2 Stars for the Crazy One

When You Are Through Changing, You Are Through. ~Bruce Barton

2011-02-06T20:02:00.000-08:00

If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it.

~Mary Engelbreit

I am a social entrepreneur specializing in marketing to boost financial support for our church, Lugar ng Pag-asa (Place of Hope) and its ministries. I love Film and Music and understand the language of the mainstream. A tech savvy but all these I integrated in our ministries.

My dad is the pastor of Pasig Bible Baptist Church, “A Place of Hope” Main. I was a Sunday school kid. Needless to say, I spent my early life in and around the church, being regularly trained through Bible studies and ministries. I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at a young age. I think that salvation happened when I was a kid, but conversion is something that happened just recently.

The problem with growing up in an institutional and traditional church is that you become immune to the outside world, to the real needs of the people. You grow up in a bubble, with the ideology that you are on the right track, and that your righteous living is pleasing to God. However, discontentment crept in. I may have been a regular fixture at church, but I was easily backsliding in my heart. I was a prodigal preacher’s son, and soon I also experienced rock bottom. I lost everything.

From that pit, I gained a peek at the things which I needed to look at besides myself. Real life burst the bubble that I was in, and I approached the road towards conversion at the moment my eyes, ears and heart were opened to the outside world, to the real plight of my countrymen.

I began to leave my previous way of life. I was a traditional, religious person before, but now I approached things through building relationships. This change was prompted by the life story of Mary Rose, a young girl who earned a living by picking out garbage from one of the largest dumpsites in Metro Manila. I got involved in helping her build a new life. That is when I started to understand people apart from the religious institution. I let go of judgment, and started operating through love.

I grew up believing that life was compartmentalized into the “spiritual” and the “secular”, into Christian thought and non-Christian thought. Now, I realized that this mindset is flawed. Spirituality is all about connection. It is a flow of God’s love through everything. Thus, Christian life is a lifestyle, not something that is turned on and off once a week. It should come full circle in one’s life, and be integrated in all our endeavors.

Through my work, I also came to realize that social action is a result of evangelism. It is an expression of love, the completion of the gospel. In traditional evangelism, Christ is presented as a mere ticket to heaven. In social action, the love of Christ is felt, and the message is understood through realistic strategies.

I now approach life and Christianity with these new ways of thinking. This way, I have become more effective in sharing Christ’s love not through traditional and mechanical strategies, but through heartfelt and passionate means of making Him real to the least of my Filipino brothers and sisters.

Lugar ng Pag-asa (tagalog (local dialect for “A Place of Hope”) is different in that it is located in the mountains at the outskirts of the city, in contrast to the usual city-based church. The landscape is provincial, and the people belong to the lower bracket of the socio-economic stratum. This includes the communities at San Mateo and Pintong Bukawe, the Dumagat tribes, the Tagalogs, and the Remotados (people of mixed Dumagat and Tagalog lineage).

Our church has also become the driving force of the community because our discipleship is holistic; it is infused in the education and livelihood endeavors that we initiate. Our church is less of a congregational structure and more of a gathering of different sectors to uplift the life of marginalized communities. I am particularly involved in the aspect of economic enterprise, because I believe that we cannot help the poor if we ourselves are poor. As we develop our economic channels, we also develop the quality of life of these communities.

The ministries I am involved in are all geared towards this end. We have agricultural entrepreneurship to promote a sustainable food supply and income for farmers. We have a garment factory where community members are involved in sewing clothes that are sold for additional income. We have also built a school to provide free education to economically challenged kids. We provide salaries to the faculty and staff of the school. Not only do we reach out to kids, but to their parents as well. Through the school, the lives of both child and parent are changed and uplifted.

My new foundation, the Hop.E (www.hop-e.org) Foundation, is directly involved in generating funds for all of these endeavors. Hop.E is a ministry-turned-advocacy that uses creative and innovative strategies to get private companies involved in sustaining the ministries. Through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs of big, private companies, we are able to source funds for the benefit of the poor. We are able to channel resources to the people who need and deserve the support.

Being the marketing arm of our church takes up a lot of my time and energy, but I feel fulfilled knowing that every day, lives are being improved, and hope is being rekindled in the hearts of the hopeless.

I believe in touching the physicality of a person to be able to touch that person’s spirituality as well. That is why I consider providing livelihood and education to communities as my two greatest achievements.

Through livelihood, we are able to put food on the table, to provide the very basic physical and financial contentment to simple people who otherwise could not have risen to the challenge.

Through education, we are able to educate both kids and parents through a ministry, which operates like an outreach.

I thank the Lord for enabling us to do all of these things, and for arranging so many opportunities for these visions to come true. I could not have achieved these things without the Lord’s favor and blessing which are very present in my life.

Our church is unique. It does not look and feel like the institutional church we have all been brought up in. We promote a non-churchlike and non-traditional approach. We are also very community-based, which is an upgrade from being merely congregational. Building the community is long term, in contrast to building an institutional church that tends to be only a Sunday thing. Our church has become an everyday thing, a way of life. And that is the way it has been for me, too.

Even our funding is unique. We do not just source it from the members, but from CSR. This way, we do not burden new Christians into supporting a newly planted church which they may not yet fully understand. Instead, we enable them to share blessings and resources equally among themselves.

People will probably remember me for the story I never get tired of sharing. Mary Rose is a kid who was helped out by Fusion Excel’s Hope for Children, and Hop.E Foundation. From being a garbage picker, she is now living a normal life, the life that a child deserves. She has left the harsh and cruel life in the garbage dump where she is forced to eat leftover food straight from the dumpsite. She and her family are now residing in a concrete house, something that has merely been an object of their dreams a few years back. Mary Rose has also acquired a scholarship until her graduation, plus her own simple business to be able to sustain her family. She has already traveled around Asia, sharing her story and giving hope to kids her age.

Her story has captured the hearts and minds of people across Asia. She caused companies to rethink their priorities and to include CSR in their strategies. She has become the image of hope to so many people. Her life proved that miracles do happen, and that dreams do come true. She may be this beacon of hope to others, but to me, she is a personal story, someone who reflects my own journey from indifference to compassion.

While I was witnessing the miracles in the lives of the people around me, I thought that the change was happening within them. But actually, the change was happening within me. God was changing the landscape around me, but He was also changing my heart and my perception, my character as a Christian. I truly repented (rethink) from being the typical judgmental lawful Christian, to a grace and gratitude, on relationship instead of rituals son of the King. Even the way I think about money is revolutionized. God has taught me how to be a true steward of His money – and that is by sharing it with those who need it the most. Do what you can to make this world a better world for all! His Kingdom come, and His will be done here on earth as it is in heaven!

Twitter: Jayjaylizarondo

Hop-E and Hope for Children's HopeHelps 2010

2010-10-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

Social Networking, Technology and God

2010-08-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

Lately, I spent a lot of time thinking and contemplating about what an impact new technology has done in my life and this generation in terms of sharing the "good news" or the" Love of God" in the virtual space. I also thought about how my time, habits and everyday rituals has changed dramatically over the years because spending hours in my iMac and Mac laptop (Mac talaga noh, hehe) whether I’d effectively communicated my ideas to friends and family – guess I’ll find out soon enough. Anyway, Marshall McLuhan became famous with the publication of Understanding Media, in which he states right at the beginning that a medium is "any extension of ourselves”, or most importantly, he defines media as technological extensions of the body. He passed away in 1980, but maybe he had a vision or imagined this 21st century with our laptops and iPhones, Blackberry etc, “technological extensions” texting, IM-ing, emailing, Facebook-ing, Twitter-ing.

Through social networking programs such as Facebook, Friendster and Twitter, we can now connect, interact and know the details of each other’s lives like never before. This will give your teens an avenue to connect with their peers and also allow you to know your young people. Better still, by allowing them to know some of the daily activities of your life, your thoughts, hobbies and interests, it will let them know you better.

