The Heat's Hour

The Miami Heat had their first NBA Championship. Well, congratulations to them. And congratulations to Dwyane Wade for being the Finals MVP. He deserved it. But I was not rooting for the Heat in this season's NBA Finals. I was rooting for the Dallas Mavericks. My bets were on them. I really wanted the championship for the Mavs.

Gary Payton finally had his ring - after being disappointed in the 2004 NBA Finals. Alonzo Mourning was another veteran who finally got his ring. And I think Jayson Williams, James Posey and Antoine Walker (along with Payton) are really glad they were able to join the club earlier in the season and win a championship. Shaquille O'neal is happy, too…although this is his fourth championship. He promised when he joined the club last season that he will take a championship to Miami. Though, he contributed his part in the Heat's success - it was Wade who carried the Heat in the Finals.

After the Lakers lost to the Suns, I was supporting for the Mavs to win the championship. I was beginning to admire Avery Johnson's genius. And I was confident that Dirk Nowitzki could carry the Mavs. Especially with great support from Josh Howard, Jason Terry and Eric Dampier. And the bench is well stocked, too…with Jerry Stackhouse leading the bench. I was glad when the Mavs defeated the Suns in the Western Conference Finals. They were finally going to the Finals for the first time in franchise history. Great plays, player rotation and game adjustments are the weapons of Dallas in getting through the playoffs. And I believed these weapons will also let them get through the red-hot Heat. It was the first time of Dallas in the Finals. And they know it was going to be war with Miami. And the genius "Little General" Johnson is leading them to battle.

Shaq was over-confident and cocky in the Finals. He was boasting that he was dominant. And he was making fun of the opposition's center, Dampier. He said Dampier (or any other Dallas center) can't stop him. He said that Damp could only be dominant if he joined the WNBA as "Erica Dampier". It was not a nice joke but it was certainly funny (I really had a good laugh with Shaq's joke). But he was not really that dominant in the Finals. In fact, he only scored five points in Game Two…and he was really boring. I think he had bad luck in the Finals because of his bad attitude.

It was both teams' first time in the Finals. Dallas took the first two games. I was confident they would win. Dirk, Terry and Howard are great (mostly Terry). They were able to contain Shaq. Avery Johnson is a genius. What more signs do I have to see? The Mavs were sure to win. The Heat did not have anything to stop the Mavs. But I forgot two things that I only remembered when the Heat won consecutive games - Pat Riley was also a basketball genius (he's a legend in coaching) and Dwyane Wade.

Riley was cool in the Finals. He was not bothered the Mavs won the first two games. He knew they could still win. And he was right. Riley is a great coach.

And Dwyane Wade was unstoppable. He carried the team, and led them to win. Shaq might have been playing not the same as he was but Miami has one more superstar… Wade. And he delivered and did what he should do.

One thing that bothers me is Game Five. The Mavs can still win that one. The Dallas' loss on Game Five was stupid. That last time out was wasted. It was really stupid. But what can we do? Time can't be turned. With the Heat winning all their home games and with the momentum with them, they won Game Six at Dallas. The Heat won the championship. It was really sad for the Mavs.

Before the Finals there was a poll in NBA.com in who will win the championship. I voted Dallas in six games. But the top vote getter was Miami in six games. Many thought that the Heat would win the championship. I laughed at their predictions. But those who voted in the poll were right.

Anyway, the NBA season is over and the 2006 champions is the Miami Heat. We'll wait and see if they can win another one…or if the Dallas Mavericks will come back to the Finals and they are the ones that will win the championship. But I am Laker fan. So, I will be rooting for the Lakers next season. I believe they can win the championship next season. Mavs, Heat or Lakers - I'll just wait and see who will win next year's NBA Championship.

Till next season. I love this game!

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My Salute to the Cutting Classes Club

I believe it will be a long time before the CCC members will have a reunion with a complete attendance of members. Well, our high school life has ended and we are now all in college. We are now scattered. Most of us decided to stay and study in Bicol University. More than five members had passed the UP exam (including me) but only three decided to study there. I think three are in Aquinas University. Noel is in MAAP training to have his career in a ship… Chard is a "Green Archer"… and Dano is trying his luck to be a priest (Dano a priest?!…I still don't like the idea). Although most of us are studying in Bicol University with different courses, and we manage to have some time to hang out. But its better if we are hanging out with a complete attendance…like back in high school. *Sigh*… I am going to miss those times.

The CCC started in first year high school. It was a joke at first, since CCC means "Cutting Classes Club". I jokingly suggested it to be the name of our group, with Jeric as president because his older brother James was a legend in BU high because of his escapades. But the name stuck. It's the name of our group ever since.

With about twenty members, we became the elite. Each member is unique… with each member contributing something to the group. CCC became a collection of athletes, geniuses, jokers, hunks, hustlers, computer addicts, etc. CCC has it all… brains, charisma, looks, talents… so on.

But as the meaning of CCC suggests, cutting classes was our trade. And having fun and "trippings" were our past time. Pranks and jokes were natural with us. We have a lot of laughs in high school (especially when Chard and Uly started with their jokes and antics).

We gained our popularity because of donations (we donated some money to send our school's NSPC candidates to the NSPC at one time, and we funded for our intram's banner), troubles we got into or vandalism (I consider it advertisement) -- But it was mostly because of the troubles we got into. We manage to get out of those troubles with witty excuses and convincing speeches. And it was Josh's idea to donate for some worthy causes so that our name will be good, and not totally infamous.

CCC members may cut classes and get into trouble but are not stupid. We manage to get decent grades. We are intelligent, but are very lazy to study. And some (or most?) of us used those intelligence for foolproof plans and cheats in tests instead (Phiou is a hustler in this area).

