Now Playing: Heaven

Photo source here.

"Heaven (Little By Little)"
Theory of a Deadman


Now don't you be afraid
We can always talk about it
No need to medicate
Cause I know you're strong without it
You got me through the days
When I thought I couldn't face it
Let me count the ways
The love we have you can't replace it

Just hold on, I'm not that strong

There's a little piece of heaven
Right here where you are
The fact that you keep trying
Is what sets you apart.
Help me find the reason
And I'll help you find the way
To get rid of all your pain
Little by little, day by day

Now, you're far away
And I'm alone to cry about it
It's not a better place,
When you die and leave me here to say

Hold on, I was never that strong

There's a little piece of heaven
Right here where you are
The fact that you keep trying
Is what sets you apart.
Help me find the reason
And I'll help you find the way
To get rid of all your pain
Little by little, day by day

You'll get stronger
If you need me, I'm not far away
So, just hold on
I'll help you find a way
I'll help you find the way

There's a little piece of heaven
Right here where you are
The fact that you keep trying
Is what sets you apart.
Help me find the reason
And I'll help you find the way
To get rid of all your pain
Little by little, day by day

This is my answer to this song.

Now Playing: Lady

Photo source here.

LADY
Little River Band

Look around you, look up here
Take time to make time
Make time to be there
Look around, be a part
Feel for the winter
But don't have a cold heart

And I love you best
You're not like the rest
You're there when I need you
You're there when I need
I'm gonna need you

A long time ago
I had a lady to love
She made me think of things
I never thought of
Now she's gone and I'm on my own
A love song has come into my mind
A love song
It was there all the time

So lady
Let me take a look at you now
You're there on the dance floor
Making me want you somehow
Oh lady
I think it's only fair
I should say to you
Don't be thinkin' that I don't want you
'Cause maybe I do

[Instrumental Interlude]

Look around, come to me
I have no answers
But know where I wanna be
I look around, play a part
I was born in the winter
And cooled by a warm heart

And I love you best
You're not like the rest
You're there when I need you
You're there when I need
I'm gonna need you

So lady
Let me take a look at you now
You're there on the dance floor
Making me want you somehow
Oh lady
I think it's only fair I should say to you
Don't be thinkin' that I don't want you
'Cause maybe I do
Don't be thinkin' that I don't want you
Lady I do

- A dear friend gave me this song and I promised I won't forget. -

Attraversiamo 2013: 1st Leg - Destination Bolinao, Pangasinan

Let me come to terms. This is not my trip. This is the team building activity of one the teams in my company. I just happen to be friends with two who are part of the getaway. I was invited. I always find it hard to say NO to any type of travel.

The Team is led by their Coach, Yvette. They were so gracious to give me a good seat on our way to and from the location. We went to Bolinao, Pangasinan and enjoyed this white and fine sands in Patar.

Photo from Deck Garcia.

Photo from Yvette Llanes with her team.

The package they got didn't just cover the accommodation but also a full tummy experience all throughout our stay.

Photo from Yvette Llanes.

We paid a visit to the Cape Bolinao Lighthouse and got ourselves a photo with it. Sadly, the lighthouse was closed and was not well maintained. It would have been nice to go up and get a panoramic view of the vast plantation.

Photo from Yvette Llanes.

The highlight of this trip, to me, was the visit to the Enchanted Cave. 

Photo from Yvette Llanes.

I was in awe when I got there and realized that I was actually looking at a body of water. The water is so clear that from afar, and with not enough light, the cave looked empty; as if it was just a pile of rocks. I walked up and down the stairs deciding to get a dip or not and the only reason the 'not' was an option is because I don't know how to swim and am not sure how deep it is.


Here's a better photo I saw from a Pangasinan website. 

Photo source here.

I gave in and I am so glad I did. The water is so cold and clear, and smells clean. This is going straight to my list of favorite of places.

Photo from Angelo Reotutar.

More than the sights we feasted our eyes on, and the food we indulged ourselves in, it was nice to be a part of this team who took time to stop and smell the air. There was never a dull moment with each of them. They knew what fun was and they enjoyed every minute of it.

Photo from Yvette Llanes.

From someone who isn't really part of the team, it was nice to watch them from a good distance. They exchanged funny stories, which I bet isn't new at all. They reminisced work bloopers, talked about serious work jazz over a bunch of green mangoes and bagoong beside the beach while resting and, boy!, they had fun! WE had fun!

 
They made a choice to be happy around each other in this important event and happy people are always a sight to see. 

Thank you, Team Yvette, for having me. 

LOST & FOUND: Enamel 3-Ring

And these three shall remain: faith, hope and love.

1 Corinthians 13:13a

As 2013 came in, this verse was on mind. I knew that whatever year comes, the Bible says the truth - faith, hope and love shall remain. 

With our engagement to the material things of the world, it is difficult to keep the three in our lives. It is so easy to lose hope and faith, and it is so quick to find fault and hate. Without the abounding grace of God, we would have settled for the easy. It is also easy to forget.

