Nasaan na ang Narnia?

Nasan na nga ba ang Narnia?

One of my goals last Christmas vacation was to read The Chronicles of Narnia. Unfortunately, I could not find copies of it that time. Around early February this year, it was available. But I didn't think of buying it since I would not have enough time to read it yet. And so, it was that such Christmas goal became a Summer Vacation goal.

Unfortunately, again, The Chronicles of Narnia is out of stock again. Why, oh, why? Just when I was all set to read it.

That's the irony in life, I guess. Just when you are looking for something, you could not find it. But when you are not on the look-out, it stares you right in the face. What a life!

Another thing ... I can't help but point out that if I were in Manila, I would already have The Chronicles of Narnia in my hand. I am pretty sure it is readily available with all the bookstores there. Back here in Davao, I have to settle for National Book Store. But I am ok. I have learned that here in Davao, choices would be limited compared to out there. But then again, I get to spend less compared to out there .. hehehe :)

Oh well, I have to settle in reading (again) Catcher in the Rye ... it's worth reading again:)

Just in case you're wondering, I haven't watched the movie, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

Narnia is playing hard to get :)

A Purpose Driven Life - Delayed Reaction Part III

I read the book purposely during the Lenten Season. It was a great read :) It was as I expected. Not that my life or my perception about life really changed after reading it. It just sort of reinforced of what I have truly believed in.

Back when I worked in Australia, I have heard how great this book is. I looked for it but had difficulty in finding one. I saw a teenager reading it in a coffee shop. I saw another nice lady who also held it in a tram. She was with her significant other. Then, there was another man who seated right infront of them. I think he was from New Zealand. The man was definitely not from the city, if you get what I mean. They were behind me and so I just listened to their conversation. The New Zealand guy initiated the conversation. The couple was nice to him, even though he was a complete stranger. Then the New Zealand guy noticed the book and mentioned that he heard of that book and asked if it was nice. The lady said yes and asked the New Zealand guy if he had read it. The New Zealand guy said no but that he would love to. And that nice lady just gave to book to him, with all smiles. That was really nice :)

Anyway, here are my favorite lines from the book:

We worry when God seems silent on specific issues such as "What career should I choose?" The truth is, there are many different careers that could be in God's will for your life. What God cares about most is that whatever you do, you do in a Christlike manner. God is far more interested in what you are than in what you do. We are human beings, not human doings (This hit me - bull's eye! I can totally relate to this statement)

Your capacity to remember is a God-given gift. You may think you have a poor memory. But the truth is, you have millions of ideas, truths, facts and figures memorized. You remember what is important to you. (I have always believed in this. We choose what we memorize. Or sometimes, there are other factors we have to take note of such as time and interest.)

If you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate. Worry is focused thinking on something negative. Meditation is doing the same thing, only focusing on God’s word instead of your problem. (I do have this capacity. I worry - a lot- but I usually keep it to myself. Most of the times, people around me don't notice it. Thatss where my optimism comes in.)

God is never in a hurry, but He is always on time. Great souls are grown through struggles and seasons of suffering. Be patient with the process.

People rarely excel at tasks they don't enjoy doing or feel passionate about. (I agree. But sometimes, we only get to realize that we are passionate about something once we get to experience it. Although, there may passions that are short-lived. You enjoy doing it for some time and then, you feel you have to move on.)

When you are doing what you love to do, no one has to motivate you or challenge you or check up on you. You do it for the sheer enjoyment. You don't need rewards or applause or payment, because you love serving in this way. (Blessed are the few who get to enjoy this.)

Don't waste your life in a job that doesn't express your heart. Remember, the greatest things in life are not things. Meaning is far more important than money.

Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud of. But don't compare yourself with others. There are two reasons why you should never compare your shape, ministry, or the results of your ministry with anyone else. First, you will always be able to find someone who seems to be doing a better job than you and you will become discouraged. Or you will always be able to find someone who doesn't seem as effective as you and you will get full of pride. (I have always believed in this)

When God's at the center of your life, you worship. When he's not, you worry. (Correct!)

Holy Week - Delayed Reaction Part II

It's been over a week since Easter Sunday. But I can't help to share my thoughts on the Lenten Season.

It has been four years of not having spent the Holy Week here in Davao. And I sure did look forward to it.

After 25 years, I had just realized that Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday is NOT 40 days. I am not sure why I was not aware of it all those years. I guess I just presumed. It was easy to count the Lenten season this year because Ash Wednesday fell on March 1. So I just presumed that Easter Sunday fell on April 9. I was wrong. The 40 day count ends on April 9, Palm Sunday. Oh, well.

More than the prayers, I also read A Purpose Drive Life, a 40-day read. It added to my realization that the 40th day of the Lenten Season is Palm Sunday.

