Magnificent

Who compares to You?

Who set the stars in their place?

You who calmed the raging seas

That came crashing over me

Who compares to You?

You who bring the morning light

The hope of all the earth

Is rest assured in Your great love

You are magnificent, eternally

Wonderful, glorious

Jesus

No one ever will compare to You

Jesus

Where the evening fades

You call forth songs of joy

As the morning wakes

We Your children give You praise

Pieces of Past Memories

I saw myself centuries ago, wearing a long black silk gown with my long, straight black hair down my shoulders... The gown was simple yet elegant and on my neck was a silver necklace with a cross pendant, the one he gave me before I left...

I can still remember the day he gave me that necklace... How the wind blew our hair... How he smiled at me while showing it to me... How he put the necklace on me and how tight he hugged me... How I long for those hugs... How I long for that touch... How I long for that moment to happen again... Will he even remember me or am I just a piece of his forgotten past memories?

Angels brought me here

It's been a long and winding journey, but I'm finally here tonight
Picking up the pieces, and walking back into the light
Into the sunset of your glory, where my heart and future lies
There's nothing like that feeling, when i look into your eyes...

[Bridge]
My dreams came true, when i found you
I found you, my miracle...

[Chorus]
If you could see, what i see, that you're the answer to my prayers
And if you could feel, the tenderness i feel
You would know, it would be clear, that angels brought me here...

[Verse 2]
Standing here before you, feels like i've been born again
Every breath is your love, every heartbeat speaks your name...

[Bridge 2]
My dreams came true, right here in front of you
My miracle...

[Chorus]
If you could see, what i see, you're the answer to my prayers
And if you could feel, the tenderness i feel
You would know, it would be clear, that angels brought me here...

[Bridge 3]
Brought me here to be with you,
I'll be forever grateful (oh forever Faithful)
My dreams came true
When I found you
My miracle...

[Chorus]
If you could see, what i see, you're the answer to my prayers
And if you could feel, the tenderness i feel
You would know, it would be clear, that angels brought me here...
Yes they brought me here...
If you could feel, the tenderness i feel...
You would know, it would be clear, that angels brought me here...

Bye, President Cory Aquino

I am one of the "EDSA babies" - the term they call those who were born in time of the EDSA Revolution in 1986. I am just 3 months old that time. I can still remember seeing her... Cory Aquino wearing yellow together with all the people holding each other - men, women, priests praying, nuns with rosaries - when a military tank came. It was like imprinted in my young mind. I'm 23 years old now and yet it was all clear to me... what all happened that day. It was called the People Power Revolution, the one who threw Marcos out of his throne.

Cory Aquino is the wife of the late Ninoy Aquino, a senator who actively oppose the Marcos government and said "Filipinos are worth dying for..." He was shot at Tarmac Airport (now called, Ninoy Aquino International Airport) the moment the plane he boarded landed. Even though she was just a plain housewife, she accepted it wholeheartedly when people wanted her to run as a Presidential candidate. She did it for us, Filipinos... She fought for our freedom... democracy that Marcos took away from us.

And now, the democracy icon who is known to the whole world passed away... I can't help my tears fall upon hearing the sad news but at the same time, I'm glad that Cory and Ninoy would be reunited in heaven now.

Tita Cory, we love you... all Filipinos mourn for your passing. We're thankful that we have both of you - kababayans who are brave to fight for us. May you be reunited with Ninoy in heaven. Thank you for giving us this freedom we enjoy now. We'll take care of your legacy...

The Tale of Three Trees

Believe me, this is just a kindergarten story but when I've heard this story, it has strucked me, right to my heart...

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!" The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!" The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world."

Years passed and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the first tree fell. "Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said. The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!" The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining ax the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river. Instead she was taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many, many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. "I wish I could make a cradle for him," her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful," she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the King of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.

That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

So the next time you feel down because you didn't get what you want, just sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you.

A Scorpion Moment

An excerpt from Moments by Fr. Jerry M. Orbos, SVD:

Do you sometimes feel like giving up loving? Do you feel like giving up your goodness? Please don't.

Take time to read this story. There was this Hindu who saw a scorpion floundering around in the water. He decided to save it by stretching out his finger, but the scorpion stung him. The man still tried to get the scorpion out of the water, but the scorpion stung him again.

