Candy Paint

memento mori

[taikizetsu]

𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔍𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔫𝔞𝔩

I had a journal when I was 12, and I burnt it.

I am in 6th Grade, when I struggled to make friends due to countless reasons. First, I was a low-key bully; second, I had terrible communication skills; and third, I was arrogant and boisterous; the traits which my teachers at school found very annoying, I mean, any person would, right? Even the mischievous students in school who were infamous for their actions also didn’t like to be with me. People actually thought at that time that nothing ever affected me, yet the truth was, during that period, I was often confused as to why don’t people like me? Was it because I’m unattractive? Or was it because I’m too open and loud? I remember speaking with my siblings deeply about how I genuinely want to be quiet and private because I can’t take the feeling of being labeled as the “chaotic” one anymore. But all my efforts had been in vain as I really couldn’t control myself.

I was honestly getting really frustrated; imagine being a 12 year old with no friends, and being hated by every person you know. I could say that I was a cheerful kid, I did not care about what other people say, but experiencing negative energy from people, almost everyday, really took a toll on me.

I was on my way home one day when I saw something that caught my attention. It was a book entitled, “The Diary of a Wimpy Kid”. The book was in a terrible condition almost as if it was on the verge of disintegrating. I took it home with me, and I started to read it. Reading the book made me ponder and realize that the main character of the story is very much like me, a teenage boy who wanted to feel loved and secretly yearned for people’s validation. This was when I had an epiphany, which led me to make my own journal at that time.

I remember writing down all the people I hated, and the person who stood out the most was my 6th grade  classmate, Charles. He was the main reason why I wanted to make a journal. It made me feel like my journal granted me the permission to talk ill about him. Why do I hate him so? It’s because Charles was the biggest bully in our class. He would always humiliate and ridicule me in front of the crowd. A lot of people also disliked him, but because of his dominant personality, there were more who were afraid of him. This allowed him to gain connections and accomplices. Unlike myself who had none, since even the notorious students at school disliked me. Life is unfair, huh?

It was sudden, but news about me having a journal started circulating in class. A lot of my classmates were getting curious about what was written inside it. I would always tell them that it had nothing related to do with them, when in fact, it was all about them; how each one of them made me feel the smallest.

I was becoming dependent on my journal, it came to the point where I would write even the slightest details or shift of events. My journal became my coping mechanism that hindered me from talking to anyone, not even to my own family. I started to realize how it was becoming a toxic habit, but still, I couldn’t stop. My journal was the only thing who assured me that it was okay to be vulnerable.

Then in a random day, something weird happened. Charles suddenly asked me out of the blue if I could hang with him. And through that encounter, we got to know and understand each other better. At first, we would only meet a few times a week; then without us realizing, we were already hanging out every single day. Truthfully, I was unsure of him at first because I know his caliber. But one day, after the school year has ended, he told me to come with him. We went to the university field, and we talked there for a while. He told me in the most serious tone how he always felt like most of his friends were only choosing to remain friends with him because they were afraid of him. He then added how he eventually considered me as a real friend, but not just a regular friend, he told me that I was his best friend. I realized at that moment that we’re the same. We never allow people to enter and know us too well and so, we remain unheard. But that day, we have finally been listened to.

However when he told me this, my guilt got the best of me, which was why I told him about everything. I confessed how I disliked him because of everything that he did to me. I also told him about the journal. I remember him getting pissed and hurt upon discovering everything, but he couldn’t blame me as he knows quite well how he has treated the people around him poorly, including me. But the notion didn’t stop us from becoming friends. It actually strengthened our bond more as we were no longer keeping secrets from each other.

Graduation day arrived in a snap, and that was when he told me that he will be leaving the country to study abroad. I didn’t know how to react; I knew I was going to miss him, but there was still that little piece of me who was kind of glad that he would be away from me. Not because I still hated him, but rather, I think we would grow better if we would stride our journey in separate ways. We both said our goodbyes after the ceremony and once I returned home, I’ve decided to burn my journal. I think it was time to let the past go, it’s better to move on and focus on my future ahead.

Years have passed since our graduation when I got a call from Charles. We got in touch with each other and he told me everything that he had been up to nowadays. He even admitted how he wished to have spent more time with me back then. Charles proudly tells me that he still considers me as his best friend, despite being far away from him. Although, I can’t say the same to him, since I really don’t consider anyone as my best friend to begin with. But Charles would always be one of my most treasured friends.

[taikizetsu]

𝔹𝕠𝕪𝕙𝕠𝕠𝕕

Hello, my name is Aleck Vin Angelo L. Plaza, you can call me Aleck for short. I was born on September 3, 2003, currently aged 18. I am living with my family in Himlayan Road, Pasong Tamo, Quezon City. My father’s name is Amando Pacis Plaza Jr., my mother’s name is Hazel Lucy Plaza, and I have 3 sisters.