“These are the things that make you the man that leads your church. They’re the windows into your personality that perhaps stay shuttered when you’re teaching the Bible. Sometimes your people need to look in—not all the way in, and not into every room—but your people need some access to you as a person.

… It will give you access to your people’s minds and hearts in a unique way by giving them a chance to know you as a well-rounded person. You will no longer be only a preacher and a teacher, but also a guy who had a hard time putting together a swing-set for his kids last weekend. People will open up for you as you open up like this for them. Letting people catch an honest glimpse of your life will add authenticity to your teaching and depth to your ministry.”

Mr. Piper

The medium is the message. This is merely to say that the personal and social consequences of any medium - that is, of any extension of ourselves - result from the new scale that is introduced into our affairs by each extension of ourselves, or by any new technology.
Marshall McLuhan

Theologians Don’t Know Nothing

2010-08-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

These days it is tough being a theologian. Polls show evidence of a widespread spiritual quest, but the search seldom leads to the theologian’s door. This is odd because by definition the theologian’s entire life is devoted to, studying “the science of God or of religion; the science which treats of the existence, character, and attributes of God, his laws and government, the doctrines we are to believe, and the duties we are to practice.”C.S. Lewis blamed the disinterest in theology on theologians saying fifty years ago, “When I began, Christianity came before the great mass of my unbelieving fellow countrymen either in the highly emotional form offered by revivalists or in the unintelligible language of the highly cultured clergymen. Most men were reached by neither. My task was therefore simply that of a translator—one turning Christian doctrine, or what he believed to be such, into the vernacular, into language that unscholarly people would attend to and could understand…One thing is sure. If the real theologians had tackled this laborious work of translation about a hundred years ago, when they began to lose touch with the people (for whom Christ died), there would have been no place for me.”The complaint about their irrelevance has entered popular culture through WILCO whose new album, A Ghost is Born,” features a song titled “Theologians,” the first line of which is, “theologians don’t know nothing, about my soul.”Students of culture know that in the 60’s everyday discussions about theology moved from religious and academic institutions into the popular culture. We may not like pop theology, but for many of today’s youth it is the only theology they know. SO I recommend we learn to “exegete” (Exposition; explanation; especially, a critical explanation of a text or portion of Scripture) -Dick Staub

Blessing the Poor, the Neeedy, the Helpless, the Widow and the Broken! ( Tackling the Real Issues)

2010-07-11T17:45:00.000-07:00

We sometimes become busy being busy or we major the minor and minor the major issues to the point that we ignore our social responsibility of the very basic teachings of Christ where He in the Gospels speaks of the judgment, the question which is put to the people is never, "Did you praise me?" "Did you pray to me?" "Did you believe this or did you believe that?" It is only this: "What did you do to relieve distress; to abolish poverty?" To those who are condemned, the Judge is represented as saying: "I was a hungered and ye gave me no meat, I was athirst and ye gave me no drink, I was sick and in prison and ye visited me not." Then they say, "Lord, Lord, when did we fail to do these things to thee?" The answer is: "Inasmuch as ye failed to do it to the least of these, so also did ye fail to do it unto me; depart into the place prepared for the devil and his angels."

On the other hand, what is said to the blessed is: "I was a hungry and you gave me meat, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and in prison and you visited me." And when they say: "Lord, Lord, when did we do these things to thee?" The answer is: "Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me." That to me is the mark of a true child of God!

*****
What is the true essence and spirit of Christianity then? Well, The goal here is not "Provide for your own body and save your own soul!" but "Do what you can to make this world a better world for all!" It was a protest against the doctrine or man's created dogma of "each for himself" This was why the rich and powerful, the high priests and the rulers persecuted Christianity with fire and sword. It was not religion (what in so many of our churches today is called religion) that pagan Rome sought to tear out — it was the doctrine of the equality of human rights!

Efren the supahstah!

Dumagat kid

hope

hopehelps

pastor rj and efren

san andres

fav pic too!

orphans!

maryrose in malaysia

Quality Education for the community

Free education!

Water Pump

child sponsorship for only $100.oo a year per kid!

spread the love!

2 stars!

house of blankets

let us give cheerfully!

Hop-E and Hope for Children's HopeHelps 2010

2010-06-03T21:31:00.000-07:00

"On behalf of the Hop-E Foundation, I extend my warmest and sincerest thanks to the staff and officials of FusionExcel, as well as the Project coordinator of FusioneExcel's Hope for Children, for graciously supporting our foundation’s feeding program. On May 29, Hop-E and its partners converged to benefit more than a thousand kids (Tribes and locals) in San Mateo. The children enjoyed nutritious food generously shared by our partners, "Vitalac" who provided milk products. These kids were not only physically satisfied, they were also emotionally nourished through the love and care demonstrated by our volunteers. Change is truly is in our hands, and nothing is impossible if people work together. With supportive partners such as FusionExcel and Hope for Children, I believe we could truly change the whole world one kid at a time. Mabuhay and Thank You! " - Presidential Director and Social Entrepreneur, Jayjay Lizarondo.

FE Spokesmen Samboy Lim and Allan Caidic were there to grace the occasion too. So did Cory Quirino and her crew who did interviews and filming for her TV show. Our 10-year old child prodigy singer Clark Gamul gave very inspiring songs that should encourage all the youngsters there to rise above themselves and hopefully overcome their poverty. Likewise, song and dance numbers were rendered by various youth groups from the local church and the community. And of course, there was PD Pastor Art Medina who addressed the crowd to explain the aims and the projects of FE's Hope For Children through partnership programs with NGO's like HOP-E Foundation. PD Art Medina expounded on the holistic aims of "HOPE H.E.L.P.S.", where the acronym "H.E.L.P.S." stand for --

H - Health programs
E - Environment preservation
L - Livelihood programs
P - Portable water
S - Scholarship programs

"Overall, it was very touching to see young boys and girls enjoying themselves and even relishing their hot meals! Follow-through projects are already in the works." - Presidential Director and Social Entrepreneur, Arthur Tuason.

http://www.hop-e.org

http://fusionexcel.com/news_HFCmanila09052010.html

When Gandhi almost became a Christian.

2010-05-25T23:56:00.000-07:00

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35

I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.

- Mohandas Gandhi

I just finished watching the movie "Gandhi 1982, Ben Kingsley looked so much like Gandhi, many natives thought him to be Gandhi's ghost and 300,000 extras appeared in the funeral sequence. About 200,000 were volunteers and 94,560 were paid a small fee (under contract). The sequence was filmed on 31st Jan 1981, the 33rd anniversary of Gandhi's funeral. 11 crews shot over 20,000 feet of film, which was pared down to 125 seconds in the final release.

Anyway, I was touched and was moved by Gandhi's story of radical love and peace when he said, "Nonviolence is the law of our species." But what wasn't shown was when he went to a Christian church but was rejected by the "Christians" and this where I want to explore the question, What is true Christianity in connection to Gandhi and future Gandhi's we would meet in the future?

-----------

Ghandi replied, “I’d like to attend worship here.”

The church elder snarled at him, “There’s no room for kaffirs in this church. Get out of here or I’ll have my assistants throw you down the steps.”

From that moment, Ghandi said, he decided to adopt what good he found in Christianity, but would never again consider becoming a Christian if it meant being part of the church.

How we treat those others tells people MORE about what we believe, and what following Jesus means to us, than all the fine sermons we deliver.

------------

Mohandas Gandhi adored Jesus' teachings on love and peace and He embodied that, but what Im pointing out is how we "christians" become very vindictive and judging when we should use love and peace in making Jesus and not our religions famous.

