using technology for Lent

We did not have the new way of the Cross for our Stations of the Cross. So what did I do? I looked for a free app on via crucis. I found two and read them on my iPod touch during our Visita Iglesia. I was the only one who was using a technological device I observed. Cool!

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These last two years, I have just spent Holy Week at home. It's often a more difficult way to spend the culmination of the Lenten season since everyday distractions like the internet and television are there to tempt me. It's been a struggle keeping away from FB and twitter, though I've allowed myself to read blogs and news.

There are, however, some gems on the internet that help me achieve my desire for reflection and deeper understanding of Jesus' sacrifice.

My particular joy for these last two Holy Week period is the website Pins of Light. Last year, I was able to spend time reflecting on God in the Dungeons. This year had another interesting theme, the Fugitives of Lent. Younger people may appreciate recollections found on the Pins of Light because it uses secular songs, popular songs, in the context of Jesus' love. I never realized how apt Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" is for Good Friday!

The Fugitives of Lent is an online recollection that looks at the journey of Christ through the lives of three "bad boys" --

Fugitive # 1 - Judas Iscariot (Holy Thursday)

Fugitive # 2 - Pontius Pilate (Good Friday)

Fugitive # 3 - Simon Peter (Black Saturday).

The first two are obvious choices, but the third may be interesting for some since Peter did become the first Pope and the rock of the Church.

As I matured and experienced a bit of the ways of the world, I have learned not to take Judas and Pilate as villains but rather victims of their own circumstances. And true enough, the online recollection allows the retreatant to see these two outside their vilified status. And to see our own moments of being/encountering Judas and Pilate.

The other two were very insightful but I would say my favorite was the recollection with Peter. I think it is easier for people to falter the way Peter has. To claim much love for the Lord, yet in the end, when it was necessary to proclaim him, he denied Jesus because of fear.

Holy Week hopes that we see how much love Jesus has for us that we forget our fears. Tomorrow, I look forward to the hope and love that Easter brings. :)

i love earning points!

i try to write as much as possible for igougo.com not really to share travel experiences but for earning the points. lol. each travel review or photo can earn corresponding points which upon accumulation can earn a certain amount of gift certificates. 6000 points = $25, 12000 points = $50 and 24000 = $100.

early last year, i was finally able to claim a $100 amazon gift certificate which i used to purchase several books. those 24000 points took two years to accumulate! mainly because i wasn't that faithful in plotting my journeys.

with the recent wealth of time that i have in my hands, i try to write as much as i can. i've earned a little over 7000 points in a month and i love it! at least it gives me a sense of accomplishment that i have not had much of lately.

are you a traveler? why not try to make the most of your trip by writing your own stories over at igougo.com?

online shopping: virgin no more

so i did say i finally redeemed by $100 gift certificate for amazon.com from igougo.com for writing travel reviews.

initially i wanted to get a camera bag for dixie as well as lens cleaners. there was this watch that meant something to me that i lost so i wanted to replace that. unfortunately, they won't deliver the camera stuff here in the netherlands or in the philippines. i would have waited until someone was going to the philippines from the US. but i wanted to run away from school work so much that i busied myself with online shopping.

apart from the watch, i ended up with a neil gaiman books buying spree.

and also ended up getting 'neverending story' by michael ende suggested by jovan, which i have always known to be just a movie.

total purchase was just around $66.oo but the shipping cost half of that. bummer! still it was not money that i had to work for with blood, sweat and tears. i did also enjoy the experience and the fact that it helped me run away from important homework which i should be attending to.

my next $100 gift check, i will make sure will just end up with purchases and not shipping. heehee!

oh, yeah! $100 amazon gift check

woooot!

i was finally able to claim $100 amazon gift check from igougo.com! after 14 journals and 43 reviews, i made it to 24,000 points. i could have actually claimed gift certificates when i reached 6,000 points which was worth $25 or the $50 (12,000 points). but why settle for less? and now i have $100. woohooo!

thanks to rowie for showing me this website.

what to buy? what to buy? (actually i know what to buy...)

time to work on another 24000 points again! :D

LP#18: dalampasigan

mahirap gumawa ng LP lahok para sa linggong ito tungkol sa dalampasigan, di dahil walang maisip, kungdi dahil sa napakaraming pagpipiliang larawan. taon-taon kasi, sinusuyod naming magkakaibigan ang mga karagatan ng pilipinas.
it's difficult to make an LP entry for this week about the sea/beach. not because i can't think of anything, but because there are so many choices. it is because my friends and i visit the beaches of the Philippines.

