Who am I?!

*tinatamad ako kaya copy – paste from my friendster account nlng.. hahaha!!

• Schools (Other):

St. Mary’s College(sr. kinder), Morning Dew Montessori(gr.1), Marist School(gr.2-h.s. grad), TUP(CET grad), TIP(BSCE 3rd yr.), ASCM(B.Th – on going)

• Occupation:

grad n kso aral p.. gulo no?! im into ministry

• Affiliations:

God’s Lovingkindness Community International (GLCI) formerly Power of Love Church International Ministry (POLCIM)

• Hobbies and Interests:

mrami dati lyk sports(basketball, baseball, track&field) & dati sumasayaw ako, gus2 ko p rin nman ngaun kso wla n ko grupo & mdalas kse no tym n.. pag nsa bhay ako nood nlng movies, gitara, read buks & m2log. btw, i was also a gamer, bkt ko nga ba nkklimutan?! i played CS & ragnarok (SirLucian – chaos server – Chosen Exiles main GM / Vespacian (controversial, haha!!) – lydia server – Shadow Circle – main GM) & sympre im an FFF (Final Fasntasy Fanatic, haha!!). anyway un nmang mga interests ko non wla nmang ngbgo, un nga lng msyado ng mhaba pag ilagay ko p..

• Favorite Books:

Knowing God by J.I. Packer, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Teaching to Change Lives by Howard Hendricks, A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards & Not Even a Hint by Joshua Harris

• Favorite Movies:

ok e2 ha.. actually collections ko 2: nung bata ako Mighty Ducks Trilogy khit paulit-ulitin ko d ako ngsasawa.. investigative movies like d Fugitive, im also a Star Wars & Matrix collector(name it i have it, sympre my 2mulong sakn mkakumpleto), chronicle movies ni Brad Pitt like Legends of the Fall & Interview with the Vampire(ang lupit ng mga casts), love stories: (foreign)50 First Dates & Serendipity, (local)Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw.. e2 ung mga tlgang d best pra sakn: Lord of the Rings Trilogy, d Last Samurai, Armaggedon, Independence Day, d Patriot, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Braveheart & most of all Troy(do u c wats in common? i really luv heroic films, kung my alam p kau pm me pls pra maisma ko s collection ko, tnx!!)

• Favorite Music:

all musics from eraserheads noon pero ngaun Chirstian contemporaries na.. dati i cant say dat “rOck RuleZ” pero ngaun.. go guyz, rock 4 Jesus!! thank God may ‘United, ‘ cnimulan nila ung passion eh!! .. young people r now into praisin’ God.. i juz pray n maging genuine ung faith ng mga Christian rockers..

• Favorite TV Shows:

smallville (d best tlga!! superman is still suffixed as a ‘man’) grbe inip na ko sa season 7 & amazing stories (alm nyo un? ung dati s channel 9), d ako msyado mhilig sa cartoons.. mas mdalas p ko mkpnood ng koreanovela noon kesa dun.. haha!!! kaya lng there’s much to do kaya d na ko nkkpnood ngaun, as in wla tlga ko pnapnood sa tv.. pg my nagus2han lng na movie..

• About Me:

mr. fickle and mr. confused who doesn’t really know what to want.. a person who excelled in many areas but didn’t stand out, fainted before reaching the peak.. college, 8years in the making.. the hurts of many people.. dependent yet isolated.. a solid establishment that needs renovation.. well, to sum it up, im just a person lifted from the miry clay.. ‘as in pinulot lng sa putikan!!’ and with that, im so grateful to the Lord!!
I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD. -Psalm 40:1-3, NASB

• Who I Want to Meet:

honestly, im really not that enthusiastic in meeting other people.. ng-eenjoy lng dn tlga ko when i meet new friends.. pro compared to that day of meeting with my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, the Great I Am, it is the much awaited!!

