just words

I was playing basketball with my buddy matthew today. We were playing one on one when this little girl started watching us. I didn't think much at first and tried to pound matthew a bit more (He won anyway, who knew his shots would go in?). I later tossed the ball to her during our break. She picked it up and just tried to throw it back at me as far as she could. A thing about these kids, they're really talkative. First she talks about us (me and matt) playing basketball then she asks me to guess her age. This 6-year old kid just played around tossing and passing and stuff even dribbling. Then she just talked a lot, she talked about her dad and siblings(a brother and two sisters). Later, she tells me about her mom. Kinda hard to take it in at first. At first I wasn't sure about what I heard, but it just hit. Her mom died of cancer. Hard to believe a little girl like this could take it so well. No kidding she was brighter than those kids I took care of in church. How many kids could do a full line of monkey bars and climb 9 foot poles in the fitness corner? I was like wow this kid has big future in sports. She went home after some time with her grandfather. I played one more game with matthew before we ate out and tv and playing station games later.

The time my grandfather passed away, I could still remember it. It was hard to take. My dad called and it just came out then it was a really slow time from there. It was hard for my dad and my uncles. To make it short, it was like time slowed down every minute and it was never easy during the mourning, and never easier in the burial. My dad and I still go down there with fresh flowers and all to visit the grave.

My grandparents were really unselfish. They didn't desire too much expensive stuff and didn't like it much either although they appreciated it a lot when we sent gifts from Singapore. It was a sad time for me. I enjoyed playing with my grandfather during those times even when he suffered a stroke he still played around with us. He probably could hear us playing in the basketball courts just outside his room and everytime we came in, I alwats felt that it lifted his spirits till we were just bugging him. I didn't remember a lot about my grandfather but what his life really spoke more about what he wanted to do in life. He raised kids who became smart and disciplined ,and me and my cousins were kinda following in his footsteps. Family always came first for him and pretty much just took care of us with my grandmother later on. Now my grandmother is still here, we're still taking care of her and in a way she's taking care of us. The caring never really stops. Whether it's grandparents or children, caring is a 24-7 job that we do. It just goes on.

I love it. I love the game and the intensity it gives. All I have is words. I just say that yes I love this game. I love this sport and I want my actions to speak louder than words.

Just words.

just happens.

Just move on.

Who Am I?

Who Am I?

I was created by God and saved by His sacrifice on the cross. I was called to Singapore to take care of my family and make the most out of my education there. I was to be a mess and a wreck and yet God changed my life. It was His Grace not because I was good or any good deed I did but by His Grace.

I'm still a mess. I made a bad choice with a friendship. I still have a hard time trying to focus on studying. I'm inconsistent in being fit or even prepared for tests. I can forget friends i don't talk to for a long time. Yet, God has been good. By His Grace, Here I am. He makes me work. He reminds me who's important. He reminds me who's in charge and He reminds me who's in need. WHo Am I?God knows me and that's who I am, His.

A dedication for Valentine's Day

Family

Dad- took care of us taught me everything about work and family

Mom- took care of us and taught me about love and friendships

Sisters (Sydney and Sara)- I still have to take care of you two

Cousins(Dad and Mom side and whoever is related to me by Blood, took me years to find you!)- everything else you need to have with a reunion

AMa- Family is important I wont' forget that

Uncles and AUnts- caring and helpful

Friendships

Natasha- for being such a good friend when I was in Junior College and helped to get to know some wonderful people such as Tina, Jolyn, Jia Xin, Jamie, Al, and well can't remember them all but thanks for inviting me to your BBQ.

Daniel Ng and Daniel Low - For having a heart of a brother, to care and help out and teach bit by bit.

Ravi- someone I can look up to ( literally) but mostly for being a good brother

Footprints- for taking me in

Blink and Allan- Helping me out in my first year in SG

D-Team- Look forward to working with you more

John Lin- for helping me discover a different side of Bible study.

Jolyn- For helping me find a nice CD store, a Junior College which was worth two months, and a friendship that taught me about relationships.

Sock Kian- for helping find a use for what I do best, taking care and teaching my younger sister.

Eunice, Mei Ling, Sheryl, Choomin, Psychology students, Joshua Simon, Melody, Caleb, Chelmin, Mass Communication students- helped me see the world in a different view and learn how to treat people right and how helpful friends can be; Caleb for being a great leader and brother; Joshua Simon and Daniel Koh for just bringing in some energy during X.

Ariana and Wendy- The most energetic duo I've ever met

Sharon (Campus Crusade) - for introducing me to good bunch of young Christians such as Moses and counselling me about some stuff I needed to know

Winnie (Campus Crusade)- Encouraging me in helping other people

Ron(Campus Crusade)- For having me on the team

Renee- For just being a good friend and encouraging me a few times down the road

Taby- For helping me settle some things and a truthful friend

Constance, Hannah, Michelle, Sarah Wong and any ECH student- for helping me decide to stay in the Children's ministry and to those who are SM's for taking care of your DG
Seth, Kenneth, Willis, Titus- for volunteering yourselves in camp, for being good brothers in Christ.

