Arla Fontamillas sings It's All About You

Arla Fontamillas sang "It's All About You" as part of a lecture of Mark Aranal on "The Five Essential Elements of an Effective Performing Arts Ministry" during the Youth Leaders' Camp organized by the Church So Blessed held at the United Methodist Church's Tagaytay Mission Camp and Conference Center last December 29, 2010. Even with the bad acoustics of the venue, her voice was heavenly and recording her gave me goosebumps. The first reaction of the people watching near me was one of awestruck, then they just closed their eyes and some even raised their hands in total worship.

She was accompanied on guitar by Allan Valdez.

Something about Arla, starting January 2, 2011 she will be hosting Gospel Jam along with Jeanne Velasco-Vicars and Mark Aranal.

Mark Aranal on Excellence

An excerpt from his lecture on "The Five Essential Elements of an Effective Performing Arts Ministry" during the Youth Leaders' Camp organized by the Church So Blessed held at the United Methodist Church's Tagaytay Mission Camp, December 29, 2010.

Happy Birthday Dina!

Kapatid! A very happy birthday! May your birthday wish(es) come true!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

It was a Blessed Christmas spent with the family in UP. The kwentuhan, the laughter, going to church together attending the midnight mass at makipagkulitan with my niece and nephews on our way bank home! I also had a blast seeing everyone's faces light up while unwrapping their gifts! hahaha These are the moments I miss, the price of living on my own. But theses are also moments I will treasure most! A blessed Holiday to everyone!

Gospel Jam @ Conspiracy presents "Playing A New Set"

Please help us spread the word on our next Gospel Jam!

Poster created by Mark Aranal.

Isabell De Leon sings "Bulong"

I love this lovely lady. Super talented Isabella De Leon :D

Alarice sings Youth Alive's "Deeply In Love"

Its been a while since I wrote something. I don't know how but I really have to simply my life :)

I'm again late in my video obligations...a month of back log aaarghhhh...

Anyway, July 25 was already a blessings-filled night with wonderful performers, a band, a worship team and a singer turned politician to name a few. Then Alarice arrived, Wow! A real treat to be listening to this beautiful and bubbly young lady play a favorite song of mine.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

Nagalit ang Bulkan kay Uncle Sam

While filing archive materials in the office I came across a brown envelope labeled "Ribbons" which contained the these...

I did a quick search in Google about the title "Nagalit ang Bulkan kay Uncle Sam" and found a blog article by Abet Umil.

Below is the paragraph in Mr. Umil's article mentioning the balagtasan:

"Nang masunog ang Heritage noong 1990, nakisukob ang GAT sa SIKAP. Napasama ako sa grupong sumulat ng iskrip ng "Nang Magalit ang Bulkan kay Uncle Sam," isang balagtasan noong 1992. Mga aktor dito sila Armida Sigueon Reyna, Joel Lamangan, Willie Nepomuceno, Teo Antonio, Ai-ai Delas Alas, Jograd dela Torre, at iba pa, dinirek ni Ishmael Bernal. Ito ang huling proyekto ng GAT hanggang sa tuluyang nawatak noong 1993."

I need more info before I close this file. Can anyone help?

Awit ni Jonathan

I actually made two versions, one is a straight forward video with only the title and end photo added which I found too plain. This one I added the photos I took of the wedding last July 11 with video clips of Jonathan singing to Rowena.

I still regret not being able to stay for the reception of this simple but truly inspiring wedding. I would have loved to witness more of the love not only of this couple but of their families and friends who all chipped in to make this occasion a truly unforgettable event.

Byron Co sings Glory in the Highest

...and Byron said he was nervous! I should hear him sing when he's not :)

One of the things I like about Gospel Jam is that it is a Jam and anything is possible... Brznf, encouraged by Jeanne, gamely joined adding the beatbox to Peter's superb guitar playing and Byron's crooning voice. Thank you guys!

Long Day

I had a very long day. I woke up at five, trimmed the mint plant in my kitchen garden and brought the trimmings to the office to improve the landscaping i did Saturday. I then took my bike to UP Diliman to visit my mom and siblings. Back home around 12 noon and did a little housecleaning after eating lunch. A little before three went back to the office to attended the wedding of Jonathan and Apol. I was not able to attend the reception because at 5pm I had to rush to Visayas Avenue for Gospel Jam (GJ)...and still not done. I still have to download and process all the videos and photos I took of the wedding and GJ...

A Beautiful Butterfly on a Blue Blossom

I chanced upon this beautiful bonding between a butterfly and a vibrantly blue blossom in Laguna. A wonderful addition to my collection of desktop backgrounds. Enjoy!

the Triple-sim Trident of Cherry Mobile

Cherry Mobile's Trident, the first? triple-sim phone in the Philippines. I first saw the above ad in papers last Thursday. For some reason I could not connect to Cherry Mobile's website, but here are some of Trident's features:
* Triple SIM, Triple Standby
* Quad Band GSM
* 2.46” TFT LCD
* 2MP camera
* WiFi
* Bluetooth
* Analog TV with Record
* FM Radio with Record
* microSD up to 4GB
* Document viewer (word & excel)

I still need to check out the battery life among other things, but the phone did get my attention. More later.

Nokia 1202: A simple phone to keep you in touch

I've been resisting the urge to buy a third phone for use as my land line. But the need to have one in the house and in the office forced me to get one. The Nokia 1202 unit I got for my PLDT landline plus prepaid was well worth it. At home, our mobile phone load consumption definitely lessened. At the office, it also saved me from the frequent trips to different offices for the different errands that can be accomplished by phone. The Nokia 1202 is really a slim and user-friendly handset that keeps one in touch.

