The Heroine from the Royal Sidewalk

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[jeahandebarras]

IS FLAVOR THE RECIPE FOR LOVE?

How essential is food and flavor in people’s everyday lives? With the evolving Filipino palate for more adventurous and exciting flavors each day, can flavor preference play a part for people to discover ‘Love At First Taste’?

These are some of the most interesting questions that have driven a recent study conducted by global experts in food and psychology. The research powered by Knorr spoke to 12,000 people in 12 different countries, including the Philippines, on the ground breaking role flavors play in our lives. With 83% of responders claiming to be more attracted to people who enjoy the same food flavors as them, this fuelled the idea that your personality flavor can truly help in making a meaningful connection and determine the depth and quality of our various relations – whether with family members, friends and peers, or even romantic partners.  In fact, 73% claimed that flavor is so integral to their daily lives, they would be willing to sacrifice social media before flavor.

At the core of the campaign insight is the recognition on how the flavors people love ultimately become repositories of feelings and emotions. Think how such flavors bring out memories and feelings most especially with our loved ones like that memorable first date sharing a meal of sweet and spicy chicken wings. Putting these insights and research to the ultimate test, a social experiment campaign with a twist was created to showcase how flavor can be catalysts to life’s meaningful connections. In a short film entitled Love at First Taste, sets of two complete strangers were paired up in a blind date on the basis on their love for the same flavors. The result? An entertaining film that underpins how each culinary experience and flavor creates distinct memories and feelings with people, discovered using the Flavor Profiler. “Having studied the behavioural patterns behind food consumption for over 30 years, this research powered by Knorr validates something I have long suspected, that food and flavors are a window to our character, our flavor preferences offer a vital insight into our personality. So it is no wonder that when pairing up, we seek soul-mates who are also eat-mates, who like the same food and flavors that we do,” shared Greg Tucker, Flavor Expert and Psychologist. “Knorr has shed light on something we do subconsciously, just like selecting food from a menu, we select partners with a similar list of the characteristics that are important to us. Now it is clear that we make these gut decisions on compatibility using our taste buds as well as our hearts.”

To watch Knorr’s latest film Love at First Taste and find out if the strangers were a match made in foodie heaven, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwx7NnPQ44U. Discover which one of the twelve flavor profiles you are! Take the Knorr Flavor Profiler at myflavour.knorr.com/profiler and share your flavor personality with your Love at First Taste stories online using the official hashtag #LoveAtFirstTaste.

[jeahandebarras]

The hand that rocks the cradle, the hand that changes the world

Life becomes easier when there is a constant hand present in all phases - a hand that so gently clasps the fragile fingertips during the early days of adjusting to the world outside of the womb, a hand that guides the loose grip of the pencil while learning to write for the first time the letters of the alphabet, a hand to cleave to during the days of being sent to the principal's office for standing up against oppressing classmates, a hand that helps finish the overload of projects and other demanding requirements  to earn a coveted university diploma, a hand that fixes the hair and the white gown to make sure that everything will be placed in perfection before walking down the aisle, and  finally, during the final moments, a hand that gestures assurances that everything will still be alright long after it could no longer be there to hold.

               This hand could only ever belong to a mother; only she has the power in her fingertips to move the life of a person from one stage to another. But the real beauty of her hand is that it not only touches the whole life of one person - this is the very hand that has actually been at work in changing the whole world.

                 William Ross Wallace, in his poem The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world, highlighted motherhood as a preeminent force for amending the mishap of the society. Mothers, having the responsibility of keeping a home in order, have a tremendous opportunity to change some of the wrong values in the society by instilling the right values in their children.

                 Indeed, the customs of the home in one generation become the very morals of society in the next.

                 It may still be true that the world's primary policy makers that govern societal infrastructures are mostly males. But all of them start out in life as little boys who are nurtured and cared for - hopefully - by their mothers. The maternal bond between a mother and son, will greatly impact the kind of man that the son will become, and no matter who the son will become in the future, he will remain to have the highest regard for his mother. Even the new Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, was caught off guard his tough exterior in reverence of his late mother. And he isn't the only one; there are many other powerful male figures all over the world who have been publicly proclaiming themselves as a "mommy's boy".

                 Young women, on the other hand, also find their affirmation and guidance from their mothers, who are their childhood role models and from whom their self-esteem and confidence shines forth. Little girls growing in the nurture of a loving mother is very crucial because they will often grow to become mothers themselves.        

                 Some of these girls grow to become career women busy juggling their schedule with their kids and at work, and some of these girls will choose the tough choice to stay at home and raise their children full time. Either way, it still remains that being a mother is the bravest path a person can ever tread upon because it is the hardest role in humankind.

                 After all, motherhood is like a job with long hours, no vacations and no pay. And when things don’t go the way they are supposed to, it's often blamed  her way: “Well, mom didn’t…” or “Where was your mother when you did this…” When a child throws a fit in public, the first thought that runs through the mind of the onlookers is “Where is that child’s mother!?”

