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Showing posts from 2016

When I Wake Up

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I want to wake up and not worry About how much time I have left To study for my exam Or about my paper due at 11:59 pm I want to wake up and not worry About what to do with my life And just start living it Enjoying every moment under the sun I want to wake up and not worry About where God will take me tomorrow Whether to the heights or to the depths If that's where I'm meant to be If that's where my purpose lies I'll take that bold leap But at times I wake up and feel down Bogged by the worries and fears of not knowing, Of forgetting where I was or where I want to go, Of the uncertainties of who I am or who I want to be Then I close my eyes to think for a while And remind myself about what's important To draw strength and guidance from God above Bringing back my focus to the source of all things Extending gratitude and praise to Him Who wakes me up in the first place Yes, I want to wake up and feel alive To take a step back, breathe ...

When Memories Fade Away

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Don't you find it weird That we try to remember things That we have already forgotten? What satisfaction can we get In getting back the things we lost Especially when we were the reason Why it became lost in the first place? We find solace in forgetting Because memories are supposed to keep Those bonds that we have forged In the most unexpected times At the most unexpected places With the most unexpected people Memories are treasures from those Whom we have shared a piece of ourselves And in whom we have entrusted to protect But when they are gone so is the memory What use would it be to keep it? We would only be hurting ourselves But to be completely whole We must first be broken To become strong to face the future We must feel the pain of the past We don't forget what happened We don't let go of their memory But we move forward Letting go of the fact that they're gone But holding on to the reality That they were here And became a part...

Crowded

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I struggled to lift my hand To look at my watch I can feel someone's breath It's warm but indifferent I have so many things to do So many deadlines to catch up on I can't waste a moment But I'm stuck here I squeezed myself through a sea of people To find a spot where I can freely breathe I found a small space where I can move a bit I breathed out a sigh of relief But quickly discovered that there was a leak I rolled my eyes but only within Mentally scolded myself for this decision I should have taken the quicker ride home But I'm stuck here I closed my eyes to think of a place Where I hear only the sounds of nature The rushing waters of a river The sweet melody of birds in love The hushed rustling of the leaves And the smell of fresh air in my nostrils But I couldn't, my mind started racing I need to write my report due on Friday Attend a study group for my exam on Monday Deliver a parcel on Wednesday Do the groceries on Thursday ...

The Illusion of Control

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What if every moment of our lives has been predetermined since the beginning of time and every action and decision we make has already been foreknown? How would you feel about that? Nobody likes the thought of someone else giving orders over us or, at the very least, we don't want to feel like we have no control over our own lives, decisions, actions, or even our own bodies. There is the feeling within our bones that wants to be liberated from authority and to have our own autonomy. We want to have power over our lives, we don't want to be bossed around. I believe that's the main tension within us with regard to the concept of God's sovereignty - of having an all-powerful, all-knowing creator defining the rules about everything, and I believe the reason for this internal struggle is that by our very nature, we are rebellious. If we think about it, things should be simple. Life should have been simple. But why is it so complicated for us today? And I say it'...

The Perfect Defense

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Many think it's easier to believe That God exists but I believe That it's harder to believe That God exists and that It's easier to believe that He doesn't Because then things don't have to make sense But because God exists And He is omnipotent, omniscient, Omnipresent, infinitely wise, eternal; He is sovereign, just, righteous, and holy; Because He is perfect in every way And at the same time, loving, gracious, Merciful, and kind, then you would Start to think, maybe I'm the one in the wrong And we would feel afraid of the consequences Of our behavior, of our wickedness, Of our wretchedness, because now we know That there is an absolute truth And there is an absolute standard with which Justice will be upheld by. What then is the resolution to our case? How then can we defend ourselves To the all-knowing Creator God Who has placed His law over all creation And will uphold justice for He is upright? What is...

Lemons

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I know what happens to me Does not happen by chance There is a reason why Good things happen to bad people And bad things to good people But then I think again and begin To realize that maybe Everyone is not as good As they would want themselves to be. I believe there's such a thing As perfection but none can attain it I do place my hope though On the only One who has But then again, I'm still imperfect Flawed, blemished, broken Sometimes I can't wrap my head around it So I lay down my reason and submit And learn to trust in the truth Even if the world tries to slander it. This is why no matter how difficult Life may become or how harsh Things may get, I will endure it all Because I know that the things That happen to me are being worked out For my good, even if they seem bad But they help me grow and learn I have learned to trust and put my faith In the One who gave it to me in the first place.

