From the monthly archives: August 2006
You’ve probably heard of the Guimaras Oil Spill, which is already the worst case of oil spill the Philippines has ever had. In fact, Western Visayas is already in a state of calamity and more oil is still leaking from the sunken vessel. :(
It’s hard that it seems like we can’t do anything…but WE CAN! How? Get a haircut? :)
[Excerpt taken from Yam's LJ]
TV Patrol had a short clip about human hair as a solution for oil spills after giving news about the Guimaras catastrophe. This is very interesting. Did you know that around 1.4 million pounds of hair can ‘adsorb’ (not absorb, but adsorb – 11 million gallons of crude oil?! Just think how all the salons in the country can help out. Even barbershops. (I’m serious about this) This is a non-expensive, very feasible way of helping out.
Someone just died today from inhaling too much of the fumes from the oil spill.
Read more about hair and oil-spills HERE.
CUT IT FOR A CAUSE!
You can donate your hair to help clean the Guimaras waters!!! Please click here for the full story. Time is very precious and the oil slick is spreading so fast that we must take a part in helping out.
Reyes Haircutters are collecting hair and will be delivering them to the disaster area. Philippine International Hairdressers Association is also helping out to address the issue.
So if you’ve been planning a haircut, this is the best time to get it now! Guys, if you can, go shave your heads just this once! Girls, get that flattering cut you’ve been wanting for so long! You’re not only getting a new look, you’re also helping the environment! Go to any Reyes Haircutter branch or the main branch in Anonas, Quezon City, or call +63 2 9136252.
Please do repost this message on your blogs, LJs, Multiply or Friendster bulletin boards. Let’s do our part. :)
Too bad I don’t need a haircut right now. :-s Unless I find a cut I like. Maybe I’ll look for one. Hmm. Think I would look nice with bangs? That’s a thought. But tell your friends about this! :)
I’ll talk more about the stuff happening in my life tomorrow, before or after the Thursday Thirteen post. Life’s interesting, and it’s a big rollercoaster ride, but who’s complaining? Certainly not me. :p I bet that got you curious. ;) I LOVE YOU LORD! ♥ Yeahbah. :)
I just got four fresh blisters on my feet, two on each foot. This is what I get with walking in leather shoes along EDSA early this morning. I must get used to wearing leather shoes already.
Oh, and I am not to keen on divulging whatever happened to what I posted yesterday until I finally decided. So hold on tight, you’ll know about it soon enough. But if you could squeeze in a prayer for me that I might make the right decision, then I’d really appreciate it. :D
Anyway, let’s walk down memory lane for a bit. :) To those who don’t know (which probably is everyone who’s reading this unless you’ve been a friend of mine for the past three years or something), I have a good long term memory. So good, that my friends call me the “Human Calendar”. My talents include being able to remember specific things that happen to me as far as a year, and sometimes longer, depending on the event. And when I say specific, I mean very specific — I can remember the time (or if not, the time of day), the clothes a specific person is wearing and the events as they happened. It’s weird, but this kind of talent is handy especially when I’m on major nostalgia mode.
Okay, so my friend actually has an explanation for this. He told me than when there are important moments in your life — moments when you felt really happy or sad or whatever extreme emotion — your brain secretes a hormone that makes you remember that specific moment. Oh, and apparently, this is also what happens when you get to watch porn or something else similar.
Anyway, so this day last year…this day marks the week where I started to “wake up” from my old notions and learn something new. That was deep. :P I shall elaborate.
Well, last week wasn’t really a long week, as I predicted last Monday night. Things actually started looking up by Tuesday, and it’s funny how God surprises me by answering my prayers in the most unexpected way and at the most unexpected time. Basta, all I can say is God is good, and I know that I am in very safe hands. :)
I spent the rest of the week reading, and going out with my mom; by Friday, I went to school to support Tuesday on her defense and to meet up with some friends who I haven’t seen for a long time. My brother’s iPod went bye bye (the sad iPod picture showed…it’s cute, even if I know the iPod is dead), talked to friends and then went to the Elim Singles table talk with Happy. It was fun, and half the time Happy, Bea and I were laughing. :P Then I spent two lazy days at home, just reading and watching TV. What a life, eh?