                 But despite that, a mother still has a very significant role to the society because the power for societal change is in her hands. Without mothers, it is safe to say that the world would be significantly smaller, colder and more rude because they are the ones who teach about respect, courtesy and how to love unconditionally. It is through their guidance that everyone else learns how to be empathetic and sympathetic. Mothers are a universal symbol of the unique power women have to get things done, to survive insuperable odds, and to help others in need.

[jeahandebarras]

Memories of Bangkok 2014! 

[jeahandebarras]

Paint the city green:   'Greening' cities all over the world  to enable a more sustainable future

Research shows that more than 50 percent of the world’s population now live in cities – and there is no end of urbanization in sight. As the population in the urban areas grow, the effects of climate change worsen.

The Earth Day Network has seen that in order to accelerate the world’s transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future, cities all over the world should have a change from insensitive urban areas to full-throttle green cities.

A green city is described as a healthy, sustainable, liveable city with a healthy natural environment, healthy people and a thriving economy. It has homes and businesses nestled among abundant trees, natural areas, and green spaces. It is a setting where urban wildlife and foliage could thrive along with people.

Green Buildings

When structures are built, the environment is being affected in several ways. For one, grasslands  are being destroyed as edifices are erected on top of it. Lorries and trucks  used to transport materials to building site also create pollution from exhaust fumes. Raw materials like iron and stone used to build structures have most often been taken from  quarries and mines which further damage the natural landscape. The local natural environment is changed to such an extent that the wildlife that once thrived in the area could no longer see its survival.

Studies say that conventional buildings are the largest source of green-house gas emissions, being responsible for 40 percent of worldwide energy flow and material use. But through simple efficiency and design improvements to buildings, those emissions could be changed drastically. The Earth Day Network has expressed that to realize this vision, cities need to update ordinances, switch to performance based building codes, and improve financing options.

Energy

The harness of energy could be traced back at least 1.9 years. A little after the discovery of energy, the primary source used by the world had already been fossil fuel resources. But the consumption of these reserves leads to global warming and climate change. Still, most of the world relies on such an outdated energy generation structure that is extremely inefficient and dirty.

But rapidly advancing technologies can still achieve a transition of energy generation, food production, and water and waste management towards better environmental and energy usage practices. To help cities become more sustainable, the Earth Day Network has called the need to redesign the current system, transition to renewable energy sources, and implement 21st century solutions.

Transportation

Transportation is a significant source of air pollution and contributes to climate change. All types of transportation emit carbon dioxide (CO2), considered the largest contributor to climate change. Cars and light trucks emit 20 percent of the world's CO2 pollution. Each gallon of gasoline burned pumps 28 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere – 19 from the tailpipe and nine pounds from upstream refining, transporting and refueling.

To reduce these emissions and the resulting smog, there arises the need to improve standards, increase public transportation options, invest in alternative transportation, and improve city walkability and bikeability.

Significant cities had already started addressing transportations' effects to the environment. The transportation charter of Washington, DC, for one,  has stated that transportation investments, services and incentives should meet people's travel needs, promote economic prosperity and environmental justice, preserve and protect open space, scenic resources and agricultural land, protect and enhance the integrity of natural resource systems and wild places and improve air and water quality. Such efforts, according to the agreement, can promote resource efficiency and energy conservation, while reducing reliance on foreign oil and offering solutions to climate change.

Environmental landscaping

In order for a city to be considered a "green city", it has to have a well-planned environmental landscape.

Several environment advocates shared their idea of a green city landscape: it is filled native trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses; works with environmentally friendly materials, such as permeable paving and sustainably harvested wood; conserves water by planting drought tolerant species, planting adjacent to water features and using rain barrels or cisterns; and reduces pollutants, such as litter, oil spills and overuse of de-icing salt.

Advocates further claimed that one of the unintended negative consequences of past urban expansion has been a loss of natural areas and an increasingly degraded natural environment. However they said that environmental landscaping can still help protect and restore the natural environment, while making cities even better places in which to live and work.

[jeahandebarras]

At the Green Room

 You keep staring at yourself in the mirror bordered with yellow light bulbs.  Smokey eyes, hair curled, red velvet dress very much auction-able sometime in the near future. You are looking great, dear. You are more than ready to play the female lead of an all-out theater production.

The door opens and in peeks one of the many production assistants whose names you will never know. You're up in six, he says. Get ready. Then the door slams.

It's opening night so naturally, you are thrilled. You are already picturing out the obsequious reviews of all the A-List critics. You are already thinking about how you will make use of the It Girl Status you sure will be having immediately after the show.  

