Christmas Season

Hello, everyone! Sorry for such a late post.
Photoblogging ahead :)

December 23 - JRC's Christmas Cantata '07
Fear Not: Encountering the Christ of Christmas

It was my first time to see such a huge streamer. It was as big as a billboard na nga, eh.

The choir members looked fab with their gowns and all. They did very, very well!

There was also a mysterious Mary that night. Shhh.. It was me! Haha. First time to be Mary.
Not everyone knew about it. Sobrang biglaan lang kasi, so there. Kami ni Kimpot. :-D

Our dance was also g-r-e-a-t! Whoohoo.

It was the best Christmas Cantata we had, yet. Awesome!
People almost froze while watching the performances that they seldom give applauses. Hah.
Sabi nga namin, each seat must've costed P500/ each. Hahah.
Thank you, Lord!


December 24 - Noche Buena
We planned not to leave for Pampanga as we used to in the past years 'cause mom, being the Canatata's Conductress, needed a filthy rest.

Some young people visited us, too!


December 25 - Christmas Day!
Without length of sleep (I was online from 11PM-4AM!), we prepped at 4 and left before 7 AM.
I slept the whole travel, as expected.
Christmases at Pampanga have always been fun (and equally magulo) as well as pila-ful :-P Clan get-together na rin :)

December 27 - 28 - Baguio City!
It was like a short unplanned vacation. Super fun! Family bonding.
Hotel search (since we made no reservations). New year shopppppping. Late night out with ate Joy, Vanj, and Kuya Josh. Driving. Food. Sleep. Lots of talks.
Savoring 2007 :)

Happy Holidays!

Dance Presentation for Christmas Cantata '07

It is done!

The Lord said we shall not fear because it is all done :)
These promises were where I clinged to while choreographing for our Christmas Canatata'07 dance presentation.

I have been up to a lot of important things this December that I missed to give much focus on choreographing a dance pageantry for the dance ministry.

I failed to choreog one, but thank God for His mercy that I was able to choreograph a spontaneous three-song dance number (Yehey!).

With the cooperation of the whole of JRC's Creative Dance Ministry, we were able to finish the dance presentation we will be having for our Cantata (this Sunday).
We had our first ever 7:30 AM practice yesterday, and no one was late. NO ONE! :D

We'll be dancing to the tune of the following songs:

• Fear Not (Overture) - this is the opening number for our Christmas Canatata. We'll be doing a flag & banner dance.
• In Your Presence (by Paul Wilbur) - an interpretative dance
• O Jah (by, again, the great Paul Wilbur) - a pop combination of messianic & Jewish dance
• Blow the Trumpet (by, again, my favorite Paul Wilbur) - a tambourine dance
  

I'm just so excited. We performed spontaneously last night, during the second last general rehearsal with the choir, and we did great! Some even were very touched and moved that they cried while watching us dance.
It was very fulfilling to hear tear-jerking comments and praises, but I give them all back to whom all glory and honor is due---Jesus!

Btw, I will only be dancing O Jah & Blow the Trumpet since it's easier on my part to focus on guiding & choreographing than on practicing on-stage.

Another btw, we already got our spanking new uniforms kanina! I won't post photos para surprise :D

Hay. I'm just excited.

Here are some photos of our practice yesterday (morning & evening):



(l-r) Carol mopping---Dance Min Seniors---In Your Presence

choir

JRC @ 10

Hello!

Sorry naman if I have neglected my blog site for like two weeks.
There are a lot of things to accomplish (not just do).

Last week, we’ve celebrated our church’s 10^th Year Anniversary!
Grabe. God has been soooo faithful in our church, my family, and to His people.

Dad has been a pastor for more than 20 years already, but it was just in 1997, a year after we’ve transferred here in Nueva Ecija, that we’ve (they, actually – I was just a seven-year old innocent kid by then) established Jesus Revival Church.

I can still commit to my memory the instances of that same year.
I’ll just post another blog entry about that, anyway. That’d need a looooong post :)

Anyway, as already mentioned, we have been really busy for the preparations for our 10^th year anniversary (Dec. 16). Subsequently, we are currently undergoing a stage of being torn apart by our incoming and current activities.

Everybody’s at K of C Clubhouse as of this very moment since St. John’s Academy is currently having its Christmas Presentations.

Another thing, we’re having our Christmas Cantata at JRC this Sunday, December 23. Of course, that requires everyone much time, expenditures, efforts, and the like.
I even failed to choreograph pageantry for that event because I have been really occupied these previous weeks (uh. *Sigh*). Instead, we’ll just be doing banner/ flag dance, tambourine dance, messianic dance, as well as interpretative dance.

