F.A.C.E. to WIN! (CampTalk for FIT to WIN 2013)

Our church had its first Family Camp (with a youth camp extension), and I had the honor of being one of youth's speakers (though I honestly, I suck at plenary talks). 

Our camp's theme was "Fit to WIN". It's so easy to talk about fitness nowadays, with all the health and wellness focus of our society and generation. Physical, emotional, relational, intellectual, moral and spiritual fitness. It's everywhere. 

But, what does it really mean to be fit to win?

What are we trying to win at all?

To be fit to win, I believe we need to have the FACE to WIN. "FACE" stands for 'Focus [to win]', 'Aim [to win]', 'Commit [to win]' and 'Engage [to win]'.

Creating My Own Lessons from GraphikaManila2013

Attending Graphika Manila 2013 wasn't part of my plans — especially budget-wise. I also was hesitant: Why should I bother listening people talk (or brag) about [their] creativity? [insert semi-bitter tone]

But yeah, against financial practicality (and after really praying about it — I'd need some divine intervention to get the funds), I decided to go. Amazingly, a friend provided the much-needed amount for me to afford it... in FULL! I was pumped.

I arrived at the venue at roughly 9:30AM, thinking "Hey, delegates are probably mostly artists — they're most likely to be late."

First Lesson of the day: Be EXTRA early on the next Graphika Manila conference.

Life is Too Short to be Impatient

A young friend chatted me up the other day, asking for a simple advise: should she stay with her current company who only offers her a small salary, or should she shift to a call center company where the immediate benefits is way better.

First of all, I have nothing against call centers. I respect their occupation and role in the society, being the recipients of our social ires — both valid and illogical. Sometimes you just gotta admire how their eardrums and brains can take the consistent pound-for-pound calls of irascible complaints, retarded questions, as well as the helplessly hurtful criticisms for their company (when it deserves merit).

But hey, I'm not talking about call centers.

Breaking Cycles, Becoming 2013

It's already 2013, and as I looked back in dismay - there were a lot of things I failed to do. Again.

As the year started in 2012, I was planning to buy myself some gadgets that I really, really needed. And so, I looked forward to the 13th month bonus (since my company doesn't give a Christmas bonus for us contractual employees). That included a graphic pen tablet (so I can upgrade my graphic design skills), a 1TB external/portable HDD drive, an affordable DLSR camera (or just the waterproof digicam, particularly the Olympus Tough haha), OR (yes, "or" not "and") a new mobile phone (or smart phone) - since the one I'm using (a simple but dependable Motorola phone) was just loaned from a good friend of mine years ago.

Alas, I didn't get a chance to buy myself any of these.

And somehow, thoughts of self-pity or self-chastisement creep up at nights, accusing me, "Why?!"

Yet, somehow God comforts me with the same question: "Why?"

Envy.

TheLoveStory: The Prodigal Puppy

[TheLoveStory is WINmakati's new church series which will run on December 2, 9 and 16, 2012. Here's my puppified version of what a love story means to me.]

Once there was an owner who kept a house full of wonderful pets. The owner was very kind. Every pet was loved and cared for. But the puppy was dissatisfied. He was envious of those Hollywood dogs, jealous of those pampered pooches on dog shows, and simply thought, "I'm an animal — I deserve a better dog's life!"

And so one day, he run away.

The Lame Blame Game

Just a year ago, Christopher Lao had been a target of netizens' criticism and ridicule over an amusing side comment captured on a news video reel. Just a few months ago, Carabuena sparked the outrage of countless Filipinos over a footage of him physically abusing an MMDA personnel.     

(As for Sotto's claims of being cyberbullied, HAH!)

And now, #AMALAYER.

The Many Horrors of a Semi-Adult Life

After a fun, brief (horrific) interlude at the Timezone videoke, a group of friends watched with me the movie "Sinister" at Glorietta. While I may not be the sturdiest when it comes to horror films, I'm not the kind to scare easily (though I am weak at gore). And yes, I admit that this film had me disturbed as much as "Insidious" did — except for the ending. Thank God.

Especially when you suddenly find yourself awake at 3:32AM after a few days, and the first thing your mind rivets to is that particular scene in the movie where the protagonist woke up...

Only to be succeeded overwhelmed by an equally terrifying thought:

"What if my friends uploaded that video clip of my horrible singing while I was offline?"

I started to pray.

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