An Ill-Fated Affair

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Such sweet words you told me at the start I fell for them and I fell for you from that moment I trusted you when I could not trust anyone else Trust. Does that word mean anything to you? Do I? I would never look at you the same way Ever again. You took it and you dragged it In a hearse. You broke my heart, not because You cheated on me. But you lied to my face. You could have told me that you didn't Love me anymore. I would've clung on to you Anyways. That was the kind of fool I was For you. It all began when I met you. I knew who you were and I accepted you Despite the fact that I knew what I was Getting myself into. I loved the thrill and The adventure. But when the cup ran dry There was nothing left for you and I was Left for the scrap heap. Now, here we are. I have a good job, good prospects for my career And I have a family, we have two kids now. Here I am, standing on your grave. And I miss you. Note: This is a random poem t...

When Can I See You Again?

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Why did you have to go And tell everyone about us? I thought what we had was special I wanted the world to know That you're mine and I'm yours. Not in this way! Do you think Just because we flirted around That I would fly into your arms? Then you leave me no choice I don't want to be with you anymore Let's stop the charade. Go on then. Tell everyone about Our deep, dark, dirty little secret And we'll see who gets the last laugh. *** Now, you're gone and I have nothing I shouldn't have said what I said I didn't mean it, just so angry I had always loved you and now My heart misses you badly My mind thinks of you fondly I don't know what to do anymore I can't sleep, can't eat, can't do anything Where are you? Where have you gone? To the place where I found peace In our dreams, in our solitude I'm sorry to have left you But I knew we were never meant For each other ...

7 Reasons Why Children Should Listen to Their Parents

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All children have gone through the phase where they feel that their parents cannot understand what they are going through and they feel as though they are being held captive because their parents do not give them the freedom that they long for. So there are a few responses that children do when their parents discipline them such as throwing a fit, rebelling against their parents by doing all sorts of misdemeanor, or ignoring them and shutting them out. I will be focusing on the latter for this post. We have all seen it in the movies and some may have experienced it in real life. Throwing a fit or doing different forms of rebellion may be mild compared to completely blocking off one's parents from his/her life. Some people may disagree because they had a wonderful childhood and their parents knew exactly what to do during those moments of friction between them but not all parents know how to handle situations with their children especially if they have opposing desires or when th...

The Shooting Star

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He always wanted to do his best He never made a mistake He wanted to keep his record straight He wanted nothing less but to be perfect He stayed up late in the night He bleached his brows to ace the test He set his clothes upright He had to win this fight He slowly began to take some hits He was starting to take the toll He had to keep pushing He never wanted to fall He began to do this and that He thought these were just small things He needed to keep his record straight He needed to be perfect Then things went spiraling down The pressure was getting to him There no longer was right or wrong There was just perfection No matter what the cost he thought Nothing could ever change his mind No one would get him to stop now Nothing stands in between him and perfection As quickly as he rose up the ranks As much as he wanted to be on top And took the trophy in the bag At last he began to stumble and fall So was the shooting star Shining and shimmering as...

Why The Hobbit Made Me Cry

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When I first watched The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, I was again impressed by the amazing visual effects and cinematography but I felt that there was something lackluster compared to Peter Jackson's work on The Lord of the Rings. To be frank, I thought that the progression of the plot was good and the development of the characters had a finesse to it, that we get to see different sides to them and that they transform as the story moves along. Just as with The Lord of the Rings, most of the tension in The Hobbit is internal and we see how these are resolved in the end. It was not bereft of the stunning fight scenes and the thrill of holding our breaths as we wait to find out whether good or evil prevails in the end. But something that I did notice was the ending. Personally, I thought that there would be some glimmer of hope for Thorin, Kili, and Fili -- that perhaps they were wearing mithril underneath their armor just like Frodo so that they would not be fatally woun...

Stop and Restart

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I liked adventure and so did you. We wanted to see the world But we saw it from different lenses. We read the same books, We listened to the same music, But we always had something To disagree about. I never knew how different we were Until we got to know each other A little better than when we met. When I first saw you, I thought That I would be happy with you Until I breathed my last. I always believed that Everyone was meant for someone That two people who perfectly fit Would never have any problem. I thought I had found the one But maybe I had rushed it I had mistaken a simple friendship For a romance -- the spark's gone. I don't want to fool myself anymore I'd rather we go our separate ways Maybe we can meet the one someday. And maybe we can meet again.

I'm Not the One

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Yes, I am trying but can't you understand? I'm not the one who you think I am. I just wish that you could see that And that you could accept that. But you are the one, I know it. You just don't want to believe it. You would rather be safe and comfortable. That's why I'm pushing you Because I believe in you. I don't think I have the will to go on. Why do you put your hope on me? I can't do great things, I'm just ordinary! There are better things to do with your time. There are much better people than me. Stop wallowing in self-pity. What makes you think this is just about you? That all the sacrifices everyone made, That they were doing it just for you? We all have lost something in this, We all have something to fight for. Now, pull yourself together! I want to be alone. But you are not alone. That's why we're here. We came because we knew That you couldn't do this on your own. We care about you and our cause....

