One Christmas Story

Once upon a time, there was a man who looked upon Christmas as a lot of humbug.


He wasn't a scrooge. He was a very kind and decent person, generous to his family, upright in all his dealings with other men. But he didn't believe all that stuff about an incarnation which churches proclaim at Christmas. And he was too honest to pretend that he did.

"I am truly sorry to distress you," he told his wife, who was a faithful churchgoer, "but I simply cannot understand this claim that God became man. It doesn't make any sense to me."

On Christmas Eve, his wife and children went to church for the midnight service. He declined to accompany them. "I'd feel like a hypocrite," he explained. "I'd much rather stay at home. But I'll wait up for you."

Shortly after his family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window and watched the flurries getting heavier and heavier.

"If we must have a Christmas," he reflected, "it's nice to have a white one."

He went back to his chair by the fireside and began to read his newspaper. A few minutes later, he was startled by a thudding sound. It was quickly followed by another, then another. He thought that someone must be throwing snow balls at his living room window.

When he went to the front door to investigate, he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They had been caught in the storm, and in a desperate search for shelter had tried to fly through his window.

I can't let those poor creatures lie there and freeze, he thought. But how can I help them?

Then he remembered the barn where the children's pony was stabled. It would provide a warm shelter. He quickly put on his coat and galoshes and tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned on the light. But the birds didn't come in.

Food will bring them in, he thought. So he hurried back to the house for bread crumbs, which he sprinkled on the snow to make a trail into the barn. To his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs and continued to flop around helplessly in the snow. He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around and waving his arms. They scattered in every direction - except into the warm, lighted barn.

"They find me a strange and terrifying creature," he said to himself, "and I can't seem to think of any way to let them know they can trust me. If only I could be a bird myself for a few minutes, perhaps I could lead them to safety."

Just at that moment, the church bells began to ring. He stood silently for a while, listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas. Then he sank to his knees in the snow.

"Now I understand," he whispered. "Now I see why you had to do it."

(Paul H. Dunn, Christmas - Do You Hear What I Hear?, 1987, pp 90- 91)

Saint John Academy Batch '96 Celebrates Alumni Homecoming

My alma matter in high school, Saint John Academy (now, Saint John Colleges) is now planning for alumni homecoming of SJA batch '96 next year. We have start a meeting last Nov. 7 at Saint John Colleges hall. The members of batch '96 was spearheaded by Senior Organization head Immanuel Penid  with Jeff Umali, Rico Refe, Flori Mercado, Teth Rosales-Regalado plus with the members of batch '96... We have a lots of discussions regarding this alumni homecoming... This is set is to be on March 27, 2010 (tentative)... I have a lots of pictures here regarding this matter.. I'll be updated on the next details... See you next year, batchmates...

T H A N K Y O U !!!!

Hello everyone...it's have been almost a week i've never wrote in my blog. One of the reason is i've been a busy on my work just to finish my documents to meet our target deliveries last month. now, it's time to update on my blog. Last October 28, i have been received a lot of greetings thru cellphone, my online social networking sites (Facebook, Friendster) to greet me a special day, even my special greeted me a birthday message at exactly 12 midnight... Whew, i think i'm sleepless during my birthday. So far, my birthday falls on a weekday so, when I enter the office a lot of my co-workers greeted me a Happy birthday. Almost, i'm really shock but i'm also happy. We had made a simple celebration with my co-workers at the canteen area during breaktime and share some food, this is one of my happiest ever. After my work, i'm going to the church at 5:30 PM...

Well, it's been said, that we have a birthday bash for the month of May and October last Friday, October 30 (before typhoon Santi (Mirinae) strikes Luzon.... hehehe) at SPi Open Ground.. It's been a simple yet meaningful celebration for all the birthday celebrants of May and October. Before the program begins, I have to lead an opening prayer and then, a short message by our production manager, Sir Joel Justiniani. We would proceed to program proper and some of the celebrants would participate a game, it's been something like a team-building... We have some activities there and we've also shared fun and happy games here. Before the party ends, we also have some food (spaghetti, gelatin, bread, softdrinks... etc.) and also, a lot of photos inside and out...

By the way, I would like to say THANK YOU to my family, friends, co-workers and my special someone, for greeting me as a special day of my life... And also, I would like to THANK YOU to Our Lord for giving me a wonderful blessings and to be a part of my life... Surely, You are the most gracious gift... Have a wonderful day... :)

Weng

Palace announces for 2010 holidays

Here's an update regarding the holidays in the Philippines (regular and non-working) for the year 2010:

http://abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/23/09/palace-announces-holidays-2010

I hope that all the students and employees must really enjoy this... hehe :)

Are U a Facebook addict?

Facebook users beware. Psychologists are now probing a new kind of addiction called Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD).

Psychologist Dr. Michael Fenichel, who has published numerous writings on FAD online, describes it as a situation in which Facebook usage "overtakes" daily activities like waking up, getting dressed, using the telephone, or checking e-mail.

"The amazing thing is that, like cellphones, nobody seems to notice the vast amount of time and energy - at work, at home, and now while on the move - people are devoting to Facebook. It has become a given," Fenichel writes in an online post titled "Facebook Addiction Disorder- A New Challenge?"

FAD could be classified under the more broad "internet addiction disorder" or internet overuse.

Academic papers have already posed theories on internet addiction and social networking addiction, and even less, cellphone addiction.

"Like most activities, moderation and integration are key. Those that may seriously label and treat FAD as a behavioral addiction will clearly need to use context in determining if a behavior has become demonstrably harmful to overall social, work, or face-to-face interpersonal efficacy," Fenichel added.

You are a Facebook addict if...

According to Joanna Lipari, a clinical psychologist at the University of California, Los Angeles who was interviewed for a CNN report, here are some signs that you are addicted to Facebook:

1. You lose sleep over Facebook. When using Facebook becomes a compulsion and you spend entire nights logged on to the site, causing you to become tired the next day.

2. You spend more than an hour a day on Facebook. Lipari said it is difficult to define how much is too much when it comes to Facebook usage, but that an average person need only spend half an hour on the site.

3. You become obsessed with old loves or exes you reconnect with on Facebook.

4. You ignore work in favor of Facebook. This means you do not do your job in order to sneak time on Facebook.

5. The thought of getting off Facebook leaves you in cold sweat. If you try going a day without Facebook and it causes you stress and anxiety, this means you need help.

According to the same report by Elizabeth Cohen, Senior CNN Medical Correspondent, Facebook addiction is not yet an actual medical diagnosis.

However, the report notes that several therapists in the United States have noticed a rise in the number of clients who get hooked on social networking, to the point of social dysfunction.

Facebook fun

Facebook, launched by the world's youngest billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, has over 300 million users worldwide, half of whom log on to the site every day.

Further, about 2 billion photos and 14 million videos are uploaded on various Facebook pages a month and about 6 billion minutes are spent on Facebook a day, worldwide.

According to Willis Wee, founder of the social media and marketing blog Penn-Olson.com, this is twice as much time that people spend on Google.

The global social networking website allows users to post and share content (like photos, links, videos, and notes), play casual games and applications, and interact with friends and family through messaging and chat. abs-cbnNEWS.com. With reports from CNN.com.

Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/abs/20091020/tph-are-you-a-facebook-addict-85c5a6c.html

Prayer for the Year of the Two Hearts

This prayer is dedicated to all the victims of Ondoy and Pepeng in Luzon areas. I hope that we've made it and recover...

"O Sacred Heart of Jesus, the reality of our deeply wounded and broken country impels us to respond with new urgency to the most pressing problems of our times.

We are a broken people. Our hearts are fragmented and we are discouraged. We need Your Heart, O Lord, as we seek to be made whole.

Rooted in our faith in You and love for our country, we want to participate in Your work of transformation of persons, families, organizations, and society.

Through the transforming power of the love of Your Heart, we draw a new dynamism, a strong inspiration, a fire, which can change and transfigure our lives as individuals and as a nation, (Please pause for a specific intention.)

