The curse of being good

 Recently, my dad and I had a simple conversation on FIBA and the Philippines’ lost chance of making it to the finals because of team Iran. “We didn’t win, Dad,” I muttered as he was saying the game was really good. “Yes, but at least we showed them we can. We almost made it.”

Almost.

I was astonished at how my dad accepted the defeat as if it was victory. He even continued by saying that we should take pride in being good at basketball despite our height deficiencies.  

A few months ago, the Azkals made a name by defeating the defending champion, Vietnam, in the Suzuki Cup. People got suddenly interested with the team. They made headlines everywhere – something only Pacquiao does regularly. But during the play against Indonesia, my heart burned as I saw the promising young team got defeated. People, though hurt, celebrated the Azkals’ defeat like it was all the team’s worth – making it to the semi-finals. I wallowed in dismay, honestly, because I saw the game and it was so heartbreaking. I was never really a football fan until a friend showed me how left out the Filipinos are in terms of the most popular sport in the universe.

The conversation with my dad brought me to remember the quote I often hear in the church. “The good is the worst enemy of the best.”

Onyok Velasco

People often get contented with being the second best, and as I have observed, the Filipinos are all too excited for it, like we know we are good, but always only second to something better. When Onyok Velasco lost the gold in the 1996 Olympics, we tried to contest we deserved the win, but we slowly sank in the reality that we can always be cheated at – after all, we’re just a third world country with a booming population of achievers who always almost make it.

Miriam misses the title

We have a long list of “Almost-but-not-quite’s.” We have Marian Quiambao, in a win I know she deserved so well. It was followed by Venus Raj, losing to the title of Ms Universe by a (couple of) notch. The list is endless (though I can't seem to find them all hehe). Our history has been bombarded with seconds that being first is too alien, too farfetched that upon achievement, we create demi-gods, a testament to our seemingly unbelief for our talents.

Venus Raj

I think one of the things we should get out of is our acceptance at being second. Second is never first. Never forget that. I was asked by my boss who the second best golf player in the world is. I said I didn’t know. I had no idea. He said, “Exactly.”

Filipinos are good. We deserve to be number one. This is not being arrogant, this is being truthful. Facts that we are second continue to plague our lives that I get tired of hearing it. The truth is that we are good - and I pray for the day that when asked again by my boss who the best person in the world is now, I can proudly say, a Filipino, “that’s why you hired me.” Then he can unabashedly say, “Exactly.”

Read More

Healing and Miracle Festival

Every last Sunday of the month, our church, The Lord’s Hand Ministries, is conducting the Healing and Miracle Festival in Valenzuela to invite anyone – rich or poor, learned and unlearned – to experience the power of God through divine healing.

For more information, you may PM me directly or post in a comment for the present schedule and venue.

Be part of the Lord’s movement on earth. Listen and be healed.

Read More

There's no other way

Yesterday, when my colleague experienced the re-baptism of the Holy Spirit during our praise and worship, I suddenly realized one thing – LIFE HAS NO OTHER WAY BUT GOD’S WAY.

I have seen cases like this: One gets “converted” then backslides for a reason or two, then after years of going nowhere and proving nothing to God, the path God has set for them is once again revisited.

This recalls to mind Jonah’s story (found in the Book of Jonah, of course) and how Jonah ran away from God’s assignment only to realize that he can never outrun God. The Book of Jonah reminds us that God is a big god, and His ways are beyond our ways, His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9) and we can never really do anything “of our own accord” to outlast Him. His patience is supreme, His righteousness abound, and His love for us really is beyond human measure.

I submit to His divine says, and for whatever reason God has last night for showing things we never expected - but hoping for anyway – makes me more in awe of His power and ways.

To God be the glory.

Read More

When God Ran

This song is particularly special for me because it made me realise that no matter what - that despite all our failures - God gives second chances to us. If only we respond the right way, if only we surrender and embrace what He was in store for us, then our lives will never be the same.

