SOVEREIGN

“All the people of the earth, are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the people of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “what have you done?”” Daniel 4: 35

God is sovereign. 

As the summer of 2010 came to its inevitable end, I was standing at my life’s crossroad. Everything seems falling apart at that time. Our business was dying and relationships lost from betrayal and contempt. Although I have known Jesus Christ and accepted him as my saviour, I found myself drifting away because it was more comforting. I thought I deserve to be alone and miserable. 

My Mom has always been supportive all my life. During those times, she felt what I was going through. Considering it was more painful for her to have experienced our family tragedy,  she has this innate unconditional love for me. We talked for days about my plans of working abroad. Even though my plan was bleak as those summer nights, she gave her trust and helped me, financially and emotionally. I don’t know where she got her strength from, but nevertheless she was able to provide.

Four days after the May 10 Presidential election, I came out of Ninoy Aquino International Airport clueless. I remember staying in the arrival area outside for hours, gathering myself and looking for a place to stay for couple of days. I have so little that will probably get me through for two weeks in Manila. I stayed in a dorm type hotel in Cubao for two days. It turned out to be a strategic location because all my Job interviews were within the vicinity. 

I have vast experience in sales and quality control. As an engineer, it was a bit unnatural. God is indeed omnipotent. Although I had zero experience in design engineering, he gave me five job offers as a designer. God led me to an environmental engineering company in Quezon City. With my modest earnings, I was able to stay afloat and moved to a place in Mandaluyong City. 

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

I was involved in wastewater management projects for private companies within Metro Manila. It never crossed my mind to be in depth with environmental engineering but God has a purpose for me to be in this field. I forgot about my original plan to look for jobs abroad. I enjoyed learning and working with young engineers like me. New friends found and connections were formed. I committed fully to be an earth warrior.

My life was gradually picking up. I was able to reach out to those people I hurt in the past and my family here in Metro Manila. Yes, I have family here and life would have been easier if I reached out in the first place. But I want to learn life, with its bitterness and triumphs; the highs and lows. My family here helped me re-ignite my relationship with the Lord.

2012 was a year of change, both my personal and professional life. I know God gave me a lot of time to make myself fully equipped to take bigger responsibilities. By His grace, a door opened and gave me an opportunity to serve millions of Filipino. With this position, I am able to educate people about social responsibilities for environmental protection, giving people access to services that improve the quality of life and lobbying environmental policies to local government units. I know that we have a long way to recuperate the things that being lost from the environment, but the battle has begun.

I know my relationship with God is not perfect. I have a lot of things to learn about Him. I am not perfect. I have to learn how to forgive my father who caused my family tremendous pain. I pray to God that someday I might be able to fully let go. Everyday, I am grateful for the things that happened in my life. I am here because I was able to trust God. 

If you are reading this and you are in your life’s crossroad, my advise is to pray and trust God fully. You may not understand his plan, but God never falters. My life experience is an example of how God is faithful to his promise. 

Let me close this entry by quoting my favourite Bible verse from the songs of Psalm 31:6, “I trust in the Lord.”

Resonating RESON8S

For someone who works 24/7 as a Captain Planet, I can’t help but get excited when I hear something made from organic materials. Most of the products we have on the market today undergo intense manufacturing processes. It usually comes with solid and liquid wastes. It costs us millions of pesos to clean when wrongly discharged back to the environment. Trust me, I know this.

Last Thursday, I got my smartphone speaker made from Bamboo, RESON8S. This is one of those products I get excited about. Not only its 100% made in the Philippines but I personally know the designer. There are 2 people I know who are music junkies as I am, so I dragged my cousin and his wife to “test drive” this amplifier.

Reson8s is a bamboo amplifier that doesn’t need Meralco to play. Our first impression is, its simplicity – its OUTSTANDING. The best part is it works. It really amplifies the music. I got the RESON8S Titan. It fits perfectly to my Samsung Note 2. But we think that the smaller versions like the Minions and Nomads amplify louder. We feel like there is a significant correlation between the diameter and the length of the shaft on how the music is being amplified. Titans are huge so I hope they make it a bit longer.

Overall, I could not think of any product that is more suitable for your smartphones. With the increasing awareness on how we can contribute to the environment, I think RESON8S fits the bill. Available in different vibrant colours and sizes.

