Ferddie's World

Thursday, October 26, 2006

For my wife's 41st birthday: "You Were Always On My Mind"

On the 41st birthday of my wife, Odette, I offer her one favorite song of mine sang by country great Willie Nelson. Despite the song's relative lyrical simplicity, its honest and heartfelt message has made it an endearing and memorable classic for people across the generations.

Happy birthday, Lovey!


Always on My Mind
by
Willie Nelson

Maybe I didn't love you
Quite as often as I could have
Maybe I didn't treat you
Quite as good as I should have
If I made you feel second best
Girl I'm sorry I was blind
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
Maybe I didn't hold you
All those lonely, lonely times
And I guess I never told you
I'm so happy that you're mine
Little things I should have said and done
I just never took the time
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
Tell me, tell me that your
Sweet love hasn't died
And give me
Give me one more chance
To keep you satisfied
satisfied
Little things I should have
Said and done
I just never took the time
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind....

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Monday, October 23, 2006

Recent birthday pictures!

August 30, 2006






















Mama's 73rd birthday


September 22, 2006



Papa's 69th birthday


September 22 (later that night...)


During my CFC Unit Household meeting, we had a pre-4th birthday celebration for Joshua!










September 25












Candles 3 + 1 = Joshua's 4th Birthday!







Joshua shows off his birthday present from Papa and Mama!













God's gifts to me and Odette!





September 26

Happy 39th birthday to me!

Six Mister Donut donuts, 1 free mug and 1 bottle of Coke Light for my birthday!

Cheers...and blessings to all!

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Friday, October 13, 2006

Batista rocks Gateway Mall in Cubao!

From the 2nd GK Anniversary celebration last Sept. 9, Bro. Rhollie Ariňo was kind enough to give Joshua and me a ride out of Sitio Ruby along with his GK Botocan brothers and sisters, whom we invited to witness the changes in that GK site. We alighted at a bus station in Cubao to meet a new second nanny for Joshua and Faith. My wife told me we were there quite early so I decided to go around with Joshua to nearby establishments for lunch and look around for some items that I had to buy.

We eventually reached Gateway Mall, a relatively new first class mall in the heart of Cubao and ate for the first time at Taco Bell. By the way, the food there was great and drinks were refillable! I bought a Taco Bell cap before we left. We also bought some items at a hardware store and went around the place. Overhearing some of the sales ladies’ conversation, I learned that Batista, a famous World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) professional wrestler was coming to the mall to promote his fight in the Araneta Coliseum this month of October. No wonder why there were so many who kept on coming to the mall. It didn’t take long for Batista (who by the way, happens to be half-Filipino and proud of it) to arrive on the mall grounds…and the crowd went wild!

Joshua and I weren’t able to get near enough the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion of the world but I tried my best to get picture of him using my long time 35mm camera. And I almost got a decent picture of the Smackdown wrestler too considering the sea of humanity blocking my view. Anyway, I wish him well on his “fight” with King Booker T this coming October 21-22 at the Araneta.

...and i thought i got a good picture of Batista until that right hand showed up!

Can you imagine having someone like Batista being a guest speaker at a Couples for Christ CLP or a Youth Assembly or Kids Day! Oh Man! That would be awesome! Bring in Hulk Hogan and Rey Mysterio and that would really bring the house down! Pro-wrestlers for Christ! Such a mighty vision! Who knows! With God, nothing is impossible!

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Wednesday, October 11, 2006

GK Ruby turns 2!

It seemed only like yesterday when I first set foot on Sitio Ruby in East Fairview, Quezon City. My first encounters with the residents concerned profiling activities in order to determine the socio-economic status of the people we were to serve through Gawad Kalinga. My CFC chapter was assigned to what is now known as Phase 1.

Our Chapter Head at that time, Bro. Raul Redoblado asked me during one of our all leaders’ meeting if I was willing to be the Christian Life Program (CLP) Team Head for Sitio Ruby. It was certainly a very challenging task. It was going to be the first CLP of our chapter in a place with quite a notorious history of crime and violence. But I knew it was the Lord calling me. So I decided to rise to the call.

The rest of course is history.