But don't get us wrong. We are not bad boys. We are nice guys. We are not a gang of war-freaks (oh, I forgot… Noel is a "war-freak") although it seems like it, especially when are complete in attendance (people are confident in big numbers). We avoid fights… but don't mess with us. We are not bad fighters…

CCC members hate bullying. We don't tolerate it. There are no bullies in our group. We are friendly people. We are approachable. We hate bullies (bullies beware of us).

Boys will be boys. Boys are prone to getting into trouble and naughtiness…like us. But we were not all trouble. Heck, we had athletes …quiz contestants… that brought glory to the school. We help in school activities. We help others. And we are good friends.

That's why I like the CCC. And I am going to miss our escapades and the times we were together. We are going to study hard this college and avoid cutting classes (maybe except those in Engineering). I write this as a tribute to the group that I found friendship with. I say thanks to all of you guys. You were all wonderful. High school was better with the CCC to make things good and fun. My high school was better with the CCC to spend it with. The CCC may be separated now, but I believe we will be all together again one day… to cut one more class.

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PONDERING ON TECHNOLOGY

Technology certainly is popular today. Believe it or not, but it seems that one-half of the world's development in terms of technology and knowledge happen in the past century. Technology finds ways to make work easier and faster, it gives conveniences, it develops relationships and it improves certain systems. Thought it has negative effects, let us be optimistic and see its positive effects.

We can see that the work of technology has great impact on our society. Products of technology are almost everywhere. Men have made technology a necessity. Communication has been greatly improved. You can communicate to anyone, anytime, anywhere, because of technology. Transportation has been also improved. You can travel further and faster. Nowadays, we can do work twice or thrice better with the use of machines. By the use of technology, medicine and health has been improved. We can cure sickness faster and better than a century ago. Surgery is also improved and can now do more things better and safer because of technology. And for Christians, they are thankful for technology for being a great tool in the Great Commission.

I appreciate all this technology. I am writing this essay with the help of a computer. I am thankful for the computer, as it helps you in your work, in your study, gives you entertainment and heaps more. It is a great advantage as it is more convenient than using a typewriter or by free hand. I am thankful for the fluorescent light, as it gives light even when the sun is not around. Television and radio not only brought information and current events but also entertainment. Instead of walking, I go to school riding a public jeepney. In my chores, products of technology help me a lot. I sometimes cook rice by the use of a rice cooker. When I wash my clothes, the washing machine is a great help.

God bless the greatest invention since the wheel, the Internet. It is a great tool for information, communication and interaction. Without it, you will not be able to read this blog. Without it, there will be no Youtube, Friendster, Yahoo or all our favorite websites. I can watch the Naruto episodes, or other shows or videos, in the Internet (via Youtube and other sites). If I did not catch the latest NBA game, I can find the results of it at the Internet. Or if I need a tab to learn in guitars, there are sites for it, too. I manage to keep in touch with my friends. You can do or get almost everything from the Internet. And the blessed Internet is because of technology, too.

Consider this…my best friend, Madel, and I would never have been best friends if not for technology. We met in SEP Cebu 2002 in Compostela. After that, we manage to keep in touch by cellphone and Internet. I live in Bicol, she lives in Cebu. We never really talked much back at SEP Cebu. And when she visited Bicol four years later, we only got the chance to talk in a few days. Those were the only times we talked in person. Without technology (via cellphone and Internet), we would had been not able to communicate through the years. Without technology, we would had never been close… we would had not became best friends.

And consider this… before my girlfriend became my girlfriend, we really did not talk much in person. Back in high school, when we see each other we only communicate with smiles and "hellos". We rarely talked long. It was impossible to for my classmates to notice that I like her. We were only able to talk freely in text…by cellphone. Without this, we would have never known each other well. We would have never been close. She might have not become my girlfriend.

I appreciate a lot about technology although it also has hazards and disadvantages. Radiation, pollution and heat are some of it. It also contributes to the growing laziness of humans and its dependency on machines. As my high school Physics teacher says, "Human are becoming mechanized, while machines are becoming humanized." The scenario in the Matrix movies may come true. But technology may be the one to destroy its own disadvantages.

Technology has been very significant in our lives. Our generation is already putting technology in the necessity list in a human's life, along with food, water, clothing and shelter. My friends, technology is a great gift from above. Let us all use it well.

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THE DA VINCI CRAP

I'm getting irritated with this "Da Vinci Code" controversy. It's time to say something about it.

I don't get the people who were greatly affected by the book. I read the book and I was able to determine the facts and the fiction of the book. I don’t understand why other people can't. But I understand that the fiction was cleverly mixed with the facts that the people begun to believe the fictions as facts. They believed all the fiction on the book because Dan Brown said, "all documents, rituals, structures and artworks are accurate." I guess Brown should have not said that since, not all of the "facts" are accurate. There are many flaws in Dan Brown's "facts."

There are also those who now doubt the Christian faith because of the book. Heck, the book is fiction. Why are their faith shaken? According to an article I read, saying that you lost faith in Christ because of the Da Vinci Code is like losing faith in the law of gravity because of Peter Pan (paraphrased).

I guess people should research for themselves and see that many "facts" in the book are pure fiction. I suggest you might get books, like "The Da Vinci Hoax", that exposes the irresponsible "facts" in the Da Vinci Code. And I also suggest to watch the documentary "The Da Vinci Deception".

As a literature lover, I say that the Da Vince Code is good reading. It has good mystery, suspense and plots (though it seems that Dan Brown copied it from an earlier novels by other authors like "The Da Vinci Legacy"). But as a Christian, I say that the book is harmful. Dan Brown's purpose in writing is unknown. It is wrong to write a fictitious story about a true person, especially Jesus Christ.

There is nothing wrong in reading the book. But you should be a mature reader. A good reader is open-minded but his beliefs, convictions and principles are not shaken when reading a book. Besides, being a Christian is a personal encounter and will not be destroyed just like that. If God is with us, who can be against us?