I know this kind of bum life is going to end soon, and I am trying to prepare myself. Or, starting to prepare myself. Thing is, I don’t know how…and I have this thing of “crossing the bridge” when I get there. Tomorrow is a day that I know would change my life (I was thinking of something less drastic, but I realized that tomorrow would probably change my life) and the choice I would make tomorrow morning would determine where I will be for the next two years or so. I’ve been waiting for this, though, but I still can’t help but be kind of scared because it’s a major decision. As in MAJOR. I’m kind of nervous, but as I was praying earlier today, I just let God handle it. After all, it’s useless to worry about tomorrow today, when today has enough worries of its own.
I’ve learned in the past days that it’s more important to deal with what you have now than to worry about what is about to happen. Take note that it’s not wrong to prepare for tomorrow, but it is wrong to keep your eyes on tomorrow and forget to deal with today. So now what I’m learning is to totally banish worrying from my life. As Simba, Pumbaa and Timon said, Hakuna Matata. No worries, because God is in control. I should not worry because God is taking care of me. I shouldn’t worry because I know that God loves me and whatever happens to me is part of His will. I shouldn’t worry because that’s just going to make things worse. You know? Worrying breeds some kind of fear of tomorrow, and God does not want us to live with fear.
Of course, it’s hard, but what matters is I try. :) So why don’t you try it with me? Try removing the word “worry” in your vocabulary for a day. Whenever you find yourself worrying, turn away from it, look to God and remind yourself that God is big enough and He is in control. See what you feel afterward. :)
Altogether now, HAKUNA MATATA! :)
So where do I start? Haha, it’s only been almost two years but I feel like I’ve known you for a long time already. I’ve never met someone who has the shortest short-term memory as you, and the one who has a SERIES (take note, a SERIES!) of corny jokes until you came along. Now that’s talent. ;) Okay fine, let’s put in the guitar playing (and violin?) and also the judo…so now you’re very talentado. :P Naks. ;)
I certainly miss our random kwentuhans at school, the joke times with you and your friends along Gox fourth floor, your rare presence at the tambayan and your oh-so interesting stories about your “special friends”. Haha. I hope you get what I mean…if not, I’ll explain when we see each other…if you don’t forget. Haha.
HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY, RJ! May your short term memory be better this year and may you never lose that smile that you always wear and share to other people. :) And may you never run out of corny jokes EVER. :P Haha, kwentuhan mo ko pag may GG ka na. *nudge nudge wink wink* Haha, God bless you dude! :)
P.S. Purple cap? Haha. Just kidding. Oh yeah, if ever we get the chance to do paint ball again, I promise to make my aim better and hit you already. I still want to do that. :P Pis!
It’s Thursday again! It’s time for Thursday Thirteen! And what’s funny is because the protagonist of the book I’m reading right now (Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde) is also named Thursday. :) And because I’m on a book reading mode for the past week, today’s Thursday Thirteen is…
Thirteen Fiction Books I Wouldn’t Mind Reading Over and Over Again and You Should Get Your Hands on Them Too (whew, what a title!) With Amazon links so you know what books I’m talking about. ;p Oh yeah, in no particular order. :)
- This Present Darkness by Frank E. Peretti. Probably my most favorite book ever. I don’t exactly read it once a month, but every time I read it, even if I know the story already, I still get the thrill that I feel when I’m reading new books. And I absolutely love the characters, and everytime I end this book, I feel like I’m saying goodbye to friends.
