Chronicles of the Daily Grind

my felicitations to:
ms. clarissa idris g. banaybanay
for passing the 2007 bar exams!!!
ad maiorem dei gloriam!

Posted by brodiz at 1:29 PM | Permalink | Comments

“life is about change.
sometimes it’s painful. sometimes it’s beautiful.
but most of the time it’s both.”

- Lana Lang (Smallville)

it's a reality i find a difficulty...
...of accepting.
days from now, life is about to change.
this seeming monotony which i first found to be deafening will soon break its silence.
and i find it a great weight in my heart.
change...
at times i want it, welcome it...
at times i shun it, abhor it, especially when i seem to like the balance.
yet it's the most objective reality there is.
things, people and experiences, even structures, i hate to admit, i would surely miss.
yet they would remain to be a part of me wherever i go.
change...
it comes in various forms.
either you change or i change or situations change,
many times it's the interplay of two or all.
either people leave...
or you leave...
either people grow...
or you grow...
change...
see there's both pain and beauty in it...
'coz that's life...
and this is the life i have come to embrace,
along with it are pain and beauty
... an inexplicable combination or a paradoxical twin.

Labels: insights, introspection, life, personal, random thoughts, reflection, talking within

Posted by brodiz at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments

B1: marketing tayo bukas…

B2: bakit bukas? di ba dapat monday?

B1: bukas nga, eh, sabi ni ……..

B2: di ba napagmitingan na yan…. bakit ba di sumusunod sa usapan?

B1: rector kasi siya…

B3: sige marketing ka bukas, manonood kami bukas….

B1: ah ganun ba? ako din, manonood din bukas…

Labels: conversations, personal, random thoughts, talking within

Posted by brodiz at 3:45 PM | Permalink | Comments

something that struck me in today's good friday liturgy:

why do we celebrate Christ's passion?
why celebrate the pain, suffering and the very death of Christ?

it's not the pain, suffering and the death of Christ we are celebrating...
... it's the LOVE of God
... for this reason He embraced all these.
... i dare not ask who am i to deserve all these.
... yet He continues to love and He continues to suffer for our sake, for my sake.
... such LOVE could never be surpassed, except by Him who surpasses His own love every day.

that's why no matter how small or big my difficulty is, or no matter how dark the world may appear to me, my life would remain a "blessing" for the simple reason that i am loved.

Labels: introspection, personal, reflection

Posted by brodiz at 2:55 PM | Permalink | Comments

i spent so much time doing this…
after the pressures of “de universa,” i relaxed a bit by getting back to some of the tv series I’d like to watch. i was made to reflect all the other tv series I have “wasted” my time with. it was not really a waste. these I consider as part of sequence of events:

PRISON BREAK
this would be have to be my much loved action-drama series t date. i first encountered this last year, after the de universa of the brothers ahead of us. I am impressed by the storyline. i am amazed of its sustaining suspense... getting me so addicted, inducing me to crave episodes after episodes. scofield’s character-personality is remarkable. i never thought that such a personality disorder (but i would rather term it as gift) or rather a person with a low latent inhibition could be so cool. i could somehow resonate or at least relate to the character, not that i have low latent inhibition, but i tend to be analytical while considering the bigger picture or the grand scheme. like scofield, i live on strategies. i was, however, overwhelmed by what they are against, “the company.” whenever i would watch this, i would easily get affected. i would at times feel headaches or a pains in my chest as i feel like so involved in the story. however, what is most painful or most difficult to endure is that “waiting” like when you are hanged for a long time and wondering what would the next episode be. this has got to be one of the downside of the “series,” it doesn’t seem to end.

LOST
before i knew PRISON BREAK, this headed my list. i am astounded by the style. i was enthralled by the mystery as the survivors of the plane crash find their way on the mysterious island. it presented a somewhat parallelism of two planes of existence: (1) their experience of being actually lost in an island; and (2) their experience of being lost in their own lives. their survival in the island matched an opportunity to confront their past, to make sense of their lives, and to embrace conversion. it tackles profoundly the behavioral, sociological, psychological and mystical aspect of life. yet, the island is enveloped with a cloud of mystery, still an enigma in my mind. the plot or the story is non-linear; the viewer is left to make the connections. while watching episodes after episodes, you get to feel that you are filling the gaps. watching this let’s you feel like playing a jigsaw puzzle. i laud those who have conceptualized this. the i'm currently finishing season 3.