Christ attracted the sinners and the sinners are attracted to Christ, Jesus restored the relationship of man to the Father through intimate love and relationship with the sinner. The sinners, like me, Jayjay Lizarondo, was able to understand though not entirely comprehend, in obedience of faith through grace, the love of God.
Unfortunately, Gandhi was looking for answers and his rejection of Christianity grew out of an incident that happened when he was a young man practising law in South Africa. He had become attracted to the Christian faith, had studied the Bible and the teachings of Jesus, and was seriously exploring becoming a Christian. But the so called "Christians" rejected him because his skin's color was brown. Oh wow. What a scary thought.

Am not into judging a race, ones religion, denomination and or preferences of whatever, but radical grace means Lord if they don't believe, help me to just love and pray for them, maybe, who knows! I would rather just pray for God's spirit to touch their hearts and still love those that are in the dark instead of judging or reviling or damning them. I pray to God I do not judge so I may not be judged but to exemplify and emanate Christlikeness in love, through love, by love. Peace. :-)

Let me Decrease as You Increase in my Life!

2010-04-25T23:55:00.000-07:00

My mind is on God's inexplicable love for me, not on my love for God that is very humanly unstable. That is why I love Him so, because He loved me first. What a relief!

I shouldnt be boasting on my love for God like Peter the Apostle did, I pray that I should focus on Jesus inexplicable love for me like John the Beloved did, as he would always claim, "a disciple whom Jesus loves." What Grace and Truth!

jayjay

www.hop-e.org
Spreadtheloveoutthere

The Movie in my Mind - "August Rush" and God.

2010-03-13T09:46:00.000-08:00

God spoke again to me tonight, it was a wonderful experience. I heard God vivdly again. Interestingly, I always hear Him in the most unexpected way, oh yes, almost always like this. I hear Him in a radio while a song is being sung, I see Him in the newspaper through an everyday article, but moslty I see and hear Him while watching a movie or a DVD. I saw and heard Him while watching Batman, or any weird movies you can think of. I heard Him while listening to a Rap Music or a movie soundtrack, and I found peace and comfort while wathching movies that made me cry like a baby, yeah yeah, I cried not just because what I saw was good and heartwarming but because I saw God in the colorful or dark stories everyday people, yes, everyday ordinary people who experienced pain and confusion that resulted in a miracle through their music, poetry, paintings, movies and tonight God spoke to me in an art form and I love it. Embracing humanity and life is what's making me "spiritual again." The Spirit working in me and through me and talking to me in the form of an art.

God spoke to me again tonight, and this time while watching the movie "August Rush" as I said I cried not just because of the wonderful story but because I was enlightened, I heard Him speak through the musical score of the movie, the music that was being played through different instruments, I heard Him in different ways a normal person won't hear, in this world that's full of distraction and noise, we always forget how to be still and be quiet to hear what He has to say. Again, I just look but don't see, but this time, I saw. I felt the frustration, the pain and the hurt for some reason inexplicable reason because of my continuous searching and longing of my purpose here on this earth. Ive been praying to God to let me see and hear again, and thank God I felt it again. It was wonderful, inexplicable, unbelievable. I saw FAITH, HOPE and LOVE forming in my head as a wonderful painting, an enchanting music, a soothing poetry and the world I see, is my canvass. I'm now ready to change the world, I am refreshed, rejuvenated, energized and again, I saw it, I heard it. He made me see it thru the movie "August Rush." cant wait to see more of Him through the arts. It is where I hear Him deeply the most, but this time, tonight, through the movie "August Rush"

Barbaric Christianity with a new song and a new culture

2010-03-09T21:58:00.000-08:00

Creating the New Culture

We have to escape "civilized" Christianity and become original, powerful, untamed Christians-just as Jesus intended.

In an episode of "King of the Hill," Hank's son Bobby joins a Christian rock band, his dad weighs in with this critique. "Can't you see, you're not making Christianity better, you're just making rock ‘n' roll worse?"

The comment reminds me of Frankie Schaeffer's scathing critique of evangelicals & art delivered a few years ago in his book descriptively titled, "Addicted to Mediocrity."

One could argue that the evangelical entertainment sub-culture has improved since then, but one could not argue that it is qualitatively superior to the art
produced by the broader culture, and most would agree that it is generally derivative and imitative of American pop culture.

This is a problem, because for centuries Christians were known for their intellectual, artistic and spiritual contributions to society.

T.S. Eliot once said, "No culture has appeared or developed except together with a religion: according to the point of view of the observer, the culture will appear to be the product of the religion, or the religion the product of the culture."

If we agree that we ought to create the culture not be a creation of it, how can we rekindle a renaissance of Christian contributions to culture?

1. Aspire to produce artists who are deeply talented & Christian, not Christian artists. C. S. Lewis famously quipped that we don't need Christian writers, we need great writers who are Christian.

2. Produce good art, not just religious art. Christian artists are not limited to creating “religious art, our exploration of everyday human occurrences can be gilded by our faith walk.

3. Strive for the spiritual, intelligent, and inventive. Art flowing from a gifted artist of deep faith should minimally reflect the spiritual, intelligent, creative image of God. Artist Mako Fujimura observes, “I believe that true, Christ-filled expression results in more diversity than what Christ-suppressing expression would allow. The more we center ourselves in Christ, the freer we are to explore new arenas of expression.”

4. Lead, don't follow. If today's art is spiritually, intellectually, and creatively bankrupt, why would we aspire to meet its standard? To lead artistically takes courage and requires contributing to new directions in your artistic medium, to expand the parameters, to innovate in form and style.

5. Play “real good,” for free, if need be.
Find the line between responsibility and selling out, and don't cross it.
It takes courage to be an artist of integrity in a dumbed-down, superficial, commercially driven pop faith, pop culture age--but we've got to do it.

6. Make art, don't just appropriate art. In its quest for relevance, Christians often use movie and song clips to build bridges of communication to the broader culture. This is OK, but it is vastly inferior to making brilliant original art.

7. Demand better art. Too many people who profess to know the living God are lemming-like consumers of the impoverished offerings of today's bankrupt culture. If we eat a steady diet of drivel, the culture will keep making and serving it and so will the Christian sub-culture.

Michelangelo, when asked to be critical of the art of his day quipped, "My art is my critique!"

The best remedy for the spiritually, intellectually and creatively insipid art produced by today's culture is to produce superior work--

It's time to create a richer culture! Let's change the world. from D.S

http://www.facebook.com/jayjaylizarondo?v=app_2347471856&ref=profile#!/note.php?note_id=351294269698

A Place of Hope Community in Pintong Bokawe, San mateo

2010-01-17T19:19:00.001-08:00

"At a certain point, I just felt, you know, God is not looking for alms, God is looking for action."

-Bono Quotes

Our community, Lugar ng Pag-asa sa Pintong Bukawe, has extended its role from spiritual molder to community builder. We believe in going beyond religious exercises to making the love of Jesus real and significant in the lives of our church and community members. For over a year now, we have been organizing several entrepreneurial projects to support not only the spiritual growth of members, but also their financial and social progress.

Coinciding with these efforts, we have also started the iCan Learning Center, a free education institution for the less fortunate. This school year, we have 65 students enrolled and ready to discover a new life through the opportunity of education. This sponsorship-based school is the first of its kind in the community. Each child is supported through an annual sponsorship of P5,000.00 from generous givers. This relatively small amount gives each child a brighter future than they have ever imagined. ... See More

Another blessing for Pintong Bukawe is an available property for acquisition along the community hi-way in San Mateo, Rizal. It is a 450 square meter building amounting to P350,000.00, which can house both the community center/church and the school. In line with this, we are inviting you to partake the blessings and support this exciting endeavor by becoming one of our partners. We are raising funds to acquire the said property, and your valuable help will certainly go a long way in supporting the progress of the Pintong Bukawe community.

We urge you not to miss this opportunity in giving, knowing that God will return the blessings to you a thousand fold. We thank you for your time and we look forward to building a community with you!

