Few tweets from #PiliPinasDebate2016 2nd League

Last March 20, 2016, The 2nd round of Pilipinas Debate for our President wanna be's took place. Here are few tweets from people who watched. Some of them worth digesting,

EDSA Revolution vs People Hunger

It is funny how the Philippine government would spend 30-35 millions of pesos for a day event when 30 million of Filipinos does not even have a decent meal in their plate, 30% of its population live in shanties, others are homeless, public schools does not have enough classroom and government offices would complain "kulang ang budget kaya hindi nagawa." 
Sometimes, the state of the country mostly depends on how the government use its resources.
The EDSA revolution may have a big impact on today's independence but it also is a depiction of politicians greed for position and power.

Pia Wurtzbach's Ecclesiastes 3 and Why Miss Germany is Bitter About The Pageant

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

New International Version (NIV)

A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Several times in the past years, Pia Wurtzbach's name would always come up everytime Binibining Pilipinas pageant is around. And several times I would utter "na naman? sumali na naman siya?" (Again? She joined again?). Her name has always been around and within those years, she was not lucky enough to represent the country.

This year, when she was chosen to represent Philippines in Ms, Universe, I found myself mumbling "sa wakas.." (finally, at last..)

GOD'S PLAN
So many times God answers NO to what we really want. Many times we tend to want more but God would give lesser than expected. Many times God would answer WAIT and we take it as a big NO. Many times we feel disappointed with the results and regret about the effort we planted.

What happened to Pia is clearly a clear vision of God's plan. She joined Binibining Pilipinas several times. Heck, there also may have been times she joined amateur pageant that were not televised, unknown to the public. She went on. Win or lose, she still went on preparing for every pageant, doing better than the last.

When the time that she was chosen to represent the country, she walked the aisle not just a pretty face but a lady "confidently beautiful with a heart". Unlike other candidates who marched displaying all beauty and grace, she took home the crown. 

HER ANSWER
"Earlier this year, there was a controversy in the Philippines about the United States reopening a military base in your country. Do you think the United States should have a military presence in your country?"
PIA: ''I think that the US and Philippines have always had a good relationship with each other. We were colonized by the Americans and we have their culture and traditions even up to this day, I think we are very welcoming with the Americans and I don't see any problem with that at all."

Pia's answer opened some controversy with anti-American groups in the country. However, think of it this way people, "How would you like to answer the question in one of the busiest US state, infront of an American crowd, with the entire world watching and a limited, very limited time? I, myself, won't dare speak of a negative answer.
MISS COLOMBIA
As posts on social media says Miss Colombia was dethroned, robbed of the crown and embarrassed in front of millions, I'd say NO..
She was not dethroned. The throne was not hers in the first place.
She was not robbed of the crown. Again it was not hers to begin with. 
She was not embarrassed. In fact, she was saved from embarrassment. Imagine if she has the crown but Steve Harvey has not corrected himself. She would be called a winner by favor or a winner by manipulation. That would be more embarrasing. 

MISS GERMANY
As in any other competition, bitterness would spring from the bottom of the line. Why is Miss Germany bitter after all of this? Here's why:
1. She wanted the spot BUT, she does not have anything to brag. 
2. She wanted to share the limelight. 
3. Germans are cheering for Pia Wurtzbach's victory. They are not cheering for Sarah-Lorraine Riek who went home with nothing. That is because Pia, whether you like it or not, is also a German. 

Remember these few names: Bruno Mars, Vanessa Hudgens, Jasmine Trias, Jessica Sanchez..
Their common denominator is their Filipino blood. Pinoys are still proud of these celebrities because they are still Pinoys by blood. 
Same goes with the Germans. A half blooded German's victory is also their victory. 

From a BPI customer..

I have been a BPI customer for several years and I have never been disappointed until this very day.. I walked in at BPI Nueno and walked out after standing there for an hour, unhappy. I was not assisted. 

I understand that bank transactions should not be rushed but bank officers should be aware of the queue they would need to serve. Talking about where you rebonded your hair would not help at all. 

The moment you step within a bank, the guard should greet you with a smile (which I didn't get for today. The 2 guards never smiled.) I asked for a number for customer service and the guard asked "Anong gagawin mo?" That statement of manong guard is irritating. I may answer "makikipagchikahan manong.." I was there for a reason and I know what I need to do. I know he may need to ask a question to give me the right queue number but I think his question needs to be re-worded in a more respectful manner. 

BEA is a technological advancement that not everybody understands. It maybe easy and convinient for me, but it is complicated for others. Someone should always be around for assistance.

The place noisier than a fish market. What happened to your cellphone policy? Customers are playing candy crush with loud volumes and others are watching youtube without any earpiece, others are texting.

That tv screen should be maximized. I understand the need for adverstisement. Queue numbers are too small to see. In a scenario like this, queue numbers should be flashed once in a while in a bigger picture so tellers won't be shouting on top of their voices. And please remember, "Not all of your customers have 20/20 vision.."

Is there a place for senior cutizens here? A woman, in her senior (I think she was there before I walked in), has been standing for a long time since all seats have been occupied.

Reason why I keep BPI as my only bank is because of customer service. That the moment I walked in, it's not all-about-the-money.. Now, this branch blew it off.. 

Battle for Greatness: Humility Vs. Arrogance

It's been awhile. I haven't posted anything on my blog.

The issue between Mayweather and Pacquiao never missed the television screen for months now starting with the announcement that these two will be facing each other.... FINALLY...





The battle is more of the boxer's attitude.

HUMILITY versus ARROGANCE.

I go for humility. Humility is never a weakness. Humility itself is GREATNESS.

