Filed under: events & gatherings, musings & meanderings | Tags: pcec nyc, roman guevara
Yesterday morning I got the chance to bond with a handful of people i consider as forerunners, influencers, and great youth leaders here in the Philippines. After a week long battle with fever and flu, it was good to finally go out and connect with them.
Taken at Starbucks, Trinoma. Bonding with Youth Pastors and Leaders.
Am thankful to Pastor Roni Astrologo (PCEC-NYC) for initiating and setting the meeting (on a holiday). Although i arrived late (with notice of course!), i managed to catch up and get valuable updates. Pastor Edgar Ebojo of Philippine Bible Society shared with me some startling news. The issue and their advocacy captured my attention and i promised him i’ll blog about it soon.
Forging old ties and creating new ones is always good over a cup of joe. Got acquainted with a couple of people namely: Aimee Tolentino (Youth Central and Wavemakers), Alvan Victor Tauli (Global Youth Ministry Network), and Pastor Allan Santos (GCF South Metro). Of course, it was great to see Pastor Roman Guevara (Rise UP) again. I remember him from the XPower and Tim Hughes events. Man, that guy is blessed with a good voice and a great sense of humor. He totally cracks us up, never a dull moment with him around.
It was close to noon when everyone finally scurried off to tend to our other appointments. Makes you really wonder if leaders take a holiday break!
Filed under: blogger events, events & gatherings, girlalooh & fashion | Tags: belo bloggers open house, belo medical group, ike and nena belo foundation, life coaching
The Belo Medical Group is known for making filipinos beautiful but did you know that they help shape lives, too?
No, i’m not talking about the latest non-invasive Ultrasound technology for fat reduction and body contouring called BeloShape. Although this is a very good alternative to liposuction, what i’m actually referring to is the non-profit charity and other advocacies that the Belo Medical Group has recently launched.
Last Saturday, i had the opportunity to meet Dr. Vicki Belo and Dr. Hayden Kho, Jr. and listen to them talk about their beauty campaign, their non-surgical solutions, and about the Ike and Nena Belo Foundation. This private foundation, named after Dr. Vicki Belo’s parents, was set to help needy children with cleft palate requiring surgery, rehabilitation of burned victims, and scholarship grants for the less fortunate.
top (left): dr. vicki belo; bottom: belo medical clinic
Just when you thought you’re there to sample the signature treatments and beauty breakthroughs at Belo Medical Group, they surprise you with a lot more. As Dr. Hayden Kho, Jr. announced that Belo is set to launch a “Life Coaching” program with the aim of helping clients determine and achieve personal goals, i couldn’t help but think what could be next. The longer i stay there and listen, the more i grow fascinated with these doctors and their purpose to reach out and help people.
top (left): dr. hayden kho, jr. (right): facial treatment; bottom: dr. vicki belo and dr. hayden kho
During my short stay in the States, i had the privilege of experiencing firsthand what it’s like to be trained and assessed by a Life Coach. I was blessed to have that opportunity and to gain valuable lessons. Life coaching has roots in executive coaching and its techniques are developed and drawn from management consulting and leadership training. Life coaching also draws inspiration from other disciplines such as psychology, positive adult development, career counseling, mentoring, sociology, and other types of counseling. What struck me the most about life coaching is its use of multiple methods in order to help people reach their goals. Most importantly it is a practice that requires knowledge and a heart.
You cannot direct if you don’t know how to lead. Leading requires mentoring, and mentoring requires knowledge, patience, and lots of heart. As they say, “You cannot give what you don’t have.”
I’m not at all surprised to learn that on top of the charitable missions and all the activities at the Belo Medical Group, Dr. Vicki Belo also wants to be in the business of shaping people’s lives. After all, who can better do it than someone with a beautiful heart!
Filed under: concerts & gigs | Tags: planetshakers, planetshakers album launch sm megamall
Shaking the Planet
What began as an annual Christian youth conference, Planetshakers, became an international ministry and a large church (formerly known as Melbourne City Church) in Australia. Planetshakers City Church originally started when the Planetshakers band and ministry moved to Melbourne in 2004. Under the leadership of Pastors Russell and Sam Evans, the church has an attendance of over 4,000 and that number continues to grow.
left: photo credit - becca music
The Planetshakers band is a central part of the church growth, bearing a worship-woven modern pop-rock sound attracting thousands of young people. Recently, filipinos were given a treat as the Planetshakers band arrived in Manila to promote their latest album, “All for Love.” Band members Mike “Rudy” Nikkerud, Joth Hunt, Mark Peric, Mike Webber, Natalie Ruiz, Nath Whitton, and Nicole Monteduro performed several songs at the SM Megamall and SM North Edsa.
A new ‘Acoustic, Unplugged’ album will be recorded at Planetshakers City Church on August 31st, coinciding with the church’s move to three services.
Filed under: events & gatherings, musings & meanderings | Tags: differences of men and women, hu u the repeat
“The more you get to know people, the more you can’t understand them.”
No, that line is not from me. I just heard someone say that during the event at Victory Fort entitled “Hu U? (The Repeat): Understanding the Difference between Men and Women.”
Every Nation Building. 32nd Street cor. University Parkway, Taguig
I guess we could never fully understand the opposite sex. We could probably invest an entire lifetime studying, probing, or analyzing each other but we’d end up barely scratching each other’s surface. Men and women are born and created to be different. God designed us to be that way.
Here are some examples of how we’re wired differently:
1. Men are into text while women are into subtext and context.
Yes, girls are into details (fine print) while boys are into headlines. No wonder we can’t see things eye-to-eye most of the time.
2. Men are objective. They have a mission and they usually want to have it done quickly. Women tend to assume and can get hysterical and historical.
Sorry girls, but this one is true. One thing that freaks me out big time whenever we get together is when a historical fact gets dug up. Maybe we have a knack for archaeology or something but i doubt digging a mummified issue can ever be beneficial or even pretty. I mean, if the issue has long been dead and buried then there’s a reason for it to stay that way, don’t you think?
3. Men are good at hiding their emotions and they can carry heavier things.
Hmmm… maybe the latter part explains why men are good at hiding their feelings. Hey, if they can carry heavy loads, emotional baggage included, then so be it.
4. Women are better at tolerating pain.
Ah yes, the art of tolerating pain. We have a PHD on that. No wonder we’re good at nurturing and taking care of people. If we can tolerate pain then there’s a big chance we know how to handle and address it. Now if anyone dares to disagree with that, try dealing with monthly thingies, pregnancy, and childbirth.
5. Men are good at driving in reverse.
Ask any girl to park a car in reverse and you’ll know what i mean.
6. Women are good at multitasking.
So true! I’m actually typing this post while:
- listening to Casting Crowns
- uploading pics on my multiply account
- getting updates from friends via YM
- editing snaps using Adobe CS3
- etc., etc.
7. Men are compartmentalized and women have greater capacity to handle more things. (please refer to #6)
Men are likened to a switch, there’s only two ways to work them. And that’s usually “on” or “off.” Women are more like equalizers, there’s so many switches and you hardly get a user’s manual. Oh, and don’t you dare rehearse that fact to us because we also have built in amplifiers!
Now instead of getting frustrated over our differences, why don’t we learn to accept and admit that we are different from each other? Understanding each other can be a daunting task because we are not designed to fully comprehend the opposite sex. Instead, let’s enjoy the differences!
- left to right: joy, pastor dennis and samantha ong, phinee
As Pastor Dennis and Samantha Ong puts it, “Have low expectation and high appreciation for the opposite sex.” I couldn’t agree more.