Lyrics of When God Ran

Almighty God, the great I am 

Immovable rock, omnipotent, powerful, awesome Lord
Victorious warrior, commanding King of Kings
Mighty conqueror, and the only time
the only time I ever saw Him run

CHORUS:
Was when He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise when God ran

The day I left home I knew I’d broken His heart
And I wondered then if things could ever be the same
Then one night I remembered His love for me
And down that dusty road ahead I could see
It was the only time – it was the only time I ever saw Him run

And then He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise as He brought me to my knees
When God ran – I saw Him run to me

BRIDGE:
I was so ashamed, all alone and so far away
But now I know He’s been waiting for this day

I saw Him run to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice I felt His love for me again

He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said, “Son”, He called me Son
He said, “Son do you know I still love you?”
He ran to me and then I ran to Him
When God ran

Read More

For the unemployed, here’s  quick guide on how to secure  legal licenses.


BARANGAY CLEARANCE – P25

1. Go to your respective barangay and give and ID that shows your current address – a proof that you really  are part of that barangay and not some alien creature trying to get by in securing an earthly address.
2. Before the clerk does anything, pay P25 first.
3. The clerk will type your basic information on the computer and print it out. In pronto, you will see a paper emerging from her printer and she will ask you to sign it and run after someone who will sign it on behalf of the whole barangay itself. I ran after a guy in green, who was a kagawad, chitchatting with his minions outside the barangay hall.
4. The clerk will stamp your paper with dry seal.
5. You leave happy.

POLICE CLEARANCE – P70

1. Go to the nearest police station.
2. Ask where to pay for the police clearance.
3. Pay P70 to get a form which you will fill  up.
4. Submit to the window assigned to receive your form.
5. Wait to be called.
6. When called, go to the window where  you will get your photo taken.
7. You can choose not to smile, unless you’re guilty of something, better make your clearance presentable.
8. Wait again.
9. When called, your clearance will be released photo-finish.

NBI CLEARANCE – P115

1. This is tricky and a pain in the... First fall in line to get your form. (Note:  Better go there early because this  is by  far the longest  to get.  But because everyone almost has the same idea, you will still end up lining with the number 200 something. I suggest if you have time to spare, go there after lunch  or a bit later before the afternoon cut off. By then it won’t be too hot and people won’t be too grumpy.)
2. PayP115 for local (employment and other  local purposes) or travel  (for... travel. This is used for visa purposes most of the time. I don’t know how else to use it. I use it all the time though and never got the chance to have the local one).
3. Fill in the form.
4. Have your  hand inked and mark the sheet with your thumb and  hand prints. If you feel like it, you can buy a  pair of cheap wet ones to clean your hands. It is not compulsory. It’s a business of the man doing  the printing  I guess. If you feel like making him feel bad, bring your own expensive Wet Ones.
5. Submit your form to the window for photo-taking. If you’re the vain kind, try dressing up for your clearance day so you don’t look bad in those papers. Don’t smile.  Criminals and people with criminal intents don’t smile.
6. Wait. This  takes hours or if you have a “hit” (a namesake) you will wait ten days.
7. Meanwhile, better bring something like a book, a magazine a board game or a cellphone with video recorder because the waiting game with hot-headed  people can be nasty.
8. While waiting, you can also get your other clearances. This saves time and disposition.

MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT – P80

1. Go  to the MTC office  and present your intent.
2. Make sure you have your police clearance and community tax certificate with you.
3. Pay P80. (P30 is for the stamp)
4. Wait.
5. Check for errors and sign the paper.
6. Smile at them. Especially when they’re nice.

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT CLEARANCE - ?

1. Check if they only process papers half day. I didn’t, so I have no RTC clearance and have no idea how to get one.

MAYOR’S CLEARANCE – P50

1. Different from Mayor’s Permit, mind you.
2. Pay P50 at the appropriate window.
3. Present your receipt and give your barangay and police clearances, and your community tax certificate Make sure you have a photocopy of all those.
4. Wait.
5. Read something / Chat with the guard / Throw a tantrum. This is tricky also because there is no one assigned to do this and this alone. You seem to be making pakiusap for someone inside the mayor’s office to type  one for you and if that someone is typing a thousand-page report, your one-page, less-than-a-hundred word clearance will have to wait.
6. Sign the paper and leave.
7. Say thank you to the guard.

The processes may vary from one city to another. I am particularly grateful to the City of Las Piñas for a fast and reliable government system with no fixer and no noon breaks to accommodate all our needs.  The free coffee and cold  water  was also prized.


Special mention to Ate Maricar of the Community Tax  Certificate division.

Read More