I had half a day to spend with Pau and Gayle. It was so fun to just hang around. We went to Rob, and ate lots and lots of food. We also went to Toys ‘R Us, it was so exciting to be around so many toys.
Anyway, I just have to write about our conversation earlier. We were talking about our beliefs and faith. As it is, our crowd is a melting pot of different religions and various beliefs. I am a Christian. I believe in God and in the bible. Pau is a Catholic and he believes in God, the bible and the traditions of Catholicism. Gayle is an agnostic. She “doubts” that there is a God. She believes in multiple lifetimes and karma.
All throughout the discussion I kept on repeating that I think religion is pathetic. And I really think it is. I believe religion does nothing but impose do’s and don’ts, trigger division and debates and it veers us away from really focusing on what’s important, and that is a relationship with God.
I hate all the halfhearted rituals and all the hypocrite personalities in religious organizations. But what I really hate about religion is that it causes division among people who believe in one Supreme Being, and that is God.
I get deeply injured as I hear people criticize the bible, what I believe in. But I don’t feel the need to justify, explain or defend my stand. I have come to believe what I believe because I have experienced it in my own life and I have been witness to the countless lives that have been changed.
If only religion was not invented at all. If only people could have a relationship with God without having to be identified with a certain group. Then maybe faith wouldn’t lead to feud.
Oh pero don't worry, we're still friends.. and they love me.. haha..
Showing posts with label Reposted from Old Blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reposted from Old Blog. Show all posts
7.9.10
Refusing to be Cynical
These past few days, I have been hearing a lot about marriage. And most of what I hear are daunting and disheartening. There were numerous marriages broken up because of affairs others because of personal differences and still a few because of other reasons such as relatives, finances.
Whenever I hear stories like these a lot of emotions bathe me. Confusion sweeps past me as I try to figure out how a couple, who started out as two people who were deeply in love with each other, who vowed to love and care for each other; end up with a relationship with hurts, pains and bitterness. I mean, look around, a lot of young couples are publicly displaying their affection for each other. Who’s to say that they would not end up like the characters in the numerous stories I have heard? Who’s to say I’m not going to end up like that as well?
That’s when fear sets in. Each one of these couples fell in love. They were happy and hopeful. Does the love fade away? What went wrong? Is it really possible to be completely happy in a marriage? I could be deeply in love now, but no one could really guarantee that situations would not change in the future. What is it in marriage that somehow lifts the enchantment of love?
Because of the things that happened to me in the past, I became cynical about love. Eventually though, I have learned to love “love” again. But doubt slowly creeps in as I question the authenticity and sincerity of it all.
Love in itself is doubtful as no one could really define what it is. Some say it’s an emotion that takes you to places you’ve never been to (hopeless romantics), others say it’s a commitment that you have to stick with no matter what. But I guess love, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. We define it differently because we experience it differently. And maybe within the deepest confines of my brain and my heart I have a lot of definitions of love as well. But what ties all our definitions together is that, love makes us happy. I don’t believe love’s supposed to hurt.
Love is a commitment to take care of a solitary person, to always seek his good, to always understand, to always give and not expect anything in return, to always be truthful and loyal, to always trust, and to be blissful in each others companionship.
This is my current definition of love.
I refuse to be cynical about love. I maybe wearing rose-stained glasses but I choose to view love in its truest sense. I know it’s not supposed to be all glittery glamour but I am hopeful that the bliss would take away the pains of the blisters.
Whenever I hear stories like these a lot of emotions bathe me. Confusion sweeps past me as I try to figure out how a couple, who started out as two people who were deeply in love with each other, who vowed to love and care for each other; end up with a relationship with hurts, pains and bitterness. I mean, look around, a lot of young couples are publicly displaying their affection for each other. Who’s to say that they would not end up like the characters in the numerous stories I have heard? Who’s to say I’m not going to end up like that as well?
That’s when fear sets in. Each one of these couples fell in love. They were happy and hopeful. Does the love fade away? What went wrong? Is it really possible to be completely happy in a marriage? I could be deeply in love now, but no one could really guarantee that situations would not change in the future. What is it in marriage that somehow lifts the enchantment of love?
