Pinoy music and money matters

I can’t believe that there are actually people who don’t know who Noel Cabangon is. Like ermahgerd. After hearing him perform live during the launching concert of the Diamond Jubilee of the Archdiocese of Palo, I started doubting whether I really am a fan of Jason Mraz or Simple Plan or whatever (there’s no point comparing them). This man… He’s just epic. Like totally awesome.

When he sings, it’s like one can feel the original emotion when he wrote the song. I’m not the type of girl who ordinarily thinks of what her wedding should be like but earlier tonight, I have just decided that when I get married, I want some Noel Cabangon songs to be played during the wedding ceremony. Sure, it’s going to be different when somebody else sings it but it’s a Noel Cabangon composition still and it would still be lovely.

His songs simply captivate me. It captures the way I like love and life to be. His songs talk about inequality in social status, about changing for the better, about real and everlasting love, about how time passes, about how life has to go on and many more. You should really listen to his songs although it's a different experience to hear him perform live.  He ended the concert with this song which talks about being a good Filipino citizen and he made the audience sing along “’pagkat ako’y isang mabuting Pilipino”.

A friend of mine, who is a K-pop fan, once found out and laughed at the fact that I had Kanlungan and Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok ko on my playlist. Tonight, I was reminded why I had such songs on my playlist and I continue to love listening to these songs. There is no reason for it to be funny at all that old songs are in a young person’s playlist.

Of course, my brothers and sisters in YFC, Mani and I were seated in the front row. You can only imagine how much we could feel the song and the cold dry ice (is that what you call it?). We sang along, we danced and waved our hands up high. Zeus even came up on stage when Jackie Oda (not sure of the spelling of her name) asked him to. People started to leave and yet we were still there enjoying every song. I bet Noel Cabangon didn’t expect to see young people hype up the crowd and dance to his music. It’s the age of rock music and, yet, we were there singing along with him. I really had a blast. 

***

Now, we move on to another segment of the Launching Concert. Bro. Michael Lobrin spoke about being blessed with money. He said money isn’t bad at all. It’s not even true that money is the root of all evil. Jokingly, he said the lack of money is the root of all evil. He made a good point right there. Come to think of it: broken friendships because of unpaid debts, people stealing, etc. Other times, it is not the lack of money at all but being greedy for more which leads to corruption.

Bro. Michael emphasized that when we are blessed by the Lord in material wealth, it is our responsibility to bless others as well (financially or not). And if we don’t think we are, there has to be a reason behind it. Accordingly, God might feel like we can easily forget Him when we have enough money to live with, how much easier would it be when we have more than enough? That’s why, we should be thankful for the times when we run out of cash because we are reminded to call upon our ever-present financer who can give us more than just money but also real joy of being able to know Him. When we live with Him, there ought to be no evil whether or not we are blessed with material wealth.

Shoes

We've heard it said "good shoes take you to good places" but Number Four (John Smith) says a place is only as good as the people in it. So wherever you are, make sure you've got great people surrounding you. I have come to love Tacloban City not because I got here with my shoes (which aren't so great, by the way, and I would really love to have a new pair for Christmas) but because I met some really good friends. 

Thanks for the friendship!

No more dramas

The beauty of being able to read your previous posts is that you’ll know when you lose track and realize that you’re using the wrong lenses in looking at things. Forgive me for my dramas. From now on, I wish to let only positivity radiate from this blog. But I’m not going to delete my dramatic posts because, once upon a time, they were true. M.E., if I may, I would like to adapt your Rule of Positivity. :-)

My new feel-good song

Rooftop 

by Sasha

Verse 1

It doesn't matter what they say

You do your own thing anyway

Even though you contradict yourself

If you need some help it's okay

A little envy brings you doubt

Just eat it up and spit it out

No need to make a compromise

If you realize that you're strong enough, oh

Bridge

There's nothing better

Than a heartbeat over mind

Chorus

Shout it from the rooftop

Here I go

Beating on the back door

Of your soul

Walking on a tightrope

Don't you know

Takes you higher, takes you higher

Dancing on the sidewalk

Letting go

Jumping on a fast train

Nice and slow

Surfing on a backbeat

No control

Takes you higher, takes you higher

Verse 2

It doesn't matter what you do

It's only someones point of view

There doesn't have to be an alibi

When you wanna cry cause you're blue

To spend a little ain't no crime

Please yourself from time to time

We all get caught out in the pouring rain

We get wet the same

Does it matter, no, no

Bridge

There ain't nothing better

Than a heartbeat over mind

Chorus

Shout it from the rooftop

Here I go

Beating on the back door

Of your soul

Walking on a tightrope

Don't you know

Takes you higher, takes you higher

Dancing on the sidewalk

Letting go

Jumping on a fast train

Nice and slow

Surfing on a backbeat

No control

Takes you higher, takes you higher

You hide behind feelings

What's that all about

No need to hold it back

Gonna shout it out, shout it out

Boxed

Who created this box?

Is it You, Lord, who confined me?

I doubt it, though.

‘Coz I know You created the world for me and the rest of humanity.

Then, why do I feel trapped?