But before I get into it, I want to first give you a summary of my education. I graduated from kindergarten in the school year 2009-2010 at our church’s Summer Kindergarten Program. I enrolled in New Era University to start preparatory to elementary from 2011-2013. I went to another school for a year and went back to New Era University again. Since then, I never switched schools. I am now in senior high school, studying under the strand of Humanities and Social Sciences.

I started my education a year later than my supposed batch because my family thought that I was not yet ready for school, being that I was too unfocused. And they were right, when I started attending classes at kindergarten, I was struggling to concentrate most times especially during lessons. This led me into doing distracting habits such as making noises during class, doing mischievous things, etc., which also became the reason why I struggled to make friends during that period of my life.

I have a lot of hobbies, but if I were to pick my favorites, I would choose anything related to playing instruments. I also like working out, shopping, and dressing up. I started to learn playing an instrument, which is a guitar, when I was in Grade 8. My classmate brought his guitar with him, and when he started playing it, I started having this resolve to learn playing it religiously. Since then, I am able play the guitar, piano, electric guitar, launchpad, and now I’m currently trying to learn the drums.

I am a big dreamer, but I wouldn’t chase my dream off a cliff. Meaning, I will do whatever it takes to achieve my goals, but I am always mindful of where it leads me, and I always think things through before taking a leap. I guess this trait of mine has its pros and cons. To be honest, I find it baffling how there are people who always seemed ready to take the risk, like it’s nothing to them. Maybe because I can’t see myself doing something like that. If I find that the decision I’m going to make will have a really big impact in my life or take me off my comfort zone, 90% of the time I will not do it even though I think I can.

A lot of people say that they find me difficult to understand, and there are times when I, couldn’t understand myself either. My life is full of contradictions; I am imaginative yet decisive, ambitious yet private, and curious yet focused. From the outside, these contradictions may seem bewildering, but they make perfect sense to me. I question everything. I find a lot of people relying on conventional wisdom and other people’s expertise as they go about their lives. But I would always prefer to make my own discoveries. In my quest to find better ways of doing things. I can sometimes find myself being single-minded, with little patience for frivolity, distractions, or idle gossip.

My utmost inspiration would be my family. They are the ones who really want to see me succeed in the future more than anyone else. My family are the ones who taught me my morals in life. Even though most of the time I would rather decide for myself, their opinions are the only ones I really give thought into account about.

Well, I guess that’s everything I wanted to share about my being. Once again, this is Aleck Plaza, an individual who’s still figuring himself out. Therefore, I opted to end my sloppy autobiography with a profound quote that briefly defines my perspective of living as myself:

“Moments of brilliance intertwined with flashes of mediocrity. he lived, served, and explored with no regrets.  – Vivek Singh

 Thank you for being my audience.

[taikizetsu]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫: 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐱 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐨

Introduction Felix Ysagun Manalo, commonly known as Ka Felix, was the founder and first Executive Minister of Iglesia ni Cristo (born Félix Manalo y Ysagun; May 10, 1886 – April 12, 1963). Manalo is regarded as a prophet and God's final messenger by his followers.

He is the father of Eraño G. Manalo, who succeeded him as Executive Minister of the INC, and the grandfather of Eduardo V. Manalo, the current Executive Minister of Iglesia ni Cristo.

Childhood He was forced to attend public school in Santa Ana, Taguig, when he was seven years old, in 1893. Maestro Cario was the name of his old teacher, Macario Ocampo. In a caton class, he learned basic literacy and the fundamentals of the Catholic faith (cathecism class). In Laguna de Bay, he worked as a fisherman alongside his father. With his cousin, Modesto Ysagun, he worked as a carabao (water buffalo) herd boy. They were able to catch field mice whose meat was nutritious. In a competition to see who could stay the longest barefooted on an anthill crawling with maddened red ants, he beat out many other guys. In 1896, during the Philippine Revolution against Spain, his father died, leaving him and his younger sister, Praxedes in the care of their mother.

As a Roman Catholic Felix and his cousin were adopted in an urban parish house in Sampaloc, Manila, by their uncle Mariano Borja, a Catholic priest, in 1899. The priest, a fan of fighting cocks, not only fed and housed them, but also told them stories about great men, which undoubtedly spurred the two little lads to weave dreams. Among other things, they assisted in the lighting of the candles. Felix discovered a Bible left on a church bench in that parish, which he began to read. He was harshly chastised for studying the Bible alone.

Founding the Iglesia Ni Cristo He sequestered himself in his friends' house, Eusebio Sunga, in Pasay, in November 1913, with religious literature and unused notebooks, telling everyone in the house not to disturb him. He went two days and three nights without eating or drinking. He emerged from his solitary confinement with his newfound beliefs. 