A Square Peg

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Why is it that there are times I feel that I don't know who I am Even though I know who I am? Why do I sometimes feel That I don't belong anywhere That I'm always out of place? I try to be with people Though it seems I'm invisible And I'm unheard of. I should be okay with it But I'm not, what else could I do though? I feel like I'm too different. I want to feel differently But then I would only feel Exhausted from confusion. I don't want to feel lonely But then I would make myself Distant from other people. Such a weird mess I am in. The thing is, I don't know How to show people what I feel. Sometimes, I think Others think it's normal Or I'm just acting up. Why then do I sometimes feel That nobody really cares About what I have to say? I shouldn't really complain I am partly to blame But at least, I need someone To genuinely care.

Guarding Your Heart Against Evil

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Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." As I have mentioned in other posts, the heart of man and the sin that entangles it are the root causes of the issues that we have today, even from the very beginning, and no amount of external modification can transform our inner being to become pure and righteous. The Bible tells us that the heart of man is deceitful above all things and God Himself describes the inclinations of man's heart to be evil all the time. So what does it mean then to guard our heart? First, I would think it appropriate to define what the heart here refers to. Obviously, it's the core of our being and not simply the seat of our emotions rather it encapsulates the mind (our intellect), the emotions, and the will. The desires of the heart are what drive our actions. In Luke 12:34 , Jesus tells us that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. Whatever we value most, whatever we think about most...

The Change We Long For

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"Change has come." It's been over three months since the turn of the new administration in the Philippines and exactly 100 days on October 8. There have been much controversy and attention surrounding us during that time and so much has been said on both sides of the spectrum but I want to pull away from the noise of it all. I want to take a step back and make my thoughts clear. I just want to lay my thoughts on the table and let people think about them. Many, if not all, people wanted change for the Philippines and ultimately, we place that responsibility upon the shoulders of our government. When change does not happen, we become dissatisfied and at times, turn our backs on the people we voted for. Look at how people changed their minds about the former President Noynoy Aquino. He had tons of supporters at the beginning of his administration and so many of those become critics just before he leaves. It is quite interesting to observe the way people react to events a...

Introspective Mode Again: Self-Discovery

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Studio Ghibli films, especially their recent ones, never fail to turn on the waterworks for me. I just watched its last film, "When Marnie Was There," and it got me thinking again and trying to make sense of things. Though I do not want to talk about the film in this post, I will do that some other time when I have been able to grasp the message of the movie from every perspective. What I want to do is to go through the same process that Anna had gone through in the movie which was self-discovery or perhaps, an exposition of what I have found out and am finding out about myself. Recently, it has come to my attention that some might think that my recent posts were very poignant to say the least and it might have come off different from what I intended it to be. I would like to consider myself a realist in the sense that I acknowledge both the good and the bad that happens. And I tend to take things in with such sobriety that others may not understand that I have already been...

Let Us Part in Friendship

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We met on a lonely winding road A pair of travelers searching for home Quite funny how we stumbled upon each other Or rather how I stumbled upon you I was glad to have some company You wanted to journey alone You hissed, you grunted, you scowled at me Pushed me back a couple of times But I persisted because I knew You needed me as much as I needed you. It was a long journey for me I knew not where I would go But you became my confidant, sort of I would tell you what was on my mind And you would just keep walking In fact, you never really said anything since we met But I was cool with it, at least I'm not alone anymore So there we were, two very different people Searching for a place where we could belong. Along the way, I started to grow weary I was on the brink of giving up I came to a point of desperation Lost and confused, I tried to take my life But you stopped me, funnily enough It fueled my anger and I lashed out on you A duel had ensued I bit, ...

That World Beyond

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There's a world beyond my own Beyond the familiar, the routine That world I seem to know deep within A connection so undeniable I was never meant for this world Never meant to stay here for long I want to go to that world, distant yet near To be with those whom I belong I have seen glimpses of it in dreams, in memories I have heard about it and I can only imagine They say it's beautiful, serene, wonderful beyond compare Out there in the heavens is where my journey will take me So many have traded their lives for that world Sacrificed every last breath to take hold of it That world exists beyond my mind, it's real That world is the realization of the past, present, and future I want to take you to that world Where everything is perfect and pure But you have to promise me to never let go Because it won't be an easy ride Take my hand I won't let go Trust me, I will be with you every step No matter what gets in our way, we'll push throu...

