Nonstop Rain of Blessings

Blessings come in different magnitudes. Some small,others extremely mind blowing,but mostly, they come as common day-to-day taken for granted part of life-- without which we cannot experience life. Like the air we breathe,or our senses to see and appreciate the different sizes, shapes, colors. To hear and enjoy sound, beats, rhythm as well as to utter words and be intelligible. To touch, feel and relay our deepest emotions sans words. To taste varying delicacies, and to relish aromas from food or perfumes.

There are times when we are so in tune with all blessings we receive from the mundane to immeasurable intangibles like peace of mind,or joy from being with healthy children. Or even just from seeing old couples walking while holding hands. But sometimes, we get distracted by certain encounters that somehow manage to slither and settle in cracks in our consciousness neglected and left to fester and rot. Situations will never be the same for people. Some have more, while others have less, but the latter does not necessarily stem from the having of others. How then can we have more when we have less? By changing our outlook. By seeing the glass half-full insted of half empty. By learning to accentuate the little that you have. This is accomplished by being grateful. An attitude of gratitude somehow multiplies the little that is present and before you know it, the list has grown to proportions you never thought possible.

This morning, a priest specifically focused on Not Worrying in order to avoid magnifying any source of anxiety. How not to worry? Ah, easier said than done especially for worry warts like me. But, it can be learned, and the bad habit can also be unlearned, by replacing it with another habit. This time, by realizing that there is a God, that I have a Big God Who has always been there for me, I can re channel my energy towards strengthening my faith in the God Who has already died for me, and then continue being thankful for my blessings. I mentioned in one of my blogs before that I was receiving blessings nonstop. Well, it is true. I am, and I continue to receive blessings in varying forms and sizes, and for that, I am truly grateful.

The Phenomenon Called Niner

If Efren Penaflorida is the CNN hero who helps educate the masses, Ervin Nil Temporal is The Filipino champion who empowers professionals so they can qualify to work or migrate to any First World English-speaking countries by passing the IELTS. Filipinos pride themselves with ability to mimic almost any foreign language from Arabic, to English, to Italian, to Japanese, to Mandarin, ad infinitum. They can carry out conversations in any foreign tongue whether in person, on the phone, or via the net. However, regardless of this aptitude for languages, fear of the English examination hinders people from venturing outside the Middle East. (Personally, I think Filipinos are always anxious about examinations of any sort.)

Come the 9.0 Niner Review Center, within a relatively short span of 3 years, it has carved a singular niche for itself, being the only review center to churn out students with scores of 9, 9 being the perfect score in the IELTS. Such unprecedented results propelled the 9.0 Niner Review Center to the top, making it the premier English language review center in the archipelago for all 3 years of its existence, having bested the likes of Kaplan. 9.0 Niner is also recognized and lauded by both the British Council and the IDP as the all time bellwether among English review centers in the country.

Ervin Nil Temporal was only in his teens when the idea of founding an English review center began to brew. As a full-time Mass Communications student in UP Diliman, needing to augment his meager allowance, he joggled a heavy plate of university studies and activities together with tutoring English to professionals in his boarding house and another job at Ortigas. Teaching a swiftly protracting number of potential emigrants, which spilled outside the house so that some were standing by the windows just to listen to his lectures, definitely warranted a proper learning place, hence the birth of the first 9.0 Niner Review Center in Quezon Avenue.

Ervin is himself a niner,someone who bagged the perfect score of 9s having aced his exams in 200X. Lecturers, facilitators and coaches in the centers are certified niners as well, conducting classes particularly tailored to address and strengthen grammar. These classes unfailingly showcase tips and exercises which infallibly improve speaking, listening, reading and writing skills, virtually ensuring passing the IELTS with flying colors.

Now, Ervin is no longer a pimply-teenager, having blossomed into a fulfilled 22-year-old last November 30. Together with his journey towards maturity, 9.0 Niner has also secured a strong and reliable image among countless English review centers in the Philippines. In an unparalleled history of entrepreneurship, 9.0 Niner has opened 14 branches nationwide, with more to open soon. 9.0 Niner is also offering online review which commenced in February early this year to extend services to OFWs and facilitate learning for busy professionals. It is only a matter of time before 9.0 Niner becomes THE English Review Center in Asia.

To date, Ervin has succeeded in conquering most of his Goliaths and whatever hindrance may present itself at any time shall definitely be handled with the same grace, courage and fortitude employed in the past.