Jayjay Lizarondo
Social Entrepreneur

www.hop-e.org

Cheerful Giving

2009-12-16T18:52:00.000-08:00

JJ, GIVE cheerfully.......not ritually, not religously, not because I have to, nor because I am obligated, not just because its christmas, not because of anything else but because I love, I just cheerfully love to give, and so that goes to all of us who has GOD in our hearts, for LOVE is in us and should come out of us so that others will also embrace the LOVE that is in us. Let me not lose my first LOVE. So help me to always truly GIVE as a sign of my LOVE for YOU.

Ok, ok you can have my burger, darn.. :-(

12 signs why Filipinos are God’s Chosen ones

2009-12-03T18:23:00.000-08:00

12 signs why Filipinos are God’s Chosen ones
By TJ Burgonio
Inquirer
First Posted 01:59:00 04/08/2007

Filed Under: Religions, People

MANILA, Philippines -- Are Filipinos God’s “chosen people”?

Can we believe that Filipino workers slaving abroad, those modern-day gypsies who clean toilets in cramped apartments, hop from one hospital room to another tending to patients, or drill holes in the middle of the desert, are God’s “messengers”?

There may be doubts but the signs are everywhere, according to Alexander L. Lacson, lawyer and author of the best-selling book “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do to Help Our Country.”

Our history as a Christian nation is replete with signs to prove this, he said—from the Spanish conquest that started when galleons dropped anchor in our waters in the 16th century to the arrival of Bible-bearing Americans 300 years later, from our rich natural resources to the Filipino diaspora.

Lacson has listed 12 signs purportedly showing why Filipinos are God’s chosen. He discussed these signs—the subject of a forthcoming book—in a recollection talk last Tuesday at the Church of the Holy Sacrifice in Diliman, Quezon City.

The signs are “like pieces of a puzzle that, if put together, show us a picture of ourselves—who and what we are as a people,” Lacson said.

These are:

Explorer Ferdinand Magellan’s arrival in 1521 on Limasawa Island, Leyte, in a flotilla of five ships with a crew of 237, including a number of priests.

The priests were ready to spread Christianity among the islanders, but Magellan was killed by local warrior Lapu-Lapu’s men, forcing the Spaniards to sail back to Spain, Lacson said.

“If our history stopped there, it means we would never have become a Christian nation,” he said.

Filipinos were claimed in the name of God.

In 1565, a second Spanish colonial expedition led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi sailed into Cebu.

When he set out for this part of the globe with Fray Andres de Urdaneta, Lopez de Legazpi had specific instructions from King Philip II to convert every soul on the island to Christianity.

“What that means is that we were actually claimed in the name of God in the second expedition,” Lacson said. “If you look at this [through] the eyes of a Christian, of a believer, [you will see that] there’s a determined plan to make us a Christian people, a Christian nation.”

No accident

As an offshoot of the spread of Christianity in the islands, the Philippines became the first Christian nation in Asia.

“My question is this: Do you think it was only an accident in history when we Filipinos became the only Christian people in this part of the world?” Lacson said.

He pointed out that the world’s three major religions—Christianity, Islam and Buddhism—subscribed to the idea that “there’s no accident in life.”

“I’d like to believe that it was not an accident, and that in fact and in deed, God had chosen these people to be His people in this part of the world to spread His message,” Lacson said, quoting John 15:16 (“You did not choose me, but I choose you...”).

The Philippines is the first nation in Asia to have Bibles.

Although Filipinos had been converted to Christianity, they were prohibited from reading the Bible during the 300-year Spanish rule, according to Lacson.

But the Americans, who took over from the Spaniards after defeating them in the Battle of Manila Bay in December 1898, brought copies of the holy book.

“The Filipinos were the first Asians to read the Bible. I look at it as another sign from God why He chose us a people,” Lacson said.

The Philippines is located in the middle of the world, at least on the Pacific-centered map.

“A small group of tiny islands—7,100 islands—but it’s right there in the middle,” Lacson said. “Is it an accident in history that our Philippines is right there in the middle? Accessible to the north, the south, the east and the west?”

4th richest

The Philippines is one of the richest countries in the world today.

“It is the fourth richest country in deposits like gold, copper, silver and chromite, and oil. Out of 193 countries, we are No. 1 in terms of marine life biodiversity,” Lacson said.

He said the country was so blessed with natural and mineral resources that if one dug a hole even atop a mountain, water would spring forth.

The story of overseas Filipino workers is biblical.

Lacson likened the OFWs to the young Israeli shepherd David who killed the giant Philistine warrior Goliath with his sling, and to Joseph “the dreamer,” who was sold as a slave by his envious brothers but rose to become overseer of Egypt after accurately interpreting the Pharaoh’s dreams about the seven years of plenty and seven years of famine in the land.

“The Bible is full of stories of how God used the oppressed and the weak to spread His message of love and justice and to humble the mighty, the strong and the powerful,” he said.

Lacson related an anecdote about the late Jaime Cardinal Sin who, while in Rome in 1999, was invited to dinner by the president of the Italian car maker Fiat Uno, whose children had a Filipino woman as their nanny.

“The host told Cardinal Sin that the nanny was so good that she turned their kids into better Catholics. It turned out that the nanny, with the kids in tow, would stop by a church and pray each time she went out,” Lacson said, adding that there were countless other stories of Filipinos sharing their faith even with people of other religions.

He cited the story of Filipino nurses praying over a Muslim patient in the throes of death in a state-run hospital in Saudi Arabia.

“You know how I see that? I see that as an act of a messenger—shepherding these patients, although they may have other religions, to God,” he said.

Seeds bearing fruit

The seventh sign naturally leads to the rest.

OFWs—nannies, domestic help, nurses and caregivers—are like ambassadors and messengers of God.

“Maybe today we don’t see it yet. But maybe in the future, we’ll see how the seeds [sown by] these Filipinos working as domestics—attending to these kids, influencing their minds and affecting their hearts on how to see the world and how to act—will bear fruit,” Lacson said.

Filipinos breathe life to the churches of the world.

Lacson said it was not uncommon to see Filipinos in churches anywhere on the planet, either as a priest delivering a sermon, as faithful hearing Mass, or as members of the choir singing in the background.

“Wherever they are, whether as OFWS or residents, according to Fr. James Reuter, they breathe life to the churches all over the world,” he said.

There is so much beauty in Filipinos as a people.

“Today, we have so many countrymen going abroad as singers, dancers... They entertain people. We have singers on luxury ships or members of rock bands in hotels. They bring happiness to other people; they bring beauty,” Lacson said.

“If you ask me, this is one of the weapons that the Filipinos bring to the world. That’s beauty,” he said.

Filipinos can communicate with the world “with their tongue.”

The Philippines is the third-largest English-speaking country in the world—again not by accident, Lacson said.

“We can actually communicate with the people in the South, in America, in Africa, in Asia. OFWs, caregivers, engineers—they communicate with the world,” he said.

And it helps that there are “many races” in the Filipino, so that it is possible to “see the world in that person.”

“The heart of the world is in him,” he added.

Meticulously chosen

For the final sign, the name Pilipino means “piling-pili” (meticulously chosen) and “pinong-pino” (most refined).

“Is it an accident that we are called Pilipinos in our own language?” Lacson said, adding:

“These are 12 signs that convinced me that we are the chosen people of God. He chose us to be messengers, to be His ambassadors, to spread His message in other parts of the world.”

The only problem is that Filipinos have been slow in claiming and proclaiming that they are indeed God’s chosen people, Lacson said.

“I believe that if we can claim [to be] God’s children, and proclaim it...and we teach our children this, God will be happy with it, and He will bless us as a people and as a nation,” he said.