Love of the Heart of Jesus, give us courage and patience. Wisdom of the Heart of Jesus, teach us to pray and to act with hope and charity at all times. Amen...

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!"

A Love Poem

Before the very dawn of time,
Before the earth was round;
Before there was a sight to see,
Or what we know as sound...

God formed you then, within His mind,
With expertise and care;
He planned each detail in advance,
He numbered every hair.

He picked your very temperament,
He planned your every day;
He knew exactly what you'd do
And just what would say.

He chose you then to be His own,
To live with Him on high;
He wrote you on His very palms,
The apple of His eye.

He made you gifts to pleasure you,
To brighten up your eyes;
He made the earth, He made the sea,
He made the endless skies.

To bring you joy, He made the birds,
To see you smile, the flowers;
To comfort you when things go wrong
He made the springtime showers.

He gave His angles a command
To guard in all you do;
Because you're precious in His sight
He did all this for you.

An when He saw you steeped in sin,
With love personified
He cloaked Himself in human flesh,
Came down to earth, and died.

With His own blood He paid the price,
He washed your sins away;
With love so great it conquered death,
He rose on the third day.

And now He sits upon His throne
In heaven up above;
He's waiting there to hold you close,
And all because of LOVE!

-Connie Hinnen Cook

The Best Day of My Life

Today, when I awoke,
I suddenly realized that this is
the best of my life, ever!

There were times when I wondered if
I would make it to today; but I did!
And because I did
I'm going to celebrate!

Today, I'm going to celebrate what
an unbelievable life I have had so far:
the accomplishments, the many blessings,
and, yes, even the hardships because
they have served to make me stronger.

I will go through this day with my head
held high, and a happy heart.

I will marvel at God's seemingly simple
gifts: the morning des, the sun, the
clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds.
Today, none of these miraculous creations
will escape my notice.

Today, I will share my excitement for life
with other people. I'll make someone
smile. I'll go out of my way to perform
an unexpected act of kindness for someone
I don't even know.

Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to
someone who seems down. I'll tell a child
how special he is, and I'll tell someone
I love just how deeply I care for them
and how much they mean to me.

Today is the day I quit worrying about
what I don't have and start being grateful
for all the wonderful things
God has already given me.

I'll remember that to worry is just a
waste of time because my faith in God
and His Divine Plan ensures everything
will be just fine.

Tonight, before I go to bed, I'll go
outside and raise my eyes to the heavens.
I will stand in awe at the beauty of the
stars and the moon, and I will praise God
for these magnificent treasures.

As the day ends and I lay my head down
on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty
for the best day of my life. And I will
sleep the sleep of a contented child,
excited with expectation because I know
tomorrow is going to be...

THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!

http://my.homewithgod.com/

God's Promises : An Open Letter from Jesus

God has given us promises that we can rely on when we are in need of comfort
and assurance. These promises were made by a loving Heavenly Father and it is
very comforting to know that God loves us and He ALWAYS keeps His promises. When
praying to the Father, take His promises before Him.

To everyone,

"Did you think that I didn't hear you when you cried out to Me in your time of need?
Truly, I did hear you. If I hear the final cry of every sparrow that falls in death, would I not hear you?"

"Did you wonder if I was listening when you prayed to Me for an answer to the troubles that weighed you down? Indeed, I was listening. If I listen intently for the very heartbeat of every baby conceived in the womb, would I not listen when that child prays? I listened, and I remember precisely the instant that your heart took it's first beat; the moment that you took your first gasping breath upon leaving the security of your mother's womb; the contented sigh of relief at your first belly full of warm milk. And, though you've grown up, I still listen for every word spoken in My direction."

"Do you think that I don't know when problems come into your life? I know everything there is to know about you! Even the very hairs of your head are numbered! I've watched you daily, from those first tentative steps and groping words to your very first love; and I was there, cheering you on, though you never knew it."

"Did you think that I was unconcerned because you didn't receive an instantaneous answer to your prayer? My dear child, I am more concerned for you than you will ever know. If I were not, would I have sent my son to earth in the flesh and allowed your kind to mock Him, spit on Him, beat Him, and nail Him up on a cross for all to see? He gave His life for You! He poured out His very life's blood in order to pay a price for your life, and to set you free! Would I have done that if I was unconcerned?"

"Or did you accept the devil's lie that I didn't even exist? Can you really believe his lies when the very magnitude and complexity of the universe bears witness to the unquestionable fact that they are My handywork? When everything that you can see and not see is a work of My perfection, delicately balanced and timed, from the spiraling galaxies to the spinning atoms? Is it possible to comprehend such an intricate work and say,

"There is no God?"
"Take a good look at yourself!
You are the very epitome of My work!
You are My greatest creation!
A one-of-a-kind human being.""

Of the seventy billion humans that have lived and walked this planet, there has been no other exactly like you. I created you perfect! I created you with a hundred million receptors in your eyes so that you could see the beauty around you; I created you with twenty-four thousand vibrating fibers in your inner ears to hear the softest whisper of the wind; I designed five hundred muscles, two hundred bones, and seven miles of nerve fibers, all wrapped in a renewable, nearly indestructible layer of skin and tissue. I gave you a heart that pulses hour after hour, day after day, thirty-six million beats a year, pumping blood through more than ninety-six thousand miles of veins and arteries to give your body life and keep it free of disease; and I gave you a brain that is the most complex organ in all of the universe, made up of one-hundred-trillion cells and crisscrossed with twenty-five billion nerve cells to help you retain the minutest memory; and I equipped your body with four million pain-sensitive structures, five hundred thousand touch detectors, and over two hundred thousand temperature detectors! And then, to top it all off, I gave you the ability to reason, to dream, to imagine, and to speak; things that no other of My creatures can do.

And, as a final touch, after creating that magnificent body that you live in, I created the real you, the inner you, the spirit that I created in My likeness, and I breathed you into your body at the instant of birth. "And you were connected to Me then, but you never knew it. Deep inside of you you knew, because I planted that knowledge of Me there, but over the years you have allowed the things of the world to choke that knowledge out. In the beginning, however, you were perfect; My greatest creation; molded in My own image. Don't you find it really quite humorous, to think that some could adamantly believe that this all came about by chance or evolution?"

Could such a masterpiece have come about simply by chance?

"If you can see the truth in this, then how can you think that I didn't
hear you?"

"Behold, I am standing at your heart's door, knocking and asking entrance, but I will not force My will on you. Call to Me now and ask Me to come in; into your heart and your life. Call to Me, for I am listening and waiting even as you read this. I'm only a word away, and if you will invite Me in, I will come in and never will I leave you alone. Give Me your heart and your love and, as I live, saith the Lord, this day you shall be one with Me in Paradise."


Forever,
JESUS

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

This is one of my favorite prayers in my entire life....
Believe in the power of prayer... this is the most important...

Three Stages of Friendship

Friendship and friends continue to remain central to our lives. The relationship that we share with our friends is grounded in a mutual concern as our friends help us in shaping up our personalities as well. Even in this age of online social networking, the need of expanding the network of friends, whether online or offline remains a primary concern for people. We may have a very vague understanding of what makes a friend but we all want to have a good many number of friends around us.

Research has shown that the quality and nature of your friends are one of the key influencing factors in achieving happiness, self esteem, and satisfaction. Friends often affect the health and energy of a person as well. More and more people are increasingly turning towards their friends for support and mutual sharing rather than communicating to their relatives; and this sociological phenomenon has escalated the desire to make more friends. Though friendship is an impulsive relationship developed between two autonomous individuals marked by a voluntary, emotional and mutual concern, but there are certain steps, which, if implemented can win you friends or at least help you get close to those whom you want to make your friends.

The first step to make friends with someone is to make them like you. If they don't like you in the first place, it is unlikely that they'll be eager to become your friends. To let someone know that you are genuinely interested in them, simple gestures like a little smile and calling him by his name can lay the basic foundation. To make the other person feel important you need to be a good listener and encourage the other person to talk. Give your honest and sincere opinion but do not overtly criticize or make fun of him or her.

