UNTV Cup: New Concept in Public Service

When people ask me where I teach, I proudly say “at La Verdad Christian College”. In a not surprising mode, I know that most of them are not familiar with the name so I have to describe in all gesture and non verbal diads like where it is located, when it was established, etc.  But when I already mention “It offers full scholarship to the students. Free tuition, Free uniforms, even free meals! In other words ABSOLUTELY FREE!”, it amazes them. Then the next question that needs to be entertained: “How were you able to survive? Where do you get your fund?” I would just say, “Like what Bro. Eli and Kuya Daniel are always saying, from God’s help and mercy.”  

So there we go.

La Verdad Christian College is just one of so many public services of Bro. Eli and Kuya Daniel, such as Free Ride, Free Clinic, Free Legal Consultation, Free Transient Home, etc.  But who finances these public services? It is Bro. Eli Soriano and Kuya Daniel Razon who are the primary sponsors of these projects, with the continuous support of the Members of Church of God International. Aside from that, Kuya Daniel Razon spearheads different fund raising projects such as fun run, concerts, basketball games, etc. And these projects are being supported by the LGUs, public servants, extending to the people from the private sector. Proceeds of these projects go to the public services launched by Bro. Eli Soriano and Kuya Daniel Razon.

But this time, Bro. Eli and Kuya Daniel extend their hands to reach out and support other institutions that also need assistance.  The very reason UNTV Cup is born, guided of bright concepts and ideas of Kuya Daniel Razon. The team who will win in the championship game will donate their cash prize to the charitable institution of their choice. Nota Bene: None of the cash prize will go to their pocket but to the institution that they want to support. In this manner, we are being taught to strive hard not for ourselves but for the others. Like what Bro. Eli has mentioned in his welcoming speech, “We will play hard, get tired and perspire, not for our own benefit, but for the benefit of those who need our help. Because this is what the Lord Jesus did. He even gave His life just to save us”.

There are 7 teams from the different government agencies who will compete to get the prize of 1 Million Pesos. It means that they will be able to extend help to the charitable institution of their choice without getting a centavo from the government funds. These teams are: PNP, AFP, LGUs, DOJ, Judiciary, PhilHealth, MMDA. Each team also has at least one celebrity player to play with them. Some of them are Michael Flores, Jao Mapa, Eric Fructuoso, Onyok Velasco, Brando Legaspi, Kier Legaspi and Zoren Legaspi. Former PBA Star and now Mapua coach Fortunato “Atoy” Co will be the commissioner while Mr. Ed Cordero will act as the assistant commissioner.

The ball was officially tossed to open the ceremony of UNTV Cup on July 29, 2013 at the Smart Araneta. Each teams and players were introduced to the cheering crowd. There was also a game between DOJ and AFP.  During this event, I was not just a spectator as I was given the opportunity to be a part of the event. I was assigned to assist the guests as they arrive, wave a smile and say "hello!". And of course, lead them to their designated seats. My task seems to be easy, but I have to walk to and fro, up and down from 2^nd floor to 1^st floor and vice versa. Quite tiring but I can’t help saying myself that I just love it. Not because it would help burn my fats (Well, it was just a joke. If jokes are half meant, so I really mean it). At the end of the day, it is fulfilling to say that I was able to be a part of this noble cause in my own little way to the minute little one.

UNTV Cup is so new to its very broad project. I am hoping that people who understand this noble cause will continuously hold up UNTV Cup not only during its opening ceremonies, but as well all the games for the entire season. By the way, just for a graceful exit from a source which I hope does not actually exist, I heard that there is some other network that will also launch a same concept? Hmmm…

Anyway, I want to end this by giving my heartfelt congratulations to Bro. Eli and Kuya Daniel for being the pioneers of this new concept in public service. We are thankful to God for having them who always do public services to all people, regardless of their race and religion. To God be the Glory forever!