Two years have quickly passed and Sitio Ruby is but a shade of its dark past. God’s mighty presence and faithful love transformed and continues to transform the lives of our brothers and sisters in this community. I remember the very first chapter build we had in Sitio Ruby. As Kids for Christ (KFC) Chapter Coordinator, I wanted to involve the kids in building the first houses in Phase 1. When Bro. Raul heard of my plan, he set the chapter build to be on the same day we had planned to go to Sitio Ruby. With only a handful of adult volunteers from the chapter and a rag tag army of little kids, we did what we could to help in the construction work (Special mention is OMB officemate Miles Luanzon who regularly volunteers her time and effort to help in anyway she can for GK). That meant shoveling sand and gravel, transporting them to the construction site from the open area, painting, etc. At first, we couldn’t see the spirit of ‘bayanihan’ (community spirit), but I believe God used those KFC kids to touch the hearts of the people. It started with the local kids who wanted to help too. This must have rubbed off on some of the adults who later assisted us. Isn’t that a miracle?

Even the priests from our local parish have observed the various changes in Sitio Ruby. Residents recall the small number of mass goers in the community chapel. Nowadays, a multitude of locals overflow to the streets because their numbers could not be accommodated in the said chapel - another one of God’s miracles. For me, one of the most dramatic changes in Sitio Ruby is the good will and new found camaraderie among residents. Years before, people literally lived beside each other divided only by thin walls but rarely, really knew each other. Now, especially among CFC graduates, there is a clear bond among brothers and sisters. Conflicts have been substantially reduced and reconciliation a lot faster.

Our very first Unit Assembly in 2005

Financial Stewardship Talk with Sis. Liway Chato [former BIR Commissioner] (2005)

Marriage Enrichment Retreat 1 at the Immaculat Retreat House (2005)

Tintin Bersola Babao, her husband Julius and friends help construct a GK house (2005)

Other chapters - some even from other CFC clusters have come in to give a helping hand to Sitio Ruby. Many well meaning benefactors from here and abroad have joined us in Sitio Ruby. Some of them I have personally met. The Monteagudo family who reside in California, have substantially contributed to the construction of no less than 45 houses in Phase 1. They are part of what is now called Remyville in Sitio Ruby in memory of the Monteagudos’ matriarch, Remy. It was also through GK Ruby that I met Tintin Bersola-Babao (a popular TV personality) and her friends when they contributed time and funds to construct a home for a large but poor family in Sitio Ruby. To date, in Phase 1 alone, no less than 66 houses have already been built with another three currently under construction. Several houses have also been built in the other phases of Sitio Ruby through Gawad Kalinga.

Sitio Ruby residents and SAGIP kids gearing up to join the

GK 1MB rally at the Quezon Memorial Circle (2006)

There is a Kapitbahayan (KB) – neighborhood association in place. KB Membership Training for the second batch in Phase 1 is scheduled to start by Oct. 15. For some time now, we have already been ‘exporting” GK Ruby experiences to other places like GK Botocan - Area 4,5,6 & Libis.

Many residents continue to join Couples for Christ through the CLP. By God’s grace, Sitio Ruby participants of our ongoing CLP will be members of the 4th batch of Sitio Ruby residents to graduate and join our chapter since that first one I handled in 2005. One of GK’s soft programs – SAGIP, a counterpart of KFC has also been entrusted to me by our present Chapter Head, Bro. Gerry Santos since July of last year. So far, this has worked well with my concurrent KFC service and unit responsibilities as all my unit members live in Sitio Ruby. Many instances I felt true love and service in the faces and efforts of my new found brothers and sisters in Sitio Ruby. Many times they have inspired me, made my responsibilities bearable and much more enjoyable!

The 2nd Anniversary festivities last Sept. 9, 2006 was started by a parade and followed by the celebration of the Holy Mass

GK Ruby's Drum and Bugle Corps

Residents came out despite the scorching heat to watch and support their respective GK Ruby Phase performers

We invited our brothers and sisters from GK Botocan (North B5)

to taste and see God's goodness in GK Ruby

GK Ruby kids present their artististic talents

Looking back, I am glad I responded positively to God’s call to serve Him through Sitio Ruby. Sure there were sacrifices and trials and oppressions that at times made me feel really down and burnt out. But God was always there to support me through thick and thin. He was always there for me; I wouldn’t want to let him down.

The challenge therefore for me and the people of GK Ruby is to sustain the fire of God’s love in the community AND to pass it on to others. As in many earlier GK sites, the beneficiaries have now become the benefactors.

HAPPY 2ND YEAR ANNIVERSARY GK RUBY!

