Why US President Barack Obama's Philippine visit made me sad

April 28, 2014 marks the visit of US President Barack Obama. The government tries to see to give the best welcome, the best service and security as one of the most powerful man on earth tries to sneak peek our homeland.

It is but right that the said procedure be in place. Protect him and give him honor. I would like to believe that any country would treat our President the same if he steps out of his homeland and visits another.

My agony though starts with people who doesn't even care to understand. This flag is one of the witness on how bashers put into action their illiteracy and misunderstanding.


Every citizen should be able to understand the goal of every visit and to react in a manner decent enough for people to lay-down your points of the matter. 

The issue of the Philippines becoming a US state has never died down everytime they visit the country which I believe such issue has already been dismissed since 1992.

The balikatan I believe is a win-win situation should we consider our current status with China. US President Barack Obama's words given to Japan can also be a blessing to the Philippines. 

The Yolanda tragedy that recently struck the Philippines also is a clear manifestation of how other countries extended their help to our beloved fellowmen.

Sadly, these protesters are missing what good has been done and protesting about something they project to be happening when it is not even happening. 

Let alone your belief, your predicaments and your anguish. I just hope that each and every visit of someone in our country would bring something they would remember without the hesitation of coming back. 

I just hope that the US President's visit should be similar for every one entertaining their own visitor at home. I am sure you wouldn't want somebody bashing out your visitor saying those words written in the flag. 

Heaven is for real - A struggle of faith

Catching a glimpse of Heaven is for real turned out to be a blessing. I invited a friend over to watch the movie with me and scenes on the screen got me teary eyed. 

It's a story of a simple family of four (eventually turned five). A mom, who maintains the music ministry in a church, a dad who works as a volunteer firefighter and at the same time a minister at their local church with two beautiful kids.
As a family, they also have their share of trials and that's where adorable Colton comes to the picture.

This time, I won't be doing a review about this movie since I don't want such to turn into a debate of what readers believe in rather, I will point out the most important phrases I've noted while inside the cinema. 

At the hospital

During the time that Colton was admitted to the hospital, his father Todd, went to the chapel shouting: 

"You made me suffer and I took that. You made my family suffer and I took that. Now you want to take my SON?"

In a scenario such as this, I thought of maybe the father; though he is a minister in the story should know better. He should know the response in certain situation like this. 

On the other hand, he may be acting human after all.
At the same time as he was yelling to God, his wife called friends and asked for prayers. 

In times of crisis, to whom do you turn to?

With the psychologist

With prayers answered, Colton got well and started talking about heaven. This bought uneasiness to his father Todd and started consulting a psychologist.

Here are three questions we usually need in our daily life.

1. Is it unusual (for your wife) to call friends and ask for prayer in times of crisis?
2. Is it unusual for you to pray?
3. Did you come here today because you were wondering about my faith, or about your own?

The Persecution

I remember a pastor saying: 

"When you follow God, prepare to be persecuted.." 

This is true. In one scene, after the story has been published in a local newspaper, Todd was coming out of the restaurant and a group of men shouted: 

"Next time that there is a fire, can you tell Jesus that instead of walking on water, He could just dump it on the fire?"

A perfect example of walking the Christian faith is telling everybody about Jesus and sharing the word of God. Taking up your cross won't be an easy task but as we go through sharing the Gospel, may we be reminded that God will take care of their hearts.

The Saviour

At the graveyard, Nancy and Todd talks about life, love and death. In this chapter, a phrase catched my attention with Nancy saying: 

"You don’t have to save the world, Todd. I believe that’s already been done." 

A phrase of belief. A phrase uttered claiming Jesus saved you and me...

Colton's message

I have been watching a recent interview with Colton before they released the movie and he said: 

“The problem is we’re too attached to things in this world and they can’t go into heaven. “So when you love Jesus and you decide to follow him, it’s easier to let those things go so you can be in heaven for an eternity.”