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THE SUMMER BEFORE COLLEGE

My summer vacation is kind of different from my other summer vacations. I guess because it is the summer vacation after high school and before going to college. Or because I was not able to attend a SEP this summer. I am not sure. I really do not know the reason. But this summer vacation feels different.

Like all summer vacations, I spent most of my time indoors. It's so hot outside that going out is not appealing. I spend most of the time watching TV when I am indoors during summer. My TV viewing this summer is different. In my previous summers, I watched shows in cable. This time it is different. We have no cable now. So, my TV viewing was limited with GMA and ABS-CBN. I also watched PBA games in ABC 5, instead of NBA in cable. (GMA, ABS-CBN and ABC are the only three channels that can be caught by the antenna. I have to admit, there are nice shows in local TV. I thought I was going to be bored by my TV viewing this summer but the two channels manage to keep me interested. And thank God for the afternoon animes of GMA. I enjoyed Gensomaden Saiyuki and Saiyuki Reloaded when we had cable and it was nice to see GMA was able to air a Filipino-dubbed Saiyuki. And who would complain repeats of Dragon Ball Z episode? The anime is a classic. Gokusen is my favorite show this summer (and it is not only because the main character reminds me of someone…though it's a reason).

I don't get why some people are zealous "Kapamilya" or "Kapuso". Some people say, "I don't to watch that show, it's on ABS-CBN. It's crap. I am a Kapuso after all." It is stupid. How can you tell the show is bad if you do not watch it? "Kamilya" or "Kapuso" zealots are often like that. People are so quick to judge…not only with TV shows but with circumstances and other people, too.

I was also often in front of the PC… either playing games, watching concerts and movies (our PC has a DVD player) or surfing the Net (God bless the Internet). I am going to mutate with all this radiation from the PC and TV.


Sometimes, I went outside, too. I have to go for errands, to pay bills and such. I have to take care of some requirements in college. Getting X-rays and police clearances were long. But the enrollment to the school and my trip to the NSO for a birth certificate really tested my patience. Fortunately, I was in good mood during those times even if it were long processes.

Sometimes, I went out to play basketball. Sometimes, I played with the Dawal twins and the other kids of the village. And sometimes, Gerome would come over to ask me to play. With all my one-on-one games with Gerome, I only lost once out of so many this summer. And he won because I was injured in my left foot and he cheated by adding a point in his score.

I injured my foot during the last school outing of our batch early in the summer. The injury was painful, it was raining and the pool was icy cold. But I had a good time at the outing.

Then later at the summer, I injured my right foot during a basketball game. As I write this, my two feet has healed but not yet fully recovered. Moreover, my thumbs that I injured two years ago are still painful.

Typhoon Kaloy was devastating. A typhoon during summer vacation is devastating, why couldn't it happen during school days instead? Our family went to "centro" of the city after the typhoon. It was still raining and windy and we surveyed the surroundings. The malls and most of the shops were closed, trees and telephone poles fell and it was so messy. It was like a post-apocalyptic city. After surveying, we got ourselves halo-halo in an open fast-food. Heck, the temperature may be still cold but a halo-halo is a halo-halo. Our village was out of power for days after the typhoon. When the weather became sunny, the people begun to clean things up. I was among those people.

But the days after the typhoon were grand. My bestfriend, Madeleine, from Cebu came over. I was glad to see her after four-years. She was only able to stay for a few days since the SEP Bicol was canceled, where she was going to serve as counselor. But I appreciated those few short days.

My sister's birthday was during the summer, on May 26, in the following week after Madz went back to Cebu. And during that day, my father had a bowling game. It was the finals, and my mother, my sister and I came over to watch my father play. My sister was asking for a strike as a gift. But my father was struggling in the game; he did not get a strike. His arms were tired. I jokingly suggested the team should have provided Gatorade drinks for energy. We left before the games were over and we learned in the evening that my father's bowling team got only the third place.

We also have some band practices during the summer. The line-up of the band changed with addition of Dayon and Hezron to the band and Ate Mhabz temporary leaving. But the band practices are the same… the Dawal twins and I are often goofing around the practices to the dismay of Sarah (but we get serious in the end).

Well my summer days were like that. It was kind of monotonous and sometimes boring…and then sometimes fun and exciting. My summer was like that but it was kind of different from the others. Maybe the summer's typhoon, experiences, injuries, fun, monotony, reunion, changes… is preparing me for college.

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The Power of Reading

I am a book worm. I guess, I am nearly a bibliomaniac. But I assure you I am still sane. Yes, I love to read. Come to think of it, one of my hobbies is collecting literature. I collect novels, pocket books, comics, magazines, encyclopedias, etc. I collect, as much as I read, almost any kind of literature. Hey, I even have a newspaper archive. I have a big collection now, because of more than ten years of collecting. Most of them are housed in the three compartments of my old cabinet (one is for my clothes). My family is a bunch of readers as well. My father has a good collection as well.
Reading literature does not only improves your vocabulary but it is some kind of meditation, too. Literature is a beautiful art. It lets your imagination flow. When you read about a biography about someone, you are part of it. When you read an awesome fictional story, you are a part of it. When you read about the cool adventures of a super hero, you are part of it. When you concentrated well in reading, you became part of the action. Reading is a cool way of learning about life. You can learn a lot from literature. It not only entertains but teaches as well. You will learn the ideas of different people. You learn values in life in literature. You will learn humorous or terrible facts in life thru litearature. The power of reading is great. And when you become a great reader, you will certainly be a great writer.
But all of us should know our responsibilities. Reading is power, so we should be responsible. Reading should be used for good. Remember to discard all the negative points and absorb the positive points. The ideas of other people should not influence us greatly. We have our own principles and ideas. We should not let the ideas of others influence us greatly. We should first make sure that his or her ideas are right. All readers should be a mature reader. Never letting himself fully be influenced but should also be open minded. A mature reader should know the right and wrong points and parts of a literature. If we do our part, reading will certainly be a great experience.