Because of the things that happened to me in the past, I became cynical about love. Eventually though, I have learned to love “love” again. But doubt slowly creeps in as I question the authenticity and sincerity of it all.
Love in itself is doubtful as no one could really define what it is. Some say it’s an emotion that takes you to places you’ve never been to (hopeless romantics), others say it’s a commitment that you have to stick with no matter what. But I guess love, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. We define it differently because we experience it differently. And maybe within the deepest confines of my brain and my heart I have a lot of definitions of love as well. But what ties all our definitions together is that, love makes us happy. I don’t believe love’s supposed to hurt.
Love is a commitment to take care of a solitary person, to always seek his good, to always understand, to always give and not expect anything in return, to always be truthful and loyal, to always trust, and to be blissful in each others companionship.
This is my current definition of love.
I refuse to be cynical about love. I maybe wearing rose-stained glasses but I choose to view love in its truest sense. I know it’s not supposed to be all glittery glamour but I am hopeful that the bliss would take away the pains of the blisters.
4.2.09
I was Tagged; 8 Facts
Each writer must post these rules first.
* Each one starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
* People that are tagged need to write their own entry about their eight things and post these rules.
* At the end, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
* Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read what you wrote.
Some of the things I wrote are really weird/ jologs. Promise you'll still be my friends after? haha
Fact 1: It seems strange now but when I was little I secretly wished I’d someday discover that my Dad has another family so that I could have more siblings. I really wanted a “Kuya” then because I loathed being the eldest.
Fact 2: My Tita Maya used to help my mom take care of me since my twin sister and I are a handful. She told me that at night, when I stay with her and Lola, I would go to her and say, “Kiking..” That was the term I used to tell her that I wanted her to clean my ears. Haha! She does that almost every night to help me sleep. To this time, my siblings and I still use the term. We would say, “Ma wala na tayong pangkiking…” hahaha! I wonder if that word really exists?
Fact 3: I love chic flicks, chic lit, and Filipino romantic comedies. Sure, I enjoy mysteries, thrillers, and other types of movies that make you think and ponder about life until the wee hours of the morning but when I want to forget about the seriousness of it all, I grab DVD’s of Lilo’s or Hillary Duff’s cheesiest, most schmaltzy movies and I just indulge myself with the shallowness. It’s entertaining, really.
Fact 4: I’m completely petrified of the idea of being close to a very huge figure, sculpture or drawing of a living creature. The rock sculpture of a lion’s head in Kenon Road I’m scared silly of that thing. Whenever we would go to Baguio I make sure that my eyes are closed when we would pass the lion’s head. Also, you know how some swimming pools have these huge drawings of whales on the floor tiles; I try to stay away from those too. I just have this feeling that they’re going to move and swallow me whole. Weird huh?
Fact 5: My first crush was Mark Anthony Fernandez. Haha! (I have now obtained Ultimate Jologs Status!) I remember seeing his picture together with Jomari and Eric, (the “Gwapings” di ba? ) in a magazine when I was around 9 years old yata.
Fact 6: A bandwagon I would never get into would be the “Search for Greener Pastures” bandwagon. I love the Philippines and I believe there’s hope for the Filipinos. (Thank you. Bow!) And besides it’s comfortable here, at least for now. But I do have plans of going to other places which leads me to the next fact..
Fact 7: I plan on retiring at an early age and to just explore as much of the world as I could, with the person that I love, of course. (Ade’s eyes sparkle with glee..) I want to experience the different cultures of Asia (not to mention the stench in Singapore Ed was talking about, makapunit ilong daw e! haha), the beauty of Europe and the hustle and bustle of New York. But I have to win the lotto if I plan to do that before I’m 50! (Just kidding Ate Marie, di ako tataya! haha)
Fact 8: I believe in one sovereign, eternally existent God, that heaven and hell are realities and that Salvation is a free gift from God received when a person trusts in Jesus Christ to be his only Savior and Lord. It cannot be earned by man through good works, baptism, church membership or any other ritual and tradition.