One problem though. You absolutely hate hate hate the script of this production. No, it's not awful at all. It's even perhaps the most brilliantly written of this time. It's just that most scenes of the script ask too much inconvenience from your part. Like in Act 7, could the townspeople please not go near the protagonist during the part where she faints? And in Act 13, could the protagonist and the leading man just not kiss?

You wish you could make alterations to the script. After all, you are the protagonist of this whole production. What would this production be without you?

And also, you hate the playwright. He is bossy and he wants his script followed conscientiously.

Really. Can't you just make a few alterations to the script?

Now here's the part where I tell you what you need to know: This production isn't about you. Sure, you have worked hard to be where you are right now, at the green room, waiting for your opening night performance.  And sure, the success of this production also depends on your performance. But way before the costumes and props and the choreography of your back-up dancers took form, even long before you were cast as the lead part, there was the brilliant mind of the playwright from which had sprung an idea that turned into an all-out production.

You would not be where you are now if not for him.

You will never arrive at the last few moments of the last scene if you keep on arguing with his script.

You will mess up the whole production if you don't follow him.

So, you know what? Trust his expertise in his field. Believe in him. And know that he actually likes you, that he thinks highly of your potential, and that as a matter of fact, he was the one who chose you to be cast as the lead role.  

 ...

 There are times when we feel like experiences and choices and events from the past simply fell into place to create things that are new and perfect--almost as if Someone had planned all the events.

And right we are when we feel that way. People's lives are all beautiful scripts written by one brilliant Playwright. He's already finished every single one--craftily, thoughtfully, lovingly. Also, He promises that not one ever ends tragically.  

Now, why do we still keep on worrying when we have a brilliant Playwright behind the story of our lives? Why are we still wasting too much time figuring out how we move from one act to the next when everything is already there, clearly stated on His script?

Why do we still keep on asking for little miracles, odd happenings, serendipities, the-right-place-at-the-right-time moments, events falling together as if by magic? When all we have to do is take a step back to have a good long look at what's already happening on the big stage that is life and realize how the Playwright is already gently taking us to the place and time best for us.

There will be times when, yes, we will be asked to endure inconvenience. And it is during these times when we would especially feel like altering the script, giving the Playwright a thousand suggestions to make certain parts of His work more favorable for us. Let us chide those feelings. However inconvenient for us, at the end of it all, the Playwright knows best, especially for our lives.

Let's say you want to be in England. So you work hard and finally, you find yourself there, living the dream. You do this even when the script clearly states that you have to stay, say, in Cavite. No matter how things will seem to be in favor for you in England, you will eventually be back in Cavite. There will be reasons--meeting a husband who wants to settle in Cavite, a sick loved one left in Cavite who requests for your care, a questioned visa. Whatever the reason, you will be back, and when this happens, all you will be able to do is laugh in awe at how the Playwright of your life gets it His way full circle every time. But it doesn't stop there; a few months later you also hear from the news that the very apartment you were staying at while in England had been bombed during a shocking terrorist attack. All your neighbors are dead. You could have been one of them.  

Knowing that even though we may mess up from too much altering and ad libbing from our scripts, the Playwright has already come up with back-up lines for us to get back to the right direction of the story in order to actually get to the ending. Knowing that scripts had already been finished prior to us all entering our physical bodies is a great comfort. Knowing that a brilliant Playwright is behind the script of our lives is enough to rejoice about. And what better way to rejoice than to actually follow that script.

So instead of fighting it, follow it. Follow that beautifully-written script. Relax, stop worrying. Be tranquil, be still. Let the Playwright do His thing.

Do it. It's the most uncomplicated way to live a life in peace.

 ...

 You have two minutes more until you go out of the Green Room and head for the big stage.  Will you still carry on with those little alterations you have in mind?

Tell you what. You are but a rising starlet. And playwright is already a Tony Awards Hall of Famer.

So, no. Do not even dare think about altering that beautiful script. Unless you want apples thrown at you, instead of flowers, during curtain call.  

  ����0v.�X

[jeahandebarras]

International and Filipino touches combine for the ultimate spa experience

               Spa enthusiasts all over the world agree that when it comes to professional skincare and spa products, Pevonia Botanica is a forerunning brand. So when the internationally renowned name arrived in the Philippines years ago, the spa fondness of Filipinos have upped notches higher.  

               Using the finest natural botanical and marine ingredients made through technologically-advanced formulizations, the brand is able to bring to its consumers a soothing experience for the mind, body and spirit.

               Pevonia continues to uphold its commitment to produce safe products while helping sustain the environment. An integral part of the brand's philosophy is to maintain an affinity with nature's precious resources - a conviction evident with the quality of its eco-friendly and animal cruelty-free products. The ingredients of all Pevonia products have been extracted through a careful process and the packaging is 100% recyclable and biodegradable.

               Its presence in the world's famous destination, resort, hotel and premier day spas  assures that wherever spa enthusiasts travel all over the globe, Pevonia will be there to provide only the finest rejuvenation results.  

