"The leader is best,
When people are hardly aware of his existence,
Not so good when people praise his government,
Less good when people stand in fear,
Worst, when people are contemptuous.
Fail to honor people, and they will fail to honor you.
But of a good leader, who speaks little,
When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,
The people say, 'We did it ourselves.'"
~ Lao Tzu
As we commemorate the birth of our National Hero, let us not forget the adversity our heroes had done for us just to save our independence from invaders.
One hundred years has passed but the memories of Dr. Jose Rizal and our heroes are still alive up to this century. We can see a lot of inside stories from books, historical things, to school, television, newspapers, magazines and even internet and blogs about our National Hero and heroes but just a shout out to all citizens – let’s try to bring into action all the qualities he reminded us of and the importance of being a Filipino. By blood, we are one of the generations he hopes to continue what he started and to helped this country for. He is like a father, he has some wishes for us and knocked on wood to come true. Blood is thicker than water as they may say.
These days, we are in a difficult situation. Heinous crimes and corruption are rampant. Negative news and articles are seen on the side of the street. Families broken and relationships are blotted out. People are taking advantage of the kindness others are giving. They don’t mind if they stepped on other’s life as long as they are guaranteed by their own welfare. People in the government are aware but tend to be deaf and blind.
What’s going on now?
Are they aware?
Of course, they see what’s going on in our country but because they don’t have any idea of our whereabouts and cries so they won’t really understand and won’t feel anything. Some are helping but pretending to be good to the eyes of the commoners, hiding their faces with masks which falsify their own identities and motives. They travel to different places in the Philippines to proclaim their intentions but did all of their promises happen? Neither one of which they say can’t be seen to this day. Promises of false hopes and dreams have been said but didn’t come into reality.
As a Filipino, we need to loosen our grip from being ignorant of what is happening around us and focus on something that will be beneficial to people. Let us help one another to make this country progressive. Let’s follow the footsteps of Dr. Jose Rizal to nourish the good things and improve our lives.
Probably, if he could come down, for sure he would nag us out of our system and punish us because we are not doing right. Same with our Lord. If only I could see him, one thing I’m going to ask:
How could you be so perfect to fight what is right that all people listen and respect you and when we do just petty things for the country, why would they won’t care and listen?
May we reflect on this as we walk through our journey in this chaotic home we live in.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
~ Mark Twain
Here's the biggest weight-loss secret in the world: The best way to drop pounds fast is to indulge in a delicious dessert.
Whoa! Careful, don't give yourself whiplash. It may sound crazy, but it's true. Studies show that the discipline you need to resist temptation comes from the brain, in an activity fueled by glucose-blood sugar. And glucose is exactly what you get from sweet, indulgent desserts. So by passing up dessert, you actually make it harder to stick to your diet—and that's why so many of us stay on course for weeks or months, then wake up one morning face down in a box of Ho-Hos.
If you eat dessert wisely—choosing treats that give you the satisfying tastes you crave without the ridiculous calorie counts that sometimes come with them—you could put yourself back on the road to rapid weight loss. So take a good look at the six desserts on this list, compliments of the New York Times–bestselling Eat This, Not That! book series. Then make the simple swaps we recommend to start stripping away pounds—fast!
#6: Worst Pie
Perkins Peanut Butter Silk Pie (1 slice)
960 calories
68 g fat (33 g saturated, 1 g trans)
47 g sugars
Pie is the quintessential American dessert, and that doesn't bode well for any of us. Still, how Perkins manages to cram nearly 1,000 calories and a day and a half worth of saturated fat into one slice is a mystery, but the combination of icing, whipped cream, and peanut butter cups doesn't help. Save yourself 570 calories and 23 grams of saturated fat by ordering their sundae instead.
Eat This Instead!
Ice Cream Sundae
390 calories
25 g fat (10 g saturated)
32 g sugars
DROP 15 POUNDS FOR SUMMER: You can lose a couple of inches fast—and without dieting.
