THE NEXT ACT

I have permanently bailed out a number of times in many years from being totally disgraced in some groups that I have been with. Over the years, sometimes I forget the reasons why I left. Thinking maybe the coast is clear I tried to be reunited with my past and there you go....Bham! Here goes the rudeness, the crabbing and judgmental. Sometimes going back helped me remember why I left. It is ironic when I think of the reason why. Where I am now is a blessing. A big leap to a different environment has given me a change to start all over again with a clean slate. And with God's grace, I have risen anew. The gift that God has given me are put to practice again. But this time I am more equipped to take care of them. Never again I would let others take the gift from me. He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it. Anyone who tends to block the progress of my achievement in putting what God has entrusted me in good use is simply blocking the consequence of God’s ...

You are much powerful than what I was thinking.   I thought that I would not get it done because I am not that confident.   Yet somehow you have outdone my fear and just conquer it for me.   You overshadowed my fear.   You have shown me that once a provision has set and it has to be done according to Your will, all I need to do is take action no matter what I feel about it.   There seemed at first to have some situation that would say it couldn’t be done, but you have made your way for me to make it and all I need to do is to carry on.  My Faith draws the courage in me.

What is this? A celebrity couple versus a veteran reporter in a brawl. It all started when the reporter taking pictures or video of the female celeb in her worst mood in public which upset the husband. Regardless of who punched or kicked first, the mere fact that one is  being recorded without consent especially when the intention is to showcase the not~so-good side of ones image is something to be upset about. I would be upset if people would record my bad side in the wrong intention. That is really low.  Now it becomes  business to watch out and highlight famous people's not so good side. Paparazzi is such a common term.  Money talks your way out of good conduct. It is still rude. It is low. Yet technology carried in your pocket is a handy dandy tool for you to easily do it whether it is right or wrong. Not all of us are reporters. Yet most of us possess the means. Be responsible. Put the means in good use.

I was reading an article by Maria Rezza, Head of ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. I was struck by what she says about people who are giving justifications on swaying against principles.  And I quote: "Evil people don’t think they’re evil, and corrupt people don’t think they’re corrupt. Corruption is endemic in our country because people rationalize it. They split hairs about definitions." To put in a much simpler or in kindergarten-ish form, there are people who do bad and they think it's okay because blah blah.  Whatever that blah-blah is, that suddenly becomes a license to harm.  Well I put it that anything bad is harmful. Anyhow, being a smart ass is still an ass.  We know better.  We know what's black and what's white. We know what's wrong and what's right.  But one thing I don't know is how wrong can be right when you put a reason on the action. "I cheat as long as I am not caught." "I make fun of him because he is a dork...

Some people are so vulnerable that they  are easily influenced to hate anyone even whom they are close with.  I hope they wisen up else it's unfair for those being hated without doing anything.  i can't blame their vulnerability. Everyone has its low points. Weaknesses are always the target points of the snake in the garden. Weakness where the vulnerability lies is where you get cornered by deceptions. It is a good thing that God has promised us that the more we are weak the more we find His strength. It's a matter of calling God in times of low moments. Stop being vulnerable or stupid when you are weak. Stop being deceived. You know that God is just a prayer away. Wisen up.

While I was observing a guy I know being praised for his particular achievement, I happend to turn my head and to gaze upon another who had that look which was unmistakenly showing resentment while looking at the guy being praised.  Anyone who has a clear mind understands very well what scenario I am getting at here. It is indeed a waste of energy dwelling on rubbish resentment over envy.  If he could just be happy to the person's glorious moment and stay positive, he may avoid getting heart burns. Each of us has its glorious moment. We can only achieve it if we focus more on our own capabilities. Trust yourself. In order to trust yourself and your capability completely is to trust God. The Almighty has created us with a reason. We are an asset on earth so as to be useful if only we could only tap all our potentials. In order to know who you are is seeing what you are good at. The more you know who you really are the more you trust yourself and trust God...

A smile can come either from outside or inside.   But joy can only come from inside.   You can smile from outside and having no joy in your heart.   Work on what’s giving you joy and the smile will just come naturally from inside.   Joy is a fruit of the spirit.   Joy is the evidence of the presence of God in your life.   You can smile all day but what is it like when you are just by yourself?   A fake smile won’t last long.    A genuine smile carries joy that can  be obtained from having a desire to do the divine will.   The divine will always coincide with how you were made of.  Where is joy in hurting people?   Where is joy in bad talking about people?   And then you smile like an angel in disguise.   Positive outlook comes within.   Positive outlook comes with action.   Positive outlook comes with clear conscience.   How can you obtain a positive outlook when you have a haunting conscience p...

