Time flies..patapos na naman ang 2005, parang kailan lang halos hindi ko naramdaman nalilipas na naman ang isang taon, pero ngayong taong ito lang ang mas may pinakamasaya at pinakamalungkot na mga pangyayari sa buhay ko. This year, marami akong binalikang alaala noong kabataan, facesna hindi ko inakalang makikita ko pang muli at lugar na hindi ko inakalang babalikan pa pagkatapos ng labing walong taon. Tablas, Romblon is my second home, where I spent my last two years in highschool. A short but colorful moment of my life. And on April, this year, I got a chance to see this beautiful place again and meet my former friends and classmates.
Pero sabi nga nila, pag may saya, may lungkot din. Just as it seems that everyday is sunny, my father passed away in the 31st of August after battling with lung disease and other complications. Pero kahit na nakahanda man kami, masakit pa rin ang pagkawala niya.This is the first time birthday the he cannot celebrate it with us. Our gifts for him will remain forever undelivered but it will stay in our hearts. I missed you, 'tay.
A reunion with my childhood friends perks up the year. Nakakatuwa at ang mga kababata ko noon ng kaunti, may mga nagtagumpay ng lubos, merong ganon pa din ang katayuan sa buhay. Nakakalungkot mang isipin na tulad ng ibang tao, marami sa mga luma kong kaibigan na pinili na lang ang buhay na kinasayan nila noong kabataan namin. But whatever theirchoice is, kaibigan ko pa rin sila na naging bahagi ng buhay ko. Kung hindi pa dumating si Baloloy na isa ng Briton, hindi pa matutuloy ang pagkikita kita.
Minsan naisip ko, mabuti pa noong bata pa kami, hindi namin ramdam ang hirap ng buhay. wala kaming responsibilidad at problema kundi kung paano lang tatakas sa tanghali sa mga magulang naming natutulog. Tuwing Disyembre, susunduin ang kaibigan para magsimbang gabi o mag serve sa misa de galyo, tapos, gala na o makikikain sa bahay ng kapwa kaibigan, hot chocolate lang at sandwich, ok na.
Malayong malayo na sa ngayon.
Well, this year too is when I opened my first internet cafe, with just a little capital and lots of hard work. On the bad side, the other business (consulting) didn't do well.
Overall, this year is a good year.
For me, just being healthy is enough to make me happy all year long...
Monday, December 26, 2005
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
To All Xtians out there:
10. You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by
other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours.
9. You feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that peopleevolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt.
8. You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Triune God.
7. Your face turns purple when you hear of the "atrocities" attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in "Exodus" and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in "Joshua" including women, children, and trees!
6. You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then ascended into the sky.
5. You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the >scientifically established age of Earth (few billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that Earth is a few generations old.
4. You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs -- though excluding those in all rival sects - will spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And yet consider your religion the most "tolerant" and "loving."
3. While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor speaking in "tongues" may be all the evidence you need to "prove" Christianity.
2. You define 0.01% as a "high success rate" when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be evidence that prayer works. And you think that the remaining 99.99% FAILURE was simply the will of God.
1. You actually know a lot less than many atheists and agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history - but still call yourself a Christian.
source: http://www.evilbible.com
10. You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by
other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours.
9. You feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that peopleevolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt.
8. You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Triune God.
7. Your face turns purple when you hear of the "atrocities" attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in "Exodus" and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in "Joshua" including women, children, and trees!
6. You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then ascended into the sky.
5. You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the >scientifically established age of Earth (few billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that Earth is a few generations old.
4. You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs -- though excluding those in all rival sects - will spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And yet consider your religion the most "tolerant" and "loving."
3. While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor speaking in "tongues" may be all the evidence you need to "prove" Christianity.
2. You define 0.01% as a "high success rate" when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be evidence that prayer works. And you think that the remaining 99.99% FAILURE was simply the will of God.
