My throat hurts. :p Typical, as I always get scratchy tonsils whenever I'm about to lead in praise and worship at my local care group. It just stinks, that's all.
Today, I picked up my new Smart SIM at the Smart Wireless Center in Alabang. I lost the SIM more than a month ago, but the folks at Smart were only able to provide me a new SIM today. Oh, well. To their credit, their service personnel were extremely accommodating. If you'd like my mobile, please email or YM me, and I'll gladly give it to you.
Meanwhile, Rodney Dangerfield has moved on. I hope Saint Peter gives him more respect.
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
The one with Brother Rolly Dizon in my car
So I report to work today at 1030am with full intentions of getting down to work and finishing up all the papers so the Annual Report can be ready by next week. I guess it wasn't to be. Brother Rolly was to announce his resignation at 12nn, and he was in La Salle Greenhills (my old alma mater!), and needed to be fetched. There wasn't a CHEd car available, so I was asked.
!!!
Me, drive CHEd Chairperson and Lasallian Brother Rolly Dizon, FSC, PhD, in my clunker of a car?!? I was stunned. Highlight of my week. My month. My year! Driving Brother Rolly. I could make a screenplay!
It was the biggest blessing! We talked, about Lasallian values versus Atenean values, about my magazine, about his fight with cancer. Everything the press says about this man is so wrong: he's a gentle, learned, eloquent man, whose inner strength radiates throughout his body, in his smile, his demeanor, his countenance.
Brother Rolly was responsible for the Zobel housing project that, in December, will be home to family. Brother Rolly spent 18 years serving La Salle Greenhills. Brother Rolly's thumbprints are all over my life as an educator and as a Lasallian.
I love this man, and the fact that CHEd people are thanking me for driving him around is ridiculous. I should be thanking them!
!!!
Me, drive CHEd Chairperson and Lasallian Brother Rolly Dizon, FSC, PhD, in my clunker of a car?!? I was stunned. Highlight of my week. My month. My year! Driving Brother Rolly. I could make a screenplay!
It was the biggest blessing! We talked, about Lasallian values versus Atenean values, about my magazine, about his fight with cancer. Everything the press says about this man is so wrong: he's a gentle, learned, eloquent man, whose inner strength radiates throughout his body, in his smile, his demeanor, his countenance.
Brother Rolly was responsible for the Zobel housing project that, in December, will be home to family. Brother Rolly spent 18 years serving La Salle Greenhills. Brother Rolly's thumbprints are all over my life as an educator and as a Lasallian.
I love this man, and the fact that CHEd people are thanking me for driving him around is ridiculous. I should be thanking them!
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
The one with the bills
This is the part that makes being self-employed suck. :p Upon arriving home last Saturday, I saw bills waiting for me; apparently, Standard Chartered, Bankard, Nippon Life, Sun Life, Toyota Insurance, and Smart Communications don't like to be kept waiting. I don't mind having to pay for these bills (since - hello! - I racked them up in the first place!), but with CHED being the typical government agency (grrr!) and delaying my salary, it takes quite a toll on Cathy's savings.
It can get really annoying. For instance, my Smart SIM was stolen when my mobile was stolen a few months ago. I made requests at two separate Smart centers for a new SIM, and I still haven't been given it. Meanwhile, since it is a postpaid plan, I continue to pay the monthly fee. Simply amazing, my butt. It's simply amazing how they rip me off! I'd buy bread to throw back at them when they throw these boulders at me, but I can't even afford to buy my Gardenia 5-grain wheat loaf because the South Beach diet won't let me have them.
Grr. I hate it when I complain, but even I have to blow off some steam. Argh! Argh! Advertisers, where are you? How can Relevant Magazine and Fish overflow with ads and I can't swing five?
Yet, God is good, and I know all will be well. Bills, begone!
On a side note, I see that JM has moved. Go swing by and see him.
Saturday, October 02, 2004
The one on my being around... and announcing the 2004 Superblessed Christian Blog Awards
When I first started blogging in 2000, I was among the first Filipinos, to my knowledge, to actually do so, and four years later, I find myself a ripe old coot on a Frodo-like journey. My blog has survived at least three incarnations (this one is the fourth), I have seen friends' blogs and rise and fall, yet through it all, I and my integrity have remained relatively intact.
Hey, I'm still here! I don't know where I am on the blogging ecosystem, but I've been around for almost four years, and I'd flatter myself to think that I'm one of the grand daddies of the Philippine-Christian blog phenomenon. My hits may have hit rock bottom, but I'm still flying high.
The fact of the matter is, I blog for me, for my Jesus, and for the Family of God. I stand firm testimony to God's goodness, and I will continue to trumpet it until my dying day or until the Philippines loses Internet connection. LOL
Now, I transformed the Mere Madness blog into a Christian blog after I accepted Jesus Christ in 2000. Slightly more than two years later, I first launched the Christian Blog Awards in January 2003 to honor the God-bloggers who blessed me immensely in 2002. At the time, when it was known as the Mere Madness Christian Blog Awards, it created little buzz but did bless Christ-bloggers who were in my immediate circle of blogs.