 

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*excerpt from one of my friendster blogs

when i was in high school i really wanted to be enrolled in a seminary but i knew that for my father, it’s not a good idea. so i decided to take civil eng’g tech, a course ladderized to civil eng’g, giving myself time to think it through considering what my father wants for me and what i want for my life. when i graduated last 2004 at TUP, he wanted me to pursue my eng’g majors but i couldn’t strive for it anymore for my passion drives me to study Theology. i only lasted for 1 semester in my BSCE and with that, i so entertain judgments if i made good decisions or not. but at least, my father gave me a chance to do what i want. i’m happy with my life and studies right now, that’s just what i know. still he insisted that after this BTh course, i should take any course relevant today. i understand him fully. he just wants me not to have regrets but a good life in the future instead. i tried to consider the things he said like taking second degree of law after i graduate and even consulted friends who would be able to slap me in the face with their advices. it was a split decision if i consider them as my jurors. kahit ako talagang undecided. after months of prayer and meditation, i experienced peace in the mrt on my way to ASCM (Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries – my current school). imagine, nasa mrt ako (siksikan, magulo, maingay, mainit etc…) when i had ’shalom’ in my heart. i asked myself, ‘what’s the passion that will never faint as long as i live?’. the answer: ‘to be equipped and be useful in the equipping of the saints.’ that’s one thing na mamahalin ko habang buhay!! pag gising sa umaga, learn new things and be eager to share it to others, especially to those who seek understanding with regards to their faith in Christ. of course, i’m not trying to be the Holy Spirit, i just want to be a reliable teacher as one of God’s instruments in the field of Theology and Christian history. therefore, i decided that i have to be consistent in my studies and i can’t afford to change tracks again. i started to plan out in taking my masteral and God willing, make it to the doctorate level all in line with Theology or Christian education. but i still have confusions. what seminary? will i make it? will i be able to support myself? how about the consideration of getting married in the near future? when it’s time, will i be able to sustain my own family? those are the questions i have and i think God is making me able to comprehend only one at a time.

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Marist days…

-fist fighting was a pleasure as in 3rd year pa lang naghahamon na ng mga 4th year students (long live the Starters!!)

-grade 4 Track & Field 400m-run 2nd placer (first time i competed)

-grade 5 to 3rd year 400m-run & 800m-run 1st placer

-4th year 800m-run 4th placer out of 5 runners (hahaha!!)

-grade 5 basketball team 3rd placer (my initial post was 2nd placer, e nkta ko ung medal kulay bronze lng. 3rd lng pla, huhuhu..)

-1st year basketball team 2nd placer (we won against the team we faced in our first game but lost in the championship. you know why? i messed up. sob…)

-lost in the Marist School Coordinating Body Grade 6 representative

-Ballistic Martians dance troupe (1st year – 2nd year)

-Frizkers dance troupe member (3rd year – nung 4th year I quitted and became active in our church’s youth ministry)

-academics: rank12 out of 45 students in class / rank33 out of more or less 270 3rd year students – actual school data released SY 1999-2000 (but i didn’t top any class, lagi may mga mas magaling sakin kahit sa mga Math subjects..)

-SLR’s (IV – San Lorenzo Ruiz) Mr. Marist representative

-Mr. Confidence award in the Mr. Marist competition (ikaw ba naman kantahan si erl ng ‘i will be here’ in front of more or less 1000 students and few faculties!! haha, kapal talaga ng mukha..). But just to clarify, I didn’t win the Mr. Marist contest ha, malabo yun!!

“Snips and snails, a puppy dog’s tail and some sugar and spice might be the formula for a Bernard Bragas. He is a good-bad guy, maybe a straight crook. he is one of those who could do well in class and hang out with his friends, doing all the things without bothering. He is a guy who could easily make friends with anybody because of being approachable, thoughtful and helpful.”