- Piercing the Darkness by Frank E. Peretti. This is the sequel of the This Present Darkness and this is just as captivating as the first book is. The old characters made reappearances and because I love them so, this novel tops my list too. :)
- Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. I can’t decide if this book is sad or not, but the ending quite saddened me. I love it (the ending) though because it left me hanging, and I like endings like that. There’s some sort of magical air in the story that made me feel captivated with Stargirl as well.
- Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen. I bought this the same day I bought Stargirl and I have no idea what the story is but I liked what was written at the back. This is a really funny he-says/she-says book about love, likes, family and knowing who you really are. :) I loved every bit of this book, and even if I think I am outgrowing this, I’ll always have this is in my “favorite books shelf”. :)
- Invisible Lissa by Natalie Honeycutt. I got this at one at some Booksale somewhere and it’s actually a kids book, about Lissa being alienated by everyone in her class because she just said something that annoyed the most popular girl in school. I like how Lissa tried to endure the entire situation
- Thr3e by Ted Dekker. I actually haven’t read this book more than once, but this is certainly up my favorite books list. If I wasn’t saving up ((saving up – means I read it slowly because I don’t want to finish it too fast. :p)) this book, I would’ve read it within the night even if it would’ve cost me some sleep. :P One of the BEST thriller ever. :)
- Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. This is one of the first classics I’ve loved. :) Anne feels such like a colorful soul that I can’t help but indulge in any of her books once in a while to add some color to mine. :)
- Eating Fire and Drinking Water by Arlene J. Chai. I love this book because it’s set in the Philippines and Ms. Chai has such an amazing way of connecting all the events with everyone involved in the story. And Luis Bayani is a character to watch out for. :)
- Dreaming in Black and White by Laura Jensen Walker. This book is a new favorite because I can relate to the main character even if she is already in her 30′s. This is the first Christian chicklit book I read and it was a breath of fresh air because it’s a “clean” chicklit. :) You’d have to read it to get what I mean.
- Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume. I love how Ms. Blume made Margaret’s struggle with peer pressure and growing up and knowing God connected with Margaret’s faith. Sometimes I want to bonk Margaret on the head while reading this, but I also can’t help but like her character as she eventually finds her way to God. :) Oh yeah, this is not a religious or a Christian book, despite the title.
- A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The first classic I really loved. :) I loved this because of the cartoon series they used to show here (a Japanese animation adaptation of the novel that was surely a lot longer than the original novel) and this is probably the first “thick” book I finished. :D
- Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty. I like this book better than its prequel because of the entire idea of Marcus Flutie and all. The first book left me hanging and this book wraps the entire story quite nicely.
- Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde.
I’m not yet done with this butI just finished this earlier and I love it to piecesalready. Love love love it! :) It’s like Nancy Drew meets Hercule Poirot (from Agatha Christie novels) in an alternate universe. :D I aim to get all of Mr. Fforde’s books this year. :P Haha!
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
As I write this greeting, I am overwhelmed with all the memories we’ve had together. :) And that, I hope, is one proof of how much our friendship means to me and that it will last even beyond college. :) You were always my number one supporter, my number one confidante, even if I happened to offend you, like twice. You’re the person who I know God sent to tell me that none of my efforts are in vain. I will forever be thankful that our friendship grew for the past four years. From the original block days to DASALGO/COMORGA/OBJECTP sessions to B.I.G.O. days and now to the days when we would eat lunch together (I still pray for the day that all four of us would be complete and there would be no more hangups!) and just talk the afternoon away…I look forward to future memories we’d have with each other. :) HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOMMY CATHY! (And just so you know, I am so not used to calling you plain Cathy anymore :p) I will always be here for you, and I love you, Mommy! But of course, God loves you more. Mwah! :-*
Did I ever tell you guys that God is just awesome?
I did?
Okay, once again, let me say it: GOD IS AWESOME! =)
Short post for today. I’ll end this with a line from Ayiesha Woods‘ song Days:
“You gotta get through something if you wanna get somewhere.”