HEROES
this is another impressive action series as it brings out that child in me from the past. i am not sure, if all of us, when we were young and got introduced to many superheroes, that we desired to have such superpowers. i did. and somehow, until now, i tend to wish to have them. “but be careful what you wish for,” they say. this is precisely the struggle of the characters. while some of us want to have superpowers, at least a greater majority of them do not want them. each character possesses a unique ability. from where these powers came from is still a mystery. it's not the glory of the heroes that are highlighted here. it's basically about the numerous struggles they undergo. while superman sings, "it's not easy to be me," and spiderman's uncle ben warns, "from great power comes great responsibility;" this series simply points out that it is damned hard to be different. while for me, reflecting on it further, it emphasizes the uniqueness and giftedness of every person, that no one is born a "junk." here we highlight the human dignity.

CHARMED
it’s the gorgeous halliwel sisters and the “magical” fantasy theme of the series that made me anticipate this series. it presented diverse conflicting themes of the story: how to balance their magical lives and their ordinary everyday lives; the burden and struggle in keeping their destinies secret from the outside world that would create tensions on friendships, workplace, and lovel ives; the forbidden loves between piper and the whitelighter and between phoebe and the half-demon; and the eventual death of prue. the latter episodes are not as captivating as the initial ones. especially when we get to learn that the creator and executive producer constance burge has left the show to executive producer brad kern. that’s when the structure of the show turned into “the demon of the week” plot. The concept of the “power of three” highlights the merit of synergy, love, unity. Such gifts are ordained in service to others.

DAWSON’S CREEK
how would you deal the situation when you fall in love with your best friend or your childhood friend? this, perhaps, captures my attention to be an avid viewer of this teenage-drama series. as the series progresses, young people are found to be entangled into a complex web of love relationships: joey loves dawson who loves jen. jen, however, is afraid of commitment. joey realizing that dawson loves jen, seeks refuge to pacey. pacey eventually falls in love with joey who is still in love with dawson. pacey confronts dawson who loves jen but still is protective of joey, and so on… and the million-dollar question of pacey to dawson: “who would it be? the blond or the brunette?” more complications and issues arise as the series further progress. the series relevantly captured teenage viewers as they tackled relevant teenage issues. in fact, it simply revolved into the agonizing life-decisions of teenagers which is not really about morality or practicality, but simply, that is. yet, i feel that the series provided insufficient background (historically and psychologically) as to how, why and what moved these teenagers to take such course of actions in their life-decisions.

PARTY OF FIVE
picture this: both parents died in a car-crash accident. all five children eventually became orphans. it was up to the somewhat irresponsible 24-year old charlie to take charge and care for his younger siblings. to support the family, charlie took over the family’s business (restaurant), thus the start of his conversion. yet while charlie deals with his own issues, the other siblings had their own woes. this series is not only a struggle of coping up with the loss of parents, but of growing up together as a family.

ROSWELL
this is another teenage drama-series i used to watch, but packaged with a different setting. the town of roswell in new mexico has been identified with alien presences. four-alien human hybrids have been sent to earth as everyday teenagers to wait for the day so that they would return to their planet to save their race. but while on earth, their battles are everyday struggles that normal teenagers face. eventually, as the story unfolds, their struggle is more than that of a normal teenager… as aliens they are being hunted, by who or should i say by what… i haven’t finished this series yet.

ALLY MCBEAL
the theme song , searching my soul, perhaps, encapsulates the point of the series. the protagonist, obviously a woman, single, and a lawyer in her thirties, eventually ended up working with a classmate’s firm. while being introduced to her fellow associates, she finds that her high school and college love partner was not only working at her new firm and that she also learned that he is married. i find this series not only hilarious but weird. there are a lot of lunacies in it. in fact, each character manifested his or her own “insanity.” could this series be affirming and tolerating of our own inanities? yet it’s about life searching. what does it take for one to be happy and fulfilled?

DOOGIE HOWSER, MD

i think I was in my fourth or fifth grade in my elementary years when i began watching this series. I was fascinated by the thought of a 16-year old teenager as a doctor. i was not really religious of watching it, for I could not relate to its theme. but I understood the conflict of his age: his youthful years and his professional experience.

