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On My Thirty-first

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Turning 31 is often a time for reflection... looking back at where I have been, taking stock of who I have become, and stepping intentionally into a new chapter. As my birthday approached, I knew I wanted to celebrate this milestone with a meaningful gesture, something beyond the usual party or self-care routine. ​For the past three full years , I let my hair grow without a single major haircut. What started as simply letting my locks flow gradually grew into a personal journey of patience. My long hair had been with me through season after season, holding memories, quiet moments, and daily routines. ​But as my 31st birthday drew closer, a thought kept returning: What if this growth could mean something more for someone else? ​I booked an appointment, said goodbye to 3 years of growth, and chose to donate my hair to Hair for Hope . ​Hair for Hope is dedicated to providing real-hair wigs for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and treatment. Cancer treatments take so much away f...
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Open Your Heart to the Father’s Embrace

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This was my journal when I led a worship in Sing Out Loud last Sept. 2022: When we realized who we are in God, everything changes. We are children of a good, loving, and faithful Father and we can stand proud in that truth.  I believe with all my heart that I am chosen, I am not forsaken, and I am a child of God. Our Father’s heart toward us is tender and safe, like a loving parent holding their child close.  If we feel trapped or overwhelmed by our problems today, let us allow Him to step in. God is our Savior, and He will always make a way… but we have to open our hearts, open our arms, and let Him in.  If you need the embrace of Jesus right now, ask Him to wrap His arms around you. When we worship, it isn't just about singing a melody or showing off our voices, it's entirely about Him.  True praise involves our whole body, mind, and spirit lifting up honor to God. Imagine our songs rising directly into open heaven as a sweet offering. Let us sing with deep gratit...
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Echoes from the Past: Reflecting on History, Truth, and Senator Nikki Coseteng’s 2022 Speech

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  Looking back at the turbulent days of the 2022 presidential election, a time when conversations around the country were deeply divided and emotionally charged… certain moments tend to stay with you. Among my saved notes from September 22, 2022, is a reflection capturing a powerful speech given by former Senator Nikki Coseteng. Her words hit close to home, especially as someone who witnessed how historical narratives were shifting online. Here is a look back at those notes and what they mean for how we remember our past. When Diliman Preparatory School Spoke Out “Diliman Preparatory School is a Martial Law survivor. But now it seems like we cannot tell the difference anymore. Nobody said sorry.” Hearing these lines reminded everyone that institutions carrying the scars of the dark chapters of Philippine history still bear witness today. Yet, the frustration in her voice was palpable: decades later, accountability remains elusive, and genuine remorse is rarely seen from those respo...
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Hearts on Fire (My Worship Composition)

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  This is one year in the making. And it took me 4 years to share it with you.  As I finished the song "Sing Out Loud", that was September 2021, and heard it being sang in a praise rally, thenafter, I was inspired to create another one but this time, it is more of a reflection song. There are moments in life when words alone feel entirely too small to carry what’s in my soul. That is usually when music begins to take over. I am so excited and deeply humbled to share a piece of my heart with you today... an original worship song composition titled, "Hearts on Fire." ​This song didn’t come from a place of having it all together. Looking back at when these lyrics first came to life on September 10, 2022, it was born out of a quiet recognition of our human brokenness, contrasted with the overwhelming, transformative grace of a God who meets us right where we are. ​The Story Behind the Lyrics ​Writing this was a deeply reflective experience. It starts with a simple, hone...
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Today was extra special because Dadi Pawie and Ellieboo picked me up and dropped me off at work since Pawie was off. On our way home, Pawie shared a sweet conversation he had with Elle in the car: Elle: "Daddy, I was never lost." Daddy: "Why?" Elle: "Because you and mommy never lost me." Her words hit me deeply, especially alongside today’s Gospel about the Lost Sheep. (August 11, 2026) In the Gospel, the Shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to go after the one who strays. We often focus on the feeling of being lost... the panic. But listening to Ellieboo, I realized something beautiful about love and security... a child who feels completely held never experiences the fear of being lost. Im thankful, I think we unlocked the absolute trust of Elle in our presence. She knows that no matter where she turns, our eyes are on her, and our arms are ready to catch her. In the same way, the Parable of the Ninety-Nine isn't just about God finding us after we wander.....
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We, as Christians, have every reason to rejoice.