#5: Worst Kids’ Dessert
Outback Steakhouse Spotted Dog Sundae
1,216 calories
94 g fat (58.5 g saturated)
89 g carbohydrates
A 2010 study found that empty calories comprise a whopping 40 percent of kids’ diets, and cutesy sounding desserts like this only fuel the problem. The sad part is that the average parent probably doesn't even realize how dangerous this dessert is. According to USDA recommendations, 20 grams is the absolute maximum amount of saturated fat a person should consume in one day. Think busy parents know that? Probably not, which means they probably wouldn't notice that this dessert has nearly three times that much! Shocking, and really irresponsible.
Eat This Instead!
Carrot Cake
448 calories
10.5 g fat (1.5 g saturated)
86 g carbohydrates
BONUS TIP: Even foods that sound perfectly healthy can be secretly laced with dangerous amounts of fat and sodium. To prove it, we've collected the absolutely shocking 20 Salads Worse Than a Whopper. Prepare to be blown away!
#4: Worst Fruit-Based Dessert
LongHorn Steakhouse Caramel Apple Goldrush
1,640 calories
71 g fat (25 g saturated)
237 g carbohydrates
One Caramel Apple Goldrush a day keeps the doctor in business. Sure, apples are flab-fighting foods, but apple-inspired desserts—think pie, cobbler, and this monstrosity—are just the opposite. What's really strange is that Longhorn makes it clear that some of its desserts—like the 2,180-calorie Chocolate Stampede—are meant to be split, but this isn't one of them. Apparently, the chain believes 1,640 calories is suitable for one belly. The truth is, none of Langhorn's desserts is fit for one person, so partner up with someone at the table and order your safest option, the Key Lime Pie. Split this dessert two ways and you'll take in only 315 calories.
Eat This Instead!
Key Lime Pie
630 calories
20 g fat (9 g saturated)
102 g carbohydrates
#3: Worst Cake
Cheesecake Factory Chocolate Tower Truffle Cake
1,670 calories
49 g saturated fat
204 g carbohydrates
When a cake’s girth is so great that it can’t stand upright, it has a problem. This thing is six inches of fudge cake lined with chocolate cream, creating a fattening, sugar-bloated mammoth more calorie-dense than the Factory’s other 40-plus cheesecakes. Want proof of its potential damage to your body? Just pick it up. One slice weighs a pound and a half. Your best bet for nutritional salvation at Cheesecake Factory is to pair a scoop of ice cream with a bowl of strawberries. That will keep more than a thousand calories off your hips.
Eat This Instead!
Scoop Coffee Ice Cream with a Bowl of Strawberries
400 calories
13 g saturated fat
97 g carbohydrates
HEALTH SHOCKER: Beware—Mr. Salty is running loose at your local supermarket and in your favorite restaurants! Then promise to throw them all over your shoulder for good luck!
#2: Worst Shake
Baskin Robbins Fudge Brownie 31 Degrees Below (large, 24 ounces)
1,900 calories
80 g fat (39 g saturated, 1.5 g trans)
1,350 mg sodium
225 g sugar (Eat This, Not That! translation: 56 spoonfuls worth!)
This is a 1.5 pints of ice cream, far more than you should ever consume in one sitting. That's especially true when the ice cream is blended with molten fudge and dense chunks of brownie. Eat this entire cup and you'll take in the sugar equivalent of 21 Reese Peanut Butter Cups and the Saturated Fat equivalent of nearly 60 Oreos. Gross!
Eat This Instead!
Two Scoops Premium Churned Light Aloha Brownie Ice Cream in a Cake Cone
325 calories
10 g fat (6 saturated)
21 g sugar
#1: Worst Sundae
Friendly’s Giant Crowd Pleaser
2,480 calories
118 g fat (64 g saturated)
233 g sugars
Attempting to scale this mountain range of ice cream might put your heart in peril. Okay, Friendly’s gets some leeway because the name itself implores you to share, but even a four-way split leaves everyone with three-quarters of a day’s saturated fat! That's double what you'd find in a McDonald’s Hot Fudge Sundae. That’s what happens when you dump a dozen scoops of ice cream into a crater-sized bowl and recklessly drizzle it with six different sugared toppings. So why tempt your taste buds? Choose an individual serving and guarantee your nutritional safety.
