My World as a Kid

Hello guys! It's been awhile since I've posted an article here. Well, I just stumbled into something funny and cool at the same time and I wish to share it to every one. I just remembered how I see things when I used to be a kid before and I am hoping the kids still does imagine things like we did. Here is what I found in Facebook Page Funny Stuff. By the way, I just created the names / captions and there are no actual names like that (I hope).

Spaceship Peeler Enterprise

TBone Starship - sorry dunno what this is.

Spice Rocket

Kelvin Satellite

Scoop Cruise

Sonix Spacecruise

Virgin Cargo

Aubreylata Spacefrigate - this actually looks cool!

Panasonic Cruise ER-GB40

H&S Battle Cruise (H&S means Head and Shoulders hehe!)

Okay, I admit that I did imagined my ballpen and eraser being a spaceship before but some of the images here are just new to me. Well, kids this days have a lack of imagination since there are smart devices or smartphones that hinder their creativity so let's take them away from those things from time to time. That is why, I let my son play with things sometimes - anything he can play with as long as it is not sharp or very pointy or could hurt them.

So what else, have you imagined when you where a child? Comment and share what was on your mind before. Thanks for the time spending with us.

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What Else is Missing?

I was able to finish my son's invitation card yesterday. It took me a lot of time on a lot of things like:

• I took a lot of pictures (using my new Samsung Omnia 2 Windows Mobile
• Using Adobe Photoshop, I edited the best picture. Since he doesn't have the Ben 10 costume, I have to create one via photoshop - free (nagtitipid eh!). Even the watch was photoshoped.
• Finalized the old invitation and add the new image.

If I receive my salary this week, me and my wife will shop for some toys as give-aways for the parlor games. We still need the following for his party:

• give-aways and parlor game prizes
• plastic bags for the prizes (best if it is Ben 10)
• our gift for him - BICYCLE. Weeeh! I have checked the shop already and there is one bike I found I know he'll love.
• Birthday Cake - already talked to a friend from Danube (thanks for the discount!)
• Ben 10 costume (optional, if we can't find one or if we can't afford one hehe!)
• 80 copies of invitation card - the others will just be verbal since they are far
• sweets (biko, puto, etc...)

I don't know what else is missing, so any suggestions?

Been busy lately with a lot of things. I'll be blog hopping tomorrow. See ya!

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Good Thing Come to Those Who Wait

I am one of those who wait......

I am still waiting.

Okay, I'll recite a verse while waiting.

Psalms 118:8
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

I'll make that two.

Isaiah 59:1
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

Aaarrgh! I can't sleep. Okay, I'll be going back to bed and wait for a GOOD NIGHT SLEEP! Good morning guys!

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Meal Noodles!

Two weeks ago, we were sent back to one of our projects near Obhor. We will be using their office for awhile once again. No pinoy lunch meals, sandwiches are the only available meal there.

There is also Kabsa there but I only want to eat kabsa with my family, so I made it a point not to eat kabsa there and besides, the kabsa near our place tastes much better - way better.

The only hot meal the we can eat there is the instant noodle. Just put hot water and set it aside for about 3-5 minutes and then mix it. It is quite tasty but the best is still to eat a good meal. It'll be a long time again before we get use to this setup.

Haay! I hope this project ends soon so we can go back to our office in Balad. I miss pinoy food during lunch time.

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The Invitation

We just booked our son's birthday. Now I am making preparations for the coming special day for our son. It is his 4th Birthday and he is getting bigger every minute.

In preparation, one important thing in every party - INVITATIONS. Yes!, right now I am making the invitations and the planned POSTER or the picture that will be posted in front and probably make a slideshow about our son.

We have decided to use the Ben 10 theme since it is his new favorite cartoons. For now, I am quite tired already and sleepy so I'll be stopping for now and just sleep. See you tomorrow.

Here is a sample of what I am doing.

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Valentine Effect!

People are going nuts over Valentine's day. Some people are getting sad, some are mad, some are frustrated about their financial status. They have girlfriends but no money to celebrate the special day, some have money but no honey to celebrate it with. As for me, I have my family and I am happy even without money hehe! My hair just got curly thinking of my budget and expenses but I am happy.

Well, all I want to say is -- HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to all.

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You're Not A Monster!

From the movie Cars, Lightning McQueen, the main star of the movie is my son Ize’s favorite toy/character, etc. The story is about a rookie race car McQueen who loves to be the champion and be the first rookie to ever win the Piston Cup. Because of McQueen’s desire to win Dinoco as his sponsor against Chic Hicks and the current champion The King, he ended up in a place called Radiator Springs when he mistakenly took Route 66 instead of going to his next matches place. He was placed under public service and repair the roads he ruined.

