Night Swimming

I just arrived at home. My family and I went to a resort for a night swim. It's very tiring and fun at the same time. I had a great time practicing my "breast stroke" and wrestling with my cousins in the pool.

I feel like eating now but I just remember that my girlfriend and I made a deal. The deal is for us to lose 5 pounds or more in a month. We took this step to address our weight problems because we're getting bigger and bigger. At the end of the month, one will give a gift to the other if he/she will be able to lose 5 pounds. I think I started this deal right by eating less today and with my swimming activity a few hours ago.

My weight now is 86 kilos.I think 5 pounds is possible for the both of us. Considering that it's very very hot nowadays. My room is like a sauna especially in the middle of the day.

Speaking of heat, one of my favorite teams in the NBA, Miami Heat is already eliminated in the playoffs. The opposing team Chicago Bulls made a sweep to Miami in the first round of their series. Now that their gone, my bet now is on the Phoenix Suns. I'm just not sure if they will be champions with the SPURS and PISTONS still around. The Mavs could be facing the same fate the HEAT has because their opponent the Golden State Warriors is leading the series 3-1.


That's all for now. I need to install Ubuntu in my sister's laptop and my room is a mess. Ciao!

Spiderman 3

Wow! This is the first time that I posted a couple of blogs in a single month. My record before was 3 blogs in a year. Now it's more than three and it's just for the month of April so I guess I'm doing a great job. I don't know what I'm really getting from this, though it would feel nice if many people read it.

FYI I'm in the mall now with my cousin A.J. He's 8 years old and on vacation. That's why he can't find to do anything at home aside from watching cartoons and MYX. Right now, we're in the internet cafe and he's playing DOTA.

As for me, the internet speed here is so fast that it made me write a blog instead of surfing and watching online movies (ehem). I won't tell the name because they might sue me if I'm caught. I'll just give you a clue. It starts with a big letter "N" and ends with a small letter "a". Still don't get it? Get a life outside your home!

I saw the final Spiderman 3 trailer in YouTube (of course not with this PC) and it showed Venom on it. Spiderman-with 3 enemies-I'm so watching this movie (haha). I remembered reading a spoiler a year ago for this movie. It disclosed some information like the story, characters that will die and how the movie will end. Well, there's no guarantee that it's authentic so I'm not counting on it. I'll find out soon. According to the spoiler two characters who are close to Peter will die (I know who they are but I'm not gonna tell it).

I just don't know when we're (sisters,g.f. & some friends) going to watch it because we all agreed to see the movie together. For sure we won't watch in the first week of it being shown like what we did in Spiderman 1 and 2 (addicts..hehe). Also this time, we're planning to go in Gateway (the one with the couch & popcorn) or IMAX Lord willing. For those who will be able to watch ahead of us, please keep your mouth shut and don't tell spoil it!!! Enjoy watching to y'all!!!!

The "IT" job

I finally got accepted as an I.T. personnel after working as a call center agent for quite some time. That's it. No more grave yard shifts, no more spiels to memorize and no more irate customer to deal with. I'm really thankful to God for giving me this job. Honestly, I wasn't really expecting it and I don't feel like I deserved it but God is really so good and I give Him back all the praises for everything. I'm scheduled to report this Tuesday and I need to finish my requirements this week.

I knew this isn't gonna be easy. Need to do a lot of reviews in networking fundamentals and some reading too about Ubuntu Linux which is a new O.S. for me. Before I spill out more jargons for the "non-technical" ones, let me just mention some people to whom I also owe this job. I'll just itemize them to look neater.

1. Mark - we go to the same church. He told me about the job opening. He interviewed me and probably gave me good scores that's why I made it to the second interview.
2. Head of H.R. - I hope she won't be able to read this blog because I forgot her name (grrr!). She was really nice, explained everything to me and gave an offer beyond what I was asking.
   
3. Christie - My girlfriend. She prayed for me to have this job even though I didn't pray about it. Well, she always pray for me. I love you so much.
4. Mom and Dad - Mom, for her continuous support in almost everything. And dad, for saying things that I don't want to hear, some of them are true, and influenced me in a way to become better.