-Marist School 2001 year book

i didn’t post this to brag about those glorious days. i just want to show my inconsistencies (giving examples of ‘fainted before reaching the peak’ in my Marist life)

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
- 1 Corinthians 10:12, NIV

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A Personal Narrative

haha, try ko lang gumawa (i’m not good in literature ha… an Old Testament Biblical Narrative Type)

THE ONGOING JOURNEY TO FAITH

Salvation Gained by One, to the Household

There was once in the history of this world that God smiled[1] for his created man whose name was Bernard, not that he was unique in creation but He just simply delights in each work His hand lays.[2] He was a second son of college sweethearts who met in Manila and from two different provinces in the Philippines, one from Batangas and one from Bicol. This couple, Abelardo and Melchy, married and gave birth to their first wonderful son and named them Albert. Then after two years, the couple loved each other so much that the woman bore their second son, who will be a person in which God’s grace would be so much demonstrated.[3] In their faithfulness in marriage and love for each other, the woman gave birth to their third child and it was a beautiful daughter. With their family God delighted that He protected[4] them and these children grew in the guidance of their parents.[5]

The family did not have a Christian background for both parents were raised Catholics by their families. It was only 1986 when Melchy had her first personal encounter with God. Abelardo was not exactly into consideration of being like her for he said to her, “You were the one who brought me in embracing the Catholic faith and now you are taking me again to some sort of religion.” So she just kept on praying for her husband and for their child to be raised as Christians. Until one day the husband said to his wife, “This land is being dry and we may not have enough to raise our children, I will go and work in a foreign land.” So the husband, in their agreement as married couples, went to Japan to have an advanced training on his job for behold, he was an agricultural engineer. This gave her a chance to grow with her Christian faith for she was not hindered in going to church. She was like a bird[6] that just came out of her cage flying around the beauty of life with God in His wide wings as a companion.[7] However, some of the man’s relatives considered it to be non-sense that they informed him about his wife’s devotion as a Christian. She always wrote him letters sharing her new faith but the accusation of the husband was having their children not taken cared of.[8] He would often call and say, “You have to abandon that faith of yours or this marriage is over.” Then the finishing statement was BLAG!! (phone just hanged up). She just continued to claim God’s word by consistently praying, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household.”[9]

Abelardo finally went back home after his training (actually it was a bit early), and what a surprise!! Their marriage was not over. But still he did not want her to go to church. So she underwent so much persecution even having an experience of being beaten by a 2×2 wood in front of the people in a Bible study group. Surely, their children regarded it as growing under a dog and cat relationship.[10] Thus, her relationship with Him faded but still she experienced God’s own hands with everything she was undergoing. She was spared from a bus accident; business was booming plus the fact that their children were growing healthy and intelligent. Until the day a devil confronted her and dared to strangle her in a dream.[11] She could not resist it without the authority she remembered of being given to her so she resisted the devil and said aloud, “in Jesus’ mighty name get out.” That day, she realized her helplessness apart from the Lord. She decided to find a church near their place for before she had to go to Luneta just to attend church while bringing their children. Finally, she found one and started to attend once more. This time, her husband gave her permission only that the children should not be going with her. Still, she persisted of bringing their children having the reason that they were to be taken care of.

Behold[12] their children were growing and were being raised having the principles of the Bible especially the two sons for they are the ones who did not have much of an age gap. They started to have opinions in life and thought of their decision towards Jesus Christ. The eldest, Albert, chose a life of this world and so did the younger. Albert started to be an oppressor that even the higher batch on his school was afraid of him. He cut classes, became video games addict and anything that a man of this world would engage into. He ended up being in a fraternity and almost got somebody killed then he was exiled to their father’s home in Batangas. In the same way Bernard, the younger idolized his brother that he also became the school’s most aggressive bachelor[13] having the school’s higher batch under his proud approach on everyone.[14] He had the best high school experience for he was favored in spite of his unrevealed personality to some. He was surrounded with fortunate friends and they all excel in different areas at school.[15] No wonder why this person became as proud as can be. The Author above all was longing for this young man to be broken.[16]

