the best place...

Gbex says: The best place for me to stay after a whole day's work at the office is at a coffe shop, inside a cinema theater or at a lounge.

Now matter how hectic my schedule is for the day, I always see to it that I give time for myself to relax and give myself a good treat and a respite from the distressing issues of the day in the office.

Giving myself a chance to relax enables my body energy level to perk up and get energized through a glass of orange juice, a bottle of energy drink or a cup of cappucino from a reputable coffeshop that's so famous for cappucinos....

So, dear buddies, since I have called it quits for my supposed-to-be working in an African continent (thanks heavens, I did not pay the full amount of what they called as 'working fees') for an unexpected and unprecedented reason, I am staying put in here and will continue to be Ellen's partner in the rudiments of blogging our way to reach out on you!...

Welcome back Gbex!

Happy Birthday 'Ate' Glo!

Ellen says: My friend, 'Ate' Glo, is a very good friend of mine. She is indeed one of a kind. I missed those days when we would share stories. She's always there when I needed her.

She would comfort me when I feel sad and she would laugh with me when I crack jokes. I really wish I can find time to visit her in her office one of these days.

"Advanced Happy Birthday to you my dearest friend 'Ate' Glo. I wish you with all the luck in this world. May God grant you good health always and ever.

my best buddy

Gbex says: Hey friends, I have been away for some days because I was out of town for a weeklong training for my forthcoming entry to another business venture.

I am not gonna tell you now what it is right now because I want it as a surprise for you. I am very glad that my partner Ellen did her job so well while I was away. Thanks to you my partner!

Do you know what I brought home with me when I came back from the training? A native of the place where my training was held gave this to me as her gift. My best buddy: a pet cat which I named Tiger.
Meet my best buddy:

The joy of friendship

Ellen says: I was forced by Rallione to post their picture. These two little fellows are so good to him. According to Ral he considered them as his very first bestfriends. Well in that case, I appreciate their kindness in welcoming Ral in their school. Looking forward for their growing years.

Sasha and the magic lamp

Dom says: Is it really a providential thing? or just a matter of coincidence? that 'Sasha says' was given a Magic Lamp of Luck by The Genies! and now, she has just passed it on to me?...WEll, i must be that special to her indeed, LOL!And since, Sasha, the author of Sasha says, wants to spread the magical love and luck in her Sasha's Corner as well, and she passed me this magic lamp of Lady Luck, I have accepted it wholeheartedly ...

THIS goes this way...

"Alakazam!The mighty Genie King and the beautiful Genie Princess from the magical Land of Faraway are back!

Upon escaping the clutches of their Evil Master after being held captive for 1000 years, the magical genies have been busy flying on their Magical Flying Carpet, granting wishes and spreading love throughout the blogosphere.

And now, the genies are back with a special gift for everyone! Behold the sacred, Magic Lamp of Luck!

With this magic lamp, your blog will enjoy much good luck and fortune, warding off all things evil lurking around in the blogosphere.

We would like to share this magic lamp with you so please pass on the Magic Lamp of Luck to those in need of some good luck.

Remember, do not be greedy or unkind, evil or vengeful as WE are sure that good luck & fortune will always be with you!

Join us on this exciting magical adventure as we spread goodwill and good luck to one and all!

*Start Copy Here

1. Add your site(s) to the list once you have received the Magic Lamp of Luck.

2. Pass on the Magic Lamp of Luck to as many people as you like. After all, everyone needs some good luck!

3. Leave a comment HERE once you’ve passed on the Magic Lamp of Luck.Once the Genie King and Genie Princess have visited your site to make sure your links are complete and proper, you will then be added to the Master List.

4. To ensure everyone receives equal link benefit, please UPDATE your list regularly!1-Mariuca 2-First Time Dad 3-Mariuca's Perfume Gallery 4-Emila's Illustrated Blog 5-The Other Side of Emila 6-My Sweet Escape 7-Bay Head Blog 8-Roxiticus Desperate Housewives 9-LadyJava's Lounge 10-Petty Ramblings of a Petty Queen 11-The Real Deal 12-Pinay Mommy Online 13-Perpustakaan 14-LadyJava Life's Pages 15-Make Money Online 16-Cat Tales 17-LadyJava's Food Paradise 18-Being Woman 19-Spicybug 20-Biz-N-Honey 21-Aeirin's Collections 22-Sasha Says 23-Project Heavy Traffic 24-Picture Clusters 25-My Wanderings 26-Maiylah's Snippets 27-Moments of Colours 28-Life Quest 29-BigMoneyList 30-The Best Parts 31-Morphed 32-Buhay Pinoy 33-Galatayo 34-Blogging Tips 35-Apples Of The Eyes 36-My Own Utopia 37-Sasha's Corner 38.KUYA DOm 39. GBeX & DOm 92-Spun By A Seanachie 93-ISL Family 94-D' Cooking Mudra 95-'Story' the Great 96-UmmiRosma 97-Munirah Abd 98-Atie 99-Next

