All hail King Benjo!

he was my brother peter, and he called me sister lucy (he still does!). since then i felt like it was more than just a role in a kids church skit... when i first met him at cat's house for friday's small group meetings i felt drawn to this charming, funny, energetic guy. he had a big smile and an even bigger laugh, always ready with a funny hirit or two. everytime i see him i can't help but give him a hug.

recently, we learned he's been diagnosed with hodgkin's lymphoma, and is currently undergoing chemotherapy...he gave us a visit one time, just to say hi and to let us know about his condition. at first i felt tears in my eyes as he described in detail how he felt, his doctor appointments and their plans at first to go to the States but deciding to have treatment done here instead. but as he talked, i felt he was as strong as ever, and i felt a bit guilty for feeling sad. he still had his big smile on and it wasn't fake...he wasn't just being brave for us...he genuinely believed that this is God's answer to his prayer for spiritual growth. he said this was his chance to grow closer to God, to walk the path He meant for his life, to perhaps be able to finally fulfill his destiny. as he sat there and talked about his great trial, i felt his passion for life even more. my heart felt lighter, and i found myself wearing a smile almost as big as his...it was as if his excitement was catching. physically, he looked like he needed rest, but his eyes still shone with the same passionate energy and his voice was powerful and resounded through the room.

benjo's faith in God keeps him strong and he is an inspiration to so many people, and i think his good friend lance said it best in his entry...

"what makes Benjo an astonishing person is that he chooses to be defiant in the very face of despair."

just like a true king, don't you think? i can't wait to see him again, to hear him call me Lu and then give him a big big hug.

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for schedule on gigs for his fundraising, check out "Remission Is Possible"



other multiply entries about our dear DJ Benjo:
Hail the Lizard Kings
Benjo the Brave
Benjo Marquez Fundraiser Updates #2 Pls Read!

"Remission Is Possible" - fundraiser for Benjo Marquez

1. June 21 Wed at LUCE BAR (Jupiter St. near Fiamma and where Starbucks is)"Keep Spinning" for Benjo c/o the Luce partners
2. June 22 Thurs and June 29 Thurs at 6 Underground , "Smashing Hodgkins: The Benjo Marquez Project" c/o Jericho Fernando BANDS playing are: Cultured Milk, Mute Madness, Kjwan and Happy Meals Tickets at Php500
3. July 6: Watch the World Cup Semi-Finals Night at Fiamma (Jupiter St) Tickets are Php300 with a free drink or two =)
4. July 13 at Capones 9pm "REMISSION IS POSSIBLE" with Rivermaya, Urban Dub, Sandwich, Bitter Pill, Ciudad etc..
5. July 20 at Embassy "REMISSION IS POSSIBLE" with DJ's Marie Garcia, Erwin Edralin, Owens Sun, Manolet Dario, Chuppy Cedran, Roman Mojica, Cao Ocampo, Mars Miranda, Raji Mata (all star DJ cast!!) Open bar 9-11pm!!

Aug 12: Casino Filipino: Poker Night c/o Rose Montenegro
July or Aug: "REMISSION IS POSSIBLE" DINNER EVENT (tentative)

hope to see you there :)

other multiply entries about our dear DJ Benjo:
Hail the Lizard Kings
Benjo the Brave
Benjo Marquez Fundraiser Updates #2 Pls Read!

no limbs, no limits - no worries

Nick Vujicic is a young man, 22 years of age, a resident of suburban Brisbane, Queensland. Nick has a positive approach to life, is outgoing and friendly, with a happy, cheerful personality. He has a smile that makes anyone feel comforted and at ease. But life hasn’t been easy for him.

His parents, both lifelong Christians, had eagerly anticipated the birth of Nick, their first child. But when he arrived, all his mother could say was, “Please, take him away!”

Nick, although generally healthy, had neither arms nor legs.

continued at No Limbs, No Limits

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I think God is trying to speak to me this last week. First, a good friend of mine at the office texted me about his favorite cat who died. He's been really depressed, and i consoled him the best I could, but i know the feeling of questioning God...why? Then Jose made an entry on his blog about just worshipping God for what He is, and not for what he gives us. It's good to be thankful for our blessings, we should always be grateful for that...but we shouldn't miss the point of glorifying Him because He is great.

And then just this morning I read an email from the brother of my best (best best best) friend Jewel, about Nick Vujicic.

Nick is a motivational speaker with a heart for young people...his concern especially on the high suicidal rate among teenagers. But through him, a lot of lives were changed, people were inspired, and he continues to inspire today. (Actually there was a short article about him in Inquirer the other week, in the metro section). His disability makes it hard to do the simplest everyday things, but he's done far greater achievements for a young man in his twenties. I myself have a disability, but sometimes it is difficult to look past that and just be thankful.

Thank you Lord, for this little reminder.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
- James 1:2-3


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EDIT:

i suddenly remembered a similar hero, right here in Manila! I've met him once or twice during our philmug (philippine mac users group) meetings... he's a creative director, a writer and an awesome speaker. he's the nicest guy and a fellow Apple lover, hehe. read more about juan and visit his blog at Fight Pompe. ü

our deepest fear...

when i start blogging quotes and articles it's either because i don't have time to write anything else or that the said quote really inspired me or moved me to think.

this one is the latter, of course :)
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Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

a return to love - marianne williamson


visit World Prayers for more inspiring invocations, meditations..etc. (you can even just click "Random"... i love it).

our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate... our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure...

we were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us

in pic: my younger sis in a man-made forest, bohol

why photograph war?

got this from my friend jonna who got it from a friend of hers...

