Here are the excerpts from Mark 8: 22-26 the story of Jesus healing a blind man in Bethsaida.

Be healed and be changed!

…some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and…begged him to touch the man and heal him. Jesus took the blind man…spitting on the man’s eyes…and asked. “Can you see anything now?”

The man looked around, “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.”

Then Jesus placed his hand on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.

Insights:
1. When people trust Jesus, they lead others to Him too, because they need healing in many areas of their lives!

Questions: Do you trust Him enough that you just can’t help but led your family members, friends and colleagues to Him? What makes you afraid of leading them to Jesus?

2. There are times when God changes something in your life He leaves areas unchanged to allow you to trust Him more by honestly telling Him how you feel about it. A person with deep relationship with Jesus can tell Him the good and bad, the best and worst parts of his life.

Questions: Do you trust Him enough that you can tell Him what you really feel and see? Or are you still hesitant to tell Him everything? What can you do to have that intimate relationship with Him that you can tell everything…EVERYTHING…to Him?

3. God is more than willing to COMPLETELY heal and change you no matter what it is!

Question: Do you believe that He can do that change and healing in your life now? Are you willing to take the risk of believing completely on Him for that change and healing?

The famous smile that will be missed along Taft and Vito Cruz.

Who was Jenny? Why was he popular? Why was he loved? Why was his life celebrated and his death received an out-pouring sadness from the students and alumni of the two prestigious academic institutions (DLSU and CSB) in the Philippines? Why was he given respect that he has a Facebook Fan Page? What did he do to deserve such treatment even in death?

Was he a student or an alumnus of DLSU or CSB? No! Was he a professor? No! Was he a staff member of any of the two institutions? No! Who was he, then?

Jenny was a gay personality in the vicinity of DLSU and Vito Cruz corner Taft Avenue. Where the De La Salle and College of St. Benilde students were he was there! He was an errand boy, a help and say any job similar to those he was the answer!

He was featured in the university’s paper. And when one of the first online social networks (Friendster) started to be known he was given an account. He lived by the generosity of the students of these two famous campuses. I heard that some students were able to open for him a bank account for his savings (though I wasn’t able to confirm).

What did he do to deserve such respect and love? He was there for the students, he helped them and he cared for them!

Those were the three things he did so the students also loved him, helped him, and cared for him, when he was still alive and now that he passed away many are willing to help and attend to his wake and interment, just to give honor and respect for the person who was there for them!

One big lesson anyone can learn from the example of Jenny’s life is: to be there for the people, help them in their needs and care for them.

Thank you Jenny for your life’s example! See you in the life-after-here!

Tricycle of Manila

Totok of Bangkok

I find a very close similarity between these two mediums of transport in these two different Asian cities.

Both are three-cycled vehicles. Both have almost the same design, materials used in their construct and finishing touches. Both are micro-taxis that can deliver us to the very gates or doors where we wanted to go.

But there are also differences I see, toktok has more space than the Metro Manila’s tricycle.  On travelling, our tricycle cannot traverse the big national roads, such as EDSA, while toktok can travel in the main thorough fares of Bangkok and can even go to it’s Central Business Districts.

While riding the tricycle earlier and remembering my toktok ride, I had the following spontaneous reflections…

Journeying in these transportations is quite risky because those compete with bigger and more powerful vehicles. There is danger of being hit by cars and big public utility such as the jeepneys and the buses.  Yet we depend and trust the expert drivers of these cities’ micro-transportations.

Same as with our lives’ journeys, we encounter along the way more powerful and greater challenges than we are, but we are assured by depending on the expert Driver, Pilot and Navigator of our lives- JESUS! With Him we can be assured of the travel as safe and sound. And if ever there will be troubles on the way He can maneuver the vehicle to the best route possible to reach our destination!

As with traveling by tricycle and toktok I just enjoy the wind and the microcosms on the way that I won’t notice riding the bigger vehicles!

So as with our life’s journey, let us just enjoy our life’s travel with Jesus!

Payong pwedeng pang takip sa araw at ulan.

“Parapluie” and “Parasol” are two French words for umbrella: yong una pag ang payong ay ginagamit kung tag-ulan (pluie is for rain), yong pangalawa pag ang payong ginamit kung tag-init (sol is for sun).

Earlier when I went down of our residential building for the day’s errands and responsibilities it was raining. I didn’t bring an umbrella because I thought it was just a gloomy day – mainit pa rin kasi sa loob ng bahay. When I saw that it was pouring my first reaction was frustration and irritation.  Kasi aakyat ulit ako eh iisang elevator ang gumagana medyo late na ako sa errands.  I tried asking at the reception if ever they have extra umbrella that I can barrow. The receptionist wasn’t ready for the rain also so she didn’t have one. Sabi ko tuloy, “Nakakainis!”

