A Paradise..wonderland in Guimaras

Villa Igang, a resort 4 kilometers away from Poblacion, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras.

It is a paradise on its own, with crystal clear waters, white sand beach, amazing rock formations and more of nature's wonders.

It was a gloomy morning but me and my friends decided to pursue our trip to Guimaras Island. I was ecstatic even the day before because it's only my second time to the island and my first time to visit its beaches. I woke up at about 5:30 a.m. to prepare our lunch for the day. Mylyn and I grilled some pork and fish and cooked adobo. It was past 8 a.m. when we left Mylyn's boardinghouse and we were thankful that somehow the sun decided to take a peek on us.

A 15 minute boat ride to Guimaras Island plus a 45 minute ride on a tricycle, we reached Villa Igang with curiosity and excitement. We've heard so much about this place and it's our turn to discover it's beauty. We wandered a while looking for someone whom we can inquire about the accommodations. We were lucky that the place was not packed with visitors that day. The first photo above was taken just outside our room, it's a magnificent view and seeing it, I seem to be in a foreign place. But that's not just it, there were more amazing things to see on this resort.

We fixed our things and changed our clothes, armed with our cameras we headed to the beach to explore. We shot some pictures outside our room, then we headed to the cave. It was small, but wide, water from the other side filled the cave up to our knees. Smiles and utters of amazement filled the cave, we were never tired of taking pictures and admiring the place.

After that we went to the other side of the resort where the diving spot is located. The rock structures were truly amazing. The waters in this area is clear turquoise and green. We climbed the rocks on the right side to see a clearer view of the sea. It was breathtaking, with blue skies and crystal clear waters..it's just paradise. Cameras nearly run out of batteries because you can never stop clicking to take a memorabilia of this place.

After a sumptuous lunch, we rested for a while before heading to the waters. We rented a small boat where we had the chance to paddle in our own novice way. Rain started to fall but it never discouraged us to continue our explorations. As we are amazed by the beauty of the sea bed, I spotted something familiar..2 fishes swimming, they keep swimming, keep swimming, keep swimming..yes I saw two clown fishes swimming above an anemone..We found Nemo!!

Sad to say but the sun is almost hidden in the dark clouds and its time for us to head back to our room and get ready to go home. I might forget to mention, the staff here are really nice and if you don't have food with you, they can cook for you for a very affordable price.
It was an unforgettable day..a great experience..a priceless moment..

For the First Time

I will not be talking about the movie here but my first time to solve the Rubik's cube.


Last Sunday, my godson, KM, went with us after the church service and he brought with him his rubik's cube. I am always interested in knowing how to solve this "magic cube" but I can't seem to understand instructions and videos from the internet hehe. I once asked a friend to teach me how but she was only successful in teaching me how to solve one face.

My sister knows how to solve the cube so I asked her to teach me how. At first I really can't figure out what she's talking about hehe but since I have a little knowledge on how to solve one face, I did it on my own way first. Then she taught me how to solve the layers one by one, it's a good thing she was patient with me.

But she doesn't have all the time to teach me because she'll be doing her thesis, so I stored all her instruction on my mind and left her alone doing her thesis. Sometime in the middle of twists and turns, I get lost, so I have to disturb her and ask for the patterns. It took me about 4 hours to learn and master the puzzle.

It was a nice feeling solving this crazy cube. Do you know that there are exactly 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 possibilities to solve this cube??!!??!!?? I am so blessed I know 1 way of how to solve the rubik's cube wehehehe☻☺

For video tutorials of how to solve the cube, click here

Headlines

"5800-Chinese-babies-remain-ill-on-tainted-milk"
Thank you Lord that I still get to eat and drink good food.

"Torture: A pervasive reality in the country"
Thank you Lord that I am safe and surrounded by great friends.

"3 hurt in 7-vehicle smashup at Skyway"
Thank you Lord that I still get to travel safely.

"Iraq: Cholera cases near 500"
Thank you Lord that I'm healthy.

"Poverty, hunger prevent Filipino kids from getting basic education"
Thank you Lord that we never run out of food in our table. Thank you Lord that my siblings, cousins and relatives are still able to go to school.

"Beheading brings more fear to kin of OFWs on Saudi death row"
Thank you Lord that my family abroad are safe and healthy.