Ever since Ize watched the movie (that was when he was still 2 years old), he loved the movie so much up to now. Lightning McQueen is Ize’s hero, his buddy, his champion, his most favorite companion when sleeping, his favorite drawn character, etc... It sometimes made me jealous to see him watching the movie repeatedly than being with me or with us (my wife). Sometimes we join him so we’ll get to be with him and interact with him. He’ll cry so much if he didn’t get to see his favorite pal, McQueen for a day.

Last night before sleeping, he was playing with his toy car McQueen while in bed so I tried to annoy him by pretending to be a monster and bite his cheeks and ears. He was laughing while I’m playing with him. I told him I am like a monster. But he said something that made me stop and this is what he said, “No you are not a monster!”. So I asked him – “What am I like? What is Daddy like?”.  And then he told me “You’re not a monster, You’re like Lightning McQueen!”. I hugged him and kissed him after that. We prayed together and we slept. I am so blessed, I could cry.

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I found it!

I remembered I last had a bite of this Cheese Curls when one of my friend's mom went to US and gave me a few to have a taste. It was so tasty - like cheese, of course it's made from cheese and some other stuffs.

It was a hit for me once I had a taste of it and after a long, long time (years) of finding a way to get a hold of this stuff - hope was lost. But thanks to Danube, I got a chance to have another bite (not just a bite, but munch on them).

This is what I am talking about. Let's eat up guys!

Yummy!

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Where Is My Blogroll?

If you haven't noticed, I removed my Blogroll. It is to prepare my blog for the new theme I made myself. It was a very, very long delayed theme. Actually, I still haven't finish the theme. There is still a lot of word to be done. I can't believe how tedious making a new theme (a Blogger Theme) is.

Oh by the way my Blogroll is here - CHECK IT HERE!

More changes will come soon before launching my new Baul ni Noel. See you guys.

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Memories

This is not a literary work. I just want to reminisce the moments memorable to me. I am not sad but I just want to look back and watch my past happy moments. Sometimes it is good to look back so we can better see how blessed we are to have such wonderful blessings - FAMILY!

First video: When Ize learned how to eat yogurt, he became addicted to it.


Second video: My last vacation with my family, I rented a private pool for us.


Third video: Ize learned his ABC's and would like to share how to sing it to others.


Here is a slide-show of our pictures in Disneyland Hongkong 2009. A childhood dream come true for both me and my wife. I'll be using this slide-show on my upcoming Baul ni Noel blog theme.

Hopefully, God willing I hope my next vacation, we can go out of town. Airplane away if possible, don't want to ride our boats or ships (I am afraid and so is my wife).

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My Friend Pigeoto

 

Hey there! You alone?

 

You don't look happy to me. Any problem? Can I sit beside you? Okay, I'll just sit beside you anyways. Oh by the way, I am Pigeoto.

I know. You don't feel like talking. I mean who would talk to a bird? Especially a pigeon like me. Look at the other pigeons, they don't even wanna talk to me.

But you know what? Come back here again when you feel lonely or sad. I'll sit with you again even if you don't feel like talking. Just want you to know that you are much more valuable than I am to the Lord.

And please come back with some raisins, love those dehydrated grapes. See ya!

=== ^ ===

Just a pigeon who sat beside me while I'm looking for answer, God's answer. Maybe this really is what God wanted to tell me. Hey! I am not that emotional about my past problem. It's no big deal. I am just trying to share this wonderful moment I captured last Wednesday.

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2009: Have You Received What You Prayed For?

His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' – (NIV - Matt 25:21)

I made this article last Christmas 2009 for the year New Year 2010 article but I was unable to post it here and totally forgot to post it, so here it is. This is quite long, you can print it if you want to.

The year 2009 just passed and if we look back, how do we find the year 2009? I have two major questions for everyone who reads this article:

• In the year 2009, do you have a prayer that has not been answered?
• Have we ever wondered, why? Why did God NOT answered those prayers?
  

I have studied the main verse above (Matt 25:21) and here is my perspective of why we sometimes DON'T get what we have asked for.

UNFAITHFUL TO OUR BLESSINGS
Luke 16: 10 - He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

If we can be trusted with a few things God had given us then we can be trusted with more, if not then we can't trusted with much more either.

• In marriage, sometimes people fool around even when they're married. Even if we just think, we have already sinned. What more if we initiated or made our move. (Textmates, phonepals or any medium of communication) Waiting for some spark of hope that we could see.
• GOD, by having something in the middle of us instead of Him. Ex. Work, family, TV, friends, etc.. (Matt 6: 21 - For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.)

