God’s Perfect Plan (Reflective Journal)

     I was not at the Quezon City Science Interactive Center that time for Centrex. I was excused from the session because I was at Ateneo de Manila University for an entrance exam review.

     As a student who aims for a goal, I look to this once in a lifetime opportunity as a steppingstone towards the fulfillment of my dreams. Ateneo is such a prestige school with excellent standards on education. And I think, it is not only me who is dreaming to be an “Atenista,” but also a lot of aspiring students and achievers in the country. A lot of successful people in our nation like businessmen, personalities and leaders are graduates of this school. In fact, the incumbent President of the Republic of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino III is a product of Ateneo

     When I took my first step on that school, I felt excited and at the same time, I felt nervous. Because I knew that if I passed the entrance exam, it would be great – and it would be very challenging. But I was also open to the possibility that I may not pass the exam, or it would be a tough one for me.

     But thank God! Through faith and prayers, He shows me everyday that “Everything happens for a purpose.” From that point of my life, I became optimistic, and I face each challenge with positivity and determination.

     While I was walking around my “dream school,” I was thinking, “If it is not His will to let me study here in Ateneo, then what am I doing here?” I just realized that time that “God moves in mysterious ways” – ways that we couldn’t explain, because sometimes it was like happening for no reason. But in reality, “There’s a reason behind every situation.”

     That experience was full of new discoveries. Aside from Mathematics, Reading and Grammar, I also learned a new lesson in life that things happen in God’s perfect will. And for me, being there during the review was no accident. Hopefully, that was not the first and the last time that I would be able to go there.

     God has a wonderful plan for me. And I know, it is the best for me.

*I wrote this reflective journal last year (2015). Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the top 300+ during the entrance exam last October. I failed to study at my dream school, but GOD HAVE NOT FAILED TO AMAZE ME. It was Tuesday this week when I took an entrance exam at the Nazareth School of National University and surprisingly, I ranked 1 among all the examinees. My experience have proven that "God has a wonderful plan for me. And I know, it is the best for me."

Always instill both in your mind and heart that failure is just a sign that VICTORY is coming your way. JUST DON'T GIVE UP AND LET THESE DOWNFALLS STRENGTHEN YOU. GOD HAS A WONDERFUL PLAN FOR EACH ONE OF US. TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!

#PimpleProblems 101: Find out the solution! (Features)

     #PimpleProblems is actually common to teenagers like me. Pimples are like "small but terrible" spots on the face because these may lessen a person's self-esteem.  People have different views on the possible causes of these "irritating spots on the skin." They say it's hormonal change, genetics, stress, nuts (naaah), chocolates (WAIT. These are anti-oxidants, right? O.O), fatty foods, love life (WHAAAAT!?), etc. But based on my research in the web, these are just possible factors. The main reason why acne or pimples appear on the face is because of poor hygiene. Pimples usually tend to pop up on an oily skin.

     And so, it is necessary to clean our face at least twice a day. WATER AND SOAP IS NOT ENOUGH. I have tried a lot of facial cleansers, anti-bacterial soaps, facial cream/lotions and other anti-acne products. But these things haven't gave me the solution. Everything starts to get miserable (for me HAHAHA) until my dad have read something in his book (Reader's Digest) about acne treatment.

     Personally, I use BENZOYL PEROXIDE - one of the solutions for acne treatment. It is a water-based keratolytic gel that is anti-bacterial. It is only applied on the affected areas in minimal amounts. It is available OVER THE COUNTER in some drug stores. NOTE: The mechanism of action of benzoyl peroxide is not totally understood but its antibacterial activity against Propionibacterium acnes is thought to be a major mode of action. (Excerpt from the CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY of the brand that I use) 

*IT IS ADVISED TO CONSULT YOUR DERMATOLOGIST FIRST BEFORE USING THIS BECAUSE THIS MIGHT HARM YOUR SENSITIVE SKIN IN HIGH AMOUNTS.

     Benzoyl Peroxide is best after washing your face with mild GENTLE SKIN CLEANSER to avoid skin irritation. Just apply a liberal amount of skin cleanser (it is actually soap-free) on the face, rub it gently and rinse it with tap water. OPTIONAL: You can also use facial cleansers after washing your face to remove deep-seated dirt.

