Family Dinner @Frankie's SM North

Last Monday night we had a family dinner at Frankie's New York Buffalo Wings at SM North Edsa with our son , Daniel and his wife , Erica and sister in law , Gelo.

We had a grand time enjoying the varied flavors of Frankie's chicken wings . Find time to spend quality time with your family. The structure of Team Santos has changed because Tin and Cathy are still in Abu Dhabi working and finding their North Star in another country.

The enjoyable time of conversations about the latest events in the family and how are lives are going now . We miss Tin and Cathy being so far away from us and not joining our dinner time. We can only pray that they are doing well and safe .

Have a great life everyone . 

The Third Jesus_for my yoke is easy and my burden is light

How to apply this : Life becomes more effortless as you move closer to God consciousness

When you give  your trust to God , things become easier to handle than on focusing what is difficult.  God assures us he will be with us in our journey in this life . When we know God is with us in this journey , we feel better and strong to face the everyday challenges .

As Jesus said , " Union with me is easy , my burden is light" . Believing on this, give us strength and joy .

Exercise for this : Go with the flow . Proceed through your day without expectations. You are its source . If you believe you are the source , events will move smoothly with time and room to spare . Solutions to problems will begin to come effortlessly . Especially when you rely on God's strength, things comes to you and things go better without noticing it .

Allow God to be His better self and everything will be fine.     

a touch of pain

the rain touch the window pane , the night 's coldness touch the pain in my heart . does it make any difference  ? can't daytime make you feel lonely as well ? why always in the night time , when the only company you have is yourself ?

i have so much faith in myself that someday i'll be able to have you but ... what do you think is happening now ? you're destroying the integration of my being . love , after all , doesn't have good effects all the time, if love never gives up is an all time truth then...why am i feeling inadequate ? why is there so much regret in my heart ? there is no contentment and peace , in as much as satisfaction in life .

i wasn't able to have you but now, i know i must lose you or else i have no choice and i must make the right decision , and i'll be considering your unusual quietness not anymore of shyness but of indifference . i must face the fact than keep building castles in the air , in which i only exist . a fantasy world is not what i've been dreaming of . i want someone i could touch or hold, someone i could listen to and in turn will listen to me .

i don't anymore want to wonder why you're being apathetic . for i know that for every action there is a corresponding reason. perhaps knowing the reason will only make the pain grew more deeper . i don't want to know the reason...i don't even want to know you ....your existence is too much for me to bear . i give you up now and maybe for always

the heavy rain did stop after all then maybe the coldness of the night will one day stop touching the pain in my heart . it is still a question . but i am hoping that even the tears in my cheek ...some day someone will dry it up ...perhaps i will be happier then   

Can We Still Be Friends ?

i was staring at the night sky
and suddenly i thought of you .
are you looking at the same stars ?

i know
i was wrong
everything seem clearer now
you're not meant
to be mine
but i hope
we can still be friends

but i thank you
for the company
during those long lonely nights
your thoughts
keep me wanting
to live and fight
gone are those days
i have so many things to do
and with you
i can't  make them happen

i know i could not
just forget you
because you have been
   a great part of me

somehow you were able
    to help me
during those long lonely moments
if it made me suffer
maybe it was the reason
why i am a better person

i now know
i am not alone
i just fail to notice the others
because i was so engrossed
    of you

i wish you
all the happiness
you deserve
in a lifetime

The Third Jesus_be in the world but not of it

How do we apply this principle ? Through detachment , you master both outer and inner reality.
Being so attached to the world may cause us to be off track at times . The exercise for this step in God consciousness is asking us to focus on a breath. Let's center on our self and focus on our breath. Become aware of our breath as in breath in and breath out. Savor the air , the oxygen around us as it nurture our body . Our breath which contributes for good health and be mindful of  today. Maybe our breath is what we need to be healthy , maybe we are not breathing right because we are so absorbed with the world .

This is the ground of our being and silence , the ground of our self . Breathing is a start of inspiration which will lead us to our better inner self, which we can meet in silence . The noise of this world may prevent us in seeing the real us so this inner journey of silence may lead us in discovering who we really are  then what our purpose in this life is.   

Different stories_Mayor Isko Moreno

Let's start different stories of admirable people with exceptional contribution to community or mankind . Or just an exceptional story . Let's start with Mayor Isko Moreno . He was once a basurero or collector of trash. Then was discovered and join local show business. Eventually went into politics where he is now making waves as a Manila mayor.

But what makes him exceptional is the political will to implement local laws even if he will get the ire of his constituents like the side walk vendors in busy commercial areas.  He is making a difference on his city and would like to make Manila great again by starting with order and cleanliness , which are basic and simple requirements of the city. Very simple formula but he is trying his best now to implement.

