Thoughts from RELSTWO

Our RELSTWO professor asked one of her students, "What is love?"
The student answered, "I can't explain it."

FAITH is like love. We can't see it, we can't explain it but we know it's there because we can feel it... We simply believe in it without reason.

Sometimes we love someone for no reason. We just have this feeling for a person.
This is exactly what I feel about my faith. I believe in God even if I can't explain nor see Him. I just know He's there because I can feel His work in my life.

Roadtrip!

Last saturday (Jan. 21, 2006) was one of the most adventurous days in my life! I woke up a bit early because I planned to go to UP Diliman Library to borrow some books for CRSDEVE. Only to find out that outsiders weren't allowed to enter! I called my friend who's studying in UP but he was in a meeting. Fortunately, the guard was kind and refered us to the bookstore. But when we got there, it was closed! They're open from Monday to Friday only. So, we had no choice but to go back home.

I scanned through the newspapers I brought with me because I need to find sources for our AD-FOTO class. Imagine, we have to find sources then take a photograph of the exact replica of the one in our source then take three other original angles. Talk about a lot of work! Anyway, I was scanning and I stumbled upon an article about Sta. Rosa, Laguna. There were quite a lot of pictures in it. I showed my companions the photos and out of the spur of the moment, we decided to go to Laguna to shoot my pictures! We first went to my house to freshen up and prepare for the trip. We visited the El Cielito Inn, Laguna Bel Air, Paseo de Sta. Rosa where we had lunch and made a few purchases, St. Scolastica's College - Westgroove, Chair of St. Peter Parish, Sta. Rosa Arch, St. Rose of Lima Parish and Verdana Homes. It was a funny experience since we sometimes had to make up excuses just to be able to enter and take pictures. I have to thank my companions for those... We finished shooting the last picture about 5:00pm. Since it's still a bit early, we decided to find a place to relax and have some coffee. Somehow, our driver took a wrong exit and ended up in Alabang! So as not to waste the trip, we went to Festival Mall. We rested for a while in Starbucks then did a little bit of shopping. I slept on the way back to Manila. I was tired but very happy! Maybe if you look up close, you'd see me smiling while I was asleep. It was a very exciting trip because we were able to enjoy while meeting a school requirement. It was also educational since I realized that I have been living in the Philippines for almost 19 years and I haven't really explored much of it. I have to say that Philippines has a rich culture and a hidden beauty that one can only apprecite when you really stop and take a look around.

Acknowledgements:
Thank you for the people who made this trip possible. You deserve half of my grade in AD-FOTO and a third of my grade in CRSDEVE. hahahaha!
Thank you God for giving me these people. You deserve my everything...

Prayer

(Note from the author: I found this prayer while cleaning my files today. It was written on Feb. 27, 2005 at 9:58pm. I don't remember what happened the day I wrote this prayer. But I believe that God has indeed produced something good out of this.)

currently feeling: down

Dear Lord,
I'm sorry if i am not a good christian. I feel very bad for disappointing you. Things have been confusing lately. I guess I have strayed these few weeks. It's really really hard to follow you in this crazy world. There are a lot of noises in my ears that I find it difficult to hear yours. Please help me. I feel sorry because I didn't trust you and didn't believe that you have a plan for me. I can't see my future. I feel that I have no use in this world. I give pain to those I love and my stay here seems to bring more bad things than good. I don't know what your purpose is in my life lord, but I will trust you. I know and I believe that you do have a plan. Help me lord to continue trusting you even when times might feel down, wierd and painful. I know lord that there will be more challenges for me. These challenges are not here for nothing. I know you give us pain because you're preparing me for something. Like an oyster, it feels pain before they produce lovely pearls. You are giving me pain so I too can produce something beautiful...
Amen.

new feeling: revitalized, energized, empowered

We are made for Heaven

(Note from the author: I attended a bible study with Pastor Hem last year. The idea of this article was taken from one of his lessons.)

The idea of death often scares people. Maybe because no one is really sure what will happen when we die. This is why we seem to be always develpoing technologies that would make us live longer. We crave to live forever because we are meant to live forever! But not here on Earth. We are made for eternity in Heaven. Sin is what keeps us stuck here on Earth. Maybe this is the reason why we are never satisfied here on Earth. Earthly happiness are only temporary. The happiness we find are just glimpses of Heaven here on Earth.

