Sagada now .. Maybe Baguio was like this 40yrs ago

Sagada Pictures

I can just imagine how beautiful Baguio was by being in Sagada just last week..

our arrival video..

view of danunuy

Faith in faith

I believe that there are many preachers today who preach a gospel of faith It’s like the preaching of the "secret," that all we need is to do is believe and it will be done.

Bob Hunter, in his CHRISTIANITY STILL IN CRISIS: A WORD OF FAITH UPDATE, says, "These modern‐day prophets of health and wealth believe that people can speak things into existence, thwart God’s plans, and purchase salvation; that money is the root of all happiness; that Christians are not sinners; and that Jesus did not come into the world as God. Rather than saying to Christ, ‘Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory,’ today’s self‐absorbed brand of Christianity insists that ours is the kingdom and that we have all the power and the glory. Another gospel clearly is being preached in many of today’s most prominent churches, and the prevention of its propagation demands our utmost attention.”

I experienced this mind-set personally about 12 years ago, when I started out as a school principal. The "I, me, myself, I believe" faith has brought me so much heartache, disappointments, etc. It was like an obsession to believe in what I want to believe, that it was up to me to believe in God. Like it was my fault if I have failed! My theology was so screwed up that I believed I can "speak" things into existence, using Jesus’ Name as a magic word, I guess you get the picture.

Of course, God — being God — did not allow me to continue going into this kind of hyper faith. He humbled me and opened my eyes to Scripture ...

Scripture clearly teaches us not to labor for earthly goods. Matthew 6:19–20 says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Scripture promises that trials will come “so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Pet. 1:7).


Bob Hunter further says, "There is a tendency in the church today to downplay the importance of doctrine. Scripture, however, places a great deal of emphasis not only on doctrine, but correct doctrine. Paul urged Timothy to “watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Tim. 4:16). He did this because “the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Tim. 4:3)."

Let’s put our faith in God.. not because of what He can do for us.. but to glorify Him. Let us live our lives not for ourselves, for Him!

the filipinos

i am almost always on the road driving or with a driver going to different parts of the Philippines... usually on the road my mind is busy thinking... one of the thoughts that came to my mind is the status of my country the Philippines.

the growth of my nation and the status of the economy..

we Filipinos are known for our hospitality and ingenuity. we are very hospitable, we open our homes to friends, family and even strangers..

my point being is .. Filipinos can be very selfless as a small unit..

my challenge is.. we Filipinos can be selfless as a nation.

TVC for kitchie's album love letter

Be.Live Artist produced this ad for TV and anywhere..

stereofame

check out this website

this can be the next myspace for music.. im testing kitchie's international appeal here..

ill keep u posted or you can check it out yourself :)

happy birthday to me

its been months since my last blog and so many events has passed..

to mention a few..kitchie released her much awaited album "Love Letter" and its doing well with our first single Highway. we are working in partnership with caltex chevron and WOW music.

the major event was my birthday party last june 11.

birthdays used to bring me down... the issues of looking old, feeling old, acting old school, and the most major issue for me is the question "what now?" when i listen to my issues.. i have this sense of dread and fear that haunted me for ages (since i was 19 yrs old)

NOW i can say "thats the past!" at last im delivered from fear! (since the past 3 birthdays)

fear is now faith that i will grow old gracefully with a happy face knowing that i am not the center of my life!! hay :)

the birthday party was not only an event but a statement that i've kept the people dear to my life! the olds ones and the new ones.. i could have invited more people but i opted not to :)

i want to thank everyone (the good and the bad) that impacted my life. this is a great life and il live it to the fullest. taking it easy knowing that its not about me... what a relief!!!

i more pictures but its not uploading.. shucks

a real new year!

my sister maria monet 

rose cruz wearing blue strips, belinda cruz sullivan beside me and maria monet behind me :)

I met my half sister rose and my first cousin belinda for the first time during my vacation in San Francisco. We had lunch in belinda's house at 1pm and ended at 11pm.. we talked about crazy stories about our childhood and finding out our relatives from our dad's side. Its a miracle actually to first meet up and feel like family so fast! I felt that i was home. I can say that this was one of the best New Year party I've had... it was real and it was me!

Im on vacation from December 31, 2007 to Feb. 10, 2008. Its a very long vacation for me but it started very well.. yes its a new year!

I will post more info during my vacation. leaving SF on monday January 7 on my way to NYC and spend time wit my friend may cabutaje and more family..

Happy New Year to all of you!!

 

 

Law of Attraction

Law of Attraction-
There are many who are starting to get attracted to the Law of Attraction. With the top rating multi-million sales of the Secret and the many Self- help seminars like the Landmark Forum. I want to share my experience regarding this.