In 2002, these were the winners:
Most Inspirational/Encouraging Blog. Craig Tanner. Avoiding Evil.com.
Most Educational Blog. Mark Byron (MarkByron.blogspot.com) and David Heddle (He Lives).
Best Designed Blog. BrownPau. How Now Brownpau?.
Most Humorous Blog. Mark. The Gospel According to Mark.
Most Introspective Blog. Irene Q. The Musings of Irene Q.
Most Feeding Frenzy Blog. Esteban DaCubanGuy. Bakura.org.
Most Enjoyable Filipino-Christian Blog Keren. Keren.
Favorite Christian Blog of 2002. Bene Diction. Bene Diction Blogs On.
In 2003, I transferred to Superblessed and renamed it the Superblessed Christian Blog Awards. I added more categories and expanded the nominees' list; I also introduced a People's Choice option for regular visitors of the blog. I further remember a bit of controversy in the Feeding Frenzy blog category, but that's all water under the bridge, and I'm sure we're all raring to look past that. These were the winners in 2003:
Most Inspirational/Encouraging Blog. Tanya of 7 Day Holy. People's Choice: Tanya.
Most Educational Blog. Craig Tanner of Avoiding Evil.com. People's Choice: David Heddle.
Best Designed Blog. Mikks of The Son Seeker Chronicles and Keren Tan of Keren Tan. People's Choice: Mikks.
Most Humorous Blog. Michael Main of Michael Main.com and Christopher Wright of What in Tarnation.net. People's Choice: James Watson.
Most Introspective Blog. Irene Q of Irene Q.com. People's Choice: Irene.
Most Useful Christian Resource. Blogs4God. People's Choice: Bible Gateway.
Most Feeding Frenzy Blog. Josh Claybourn of Josh Claybourn.com. People's Choice: Josh Claybourn.
Most Enjoyable Filipino-Christian Blog. Jax of Jax Place. People's Choice: Rick Manzano.
Most Enjoyable Male Christian Blog. Darren Rowse of Living Room. People's Choice: Darren.
Most Enjoyable Female Christian Blog. Susan L. Prince of Sisters' Weblog. People's Choice: Irene Q of Irene Q.com.
Favorite Christian Blog of 2003. Christopher Wright of What in Tarnation.net.
This year, the categories are as follows:
Best Designed Blog.
Most Humorous Blog.
Most Educational Blog.
Most Introspective Blog.
Most Useful Christian Resource.
Best Blog with Online Discussion.
Most Inspirational/Encouraging Blog.
Most Enjoyable Male Filipino-Christian Blog.
Most Enjoyable Female Filipino-Christian Blog.
Most Enjoyable Male Christian Blog (International, Non-Filipino).
Most Enjoyable Female Christian Blog (International, Non-Filipino).
Favorite Christian Blog of 2004.
It will be my pleasure to announce the nominees on Monday, October 4, 2004, with the winners' announcement at the end of October. I want to thank everyone for their support of God-blogging, and pray that there will be less controversy this time around. :p Thank you for loving me, and praying for me. Do know that I too pray for y'all.
God bless!
Hey, I'm still here! I don't know where I am on the blogging ecosystem, but I've been around for almost four years, and I'd flatter myself to think that I'm one of the grand daddies of the Philippine-Christian blog phenomenon. My hits may have hit rock bottom, but I'm still flying high.
The fact of the matter is, I blog for me, for my Jesus, and for the Family of God. I stand firm testimony to God's goodness, and I will continue to trumpet it until my dying day or until the Philippines loses Internet connection. LOL
Now, I transformed the Mere Madness blog into a Christian blog after I accepted Jesus Christ in 2000. Slightly more than two years later, I first launched the Christian Blog Awards in January 2003 to honor the God-bloggers who blessed me immensely in 2002. At the time, when it was known as the Mere Madness Christian Blog Awards, it created little buzz but did bless Christ-bloggers who were in my immediate circle of blogs.
In 2002, these were the winners:
Most Inspirational/Encouraging Blog. Craig Tanner. Avoiding Evil.com.
Most Educational Blog. Mark Byron (MarkByron.blogspot.com) and David Heddle (He Lives).
Best Designed Blog. BrownPau. How Now Brownpau?.
Most Humorous Blog. Mark. The Gospel According to Mark.
Most Introspective Blog. Irene Q. The Musings of Irene Q.
Most Feeding Frenzy Blog. Esteban DaCubanGuy. Bakura.org.
Most Enjoyable Filipino-Christian Blog Keren. Keren.
Favorite Christian Blog of 2002. Bene Diction. Bene Diction Blogs On.
In 2003, I transferred to Superblessed and renamed it the Superblessed Christian Blog Awards. I added more categories and expanded the nominees' list; I also introduced a People's Choice option for regular visitors of the blog. I further remember a bit of controversy in the Feeding Frenzy blog category, but that's all water under the bridge, and I'm sure we're all raring to look past that. These were the winners in 2003:
Most Inspirational/Encouraging Blog. Tanya of 7 Day Holy. People's Choice: Tanya.
