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Monday, April 29, 2013

Religious Debate: Was Muhammad a Prophet?

I am supposed to be sleeping now, but this debate I stumbled upon on YouTube has kept me up.

The Debate: Was Muhammad a Prophet?
Proposition: Sheik Abualrub
Opposition: David Woods

Don't be surprise if you get lost by the points that the proposition is trying to make.

These are only 2 parts. I can't find part 3 yet, but it looks like part 4 and 5 are continuation nevertheless, perhaps it was wrongly renamed.

Anyway, I was only able to complete these two videos. I will update the rest of the videos in my next post.




Sunday, April 28, 2013

Saturday, unquenched thirst

There's a certain thirst I feel. Much as I pray it's spiritual thirst, it's honestly NOT.

It's the ice-cold alcoholic beverage made of wheat - beer.

Ahh.

My day today was rather productive, and it was a pretty early start for me. Sent off my brother to school for his sports heats together with my sister. We gallivanted around central, but we found no place for breakfast!

Rushed back home cos she will be following my parents for dad's soccer tournament. They clinched the Championship again this year! Weee!

When I got the house to myself, I watched as many movies I could while lazing away on the sofa. Then realized the time and had to rush to pay my bills. Great thing to have an AXS Machine very near my estate!

I didn't want my Saturday to be so mundane, so did some chores and then finally received an update from my friend who I was to be meeting in the afternoon.

Fetched Zak back and waited for the rest of the family to come back so that I can meet up my friend to run through the set-up of his blogshop! The name's pretty cute, will share it here when it's fully functional :)

Went home after all's done and when I've taught him the basics of editing and posting up to the site. Needed a nap badly due to a sudden migraine that I've not have for a long time.

Dinner with the family next. Made reservations at Fat Fish. Papa didn't mind the non-halal restaurant but after seeing that most of the ingredients for the steamboat are pork, we changed location and ended up at Magic Wok.

Photo upload follows. But before that, I am truly wondering what's up with today... In the same place at about almost the same time, I saw two guys I dated from years back. Well, I did my best to not be spotted myself, although it completely failed for one of them.

Heh. Anyway, pictures right down... :)





After dinner, headed over to Taroda, a toy car race course for kids and adults alike :) It costs about $12 for half an hour rental of the automated race car.







As I was saying in the beginning of this post, I was deprived of beer, for the very reason that my friends are either 1) Out to watch Iron Man 3 2) Out to watch another movie 3) Too far away from Pasir Ris to go with me to Changi Village for a mug or two 4) Busy studying for exams so couldn't drive down 5) Just don't feel like having beer

So I went home and indulged myself with this sinful delight.


How shameful! Hehe. The new week will enter and I will begin my 31 days of diet in time for my Phuket trip. Cannot cannot cannot wait! Weeee~

Holiday Update 2

Here's another photo update of my Philippines trip :)



 

Went to quite a few resorts around the area, trying to compare the best against the cost as well as my budget. Some expensive resorts couldn't even pull my interest. There was a resort owned by a media reporter, that I find was over-rated! It isn't nice there, the only thing nice about it was the surrounding view, the pool and the cottage was very basic.

I settled for a resort with a name that doesn't do it justice - The Scrapyard Resort. (You get what I mean?)

Anyway, these shots were taken during our Easter tradition of going for swimming. Usually, it's always much better to go to the beach, but since it's too far out, and I have limited funds for this trip, I settled for something affordable. The main idea is to have a swim during Easter, in commemorating our Baptism :)

The entire family went to the Parish of St. Clement for mass, and then we headed down to this resort nearby. 

It was really fun how this day went. So much family bonding and awesome fun!

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Discerning My Vocation

Four years ago when I found myself at a crossroad of continuing or ending a relationship with a guy I have always thought I will end up married to, until I woke up and was slammed back to reality. I have always heard the same voice in my head that the relationship is not my destination, and that voice was truth.

About a year later, the relationship plummeted down to nothingness.

I am glad however that I didn't feel the complete need to mourn for break up because I understood that it's meant to be just that - we are just passers-by who made an impact to each others' lives to teach us something about what will our lives be. Of course, no one can really be certain.

While he has found his vocation in marriage, I am still searching for mine.

My discernment of vocation isn't just a one-way towards marriage. I felt I was called to be and do something more, and that calling still resounds in my heart. Yet, I may misinterpret the meanings with thoughts of grandeur. I am afraid that I am too unworthy to be called to lead a life that is pure...again.

Of course, my past deeds are not something God will put against me, because I knew not what I do and I was immature. The euphoria of love got to me and not exactly that I was in love with the person, but I was in love with the feeling of love.

