Post this statement on your FB wall "Have a chance to win 2 vouchers for Underarm Laser Hair Removal worth P4,000 at @LEVYousa" (make sure that you've properly tagged @LEVYousa).
Blog about this contest and linking back to Levy's blog.
Little Miss Dress Up is at it again with a fabulous sizzling Summer Giveaway! By following Little Miss Dress Up on twitter, facebook, and follower her blog via Google Friend Connect and BLOGLOVIN' - TWO followers will get TWO items from the ARANAZ Summer 2011 Collection!
Visit the link for more details :) Get ready for a hot, hot, hot Summer!
Twinners Reviews & Giveaways has a special treat in store for its followers! In celebration of achieving its 1000th follower on Google and Twitter (soon!!!), Twinners will be giving away a CANON Powershot A495 Digital Camera!
Note that this special giveaway will only take effect once Twinners has reached 1000 followers in both Google AND Twitter. There are things to do to qualify for the giveaway, so visit the site in order to get the details.
The space between us is real. A bag in between, a purse, a pillow, thick, suffocating, air… As if skin touching was such an offense. As if minds meeting were so taboo. Always preoccupied with something else, That being with me, loving me, becomes an after thought. The space between us is real. And it seems, I, am not.
Verse: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" (Book of Genesis)
Reflection: Earlier today I posted that as my FB status followed by "whose likeness then is in the thieves who ransack houses? in rapists? in murderers? in generals and their family who steal from the people who lay their lives for our country? in abusive employers and administrators? in corrupt politicians and officials?"
I couldn't get the verse out of my head. I just couldn't. So I reflected further on it and reflected on my post as well. Trying to wrap my brain around it, I asked myself, "do others see God in you?".
That question floored me. I realized that I kept trying to find God in others... but wasn't sure if others could find God in me. I keep trying to find the good in people, but am I showing the goodness of God through my own actions and words?
Yes, we live in a world where child-like innocence will be shattered, and trust will be abused. But instead of trying to find good people, why not be a good person? In wanting the world to become a better place, why not try to be a better person? It begins with one. It begins with changing myself. Today I start the change I want to see.
One La Salle Prayer: Let me be the change I want to see, to do with strength and wisdom all that needs to be done... and become the hope that I can be.
Set me free from my fears and hesitations; grant me courage and humility; fill me with Spirit to face the challenge, and start the change I long to see.
Even if I am not the light, I can be the spark! In faith, service and communion, let us start the change we want to see, the change that begins in me.
"May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing that you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into our bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and everyone of you." — Santa Teresa de Jesús
I found that message in my in-box and it warmed my heart to know that somehow, somewhere, I was able to positively touch another person's life to the point that that person thought kindly of me, reached out, and sent me that beautiful message. And I appreciate how not all forwarded messages are "chain mail", and I must admit that some messages come at such an appropriate time that it sends chills down my spine.
This is just a shout out to all Wonder Women out there, and to the ones who help make you wonderful. In the busyness of each day, while you try to make sure that everything is in place, juggling event upon event, and keeping at bay the rainbow of emotions that is going through you, may you still find peace within - knowing that even at your lowest or loneliest point, God will never leave you. Be blessed.
Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, answer these questions. You can't use the band I used. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Repost as "my life according to (band name)" Tag your music loving friends!
Favorite Local Band of all time: Eraserheads!
Describe yourself: Fruitcake (Fruitcake)
How do you feel: Ligaya (Ultraelectromagneticpop)
Describe where you currently live: Smallroom (Aloha Milkyway)
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Trip to Jerusalem (Fruitcake)
Your favourite form of transportation: Waiting for the bus (Cutterpillow)
Your best friend is(are): Pare Ko (Ultraelectromageneticpop)
Your fear: Sumtingevil (album unknown)
What is the best advice you have to give (pwede bang receive? hehe): Palamig (Carbon Stereoxide) or Easy Ka Lang (Ultraelectromagneticpop)
Thought for the day: Huwag mo ng Itanong (Cutterpillow)
Thoroughly enjoying my cup of Starbucks VIA™ Ready Brew Columbia blend! My take on it? Starbucks VIA™ Ready Brew is an awesome addition to Starbucks' already wonderful offerings!