Looking back, being a precocious child, he had an awareness at a tender age that he was cut from a mold above the rest. Remaining true to himself, Ervin grew up focusing his energy in harnessing his talents and language proficiency. His extra-ordinary discipline and training paid off when he consistently garnered the paramount honors and awards in school, graduating valedictorian in primary and secondary school and becoming the best debater and writer. Ervin's continuous efflorescence was unstoppable and persisted when he entered UP Mindanao. It prevailed even when he transferred to UP Diliman.

When Ervin decided to transfer to UP Diliman in Quezon City, his parents agreed to support his financial needs. Clearly, cost of living in Luzon is higher as he will be paying not just for food and transportation, but for lodging as well. So in order to supplement to his allowance, he mustered courage and the very young Ervin
decided to apply for work. The rest is history.


Ever impassioned and untiring, Ervin Nil Temporal, the Philippines' IELTS Guru, is actively involved in conducting major lectures in all 9.0 Niner branches, as well as being a professor and researcher. He is success personified, an avatar, who has shown me and others man's unbridled capacity to expand his skills and abilities in order to overcome boundaries, to exceed limitations, and in the pursuit of excellence, translate his strengths into a system designed to spur others to persist in the making of their dreams.

Attending his lectures and being coached by him was both a treat and an honor. Ervin's story screams with life's laughter and pain, joy and sorrow, a plenitude of faith interlaced with audacity, stick-to-it-iveness and genetically endowed inherent virtuousity with relentlessly manifold and powerful contributions to society. The telling of which is its own reward.

Now, after being enriched by his lifestory, I take a bow, pick up my pieces and continue my journey. Thank you Sir Ervin.


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How to reach 9.0 Niner and more..

I just realized that my previous blogs will be truly useful if I provide pertinent contact details. Find them here and start moving towards enhanced creativity and better lives...


9.0 Niner Review Center- Taft 00632 8511739/0927-9448134


Soul Food - www.KerygmaFamily.com
Bo Sanchez' blog - www.BoSanchez.ph

The FEAST (Catholic Worship)

Pasig: Valle Verde Country Club beside Ultra every Sunday 8:00 am, 10:00am and 1:00pm

Makati: AIM Conference Center, Benavidez St, Makati City every Thursday 7:30pm - 9:30pm

Quezon City: Convention Hall 2F Bureau of Soils and Water Management Bldg, Visayas Ave cor Elliptical Rd, QC every Sunday 9:00am-12:00pm

Manila: SM Cinema 4, SM City Manila near LRT Central, behind the Manila City Hall every Friday 7pm-10pm

Rizal: Valley Fair Arcade, Ortigas Ave., Ext., Taytay Rizal every Sunday 9:00am-11:30am

Marilao, Bulacan: SM Cinema 2, SM Marilao Every Saturday, 5:30pm

South: Festival Mall Cinema 10, Alabang Muntinlupa every Sunday 10:00am-12:30pm

Ortigas: Roofdeck, Prestige Tower, F. Ortigas formerly Emerald Ave., Ortigas every Monday 7:00pm-9:00pm

Angeles: Angeles University Foundation every Friday 6:00pm-8:30pm

Bustos, Bulacan: Parokya San Isidro Labrador, Liciado Bustos, Bulacan every Sunday 1pm

Marian Exhibit

This exhibit took place in October at the SM Mall of Asia but I wasn't able to upload the photos right away. As Dec 8, the official celebration of the Immaculate Conception,is just around the corner, I suppose today is the right time to include them in my blog. Enjoy the different faces of Mary and the various phases of her life with Jesus from the Annunciation by the Archangel Gabriel, to Mary's Visitation to Elizabeth, the Pieta and others. Have fun looking for them as I didn't upload the photos in order of ennumeration.

Think Big,Win Big

Dream Big, Win Big. That was the theme of the most recent Kerygma Conference. I wish I had a camera with stronger lens so that the photos would be clearer. I'm uploading them anyway. The preachers led by Bo Sanchez were trying to revolutionize the way we think so that we and posterity have better chances at BECOMING what we aspire to be. In order to hammer the message in, they prepared a number of songs and dance numbers performed by the Music Ministry, the Oasis of Love, the Sison Brothers, and the K5. Ai-Ai was also there, as a surprise number. I found myself wishing that they would have a record of the whole two-day event so that we could replay it whether on audio or video at will, and be recharged whenever we feel depletion of energy imminent.