Whoo. We’re all stressed out, but it is the joy f serving God that gives us strength.
The joy of the Lord is our strength!

Btw, 6 days until Christmas!
Merry Christmas, everyone!

P.S. Please don’t let the cutting of Globe Telecom’s unlimited texting service keep you from sharing your joy with people around. A smile is definitely worth more than a peso :)

God bless you.

Enjoy the Christmas season :)

ENCM's Campus Jam

I go home at 4 on Thursdays. However, I’ve decided to stay at school ‘till past 4 PM today since I went to the library (naks) to borrow a book for my SocSci subject.

After pretending to love books, I’ve decided to take the shortcut to CAS (College of Arts & Sciences) – the canteen!

As I passed the canteen, I heard voices calling my name. I didn’t give my attention immediately, as usual. However, when their voices (yes, I was hearing two voices calling my name) got even louder, I had nothing better to do but to look back.

A girl in a light pink shirt asked me, “Ikaw si J e z?”, “Po? Bakit po?”, I asked back. “J e z r e e l?” she asked again while coming near me. I then recognized the face… “Tin-tin!” I exclaimed.

So it was Kristine, a friend from VCF-Cabanatuan. We actually got acquainted online. Long story. So there. We had hi’s and hello’s and talked about how glad we were to finally meet in person.

She informed me that VCF-Cab’s ENCM would be having a Campus Jam by 6 PM at the CAS LT. I got so thrilled that I even secretly skipped our class preparations for the poetry reading night. Haha.

Hindi lang ako familiar with some songs that they’ve played, pero I was filled :)

The message delivered by their youth pastor, Ptr. Ver, was great. Being a Christian for quite a long time, it may seem to be a usual message, but the Word, indeed, has its own power that’d touch every aspect of our lives – no mater how many times we’ve already heard or read a scripture.

I also was blessed on the manner of the message’s deliverance. It was brought to the students clearly and fully. It wasn’t just a talk. It was a message full of powerful convictions.

I’ve gained a lot of inputs from that night. I was blessed with you all, VCF young people.

Btw, I also got to see Nanan again. Furthermore, I met some youth from VCF (Cab) – JC (the photo guy), Top (the one wearing a headband), Cesar (the one who repeatedly shouted my name for Tin), Paolo (the guy in a yellow vest; one of the back-ups), Ate Mau (Hawak kamay.hehe), and other more whose names I couldn’t get to recall :p

It was fun knowing them even in just a short span of time.
I was really blessed. Keep the fire, VCF people!

**send me our photos, okay? :)

November '07 Youth Net: "Reach One More for Jesus"

After four months, we again had a Youth Net! Whoo!

I have already blogged about some preparations, so I’m talking about the event itself now.

There were many flaws, and from which everybody got lessons of various kinds.

I was on the technical team for the net so I didn’t lead the p&w. I actually haven’t been in any of their practices since they only had two informal rehearsals. Unsystematic, yes. Nevertheless, we have all learned from this net (you’ll figure that out later). They only sms-ed me with the line-up (I’m assigned on the DLP).
The turning point: The actual p&w proper didn’t turn out very well. Even the band got confused at some parts. Bottom line is that they’ve learned not to play with their parts. It’s never a joke to lead people in worship. On my part, however, the lesson was that I should be more watchful next time. I relied totally on them that they can do things like when I lead. I’m not blaming Jett nor Ptr.Phil for the disorganized practices. We all contribute to the flaws. We really shouldn’t be on our own. We are a team.

Next, I arrived at the church before 3 PM. I was expecting those who have parts to be there already, but there were only three when I came. In addition to that jumble, Grace, my classmate whom I have invited, came at around 3:05. Our bad she came ahead of the other young people from the youth ministry. We started at 5. Yaiks.

The turning point: We should be responsible enough to be ahead of time. We should reflect God in all our deeds, and that applies even on our time. We mean real business here!

Few minutes after 3 PM came other new (invited) young people.
That was the most annoying part was that others became too technical. Some were more focused on listing the names of the new comers than making them (the new ones) feel very welcome and well-received. I could have divided myself into 20 just to be acquainted very sound with the invited young people. I was having negative thoughts over my co-youth ministry workers those times since some piled up at the back, leaving the new ones unattended. Our shirt says JRC Youth Ministry: Reaching People for Jesus.

With disappointment, I even told one of my friends, “Bakit sila ganyan? We’re not reaching for drums, paper, or plastic. We’re reaching people (with emphasis on the last sentence).”

