Black Hole

Here's another one from last year.

-------------------------

There is a black hole in the deepest depths of my soul

Slowly suffocating my very liveliness

With common acquaintances, a long-sensed vacancy I try to occupy...

But the gesture comes to no avail.

Yes, I do know.

And I do try to reach up...

Though the speech that is meant to reach the unreachable

Is only but diverted back;

Pulled not only by gravity

But also by the hurts and let-downs

That eat up the very core of my mimicked identity

Kings and poets, heroes and heroines

Martyrs and saints, captives, no-bodies

All speak of an undying Love; the undying Love

I say: I do believe, I do believe.

Yet, why is it that the throbbing pain is still felt so frequently? Why are so many of my sleepless nights filled with despair and loneliness?

Oh, God of Heaven, Ruler of the seas

Creator of the skies, Maker of the universe,

You are Love, that's who you are...

A friend and shepherd, the best there is

A lover and a father, I need you to

Be close to me forever, please

Do not allow this mere collection of roughly ordered words

Remain as they are

Let them reach your very heart,
I pray

That you set your eyes on me.

Please do not, I beg, turn Your face away.

With even just your littlest finger,

touch me; hold me... a little bit closer

That I may taste again, feel once more, 

Your comforting, fulfilling Love.

'I am here' You say: 'I am here.

'I will never leave you nor forsake You'

I am not worthy, I say

But You love me anyway

This promise is old; ancient it is.

But still You say: 'I will never change.

'I am the same yesterday, today and forever.'

Can this be true? Oh, can this be true?

That he will stay no matter what

When all is faint and all is lost

When troubles come and triumphs go,

Will He still remain?

Yes.

He will.

 

Dangerously Cool. The New iPod Ninja.

 Look at what I stumbled upon. 

Forget about the new iPod touch, or the multi-touch screen of the new nano, or even the iPad and iPhone 4.

Get your hands on the NINJA!

Now,

ISN'T THIS THE COOLEST THING EVER??

I found it in the "Recommended items" in GoogleReader (You should start using Google Reader if you haven't yet. It's heaven.)

Anyway, Cult Of MAC also blogged about it and said:

Never letting a good opportunity go to waste, Scoopertino reveals that Steve Jobs recent incident at Japan’s Kansai International Airport was actually a field test of Apple's newest product:

"iPod ninja fits into that sweet spot between the iPod touch and a small handgun,” says Apple spokesperson Ted Wetmore. “It gives you peace of mind. You can either enjoy your music on the device — or you can fling it at anyone who looks at you funny. With a little practice, you can take down a foe at 50 feet.”
However, there is a dark side to the new iPod. As iPod ninja sales boom, some blogs are already reporting a “death grip” problem even worse than the one that plagued iPhone 4. If you hold iPod ninja in a certain way, you may require immediate medical care.
“There is a learning curve,” admits Mr. Berry, “and Apple does recommend the use of a protective case.” [Scoopertino]

Credit card, photo ID and criminal background check required for purchase.  This could have the potential to be a real killer product…
[via iPhoneSavior]

I followed the links and found it was originally from here.
Just imagine. Oh, I want one.

(This isn't out... yet! hehe)

101 Dreams - Part 4 (Last one)

My Dreams. 

Seventy-seven to One-hundred-one

[77-101]

(Fulfilled dreams are "bold") 

 Directions to this exercise are here.

Dreams [1-25]

Dreams [26-50] 

Dreams [51-76]

Listed down last March 25, 2010

(This is the last set in the exercise "One Hundred and One Dreams")

 77., 78., & 79.

Sponsored clothes from Springfield, Urban Outfitters & Lacoste for everyday clothes.

80. Really nice, COMPLETE kitchen (then I'd have to have a house too, haha)

81. iPhone 4

82. Jet

83. Hellicopter

84. Speedboat/Yacht

 

85. Nice wallets and bags

86. Trip to Europe with friends for a birthday celebration

87. Have multiple foundations in multiple locations around the Philippines

88. Them Reef slippers (Hahah)

89.  Own a cafe by the beach

90. LOTR Extended Blue-ray collection

91. Co-own a boutique hotel

92.-97. Learn & speak fluent Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German & Chinese

98. Go skiing and snowboarding

99. Release an album

100. Cameo in multiple European films, short films and Indie films

101. Visit Israel & last but not least, India.

To be completed.

Now it's your turn...

101 Dreams - Part 3

My Dreams. 

Fifty-one to Seventy-six

[51-76]

(Fulfilled dreams are "bold") 

 Directions to this exercise are here.