so alin ang ilalahok ko? so which should be my entry?

itong nag-aaalab na dapit hapon sa camiguin?
this fiery camiguin sunset?


itong pagsilip ni haring araw sa bagong umaga in malapascua?
the sun greeting the new morning in malapascua?


itong tanawin mula sa aming kuwarto sa sabang, puerto princesa?
this view from our room in sabang, puerto princesa?


itong mag-inang lumba-lumba sa puerto princesa bay?
this mom and pup dolphin in puerto princesa bay?


itong sandbar sa starfish island sa honda bay palawan?
this sandbar in starfish island in honda bay, palawan?

ang dami pang pagpipilian. ang dami kasing magagandang dalampasigan sa ating bansa. nakakagigil languyin ang lahat. kahit pa di ako marunong lumangoy.
there are still so many other choices. we have such beautiful beaches in our country. yearning to swim all. even if i can't swim.

marahil dala na rin ng iba't-ibang damdamin meron ang dalampasigan. minsan payapa, minsan galit, madalas mapang-akit.
maybe because there are so many emotions of the sea. sometimes calm, sometimes angry, always alluring.


ito ang aking lahok para sa lingguhang litratong pinoy.
this is my weekly entry for litratong pinoy.

what's your rock album name?

i stole this from angperegrino. it's really fun to do, though a bit of a time-waster. except isn't that what internet is about? hehe!

anyway, try it! it's really fun.

1. Go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random

The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2. Go here: http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3

The last four words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

If you want to do this again, you’ll hit refresh to generate new quotes, because clicking the quotes link again will just give you the same quotes over and over again.

3. Go here: http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/

Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4. Go here. http://www.randomwebsite.com/

The first ten links you end up in (minus the .coms) are your 10 song titles.

My band name: tracheoesophagael septum (how cool is that!)

The album name: about being thought unjust (from an EB White quote)

and the songs:

1. univerdidad de valladolid

2. tweaktown

3. aan 2

4. trancedental what

5. scorecard

6. naranglear glover

7. groovechamber

8. zeggalaar

9. network solutions

10. deskotopos

astig ano?! i tag everyone who likes rock music. :)

a short break from all this palawan talk

doggies!

i stumbled upon ihasahotdog.com while browsing icanhascheezburger.com. more furry creatures to see everyday. wheeeeee! :)


see more dog pictures


see more dog pictures

so darn cute!

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millionaires!

yesterday, somebody won the big prize of P1M, a house and lot and a car in wowowee. goody! now if only ABS would provide winners with financial management so it is put into good use.

and today, rachel alejandro won the P1M over at singing bee.

i don't like either show.

borrowed

from icanhascheezburger and postsecret.

just because the kitteh is so cute!

more cat pictures

and this is a good reminder for everyone.

how appropriate

From DailyOm.

Interesting, really. Especially with something coming up in a month. Hehe Though this is a day late as it is already May today.

May 12, 2008
Awaiting A Perfect Future
Leo Daily Horoscope

You may see the future as a bright canvas of possibilities today rather than something to be feared. As you consider the career and personal opportunities before you in the present, you will likely feel compelled to imagine the future of your dreams. Your expectations can become a source of practical ideas as you visualize precisely the life you hope to build someday. These daydreams can stimulate and excite you, giving you the motivation you need to begin forming proactive plans. If you allow yourself to consider your ambitions outside of the context of reality, you can determine just what it is you truly wish to achieve. Today may be the day you embark upon a new journey of self-discovery and accomplishment.

Our concept of the perfect future can only become reality when we are willing and able to visualize it in exhaustive detail. While many people decry daydreaming as time wasted, it is in our dreams that the nebulous ambitions we’ve cultivated within ourselves are given form and substance. As we anticipate what is to come with joy in our hearts, our expectations guide us toward the eventualities we have pictured in the mind’s eye. We empower ourselves to bring these hopes into the realm of reality by using our ideas as a guidebook as we carve a path into the future. By building what we have visualized, our optimism proves to be valid. The excitement you feel when contemplating your goals today will motivate you to build the future of your desires.