Until this waited day by the heavens and the earth came.[17] Bernard’s mother got him reserved to attend a youth camp training at Norzagaray, Bulacan. He agreed to come with the young people expecting it to be a good experience. He only intended to have fun around but there he experienced recognition of his sins and realized his need of a Savior. Surprisingly, he received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. What a day to witness?! How can this ‘greatest miracle’[18] happen to a person?[19] This day his life was transformed and he decided to serve God as an act of gratitude. But the change of life did not come in the fullness instantly. He still got involved with fights during the early years of his Christian life. Actually, it will not be ideal to say but these days might be typical,[20] he was already teaching and sometimes given an opportunity to give exhortations. Well hypocrisy did not start in the modern age; it was there even before Jesus’ incarnation.[21] He was even taught a lesson when they went far of going to another school for a fight and suddenly he was left by his friends. Some punches reached him until he was able to run with his own will. His friends may have deserted him but still he stuck on to them and continued on with their lives.

Then another incident in his life occurred. He had dengue fever and reached his critical status in the hospital. He was already nearing death when he decided to call upon the name of Jesus. He settled his relationship once more and then life goes on being a Christian. He finished high school with good grades for he has been gifted with knowledge[22] although he messed up in his early high school years.

When he studied for college, another Christian declining year came. He again forgot his relationship with God. “He did everything pleasing to his own sight”[23] When he graduated his 3-year course, he again thinks highly of himself. But he did not notice that because of his lax years, his knowledge was not enhanced. Actually he was like being the exact word ‘dumb.’[24] He planned to take up a course ladderized to his previous one but what was lost was not recovered. It was as if he did not have any background of the course on civil engineering. Thus, it again gave him a humbling experience. He started to be afraid of not having his plans established in the future. Until he decided to give his life back to Him and enrolled in Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries. However, his father did not support him at first. He had to go through lots of prayers and fastings and have the Spirit lead reconciliation with his father. After three weeks of pleading to God, his father pronounced his support for his son. A very blessed day!!

Right now, as this narrative ends, it is still an ongoing journey of faith to Bernard’s family. The saving grace started from his mother; endured and tested, grace was experienced by him. Now his sister goes with them and believing someday all of them will be in one faith. A statement of his mother when he got delivered from a threatening death can never be forgotten, “I now know that the reason I have endured the persecutions is that God has a great plan for your life, my son.”[25]

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[1] Narrator’s Anthropopathism on God.

[2] Narrator is omniscient (Greidanus) even considering Anthropomorphism.

[3] Emphasis on being the second son and the vital role in the selection.

[4] Narrator’s Anthropomorphism on God.

[5] Chiasm: A – God smiled …delights

                                    B – gave birth to their first son

C – bore their second son …God’s grace would be so much demonstrated

                                                B’ – gave birth to their third child

                                   A’ – God delighted

[6] Narrator’s use of Simile.

[7] Narrator’s use of wings as Zoomorphism and companion as Anthropomorphism.

[8] Omniscience by the narrator.

[9] See Bible. Acts 16:31, NIV.

[10] Narrator’s use of Hypocatastasis.

[11] Dream is an assumption of the narrator by his omniscience.

[12] Emphasis that a situation shifted.

[13] Narrator’s comment.

[14] Bernard’s life was like a rereading of his older brother’s life only that he did not end up being in a gang.

[15] Narration bridged the gap of the narrator’s comment in the next sentence.

[16] Narrator’s use of Anthropopathism.

[17] Comment considering it as an expression to all who are nearing their salvation.

[18] Salvation is always said be this phrase by many evangelists.

[19] Narrator on his use of Erotesis.

[20] Narration’s comment.

[21] See the Bible in Jesus’ time.

[22] Bridge to gap the narrator’s comment.

[23] As the Bible says about God’s unfaithful men.

[24] Narrator’s comment.

[25] Mother’s encouraging statement after his experience.

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(gradually updating depending on the mood – hehehe…)