Holy Father Resigns Due to Declining Health

The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has resigned with effect 28 Feb 2013.
He has resigned due to declining health. The quote of his exact words are below.

It made me think how important it is to know that doing God's will doesn't mean holding on to things all the time, stubborn to prove that one can still serve under any circumstances saying "God is with me", even quoting from the Bible "Even as I walk through the valley of the dead, I shall not fear for the Lord God is with me (Ps. 23)", which I sometimes do, shamefully. I realized that God's will maybe to let go, to relinquish our hold onto that one thing we are thinking that God wants us to keep struggling to maintain, when in reality, He's already been telling us to let go, just trust in Him. We should be at rest when we know we have done our best, and we have given all we have, and now it's time... it's time to let God be God and let Him lead.

This was the revelation I had when I found out the other day that the Holy Father Benedict, the Herald of Faith, has resigned.

Then the very next thing in mind was the same concern that echoed through the walls and pages of the digital world - "We are without a leader, a Pope, a Shepherd, through the important season of Lent". It hit me next as I come to terms of the fact that God has long appointed the Shepherd, Jesus. And Jesus has already asked His Father for a counselor to be with us and guide us (John 14:16). We should have no fear despite a month without a human leader. For now, I realize how important it is to pray with the rest of the world for when the conclave happens.

I never really felt how such news would impact my life, but this time it did. And I'm thankful. Let's participate in the prayer of the world for the selection of the new Pope, and let us welcome Easter with happiness due to this. Amen.

--

Pope Benedict XVI Resigns as of February 28th – A Time for Prayer Like No Other

Dear Brothers,

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonisations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.

From the Vatican, 10 February 2013

BENEDICTUS PP XVI

Catholicism From Protestant View

I'm blown away by this video.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Michael Cumbie, former pentecostal clergyman and convert to the Catholic faith, is now offering his renowned teaching, "The Mass Explained - From a Convert's Point of View" (from the "How Then Shall We Worship" CD and DVD set) in its entirety at CatholicMass.co.

Extra Beautiful Weekend

Since last week, I got to playing around in the kitchen again. It's been awhile since I actually explored that part of the house given to the excuses of work and too much play.

So anyhow, I must give credit to both Jess and Junko, my colleagues, who have caused this stir in me, and have gotten my love for cooking ignited.

I started with Edward Scissorhands last Wednesday,

The reason why I called this ES is because all the ingredients were cut up using only scissors. Yes, even the onion!

And then on Saturday, I did some baking with my siblings :)

Yummy? It was really sinful. Mum said that it's good cos it isn't too sweet but more chocolatey. I'm glad!

Earlier in the afternoon today, I was hungry but kinda lazy to cook up something too big, so I played around with noodles. I did Maggie Goreng! :)

I'm still trying to perfect this. Wana follow how the hawker centres do their Maggie Goreng. I refuse to want to eat Maggie outside of my house, but the Indians cooked it so nicely that sometimes I just have to have it. But after I perfect the Maggie Goreng dish, no more hawker junk foods yaw! :)

Having agreed with my colleagues to cook something for tomorrow's lunch, I made some pasta.

I feel irritated because my camera decided to malfunction and refuse to give me a clear shot of the result of what' I've made.

It's a simple pasta made with these raw materials :)

 

Now do you understand why I'm not so happy with the result. My pasta is so monotone, if you looked at the ingredients above, you'd see I was aiming for something more colorful. Boohoo.

Anyway, more to come from my messing around in the kitchen :)

Cheers!

Resolutions

"What's your resolution for the year?", they've asked. I said "None". 

I haven't listed it down in writing, and I have not truly believed I fulfilled last year's. However, as I took stock of my 2012. I realized that I couldn't be more happier for whatever that has happened in 2012.

Everything is beautiful. In His time, at least.

No longer do I fret deep inside because I know, my King bids me well.

Slowly and ever readily, I hold steadfast to my faith in ways I can never imagine I could. I feel that even though a sinner, His love ever prevails and I am led in a sense of belonging, that anytime I falter or fall away from His grace, my conscience screams and it tells me that I cannot continue living in denial that I am unaffected when I commit a sin. This then guides me back to where He is.