Eat This Instead!
Strawberry Shortcake Sundae
580 calories
27 g fat (16 g saturated)
63 g sugars
To all women who love to eat these desserts, be careful. To those who wanted to gain weight because you're tired of being slim and (weightless???), ENJOY these TREATS!
I am writing this blog for two reasons:
First is that my experience attending service together with my langga.
Second is the things I've learned from the service.
Today at 3:30 pm, langga and I met at national bookstore in Ayala to attend the Sunday service of Citichurch at Waterfront Hotel. Im excited when I leave our house because it's the second time we had attended sunday service. First was on May 24, 2009 in our church at Bible Baptist Church, Katipunan. ANd this is the second time we go to church together.
My father always tells me about going to church and attend the service. He told me that I can attend any church as long as it worships God and God alone. That whatever denominations we are into, whatever status in life we are standing right now, and whatever beliefs we have, as long as we believe in God, it will be alright. Anyway, we are worshiping God and not the people we see in the church.
True as it is that if you believe God exists, no matter what kind of religion you have, as long as we believe that there is a living God, then, religion wouldn't be a big deal when we go to different church that not in line with what denomination we belong to as long as we worship the same God.
My experience at Citi church adds a great fulfillment in my spiritual life. I'm not saying that I will convert to another denomination. No! I came from a Christian church and Citi church is still preaching salvation and people there are Christian, though, because we believe in the same God. But what I'm trying to convey is that how powerful God is in our life. That people nowadays are very far off from God because they are too much attached by material things here on earth, too engrossed by what they have, what they see and what they hear, yet, on the other hand, there's still souls who surrenders their life to Jesus and commits their life to be taken cared of by our only Savior, Jesus Christ.
The gospel talks about how dominant words are. How powerful our tongue may be. Pastor Jo Alfafara talks about words that may hurt feelings or give praise to the one listening or the one whom you're saying it with.
Cursing someone is really a big no-no because it will definitely bounce back to the one who spoke that. No matter how mad you are, whether they are your enemies or a friend or family member or a colleague, just surrender your anger and pain to Jesus and surely He will take over and manage to take actions. It is certainly true because it is stated in the bible "Love your enemies".
Just bless them with your powerful tongue and pray for them. If they make fight with you either verbally or physically, don't fight with them because if you do, you will not surely win especially when you are already a Christian. You should know when to fight and when not to fight. Just pray for their souls that God will bless them.
People have different perception in life. They tend to do this and do that because they think that it's worth doing for. It's in their own grasp how to make their life worth living for. ANd how to find the truth.
I respect so much the beliefs of other people. I never blow one's own horn that our church is better than the others. (No!) I really appreciate people who finds truth in their own way and faith in the divine love of our creator.
On the other side of my blog is the happiness that I felt towards my langga. I love him so much and it still amazes me how great his love is and greater my love is for him. (Don't react langga!)hehe.. But it's true that..we really love each other.
I really wanted to go to church with him. I'm not saying that I don't like to be with my family. Of course, I do. But with langga, he made me feel comfortable, happy, loved and gave me words of wisdom. Of course, I know. We're couples. It's a different story. It always ringed my ears every time I hear this line which he always tells me. " If God is with us, who can be against us?". So intense and powerful statement. (woof!)
He kept on reminding me (as if I have the symptoms of aging..duh!bisag siya ra gani na..) that if God is in the center of our relationship, God will take care of us both. (I know that already langga)..
I prayed that God will never get tired in hearing my prayers everyday. Just a simple prayer of happiness, courage, prosperity, health, protection, strength and more blessings for my circle of family, langga's circle of family and our realtionship with my langga, Monte.
What a day it was. Hope it will never end.
Thank you Lord..