Ever wonder why we sometimes feel so empty? And no matter how hard we look for happiness, it can never be satisfied? It's because we have this hole of emptiness that only God can fill. The more we sin and turn away from God, the more the hole grows. The more we feel discontentment. Let God fill that hole by admiting our sins and allowing Him to enter our hearts and lives. Christ is the only way to Heaven.

Just imagine the feeling you had when you finally got the raise and promotion you've been working so hard for. Now imagine the happiness you'll feel when you finally meet God in Heaven and receive the rewards you've been working so hard for... Won't the happiness be a hundred times greater? We can't imagine how satisfying that would feel. This is what we've been waiting for. This is our goal because

We are made for Heaven.

Feeling Sentimental...

I just got home from a wedding ceremony and reception. I'm feeling sentimental... argh.

"Love is Patient.."

Thoughts on Travelling

As a kid, it has been a dream of mine to travel the world. I want to visit famous monuments, meet the locals and learn about their culture. Being able to travel around makes me feel more in touch with God and His creations. Just by meeting different people of different races makes me realize the greatness of God. Just think about the billions of people living here on earth. No two persons are exactly alike in terms of personality and apperance. By visiting the monuments, I can see how God uses events to shape the world to what we are today. Nature itself is a reflection of God's creativity. No matter how many times we've seen sunrises and sunsets, we always appreciate its beauty whenever we see one. Everything actually around us is a testimony of His power and greatness.

I would have to say that my trip to Switzerland is one of the best I've ever had. I loved everything about it - the scenery, the climate, the architectures, the food, the fashion and the languages spoken. I won't go in depth in details of what we did there but basically we just toured around the different states of Switzerland.

We landed in Zurich but didn't have much time to look around. Geneva, Luzern, Lugano, Interlaken, Bern, Gruyere are the other states we've visited during our 6-day stay. We visited the Alps, their cities, lakes, famous monuments, churches, shops and museums. We ate their food and mingled with their people. The trip was truly a new experience. Europe is very different from Asian countries. They have a slow-paced lifestyle. Though one complain I have is that European people are not as friendly as Asian people. I find them a bit snub. I'm not saying all Europeans are like that (our driver is very friendly!) but based on my experience, most people are like that. Their standard of living there is very high so its hard to spend especially if you come from a third world country like the Philippines. hehe. Overall, the trip was good. I encourage you to visit Europe if you have the opportunity. I'll be one unforgettable experience! hehe. If not, you can just travel around the Philippines. I believe we have the best beaches in the world. We just lack development and promotion. Plus, It'll help our country! I've learned that almost 90+% of the money the Swiss gov't has comes from tourism. So, while you don't have the opportunity to travel around the world, travel the Philippines! =))


Click here to check out my Photos from Switzerland.

Enjoy!

2005

Time does really fly swiftly away! Wasn't it just a moment ago when I was excited to graduate from High School? When I was excited to go to college? When I was excited to finally survive a year in ComSci? It seems that a year has just passed by in a blink of an eye. Many challenges, frustrations, lessons and breathtaking moments happen each year. Yet I believe that this year is one of the bumpiest "life paths" I've taken. Still I thank God for those "bumps". True, it hurts when we stumble... But I believe it's God's way of molding us to be more like Him. Like a plant, if the gardener doesn't prune the plant how will it bear fruit? God prunes us through trials in order for us to improve for the better.

2005 has provided me both good and bad memories; the good I shall forever treasure, the bad shall serve as a reminder of my past mistakes.

I have to say, 2005 is my second best Christmas ever! (2003 is still the best. hehehe) Though our Christmas vacation was just short, I had lots of happy memories. Here's a list of things to be thankful for:

1. I was able to travel a lot this summer:
a. Went to El Nido, Palawan with relatives of my mother's side.
b. Went to Hongkong with my whole family.
c. Went to Singapore and Thailand with mom and shoti.

2. I was able to be part of our church's Youth for Christ Ministry - ISPEAK.

3. I was able to attend our church's Praise Night - Reflections of Pure Grace.

4. I was able to help in our church's Medical Mission.

5. Made a lot of new friends this term.

6. Gimiks with friends.

7. I finally made it to the Dean's List!

8. Broken friendships and relationships restored.

9. This reason is a secret. (giggle**)

10. Trip to Switzerland this Christmas!!


The most important thing I've learned this year:
"Don't run ahead of God, let Him direct your steps. He has plans and He has time. God's clock is never early nor late... it always stikes on time."