Biyernes, Setyembre 28, 2012

HIGH AND LOW CLASS

This week is the  second to the last month of my  Doctors of Ministry class.  And the first day started high.  

Due to the lack of coordination, the conference room where we usually hold our class was occupied by another class,  so we moved to another room.  But  there was no LCD available for our power point presentation in that room.  

The next time I knew, our class decided to conduct the session in a higher venue, the condo unit of our professor in the 16th floor of Grandea Residences across Robinson's Mall, Ermita.


The Living Room as an instant classroom






Comforting ourselves on a sofabed






The most comfortable student


The first presenter

The next presenter


Discussion after each presentation led  by our professor





After the two presentations, we paused for a snack.  A high in fat Pizza Hut with high in sugar sodas were what we munched at, during the break.


We consumed four boxes of pizza


And count the number of floors of the condos around us




The usual tall buildings became small
when one is up high from the ground






Almost all of us were wishing high that afternoon.  We were wishing that clergies would be housed in condo units too. Hehehehe!

After our first day of class was over, our professor toured us to the roof deck of the condo.


Sorry, the shot was against the light
If the first day of class was high, the third day was low in terms of the presentations.  And I belong to the third day.  Hehehehehe!

My report was found wanting while another's  was boring and still another's was irritating.  

Our professor could not hide his disappointment for the turn out of the reports on the last day.  He was expecting better reports but was met by low turn in.  

The second day of class had descent presentations.  But what made the second day lower than the third was not the presentation but the presentor.  Let me explain about one distinction of the United Methodist Church system, itenerancy.  This means clergies do not stay in one church the whole time.  We are appointed from one church to another.  But on how long a pastor should stay in a church depends on many factors.  Thus, two of my classmates are my predecessor and my successor.

When my successor in my previous church appointment stood up to render his report, his opening statement was, there was no "program"
when he assumed his assignment in his present church.  He was serious with his statement but the whole class pointed at me laughing.  Being a non-reactive person that I am, it was my classmate beside me who reacted that the statement was "uncalled for" and that I was put in bad light.

Ironically, while he was reporting, he was enumerating a number of programs that I initiated in that church which are being implemented even under his term.  Somehow, he was contradicting himself.  His presentation could stand on its own without that "tactless" and "offending" remarks.  It is just that in order for him to appear better, he had to discredit another person.  After his presentation, our professor gave a similar reaction, that the opening statement was offensive.

And that confirmed that I was really insulted somehow.  But the reporter didn't lift a finger to correct his statement or he just wished that people would just take it as a (malicious) joke.

The sadder part is, one does not do that to a fellow pastor and to a person you consider your friend.

His power point presentation was far better than mine but when my time to deliver my presentation came,  I did not make myself cheap and LOW by putting down my predecessor.  When our professor asked me if I will discredit my predecessor to vindicate myself, I answered, definitely not. And with that, I must say, I deserved to wear my elevator shoes.  Hahahahahaha!



Huwebes, Setyembre 27, 2012

POLKA DOTS GIRLS AND CHECKERED BOYS

Six years of talking and on ...

This is the reason why the bible study group intended for women that I initiated six years ago in my former church assignment called for a celebration.  They invited me to grace the affair as an acknowledgment of my participation to the said group study even if I am no longer serving as their pastor.

Having initiated that bible study group gives me a feeling of accomplishment and gratitude to God.  

It is not just simple bible study done every Wednesday night at the Peralta's Residence in Mary Homes Subd, Bacoor, Cavite.

It has a name.  It is called G.I.R.L.S Talk. The name stands for GOD'S INSTRUMENTS in RENDERING LOVE and SALVATION.  That is what the members of the group need to talk about whenever they meet.

When I was invited to grace the affair, I was told to come in polka dots attire.  They usually have a motif every time the said they have special occasions.  The day before the celebration, I went to the nearby mall to buy a polka dots polo.  I noticed that there are a number of polka dots dresses for women.  Still, I kept on looking for that elusive polka dots dress.  My hunt stopped when I met a member in my present church who has a dress stall in the mall and was told that polka dots are usually wear by women.  That lady member even remarked, "Malayo pa po ang Bagong Taon bakit naghahanap na kayo ng polka dots."    And it would have looked like my quest for polka dots will last until New Year if I persisted.  So I resigned with my search.  I just decided to wear a brown checkered long sleeves for the affair.