FRIENDS
this sit-com amuses me even until now. i don’t know if the plot is going somewhere. i am not even sure if there is a plot. all I know is that it presents a clique between chandler, ross, joey, monica, phoebe, and rachel, all having their own oddity. they would talk about almost everything from relationships to work to marriage to one’s own insanity. yet the message is clear. friends are there for one another, and are willing to accept us as who w

e are.

7^TH HEAVEN
i remember the lenten season of the year 2001 when they have featured in studio 25 a marathon of episodes of this series. while i was still in the dark about my vocation path, this series have inclined me towards married life, raising a family of my own. while watching this series, i imagine and wonder how i would raise my own
family. the theme of this drama-series deals a moral or controversial issue that the family encounters. The family was headed by a protestant minister, no wonder why the theme is of that inclination. i learned a lot of values watching this series. it stresses the importance of a family in one’s life.

LOIS AND CLARK
we know the usual plot and story of superman. but this series focuses on superman’s daily events at metropolis and his romantic affairs with lois lane. i really am drawned and amused by lois lane’s character (played by teri hatcher) in this series. the series present an effective chemistry between the two. at the time I was watching I believed that i am beyond my playful and childhood stage as i got to be more interested with their love affairs rather than the superman actions – there’s really not much in this series.

SMALLVILLE
i am about to start to watch this series and so i could not comment much on this. the plot follows the adventures of young clark kent’s life in the town of smallville at kansas. I expect a lot of good stuffs from this.

MACGYVER
this is one of the earlier action series i was looking forward to watch when i was in my elementary years. angus macgyver is a freelance secret agent who would rather use his brains rather than any other weaponry to solve desperate problems. for each episode, i was looking forward to his macgyver methods, using his knowledge on chemistry and physics. what is fascinating is that he would make use of ordinary common items or elements such as duct tapes, a swiss knife, chewing gum to create stuffs that would help him in his tasks. in my admiration, i would imitate, and worse, reinvent such macgyverisms. but instead of building and saving, i tend to wreck and destroy stuffs. this series moves one to love science. it is pro-science and anti-violence, a positive way of looking at action themes.

Labels: entertainment, random thoughts, reflection, tv series

Posted by brodiz at 5:57 PM | Permalink | Comments

i got this recently in my email...
i am not sure about its authenticity or accuracy, but basing from this activity, i am strongly a right-brain person. however, i could also switch into using my left-brain.

Labels: psychology, self-awareness

Posted by brodiz at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments

Labels: lyrics, song

Posted by brodiz at 5:58 AM | Permalink | Comments

(please wait for the music to load...)



just sharing one beautiful song of jose mari chan.
it stresses the point of treasuring "the moment,"
for the moment fleets so fast,
and soon you'll realize that it's gone...

the fact is...
there's no rewinding,
there's no replay.

cherish the moment,
and as the song would tell us,
"make these moments last right now."

No Rewind, No Replay
Jose Mari Chan

It’s 2am we’re lying in bed
Stillness all around there’s not a sound except in my head
Of happy songs children laughing
Kids celebrating youth like it never would end

Not long ago they sat on our knees
We drew cartoons, flew to the moon, trimmed christmas trees
But time has flown look how they’ve grown
Soon she’ll be you, and soon he’ll be.. like me..

There’s no rewinding no replay
The chance you lose today will be gone when it’s gone
We’ll never be quite as strong nor as young as this again
Make them last, make these moments last right now.

But time has flown look how they’ve grown
We’ll never be quite as strong nor as young as this again
Make them last, make these moments last right now.

Labels: joy and optimism, life, lyrics, song

Posted by brodiz at 9:31 AM | Permalink | Comments

yesterday we attended a forum for discernment regarding the zte-nbn scandal at mhc shrine at paranaque with fr. archie intengan,sj as the speaker. it ended at about 10:30 late in the evening. i received a very striking remark from a priest after the forum, "were you able to find the truth?" i could only grin at this sarcasm.