A man nearby told him to stop saving the scorpion that kept stinging him, but the Hindu said: "It is the nature of the scorpion to sting. It is my nature to love. Why should I give up my nature to love just because it is the nature of the scorpion to sting?"

Don't give up loving.

Don't give up your goodness.

Even if...  people around you sting...

A Moment with the Lord

Lord, help me to love and keep loving in spite of hurts, and to hold on to the goodness within me. Amen.

Accidents Happen

This is what Drue told me... Yes, accidents do happen and it happened to us... and this is the accident that started it all... the funniest love story in my life but I can say the most serious love relationship I've ever had and here it goes.

Total Darkness

This year has been definitely the darkest part of my life... I was in financial crisis... there was a misunderstanding in the family... someone attempted suicide... my love life got so complicated... I ended up with a broken heart... depression came... things got so messed up... expectations not met... work greatly affected... then, I ended up with nothing at all... Yes, total nothingness... I almost lost it all... I even came up to a point that I wanted to talk to no one because I believed no one can understand me anymore... even my family and my closest friends cannot... and I only talk to Him, God...

The accident

I wanted to fix up my wrath life and I was looking for a new job. With a new environment, I could start a new life. This is what I've been telling myself after all that had happened. My boss from my previous work asked for my updated resume which later, I learned that her husband, my close friend and org mate which is like more of an older brother to me, sent this to his friend and another friend of mine, my co-officer sent my resume to her previous company where she worked part-time before, which is coincidentally the same company where also my other org co-officer works. Amazing, right? It's like magic... or perhaps I can say it's more like of a destiny... After a phone interview, I was hired immediately and was requested to start as soon as possible.

From darkness came the light

There, I slowly recovered. New environment, new set of friends... Whew! I can relax now... *Sighs...* That's what I wanted to do after a few months of turmoil in my life... There, I met him, my Drue... Actually, my friend who recommended me to the new work, was already matching us even if I haven't met the guy. She was building him up so much that I'd got curious why she was so persistent in matching us... then, I just ride in to their matchmaking fun...

Getting too close

I never ever thought I'd find him there... It was so unexpected, too sudden but I'm glad that I did... I found Drue... His name is Francis Andrew but I loved etymology (Drue is a variant name form of Andrew)... I wanted to call him differently... or should I say I wanted to call him a special name. Here's a good guy I never imagined to have ever existed... This guy never failed to make me smile... He always make me feel better and I felt I've been so much loved and appreciated... that whenever I'm with him, I could just be myself.

That was the start of it all. We were just seated few inches from each other but we loved chatting thru YM... Then, phone calls and exchange of text messages also became frequent. At first, we learned to value each other as very close friends although I can feel that there is more than just friendship... Still, I just remained silent and waited for something to happen...

It's time for goodbye

Then, came a time when I needed to leave the new work too soon... I know that he doesn't want me to go yet he told me he'll support my decision. I was in great agony and it was getting difficult for me to leave Drue there but I needed to be firm with my decision and I did it... I needed to follow my dreams and do what I really wanted to do... I resigned.

Suddenly fallen in love

My last day is nearing by... I can feel his sadness and it's tearing my heart apart to see him like that... He plays some sad songs and I know he wanted to say something to me... and I was right. He started telling I'm special and I made him remember the feeling of being loved and cared by someone... The feeling is mutual... I've already fallen in love with this guy and I was just waiting those words from him... "What If I tell you that I've fallen for you, will you catch me?" He had a hard time telling me these words but I was so happy that he already had the courage to tell me so... At last, I heard it from him and I could love him much better. "Yes, I'll catch you..."

The best gift from God

I've never been this happy in my life... Drue always makes me feel special everyday in every way he can. Our day wouldn't start without a phone call or text message from each other. He would wake me up in the morning, tell me how much he loves me, remind me of things that I need to do... make me smile when he sees me sad... would bring me breakfast when I spent overnight at the office... encourage me when I needed the confidence boost... drive me home so that he knows I'm safe... hug me when I needed it the most... Could I ask for more? Here's the guy I always dreamed to be with... the guy I wanna spend my life forever... and I wish it would happen... Until now, I'm falling deeper and deeper in love with him... and everyday, we are getting more and more addicted to each other... and this is the best gift I've received from Him... when God sent Drue to me... ^_^