River Kwai Bridge แม่น้ำแควใหญ่ Kanchanaburi, Thailand.

Exploring the historical Amphoe Mueang district of Kanchanaburi Province. 

This place is located in the western side of Thailand bordering Myanmar. 

During the World War 2, the Japanese forces used prisoners of war to construct a railway from Thailand to Myanmar so that they could supply their army without the dangers of going to the sea. 

Many war prisoners died under appaling conditions (just like Bataan Death March) and the line became known as the "Death Railway". A famous epic war Hollywood film in the late 50's used the historical setting of the railway construction as their plot. 

The bridge we see today was built only after the war, 300 meters away from its original location. A JEATH War musuem was founded nearby the bridge during the 70's. The acronym JEATH stands for: Japanese, English, Australian / American, Thai and Holland - the primary nationalities involved in the railway construction.

Trusting HIM

Certified sulker, I was. The growing disappointment on what's going on blurred my view of GOD. I never shouted or cursed but I knew in my heart that the silence I have questioned the very nature of GOD HIMSELF.

This afternoon I attended the Sunday Worship in CCF. GOD reminded me through HIS Words in Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge HIM, and HE will make your paths straight." Immediately I was convicted of this sin -depending on myself more than GOD who is LORD of all.
HE helped me pinpoint the main problem is not the circumstances but my ungrateful heart.

In the book of John chapter 11 it was mentioned that JESUS loves Martha, Mary and Lazarus. GOD didn't excused them from sufferings. HE actually allowed Lazarus to taste death so that HE can manifest HIS glory when HE called him back to life after four days. The result of which is a stronger faith and better fellowship with HIM.

I know life gets harder at times but GOD is more concerned in perfecting us as his armies than pampering us to be wimps.

We aren't ought to understand everything. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."

Instead of exhausting ourself too much on things beyond our control, let us anchor our faith in HIM who is Sovereign and LORD of all things.

Remember GOD is not yet done crafting HIS masterpiece in me and you.

Symbolic Flood

Yesterday afternoon I was inside my room upstairs when the power supply suddenly turned down. I stayed for several minutes totally had no idea how heavy the sudden downpour was. Then I decided to go outside the room in time for our Young Adults' fellowship.

For four years of staying at granny's house here in Cebu, we've been through the strongest typhoons (including Supertyphoon Haiyan) but we never had flood. This time it's totally different, a combination of rainwater, sand and mud (approx. 1 ft) made its way inside, to the sala, kitchen, dinning, restroom, all the rooms including my grandparents mini library. It's a total mess. So, I told my spiritual brothers who are at the church (*strategically located across the house - shall I say heavenly appointed) the reason I can't join today's fellowship. But instead of just praying for me, these dudes Arglenn, Jay and JR decided to get dirty and helped us clean-up and scoop out all the dirt and water inside. A work that could've taken an entire day to finish, we did in just few hours.

Amidst the situation I was wondering why did GOD allow this to happen. Perhaps to send a strong message to my parents about the realities of life and to reflect about their faith. Maybe GOD allowed this so He can manifest Himself clearly through the unsolicited help of His dear children. Perhaps GOD wants to remind me of Noah and the amazing task that I'm about to carry -the responsibility and accountability I have for them. I know these views are meaningless to those who are obstinate to what they think as true (relativism and religiosity). But to us who have been one in Christ through our washing and rebirth (Titus 3:5). I see a ray of hope, on the fulfillment of the ultimate desire I have for my family. Salvation. Please do include us in your prayers. Thanks.

Renewed Faith

It’s Sunday today rest day for some but Church day for most of the people in the Philippines. And for such a long time it is only now that I refused to attend the typical Sunday Mass here in our local church.

Why do I have to do this? I’m still feeling quite guilty. Someone may take a retreat, a break occasionally but that is way different from my case. I’m gradually taking the initiative to wean myself from the Catholic Church as I’m into a period of transition to be a devoted Christian = someone who carries Christ not by name but as a way of living accepting Him as the Ultimate Savior.

 Yes, I served the church for such a long time as a lecturer/commentator but I find it hard to purely serve without those people looking up to me with their eyes sparkling with compliments.  As I pray to the Lord I ask Him to help me do my part with the purest of intentions but I still I find it difficult to just go with the flow and later I found the answer in silence. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

 I stepped down from my position and decided to just listen. There’s so much joy and appreciation in plain listening as it helps me delve deeper to myself and be one with the Holy Spirit. 