"Deus Caritas Est extreme"

2009-11-10T17:35:00.000-08:00

Im holding a weapon, it is awesome, state of the art but already old though, but still, very effective. Very ancient, but so modern. It can change the world, It can destroy and eradicate hate, it can kill hopelessness and crush and destroy misery. It will make people bleed passion and make them realize how gruesome the word "status quo" means, oh wow, this weapon is exciting because it can pierce the numb and callous heart, it converts extreme pain into joy, beware because it will make you go crazy somehow and would make you dance and shout for joy incessantly, the side effect would be, i think would make you experience a different kind of insanity but eventually turn you into a "permanent loco" because you will start using this weapon to make others become like you, this is worst than any weapon used in the biological warfare, far worse than an atomic or hydrogen bomb, more complicated than the most extreme virus, and the mathematics behind this is beyond quantum physics, yet, you will be amazed how simple this weapon is, the weapon?

"Deus Caritas Est extreme"

In english, "The Love of God extreme." ( but the thing is, you have to know it's in you, and the requirement is, to express and show it, use it, let other people feel it, thru you, if they get hit, they will beleieve AND WILL NOT PERISH but will live forever, wow).

do you want it?

JJ Lizarondo
(quantum physiscian scientist) - feeling. :-)

P.S Free Deus Armor. Promo Period: while stocks are available, that would mean as long as you live.

GIVING HOPE TO CHILDREN :-)

2009-10-30T22:59:00.000-07:00

"I AM A PERSON WHO LOVES TO TALK. LOTS OF THINGS ARE ACCOMPLISHED BY TALKING – AND I DON’T MEAN JUST BLABBING, I MEAN TALKING, THE KIND OF TALK THAT INSPIRES PEOPLE, THE KIND OF TALK THAT CHANGES LIVES. THAT’S THE KIND OF TALK THAT MOST OF OUR WORLD LEADERS DID. THAT’S WHAT BROUGHT THEM INTO THEIR POSITIONS OF POWER. I FIND COURAGE AND EXCITEMENT IN SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY, BUT I AM HERE TO SPEAK OF ONLY ONE THING – HOPE.

HOPE IT WAS THAT CHANGED THE DESTINY OF THE HOPELESS. HOPE IT WAS THAT CONVINCED PEOPLE OF A BETTER AND BRIGTHER FUTURE. HOPE IT WAS THAT CREATED STRONG PEOPLE OUT OF THE WEAK. AND I BELIEVE THAT TODAY, HOPE WILL AGAIN BE OUR SOURCE OF CHANGE.

LET ME REVEAL SOMETHING OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE – YOU CAN ACTUALLY HOLD HOPE IN YOUR HANDS. YOU ARE CAPABLE OF GIVING HOPE. AND THAT MAKES YOU VERY SPECIAL

GIVING TO CHILDREN IS SUCH A BLESSED ENDEAVOR BECAUSE YOU ARE GIVING THEM HOPE. YOU ARE GIVING THEM EDUCATION. YOU ARE HELPING THEM OVERCOME THE STAGGARING NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF POVERTY. JUST THINK OF HOW BLESSED YOU ARE THAT YOU HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF LIFTING UP EVEN ONE CHILD’S LIFE! THAT CHILD WILL BE GRATEFUL TO YOU IN HIS OR HER WHOLE LIFETIME. THIS WAY, YOU PASS ON THE HOPE THAT WAS GIVEN TO YOU.

ISN’T IT AMAZING HOW HOPE WORKS? ISN’T GIVING SUCH A MIRACULOUS THING? THAT IS WHY I CHALLENGE YOU TO AIM FOR THAT ULTIMATE BLESSING IN YOUR LIFE, TO GRAB THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE TRULY AND WHOLLY BLESSED MORE THAN YOU HAVE EVER IMAGINED.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PASS ON THE HOPE THAT IS IN YOU. OPEN YOUR EARS AND HEAR A THOUSAND MORE MARY ROSES WHOSE LIVES HAVE SUCH BEAUTIFUL POTENTIAL. OPEN YOUR HEARTS AND FEEL THE NEED OF THESE CHILDREN – OUR FUTURE. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE SOMEONE’S LIFE TODAY. DON’T WASTE THATHOPE THAT IS IN YOU."

JJ Lizarondo

Here's to All Crazy Ones - Anonymous

2009-10-27T23:10:00.000-07:00

"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the trouble makers.

The round pegs in the square holes, the ones who see things differently.

They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo.

You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.

About the only thing you can't do is ignore them, because they change things,

they push the human race forward,

and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.

Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world

are the ones who do."

Toink

2009-10-26T20:57:00.001-07:00

Some people never go crazy, What truly horrible lives they must live.

Charles Bukowski

I am the Light (John 9:5)

2009-10-25T08:03:00.000-07:00

He called Himself the Son of Man, establishing a connection and valuing relationship with man, and here is man, trying to find his way to God, that's religion. When Jesus called himself Light, it simply implied we are in the dark, completely blind, all our efforts to come to Him is useless. But He became man so we can be enlightened, all we have to do is accept Him and receive Him as our source of Light. Light gives life and it shows the way through the darkness, He is the way the truth and the Life, it is believing only in Him that would make us see the path to the Kingdom. Making others enlightened was His purpose, "You are the light of the world" (Matt. 5:12) The goal of man is not "doing" this and that but "becoming" like Him. The Light. Religion makes us to look but becoming like Him will make us see.

The Revolution of Love!

2009-10-05T23:45:00.000-07:00

"People don't care how much you know,
until they know how much you care"

The Revolution of LOVE!

It is easy for us to talk theology or ask people to do the sinner's prayer then leave everything up to them after that. We go then to the next poor neighbor or sinner as if we are salespeople looking for another sale, so to speak, selling "Jesus" as a product, a ticket to get to heaven.

We say that "religion" will not save them but we don't try to find a way to connect relevantly to the community or the people's culture. We don't make an effort to be sensitive to their needs and find ways for them to truly understand God's love.

Jesus dealt with people differently. He had a revolutionary way of thinking. He attracted the sinners and the sinners were attracted to Him. On the other hand, He made the Pharisees and the Sadducees crazy mad at Him because He knew their hearts. His mission was to restore our relationship with the Father. He leveled Himself so he could be with sinners without sinning. He became a human being to relate to what true spirituality is for people. Therefore, we should also be finding ways to relate to different people. We should do this not because God's salvation is weak, but because God wants us to reach out and love the unlovable, to love the scum of the earth, to love the hated ones, to love inexplicably like Jesus did.

But here we are, creating our own religion, making heaps of rituals to connect to God. In the process, we please ourselves instead of God by unconsciously acting in our own religious ways. We share the good news or do good works for religion's sake, or for work's sake, or for eternal "credit" in heaven. We want to get rewarded for the good that we do. We think of heaven as the ultimate end. God said we should love Him first, then our neighbor. That basically summarizes all the commandments. Yet, we resort to doing all these good things again because we fear that if we don't go to church or help the poor, God will punish us. We are afraid that we might experience the same fate like the "bad people." How pathetic of us to think that way! We think that doing all the good things by the book would make us "holier than thou." We were called the light of this world, and as light, we should be put in the dark to light up the dark. Our presence should "enlighten" the people who were kept in the dark for the longest time. It is only through sharing the good news that they would be enlightened and transcend in their understanding about life and God. That would make people eventually say that our God is real, and that our God is full of love. They would say, "I want the God that is in them."

We should light up this dark, poor world without aiming for eternal or worldly credit. We should do it because of love. We express love that is coming from the source of all love. God is love, and when we put love into action, then that becomes pure religion. James 1:27 says, "a religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. " (NIV)

The scripture says, "Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

It is only with true love and good works for your neighbor that the Holy Spirit can work in their salvation. That is why we cannot say that we won someone for it is only God who wins a soul back to Him. We can only show the love of God to our neighbors, not because we are obligated but because we are full of love. Only then will you be truly sharing the real salvation that comes from God. You will do so because of love and because you love, period.