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  We rejoice not just for what God has done, but in God Himself. We, as Christians, have every reason to rejoice. But if we are honest, our joy is often depending to our circumstances. We rejoice when our prayers are answered exactly how we envisioned. Yet, the deepest well of Christian joy doesn't depend on the hands of the clock or the state of our lives. We rejoice not just for what God has done, but in  God Himself . We are rejoicing in the Creator rather than the creation; the Giver rather than the gift. He is the only constant in a world of variables. He is justice when the ground beneath us gives way. To rejoice in God Himself is to look at the vast, chaotic canvas of the universe and realize that the One who holds it all together is not a distant force, but a personal Father. It is the quiet confidence that even if everything we see were stripped away tomorrow,  He remains , and therefore, our foundation remains. But here is the most beautiful realization of all, ...
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Sometimes

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  Sometimes loneliness is the price you pay for growth. Becoming a new version of yourself almost always requires leaving parts of your old world behind. When you commit to your mental health, you naturally stop fitting into the spaces you used to occupy. A temporary void forms as you step away from habits that no longer serve you. You find yourself no longer belonging to your past but not yet fully anchored in your future. This isolation is a necessary byproduct of shedding distraction. Growth forces you to confront yourself, stripping away the noise we often use to drown out our inner voices. When you stop socializing just to avoid silence, a profound stillness takes over. While this stillness can initially feel like abandonment, it is actually a sacred emptying. You are learning to sit with your own mind, establishing a foundation of self-reliance so that your future connections are built on mutual appreciation rather than a desperate need for validation. In many ways, personal ...
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May God heal you from what you don't talk about.

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  There is a specific kind of bravery required to put on a smiling face for the world while fighting an internal war. This sentiment speaks directly to that hidden battleground, acknowledging that nearly everyone has a chapter of their life they refuse to read aloud. Whether it is a lingering regret, a sharp heartbreak, a past trauma, or simply the overwhelming pressure of daily expectations, it honors the validity of the suffering that never makes it into conversation. Often, we keep these struggles locked away not out of stubbornness, but because human language simply fails us. Some pains are too complex to be neatly wrapped in words, while others feel far too fragile to expose to the outside world, where they might face judgment or misunderstanding. The beauty of this thought lies in its bypassing of the need for explanation. It implies that a higher power does not require a flawless confession to offer comfort.  Our pain is fully seen even when we lack the words or the str...
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You may not see a way, but God still has a way.

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  This timeless truth addresses the exact boundary line where human limitation meets divine infinity. When we find ourselves staring at a wall, a dead end, or a crisis with no visible exit, our natural instinct is to assume that because we cannot see a solution, one must not exist.  However, this perspective forgets that our vision is bound by time, space, and circumstance, whereas God operates entirely outside of those constraints.  When you feel trapped by your circumstances, it is an invitation to shift your gaze from the obstacle to the Creator. He does not need an existing path to rescue you or move you forward; He specializes in making a way where there is absolutely no human precedent for one, carving rivers through deserts and parting seas that seem impassable. The phrase reminds us that our inability to figure things out is never a surprise to God, nor is it a hindrance to His plans. His strategy is not dependent on our logic, our resources, or our understanding ...
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I have chosen 𝘺𝘰𝘢; I 𝘩𝘒𝘷𝘦𝘯’𝘡 rejected you.

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  — Isaiah 41:9 When the Creator declares, "I have chosen you; I haven’t rejected you," it is not a passive acknowledgment but an active, deliberate rescue mission.  To be chosen means we were intentionally selected out of a multitude, desired for exactly who we are, and brought into a covenant of belonging. It implies a conscious decision made by God, one that looked at our entire existence, flaws and all, and still said, "This one is mine." The second half of the statement, "I haven't rejected you," is perhaps even more comforting because it directly combats the lingering anxiety of abandonment. It serves as a definitive reassurance that our past failures, present struggles, and future missteps do not have the power to reverse His initial choice. Human relationships can be fragile, often fracturing when expectations are not met, but divine election is resolute. By explicitly stating that He has not cast us off, God is silencing the internal and exter...
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