Baker's Central, Cebu

Name: Baker's Central

Location: Piazza Elisiah, Cebu

Type: Shop

Theme: Baker's materials, ingredients etc.

Review:

Here you'll have a wide variety of stuffs for your kitchen/ baking needs. From Chocolate bars (dark, milk etc.), to molding pans, to sprinkles, to packaging.

you'll have these variety at a very reasonable price.

Plus points:
If you'll be baking for diabetics/ health freaks, they have ingredients for it (sugar substitutes, low cal/ fat ingredients)

For the non-bakers:
I suggest buying the dark/ white chocolate packs best for making fondues. Best date food. Fruits and stuffs dipped into dark chocolate, yum!

Week 5 (2008)

Happiness is sometimes a blessing, but usually it is a conquest. Each day's magic moment helps us to change and sends us off in search of our dreams.

By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept

My dad has this weird expression of "Hay! Ang Pilipino nga naman!"

He'd always mutter this under his breath, or when he's much exasperated, a tone fit for a town monologue whenever I get lazy about doing thing in the house.

Indeed, Juan, a usual Filipino effigy, is thought of as "Juan Tamad". And my dad, with all his wisdom, would tell me that Filipinos must get out of this label. An identity... that is in no way flattering. Thus I've come to be a firm believer that what I can do for my life, is strictly between God and myself. And if God would want me to have any treasure that I desire, no one can stop me from getting it... only myself. Magbabanat ako ng buto, ika nga...

So as the cliche goes, let us be the master of our destinies... the captain of our ships (or something to that effect hehe).

Blessings during a bad day

5:57 am. I woke up with a jolt. Looked at my surroundings and remembered that I was supposed to finish somthing last night. My light was on, laptop running, documents scattered all over.

Then I heard the alarm. 6:00 am.

I saw my brothers entering my room. Apparently, no one in the house made them breakfast and lunch to bring to school. 6:05 am.

I still haven't had the luxury of time to learn how to cook, thus I made them a simple tuna omelet, plus milk, and bread. Same thing for their lunch except for the bread replaced by the rice (and to think I once thought I was ready to become a parent).

After attending to them, I took a bath, got dressed, but as I looked down, I realised that my black shoes still had brown shoe strings. They got cut off yesterday and I couldn't find short black ones, so I had to make do with these... for the meantime.

Then the mirror told a big story. A zit, somewhere at the edge of my eyebrow.

Packed my things and realized that my car was still at the shop for repairs.

Tricycle. 8:00am. No taxi around. Found an fx to lawton. Then another to Cubao. 9:30. St. Luke's. just in time for my telecon.

Then mid day... I realised that all was a blessing in disguise, then I had a serious talk with God.

Lord, thank you for letting me wake up late. I needed the sleep.

Lord, thank you for letting me cook for my bros. I once again experienced their hugs and kisses.

Lord, thank you for the zit. I am still human. Successful only through your grace. No better than the street vendor, yet blessed nonetheless.

Lord, thank you for my brown shoestring. Someone took the initiative to buy me a black one. I am cared for.

Lord, thank ou for "temporarily" taking my car away (Lord, I do stress out on TEMPORARILY, ok?). I had the chance to see many faces again. Ride all sorts of PUVs. Saw a smiling kid. People helping eachother. Smelled bad odor from others. blessings indeed. but despite these, I was never late. Still on time for my telecon. Got an fx the second I got out of the village, off a tricycle.

Lord, thank you for caring for me. I needed that. Thank you.

Renaldo Lapuz: Pinoy American Idol

Filipinos... such entertainers. From broadway performers like Vincent Bueno to a uhhhmmm really entertaining uhhhmmm comedian Renaldo Lapuz. But really, we are all at a mixed emotion. But for me, i like him. He somehow still exude Filipino qualities, his perseverance, his sincerity (almost like as if he's too innocent and naive to function), his enthusiasm, and passion to perform.

Week 4

"Surrendering completely to love, be it human or divine, means giving up everything, including our own well being or our ability to make decisions. It means loving in the deepest sense of the word."

- The Witch of Portobello

I say, in this modern age, surrendering to love completely is such a dangerous endeavor. One has to learn to save some sanity for one's self. It's called self respect.

I've seen people drown themselves in alcohol. Intoxicated by its spirits, they become totally illogical, void of any consideration for ones own life, health, and future. Its sweet yet so trully pathetic.

I say, I wish I would NEVER ever have to experience such. To have your own ego squished, pounded, destroyed, stepped on, and thrown like some worthless garbage is such a dreadful scenario. (Ang tamaan wag magagalit. Move on, I say, you've got so much in store for your own future).