It's very easy to fall away, and very difficult to maintain that spiritual advancement when all the time, I am tempted. It's frustrating and I am truly irritated at myself. Then today, as I went to church for a Holy Hour devotion, the words of Fr. Albert penetrated me. 

He was saying that sinners as we are, we cannot avoid falling down due to this. But despite our fallen nature, what's important is how quickly we seek to renew ourselves in the eyes of God, and how much we try not to fall again.

He then said that we need not worry about all things because we are God's children. And so now, I feel that it's a message for me. I appreciate such spiritual intervention in my life, before I end up condemning myself. 

This year 2013, a new year and a new hope. What are yours goals? If you haven't thought about it, think about it now and write it down. To share with you part of the message sent by the Charismatic community Chairman, Jeremy, through our Yahoo Group, I want to feature it here as a reminder that I felt moved by this, and hope to apply this for the rest of the year, too. 

Somehow, these words written is exactly what I have been feeling that I ought to be doing, he nipped it by the bud when he wrote this:

And I pray that all of you can join me in 2013 journey to

1. Go where you've never been.
2. Do what you've never done.
3. Love more than you've ever loved.
4. Be liberated from the things you hold too tightly.
5. Trust the Lord in ways you never have before.
6. And become more than you ever thought possible

Personally, I have goals that since at this post I'm laying down goals I'm adopting, I want to add whatever goals are in the back of my mind. 

I have said to myself to be of a humble heart and fighting spirit to do His will. To be frugal and to live at peace with myself.

Happy 2013 again! Lots of love! ~

Today, After Work...

I decided to go on a date with myself.

I was so dressed up for work, and with that gotten some lovely compliments from my colleagues. I wore a dress I got for Christmas. It's a velvety dress in emerald (the supposed colour of the year) that's slightly above the knees. I paired it up with neon yellow-green pumps.

What I love about this dress is the sheer nylon that completes the top part of the dress. The cutting of it on the chest area is also very flattering and I won't have to worry what I'm showing because the opacity of the sheer nylon is just perfect for my skin. Because of the sheer nylon material, I decided to not have anything too heavy for the neck. So I went with my everyday St. Benedict medal necklace.

Having worn something a little too much for work, I just took it upon myself to take advantage of the getup. So I headed over to town, with one fixed agenda and the rest is to walk down the streets of town from Orchard to Somerset, passing the various shopping malls, and feasting upon fashion and accessories goodies. I made mental notes of the good places to return to.

It's been awhile...

• since I went out on a date with myself to wander aimlessly
• since I went to town to see what's the next exciting thing happening there

I must say...

• I had to watch carefully where I exit when I alighted the Orchard MRT
• there have been major changes since my last proper walk there
• the shopping malls have all grown and have turned out looking futuristic
• I was surprised that finally after the past decades, I saw renovations at Lucky Plaza

I made a stop-over at Lucky Plaza and visited the famous Ayam Penyet Restaurant for dinner. I went there with a girlfriend, Naq, three or four years ago. Tonight when I went to try it, I was firstly put off by the start of the service. There was not so much as a mention that I'm suppose to pay first, and only then the food will be sent to me. So I sat there waiting for the food that never came for over 10 minutes. You see I fished out the current book I'm reading by the author Edward Rutherford, so waiting was no issue. But it seems weird that for a fast paced restaurant, the food will take that long.

I went over the the cashier and enquired. Rightly, I waited for nothing. Less than 2 minutes after placing my order, hardly sat back down again, a plate of Ayam Penyet arrived. I guess maybe they prepare a lot of Ayam Penyet dishes at one go.

The $8 Ayam Penyet was not worth it though, I must say.

Anyway, I carried on wandering around. As I was leaving Lucky Plaza, I realized that there were a lot of working girls littering the compounds. I never knew they are that bold now. Is that even allowed in the town premises? I am not judging the women due to their profession, but I'm just disturbed that it seems they are no longer closeted in the red-light district area. After recalling the numerous of pubs I see popped up at Lucky Plaza, I realized what gave rise to the group finding themselves outside Lucky Plaza.