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Food For Thought

Who hates eating? Nobody... except maybe babies and small children that thinks eating is torture. Me, I love eating. Food is essential. Eating is not only a process in which you take in food for energy but also a great way to meditate and appreciate blessings in your life. I really appreciate good food and a good meal. And I am sometimes guilty of overeating. In social events or other events, especially those that has no interest in me, I only look forward to the "chow time" after or during the event. I can eat a lot, especially if hungry. That is why fiestas and parties are what I like going to best. Plenty of food to eat.
I have many favorite foods. But pizza is what I really love to eat. I rarely eat pizza, that is why it is my favorite. I love also love burgers and sandwiches. I have many favorite dishes but I think tenderloin tips is my most favorite. I can eat almost everything... fish, beef, pork, chicken, vegetables, fruits, baked goods, junk foods, etc.Piaya is also a favorite of mine. In the past, It is really very rare for me to be able to eat it because you can only find it in the Visayas. But a few years back, it became available in some local mall. Piaya is really good. Desserts are also a favorite of mine, especially halo-halo, ice-cream and ref cake (or mango float). The best dessert I really like is ref cake, topped with cookies and cream ice cream, sprinkled with crushed polvoron. I urge you to try it. It is really great. I prefer chocolates from any other kind of sweets. The taste of chocolate is good. Solid or liquid (hot or cold) chocolate is heavenly. White chocolates are my favorite. But I like other kinds of chocolates, too. Ofcourse, chocolates are the best. Everybody loves chocolate. I cannot enumerate all my favorite foods here. There is a lot of them. I am not a "choosy" eater. I will anything when I am hungry.
Experimenting with food is great experience. I have very limited knowledge in cooking, that is why I do not experiment in cooking. I only experiment with cooked or made food. I mix them, or eat them together. That is why midnight snacks are a go for me. I am really lucky that my room is near our kitchen, talk about convenience. I only have to prepare myself the food I want to eat. One night, I prepared myself sandwiches of the left over corned beef and egg, then I took some pancit, the last slice of buko pie, some crackers that I put some peanut butter on and a cold fried chicken. After the good meal, I finished it with some salad and a glass of coke. That was one of the best meals I ever had. My grand midnight snacks are rare because it is seldom that you will find me still awake very late, and rarely you will find the ref stocked with goods. But I really love those nights when I eat those grand meals, while reading a book or finishing some work or project.
Eating outside is also cool. Restaurants and fast food chains are good places to eat a good meal. My dream is to eat in some top class restaurant. But street vendors have some great street foods to offer as well, though maybe harmful. I often eat here, I like street foods. When my friends, or my mother,and I have some night "gimiks" or activities, we often browse around the vendors and have a great meal. You cannot find this kind of good meal and thrill in some fancy restaurant
Food trips with my friends are really great. Either with shiawarmas, tacos, fishballs or the like. But I learned a really cool food trip from my classmates back in high school. We buy some potato chips, cookies, corn chips, peanuts and other "chichirias", then proceed to the food court. We take a food tray and pour and mix what we bought in the tray. We make something like a "junk food salad" and share. After the meal, we drink water from the food court. People around us stare at us amusingly. We did this several times and it is really a fun "food trip".
Eating, wild or tame, is a great experience. Eating can make you realize that life is good. The enjoyment of eating can be doubled if you are with your family and/or friends. It is a great experince eating with someone. We do not only eat just for the sake of survival. We do not eat just to feed the body. But we eat also eat to feed the soul. Eating physical food can feed the soul. It makes you think about the goodness of God in providing you with good food. Then the thoughts will shift to all the blessing and goodness in your life, and thanking God for it. That is what is unique with humans, we are not animals who only eat for the sake of satisfying the stomach. God gave us the gift of meditating, thinking of life, appreciating blessings, improving relationships and simply enjoying the food with others or with only ourselves as we satisfy the stomach.