The year 2011 has lead me much into this awakening ... series of events, conversations and endless questioning that is pealing up the old me. It is yes a “Sin” to keep doing things you have proven wrong, finding this gift through the heavenly Wisdom sent by God our Father as it was written in the Bible “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” (Hebrews 10:26-27). 

My parents and relatives are still not aware of this as most of them are devoted Roman Catholics but I will still take stand to my renewed faith.  Some people may judge me and mock me for this decision but change of Faith is something that is personal, it is between me and my Creator. 

  

People change for the better I’m happy that Manny Pacquiao and I found the real God, the King of all Kings we will serve forever. All deserves second chances and whatever this world say I still find my hope in God carrying His promise..“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

5 Things Serious Techie People Should Stop Tweeting

Twitter was built, populated, and promoted by the tech community. That just makes it even more ironic that so many of us techies have terrible Twitter manners. We should know better.

Look technology friends, Twitter is a lovely thing, but when we tweet certain things we make our followers cringe and twitch towards the unfollow button. Do whatever you will, but after reading literally millions of tweets I think that if we cut out the following Tweets we would all be better off.

And of course, I am just as guilty as you are.

Tweeting Every Place You Go

You may think that it is interesting that you are at Whole Foods (because you have the spare coin, right?), but we don’t. The annoying thing is that many ‘must follow’ people in tech are some of the worst Foursquare-on-Twitter abusers.
I may have to follow you, but I hate your Foursquare spam. Tell me when you are at the White House, or the Playboy Mansion, not the carwash.

Vague Victory Tweets

Your “Epic win today, really stoked about the next three months” tweet, or your “big things afoot and I am smack dab in the middle of it” tweet add nothing to my day other than the fact that I wonder if you can’t write coherently.
Tell me what happened: “My startup just raised $1 million!” Or don’t: “My startup is drying up and is ready to blow away!”

Whiny Lame Complaints

“OMG they ran out of my favorite white wine on the plane.” Oh, they did? Perhaps they did not forecast your taste buds and alcoholism before you boarded. Here is a little pro-tip, drink something else and hush.
You are allowed to whine if you get legitimately screwed: “Someone just stole my backback that had all my computers in it.” If you are not sure, don’t tweet.

The New Apple Product You Just Purchased

I hate this: “Really happy with my new 35″ MacBook Air with 5500 Terabyte SSD, worth the change.” First of all, screw you for having more money than the rest of us. Two, no one cares.
If you work on an Etch-A-Sketch and get your stuff done, so be it. Also, nearly everyone uses Apple products anyways, so all you are saying is that you are a sheep with no hope of ever thinking independently. Get over it.

Retweeting People We All Follow

This is probably the most annoying thing that you can do. Let’s say person X is a big damn deal in tech and has a pile of followers. This person says something witty, and you retweet it. Guess what, now I have to read it twice.
Even worse, because they are so big, if I don’t follow them, it’s for a reason, so you are injecting crap into my stream that I have already opted out from. No thank you.
That about wraps it up. What are your big pet peeves?



-- Credits to my friend Alex Wilhelm

Life's Simple Delight

Drinking tea early in the morning and having some mooncakes whilst looking on my RN license. Haha :D

Chasing Piglets

Me with the two piglets

 Late this afternoon I went out of the house and out of the blue I saw these two piglets coming over me. Now I wonder where did they come from? No, not on our farm which is way too far. Under the rain I tried to chase them since they're starting to feast on my Aunt's plants nearby Grandma's house. We decided to make an improvised pen for them to stay while their owners look for them. They escaped run out of the gate and then to the street. I really had so much fun chasing them. Finally their owners found them and brought them safely to their respective pen. Haha~ 

Sourgrape on Our Grapefruits

These are only some of our tree's fruits that fell off the ground 

due to the strong winds of typhoon Pedring.

More than 40 fruits lah just from a single tree.

Yesterday the wind was so strong that more than 40 fruits fell from that single Grapefruit tree on our backyard. I just felt bad 'cause most of the fruits are not yet ripe. This could have been our biggest harvest from that tree this autumn November in time for our town's Thanksgiving. Now the power supply has been restored I'm bombarded by the images that flash into our TV screen.. flooded fields, tormented homes, destroyed properties, reports of missing people and dead bodies. After all what we had is nothing compared to what they have had experience. The fact that you're reading this now YOU are, WE are BLESSED; Alive and kicking. Why bother? Let's offer a prayer as a sign of Gratitude from the LORD and for protection from the coming Typhoon Quiel. 

 

Our Grapefruit tree on the midst of typhoon Pedring.