I'm beginning to dread the fact that Lucky Plaza might be the one to inherit the notorious reputation of Orchard Towers. But it has to be stopped! It's in the prime area of town. It's saddening and a slap to the face too because these women are my countrywomen.

To add on, at the other end of the shopping mall there were barbaric transvestites making noise and fools of themselves near the compound. And yes, they're also my countryshemales. I've got nothing against transvestites yeah, but these shemales just ruined the poise demeanour of the transvestites I have seen from the Thai community.

Well, as I moved forward and pushed aside all the mental complaints, I just said to myself to ignore everything and focus inwardly. And I did. I found the stillness I was looking for. I was able to think about the things of the past year, the recent things that occurred, and some things I have just realized yesterday how I suddenly felt that someone's sweet gestures might have grown on me.

But now... that's for another day's post. Continuing...

I decided to head home after a trip in the 1st storey of H&M. I hardly made a full trip but I gave up because I was already tired from the earlier wanderings.

During my wanderings, I chanced upon this old woman who was selling some things, no doubt just to keep herself feed for the coming days, and collect enough to buy more things to sell at a higher cost in town. I have a soft spot for old people, and I was called to do something for this old lady. And I listened, and I found myself a 'Love Wand'! It's really nice :)

I love RED, HEART and LIGHTS.

So this is what I did today after work. Hope you all had an enjoyable time after work today too.
Take the dare too! Go date yourself.

A FLORIDA COURT SETS ATHEIST HOLY DAY

In Florida, an atheist created a case against Easter and Passover Holy days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians and Jews and observances of their holy days. The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days.

The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring, "Case dismissed!".

The lawyer immediately stood and objecting to the ruling saying, "Your honor, How can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays..."

The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counselor, is woefully ignorant." 

The lawyer said," Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists."

The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is April Fool’s Day. Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that, if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day. Court is adjourned..."

You gotta love a Judge that knows his scripture!

Advices for Keeps

Life
Stay away from Anger.
It hurts only You and nobody else.
If you are right, then there is no need to get angry,
and if you are wrong then you don't have any right to get angry.

Patience with family is love,
Patience with others is respect,
Patience with self is confidence and
Patience with GOD is faith.

Never think hard about the past, it brings tears.
Don't think more about the future, it brings fear.
Live this moment with a Smile, it brings cheer.

Every test in our life makes us bitter or better,
every problem comes to make us or break us,
The choice is ours whether we become victims or victorious.

Search for a beautiful heart not a beautiful face.
Beautiful things are not always good, but good things are always beautiful.

Do you know why God created gaps between fingers?
So that someone who is special to you comes
and fills those gaps by holding your hand forever.
Never forget this advice!

Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Success keeps You Glowing,
and But Only God keeps You Going!

When you don't give up, you cannot fail.

A Recent Challenge

I have been trying to live with limitations of being constantly connected to people. There are definitely benefits in not having a hand-held communication device to rely on to be connected with others. I realize it's a form of addiction that goes by unnoticed and unrealized.

 At its best having a mobile phone give me the ability to stay connected with people readily and constantly. I am also connected via social networks and email on-the-go. But then there is a definite and drastic deformity it can do to my growth, in my opinion. It's no longer something anyone can do moderately, at least how I saw it. Day in day out as I head to work or to play, I see so many people glued onto their mobile.

 I saw myself in them and I dislike it. Many days since I saw that, since I awaken, my attachment to my phone got loose, and I no longer saw the constant need to rely on it. And at the recent events, I am able to live out that desire to be detached to that mobility that is both blessing and cursed at the same time.

 I am however still contactable through emails and Facebook. But since i'm not on it constantly and on-the-go, I feel that digital communication in that manner is much more contained. I feel that this is enough for me, for now. When I need to contact someone, I will definitely find a way. So for now, I am good to go without being constantly attached to something on-the-go.

 It's such a shame how much I paid for the price of mobility. and only now at this recent days did I wake up. Yet, with the opportunity of shame comes the ability to learn, to grow, and to live.