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Playing

Playing. It is really fun. I love playing. As the saying goes, "All work and no play..." well you know how it goes. But sometimes I overdo my playing than my working. I just can't help it sometimes. It is actually one of my hobbies.
When I was a little boy, I am often outside our house playing with my playmates every weekend, holiday or free time. In school I played with my classmates. Games such as "patintero", "darakupan", "aragawan base", "taraguan (hide and seek)" and such. And sometimes the harmful, "pellet gun wars".
I was also playing "text","mini-text" and "pogs" when I was a kid. I love collecting those things, unfortunately I gave them all away to my younger playmates when I was in my last days in elementary. I also raced my mini-4 wheel drives when I was still a little child. I had several of them. Unfortunately again, my set dissapeared. I cannot remember where it had gone. I kind of neglected it because my interest in those things grew cold.
I also loved playing with my toys. My radio controlled car, my zoo collection, my wild wild west collection, my mini toy car collection, my war toys collection and such. I really love my toy soldiers, along with the other war toys. They are now retired veterans with pension in my toy box beneath my bed, along with my remaining toys. I still play with some toys, like the radio contolled car. And I display some in my library and room.
Playing sports is also fun although I am not really good at it. I really love basketball. I am not really a good player, but I love it. I am also interested in bowling and volleyball, like my father. I rarely play volleyball and I only played bowling about three times only. I am not good at these sports unlike my father.
But what I really into is the world of "gaming". Like most boys (and a few girls) in my generation, I am a gamer. A gamer is someone who is into video games, either in console, arcade and PC. I am into all three. I am a gamer since elementary. My first exposure to it was with our family "family computer". I really loved playing it but I only mastered most of the games when I reached high school, playing those games in a vcd player. I then began playing arcade games. My favorites were Marvel Vs. Capcom, Marvel Vs. Streetfighter, X-Men Vs. Streetfighter and King Of Fighters. I finished the first four mentioned but up to date, I still cannot master the King Of Fighters.
Then the PC gaming came. I started playing PC games when I was in my early elementary. Playing in our family PC or in my mom's office. My favorite then was "Metal Marines", a hard 20 level strategy game that I was able to finish. But I started playing games in the internet cafe when I was in Grade 5. My peers and I played it almost daily. The popular games then were "Counter-Strike" and "Starcraft". Then the others followed, "Red Alert 2", "Yuri's Revenge", "Half-Life", "Team Fortress", "Stronghold", "Earth Empire", "Battle Realms", "Warcraft III", "Generals", "NBA Live", etcetera. I say "etcetera" because there is really a lot of games I played since then. I was a real gaming addict when I was a in my late elementary. Sometimes I played about nine hours non-stop a day. I finally got sick because of playing PC. I became sick of bronchopneumonia, then it became primary complex tuberculusis because of neglecting my health, my lunch time and heavy dose of radiation. Luckily, I got well after a year of medication.
That is what I got from over-playing. I advice you not to neglect your health just fot the sake of playing. I still pretty much of a PC "addict". I still played a lot of PC games when I entered high school. But I promised not to play so much now. I can control myself to stop, if it is really time to stop. Like when I decided to stop playing Philippine Ragnarok On-Line after I decided it is a game which is really a waste of money when I was in 2nd year. I still play with Ragnarok but in Aero (Asian European Ragnarok Online), which you do not need a prepaid card to play.
Playing is a gift from God. But we should not make it the center of our lives. We should not neglect our responsibilities and priorities. We must not be slaves of the games but masters over it. We can learn a lot from playing. Teamwork, sportsmanship, honor, patience, perseverance and ingenuity are easily learned. Computer literacy, communication with others and socializing are improved when we are playing. Playing is a lot of fun if used properly. A good player never cheats (this does not apply to gamers, as using "cheats" in some games are allowed). Winning is not important as long as you gave your best and had fun. Playing is as important with working. That is why we should all work hard and play hard, enjoying what we do and giving it our best until "Game Over".

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Dreams

Dreams are meant to be free. That is why I dream too much. Dreaming proves I am human. Yes, I am satisfied of being me and what I have. But I can't avoid wishing for more things. Guess its okay to wish or want for something as long as you are still happy, thankful and satisfied although you did not get your wish or want. I have many dreams and wants. I want to have the biggest literature collection in the world. I want a large and awesome toy collection. I want a small studio with all the instruments. I want to have an advance and hightec laptop and PC. I want to be able to write a best selling book. I want to meet Jennylyn Mercado. I want to have a vacation aboard a luxury liner. I want to board a submarine. I want to go to space. I want a robot maid. I want to know the truth, if the Americans really went to the moon or if it was all a hoax. I want to win a Noble Prize. I want World Peace. I want a world with no hunger but full of happiness and love. I want these things and a lot more. Some of them are far-fetched and hard to have or attain but all things are possible. So friends dream all you want. There is nothing wrong with it. And do not lose faith if your dreams are far-fetched and seem impossible. Believe me, they can come true. I had some far-fetched dreams that came true. Just don't get tired of waiting. And do not despair if you were not able to get your dream, God has a better thing to give to you. God has a plan for all of us and everything happens for a reason. In conclusion, dream and dream all you want. Who knows.....

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Friendship

In life a person needs friends. Friendship is the best bond in the world. Friendship is so strong. Friends help each other to be better persons. Friends love and understand each other. Friends help each other in time of need. Friends share things. I think friends are the greatest possesions in this physical world. For me, before two people became lovers they must be friends first. Parents and chjildren should be friends. A ruler and his subjects should become friends. The boss and the employee should be friends. Friendship is a give and take relationship. In which a real friend thinks more about giving than recieving. If more people will be friends with each other, our world will be a better place. I thank the Lord for giving me many friends. In school, in church and in other places. I have friends throughout the whole archipelago. I also belong to two groups that I can see true friendship, the YCFC (Youth Circle For Christ) and the CCC (Cutting Classes Club or Chivalrous Citizens of the Country). These two circle of friends I have is different from each other but I both belong to them. I am lucky to be a member of great groups like these. In conclusion, I will say that friendship is the best and basic relationship.

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Girls...

Girls. Girls. Girls. Boys can't avoid admiring them (and vice versa). Well, I am attracted to some of them, too. I am attracted to girls who are beautiful, a character that can match her beauty, smart, talented, simple and a little reserved. Tall order. Luckily, In the past years of my adolescence I met four of them who, more or less, have these qualities. And of course, all four became my crushes (three in school). But of course, one of them tops them all. (Guess who) :) There is nothing wrong in having crushes. It gives a boy like me inspiration. When I see something or someone, I see the glory of God. He manifests his glory and awesomeness thru his creations. I am awed and thankful that God is able to make great things.

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The Best President of America