               And so the same experience in renowned spas around the globe can now be experienced by Filipinos. Since arriving in the Philippine shores, Pevonia has been tying up with various luxurious spas, putting its innovative treatments in the healing care of highly-educated skincare and massage specialists of the country.

               One of Pevonia's partners in providing an exceptional experience for the spa-savvy clients is Island Spa, located in the Island Cove resort hotel in Kawit, Cavite. Established in March 2003, this hotel spa has now grown to be famous for its therapeutic and beauty services using traditional Filipino techniques and procedures. In fact, Island Spa is one of the first spas to adopt and promote authentic Filipino therapeutic massages that combine healing and relaxing techniques such as the “hilot” and “dagdagay”.

               The spa, primarily established as the spa facility for Island Cove, has 6 individual rooms, 2 couples room for massage and body treatments, 4 facial beds, plus shower and dry sauna facilities. It is headed by a group of individuals from different professional fields such as medicine, dermatology, nutrition and finance. The spa manager, Theresa Echenique Haleco, leads the team using her familiarity in the spa business which she acquired when she was a consultant of one of the pioneering spas in the country.

               The spa's management aims to provide an experience that will rejuvenate all the senses of the tired body. The excellent treatment is very much evident in the spa's frequent customers from Cavite and visitors from other locations who have left the facility more than satisfied.

               And now, with Island Spa's partnership with Pevonia, visitors can truly expect an experience that combines the global culture of spas plus the local touch of the Filipino hands.

               This partnership, thus, brings forth one-of-a-kind facial treatment packages: The Pevonia Essential Aroma Facial, a treatment using a creamy, non-drying and Kaolin based mask which hydrates, brightens and purifies the skin; the Pevonia Skin Brilliance Facial, another treat for the face which combines Vitamin C and Hyaluronic to hydrate, correct photo-damage and drench skin with repairing anti-oxidants; the Pevonia Age-Defying Collagen Facial, which gives customers the visible benefits of a unique bio-micro emulsified gel rich in concentrated water-binding Collagen and soothing Jonquil Oil; the Pevonia Rejuvenating Facial, a face treatment enriched with Aloe, Propolis and hamomile to diffuse redness, calm breakouts and reduces irritation.

               Moreover, Pevonia and Island Spa offers a total indulgence for the whole body with its body scrub, polish and massage offers: the Pevonia Island Tropical Scrub provides a tropical bliss thrugh aromatic tropical ingredients like Mango and Passion Fruit, designed to improve skin’s texture while rejuvenating the skin. This treatment contains premium de-aging extracts which correct signs of aging, and renders skin smooth and with a lighter complexion; the Pevonia Silky Skin Body Polish, a gentle yet deep cleansing treat which eliminates dead cells, superficial toxicity, impurities, and sebum accumulation. It renders dry and rough areas soft and smooth resulting in a more youthful skin; and the Pevonia Skin Nourishing Massage, which uses a micro-emulsified massage oil containing moisturizing ingredients from Safflower Oil, Geranium Oil, Orange Oil and Vitamin E.

               To find out more about Pevonia Botanica facials, body treatments and home care products, please call [phone] or visit www.pevonia.com.ph.

               Island Spa can be contacted through telephone numbers: [phone] / 434-7778; mobile number: 0917-5056280 and e-mail : [email protected]. The Island Cove website can also be visited through www.islandcovephil.com.  

[jeahandebarras]

Beach, please. 

[jeahandebarras]

Iced Tea and Nachos

INT. , BAR - NIGHT

11 pm-ish. The place is just getting packed with its regular customers. A group of girls are seated by the side of the stage where one of their friends are currently performing with her band. A server approaches their table to bring their orders.  

Server

(with an all-knowing smile)

Miss, hindi kayo o-order ng ibang drinks?

Girl 1

(looks at the orders that had just been served, looks up to the waiter, raises an eyebrow, then smiles)

No, sir. We are perfectly happy with our iced teas and nachos, thanks.

 People on nearby tables look at the girl and subtly laugh collectively, thinking, Those women at that table are crazy. Nachos and iced tea? When the night is young and there are overflowing drinks for all. Crazy.

 ..............

 Why do we rebel?

We rebel to make a point--to tell our parents who hate each other that we hate what has happened to their marriage, to tell our teachers that we deserve that flat 1.0 after spending Php 3,000 on one of their requirements, to tell the whole universe that even though life is so fudged up we can manage and we don't need anyone's help.

We rebel because people tell us it's cool.  

We rebel because we think there is no other way to cope up with situations that are out of hand.

And so we stay out until 4am even though we have a major exam at 7am. We drink about nine shot glasses of Tequila (not sure anymore because we're already throwing up on the nearby public comfort room toilet bowl). We finish our third box of cigarette for today. We wear clothes that would make our grandmothers cry. We punch the faces of people who look at us from head to foot. We surround ourselves with friends who think that life will forever  be about dancing to songs with explicit lyrics, accompanied by bright swirling lights and dance partners whose names they will never know.

