Catching Up

The events I'm looking forward to are near.

First on the list is this year's Saved Festival 2014 which is in 2 days! Konting tulog na lang! Aside from the concert, I'm also going to meet some of my online friends including my fellow +P listener and fellow blogger M from bettercurly and some other friends I met online during last June's Hillsong United Welcome Zion tour. 

Second, the Global Leadership Summit which will be held on November 7-8, 2014 at GCF Ortigas. This will be my second time to attend GLS. It is part of our leadership training at church and I am really excited. It was a blast last year and I'm expecting really great teachings this year. Tickets are available at PCBS branches in Manila. 

Lastly, Jason Mraz's acoustic concert on November 27th at the Araneta Coliseum. I've been a fan of Jason since his We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things and I am really looking forward to see him. I've already missed 2 of his previous concerts and I am really praying to see him this time, kahit sa GA lang ako. Hahaha. Still praying for the ticket ;)

Book Review: "Para sa Hopeless Romantic Extended Edition" by Marcelo Santos III

Para sa mga Hopeless Romantic Extended Edition is a romance novel written by popular wattpad author, Marcelo Santos III. The main story revolves around 2 main characters, Rebecca and Nikko with minor characters named Jackie (Becca's bestfriend), RJ (Nikko's bestfriend), Sir Matt (Rebecca's boss & Jackie's crush), Faye (Nikko's ex-gf) and a sub-story featuring Maria and Ryan created by Rebecca. Each section of the book is divided by each character's perspective on the main story.

This book is already catching my interest ever since I first saw the book in its red cover but I did not get a copy. Last MIBF, my friend bought one so I read it.

Carbon Copy

The other day, nagtingin-tingin ako ng mga pictures na naka-save sa computer ko kasama yung mga kaibigan ko. May nakita kaming picture. Sabi ng isa kong kaibigan, "O, ba't may picture kayo ng tatay ko?" Nagtawanan kami kasi siya yung kasama ko sa picture at kamukha na nya yung tatay niya.  

Nakakatuwa noh, pag tanda mo, nagiging kamukha mo yung magulang mo? Sa ayaw at sa gusto mo! HAHA. JK.  Nakukuha mo rin yung mga kilos nila, way ng pagsasalita, habits saka iba pang bagay. Yan yung sa physical na aspect ng life. Pano sa spiritual?

DON'T MISS THIS: The Global Leadership Summit Philippines 2014 is here!

When God wants to begin a new work in the world, He almost always starts by speaking into the heart of one person. Drawing up the courage to listen, obey, and share the vision with others, these are the people we call leaders.

Over the years we've come to appreciate just how critical leadership is to church vitality. We have observed that a church's effectiveness in pursuing its God-given mission is largely dependent on the character, devotion, and skill of its leadership core. This is why TGLS Philippines focus is to elevate the quality of leadership within the church. That leadership could be formal or informal, staff or volunteer, full-time or bi-vocational, clergy or laity. It doesn't matter where the leadership comes from; it just matters that it is present.

GLS Representatives from around the world

TGLS Philippines recognizes that the leadership core of any church includes leaders from the business, education, government and social sectors. The Global Leadership Summit welcomes leaders from all these sectors and fully believes that the maximum influence and impact of the Church is felt when all of its Christ-centered leaders are at the forefront of establishing and growing well led local churches, companies, schools, governments and social enterprises. This is the Church at its best! This is when God's love and care inevitably spills out into our neighbourhoods, towns and cities through acts of love, justice, mercy, service and restoration.

Book Review: "Grace @ Work" by Grace Chong

 

"Grace@work was initially conceived as a devotional for the workplace to uplift busy, stressed-out men and women—as I was for years—whose whole being is plugged to his/her work from sunrise to sundown (sometimes extending till dawn), like an overcharged mobile phone." --Grace Chong*

43,200 seconds in Manila

Last Sunday (September 21, 2014), I went to an adventure with my partner-in-crime Kuya Jhunie to Manila to go to the Manila International Book Fair in Pasay and Positively Pinoy's Volunteer Gathering in Makati.

A week before, we were planning to go to these events in different days para makapag-ikot sa MIBF nang mas matagal at para hindi kami mukhang haggard pagdating ng hapon for the gathering but God intervened, bumagyo ng Friday at bumaha kaya hindi kami nakaluwas for MIBF and OMF's book launching. huhuhuhu. Kaya ayun, all in on a Sunday!

Love life na naman?!

Nung isang araw, nakareceive ako ng text from my friend na magpopost siya sa isa sa mga groups namin sa Facebook about love life to start a conversation among the members. My initial reaction was, "na naman?!" I am not bitter or anything towards love life pero pwede bang iba naman ang pag-usapan natin? 

Naglipana na sa social media, tv, radio, movies at books ang mga bagay na tungkol sa pakikipagrelasyon at active na active ang mga kabataan pag yan ang topic. Maya't maya ang repost ng mga kabataan ng mga quotes na parinig sa mga "umaagaw" sa mga jowa nila, parinig sa mga jowa nila na gusto nilang ganun sila tratuhin, quotes kung gaano nila kamahal ang partner nila, mga "turn on" at "turn off" at ang hindi nawawalang reklamo at drama ng mga singles. 