I hate harsh discussions regarding differences in beliefs. I wish people would just seek to know God more, or to at least explore their own beliefs more rather than find faults with each other’s faith.
Medyo nahirapan ako dito Maj! Kaya ang mga pahihirapan ko ay sina; Kesi, Minette, Rovi, Khaye, Che, Dyaki, Jei, Cookai
* Each one starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
* People that are tagged need to write their own entry about their eight things and post these rules.
* At the end, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
* Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read what you wrote.
Some of the things I wrote are really weird/ jologs. Promise you'll still be my friends after? haha
Fact 1: It seems strange now but when I was little I secretly wished I’d someday discover that my Dad has another family so that I could have more siblings. I really wanted a “Kuya” then because I loathed being the eldest.
Fact 2: My Tita Maya used to help my mom take care of me since my twin sister and I are a handful. She told me that at night, when I stay with her and Lola, I would go to her and say, “Kiking..” That was the term I used to tell her that I wanted her to clean my ears. Haha! She does that almost every night to help me sleep. To this time, my siblings and I still use the term. We would say, “Ma wala na tayong pangkiking…” hahaha! I wonder if that word really exists?
Fact 3: I love chic flicks, chic lit, and Filipino romantic comedies. Sure, I enjoy mysteries, thrillers, and other types of movies that make you think and ponder about life until the wee hours of the morning but when I want to forget about the seriousness of it all, I grab DVD’s of Lilo’s or Hillary Duff’s cheesiest, most schmaltzy movies and I just indulge myself with the shallowness. It’s entertaining, really.
Fact 4: I’m completely petrified of the idea of being close to a very huge figure, sculpture or drawing of a living creature. The rock sculpture of a lion’s head in Kenon Road I’m scared silly of that thing. Whenever we would go to Baguio I make sure that my eyes are closed when we would pass the lion’s head. Also, you know how some swimming pools have these huge drawings of whales on the floor tiles; I try to stay away from those too. I just have this feeling that they’re going to move and swallow me whole. Weird huh?
Fact 5: My first crush was Mark Anthony Fernandez. Haha! (I have now obtained Ultimate Jologs Status!) I remember seeing his picture together with Jomari and Eric, (the “Gwapings” di ba? ) in a magazine when I was around 9 years old yata.
Fact 6: A bandwagon I would never get into would be the “Search for Greener Pastures” bandwagon. I love the Philippines and I believe there’s hope for the Filipinos. (Thank you. Bow!) And besides it’s comfortable here, at least for now. But I do have plans of going to other places which leads me to the next fact..
Fact 7: I plan on retiring at an early age and to just explore as much of the world as I could, with the person that I love, of course. (Ade’s eyes sparkle with glee..) I want to experience the different cultures of Asia (not to mention the stench in Singapore Ed was talking about, makapunit ilong daw e! haha), the beauty of Europe and the hustle and bustle of New York. But I have to win the lotto if I plan to do that before I’m 50! (Just kidding Ate Marie, di ako tataya! haha)
Fact 8: I believe in one sovereign, eternally existent God, that heaven and hell are realities and that Salvation is a free gift from God received when a person trusts in Jesus Christ to be his only Savior and Lord. It cannot be earned by man through good works, baptism, church membership or any other ritual and tradition.
I hate harsh discussions regarding differences in beliefs. I wish people would just seek to know God more, or to at least explore their own beliefs more rather than find faults with each other’s faith.
Medyo nahirapan ako dito Maj! Kaya ang mga pahihirapan ko ay sina; Kesi, Minette, Rovi, Khaye, Che, Dyaki, Jei, Cookai
A World Outside Mine
My world is usually composed of all things wonderful. I have been sheltered since I was a child, and twenty so years later I still am within the comfortable bounds of my parents. Some people say I have been “too sheltered”, that I don’t know what it is like in the real world, and that I’ve had it easy while others are worrying and struggling all throughout their lives.