IRRESPONSIBLE TO OUR BLESSINGS
Malachi 2: 13-14 – [NIV] Another thing you do: You flood the LORD's altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. 14 You ask, "Why?" It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.

In the example above found in the Bible, we often times ask why our offering to God is not acceptable. That is because we are irresponsible to our blessing, the example given above is the wife (Yes, wives are great blessings just like the husband to their wife)

• Finance, we don’t pay our responsibilities - debts, taxes, etc...
• Marriage, to husbands (we make our wife cry instead of her rejoicing the Lord, she is crying out for help) to wife (we provoke our husbands instead of submitting to them)
• A man’s responsibility is to LOVE his wife (Eph 5: 25-28)
• A wife’s responsibility is to SUBMIT to her wife. (Eph 5: 22-24). I know some of the wives reading this won't agree on this (What happened to equality?), well this is the word of God. Besides if the husband loves his wife so much, then the wife will be more than willing to submit)
• Like a parent giving toys to their children, how does a parent feel whenever they buy toys for their children and their children isn't responsible to their things?
• GOD, if you are given a responsibility – do it with your best and do it gladly. By giving, how much support do we give to God's church? Are we settled to give a few or our change? How responsible are we in supporting His church?

UNGRATEFUL OF OUR BLESSINGS
Matt 18:21 24 – The verses tell us of a King who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. There is one servant who owed him a lot and was asked to pay. The servant pleads for mercy and the King gave him mercy and blot out all his debts. But when this servant went outside and saw one of his fellow servant, he asked to settle the account but the other servant couldn’t pay so he asked for him to be imprisoned until he can pay his debt. The King knew of this and punished the servant who he gave mercy.

Are we as grateful as that servant who didn't give mercy when someone asked him?

• One good example is when we receive raises to our salary. Instead of saying thank you, we look and see how much the others got and complain why we only had that increase.
• Marriage, to husband and wife that is both working,  instead of the man putting the food on the table, the woman helps out because life isn't easy nowadays. Us men, instead of appreciating the help of our spouse – we expect more from our partners. To wives, how do you appreciate your hard-working husbands? .
• Being a housewife is also a big job, attending to our children’s needs, cleaning, cooking, etc.. Atleast, all we could do is ask how they’re doing and tell them thanks.
• GOD,  instead of thanking God for our blessings, we ask God for more and often times question why ONLY this.

DISTRUST TO OUR BLESSINGS
Numbers 20: 12 – [KJV] And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

In the earlier verses, Moses and the others are in a place where water is scarce and was asked by God to command the rock to give water for all the people. But when Moses came back to see the people, he got angry and strucked the rock twice. Moses failed but still he is saved.

• In marriage, TRUST is very important. They can’t do things as one if they don’t believe in each other. When trust has failed, marriage can’t survive. Imagine a husband and wife making their own decisions for themselves – can you call them husband and wife?
• GOD, if you don’t trust God then you have failed already like Moses did.

Now, what can happen if we DON’T have faith to our blessings? If we are irresponsible to our blessings? If we don’t appreciate our blessings? If we don’t trust our blessings?
Answer: God can take it away anytime He wants it.
Job says - Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. -  Job 1: 21

We are blessed since God don’t punish us like how he punished his unfaithful servants along time ago.
If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. – Malachi 2:2

So how can we prove God we are worthy of more blessings?

Treasure your blessings by doing the following:

FAITHFUL TO OUR BLESSINGS - Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. [LUKE 16:10]

RESPONSIBLE TO OUR BLESSING – Everyone has been entrusted with a great responsibility. To our family which is also our blessing – take good care of them. And to God:
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. [Mark 16: 15] - SHARE THE WORD OF GOD.

GRATEFUL TO OUR BLESSING – To show our gratefulness. To our family, help each other, understand each other, support each other. And to God,
Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. [1 Chronicles 16: 8]

TRUST OUR BLESSING – do not doubt our blessings that came from God. God gave them to you for all the right reasons.

Do we trust God? When He says..
[NIV] - Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. – [Mal 3:10]
God said ("Test me on this"), so do we give our tithes (God's part) to the Lord?

How happy are we when we give to God?
[NIV] - Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. [2 Cor 9:7]

If we can do this to our blessings, will God be pleased? What will he say? I am most certain that he will say this words:

'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

God bless you all.

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Year 2009's Footprints: Counting My Blessings

This is just a re-post, I entered a contest at Online Mommy's Corner and forgot to post this here. It's about Counting Your Blessings and here it goes.