     I found the Benzoyl Peroxide-mild cleanser combination effective for my acne treatment. I have seen visible results in less than two weeks. REMEMBER: It is still recommended to ask a dermatologist first because this acne treatment might not be effective on all skin types. THIS IS JUST A TIP.

     Questions? Suggestions? Comment below. :) Thank you!

Fort Santiago: A depiction of Filipino Heroism (Features/Travelogue)

     It was January 2013 when I had one of the most unforgettable experiences in my life, and it was the “Educational Tour.” Every place was a good destination – every step that we took in these places was memorable. But among all the places that we’ve went to, there was one destination that made an impact on me during that tour – and that was Fort Santiago.

     Everything about Fort Santiago captured my heart. As far as I remember, it was like a beautiful park with majestically-designed landscapes. That place was so classic – I saw old houses, huge gates, bridges and stone-made structures that I have never seen before. But beyond all these, there was one fact that broke my heart – it was when our tour guide told us that ‘thousands of death took place at the very spot where we lay our feet.’ I couldn’t just imagine how did that happened.

     Out of curiosity on what our tour guide said that time, I visited a ‘travel blog’ in the internet. There, I have read a lot about Fort Santiago. I knew that it was not a paradise like what I thought before. Stories of heroism occurred in this historic place. Several lives of Filipino soldiers were lost in its prisons during the Spanish Colonial Period and World War II. Moreover, this was also where our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, was imprisoned before his execution at Bagumbayan which is now known as the Luneta Park, in 1896.

     During the Spanish Era in the 16^th century, Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and the Spaniards first built a walled city in the Philippines known as Intramuros. The huge walls were strong enough to wade off invaders and were designed to protect the city and the Spanish Empire from foreign invasions. On the endmost portion of their walled city located a “defense fortress” where the Spanish soldiers guard the city throughout the day. This is called “The Santiago,” the main gate of Fort Santiago. This place became the base of the Spanish Military during their colonization of the Philippines in 333 years.

     This was also where Dr. Jose P. Rizal was imprisoned before his execution in Bagumbayan. Because of love for freedom for his beloved nation, he fought not through the strength of his body – but through the might of his quill pen and paper. In fact, while he was in Fort Santiago, he wrote his “Mi Ultimo Adios” (My Last Farewell) to the Filipino people and passed it to his sister by hiding it in a lamp during the eve of his execution. As a tribute to the heroism of Dr. Rizal, the government built a replica of Rizal Shrine which is originally located at Laguna. Currently, the Rizal Shrine in Intramuros serves as a home to various memorabilia such as the shells he collected in Dapitan, books, manuscripts and artworks belonging to Rizal. His footsteps from his cell to the location of actual execution are also represented by footsteps embedded on the ground in bronze.

     Moreover, inside the fort were huge and deep cells where Filipino and American soldiers were thrown by the Japanese army during the World War II in 1940s. In a travel blog, it was instituted as the “Hole of Death.” It was infested with rats, snakes, vermin and was full of rotting water. This is where hundreds of soldiers tortured overnight. Having a small hole for air to enter, everyone packed inside died of asphyxiation – and when it rained so hard – they would drown.

     The Fort Santiago and the whole city of Intramuros were heavily damaged during the Second World War by the Japanese Imperial Army. That was why when the city was declared a National Historical Monument, the government began to reconstruct its walls in 1951 and make replicas of completely-destroyed structures. However, lots of walls, huge canons and several ruins were preserved to keep it original.

     Fort Santiago in Manila is really a historic heritage site. It depicts the heroism of the Filipinos from the very beginning when it was built. Currently, it is declared a Shrine of Freedom since 1950 and the Intramuros Administration now manages the reconstruction, maintenance, and management of the fort since 1992.

    January 2013 became memorable for me. Everything that I saw that time instilled in me that I should be proud that I am a Filipino.

*I wrote this travelogue two years after we went to Fort Santiago for the Educational Tour.

Secrets for Healthy Living (Reflective Journal) ft. Mr. Paul Wrenn, weightlifting title holder

          Nowadays, the use of illegal drugs, chain smoking and the abuse of alcohol are rampant around the globe. These life-threatening vices cause a lot of damage in the physical body of those who are being dependent or addicted to it.