We cannot deny that the United States of America is a great country. But what makes this country great is its great people, past and present. The best examples of such are the presidents of the country through the years. My most favorite among them is Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. But if I am asked of who among the two is the best, I will pick the smart humorous witty honest Lincoln than the multi-talented intelligent Jefferson. For me, the best president of the United States of America and one of the best man ever lived is Abraham Lincoln.
Abraham Lincoln was born poor but he worked hard to get a better life. He admitted that he was taught to work but not to love the work, but he is certainly a persevering, industrious and hard working person. He had several vocations before becoming a lawyer and a great politician. For example, he worked as a postmaster and a store keeper. He also had experience in the army. When he was a lawyer, he helped all the people that needs help. He asks little pay and sometimes nothing at all. He was a unique lawyer. He did not try to twist the law. He practices what is right. He lives on values more than knowledge. He was also athletic and strong. He did what is right and do not care what people think. He is also a humorous and witty person. He has many stories to tell but most of his stories not only entertains but gives lifes lessons as well. There is a great paradox in his life, he is a humorous person and loves to tell stories but he was a lonely man. Some experts say Lincoln has a sickness that loneliness will envelope him suddenly. He has many talents like giving speeches. This skill helped him in his campaign for presidency. When he became president, he did his best to keep the country together. He did his best for his country. He did what is right though sometimes his decisions were not popular. But most of all, he relied on what God can do and not through his works. He is not a religious person but he loves and trusts God. He knew that only God can help the country. During the Civil War, he was drawn closer to God and he experienced God's love and power. He was a great man indeed.
I admire this man, Abraham Lincoln. He is simple but made impacts. He do not like fame but he was immortalized. He lives on values and trusts God. He loves humor and life. He is not easily angered and if angered he does not show it oftenly. He was a man of principles. He believe that all men are equal in God's eye so all men should have equal rights no matter what is the color of one's skin. I like his qualities and wants to have them too. He is one of my real life heroes. The only downer about him was he died by assasination. I think he could have done more great things in his second term. But God has His reasons. I can write all the information and stories about him here but I think its up to you if you want to know more about him. I read many anecdotes, essays and biographies about him, and I recommend you read things about him too. My suggested reading is "The Life of Abraham Lincoln" by Stefan Lorant. It is up to you if you want to learn more about him. But do not forget that it is much better to know Jesus Christ, for he is the best. Happy readin

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Love... And the Related Topics

Love. I may be a person who does not talk about this kind of topics. But hey, I can talk about love. I had experienced it. I received and gave it so many times. Let me first tell you about my view on love. The greatest example of true love is what Jesus did. Leaving His position to save His chosen ones. He was willing to sacrifice everything even His life.
True love for me is loving a person for who he or she is. Accepting his or her weaknesses and that it is unconditional. Saying I love you is not like "I love you because....", "I love you if...." or "I love you but...." but saying I love you is like "I love you." Period. As I've said before, unconditional.
"If you haven't experience love, then how can you give it." One of my father's best sermon, for me, is his sermon on love. You can not give what you do not have. That is what he said in his sermon. Just like love, you can not love if you haven't been loved. What can be more greater than God's love? That is true love. If you haven't experienced it then you cannot completely love. And you cannot give more than the love you experienced but rather maybe you will give less than what you experienced. You must feel love first, one way or another.
As I Corinthians 13:4-7 said "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres". I love these verses. It gives the true meaning of love. It tells what are the fruits of love. Compare this verse to what you feel. See if you really love somebody. Your family. Your parents. Your siblings. Your friends. That special someone.
How about love on the opposite sex? Yeah, I love my female friends. But love is different from falling in love. In Filipino, "Pagmamahal" is different from "Pag-ibig". You ask me.... did I ever fell in love with someone. My answer is maybe. I am not so sure. I have "fallen in love" two times already. I do not know if it is real. In this early stage you will never know if it is real. That is why you must wait before making a big move. Do not make any conclusions yet. Time may come when you will be sure if it is true love. Maybe what you are feeling now is not really true love, but it may become true love if you wait.
Is it okay to have a girlfriend or boyfriend? Well, it depends. For me, it is okay. But who am I to decide. Ask your parents. For me, it is okay. As long as you love that person and that your relationship is God-centered. Maybe that love will grow. Maybe not. But hey, as long as you will not commit sin there is nothing wrong with it. As long as you will not neglect your responsibilities, obligations and priorities it is okay. Your girlfriend or boyfriend should serve only as your inspiration and strength. He or she must not become a liability. The only disadvantage of it is discovering you are not for each other. It may cause a lot of heartbreak. My advice is not to limit yourself to one person. Meet other persons. If you find a person that you think you are in love to, wait and do not make moves yet. Just make actions that shows she (or he) is special than the others. Yes, waiting is hard. But love is patient and persevering. If the time is right, tell your feelings and make the move. Waiting is important. The longer, the better (but not that long :) ). Both parties should know that. It's a test if you are really in love or it is mere infatuation. But having a girlfriend or boyfriend is up to your beloved parents. They know best. If they say, "No!" then obey them. If they say you have to break up with him or her, obey them. It may be hard, but it pays off to obey. Its all up to your parents. Show them you can obey them and be responsible. Show them you love them too and willing to obey. Maybe they will understand that you are really capable of loving. And of course, pray for it. Ask God for His will to happen. God may want you to have a relationship now or not yet. Just and pray for guidance. It will surely pay off.
Waiting is part of love. You wait to get to know the person very well. You wait to get close to a person. You wait for the right time to tell your feelings. You wait when you are waiting for the girl's answer. Or if you are a girl, waiting for the right time to give the answer. Love is patient. A person in love do not rush things. He or she waits for God's timing. Believe me, waiting pays off. It gives you more confidence. It gives you time to know the person you love more. It gives you time to think if you are really in love. God gives the perfect timing, believe me. He wants the perfect person for you. A lot deal better than the girl (or boy) of your dreams. So, wait and wait. Especially when you haven't fallen in love before. Do not rush it. God gives the best timing. Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, it said there is time for everything.
I say that teenage love is a gift from God. Making you experience having crushes, infatuation, "puppy love" and the like. You may have experienced this and also being hurt. I had experienced it, too. But, thank God, I still have not experienced being heart broken. I am not really good in this love matters. I am just telling you what I think in this subject. We may have different views on love.
An advice to guys, you must realize that you proboably won't marry your girlfriend or the girl you like, so you'd better treat her the way you would want a guy to treat the girl you will marry. I do not mean you should treat her as if you two are married. But show her respect, care and love. And never let your hormones get the better of you. You are stronger than the girl. Use your strength to protect the girl not to harm or pressure her (you know what I mean). To girls I advice that if you like a guy, please give hints (if you can't directly say it) that he is special than everybody else. And never seduce your boyfriend or the boy you like. Also never abuse the boy's patience or generosity. If both parties will do their part, it will be a great relationship.
A few parting words, facts that I learned in real life. A boy will not make a move if he will not see a sign of hope from the girl. Most girls looked their startling best and boys will become handsomer in the JS Prom. A person in love never can supress his or her smile and has glittering eyes. Flowers (I recommend white roses) are better things to give than chocolates. Being "torpe" is not that bad. The cellphone can become a handy gadget in communicating with someone you find hard to talk to. You will learn this and more when you are in the teenage love stage. Have a nice day!