Jesus summarized the true meaning of religion in Matthew 22:37-40, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Your being good does not matter, because it is all about God's goodness flowing through you. Only then will your Father be pleased.

Jayjay lizarondo - facebook
www.hop-e.org

Looking Beyond the Storm

2009-10-03T06:41:00.000-07:00

Typhoon Ondoy's devastation in Brookside didn't spare us. Our house was submerged in water as well as our three cars. We evacuated to a nearby school building to find refuge there. Under my lens, I took photos to document the onslaught of Ondoy. In my heart, at first I felt sadness but this was converted to an iron-will and still - positivity.

I'm looking beyond the storm. I can see that God just wants to replace the "old" with the "new." And I am happy that though "replaceable things" maybe lost our family is safe and sound as well as our loved ones. Thank you Lord.

We are still together even in the storm. And this storm didn't take anything away from us. It just added something to us. It made us more better, more closer and more secure in the loving arms of God.

These photos I took will just be a testament and a memory of how will God bless us more and greater things are yet to come, I see that. Yes, It made look beyond the storm. I am looking on the Lord. I'm looking on bigger possibilities. I'm looking for a brighter tomorrow.

The storm has passed but our determination to live postiviely will not pass.
Much more, God's favor for us will never pass away.
Let us all look beyond the storm.

This is the condition of the flood before we left to evacuate.

Brutus - our dog. We also took him for evacuation.

My Dad in the flood

Our cars submerged in the flood, hayayay

Street outside our house

My brother-RJ and Dad traversing the flood

The water continually rising, twas a scarry moment

God will give me brand new one, yipee.

My brother RJ- still smiling in spite of the flood.

Yes, crazy ones? Happiness is a choice.

My brother- Jamie

A survivor

quantum pendants giving energy. :-) .

After the storm. My room.

The TV floated and amazing after the storm, it' still functioning.

Kitchen after the storm.

The purpose in life lives on.

Act According to Facts - Hunger

2009-09-16T07:30:00.000-07:00

First, you and I got to know the facts.

According to United Nations,

"About 24,000 people die every day from hunger or hunger-related causes. This is down from 35,000 ten years ago, and 41,000 twenty years ago. Three-fourths of the deaths are children under the age of five."

In 1999, 10% of children in developing countries died before the age of five. This was down from 28% fifty years ago.

Famine and wars cause just 10% of hunger deaths, although these tend to be the ones you hear about most often. The majority of hunger deaths are caused by chronic malnutrition. Families simply cannot get enough to eat. This in turn is caused by extreme poverty.

Besides death, chronic malnutrition also causes impaired vision, listlessness, stunted growth and greatly increased susceptibility to disease. Severely malnourished people are unable to function at even a basic level. United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

In 1999, it was estimated that one billion people in the world suffered from hunger and malnutrition, about 100 times as many as those who actually died from it each year. - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

According to the 1996 World Food Summit, 840 million people live in the condition of chronic, persistent hunger, one-seventh of our human family. The vast majority of hungry people live in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa."

And consider the possibilities:

Often it takes just a few simple resources for impoverished people to be able to grow enough food to become self-sufficient. These resources include quality seeds, appropriate tools and access to water. Small improvements in farming techniques and food storage methods are also helpful.

Many hunger experts believe that ultimately the best way to reduce hunger is through education. Educated people are best able to break out of the cycle of poverty that causes hunger.

This is the cause of Hop-Efoundation. Hop-e stands for Help Eradicate Poverty through Education. You can visit us at http://www.hop-e.org

Now, you know the facts.

It's time to act according to the facts. We can do something. You are blessed if you don't experience lack.

Time to share. Time to act.

Know it is Possible

2009-08-28T20:59:00.000-07:00

Knowing that something is possible is a significant step toward achieving it. As soon as you know, without a doubt, that you can achieve it, in many ways you immediately begin to benefit from it.

Of course achievement requires more than just knowing you can do it. You must actually take the steps which will make it happen. However, those efforts come much more readily when you know that they will surely lead where you desire to go.

Look at all the things others have achieved. Consider everything you have already accomplished. Know that what you desire is possible. Convince yourself of it. See yourself living it in every detail. Fully and sincerely expect it, and you're well on the way to having it.

Trek to Anipa

2009-08-21T23:36:00.000-07:00

Trekking to Anipa is definitely better than going to the gym. Why?

1. You do not have a choice but to follow the group or else you'll get eaten by a big butiki, or get lost in the wild. It's a good thing I always watch Man vs. Wild just in case. The trek was pure adrenalin and pure hingal!
2. You have a free and instant bath. You have to cross four rivers and a bamboo boat ride to get there. Make sure you bring your organic earth friendly soap. Interested to buy organic soap from me? Just email me your name and mobile phone number.
3. The view is for real. Do you ever get frustrated every time you're in the gym, or maybe a not-so-sosyal gym, where you get to share the remote control of the TV while doing you're on the treadmill, and you are forced to watch a telenovela? Yikes. Well, that can happen unless you go to Fitness First, which is really cool. (I hope i get an ex-deal for mentioning it).
4. Fresh air versus body odor. Again, that may not be the case if you're in a sosyal gym. Hehe. Nothing beats the smell of the trees and mountains, and even the occasional smell of carabao poo maximizes your outdoor adventure experience.

5. You can get a complete body workout at no cost. Trekking to Anipa requires no monthly payment or uniform, no restrictions, only the dedication and passion to get there. Well, I really wanted to meet Ate Minda and Chief Oca of the Dumagat Tribes so I can have fellowsip with them and ask them how we can help build their community.

Seriously, our two Hectares red rice is already almost ready for harvest there in Anipa, where we are thinking of putting up short term and long term livelihood projects.

I enjoyed trekking with the church and the Trivani foundation peeps, espeically with Mary Rose and her mom. I can't believe her mom was able to do the trek! Anyway, my brother and I are finding ways to help build the community in all aspects because I think we all have this social responsibility to give back. It is indeed better to give than to receive. Giving should be our natural response because the Lord said, after loving the Almighty with all our hearts, we should love our neighbors. It is a really good feeling helping our brothers and sisters in the montains who are usually marginalized and discriminated. I see a big potential in them only if they are given the right opportunities. I do believe and declare that this place will be a tourist spot, a place where there will be an abundance of food and livestock.

We are going there again soon. Wanna sign up? Game! It's a crazy idea to go there but it sure would affect and change a person's life. Wanna HOP-in?

I AM

2009-08-13T10:01:00.000-07:00

He didn't say "I was" but "I am.' God is on top of time, time was God's creation. Thus, never say it's too late, or that you wasted your life, or that you still wish you could go back in time. All you have to do is ...recognize the "now," for God will take care of your past, present and future. It may sound weird, but we have an outragous GOD! Crazy, 'di ba?

"Before Abraham was, I AM."
Wow, I am amazed that He is my loving Father who is the source of my everything, He is not bound by space and time, He is my omnipotent Father who inspires me to dream and to declare and realize my potentials. How amazing and awesome that truth is!......

Helping, Building and Loving

2009-08-13T06:06:00.000-07:00

To see the need is not enough.

One has to take action.

One has to believe.

And move to help.

Move on to build lives.

Move on with love.

And this I did and I will keep on doing as long as I live.

Boracay Photography

2009-08-13T03:13:00.000-07:00

Mary Rose, the 12 Year Old Scavenger

2009-08-13T02:51:00.000-07:00

- by CMRE, May 3, 2009

H.O.P.E. - Helping Overcome Poverty through Education (videos)

7:26

This is the video that started it all.

In the summer of 2007, Jayjay Lizarondo, at his rock-bottom, decided to join his brother, RJay Lizarondo, in his outreach to the families in the Payatas dumpsite. A film enthusiast, he brought his video recorder and while filming, noticed this little girl who was more aggressive than the rest of the children in scavenging the lumps and lumps of garbage that arrived from the trucks. Jayjay decided to talk to this 12 year old, Mary Rose.

