#5 Christmas 2012 Reflection: Being Angels

*I was given the chance (and a sign) to write a reflection for MCC QC's Paskong Makulay: Daily Reflections ala Simbang Gabi online.



I was given several scriptures and this is the one I chose. Hope you get something from this...



Gospel Reading: Luke 1: 26 – 38

Five days before Christmas. Every year’s the same for me: work, work, work. Christmas day? Still at work. But being part of MCC makes me feel closer to HIM and I know now that GOD wants us to understand why Jesus was born: LOVE. Five years in MCC and I’ve come to understand that GOD is not just for the heterosexuals but also for us fabulous LGBTs.

Christmas is one season that we always become busier and more extravagant just to make sure families and friends feel the love that WE understand. But please allow me to ask: How about you? How is your Spirit? Do you have a gift to yourself, to your angel?

Angel Gabriel was sent to bring the good news to Mary and Joseph. God chose Joseph to take care of Mary. This is a favorite verse of mine because God answered my prayer with my ex-partner; to bring us back together. At that time I thought God chose me to take care of my ex-partner. For a while I did and even if we’re just friends now I still feel the same way because I know that love is not just for couples but for good friends as well.

Going back to my question, if you were Angel Gabriel God sent to Earth who would you like your Mary and your Joseph to be? If given a choice, who would you like to bring the good news to? Enemies? People you’ve hurt? Your family?

We always think of other people and try to make them happy, try to show how much we love them.  We give gifts, prayers, etc How about you? I thank God for letting me know Yoga for Life and was blessed to be instrumental in bringing people there especially Pastor Regen who said that he came to understand that we too, need to love ourselves. When was the last time you thanked yourself; hugged yourself; or maybe said I love you to yourself?

This year is a very meaningful year for everyone. As LGBT Christians let us continue to demonstrate the spirit of giving, spirit of love, spirit of GOD. Let us touch the people we’ve hurt, the people who hurt us, and yes, even ourselves.

We still have a couple of days to wrap our gifts for them. The gift I’m talking about is not something you can find in a mall nor in Divisoria. No, it doesn’t have that “Buy 1 Take 1″ tag and is not made in China. Why not Peace? Prayer? Wrap them up in colorful wrappers of LOVE and a card from GOD saying I LOVE YOU.

Because as you read this entry right now, I am your Angel Gabriel who just shared the good news to you. I prayed for you. My gift is wrapped in a bright wrapper with a card signed by God saying…. WE both LOVE YOU.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to bring the Good News to others. Help me to be sensitive and responsive to your prompting in caring for the people around me. But even as I do that, help me to take care of myself too. Amen.

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Written by: Mark Simbillo of MCC Makati
Edited by: Red Macalalad

SOURCE

Yoga Boy Vondraye joins Yoga For Life

I can say it was actually a God given divine providence that I got to know Yoga for Life. The first time I heard about them was during my first Pride March 2010 when they were introduced onstage, then our pastor commented that they want to try it out, but I wasn’t paying attention.

Last year, our company gave programs for Health and Wellness and free yoga classes were part of it, and of course, since I’ve been doing yoga before and stopped, this was chance to feel the warmth of yoga again. I signed up, even if the class was on the other building, other side of the world. The yoga instructor was surprisingly; BIG. Like Bouncer big, but a model version, not to mention who has a big heart, so I was really like wow! Add the fact that I’m the only guy during that class. Then, I learned that he was doing classes and from what I know, these classes were expensive and all that jazz. Then, he opened up about Yoga for Life and told me the story about it and the rest was history.
 

  “Yogaforlife class TOMORROW 2pm at ECHOyoga 9/f penthouse 120 century plaza building perea st. Legaspi village Makati city. See you there.”

This text message always makes me smile; reminds me that my weekend’s gonna start. The one thing I love with Yoga for Life Classes are these classes are either fun, or you get to learn something new from other instructors (some were from other countries!) ; for free. Then there’s the community atmosphere, everytime a newbie comes, everybody introduces themselves and will have a warm welcome. True Story.

The one I always attend is the one in Makati during Saturdays at ECHOyoga Studio, Penthouse, Century Plaza Building, 120 Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City, after you get dropped off at Insular Bldg at Ayala, just cross and it’s Perea! You have a Saturday thingie? You might be free during Wednesday night at Conference Room at 28th flr Medical Plaza Bldg, 25 San Miguel Ave, Ortigas Ctr, Pasig City, just nearly at the back of Shangri la EDSA, near Meralco Bldg. Sunday is your rest day? Then They still have their Sunday morning class at 3D Il Terrazzo at Tomas Morate Ave., cor Scout Madrinian St at 1103 QC. I haven't beent here yet but from what I've heard its divine!