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"Why photograph war? Is it possible to put an end to a form of human behavior which is existent throughout history by means of photography? The proportions of that notion seem ridiculously out of balance yet that very idea has motivated me. For me, the strength of photography lies in its ability to evoke a sense of humanity.

If war is an attempt to negate humanity, then photography can be perceived as the opposite of war. And if it's used well, it can be a powerful ingredient in the antidote to war. In a way, if an individual assumes the risk of placing himself in the middle of a war in order to communicate to the rest of the world what is happening, he's trying to negotiate for peace; perhaps that's the reason why those in charge of perpetuating the war do not like to have photographers around.

In the field where your experience is extremely immediate, what you see is not an image of a page in magazine ten thousand miles away with an advertisement for the Rolex watches in the next page. What you see is unmedicated pain, injustice and misery.

It's recurred to me that if everyone could be there just once, to see for themselves what white phosphorus does to the face of a child, and what unspeakable pain is caused by the impact of a single bullet or how a jagged piece of shrapnel can rip someone's leg off. If everyone could be there to see for themselves the fear and the grief just one time, then they would understand that nothing is worth letting things get to the point where that happens to even one person; let alone thousands. But everyone cannot be there. And that is why photographers go there. To show them, to reach out and grab them and make them stop what they're doing and pay attention to what is going on.. to create pictures powerful enough to overcome the deluding effects of the mass media and shake people out of their indifference.. To protest, and by the strength of that protest, to make others protest."

~ James Nachtwey, War Photographer

captivated...

just had a glorious 4-day weekend... a pretty busy one, but it was wonderful. my mom and sisters finally arrived home from boracay on sunday. my younger sis even had pasalubong for me, 3 pretty bracelets (not the tacky ones, too). and that night i was asleep on the bed, the aircon was on and my two sisters made me siksik and
slept there, one on each side. i don't know if it's because they missed me, or that they thought i felt bad about missing the bora trip... whatever, it was nice anyway. besides, i wouldn't have missed last sunday for the world, seriously! it was my first time to do backup for the worship team, and i was totally unprepared for it, in a good way! i loved every second, and even though every concert i ever performed in i was always a nervous wreck, for worship i wasn't at all. i was singing my heart out because that's exactly what it was...praise and worship. i didn't even notice all the people, except that they were all singing with me as well. it was so surreal. (oh yah, i DID notice daniel's bright blue hawaiian shirt pala... )

anyhoo, i'm in the middle of this amazing book that Randee lent me, Captivating [Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul] by John and Stasi Eldredge.

i'm really loving it ... i've never been more enlightened, encouraged, or had the understanding of my own heart before. been moved to tears quite a few times and i'm not even in the fifth chapter yet (darn work keeps interrupting me haha...) i told randee it was like somehow i knew all the things talked about in the book, only it was explained much better. i can't wait to finish it.

there's a version for men, Wild at Heart. i think every woman should read Captivating...and to the men who have read it to understand a woman's soul, you have a special place in my heart. (edit: ok dane, skimming would count too ü)


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EDIT:
p.s.
of course, i'll be reading Wild at Heart next. ü

God gave me KFC ü

no seriously, He did. hahaha. funny how God seems to have a sense of humor sometimes. that night it was like He was telling me "heyu...quit whining, i got your back!"

ok ok, maybe not really like that exactly, but i'm really glad that sometimes He would give me small reminders of just how close by He really is.

i was having a bad week... work was piled up more than usual, (ben wasn't in our team yet), and my boss and i were staying up latenights (or even overnights!) just to keep up. and to top it all off, i was in the middle of a project that wasn't really going well so i was nearly giving up... i felt tired, alone, insecure about myself and...and... oh heck, you all know what i mean.

ANYway, one night, i was staying late again in the office with a few other creatives. i was so focused on work i lost track of time but then around 11 i realized how hungry i was, gredge and roni started eating KFC which they bought earlier...aw man! the smell was overwhelming and i was sooooooo inggit i wanted KFC. NOW. but it was too late to have it delivered and too far to walk since it was the middle of the night.

so there i was feeling very kawawa (harhar, i know you're laughing eej :P) so i took a break and tried studying Pour My Love On You with our (broken) guitar. but that made me feel even more kawawa so i went to arbee and started venting out about everything... how i was tired from work, how hungry i was, how i was missing practice...blah blah blah.

THEN out of the blue ericCa came and said Ms. Marl (one of the seniors here at our company) called...remember, this was nearly midnight! she said she accidentally left some food and thought that maybe someone in the office might want it. arbee goes, "eto si diane o, di pa kumakain". i replied with a feeble, "yeah sure, i'll have it nalang", altho i was grateful at least i had some food.

it turned out to be a 2-piece KFC chicken meal, complete with coleslaw and extra gravy.



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Is there a way to show the passion in my heart Can I express how truly great I think you are
My dearest friend
Lord this is my desire
To pour my love on you...

happy easter! (and a brand new moleskine)

hope everyone had a restful and blessed holy week. i know i did. i chose to stay home and just rest and spend time with my mom and sisters (both of which i haven't done much of since moving to our new office) translated: watch tv practically all day with them. oh, we went to Ace Water Spa in qc. gotta love those herbal heated pools. :)

anyhoo... i got another moleskine! tsk tsk...no, i'm not a moleskine addict. (close to being one, perhaps, but not quite yet). this one i'll dub my little miracle book. i've had quite a few miracles, blessings or even trials which i've overcome.... reminders from God that he is in fact "shaking" me -- a wonderful term i learned from Pastor Joey's book, The Promise No One Wants -- of which i decided to make a journal of.

ok, it's 1am, and my grammar's getting really horrible. i gotta go sleep already, but i promise to share a few of my writings here also.

ciao!