I went inside the church office and prayed.
On my quiet time, I have reflected that I need not be annoyed; I should help them, instead.
I asked God to clear all negative thoughts the devil tried to lay on me. We are a team, a youth ministry. We all are accounted for one another.

Instead of criticizing their mistaken deeds, I started to view it as an opportunity for growth. We all are learning. Not all lessons can be taught by pastors, or leaders, but also by situations as such. (I just hope we won’t wait for such instances to learn.hehe)

No one is to blame.
We are a team, a youth ministry. We all are accounted for one another.

Everything got okay when we went inside the office to have a brief talk with Ptr.Phil, our youth pastor, and prayed.

Thank you, Lord.
Because of You, we all are learning.
Because of You, we all are growing.
Because of You, we learn to understand.

I love my ministry. I love my co-young people. I love my co-youth leaders. I love my church. I love my God, above all.

Lord, we all are under Your construction. Mold us in Your likeness more and more such that others may really see You in us.

Positive thoughts = Positive things, so everything turned out well after combating with pessimistic notions.

**photos coming soon over my multiply

So you want my pastries?

Our PE instructor was out today so we’ve all been in a yay realizing that our quiz was canceled. More time for review! I honestly wasn’t much ready for that quiz about basketball’s history, so I was in cloud9 that time. :D

After we’ve been dismissed by the lady who told the good news, I went straight to PCC’s university outlet, opposite to the gymn, to have the usual choco milk & pastillas. I only had hotdog for breakfast, so I was quite eager for food already. Haha.

Sooooooooo….

Philippine Carabao Center (PCC)'s Pastillas De Leche, Blueberry yogurt, & Lacto Drink (Yah. Too much for someone as slender as me!)

(1) After 10 minutes (2) Giving up.hehe (3) A happy tummy is a happy me :D

I was alone. Again.

Being yet on my second year in college, I still haven’t opened up myself to my block mates that much. I don’t even know all their names! I keep my personal details from them and often am seen either with Joan & Zlyne or alone.

At school, I was never the über friendly type. My high school batch mates slash friends would always tell me, “You know, I thought suplada ka.” or “feeling ko before snob ka, e.” Idk. Maybe it really is my kind not to be the warm new gal around. I am friendly and super makulit, but I’m not usually the ice breaker.

In actuality, I’m not the silent and snob sort. My long-time friends could attest on that.
I don’t immediately allow others to jive on munching with my pastries, though I’m willing to share mine given the right timing.

Perhaps I am just reserved :)

I Kissed Dating Goodbye

No. I'm not dating. I'm talking about Josh Harris' book.
You probably have either read it already or heard about it.

The first person to brag me of buying that book was Gracie. She went to Manila for college, so she looked for another church there. According to her, JOHIA (her new-found church)'s Youth Ministry has once involved reading of I Kissed dating Goodbye on its projects.
Since then, I got interested on reading that book. We do have courtship lessons at church back on our School of Leaders-1 (SOL1) days, but I have always thought that reading such a book would help me be a more determined No Boyfriend Since Birth (NBSB) member. Hahaha!

Relationships, I believe would and SHOULD come on the right time since our God is a God of perfect-timing :) Right now, I'm focused on my first love - Jesus.

Anyway, I just had a copy of that book last Monday (Nov26)!

I haven't even begun, but I'm kissing dating goodbye until the faultless time for it ;)

I quote from Josh Harris' site, "Most people have an opinion about "that book about not dating." Some love it; others despise it. I'd encourage you not to assume you know what it says without having read it. Many readers who start out critics of I Kissed Dating Goodbye are surprised to learn that the core message of the book isn't about "dating," but living your life for God."

Reaching More

After our church's focused 40 Days of Purpose Campaign, the Youth Ministry finally had the chance to hold yet another hyper Youth Net!

I'm so excited to have one again given the fact that our latest Net was back in July.

So anyway, I won't be leading the P&W this time (Don't worry, guys. I still have my singing career on. Haha. Jk.). Jett, a fellow youth leader, would be leading that part, while I'll be on multi-media stuffs for the event. Har. Load-distribution! :D
Two of my immediate assignments were to make the invitation notes and to post posters & announcements anywhere possible - uhm, no vandalism, okay? :p

With the super kind support of my best friend for the pictorial, I was able to come up with this invite:

As the theme has it, we're trying to continually reach more and more young people for Jesus.
Inasmuch as I can, I really am passionate to bring ALL my friends to Jesus. Yeah.. I would sound like a boring friend, but actually, this desire in me is what NOT makes me a lousy friend.

