Health is Wealth

 Currently, I am suffering from a bad case of diarrhea. I don't know what happened to my gut. All of a sudden it became so sensitive. Did someone put a curse on me because I never gain that much pound despite my big appetite? Lately, I have been taking care of myself and strict in my food intake however just yesterday I was a main presence at the john. Is this a subtle message telling me that I should go back to my previous eating schemes? I have taken all the medicines and feel dehydrated. Instead of sulking in bed and wait until my stomach behaves I opted to surf the web. I then came across this article that is vital to our daily health. Medicines are costly nowadays, worst, its even expensive to be admitted at the hospital. If you are on a budget, these foods will help you stay strong and sharp. Click the link below.

http://www.details.com/health-fitness/diet/201205/14-foods-as-medicine#slide=1

Last Song Syndrome

As to why they huddle to one musical instrument, only they have the answers. But the creative juice is there and the weird sound is refreshing to the ear. The lyrics bring back old forgotten memories that somehow pinch the heart a little. Somewhere in life we have someone the we used to know.

"Somebody That I Used To Know"
(feat. Kimbra)

[Gotye:]
Now and then I think of when we were together
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
Told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it's an ache I still remember

You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad it was over

But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and I feel so rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

[Kimbra:]
Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
Part of me believing it was always something that I'd done
But I don't wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know

[Gotye:]
But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and I feel so rough
And you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

[x2]
Somebody
(I used to know)
Somebody
(Now you're just somebody that I used to know)

(I used to know)
(That I used to know)
(I used to know)
Somebody

Inspire

          The resurrection of Jesus Christ represents hope for mankind. It’s not easy to be nailed on the cross, become lifeless and come alive once more, all that to convince the human race the he is The Chosen One. Despite all the “magic” he had done, still it has to come to a grueling drama for several generations to believe in him. Saving mankind is literally a pain in the certain part of the body.

            Back to hope. Hope is not the brand of cigarette you kill yourself slowly. Hope inspires you to live one more day. It gives you the will to persevere in life. When God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. There is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly…err.

            In the spirit of resurrection of Jesus, I would like to share one of my favorite readings. I have read several books in my life and I came across this when I was in  my lowest point. So low, I thought the ground would swallow me. Yes, I am a bookworm. I love the taste of paper and the smell of a freshly purchased paperback. One of my favorite books is The Gift of Acabar by Og Mandino. The passage below helps guide me in my existential crisis. Here it goes.

                                                                    CREDENDA

                                         

Turn away from the crowd and its fruitless pursuit of fame and gold. Never look back as you close your door to the sorry tumult of greed and ambition. Wipe away your tears of failure and misfortune. Lay aside your heavy load and rest until your heart is still. Be at peace. Already it is later than you think, for your earthly life, at best, is only the blink of an eye between two eternities. 

Be unafraid. Nothing here can harm you except yourself. Do that which you dread and cherish those victories with pride. Concentrate your energy. To be everywhere is to be nowhere. Be jealous of your time, since it is your greatest treasure. 

Reconsider your goals. Before you set your heart too much on anything, examine how happy they are who already possess what you desire. Love your family and count your blessings. Reflect on how eagerly they would be sought if you did not have them.

Put aside your impossible dreams and complete the task at hand no matter how distasteful. All great achievements come from working and waiting. Be patient. God’s delays are never God’s denials. Hold on. Hold fast. Know that your paymaster is always near. What you sow, good or evil that you will reap. What you are is through your choice alone. Learn to live with honest poverty, if you must, and turn to more important matters than transporting gold to your grave.

Never meet trouble halfway. Anxiety is the rust of life; when you add tomorrow’s burdens to today’s their weight becomes unbreakable. Avoid the mourner’s bench and give thanks, instead, for your defeats. You would not receive them if you did not need them. Always learn from others. He who teaches himself has a fool for a master. Be careful. Do not overload your conscience.

Conduct your life as if it were spent in an arena filled with tattlers. Avoid boasting. If you see anything in you that puffs you with pride, look close and you will find more than enough to make you humble.