 I'm not the only one who feels the same way. There are hundreds of sites that debates about the impact of mobile phones on the youths today. As it is, a lot of us who are realizing this completely feel that for the benefit of being constantly connected to the rest of world while on-the-go, there will be definite price to pay. We have replaced a lot of beautiful culture of doing things, in ways of communication. Inevittably, effects on language is emminent, as well as negative impacts on health and mentality.

I am not saying that I will go altogether without a mobile phone. But there will be a completely different approach to how I am to use it, and how much I will be using it.

Awakening

Lead me, guide me.

Let me throw fear away;

Touch me, hold me.

Lead me home I pray.

Love me, keep me.

At your feet I'm kneeling;

Take me, shake me.

Grant me my awakening.

Lights... Love.

Earlier today was the Festival of Lights, Dewali as they call it.

Singapore goes for a public holiday today and I'm not fully thrilled because today I spent my day working, and doing lazy stuff, like watching movies on the television.

It has been my habit lately to catch up on TV. I don't usually have the liberty of watching TV and I am not really keen in having a habitual dependence on it, or anything at all for that matter.

Today I got to watch Moulin Rouge again.

I can't imagine how many years and how many replays on TV it had, and yet only now did I really sit down and watch it again.

The love story is so strong that once it captivated me, and  given me more things to think about love. This is one of the reason why I try not to be so plugged into the TV, or whatever series that is very disruptive of my current thought processes. I'm a very mutable type of person and I absorb perceptions so quick that it takes really getting to know myself to be able to analyse if whatever I have absorbed screwed up my thought processes at that moment.

It's both a good and bad thing.

The night before, I was intrigued by what one of my church friend said to me as he drove us back home. It was about how love is through the Spirit, and not physical nor emotional etc.

I was rather drunk, surprisingly due to mixture of Tiger beer with Baron's Strong Brew. I underestimated that combination, and I'm left having to make sure I don't say anything stupid. For some reason, they say when I get drunk I speak English with such a strong accent that it's crazy.

Ok anyway, if you must know, my drinking capacity is great. I mean hard liquor and all are fine for me even as I drink the whole night, but damn that underdog really caught me off-guard.

Right, so back to my friend. I couldn't really maintain a proper conversation about what he thought about Love because it's just not the time and place. I was so frustrated that I couldn't explore that subject!

I'd love to have heard what this friend of mine thought about Love. It may not be really that big of a deal, but I like to understand why people think this way or that. It's important for me to really know that perhaps I'm not the only one who truly believes in the very nature of Love.

I'm not talking about shallow love, or love that is finite. Or a love that is shared between two humans who are sparked off by attraction with each other.

The type of love that I see present is what I see piece the energy of the world together. That big bang of a love that transcends the human acceptance of what love is between two people. A love that awakens the soul and makes you want to go on living. The type of love that allows one to accept the other completely. The love that strips you down to the point of nakedness, and then dresses you up completely in gold.

Oh, I can go on. But not in this post.

I wanted to just type all this and send it out now. I'm off to bed.
It's late and I have work in the morning.

Till the next post.

Cheers.

The Comfort Zone by Author Unknown

The Comfort Zone
 
I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I wouldn't fail.
The same four walls and busywork were really more like jail.
I longed so much to do the things I'd never done before,
But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.

I said it didn't matter that I wasn't doing much.
I said I didn't care for things like commission cheques and such.
I claimed to be so busy with things inside my zone,
But deep inside I longed for something special of my own.

I couldn't let my life go by just watching others win.
I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength I'd never felt before,
I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and closed and locked the door.

If you're in a comfort zone, afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true.
Reach for your future with a smile; Success is there for you!
 
Author Unknown

Salad, Oh Salad...

Turning over a new leaf on your lunch diet? Want a lunch that's filling and yet won't be the cause of your snooze after lunch time? Dying to stop snacking at 3pm?

Well, it's been a proven diet fact that having a good portion of salad will keep you filled and keep you up after lunch time, and keep you away from wanting to snack in the mid afternoon.