I don't want to forget so I decided to look for an enamel stackable 3-ring to my taste. I thought, if a wedding ring constantly reminds a married person a commitment previously made, then why not do the same for other things to be remembered.

I searched for a week or so until I found one while accompanying a friend to buy clothes.

Two days ago, I lost the ring while in Bolinao, Pangasinan. I was sad for a moment and surprisingly just let go of it in a jiffy. Maybe it was a test of my faith. Faith that I will still believe that the three shall remain even I no longer see the ring. I just have to hold the finger where I used to put it on and remember how it felt. After all, faith is believing in what we don't see.

I lost the ring but kept what it was for.

TRUTH in 24 Hours

In the last 24 hours, God taught me lessons about TRUTH.

The truth can be ugly. At one point or another we have been on all ends of the truth - the one who needs to express it, the third party of the truth (hearing it but cannot directly involve yourself in it) and being the one to receive the truth.

I value honesty. Honesty is truth. I have lived long enough to get experiences that taught me how to handle and deliver the truth. However, I guess no one will ever be strong enough to deal with it easy. It will never be a piece of cake. If it is something painful, it will never be easy to deliver or accept it. If is something good, sometimes, it is also difficult to believe it.

A lot of things go around the truth. We can't just say the truth. There are things to consider, people to think of and results to be expected. The truth can change the course of events from the moment it happens. We ought to ask ourselves if we are ready for it.

Since it is never going to be easy, when is the right time to say it? When do we sacrifice the convenience of not saying it? I don't know. This is when we need God. His time and purpose.

In the last 24 hours...

I spoke the truth and she didn't like it. I don't know how she will treat me after.  It is a risk I had to take and I should be ready for it.

I heard a truth about something else and someone else and I don't know where to place myself.

I spoke the truth about how I feel about a certain situation coming. I hid it for a long time wishing it will help me and the person who needs to receive it. I'm glad I said it now. It freed me from keeping a good feeling to myself. This feeling is painful but it should be shared for it to be bearable.

I received an unexpected truth. Unexpected because it came across as a puzzle. Is it really how it is? Is it really the truth? How others perceive the truth may not always be the truth. In the same way that not everything we think is truth is true. But when a person expresses what s/he thinks is the truth, then s/he is being truthful. We should give them credit for that. We should accept it as being truthful.

If we need guidance in TRUTH. We can approach God for guidance.   

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. - James 1:5

TRUTH is complicated but it frees us from a lot of things. This is what I love about it. It lets you move on. It tells you what to do next. It makes life fair when everyone says it's not. It shows others that we trust they can handle it. Just because we can't handle saying the truth doesn't mean others can't handle receiving it. It's not all about us. 

TRUTH may make you happy you but it will give you a sense of balance when you start to wonder. It may bleed you but it will keep you alive because it will give you a choice to make things better.

Figure the Streets Out

(You already figured the streets out?)

You gotta control your smiles and cries because that's all you have and nobody can take that away from you.  - Ethan Hawke as Jake Hoyt in TRAINING DAY

Now Playing: In My Veins

Photo source here.

"In My Veins"

Nothing goes as planned
Everything will break
People say goodbye
In their own special way
All that you rely on
And all that you can fake
Will leave you in the morning
But find you in the day

Oh, you're in my veins
And I cannot get you out
Oh, you're all I taste
At night inside of my mouth
Oh, you run away
'Cause I am not what you found
Oh, you're in my veins
And I cannot get you out

Everything will change
Nothing stays the same
Nobody here's perfect
Oh, but everyone's to blame
Oh, all that you rely on
And all that you can save
Will leave you in the morning
And find you in the day

Oh, you're in my veins
And I cannot get you out
Oh, you're all I taste
At night inside of my mouth
Oh, you run away
'Cause I am not what you found
Oh, you're in my veins
And I cannot get you out

(No, I cannot get you out)
(No, I cannot get you)
(Oh no, I cannot get you out)
(No, I cannot get you)

Everything is dark
It's more than you can take
But you catch a glimpse of sun light
Shining, shining down on your face
On your face
(On your face)

Oh, you're in my veins
And I cannot get you out
Oh, you're all I taste
At night inside of my mouth
Oh, you run away
'Cause I am not what you found
Oh, you're in my veins
And I cannot get you out
(No)

No, I cannot get you out
(Oh, you're in my veins)
No, I cannot get you out
Oh no, I cannot get you

What we Deserve?

Photo source here.

Charlie: Why do nice people choose the wrong people to date?
Mr. Anderson: We accept the love we think we deserve.

- The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Riding Waves

Photo source here.

Riding waves... it's a state of mind. It's a place where you lose yourself and you find yourself...

...Look at it! It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, man! Let me go out there and let me get one wave, just one wave before you take me in.

 - Patrick Swayze as Bodhi in POINT BREAK

Honoring all the surfers in the world, famous or not!