"23 Are Charged With Illegal Sports Betting at Borgata Casino"
Thank you Lord that I still see families enjoying a day at the park. Thank you that we don't have to spend so much money in exchange of fun and laughter. Thank you Lord that we are contented with what we have.

Death Toll in South Asia Floods Crosses 1,100 Mark
Thank you Lord that you have kept us safe whenever natural calamities happen. Thank you Lord that through these events, we realized our mistakes and draw closer to you.

"Hope North To Benefit From Celebrity Clothes Auction"
Thank you Lord for people who knows how to extend help to the needy.

"Group Suicide Becomes Frightening Trend in Japan"
Thank you Lord that you have taught me to value life and that there is always hope because I have a loving and gracious God.


When we turn on our television sets and listen to the news, it seems that there aren't any good news anymore. If it's not about the economic crisis, it's about war. If it's not about natural disasters, it's about death. If it's not about corruption, it's about other people's lives..

We hear complaints, we see tears, we feel anger.
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When we turn on our television sets and listen to the news, it seems that there are a lot of opportunities where God can work. If it's not on giving us the best job we have been waiting for, it's on allowing us to love others more. If it's not on making us survive disasters and testify His goodness, it's on rejoicing that we are soon going to be with Him in paradise with no more tears. If it's not on blessing our leaders to help and guide the people better, it's on blessing the simplest person and bringing joy and comfort to the lost.

We hear thanksgiving, we see smiles, we feel love.

thank you Lord Ü ☻ ♥
◘◘◘◘○○○○••••♦♦♦♦☺☺☺☺♪♪♪♪☼☼☼☼

My "things to do"

My friend, Amy, asked me to read her recent blog post "59 things" and persuaded me to write my own. Last night I watched the movie Bucket List to get some inspiration before I make my own list. The movie was very nice and I got what I was looking for. So now I'm making my own "things to do," things I hope I could make/fulfill while I'm alive and healthy. I don't have cancer, like the characters in the movie, and I'm definitely not dying -- at least I know not now hehe :)
Some are quite impossible, but let's see.

here goes my list.. (this is not in any order, I just write these things as it pops into my head)
I will try to update this list once in a while and cross out the things that I've already done ;)

1. Design a house, preferably my own
2. help build our church building
3. volunteer in any community service
4. make friends with a "special child"
5. kiss in the rain haha
6. go scuba diving
7. go on a cruise
8. visit Italy and France (this is actually to see the wonderful things Sir Ed Defensor showed us in our Humanities Class back in College)
9. Visit the places where Jesus has been to
10. Learn how to drive
11. ride a hot air balloon
12. watch a synchronized swimming contest live!
13. donate blood
14. go mountain climbing
15. try wall climbing and horseback riding
16. get a job abroad hehe (but i don't want to live in other countries)
17. have my own business
18. work in a bank (please Lord, please, I want to cross this out as soon as possible)
19. be a detective even once
20. learn any martial arts from a Chinese guru
21. learn and practice acupuncture and reflexology hehe
22. meditate on the mountains
23. ride a train
24. visit all tourists spots and popular beaches in Panay
25. Enter a castle
26. Visit all waterfalls in Barotac Viejo (there are 3 waterfalls open to visitors)
27. Initiate a long term project for our church
28. buy devotional bibles for bboy and me :D
29. Give flowers to my mom and lola
30. loose 10 lbs haha
31. buy a digital camera
33. help a child from the streets
34. learn to bake a cake and make ice cream
35. Plant a tree in our yard
36. Try target shooting
37. Visit Palawan, Bohol and Ifugao

..(to be continued)

Train of Woes

This post is based from my devotional book entitled coffee break devotions. I have read this book every night and it always gave me new insights about life as well as encouragements during difficult times. I have copied some of the words but have changed some to my own ideas.

Why is it that the bad things in life seems to gang up on us? It can be small annoyances like the alarm doesn't go off, the jeepney is too slow and you're late for work, your boss is not satisfied with your work. It can be major ones like dealing with serious diseases, financial problems or death. When a train of negative events arrives in our station, we often take it personally and we ask God, "why me?"

Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

God allows these things to come our way and He assured us that when we are faced with difficult circumstances we can always come to Him. God may not get rid of our burdens immediately but I'm sure He will help us carry our load so we can finish the race. We don't need to waste our time and energy blaming others, blaming ourselves or blaming God. What we can do is to turn to Him and ask for peace of mind and strength to rise above.