*End Copy Here

Thank you, Genies! And now let me pass on this Magic Lamp of Luck to... Kuya Dom ......(I Loved this part...Thank you Sasha dear!!!)

WELL., WELL, what can I say?

But to really say THANKS DEAREST SASHA for this gift, but I guess bloggers nowadays are quite neck-deep from blog things and otherwise, so I am passing this gift of Magic Lamp to all Gbex bloglinks who may have the time to do this but of course with a special mention to my ever faithful, loyal and charming Vera and her Adiks

my virtual travels...the name of the game is, travel to seven continents!

Gbex says: Hello everybody!...I know that my friends and buddies here in the Philippines still sustain a painful hangover with the unfortunate visit of typhoon 'Frank' but let's assure each other that we can all surmount these bad days in our lives... by reaching out to each other in any way we can!

So, the rationale of this post is to somehow gain some momentum on the shitty feeling of getting stucked from these uncertainty and gloomy feelings of anxiety and stress brought about by the typhoon...=a relaxing post!

I want to bilocate myself and travel to the seven Continents, that is, as much as possible, in order to, at least get away from the hard feelings caused by a calamity as cruel as "Frank", but i know that I cannot do that , and that will be impossible because I am no invincible...

So, with this game, I will be able to reach out to some other parts of the world by visiting these wonderful friends from seven Continents of the world: just a fitting and proper way to do such since my goal is to really reach out on you my dear fellow bloggers!...

So, according to Jenny R, (thanks to you Jen, by the way) I should re-furnish the rules but since I don't want to go to a stereotype kind of tagging, I decided to write it this way and be freely creative of it...Or else, DYUS KU! Baka maparusahan ako ng GUGEL noh, kaya mas minabuti kong ganituhin ko ang regalong ito ni JennyR para walang sabit sa Gugel!...
But for those whom I am goin to pass this game, you may also feel creative by expressing it in your own way or if you don't feel like doing it like the way I did it-my way, then please refer to JennyR's POST to stick and revert to the default way. Thanks!


So, let's begin here, lemme see how we will figure out this game...

(From here, I did not change any part of the game anymore nor change the spelling--this is completely copy pasted from JennyR's post of this tag!)

1. Start Copy from "Begin Copy" until "End Copy".
2. Put your blog's name and url write in which continent you live, add the country you live in. Example : My Imaginary Travels (Netherlands)

3. Leave your url post in here and I'll add you to the Master List.
4. Please help spread this tag by tagging your friends as much as you can.
5. Don't play unfair! If you have more than 1 blog, you can participate all your blogs for this tag. BUT you will have to post this tag to all your blogs as well. So, please. Don't cheat!
6. Please come back again to copy the update of the master list, often. This process will help new participants to get the same gains as the first participants.
7. Don't forget to use the banner at your post, you can save as or you can just copy the code in here.

Master List :
A. Asia : 1. Moms... Check Nyo (Philippines) 2. Aeirin's Collections (Philippines) 3. Jenny and Belle(Philippines) 4. Hailey's Beats and Bits (Philippines) 5. Appleofmyeyes(Saudi Arabia) 6. Deranged Insanity (Philippines) 7.
GBex says. DOM says... (Philippines) 8.your turn

B. Australia : 1. your turn

C. Afrika : 1. your turn

D. North Amerika : 1. Simple Life, Simply Me (USA) 2. Pinaymama's Diary (USA) 3. 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires (United States) 4.Traipsey Turvey (USA) 5. Dabawenyako (USA) 6. Icelog (USA) 7. Jenny's Wandering Thoughts (USA) 8.your turn

E. South Amerika : 1. your turn

F. Europe : 1. My Imaginary Travels (Netherlands) 2. Juliana's Site (Netherlands) 3. Picturing of Life (Netherlands) 4. your turn

G. Antarctica : 1. your turn
~ End Copy ~

Now, my turn to pass this game to the following:
Arlene_OnlineRamblings, Chuva_cheezmizan, Rebecca_Skippyheart, Thess_Fotoblog, Thess_about lyf, Thess_foodblog, and Veradik ...Enjoy the game....

a friend...a brother...an ally

Gbex says: Whenever i remember the story of my buddy Dom about how he managed to meet for the first time the first monk of the monastery he was to join in year 2002, I would just think how Dom was just too courageous to travel that long for the very first time in his life.