The second step of making someone your friend is to develop a mutual consideration between each other. You need to share his or her perspective and for that it is necessary for you to develop an inclination to see things from the other person's point of view. To become best of friends you must show a genuine concern and consideration for your friend's desires and opinions.

The third and final step towards friendship is to show your unconditional support and encouragement towards your friend. Moreover, you also need to be very clear about your expectations from your friend. If what you expect from the person you want to befriend, matches with what that person can and want to contribute in friendship, the developing friendship between you and your friend is assured to flourish, making both of you gratified with mutual emotional bonding.

Friendship has overwhelming significance on both social and individual level. Friendship doesn't only provide us with emotional as well as utilitarian support but it also helps us to improve our personal identities. So it is quite natural to feel the urge to reach out and make new friends, expanding your friend's circle. Using the internet and the associated services like free friendship ecards come as a natural extension to this escalating aspiration. Friendship remains familiar yet quite ambiguous for our deeper understanding of this elusive relationship but then again, friends remain the most important ingredients in the recipe of life!

To Believe...

To believe is to know that every
day is a new beginning.
It is to trust that miracles happen,
and dreams really do come true.

To believe is to see angels
dancing among the clouds
To know the wonder of a stardust sky
and the wisdom of the man in the moon.

To believe is to know the value
of a nurturing heart,
The innocence of a child's eyes and the
beauty of an aging hand,
for it is through their teachings we learn to love.

To believe is to find the strength and
courage that lies within us.
When it is time to pick up
the pieces and begin again.

To believe is to know we are not alone,
That life is a gift and this is our
time to cherish it.

To believe is to know that wonderful
surprises are just waiting to happen,
And all our hopes and dreams
are within reach.

If only we believe.

Keep Smiling!!! :)

If at times you feel you want to cry
And life seems such a trial
Above the clouds theres a bright blue sky
So make your tears a smile.

As you travel on lifes way
With its many ups and downs
Remember its quite true to say
One smile is worth a dozen frowns.

Among the worlds expensive things
A smile is very cheap
And when you give a smile away,
You get one back to keep.

Happiness comes at times to all
But sadness comes unbidden
And sometimes a few tears must fall
Among the laughter hidden.

So when friends have sadness on their face
And troubles round them piled
The world will seem a better place
And all because you smiled.

The Journey of the Soul

Your heart is filled with pain,
Your mind cluttered with confusion.

Pieces of your life fall around you
Like raindrops in a storm.

The path you chose so long ago
Led you straight to hurts door.

Now your weary feet struggle
To find the road back home,
Searching for the places
That love and beauty hide.

Temptations lie in wait all around,
Pulling at your every step,
Waiting for you to slide back
From the chosen, sought for, path.

Emptiness surrounds you,
Confusing your perceptions.
It is difficult to carry on.

I will do my best to fill your heart with joy,
To clear the cobwebs of confusion,
Help you find your purpose.

I am good at catching pieces
And I can chase away a storm.

Let me walk your path beside you,
I have walked this road before.

You can lean on me when the weariness comes.
My shoulders are very strong.

I can not fight your battles,
Or chase away demons of the soul,
But I can lend you my strength
Until you find your own.

I will help you find the courage
To face each day anew.

I can not shorten the journey you must make,
The road is just as long as before.

But I can fill the emptiness
And help you reach your center,
The place where love and beauty hide.

Take my hand, be my friend,
Let me walk with you awhile.

How to overcome stress?

Most of them must experienced stress in our daily lives especially in our workplace and also, in our homes. To know about how to overcome stress, here's an article based by Matthew Goudge:

Stress is part of everyone’s life. It has become so natural that people often ignore it. Unfortunately, it can take a heavy toll on your health. Your immune system can suffer severely in the long run. It is, therefore, important that you know the symptoms of stress, so you will know how to recognize them when you are exhibiting them yourself. You are at risk at being stressed out, so you need to learn stress management in order to prevent health complications arising from too much stress.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Stress

Stress management starts with learning how to recognize the various symptoms. It can be difficult to detect these symptoms at the early stages. In fact, people often rarely recognize them. Stress can manifest itself emotionally or psychologically. It is often accompanied by anxieties and panic attacks. You may even experience bouts of depression. There are people who experience fluctuating blood pressure. Some people report sudden weight loss or weight gain. There are people who experience disturbed sleep or sleeping difficulties. The most common symptom of stress is fatigue. If your energy stays low for long periods of time, you may be suffering from severe stress.

Coping with Stress through Stress Management

Stress management starts with the basics. You need to make sure that you sleep well and eat well. Often people forget to give themselves a break especially if they are working too hard. You need to devote time to sleeping, eating and physical activities. Hit the gym every now and then. Go for a walk or take up jogging. It is easy to forego these activities when the demands of work and deadline are great. Therefore, you need to take conscious efforts in order to make sure that you protect yourself against stress.

Aside from the basics, you also need to adopt a more positive mental attitude. You should let go of things that are not really important. Instead, dedicate your attention to activities that will help you achieve your goals. Now, this is not easy. There are a lot of things that would demand your time and attention, so you need to learn to share the load. Learn to delegate responsibilities. You don’t have to do everything. You need to direct your attention to achieving success, but you don’t have to drive yourself to the ground just to achieve your goals.

Stress can take a huge toll on your health. You need to learn stress management in order to prevent complications arising from living a stressful life. You will greatly benefit from learning how to properly keep stress at bay.

Your Smile

Happiness does become you
Your smile, it lights the world
A precious gift to those around you
Happiness is a child.
Nurture her
Take care of her
Nourish her with your love.
Keep her safe
Hold her close to you
Happiness is a dove.
Let him fly, let him be free
To soar the heavens wide
To spread the peace and happiness
Your heart knows deep inside.

-Pauline Oliver

25 Random Things About ME

1. I lived at Calamba City, Laguna, the place where Dr. Jose Rizal was born.

2. My zodiac sign is Scorpio, and it fits me quite well, some of celebrities born under the zodiac sign are Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto, Christopher de Leon, Jolina Magdangal, etc.

3. I am very passionate about my career.

4. I feel so blessed to work for such an exciting company with so many fabulous people.

5. I'm family-oriented and God-fearing.

6. I laugh at myself daily and try not to take anything too seriously.

7. I love travelling.

8. I love all colors but my most favorite color is blue (preferably, sky blue).

9. My favorite foods are Filipino, Chinese, Italian, and Japanese.

10. I love watching films especially sci-fi adventure, action and comedy, sometimes I watch romantic comedies.

11. In my spare time, I enjoy hanging out with my family, friends and my special someone.

12. I enjoy reading and believe knowledge is power. My favorite books are Bible and The Purpose Driven Life (Rick Warren). From now on, I currently read Twilight series (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn) by Stephenie Meyer.

12. I love fashion.

13. Friendster, Facebook and Blogger are my favorite online social networking sites.

14. I do hope to marry and have kids one day.

15. Tom Cruise is my all-time favorite Hollywood actor.

16. I love photographs and also.

17. I like music hits from the 80's till present especially MJ and Madonna hits.

18. These Dreams (Heart) and You Are Not Alone (Michael Jackson) are my fave songs.

19. Bowling and badminton are my favorite sports but I don't like volleyball because I had a minor accident since high school days.

20. Barangay Ginebra is my favorite PBA team while LA Lakers is the NBA's counterpart... Ayt...

21. I love shopping specially in supermarket. I usually shopped at any SM Malls and sometimes, Ayala Malls... hehehe

22. I love collected clothes, bags, and even magazines especially Meg.

23. My favorite NCAA team is Letran Knights coz I’m graduated at my Alma Mater... Arriba Letran!!!

24. 5 things I don't leave my house without wallet, cellphone, key, make-up kit (with key), and of course... umbrella... hehehe

25. I love blogging coz it express my thoughts and also, to share the other side of myself. I read all blogs on the net and one of the most I’m really interested to read is + A M D G + by athlete/TV host/commercial model Chris Tiu.

