« April 2010 | Main | June 2010 »
July 27 - I was surfing the internet around 4pm in my room because it was too hot to stay outside when suddenly the skies became dark, a strong rain poured and I heard strong winds whirling outside. After a few minutes I looked out the window and saw all the event streamers for the Lago del Ray Aquafest all fallen. After 10 minutes I get a call from Monique that I need to go to the main stage because it was damaged. I ran and was shocked to see that the roof of our 40‘x24’ stage was almost uprooted. The backdrops were torn apart (and they were made of wood), the trusses were twisted, 2” pipes bent and the scaffoldings were deformed. Upon my arrival, the technical director reported that they literally saw a twister go through our stage. The stage was really devastated and he feared that we will not get it ready in time for our show at 730pm. Now how I had wish that I had taken a picture of our stage then so I could show you the intensity of the work that had to be done.
I kept my composure, I prayed and thought... God whispered to me assign a work for each one. I remembered Nehemiah who rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem to bring honor to God. What was left in rubbles for xxx years, he was able to put up in 52 days. I remembered the steps... Assess work, check resource, Assign and Protect. So I assessed the areas where it needed repair, I strategized on how to go about it, I asked Ed on how much raw materials we had and how many workers, I assigned them each part and made sure, none of us were just look not knowing what help can be done... So that in less than an hour, the roof was fixed, in another 30 minutes, the backdrop was up, and by 7pm the show has started. One laborer approached me and said “Nothing is impossible with God!”. So after that, I gathered everyone including the orchestra who was already worried after seeing the stage that the even will not push through, I got the microphone and prayed... Praise God for allowing us to push through.
The bible is the ultimate source of wisdom, if this had happened before I met the Lord, I would have crumbled. I know that no matter how big my problem is, my God is even bigger. He gives me wisdom, the resource and everything I need to finished what he has tasked me to do. Next time you are facing a task bigger than you, remember to always first pray, assess, check resource, strategize then implement. Just like what that carpenter said “There is nothing impossible with God”.
Just wanted to share a blog forwarded to me... Thank you Jessica!!! The text says it all. :)
Today my reading is about this verse from Jeremiah 48:10 Cursed are those who refuse to do the Lord's work. Who hold back their swords from shedding blood". I know literally, God doesn't want us to kill. But, this verse also literally means "willing to do anything for Christ as long as he is sure it is his work.". Before knowing this, you probably thought it was ok not to do it... There are rewards for doing it, but not doing it will just make you not get the rewards. In this verse, it says not only do you forfeit yourself of the rewards, you also allow yourself to be CURSED!
In line with PDP, PDP is actually a ministry for us. We do it for the love of Christ. It is what Jesus has called us to do... so allow me to thank all those who have shared their precious time to be part of PDP staff of teachers... Jamie, Noel, Carlo, Derrick, Arlene, Tiqui, Jayjay, Dominic, Jason and every body else... Thank you very much for sharing your God given gifts in fulfilling a God given vision. I love you guys!!!
To Jessica... Big thanks to you for posting this. I'll miss singapore and the people from PDP too. I know all your teachers feel the same way. Di bale... 2 more days!
Last May 14, I and some Post Ad & Imagine Nation people attended the "I'm Inspired!" at SMX. This was a great seminar and we really did learn a lot. Although i do feel we had lack of time despite extending for another 30 minutes. There was just so many speakers, so many information... and if you were to ask me who was the best... well.. they were all great.
Great including this gadget introduced to us by Anthony Pangilinan (husband of Maricel Laxa).
Its gets audience reponse. They ask a questions and give choices on screen and at the count of three, you press your pick. in seconds, the screen shows the audience opinion. Cool eh!
So here is anthony and maricel showing the choices... :)
Main speaker Ramesh Richards is an Indian who sounds more british. I love what he taught... My take home comes from the verse "What does it profit a man who gains the whole world but loses his soul". Thank you Ramesh... sometimes i forget that i am not of this world.
Almost the entire team who attended... from Imagine Nation at least. :)
Men of great power, creativity or intelligence seldom impress me.... Anthony is cool cause you know he does things for God. You're my man!!!
Marnic was a barkada since college. He was one of those people who worked with me in everything i did in DLSU - when i was president of the fair, when i was running the political party etc... So when i heard he was getting married, i got so excited! Actually, i found out during my wedding cause that's when he proposed.