"When the train of woes pulls into your station, climb aboard -- just be sure to talk to the Conductor."

happy thougths

It was quite a gloomy morning in our town today because of the dark clouds covering the sky. I dragged myself out of my bed and took a bath. I know I will be late for work but my mind doesn't seem to care. It was already 7am when I had my breakfast and my work is at 8am. It would be an hour and 30 min ride to my workplace. I waited for the van and thank God no rain has fallen on my head yet. I sat near the window to avoid the air condition to blow on my face. Passengers beside and behind me are busy chatting and doing their own business, while I look past the rice fields and houses on the roadside. Rain started to fall but little sunshine still made its way to my window. I tightened my jacket since it was getting colder inside the van, as rain pours outside.

My thoughts were on the time and my work, when I saw something outside the window. At first I thought it's just a reflection of that little sunshine, but when trees cleared my view, there it was above the fields and over the mountains. I saw the rainbow. It was a perfect bow.

My gloomy day turned gay. Happy thoughts started to fill my cluttered mind. I thought of the pot of gold, I even thought of a leprechaun! I thought of playing in the field with that colorful bow above my head. I though of dancing in the rain with my little sunshine and the rainbow watching over me. It's like magic, what can a sight of a rainbow do to my imagination. A smile started to paint on my face, but deep inside I know that joy radiates to my soul. It gave me peace. It gave me hope.

Now it's 11am. Laziness and boredom are eating my veins. I have to tell myself, think of that rainbow. I have to force myself, think of happy thoughts.

Are you from Apes?

As I was doing my usual tasks on social bookmarking, a friend from Digg, David Hallstrom, shouted to me his article and the title made me curious. So I read through it and something in it stirred some thoughts and it really made sense. Here's the article.

Why Can't The Theories of Evolution And Creationism Co-Exist?

I am not a scientist or a religious authority, therefore my question "Why Can't The Theories of Evolution And Creationism Co-Exist?" may seem unintelligent, however it seems to me that the theories of evolution and creationism can be merged.

It is my understanding that the theory of evolution basically holds that mankind evolved from a lower species over numerous generations through natural selection, gene flow, genetic drift and other selective forces.

It is my understanding that the theory of creationism basically holds that mankind, the earth and everything else was created by a supreme being or god.

When people say that "god created the heavens and the earth in six days and on the seventh he rested", who can say how long one of god's days is. Why are we so egotistical as to believe that his day is the same as ours. We don't know god (Most of us who believe in god do so because we want to not because we have proof.) but if there is a god why can't his, her or it's day be a thousand or a million or even several billion of our years.

Chapter 2, verse 7 of the book of Geneses states "then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." It does not state how long this took or what form the being we call man originally took. God's image can be many things. We have no way of knowing. Additionally, although the bible is supposed to be the word of god, it was written by humans and therefore subject to human interpretation.

When we create something we start out with one thing and then add to it and alter it until we finish and with some creations, such as a garden, we never finish adding to and altering it. Who says that god could not have started with one cell and through evolution added to it and altered it until it became a human being. Who can say for sure that he, she or it is still not adding to and altering mankind. Who can say that god did not make us in such a way that we would continue to evolve without his, her or it's intervention. Who can say that the process is finished. Chapter 2 verse 1 of the book of Genesis states "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.". I have not found any place in the bible that states humans were finished.

It is said that "god created man in his own image". Since no one has ever seen god who can say what that image is. Who knows what humans will look like or how they will think in a thousand, ten thousand or one hundred thousand years. Maybe someday all humans will look and think exactly alike. Maybe someday all humans will merge into one being.

If there is a being powerful enough to create us then that being would be so far above us that we could not possibly understand it's thought processes or how it created or is creating us. We can not know what is intended for us or how or if things will end.

No human knows or understands everything. No human can state beyond all doubt that there is or isn't a god. No human is infallible. Anything is possible, even the possibility that evolution and creationism are part of the same process.