obviously, fr. intengan is inclined to the administration's side. yet, it was not a waste of time to attend the forum. it all the more enhanced the validity of my reading of the events. i may not adhere to the convictions and motives of lozada, but i still believe in his testimony. it's inconceivable for me for him to have planned all these. i was also intrigued by the presentation of the wiretapped conversations between lozada and de venecia that were now available in the internet, the youtube and other blogsites. if indeed these were all true, how were these apprehended. the fact that these could be apprehended, it would be possible that anyone of us could be wiretapped. if we would be regarded as the "enemy," it's not surprising that our conversations be recorded and guarded. where is that right of privacy that is enshrined in our constitution?

for all we knew, we thought the speaker was only fr. intengan. we never thought that asec. ricky saludo would defensively present the side of the administration hrough this forum, initiating with a statement that goes something like, "90% of what fr. intengan had said is new to me as i have just heard now." come on, an outsider has more knowledge and insights rather than somebody from the inside? then this is proved further how, during the question and answer portion, he was so uptight in defending. he strongly asserted how this administration has been seriously fighting corruption. it was a good slap on the face in that argument when somebody asked something like, "if the adminsitration is serious about fighting corruption, then why they have saved erap from conviction." his response: (1) there are noble clamor, also on the part of the church, for erap to be set free, (2) he's beyond 70 years old. i could only laugh at this superficial and insufficient response.

i pity, those church workers who attended and who were easily swayed by their propaganda. they admitted that they first believed lozada and eventually shifted to discrediting him just because of the wiretapped conversations and the contrary version of the administration, while attacking the credibility of lozada.

i am not pro-lozada. i am pro-truth. and the truth is that corruption is rampant and prevalent in this administration, no matter how they would deny it. and the people know this. and the government would challenge us, why don't we file a case? they would always ask for evidences. where is the evidence? would somebody corrupting leave an evidence? would somebody asking for a "lagay" ask for an official receipt? and what if there are no evidence? then, they are clean!?!

i agree with fr. intengan at one point. we need a social reform. but the question is: where and how would this start? we would often clamor, "let's change the system. let's reform the society." i never thought that the system or the society has grown to be "beings" greatly paralyzing our lives. yet what makes up the system or the society are the people. the individuals. we. and let's take it more personally, "i."

Labels: events, philippines, politics, postnovitiate, reflection, social awareness, society

Posted by brodiz at 5:13 AM | Permalink | Comments

check this out... what i got from email... this is really crazy!

Ann was
chatting on
her YM
when someone
named Marco Mist added her.

She accepted the invitation.

Ann cute:hus ds?
Marco Mist: di mo ako kilala?
Ann cute: di po e
Ann cute: cno po 2?
Marco Mist: sus kunwari ka pa
Ann cute: cno nga 2?!
Marco Mist: ann
Marco Mist: wag
Marco Mist: ka
Marco Mist: na
Marco Mist: magkunwari
Ann cute: kulit mo din noh?
Marco Mist: si marco to
Ann cute: cnong marco?
Marco Mist: ah so kinalimutan mo na ko?
Ann cute: cno ka ba tlga?!
Marco Mist: marco.
Marco Mist: Marco I. Melionza
Ann cute: Marco?!
Marco Mist: at last
Ann cute: OMG!
Ann cute: wag mo nga ako lokohin!
Ann cute: patay na si marco e!
Marco Mist: kaya nga e.
Marco Mist: miss na miss na kita ann
Marco Mist: miss na miss
Ann cute: hindi na to nkktawa
Ann cute: cno 2? jordan? mike?
Ann cute: wag nau kau mgkunwari!
Ann cute: :P
Marco Mist: ann ako nga to
Marco Mist: gus2 mo magwebcam pa ko?
Ann cute: cge ba


Marco turned on his webcam


Ann cute: O
Ann cute: M
Ann cute: G
Marco Mist: kita mo na?
Ann cute: imposible!
Ann cute: nkita kitang nasagasaan!
Marco Mist: ...
Ann cute: so hndi k tlga ptay?
Marco Mist: patay
Ann cute: wtf?!?!
Ann cute: linawin mo nga
Marco Mist: bumalik ako pra sau
Marco Mist: mhal prin kita ann
Ann cute: marco may bf na ko
Ann cute: si noel


Afte r that, Marco stopped replying and
his webcam was paused.

But Marco still hasn't signed out.

Ann didn't close Marco's webcam just in
case Marco broadcasts again.


BUZZ!!!
BUZZ!!!