What touched me with this guy is even though he didn't have a big budget for the wedding, he consulted and listened to me. So as a gift, i promised to shoot his prenup since i'm not shooting his wedding. It finally materialized...
Its great to be a part of your wedding my friend even as a prenup photographer. :) Enjoy these shots even though they are unedited.
Today, i receive a text... here it is.
Regardless of how much you prepare yourself. Losing someone regardless of whether she is a relative or not, its so hard to prepare for it. I would be a hypocrite if i said that I know Gerds is in good hands so its ok. No i feel bad... and i feel hurt... Part of me want to tell the Lord "Why?!? we need more people like her... Why did you allow her to suffer this way! She was one of my faithful sheeps..."
But then i cannot do anything but trust... I guess you've fulfilled your mission Gerds and now God is telling you to go home. Another reason for me to look forward to that day when i meet my savior. I can only exclaim that I am excited!!! Imagine no more sadness... no more pain... no more suffering and no more tears....
If this is truly it Gerds, Thank you Gerds for everything. Though you may not read this or maybe you can... (only God can tell), you will always be in our hearts as an Imagine Nation. I look forward to shooting with you again, this time we'll shoot angels.
I am proud to be a Filipino. I was born here and grew up here. I've never been away from my country for more than a month and i have no plans whatsoever of migrating to another place. I've always said "I love the Philippines, its so easy to set-up a business, labor is cheap and people are very loving & forgiving." Unfortunately, that is also the reason why i am disappointed at this years election.
I have nothing against Noynoy, infact, should the elections be held 2 months ago, i would have voted for him. Until i saw his accomplishments. 0 bills passed during his term. My God! What was he doing? But anyway, he is not a cause of my disappointment. It is the fact that Erap is beating Gibo, Villar and Gordon. People who are much more capable than him. Have we forgotten that this is the same president we toppled via people power and sent to jail because of severe corruption????
Suddenly, i lost pride... i feel ashamed about whats happening. I feel then the next time i travel outside my country, i cannot look at people in the eye anymore. Filipinos are so forgiving they've become stupid. In fact, its the first time in my life that i thought "If Erap wins, i'm going to find another country to live in rather than Sin by disobeying the government."
I was put off though by an interview by Noynoy yesterday when he said that if they don't win, they will resort to people power. Tsk Tsk Tsk... won't this cause division and just bring our country down even more? I remember a story in the bible where Solomon shows his wisdom between 2 women both claiming to be the mother of a child. When Solomon said "Okay, since both of claim to be the mother of this child, lets divide the child!", the fake mother agreed but the real mother said "No, that will kill the child, give it to her instead." and Solomon being the wise king knew this was the real mother.
People who truly love the country will put the country's interest before theirs. Though this is an off-statement of a future president of the country, i will forgive you and if elected, will follow you. Not because i believe in you but because i fear God and know that He was serious when he said "Everyone must submit himself to governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." Romans 13:1 and this means ALL authorities whether they are corrupt, incompetent or ill charactered. The only exception is when they ask you to do something against the bible.
Today is the first time Philippines will ever go through an election without the manual count, this is very exciting news. I hope that everyone will be voting today and taking part in this nation's history. Those who don't vote will not have a right to complain about the government who will be sitting in. If we want change to happen to the country, we must begin by not changing others but ourselves.
I got a very good reading today... "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord." "but blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence". Jeremiah 17:5,7
It is not the next president who will save us but the Lord. So let us continue to humble ourselves, rid ourselves of idols in our lives and turn to the Lord. For now, Go out and Vote!
What a day... woke up at 5am today from an event that ended past midnight last night in Cebu. We headed to the airport and as soon as we arrived, we went to Ultra for The 1st ever The Masters Academy (TMA) Fun day. Over a hundred families went and i would say it was a big success. We had lots of fun!
- Yes, tuition is cheaper but we spend more on practical projects and books.
- We follow an international program set by TMA to make sure our kids learn. Its also accredited by DepEd.
- We meet every other wed with other parents so our kids interact with each other, and yes, they still have music, art & physical education. Its cool cause were learning too. :)
- What makes us proud is that we know this is what the Lord wants. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 says "These commandments that i give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
Clearly God wants parents (specially fathers as leaders of the family) to step up. God doesn't want us to pass on the obligation of teaching our kids to others. We are the experts because we love our kids. The most important thing we can teach to our kids is fear of the Lord.