Washing hands is an escape from the responsibility out of the wrong one has done.   It is like when you pass gas and then act as if nothing happened.   It is sort of a quick fix and some people resort to the habit so that they can deludingly get away with their wrongdoings.   “I have done it before and I can still do it now and the next.   Whew I am good.”   What’s funny is that when you are still doing naughty stuff and acting as if you are not doing it when in fact people already know you’re doing it.   But I have faith that conscience will poke one of these days.   It has to for the reason that our soul longs for redemption.   When the soul’s hunger grew, conscience touches you.

One thing I remember in my first days in NZ was that I got freckles or people might see me as a frecklish guy.  Coz since they were knowing me for the first time and they had no idea who I was before, I presumed that they knew me as a guy with freckles or with acne scars. No one had asked what it was which  was a give away understanding they thought it was a natural feature of mine.  The truth is I was supposed to arrive in NZ a month earlier if not for the chicken fox.  Yes I got chicken fox which I needed to heal before flying to Auckland.  O that chicken fox hurt terribly.  I stayed in my parents home since I did not want JC to catch it.  I endured it for first two days and following days are healing wounds while finishing the three DVD boxes of  the TV series Six Feet Under.  To me it was a blessing that I got it when I was still in the Philippines.  I could not imagine if I got it when I am already in NZ alo...

In my past blog I have said that I began to appreciate small conversation with chatty strangers whom I come across in different places. The reason why small conversations with strangers might turn out to be good is perhaps that there is a minimal amount of knowledge of each other and most likely the topic would be limited to things, events and basic infos.   At least it would start that way until the nasty stuff might kick in such as people bashing. But before it happened, time is running out and both of you need to go on with your own separate ways. And you parted happy. I began to realise that if I would just see the person I am talking with in a perspective of what I see him/her now and not he/she was before or what unreliable others say about him/her, the conversation between us might be interestingly good. The Now is the gauge to measure, not the Then and most likely not the Next. If the Now personality is still as bad as you fairly perceive, bail out before. It is a waste...

Two people on my way to Welly tried to have a good conversation with me. O ne was a bloke who was sitting across my seat in a small plane while we had a bumpy ride to Auckland and he happened to have a business in East Coast with Filipino Employees. He has been to Manila, Makati particularly and he used to have a couple of business there. He likes bands and he mentioned that there are good singers in Manila who has not been discovered yet. I agree with him. And so that's how I figured out why he kept on bugging me to small talk with him. Filipinos are close to his heart. A lady made a small talk that turned out to an interesting conversation with me. S he food caters for the Hobbits Cast and Crew. Whadyaknow. She hasn't seen any actual shooting . Well it makes sense that the food would come at break time. Doesn't it? But she has many chances of being on the set with all small houses and enchanting landscapes. I remember when my family went to Matamata now known as ...

I want to start the new year right by conversing with My Lord, Almighty Jesus. I praise You.   I adore You.   I worship you.   You are the alpha and omega.   You are the beginning and the end.   You are the way, the truth and the life.   No one will come through the Father except through Jesus Christ.   Lord, you have made everything possible. 2011 has formed us and we know that You will continue to form us.   I guarantee that we are better individuals at the end of the year and we are looking forward for another year of formation and grace. Thank you for a meaningful year.   It had ups and downs which yet interwoven to form me and family.   We are stronger in faith and commitment with one another.   Thank you for being there for me.   You never seize to guide me and give all the wisdom that I needed.   Lord thanks for making me stronger. 2012 has just happened and here we are, alive and kicking.   Thank you for co...

I am fascinated when I get to watch shows like X-factor and the Voice where the professionals get to guide the talent. The way the relationship goes well between the talent and the mentor is when the talent gives complete trust with the mentor and just accepts that the mentor has a better view of how the talent can emanate the stuff effectively and well. It’s just like a director who has the best view on what’s going on outside the stage. I remember there was this hip guy who was part of the cast in the stage play. During the rehearsal the director directed him to exaggerate his movement. But the guy being cool but a newbie thought that the movement is awkward and not cool. And so he did not follow the director’s direction when the rest of the cast exaggerated their movements during the performance. During the performance it turned out that the audience viewed that the cool guy was awkward on stage and the rest of the cast were outstanding. What is deemed awkward in real life is normal...

You were born and you became the sunshine of our life.   You lift up lolo’s heart, lola’s and mine as well and put it in another level.   The first grandson.   My first nephew.   Our best friend.   You grew up in my arms when your dad was working overseas.   It is a pleasure that I become your second dad because you had been my joy.   You may never know how much you make a difference but you are the source of strength to many people who love you especially to lolo and lola. You grew up to become a fine young man, a good son and a good brother to your siblings and a good friend.   You made us proud in putting your gifts into good use. I am having tears knowing that you will never be physically around.   But I know that you are in a better place now telling us,” Hey, I am Okay.”   And we will be okay.   We will be okay. You are always be the source of our strength even more that you are now where you are.   Now we are much cl...