Dom Rodrigo was the one who picked me him 7 years ago at Albuquerque International Airport terminal.
I still can remember that he arrived at the airport after two days of non stop flights from NAIA terminal 1 Manila, to San Francisco International terminal, down to St Paul Minnesota and finally to Albuquerque airport...

Dom Rodrigo, in the course of Dom's stay in a room next to him, became his very good friend aside from the fact that they are brothers, and their relationship has moved onwards so much so that he became dom's ally in times of frictions and stresses in the monastery.

remembering Gardo...

Dom says: I remember Gardo! This hardworking friend of mine and also the friend of my foster brother JOnathan, a white American guy from Texas, just sent me a text message on my chikkatext messenger sending me his greetings!

Gardo is now manager of a spa in Quezon City. I was so glad to know that he has indeed succeeded in his own calling!

my friends...my brothers...

Dom says: There is a time when brothers in a community like my community can get a chance to really do their bonding with one another...That chance happens only during their town trip for errands, for driving the brothers, and for dental and medical appointments!

With the diversity of nationality that my community has, it is really very important that once in a while, if given a chance, they bond with each other to foster a harmonious and peaceful relationship inside the monastery.

Last time, during my town trip for my appointment with Dr. Salim, the chiropractor who fixed my sprained muscles due to the physical injuries that I sustained in the motorcycle accident that I succumbed last April 26th, I was paired with Dom Paul, who had a driving test that day. Dom Anton was assigned to drive the two of us in going to our respective appointments.

We had a very good lunch and laughter at 'China Kitchen Buffet' restaurant in Espanola. The day was filled with so much fun with Dom Paul and his antics and humorous stories... These two Vietnamese monks are indeed good buddies! The bonding between the three of us went so well...and I am looking forward for more town trips with them.

a home away from home...

Dom says: Going with friends and visiting them from time to time is the best way to treat a certain kind of sickness: HOmesickness!

This usually happens when we are away from home. When we live far away in a foreign land, we tend to miss our own nativeland, our family and relatives as well as friends and colleagues.

Evidently, this is still happening to someone who have been away for several years because there is really no place like our home!

The process of getting and acquiring the sickness is tidious, emotionally draining and mentally wrecking.

The most effective treatment for such disease is to go with compatriot friends because the feeling of being with them is just like home away from home!

friends dry my eyes...

Dom says: Friends are indeed my eye-driers! Meaning,they dry the tears in my eyes...

In moments of grief, sadness, anxiety and depression, a friend soothes and gives strength amidst all these negativities....

Amy Flores, a very dear friend and wife to Danimar, has proven her worth indeed as an authentic friend in times of these trying and difficult moments in my life..

noteworthy blogs...

Dom says: Today, while I was crawling the links of my blogfriends, I was so struck and was taken aback as I came across their posts that really astounded me.

Mind you, I only do this once in a while, that is, if i get so much time left in a day. (A day's life of a monk is always so tied up in his monastic prayers and works that includes his blogging for a cause!...- Paid blogging as what they commonly call it but this monk calls it more relevantly as a blog for a cause)...
As I was browsing my bloglinks, I found some five of them who really got my interest and my awareness on issues that have affected me and my thoughts.

Let me say, these bloggers are indeed praiseworthy in their own ways of reaching out...Here they are arrange at random:

1. I learned so much from the post of Kuya Rino about this UP padyak project thing, I was so moved as I went on reading his post about the benefits of a bicycle.

2. I was so amused by Jeprock's post on mmm,coffee as it reminded me of my current fancy and appetite of the monastery coffee being served in the early morning after our 4:00AM Vigils prayers of the day.

3. I was so shocked, moved and saddened and very much affected by the news of the death of my Filipino movie actor idol Rudy fernandez. His death strongly reminded me of the death of my sister Cecilia. My heart went to the bereaved family of Rudy Fernandez. I wish to thank my friend Chuva for posting not only one but these series of updates on the death of my idol.