Good luck Mayor Isko on your endeavors and may the good Lord bless and protect you always.

Wishing Well

i've been thinking of you
i don't know why
perhaps i'm missing you
i'm damn tired
of waiting

you might be having
    wrong perception about me
but if needed
i'm willing to give you up
it hurts
but I guess that is life

if life's a wishing well
my wish will be
to have you
and be mine forever
am I possessive ???
but i wouldn't share you
with all the world

i want you
to be just mine

My Sacred Place

This is where you meet God and talk to Him. about just anything in life ...your dreams , your struggles , your future , your family , your favorite places , your favorite books , your favorite food, just about anything there is .

where the ordinary becomes extraordinary
where love meets joy
where every things gives a smile on your face
where you can be just be you and no one will mind
you can write anything and no one will judge you...

you are your best self  here

The Third Jesus_The kingdom of Heaven is Within You

This is a book written by Dr. Deepak Chopra , a psychiatrist , and who believes on quantum science . He has written a lot of books on self development .

What stuck in my mind with the book are the steps in God consciousness . I will write by steps , the first of which is the Kingdom of Heaven is within you. He asks us to pray either the Our Father or Hail Mary repeatedly for at least 5 minutes . Just focus on the prayer then open your eyes and focus your gaze on a sacred object probably a statue of Jesus or Mama Mary .

Then gently feel a connection to the image to your being . This exercise aims to remove the artificial boundary between the ego self and the higher self .   Feeling we are one with the Lord as he embrace us with his gaze and loving arms .

They are 15 steps actually to God consciousness , which I will share in the coming days , but today let us enjoy the feeling that the kingdom of God is within us .

Have a great life .

Christmas in Abu Dhabi

Last Christmas 2018 we celebrated it in Abu Dhabi where our twin daughters are working. It was a truly amazing experience . It was actually our first time to experience Christmas in another country . We usually have a Christmas party with my Liwanag clan , sort of an annual reunion as we now reside in different parts of the country .

Family is life especially during the Christmas holidays , you want to be with family . The food, gifts and games are just part of the celebration but what you really are looking forward are the conversations , the latest news and happenings .

We hope to go back to Abu Dhabi and celebrate Christmas again with my daughters . They seem to have liken the life there , less traffic and higher salaries .

When I am convincing them to go back to the Philippines , the first issue they tell me is the traffic situation that we have here. Before they work abroad , I asked them to work here first so they have a first hand experience of what traffic is here . The only difference now is that it has gotten worst . What do you think ? Despite all the promises, the everyday reality is getting worse and worse.

We are truly excited to visit Abu Dhabi again in the coming Christmases .

Peace be with us all .   

Meditation

I have read a lot of books both inspirational and on stress management and they are telling how important meditation is to us and on our body . Meditation relaxes us and during this peaceful state we get to honor the body that God gave us to house our soul. The body and the soul , if not connected could make us sick , as in really sick at times .

So the body and the soul must work closely together if we want to be healthy and wise. Find that time to spend with yourself and relax your mind from the daily stresses of our life . Meditating is highly energizing and cool. There are even workshops offered nowadays conducting meditation exercise to help us alleviate the stress level in our life .

Let's listen to out body and soul so we can face everyday with joy and peace.

Have  great day today.   

At Zelig's baptism

This happened last September 22, 2019 , which was also Ronnie's birthday. So happy to see family members together in such a happy event . Siblings which you have not seen for years because of so many business to attend to in life . People you have meet for the first time as principal sponsors for Zelig's baptism.

Alonzo was there , coming all the way from Isabela , because his parents were one of the principal sponsors . I was one of the principal sponsors too. It was a happy day to see relatives even for just a short time but it was filled with memories to celebrate family life .

Daniel , my son , came in with his wife, Erica ,our new member in Team Santos . Family gives you such huge energy to give you hope, joy and happiness.

Family is life . 

First Family Dinner 2020

Family is life . We had our first family dinner for 2020 at Number 1 Barbecue located at the 3rd Flr of SM North Edsa. A lot of people were enjoying their Saturday dinner with friends and family members. There was a long line even at the entrance of the store .

The food may not be the best or the service but being with your family make it the best experience to start the year. Have time with your family . Spend quality and quantity time with them . Enjoy your day and activities together.

The gifts are an addition but being together is what is best in our everyday . We surely miss Cathy and Tin who are still in Abu Dhabi. We pray for their success in a foreign land so they can bring the fruits of their labor someday to benefit our country.

Have a great life everyone. God bless us all . Give it your best shot in your school , in your work and in your home.