I almost forgot. If I remember it right, two of our students came back for tutoring three weeks ago. Our online English tutorial is also a source of income. I don't believe in jinx so I'll say that we're expecting three more will hopefully enroll in another few weeks. Thank you Lord for these blessings.

Look it's a Bird!

My girlfriend and I just finished season 2 of Prison Break yesterday. Now, I think we're going to wait for months to be able to see the full third season. Of course, there will be clips available in Youtube but that won't be fun to watch.

Still being in the influence of this, I tried searching online on how to make a paper crane. I found one and it's not that hard. I gave the first crane I made to Christie and she told me that she'll put colors on it.

The one in the picture is the second crane that I made from the falling leaves of my notebook. I think this is better than the first one. I kinda like the shot I made here as well, with the shadow effect and a blue background. I took this picture in my room using my phone. I placed the crane on top of my table and turned the lamp on.

My name is Daniel and I'm an addict...

I'm currently hooked with the TV series entitled Prison Break. This is the first time that I've given so much time watching a particular TV program considering that I'm not a Couch Potato. Prison Break is only broadcasts in Cable (which we don't have) but fortunately our "Capt. Hook" friends made the way to compile all the episodes in a single DVD disc.

Season 3 is expected to be aired this fall according to their website and I'm now considering to get cable subscription just to follow the series. Well, this is possible if I get accepted in the job I recently applied to or if more students will enroll in our English tutorials (I am positive about this).

I'm done with the first season and now in the 15th episode of Season 2. I can't finish it because my GF and I agreed to watch it together. You know, she's an addict too. Haha! I cheated on her by watching just a couple of episodes ahead. I'm really excited to know what comes next for these prisoners at large. If you haven't watched this yet, I suggest you start watching Season 1 to understand everything but I'm telling you it can be very addictive.

Aside from the good-looking brothers and a gorgeous doctor, each episode will leave you clueless on what will happen next, for you to keep watching. Believe me, I finished Season 1 in one week with 22 episodes watching it from 12 midnight until 6 in the morning everyday.

Their management better pay me for plugging their show here and recommending it to my friends (lolz). I just hope that the story won't get boring as the season progresses because now it is really fun to watch. Try it but don't tell me I didn't warn you.

The "M" Word (3.21.06)

I would like to discuss something that people don't really want to talk about with their friends, specially with their family. The "M" word. What is it? It's something you do in private.

It's not one of your activities that you brag with your colleagues. Still don't get it? The word is masturbation. There are a lot of debates among Christians whether this is a right or wrong thing to do. I'm writing this blog just to express my stand and I'm addressing this not only to the single male readers but for the female as well. Let's take the definition of the word.

According to dictionary.com, it means the excitation of one's own or another's genital organs, usually to orgasm, by manual contact or means other than sexual intercourse. It's a fact that this activity is connected with pornography (internet,magazines, etc.). It is done by using these things or if not, by fantasizing on what we have seen.

In Matthew 5:28, the Bible says "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." It is clear that when a person masturbates, he or she sins by lusting on the person he/she is thinking about. Lust is not good. That's why it says in Colossians 3:5, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry."

Going back to the definition, it says "means other than sexual intercourse". Sex is a good thing. This is one of the best things that God blessed us. Originally, the gift is to be enjoyed by two people (man and woman) in the bed of marriage. In Hebrews 13:4 "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."

God is glorified and delighted if His children are following this original plan. Masturbation has become a substitute for sex that a person can just grab some porn or think of someone else just to satisfy his or her sexual appetite. In the process of it, we only please ourselves and not God. We sin in our self-centeredness.

For my conclusion, if we love God we ought to follow all of His ways. There's such a thing as sexual purity. If you are ensnared by this sin. God can break all the chains and will set you free. Let me leave you with this verse found in 1 Corinthians 10:31. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Black Nazarene Reloaded

First of all I hope that no one would accused me of being an atheist nor get mad at me for posting this blog. This is just my opinion about the subject.It's still a free country right?

The Feast of Black Nazarene

According to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM) this Feast on January 9 is considered one of the most spectacular events that take place in the Philippine history. Devotees come to the district of Quiapo to take part of the procession as a way of strengthening their faith or fulfilling their vow to the Lord.

It is also said in there that the devotion to the Black Nazarene is a long time practice by Filipinos who believe through faith that there will be peace and harmony, long life,good health,deliverance from all calamities and disasters,prosperity,joy and love among nations.