Mr. Public Service Kuya Daniel Razon with AFP and DOJ Basketball Teams during the ceremonial toss. (Photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/KuyaDanielRazon)

The powerful All Access Pass that allows me to go anywhere in Smart Araneta. Yes, even to the players' dug out. *big grin* 

 With my student Meryl, who stayed with us (Ate Ehlite) in welcoming the guests.

Twitter Party with Bro. Eli

I came home last night very late from my duties. I was that really exhausted. Not because of the things I went over the whole day, but because I traveled from Valenzuela from my schedule post and gone to Parañaque where I reside. I even skipped dinner (yeah, that was on purpose) because I preferred to lie down and sleep rather than to eat.

But before I went up to my room, my eyes were patched on my PC then decided to turn it on, check in some queries and documents that my students might sent me. I also checked my twitter account for some messages. It was just plain surfing.

And to my surprise! Bro. Eli Soriano just posted his tweets few seconds ago! Twitter users were also sending their messages and asking questions to Bro. Eli. I tried to send him a message, expecting to get a reply from him. My intuitions were never wrong and he never failed me. He replied not only to one of my messages, but to all the messages I sent him. Even a simple "ssD" really made me feel overjoyed. It relieved my stress. Yes, it does at an instant. I already forgot that I was about to sleep. I stayed up until 2am.

He even greeted Johnas on his 1st birthday. Well, actually, I requested him to do so. :)

If being not absurd, I know that the "feel" was just overwhelming, not knowing that I was already getting so much of his time. But this is a very rare opportunity for me to catch Bro. Eli interacting to his followers on twitter. More often than not, I always miss the chance that he is online. So then why not at the perfect time, I grabbed the opportunity to send him message about La Verdad instructors. Funny may sound to hear but the joy was measured exactly what I am expecting. 

No beautiful words to describe the happiness that was. He did not just mention his twitter followers, but he gave words of encouragement and answered their questions too. It's like there were no distance between the lines and the spaces were filled with bliss and content. It's like we were having a twitter party until the wee hours of the morning. Inspite that Bro. Eli has so many obligations to deal with, he still finds time to reach us and gives us words of wisdom by and even through social media. We are very thankful to God for sending us a loving and reachable preacher like him. :)

Ang Nago sa Ilong, Kaning Mainit at Stroller na naging diaper

Pasado alas-9 na ng gabi nung nakasakay ako ng shuttle sa Ayala pauwi sa amin. Medyo masakit na ang paa ko dahil sa maghapong paggawa (at dahil bago ang sapatos ko courtesy ng tatay ko. Tenks dad :D). Badtrip nga lang at hindi van ang natyempuhan kong shuttle kundi isang L300 na FB. Pero keri na rin, ang mahalaga, makauwi agad dahil gusto ko nang magrelax sa sala naming dim ang ilaw, umupo sa sofa, ipatong ang paa at magpatugtog ng CD ng Romance Revisited ni Christian Bautista.

Pagsakay ko sa FB, may nakaupo na sa paborito kong pwesto ng sasakyan, sa pinakadulong upuan sa bandang likod ng driver. Gusto ko umupo dun dahil hindi masyadong tutok sa aircon at maliit na electric fan lang ang katapat. Madali kasi akong ginawin. Kaya nga kahit gusto kong makakita ng snow, di ko pa rin pinangarap na tumira sa bansang sobrang lamig na kulang na lang ay manigas pati mga lamang loob mo sa lamig. Since may nakaupo na sa paborito kong pwesto, dun na lang ako naupo sa bandang gitnang bahagi ng mahabang upuan. Kitang kita ko tuloy ang lahat ng nakaupo sa katapat na upuan.