"Pay it Forward"

I soo love this movie. Aside from I am David, i'm currently on the hunt for a copy of this in DVD. Hope I get to find one...

Category: Movies
Genre: Drama

Kevin Spacey — Eugene Simonet

Helen Hunt — Arlene McKinney

Haley Joel Osment — Trevor McKinney

Jay Mohr — Chris Chandler

James Caviezel — JerryJon

Bon Jovi — Rick McKinney

This movie is about a kid who conceptualized a strategy on changing the world in his own ways-"Pay it Forward". The concept is that a person will help three people. The deeds must be difficult, something the recipient cannot accomplish him/herself. Then, instead of paying the person back, the recipient will "pay it forward" by helping out three additional people. That way, the world may just become a better place to live. And it's all an assignment dreamt up by young Trevor McKinney for his Social Studies teacher Eugene Simonet. The movie is based on Catherine Ryan Hyde's novel of the same name.The acting ability of the actors is enough to make people stand up and take notice. Get the hankies out. By the end of Pay it Forward, there will hardly be a dry eye.The main purpose of this film is to make people cry, and it works well enough to disguise a rather fanciful story.

Finding and Keeping a Life Partner

FINDING AND KEEPING A LIFE PARTNER

When it comes to making the decision about choosing a life partner, no one wants to make a mistake. Yet, with a divorce rate of close to 50%, it appears that many are making serious mistakes in their approach to finding Mr./Miss. Right!

If you ask most couples who are engaged why they're getting married, they'll say: "We're in love"; I believe this is the #1 mistake people make when they date. Choosing a life partner should never be based on love. Though this may sound "not politically correct", there' s a profound truth here. Love is not the basis for getting married. Rather, love is the result of a good marriage. When the other ingredients are right, then the love will come. Let me say it again: "You can't build a lifetime relationship on love alone"; You need a lot more!!!

Here are five questions you must ask yourself if you're serious about finding and keeping a life partner.

QUESTION 1: Do we share a common life purpose?Why is this so important? Let me put it this way: If you're married for 20 or 30 years, that's a long time to live with someone. What do you plan to do with each other all that time? Travel, eat and jog together? You need to share something deeper and more meaningful. You need a common life purpose. Two things can happen in a marriage: (1) You can grow together, or (2) you can grow apart. 50% of the people out there are growing apart. To make a marriage work, you need to know what you want out of life! Bottom line; and marry someone who wants the same thing.

QUESTION 2: Do I feel safe expressing my feelings and thoughts with this person? This question goes to the core of the quality of your relationship. Feeling safe means you can communicate openly with this person. The basis of having good communication is trust - i.e. trust that I won't get "punished" ; or hurt for expressing my honest thoughts and feelings. A colleague of mine defines an abusive person as someone with whom you feel afraid to express your thoughts and feelings. Be honest with yourself on this one. Make sure you feel emotionally safe with the person you plan to marry.

QUESTION 3: Is he/she a mensch?A mensch is someone who is a refined and sensitive person. How can you test? Here are some suggestions. Do they work on personal growth on a regular basis? Are they serious about improving themselves? A teacher of mine defines a good person as "someone who is always striving to be good and do the right ". So ask about your Significant other What do they do with their time? Is this person materialistic? Usually a materialistic person is not someone whose top priority is character refinement. There are essentially two types of people in the world: (1) People who arededicated to personal growth and (2) people who are dedicated to seeking comfort. Someone whose goal in life is to be comfortable will put personal comfort ahead of doing the right thing. You need to know that before walking down the aisle.

QUESTION 4: How does he/she treat other people? The one most important thing that makes any relationship work is the ability to give. By giving, we mean the ability to give another person pleasure. Ask: Is this someone who enjoys giving pleasure to others or are they wrapped up in themselves and self-absorbed? To measure this, think about the following: How do they treat people whom they do not have to be nice to, such as waiters, bus boys, taxi drivers, etc. How do they treat their parents and siblings? Do they have gratitude and appreciation? If they don't have gratitude for the people who have given them everything; Can you do nearly as much for them? You can be sure that someone who treats others poorly, will eventually treat you poorly as well.

QUESTION 5: Is there anything I'm hoping to change about this person after we're married? Too many people make the mistake of marrying someone with the intention of trying to "improve"; them after they're married. As a colleague of mine puts it: "You can probably expect someone to change after marriage for the worse" If you cannot fully accept this person the way they are now, then you are not ready to marry them.