Here's a quote from...
Abraham: You did not come into this environment to create through action. Instead, your action is meant to be a way in which you enjoy what you have created through thought.
Esther Hicks
Source: The Law of Attraction: The Basics Of The Teachings

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he..proverbs 23:7

Ever since I remember I have always wanted a perfect life and I strive for perfection. I looked inside me and tried to change my heart from within.. I even attended self-help seminars and bought so many books. But my longing was deep.. so deep that people, knowledge and philosophies, etc cannot fill..

So I got outside help to fill the gap.. relationships, alcohol and even drugs to dull the deep need for significance and purpose. I just wanted to be happy. This was a ten year search until I was exhausted and drained.

During my time of searching my brother was a new convert to Christianity. I hated him because he used to be one of me… we were friends and we would always be together in our exploits of searching for significance. To cut the long story short he stopped hanging out with me.. and started sharing how he was changed by Jesus!

It was so horrid because it was so simple!!! My mind was rebelling to the overly simplified answer to the longing of perfection and freedom. My initial reaction to his ”new found” faith was to persecute him until he becomes so angry that the Jesus in his life will be quenched or sucked out of him..hehe. I used to be an expert on “picking on people.”

Six months has passed he still was standing strong in his faith (i failed). One night while I was feeling severely lonely, desperate and depressed I cried out to God and confessed that everything was my fault and my life was the result of all my thoughts and actions I needed Him to divinely intervene as I surrendered to Him. After I cried out to Him, He actually answered back!!! A voice told me “go to your brother’s church” so I went the Sunday of the week.
Attending my brother’s church did not change me, listening to the music and the preaching did not also change me. My heart was burning in the presence of the Lord while the words and songs pierced my heart. Jesus drew me to Himself that day and I totally surrendered to whatever He wants me to do. . that changed me by letting Him do the changing!

Jeremiah 29:11For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Psalm 1
1BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.
2But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.
3And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].

I use the bible as my life manual on how to think and dream.. to attract God’s thoughts and laws in my heart. I meditate on it and apply it. It’s been 12 years and I’m still learning and growing in my relationship with Jesus. He saved me and cleaned me up, from inside (thoughts, emotions and desires) to looks and actions.

My last thought on this..
I can gain the whole world with my own thoughts and dreams but what “eternal importance” will it have? I will loose my soul in gaining all “things” apart from God.

Guam Trip

Guam was like a family reunion for me.. i have loads of cousins and little newphews and nieces who live in guam.. I also have a very good japanese dive instructor who happens to own Papalagi dive shop in guam and a chain of dive shops in tokyo (he was in tokyo when we were in guam.) Anyways the trip was special because of family. Il post family pictures as soon as i get copies.

The metro pacific group (producers of the show) treated us like family too!! It was cute to see the group which is composed of married men, be the leaders of the whole project. The wives really supported thier husbands. Truly, the show was a sucess because there was a flow of authority and unity within the group.

Here are some pictures..

Lunch at the Marriot with Sitti, Kitchie and Mrs. Margie Nadal Kitchie's mommy :)



We stayed at the Sheraton Resort Hotel! It was great! The food was super yummy and the place was so nice and clean.. we thank the metro pacific guys and wives for taking care of us.

Our gig with Sittie Navarro was a unique exprience.. just mixing Bossa and Pop-rock was a feat. imagine the crowd when Sitti was playing and then Kitchie.. its was different because 1. there was no violent reaction from the crowd. 2. the crowd enjoyed both experiences from the oldies to the kiddies.. it was a "global like" affair in terms of music clashes.

picture and artwork c/o our friend mari arquiza

Im looking forward to more posting of pictures.. during the show. Im just waiting for the copies. :) i post it when i have it!

enjoy the short video!

Underwater experience Anilao Clean up

Anilao Batangas.. a scuba diving haven.. Kitchie, Patrick, dive master, and i (the one without a regulator)

... 80ft visibility

...31 degrees (metric)

...25ft deep

...47mins underwater

... allot of fishyI told my most loyal friend Gigi Santos (scuba instructor and part-owner of Dive Pacifica) clean up Anilao Batangas now then clean up the world seas in the near future!!!! Wohoo!! lets take back our seas :)

Kitchie Nadal's japanese pose underwater :) it was her intro dive.. a great birthday gift for kitchie from "pacifica dive center inc" thank you gigi, patrick and torben!!

Drama Queen TV available

available on September 15, 2007 NATIONWIDE.. thank you mari arquiza for the picture!