I’ve been exposed to different environments and I have learned to deal with different kinds of people. But one doesn’t have to actually look for poverty, it’s all over. In fact majority of the population consider themselves poor. The pressing fact about me and about most of the people in our society is, we choose to look the other way.
How can I live in comfort, sometimes even grumbling about how some things are not just the way I like them, while other people do not even have a home to go to at night? How could I refuse to eat just because I don’t feel like eating while others are dying because of lack and hunger? How could I complain of going to school for another semester while millions of youth do not have the means for a college education? And how could I so easily forget how blessed I am and how I need to be a blessing? As soon as I finish writing this, pick up the PSP or a book, I’d shut myself within my world, where all things are wonderful. And just like that, people in need, poverty, and problems, all of them are kept outside. I chose to look the other way.
I’m rambling. But I just realized how I could be so indifferent to the world, to the real world. Here I am worrying about my chipped nails, about getting my hair done, about my patients in the clinics next sem, about what book to read next, while almost 50,000 people in China died because of the earthquake. I’m not saying I’d pack my bags and go to China to help. But through all these I realized how my worries are petty, it’s shameful, I know. I also realized that instead of exhausting my brain cells trying to think of a way to lose weight, maybe I need to focus on things that are of more value. People have died in China, but as I write, people are still “dying”, people are in need and they’re not in China, they are just an arms reach.
I really wish I would learn to keep my eyes and my heart open so that my compassion for people wouldn’t be a random bursts phenomenon. And I wish that my all – things – wonderful world wouldn’t keep me from reaching out and lending a hand, to anyone… to everyone.
I’ve been exposed to different environments and I have learned to deal with different kinds of people. But one doesn’t have to actually look for poverty, it’s all over. In fact majority of the population consider themselves poor. The pressing fact about me and about most of the people in our society is, we choose to look the other way.
How can I live in comfort, sometimes even grumbling about how some things are not just the way I like them, while other people do not even have a home to go to at night? How could I refuse to eat just because I don’t feel like eating while others are dying because of lack and hunger? How could I complain of going to school for another semester while millions of youth do not have the means for a college education? And how could I so easily forget how blessed I am and how I need to be a blessing? As soon as I finish writing this, pick up the PSP or a book, I’d shut myself within my world, where all things are wonderful. And just like that, people in need, poverty, and problems, all of them are kept outside. I chose to look the other way.
I’m rambling. But I just realized how I could be so indifferent to the world, to the real world. Here I am worrying about my chipped nails, about getting my hair done, about my patients in the clinics next sem, about what book to read next, while almost 50,000 people in China died because of the earthquake. I’m not saying I’d pack my bags and go to China to help. But through all these I realized how my worries are petty, it’s shameful, I know. I also realized that instead of exhausting my brain cells trying to think of a way to lose weight, maybe I need to focus on things that are of more value. People have died in China, but as I write, people are still “dying”, people are in need and they’re not in China, they are just an arms reach.
I really wish I would learn to keep my eyes and my heart open so that my compassion for people wouldn’t be a random bursts phenomenon. And I wish that my all – things – wonderful world wouldn’t keep me from reaching out and lending a hand, to anyone… to everyone.
Refusing to be Cynical About Love
These past few days, I have been hearing a lot about marriage. And most of what I hear are daunting and disheartening. There were numerous marriages broken up because of affairs others because of personal differences and still a few because of other reasons such as relatives, finances.
Whenever I hear stories like these a lot of emotions bathe me. Confusion sweeps past me as I try to figure out how a couple, who started out as two people who were deeply in love with each other, who vowed to love and care for each other; end up with a relationship with hurts, pains and bitterness. I mean, look around, a lot of young couples are publicly displaying their affection for each other. Who’s to say that they would not end up like the characters in the numerous stories I have heard? Who’s to say I’m not going to end up like that as well?
That’s when fear sets in. Each one of these couples fell in love. They were happy and hopeful. Does the love fade away? What went wrong? Is it really possible to be completely happy in a marriage? I could be deeply in love now, but no one could really guarantee that situations would not change in the future. What is it in marriage that somehow lifts the enchantment of love?