Sorry, I have posted the wrong

I'd like to take this opportune time to thank God for all the things He gave to me this year 2009.

Year 2009 has ended and thinking about it made me look back to my past achievements and blessings. I always made sure to count my blessings before the end of the year but I made an early post (last Dec 13, 2009) because I joined Online Mommy's Corner Thanksgiving Contest. Well, since I do it every year so I took that opportunity, I might win something.

So what am I thankful of?

1. I am not thankful of the 2009 recession that happened early this year which affected almost globally. Actually, it all started December 2007 but it was only realized by the whole world last December 2008 - okay, I'm not quite sure about it but that's what I've heard. Anyways, what I am thankful of is that where I currently work, here in Saudi Arabia we weren't affected big time. I am thankful because even when the world is at crisis, our company gave us an increase in our salary in order for us to afford the price hike in the market.
2. I am always thankful to thank God for a great family I have. A loving and understand wife and cute and cuddly son who continues to grow.
3. I am thankful because God continues to bless us and provide everything that we need. My wife got a great job offer where she gets to enjoy her work and was able to excel more on her career as a Dentist.
4. I am thankful to God because he blessed us a great vacation in Hongkong. We really enjoyed our time there in Hongkong. I was able to fulfill one of my greatest dreams when I was a child, going to Disneyland. We also went to Ocean Park and lots of great places HK could ever offer. We'll probably go back there someday.
5. I am grateful and thankful to God for giving me a chance to find new friends through blog and through PEBA.
6. I am thankful to God that even during our crisis, He provided solutions to our problems.
7. I am thankful to God for strengthening our marriage and continually give each of us better understanding. Giving us patience and making us better parents toward our son.

Thank God for everything.

====
Super busy ako lately. My back hurts like hell (tumatanda na kasi! hehe!). Actually, dahil ito sa sunod-sunod na okasyon, ilang lutuan din ang ginawa ko since mas sanay akong magluto ng pang-masa kesa sa misis ko (Salamat sa training ni Mommy sa aming carinderia). Nalamigan kasi yung likod ko kaya ayun, masakit pa rin till now pero medyo nawawala-wala na rin.

Meron pa kaming dalawang blessing, I'll reveal it on my next post. Masaya!

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Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! 2010 na grabe. Ang iba ay nagbabago ng layout ng kanilang blogs para sa pagpasok ng year 2010 pero dahil wala akong para doon ay ipapagpaliban ko muna iyon. Bati lang muna ako ngayon ng Happy New Year guys. Although I do have an entry for this year I don't have time to do so, probably later or tomorrow.

Pakabait kayo lahat at nawa magbalik-loob na kayo hahaha!

God bless and take care to everyone and have a prosperous New Year to all.

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I feel a flu coming!

I frequently sneeze and I am feeling drowsy. Okay, I just sneezed again. I think I'll be having colds as well. I hope it won't get worst on Christmas coz I'll be hosting our parlor games and it's hard to talk when you have colds. Waaah! Better take a rest tomorrow, it's a good thing we already bought our gifts.

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Pressure!

Oh my! Oh my! I almost forgot that we'll be having our wedding anniversary so I am now really pressured of what to give to my wife. A Christmas gift and an Anniversary gift, we'll be turning 5 years - thank God!

If you are reading this prends - I NEED HELP! I thought I knew my wife but when it comes to gifts, I am a flat liner.

So here is the plan, we'll be having a dinner - just the two of us. I don't want to treat her some place where we always go so it should be somewhere not very familiar or familiar but not a place where we frequently go. Goodness! I am being redundant now. It's a good thing my son has a nanny now.

Steak House, okay "salamat konsensya ko!". That's a cozy place to date her and she likes the place so much so it'll be a great place. So my only problem would be the GIFT!

Think! Think! Think! I used to be good at this when I was still a bachelor, guess I passed it to my son haha!

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One Week Before Christmas!

One week more and it's Christmas. Our Christmas Gathering will be something different and I am quite excited. This is the first we'll be celebrating something different - it's a 7 Candlelight Christmas Service and I am one of the 7 speakers to give a few inspiring words about Christmas. I still don't know what to say, I still have a few days left and we still haven't bought some of the gifts we need to buy. Thank God we had the energy to buy some stuffs for our exchange gift awhile ago.

For the kids, I'll probably buy some assorted chocolates and candies and put it in a loot bag and give it away for them to enjoy.

How about you all, ka-bloggers? Will you be having a Christmas get-away with your friends? Hope you all have a plan this Christmas.

