It's Tuesday morning, I'm in front of the beach, reflecting, meditating on God's Word. It's been already five days since we came to the Badjao village. Though they want to be called Good-jaos because they are already made alive in Christ. I can only hear the calm waves of the sea, the birds, the playing of Badjao kids in the sand. The gentle wind kisses my cheeks. It's warm. All the fishing boats were already out to sea anticipating a great catch. For days we have been feasting on the fruits of the sea: large groupers, tangs, rays, octopuses which would cost much in the city. The Badjao people is one of the eight muslim groups in the Philippines. They are the poorest and deemed lowest of the groups. They would leave their Islamic faith for a foreign one. Here in the village, the tribe is headed by Nany Kesha, a chubby lady. People here are good natured. They have beautiful eyes and great smiles amidst their sun-scorched skin. They are divers of the sea. Divers of pearls. They bathe in the sea. And their culture is passed on from generation to generation. Every night since we came here, we would have pakiring', it's like he nightlife of the urban. We would dress in their traditional clothes called malong and learn how to dance the 'igal' or eagle dance which reflects an eagle in flight. Men here are most graceful dancers of the igal. Btw, this place is called Bataraza, after a datu or tribe chief. Across the sea, are the Balabac Islands, the southernmost tip of Palawan... As of now kids have been watching me write this - Toto, Janel & Aries. Our group is 20 in all made up of teams from Pangasinan and Binondo. In the morning my group is assigned in fetching water in the poso which is two minutes away from the village. We would carry it by twos on a bamboo shaft with the water jugs in the middle. It's hard waking up early to fetch water. I like pumping the water though. It's my only way of exercise which works the upper body. We cook lunch in the afternoon and wash the dishes in the evening. In the afternoon we would bathe in the sea. There was once a night when I slept not having washed the saltwater in my body because it's already too dark to fetch water. There is no electricity her, everything needs to be unlearned. I have learned a couple of phrases and greetings...

Acacia Tree

Acacia tree, spread thy arms above me, Ease my agony under thy leafy crown; I am God's chosen. In the evening as I dream, Fold thy hands as a prayer for me; And rest as the dark passes by.

We're off to our mission filed today in Bataraza, a badjao community. God has really moved the past few days, confirming and affirming my call to leadership and missions. Last night we arrived at our worship time in colorful costumes, it was fun. I hear we'll be doing some dances in the village. The travel is five hours.

Just woke up. Last night we had a good praise and worship. Pastor Joedy called it 'Babad Nights'. And we were definitely soaked with the Spirit of God. It was a joy to see young people kneeling and surrendering unto the Lord. It's our third day now since Sunday. The place is serene. Mountains backdrop the city. Sitting at the window looking at a lone enormous mango tree flowering. We had fish since the first day. Last night's dinner was awesome: Yellow-fin tuna in coconut juice. Karis.

So far so good. I've witnessed for the first time the testimony of tongues when one of our motherly Filipino mission-mates spoke Chinese during worship time. God also reaffirmed my relationship with Him. It was a feeling of freedom. It's becoming hotter in here than in Manila. I assume it's becuase we are now nearer to the equator. Our speaker Pastor June Alonzo is truly a man of God. We are together with the Dagupan team and they are great. We began to get close during our orientation and in a game of Uno cards. We're staying in the church's school.. In sleeping bag on hard cement floor. I experienced stiff neck which is now healing. I notice in Palawan there are lots of flies, not mosquitos. It's as if I'm still in Luzon in the rural. Been missing few comforts: a soft bed, a good bath and someone doing my laundry.

This afternoon I played badminton with my friends. We met at church. Left late, and made later due to a 12-hour fire in downtown Binondo. It was very traffic because a significant road was closed due to the fire, we had to walk some distances. It was very embarassing because our host reserved us for 3-5pm, but we arrived quarter-to-four. I saw Jillian Teh in the sports complex and talked with her for a while. So we played. My partner is Annie, she plays good badminton. We won all our matches. We finished at 6pm. Went to McDonalds after.

