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The Longest "Eight Seconds"

I have never experienced “eight seconds” that long. According to the diver and guide, it was eight seconds, but I did not believe it. Let’s go back to how it began. We were privileged to visit this isolated resort called Dagatan Sifai in Bucas Grande, Socorro, Surigao del Norte. It’s so isolated that there’s no Wi-Fi or service for calls and texts. Our time here began really slow and there was…

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AI, Non-hassle-free Flights, and the Joy of Children's Ministry

My first time being a resource speaker was in a group of ten college students, more or less. Also, I wrote about it here in my WordPress entitled May 16, 2015, and this is the link: May 16, 2015 Anyway, that experience was nerve-wracking but challenging and experiential. That time, I actually prayed for more similar opportunities, and October 26 and 27, 2024 happened. This time, I was not…

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Unexpected Results

The goal of a Christian is to be Christ-like and to bring glory to God. Otherwise, he or she does things for himself or herself. However, we start right in some instances, and the process is smooth and aligned with what God calls us to do. Then, the results may not be what we expect them to be. Surely, there are reasons why that happens. Isaiah 17:10-11 may answer that. “Because thou hast…

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YOU CAN, TEACHER, YOU CAN!

You rise from your bed at 4:30 in the morningYou turn on the shower feeling like a zombie walkingYou say, “Yes! I have to go!”You drink your steaming mug of black coffeeYou think it’ll make your eyes fully wide openYou say, “Yes! I have to go!”You find your way to find a seat on the busYou find none, so stand for 30 minutes and not give a fussYou and your knapsack at the back and a tote bag on…

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for years, we wait

for years,we wait,that it’s already too long,that we’ve forgottenwhat we have spoken to our heavenly Father.we waitlike children have become adults.they speak with authoritylike ours is already disposable.we waitlike our bad habits have become norms.they rumble and the bad wins,and reigns over and weakens our bodies.we waitlike our head is either empty or full,with hair falling off or still…

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Remember!

Ready!You always are!Even though you don’t have a clue,What people will hurl at youWhether spit, slur, or tomatoesYour shield is firm,Always firm!Hard!Hard to penetrate.Stand,You standWith a stance,Ready to battle!When people just pass byAnd say, “Hello!”When they just want to smileBut you are readyAgainst their game faceAnd villainous grins.Tall,You already are,But you don’t stoopEven when…

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Dark Clouds

Crystal clear promisesDark clouds mindsetAlways falling on the same endingAlways stumbling along smooth pavementSometimes knocking my head twiceStill trapped in this tragic continuumOver and over againThat rashes and soresStart mounting up on my skinAnd the itch continues foreverOnce I forget all this painAnd enjoy momentary gleesAnd oblivious to the blessed hopeAnd straightforward to snatch…

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Faith to Sight

“Foolish!”, “Blind!” are what people scream!They think we are walking our dreamOn trapeze, one wrong move, we fall.They don’t know, our Master so tallSo strong, He carries our burdens,All our dirty sins, He pardons! We incessantly pray and singTo whom we deem as the true King.We try to live His will by faithWhile they think He’s passed as a wraith.Though they throw many sticks and stonesStand…

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Turn the Tables

Most people now think that “being real” is being blunt with your opinions on things and people in your life. Like being unforgiving blunt, to the point you’re being harsh. People classify that now as “being honest“. It is not only expressed in face-to-face interaction but even in social networks. If you can read between the lines, you can hear loudly the angry tone, the annoyed tone, and the…

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Bad/Good Model

We never do things out of nothing. There is always a reason or something or someone who influenced us to do things. Similarly, bad manners come from a model or an experience. Hence, we must be careful in what we do because the young can easily imitate our gestures. That’s why we have to do our best to do good things. Sadly, teachers in school bear the burden of disciplining the children when…

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Rest in the Lord

Everything seems fast-paced nowadays. People seek answers instantly. Attention is short. Fame may last for only fifteen minutes long. Problems go unsolved or forgotten and another one comes along. We live like nothing happened the day before, yet we wake up the next day feeling burdened because we just want to move on. Do the routine. Do something safe so that the trail won’t crash, and all…

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Long Live, OPM!

In the 90’s and early 2000’s, most of the popular OPM songs are revivals or what we commonly call now—covers. It’s annoying to hear them repeatedly on the radio because they were not better than the original, well most of them. What was even more annoying was that the original artist of that particular song became a blur, and the cover artist took front and center and became the symbol of that…

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Detect and Deflect

Exodus 20:3-5 says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the…

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The Standard for Leaders

It’s almost election time in the United States, and in the Philippines, we will have it next year. Every year, we always complain of those who are sitting in the offices. It’s either the one elected was not doing his or her function or he or she was exuding a vile reputation. Whatever the case, they shouldn’t be sitting in these offices. In my opinion, a leader must possess a servant’s heart.…

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American vs. British English

It’s always adorable to listen to an English person speaks. The accent always exudes novelty, aristocracy, and intelligence. Personally, I would like to speak like the English, yet it takes years of practice. Anyway, there are those who couldn’t speak British English, but they try to write like one. Sadly, for Filipinos, the standard English is American. And we should stick to it. Although…

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The Long A Problem

Shoutout to Faith Christian Academy, my first school, and to my late missionary aunt Thelma Olid, who taught me phonetics very well! (hehe) I believe schools who use ACE or School of Tomorrow curriculum do very well with this as it begins right at the very start. I don’t have perfect pronunciation of all English words. I try every time and occasionally I consult the dictionary, but at least I…

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Skip or Trip?

Recently, I went back to Laoag-Vigan-Baguio (Ilocos Norte-Ilocos Sur-Benguet) route which we did last 2014 (hope I’m correct). This time, I’m with a larger and a more diverse company. More or less, we went to the same places, and I got to evaluate better which you should skip or trip. So, it’s like I have a little right to do that (haha). Again, this is my opinion, and you might not agree with me…