Seth- a true servant who I can fool around but also just talk to about a lot of stuff

Titus- giving me some chinese music in my I-Pod and being a good bro in Christ

Kenneth and your brother Terence- thanks for memories in BPSS and just being good friends

Willis- Worship man

Joel, Fred, Joshua, Daniel Liu- For being a really fun and brotherly bunch

Jophillien- a good friend to talk to and told me about worship

Jonathan Hwa- giving me tips on rock climbing and helping me fit into the group

Weege, Naufal, Shaun, Jason, Afis, Aleen, Celine, Janice, Juer, Rastus, Rasmus, Lyon ,Wei liong( Sorry if spelling is wrong), Sue Ann and Rock Climbing club- for just being a fun bunch to be around and helping me grow as a climber.

Krystabelle- for keeping in touch during those times I was in SG and in the philippines

Her batch and Classmates- thanks for all the caring messages and friends

"A Lifetime is not too long to live as......"

Tiffany Shui ngo- For being such a wonderful friend and showing me true frienship and even keeping in contact after indonesia

BPSS 4E4 and Band- for helping me find my place around school during first year in SG.

Benjamin Toh- Helping me fix some computer problems and helping me out in band

Azhar- Bro , why do you think your here? hahahah.... Thanks for being a good friend up to now

Kai Ling, Kai TIng, Fang yu- teaching me music and letting me make some tough choices

Kimberly Li, Ryan, and other filipino students in SG- Pinoy diba? kasama kayo! Mabuhay!

CHino and Jenina- you don't know each other but I think we're the only filipinos in school so far as I know....thanks for basketball and friendship

PJC s0722- thanks for a great time in JC.

PJC, NP, BPSS, GCHS(philippines) teachers and cousellors- guidance through education

Biomedical Engineering Year 1 Students Class H12- for being a good bunch to be around, I'm lucky to have good classmates like you guys. You all my friends.

Group mates and close friends- thanks for good teamwork and friendship

Suren- for just being a cool friend bro

Petrina- a caring friend

FOC GL's and Dagonet group mates- haven;t forgotten you guys, it'll be time to remember during FOC '07 and I;m wearing the shirt as I write this! Jocelyn, Kai, Marcus, Yining, Qian Hua, Jazreel, Bryan, Yat, Amy, Matt, Evan, Weege, Nina, Jerry, Rastus and so on.....

Sailing club- even if it was just a short while, thanks for having me.

I still have a long list, so I just thank everyone who's my friend today and whoever's on my friendster, facebook ,met, talked to, my phonebook, I'll remember you all. Whether I said good, caring, cool , energtic.....we're all the same. happy valentine's day yo.

Just love the people i my life

This post isn't enough for me to put all the names down, Memories and kept in the heart and they last more than a lifetime for us to enjoy and live life. Sorry, if I forget, but if you need anyhelp, give me a call and same to ya all.

Everyday is a battle

I was always told I couldn't fo it on my own. I was told that I would always be reliant on someone. Yet, I always had the desire to do it all on my own.

Yeah, I know. You need people. People need people. I won't argue with that. My style is just different. I'm never in the mood to ask for help but always in the mood to help out. It's kinda hard for me to ask for help on stuff that I know I can do on my own. Like math, I know I can do math right and make it look good and all but when I'm stuck I let it go and wait for the teacher to show so I can understand and remember it. I guess I do need help sometimes. It's part of being independent. It's part of who we are and what we do and when we ask help.

I admit, I made it though some times with help but when it's my burden and my problem, I'd like to keep it and deal with it alone. Oh I talk to God but when He talks back it's usually through the book I read. Sometimes it was from my friends, sometimes just other ways. It was hard. It was tough but I was growing up.

I'm trying to be independent now. Learning to solve my own problems, my own work, my own course. Sometimes i feel stuff is just between me and God. Sometimes I just share it with him and don't share it with nobody except people I know who can give me a tip bout it. It's the hard way but the road is blessed. My road ain;t perfect but it's been blessed.

I thank a lot of people for helping me out to learn. Your making me independent and my sucess is your sucess, But our sucess is God's and His alone. I was just his vessel his using. I know he loves me. I know he doesn't give up on me. Maturity, Independecy, and Workmanship. Things we need to learn as we Grow. Where you going now?

TIME TO PLAY THE GAME!!!!!!!!

Last time I heard this was when I was watching a wrestling show in the Philippines. Yes, I watch WWE but not as often as usual, I check in their website but I barely care for what's happening there.

2008. What can I say? I ended on a bad note? I ended on a good note? Who cares? It's about how you start prepared. Yes, When you enter a game, you warm up, jog, get your body in shape, try a few easy moves and meditate on the next few minutes before it starts. It kinda gets scary from there, sweaty palms and all.