1. You actually know a lot less than many atheists and agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history - but still call yourself a Christian.
source: http://www.evilbible.com
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Last April was quite an exciting month for me, why? because I went for a vacation with my family in Tablas, Romblon, a place that I haven't visited for almost 18 years! FYI, Tablas is an island adjacent to Mindoro and Batangas and only 12 hours from Manila, it's a separate island from Romblon, Romblon and it's surrounded by beautiful beaches mostly white sand and rich in marine life. It's just 2 hours to Boracay from there. I spent the last two years of my highschool life there and after 18 years of absence the place didn't change much. I have many fond memories of the place but it's sad to learn that there wasn't much improvement except the concrete road. But not much livelihood except for fishing and rice and crops planting. Many of the people find ways to improve their lives by marrying foreigners who visit Boracay, that way, they can buy parcels of land, fishing boats, and build big houses and resort, those who were unlucky to marry foreigners go to Manila to work as maids and laborers. Some of the sea corals are damaged and some endagered species like whale shark are being killed. When we were there one whale shark was reported caught in the net and killed by fisherman. Tourism could be a good industry in that place, but I'm not seeing initiatives by the local government.
Check out my photos
Check out my photos
Monday, March 21, 2005
Filipinos prayer for Manny's victory wasn't answered
I am an avid fan of Manny Pacquiao, and I'm really disappointed over his defeat. Amidst all the prayers by fellow Christian and Muslim Filipinos, Manny Pacquiao wasn't able to defeat Erik Morales on their 12-round bout, yesterday March 19, 2005 at Las Vegas, Nevada. Before the fight, Manny asked for prayers of all Filipinos as way of support. Manny a devoted Catholic like Morales, used to wear rosary and do sign of the cross before and during a fight, but neither of that was not able him to avoid the hard punch and head butt of Morales that resulted to Manny's severe cut on his eyebrow and swollen eye. Maybe the 115-113 unanimous decision is the will of Christian god, but how about the Muslim god, did they both connive too for the end result?
Chino Trinidad, one of the popular Filipino sports commentator even told Pacquiao that maybe god has more plans for him, that when he (god) closed a door he will open a new window. A lot of things are said about god and prayers before and after the fight, but neither seems to be effective. Days before the event, several problems arised, like the refusal of Manny to take an eyedrop for medical purposes, and seeing him on the casino.
To sum it up, does god really decides the fate of person or an athlete? I believed that if examined closely, the defeat of Manny is a result of untimely match, over confidence, lack of strategy and overlooking opponent's weak point. It has nothing to do with prayers and rituals, all we need to win is a strong and scientific fighter, like Erik Morales.
I am an avid fan of Manny Pacquiao, and I'm really disappointed over his defeat. Amidst all the prayers by fellow Christian and Muslim Filipinos, Manny Pacquiao wasn't able to defeat Erik Morales on their 12-round bout, yesterday March 19, 2005 at Las Vegas, Nevada. Before the fight, Manny asked for prayers of all Filipinos as way of support. Manny a devoted Catholic like Morales, used to wear rosary and do sign of the cross before and during a fight, but neither of that was not able him to avoid the hard punch and head butt of Morales that resulted to Manny's severe cut on his eyebrow and swollen eye. Maybe the 115-113 unanimous decision is the will of Christian god, but how about the Muslim god, did they both connive too for the end result?
Chino Trinidad, one of the popular Filipino sports commentator even told Pacquiao that maybe god has more plans for him, that when he (god) closed a door he will open a new window. A lot of things are said about god and prayers before and after the fight, but neither seems to be effective. Days before the event, several problems arised, like the refusal of Manny to take an eyedrop for medical purposes, and seeing him on the casino.
To sum it up, does god really decides the fate of person or an athlete? I believed that if examined closely, the defeat of Manny is a result of untimely match, over confidence, lack of strategy and overlooking opponent's weak point. It has nothing to do with prayers and rituals, all we need to win is a strong and scientific fighter, like Erik Morales.
Monday, March 14, 2005
It's been a long time since I posted here in my blog, as I'm too busy with lots of things especially with the business I put up with my friend. It's closing in to one year but I felt I'm still getting nowhere. I just hope the internet cafe would push through next month. Lots of things happened now and then, and it seems not too good as it seems getting worse, at least not to myself but in our world (well, yeah, even me!). Tsunami killed thousands, unending crisis in the Mid East and just this week 27 children died of "kamoteng kahoy" poisoning. Where's justice? cruel world? end of the world? dang! prayers won't help, accepting the world what it is, will. Learning from our mistakes will. As Richard Dawkins puts it,
"In a universe of electrons and selfish genes, blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt, other people are going to get lucky, and you won't find any rhyme or reason in it, nor any justice. The universe that we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pitiless indifference."
"In a universe of electrons and selfish genes, blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt, other people are going to get lucky, and you won't find any rhyme or reason in it, nor any justice. The universe that we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pitiless indifference."
