Michael Jackson: A Lesson For Us

The secular world has been recently gripped with the sad news of Michael Jackson's passing away. Apparently he is the historic music icon who earned the highest revenue or income, in the music industry. He has been praised and still is being praised for his extraordinary musical talent, all over the world. Being so, he has many fans around the globe, who all seemed to have stampeded to the music records/CDs shops to get a copy of any of- or, his last album, that in a matter of minutes or hours, the sales of MJ's Cds have skyrocketed to astronomical heights, and the same situation is true for his programmed concert tickets in England. (Consider the headache of concert organizers who must have spent millions of pounds in the hope of tripling their investments-but now they have to or must-refund the costs incurred for this aborted concert event) . He could have used this financial gesture of fans had it been done earlier, before his untimely death. To pay for his domestic bills. Having watched many of his performances on TV, it can be honestly concluded that the world has never known a pure and original and extraordinary talent as MJ. But, there is another side to this, thankfully maybe one can consider a lesson. We may start with a simple and honest curiousity; why or how, inspite of his fame, influence and financial superiority, did he end up isolated from society, from his own family and friends, from himself and worst of all --(we hope not) from his CREATOR, my GOD? And this is the same question we can or must ask ourselves, we don't even have to wait for life's edge to show its ugly face. What really counts? Is it really having much money? How many well-to-do people have committed suicide? Is it fame? Kurt Cobain, of the world famous Nirvana, was at the height of his music career too, when he ended his life. Hollywood pretends that crimes and drug troubles are sweet and normal to a lifestyle of fame and fortune. History rings loud and clear, and repeats what the LORD has said "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.' John 14:27. Everything we are looking for can be found in Christ. All the things that matter most in life. Peace above all. I too, was lost before. I found Christ and HE turned my life around. I may not be famous as MJ, I may not have half of the money he used to possess, I may not know all the famous people, or the admiration of the world. Nevertheless I got the best. In this life and the next. Peace and my LORD JESUS to whom be Glory forever and ever. Amen.

GOD PAid

Today we had the chance to take our daughter to the nearby mall and she had the grand time playing in the big playpen. Seeing her relate to many different children in a nice way-not reprehensible, it gives us satisfaction. There were also a few little bullies with her but they mainly bullied the bigger kids (6, 7 years old) but nevertheless it's always ugly seeing or dealing with bullies. I have seen a very young boy of 6 years (I heard him mention it) mention ugly curses that he may have had very little understanding of, he must have 'learned' it in his own home. And even another girl a bit bigger than him, bully him yet again. And I fear that in the future my daughter will inevitably have to deal with this kind of difficulty, she might have to face 'difficult' people and I do not know how to prepare her or set the strong psychological foundation for her. But I Know my GOD Will help us as HE ALWAYS HAS. So far, her nursery teachers only have usual praises and compliments for her 'excellent' behaviour uncommon for kids her age. She has almost everything that she needs things like nice toys, clothes and many shoes, more importantly love, attention and intelligence and self-esteem or self-confidence. The things I rarely used to have when I was a child. A very happy childhood she's having, I must say. But I realize now GOD has paid me for EVERYthing that I lacked when I was growing up. Through my daughter. It's just like returning to my past as a child and having everything I missed then, Now.I thank My GOD who is All-Wise and Merciful and has not forgotten to 'repair' my unhappy past even if maybe, I didn't consciously ask for it (but GOD knew I needed to be healed emotionally). SO Again and Again, TO My GOD Be The Glory.Amen.