Habang nasa byahe, di ko na natiis na hindi inumin ang Quickly na binili ko para sana pasalubong sa kapatid ko. Pero sabi ko, baka tulog na yun. Kesa masayang, ako na lang iinom. Habang sinisipsip ko ang taro at nago gamit ang malaking straw na kasing laki ata ng tubo ng oxygen sa ospital, naagaw ang atensyon ko sa dalawang magsyota na nakaupo sa pinaka dulong upuan, bandang likuran ng katabing upuan ng driver. (Kuha niyo? O gusto n'yo idrowing ko pa). Ow Em Ji. Di ko kinaya ang eksena nila, kahit ang Nago na nginunguya ko ay nag-aaklas na muntik pang umeksit sa ilong ko. Paano ba naman, daig pa ang pusang di maihi na naglilingkisan. Si girl, nakasandal ang ulo sa balikat ni boy, kulang na lang magkapalitan sila ng mukha. Tapos sobra pa kung makakapit sa braso ng jowawi nya, kulang na lang eh matanggal ang braso ng lalaki. Si lalaki naman, hawi ng hawi sa buhok at nilalagay sa likod ng tenga ni babae, na di ko alam kung nababakla na ba ito o nainsecure sa shiny, bouncing hair ng GF nya. Kahit madilim sa loob ng FB, kitang kita pa rin ang kanilang paglilingkisan dahil sa mga ilaw sa poste at mga nakakabulag na headlight ng sasakyan sa kahabaan ng EDSA. Kahit na pinagtitinginan na sila ng mga pasahero sa FB, wapakels pa rin ang dalawang love birds na animo'y sila lang ang tao sa mundo. Siguro feeling nila, inggit lang ang mga tao sa kanila. Yung katabi ko nga na binatilyo, nakikipagsenyasan sa katropa niyang nakaupo sa harap niya at sinesenyas yung magsyota, tapos tatawanan nila. Yung ibang babae na pasahero naman, halatang asiwa sa dalawa. Yung mag-asawa naman na pasahero din, dedma lang. Siguro narerealize nila kung gaano sila ka-corny nung magjowa pa lang sila.

Pero sa totoo lang, bakit kailangan pa ipakita sa publiko ng ibang magsyota kung gaano sila ka-sweet. Bakit kailangan pa nilang mag PDA o Public Display of Affection samantalang pupuwede naman na magsuwit-sweet-an sila kung sila na lang. Tutal wala naman pakialam ang ibang tao sa kanila. Hindi naman dahil sa ako ay Bitter Ocampo kung kaya ko nasasabi ito, kundi sadyang nakakasiwa lang. Gusto ko nga makipagpustahan ng walang taya sa mga kasabayan kong pasahero eh. Pusta ko, pagka kinasal na kaya yung dalawa at may mga anak na sila, magagawa pa ba nilang maglampungan pa sa publiko?

May ilan akong nakakausap patungkol sa pananaw nila sa pag-aasawa. Sabi nila, dapat mag-asawa daw ng mga nasa early 20s para kung magkakaanak, hindi malayo ang edad mo sa anak mo. Kaya ba ang nanay ko e bente anyos lang ang tanda sa akin? Sabi naman ng iba, dapat bago ka magtrenta ay magasawa ka na. Kaya ba yung iba eh takot na takot na parang may sasabog na time bomb kapag trenta na sila ay di pa sila nagaasawa? Kaya naman kahit sino na lang ang dumating, keri na yan! At baka mahuli pa daw sa biyahe. Kako, saan naman papunta ang biyahe na iyan. Kung ang destinasyon ng biyahe mo e papunta sa dagat-dagatang apoy, ay di bale na lang. Maghihintay na lang ako ng last trip kung meron pa.

Gaya nga ng kasabihan ng mga matatanda, ang pag-aasawa ay di gaya ng kaning maiinit na pagka isinubo at napaso, pupuwede mo iluwa. Gasgas na kasabihan pero totoo. Walang solian ng asawa. Kahit na madiskubre mong may kurikong pala sa hita si lalaki o kaya ay naghihilik sa gabi si babae. Wala ring solian ng asawa lalu na kung nakatagpo ka ng biyenan na bumubuga ng apoy. Wala ring solian kung madiskubre mong di kayo talo ng misis mo dahil siya pala ay isang produkto ng makabagong siyensa mula sa Thailand.