When I heard myself saying that out loud, I became aware of my awfulness. So selfish of me only thinking of my convenience when the whole country needed the rain since few months earlier! Without complain I went up stairs waiting for 10mins going up and another 10mins going down to get my black banketa-bought ‘parapluie.’ Then proceeded to my chores for the day. The good thing was, I was able to accomplished those before the day ended.

How are you when you experience a little inconvenience? Do you focus on your own frustration and wallow over it? How about thinking of the greater things people needed being provided despite of your small non-comfortability!

A picture during an earthquake!

If you are indoors stay there!

When I was a little boy, I was taught that the safest place indoor during earthquake is under a table, yet lately there was an unofficial report that the best place to be during earthquake is at a receiving room seating set (sofa) and lie down in a fetal position. Why is it safe? Number one is, it is with foam thus soft; two, there is an angled backrest that can protect you from the crashing of the wall or falling of grand household accessories such as furniture and appliances.

While indoor, stay away from the windows and the kitchen. Do not run down the stairways, ride an elevator or get out of a building while the tremor is going on.

If you are outside – get into the open!

Get away from buildings, power lines, towering structures or anything that might fall on you.

If you are  in a car or a bus call the attention of the driver to stop but it should be as far out of traffic as possible, not on or under a bridge, over pass or big tress, light and electric posts or signages. Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking stops.

If you are in a mountainous area.

Watch out for falling rocks, landslides, trees, and other debris that could be loosened by quakes.

Always be calm because only then can you be alert and have the presence of mind which are the important factors to survive calamities and disasters.

Next blog will be about what to do after the earthquake.

We can prepare for this too!

The fearful feelings of people are heightened by apocalyptic movies & predictions, the likes of 2012 and others. Religious end-times fanatics are on the feast – so, on the later part of “Successive Earthquakes” blogs I will give some layman-spiritual insight about it. I have posted also a blog about why God allowed earthquakes to happen? (Check out: http://prudy.graceplace.ph/god-allowed-the-earthquake-in-haiti ).

When I was a kid these are the things I was afraid of during earthquakes: the idea of a disastrous earthquake itself (I panic, who isn’t?), the earth opening up and swallowing me alive, be separated from my parents or one of them becoming a casualty, being dizzy and lastly if I die I might not be saved (I’ll talk about this last item on the latter posts).

After a losing fight with panicking and being dizzy, I just resolved to jumping up and down during the earthquake duration so I won’t feel the earth’s movement. Or I climbed the nearest Aratiles (wild Philippine sweet-berries) tree, and just imagine that the tree is just swayed by the wind! Smart isn’t it?

Today, let me share with you simple to do things during an earthquake from my informal research on it. I found out that there are three areas on how to be prepared to this unwelcome natural phenomenon [1] before [2] during, and [3] after the earthquake.

• On 1, we’ve learn to the best that we can not to panic. I don’t know how are we going to do that, but the best so far that I know is to trust in God, that no matter what, He is in control of uncontrollable forces of nature.
• Second is to have a family contingency plan if an earthquake occurs. Locate the safest place inside your house during the quake and make it a point that everyone goes there. Or if it happens during the working hours, when everyone is outside, have a location (rendezvous spot) where you can meet within the day, in the circumstance that mobile communications won’t function.
• Prepare a striking color bag (preferably backpack) with emergency items, torch (battery powered), emergency medicine, light food, such as few canned goods and crackers, have candies and bottled water too. Place it in an easy accessible location within your house.
• And lastly, be courageous and brave as we don’t know what will happen during these disasters. Be ready also to help other people who are more damaged and unfortunate than you are.

On my next post I will share things to do during earthquakes.

This carinderia has no name only “Bulaluhan” - which they serve more than bulalo but all sorts of ‘totoong’ lutong bahay dish. They have seafood, vegetable & the best cooked rice for a carinderia!

Nothing can entice you with an authentic offer of dish - like a Bulalo!

What made it exceptional from all the other carinderias I mentioned in parts 1 and 2 of this blog title?

1. Their service is very personal. Sometimes it goes beyond the usual business relationship. But come to think of it, when it comes to food it is always personal. Joel, the cook, is more often ready to welcome me with a very provincial smile & stories. Jasmine, the server, welcomes me with the recent neighborhood scoop!

2. They knew my gastronomic preferences already. Even before I give my order, they are ready with what I wanted for the day. If there is ginatang langka or fish, I don’t have to say my order, it will be ready in an instant.