Everyone Needs Someone

A Helen Steiner Rice's masterpiece that is one of my favorite poems that deals with friendship:

People need people and friends need friends
And we all need love for a full life depends
Not on vast riches or great acclaim,
Not on success or on worldly fame,
But just in knowing that someone cares
And holds us close in their thoughts and prayers-
For only the knowledge that we're understood
Makes everyday living feel wonderfully good,
And we rob ourselves of life's greatest need
When we "lock up our hearts" and fail to heed
The outstretched hand reaching to find
A kindred spirit whose heart and mind
Are lonely and longing to somehow share
Our joys and sorrows and to make us aware
That life's completeness and richness depends
On the things we share with our loved ones and friends.

Gone Too Soon: Michael Jackson (1958-2009)

There is only one icon that was really a great loss to the music industry worldwide. His name: MICHAEL JACKSON. The news was really shocked worldwide about the death of King of Pop.

Actually, my reaction when I heard the news is... I was really shocked coz I cannot believed that the King of Pop is dead. When I heard the MJ's music, I reminisce the beautiful songs I've ever heard on my playlist especially my favorite "You Are Not Alone"... How sad... So, let us pay tribute the life and music of King of Pop Michael Jackson.

King of Pop Michael Jackson (real name: Michael Joseph Jackson) was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary Indiana. He was the seventh of nine children to African-American parents Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson and Katherine Ester. His siblings are Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Randy and Janet. He made his debut into the professional music scene in 1968 at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5. Then, he began a solo career in 1971 while still member of the group. Referred to as the "King of Pop" in subsequent years, his 1982 album Thrille remains the world's best-selling album of all time and four of his solo studio albums are among the world's best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory: Past, Present and Future (Book I) (1995).

In the early 1980s, he became a dominant figure in popular music and the first African American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. The popularity of his music videos airing on MTV, such as "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" widely credited with transforming the music video from a promotional tool into an art form—helped bring the relatively new channel to fame. Videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" made Jackson an enduring staple on MTV in the 1990s. With stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced many hip hop, pop and contemporary R&B artists across several generations.

Jackson donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his foundations, charity singles, and support of 39 charities. Other aspects of his personal life, including his often changing appearances and eccentric behavior, generated significant controversy which damaged his public image. Though he was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993, the criminal investigation was closed due to lack of evidence and Jackson was not charged. The singer had experienced health concerns since the early 1990s and conflicting reports regarding the state of his finances since the late 1990s. Jackson married twice and fathered three children, actions which caused further controversy. In 2005, Jackson was tried and acquitted of further sexual abuse allegations and several other charges.

One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records—including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time"—13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles in his solo career, and the sale of 750 million records worldwide.

Michael Jackson died at the age of 50 on June 25, 2009 due to cardiac arrest. At the time of his death, he was preparing for This Is It, a series of 50 concerts that would have been held in London beginning July 13, 2009.

Millions of fans suffers grief about the death of King of Pop. As one of MJ fan, most of the songs are considered as all-time favorite but my favorite songs are Billie Jean, Thriller, Beat It, Heal the World and You Are Not Alone. Thank you, Michael for giving the music that gives us inspiration to the fans around the globe. It was really seem appreciate what we have until it is gone. His legend lives and music remain in our hearts forever. You may rest in peace into the hands of God...

A Father's Day Prayer

Let us praise those fathers who have striven to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice. Let us praise those fathers who, lacking a good model for a father, have worked to become a good father.

Let us praise those fathers who by their own account were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support. Let us pray for those fathers who have been wounded by the neglect and hostility of their children.

Let us praise those fathers who, despite divorce, have remained in their children's lives. Let us praise those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has offered healing.

Let us praise those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and earned their step children's love and respect. Let us praise those fathers who have lost a child to death, and continue to hold the child in their heart.

Let us praise those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own.

Let us praise those men who have "fathered" us in their role as mentors and guides.

Let us praise those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children.

And let us praise those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us.

God our Father, in your wisdom and love you made all things. Bless these men, that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor them always
with a spirit of profound respect.

Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

To tatay, your the best dad in the whole world. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!! :)

The Secrets of being Happiness

What makes people happy? Happiness brings us some memories which shares our happiest moments/experiences in our daily lives. I believe that being a happy person brings us some fun, good memories and nobody else that we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. So happiness is a choice. When I browsed the net, I find out that there are some secrets of being a happy people. According to George Sand, "There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved." So, I'd like to share an article based by Donald Latumahina entitled "Being Happy 17 Timeless Secrets of Happy People" :

"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." (Leo Tolstoy)

There are many ways for people to be unhappy, but happy people have common characteristics. That’s why a good way to be happy is to learn the common characteristics of happy people and apply them.

Here I’d like to share what I learned with you, so here are 17 timeless secrets of happy people:

1. Forget the past
"One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory." (Rita Mae Brown)

You won’t be happy if you carry the burden of the past. Did you make mistakes? Did you have terrible experiences? Whatever they are, you should let them go. There’s nothing you can do about the past, so you’d better let them go and focus your energy on the present.

2. Take responsibility for your life
"The secret of Happiness is Freedom, and the secret of Freedom, Courage." (Thucydides)

To be happy you should have freedom and the most essential freedom is the freedom to choose. No matter how bad a situation is, you can always choose how you respond to it. People can annoy you, but it’s up to you whether or not you will resent.

But, as the quote above says, freedom takes courage. Freedom to choose requires the courage to take responsibility for your life. You shouldn’t blame someone else when something goes wrong. Take the responsibility and you have the power to choose.

3. Build relationships
"Life’s truest happiness is found in friendships we make along the way."
(Unknown)

Relationships is where we can get true happiness in life. The reason is simple: only through relationships can we love and be loved. Make relationships your top priority and you are on your way to true happiness

4. Develop multiple passions
"The more passions and desires one has, the more ways one has of being happy." (Charlotte-Catherine)

Passions lead you to happiness. So not only should you discover your multiple passions, you should also expand yourself to new passions. This way you will create new ways to happiness.

The key to expanding to new passions is curiosity. If you are curious, you will have an endless stream of exciting things waiting for you.


5. Build your character
"Character is the basis of happiness and happiness the sanction of character". (George Santayana)

Building your character is essential for happiness. When you are true to yourself and others, you will be in peace.

The way to start building character is by making promises and keeping them. For example, you make promise to yourself that you won’t smoke. When you keep it, you are building your character. Or you make promise to others to be punctual. When you keep it, you build your character.

6. Be who you are
"The summit of happiness is reached when a person is ready to be what he is". (Desiderius Erasmus)

You can only be happy if you become who you are. Don’t live other people’s life by trying to meet their expectations. People may expect you to have certain job or certain way of living but don’t be intimidated by them. Find who you are and be yourself.

7. Live your life purpose
"The only true happiness comes from squandering ourselves for a purpose." (William Cowper)

To have a fulfilling life, you should find your life purpose and follow it faithfully. Find what matters to you and build the courage to follow it. Having a one-liner will help you internalize and communicate your mission.

8. Count your blessings
"Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have." (Unknown)

Being happy is easy if we are grateful. Unfortunately, seeing what we don’t have is often easier than seeing what we have. Sometimes we need to experience loss before appreciating what we have. So don’t take things for granted. Look at what you have and soon you will have plenty of reasons to be happy. You may start with these simple things.

9. Have positive mind
"It is not the place, nor the condition, but the mind alone that can make anyone happy or miserable." (Roger L’Estrange)

Happy people know how to control their mind. They don’t let negative thoughts come in. While a situation may seem bad to others, happy people look at them in a positive way. They always believe that no matter how bad a situation seems, there is always something positive to take from it. Your mind can make or break you, so guard it well.

10. Work creatively
"Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort." (Franklin D. Roosevelt)

When you work creatively on something you will find happiness. There is a well-known phenomenon regarding this called flow. When you are in the state of flow, you are fully focused on the task at hand that you no longer realize the passage of time. This state of flow allows you to achieve high productivity and being happy at the same time. Here are some tips to achieve it.

11. Start with what you have
"The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet". (James Oppenheim)

Happy people don’t need something they don’t have to be happy. They don’t need certain job or certain level of income. Instead, they learn to be happy with what they already have. They have learned the art of contentment. Be content with what you have and you will be happy.