And what a divine coincidence it was!  I was informed later that men should really come in checkered dress.  That means I really belong and blended to the group.

The checkered boy

The polka dots girls.  From the left is Lorna Peralta, the sponsor of
Girls Talk Bible Study

The checkered boys.

Jun Lazaro preferred it strifed
Talking would not be more enjoyable without the food.  Almost everybody had brought something to share.  Too bad, I was not able to take pictures of the bountiful meal that we had.  The pictures above were just tagged to me.  My camera phone has no flash so it is not ideal for a night shot.

Together with the food were souvenirs from the affair.  I was given these:







Congratulations girls and guys for always making me a part of this group and for your celebration!

LET'S KEEP TALKING ...

Lunes, Setyembre 10, 2012

UNMASKING THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

September 5, 2012, 8 pm at the Cultural Center of the Philippines!  The day that my wife and me were waiting for! The day that we will unmask the Phantom of the Opera!




That afternoon, before my wife and me met in CCP, she texted me on what to wear.  We decided to come in casual dress.  But she changed her mind later and donned a black sleeveless dress coupled with black tights.  I stuck with my polo, jeans, black shoes and a fabric black jacket to keep me warm. I think we somehow managed to blend with the other spectators with our dress.




Sitting and waiting for the start of the show, I  asked my wife if the previous musical play that we watched in CCP no longer had curtains to break every scene of the play.  My wife answered me that she was not sure.  The reason for my asking was the curtains were already raised and the set design was already visible to the audience. Well, I realized that it is part of the innovations in staging a musical play.  That changing of the scenes and set unfold in one's very eyes, making it part of the show but not part of the story.







What I thought as the actual set design at the start of the play were just coverings of the real and spectacular set. The moment the play started and the opening number, the Phantom of the Opera was heard,  the look of  the theater in Paris was uncovered to us.  Not including the big chandelier which was slowly mounted up to the ceiling of the theater.

I think that just seeing the set design and how it changes from scene to scene is already worthy of one's time and money.  The production designer should really be creative to make the set design look authentic and convincing.  The scene where the Phantom was bringing Christine to his place was really impressive.  You will really feel that they were travelling a distance and sailing on a water because of the special effects.  

What more can you expect from a musical play but beautiful voices and poignant performances.  One does not only hear a voice but also witness a story when one hears the actors sing.  I think that the actor who played the phantom was so good that he made me sympathetic of him.  

While we were enjoying the musical, I felt a sense of gratitude to have this opportunity to watch a world  show.  To think that we no longer have to travel abroad just to experience a Broadway Production is so overwhelming.  

Of all the songs in the musical, the romantic All I Ask Of You is still  my favorite and my wife's.  Think of Me and Music of the Night are  also pleasing to the ears

After the, show the audience were cheering and giving the whole cast a standing ovation.  

To relive one's experience of the musical, there are souvenirs programs and items available for sale.  To us, the pictures are enough for us to remember this once in a lifetime experience.




After another round of picture taking, it was our stomach that we filled.  




While savoring the chicken and the show, my wife and me had one question in mind, what is next musical after The Phantom of the Opera? Watching a musical as beautiful as this, is what All I Ask Of my wife. Hehehehehe!



Biyernes, Setyembre 7, 2012

THE LOST TRANSLATIONS

Isa sa mga bagong member ng church ang lumapit sa akin minsan na ibig niya raw maging full-pledge member ng church.  The sincerity of her request made me consider it as an urgency.   Kaya naman kahit na ginagawa ko ang membership class madalas sa summer at sa maraming participants,  I agreed for a one on one class.

Actually, lumaki naman siyang uma-attend sa ibang Methodist churches.  Nangyari lang na nawalan ng pagkakataon ng mag undergo siya ng membership class.

The problem is, I do not have enough materials anymore to teach her.    Marami sa mga books ko about Methodist history and doctrines ay nangawala ng lahat sa hindi ko alam na kadahilanan.  Now I heavily rely on the internet.  Napahiram ko lang siya ng isang libro.  

One time, a budding pastor told me about a booklet that he has which  according to him, I translated in Tagalog.  I could not remember anymore what he was talking about until he had shown the booklet the next time we met.