3. For a carinderia they are particular with cleanliness. Their place is not fancy but I know that they know sanitation.

4. Their location is accessible – on the corner of 2 busy streets (Vito Cruz & Taft). It can be located easily. Even if their place is very small they are with other carinderias so they can really be a 2nd choice if all the others are busy with customers, which eventually if you will experience their service, they will be your 1st choice. They started as one of my alternatives only!

5. Lastly, they are sticking for what they are – they are expert in their name as ‘Bulaluhan’ and add on the best lutong bahay dishes, that can compete with a mother’s preparation!

Insights: To be well accepted & authentically preferred by other people be it in your neighborhood, workplace or other communities be…

• …also authentically personal in your dealing with other people.
• …be the person that is pleasing both in your body and personality.
• …be available to people.
• …stick to what God would like you to become and develop it to be the best you can be!

Masarap na Maanghang!!!

Today here are the carinderias that I like but still place as my third and second choice…

Carinderia 3: The food of this store is really lutong bahay. The friendly lady-owner told me that her mom is the one who do the marketing and prepares all the food also, in fact it really tasted cooked by a Nanay.  Yet, I noticed one time that this owner was trying to lure me to buy additional food, which I don’t like, so that I will pay more. I know she needs sales but I don’t want to be tricked – specially when it is very evident!

Insight: Be very honest in your relationship with people.  They notice when you are not genuine with what you offer. Ayaw natin ng niloloko tayo di ba?

Carinderia 4: This carinderia has well attractive presentation of their food, which are in fancy Kawalis with banana leaves decoration. The lightings bring more attraction. Their combo meals includes a soup, 2 cups of rice and the main ulam. Yet, their rice smells old no matter how I advise their servers.  So this carinderia is my 2nd choice.

Insight: Be sensitive to the feed back of people on who you are. It helps you to improve.

On the next blog I will share with you the one I find the best of all the carinderias!

Filipino Food are definitely palatable!

Carinderia 1: This place is very clean! The Sanitary Division of Manila City Hall will give them a very good mark! The lady on the counter is extremely friendly, she calls all her customers by endearments.  I’m called ‘masanting na binata’ (handsome bachelor), definitely I love it. But their food choices are very regular, they  never explore on other menu with adventurous tastes. I also noticed that their servers are very stiff and seldom smile on the customers.

Insight: Be explorative with what you offer to people. We love new and exciting things, we don’t want to get bored with the conventional and traditional. Be genuinely warm also.

Carinderia 2: They have a lot of food choices. Those serve fit Filipino taste! The owner knows me seemingly personally and her assistants serves well. Yet, these assistants are distant and not connecting with their clientele.  So thus their location in our vicinity is a little distant too.

Insight: 3 essential rules to attract people – Location! Location! Location! Be where the people are!

On part two of this blog title, I’ll share with you my third and second choice carinderia.

Bloody procession!

This coming Friday is one of the most bloody Fridays of the year in the Philippines. This bloody day, a part of the Lenten Season is planned – infact there is people exodus going on in the major cities to have both religious and grand weekend long vacation to visit families and to see bloody bodies (not by accidents but by choice).

One of the most popular visited places during this Lenten Times is the one in Maleldo, Pampanga, where selected men of the village are nailed on the cross as penitents.

Crucifixion at Maleldo, Pampanga

Why are we practicing this?

We Filipinos are cultural Christians, thinking that to do certain religious piety or make ourselves suffer will make God love or care for us more or will make Him considerate to give our prayer requests, the like of ’suertes’ for the year and good health.

To note sadly, the least that we think of during Holy Friday, even if all the processions and pious practices are around, is the real essence of God’s sacrificial act of LOVE by giving His ONLY Son to carry in Himself the sins He did not commit but ours.  So that we may be guiltless and will not suffer the painful consequence of our sins in hell!

During that time He became the BAD one not us:

• He was the cheating employee, the selfish businessman, the corrupt government official.
• He was the flirting wife, the adulterer husband, the disobedient child.
• He was the hold upper, the murderer, the drug addict, the sexual abuser.
• He was the lustful man, the self-absorbed vain lady, the extravagant yuppy.

Name all the sins we commit and those He took, was punished and died so that we can now run free from the eternal horrible penalty.

By reading this, I hope that you will appreciate that act on the CROSS by Jesus.

To end this post let me share with you a beautiful verse in the last book of the Bible: “…Jesus Christ, who is the first witness…the ruler of the kings of the earth…Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom…to serve His God and Father.” (Revelation 1: 5, 6)