Be wise. Realize that all men are not created equal, for there is no equality in nature, yet no man was ever born whose work was not born with him. Work every day as if it were your first, yet tenderly treat the lives you touch as if they will all end at midnight. Love everyone, even those who deny you, for hate is a luxury you cannot afford. Seek out those in need. Learn that he who delivers with one hand will always gather with two. Be of good cheer.

Above all, remember that very little is needed to make a happy life. Look up. Reach out. Cling simply to God and journey quietly on your pathway to forever with charity and a smile. When you depart, it will be said by all that your legacy was a better world than the one you found.


God Bless us all.

                                              

Soul Searchers

                Lenten season is a long holiday. It gives you time to fix your room, keep up with the bills, catalogue your belongings and enjoy your well-deserved break. Did I mention that sacrifices are extremely important this time? As the Lord suffered for us, walking his way down the rocky road without loafers and carrying the cross without shoulder pads and so do we need to put aside our comfort zone for a while. And besides being nailed to the cross is not a beautiful sight. I wonder if he ever got Tetanus shot prior to being fasten to a wood with the words INRI on top and being put to public shame. My heart cringes with that thought and the movie Passion of Christ is a manifestation of how deep His love for us.

                And to show our love in return, my friends and I embarked on our journey that involved too much water. Days before the Holy week I suggested having Visita Iglesia as a way of sacrifice. I planned out the route and the churches we will be praying. Myk, Arlene and Totet agreed with the proposal. I searched on the internet the exact number of churches will be going to however there was no definite figure. So, I decided to make it eight to be lucky.  It will also be our last hurrah together since Arlene will be going to Legaspi for several months to do marital duties and Myk will be reviewing for his bar exam. Totet and I will be left here in Davao. We will try to keep the memories alive. It’s like walking with only one leg.

                The day started with an eating session. It turns out our meeting place, Merco, has its Lenten season promo. And besides with the route ahead, we need that extra calories to keep us up and atom. And Totet was also late period. Under the scourging heat of the sun we coursed through Davao City with the following churches in chronological order: St. Jude Thaddeus Parish, Holy Adoration Chapel, Sisters of the Presentation of Mary, Shrine Hills, San Pedro Cathedral, Our Lady of Fatima, Sta. Ana Parish and lastly, Redemptorist. I made a point that all churches will be documented however due to dehydration the last church was missed out. To even challenge ourselves, we did the station of the cross by foot from the Matina Gallera jeepney stop up to Shrine Church. Luckily, we did not look bulimic afterwards and our lips were still moist and our eyeball not sunken. Thanks to the funny antics of Arlene our journey was fun and memorable.

                We started at nine thirty in the morning and I arrived home around three in the afternoon. It felt like having four yoga sessions, two spinning class and several work outs. In the end, it was all worth it more especially for first timers Totet and Arlene. Through movies, eating sessions, coffee breaks, story-telling and now soul searching, our bonding has gone deeper but not the Captain General Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Datu Sikatuna level (history refresher – blood compact). Soon, when they come back we will be having our next big project and that you’ll have to wait. For now, we will be living and creating memories individually. God bless us always.

St. Jude, first stop.

Helped me on my past two board exams.

Documentation. The soul searchers.

Pink Sisters. Walked all the way up and down.

Love the hymns they do.

Arlene, all smiles after her rosary redemption.

the heat cannot beat our smiles

Retouch. The power of make-up.

Sisters of the Presentation of Mary. We were the only people there.

Prayers for atonement.

Click. click.

4th station of the cross all the way to shrine hills.

8th station of the cross. Ahead are rows of sari-sari stores.

Shrine Hills Chapel

Say another prayer.

Bonding moment on the leaves of grass at shrine hills. Itchiness not included.

our king can fly.

San Pedro Cathedral.

Gold plated interiors.

Our Lady of Fatima.

Arlene, Totet and Myk have fond memories here. Did I mention they sing?

Sta. Ana Church

Airconditioned. And gold plated as well.

Redemptorist Church courtesy of the net. Our 8th church. May the Lord accept our sacrifices.