An open letter to SMART @SmartCares

Hi there,

Let me start by saying I am a homebase - freelancer. At home, we juggle our own time, we choose the job we want, we design our own contract and we work while being with our family.

We are the ones who does not face the computer for facebook. We are the ones who prefer not to battle with EDSA everyday. We are the ones who 
tries to battle unemployment rate by finding work that the government can't provide. 

We also rely to internet providers to complete our projects. 

In relation to this, I also would like to express my utmost disappointment to Smart's internet connection which started August 3, 2014. I was doing a project which costs $300 to be completed in 5 days. To my disgust, I was getting "CONNECT FAILED" error every time I attempt to connect to the internet. 

I was calm, I called customer service at 1 o'clock in the morning waited for more than 30 minutes for an agent over the phone. The representative gave me no reason why I was not able to go online. Got a load (prepaid), registered for a month's unlimited internet, and I cannot use it. I stayed up until 3AM wishful thinking that I will be able to be connected. Unfortunately, no success. 

I was able to browse the internet after 48 hours. Too late. The project was cancelled by my employer and I was not paid. 

The next day, a customer service representative called me to say my bill on my postpaid line is due. Here's a logic: My postpaid bill costs $80. You cost me $300. 

I let that go even though I was registered to the internet at that time, and I was not able to use it for 48 hours. 

I hate calling customer service. Such a waste of time!

September, same thing happens not once but twice. Again, your customer service people didn't help at all. A recorded script: "We will forward this to our technical team..." was the only response they can provide. 

And again, I did not bother to get credited for another, i mean 2 instances of 48 hours lost of internet connection for the month of September. 

These should be refunded right?

From October 1, until October 4, I am getting intermittent signal. Internet connection disconnects every 5 minutes. 

Since calling your customer service hotline is such a waste of time, I use twitter instead. 

Similar to your UNRELIABLE internet connection, your people are UNRELIABLE too. 

They're been asking for million times information via DM which I provided them ages ago. 

I am using my internet not for facebook only. I am using my internet to earn a living. To send my 2 brothers to college, to pay rent and other city services, to pay you guys and I am using my internet to feed myself.

I am spending almost 30,000 annually for smart. These includes my connection, my bill, and my brother's load. In return, I get shitty service.

Smart does not care about customer's. All they care about is stealing their customer's money. 

How I Celebrated My 2014 Birthday

2014 is much more challenging than the past years. It started with relationships not ending well, my resignation from my almost-10 years job, tackling the corporate world, jumping from one job to another hoping to find which fits my lifestyle.

On the other hand, 2014 brought blessings overflowing. New relationships, new job which eventually fits my lifestyle, new comrades, and several things I get to ignore every time I open my eyes.

This year, I'm broke. literally broke. But I'm happy. My paypal account being frozen is not a joke to begin with. I have exhausted every funds I have, my savings, and trust fund to name a few just to get me through the month. I have a brother in college, with another one battling several entrance exams, I have to share with food, boarding house and city services too. All dropped upon my shoulder. These never stopped me though.

My day began with endless messages via facebook. Two separate phone calls from my partner and his mom respectively and my brother's wife bringing home a half-roll yema cake made my day. 

I was blessed with friends and cousins to help. My partner and his family did the same. I was blessed with a brother who has high grade in college and the youngest being responsible enough at his early age.

More than enough to be thankful for.

Every Girl's Rival

They say that a best friend is everyone's worst enemy and a mother-in-law is every girl's greatest rival. I beg to disagree. My birthday started with a phone call from my boyfriend's mom. Well, second from my boyfriend of course. I celebrated my natal day this year with nothing however, she made it special with a pretty gift straight from Singapore. 

I never felt so special by someone who I barely knew. She said I'm a part of the family, what she gives me is no different from what her children have. I'm so amazed with her ideals. How she juggles her life from being a single mom, a daughter and a career woman. There's not much to earn but there's more than enough to get through the day. I've heard much of her from her son. It made a big difference when I talked to her. I was able to get to know her more. As my brothers and I were victims of greed and selfishness. She was too, one point in her life. But one time over the phone, she reminded me not to dwell on it for there will come a time that life will turn its favor on me. She calls it Karma.

She doesn't have any space for greed and selfishness for she believes that those who have such will never be blessed. 

One thing I would need to be thankful for this year is the gift of love that mu boyfriend and his family offered. I have nothing. But similar to God, He gave His only Son. A gamble the Lord has taken for me for nothing in return. 

Death Anniversary - Why remember?

It was the night of July 22, 1996. I cannot forget that night. It was Thursday. Yes! That is for sure. I was deep asleep when my mom marched inside my room, woke me up saying, "Watch your little brother for me.. There somewhere I have to go.." 

It is not usual for a relative who lives a kilometer away from us to knock, calling my mom's name in the middle of the night. It is more unusual for my mom to wake me up in the middle of the night to watch for my brother who at that time was just 11 month old. It is most unusual for a mom who should be thinking that we, her children, have a class the next day to go out late in the evening without any occasion.

Yes. My memory of that night is still vivid. 
That was the day I lost my father without even knowing it. 

It was a day of agony. 
It was a day of misery. 
It was a day of distress. 
It was a day I cannot forget. 
It was a day that I felt nothing. 
It was a day when my heart was in full torture.
It was a day I look everywhere and remember my dad. 
It was a day when my Knight in Shining Armor lost his brilliance. 
It was a day where I shed tears not because I was hurt, but because I was left behind.
It was a day not worth remembering because of the pain, but it was a day I grew strong. 
It was a BLACK day. 
It was a BLACK day. 
It was a BLACK day. 
It was a BLACK day. 
It was a BLACK day. 
It was a BLACK day. 
It was a BLACK day. 

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.”