12. Change
"They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom". (Confucius)

Being happy requires you to constantly grow. In fact, the process of learning itself is essential for happiness. Have you ever felt the excitement of being enlightened about something? Have you ever felt the excitement of achieving a new level in life? Top 10 Things You Should Change in Your Life gives you some practical tips on changing your life.

13. Use your talents
"True happiness involves the full use of one’s power and talents." (Douglas Pagels)

There are two lessons to take from this quote. First, you should find your talents and second, you should use them to the fullest. Working in your talents is a sure way to enjoy your work because it’s something you are “hardwired” to do. Using your talents fully will make you even happier because of the satisfaction of doing your best.

14. Beware of small things
"The happiness of most people we know is not ruined by great catastrophes or fatal errors, but by the repetition of slowly destructive little things." (Ernest Dimnet)

This is very true. Often it’s not big things that ruin your happiness. It’s the small things that do. Perhaps you don’t like someone or break some “small” promises. But even small leaks can sink your ship of happiness, so beware of them.

15. Distill your ambitions
"Where ambition ends happiness begins." (Author Unknown)

While wanting to achieve more in your life is good, being obsessed by it is not. Do your best to improve yourself but don’t be obsessed by it.

16. Make others happy
"Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

This is my favorite secret of happiness. The way to being happy is to make others happy first. The more you help other people and make them happy, the more you will be happy. Happiness doesn’t come through selfishness but through selflessness. You reap what you sow.

17. Practice compassion
"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." (The Dalai Lama)

Compassion is perhaps the highest level of selflessness we could have. As this quote aptly says, practicing compassion can make both others and you happy.

But of course, it requires practice. Start with thinking about the people around you. Look at their needs and find ways to meet them. Even if you don’t do it out of compassion in the beginning, your compassion will grow over time.

All in all, this quote by Aristotle can summarize the lessons above:

Happiness depends upon ourselves.

It’s you who decide whether or not you are happy in life.

I choose to be happy. What about you?

The Heart of a Young Leader

“The Key to developing people is to catch them doing something right.”

Catching people doing things right is a powerful management concept. Unfortunately, most leaders have a genius way of catching people doing things wrong. It will be better that leaders spend at least an hour a week wandering around their operation catching people doing things right BUT effective praising must be specific. Just walking around saying “Thanks for everything” is meaningless. If you say “Great job” to a poor performer and, “Great job” to a good performer, you sound ridiculous to the poor performer and you “demotivate” the good performer.

Catching people doing things right provides satisfaction and motivates good performance. But remember, give praise immediately, make it specific, and finally, encourage people to keep up the good work. This principle can also help you shine at home. It’s a marvelous way to interact with and affirm the people in your life.

Tips on Making a GOOD LEADERSHIP

A good leader must set as an example for future generations. It must be based on the good credibility and responsibility as a person. Here are some tips on how to make a good leader based an article by Myron Curry, President of BusinessTrainingMedia.com entitled "LEADERSHIP - What Makes a Good Leader":

It goes without saying that good leadership is crucial to any successful business. But, what makes a good leader and how can someone develop himself or herself into a good leader if they are not one to begin with? The answer is that there are many factors that contribute to good leadership. And, whether someone is naturally a good leader or not, anyone can become a good leader.

GET TALKING

One of those factors of good leadership is communication. Communication is one of the most key elements of leadership. Good communication skills need to be learned to effectively become a good leader or manager. When communication occurs, as a leader, you will be able to accurately convey your ideas and thoughts to those that work for you. In fact, simply being able to convey these things in the first place, much less accurately, puts you in the right direction for leadership. If employees have no idea what is on your mind, your leadership is going to falter. Employees are not typically mind readers.

If there is a problem a certain employee is experiencing, good communication can filter the problem out. You, as a leader, can dissect the problem and offer solutions in various ways.

Ideas that are given to employees work both ways, as well. Employees can give helpful feedback and generate new ideas to you that help the company as well, when good communication is present.


GET THINGS MOVING

Motivation is another variable that plays into good leadership. Employees tend to stagnate when motivation decreases…and it will decrease, without proper motivation. Many leaders try to motivate the old-fashioned way…through fear. (Do what I say or something bad will happen) This is not advisable, since it tends to only deliver short-term results and cause even less competent work in the long run, due to resentment resulting from the fear tactics.

Instead, try adding challenges for employees. A fresh challenge always adds excitement and spawns creativity. Challenge your employees with tasks that may be slightly out of their range and let them at it! This increases motivation.

If they run into a snag, guide them towards a solution but don’t offer the actual solution outright. Coach them into discovering the solution themselves. Once they have, their self-esteem will rise, thereby raising their motivation level.

TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE

Teamwork is always something to consider when striving to become a good leader. This means not only teaching your employees to work together but to become part of the team yourself.

Use others’ potential. Many times, employees’ potential is wasted. A good leader recognizes that his or her employees are more than just employees, they are people too. These people have lives outside of work where they have to make decisions on a daily basis, from how to deal with house payments, to car bills, to raising children, to uncountable tasks in everyday lives. Yet, at work, their decision making skills are not trusted enough to choose what type of toner needs to be ordered for a set of printers.

The point here is that employees need to be trusted to do more. A good leader doesn’t manage every single detail. Use others’ potential to your benefit. You will find that you have become a better leader for it.

BACK TO SCHOOL

As always, increasing your education is definitely a good thing when trying to improve leadership, but the school that really needs to be brought at attention here is the kind of school that you don’t get a degree for.

Take the time to learn as much about your position of being a leader as possible. Do some reading at the nearest bookstore. Talk to other leaders and see how they do things; trade notes. The more you continually evaluate yourself and your practices and search for as much information on leadership as possible, the more you will be able to keep up with changing times and the better leader you will be for it.

A Mother's Prayer

A mother's gift is to give life. But in the daily demands of feeding and forming, cleaning and cautioning, tending and teaching, her gift can get lost in the layers. She needs to remember that her work begins with herself. To be attentive to others, she must listen to her own heart. To care for others, she must take time for herself. To teach self-love to others, she must act lovingly towards her own body and her time.
If she finds her own sparks, she will fan them in those around her. If she frees her own spirit, she will help others soar. If she focuses each moment by being wholly present, she will point the way to holiness and to God.
And if she truly lives, she will give real life to the world, not only in her children's bodies, but in their souls.

Here's a prayer for all mother's all over the world:

O, Lord
I need your help today.
I want to care
for those you've sent into my life,
to help them develop the special gifts
you've given them.
But I also want to free them
to follow their own paths
and to bring their loving wisdom
to the world.

Help me
to embrace them without clutching,
to support them without suffocating,
to correct them without crushing.

And help me
to live joyfully and playfully, myself,
so they can see your life in me
and find their way to you.
Amen.

To nanay, thank you so much for your care, understanding, patience and love. I will never forget you. Love you, nanay...

Happy Mother's Day... :)

Tips on Choosing a Pair of Jeans

Most people have a number of pairs of jeans in their closet but use only one or two the most. That's because they love the way those jeans look on them.

The next time you buy jeans, keep the following things in mind so you land with a pair that will be among your favorites.

* Choose a pair of jeans that fits you comfortably no matter what the size on the tag says. Some people refuse to get a better fitting pair because they're in denial that they've jumped one size bigger.

* To make you look taller, the length of your jeans should cover your heels and should almost reach the floor. So when you shop, wear shoes with heels that you usually wear with your jeans.

* Go for darker jeans. Light or stonewashed may make you look bigger and heavier. If you're conscious about your behind, stay away from jeans without pockets. Choose angled back pockets instead.

* Flared legs add bulk so opt for boot cut instead. Aside from being stylish, this cut gives an illusion of longer legs.

* Bring a friends along to help you decide how the jeans look on you.

(Source: Kerygma Magazine, 2005 issue)

KEEP IN TOUCH, FRIENDS

There are times that someone who really miss a friends or barkadas since grade school to college... Sometimes, i meet new friends and i'm still getting to know him/her.