I invited my pastor, brothers and sisters from MCCPh Makati and they loved it. They told me that they slept the night like a kid eats an ice cream; with a smile on their face and woke up so refreshed.

The reason why I stayed with Yoga for Life is the family and friendly atmosphere they give; in short. LOVE.

If you want to know more about Yoga for Life and their Community, visit their website here. or contact the uber gorgeous founder Paulo at 0917-388-9658.

Insomnia, and the January that passed by

It’s unusual for me to stay in my corner on a Friday morning doing this; in the office. It’s already 2 hours past my off, and I’m still here.  The following entry is my first contradictory entry as I told myself that I’ll try not to post any, but then again, lots of bad things just happened and I want it documented so forgive me for posting this. Not forcing you to read on, and not receomended as well.

What I love/loved with my old life was my routinary life for the past 2 year(s); Sunday morning mass, Sunday afternoon whatever, Sunday night shift, Monday morning rest then gym training in the afternoon. Then Monday to Thursday shift that starts with either 10 or 11pm and I never got to be late! Tuesday meetings, Wednesday sub team meetings and then Thursday listening sessions, Friday morning rest/sleep before gym training again in the afternoon. I’ve been like that for a long time. Last December was my peak when I was able to do trainings during Wednesday because I was bulking up for my cousins wedding, plus I had my strict pumping up diet. After December 2011, things just fell apart. Suddenly had lots of problems, and then came to a point that I have to stop working out, and it started last week; haven’t been to the cave of Eclipse.

Things aren’t going too well lately, but all I can do (and I have to) is find little light of happiness, optimism, realization that I’m still lucky despite of the things happening. I’m still thankful for the gift of peace of mind, even at the middle of war and all that HE gave me; that’s the strength HE gave me. However, I’ve been given the challenge to take on financial management; something I’m so poor with.  I don’t usually dwell on negative things as I learned in The Secret that using your creativity to rant or talk about those negative things, will just give more energy and will happen more. However, I learned how to overcome these things and I’d like to read this in the future that I was able to overcome this season in my life.

At the end of the day, you’ll decide if you want to be or you’ll choose to be happy or not; bad things are happening? Watch your favorite comedy series, or do something refreshing. On the greener, lighter note, if everything else fails, there’s one I can think of. *GRINS*

Last Tuesday morning, I met my friend to accompany me to check out the “cheap” 2weeks unlimited access vs. the 10 visits coupon of THAT gym. (I’m still attending YFL during weekends and try to work out a couple of home exercises at home; yes it’s EXER-CISES). Going back to my friend, I kept on texting him and no reply for 2 hours; turned out that he took anti-histamine and woke up late. So we chitchat for a bit and went back home since I have a scheduled meeting with my church mates (it was actually supposed to be Wednesday, but I had a meeting with my “group” at the office, which was moved to Thursday, so moving the meeting on Tuesday was useless; since they arrived 8pm, the time I left home for work). When I reached home, I can’t sleep. I just was resting in my bed and meditated. I sent a message to my manager since my brain that time wasn’t working; she replied that it’s my own decision to go to work or not; and I did. I also did survive that shift and after that, went home and lulled my way to sleep with the help of OTC sleeping aid. The dilemma in our group at the office then came. Oh well, moving on.

My phone was also busted as it suddenly gets drained after you fully charged it, it will be low in battery until it gets emptied by the afternoon. I went to Sony Ericson to have it checked and they said that it has to be reformatted and THEN that’s when they will check if there’s a problem with the motherboard; which basically ends the life of my phone because that can’t be fixed/replaced. I appreciated how the technician at the store put it; blunt and straight. I’m thankful I still have Ploop (my Motorola A810) that I’m currently using right now.

Workwise, I was patiently waiting, for my chance to be a trainer, to make a change in department and the whole Line of Business; and in just one day, one visit from the upper management, one pizza party, everything was ruined. They announced that the move of the Department from Cebu to Manila won’t push through, and that ended my plan. On the lighter side of life, my manager was “kicking” me out of my team since she said that there’s no more opportunity for me here, that I need to find another business that can utilize my training skills.

There are still lots of things that aren’t going well, but I still have a few reasons to smile that I get to multiply; there are times when I want life to be just like an electronic gadget; there’s either a reset button or shutdown-restart and start a new life. However, this comes back to me how you can appreciate life if everything that’s happening is good?

Quientry 01

Quientry – Quickie Entry

A fast, short post for my blog with “less” (hopefully) words than the usual; mostly random thoughts.