4. When I read this post from my very own ate Liza about soy power, I could not help but to re-assess my kind of food and diet here in the monastery. I guess she gave me a reminder to go back to taking soya as I used to do in the past, but for some other unknown reasons, was stopped. Now, I am bent to take soya again!

5. I was so glad when Vera, my friend and sister in the blogosphere came and dropped some words for me in one of my recent posts and told me that she had a new baby blog! I was so glad she finally decided to patronize blogspot dot com. In her latest post, it strongly motivated me to keep blogging despite the odds and that bloglife must go on,,hurray to my sister Vera!

hey you! my bloglinkfriends, maybe you can do , too, and grab this review- sort-of in your own site..you can also do a review of blogs from your links that you have visited and noted as praiseworthy ones!

a breakthrough...

A 'break through' is what one really needs in order to temporarily get away fleetingly from an ambience of great flowing habits, long thick chandeliers and candle stands and smell of incense all over the place.

The place that dictates a lifelong commitment in a condition of solitude, silence, obscurity and claustric atmosphere...

This is what life is treating someone who is in a lifelong commitment to serve God in the midst of silence and contemplation: monastic life!

Wanna join me in my solitude?

This picture shows me and my dearest loyal friends I've got in the city of Espanola, just an hour drive from the portals of my monastery! left to right: me, Dani(amy's hubby), Amy, and Mike-the latest capture of a US based recruitment agency that hires Filipino teachers directly to the USA.

a friend who never forgets...

His image sticked in my Nokia N70 jpegs and the year is August 2007, and although he does not linger in my memory, I knew that somewhere, sometime and somehow, he has been a part of my lost memory.

And this great guy is the best epitome of what friendship really means: he sent me a philippine postcard of Cavite which I just received today! Such an endearing gesture of someone who really value friendship...

a praiseworthy gesture...

Dom says: MY two godsons, Topel and Renzon, sons of my frat brother and college classmate, Aris, came all the way from Naga City to Legaspi PAL Terminal to send me off for my flight to Manila last May 6th.

These two guys, who were so courteous and very kind persons, were the ones who took time bearing with me and my 'injury' in going to and fro, helping me deal with my appointments in Naga City after the much talked-about motorbike accident which I succumbed into. They are such fine praiseworthy gentlemen!

friends...

Dom says: last Tuesday, May 20th, I went to town for my doctors' appointments and in coming back, I chanced, just really took a chance if it's gonna work out, to drop-by and visit a family friend whom, according to my 'redbook', I have been fond of, and a very dear family-friends ever since I became a monk. They were Amhy and Dan, from Espanola. They were both Filipinos who were from Baguio City, Philippines and migrated in USA three years ago.

These couple were my friends as what the records would tell me, so I deemed it right to pay them a visit as I already got the chance to do it since their house is just on the right way to my way back to the monastery.

The rest of the day was indeed gladly spent with them, mostly re-orienting me and recalling our past memories which were lost in my mind. We also went to Walmart for our early dinner that day.

Messages that melted my heart…

Dom says:I still vividly remember the exchange of words between me and Eileen on the last day of my stay in the Philippines.

I still can recall what I told her and what she told me in a lengthy talk while I was on my long stop-over in Manila.

I told her: “I’m sorry Eileen! I just want you to know that I’m sorry for all of my shortcomings.” “If only I was brave enough to stand and admit beyond prejudice what I truly felt for you then- this would not have happened. But I know it’s too ate- I have already brought you pains.” I am really sorry for the hurts I’ve caused you all these years.”

Long silence followed. There was only but sobbing from both of us.

Then she broke the silence and said: “I know I have to learn to forgive-” I know I have to move on…but it’s difficult, because it hurts. It hurts so much! Maybe in time. In time….a long silence followed.

Then we shifted out from the mellowdramas to a much lighter talk…The rest of the hours I spent with her was eternity!….

Another long talk that really touched me and melted my heart was with that of a college-friend’s son from my province.

His words still ring in my ears so clearly when he said: ...“Kuya, you said you learned from me-No. I was the one who learned so much from you. You taught me to dream my own dreams. You have shouldered my dream for a long time.

You deserve to have your own dreams Kuya. Whatever happens to me Kuya, wherever I might go- don’t worry! I’m really happy, and Kuya, one more thing- I know you wouldn’t be able to say this to Ate Eileen-because you think it might jeopardize your vocation-that’s why I’ll be the one to say it- Kuya, I know that you love Ate Eileen so much, and I know that she loves you very, very much.