Dreams [1-25]

Dreams [26-50]

March 25, 2010

 51. Learn to surf and get a chance to surf in the best surf spots

52. Bungee Jump

53. Sky Dive

54. Hike/explore New Zealand (MIDDLE EARTH!)

55. Visit the different cities of Australia

Photo trips to:

56. Vietnam

57. Cambodia

58. Burma/Myanmar

59. Taiwan

60. Island hopping in the Mediterranean

61. Visit Hammerfest (the northern most town)

62. See the Northern Lights

Northern lights in the town of Hammerfest, Norway

63. Swim with whales and sharkes

64. Snorkel and scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef

 65. Kiss the Berlin wall

66. X3 BMW for everyday driving

67. Own an Audi

and

68. a Convertible Porsche

 69. Own a vineyard in Spain

Autumn evening on the vineyards in La Rioja, Spain. (via. Ignacio Lizarraga)

70. Get into a good acting school in New York

71. Be cast in a Burton Film

Co-star with:

72. Helena Bonham Carter

73. Johnny Depp

74. Write a successful Fantasy/Sci-Fi Novel

75. & 76. Backpack South and Central America

...to be continued [Part 4]

I feel bad for this blog... (And about Thailand)

... I really do.

I keep telling myself to blog consistently, but I never do.

Anywho! I just got back from Hat Yai, Thailand and I had fun. It was my first time in Thailand.

We hired a van that came with a driver that drove us (No, duh) across the border and into the city of Hat Yai about an hour and a half from the Malaysia-Thailand border.

We left Penang last Thursday morning– at about 630am, 7am? We watched the sunrise from the van and the air-conditioning was cold. The trip took about 4 hours. By the time we reached Hat Yai, it was almost lunch. So we just checked in and walk around town looking for Green Curry but instead had Pork Leg. By the end of the trip we'd had Pork almost every single meal (Yes, it's that good! Like really good Crispy Pata!!) and we never found our Green Thai Curry. Fail.

The girls Jon and I accompanied were Jenny's classmates. They had to film a documentary for their final project in school. Jonathan and I were supposedly gonna be their "body guards" but at the last minute, something came up and Jenny couldn't go anymore. But since we'd already paid for the transportation and hotel, we (Jon and me) still decided to go even if Jenny wasn't with us and we were the only guys, heh. So I guess we were their body guards?

The entire trip didn't cost more than RM400. Of course it depends also on how much shopping you do--I barely shopped. I spent most of my money on FOOD. Gosh, we ate A whole LOT (of pork, hahah!). We stayed at the Golden Crown Plaza. And went to Songkhla twice. The second time we went we took a tuk-tuk (A really small, tiny version of a Jeepney). Now that was fun, sticking our heads out the windows and hanging from the back

Me and Cindy Leow

We spent the entire Saturday afternoon there and got badly sunburned. OK, maybe not that bad but my back and face were really red and my arms and legs got really DARK. The next day our backs or faces didn't hurt. I didn't peal, so yeah, it wasn't that bad.

Songkhla Beach

Here are a few places of interest:

The third largest reclining Buddah

Klong Hae Floating Market

Klong Hae Floating Market view from the bridge

Night Market - Eating again, haha!

And of course, the highlight of my trip was eating a scorpion! That same night we also ate maggots, grasshoppers, crickets, and two types of beetles. Though, nothing came close to this.

Before tackling the mountain, haha

 

'Twas a good trip. Let's go again?

Off to Thailand, tomorrow.

So, I'm off to Hat Yai, Thailand!

Monk Morning Walking in Hat Yai (via. Paco Alfonso)

Gotta get myself back to the ground.

The past month has been a real blast. 

Man. 

Gosh, ha ha.

Grabe talaga. 

Dude (or dudette), I can't even begin to describe how much I've done, and how fun it's all been.

Alright, a quick summary of the past month (month and a half, actually):

First week of July I celebrated with different groups of people here in Penang since I was gonna be in Manila for my birthday.

Dinner at home with classmates and siblings

So that week included watching several of movies, having numerous meals (lunches and dinners), and I had my high school classmates over for dinner (Ms Cindy's Apple Strudel was, is, to die for!). Then, I flew off to Manila on the ninth, just a few days before turning nineteen. (Yuh, I'm nineteen now... shhhhhhuuuuucccckkkksss)

Thanks to the Battung sisters, I was fortunate enough to watch Usher the night I arrived.
They called me when I was on my way to Manila from the airport and asked if I wanted to watch Usher. And it was their treat. Who'll say no to that? (Awesome birthday gift; thanks again!) But, as most of you might know, I'm not the biggest Usher fan. Though, he is undoubtedly really, really talented, and he did a tremendous job! The concert was riot, amazing. Oh, and it was my first 'real' concert. (I know, hahaha.)