Then it came to me that perhaps, I need to let someone in, and that I shouldn't see vocation just as living to be a religious. Is it easier to live in the comforts of the monastery? Or do I let go of fear and just let someone love me.

I've encountered a handful of guys who didn't cut it, perhaps because they reminded me too much of the recklessness that was in my previous relationship. I even call off my friendship with a guy because he wanted to enter the next step while I'm not yet ready. There are a lot of things that I felt uncomfortable with despite the boundaries I've already stepped over years before, and it's funny how a person who lived a wild child becomes such a person like I am now.

I am not saying that I dislike myself now just because I am reserving myself for someone worthy of me, but I am actually afraid that I'm looking at all the wrong doors that's being opened.

Not many months ago, I found myself hopelessly infatuated with a certain person whom I've always thought my feelings for were under control. It exploded and yet, thank God, there were no casualties. I shut all others from my life due to my rose-coloured glass view of the entire situation and how I felt. One minute I'm in denial, and the next I am convinced that I will come to terms with how I felt and be honest about it... Well, nothing happened. I never got to say how I felt. But it seems to be God's will that nothing occurred.

Throughout the past year, though I have failed to see anyone else who gave me more attention, more support and time, someone made a cut. The only thing I did was fail to see that there was something there for me. However, as of late, I am hoping that our consistency will produce fruits.

Last Sunday was Vocation Sunday or in liturgical term - Shepherd's Sunday.

I was reminded once again of the calling I felt last 3 years, but I also remembered that the following year, I discerned that marriage was the path for me to take. This year however, I am left uncertain.

I think my feelings have developed over time, and it's blossoming to something that I never really experienced before. It's not the euphoria I felt before. There's the sudden smile, the rush of heat on my face, the heart beatings and the change in temperature when I am around him. I am willing to admit how I am feeling now, but I am thinking that doing so may open a floodgate and I may not be able to close them on my own.

So Lord, help me in my discernment. Show me the path that leads to where you have made for me. In order so that I may glorify you. Always and forever, despite my unworthiness. Amen.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Zak's Trip to Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom


Inevitable as it is obvious because I have a 6 year old brother, there are some times where I have to be a mother to my 6-year-old brother.

And that day came today, when I had to be a volunteer for my brother's class' field trip to Sentosa to see butterflies and insects.

I'm very happy that my bosses are so supportive, and as long as I've got my projects taken care of, they don't question my leave. This is a great thing about being in my current company - NO MICRO MANAGEMENT, unlike my previous employers.

Anyway, here's a photo update of the trip :)










Friday, April 19, 2013

Holiday Update 1

A month after my last post, I went to my country home to work for a week to make it in time for Lolo's birthday! And then to observe the Holy Week as well as to catch up with my family. It was a good long holiday for me.

Goldilocks Choco for Lolo!

He didn't know that I was going to come back to Phil for his birthday. All he knows was that I was going to get someone to deliver a cake and that he will have a small birthday celebration. I hid a day at my uncle's apartment before going to Villa Gloria. I was wearing a hat, and I entered thru the gate into the patio, then went to him with the cake extended towards him. He was not sure how to react at first, and then when he finally came to, he rose up from his chair and was so happy to see me. His reaction was priceless!

Nothing was planned, so later on he went to VG's senior citizen's corner to invite his fellow seniors. The party went through somehow despite the short notice. The plan of surprise was great, even though mum almost had a slip of a tongue when she gave them the 1st surprise of her presence the day before while I hide at my uncle's home.

Even seniors (not all of them are) know have to have fun

The day before, only the aunts and uncle know that I'm in Philippines. We planned for what to cook, and what drinks to buy as we went to SM Taytay for dinner at Inasal.

Sorry for the image quality, the staff seemed to have shaky hands

Dinner was good, the aunts and mum went to buy the necessities, I went with uncle to get what's necessary!

Generoso Brandy, Mardi Gras Tanduay Vodka, Novellinos Red Wine

The party ended later than expected, and we continue the Karaoke till the next morning! No one minded, since we only visit once awhile, and all the noise only happens during occasions. Besides, Lolo is the Public Relations Officer for home owners of Villa Gloria, so he's great with the neighbors.

The whole of the following week was mostly spent in Makati, at our branch office where I worked for a week supporting my Sales team via the internet, Facebook and IP phone. It went fine!

After which we started the Holy Week, where I witnessed a lot of processions and re-enactment of the Passion of Christ. In the provincial states, the real crucifixion doesn't happen.



My area doesn't have these re-enactment, what we do have is the procession of Saints involved in the Passion of Christ during the evening of Good Friday. It was a new experience for us all as one family.

Anyway, there are many other things I did during my trip which I will update in the next posts!

Toodles for now!