Well, you have to go with your friends. Instead of lurking all day in your room and think about your family back home, enjoy! Have a nice Christmas, I'm sure your family is doing the same thing.

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The Fellowship

What makes a relationship work? And what makes it stronger?

Our recent hajj vacation proved to be very fun and amazingly addicting. Brothers and sisters in church all had a good time. Friendship between each and everyone grew more stronger.

Each family had their own adventure while spending with other families. Sharing their past hilarious adventures and joking with each others mischief filled everyone with laughter and joy. New memories were made to be cherished and past tribulations are forgotten.

The fun level is so great that even for a selfish reason of satisfying oneself results everyone's enjoyment. We really had a great time and we're glad we are part of this adventure.

Fellowship makes a relationship work, be it marriage or friendship and having God as its foundation made it more stronger.

If God is the foundation of your marriage, before you and your wife/husband settle something, pray. Pray for understanding coz serious matters often lead to misunderstanding and confrontations. Understand each other's point of view and try to settle things with calmness in heart, if your partner is getting tensed remind him/her that God is in your midst and both of you are trying to solve things not making it worst and continue being calm. Remember being one through marriage is not a competition, it is not about YOU anymore - it is about FAMILY.

If God is the foundation of friendship, you help each other by making each other stronger. Having fellowship with a friend in trouble is one way to make them stronger, a shoulder to rely on always gives new strength to anyone.This family of friends had their ups and downs and yet they continue to get stronger by making each other stronger.

The fellowship between a parent and a child is a great example of how God loves us. As a parent, when we are with our children, we protect them from harm, we always think of how we can make them happy, we think of the best things for them in the future. That is how God loves us.

So it is important that we always have fellowship with the people who we love and loves us, to have stronger bonds and most specially to Jesus our Lord and heavenly Father.

I am so blessed. Coz I get to enjoy every moment with my family, believing God is with us and for having such good friends.

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To My Beloved Sister

My sister is losing hope already. She is trying to apply for a job here in Saudi Arabia as a food server and she's losing hope already. Her current situation is what's making her lose hope.

She is diabetic and already taking medication everyday (injection - ouch! for life). Sometimes no matter what we do isn't enough but that doesn't mean life is unfair. Here is my message for her.

Dear Sister,

Life is full of randomness. God didn't promise His people to always have a great time. Trust God in the Lord always and he'll give you something great. Pray and believe. If God didn't grant you what you wish for, that doesn't mean He won't answer your prayer. God has 3 probable answer, Yes, No or Wait.

If God says No, it doesn't mean He don't love you. It's because he has a greater plan for you, much better than you prayed for. So wait for it. Be patient.

If God says Wait, then you just have to wait and be patient.

If God says Yes, then thank God.

What ever God's answer is, we should just prepare for what ever PLAN he has set upon us. And be thankful always coz no matter what His answer to your prayer is - HE KNOWS IT'S BEST FOR YOU.

Don't lose hope, God loves you and we love you too. Continue praying and prepare yourself, if not this time - in the future.

All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28

This blog entry is dedicated to my dear sister. We are always here for you, especially me, your dear Kuya.

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Sagot sa mga Komento

Nakalimutan ko ilagay ito sa unahan. Ito po ang reply ko sa mga nag-komento sa aking post na "Last Draw"

Masama pakinggan pero Drake, una-una lang yan hehe!

Actually, yan ang second day ng holidays namin kasi naka-assign ako sa government, Sir Pope pero ang balik ko sa Dec 5 at si misis sa Dec 1.

Yanie, buti ka pa lalabas e kami actually nasa orig plan namin ang pumunta diyan with my in-laws, pero dahil sa kulang sa money eh, dito na lang muna kami. Yung inlaws namin tuloy.

Salamat Jepoy, na-miss ko tuloy prend kong name din ay Jepoy nandiyan sa Pinas at medyo galit sa akin. Well, I tried to reconcile and fix the issue but to him the issue is bigger than me.

Go Iyakhin basta wag ka lang iiyak and good to have fellowship with brethren.

Wawa naman si Pareng Life Moto. Prayers for him guys, hope this war ends soon. Teka sundalo ka ba at Red Alert ka? hehe or ikaw yung cook na mas malupit pa kay Steven Seagull hehe? At least we are on the same side hehe.

Acrylique, thanks for the visit. I visited your site as well - MAKULAY like your call sign.

Wala lang, just thought once in awhile e special thanks to all those who commented. Thanks to PEBA rin pala for giving me a chance to meet all of you guys.

Happy Holidays sa lahat. God bless you all.

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