For more details please visit:

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/reson8s

Webpage: www.reson8s.weebly.com

And follow them on Instagram: reson8s

THIRTY

What is new after 30 years of existence? I would like to believe I became wiser and tamer. But in all honesty, I have no f*cking idea. I wonder sometimes if everything I have gone through and every changes I decided unto are worth it. 

Change is more than enduring a 4-hour painful tattoo session or updating one's zip code to another. I think change sometimes needs constant effort. What do I know about change anyway. I think I am just an ordinary guy who dreamt about making it big but instead found some unimaginably unwavering solace and solitude that make everything worth living in this huge new city. And think as if I made that huge impact in this world.. Hahaha 

If you guys look at my life right now, its not that promising. Not at all. The thing is that I am free, free in the sense that I can decide what coarse to navigate without worrying someone else as a collateral damage if I ever fucked up. Free in the sense also that I can just turn everything in my life in hell easily. You know what am I saying? The control that I have right now is so intensely and insanely mine. No excuses. No bullshits. 

Now, what to look forward to, let say, another 10 years? I am not sure about another 30 years though. LOL. I just wish I can be healthier and embrace vegetarian lifestyle soon. I need it so badly. I love my work, I just wish it will love me too in as much. Gee no relationship please, trust me, I am better off without it. My own place, I have this industrial, pipe exposing and chromed effect fetish for my place. I cant do those things at home because my lease contract doesn't allow me to do major changes.  

So yeah, I guess Happy Birthday to me.

PLAYLIST

While doing my usual work this morning, CAD and designing, I took some time to update my playlist. I was meaning to update it for ages but I think sometimes things like this gets done spontaneously. The plan was to compile songs from the past. 

1. Anthem Of Our Dying Days by Story of the Year - mid of 2004, this song reminds me so much about my stay in my cousin's house in Quezon City. I stayed there for about a year for my Board Review and Exam.

2. Fix You by Coldplay - between 2005 and 2006, it reminds me of that one and a half hour long drive from my hometown Makilala to Davao City. I usually drove alone because of work. I miss screaming and singing inside my car. It's liberating and unwinding.  

3. Don't Speak by No Doubt - around 1997, those times we ran the music booth during High School Days in Notre Dame of Kidapawan College. Need I say no more. Totally classic and I can listen to this over and over again.

4. Meant To Live by Switchfoot - around 2004, it was released July of 2003 and was part of the album The Beautiful Letdown. They have a lot of beautiful songs like "I Dare You To Move" and "Only Hope." But this song really talks about being up there, doing good and just live. This song helped me pass my Board Exam. It really gives you the boost. 

5. Ordinary People by John Legend - from the album Get Lifted during 2004-2005. John Legend has been my personal favorite. This song takes me to the most basic truth about love. This is the reason why I compiled this playlist. It's my major LSS. Songs like "This Time" and "Wake Up Everybody."

6. Cool With You by Jennifer Love Hewitt-released in 2006. This song reminds me about a very good friend from college. She broke up with her boyfriend and I found her inside her room with this song on the repeat mode in her Winamp. That time was so hilarious. It was the day I fell in love with this song. 

7. Here Without You by 3 Doors Down - my major break-up song. No need to elaborate further. LOL

8. Put Your Records On by Corrine Bailey Rae - the summer of 2006. Beach, family and home. It is relaxing and cool. This song makes you snap your fingers and start grooving. 

9. Linger by The Cranberries -summer of 2007, my cousins and I watched IMAGO concert at Jack's Ridge Davao City. The opening act sang this song and he was really good. Everytime I hear this it takes me back to Jack's Ridge and Imago.

10. Say It Right by Nelly Furtado - three words: wednesdays, red, horse!

This playlist is a bit diverse in terms of the genre but all in all it reminds me of faces, places, events and good times. I miss it, I miss my old life, but I am happy where I am right now. I need this playlist to somehow reminds me of my grounds.  

20

20 months of independence and liberation. It was more than enough to have a significant realization of reality, a true reality. I don’t know if there is such thing about true reality, it seems too redundant but sometimes people, especially me for instance, are too blinded for what’s true from a reality which is a product of one’s mind.

20 months of self-deprecating for every pain that I caused anyone. I am guilty. I know that I have to suffer since day 1. I didn’t complain. I just have to go through to what seems to be a never ending maze. But it did end.

Happy 20^th month for me. It will be a better beginning. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!