I admit na minsan naiinis na ako sa mga ganyang post kaya minsan ina-unfollow ko yung madalas na ganyan ang posts. I am not being mean, pero I'd rather see informative posts on my feed (and I'm not the only one). Okay lang naman ang occasional na mga posts na ganyan pero kung maya't maya at araw-araw, 'matic na yan. Haha.

Anyway, naisip ko, hindi ba pwedeng tungkol sa career, outreach, studies at ibang pang area ng buhay ang i-input natin sa utak ng mga kabataan? Bakit kailangang love life agad? Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses nang pinangkantsaw ang love life sa youth service, kung ilang posts na ng "waiting" ang nasa timelines at groups sa Facebook at mga countless na paalala ng mga nakakatanda na "true love waits". 

I understand na malaking parte sa buhay ng mga kabataan (at lahat ng tao) ang pagkakaron or kagustuhan nilang magkaron ng partner. After all, relationships are really needed to survive, pero romantic relationships lang ba? Pwede naman nating pag usapan kung pano maging magandang impluwensya sa mga kabarkada, pano matutulungan ang taong may struggle, how to be a better friend at pano maging salt  & light sa school or work.  I think mas vital pag usapan yung ganyang bagay.

Ang youth years natin ay panahon ng pag establish ng ating pagkatao para sa future so I think na mas magandang pag usapan natin ay kung pano natin mas mapapalago ang relationship natin kay Christ, paghahanda sa college life, personal and emotional growth, pag-seek kung ano'ng calling mo sa buhay, etc. I think that would be much better to discuss.

~J.B.

Book review: "May Powers ka to be #SuperEpic" by Mighty Rasing

May Powers Ka To Be #SuperEpic is a book that focuses on the today's youth's potential to make an impact in this world by relating these potentials as "powers" to well-known superheroes. This is a recommended book to the youth who are starting or are willing to be leaders in the future or just want to make a difference.

If you love superheroes and you want to be like one, this book is for you. Of course, hindi ka nito mabibigyan ng lakas na katulad ng kay Hulk, laser vision ni Superman or magkakaron ng apoy powers katulad ni Human Torch. This book will give you principles on how to be a "superhero" in God's way.

It's very clever how the author relates these well-known superheroes such as Spiderman, Cyclops, Batman and others to us as ordinary people na makagawa rin tayo ng impact sa mundong ito katulad nila (sa mundo ng comics).  It will teach you how to have a vision, be responsible, how to prepare for action, assembling your team, conflict resolution and more. For a small book, kumpleto ito ng teachings for basic leadership principles at madali pang maintindihan dahil sinulat ito in conversational TagLish (like Lovestruck).

I will rate this books 4 of 5 stars dahil madaling maintindihan at maraming wisdom na mapupulot. Maganda ring isingit ang mga teachings dito pag kayo ay nag-uusap ng mga kaibigan mo tungkol sa mga superheroes. (O diba, may naibahagi ka pang wisdom!)

This is one of the 29 new titles that OMF Literature launched at the Manila International Bookfair. I will be reviewing other newly released titles from OMF in my next posts.

May Powers Ka To Be #SuperEpic by Mighty Rasing is published by OMF Literature and will be available for P75 at all bookstores and online soon.

Visit the official website at http://besuperepic.com

Click here to read a sample chapter.

SAVED Festival 2014: No Other Name

In its 3rd Year, the biggest worship festival is back!

Rooted in the verse Acts 4:12, this year’s ‪SAVED Festival 2014‬ points to No Other Name that SALVATION can be received by those who believe!

SAVED boldly declares that JESUS CHRIST ALONE is the source of true transformation and revival.

Join us as we worship the ONLY NAME that matters with Israel & New Breed, Esterlyn, Victory Worship, and guest speaker Francis Chan! 

Israel Houghton & New Breed in Manila, 2012

It is going to be my 2nd time to attend Saved Festival. The first one was on 2011 (entitled "No Compromise") where they featured six artists including Gary V., Citipointe Live, Parachute Band, Quest, Starfield, Martin Smith and Sideshow. It was a blast. 6 full hours of songs and inspiring message.It was tiring but it was all worth it. 

I'm looking forward to see Francis Chan speak this year. His video teachings were featured in our youth service a few times and his books are a must-read! Especially "Crazy Love" and "Forgotten God". It will also be my second time to see Israel Houghton and New Breed. The first time was last 2012 when they had a back to back worship night with Planetshakers. Esterlyn is new to me and I'm looking forward to worship with Victory Worship.

Behind these names and international and local artists that will be feature in this year's SAVED Festival, let's fix our eyes on Who we are singing to--Jesus. All the voices, sweat, lights and sounds would be useless if it were not be offered to God. I'm really looking forward to this blessed event.

NO. OTHER. NAME.

Saved Festival | October 11, 2014
Smart Araneta Coliseum | 7:30PM

Ticket prices:
Patron | 1500 *reserved seating
Upper A | 1000 *reserved seating
Upper B | 500 *free seating
Gen Ad | 300 *free seating

Tickets AVAILABLE NOW! You may call the following:
Becca Music Inc. tickets at 910 5524 or visit www.beccamusic.com
TicketNet at 911.5555 or visit www.ticketnet.com.ph