Sa pag-aasawa kasi, napakarami mong dapat na isaalang-alang. Una, physically, emotionally, psychologically at mentally fit na ba kayo upang lumagay sa magulo, este sa tahimik? Baka naman konting tampuhan lang ninyong mag-asawa eh tatakbo ka sa magulang mo at magsusumbong ka na “Nay, inaway po ako ng asawa ko. Di na natin siya bati!”. Ikalawa, dapat mayroon kayong sariling tahanan. Di pwedeng sama sama sa iisang bubong. Dapat bubukod sa magulang, bagama’t napaka-common na yung nakiki-tira pa rin ang bagong mag-asawa sa magulang pero hindi dapat ganun. Mahirap makipag-agawan ng remote ng TV sa biyenan lalo na kung siya ang may-ari ng bahay. Isa pa, dapat ay may trabaho na sasapat sa pangangailangan ninyong mag-asawa at sa mga iba’t-ibang bayarin. Hindi sapat yung nagmamahalan kayo para kayo ay magsama. Di naman makakabusog ang pagmamahalan. Parang yung baraks ng mga kasamahan ko na mga lalaki sa Cubao. Palibhasa walang makain, nagmamahalan na lang daw sila. Tapos idagdag mo pa, paano kung magkakaanak na kayo? Ano ang ipapakain ninyo sa anak ninyo kung sa inyo nga lang na mag-asawa ay di na sapat ang kinikita ninyo? Di naman pupuwedeng AmBoy ang magiging anak ninyo na walang ibang laman ang tiyan kundi Am.

Kamakailan lang ay nanganak yung dalawang pinsan kong babae (alangan namang yung lalaki, wala naman kaming lahing seahorse). Parehong July pa ipinanganak yung dalawang babies, pareho pang babae. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, mukhang dumadami na kaming magkakauri na July ipinanganak. Anim na kami sa angkan namin na July ipinanganak. At nagkataon lang siguro na pare-pareho din kami ng ugali. Bratinella.

Pangalawang anak na nung mas matanda kong pinsan. At gaya ng ginawa niya sa una niyang anak, nangsosolisit siya ng mga regalo sa mga pinsan, tiyo at tiya. Kala mo ay captain ball ng basketball na nangsosolisit para sa palaro sa baranggay. Sinabihan niya ako na sagot ko na daw ang crib o kaya stroller. Yun ang pinaka mahal sa lahat ng mga nasa listahan niya. Tutal, kaya ko naman daw yun dahil may trabaho naman ako at wala naman daw ako anak. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, kaya nga ako di nag-aanak dahil ayaw ko bumili ng mga ganun no! Pagapangin nya kako sa sahig yung anak nya. Pero dahil sa naalala ko yung paksa tungkol sa mga bata, sabi ko na lang, sige sagot ko na lang diaper.

Ako ang panganay sa aming magkapatid. Pero sa edad kong ito, wala pa talaga ako balak na mag-asawa o magka-jowa man lang. Dahil na rin sa madaming trabaho ang titser kaya wala na talagang oras sa mga ganyan lalo na kung devoted ka sa propesyong ito. Sabi nila, ganun daw talaga ang mga titser. Pagpumasok ka sa propesyong ito, sa malamang ay tatanda kang dalaga, o kaya naman ay kung makakapag-asawa ka eh yung kapwa mo titser, sa kabila ng katotohanang ang ratio ng titser na lalaki sa titser na babae ay 1:20. Ibig sabihin, dalawampu kayong makikipag-agawan sa iisang lalaki, di mo pa alam kung yun ay isang Beki. Kaya sa malamang, yung pagiging matandang dalaga ang magiging tadhana mo. Pero di ako ganap na naniniwala dun. Dahil may mga kakilala akong mga titser na nakapangasawa ng mga foreigner. Yun ay noong nagtrabaho sila bilang DH sa ibang bansa.

