The one on the tsunami

It's been more than a week, and I still can't believe the devastation wrought by those killer tsunamis throughout the South Asia region and Africa.

Cathy and I were talking last night, watching some of the wreckage on CNN, and we were saying it was only by a miracle of God that the 7,100 islands of the Philippines were somehow spared from the raging seas. We didn't even come remotely close to death. Praise God for His mercy. We were also saying it was a sign of the endtimes, having started with September 11. Not really sure about that, but the Bible does talk about these things.

Rather than philosophize, I pray for the families of those left behind. In the light of the tragedy, the readings I have on Job seem particularly appropriate. Why do bad things happen to good people?, my New Devotional Bible translation asks in a related reading. We, naturally, have no answers, but I do know this: people learn from tragedy (for the most part). In efforts to prevent similar disasters from reoccuring, people build things bigger, stronger, faster, safer.

The irony is, in light of all these, the best recourse, found by millions of people all over the world, is often to turn to their faith. People find their way back to God in the midst of trial and tragedy, a pinch, really, to snap out of their own selves and turn to the Maker for solace and help.

People will die - that's a given. But when something of this magnitude occurs, and people turn to God, and start up a relationship with Jesus that will save them from the tsunami of a lifestyle that stands to destroy them, that's a good thing.

Meanwhile, I'm saving up to donate some money to the Quezon victims.

The one with the odd music

Don't you find it amusing when you call a Christian company and the muzak piped in is I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus?

The one with what to expect in 2005

2004 was a roller coaster year. I promised myself several things, the most important of which was to do great things for God. So far, I've released one issue of LIVEtheLIFE and found myself over my head. LOL An excellent God deserves excellent work, and I haven't been living up to the job description as best as I could.

Regardless, our God is a God of second chances, and I know He's willing to give me another shot. So, in 2005, here are the goals:

1) Get 10 schools subscribed to LIVEtheLIFE by June 2005;
2) Get a record deal for me / Sell songs to major labels;
3) Release Kartoonista's comic book under Superblessed Media's publishing arm;
4) Put more emphasis into Perfect-Proposals.com;
5) Read twelve spirituality books in one year, and the Bible twice;
6) Lose 40 pounds more; and
7) Bring the praise and worship ministry of my local church to that next level.

I have concrete plans of bringing each of these plans to fruition, and I need to meet with God daily to ensure I'm getting those instructions right. :) What a great year up ahead, the perfect opportunity to do great things for Jesus!

I pray that God also gives y'all great direction this year. Be superblessed!

The one with the best wishes for 2005

May God superbless y'all immensely for 2005! I wish 6C's on y'all:

1) Christ in your center;
2) Cuddles and kisses;
3) Chocolate;
4) Cash;
5) Chips; and
6) Contentment.

Here's to God using us each mightily to do great things for Him in this New Year! Failure is not an option!

The one with thoughts on Alba's

Last night, Cathy and I spent a good chunk of time at church practicing for Sunday's service. Afterward, we debated on whether to return to our home in Paranaque or spend the night at her mother's. While this idea did seem plausible, her brother was spending the night (from Nigeria), so we opted to go home. Dinner seemed best, so we decided to sup along Tomas Morato. After an ill-fated five minutes at Alfredo's (the steaks seemed well-priced, but for P450, we could find better options), we ended up enjoying the buffet at Alba's.

I'd never dined before at Alba's, and neither had Cathy, apparently, so we were looking forward to the meal, especially because the paella was supposed to be out of this world. We had a buffet meal once at Uno Mas (sic?) in Greenbelt, and did not enjoy it much because the rice was cold and the meats oilier than expected. Would Alba's live up to its reputation?

In a word: Yes!

While no buffet selection stands to beat the Ultimate Buffet of the Triple V conglomerate (c'mon, Dad's, Saisaki, and Kamayan for P450 on weekdays? Yum!), Alba's did provide a welcome respite from the weathered buffet of the buffet juggernauts. I'd go back.

Appetizers consisted of a selection of breads, truly tasty sliced salami's and assorted cold cuts, the hottest spicy sardines Cathy's ever had (so good, we bought a can of it so she could eat it at home!), and wonderfully garlicky button mushrooms! There were also mini-potato tots stuffed with relleno, and calamari, but these were run of the mill.

Main dishes consisted of the paella valenciana and paella filipinas, fish fillets, oh-so-tender lengua, and a baked two-cheese eggplant casserole that drove me crazy. There were also callos, of which I did not partake because I dislike chickpeas and all essences of it, as well as roast beef and suckling pig.

What took the cake, however, was the incredible canonigo. I have never had such delicious, melt-in-your-mouth canonigo in my life! Combine that with the sweet hollandaise sauce, and well, I took four trips to the dessert tray just for that incredible dessert. I'd pay P450 just for the right to polish off the entire tray of canonigo. I'm not kidding. Brazo de Mercedes has nothing on this canonigo. Calling all sweet teeth: you must try Alba's canonigo.

Service was exquisite (the waiters were the most attentive I've seen in a while), ambience was topnotch (it felt like dining at someone's home), and parking wasn't difficult, thanks to valet services offered. It was not a bad experience at all, no, no, no. It was the best dining experience I've had in a while.