From the start, I've always known that I won't make a real friend if I wouldn't have the drive and boldness to share the life with my friends. I would be such a self-centered jerk if I wouldn't let my friends know Jesus the real way.

I'm inviting the owner of the eyes reading this post to attend JRC's Youth Net '07. AND, if by chance you're in a so-far away place but have friends over Nueva Ecija, don't hesitate to tell them to go on Friday.
I'm just an sms and email away! I m more than willing to assist you and your shy friends :)

--------------
I love my friends, so I'm posting this :)

High schoolers, College students, Young Professionals, Young Adults.. basta unmarried, okay! :D

Guam cleaners on the news

My ever favorite tita (aunt), Tita Neng (my mom's elder sister) is on the news!


Well, they call her Trini in Guam where she's Okura Hotel's Asst. Mngr, but I'm still fond of calling her Tita Neng :)



Dozens pitch in to clean at D.L. Perez Elementary School

By Faith Realica For Northern Weekly

Parents, teachers, staff, and volunteers dedicated their time to make Daniel L. Perez Elementary School a cleaner place for the students.

The school held a Happy Labor Day Cleanup this past weekend, which was arranged through the efforts of the school's Parent Teacher Organization, staff and faculty.

"Our main goal for this cleanup is to serve the students. We saw a need, and as a school and community, we decided to address that need," says Principal Elizabeth Hanzsek. The school has several issues that require attention, such as the unruly grass, a huge hole on the rusted fence, and overflowing trash bins, Hanzsek says. Funding for maintenance has not been very reliable so it was about time to take initiative, she adds.

"Some areas of the school were beginning to look like a jungle. The overgrown bushes were higher than some of the classrooms. My students would come in and have sticky burrs all over their clothes," says kindergarten teacher Marina Pangelinan.

All around the campus, volunteers were visible mowing the grass, picking up trash, and sweeping.

Ramon and Trini Pobre, parents of three daughters who attend the school, called the event a family affair.

"Everyone enjoyed cleaning. To the adults, it was work done for our kids. For the kids, it was more like play. But they were a big help nonetheless," said Trini Pobre.

After much hard work, the day ended with conversation, potluck and the joy in knowing that the students were returning next week to a cleaner campus.

article and photo are both from Pacific Daily News

Vanj's 16th and on being a pastor's kid

My younger sib, Vanj, celebrated her 16th birthday last Monday.
She had a three-part celebration. First was a lunch at Isdaan last Sunday, after the church service. Second was a dinner party, while third was a treat she had for her classmates.

Differing to the decision I had on my 17th, she asked mom to have a party. Some of our church pastors & members came, in addition to the young people whom I have expected to outgrow the adults in number.hehe
I bought party hats for the party to make us look like kiddos. We also had parlor games which made us look like post-matured kiddos. Haha!

Anyway, the best part of the night, I could say, is divided into two: first, when friends and church elders gave their inspiring and affirming messages to both Vanj and I (the party seemed to be like my after-birthday party as well). We were also prayed for by all of them. Overwhelming.
Being a PK (Pastor’s Kid) is indeed a blessing - a privilege that’s highly extravagant. I really am blessed to have lots of witnesses around.
I am encouraged of Hebrews 12 which says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crow of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish….”

I must really pursue the race.

As what I’ve said when they’ve asked me to give a short speech, being a PK may perhaps be a pressure for others because based on what Ate Anne said, “..natutuwa ako and na-bbless kasi alam ko and na-oobserve ko na hindi niyo lang pinoproktektahan ang sarili niyo. Iniisip niyo rin for every action sila Pastor (pertaining to my dad & mom)……”.
It may be a pressure since, for some, being a PK involves having all eyes on you, people watching your deeds, parents telling their children “tignan mo si Jez” or “dapat ganon ka din kay Jez”, people expecting you to be good all the time, people..people..blah..blah. There are just so many demands and high expectations, one might think. However, with all honestly, since I had a realthe relationship, I’ve acted more naturally. From the time when I have had the connection, I haven’t been dictated by my situation as a PK simply because I just enjoy being one. Although essentially, there also are stuffs which I should consider my being a pastor’s kid, I am not pre-determined of what I am believed to do because the things that I am supposed to do became what I wanted and loved to do.

It isn’t really a difficult account to be a PK. No pressure, but pleasure iff one has the linear rapport with the Lord :) relationship with Jesus, pressures have been only on school researches. hehe. I mean since I had

With all pride and honour I say, anak ako ng pastor!