We are all basket cases.

And even when none of the just mentioned are true, these things could still be true about us: We stay up until 4am Facebooking even we have a major exam at 7am. We drink too much Coffee Float even when we no longer have money. We finish a whole chocolate bar even when we're already full from a big lunch. We wear clothes that we wish were as glamorous as the ones that a pretty girl was wearing the other day. We punch the hearts of our parents for failing to tell them how much we love them. We surround ourselves with friends who dance to a life that is not lived for Christ.

But you know what else? These reasons are no longer so much true about the rebellion that we know of. Because above all other reasons, we rebel because we just want to be different. And it appears that all these things--smoking, drinking, Facebooking until the wee hours of the morning--have become the norm. Hence, there is nothing rebellious about all of that.

If you want to be a rebel, do the things that, sadly, the majority fail to do: standing up to the Heavenly Principles against the worldly ones, and keeping  a Godly lifestyle in the face of everyone else who are going the popular direction.

So God's children, in truth, are the true rebels. God's children are the ones who fall for the temptation of offers (or maybe, blessings) that are so blinding, they are sometimes "unspeakable of"(or maybe, hard to speak about). God's children are the rejected ones of the world because not much understand them, in fact, no one at all, except One. God's children, really, are the ones succumbing to a life that will have all scratching their heads, saying, "what in the world were they thinking???"    

Now, it's time for us to make true rebels out of ourselves.

Let us rebel to make a point. To tell the whole world of a love that is so great we are given the chance to stand unashamed, unbroken, despite our unworthiness.    

Let us rebel, not because people tell us it's cool but because we know, with every fiber of our being, that it's cool.

Let us rebel because there is no other way to cope up with situations that are out of hand. No other way except Christ who is faithful to a promise of delivering us out of hopeless situations.

Let us rebel to be different. Settle with our glasses of iced tea and nachos while everyone on all the other tables are having the time of their lives with their overflowing liquors. Let everyone think we're crazy. Crazy to be different. Crazy to rebel. Crazy in love with God.  

[jeahandebarras]

A subtle taste of festive Mexican food

Every so often, the best gastronomic finds could be discovered in the most unassuming places - places that are built not for showing off but simply for the passion of creating good food.

              Rightly so, in the middle of a huge expanse in the Clark Freeport Zone  stands a restaurant painted in bright colors where one could get a taste of authentic Mexican food in a surprisingly subtle manner.

              Mexican dishes have always been feasted on for their flavorful and spiced-up taste. As a fusion of South American and European flavors, Mexican cuisine is known for underscoring premium herbs and spices. In a grand arena of Mexican restaurants vying for festive flavors, Spanglish dares to be the hushed one of the bunch.

               Each bite of the food served at Spanglish is a good taste of how quietly enthusiastic  Chef "Robby" Raymund Andaya is for all the current changes in his life. At 28 years old, everything about his life is currently new - from a new family, to a new permanent address, to a new calling in life.

               After many years of residing in the United States, Chef Andaya came back to the Philippines with a degree in digital forensics but still without any idea about what he really desired to pursue for a career. "I was one of those who couldn't quite figure out what they wanted to do with their lives. I was bouncing around to test what my calling in life really is," he quipped. "Although at the back of my mind, I always knew that cooking is really what I love to do."

               Chef Andaya shared that during his stay in the United States, he had to live independently and cook for himself. "I grew up in a family that loved to cook so I was always observing them. But it was when I lived in the United States in my college years that I started really cooking. I started experimenting with different cuisines. At times, I would get surprised to make something out of the little ingredients that were left in my apartment."

               "When I was staying abroad, I  really wanted to take up Culinary but for that, you need to spend so much money on tuition.  And then again after all that, you're still way down the pyramid," he expressed. "So I said, I won't make it much of a career but I'll just cook."

               He first started with a tiny food stall in Cocina Centrale, a weekend food market at Marquee Mall in Angeles City. "It just so happened that my cooking was really appreciated that time and we got inspired to finally starting a restaurant."

    Chef Andaya explained that all dishes on the restaurant's menu - even the dips and the tortilla wraps - are made from scratch. 

               Quite becoming famous in Spanglish's menu is the Pacquitos, a poised serving of Jalapenos and cream cheese rolled in the form of spring rolls and then placed on a chic margarita glass. To tone down the flavors, the dish comes with a mysterious jelly-like sweet sauce with hints of berries. The combination of Jalapeno, cream and berry flavors truly is a sweet surprise. However, Chef Andaya has pointed out that contrary to what diners say, the mysterious sauce is "berry-free".      