I remember my first basketball game with my school team. I played 10 minutes and comitted 4 fouls. I think I had a flagrant too. I look back and say, "well, we'll all have bad starts."

I can't remember any worst start than the Miami Heat last year. They got honored and their championship rings from winning the previous year and got pounded by 20 points or more by the Chicago Bulls, the same team that swept them in four games in the playoffs 82 games later, well not exactly a good ending to them too. It was no fun to get beat so badly after just having won a championship the year earlier. Just ask the Los Angeles Lakes in 2004.

WHat do we do with bad starts? Do we keep trying something we did before and try to do the same thing over and over? (wouldn't that be boring but effective). Or try something new?

Something New to the Game? A new dimesion? strategy? schedule? work place? attitude? heart?

Depends on how your going to play it. Decide, the Game just started and it's called life.

Fair Play

Mr. Terrific. The man-made comic book hero. He may not be well-known but he is as good as Batman. His motto was the inspiration. The first Mr. Terrific, there were two, had a motto called Fair Play. He was a skillful fighter and a wise guy of the first Justice Society and had always fought on the grounds of fairness or fought for it.

Well enough about this guy. What's Fair play? A game of basketball five on five? I mean, a team can be much larger than the other but in basketball it was fair play. Why? Because of the the rules! Rules states that any team can put any five guys in. A coach can throw in five 7-footers and he can throw in five 5-footers in the game and it would be his choice and he's allowed to because the game doesn't give a height limit or anything.

It's the same way with the world. A man can be born on a field and be raised to work hard as a farmer. Another man can be born to the richest man in the world and inherit an already successful company and just need to do what his dad kept doing. You can say the farmer wasn't born into richest but that's life. We're all in a field of fair play. We have different situations. We have different journeys. The one thing that is similar in all of us is that we live life and are in a field of fairness.

Fair play but the one thing that's the difference is what we want to do in our life. Are we going to look for opportunities to be Successful? Strong? Rich? Happy? Or we can go into a different part of the field......

The field of sharing. Not all are born into riches or a happy family but if we have time we can help those on the same field as us. It can the neighbor next door. The old man playing "Jingle Bells" on his flute or harmonica. It can be the poor vendors in the train stations. It can be your classmate, enemy or friend or stranger. But in the end, I believe it would be a good choice to help a soul this Christmas.

I think that was Mr. Terrific 's motivation. He not only wanted fair play but wanted to give people a good chance in life so that they too can be fair players in life. He doesn't care whether they'll be successful or not. He just wants to keep life to as it is and let those he help learn to take hold of that fair chance in life to decide on their next path.

Who will you be this joyous season? Fair play, your field, your game, your choice.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I miss it....

Christmas. The time of the year I could just go off and give to others.

I think it was almost 3 years ago when I visited a Bible school and gave the poor kids and a few orphans a Christmas Party.

Our team was simple, the entire Sunday School of Secondary 1 to University. I was a secondary 1 student then. I wasn't sure at first then what I would do. I could tell stories so I brought my old bible story book. When we arrived at the Bible school, we were given a tour of the chapel but I accidentally went the wrong direction and ended up being the center of attention in a basketball court. Imagine, I was wearing a white collar shirt with a green sleeveless coat and the kids thought I was a reporter! I dismissed that by taking my coat off and picked up a stray basketball and started throwing single alley-oops and dribbling in crossovers. Soon a bunch of kids joined me and tried their in stealing the ball from me. No chance. I was swarmed with 6 - 7 kids until the teachers finally got things settled. We immediately got into games and started making groups. There were a few wet stuff but not that much. Every kid was having fun and took every advantage to grab a prize for Christmas but little did they know that everyone was getting something home. We gave the kids snacks, bags of prizes and a dinner of spaghetti and BBQ chicken. Some even refused to eat to give to their mothers and fathers and siblings. We eventually got them to eat by giving them some of ours. During then, I was able to tell the story of Christmas to an orphan and six other poor or homeless kids. I lived next to a homeless estate and I knew how it was like to be deprived of such education and stories. It wasn't a good day or a great day. It was tiring and sometimes it was hard to keep the kids in control but it well worth the while to be a brother to these kids who often just wanted friends. It reminded me when we visited an orphanage and they didn't have families but their teachers and fellow orphans. To the few orphans or homeless kids, I was more than joyful to be brother to them not only for a day but to let them know of a caring God who gave the greatest gift of all, TIME and LOVE and baby Jesus Christ who gave His life for us.

I miss such days. It's December 1st and Christmas officially starts for me. From that Christmas, I learned to be grateful for having a family and for the things I have in life. It may be simple but it helps to be a giver once in a while. I wish all the best to my friends who are having problems right now. I hold a prayer for each of you. I hope you guys have a great Christmas. So that every Christmas, there's a gift and giver and receiver for each person in the world who'll be thankful that he received or gave.