          A lot of people who undergo hardships in life tend to think that doing these vices as part of their “daily routine” will help them solve their problems. However, they are not aware of the real outcomes that may happen to them by depending too much on cigarettes, illegal drugs and alcohol. That is why they choose to keep their eyes close, in order for them not to see all the consequences of what they are doing.

As these vices make minds a “blank spot,” these problematic people seem to forget all their problems for a while. But as the time goes by, these vices begin to ruin their lives and make everything more miserable. They forget to care for their physical health because they have allowed themselves to be “eaten” by hard situations. So, instead of finding solutions to put everything into place, they have led themselves into an absolute misery – they are putting themselves in the midst of death.

There is one person who inspired me to practice a healthy lifestyle. He is Mr. Paul Wrenn, a multi-national and world title holder for weightlifting. He won 24 national and 14 world power lifting titles in “Open and Masters” – a popular weight lifting competition.

Wrenn is already 68 years old, but his strength “overpowers” his age. He can lift a high-weighing person by his head, break a thick wood into two with his hands and he also lets a man to punch his stomach at his best to prove that he is still strong. He shared to us his two secrets on how he has maintained his tough and healthy body, despite of aging.

Mr. Wrenn’s first secret is discipline. He avoids smoking, taking illegal drugs and drinking alcohol. He has no vices at all. He eats fruits, vegetables and lots of protein to fortify his muscular strength. Then, he exercises regularly for good metabolism and strong cardio. He has that ability to say to himself “no” to bad lifestyle. He never abused his physical body – he continues to practice a healthy lifestyle even now that he’s already a bit old.

I like his first secret, but I love his second revelation. Mr. Wrenn told us that his source of strength was his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

As a Christian and a believer of the Living God, I am so blessed and motivated by what he had revealed to us.  Like Mr. Wrenn, my faith in God is my source of strength that is why I am able to face all the circumstances in life. My faith always reminds me that there is Jesus who can be our refuge in times of trials and sorrow – and there’s no reason to give up. Mr. Wrenn believes that he cannot do what he can do today if the Lord is not with him, likewise to my situation. It says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through CHRIST who STRENGTHENS me.” And so, I strongly believe that Jesus’ presence in our hearts is our strength.

I had a lot of realizations during the last week’s message. I was so blessed to meet a person with a strong body but with a humble heart. Mr. Wrenn became a good example to me and to my fellow scholars in terms of having a good lifestyle. There is no reason for us to kill ourselves slowly with vices when we have problems – if we feel like giving up, let us always remember that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and He is always there to give us STRENGTH to face all the ups and downs of life. Live healthy and live life to the fullest!

*I wrote this journal last January 23 this year during his visit in the Philippines. It was such an honor to meet him. I was blessed to see him so strong despite his age because GOD gave him that strength!

A Masterpiece Out of Hope and Love (Reflective Journal & Movie Review on "Every Child is Special")

     In this imperfect world, what matters most is power – money, position, riches and fame. It goes like this, “If you are poor, you’re nobody. If you are wealthy, you’re somebody.” But in the eyes of the Lord Almighty, the Creator of all, every person is a masterpiece. Just like the great painters who design their craft, they do not just maintain their style of artwork – they also make art experiments to create something new. But despite of different designs, their paintings are all special.

     On October 3, 2015, we watched a Hindi movie entitled, “Every Child Is Special.” Since then, this became my favorite movie. Not because of its setting, nor its special effects – but because of its essence.

     A young boy named “Ishaan” is the main character on the movie. He is a boy who sees the world full of wonders. He is an innocent child – whenever he smiles, he makes the people around him to cheer up. Everything seems so perfect for him, but there is one thing that makes him feel so “weird” and “out of place” from other children – and that is his Dyslexia. Everyone around him, even his own parents, treats him as a “hopeless case.” He cannot read and write properly. If his teacher asks him what he sees on his book, he will say that the “letters are dancing” – but no one believes in him. He is humiliated and mentally abused for no valid reason. Until one person comes in his life and turns his life the other way around – he is Ram, Ishaan’s art teacher.

     In this movie that I watched, for me, aside from Ishaan, Ram was one of the most important characters on the movie. What made an impact on me was his personality. He looked on everything with hope and love.