Because of the things that happened to me in the past, I became cynical about love. Eventually though, I have learned to love “love” again. But doubt slowly creeps in as I question the authenticity and sincerity of it all.
Love in itself is doubtful as no one could really define what it is. Some say it’s an emotion that takes you to places you’ve never been to (hopeless romantics), others say it’s a commitment that you have to stick with no matter what. But I guess love, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. We define it differently because we experience it differently. And maybe within the deepest confines of my brain and my heart I have a lot of definitions of love as well. But what ties all our definitions together is that, love makes us happy. I don’t believe love’s supposed to hurt.
Love is a commitment to take care of a solitary person, to always seek his good, to always understand, to always give and not expect anything in return, to always be truthful and loyal, to always trust, and to be blissful in each others companionship.
This is my current definition of love.
I refuse to be cynical about love. I maybe wearing rose-stained glasses but I choose to view love in its truest sense. I know it’s not supposed to be all glittery glamour but I am hopeful that the bliss would take away the pains of the blisters.
Whenever I hear stories like these a lot of emotions bathe me. Confusion sweeps past me as I try to figure out how a couple, who started out as two people who were deeply in love with each other, who vowed to love and care for each other; end up with a relationship with hurts, pains and bitterness. I mean, look around, a lot of young couples are publicly displaying their affection for each other. Who’s to say that they would not end up like the characters in the numerous stories I have heard? Who’s to say I’m not going to end up like that as well?
That’s when fear sets in. Each one of these couples fell in love. They were happy and hopeful. Does the love fade away? What went wrong? Is it really possible to be completely happy in a marriage? I could be deeply in love now, but no one could really guarantee that situations would not change in the future. What is it in marriage that somehow lifts the enchantment of love?
Because of the things that happened to me in the past, I became cynical about love. Eventually though, I have learned to love “love” again. But doubt slowly creeps in as I question the authenticity and sincerity of it all.
Love in itself is doubtful as no one could really define what it is. Some say it’s an emotion that takes you to places you’ve never been to (hopeless romantics), others say it’s a commitment that you have to stick with no matter what. But I guess love, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. We define it differently because we experience it differently. And maybe within the deepest confines of my brain and my heart I have a lot of definitions of love as well. But what ties all our definitions together is that, love makes us happy. I don’t believe love’s supposed to hurt.
Love is a commitment to take care of a solitary person, to always seek his good, to always understand, to always give and not expect anything in return, to always be truthful and loyal, to always trust, and to be blissful in each others companionship.
This is my current definition of love.
I refuse to be cynical about love. I maybe wearing rose-stained glasses but I choose to view love in its truest sense. I know it’s not supposed to be all glittery glamour but I am hopeful that the bliss would take away the pains of the blisters.
Faith Feud
I had half a day to spend with Pau and Gayle. It was so fun to just hang around. We went to Rob, and ate lots and lots of food. We also went to Toys ‘R Us, it was so exciting to be around so many toys.
Anyway, I just have to write about our conversation earlier. We were talking about our beliefs and faith. As it is, our crowd is a melting pot of different religions and various beliefs. I am a Christian. I believe in God and in the bible. Pau is a Catholic and he believes in God, the bible and the traditions of Catholicism. Gayle is an agnostic. She “doubts” that there is a God. She believes in multiple lifetimes and karma.
All throughout the discussion I kept on repeating that I think religion is pathetic. And I really think it is. I believe religion does nothing but impose do’s and don’ts, trigger division and debates and it veers us away from really focusing on what’s important, and that is a relationship with God.
I hate all the halfhearted rituals and all the hypocrite personalities in religious organizations. But what I really hate about religion is that it causes division among people who believe in one Supreme Being, and that is God.
I get deeply injured as I hear people criticize the bible, what I believe in. But I don’t feel the need to justify, explain or defend my stand. I have come to believe what I believe because I have experienced it in my own life and I have been witness to the countless lives that have been changed.