Ann buzzed 2 times

Still no reply

All of a sudden Marco's webcam was on
again

I t showed Marco, his head ed
open,
bleed ing, his whole body full of cuts
and open wounds.

Marco looked the et same way he did
when he was hit by a truck.

Ann froze in shock

All of a sudden Marco replied


Marco Mist: so hindi mo na ako mahal?


Marco signed out

Ann's computer turned off by itself

Ann's phone rang


Ann: Hello?
Jordan: Ann, bad news.
Ann: Ha? Ano?
Jordan: Si Noel.
Ann: Ano nangyari kay Noel?!
Jordan: Nasagasaan siya ng truck.
Ann: (cries)
Jordan: Hello? Ann?
Ann: Nasaan siya?
Jordan: Nasa ********.
Ann: Papunta na ko.
Jordan: Ok.


Ann went to ******** Hospital.

Jor dan leaded her to Noel's hospital
room.

**the hospital name has been censored
for privacy**


Jordan: I think kailangan muna kita
iwanan dito.
Ann: Yah. Thanks ah.


Jorda n left Ann with Noel.


Ann : Noel, wag ka mawala. Dati si
Marco,
ngay on ikaw. Wag naman o.


Ann hears footsteps from outside.

She turns around.

To her shock, she sees a y Marco
standing there by the door.

Ann screamed.

Ann lost her consciousness.
Wh en Ann woke up, she was lying down
on
a hospital bed.


Ann: Ano nangyari?
Jordan: Hinimatay ka.
Ann: Wow.
Jordan: Akala nga namin kung ano na
nangyari sayo e.
Ann: Yeah. But, I think ready na ako
umuwi.
Jordan: Sige. Tawagin ko lang si doc.


Jordan leaves.

Blood y Marco appears in front of Ann.


Marc o: Masaya ka na?
Ann: Ano ba Marco?!
Marco: Kung hindi mo ako kaya mahalin,
wala ka nang ibang mamahalin pa!
Ann: Marco patay ka na!
Marco: Pati si Noel!
Ann: Wala kang kwenta!
Marco: (laughs)


Marco disappeared and Ann started
laughing like crazy.

When Jordan returned with the doctor,
they were both shocked to see Ann,
laughing, trying to hurt everyone she
sees.

Since then, Ann has lost her mind and
got checked in a mental hospital.

Ann has never stopped laughing ever
since.
Marco has never forgiven Ann for
finding
a new guy.

And Marco has promised that anyone who
finds out about his story will suffer
the same fate as Ann...

...unless they pass the curse on to
other people with the title SCANDAL




nakakainis, ano?
mga forwarded emails talaga...

Labels: conversations, jokes

Posted by brodiz at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments

i have prepared well. i was planning to bring laptop, karaoke, and make the most of this last day of catechesis class. to our dismay, there was none. i really don't want to end our class like that. i've been pondering on other possibilities, other days, it seems that this was really the last and opportune moment to gather them.

almost all of my student passed and are about to graduate this april (except for the 4 who had to stay behind because of backlog subjects). they have invited me for their graduation. it's a pity i couldn't come because it's in conflict with our scheduled annual retreat.

i handle 70 students, although 20 to 30 in average attend my class, considering it's scheduled at 1 PM at the most unholy hour of the day. according to them, they are one of the most notorious sections in the graduating class.


i would normally arrive in class at 12:45 PM, and i would not find any single soul in the classroom. it's very seldom when i meet students ahead of me, learning after that they had to go home for lunch yet.

at times, their last period of class in the morning would extend until 12:30 PM or somtimes beyond more. this would eat up my catechesis time. they had to go home to eat their lunch. some would skip my class because they want to sleep. some do not really want to attend at all.

i would observe that the few who regularly attend my class found in their conscience my efforts of being with them.

for the whole year i could say that we have only met for more or less 10 meetings (that would mean two and a half months regular class of one hour a week). i am supposed to discuss to them the 10 commandments. we only reached the fourth.

yet despite all these, i really enjoyed this year of catechesis. more than they have learned from me, i believe that i have learned a lot from them. i am not sure if all the things i have taught them would sink into them, or at least produce a minimal effect. but that is beyond my control. i would have to allow God's grace to work as i tried so hard to plant in them the seeds of the love of God.

yet, i have learned a lot from them. this experienced formed in me a different catechist compared form the previous years. i never scolded them. i never got angry at them. i learned how to understand their situation. i learned to become patient. i learned how to get down to their level. i learned how to reach out to them. i learned a lot from them personally as some would spontaneously open their life to me. i learned that what they long for: a friend who doesn't label, somebody on their side. i may not have captured all, though i really tried, but i have learned how to capture some hearts.

students in public schools, especially those belonging to the worse section are often neglected and labeled. these are the ones who needed more attention and appreciation. concretely, this experience allowed me to understand our option for the poor and marginalized. it takes a lot from me. i am a salesian, and this has to be lived by.