Wednesday.. 3 more sleeps to go and I will be in Palawan. Will be checking in South Harbor 1PM of Friday.. Hoping to still blog when I get to Palawan through GPRS. I'll be gone there for two weeks. Yesterday went to market with youth to buy sarong and toiletries. The day before there was a jeepney strike and sunday we watched together Five People You Meet in Heaven in the Hallmark channel and played monopoly. It was there when I learned how to play monopoly.. it was fun. We played badminton in the park. Today I will be playing badminton with youth in Columbian Sports Complex in Plaza Dilaw. Sigh.. life.

JP's Despedida

Last night from church I went to dine with my college peeps in Greenbelt 3, Makati. JP is going on a 3-month architectural project in Dubai. We ate in Banana Leaf, which has good Penang fried rice and beefsteak. Afterwards we had dessert in classic Cafe Briton. Tonight our peeps will be meeting again because last night turned out to be too short for a despedida party. Bubu lent me Dan Brown's Deception Point. Earlier I met with Hopenet client and he has with him a guy from Florida whose position I have a faint understanding, but I knew he is someone in a high position. They were inquiring about putting our Philippines Hopenet team in charge of doing the US site. I learned as we lunched in Fridays Sta. Lucia that the Philippine Hopenet has been adapted by other countries (which before they had they're own Hopenet sites) as far as Ghana, Brazil & Russia, because our site is good. Hopefully I'll be doing the design for the US site. God is so good.

Resumed reading Noli Me Tangere for the past two days. Just stayed home today and read Noli halfway. It is until this time that I have greatly appreaciated the work of Rizal. Satirical, and carefully written to engage the reader. I'm reading the English translation by Ma. Soledad Lacson-Locsin, to my astonishment was an 80-something old lady. Very impressive. I feel for Crisostomo Ibarra, who is an idealistic fresh-from-Europe Spanish Filipino longing to 'save' San Diego and impose 'upgrades' undeterred by a nation molded by its present colonial system. (chapter from 'The Philosopher's House'. But some things are hard to change, that not all that comes from the west is good.

Rizal on Faith Development

"It is known fact that this spirit, who once was bold enough to defy and contradict God himself face to face, doubting His Word, as it is written in the holy book of Job; who carried our Lord Jesus Christ through the heavens as he later did to the witches in the Middle Ages, and, they say, continues to do to the asuang of the Philippines, has now become so bashful that he cannot stand the sight of a piece of cloth whereon are painted two arms, and now feats the knots of a rope. But this does not prove anything except that there is some progress in this matter, and the devil has retrogressed, or at the very least, turned to conservative, like all who dwell in the shadows, if we are not to attribute him the weakness of a fifteen-year-old maiden." - an excerpt from Noli Me Tangere (ch. 11) by Dr. Jose Rizal

I want to go to Avilon Zoo! Can someone tell me how to go there?

The Imitation of Christ

Bought a new book called The Imitation of Christ. Been hearing and reading quotes from it since school. Written in the 1400's by Thomas Kempis, the cover says its NEXT to the Bible, the most widely read spiritual work of ALL TIME. I'll dwell on this when I go to Palawan.

Today I just stayed at first service 'cause I had a powerpoint gig in Manila Hotel for a Filipino-Chinese Association. I really don't want to go but I had already commited to the project. The initial agreement was 12noon but apparently that didn't include the preparation and testing so I had to go there at 10. Therefore I missed leading worship and a meeting. My Palawan mission trip is near. I already saw our schedule and we are going to the tribes for real. That's exciting. They even asked us to bring pictures of my family & myself as a souveneir.

"Man's greatest misery is regret."

Bought a Jars of Clay CD "Who We Are Instead", I like the 7th track titled "Show You Love" which I think is the carrier single of this album also. Show You Love [+] Speak | And say the words that no one else will ever say | Love | Love like the world we know is over in a day [+] I'm gonna show you a love in every language | I'm gonna speak with the words that need no form | I'm gonna give you what you never had before [+] You're beautiful and I am weakened by the force of your eyes | So shine bright to separate the truth from the lies | I'm gonna show you love [+] So tie me to a tree and let the smoke and ash collect | No, I won't regret to let love do what love will let | We can drown in mixed emotions or walk across an angry sea | This is the cost of being free