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High School Reflections

I graduated from high school last March 31 in a nice graduation ceremony. Therefore, my high school life is over. The last four years were the best of my life. I learned many things. My interests widened. I met many wonderful people. My perspective upgraded. Identity settled. Talents discovered and improved. Memorable moments collected. Experiences gained. Missions accomplished. And… I grew 15% taller during the time.
I learned many things in high school, inside and outside the classroom. I learned of atoms, theorems, grammar, literature, Broadway, chiaroscuro, axioms, GDP, html, etc. I also learned of emotions, values, principles, rules, community, life and such. I also enjoyed amazing quotes from our teachers like the one of our Physic teacher’s “In the ocean of life, God is our buoyant force, no matter how strong the winds or gigantic the waves are, we shall not sink as long as we are anchored on Him…” and witty comments like our TLE IV teacher’s “The reason students get very low grades in tests is that they don’t follow instructions… the instructions say ‘choose the correct answer’ but they choose the wrong one instead!”
My interest also widened. Reading has maintained itself as my primary pastime, but I only learned to appreciate all kinds of literatures in the early part of my teenage years. I am a gamer since elementary, and I still am. And as new games came, I found myself “addicted” as they arrive. My love for music also increased during high school, prompting me to improve my musical skills. I also learned to play basketball during high school and it became my favorite sport. I am not athlete material but I am thankful I learned to play basketball.
I met many unique and interesting people. I had great friends that shared high school with me. They were amazing people, especially the CCC. CCC members were the collection of the best boys in our batch. Talent, brains, looks, charisma, etc… you can find all of them in the CCC.
I also met in high school a very wonderful girl that captured my heart. In the first year of my high school life, I said to myself that I do not want to have a girlfriend. I was so sure of myself that I will never fall for someone. Three years later, I discovered that my feelings to a girl I like is not simple “crush” anymore. Few months later, she became my girlfriend.
It was another thing I learned in high school. You can never be so sure. You change. Identities and personalities vary. High school is a transition period. In those four years, I really grew and changed.
I have to admit that I was not exactly a “model student” in high school. I was very mischievous and fun loving. I like “trippings” and practical jokes (I will miss those things). I was not a notorious rule breaker, but it does not mean I did not break any rules. I have a clean record in the guidance office, but it does not mean I did not get into trouble. I am not a warfreak, but I had one or two fights when I was not able to control myself (I avoid fights but I am not a pushover). I have no vices but I cut classes when I get tired. I cut classes when I grew tired of schooling, occasionally going to the café or just hanging around. CCC members cut classes in small groups or in wide scale walkouts (when protesting because the lessons are boring). But we were able to get good enough grades anyway since we are not really bad students. Boys are just full of mischief and fun.
High school is certainly the best. Now it’s all over. The four years I spent in high school was one of the most wonderful years of my life. I will never trade them for anything. I thank God for those blessed years. It’s a bit sad that it is now all over. But like before, I need another transition. I need to “grow up” again. I need to grow out of the mischievous boy to become a responsible young man. I need to learn new things, obtain new knowledge, discover new talents, find new interests, gain more experiences, upgrade perspectives, improve my identity, meet new people, collect more memorable moments, accomplish new missions and maybe grow a little taller. I need to move on with my life. College is a lot different from high school but I think it’s not that bad. It might be interesting, too. We’ll see what college has to offer.

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CATS

My pets are cats. Cats, for me, are better than dogs. Cats are more fuzzy and cuter. When I was a small boy, I had a small black kitten. I had fun with that kitten. We played and played throughout the day. Unfortunately, we have to leave that cat to our neighbor when we have to move to a new house. After a year in our new house, my mother brought home a black kitten. He was so cute and funny that we became friends very fast. My father also likes him and we let him sleep inside the house. That cat was an offspring of Martina, a Siamese cat that is owned by the Oloyas. That cat was disciplined and it does not litter inside the house and steal our food. It was also brave and strong, and is not a pushover by other cats. My father named him, Blackie. When he grew up, we found another cat that we considered his wife. We adopted her. That cat bore three kittens. I named the mother Shiela and I named the kittens Henry, Toto and Tina. When Toto was a grown up, he died. That left four cats, Blackie, Shiela, Henry and Tina. Blackie protects his family very well. He protects his territory and family from stray cats, and even dogs! That was my first batch of cats. Many followed. Many cats came from that first batch. There are also many stories as well. I use to call my cats a pride. I considered them like lions. There were a lot of them and I cannot remember the names I gave them. Some of them died when young and some died later. Others got lost or we gave away. Shiela died the most tragic, she was bitten by our neighbor's big dog and died. I tried to stop the dog by shooting it with my pellet gun. I failed, and I cried hard when she died. While the patriarch, Blackie, died when he was very old. The most interesting story about my cats was when Tina found a stray kitten left by his mother. Tina adopted the kitten and considered it as her own. She recently gave birth to three kittens and adopted another one, so she had four of them. The pride took him as one of their own. Sadly, as the kitten grew, it disappeared. The first cats are all dead now, as well as the second. All left here are the third or fourth generation. The pride has currently four members. At one time, the pride was composed of up to ten or twelve members. This generation is a contrast of their ancestor. They are a bunch of "scaredy cats" compared to the brave and proud first batch. They also litter outside our house and my mother is very irritated when she have to clean the front yard. The first batch litter far from our house. This generation also steals our food, unlike the first batch that are often behaved. However, I still like those cats. I think I inherited my love for cats from my father. He loves cats. He took care of some cats when he was young. My father is currently the one who often feeds our cats. Compared when I was a boy, I did not play much with these cats. I missed Blackie. He was my best cat ever. I promised that when I grow up, I would find a black cat and make it my pet. Who knows, maybe I will start a new "pride".