The Crew performs Mare of Apl D. Ap

Performed June 11, 2010 by The Crew during the Development Bank of the Philippines' Independence Day Concert.

I really enjoyed this group, their energy and angst in their dance moves is a real treat to watch. I'm definitely a fan and I look forward to seeing more of their performances.

Jude Matthew Servilla sings a Wency Cornejo medley

Performed June 11, 2010 during the Development Bank of the Philippines' Independence Day Concert.

The Crew performs a Francis M. medley

Performed June 11, 2010 by The Crew during the Development Bank of the Philippines' Independence Day Concert.

Their rehearsal run was fantastic but for some reason, I got the feeling that they were waiting on each other in this performance. Nonetheless The Crew is a group to watch out for. I've been seeing them lately in noontime shows and they are fantastic! I'm definitely a fan!

DBP Chorale sings Kasaysayan medley

Performed June 11, 2010 by the DBP Chorale during the Development Bank of the Philippines' Independence Day Concert. Kasaysayan medley was arranged by N. Arnel A. De Pano. Dance was performed by Rhoze Rivera, Francis Matheu and Cheeno Macaraig.

Blessed rain

Blessed is the rain that fell today

relieving the heat of the unforgiving sun

and quenching the thirst of man and land

Biblical Financial Study @ Smart Towers in Makati

Here is a teaser on what one can learn in the Biblical Financial Study that will start this May 17, 2010. More info on the group "Crown Ministries Phils" @ http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=307053039839

GOSPEL JAM @ CONSPIRACY presents "Isabella Ledesma Gonzalez: IDENTITY"

I like the poster that Mark did for this Sundays Gospel Jam. If you are in the area, please do join us.

You can also Jam with us via www.livestream.com/gopeljamlive

I am excited.

I vote for mother earth

We have too many of these...

.. an election staple that most people never really pay any attention to...

...and end up like this...

...at least this kid is doing something, even if it is for the wrong motive...

there has to be a better way.

Voting in an automated election

In exercising my right to vote, I always try to avoid the expected crowd. This year's automated election, the country's first, is no exception. I was one of the early ones in the precinct, arriving quarter to seven but there was already a considerable number of people in line. I'm guessing that since this is a first, people were excited.

It was a humid morning and it was not helping that my line was in an enclosed hallway. But I'm not about to complain because others were not as lucky with their line extending in the lawn and under the sun.

After about an hour of waiting, tempers flared a little. Our line was slow in moving because of the priority given to the elderly.

Other than that and one ballot that was rejected by the PICOS machine, everything went smoothly when I was in the precinct.

It took me five minutes to fill up my ballot and another five minutes for me to feed my ballot to the machine, for the machine to accept the ballot, for the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) to put indelible ink on my finger and for me to put my thumb mark on the voter's list.

Garden in a pot

The fruit of my Lemonsito bonsai at home now has a dark orange color and is now starting to have a red tinge to it. It looks so yummy fresh when I sprayed it with water!

Gospel Jam presents ...As Unto The Lord

Last Sunday's Gospel Jam was as always a blessing. The theme for the night was ...As Unto The Lord: Biblical Principles of Work & Service. This is the first time that Gospel Jam incorporated in its program the teachings of Crown ministries. An effective and enjoyable way of sharing the biblical principles of work not only to the audience but to the artists and staff as well.

Host Mark Aranal

Guest sharer Sarah Balabagan with her husband and Mark.

Ocular visit at Bato Springs in San Pablo City

I can't wait till May 21 when we hold our office's Family staff integration at Bato Springs. Here's why...

Safari adventure at the SM North EDSA SkyGarden

Rocking upon the Rock...me to sleep!

It has been a long day but attending today's Gospel Jam was worth it. Indios, Wisdom and Imago rocked the house! I'm still high about the "Rocking upon the Rock" Gospel Jam at Centerstage and would like to do my photo blog about it but my body has another thing in mind! hahaha its hard to type and tag/edit photos, my eyes, my fingers and my brain just won't cooperate with each other! I really need to sleep!

Kurios at Gospel Jam

Serenaded by the resident birds in UP

I was in UP Yesterday for my regular or should I say irregular visit to our place. It was a very relaxing day for me. I did not bring anything except my garden shears and camera. Meaning no laptop, no pressure to do office work, no pressure to edit photos & videos, sarap! It is definitely a much simpler life that what I have in my apartment.

I spent the whole day gardening, playing with my nieces and nephews and napping! Grabe I realized I have not taken any naps since ages!

the ripening duhat in the garden

this guyabano is from the neighbor's tree, la lang

capturing the smile of Fernan Joseph

Bianca doing a pose

getting off the heat

Kuleeeeet!

The highlight for me would be during the afternoon when birds suddenly flocked to our duhat tree feeding on the insects and ripened fruits and serenading us with their wonderful music!

In Loving Memory of Matt Andrew Deladia

It was an emotional evening as Matt's family and friends gave tribute...

..it was also a reunion of sorts for the Shine For Jesus artists and friends...

...it was a night of good music, and good memories...

...thank you to the management of Centerstage for Gospel Jam's first wonderful experience of their cool place. And thank you to all the artists, friends and volunteers who shared their hearts and talents and more...

I missed the opportunity of knowing Matt or Andrew to his friends but from what I heard, he was a wonderful and talented guy.