Note, it doesn't taste like any over the counter instant coffee. In each cup of Starbucks VIA™ Ready Brew, you get to enjoy the fresh aroma and the rich and exquisite taste of Starbucks brewed coffee at a price that is more affordable (than most cafe bevs) and at a time and place of your choice. Whether you're chillaxing at home or shaking off a busy day at the office, Starbucks VIA™ Ready Brew gives you great coffee any time and any where without the hassle of a coffee maker or press :)
It's been more than a hundred days since our eventful national elections. 100 days after and the country has already been placed in the global spotlight. 100 days after and people are beginning to grumble.
The grumbling does not surprise me. I was born in the 70's so I've had my fair share of presidents. And I've seen how they've muscled their way into power or how the public raised them on a pedestal declaring their chosen leader as the nation's savior.
Savior?! What?! As a people, why do we cling to the drama? Why does the Filipino look at himself as a damsel in distress always needing someone to sweep him off his feet and save him? Oh for crying out loud!
We as a people have had the same problem regarding our leaders and how we see ourselves - it's that we expect him or her to change our lives in an instant. Bad news, bros, that will never happen. Because our "salvation", "freedom", and the improvement of our lives cannot be depended on one person alone. With islands reaching 7,107 and a population of more than 90 Million, it is impossible for one man to bring our country together. Instead of placing the burden of kinship and deliverance on one man's shoulders, we should take it upon ourselves to reach out and yes, touch somebody's hand to make this country a better place - not only for foreigners, not only for the rich, but for the masses and for the children - our future.
So what do we do?
Let us not quibble unnecessarily. We have enough diseases that could kill the lot of us, so we don't need violence to shed any more blood. Let's talk. Let's share our feelings. Let's make an effort to build bridges instead of burning them.
Treat each other as if he were your brother/sister. Whatever religion you're in, these are the basic tenets - love and respect your God, neighbor, and the land you live on. As individuals, we will have differences, instead of hurting each other for being different, let us embrace this diversity.
Let us follow rules. Rules are there for a reason. Fill up necessary forms. Follow traffic regulations. Queue up (huwag sumingit!). Let us step away from the padrino/palakasan system.
Take care of our precious planet. We have only one. Let us not wait for foreigners to clean up our esteros. Let us not wait for the LGUs to start clean up drives. Let us pick up our own trash, and avoid littering altogether. Reuse, Reduce, Recycle!
These are things that we can begin with. All it takes is a simple step. And yes, there are things that our government can do for us, but we must also remember that we as a people have a role to play and the responsibility is ours by birth and by right. To quote the late president John F. Kennedy, "ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."
The past few weeks have been traumatic for our country. But true to form, no one is taking responsibility.
There has been a lot of hate messages and mud slinging going around - towards the hostage taker, towards the media, towards the PNP, towards the SWAT, towards the administration, towards the DILG, towards the mayor, towards the vice-mayor, towards the usiseros... poop flying everywhere and everyone's saying the other person's poop stinks much worse then their own. Yes, true to form, a lot of people are yapping their butt-cheeks off, wagging their tongues, and pointing fingers.
So where does that leave us now? Be (one of) the most hated nations in the world? Be the laughing stock and butt of jokes for the next couple of decades? We're great at getting attention, and trying to divert attention. Must the KSP cling to the limelight?
The problem is, we seldom learn from our mistakes because we're too busy saving face, saving ourselves, and being "pasikat". Sigh. Let's not waste our time waiting for the "next big scoop" to get our attention. Let's not wait to jump on the next bandwagon.
While on the bus on the way home, the bus driver's attention was called (several times) by the traffic enforcers (TE) - I was seated by the window on the row immediately behind the driver's seat. We were along Taft Avenue nearing the corner of Buendia. At the corner, the bus driver was stopped (well, not really stopped seeing as we were inching along our way) by the senior traffic enforcer (STE) who didn't look happy. He asked for the driver's license - the driver would make "pakiusap" - this happened 2 or 3 times - until the STE yelled "Lisensya!". The conductor got off the bus and tried to bribe STE who kept turning his back and walking away. A ticket was issued. The license was confiscated.
The bus driver and conductor kept yapping on the bus as they inched away from the curb, commenting on how terrible the STE was for being "masunget", "mayabang" and "hindi mapakiusapan".
Hearing their discussion made my blood boil. They were mad at the guy for enforcing the rules! They were mad at him because he didn't want to be bought! The only thing bad I can say about the STE is that he had a short fuse. But in the heat of the afternoon sun, with drivers and conductors trying to buy their way out of a ticket, who wouldn't have a short fuse?