The next few days included touring Intramuros, staying up all night for the FIFA Finals (¡VIVA ESPAÑA!) and overdosing people with caffeine, ha ha ha (Sorry, Ina. It was all Vince. I... wait, no pala, I don't swear, hehe).

Behind the Manila Cathedral

Left to right: Me, Elle and Ina Battung, Gail Salvador, Miguel and Nikki Calayan (via. shoepastryheart)

Then, after a few fun-filled days in Manila, we (parents, Sabina and I) drove up to Baguio with one real rowdy, "on-fire" (Vibrantly in love with God. So much so that it shows even when their not talking about it) bunch from Summit Church San Diego. Now, that was OHSOME. We travelled around the whole region (Agoo, San Fernando, Baguio, and they also went to Trinidad when I got back to Manila) and did a whole lot of stuff. We: made new friends, invited, sang, danced, prayed, preached, shared, laughed, cried, and gave lost of 'samples' heheh.

At a high school in Baguio City

Rob Carona, Darin Vey, Ben Fogelstrom, Chris Bair,  Ms Theresa Jones, and Ailina Urias performing "Itch"

It was an amazing outreach. So many lives were changed-- mine certainly will never be the same again. God revealed himself to me so much through so many different people. Particularly, through the people from San Diego. I can write a whole 'nother blog, blogS rather, just about the things I've learned and about that whole experience.

Ben Fogelstrom with some Bboys

Joyce Watkins, April Hughes, Debbie Odash as clowns at an orphanage

Nate Jones, Jun Kheng, Me, Andrew Hopkins, and Ben Fogelstrom feasting at "O' Mai Khan"

Tempted to put more pictures but I'll stop and just continue, ha ha. 

Anyway, there's a whole album here.

On the 20th of July, we drove back to Manila for the Every Nation World Conference. Oh wow, my passion for the nations was really rekindled! Those next few days were amazing. I got to catch up with countless childhood friends, and I met so many different people from so many different places! I spent a majority of my time with the delegates from India! It was great also that quite a few from Penang were able to come too! (Again, a whole blog on its on about the conference)

Bryan Teoh, Jun Kheng, Joon Han, Rachael Tay, and Brenda Teoh all from Malaysia

At the Photo booth with David, Sonia and Stephnie from India and some LifeBox people from Manila

More pictures here.

Ok, this is getting long. I apologize. 

SO, after the conference, we went to the beach! Montemar, Bataan with a few families from Penang, Malaysia and old friends from Manila. Here are a few of my shots. This is the first time I'm posting any of them though. I'll try to get the rest on Facebook soon.

Luis Henson

Luis & Jenny Henson, Ina Battung, Brenda Teoh, Elle Battung

Elle Battung

Then back to Manila after a few days to meet up with more friends, eat more food, and I finally got my [driver's] student's permit. I clocked in ten hours. That was pretty scary: driving in Manila, haha! I enrolled at the A1 driving school at the Alabang Town Center. I even got to Cavite one day, and Laguna the next. Man, the jeepneys and tricycles were nerve-rackingly scary. But it's all good, haha. I get my Non-Pro License when I get back to Manila this November! I'll be back to take the Lasalle Entrance exam. (I'll post another entry soon about the whole school and moving back situation)

M Villanueva, Stefan & Mish Suarez, Me

Me, Mark Ong, Robert Hechanova, Marty Espino

Anywho, I'm back in Penang! Got to see my high school classmates again, haha. I'm having a ball now that I'm back. It's hard too cause I know after I leave, I won't be coming back again for quite some time.

I'm excited for the next few months. But now, things are slowing down a bit. And, I gotta get myself back to the ground, ha ha.

P.s. Sorry for the spontaneity and lack of flow. Please excuse my grammatical errors too. If I have something that's pretty bad, please let me know so I can fix it, haha. Thanks.

Uhuru White Water Rafting, Perak, Malaysia

June 19, 2010

Several hours' drive south of Penang.

Eighteen of us went. Four rafts. 

Here are a few pictures of our raft. (Myself, Luis, Jenny, Dad, & Anne + the guide)

 .

"Double Decker". Yes, we were fully submerged!

See. heheh

We flipped over too.

It was a fake fall. We planned it... well, kinda.

Group shot at the mid-way point.