               The restaurant has also redefined Mexican food staples like tacos. As an alternative to the hard taco shells being served, Spanglish is serving soft taco variants as well. Its Soft Shell Tacos is an appetizing selection of three different meat portions as shrimp, chicken and steak and then mixed with red cabbage slaw, tomatoes, cheese and bits of shrimps placed on soft corn tortillas.

               And then there's the Vegetarian Quesadilla, a sumptuous corn tortilla that sandwiches oozing cheese balanced with spinach. When opting for meat in the Quesadilla, variants like shredded beef, chicken, shrimp, and steak sandwiched in the soft tortilla are also being offered.

               Spanglish has shown that even with the extravagant flavors, Mexican cuisine can also become comfort food. Its Pumpkin Soup, for example, is a hearty treat that will surely cheer up a day.

               Of course when talking about comfort food, desserts will never be missed out on. Contrary to its other restrained dishes on the menu, Spanglish's Speculoos Cookie Butter Triple Thick Milkshake is definitely a  loud bang to end the experience. "The milkshake is made almost of pure ice cream. Actually, from a 1.5 pint ice cream, we can only make 2 milkshakes," revealed chef Andaya.

[jeahandebarras]

We just get lazy sometimes. 

[jeahandebarras]

Traffic

You are stuck in traffic again.

You may be inside your car, watching for the 16th time the same old clip of a woman dubbing her way into instant stardom, or worse, you are standing on a cramped bus, just 2.3 inches from a man with a really bad breath. Either way, you are spending 4 and a half horrendous hours, waiting for the vehicles in front of you to make some sort of a miracle and move.  

But miracles do happen after all, and finally, you are home. You skip dinner because you’ve already forgotten what it feels like to be hungry, you take a run for your bed and just when you are about to dose off, you feel a pang of guilt for sparing a couple of hours for your sleep because it seems that sleep has now become the least of your priorities in life.

Some hours later, you awake before the ticking sound of the alarm clock, convincing yourself that there’s no good in giving yourself 5 more minutes to shut your eyes. You have to get up now; you’ve already been late thrice for this month alone.

But you get sandwiched by yet another horrendous traffic jam instead.

When you arrive at the office, your boss greets you with a full sermon for being late; for not being able to deliver your tasks because it seems like you spend more of your life on the streets—stuck in traffic—than doing the things that you are supposed to do. And you don’t even bother being too affected because. You. Are. Too. Sleepy. To. Care.  

Do  you really think you can still live like this in the years to come?

[jeahandebarras]

[jeahandebarras]

Date a guy who loves God

This one's for the guy who made me love my God even more.

Date a guy who loves God. Date him because he had been asking you from God the way you had been for him. Date him because he was willing to wait and pray for you, even if it took years. And when God finally said that he was ready, he came looking for you, you and no one else. Even when situations weren't exactly favorable for him, he was still persistent. Why? Because he was so sure that you are the missing piece--the part of his ribcage that had been taken away. Date him because he fought invisible battles even in his incompleteness to finally see you face to face.

Date a guy who loves God because with him, you can have a story that starts with pure friendship. Contrary to what people do when it comes to dating, there are no hidden intentions because of self-concluded emotions. Deeper feelings will be developed, and in some cases a complete 360 degree change of heart, because it was first whispered to the two of you by God.

Date him because with him, you will never be the pursuer. He is not attracted to girls who go ahead of him because he knows that it was in his hands that God put the responsibility of pursuing. Date him because he values courtship. He values you enough that he has to put his time and effort to make you accept him in your life.

Date him because with him there is comfort, and there is chemistry. No, not the kind of chemistry that science nor math nor even words could explain, but the kind that is so enigmatic, so click-no-one-knows-how-but-it-just-happens that it can only come from God.

Date him because in some instances, the list of the things he wants to do in life which he has written back when you were still so far away, is so similar to the list you have written for yourself. This means that even when you hadn't crossed paths with him yet, you both were already alike that you can be sure that you really were created to complement each other.

Date him because he will prove to you how someone so similar to you can also be someone so unlike you. And then you'll realize that that is actually okay. Because this person who is like/unlike you will lead you to more patience, determination and loving even if.

Date him because he is someone you can build God's plans with. Yes, you will disagree about some things but you will always truce on middle ground because at the end of the day, you are driven by the same vision and of the same God. Date him because he will not take all of your time you've promised to use doing something worthwhile. Instead, he will be alongside you doing something worthwhile as well. And he will be the one leading you all throughout.

Date him because it's easy to make dreams with him. It's easy for these dreams will always have God as the center. You both agree that God will always have the last say. Date him because through him, God will blow you away with His perfect plans.

Date him because he is one for giving value in thinking. He has purposely been given a brilliant mind and uses it to think of ways on how he could help give hope to the next generations. When he doesn't think about that, he thinks about the existence of things, both the important and the overlooked, from the Cross to a pebble on the road.

