned Beef Brekkie, complete with coffee. Karla ordered the same thing and it was served about 15 minutes later. Time elapsed since ordering: about 20 minutes then.

And yet still no soup.

Almost an hour later, after much chat and looking over the two flat screens on the high wall showing a rugby and baseball game each, we decided to follow up on the clam chowder. The waitress looked a bit perplexed and hurried to the kitchen, and then came to our table minutes later to say, "Three minutes po for the chowder, OK lang?"

Of course it didn't take three minutes. And of course she could have been more apologetic, maybe even admitted that they forgot to prepare my order. They could have given us a complimentary soup or dish to make up for the looooong wait. Heck, even free iced tea for all I care. But all we got was a bitch face from the waitress, saying, as she served the soup finally with a steely smile, "Sorry po for the delay," and for some reason her face really didn't look sorry.

That's pretty much it. I can't remember the last time I ordered soup and having to wait an hour for it; I guess there's a first time for everything. And to that bitch-face, unapologetic waitress, wait 'til I send this to your feedback mailbox. Tsk, tsk.

Time elapsed: one year

Today it's exactly a year since I joined the company where I'm in. And while this day posed many interesting options and a lot of crazy sh*t, I think I'll stay on longer and take to doing what I love doing most: surprise people.

Buckling up for the next speedy loop!