Yet, of course, it depends on what your motivation is. A couple of my girlfriends are enjoying having salads with me because one needs to keep slim due to an upcoming pre-wedding photo shoot, while the other just wants to be slimmer.

For me? I seriously just love salad for how creative it can go and I'm able to control its taste. Of course, I definitely enjoy salad because of its benefit. Like today, I am so taken by the way my salad tasted! Haha

Salad is not necessarily cheap. Especially in the vicinity of my workplace. But lately I am able to enjoy awesome salads, healthy pasta, and fruit salads at really good price!

There's a place called The Salad Shop, and truly they are the best! I just had my lunch there today.

The salad, the soup, and the place is simply good. This salad I had today was with the base of Deli leaves and Mixed Lettuce, topped with carrots, broccoli, sweet corn, croutons, fussilli and boiled egg. The soup of the day today was a really awesome Cream of Tomato. Really went well with bread.

All these for just $10.50

I must say I don't like spending $10 for lunch, that's why I said salad isn't really cheap. But you can still get their cheaper healthy alternatives:

Avocado & Crayfish pasta, Cream of Pumpkin with freeflow bread is only $6.50. If you don't like the base of their soup of the day, you can definitely just settle for their 3-5 pasta choices, or even their sandwiches and wraps. These ready-to-go items price range from $4.20 - $4.50

See, not very expensive ain't it?

Anyway, for the benefit of those who work at Tanjong Pagar, you can find SunMoon, a fruits wholesaler that also have a salad bar to-go. I have yet to try it, but looking at the greens and the toppings they offer, I think that a $4.90 for basic salad with 5 premium topping is good bargain.

Of course, there will be a level down on quality of the greens and the toppings, but if you're not really picky on quality, then I believe SunMoon is great!

What I love at SunMoon is definitely their fruit salad! It's ready-to-go and it's only $3.00. Comparing The Salad Shop's fruit salad and SunMoon's, I'd definitely choose the latter. It's $1.50 cheaper but 2x better on the quantity as well as the quality.

Tomorrow, I will be trying their salad bar or fruit bar. Keep you posted!

Cheers.

Birthday Collages, Updates

Finally! I decided to just create collages on the loads of pictures that I've received from my friends, and

Kiseki Japanese Buffet Restaurant w Philisia

Birthday Eve dinner <3 p="p">

7107 Flavours of the Philippines with Jeremy and Dapheni dear.

Birthday lunch <3 p="p">

The following are collages from 57 Chevy @ Katong, usual playground for LLL and churchmates heh :)

  

25 Aug 2012, Saturday - Party for the Awesome! :)

Had really good time with all sorts of friends from church, lovely friends, work, ex-work, poly etc! 

Belated birthday dinner with Naqiah baby! :)

I had a great time, and that's the most important thing. Actually my birthday celebration isn't over yet. I'm still waiting for Eshani to come back from her summer vacation! At which, it'll be another party. Yey! :)

I turn 24

I can't post pictures at the moment, because I want to keep them all till my birthday celebrations has ended. My celebration started from 19 Aug 2012. It has been fun and really full of love from all angles.

I am touched, and very appreciative of all the wonderful blessings and wishes that my family, close friends, colleagues and many long time friends has given me. It's a blessing to be able to celebrate my 24th with my grandpa as he is here in town, from July all through September.

But on 22nd Aug onwards, food after food after food is going into my system. Philisia took me out for Japanese Buffet which surprisingly went good :) We went to Kiseki Japanese Buffet Restaurant at Orchard Central :)

On my birthday itself yesterday for lunch, my friends Dapheni and Jeremy came to celebrate me. Jeremy didn't want to tell me where the place was! And such a nice guy he is, fetched me from my building as it was raining and became my umbrella man all the way up the hill to the restaurant! (Oh, and back down to my office again). Eventually found out it's the 7107 Flavors of the Philippines :)

Dapheni dearie came and we were off ordering what's good on the menu. I must say it's a very costly pinoy food, but really good! It's up at Neil Road, and was from the Marina Square area. A lot of pinoys and locals come by to eat. And I'm such a lousy pinoy I didn't even know such a place existed!

