Jack Johnson - Better Together

Jack Johnson was a professional surfer until an accident in which his front teeth were knocked out and he received more than 150 stitches to his mouth and forehead. While he was recovering in bed, he spent his time writing songs and playing guitar. He was also a keen skateboarder, and learned how to surf and skate from his father’s best friend Alex Conwell. Alex also taught Jack to play the guitar. Johnson learned to play guitar at age 14, but did not seriously pursue a career in the arts until his college years at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he graduated with a degree in film and met his wife, Kim, a Waco, Texas, native. There, he played rhythm guitar for the hippie rock group “Soil.” (Source: Wikipedia)

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Stand Off For A Cause?

Four (4) teachers and twenty six (26) students of Musmos Day Care Center in Parola Compound were held hostage inside a bus yesterday, March 28 at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.

Armed with a grenade, an UZI, and a .45 caliber pistol; Armando “Jun” Ducat Jr., owner of the said day care, had a change of heart and turned the supposed to be field trip in Tagaytay into a 10-hour hostage drama.

His demands:
Support for the education of at least 145 school children of the Musmos Daycare and improved housing for them and their families.

The crisis ended with a promise from Senator Bong Revilla and an IT college to fund the education of the children; a commitment from MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando to improve the living condition in Parola; a candle lighting ceremony for all candidates in the upcoming elections that they might be “enlightened” and would not be corrupt; and 26 counts of illegal detention and illegal possession of firearms filed against Ducat and his accomplice.

In his message in Filipino, Ducat appealed to the public not to be angry with him.

He said what he wanted for the children was education “because if they were educated they would have discipline and would not become drug addicts.”

“I am appealing to you to give me a chance to speak. You are witnesses to the political dynasties, the rampant stealing in government. Because of this, our dream of progress for the country will not be realized,” Ducat said.

“Aren’t we ashamed of ourselves? We are a country who believes in God and yet we are ungodly in our actions,” he said.

“President Arroyo is fighting corruption, we should unite with her,” he added.

Ducat had said that he was willing to accept punishment for what he did. At the same time, he warned the public not to put their trust in politicians whom he accused of using the poor for their own ends.

excerpts from Inquirer.net

For me, it was a noble intention done in bad taste. I could not help but think that here is a man with nothing but a good heart for those children, but has gone frustrated and hopeless seeing how corruption and poverty robs these poor children of a good future.

What do you think of this incident and about the man that some people view as a hero while others think as a wacko? Just interested on your two cents.

Under The Sea

Angelito will be with us for a month on April 3. I was a bit hesitant at first in setting-up an aquarium because of the terrors of tank cleaning, but it wasn’t as horrifying as I thought it would be. Plus, Angelito never fail to amuse me whenever he performs some of his antics.

There was a time that whenever I pass by the tank or sits near it, he will go on the corner and hide behind the tank accessories. He probably saw the fried fish on our dinner table and it probably scared the hell out of him. He still behave in that manner some time but I now know how to lure him out. I just need to shake the fish food container in front of the tank and out came the voracious flowerhorn.

I only asked one thing from him, “with the money I spent for you and your tank, dying is simply not your option.” Well, that worry seems far from happening with the way things are going.

A Cloak of Love

“Love…always protects.”
I Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV

 

When Paul said, “Love always protects,” he might have been thinking of a coat. One scholar thinks he was. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament is known for its word study, not its poetry. But the scholar sounds poetic as he explains the meaning of protect as used in I Corinthians 13:7. The word conveys, he says, “the idea of covering with a cloak of love.”

Remember receiving one? You were nervous about the test, but the teacher stayed late to help you. You were far from home and afraid, but your mother phoned to comfort you. You were innocent and accused, so your friend stood to defend you. Covered with tender-hearted care. Covered with protection. Covered with a cloak of love.

 

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in A Love Worth Giving

 

Mirrored:

I always appreciate acts of kindness prompted by love. I think the person who showed me the most love is my Mom. That is why as much as I can, I wanted to return to her my acts of love not as a payment but as a token of my appreciation.

Come to think of it, we haven’t really exchanged verbal words of how much we love each other. That is not how we were built. But I know and I can see how much she loves our family. Her actions goes beyond any words. However, it is still nice to hear words such as, “I love you”.

Ronnie Liang - Isang Saglit, Isang Tingin

I saw this commercial of a skin whitening lotion called Skin White and I thought that it was well made. It was simple, not talky, and the song goes well with the concept. Thus, started my quest of finding a copy of the song without knowing who sang it only to be surprised to learn that it was Ronnie Liang (third placer of the first Pinoy Dream Academy). I am no fan of Ronnie, the program, nor of the product; but this song I like. Watch it on YouTube.

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Dendrobiums

I recently posted these pictures in my photoblog and wanted to share it in this site as well. These are my mom’s orchids which bloomed last November. Just click to see the full image.

 

If you are interested to see more of my pictures, please do drop by at PIXELOG.

Peace Through Prayer

“God’s peace…will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:7

The worrisome heart pays a high price for doing so. Worry come from the Greek word that means “to divide the mind.” Anxiety splits us right down the middle, creating a double-minded thinker. Rather than take away tomorrow’s trouble, worry voids today’s strength. Perception is divided, wasting your energy. Who can afford to lose power?

But how can we stop doing so? Paul offers a two-pronged answer: God’s part and our part. Our part includes prayer and gratitude. “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Phil. 4:6 NLT).

God’s part? “If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand” (Phil. 4:7 NLT).

 

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in Come Thirsty

 

Mirrored:

I really tend to worry a lot and I noticed that once worry steps in, I go paralyzed. I stop thinking objectively and often sulk in depression and anxiety. Doing away with worry initially starts with our action of prayer and gratitude that in turn will enable God’s part.

I admit however, that I do my part as a last resort. I only remember to call on Him when I am at the end of my string, after all strength have been exerted and yielded nothing. I only remember God in my moment of desperation. I know that obedience will save me a lot of heartaches but I still handle things my own way. How I envy those who can fully trust in Him.

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