Date him because he is man enough to humble himself down, to accept the fact that he can't always be best at everything. He will let other guys around him be their best and he'll be happy about it. Date him because he is a discipler, with a life purpose of changing people and nations, and even more than that, he is a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Date a guy who loves God  because when you're having a bad day and he doesn't know what else to say, he will let Someone do the talking for him. Sure, he will also make you feel better with his half-funny jokes and awkward dance moves, but the rest of the efforts, he would leave for God to take care of.  

Date a guy whose face is something that you can look at even at his worst and still make you feel that he's God's ultimate proof of His love for you. Date him because with him you will know a little more about unconditional love, how one glance at even his pouting face is still a reminder of God's unconditional love for you.

Date a guy who loves God because he will be a generous provider and he will take care of you. He will honor you in his life and will shower you with everything that he is capable of giving.

Date him because he will let you take care of him too. He understands that he doesn't have to be so strong all the time, that he needs the support of God, sometimes through someone like you. And as he is being admired by many for pursuing his goals in life, he will surprisingly request for your name from the crowd to come stand beside him. Even if he begs that you don't have to, he will appreciate you as the president of his fans club, errand girl, walking self-help book and on-call 24/7 best friend.

Date a guy who loves God because he is also the answer to the prayers of your parents. You may think that they'll never let go of you, that if they're only to choose they will hold you under their care forever. But in reality, they do think that you will eventually grow older and will want to have a family of your own. And in their prayers they want you to have that new family with a man who will love you the way they love you.

Date him because it will not only please your father and mother and your friends but also the first Man you fell in love with. Date him because he is your gift--the shining, shimmering answer to all those times you found yourself alone on a table for two, and might have asked God, I am complete in you but I think I need someone I can do everyday stuff with, may I pretty please ask if he is out there somewhere?  

Date a guy who loves God because he gets his unlimited supply of love from Love Himself. Knowing this, you can be sure that your relationship would never be built on dependence on each other, or on trying to give each other love, because you are both whole in Love already. Date a guy who will not be envious if you love God more than him. In fact, he will be pushing you away from him when he sees you becoming too needy of him already. Date him because he will do everything to not just protect you here on earth but also protect your spot in Heaven.

Date a guy who loves God because he is a lover. He is not ashamed to shout to the whole world about his burning love for his Creator. And although his love for Him will always come first than his love for you, he promises that you will be among the first recipients of the overflowing love He gets from God Himself. Date a guy who loves God because he is a man after God's own heart.

Date a guy who loves God because he will be the closest thing you'll ever have to a prince charming. They say that prince charmings don't exist, but that's not true at all. There are God's prince charmings, abounding in chivalry and love, whom He had assigned to protect His beloved princesses.

Date a guy who loves God because among all the other guys who can brag about loving to read or write or cook, this guy is best for you. Because in your life, he is God's Best. He was perfectly created to suit what your Creator knows is right for you.  He is everything that you could ever need from a guy.

Actually, you know what? Dating him isn't even the end of all this. Dating means keeping your options open. And if you finally meet this guy in your life, why would you still want to be with anyone else? When you meet this guy, don't ever let him go.

Date a guy who loves God because you can be sure that he will also someday be that teary-eyed guy waiting at the other side of the aisle, waiting for you as you gracefully walk in your white dress towards him.

And you might think that this kind of guy is too perfect to be true. But he does exist somewhere out there, farther than expected or nearer than you think. Whatever the case, you have to wait and preserve yourself for him.

Because when he comes, he will be so worth the wait. Through him, you will be able to get the physical manifestation of God's perfect love for you--and maybe even get a little bit of taste of Heaven here on Earth.

[jeahandebarras]

Selfie-ing my way around. 

[jeahandebarras]

Dear P,

I love everything about you already even when we haven't officially met yet. 

[jeahandebarras]

In most parts of the world, there is an implicit choice between firmly holding on to the precedent times so as never to lose it, or braving the fact that the future is already inevitable as the former's replacement. Having both points in time  is just unlikely.

               But here is an iconic place in Asia where men in the finest suits still take time to visit their ancestors' homes even on weekdays; a place where talking toilet bowls and sinks can be found right inside a historic building; a place where sophisticated skyscrapers and infrastructures are situated perpendicular with ancient temples and shrines; a place where teenagers in outrageous costumes and civilians in traditional silk robes - and even robots - could survive all at once.

                 Japan is a country that is hard to portray in little words because its beauty is so grand, it transcends from ancient times up to the future. It is a place that goes beyond its physical finery, even during springtime when Cherry Blossoms make for a romantic setting to balance the cold air from Winter's melting ice caps. Although the scenery is truly remarkable, what makes Japan a really beautiful place is its people.