I am a humorous person. I love cracking jokes. I like making people laugh or smile. Sometimes I succeed and it makes me smile inside when I am hearing genuine laugh after a deliver a punch line. A TV host asked the Topp Twins, NZ great comedians, “What is the secret of how you make people laugh.” The Topp Twins look at each other and answered in unison, “Timing”. It is true. The punch line has to be delivered in the right time or else you blew it. However there is a kind of humor that I believe would never be in the right timing and that is BITING HUMOR. Biting Humor is a kind of humour that is funny and painful at the same time. It is a humour gained at someone else’s expense. There was a time that I was not so conscious about the kind of humour that I deliver as long as it’s a joke. “It’s just a joke.” But then when I get to see the importance of connections to people and to see a better view of the reason that I am no different from them and we have all feelings, I learned to b...

A question was posted in a forum of one of those popular websites.. How is it that constantly putting others down means you have low self esteem? Many answers were placed and readers went to vote for what the best answer is. And the winner is: Because people with low self-esteem boost it by seeing other people more miserable than themselves, since that gives them the idea they are better than them. They accomplish that by putting people down Yeah. Yeah. I know it’s obvious. What can I say?  It is indeed a turn off that one is proving their worth by putting down others. In my prayer, I was reminded that I ought to put security in HIM and to lean not on my own understanding. HIS way is better than any other way. I always believe that I don’t need to put down others with the reason that I am alright just the way I am with God’s Grace.

While my wife and my son were doing usual stuff in the living room, I thought of going to bedroom for some reason. I sat on the bed and saw the bible in the side shelves. I picked up and open a page. Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens. Blessed are you when they reproach and persecute you, and while speaking lies, say every evil thing against you because of Me. – Matthew 5: 10-11. O yeah. These verses are what I need to get me going. There is a reason for me to be steadfast in doing good even in the midst of being persecuted at times. The reward is great because I am blessed. And then I prayed and asked God, “Have I done something to harm You or harm anyone?” I stayed quiet for a while. And then I said to myself, “I am ok.” I know that I have been transformed for the better for doing good. And then I went back and joined my family in the living room.

Do you have a formula for happiness? This was one of the questions of NRC to be answered by newbies as a form of getting to be introduced in the council the answer of which would be published in the council’s internal website. When I was newbie I had my own answer with this without a blink of an eye to be honest. However I was curious knowing what the other newbies have answered. And so I explored and got to peek some of the newbies’ answers. Some answers to the Formula of for happiness: • Freshly poured honey from my bee hives – on toast, in my tea. • Go out fishing on a calm, misty winter morning in a small boat- great feeling as the fog starts to disperse, the sun breaks through and warms you through (as long as there is no fish to break the tranquillity). • Yip: Guitar Hero and vodka • Just smile at everything • Tolerance & Respect for others but with lots of laughter • Try not to sweat the small stuff! • Chocolate • Love, laughter, sunshine and generally a ...

The Community Relations Team looks after the external and internal website in the council. In a nutshell they are managing all forms of communications and information disseminations in and out of the office. One of those information disseminations is introducing the new comers or the newly employed staff. What is delightfully interesting is that they have a personal way (not corporate way) of introducing them in the website. I remember when I was a newbie as an engineer in the council they emailed me a set of trivial questions which I should give answers for them to post the internal website. Among the questions are: Team & Department? What do you do in a nutshell? Before this nutshell, what did you do in your last nutshell? I consider these still in the corporate zone. Family/home life/living arrangements? Hmmm starting to get personal. And then the questions are trying to take some character and personality indications. What are you reading at the moment? Who mak...

When we were single, my best friend Raul and I used to handle action groups of Christian men. During one of those gatherings, Raul gave an interesting workshop. He brought a box of pencils and a bundle of paper and distributed them among us. He asked us to draw the best pictures that we can draw. He encourages each of us to make it as good as a masterpiece that each of us can be proud of. We were given a few minutes to do it. Some of us know how to draw and some us don’t but we exerted effort to give it a shot to make our masterpieces. After we finished Raul showcased the pictures one by one and noted the strong points of each of the pictures while we applauded. Raul asked us, “Can I keep it? Could you give all these to me as a gift?” And all of us agreed that we will give all the pictures to Raul. And then Raul RIPPED them in to small pieces. He threw them on the floor and stepped on them…………………We were silent and shocked. “How do you feel now?” he asked the group. Some say they are ma...