Labels: apostolate, catechesis, events, insights, introspection, reflection, youth

Posted by brodiz at 2:55 PM | Permalink | Comments

this morning i received this rosary personally made by rey in response to (more than an exchange of) the jersey i gave him. realizing further that he personally made this rosary, i felt that my share is of lesser value than his.

i further affirm his simplicity after learning his rosary-making as a hobby. while i devote much time in blogging and in other entertainment, his is to stay silently in one corner as he would enjoy himself creating these marian beads. i would say that this indeed is a marian devotion.

pondering on these events led me to the awareness and realization of simple living and enjoyment, a more noble expression of the evangelical counsels, which i am expected to radically live.

thanks, rey, not only for the rosary, but for the example.

Labels: events, insights, introspection, marian, random thoughts, rosary

Posted by brodiz at 2:21 PM | Permalink | Comments

it's a pain in the head to reflect after hearing leo san miguel's testimonies regarding the zte-nbn scandal after claiming that he had no direct knowledge of the alleged kickbacks. sen. lacson, i guess, was disappointed for the businessman's testimony. the senator seemed to be sure that he had a credible witness who would further disclose the "details of irregularities" of the zte scam. to his surprise, it was a turnabout. his testimonies may be a further neutralization of the testimonies of lozada and madriaga. this would spin a web of more confusion to the people.

i am amazed at his wit in answering every question of the senators. he's very learned in the art of answering, avoiding to commit a categorical statement. he answered pretty safely. this smoothness however makes him all the more suspicious.

is this a ploy of the administration to neutralize the attacks of his detractors and oppressors?

the plot thickens...

yet, if this story is real, i am not amused.

Labels: philippines, politics, social awareness

Posted by brodiz at 7:10 PM | Permalink | Comments

i got this from an email from fr. chito. boy, i am ever more confused. yet, my yearning to seek for the truth becomes all the more adamant. i could not agree more.

There is a lot of noise about "truth" these days. with so many conflicting stories, one can feel lost. one feels all the more lost when the media frenzy sits on the side of one, and glosses over the other. heroes can be created and unmade by the day. at a time when the world is in need of heroes, the media can, not only report events, but also actually create events, and make individuals they fancy become bigger than the world, bigger than life itself. In the interest of fairness, i invite you to see the other side of the story. not that i uncritically side with whoever anonymous person is behind this. all i can safely assume for now is what we all know deep inside us ... both sides are not beyond the dirty tactics category ... welcome to the real world of saints and sinners and not all those touted and ballyhoed as heroes may not be real heroes after all go to <http://patriots4truth.blogspot.com>

Labels: politics, social awareness, society

Posted by brodiz at 5:29 PM | Permalink | Comments

someone told me:

"you're spending a lot of time, attention and energy reviewing for the de universa. when it ended, what would be the use of all that?"

indeed, the de universa may not be everything in the postnovitiate, but it's replete with formative experiences i never imagined having.

we may forget everything we may have reviewed -- 60 theses from 6 treatises in 6 months.there might be no further use of it in our practical training. there might be a few use of it as a foundation in our theological formation. but, i see more and deeper values in this. more than the outcome or the usefulness, it's the formative process which one undergoes that is deemed necessary and important.

we all underwent the same preparation, the same pressure. we were all in this together. we supported each other. we prayed for one another. we shared our progress and difficulties and concerns and anxieties. we are all one in this. the result is not really important whether one becomes cum laude or not. we all passed as we have all struggled to pass. and by God's grace we all did it. i am proud to share this oneness with you.

