What I'm Liking Now: God Only Knows

What I remember the most about the movie "Love Actually" was how the ending made me feel. It was a montage and there was this song, and I was teary eyed and I was just so in love at being in love.

I encountered this song a few days back and I knew I've heard it somewhere. I confirmed it after googling it a little. It was that song. 

I guess what I'm saying is, there is something about this song that makes you feel good. One of best love songs ever. 

It was by the Beach Boys but this one is a cover by Switchfoot.

Cinema Drawing Night

I went to VCF Fort instead of Galleria last Sunday because I had plans to see Cinemanila in Market Market after the service.

Dumating ako ng 7:30pm, thinking ang aabutan ko na lang ay ang message but still feeling okay with it because that Sunday, I was only after the attendance. I then learned that the service was closing but there is still one service left at 8pm. Okay, good, I can complete the service, I thought, but I knew I might be late for the movies. I was going to see it with two guy friends, and I was kind of thrilled because it's the closest thing to having a date on a weekend after a long time.

Date na date na talaga 'ko. Kailangan dalawa sabay. Haha.

So I went in, and while waiting for the service to start, I felt like asking God to say something to me. I said, "God, speak to me through this. I want to hear you." But really, I was saying, "God, I got all the way over here. I was supposed to be at the mall watching movies right now, but I chose this first. So make this worthwhile by atleast revealing something to me".

We planned to see any film showing at 9pm because one of the guys was working late on a Sunday. As it turned out, he still couldn't make it, the service ended at 9:30, so the other guy just watched the film alone. Ang aming ending? Eh di wala. Haha.

So I went to the mall after anyway, checked out the movies, then left and went for a walk in High Street. After a while, I had to leave to go back to the mall, but I promised to myself that I will go back there one day and spend hours in Fully Booked for inspiration. Medyo malakas ang artsy vibe sa lugar na yun and I like it.

I went back to the mall to see the last screening. I was convincing myself that I was there for arts sake. So may kasama o wala, I was gonna see a festival film. And I was really committed to it, promise, kaso nalaman ko na medyo Korean horror ata yung palabas. Hindi ko naman siguro kailangang gawin sa sarili ko iyon para lang patunayan ang pagmamahal ko sa sining. So, naisip ko, mas masisiyahan ata ako kung yung P150 kong pangsine eh wawaldasin ko na lang sa Starbucks.

I was used to being alone. In fact, I'm comfortable with it. But that night, man, I was lonely. Beyond words. Maybe because naka-set na ang mind ko na that night, I was gonna be with these guys, but I ended up with neither one. The worst part? I dressed up a little and powdered my nose! Tapos hindi nila nakita? What a shame! Haha.

On normal days, that would have sucked. Well, it still does. But I remember how I felt walking in the dark and empty mall at 11:00pm. That was awful, but inside I was calm. Why? In my head I was hearing what I took from church that night. The series ongoing was about finance and stewardship, but when out of the blue the pastor said something about waiting, timing and giving up, I knew that when I asked God to speak to me that night, that was Him, speaking to me through those words.

When I got home, I was supposed to be grouchy and tired, but I was surprisingly in a good mood. When I washed my face and looked in the mirror, nakita kong gulo-gulo pala ang buhok ko dahil hinangin sa tricyle, but my face was glowing, I was...beautiful. Chos. Haha. Sayang hindi nila ako nakita.

So it wasn't really a bad night. If I had to go all the way to the Fort to be encouraged like that, it was worth it.

Words of Wisdom from Eminem

This is what caught my attention from checking Facebook today. I never thought I will one day quote Eminem, but here it is.

I'm not saying he's right. Poems and lyrics become true to us if we personalize them. That's all this is.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:17-18

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9

A Weekend in Callos Spa

My dear friends and I booked a spa getaway in Antipolo to celebrate a lot of good things, nataon sa typhoon Quiel, and decided to just push through with it anyway.

Kapag may bagyo, either nasa work or bahay lang ako, painfully waiting for the typhoon to just come and go, praying that my love ones are safe. While others dread traffic, exams and asthma attacks, my bad days are the rainy ones or when there's typhoon.

Personally, I have to say this is a refreshing way to get through a storm. Being somewhere else with people dear to me made me forget my typhoon anxiety and "everywhere is wet" crankiness.

And when I say "dear", I mean "I just had a setback so I should be bitter about your all expense paid Paris trip and your promotion, but I'm not because whatever makes you happy makes me happy, what makes you sad makes me sad."

God's Chisel

It was easy to share this video but I gotta admit it was hard for me to start writing anything about it. It just talks about many bible principles that my limited writing skills may not give it justice.

So instead, I just thought of writing about how this video ministered to me.

For quite some time now, I find myself wanting to be a better person, either by accomplishments, or just plainly for being known as someone who is kind and nice. Parang, there is this person I am called and I want to be.

In a nut shell, this video is about God chiselling us into the masterpiece he created us to be, removing stuff that are not supposed to be there. I am comforted to have been reminded na hindi lang pala ako ito, that God is also part of the work, molding me into that person He wants me to be.

The video was right when it said that I care deeply about what other people think of me. Compliments and insults will be thrown my way but the only approval I should be aiming for is God's. And while I am so focused on my bait-baitan pa-image, circumstances in my life would just push me to show the opposite. Ang hirap maging peacemaker kung pino-provoke ka. Ang hirap maging thankful kapag may setback ka. But slowly, I'm learning to accept that God allows some circumstances in my life to produce character.

So who do I want to be? Eto medyo hardcore but it gives so much clarity to all the confusion: we want to look good, we want a good name, we want to be the best that we can be. But God will chisel away until when people look at us, they see Jesus and not us.

What I'm liking now: Indak - Up Dharma Down

Wala akong masyadong alam na UDD song because I don't really listen to them. Yes, the poser confesses. Haha. Pero pag may nagustuhan naman ako, I must say I'm all out bananas over it (Oo, Tadhana, Sana)!

This is my new UDD favorite and listening to this in my earphones at work is not a good idea. Gagawin kang unproductive. Parang gusto mo na lang mag-emo at tumingin sa kawalan habang iniisip "bakit ang ilap-ilap ng pag-ibig sa 'kin?" Haha.

They say the song is about being torn between two lovers, and though not everyone can relate, one can still personalize it because of the universal message of love being something you chase but keeps running away, something you believe but also confuses you, something that gives you joy but also torments.

Ang sinomang mag-isip na korni ang huli kong sinabi ay isang plastik. Haha.

Enjoy!

Lyrics | Up Dharma Down lyrics - Indak lyrics

Ikaw na Patty!

Okay, so I like Pa++y L@urel like she's my Audrey Hepburn, but being a fan is not why affected ako when I learned that she and A+0m have broken up. Long term relationship and they seemed so happy. It was just so unlikely and unbelievable, I found myself asking "what happened?"

Sumuko ako sa sumunod kong nalaman. She's found herself a replacement who is not only cute and talented, but a hardcore Christian too.

Dang. You already!