The Way We Once Were

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The sound of your laughter is music to my ears It echoes at the back of my mind Whenever I hear it, I feel giddy inside That lilting bellow brings warmth into my heart Like the rays of the sun after the storm has passed I don't know if you ever knew The joy that fills my heart when I see Even the slightest trace of a smile on your lips Every time I try to cheer you up Or I just want to make you laugh Because it breaks my heart to see you sad Whenever our eyes meet, I skip a beat Whenever we talk, time fades away The way our fingers link together It's as if nothing can tear us apart The heavens are witness to the bond we have Now I look up at the stars tonight Sitting here on the lakeside shore The wind blows cold, the moon shines bright And there's a heaviness lingering in the air I haven't gotten used to this feeling yet So many memories we've had, both good and bad We kept them in photographs, mementos, and knick-knacks We sent letter...

Resentment

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Excuses, explanations, Lengthy questions, Repetitive vanities, Authority abuse, and Rude insensibility. Condescension, Justification, Impositions, Jumping to conclusions, and Heinous profanity. There is no use In defending yourself. The gavel has fallen, The verdict decreed. You have no choice But to follow like the rest Lest you stand up against And be cast out in the street. It is exasperating, that's true. But one thing I have for you Life is better when you accept That you are not the center of the universe.

The Joy of Being a Child

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The joy of being a child is simple Things were easy, things were light You were just trying to discover life. The world was your playground The stars within your reach Not even gravity can keep you down But then you start to forget You grow up and bother yourself With matters of consequence. Your hair grows longer Your mind gets greener Your sight becomes dimmer Left is right Right is never straight And straight always leads you nowhere. Look back, then look ahead Only a child can see What lies beyond eternity. The joy of being a child is simple When you begin to understand You were a child all along.

Relevant Costs and the Story of Jonah

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I had a makeup class today in accounting and as with all our other sessions in this class, our professor was late again for an hour. I think she purposely does that because her lectures last for only an hour so we had to wait an hour for her to get to class. Most days, we wait about half an hour for her to get to class and give her lecture in an hour. Now that I have been able to reflect on why that certain professor is always late, it somehow makes sense to me. Though most of our other professors are on time for their classes, I usually get bored halfway through their lectures and many people have mentally checked out by then as well. I heard before that the optimum number of hours to present a certain topic or lecture would be 25 minutes because your audience's attention is focused on you but afterwards, their attention span gradually declines. Our accounting professor's strategy is an interesting one because she comes to class late, gives a one-hour lecture generally havin...

Our Need for Closure

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Cliffhangers have always been a pet peeve of mine. There is some type of effect that lingers upon one's mind and emotion when you finish an open-ended story and that effect is an annoying one. There are so many questions left to be answered and so many possibilities of how the conflict should be resolved that one would simply choose to go over the cliff just to end the agony of not knowing what happens next. However, this does open up the chance of a sequel but not all stories have a sequel or not all authors choose to write a sequel so there is a pestering feeling of irresolution because the story is missing a definite end or that there is no release for the tension that has already been built up from the preceding events of the story. In my experience, it may become frustrating to a certain point but as time passes by, the feeling will dissipate and you will most likely forget about it because you have your own life to live and that story is continually being revealed to you s...

5 Reasons Why Filipinos Are Awesome

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I am proud to be a Filipino. I had often wondered why God would place me in this nation and in this era but I have since accepted the fact and have been grateful that He has. No doubt all races have been made equally with dignity and worth because we are all made in the image of God. But I also acknowledge the fact that God has given us all unique characteristics that make us distinct from other people and races. So I want to give some reasons why I think Filipinos are awesome. This does not mean that other races are not awesome, but I simply want to point out certain realizations I have had about my people. 1. Filipinos are a resilient people.  We never stay down, we never give up, we never lose hope. No matter how many storms come our way, both figuratively and literally, we always get back on our feet. Nothing can break us. I guess a lot of people in the world are also resilient like the Japanese or say the Israeli but what sets Filipinos apart from the rest would be our u...

First Impressions on Kopiko 78C

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A week ago, we had our midterm exam for our marketing management course and it consisted of two parts: a multiple choice test and a case study. The multiple choice was easy enough but tricky since a lot of the questions always came down to two similarly good answers. Needless to say, it was the case study that bore the most weight for the exam and I was quite nervous because I never considered myself a marketing type of person. The case study slightly surprised me not because I did not know the answers but that it was really quite a practical one since our professor gave us a product to assess, for free. That product was Kopiko 78C which was introduced just last year as a ready-to-drink coffee latte. I felt at that moment realizing what we were supposed to do that I was at a disadvantage since as you may have read from a previous blog post ( article source: http://twocentsofmiah.blogspot.com/2012/01/sip-of-coffee.html ), I do not drink coffee of any sort, whether brewed or iced...

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