So the party continues tomorrow at one of my favourite spot - 57 Chevy's!

With all my usual groups of friends joining tomorrow (from my long time friends to workmates to church mates), I invited them as long as they are just there to have fun and to celebrate me! It will be rocking good night! Hope this goes fun, I have hardly celebrated my birthday since Grandma passed away, so I'll make it good this year!

Majority are workmates actually. Let's hope I don't get drunk, I don't want my colleagues or AJ (from church) or whoever for that matter, to take disgusting pictures of me and tag in Facebook, especially NOT IN FACEBOOK.

Anyway at the moment tonight, I'm headed back home after some small agenda on the way. Then I'm going to rest! Then tomorrow morn, I'm going..... SHOPPING!

The whole afternoon, I aim to spend time with grandpa, the siblings and mimi, my cat before I head off to join Breeze and Debbie for KTV (maybe) before the party at Chevy's!

I'm happy once again, I'm spending my birthday with my dear good friend, Laura. She and I have travelled through all sorts of life phases, and now as we mature and are more inclined towards the faith, I'm glad to have her around again tomorrow. <3 p="p">
Let me end this post with poster Laura shared earlier today.

Holy Trinity Helps Phil Flood Victims

I am honoured to have had the opportunity to run another donation drive for my fellow countrymen's current tragedy. The recent weeks have been horrible for them, and I thank God that the Holy Trinity parish priest have given such wonderful support for the people of Philippines and allowed the donation drive to go on with his blessings.

It's sad to hear of the parishioners who have been stricken with this tragedy. I am always thankful that our place in Philippines is very far from this natural disasters. My family in Philippines is safe and sound.

Here are some of the photo collages I have done to sum up the donation drive event:

In total we collected 140+ bin bags and thanks to LBC Express for the free delivery shipping to the Philippines :)

Cheers.

Total Recall with LiveLaughLove & more!

Source: Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TotalRecall2012Poster.jpg)

Watched Total Recall earlier with the LLL group and some wild card addition, Mario and auntie Rennie's friend, Auntie Serene. Laura's siblings, the two Jonathans' also came to join us. So in present from LLL, there's only me, Laura, Gloria and Auntie Rennie, with Kisho and Francis absent!

The movie was really good. The rating 3.5 / 5 does not do it justice! I was on my toes, attentive and interested in how everything went, even though most of the plot has been revealed through the trailer that I have seen.

Set in futuristic United Federation of Britain, where everything in this set of the world was complicated, from the transportation system, to the way of life and many more futuristic suggestion this movie contains. I couldn't imagine how it'd be like should Earth fall into great depression, global chemical or nuclear wars and devastate the world as we know it now. Bouncing back, we are then separated to two different powers struggling to dominate the colony, or whatever that's left of Earth.

Read more of the plot here

The entire futuristic vision of this movie amazes me, and I really feel that the characters are very well played by Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel.

I give this movie 4.5 / 5 stars.

After the movie, Karl & Keith left for home and shortly after upon reaching Wendy's, Mario left, not wanting to be the thorn amongst the roses. So it was Laura, Gloria, Aunties Rennie and Serene, and I catching up at Wendy's as we talked a lot about everything - life, future, religion, solar flare, angels, Bible and more.

We were there for more than 2hrs, and when it was time to go, we headed on still chatting about life and religion - Laura, Auntie Rennie and I. It was a really good conversation, such exchanges of thoughts, opinions, knowledge, beliefs and hopes.

Reached home and spent some time with Lolo watching replays of the Pinoy tele-series that we missed today. Besides, I didn't want to leave Lolo alone, who didn't feel sleepy yet.

Now, he's tucked in and I at this last few words bid adieu.
I'm off to bed for another long day tomorrow for cell, joining IGNITE! after such a long time.
Deacon Joseph will be giving a talk on Detachment from the World. Something that I am rather interested in hearing.

After cell, mass and then I hope to join for prayers of the rosary at Laura's Aunt's place as the Holy Family Shrine that makes rounds in Tampines homes, is currently placed there.