1st Point: Good practice or bad practice?
It is said the devotion to the black Nazarene through faith brings prosperity, long life, deliverance from calamities and disasters and other things mentioned above. Then why is it that our country is still suffering from poverty and injustice? We do this procession every year but please note that 2 or 3 super typhoons hit the country with devastating blows last year.Peace is still unreachable in Mindanao and people get hurt and die because of participation in the procession.Through the years, Philippine's condition didn't change that much-it became worse.

2nd Point: Miracle
The event draws enormous crowd, since touching the statue is supposed to produce miracles. For us who haven't participated yet on this, we see on the TV that there are assigned guys to hold the statue during the parade. I saw people throwing towels at them to rub the statue for the people. My observation is if these guys are that close to the "Miracle" compared to others, shouldn't they become Millionaires by now or more blessed.Perhaps,they never ask.Certainly that wouldn't be fair for the others who won't be able to touch.Another thing, do miracles only happen on January 9th? For sure the Quiapo church is open everyday and it's not forbidden to touch the statue.Is the Black Nazarene different 364 days a year except January 9?

3rd Point: The Color Black
Have you ever wondered why the Black Nazarene is black? Again, according to RCAM, the statue was brought to Manila by a Spanish priest in 1607 aboard a ship.The ship caught fire and burned the image.If the statue is said to produce miracles to others, then why it cannot save itself from being burned?

Conclusion:
The black Nazarene is a yearly event. For some of us, we already accepted the fact that in some way through this, life will be better. But do we really get the blessings or miracles we expect from it? Poverty, calamity, disaster,etc.-they are still all here. Perhaps this is not the way God wants us to call upon Him. Because if it is, it should have produce more blessings than curse to our country.

The Bible says in Exodus 20:3-5 You shall have no other Gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.

God's Words are very clear. Our God doesn't need to be put on a carriage to go from one location to another. He's fair to all and He made it easy for us to reach Him directly through prayer. And through a prayer with faith, He can perform miracles regardless of who you are and wherever you are.

Holy Weak?

When I was a kid, I grew up living with my grandparents, which is at that time was a very devoted Catholic. I remembered that Holy week was not my favorite time of the year because of the way my family observed it. We're not allowed to go out because something bad might happen to us by believing that God is "dead" during this period. No one is allowed to make a noise because everyone should be in "solemn" mode to remember Christ's death (It's like...hey, someone just died) In addition to that, who will not be pissed off as a kid because your favorite TV programs aren't aired (Batibot and some cartoons) to give way to church sermons and the famous Jesus movie which doesn't show his face.

Now that I am all grown up (or should I say I matured a bit), I noticed some of these practices aren't really necessary. I just realized tonight, why is it called "Holy week" in english and "Mahal na araw" in filipino? If we'll translate the latter it should be "Banal na linggo" right?

I like the term "holy week" than the tagalog one. Not to be "pa-conio" or anything but because of the word "holy". Holy means "sinless". There's just something wrong the way we "pinoys" grasp the idea of this particular occassion. Not only we crucify and kill Christ in our minds every year but we also give him partial holiness.

Traditionally, at this time of the year people will do things like visiting different churches, fasting/abstinence, praying and many other things for God. Some alcoholics don't drink and some smokers don't smoke. Why? Because everyone has this mentality that "I'm not supposed to do anything wrong at this time". It doesn't work that way. If we truly love God and really want to please him, being holy will not last for a week. It should be each day that you're breathing. Everytime you wake up until you sleep at night.

I also suggest that we stop thinking that Christ dies each year and resurrects again. He died for our sins ONCE and rose again. He still lives at this very moment. He's very alive today to protect, hear, love and care for us. We shouldn't be sad or solemn remembering what He did. We need to rejoice because He lives and shout out how good He is in our lives.

And, for those who want to imitate his crucifixion. He said while he's body was still in the cross "It is finished". It means that He already did the work for you to be saved. No need to hurt or crucify yourself. It is already done. You just need to ask him for your forgiveness and accept Him in your life as your Lord and Savior.

Let me end with this verse in the Bible that it is because of the grace of God that we're saved and not by our own efforts.

Ephesians 2:8 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God