Indeed, we have a BIG and LOVING GOD, who is always there for us. Thank you Bo Sanchez and company for constantly reminding us that we can be what we wish to be and that we need to be aware of what we wish for, otherwise, just like any traveler, we will still get somewhere whether we chart our course before-hand or not. Better be aware of where we are heading than go about the journey haphazardly.

Lily plant

I sat beside this beautiful person on the second day of the conference. She's a licenced doctor of medicine, in her late 60's who is also recovering from cancer. Sister Estrella told me about lily plants and advised me to cultivate one. I have to admit, the only lily plant I know is the waterlily. Maybe someone will give me a lily plant soon. :)

Blessed beyond compare

I hope this entry doesn't come out like the previous one--being underscored althroughout the article and in orange font.

I found myself blessed with totally unexpected people and ideas,when I attended the third? Kerygma Conference at the Araneta Coliseum last weekend. It was a two-day event which started with a mass on Saturday and again on Sunday, and ended with a healing session on both days. It was my first time to attend such a gathering of that magnitude and I'm glad I made it there, despite my reservations. I didn't know what to expect, in fact, it was a half-hearted decision so that I chose the 100 peso ticket only, and boy, was I in for the surprise of my life.

An Angel in the Neighborhood

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Tin Tin was at the gate when I got home 2 days ago, and she wasted no time in visiting. Right after I closed the door, I heard the unmistakable pitter patter of small feet running towards my door, followed by a gentle knock and her courteous " Hello po."

Her visit is so unlike that of other kids'----ragamuffins from the neighborhood--- who come daily at mealtime to ask for "basura" (garbage). I gave a boy some old newspapers a few weeks ago---normally, I wouldn't do something like that, but somehow, I took pity on the kid who was always knocking and begging for refuse. Now, it went down the grapevine that a certain door gives newspapers to these beggars, so they started coming daily, asking for newspapers. That's something I failed to consider, especially when my parents return home. We are simple and quiet people who prefer to keep to ourselves. But the thought of having urchins coming daily for garbage and the possibility of bad company joining them is a potential problem particularly because there exist people who specialyze in preying on others. I don't have to enumerate the countless types of groups who belong to the "akyat bahay" category.

Tin Tin and our friends are always welcome to visit anytime, though. I only regret that I cannot allow people to continue to come and believe that we will give them somehting, specially when it seems to be fostering a certain kind of dependence. I'm sure the parents of these kids will find other ways to make their children work, without having to train them to beg daily from households.

A Storm of Blessings

Have you ever noticed how on certain days, whatever you focus on multiplies, whether it brings glad tidings or augurs unending anxiety or heartache? Well, I have. And these past few weeks, just like any normal homo sapiens sapiens in the 21st century, I had my share of quotidian experiences, some so-so, others nit-pickingly niggling, but most of them are joyful, which, on certain days, seem to continue increasing in momentum and magnitude until I get dizzily intoxicated with emotional rapture. Ehem. (Let it be known that I am not engaged in any thing at its honeymoon stage.)

Sure, there are innumerable things that have gone wrong, like Mother Earth and the spate of typhoons in the past few months, and the recent Maguindanao massacre, not to mention the long list of schemes and their plotters remaining scot free. But just like there IS a silver lining whenever there are clouds, there ARE (yes, in the plural form), countless blessings that befall man--you, me-- if only we pay attention.

Personally, I can probably write a long list of things to be grateful for that has brought me to this point today. In fact, it's been going on for a month now and and I'm ecstatic to note that there seems to be no letting up.

On a more unpersonal note,in the Political Arena, the list of Presidentiables have finally been unveiled and with it is the unfolding of their track records, their platforms and their principles. The Gordon-Fernando tandem seems to be the hidden card among the lot. Their presence lends reality to this race which has taken a surreal level, bringing our attention back to what the country needs and not who among the personalities to worship.

The Gordon-Fernando storm of blessings with their Transformers battlecry has long been coming, but it is here now, to rally the people to focus on what is right and on what is good for the country.

The time is come to shake off the dust of sleep. Let us awaken from the long slumber and indifference that have enveloped us for the longest time. Take heed the call to change (ala Obama)and embrace the chance to contribute towards that which will propel us to have better lives, especially the deprived and the weak.