In conclusion, dating doesn't have to be difficult and treacherous. The key is to try leading a little more with your head and less with your heart. Itpays to be as objective as possible when you are dating; to be sure to ask questions that will help you get to the key issues. Falling in love is a great feeling, but when you wake up with a ring on your finger, you don't want to find yourself in trouble because you didn't do your homework. Another perspective. There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go of or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going anywhere relationships. Observe the relationships around you. Pay attention. Which ones lift and which ones lean? Which ones encourage and which ones discourage? Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are going downhill? When you leave certain people do you feel better or feel worse? Which ones always have drama or don't really understand, know, or appreciate you?

The more you seek quality, respect, growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you... the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit inthe front row and who should be moved to the balcony of your life. An African proverb states, "Before you get married, keep both eyes open, andafter you marry, close one eye"; Before you get involved and make a commitment to someone, don't let lust, pity, desperation, immaturity, ignorance, pressure from others or a low self-esteem make you blind to warning signs. Keep your eyes open, and don't fool yourself that you can change someone or that what you see as faults aren't really that important. Do you bring out the best in each other? Do you compliment and compromise with each other, or do you compete, compare and control? What do you bring to the relationship? Do you bring past relationships, past hurt, past mistrust, past pain?

You can't take someone to the altar to alter them. You can't make someone love you or make someone stay. If you develop self-esteem, spiritual discernment, and "a life"; you won't find yourself making someone else responsible for your happiness or responsible for your pain. Seeking status, sex, and security are the wrong reasons to be in a relationship.

WHAT KEEPS A RELATIONSHIP STRONG ARE:

1. TRUST

2. COMMUNICATION

3. INTIMACY

4. A SENSE OF HUMOR

5. SHARING TASKS

6. SOME GETAWAY TIME WITHOUT BUSINESS OR CHILDREN

7. DAILY EXCHANGES (meal, shared activity, hug, call, touch, notes)

8. SHARING COMMON GOALS AND INTERESTS

9. GIVING EACH OTHER SPACE TO GROW WITHOUT FEELING INSECURE

10. GIVING EACH OTHER A SENSE OF BELONGING AND ASSURANCES OF COMMITMENT

If these qualities are missing, the relationship will erode as resentment withdrawal, abuse, neglect, and dishonesty; and pain will replace it.

Happiness keeps You Sweet,

Trials keep You Strong,

Sorrows keep You Human,

Failures keep You Humble,

Success keeps You Glowing,

But only God keeps You Going!

Dr. M. Marshall Woodard III

I say:

Got this from surfing multiply (Thanks Harold). Read the whole piece, then stopped.

While staring at something I can't even remember what, I got into thinking...

That I really do need to make a decision...I need to make an action...

but what? I search for answers. still blank. Then suddenly with my hand on my lap, I felt a tear drop on the back of my palm.Sadness. then nothing...

Let's talk... you know who you are...

Week 3

This week my diary/ planner says:

I need to use up all the grace that God has given me today.

Grace cannot be saved up.

There is no bank where we can deposit the grace we have recieved and use it accordingly to our will.

Chronicle

- Between Ekaterinburg and Novosibirsk

New Year Planner

I know, I know, this is really getting a bit redundant across the blogosphere, overated at one point and a bit too late for posting at this juncture. But instead of talking much about my bleak future ahead for 2008...

...I would just like to share my really really cool planner. Most people I know got either the Starbucks planner (I too got one) or one from its rival Seatle's Best, or even one of those freebies from clients, suppliers and Insurance companies (got one also from Sunlife).

I came across a Paulo Coelho "Enigma" Planner, which I bought from A Different Bookstore. Each start of the week, it would cite quotes from Paulo Coelho's books.

For the first week of January, my planner cites one from Manual of The Warrior of Light:

"The warrior fights the Good Fight and he helps others even if he does not quite understand why," ...

... and I add... "why! oh why!" hehehe...

This line really got to me as i felt like i'm at the crossroads of knowing what I really want in life (yeah another emo day). I guess I'm at that point where I felt too spent out from working too much without really enjoying it. I guess I'm still yet to find a job that I'd really enjoy doing, and not just for the sake of putting some digits on your bank account. But I guess at this point, i'd still have to fight the good fight not for myself but for my brothers and my dad, up till that day when we are all ready to look for our own true endeavors void of any pressure and rules of circumstance. I am yet to experience that fight where I fight only for my own, but for the meantime, I'd fight for what the usual Filipino son fights for... the welfare of his family...