Most Educational Blog. Craig Tanner of Avoiding Evil.com. People's Choice: David Heddle.
Best Designed Blog. Mikks of The Son Seeker Chronicles and Keren Tan of Keren Tan. People's Choice: Mikks.
Most Humorous Blog. Michael Main of Michael Main.com and Christopher Wright of What in Tarnation.net. People's Choice: James Watson.
Most Introspective Blog. Irene Q of Irene Q.com. People's Choice: Irene.
Most Useful Christian Resource. Blogs4God. People's Choice: Bible Gateway.
Most Feeding Frenzy Blog. Josh Claybourn of Josh Claybourn.com. People's Choice: Josh Claybourn.
Most Enjoyable Filipino-Christian Blog. Jax of Jax Place. People's Choice: Rick Manzano.
Most Enjoyable Male Christian Blog. Darren Rowse of Living Room. People's Choice: Darren.
Most Enjoyable Female Christian Blog. Susan L. Prince of Sisters' Weblog. People's Choice: Irene Q of Irene Q.com.
Favorite Christian Blog of 2003. Christopher Wright of What in Tarnation.net.
This year, the categories are as follows:
Best Designed Blog.
Most Humorous Blog.
Most Educational Blog.
Most Introspective Blog.
Most Useful Christian Resource.
Best Blog with Online Discussion.
Most Inspirational/Encouraging Blog.
Most Enjoyable Male Filipino-Christian Blog.
Most Enjoyable Female Filipino-Christian Blog.
Most Enjoyable Male Christian Blog (International, Non-Filipino).
Most Enjoyable Female Christian Blog (International, Non-Filipino).
Favorite Christian Blog of 2004.
It will be my pleasure to announce the nominees on Monday, October 4, 2004, with the winners' announcement at the end of October. I want to thank everyone for their support of God-blogging, and pray that there will be less controversy this time around. :p Thank you for loving me, and praying for me. Do know that I too pray for y'all.
God bless!
Friday, October 01, 2004
The one with throwing out all the VHS tapes
Last weekend, I managed to speak to an aunt who now lives in New Jersey. She used to own the house where my family and I are temporarily staying, and left behind a ton of stuff, including a library of VHS tapes.
Now, I don't know how popular VHS cassettes still are internationally, but here in Manila, they're virtually phased out in the advent of VCD's, DVDs, and CD-Rs. Nevertheless, Cathy and I got a VCR for a wedding gift, and Nathan got two Baby Einstein VHS tapes from his godfather Anthony (that's just so Mafia), so it made sense to keep the VCR and just throw out the uninteresting VHS cartridges.
In the course of the throwing out, I discovered such gems as Dumbo and Aladdin, such duds as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and La Cage Aux Folles (didn't like the remake, don't care for the original), and stumbled a tape marked Coming of Age. Puzzled, I popped it in.
The sight of two naked bodies writhing in the throes of passion, accompanied by blaring cheesy music, greeted me. Shocked, I dropped the remote and scrambled to find the mute button on the TV set (when one is under that kind of pressure, one tends to forget there is also a mute button on the remote). Who would have guessed that the library played home to pornographic material amidst Down and Out with Donald Duck?
After I got over the initial shock, the next phase came in. Do I watch it? *teehee* Well, temptation made itself manifest, but I dumped it as fast as I could into the garbage bag with all the other VHS tapes before I could get tempted any further, and continued through the library without incident. After all was said and done, I had thrown about 50 tapes into the bag and thrown it out.
What a day.
Now, I don't know how popular VHS cassettes still are internationally, but here in Manila, they're virtually phased out in the advent of VCD's, DVDs, and CD-Rs. Nevertheless, Cathy and I got a VCR for a wedding gift, and Nathan got two Baby Einstein VHS tapes from his godfather Anthony (that's just so Mafia), so it made sense to keep the VCR and just throw out the uninteresting VHS cartridges.
In the course of the throwing out, I discovered such gems as Dumbo and Aladdin, such duds as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and La Cage Aux Folles (didn't like the remake, don't care for the original), and stumbled a tape marked Coming of Age. Puzzled, I popped it in.
The sight of two naked bodies writhing in the throes of passion, accompanied by blaring cheesy music, greeted me. Shocked, I dropped the remote and scrambled to find the mute button on the TV set (when one is under that kind of pressure, one tends to forget there is also a mute button on the remote). Who would have guessed that the library played home to pornographic material amidst Down and Out with Donald Duck?
After I got over the initial shock, the next phase came in. Do I watch it? *teehee* Well, temptation made itself manifest, but I dumped it as fast as I could into the garbage bag with all the other VHS tapes before I could get tempted any further, and continued through the library without incident. After all was said and done, I had thrown about 50 tapes into the bag and thrown it out.
What a day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)