For 43 days, I did not drink Coke. It was a little sacrifice. I know I'm a big Coke fan. I can drink a litre of Coke in one sitting. I can even say na if makapatay ang coke, malamang patay na ako .. hehe .. no kidding! Although, I admit that I drank Pepsi once and drank Sprite/7-up 5 times. But that’s about it. But I fought temptation really hard.

But the thing that struck me most is the less conservative approach to the recent Lenten season.

While I attended the Ash Wednesday Mass, the priest said that for Catholics, fasting is to be practiced on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. What? No more fasting on all Fridays on Lent. It seemed to be that way as it was also posted. A more liberal approach I guess.

Next one I noticed was the shows on TV. They were going to show movies, not necessarily religious, during Maundy Thursday, Good Fridays and Black Saturday. This is on free TV, not cable TV. Survivor was even shown on Studio 23. TV during these days is more than the movies on HBO and the 7th Heaven Marathon.

As to Bisita Iglesia, I guess we made it right after a number of years on doing it first on Black Saturday then on Good Friday a few years back. It should be on Maundy Thursdays pala.

On Good Friday, we did the Stations of the Cross at Shrine. I used to think a few years back na medyo commercialized na. Mas lalo na ngayon. Vendors were all over.

I didn't go to the mall on Black Saturday. But I heard that it was full. D' Lucky Ones even opened this day, but I did not watch it though (not yet .. hehe).

All in all, there were changes. Changing times indeed! But I do hope that more than what I saw and experienced on my environment, I guess what is important is that change for the better for the inside :)

Swimming Beach - Delayed Reaction Part 1

This is the first in a series of Delayed Reactions. I was supposed to blog these events days before but I never got to it until now. So here it is ...

Tayo na sa beach ... tayo na't mag-swimming

Parokya ni Edgar's Swimming Beach was swimming in my head for weeks after our class planned to have beach party. I was really excited ... as in! Although, a week before the beach party, I decided to lower my expectation ... mahirap na pag masyadong mataas ang expectation ... baka hindi ma-reach ... hehe

Tayo na nga ... sino pa ba ang hinihintay natin dito ... naiinip na ako

We were to meet at Street Cafe, 7:30 a.m. I got there a little after 8:00 a.m. I am late, guilty as charged. My excuse? No taxi available ... no kidding. But I was not the latest ... hehe.

Time to relax ... time to go slow

It was really a time to relax. Isla Reta was an hour's trip from Sta. Ana Pier. But it was ok since we just talked on and on. Nag-reminisce kumbaga sa kabuangan namin for the past 10 months in law school.

And so, we got to Isla Reta! Ah, the water was clear. Yippee! And no low tide na as in low tide. But of course, we have to prepare our food. The mountaineering guys prepared fire while I helped out in preparing the barbecue. We then had our sumptuous meal na super makabusog sa kadami. Then some went swimming. Afterwards, we played 1-2-3 pass. I think ako pinakamaraming lipstick sa face ... hehe ... luoy :) And then, we went swimming.

Unfortunately, 4 of the girls have to leave since they were not going to spend the night on Isla Reta. So only 11 of us were left ... but we had fun pa rin.

Pagsapit ng dilim, lumalamig na ang hangin ... Sindihan mo na ang bonfire natin

We had our concert. With guitar in hand, we sang to our heart's content. Sayang, walang producer na nakarinig sa amin. Baka inofferan na kami ng contract (joke!). But I really had fun singing with guitar ... mala-MYMP ... hehe.

We had our bonfire. Binaba lang namin iyong grill kasi hindi pwede magbonfire sa sand kasi mangitim daw. Pero in fairness, bonfire pa rin.

I think most of them were tired as they slept early. There were 4 of us who slept at around 3:00 am na.

Maupo ka na lang at panoorin ang mundo

Ah yes! Just before 5 a.m., we were awake and just basically look at the world. There was the sea, the mountain and the fishermen and then, us.

Muntik na kaming maiwan. We were waiting for the boat at the wrong dock. Doon pa pala sa kabila. Good thing we made it on time :) So at around 6:30 a.m., we left Isla Reta.

Kalingaw mag-beach oi! I had fun ... no kidding! I hope my classmates had fun as well! Until the next gimik!

Jazzed Up

Need I say more?

This blog really did get jazzed up by no other than the princess of disguise (thanks jud kaayo ma! As in ... truly appreciate it ... I'll make bawi when we see each other ... hopefully soon!) What's really nice is that I just told the princess of disguise what I want generally, nothing specific ... and I liked it! She really read my mind!

The new look sort of reflects me ... childlike (in fairness, hindi childish). cartoonish (toynk ang dating) ... hehe ... hope you guys like it as well (if hindi, buot-buot, blog ko to ... joke!)

I think it's nice to get a new look every now and then ... just to awaken the senses kumbaga!

So, jazz it up!

**Raymart and Claudine's wedding is on TV right now .. hahai .. mukhang ang sarap ng food .. I'm hungry right now .. hehe