Labels: formation, personal, philosophy, postnovitiate

Posted by brodiz at 5:44 AM | Permalink | Comments

i had to admit, i have never been so tensed in my life except for this one.
and i am happy that i have reached the end.
after the exam, i immediately went up to the adoration chapel and really shouted, "Thank you, Lord." I feel like crying while thanking Him for His providence, but I didn't. I am overwhelmed by His presence and grace. Inside the chapel, i feel like making my catharsis.

i cannot but praise and thank God.

among the answers i have given, after exposing the thesis of Divine Intelligence and while connecting it with Divine Wisdom, this struck me most:

"God knows me through and through, and for that He loves me."

I have been feeling that intensely now.
I pray that i may give back to God that same intensity,
or even at least close to that intensity,
to love Him.

But then, i really love you, Lord.

Labels: personal, philosophy, postnovitiate, prayer, talking within

Posted by brodiz at 7:51 AM | Permalink | Comments

i particularly pertain to the coffee maker.
i accidentally broke it this afternoon.
its glass shattered into pieces,
causing even cuts and scratches in my left arm and hand.

the implication: the end of the coffee days.
i'm sorry coffee lovers.
i suggest that you'd rather take "nescafe."

Labels: events, postnovitiate

Posted by brodiz at 4:52 PM | Permalink | Comments

Labels: introspection, personal, poetry, random thoughts

Posted by brodiz at 8:03 AM | Permalink | Comments

This is so funny that it will boggle your mind. And you will keep trying it at least 50 more times to see if you can outsmart your foot.

But you can't!!!

1. While sitting at your desk, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles with it.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your right hand. Your foot will change direction!!!

I told you so.. And there is nothing you can do about it!!

Labels: challenge, dare, jokes, random thoughts

Posted by brodiz at 4:52 PM | Permalink | Comments

Posted by brodiz at 4:40 PM | Permalink | Comments

... nostalgic, melancholic, drives your head wild, yet soothing!

CHASING CARS
Snow Patrol

We'll do it all
Everything
On our own

We don't need
Anything
Or anyone

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel

Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads

I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see

I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things will never change for us at all

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Labels: lyrics, music, song

Posted by brodiz at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments

aware of the political state of our country and yesterday's interfaith rally in makati, i find myself questioning what could be the best option for the problem. i don't think that people power is the answer, nor the resignation of gma is the key. assuming the quest for truth and transparency has been achieved (which i find it hard to believe to happen), what next?

i hope that each one of us derive a very important and personal lesson in our social situation... what that is take to be an honest and responsible citizen?

few days back i have watched lozada's speech in a mass at baclaran church. it struck me that in the midst of our review for the comprehensive exams, he tackled the idea of "evil." we remember neri allegedly calling the president "evil" which he eventually denied of saying that in a press conference. people are clamoring to fight for "evil." lozada stressed a beautiful remark that "evil," as he have learned from his theology, "is the absence of good." he thus challenged everyone that,instead of fighting against evil, we must fill our hearts with goodness. a thundrous applause followed suit.

this is the call for all of us. we must fill our hearts with goodness and love.
this is not really something new.
we have learned this from our parents.
we have learned this from school.
our faith and the bible teaches this.
we know this by heart.
we just really have to act on it...
we just simply have to make it happen.

Labels: insights, introspection, philippines, philosophy, politics, reflection, social awareness, society

Posted by brodiz at 5:47 AM | Permalink | Comments

wednesday counselling (february 27)
i went to paranaque at the MHC shrine to meet fr. chito for updating. whatever i say they are all connected to that same personal issue. prescription: cognitive and behavior modification, requiring me for constant and periodical reflection, keeping watch of myself and my reactions.

thursday catechesis (february 28)
i prepared for this class. when i arrived at the classroom, no single soul in sight.
i am surprised by my calmness in this class, considering this is one of the problematic class of the school. it is amazing to realize that considering my temperament i have remained calm and patient with them since the beginning of class.
i had a chance to talk to one of my students. i practically spent the whole period listening to him as he spontaneously revealed his life and himself to me. young people beset with problems really need people to talk to. i find this experience a validation of my vocation as a salesian.

friday comprehensive written exams (february 29)
a mind-draining day for me, as we responded to the cosmological synthesis of the question, "what is the world made of?" thus, indeed, it led me to the realization the wisdom, generosity and love of God when i look at everything that He has made, indeed, "it is all good."

Posted by brodiz at 5:43 AM | Permalink | Comments