I want to end my day with a short quote:

"I was like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me." - Sir Isaac Newton


I am in search of the truth.

Meteor Shower for my Bday!

It's going to be spectacular. I really do want to see shooting stars. Oh how I wish, and fantasise how he can be the one I admire the night sky with.

Ha.. but as soon as I think it, I need to erase him from my mind.

It's not forbidden, but I don't want to hope for nothing. I need to be practical. I need to shrug off how I feel for him. Slowly, I'm winning. But kinda falter today as I itched to want to see him.

Oh, shooting star.

*Starlight, star bright. First (shooting) star I see tonight... Wish I may, wish I might, grant me that wish, I wish tonight*

Internal conflict now~

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What Matters the Most

There are about so many things that matter in my life.

Family, Church work, Career, Friends, Social Activities, Financial stability and many more.

I realize somehow that there isn't suppose to be anything bigger than my relationship with God. That amidst everything that is important in my life, my God should take the first place.

But being human, I falter, and I fall harder most times in my road to holiness.

A Carmelite nun told me before not to live like a nun outside the monastery. I fear losing touch with God and only after finally thinking things over that I will never lose touch with him if I always make the choice to renew my relationship with God.

Despite my iniquities and failures to follow Christ, I believe that God still loves and is faithful to me. He has something that I can never ever find in any lover, in any suitor, any date that I have had.

A handful of my friends asked if I ever really thought about being a nun. I said of course, then there's a but. I guess I don't see myself worthy, perhaps I find that I am not at a level of holiness that I can fully accept such a life that is demanded as a religious.

Also, deep down, I know I want to feel loved. Physical love.

Most times, I feel that the unconditional love that I search is most evidently only found with God. And I am honoured to have felt it, and to even felt the preview of eternal love with the Divine One. But, in prayers, I admit to Him that I want to have someone with me. Someone who accepts and loves me for me, and who better can give that but someone whom He sends.

However, for now, I know I am not ready yet.
And so I hover around, fluttering by like a butterfly till I finally find somewhere to land.

August!

WHAT? 4 POST FOR 2012?!

I am horrible! I cannot believe that I've only done 4 posts so far this year.
And it's already past half of the year.

Summary Highlight:

August
My birthday is coming! Weee~
I'm not planning for a formal celebration actually, but I'm excited :)

July
Ana just turned 13, and she had a small birthday party because my mum decided to still hold her birthday on a weekday, so most of her friends have left by the time I came from work.

Lolo and Tita Barbara came to Singapore to visit, staying till September!

Got to know one of my ex, Shenath is now a husband to his fiance. Happy to know that he's on his way to building his own family!



June
I left Innocom! And moved on to iHub Media, Singapore's leading Social Media firm!
It's a good move and a quick one too.

Cousins started schooling, and they've gotten awesome results for their first semesters.

Ana has gotten two academic awards for English and History! And she's handling secondary school life good. No sign of adolescence's madness going on... yet!

May

Went for Conversion Experience Retreat (CER) as one of the batch 30 members. It's a wonderful experience and I am truly blessed to have attended. I have learned so much more about the faith, and I have done a deathbed confession that I never knew I could do without the dying the next moment.


April
I decided it was time to leave Innocom, not knowing where I will go and what's my plan, I tendered in my resignation.

March
Went to the zoo with the bridal grp of Ninik and Eldrid :)

February

Papa's birthday.

And then a wonderful news! Daryl, a good ol' ex, became a dad! Happy for him on his way of wanting a family :)

January

Mum's birthday.

Done for the highlights :)

Hope to post a bit more, the coming days!

Family Effort

Despite the long day spent outside of the house, we put in our creative juices in together to build this for Zak..

Hehe this is for his project and we're all glad we contribute as a while.

Papa - financed the materials

Mum - Did the structure (inspired by what we'll be doing to our place in phil)

Mary (Me) - Details of the house

Ana - Furnitures

Zak - Supervision and remarking if we're doing it nicely n up to his liking

It was soo fun! :)

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