Kuya I’m sorry, I want you to know that I treasure everything that you did for me. 'Thank you' and 'I love you' are not enough to let you know how grateful I am that you have become my brother.

I wasn’t the only one you helped! You did a lot of things for other people here (in the Philippines).

For other Filipinos who are just like us- reaching for the dream of a brighter future for their loved ones!!!

You are not just my brother. You are everybody’s brother! That’s why I’m so proud of you. I’m very proud of you Kuya. I love you so much. Mahal na mahal kita kuya! I know that even though we’re far away from each other, we are solid forever! I know that. Solid Solid…"

These are the exact words I heard from a boy who has been so close to me:... a 24-year old son of my friend and classmate in college! I am just wondering and a little confused and kept asking myself: What have I done to deserve these endearing words from someone who'd just been recently introduced to me? I can't remember really! I am going nuts!...

living on the verge of extremes...

Dom says: God speaks in every human life at its extremes!

Last Pentecost Sunday, I was invited by a friendblogger whose name is Josh of Me And My Doves to attend the Eucharistic Celebration in observance of Pentecost that coincided with their Fiesta Celebration of Nuestra Senora DeLa Paz Y Buen Viaje.

Josh while choreographing the Church Choir during the Offertory


Josh with his Choir members towards the end of the Mass


Me and Josh with his mom, an active member of their Church


D sinner and the Redeemer

To quote what Josh said in his blog, he said: "Last May 11, i was really blessed because during our barrio fiesta, a visit from Kuya Dom was indeed a blessing. Me, a sinful man, being visited by God's messenger. He wanted a 1st hand experience of my stories in my blog, and boy i was laughing my heart out when i toured him around my place! He was even convinced dat my dillema on whom to buy my dove grains was just literally "chicken feed!"....

"Josh, let me tell you this: that we are all sinners in the eyes of God and that the glory of God's Kingdom will only come to our hands when we repent and do penance and finally go back to Him... let me paraphrase what you sang with your choir members during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist that humid Sunday morning when we celebrated with charismatic ambience the blessings of that significant day: ...these lyrics struck and touched me so hard that I nearly wept in the presence of the whole congregation... Kuya Dom"

"WE remember how YOU loved us to Your death and still we celebrate for YOU are the with us here. And WE believe that we will see YOU when when YOU come in YOur glory Lord. WE celebrate. WE believe."

re-discovering and revealing my past...

Dom says: With the help of my 'redbook' and past records, as well as past documents that were traced, I was able to find out and discover one of my most cherished past with people and friends who have been part of my life in the past....

Though I felt I was introduced for the first time, I managed to get through with meeting these people who claimed to be my neighbors and friends at a subdivision in the outskirts of Metro Manila for, hold your breath, 11 years!!!!...

These friends and neighbors were my buddies in my regular hang-outs and weekend recreations at a subdivision where I lived which was called SM Townhomes in De Paro Novaliches, Caloocan City.

Val, who claimed he was my buddy during those moments when I had to sneak out from my mother in the middle of Saturday nights to meet-up with my other friends and neighbors at Sm Homes- for a drinking spree near the basketball court adjacent to the village's activity center.

It came to me that Val lives in Block 8, up to this time, while I lived in Block 5 of the same subdivision from year 1990 to year 2001

It was also a revelation to me when another guy claimed that he's one of my friends, Ramon (on my right, at the back), who lives in Block 10 of SM Townhomes and that he has acquired recently with a condominium near TRINOMA in which is rented by his constituents in his offc

and the most revealing of all revelations and discoveries was that, another guy, who is a friend to Ramon, whose name is Elvis (extreme left at the back of Val) has claimed that he was my best friend and buddy and that the unit in Block 5 in where I lived for 11 years was his own unit and that I surrendered it to him only in year 2001 when I decided to leave my work as teacher and join a Benedictine Monastery located in New Mexico USA.

KURI Kongrats!!!!!!...

@5:20PM of Saturday USA Time, April 12, 2008 DOm says: KURI congratulations!

Actually, it was yesterday, Phil time (Saturday), the BIG GREAT DAY of my good friend Jay a.k.a. KURI of Stupidorkris because it was his wedding day!....
To Mr. and Mrs. Kriss Jay Portus! Best wishes and...Congratulations!....