Sapul. Haha. God bless everyone! :)
The “es-twenty gentleman”. The corny and sentimental one. The one whose name we couldn’t remember during the first es-twenty lunch. And most especially, the one who saved me on that fateful day my sandals broke. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart :) HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NOEL! =) You’re certainly one of the reasons why my college life was cornier. :P God bless you!
Wastelands
Elisabeth Elliot Devotional for August 14, 2006There are dry, fruitless, lonely places in each of our lives, where we seem to travel alone, sometimes feeling as though we must surely have lost the way. What am I doing here? How did this happen? Lord, get me out of this!
He does not get us out. Not when we ask for it, at any rate, because it was He all along who brought us to this place. He has been here before–it is no wilderness to Him, and He walks with us. There are things to be seen and learned in these apparent wastelands which cannot be seen and learned in the “city”–in places of comfort, convenience, and company.
God does not intend to make it no wasteland. He intends rather to keep us–to hold us with his strength, to sustain us with his sure words–in a place where there is nothing else we can count on.
“God did not guide them by the road towards the Philistines, although that was the shortest…God made them go round by way of the wilderness towards the Red Sea” (Ex 13:17,18 NEB).
Imagine what Israel and all of us who worship Israel’s God would have missed if they had gone by the short route–the thrilling story of the deliverance from Egypt’s chariots when the sea was rolled back. Let’s not ask for shortcuts. Let’s keep alert for the wonders our Guide will show us in the wilderness.
I was talking to Bea a little while ago and was telling her about my job hunting woes. God’s really funny in a way that when I was feeling all panicky, He sends all sorts of people and things to comfort me. Not necessarily cheer me up, but make me feel a bit better.
I’ve posted something about leaps of faith before, and it’s coming back to me again. This time it’s stronger, and somewhat more forceful. I know I need to take a leap of faith in this job thing…and it’s not just a one time big time thig, but I must make it everyday. Jump right into the challenge of life everyday, and in some ways, die from myself everyday. Die from my fears, die from my worries.
I remember saying a couple of days ago during my morning prayer: I shall remove worry from my vocabulary. I should also remove the word failure, fear, insecurity, disappointment and all those negative things that I know God doesn’t want me to feel. He’s set me free, after all. He’s made a way for me already, and I just have to take that jump and dive in head first.
I CAN DO THIS. I CAN DO THIS. I KNOW I CAN.
Lord, just please…no more pressure? That’s all I ask. Set me free from this. And please keep me patient. Give me something to do while I’m waiting so I won’t feel clock ticking. I know You have a plan for me, and I know that this is a part of Your way to shape me. Lord, please, don’t make the entire waiting process hurt too much?
I have a feeling this is going to be a long week. But I know I’ll get through this. My God is big enough.
“And the defining moment is between hearing and actually doing.”
- Kiddo Cosio, August 14, 2006
Before anything else, I finally uploaded my online portfolio. Do check it out, especially if you have jobs for me. Haha. :D
After two weeks of inactivity with my job hunting, I’m back to doing it again. After the call I was waiting for didn’t come, I fell in some sort of sad mode. Not depression mode exactly; it’s like when you’re waiting for something to come but it was delayed and you don’t know what to do. Ah, disappointment, that’s the term. Plus there were other things that occupied my mind the past weeks that I fell into some sort of limbo. I wanted to have a job, but I’m afraid to be rejected. I’m sure a lot of people went through this, and I guess this is my time.
Last week, after uploading this layout, I was working on my online portfolio. At the same time, I was tying up the phone line at home with the Internet because I was afraid of whatever calls that might come for me. I know I have a phone call phobia, but it was never with incoming calls. It’s just that…I was afraid of getting job offers from companies I don’t want to apply to and then tell them that I’m not interested…or get job offers and actually go to the interviews but end up not wanting the job anyway. I’m also afraid of explaining to my mom why I don’t want the job…because I don’t want to sound picky, even if I actually am being picky.