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MY PARENTS

You will read below some facts of two of the coolest persons in the world. Well, they are both cool for me anyway. Let me tell you about my parents.
My father, Efren V. Narido, was born August 29, 1954. He works as a government employee in City Treasurer's Office. He is quiet, industrious, trustworthy, kind, sweet-tempered and patient. He is a very cool person, calm, often quiet and not easily angered. He is a bookworm like me and collects books, mostly Christian books, Bibles in different translations, and theology materials. He also likes to have fun, though some people do not think so. He loves to make mango float and the family usually consumes a batch in less than a week. He is the youth pastor of the local church of the Worldwide Church of God. He is also the current pastoral team chairman of our local congregation.
He graduated in AB economics. Before that, he studied for one semester in Engineering and after graduation, he studied four semesters in accountancy but did not finish. When he was a young adult, he took different jobs before marrying my mom and landing a job as a Government Employee.
He is a man of talents. He once writes in the local paper. He contributes stories and feature articles to papers. He can also draw well. When I was still little, I always ask him to draw things for me, especially super heroes. He took a correspondence course in drawing and cartooning. I do not think he finished it. He gave me his workbooks when I was old enough. He can also play the sports of bowling and volleyball. He is a great bowler.
He did not marry fast. He waited until he was in his early 30's. I think he worked hard first and enjoyed being a bachelor first before searching for a wife. He married someone who is twelve years younger then him. He took trips around the Philippines with his friends. Once, he stayed in Mindanao for months.
As a father, he is the best for me. When I was a little I was spanked with a belt when I do something wrong, now it does not hurt me anymore. Now, my father punished me more painfully if I do something wrong, he cuts my allowance. When he was a little boy he did not have a lot of toys. Therefore, he gave me toys that he wants when he was little. My favorite toy, a radio-controlled car, was given to me as a gift in one of my birthdays. He was the first one to play with it. He also likes pellet guns. He bought a couple of them in the past years. We played with those toy guns in the past years and now they are all broken.
My mother, Myra Leslie J. Narido, was born on December 9, 1966. She is currently unemployed. However, she worked many times before, in the Capitol and in National Power Corporation. She is talkative, industrious, proud, resourceful, jolly and intelligent. Unlike my father, she is short-tempered and sometimes act she know all things. It is fine with me. As long as she can, she tries to give my sister and me all we need and want. She can play several musical instruments. However, I really like her when she plays the bandurya. She plays it very well. I can say she is a music lover. She is the youth coordinator of the local church of Worldwide Church of God. With my father being the youth pastor and my mother the youth coordinator, they founded the Youth Circle For Christ or YCFC. Of course, I am a member.
My mother finished college. She took the course of accountancy. She was a stand out student when she was still studying. She was always at the top of the class. She was also able to participate in contests and activities. She even went to a national press conference. She can be a journalist and she writes well.
My mother is very kind in giving to us. We get along very well even though she usually scold me and I sometimes talk back. However, we forgive each other and I am always sorry when I talk back.
She gives her best in doing things. She wants it is near to perfection. She always says to me that I should do all I can in doing work. Sometimes she scold me when I do a work wrong but it is okay to me.
As a mother, she is the best for me although I am sometimes irritated when she scold or nag. I know she is only doing this so that I can be better person. I like her because she gives what is her best in work. I think she is close to become a workaholic, but not exactly. She is also fun loving and energetic. I think I got my "wild" side from her.
They are my parents. They are not perfect, but hey they are the best in the world. I am proud that they are my parents.

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MY SIS

My sister's name is Wanda Li An Narido. She was born on May 26, 2000. I am at least eleven years older than she is. She is cute and chubby, and I usually tickle her belly. She is very energetic and very talkative. She is also very naughty and takes things that are not hers. I am sometimes annoyed when she takes my things. My mother is also annoyed when Wanda takes her things. We fight almost everyday but there is no sibling war between us. She loves toys, and takes some of my toys. She also loves to watch Disney Channel and Nickolodeon and never gets tired even if the shows are repetitive. She is still a baby, is still dependent to my mother, and usually cries when my mother leaves her. She can be annoying but she can also be entertaining. She goes to school now, and I am the one who takes her to school. She likes to go to school often, but gets tired sometimes. She likes to learn but likes to learn the easy way. In school, she is naughty sometimes and my mother scolds her. However, she can be very smart sometimes. Like most babies, she can make friends easily. It amazes me. For example, in a playing corner, Wanda will play with some kids and later they are all friends. She likes to play with her friends. She can be very destructive sometimes when playing. Especially if she is with her friends, they can become a baby army. My sister has a special skill, being able to stand hunger and still be able to remain energetic. She can sometimes not eat a meal as long as she is enjoying herself. Especially when she is watching TV, she can spend a whole day without eating. My sister is the best. She is my only sister. I spend nearly eleven years of my life as an only son. Then she came, I was not jealous of my sister. Only insecure persons get jealous of their siblings. It was more joyful when she came to the family. We get along well. Sometimes I bribe her to play with my toys so I can watch TV for a while because she shouts when I change the channel when she is watching TV. I love my sister, although she is my "antagonist". We work together sometimes and we must learn to get together very well because she is my only sister and I am her only brother.

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