My surname was misspelled .  It should
be an "s" after the a.
Upon seeing the booklet above, I remember it right away.  If my memory serves me right, this booklet is 13 years ago.  We were asked by the author, Rev. Pete M. Torio Jr., who happened to be my batchmate in the seminary to translate his work since the two translators are from Manila. 

I remember that I submitted my translation on a yellow pad with my handwriting on it.  Perhaps neither computer nor typewriter I had that time.  It was a labor of love, so no compensation at all. This I surely remember.  Hahahahahaha!

 I didn't have my own copy or any knowledge when it was published.  Hahahahaha!

Yun pala, matagal na palang nabasa ng iba.  When I browsed at my translations, it is pretty good.  Bumilib na naman ako sa sarili ko. Hahahahaha!  And I suddenly remember the member that I am teaching about membership class.

I borrowed the copy from the pastor.  Nakakatuwa, ako ngayon ang nanghihiram ng dapat sana ay mayroon ako.  Inisip kong ipa-photocopy but I changed my mind, and decided to buy a copy from our publishing house.

But I was told over the phone that it is no longer on sale.  The copy that they have is now only for file.  Hahahahahahaha!  Natawa naman ako doon, pang archive na pala ang booklet.  

I thought of another thing, I will ask the member whom I am teaching to encode it on the computer so that we will have a soft copy of it.  Early this morning, she got it from me for re-encoding.

I did some translations in the recent past.  As always, either I lost my copy or I don't have any copy at all.  But just like what happened to the "rediscovered booklet," I will also find my other lost translations.

Miyerkules, Setyembre 5, 2012

LANGHAP SARAP!

Sa mga laking Jollibee, alam kong makaka-relate sila sa title ng post ko.  Isa sa mga slogan ng Jollibee ang "langhap sarap."

Pero hindi Jollibee ang pag-uuspan natin kundi ang:






















Lunch time na at walang laman ang aming refrigerator.  Walang iluluto at mahuhuli na sa pagpasok si Amen Learn sakali mang may iluluto.  May seminar akong ina-attend-an kaya no time for my cooking side.

Kaya, inutusan ko si Amen Learn na bumili na lamang nito for their lunch para kanilang dalawa ni Diko Amiel.  May lunch na kasi si Kuya Amos sa seminar kaya hindi ko na siya ibinilang.





Amen Learn, muching on his KFC meal



Diko Amiel treating his lunch as snacks.
Konti kasi para sa kanyang size.

Kapag Food Chain store serving lunch, popular na ang kanilang price.  Kapag si Father ay di na Carry magprepare ng lunch, ito ang instant chicken and rice.

At bakit ba hindi?  Kung ang store ng KFC ay ganito lang kalapit sa amin.


The red painted structure is the KFC.
This shot is taken from our window.  Around
20 meters lang kung lalakarin  from
our ground floor

At sa lapit ng KFC sa aming bahay, siya ang aming langhap sarap.  Ang aroma ng fried chicken ay kusang pumapasok sa aming tahanan.  Kaya huwag kayong mabibigla kung minsan makita niyo kaming kanin lang ang kinakain.  Kasi, ang "aroma" ng fried chicken ang aming uulamin.  

YAN ANG KASABIHANG, AMOY PA LANG ULAM NA.  O di ba, langhap sarap talaga?  Hahahahahahaha!


SHOULD I ASK OR SHOULD I WAIT?

"If you waited to be asked,then, you waited so long."

Martes, Setyembre 4, 2012

SALA-SALABAT

My latest find?



Ginger Brew or Salabat
My wife introduced it to me because she is discouraging me of drinking too much coffee.  Two cups a day is too much she said.  Hehehehehehehe!

I tried it and kinda like it.  A better alternative to coffee I said to myself.  It feels healthy drinking it.  I guess, my wife will not complain even if  I take two to three cups a day of ginger brew.

When my wife is home here, we are both sipping our ginger while facing the window.  How romantic, isn't it?

But I still cannot completely do away with coffee instantly.  Especially when it is not an instant coffee but this:









Imported Instant Coffee


My wife wants me to call it ginger brew.  But while I am still alternating coffee with salabat, I rather call my experience of drinking ginger brew and coffee na SALA-SALABAT (rumble). Hahahahahahaha!

