Carrie Underwood - My American Idol 4 bet. Good country singer.

What's Your Sense of Humor?

Patrick, your sense of humor is Sarcasm

Oh yeah, you're really funny. (Actually you are, but you're so sarcastic that it's hard to tell when you're joking.) You mean what you say, but almost never say exactly what you mean. In fact you usually say the exact opposite. For instance, if your friend is wearing an ugly watch, you might tell them, "I wanted a watch like that once, but I got the wrong Happy Meal." Yep, there's a slight edge to your humor, but all you are really doing is telling it like it is, only like it's not. Whether you're roasting a friend or playing social critic, your deadpan delivery and dry cynicism go a long way to expressing your true feelings...and making people laugh along the way.

I just learned that there is another Chinese-looking people like Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Taiwan and HongKong. It's country is called Kyrgyzstan, but they have Russian-sounding names. It's close to China. And they made the news recently when they did an EDSA to oust their president. My non-Chinese friends wonder at my ability to distinguish Koreans from Japanese and Chinese people. I can't explain it, maybe it's instinct.

Laziness Begets Thrift

It's officially my summer vacation now. I find myself nothing to do today. Though I would like to have a haircut and go to the mall, I don't have cash at hand. And the thought of dropping by the bank is tiring, therefore laziness begets thrift, which is a good thing. I still need that sleeping bag for Palawan. Maybe tomorrow.

Pope John Paul II passes away...

I just learned that Pope John Paul has passed away after a struggle with his sickness. The world mourns for its lost and celebrates his life. I can't help but feel loss of the Roman Catholic church, after all, we are all brothers. On a side note, the gathering of cardinals will now spend 15-20 days in Vatican to choose the pontiff's successor. I remember Dan Brown's Angels and Demons, which situates upon the controversial death of the pope and the selection of its successor.

Night of Inspiring People

I just came home from a gig in Century Seafood Restaurant in Vito Cruz. I did powerpoint in the anniversary of Philippine Volunteers Fire Brigade. They had very speacial guests: DILG Secretary Angelo Reyes, Mayor Lito Atienza, Congressman Miles Roces, and Teresita Ang See among others. Mr. Ube Gerry Chua was the incoming president of the association. It was truly remarkable to watch people like these, they made quite an impression to me tonight. I admired Mayor Lito Atienza's charisma to the people. People listen when real leaders speak. This was so true to Atienza. Each word he spoke is very positive, uplifting and unifying. Making Manila a classy city overnight, his works talks more than his speech. He can disagree while being charismatic. People wanted to listen more because he was down to earth, knows his audience. I admired Mr. Gerry Chua, the famous owner of Eng Bee Tin where the ube hopia and tikoy was conceived. He to was a people person, always thanking the team for the effort. He would say 'if you weren't here, i wouldn't be here'. Totally humble and not an inch prideful. He was so down to earth, so real. Even he was officially now the president, his hospitality to the guests were evident. There was one incident after the gig, that the waiter aproached him to surrender a lost cellphone. Seeing the waiter's honesty, he immediate gave him a 1000 bill and praise the guy in front of us. Wow, he witholds nothing. I also ought to see my young people in their outside world. Yesterday Jerald notified me that he will not be going to fellowship, because he had a boyscouting gig. I doubted his excuse, and I said to him I trust him so I don't need to worry. I do not like it when people do alibis, flatout lying. And tonight I saw him marching and yelling marching commands on the gig isle leading a group of flag-carrying boyscouts to the stage. We didn't know that we would be on the same gig tonight! But I was ashamed that I doubted him. Also I had a new-found respect for this sixteen-year-old guy. The kid who kids at church and occasionally a source of headache is totally a different person outside. I was impressed that I thought, 'That's my youth right there,' like a proud parent. I realized that I may be treating my youth like little children just like pastor had told himself about me. Earlier I had this joy, that I engaged myself in a smile therapy. I challenged myself to lift up my countenance, to have a smiling face as a default facial expression. Man, it was really challenging! Doug Fields, the author of the Purpose Driven Youth Ministry, said that to be someone, you have to pretend to be that someone, something like that. So throughout the day I 'pretended' to be a smiling person. But things got a bit challenging going to fellowship, when you encounter people who you would think exist just to rain on your day. I had to leave early because of the gig. Our youth needs fresh rain, especially our leaders. I realize that it doesn't matter how much I put into this ministry, the present of the ministry depends on the ability of the key leader, that even though you put in much effort to build it up, when you pass the torch, the present of the ministry now lies on the person who continues it. Just like Kuya Jess quoted, 'Nasa may katawan lang yan.'

Finally the blogger is fixed. Been itching to blog but everytime I post there's a bug.

5 People You Meet in Heaven

Hallmark Channel has made Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet In Heaven into a movie. The movie includes Jon Voight & Jeff Daniels. I have read the book, it's good. The Philippines and a Filipino girl played a part in the story. They will be showing it soon in Asia, can't wait to see it.