This is Mary Rose's own account recorded; the very real words and emotions of a scavenger, yet a child with pure and well-intent dreams.

Jayjay uploaded this film on the internet that same summer with these words:

'Mary Rose, a 12 year old scavenger, wants to go back to school as a Grade 3 student. Unfortunately she doesn't have a choice but to go back to the dumpsite and scavenge to earn only $2.00 a day for an 8 hour work. She said that what she's doing is honorable because she's not begging nor stealing and she'd do anything for her family. Her dedication and love for the family moved me while I was shooting and editing this film. Let's help Mary Rose fulfill her dreams. I really see a lot of potential in her, I pray and would do my best to put her back to school, will you help me? God bless.'

Jayjay was touched by the young scavenger, but little did he know that his life would be changed forever by the life of Mary Rose Dizon.

So did many others.

It's Possible

2009-08-13T01:56:00.000-07:00

"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him…"

Before Abraham was, I am, those are powerful words by God who definitely is saying I am not under time but time is what I created, He could've said I was but God did'nt, many times when i was a kid, everytime i make i mistake i always wished i could turn back time, and when i became adolescent i wished I was this and that, you know typical preacher's kid in an emotional roller coaster ride, but you know what, i started to ask God to enlighten me, to take me not out of the box but beyond the box of religion, status quo, comfort zone, i said with a super dooper loud voice then"set me free" and the impossible happened.

I now see......wow.......seeing the invisible.......seeing God.

What looks impossible with man is possible with God.

In the Bible, God told Abraham he would be the father of many nations. But the human us would say, this looked impossible. Both he and his wife were beyond child-bearing years. They had no reason to hope or believe it would happen. They had nothing to go on in the natural. But one translation of this verse says, "Hoping in spite of hopeless circumstances, he believed." And you probably know the story. Abraham finally had a son, Isaac and his son, Jacob had 12 sons—the twelve original tribes of Israel with descendants outnumbering the grains of sand on the shore!

I encourage you to ask God for you to see. Most of the time we just look but we barely see. This time, do what Abraham did and go against all the odds; hope on in faith anyway. Keep believing. Keep praying. Keep moving forward. Don’t focus on the impossible circumstances, focus on the God who makes the impossible possible! Keep looking through your eyes of faith because He has blessing and victory in store for you!

Heavenly Father, today I choose to hope in You even when everything around me looks hopeless. I invite You to breathe Your life into the impossible circumstances around me. Have Your way in and through me as I dedicate every part of my heart and mind to You. In Jesus´ Name, Amen.

Trip to Catarman Samar [July162009]

2009-07-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

I'm here in Catarman, Samar, and it's really a beautiful place. People here are hospitable and accommodating. I think Filipinos in general are built that way. I am now starting to take pictures and videos of my travel because I travel almost every week here and abroad and I realize that I should be documenting this next chapter of my life. It’s really becoming inexplicably crazy, but this time in a good way, if you know what I mean.

I should keep a journal of my coincidences. Writing down the coincidences I experience, whether tiny or huge, whether sad or happy, encourages me to think about the goodness and greatness of God. There’s a quote that says, “coincidences are all accidents waiting to happen.” In other words, these extraordinary moments which we think are coincidences are actually clues to guide our actions and give us more possibilities for fulfillment.

Johnny Boy Fundano inspired me to blog as well. I am also grateful to him for helping me transform my ideas into graphic arts, as you can see here in my blog. I am not really into writing or blogging, but my mind is full of crazy ideas and I think it would be very healthy for me to express these lest I become truly crazy in an unhealthy way. Therefore, I conclude, whether the readers agree or not, that blogging is good for the health. Hmmm...I wonder how many people are actually reading my blog?

Welcome to Jayjay’s world and please feel free to comment or email me if you have anything to say that’s crazy. 2 stars 4 d crazy 1! Yes, I believe that there are only 3% of crazy movers and shakers in this world, but they are the trendsetters, the initiators, the instigators.

GIVING HOPE TO CHILDREN

2009-07-08T09:57:00.000-07:00

I AM A PERSON WHO LOVES TO TALK. LOTS OF THINGS ARE ACCOMPLISHED BY TALKING – AND I DON’T MEAN JUST BLABBING, I MEAN TALKING, THE KIND OF TALK THAT INSPIRES PEOPLE, THE KIND OF TALK THAT CHANGES LIVES. THAT’S THE KIND OF TALK THAT MOST OF OUR WORLD LEADERS DID. THAT’S WHAT BROUGHT THEM INTO THEIR POSITIONS OF POWER. I FIND COURAGE AND EXCITEMENT IN SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY, BUT I AM HERE TO SPEAK OF ONLY ONE THING – HOPE.

HOPE IT WAS THAT CHANGED THE DESTINY OF THE HOPELESS. HOPE IT WAS THAT CONVINCED PEOPLE OF A BETTER AND BRIGTHER FUTURE. HOPE IT WAS THAT CREATED STRONG PEOPLE OUT OF THE WEAK. AND I BELIEVE THAT TODAY, HOPE WILL AGAIN BE OUR SOURCE OF CHANGE.

LET ME REVEAL SOMETHING OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE – YOU, THIS CROWD RIGHT HERE, IS DIFFERENT. SIGNIFICANT. POWERFUL. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY HOLD HOPE IN YOUR HANDS. YOU ARE CAPABLE OF GIVING HOPE. AND THAT MAKES YOU VERY SPECIAL.

I’M SURE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, YOU HAVE HEARD THE PHRASE “IT’S BETTER TO GIVE THAT TO RECEIVE” A THOUSAND TIMES. BUT I HOPE YOU HAVE HEARD THE RING OF TRUTH IN IT. IT IS INDEED BETTER TO GIVE. IN GIVING, YOU ARE MUCH MORE BLESSED.

GIVING TO CHILDREN IS SUCH A BLESSED ENDEAVOR BECAUSE YOU ARE GIVING THEM HOPE. YOU ARE GIVING THEM EDUCATION. YOU ARE HELPING THEM OVERCOME THE STAGGARING NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF POVERTY. JUST THINK OF HOW BLESSED YOU ARE THAT YOU HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF LIFTING UP EVEN ONE CHILD’S LIFE! THAT CHILD WILL BE GRATEFUL TO YOU IN HIS OR HER WHOLE LIFETIME. THIS WAY, YOU PASS ON THE HOPE THAT WAS GIVEN TO YOU.

YOU MAY NOT REALIZE IT, BUT ACTUALLY YOU HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED THREE IMPORTANT GIFTS. FIRST IS THEGIFT OF LOVE. WHEN GOD REALIZED HE HAD TO DAMN THE WORLD BECAUSE IT IS ALREADY SOAKED IN SIN, HIS OVERWHELMING LOVE STILL PREVAILED. HE CANNOT BREAK HIS OWN LAWS, BUT OUT OF HIS LOVE, HE ACHIEVED JUSTICE AND SAVED MANKIND. GOD GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON SO THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. THIS GOD-KING WAS BORN IN THE SIMPLEST AND HUMBLEST OF WAYS – IN A MANGER WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHES. THIS BABY GREW UP TO BE A BOY, AND HE GAVE THE SECOND GIFT, THE GIFT OF LIFE, TO AN ALREADY LIFELESS WORLD. WHEN HE SPOKE OF HIS FATHER IN HEAVEN AND THE KINGDOM TO COME, PEOPLE WERE AWED AND INSPIRED. THE BOY WAS DIFFERENT, AND HE TALKED DIFFERENT, TOO. WHEN HE GREW UP TO BE A MAN, HE DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO SPREAD A UNIQUE MESSAGE OF HOPE FOR A LOST PEOPLE. HE STIRRED THEIR HEARTS ONCE MORE TO BELIEVE IN A MARVELOUS LIFE TO COME. THIS RADICAL MAN, CRITICIZED FOR HIS MESSAGE OF HOPE, WAS WRONGLY ACCUSED AND WAS SEVERLY PUNISHED. IN HIS DEATH, HE GAVE THE GIFT OF SALVATION. HE CARRIED THE ULTIMATE BURDEN UPON HIMSELF FOR THE SAKE OF MANKIND, FOR THE SAKE OF YOU AND ME. HE DIED TO GIVE US LIFE. HE IS INDEED A BEACON OF HOPE.

