Entries from July 2010 ↓

A hymn for 27 years of life, laughter and love. Thank you, Lord.

Christ be with me,

Christ within me,

Christ behind me,

Christ before me,

Christ beside me,

Christ to win me,

Christ to comfort and restore me.

Christ beneath me,

Christ above me,

Christ in quiet,

Christ in danger,

Christ in hearts of all who love me,

Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

Words from An Acceptable Time by Madeleine L’Engle. Photo by Alyssa Pabellano.

The Five Love Languages

My primary love language is probably
Quality Time
with a secondary love language being
Physical Touch.

Complete set of results

(from the book by Dr. Gary Chapman)

Take the quiz

I feel so loved. Mostly because of the much needed dose of quality time this past week: the fourth of July weekend, online thesis topic conceptualizations and morale boosters, surprise overnight guests, a post nuptial photo shoot, my annual UPLB moment, text messages that said yes!, GTKY with the next generation,  a well stocked refrigerator, small group meetings, shared reading with my students, teacher lunch meetings, and reassuring quiet times.

Now it’s time for me to share something have precious little of (quality time) with the people who truly matter.

This past year, I have learned to value people over things and activities. First things first.

“Many waters cannot quench love….” (Many Waters: A Companion to a Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L’ Engle)

June 30, 2010 was the inauguration of President Benigno S. Aquino III.

…which I did not witness at all. My only awareness of June 30, 2010 was that it was a holiday. And that yesterday, commuters enjoyed free rides on the LRT 1, LRT 2 and the MRT (which prompted some of my friends to travel the length of the Yellow and Purple lines).

June 30, 2010 was important and historic, but more urgent (and personally, more vital) things came up. Interestingly, the events for my day can be related to four issues that I feel should be addressed by the President:

8:00 am – 12:30pm My morning was spent rushing (I overslept) to work for a teachers’ training on Beginning Filipino. I was introduced to the Marungko method and planned a Reading-Writing program. Also consumed two cups of very cold coffee and spaghetti for breakfast, and gratefully received a blessing.

Issue: EDUCATION

12:30 – 3:00 pm. I had a quick lunch date with with a friend, then availed of the free LRT 2 train ride (my third for the day). I also had an impulse buy at an ukay-ukay. Then, I went grocery shopping for a hospital visit. The prices sent me reeling and took a healthy chunk of my first (and now much depleted) paycheck.

Issue: ECONOMY

3:00-4:30 pm. One of our ministry partners in PCCI, Ptr. Jess Alisbo, suffered from a stroke this week. He had to be rushed from Lagawe, Ifugao to the UERM Medical Center for treatment and observation. Yesterday, a dozen of us crammed into his tiny private room to visit him and supplied grocery items, stories, prayers and a reunion of sort. This septuagenarian never fails to inspire me with his testimony: three decades of fulltime mission work in the Ifugao region, over 30 churches planted, and a life dedicated to God.

Issue:HEALTH CARE (WELFARE for the elderly)

4:30 – 10:00 pm. Consulted another friend for my thesis topic at the Cubao Expo, which I happily discovered was an “emerging art district” with quaint shoe shops, clothing stores and cozy cafes. I was introduced to the Manila Collective Photospace and Cafe and ranted with total strangers about how a certain pop flick is taking up all the cinema space for the near future. Also witnessed the coalescing of the void / birth of the amoeba which should become a higher life form ASAP / Genesis of my thesis topic. Ahh, the joys and perils of creative writing.

Issue: CULTURE AND THE ARTS

But I concede thet June 30 is important. So right after I post this entry, I am going to read Pres. Aquino’s Inaugural Speech online.

Photos: Cubao Expo by Paul Lee, President Noynoy by AP.