• I dreamt the other day of a Harry Potter world (again) Dumbledore, from the 1st movie was talking to me asking me to do something and go inside the castle.


• The other day, we were somewhere unfamiliar in Manila with my family and my mom was lined up for something. I asked her what the line is for and asked if it was for her PASSPORT. She said it’s not and when I looked it was. She was so shy of her getting caught lying while I was crying my heart out and turned to my sister and told her crying and screaming at the top of my lungs “Nagisisnungaling si mommy?! (“Mom was lying!”).” Next thing I know was I was with my sister with our things packed in lug gages in a tricycle and we went off. WEIRD

• DA WHO! I asked this guy, “Di mo ba ako namimiss?” he didn’t reply, and was evading me. I bade goodbye and was zombie mode going to the office, hurt by what happened. A couple of hours later I read a text from him, “Of course I missed you.” WAHHHHH!! KILIG!

• I “promised” to write more in my journal and during my lunch, I went to write a couple of entries, and when I was about to start writing something on Jan 1, 2012, I backtracked and started writing on the space of December 26, 2011. Damn, I have to write all the other things that’s happening and I have to do it fast before my short term memory loss strikes again!

• I said to my tweeter friends that I might soon take shots of me topless so that I’ll be able to see the work I’ve done last December where I worked out 3times a week. However, due to lack of funds this week, my wasn’t in good shape so I have to postpone it again.

Fluid

I told myself I’ll be blogging more and since it was quite busy during the past few days of the new year in the office, I’ll start with this.

I don’t know if everyone of you got a hold of the news when I posted in my social netowriking sites that I’m officially single. (Gasp! Large huge widened eyes, some will cover their mouth, some will go omgee, I get it.) yep, Husband decided to call it quits, and next will be the question why. It’s a little more complicated that that and I don’t want to complicate things here but you know what; the good thing is we’re both fine. We’re still living together, we’re still texting, I’m still texting his mom and his mom still keeps on texting me and I still got my Christmas gift from her too! A quick history on what happened though, after we celebrated our 3 day celebration for our 3 year anniversary last December 16-18, he then talked to me Monday after we ate dinner at Mang Inasal. That’s what I love about him, honest frank no beating around the bush. I actually thought he was joking and I told him if it wasn’t a joke that no I won’t agree to it. Thursday came and he went with me to my cousin’s wedding as I also invited his mom (practicing photography)to go with us. On the bus, I missed the times I keep on making him laugh with my funny antics; I still have the power to so I’m still good, I can’t stop not holding his hands but he keeps on shoving it away; of course, he can’t resist my pa-cute effect so he gave in. Everyone thought things were normal. Then weekend came and I was still asking HIM for a sign and he did gave me one; HE somewhat talked to me so I decided to give husband’s freedom.

"Yawn-eeeng"

oh yeah!! I can still make you smile!!!

Jeff's beautiful mom and his beautiful A/X bag. lol

A week ago before New year, he still don’t know what to give tita(his mom) and lolo for their gifts and we were texting, and it felt fine. No feelings of anger or anything, I asked him, we’re good right? Yep we’re good. He answered back. That’s what I was thinking and thanking God for; being fluid about things. A friend of mine told me once, “I hope people would live and think fluidly; no judgments, no assumptions, and no condemnation.” I would agree wit what he said if I knew what he was talking about, and then he added “I have lesbian friends that eventually got married to guys and married men who eventually turned out to be gay and the people around them accepted with who they are.” I remembered a famous lesbian in UPLB who got married to a guy and I was surprised to see her with a baby already. People know that we know each other and that time they asked me, wasn’t she a lesbian? I didn’t have an answer that time. Now I understand about people just being fluid about these things.

People were all saddened with what happened to us and I can’t blame them; we can’t throw away 3 years of love; but just like energy Love is just there, either transferred or changed. We still love each other, we just chose not THAT way, when people break up and still stays as friends; that’s love changing, if they fell in love with another one after that’s love being transferred, if they hate each other still the same; because when you get mad or angry at someone; that means you still have love for them; because you still care, because you still feel angry, you still feel emotions. I'll leave you something that was left to us by our Reverend Ken Martin from MCC Main that keeps us humbled; Romans 13:8 tells us "...for whoever loved others has already fulfilled the law."

I assured everyone that right now, husband and I aren’t husband-housebands anymore but both of us were honest enough to admit that we love each other; though not just the same way as before. Just a brand new way and we’re both happy with that. Fluid. I talked to him last Monday and asked if we’re still gonna push through with the Amazing Race Philippines; he said yes.

From this...

to this....