Today I went to my last class for Foundations of Christian Education of Dr. Ayuk. I presented my major report on an approach to CE. It went well. Dr. Ayuk commended me for the content of my report. Though I thought I spoke to fast and scripted. And there was something awkward in my English, I think my tongue had not spoken English for awhile since Lent. I learned alot from my report, as well as the whole subject in general. I still have to see Dr. Ayuk on friday to submit some papers. One subject wrapped up. One more tomorrow. Then my summer vacation is official.

Still Amazing

Lord I know the power of the blood of the Lamb | The cleansing flow from Calvary to redeem this fallen man | Though You were rejected and Your love was more than tested | You carried on Lord, You left your Father | You came to set men free | To give me life You laid yours down as a ransom just for me | Oh Jesus I'm so grateful that Your love's been more than faithful Sometimes our desires may lead us far away | But your spirit draws us back to you no matter where we stray | Even in our weakness, Lord, Your love can always reach us Lord your grace is still amazing | Amazing to me

Today we had water baptism and church outing in Valenzuela. Brought my notebook & gamepad & altec speakers with subwoofer. Hindi tinantanan ni John Andrew ang Family Computer. It was a good day. We played badminton, hardcore handball in the pool, it was exhilarating. I wanted to get a tan so my body is sunburned. My first swim of the year. Hopefully not the last. I hope I get to swim in Palawan.

God-dialogues

It's almost a month since the official start of summer. It's Holy Week. I still have some stuff to do in work & school.. Especially school. Indeed, the last days of school are the laziest time to wrap up things. I have to do some paper work for Christian Education and Epistles. Recently I got into this emotional catastrophe that I am now thinking of packing up and leave.. for a while. I have created a path which I am convincing myself to be the path which I must take.. now. Having God-dialogues within my mind.. lots of questions, why? where? when?.. But amazingly He answers through lots of people.. just now. And He's technologically up-to-date I might add, after all, ALL things come from HIM. What does He want me to do for Him? I am asking God what's His direction for me now. I am anticipating His clear reply. I am ready to go to Palawan on April 17.. not quite ready.. I need a sleeeping bag. I am praying that He will finally reveal to me His direction once there. Lots of voices I hear. Telling me what and what not to do.. Where and where not to go.. And I still have to deal with my assigned demon's whispers.. Man, this is a battle.. a battle with my future at stake. I heard once that peace is not a place and it's not a feeling. Am I at peace today? Am I that bird peacefully perched on a storm blown tree? Where is my joy? Where in the part of my journey have I lost it? I feel blank. I am searching for something I know I had but then I lost it. Or haven't I had it before? I feel I need to take some steps back to where I started, where I felt that spark, that oil. For now life is bland. I feel my house is a clutter. I need to clean-up. I need to regroup.. I even failed to keep track of my planner. Yet I still put more crap in my life. I need to be simple. Using a low-end phone.. that can be a start.. I know God is somewhere watching me. Observing my every move. I know my dialogues is getting to Him. And I appreciate that He's so alive in my life.. not just an object to put on false hope.. it's the real deal. At 23, the life-road still looks so far and winding. Lord, how can I finish this life with a head high up? Pray my fire continue burning to the last flicker.. Use me to the last drop. I WANT to make my life COUNT. Enough to be counted as Yours.

What's Your Secret for Success?

Took some test just to kill some time...

Patrick, your secret to success is to be Proactive You are a born leader with a take-charge attitude. Unlike many people who believe problems will simply go away if you give them enough time, you're one to tackle the obstacles in your path head-on. Part of being proactive means you can aggressively anticipate the future and work to shape it according to your desires. You don't wait for things to happen; you make things happen, which is why you also tend to find yourself in a position of responsibility. Also, because of your quick mind and ability to strategize, you can keep yourself two steps ahead of everyone else when it comes to executing plans or anticipating future actions. These characteristics help you rise to positions of authority where others can more fully appreciate your drive and direction.

What Kind of Cool Are You?

Patrick, you're Crazy Cool You taking the tried and true path? We doubt it. A wild child with lots of passion, you often prefer to leap without looking. This means you don't mind taking a chance or getting in a little trouble from time to time. If you learned something new or pushed yourself, then hey, it was worth it. Sure, you've got a sensible side, too, but you'd rather get lost in the moment and do something no one else has done before. Sound pretty cool? It certainly is.

Rob & Amber rocks Amazing Race! I hope they win AR7. Episode next week is 2-hours and action packed: Gretchen is bloody and brothers' car flipped from the dustroad in Africa.

I'm so pumped in lifting weights. I continue to add more weight to my long bar. And now I am already using all of my 40lbs + 5pbs (long bar). Right now I'm researching on how to purchase whey protein, it is supposed to help me build muscles quicker. I don't want to be an Arnold Shwarchzeneger (right spelling?) who is a muscle-turned-man, but just toned and firm body. I am planning to buy more plates. I am feeling that I might get hooked in adding more weights. My Ipod shuffle really rocks! So lightweight and I can take it anywhere. I have to change content once in a while depending on the mood because it can only hold 120 songs and can't search through it, just chronological or random play.