WHAT WONDERFUL GIFTS WE HAVE, AND WHAT SWEEPING CHANGES IT COULD MAKE IF WE USE THEM! I DID THIS DOCUMENTARY OF A LITTLE SCAVENGER GIRL IN PAYATAS FOR MY OWN HEALING AND ENLIGHTENMENT. SOMETIMES, I BECOME TOO ENGROSSED IN THE PETTY CONCERNS OF MY LIFE. I NEEDED THAT REALITY CHECK TO KEEP THINGS IN PROPER PERSPECTIVE. I SPENT A DAY UP IN PAYATAS AS A SCAVENGER. THAT WAS JUST ONE DAY OUT OF THE MANY DAYS OF MY RELATIVELY COMFORTABLE LIFE. I HAVE NEVER FELT SO OVERWHELMINGLY SAD AND JOYOUS AT THE SAME TIME. MARY ROSE IS JUST A KID, BUT THERE SHE WAS, SCAVENGING BECAUSE HER LIFE AND HER FAMILY’S LIFE DEPENDED ON IT. I SAW IN HER THE STRENGTH THAT COULD ONLY COME FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS ALREADY BEEN THROUGH LIFE’S TOUGHEST CARDS. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT THIS LITTLE GIRL, MARY ROSE, WOULD ALSO HAVE HOPE IN HER HANDS? THAT SHE WOULD ALSO HAVE HOPE TO GIVE? HER LIFE RECENLTY TURNED UPSIDE DOWN WHEN SHE WAS CHOSEN AS AN AMBASSADOR OF GOODWILL FORCHRISTMAS IN PAYATAS. THIS GIRL, WHO HAS KNOWN NOTHING BUT THE FILTHINESS AND STENCH OF A WOLRD OF GARBAGE, IS SUDDENLY TRAVELING AND DINING WITH EXECUTIVES!

ISN’T IT AMAZING HOW HOPE WORKS? ISN’T GIVING SUCH A MIRACULOUS THING? THAT IS WHY I CHALLENGE YOU TONIGHT TO AIM FOR THAT ULTIMATE BLESSING IN YOU LIFE, TO GRAB THAT OPPORUTINITY TO BE TRULY AND WHOLLY BLESSED MORE THAN YOU HAVE EVER IMAGINED.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PASS ON THE HOPE THAT IS IN YOU. OPEN YOUR EARS AND HEAR A THOUSAND MORE MARY ROSES WHOSE LIVES HAVE SUCH BEAUTIFUL POTENTIAL. OPEN YOUR HEARTS AND FEEL THE NEED OF THESE CHILDREN – OUR FUTURE. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE SOMEONE’S LIFE TODAY. DON’T WASTE THATHOPE THAT IS IN YOU.

What are your Crazy Ideas?

2009-07-08T02:25:00.000-07:00

Why 2 stars for the crazy one?

2 stars means two thumbs-up of great approval of crazy ideas. Many ideas that has changed the world was first branded as "crazy." Jesus-lovers, Innovators, life-changers and creative people are often branded as crazy people. Well, here I am- I'm in. Welcome to my crazy world! -

You can share your crazy dreams or crazy ideas by giving a comment on my blog and I will label it if it will have one star which means "good/silly/okay!" or two stars which means "great/true/lifechanging/wacky/wow!"

Tsing!

Yehaah! Bora-Bora!

2009-07-08T02:03:00.000-07:00

A great vacation with my family in Bora-bora. -A time of bonding and exhausting this craziness of mine through taking photos and videos, eating a lot, sight-seeing (just sights, promise). But my, this crazy flu had stricken meand had tried to glue me in bed. But my, who can stay in bed while in Bora? I’d rather get up and spread the virus!
Ahhh, yes… the virus of love and appreciation of nature and bonding with my family.
Great time! Great time!
My video will say it all!

Human Beings; Not Human Doings

2009-07-06T02:17:00.000-07:00

We are called "human beings" because our lives must be more of "being" rather than "doing." A never ending becoming.

"God is more interested on what I am than what what I do. That's why we are called HUMAN BEINGS not human doings."

We have this mistaken concept that in order to be better humans, we must be in the cycle of mere performance and activities. Though I can say that habits are "doings" but I am pointing that this is all about character and attitude. You may be improving par excellence in whatever you do but if we do not transcend in giving importance and priority in the "becoming" or "being", then we fail being human beings.

This is why a true human being is capable to love, care, forgive, and understand. as the saying goes.

Making a Difference

2009-07-02T02:53:00.000-07:00

We have to make a difference, we have a responsibility in giving back to our society, in the lives of these Filipino children by helping them overcome poverty thru the foundation which I started with the help of my close friends- Hop_E Foundation. Helping Overcome Poverty thru EDUCATION. The idea maybe crazy, but I always believe that whatever crazy idea we have, as thoughts, first, will be realised if we always think about about it, as crazy as it seems. So here's a crazy idea, why not start having a crazy thought of helping the children around your area or in the squatter's area by either giving them food, means of living, shelter and or education? Just think about it first...hmmmm.

Crazy? it all starts with a crazy dream. Just think about it.....

An expression of compassion

2009-07-01T03:03:00.000-07:00

2 Stars for the Crazy One

When You Are Through Changing, You Are Through. ~Bruce Barton

Hop-E and Hope for Children's HopeHelps 2010

Social Networking, Technology and God

Theologians Don’t Know Nothing

Blessing the Poor, the Neeedy, the Helpless, the Widow and the Broken! ( Tackling the Real Issues)

Hop-E and Hope for Children's HopeHelps 2010

When Gandhi almost became a Christian.

I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.

- Mohandas Gandhi

Let me Decrease as You Increase in my Life!

The Movie in my Mind - "August Rush" and God.

Barbaric Christianity with a new song and a new culture

A Place of Hope Community in Pintong Bokawe, San mateo

Cheerful Giving

12 signs why Filipinos are God’s Chosen ones

"Deus Caritas Est extreme"

GIVING HOPE TO CHILDREN :-)

Here's to All Crazy Ones - Anonymous

Toink

I am the Light (John 9:5)

The Revolution of Love!

Looking Beyond the Storm

Act According to Facts - Hunger

Know it is Possible

Trek to Anipa

I AM

"Before Abraham was, I AM."Wow, I am amazed that He is my loving Father who is the source of my everything, He is not bound by space and time, He is my omnipotent Father who inspires me to dream and to declare and realize my potentials. How amazing and awesome that truth is!......

Helping, Building and Loving

Boracay Photography

Mary Rose, the 12 Year Old Scavenger

- by CMRE, May 3, 2009

H.O.P.E. - Helping Overcome Poverty through Education (videos)

It's Possible

Trip to Catarman Samar [July162009]

GIVING HOPE TO CHILDREN

What are your Crazy Ideas?

Yehaah! Bora-Bora!

Human Beings; Not Human Doings

"God is more interested on what I am than what what I do. That's why we are called HUMAN BEINGS not human doings."

Making a Difference

An expression of compassion

"Before Abraham was, I AM."
Wow, I am amazed that He is my loving Father who is the source of my everything, He is not bound by space and time, He is my omnipotent Father who inspires me to dream and to declare and realize my potentials. How amazing and awesome that truth is!......