     I believe that as Christians and as leaders, we must acquire these characteristics and apply these in our daily lives. We must not act like “bigots” who dislike and judge other people for no reason. Instead, we must be open-minded and compassionate to understand different situations. Before saying that a person is not worthy, we must be open to all possibilities that this person may have problems in life or this person needs hope and love in order to bring out the best in him or her.

     There were times in my life when I experienced bullying. A lot of people discouraged me because they thought that I couldn’t make it to the finish line, which are my dreams. They thought that I was weak and too young to aim high. Fortunately, God gave me to my parents. Until now, they continue to support me all throughout my studies. They encourage me whenever I feel down or hopeless. They are the ones who always tell me not to give up and continue to aspire. They make me feel special everyday.

     Now, I realized that being intelligent or successful is not a basis of being special. Every person has an exceptional ability that makes him or her unique from others. What we only have to do is to help each other discover oneself. Let us bring out the brightest side of our fellow people – inspire, encourage and empower them with undying hope and unfailing love.

*I wrote this last year. This was one of the journals that I passed at HB Centrex (a student leadership program) in Quezon City.

"Every Child is Special" is such a good movie. It's a MUST WATCH.

DAKILANG PAG-IBIG (Magnificent Love, a poem)

Di man mawari kung bakit mata'y ipinipikit,

Sa mga oras na makita ko siyang namimilipit.
Dahil ba sa pinagdaraanan niyang sakit,
O dahil alam kong marumi ang aking budhi.

Hindi man siya ang nagkasala,
Inako niya ang ating pagdurusa.
Sanlibutan ang dapat ay hinampas,
Ngunit hagupit ng latigo'y siya ang nakaranas.

Patulo'y nang humina ang kaniyang katawan,
Duguan mula ulo hanggang talampakan.
Mga tao'y hindi pa nasiyahan,
Pinagbuhat ng krus nang sapilitan.

Matapos hampasi'y siya ay inihiga,
Sa krus na siya rin ang nagdala.
Ipinako ang mga kamay at paa,
Isinuot sa kanya'y tinik na korona.

Hindi ko lubos na maisip,
Tayo'y inihingi ng tawad sa Ama nating nasa langit
Sa kabila ng kirot at hapding sinapit,
Nagawa niyang patawatin mga katulad natin.

Tunay na pagmamahal ay inihandog sa atin,
Sa kabila ng ating lubos na pang-aapi.
Lumalapit po kami sa inyo o Diyos sa langit,
Linisin niyo po ang aming puso't isip.

Handog sa ati'y pagkakataong makapasok sa kaniyang kaharian,
Binigyan tayo ng regalong buhay na walang hanggan.
Taos puso po ako sayo'y nagpapasalamat,
Iniligtas niyo po kami mula sa mga apoy ng luha’t pighati.

*I wrote this poem three years ago (2013). I was inspired writing this after I went to church.

Undeniably, God's love for us is magnificent.

Let Love be the Foundation (Reflective Journal)

      “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” ― Mother Teresa

     Unconditional Love – this was the essence of the movie entitled, “Mother Teresa of Calcutta” that we watched during that session. Mother Teresa was really an epitome of a helpful, caring, thoughtful and a loving person. Because of what I have watched that day, I realized something that changed my views about serving people.

     Before, I thought that whenever I serve people, I must be paid back. Honestly, I was a conditional person. I believed that it was just right for me to expect something from others whenever I help them. But I was wrong.

     The true essence of helpfulness is love. We must help people, because we love to share our blessings to them, and not because we are obliged to. We must do good things to them and make them happy because we love to see them that way. Even small things turn into great ones whenever we lend a hand to them with all our hearts. The root of all pure acts of kindness and generosity is love.

     Love as a foundation on helping people is like the details of an artwork – the more you add different colors, beautiful designs and a touch of inspiration and passion – the more it becomes a wonderful and a meaningful masterpiece. Now, try to imagine the world without love. Do you see it? It is like painting on a canvass with a transparent paint or water. There’s no discernible change.

     Just like Mother Teresa, we must see to it that helping others is our responsibility as Christians, and as citizens of the nation who really see the situation and the needs of their fellowmen. All of us are called to help and serve others for betterment and for the glory of God. To help others with purity, we must have the faith to remove hopelessness – and we must hold love in our hearts to do great things – in order to change the world.

*I wrote this journal a year ago (2015).