The Happy Teachers

I have just arrived at work, already 15 minutes late because I had to stop at the post office to send my monthly remittance to my family in the Philippines.As soon as I arrived I quickly plunged myself at the swivel and logged in here to internet to check my blog and would like to thank some new 'friends' who cared to 'follow' this humble endeavour. I am currently also facing a window overlooking a professor at work in his class (most probably some sort of engineering review class as our office\language school is adjacent to another degree review center but then I'm not so familiar with the college educational system of Italy) . Fortunately Maria (teaching German\English) one of our language teachers and another French friend Laetithia are available that means some students have yet to arrive and I would still be free to scribble something in a rush. (They must be also murmuring at the other room against this unethical work practice but as it is, oblivion is my first and second name so I couldn't care less, although they're my nice friends) And so As it is, I am dreaming to have more guts one day to be able to face a whole class of (italians, at that) students. I used to have a chronic case of inferiority complex during my adolescent years and I Praise My GOD that HE Brought me through this phase in my life where (now) I also have the opportunity to face a (class) of four bonafide lawyers who work at the office of the University President (ROme 3 University in Via Ostiense), at the Law Faculty, so that gives me a sense of how far GOD has brought me in my personal life. Aside from the fact that we (language teachers) deal with high profile people ( businessmen, bank executives, italian parliament officers, media journalists and on and on..) on a daily basis. I also sent this morning a message to another media littlewig (not big-) cancelling our lesson for tomorrow since I have another appointment with the doctor for the analysis of all the tests I have done (blood, ultrasound and xray) I Praise GOD Again that all the tests resulted good.I'm healthy as a fish (they say here in italy- 'sano come un pesce') I don't know if there's a saying equivalent to that in American or english but the main thing is that GOD has blessed my family's health. HE is so good and merciful. To GOD Be the GLory.
I have to logout and pause at this point as I want to have my usual capuccino and croissant at the bar downstairs.

Lunch Out

The other day I had some free time and went out with my friend and her very cute daughter Maris. We ate in a very nice, newly opened Filipino restaurant "Kusina Filipino" right in the center of Rome (Termini station) owned by Ate Mayet who is also very active in other income generating activities like real estate, networking products forever living etc. I first met her when I attended one of her forever living seminars, and I realize now that she is continually being blessed because of her humility and kindness. SHe was offered this business with the venue already fully equipped with all the kitchenwares and utensils, table chairs and cloths and everything, it seemed she only needed to step in and resume the operation. I really hope one day we can also open a similar business in the similar area.

We chose Kare-kare' from the menu and 'lechon kawali' and we were stuffed after the lunch.

Was stupid of me

I put it in the past tense to point out that I'm not a stupid character but everyone makes mistakes. Anyways as I'm apt to do whenever the weather is good or I have enough time I take my daughter for some stroll, some fun or quality outdoor time of sorts. We did some flea market shopping (fleamarket is open from 7am till 2pm) so, we bought goodfood (I miss goodfood Phils. hotdogs) , also a cheap pair of shoes only Euros 5., (the first cheap thing I saw in the fleamarket and I regretted having bought them because I eventually saw other nicer shoes), her little toothbrush (the third for her because she always wants to bring it to her daycare school and end up nowhere) and toothpaste for kid(her second-for same reason) she carried one plastic bag of carrots, she had put her dental hygiene stuff inside, as my hands were full thankfully she didn't ask to be carried herself.
We arrived home after 20 minutes (would have taken five minutes if we didn't have all those stuff to carry and I'd have carried her) but since her steps are little and she walks so slow, sometimes stopping to comment on anything, like the birds feeding on the ground etc. Immediately I cooked her lunch and fed her and then I cleaned our house as she played on her own and then I had the time to open the 'groceries' and when I checked the shoes to my surprise they were both right foot (or feet), the one is size 37 and the other size 38. Good thing they're the same color. We couldn't get back anymore because it was nearing time for my daughter to sleep and the time for the fleamarket to close. I'm not sure if those vendors will be back next week as vendors don't sell in the same place regularly. The cityhall gives them the permit and the choices of places where they can sell on particular weeks. So I'll hope for the best, even for Euros 5.
Well it happens. So I advise everyone to check the goods immediately after buying and not do as I did. OK. Anyways there are still very many things to PRAISE GOD for.GOD BLESS Everyone.

New: JUST COMMERCE

I've just created my new website dedicated to business or commerce, or more impersonal posts. JUST COMMERCE.
I hope everyone will find some useful informations on this new site, even if as of now I've only one entry about some products. OK. I'd also among other things would like to share some more photos I took at the park where the Rome Zoo is located. They're typical spring park sceneries which are appealing to me.