If only religion was not invented at all. If only people could have a relationship with God without having to be identified with a certain group. Then maybe faith wouldn’t lead to feud.
Oh pero don't worry, we're still friends.. and they love me.. haha..
Anyway, I just have to write about our conversation earlier. We were talking about our beliefs and faith. As it is, our crowd is a melting pot of different religions and various beliefs. I am a Christian. I believe in God and in the bible. Pau is a Catholic and he believes in God, the bible and the traditions of Catholicism. Gayle is an agnostic. She “doubts” that there is a God. She believes in multiple lifetimes and karma.
All throughout the discussion I kept on repeating that I think religion is pathetic. And I really think it is. I believe religion does nothing but impose do’s and don’ts, trigger division and debates and it veers us away from really focusing on what’s important, and that is a relationship with God.
I hate all the halfhearted rituals and all the hypocrite personalities in religious organizations. But what I really hate about religion is that it causes division among people who believe in one Supreme Being, and that is God.
I get deeply injured as I hear people criticize the bible, what I believe in. But I don’t feel the need to justify, explain or defend my stand. I have come to believe what I believe because I have experienced it in my own life and I have been witness to the countless lives that have been changed.
If only religion was not invented at all. If only people could have a relationship with God without having to be identified with a certain group. Then maybe faith wouldn’t lead to feud.
Oh pero don't worry, we're still friends.. and they love me.. haha..
The Right Kind of Cool is Wrong
In grade school it was about having the right label on your bag (Jansport), munching on the right snacks (Pringles, Lays), hanging around with the “cool” people, and listening to the hit singles of the boy bands, Boyzone and Backstreet boys.
During high school, it was more of showing off how brilliant you are by participating in as many co curricular activities as you can; joining the music club, writing for the paper, being an officer of the English club. Also it was about enumerating as many names as you can of boys who officially had, or assumingly had crushes on you.
Independence is more pronounced during college, or so they say. During this time, it was about attending the right kind of parties, drinking the right kind (and amount) of booze, having the same ideals as most of your school mates and yes having lots of money to spend on lazy hours in the mall.
“Coolness”. I was always trying to achieve the right kind of cool. Ever since I learned that there was such a thing as an “in” crowd, I vehemently worked my ass to be integrated. I was trying to imitate people who seem to have achieved “it”. I was trying to like the things they like just so I could be labeled, “cool”.
At some point, I succeeded. And I foolishly convinced myself that I was having fun. In the midst of the boisterous music, the smoke – filled air and the alcohol laden crowd, I was pretending to enjoy. It would seem that I was having the time of my life, but in the quest to find the “right kind of cool”, I lost myself.
I used to think that people would like me because I am a “cool” person. But I have learned that people would like me better if I would be true.
This writing spree was triggered by some lonesomeness I was feeling throughout this week. But no need to elaborate. I just needed to vent.
During high school, it was more of showing off how brilliant you are by participating in as many co curricular activities as you can; joining the music club, writing for the paper, being an officer of the English club. Also it was about enumerating as many names as you can of boys who officially had, or assumingly had crushes on you.
Independence is more pronounced during college, or so they say. During this time, it was about attending the right kind of parties, drinking the right kind (and amount) of booze, having the same ideals as most of your school mates and yes having lots of money to spend on lazy hours in the mall.
“Coolness”. I was always trying to achieve the right kind of cool. Ever since I learned that there was such a thing as an “in” crowd, I vehemently worked my ass to be integrated. I was trying to imitate people who seem to have achieved “it”. I was trying to like the things they like just so I could be labeled, “cool”.
At some point, I succeeded. And I foolishly convinced myself that I was having fun. In the midst of the boisterous music, the smoke – filled air and the alcohol laden crowd, I was pretending to enjoy. It would seem that I was having the time of my life, but in the quest to find the “right kind of cool”, I lost myself.
I used to think that people would like me because I am a “cool” person. But I have learned that people would like me better if I would be true.
This writing spree was triggered by some lonesomeness I was feeling throughout this week. But no need to elaborate. I just needed to vent.
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