Beyond these corners, barely any one could hear my voice.

The walls contain it.

It’s starting to become internal noise.

I dance to my own music.

I cry over my own drama.

I laugh at my own joke.

I lament over my own sorrow.

I rejoice over my own happiness.

I deal with my own inferiority.

I glory over my own achievement.

I struggle with my own insecurity.

Such selfishness it is.

Now and then I thought I caught a glimpse of what’s out there.

But then some things happen and I cower and once again find myself in here.

I want to know what it is like to be in the open and be elsewhere.

In here, it’s secure but lonely.

It’s quiet but deafening.

It’s huge but empty.

I could scream with all my strength, but I’d only hear the echo of my own voice.

Some may hear it but there’s so much more than my droned words.

I feel like I want people to hear me but I don’t even know what I want to say.

I want to understand other people but I can’t even understand myself.

Which leads me to wonder: am I the only one who’s trapped?

Or do we all hide in our own little box?

Never say NO

I was supposed to spend yesterday afternoon and evening studying but I was invited to attend the Household of Leyte and I thought “why not?” I can just study at night. What I didn’t know was that it was an overnight activity. I’m glad I came though.

For me, it was God’s way of making me realize what was wrong with the way I run my life. It was because I run my life. I realized that even though I prayed that God’s will be done and that He use me to be His instrument, I already have a plan of my own. A plan which I think would help me achieve my goals and I usually stick to it. 

Now I know that God wants me to do what I have to do but never say NO to Him. 

That’s what’s going to make me happy. The same goes for you. If you’re a student, then study. If you have to work, then work. But when God calls, never say NO. Never mind your disrupted schedule. He’ll take care of it Himself. Just have faith and seek for God’s peace.

I used to smile broadly (especially when I’m alone) just thinking of the many blessings I received. Then, I lost that habit. I tried going back to that self but it’s been a struggle. And I’ve been feeling kind of dry. I could hardly recognize the new blessings I’ve been receiving. Perhaps, it’s because I was thinking that God has not granted me the achievement of my goals yet. I didn’t realize I was ignoring God’s plan.

This morning, I thought about how God’s work in my life is so amazing. I was smiling to myself while holding back my tears. Crazy, am I not? I’m so back.

Never Diet Again

I'd like to share with you this short article from the book Through the Night with God.

He that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat. -Proverbs 28:25 KJV

It's you against all those fattening desserts: pies, cookies, cakes, candy. You have declared war on fat. You've carefully read food labels, measured portions, cut out the fatty foods from your diet and exercised regularly. But did you know there's an easier way to stay healthy and fit, one that doesn't require you to lose weight to accomplish your goals? In fact, God wants all His children to be FAT - spiritually speaking.

Here's how to gain spiritual weight:

F - Be faithful to do all that God tells you to do.

A - Be available for His use.

T - Be teachable. 

God is calling you to be a faithful follower, one who will hold on to Him when life's problems are pressing in. You probably would rather run and hide. But what if God is transforming you into a stronger person through those trials? Would you still want to run? The stay-slim strategies of a physical diet require discipline, and the same is true in our spiritual walk with God.

Are you available for God's use? You may have given up time, money, family and friends for Christ. Still, God wants you to give Him the things hidden deep within your heart - disappointments, hurts and failings.

Are you hiding behind a wall of unforgiveness? Let go of past hurts and allow God to heal you. This will free you to help others. Replace old habits with good ones by seeking God's plan for your life.

Finally, be teachable. In 2 Timothy 2:15, we are reminded to: Study to shew thyself approved unto God (KJV). Don't skimp on your daily nourishment from the Bible. Feed your spirit on God's Word every day and you won't feel spiritually hungry or deprived. When you end each day with a devotion and Scripture, somehow it dissolves all your problems and worries. So before you turn out the light, get FAT with God!

***

I just thought many of us needed that. It's just that it's sem break and there isn't much to do other than watch your favorite movies and shows and read books and browse your favorite blogs and websites and eat your favorite foods -- there is just lots of food at home. Talk about a sedentary lifestyle. Becoming fat is now a concern of many of us thanks to Hollywood and models and whoever made being slim the standard of being good-looking. Haha, frustration. But seriously, I didn't even care about how I look until I entered college, started gaining weight and met people who seem to care about nothing but their figure.

Then again, standardizing size could be a window for us to see ourselves clearly. How disciplined are we to eat just the right amount of food AND eat only the right food (that means NO JUNK FOOD)? How determined are we to stay fit and healthy? How hard-working are we to burn all those unnecessary fats? 

See, even if we tell ourselves that our physical appearance won't even matter to people who would truly love us, it tells more of our attitude. People who truly love us may turn a blind eye on our attitude but how is your self-image? Attitude counts. The right attitude will be of great help in achieving the body that is just right for us. 

The first time I read the article above, I was still a skinny kid (whoa, must have been a millennium ago) and that was just it - an article I've read. Now that I'm not skinny anymore, I became one of those figure-conscious insecure people. But I realized there's a more important weight that I should be paying attention to and that's spiritual weight. Be FAT for God.

150-day challenge