That's corruption right there - bus driver and conductor wanted the easy way out. They wanted to get their way without having to pay for the consequences. But what they didn't anticipate is that there are still some people who cannot be bought - whose integrity cannot be swayed.
The Gospel reading during the celebration of Good Shepherd Sunday came from the Gospel according to John 10:27-30, [Jesus said,] "My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."
It is my fervent hope that in the coming elections, we - as a people of God - will listen to His voice. That we - as a nation of our Lord - shall be guided by His Will and not our own. That our public officials and most especially those running for positions of power will espouse the virtues and values of a true and Good Shepherd.
Ruth went to her mailbox and there was only one letter. She picked it up and looked at it before opening, found that there was no stamp, no postmark, and only her name and address. The letter read:
Dear Ruth,
I'm going to be in your neighborhood on Saturday afternoon. I'd like to drop by for a visit.
Love Always,
Jesus
Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table, "Why would the Lord want to visit me? I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to offer."
With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets, she reached into her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents. "Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least." She threw on her coat and hurried out the door.
A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of milk left Ruth with a grand total of twelve cents to last her until Monday. Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home with her meager offerings tucked under her arm.
"Hey lady, can you help us, lady?" Ruth was so absorbed with her dinner plans that she barely noticed the two figures huddled in the alleyway outside the grocers. A man and a woman, both dressed in little more than rags.
"Look lady, I ain't got no job and my wife and I've been living out here on the streets, see, and well, it's getting cold and we're kinda hungry. If you could help us, we'd appreciate it."
Ruth looked at them; they were dirty, smelly and frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they really wanted to. "Sir, I'd really like to help, but I'm a poor woman myself, all I have are a few cold cuts and some bread, and I have an important guest for dinner tonight..."
The couple nodded their heads sadly, "Yeah, well, ok lady, I understand. Thanks anyway." The man said, as he placed his arm around his wife's shoulders.
But as Ruth watched them leave, she felt a familiar twinge in her heart, "Sir, wait!" she called out. The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them.
"Why don't you take this food, I'll figure out something to serve my guest." handing the man her grocery bag.
"Thanks lady! Thanks a lot!" The man exclaimed with a toothless grin.
"Yes, thank you." His wife added, and Ruth could now see that the woman was shivering.
"You know, I have another coat at home. Here, take this one." Ruth slipped out of her jacket and handed it to the woman. Then, smiling, she turned and walked back home, without her coat and with nothing to serve her guest.
Ruth was freezing by the time she reached her front door, and worried too. The Lord was coming to visit and she ad nothing to offer him. As she fumbled through her purse for her keys, she noticed another envelope sticking out of her mailbox. "That's odd," she said, "the mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day."
Dear Ruth,
It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.
Love Always,
Jesus
The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer noticed.
. A friend of mine and I had a nice chata regarding crazy people, and our discussion ended with both of us somehow thinking that there are no absolutely sane persons in the world. True, there are those who are without a doubt in need of therapy or medication, but then there are those who just have their own bouts with insanity. Can any person really claim soundness of mind or a healthy mindset at all times? Hmmm.
Lord, though I may not see You, You are indeed present. For it is up to me to acknowledge Your presence.
Lord, though I may not see You, You are indeed with me. There are times Lord that I feel so alone, without my family around, I feel lonely even though I am surrounded by so many people. However, it is up to me to recognize and see You in the people around me.
Lord, though I may not see You, You are holding me in the palm of Your hand. Lord, I dont understand the things that are happening in my life. I dont understand the reason for the pain that I feel. But it is not up to me to understand, rather, it is up to me to accept Your will. And it is up to me to have faith in Your greatness, for you are a Just and Merciful God, and You shall not allow harm to come to your faithful servants.
Sometimes, you just get fed up with it all. Sigh. When will "I love you" be enough?
Faith answers this question!
Believing that the vows I took where not made in vain and having God as the center of our married life is vital. It's what keeps the marriage up, no matter how hard the winds of trouble blow.
I love my family, my child, and my husband. The vows I took where not just words uttered in the heat of the moment. Nosireebob. I had prayed to God and asked him if my decisions were right. Besides, not everything that's right and good easy to attain. And marriage is like that. It's lived on earth - and as humans are, we make a muck of things by being inconsistent at times.
But it is in God that I trust. It is to Him that we made our vows. And it is through Him, that we shall prevail.