May you continue to prosper and

become a shining example

to other communities

around the world!

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Thursday, October 05, 2006

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How i wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How i wonder what you are.

I think it was one of the very first songs I ever learned in college...er, I mean as a little child. It's becoming baby Faith's favorite song too at 1 and 1/2 years old of age. She goes through the actions of the song by heart and claps her hands afterwards as if a sign of joyful accomplishment. She regularly watches Nickelodeon shows in the morning like Blues Clues, Dora the Explorer and my personal favorite, SpongeBob Squarepants! She has a natural flair for dancing something she didn't get from me who dances with two left feet. As my only daughter and the youngest of our four children, she is the apple of my eye and the darling of the brood.
She is indeed the "twinkling little star" of our family!

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Wednesday, October 04, 2006

My GK Botocan Experience

It all started with an invitation from Bro. Rhollie Ariňo (North B5–A) to give a talk on GK Kapitbahayan Membership Training or KBMT (Talk No. 2) more than a year ago at the Sikatuna Bliss Chapel. The participants were the first batch undergoing KBMT, all residing in Area 6 of a place soon to be known as GK Botocan. A month after in October of 2005, I was again invited to talk to the people of Botocan, this time as their first speaker for the Values Formation Program. I remember those days as two of my most fulfilling talks to date. Not only because of the inspiration I had from the Holy Spirit but the sincere outpouring of appreciation and resolve to effect change by the people of Botocan.

GK Kapitbahayan should be the first activity and by far the most important component of Gawad Kalinga. While GK Tatag (Housing) is more eminent and appealing to beneficiaries, forming strong relationships and empowerment among beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries in an identified GK site is exceedingly more crucial. Houses may burn down or get torn down by typhoons but they can always be rebuilt by strong Kapitbahayan neighborhood associations. Moreover, all site development in a GK area can easily collapse and revert back to a slum environment and mentality if the people do not agree to own responsibility for realizing the Gawad Kalinga vision in their community.

Last July of this year, I have again been honored of being invited to give a KBMT Talk (2nd batch) at Botocan. This time, I discerned the opportunity to again involve my household leaders. As God would have it, the caretaker team was in need of speakers. I recommended my 3 household leaders to be the next KBMT speakers. While providing support to our brothers led by Bro. Roy Locsin (CFC Chapter Head/GK Project Director – Area 6) and Bros. Rhollie Ariňo and Bro. Lito Estrella (Caretaker Team leaders), the mission work provided much needed exposure and experience for potential all-round speakers for my CFC Unit. It was my firm belief that similar to previous unit mission trips to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, the Botocan talks have also significantly contributed in building confidence and competence in my unit leaders and members. I think that’s how you develop leaders in the CFC. Nowadays, whenever, I get invited to talk, I ask leaders and members from my unit to join me if they can. If the opportunity arises, I recommend them as well.

That’s exactly what happened with my household leaders. After serving as speakers for the 2nd batch of KBMT participants, God also called on us to assist as speakers for the 1st batch of KBMT participants handled by another chapter (North B5-D) headed by Bro. Blan Cuizon (CFC Chapter Head/Project Director) and Bro. Dario Coronel (Caretaker Team Head) in an adjacent area in Botocan (Areas 4 & 5 and parts of nearby Libis). We’re also currently providing support also in terms of speakers to NB5-A for their Values Formation Program (2nd batch) sessions.

GK Botocan remains a daunting task. Area 6 alone is composed of around 600 families and GK Tatag and soft programs such as SIBOL, SAGIP and SIGA have yet to be fully organized. Yet much has also been accomplished. The different Bayanihan Action Teams (BATs) of the KB have been strengthened, a cleanliness drive is well underway, many residents are undergoing values formation and a possible solution to the land issue has been identified and seriously considered by the caretaker team.

Much promise lies ahead for GK Botocan. Transformation from a slum area into a model community has been done many times in other GK sites. It can be done in GK Botocan. I have seen the zeal, dedication and commitment of the KB officers and CFC caretaker teams. Many of them have truly internalized the GK motto: Less for self, more for others, enough for all”. I am a witness to the time, talent and treasure they have unselfishly shared with our brethren in Botocan. I salute you mga kapatid! I honor them and encourage them to continue serving with love, for the Lord! With God’s grace and providence, nothing is insurmountable.

“Commit your work to the LORD,
and your plans will be established.”
Proverbs 16:3

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