Masaya ako sa buhay kong ganito. Mas marami akong nagagawa. Bagama’t nakikita ko sa magulang ko na masaya sila kapag may bata sa bahay, nauunawaan nila ang kalagayan ko. Pero minsan, napag-iisip rin ako, hindi dahil sa may balak ako. Iniisip ko lang ano kaya ang mangyayari kung halimbawang nasa kalagayan ako na may anak na inaalagaan? Makakakain pa kaya ako sa mga restaurant na gusto ko? Mabibili ko pa rin ba kaya lahat ng mga damit at gadget na gusto ko? Makakapunta pa kaya ako sa iba’t-ibang bansa? Magagawa ko pa kaya na gampanan yung lahat ng mga ginagawa ko ngayon? Sa malamang hindi. Pero yung paksa tungkol sa pagmamahal sa mga bata, tumanim sa isip ko yun. At alam ko na hindi naman ang pinatutungkulan lamang nun ay yung anak na galing sa sinapupunan ng isang ina. Naalala ko yung kaibigan ko na gusto daw niya magkaanak para makasunod sa utos na ibigin ang mga bata. Sa loob loob ko, napakaraming bata sa eskwelahan ang uhaw sa edukasyon dahil mismong amg mga magulang nila, di sila kaya turuan. Napakaraming bata ngayon sa bahay ampunan na naghahanap ng pagmamahal. Hindi kinakailangang galing sa sarili mong laman at dugo ang sanggol para makasunod na ibigin ang mga bata. Pupwede kang maging alagad ng edukasyon para magkaroon ng pagkakataong magmahal ng isa hanggang sikwentang bata sa isang classroom ng sabay-sabay. O kaya naman pupwede ka rin naman magbawas ng isa sa populasyon ng mga batang inabandona ng mga walang puso nilang magulang sa bahay-ampunan. Nagagawa ko na yung nauna awa't tulong, gusto ko namang subukan yung pangalawa. Pero yun ay ayon pa rin sa kalooban Niya. Malay ninyo, di ba?

Studies vs Duties

There was a time in my life that I encountered this dilemma. And I knew that whatever my decision would be, iy will determine my future.

It was in the year 2005 when I had to choose between my studies and my vow. I was taking up Education -- the 3rd course that I took up when I was in college. It was also my 7th year in college. Since I had shifted course 3 times already and I was overstaying in our school, I had to graduate by year 2006.

I asked for some advices. Some says that I have to choose my duties. Some says I had to choose my studies. I was confused, but I chose to finish my studies. Not because it's more important than my vow, but because I love my vow more than anything else in this world. Again, I chose to finish my studies and left my vow for a while because I love my duties more.

It was hard for my part seeing my batchmates become regular in their duties. I was a candidate for regular by that time and I admit, there were regrets. But I asked God in my prayers to help me finish my course. I told Him the reason why I had to leave my vow. I promised Him that after I finish college, I will return to the ministry and use the knowledge that I learned in college to help my leaders and the ministry.

God granted my prayers. He let me finish my studies. So in return, I have to fulfill my promise to Him. After I passed the board, I returned to the ministry. And it didn't take long, I was given "special" assignments that I never realized that will come to my life.

Of course, not all can have this kind of fate. Not all of us have the same destiny. I strongly believe that vows and duties are more important than anything else. But God has plans for each of us. We may have different roads to walk through, but for me, I think, this is the road that He wants me to take.

I admit, I had lots of shortcomings and wrongdoings, but I obtained mercy from God. Special tasks keep on coming from the time I fulfilled my promise to Him, up to the present.

With all these blessings, I thank God because I really witness how He helps me to keep my promise. All the tasks He is giving me requires my present profession -- the course that I chose to finish. All my dreams which I was very eager to pursue but seemed to be impossible are now coming into reality through our leaders. I just pray to God for His guidance because I admit, I can't do these things alone. But again, no words can express the gratitude that I am feeling right now. All I can say is THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT.

(Me and my Younger Sister during OUR graduation. FYI, I am 3 years older than her :D )