                 The Japanese are amazingly cordial. Whether with excellent to zero knowledge in the English language, their friendly smiles and gestures will really make you feel that they are more than happy to see you around - they want you to stay around. They are also very disciplined with details in time, direction and instruction, which perhaps explains why they are extremely fluent in maths, sciences and even culinary exhibitions. Aside from that, they have the wildest yet most efficient ideas in everything, from fashion staples to home appliances. They are very supportive of their own tourism industry as well, that even on normal days, famous destinations are flocked not by tourists but locals.  But most of all, the Japanese are the kind of people who are so deeply rooted in their traditions but are still so forward-thinking, and this balance in themselves is what makes their country so unassumingly advanced among others.

                 Now as current events lead to this beautiful country becoming more accessible to the Philippines, Filipinos are all the more curious to know further about what makes Japan a destination that couldn't be missed out in one's lifetime. 

The past, the future

                 Truly among the tender moments to be cherished in Japan is watching the most rounded form  of the sun in its deepest shade of red orange rise from the dim sky. It's so bright that it's almost errant to keep staring at it, yet still so alluring so you wouldn't help but keep watching anyway.  

                 For the Japanese, the sunrise is a picture that connects their past to their future. The sun that they see and will still see rising every day is the same sun that had made their country become known centuries ago as the "land of the rising sun".

                 The group got to experience more of Japan's past and future as it was spoiled to different sites in Tokyo and Toyama. Tokyo is indeed the city where the future is already existing. The tour in Tokyo enabled the group to go to the National Museum of Emerging Science to meet the famous Asimo, a robot made by Japanese industrial company Honda, which mimics precise actions of human beings. Moreover, the group got the privilege to cut in a very long line leading to the top of the Tokyo Sky Tree, which gives a 360 view of the whole city of Tokyo. The group also got their moment of being lost in Tokyo's complex railway system as well as Shibuya's famous busy crossing.  

                 Heading to Toyama, which is about an hour from Tokyo by plane, is yet another experience to validate Japan's lead in technology worldwide. The group got to  ride ANA's 787 Dreamliner, considered to be the world's most advanced aircraft today, which is now also being used for direct flights to Manila.

                 Landing in the small city of Toyama is yet another story. Toyama, unlike Tokyo, is a city still rich in old Japanese traditions. Known as  Japan's center of medicine, Toyama shows the more refined side of Japan. The place shows more greeneries with the Tateyama Mountain Range as its backdrop. Still in Toyama, the group got to stopover at the Toyama Castle, built back in 1543, and at the Iwase old town, where an old house, now considered as a national cultural property, is located.

                 Authentic Japanese dinners - one at a high-end restaurant towering over the Odaiba skyline and another during a classic Sumida River Tour - were served up for the group to experience. Still talking about food, the group also got to visit a sushi museum in Toyama where authentic sushi in a unique packaging that would make one think of rice cakes are also being manufactured.    

                 But still, the best part about the trip is getting to interact with the Japanese - from the friendly tour guides, to the friends from ANA Japan, to random people who are all smiles to have a foreigner in their country. Indeed, the best depiction that Japan is a place where there is correlation between its past and its future is its people - because even many centuries after, they will surely remain ever the same to harmonize their wonderful country.

[jeahandebarras]

Back to You

God is getting bigger in my life, something I didn't think could be possible since He's already big enough for my mind to completely grasp. Yet, He is consuming me. Not in a way that makes you burdened, but quite the opposite. He is consuming my heart, thoughts and time with His love. A love that you can feel. A love that feels so real. It is real. I'm letting my walls shatter before Him. I am giving Him my brokenness, the one I can't deal with anymore. He is transforming me from this hopeless girl in rags into His radiant princess...into His beloved daughter.

The mirror is a constant reminder of how fall I short from beauty, worth and perfection. But by His loving grace, He allows me to come into His presence and ask Him to cleanse me and make me more like Him. I have to confess, lately, I've been silent and cold with Him. I have not spent time with Him that much. I have not trusted Him. My shame and frustration have held me down. But I'm tired of letting the enemy win the short battles. I am standing up, even when my heart is weak. I am trusting God, even if I don't understand what is going on around me. I have authority over the enemy and no weapon against me shall remain. God is still in His throne, He is still in control, regardless of the seasons I'm going through. Whether that be the desert or the wilderness. I have more than enough reasons to praise Him...to give myself to Him. He is still sustaining me, just like He has always done. I am still called with a purpose, even if this world falls apart. He is still my Lover and my Husband; My Savior & Redeemer. If He fills me, I have to pour it out just so that I could be emptied again. I am complete in Him. How quickly do I forget He is Lord. How quickly I forget I am His. How quickly I forget His purposes. 

But I'm sick of that. I want to go back to being sickeningly in love with Him. 

“Therefore I am now going to allure her;     I will lead her into the wilderness     and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards,     and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will respond as in the days of her youth,     as in the day she came up out of Egypt.

(Hosea 2: 14-15)