But for now, i did'nt see my friends in elementary to college days despite of my commitment. one of my easiest way to communicate with my friends thru my friendster and facebook, especially my alma mater since highschool (sjaalumni). It keeps much getting closer with my friends the way to communicate online.

Miss you all and hope to see you soon...


Graphics for I Miss You Comments

Giving Cheerfully

This article is based on Kerygma Magazine March 2006 issue which deals on how people stregthens a deep closer relationship with God through giving Himself cheerfully...

Remember the Parable of the Rich Fool? He had a lot of harvest but he hoarded it for himself. What he didn'y know was that Gog was going to take his life that night. And the Lord condemned him as a fool not because he had a lot of money but because he wasn't working at becoming "rich in the sight of God."

In Sirach 35:7-10 we are told: "In generous spirit pay homage to the LORD, be not sparing of freewill gifts. With each contribution show a cheerful countenance, and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy." Our giving should be marked by:

*Cheerful giving
The giving money is not designed to be a drudgery. God wants the use of all of our resources to be a reflection of our love for Him and for one another. As people of faith in Jesus, we don't give out of guilt; we give out of freedom! God gives us material for sacrifice so we have something to give back to Him.

*Living within our means
Stop spending on what you can't afford to stop borrowing to fund your wants. Aspire to "lend to many nations and borrow from none" (Deuteronomy 28:12).

*Giving as a lifestyle
Think about it: Giving hurts if you do not it only once. But if you acquire the habit of giving to God, it becomes second nature. It's like trying to build up muscles by going to the gym only once. It won't do anything. You need to work out regularly for your muscles to form.

We are God's Dwelling Place

Here's a message that relates me a lot and it makes me very inspiring word that could touch my heart:

We Are Gods Dwelling Place - Himig Heswita

My Friends in SPi

Here are some my memorable photographs with my friends in SPi, then and now...

Putting God First

In Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us to seek Gods' kingdom first and everything else will be added unto us. How do we put Him first?

1. Stop Worrying

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, What you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?" (Matthew 6:25).

According to devotional writer Oswald Chambers, worrying means that we do not think God can look after the practical details of our lives.

2. Stop Seeking What the Pagans Seek

"So do not worry and say 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all" (Matthew 6:31-32).

Trust that God is looking after you and He provides for you.

3. Start Seeking God's Kingdom and Righteousness

"But seek first thev kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be giveen you besides" (Matthew 6:33).

Get to know "His way of doing thinfs and being right." Give God makes top priority in your life by following His Word and living your life to please Him.


(Source: Kerygma Magazine, Vol. 15, No. 178, 2005)

The Heat is On!

It's summer, the perfect time to enjoy outdoor activities and stay out in the sun. It's the perfect bonding time for family and friends while going to the places like Boracay, Puerto Galera and many others in able to stay cool and relax this season.

Here are some reminders when working out in the sun:

* Don't wait until you're thirsty before getting a drink. By then you're already dehydrated. Drink lot of fluids - especially water, juice and non-caffeinated drinks 15 minuts before your workout and every quarter of an hour throughout the exercise.

* Try to avoid staying under the sun from 10 AM to 3 PM when its rays are at its fiercest. This will be caused skin cancer and other skin disorders.

* Wear clothes that are cool and light. Cotton allows your body to breathe and light colors do not absorb heat as much as dark colors. This clothes and be comfortable.

*Don't forget to apply sunscreen (or sunblock) even when the day is overcast. Sunburn affects your body's ability to stay cool.

Have fun this summer! Enjoy!!! :)

6 Success Strategies for a Bad Economy

Most of the companies here and around the world experienced global competition in able to gain customer satisfaction and to meet quality standards and services. Here is Robert Half International's article entitled "6 Success Strategies for a Bad Economy" (http://msn.careerbuilder.com)

In the current economy, every worker is looking for a leg up on the competition. But knowing how to advance your career or simply prove your value to your employer can be difficult. Consider the following six tips to position yourself for success in any economy, particularly an uncertain one like today's:

1. Be open to change.

A common reaction when many aspects of your life are in flux is to cling to your usual ways of doing things. But uncertain times call for individuals who can adapt to new ways of working. Adopt an open-minded approach and remain enthusiastic even when there are shifts in organizational structure, procedures or workload.

2. Look for new opportunities.

Keep in mind that changes to your organization or role aren't simply something to cope with; they could bring new opportunities. If the size of department has decreased in recent months, for example, you may be asked to shoulder new responsibilities, which, down the road, could position you well for advancement.

3. Don't overdo it.

Even in tough times, it's important to establish boundaries. It's never a bad idea to volunteer for projects that allow you to build new skills and experience, especially if your team is short-staffed. But taking on too much can lead to burnout and lackluster work. If you feel overwhelmed with the number of projects on your plate, ask your manager to help you prioritize. He or she may be able to work with you to find a solution, whether it's bringing in a temporary worker or delegating some projects to another colleague.

4. Keep a cool head.

In the midst of budget cuts or layoffs, it's easy to be so worried about your own situation that you lose focus. While it's natural to be concerned about your job, your colleagues and your company when business is slow, avoid obsessing over "what might happen." It's better to be the steady hand during turbulent times. Pay attention to your company's situation and take action where necessary - after all, you don't want to bury your head in the sand. Just avoid becoming so consumed with speculation that you fail to do good work.

5. Know your skill set's expiration date.

Prove yourself indispensable by staying current with all software and systems used by your company, and make sure your customer service skills shine. Do so not only to maintain your value to your current employer but also to remain marketable if you do find yourself back in the job market. Whether it's refining your communication skills or becoming an expert in a software program relevant to your field, always strive to continue your professional development.

6. Take your blinders off

No matter the state of the economy, keep your eyes open for new opportunities that allow you to advance professionally. You don't want to jump recklessly from one employer to another, but you should be prepared to make a move if the right opening presents itself. Be sure your résumé is up-to-date, and keep in contact with people in your network to get a feel for what opportunities exist in your field.

It's unclear how long the current downturn will last, but the above advice can help you weather the storm. Being proactive and keeping a steady hand when times are turbulent will benefit you now and pave the way for success once conditions improve.

My Fave 80's Hits (New Wave)

TRUE FAITH
(New Order)

I feel so extraordinary
Something's got a hold on me
I get this feeling I'm in motion
A sudden sense of liberty
I don't care cause I'm not there
And I don't care if I'm here tomorrow
Again and again I've taken too much
Of the things that cost you too much

Chorus:
I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see delight in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear
I used to think that the day would never come
That my life would depend on the morning sun...

When I was a very small boy,
Very small boys talked to me
Now that we've grown up together
They're afraid of what they see
Thats the price that we all pay
Our valued destiny comes to nothing
I can't tell you where were going
I guess there was just no way of knowing
(Repeat Chorus)

I feel so extraordinary
Something's got a hold on me
I get this feeling I'm in motion
A sudden sense of liberty
The chances are we've gone too far
You took my time and you took my money
Now I fear you've left me standing
In a world that's so demanding
(Repeat Chorus)

CHANGE
(Tears for Fears)

You walked into the room, I just had to laugh
The face you wore was cool, you were a photograph
When it's all too late, it's all too late

I did not have the time, I did not have the nerve
To ask you how you feel, is this what you deserved?
When it's all too late, it's all too late

Chorus:
Change, You can change
Change, You can change

And something on your mind became a point of view
I lost your honesty you lost the life in you
When it's all too late, it's all too late

We walk and talk in time, I walk and talk in two
Where does the end of me become the start of you
When it's all too late, it's all too late
(Repeat Chorus)

What has happened to the friend that I once knew?
Has he gone away?

When it's all too late, it's all too late... Change
(Repeat Chorus)

*These are my 80's fave hits during childhood days. It's a cool, nice song... :)

An Open Letter to GOD

This letter is one of my touching experience in my life during a retreat at Caleruega Convent, Nasugbu, Batangas. Here's a letter that can relates to our daily lives...