WIDER REACH




One of the things that make me busy these days is the widening reach of my gift on writing.  A few months ago, I received an email inviting me to write for the Christmas Institute 2012  Bible Study lessons for national consumption.  For others information, Christmas Institute (CI) is an annual event for the young people done during December 26-30 every year.  Aside from the many activities done in the said event, participants have  bible studies to make them grow deeper in the knowledge of God's Word.

What made me happy and accepted this invitation is the wider readers that my lessons would reach.  Again, its for national consumption. And as far as I remember, this is the widest so far.


It was on July when the Bible Study Consultation took place in Pizza Hut, Gateway, Mall in Cubao, Quezon City.  Former and current officers of the national youth organization composed the attendance.  Three of them I know, the rest were new acquaintance.  



Brainstorming




Conceptualizing


Scheduling



Dining 


Dining what I love most!
I really thank God for this opportunity because I was able to meet new friends and go to a new territory.

Who knows, baka sa susunod, mga aliens na ang readers ko gaya ng nasa picture sa itaas? Hahahahahaha!


Lunes, Setyembre 3, 2012

PAANO NA ANG TINOLA KUNG WALA KA?





Isa sa mga gusto kong ulam ay ang tinola.  Gaya nang nasabi ko noon, paborito ko ang masasabaw na ulam.  Kaninang tanghali lang ay tinola ang aming ulam.

At isa sa nagpapasarap sa tinola ay ang dahon ng sili.  At nag-aaway kami ni Diko Amiel kapag ayaw niyang lagyan ng dahong sili ang tinola.  Minsan nakita ko na lang ang dahong sili sa basurahan dahil itinapon niya.  Kaya ako naman, pinulot ko naman sa basurahan.  Hahahahaha! Huwag kayong mag-alala nakaplastic naman.

Minsan, naisipan ko uling magtinola.  Dahong sili na lang ang kulang ko.  Mahirap kasi pagtagalin ang dahon sa refrigerator at madaling masira kaya hindi agad ako bumibili kung hindi naman agad iluluto.
Kaya pumunta ako sa mas malapit na talipapa at sad to say, wala silang tindang dahon ng sili.  Sarado pa kasi ang mga groceries that time.  Kaya ang ginawa ko ay pumunta na ako sa palengke.  Mas nadagdagan ang lungkot ko kasi yung malayong palengke na mas malaki sa talipapa ay walang tindang dahon ng sili. Hello?  Kumusta naman ang palengke at talipapa na walang dahon ng sili.

 Ang nangyari, nagtiyaga na lang ako sa tinolang walang dahon ng sili.  Kaya, kulang sa sarap.

Pero ayaw ko nang mangyari uli ang ganon.  At hindi na rin ako aasa sa grocery, talipapa at palengke. Ito na lang ang aking binili ngayong hapon:








Sili Plant


O di ba?  Hindi lang dahon ang aking binili.  Pati buong halaman.  Huwag kayong mag-alala, hindi ko naman ilalagay ang buong halaman sa aking tinola. Hahahahahahaha!

Siyempre ang mga dahon sa tinola at ang bunga ay pipigain sa patis na magsisilbing sawsawan.  Ang sarap di ba? Matipid pa.  Aalagaan ko lang ang halaman at pipitas-pitas na lang ako kung kailangan.

At kung lumago siya ng bongga, baka ako na ang magtinda ng dahon ng sili sa talipapa o kaya ay sa palengke.  Hahahahahahaha!

Panalangin ko lang ay mabuhay ang aking bagong halaman.  Kasi, paano na ang tinola kung wala ka? Huhuhuhu!



Linggo, Setyembre 2, 2012

UNLICHAT


YAHOO MESSENGER







TWITTER








FACEBOOK CHAT?





BLACKBERRY MESSENGER?







WINDOWS LIVE MESSENGER?






GOOGLE TALK?






BUZZ ME AND WE WILL TALK.

CHAT?




COUNSELLING?





CHIKA?






PRAYER?





REQUEST FOR IT AND I WILL RESPOND.


What is the use of my unlimited internet subscription in Globe Telecommunications kung unavailable naman ang status ko? Hahahahahaha!

 Ika nga ni Boy Abunda, "Usap tayo?"