According to a friend, I'm a wanderlust

Last week, I was finally able to realize a plan which hatched a long time ago as I continued to listen to the Healing Touch radio program by Fr. Fernando Suarez every Sunday at 6pm, Philippine time. (Those interested to view the program via the net can go to www.veritas846.ph during the schedule). I have wanted to make a "pilgrimage" to Monte Maria as thanksgiving for all the blessings I continue to receive and I even put it in my calendar so many times but failed to act on it, but I guess, when the right time comes, things happen.

Then it did happen. I woke up early on that fine Thursday morning, took a bath, had a light breakfast and grabbed the bag I prepared the night before. I left the flat at about eight-thirty in the morning, was at Buendia bus terminal after half an hour and we were off to Batangas after a good ten minute wait. (The bus fare is PhP 157.00). Balagtas was my first stop in Batangas after almost two hours on the road. There, I took a jeepney going to Batangas city for another Php 10.00. It didn't take very long to get to the heart of the place. Once in the city, I asked for directions how to get to SM city where I was to take the final jeepney ride to the sanctuary. A tricycle took me to a stop near SM city for PhP 8.00, and I walked the short distance towards the mall, thinking that there's a jeepney terminal within its premises bound to Monte Maria. By that time, it was already 11 o'clock. Time for lunch and then off to look for the next ride.

I figured it would be best to continue travelling on a full stomach than to carry the food when I did not really know when I'd get to consume it in peace. Our ever friendly Jollibee was not so difficult to find. There, I also chatted the young cashier to get additional information on how to get to Monte Maria.

Lunch consumed, additional provision bought and secured in the bag, I was ready to go. The kind people of Batangas at the stop told me about jeepneys going to De la Paz and Polot, just around the corner a short distance from SM--very accessible, best to walk towards it. Not knowing that just around the corner was actually a good hike, I started my walk. Having rounded the corner and found the jeepneys parked by the road side was like finding an oasis for a hungry and tired traveller in the desert. I must have asked more than three drivers who kept telling me De la Paz ride is just ahead of you (Sa unahan lang...) So, I kept walking. It must have been a 20-minute walk with my bag weighing heavily on my shoulder and my long umbrella beginning to serve as a staff, before I finally found THE ride.

There were two friendly Batanguenos by the jeepney. An old lady and an old man. The old man told me that the fare was PhP35.00. Hmm. I was beginning to think that I had a long trip ahead of me. It was 12 noon. The jeepney had to be filled BEFORE going up the area, so I decided to take a nap and prayed that passengers arrive fast, otherwise I might not get to my destination before nightfall. The kind lady told me about another route to get back to the city, and also how to get to this area faster and without having to hike a distance. (Take Libjo jeep from the city to get to the De la Paz jeep wait area.)

I was really dizzy from the bus trip and my meal, so I dozed off, insterspered with praying the "Glory be's and St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us." By a quarter to two in the afternoon, I was beginning to panic, it was getting late. Still continuing my silent litany, I waited. Soon, passengers arrived in droves. They came from the market, having bought the family supply for the month, I suppose. The jeepney was finally ready to move, filled with passengers, even on the roof. I only knew about them, because it began to rain heavily as we neared the peak? of the mountain and there was a loud thudding sound from the roof. This was acknowledged by a quick stop so the men on the roof can transfer to the back of the jeepney where they could avoid the rain.

The way to Monte Maria was not like any provincial trip I have taken before. At first, you get a feeling of entering a virgin forest, with huge trees hovering by the wayside, and then a smattering of houses and even "subdivisions" remind you that it is an inhabited place. Oil refineries also claimed portions of the land as well as a harbor for ship carrying more oil (?). But the sea view was spectacular. If I were travelling by car, I could have stopped at some spots to immortalize them with my camera.

After almost an hour on the road, I WAS AT THE FOOT OF MONTE MARIA. With sigh of relief and satisfaction, I alighted from the jeepney and walked towards the chapel. It's a temporary site as explained to me by Mang Rey, a 24/7 volunteer. He's from Bataan who is praying and waiting for acceptance to a religious congregation. The permanent site for Monte Maria is located on a nearby hill were visibly situated is Sto Nino Church which will be ready by January 2010.

I took some shots of the current altar and some also of its surrounding beauty, and decided to leave afterwards. It was one of my lucky days for I was able to hitch a ride back to the city with a family who were also leaving. I'm hoping to return very soon.