Inspiriation from Blog Hopping

I was blog hopping yesterday when I came across Carey's blog. Carey is a 50 year old retired fire fighter/emt/peace officer. The title of his first post did not quite interest me but what caught my attention was this so I scrolled down and read the entry. At first I thought it was just "another blog" but after I've read the post I knew it was extraordinary. Carey was also a cancer survivor and is recently working as a volunteer chaplain helping crime victims and victims of disasters. I asked him if I could repost his entry and he willingly said yes, so read on and be inspired.

Cramming For Finals

I was never one to attend to my studies as I should have while attending school. I had a tendency to procrastinate and ended up many times cramming for my exams. I would have been a better student and received better grades had I prepared myself well before my tests and assignments. I had far more potential than my grades indicated and had know one to blame but myself. I do not want to repeat this scenario in my Christian walk. I want to study to show myself approved and do my best in the Lord's service. I desire more than mediocrity and want to take advantage of the precious finite amount of time I have on this earth. Service to our Lord and Savior is the highest calling and we should have a keen desire to be the best we can be as His ambassadors. This Turning Point Ministry devotional addresses this well.

Every time a particular young boy went to his playmate's house, he noticed his friend's grandmother studying her Bible. Finally one day he asked,"Why is your grandmother always reading that Bible?' His friend answered," I don't know, but I think she is cramming for her finals."
In reality, that grandmother was doing exactly what we, as Christians, should all do: preparing for whatever task God had for her by studying His Word.
More often than not, it is the journey rather than the destination that matters most in life; for it is the lessons learned, the trials endured, and the truths discovered that mold our character and prepare us for that destination. If we desire more than a mediocre life, we must prepare in more than a mediocre way. "Winging it" doesn't bring about the best results, so we would do well to use the time God has given us along the way to prepare for what's ahead.

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Luke 12:40

If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six hours sharpening my ax. Abraham Lincoln

Kung Fu Fighting

Everybody was kung-fu fighting
Those cats were fast as lightning
In fact it was a little bit frightning
But they fought with expert timing

Last Saturday we watched our most-awaited film ~~ Kung Fu Panda.
We were already there at the theater 30 minutes before the movie starts, we were so excited, we bought lots of food which we didn't finished eating until the end of the movie. Everybody inside the theater really enjoyed because we can hear lots of laughs and giggles.

The story is about a fat panda who aspires to be a kung fu warrior. By believing in his dream he became a respected kung fu warrior in his own special way.

I love pandas and I always dream of having one ehehe so I was really fascinated by this film. The story was great and I learned a lot from it. "Belive in yourself, "it is special because you believe it is special, there are no secret ingredients," "there are no accidents" are just some of the inspiring lines from the movie.

The movie also featured voices of famous actors and actresses like Jack Black as Po (the panda), Dustin Hoffman as Shifu (the red panda), Angelina Jolie as Tigress, Jackie Chan as Monkey, Seth Rogen as Mantis, Lucy Liu as Viper and David Cross as Crane.

It also received positive feedback from critics and movie reviews so I'm sure this will be a hit!

Stubborn Love

Stubborn Love

Caught again. Your faithless friend.
Don't You ever tire of hearing
What a fool I've been?
Guess I should pray,
But what can I say?
Oh, it hurts to know the hundred times
I've caused You pain.

The "forgive me" sounds so empty
When I never change.
Yet You stay and say, "I love you still,"
Forgiving me time and time again.


CHORUS:
It's Your stubborn love
That never lets go of me.
I don't understand how You can stay -
Perfect love embracing the worst in me
How I long for Your stubborn love.


Funny me.
Just couldn't see
Even long before I knew You,
You were loving me.
Sometimes I cry -
You must cry, too
when You see the broken promises
I've made to you.
I keep saying that I'll trust You
Though I seldom do.
Yet You stay and say You love me still,
Knowing some day I'll be like You.


CHORUS:

It's Your stubborn love
That never lets go of me.
I don't understand how You can stay -
Perfect love embracing the worst in me.
And You never let me go -
I believe I finally know
I can't live without Your stubborn love!

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Hearing this song and watching the video I found on youtube nearly made me cry (at the office). I remember my sins and how God gave His Son to save me. I remembered how many times I've asked for forgiveness for my repeated sins, yet God showed me His unconditional love. I remembered the times I'm crying out and saying I'll change but I never did. I'm ashamed to look back on those broken promises..I tried to walk away..but God draws me near, embracing me and loving me still. It's true, God loved me stubbornly and I can't live without His stubborn love.