jun.anteola

Mahal ang bigas. Mahal ang gasolina. I still can’t get over the shock, the horror and the anger about the previous week’s tragedy at sea. Some issues at work remain unresolved…

Still, I can’t complain much.  The orthodontics training is halfway through. The old folks are enjoying their dream vacation. The “wayward” bro decided to go back to school, and has enrolled in his choice of study. The favorite nephew is a bundle of pleasant surprises and pride, day in and out. The sis-in-law’s niece/adopted little sister is unwell, but has a sure chance of recovering sooner…

Today I decided to reconcile with someone, and it’s overwhelming how this singular act seems to have opened for a flood of forgiveness over transgressions done by others too. I am at peace.

I won’t be this grateful hadn’t there been upsets and adversities earlier. And with the way things are right now, I am blessed, more than I have asked for.

Best Days  (Juice)

Am I happy - maybe not
But I never wanna lose what I got
I wouldn’t trade it for anything dear to my heart, oh no
You take the good times with the bad
How else would you know happy from sad
Sooner or later
Youre gonna have to finally look back
And you’ll look back and see
What happened in between
And you’ll appreciate
Each and every single day
*The pop of the cork
And the cling of the glasses
We toast to the future
And we drink to the past
It might not be easy
But nevertheless
These are the best days (of our lives)
Sometimes the weather can be rain
But one day it will be sunny again
Without the clouds of life
It’s just another sunny day
Repeat*
These are the times
That I will never forget
These are the best days (of our lives)
And you’ll look back and see
What happened in between
And you’ll appreciate
Each and every single day
Repeat*
It might not be easy
But nevertheless
These are the best days (of our lives)

” … faith, hope, love, these three: but the greatest of these is love. ”

- 1 Corinthians 13: 13

May we remember and live the true meaning and spirit of Christmas… love: for our fellow men, for our country, and for God.

Let us greet the New Year filled with hope and faith in what we can do, as we face the challenges of our time.

Have a merry Christmas, and a happy New Year!!!

My memory of Mormons used to be of clean-cut Caucasian men in immaculate white shirt and tie, leather cases in tow, walking the streets in pairs. Their house visits along the neighbourhood drew as much excitement and were as eagerly anticipated by us kids as the red cheeked Santa who tossed candy and balloons on Christmas. Being odd and Amerkano, we followed them around.

I’m not familiar with the religion, but judging by their modest appearance and the door-to-door preaching, I thought theirs is one with very little leeway for more “worldly” pursuits. I may be wrong.

With the 2008 Men On A Mission Calendar, they are breaking tradition by featuring twelve returned Mormon missionaries in their undress.

Here is part of the project information found in mormonsexposed.

While the fact that twelve young returned missionaries are posing shirtless will certainly raise eyebrows, it may also help to sort out some common misconceptions of Mormons by celebrating the beautiful bodies, great looks and amazing stories of service of these deeply spiritual men. Intended to be a light-hearted spin on a social taboo, the Men on a Mission calendar is a tongue-in-cheek celebration of the selfless servitude of missionaries.

Tongues will come a-wagging, I figure?

Rain.

Friends.

Smiles.

Love.

Dreams.

Sunshine.

Wind.

Joy.

BlueSky.

Tears.

Words.

Reasons.

People.

Life.

YOU.

Just counting my blessings.

A text message received from a friend this morning.

I’m off to church… 

 

MAY 5, 2005: A counselor in red soccer jersey & his team brought me to It Works! After hours, I was transferred to LS for detoxification. On May 9th, monday, I started Day 1 and attended my 1st A A Meeting. Thank You for helping me… Today, I am two (2) years CLEAN & SOBER…

My brother sent this text message to me this morning. I wanted to say, “how time flies!”, but taking his perspective, these two years of daily struggle against drug addiction has been a long, challenging crawl through the tunnel’s end.

All that happened about his healing still remain fresh, etched in memory, to serve as a battery of lessons about life, love and family.

The family never expected it to happen to anyone among us. We saw no reason for him to get into it. He didn’t either. Like the rest of them. Nobody intends to get caught into its trap. Lucky are those who are able to get away from it after the first few tries, or are able to occasionally have its thrill without discernible harm. Maybe it just isn’t their thing. But for most, the promise of temporal pleasure is just too hard to ignore and let pass. And it doesn’t take long to get hooked, even before they know it. By then it will be too late to see that there is no sense in playing Russian roulette with life. Continue reading this entry »

My family was having dinner with the TV news on, when it featured the penitensya in some Luzon provinces. For my foreign readers, penitensya is the Filipino term for penance, but it has become most associated with certain practices during the Lenten season, such as flagellation and nailing to a cross. Those interviewed say they are doing it to fulfill a vow, and because they believe it keeps their families safe from harm and misfortune. It is not encouraged by the Catholic Church but people have been doing it since, and more have joined this year, according to the news we were watching. This got us talking. Continue reading this entry »

One day a small boy tried to lift a heavy stone, but couldn’t budge it. His father, watching, finally said, “Are you sure you are using all your strength?”

“Yes, I am!” the boy cried.

“No, you’re not,” said the father. “You haven’t asked me to help you.”

I just ‘copy and paste”-d these from this link.

I N S T R U C T I O N S    F O R    L I F E

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three Rs:

Respect for self
Respect for others and
Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly. Continue reading this entry »