My Love _______. (Song of Solomon 10:6)

I love you (Jn. 15:9). I have called you by your name,
you are mine (Is. 43:1). Before I formed you, I knew you.
Before you were born, I consecrated you (Jer. 1:5). You did
not choose me, I chose you (Jn. 15:16).
Because you are precious to me, and honored, I love
you (Is. 43:4). I haved loved you with an everlasting love so I
continue to show you my constant love (Jer. 31:3). How can
I abandon you? My love for you is too strong (Hos. 11:8).
Can a woman forget her own baby and not love the
child she bore? Yet, even should she forget, I will never
forget you - I can never forget you. See, I have graven you
on the palm of my hand (Is. 49:15-16). For I, the Lord your
God, am holding you by the right hand (Is. 41:13).
Do not be afraid I have redeemed you (Is. 43:1 ) I am
with you (Is. 43:5). And be sure of this, I am with you always
until the end of the world... (Mt. 28:20).
Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in me (Jn.
14:1). I will help you (Is. 41:14). When you pass through deep
waters, I will be with you. Your troubles will not overwhelm
you. The hard trials that come will not hurt you (Is. 43:2).
Do not worry (Lk. 12:9). Even the hairs of your head
have all been counted, so there is no need to be afraid of
anything (Mt. 10:30). The mountain may depart and the
hills will be shaken but my steadfast love for you will never
end (Jn. 54:10).
Come, my love (Song of Solomon 2:10). Come, I will lead you into
solitude and there I will speak tenderly to your heart. I will
be true and faithful. I will show you constant love and make
you mine forever. I will keep my promise... and you will really
know me then as never before (Hos. 1:14, 19-20). I am who
am (Ex. 3:14). I am the Lord your God (Hos. 13:4).

...the FAITHFUL GOD. (Hos. 11:12)


"For GOD so loved the world that he gave his only SON, so that everyone who believes in HIM might not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

Advice for Employees During your Job

This article is really important especially to all new and old employees working in a government and private sector. Here's an article written by Anthony Balderrama entitled "Advice for Workers of Every Age, at Every Stage" (http://msn.careerbuilder.com):

"Where is this relationship going?" is a question that can mean several things for a romance. It can signal demise or it can reignite long-lost passion. Whatever the outcome, asking it means you're taking control of things.

Your career isn't exactly like having a significant other, but some of the same rules apply. Coasting through your professional life without asking any questions of yourself or taking into account your ambitions can limit what you achieve. And it doesn't matter if you're at your first job or you're about to retire, you should always be thinking about where you are and what you want out of your job.

With that in mind, we put together some suggestions for workers at every stage of their careers. Many issues you face as a high school student aren't the same as what you'll face mid-career. But you'll also notice that some advice is relevant to you no matter what your age is. So here are some topics to think about as you navigate your career when ...

... you're still in high school:

Pick a job that doesn't interfere with school. First jobs can teach you about the value of work and earning a paycheck, but the real benefit is learning how to balance personal and work lives. At this age, you should be more focused on getting your education and a diploma than on climbing the corporate ladder.

Take your job seriously. Don't become a teenage workaholic, but don't shirk your responsibilities, either. Show up on time, perform your tasks and treat your boss with respect. It never hurts to have a good reference and a boss willing to have you back, maybe during your summer breaks during college or full-time when starting your career.

... you're still in college:

Find a job that relates to your major or your interests. Working and going to school isn't easy, and you'll be even less inclined to enjoy your job if it bores you. While you may not find your dream job right now, any opportunity to see if you enjoy working in your ideal industry is a good learning experience.

Look for internships. Now is a prime opportunity to get experience that can build into a full-time job after graduation, and it's also the one time in your life when you can live very cheaply. Internships don't often pay well or anything at all, but they often count for course credit and always build your résumé, so take advantage of them while you can.

Start job hunting a semester (or more) before graduation. Every May, the job market is flooded with new graduates ready and eager to find work. If you start sending out résumés, going on interviews and networking ahead of your classmates, you can have a job lined up before you even get your diploma. You can really enjoy walking across that stage even more when you've already accepted an offer.

Remember that you're a working student. Although a lot changes from high school to college, some things stay the same, namely, the need to remain focused on school and taking the job seriously. Don't forget to study for an exam because of work. (And don't forget to show up for work because you were having too much fun.)

... you're at your first "grown-up" job:

Learn from others. You're a sophisticated, likeable person with great ideas; you're also the newbie. Don't be afraid to speak up and contribute to the team, but remember that you have a lot to learn from colleagues and your boss. They can teach you what to do and what not to do at that particular company and in the professional world.

Look for a good foundation. For the average worker, an entry-level job does not mark the beginning of a lifelong relationship with that particular employer. You're likely to have several jobs throughout your career, so don't look at a first job as if you're going to be there forever.

Look for a job that interests you, offers networking opportunities and, most importantly, lets you develop skills that will help you down the road.

Don't burn your bridges. When you move on to a new job, do not e-mail your boss with a diatribe about what an incompetent fool she is. Don't tell your colleague how sorry you feel for him because he's still stuck in that prison of a company. Peaceful partings can ensure you have good references and a good reputation. (This advice is good for everyone, regardless of age.)

... you're in the middle of your career:

Assess your life goals. For a second, forget about your career and think about what you want your life to be, both now and in the future. Are you on track to achieve what you want? This isn't just about a work/life balance, but also an opportunity to see if your job situation helps you achieve the personal goals and lifestyle you want.

Take stock of your professional worth. Mid-career is a vague period because it comes at different points for many people and not everyone's professional life progresses at the same pace. So, this period isn't about your specific age as it is about the status of your career.

At this stage, you've had at least one job, if not several, and are accruing experience and expertise in a field. Ask yourself what your résumé would look like if you were to job hunt right now. What are your strongest skills? Where do you need improvement? What career opportunities would be available to you? Now is the time for you to decide if you need to change directions or if you're happy with your situation.

... you can retire:

Decide what you want your golden years to look like. The template of what retirement should look like is long gone. Today, mature workers are taking different paths when it comes to their careers, and you can decide what works best for you.

Because people are living longer, many older workers have no desire to leave the work force and spend another 10 or 20 years at home. Instead, some are scaling back to part-time jobs with their current employers. They still get a paycheck and the company retains their expertise. Others are switching professions entirely and venturing into their dream jobs now that they have the time and money to do so.

Decide what you need to have the life you want: Some mature workers can't afford to leave their full-time jobs, even if they wanted to due to financial needs. As you get older, you have to plan for the cost of health care, medicine and other living expenses, none of which are cheap. Deciding what your future looks like should account for your ideal situation and inevitable factors.

Hopefully, one of the important factors during the staying in our job is... HARDWORK AND DEDICATION... :)

IT'S A DAY OF HEARTS

"Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail..."

1 Corinthians 13:4-7



February is a LOVE month and it's time to celebrate across the country. Valentine's Day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "Valentines." Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Candies, flowers, gifts and other souvenir items are exchanged between loved ones, even on calling/texting, e-mail and the like. Most of the times, go out on dates, concerts, and others to spend this Valentine season together with families, friends, and loved ones. This month celebrate Valentine's Day in honor of patron saint, St. Valentine. But, who is St. Valentine and how did he become associated with romance? Here's a feature based on Enrich Magazine entitled "Who was St. Valentine?" by John Dizon (Enrich Magazine vol. 2, no. 7, February 2009):

Accounts dating as far as early medieval times listed many early Christian martyrs named Valentine. To add to the confusion, the Catholic Church officially sanctioned eleven St. Valentine's Feast days, until 1969 when it removed February 14 from the General Roman Calendar with this pronouncement: "Though the memorial of St. Valentine is ancient, it is left to particular calendars, since, aprt from his name, nothing is known of St. Valentine except that he was buried on the Via Flaminia on February 14."


However, there were only three Valentines honored on February 14:

* Valentine of Terni, a bishop who was killed on AD 197 during the persecution of Emperor Aurelian and buried at the Basilica of St. Valentine in Terni.