During World War II Germany launched an unexpected invasion on Poland on September 1, 1939, in violation of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, which marked the start of World War II. The Japanese Imperial Army conducted a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, followed by an attack on the Philippine Islands the next day. During the Japanese rule of the Philippines, he continued to host worship services, missionary operations, and respond to the spiritual needs of its members. Soldiers from the Imperial Japanese Army disrupted a service in Tayuman, Santa Cruz, Manila, but were unable to prevent him from officiating. He eventually became an information officer for the resistance organization, providing them with money, food, and clothing.

Prudencio Vasquez presided over INC at the Japanese headquarters on June 29, 1942. Previously, "Evangelical Mission" was referred to as "Evangelical Rally. "Females sat on the left side of the church during worship sessions in the early years, while males sat on the right side.During the Japanese occupation, the Japanese kidnapped FYM and demanded that he reign over all religions in the country or be the sole pastor of the many churches in order to control religions in the Philippines, but he refused. The ministers are killed or massacred while they are in their “klase” or meeting classes, the ministers who hold the bible was chased by the japanese and suspected that they were enemies, they were forced to dig and in that place they are killed.

After World War II On 15 August 1945, the Japanese Imperial Army withdrew its forces from Asia that marked the end of Second World War. He dispatched evangelistic workers to the Bicol region in 1947. At the age of 22, Eraño G. Manalo was ordained as a minister on May 10, 1947. In 1948, the church began construction on its central office and the Executive Minister's official residence on Riverside Street in San Juan, Rizal. Architect Juan Nakpil created the magnificent complex. Meanwhile, the Huks attempted but failed to assassinate Manalo once more. The first concrete church was constructed in Washington, Sampaloc, Manila, in 1948. January 1953 he summoned all division ministers and senior officials of the church after their regular ministerial meeting to a special conference. He announced that when his time comes, there must be someone to take his place. At 2 p.m, the meeting proceeded with himself presiding. The voting was held: Eraño G. Manalo, Isaias Samson and Isaias Reyes were nominated. Samson obtained two votes, while Eraño obtained all of the remaining votes and was proclaimed as the future Executive Minister. The body then elected Eraño’s would-be assistants: Teofilo C. Ramos and Cipriano Sandoval.By 1954, membership grew to 200,000.

Death of Felix Y. Manalo On February 1963, Felix fell very ill. He was rushed to St. Luke’s Veteran Memorial Hospital in Quezon City where doctors decided to immediately remove an intestinal obstruction. He rejected the surgery. On 21st March 1963, he became completely incapacitated and was transferred to Veterans Memorial Hospital. Doctors operated on him but failed to give him relief from pain.On 2nd April 1963, he was confined to treat his intestines which had burst and hemorrhaged. He had stomach ulcers which brought him constant pain that even medication did not help. On 11th April, doctors performed the third and last surgery on him.On 12th April 1963 at 2:35 a.m, at the age of 76, Felix Ysagun Manalo breathe his last.Many members mourned his death at the San Juan Chapel. The body was transferred to the new cathedral-chapel in San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City. On 23rd April 1963, according to his will, his body was interred in the pagoda housing his office and private study below the Executive Minister’s residence in San Juan, Rizal.Within the span of 49 years of his administration, the church had built1,250 local chapels and 35 large concrete cathedrals. The leadership of the church was passed on to his son, Eraño de Guzman Manalo.

To see what we have now in the Church of Christ with over a hundred nations throughout the world.

It's pretty amazing that it all developed from one man who was chosen by God to reestablish the Church in these last days.

- Dan Bowen, Jacksonville, North Carolina

[taikizetsu]

𝓐 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓜𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓪𝓰𝓮

Plaza, Aleck Vin Angelo L.                                                                         BE-11-HUMSS-1

Christian Haul is considered to be one of today’s pillar of modern romance due to the numerous novels that he published on love and relationships. However, Haul’s surge in popularity actually began to take off during the infamous Love Bug of 2008.

 On his interview, Haul reminisced his struggles as a no-name love guru trying to make ends meet. He talked about how he would only eat canned spaghetti for almost 2 weeks because of his lack of money. Then the Love Bug began.

 On December of 2008, a surge of hopeless romantics suddenly struggled to find love in New York City just in time for the holidays. Christian, who began to see the opportunity that this would bring him, published his first “guidebook to romance”, “A Love Message”

 Because of the Love Bug, “A Love Message” became an instant best seller, selling more than 1 million copies across the globe. Haul’s first book also topped the New York Times best selling list.

 Even now, Christian Haul said he will forever be grateful for the infamous Love Bug of 2008.

For more information about Christian Haul and his journey, you may visit his official website, LovebyChristianHaul.com