* Valentine of Rome, a priest who was martyred on AD 269 and interred at the Church of Saint Praxed in Rome.

* Valentine of Africa, who was slain in the continent together with a number of cleric-companions. Nothing more is known about him.


In their medieval biographies, these Valentines were not attributed any romantic element that could have tied one of them to the essence of Valentine's Day celebrations in modern times.

St. Bede or Beda had a brief excerpt on St. Valentine in his Legenda Aurea (The Golden Legend). He named Valentinus as the priest who was "persecuted as a Christian and interrogated by Roman Emperor Claudius II." That was Bishop of Valentine of Terni (then called Interamna), one of the three priests we mentioned at the start. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men - his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they often beaten, tortured and finally beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate.

In subsequent modern embellishments to his story while in prison, Valentine would find and offer prayers for little notes sent by his parishioners, which were folded up and hidden in cracks in the rocks around his cell. Young people came to visit him, throwing flowers and notes through his cell window. And as he awaited his tragic fate, Valentine met and fell in love with the jailer's daughter, the blind Asterius. A miracle happened during their brief trysts - Valentine restored her eyesight.

And as a fitting postscript to Valentine's tale, the final farewell note he sent Asterius was signed, "From Your Valentine."

Now, I know the history of St. Valentine, which commemorates on February 14. Now, feel the season of happiness and love this memorable event.

Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is LOVE...

1 Corinthians 13:13


HAPPY HEARTS DAY!!! :)

NUNG IKAW AY BATA...

--nung ikaw ay bata... nagawa mo ba to?--

*kumakain ka ba ng aratilis?

*nagpipitpit ng gumamela para gawing soapy bubbles na hihipan mo sa binilog na tangkay ng walis tingting?

*pinipilit ka ba matulog ng nanay mo pag hapon at di ka papayagan maglaro pag di ka natulog?

*marunong ka mag-patintero, saksak puso, langit-lupa, teleber-teleber, luksong tinik?

*malupit ka pag meron kang atari, family computer or nes?

*alam mo ang silbi ng up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, a, b, a, b, start?

*may mga damit ka na U.S.E.D., Boy London, CrossColors, Esprit, Blowing Bubbles, Petit Monde, Penshoppe at pag nakakakita ka ng Bench na damit eh naalala mo si Richard Gomez?

*addict ka sa rainbow brite, carebears, my little pony,thundercats, bioman, voltes v, mazinger z, daimos, he-man at marami pang cartoons na hindi pa translated sa tagalog?

*nanonood ka ng shaider kasi nabobosohan mo si annie at type na type mo ang puting panty nya?

*marunong ka mag wordstar at nakahawak ka natalaga ng 5.25 na floppy disk?

*naabutan mo pa ung show na iskul bukol with tito, vic and joey, at T.O.D.A.S with maribeth bichara, joey de leon, etc...?hehehe

*nanonood ka ba ng all-time favorite na sesame street with big bird, oscar the grouch, ernie and bert, kermit the frog at si elmo lalo na ung favorite na "who are the people in your neighborhood"?

*inaabangan mo lagi ang batibot at akala mo magkakatuluyan si kuya bodgie at ate sienna...nung high school ka inaabangan mo lagi beverlyhills 90210, TGIS at GIMIK?

*inaabangan mo pa ang TV show na Tropang Trumpo lalo na ung usong sayaw na CHIICKEN dance at sumisigaw ng "C H I C K E N!!!!!"?

*nanood ka ba ng That's Entertainment, GMA Supershow at Ang TV.... nyeh?

*gumagam it ka ng AQUANET para pataasin ang bangs mo?

*meron kang blouse na may padding kung babae ka at meron kang sapatos na mighty kid kung lalake ka?

*nangongolekta ka ng paper stationaries at mahilig ka magpapirma sa slumbook mo para lang malaman mo kung sino ang crush mo?

*kilala mo si manang bola at ang sitsiritsitgirls?e si ging-ging at ning-ning?

*alam mo ibig sabihin ng time space warp at di mo makakalimutan ang time space warp chant?

*idol mo si McGyver at nanonood kang perfect strangers?

*eto malupet... six digits lang ba ang phone number nyo dati?

*nakakatawag ka pa sa pay phone ng 3 beinte singko lang ang dala?

*cute pa si aiza seguerra sa eat bulaga at alam mo ang song na "eh kasi bata"?

*inabutan mo ba na ang Magnolia Chocolait eh nasa glass bottle pa na ginagawang lalagyan ng tubig ng nanay mo sa ref?

*meron kang pencil case na maraming compartments na pinagyayabang mo sa mga kaklase mo?

*noon mo pa hinahanap kung saan ang Goya Fun Factory?

*alam mo lyrics ng "tinapang bangus" at "alagang-alaga namin si puti"?

*alam mo ang kantang "gloria labandera".. lumusong sya sa tubig ang paa ay nabasa at ang "1, 2, 3, asawa ni marie"... hehehehehe?

*sosyal ka pag may play-doh ka at lego... at nag-iipon ka ng G.I. Joe action figures at iba pang mukha ni barbie noon?

*inabutan mo pa yung singkong korteng bulaklak at yung diyes na square?

*lumaki kang bobo dahil ang akala mo nangangagat talaga ang alimango sa kantang tong-tong-tong...di ba naninipit yun?

*alam mo yung kwento ng pari na binigyan ng pera yung batang umakyat ng puno para bumili ng panty... at syempre, alam mo rin ba kung ano binigay nya sa nanay nung umakyat ng puno?

*meron kang kabisadong kanta ni andrew e na alam mo hanggang ngayon... aminin?

*laging lampin ang sinasapin sa likod mo pag pinapawisan ka?

*bumibili ka ng tarzan, texas at bazooka bubblegum... tira-tira, at yung kending bilog na sinawsaw sa asukal?

*takot ka dumating ang year 1999 dahil sabi nila magugunaw daw ang mundo?

KUNG ALAM MO L AHAT DITO LAGPAS KA NA NG 25 YEARS OLD... KAPAG HALOS LAHAT ALAM MO, NASA 23-25 KA...

WAG KA NA MAG DENY... TUMAWA KA NA LANG... DIBA .75 CENTAVOS PA LANG PAMASAHE SA JEEP NUN AT MAS MASARAP ANG MELLOW YELLOW KESA MOUNTAIN DEW? HAHAHAHAH :)

MOTIVATION AND SELF-CONFIDENCE

(This statement is taken from my friend named Kuya Marco. He is the facilitator on Red Cross Youth's Leadership Training during college days. It is based in the bulletin section at www.friendster.com. So here it goes..)

Before you go to sleep, run through in your mind the next days events, from the beginning to the end of the day. As you visualize each step, imagine that every event or action you take goes really well and has a positive result, feel yourself being full of confidence and happiness, visualize yourself smiling, tell yourself that tomorrow is going to be a great day.

The good news is that if for one reason or another some tasks are not completed during the day, just visualize that evening completing on time and when needed. There are to many negatives that can stop you in your tracks before you start, with this little tip, you will not only set yourelf up mentally for a good day, but it will also help you get a good nights sleep as you will stop stressing about the next day.

Have fun and keep smiling!:)

BEAUTIFUL STORY OF DREAMS

Do not miss any line from this……………

Sometimes we get what we need and not what we want……….

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods.

They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, “Someday, I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems and be decorated with intricate carvings. Everyone would see my beauty.”

The second tree said, “Someday, I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of other world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.”

Finally, the third tree said, “I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time, and people will always remember me.”

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. One came to the first tree and said, “This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter,” and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second tree, one of the other woodsman said, “This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.” The a second tree was happy, because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened, because it knew that, if it was cut down, its dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, “I don’t need anything special from my tree, so I’ll take this one,” and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals, placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one filtered day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth, and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose, and the tree didn’t think it was strong enough to keep the men safe.

The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said “Peace,” and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets, and the crowd mocked the man who was carrying it.

Finally, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that, when things don’t seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don’t always know what God’s plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

Keep it moving…pass it on, so it could inspire more people.

Sometimes the heart sees what the eyes can’t...