Hero

Ever since I was still a child, I'm always dreaming of being a superhero to save someone. The knight in shining armor, has incredible strength, and the one who saves the day. As I grow up, I knew that superhero doesn't exist, there's no gamma radiation, spider-bite, or kryptonite and we're just destined to live by ourselves, surviving this life.

Then, I met Jasmin. I fell in love with her. I'm hoping to be that kind of hero she deserves. I tried very hard to be that person. 

Well.

Guess what! 

I was wrong.

I didn't realize that I don't have to be a hero to be with her. I don't have to be strong all the time, that it's okay to be vulnerable. And she knows that and she understands. Over time, I became self-reflective, and as I ponder on the things that I experience, I discovered, after all these years, I'm the one who needs saving and...

She did it.

She became the hero that I long for. 

//Hero

//sebajisoka

Essential

I read a news today that one senator called POGO as "Essential". 

In the previous week, I don't want to get bothered to the point that I'll make a blog out of it. I mean, I'm already bothered enough by the government. So, making a blog about it can be really frustrating and somehow a waste of time. 

I still have still small hope about all of this turning around. But, earlier, I wanted to cry for this nation. The leader of this country is not bothered enough to protect the our land. Other nation is claiming one of the recently discovered lands and they're letting them claim it. They didn't do early planning for the pandemic, they prioritize foreign entry rather than saving the people from the virus. 

They close their eyes to what's happening. Ignoring red flags and playing the blame game. Empowering military forces than medical frontliners. Thinking that guns are part of the solution. They call out those who criticize the administration and threaten to be summoned from a foreign land. 

I'm glad that Taiwan stood their grounds and support the Filipina, protecting her rights and freedom in their country but it's sad at the same time, to think that a foreign land has more guts to save people, not of theirs. Taiwan is saving Filipinos from their own country. Just let that sink in. I mean what do I expect for this country who called Gambling Operators as Essential in this pandemic. That providing justice is based on political party and that magic triangle. I regret supporting you. You gave us high hopes for our future and showed your potential while you're still a mayor. Well, we were fooled. Your political will is merely just words. Thanks for protecting the Chinese, rather than your own people. 

Praying that our eyes will be opened and use this experience to elect better leaders. We already saw it in Pasig and many places. We can do this for the whole nation as well. 

//Essential

//sebajisoka

Deadly Waters

Let me share some insights and revelation about parting of the sea. 

I'm pretty fascinated with Bible stories that include the sea or any water in that sense. 2 of my favorite stories are when Jesus walks on water (Matthew 14:22-36; Mark 6:45-56; John 6:16-24) and when He calms the storm (Matthew 8:23–27, Mark 4:35–41, and Luke 8:22–25.). 

I watched a YouTube video summarizing the book of Joshua. It was mentioned that Joshua did something Moses has done in the past, like teaching them the Torah, sending spies to the promised land, and the parting of the sea. I realized that the old testament is about parting the sea but I don't remember a significant story about the new testament parting of the sea, the new testament is about walking over the sea.

Now, I'm wondering that does it mean? Why does God stop parting the sea? Both goals are to pass through it. But I think this is pretty significant for some reason. Well, this morning, while listening to preaching for our Sunday Service, God revealed something to me and makes my whole morning in goosebump. 

In the Old Testament, people pass through waters to go on the other side. The water can symbolize a dead-end. In Moses' narrative its a hindrance from passing through, it can cause death over his people. In the New Testament - The water here symbolizes death. Jesus walking on water is a picture of His grand victory over death. Peter walking on water is God's gift of salvation - that we don't need to fear the storm over us as it has been overcome. 

From Old Testament to New Testament. From avoiding death to overcoming death.

Jesus did it. 

//DeadlyWaters

//sebajisoka

Post-Pandemic Food trip

This pandemic makes me crave for these mouth-watering food. Sorry for causing you this trouble as well. But I will make a mini-bucket list of food to eat after this pandemic.

Ramen - Well, I've been watching Naruto and this is all his fault. 

Samgyup - Samgyup sa bahay is an option though. 

Buffet - Sambokojin please?

Salted-Egg Chicken - No other than Frankie's

Pizza - S&R?

Xiao Long Bao anywhere. Binondo maybe?

Photo credits: 

spot.ph

taraletsanywhere.com 

sambokojin.com

pepper.ph

zomato.com

//sebajisoka

Formulation

I'm interrupting my binge-watching of Naruto Shippuden Season 4 to write about something that I'm not sure of. Well, I want to write something about you, I guess. But in the past few months, I'm taking granted things and recently, with this disturbing lockdown. I want to be with you, badly.

Now, what can I do? We're living in a separate city and our situation won't allow us to move. All I can do I guess is to chat with you, video call, or something and maybe play online games. Well, I don't know. There are so many dreams that pass through my mind lately. Since I left TaskUs to be a consultant, my dreams for our future have been reconfigured. Money has always been an issue for this. I blame myself highly for not keeping money enough and not saving early. But now, I somehow experience freedom. Well, it's not that much, but I think I can start with what I have. 

Our future is quite blurry as of now. Like where's gonna be our future home, when's the wedding and how do we get some money? One thing is clear for me though, It's you that I wanted to be with. Well. We're pretty far off that dream but I'm hoping and praying that God will guide us in every step, that our whens, wheres, and hows will be fulfilled by his amazing formulation.

So this I ask, to join me in the waiting game as we reach out to those dreams and settle to what He has planned. 

I love you always,

sebajisoka

Naruto

I know, I know. I'm like 13 years late of this, but I just finished my favorite Anime of all time, Naruto. I was young at the time they're showing it in the Philippines, I hardly remember some of the episodes and I missed a lot of it as well. I'm even familiar with the first few episodes of Naruto Shippuden. 

Anyway, I'd like to share some of my takeaways and realization and probably the theme of Naruto. SPOILERS ALERT!

Bad people can be good people too

Plain and simple. Gaara. 

The least

One of the main storylines that most people can relate to is being the least, being the last, being not good at everything. On failing a lot, being a laughingstock and being mocked. Naruto is known for this and how his story unfolds makes his arc really good. 

The monster within

We all have a monster within, it just how you use it and control it. How you can convert it in goodness. 

Believe in yourself

Naruto has the title of the most unpredictable ninja. That's it. 

Meaning of friendship

The most striking lesson for me is the meaning of friendship and how much it cost. From all the mission and rescue mission, it seems like the top priority is saving lives, regardless of how they just know each other or even if they masks themselves. There was this episode where Naruto met a stranger who had amnesia, so he called him Menma, derived from an ingredient for Ramen that can be found on mountain cliffs where Naruto found him. They both have incredible memories as they have been good people that helped Konoha before leaving. Naruto but then was tricked by Menma, lying about not remembering anything. But knowing Naruto and what Menma did, it magnifies what friendship is. The ending of that episode is such a painful scene as Naruto eats his favorite ramen. This is just one of the many episodes that focus on the value of friendship. Not to mention the story of Sasuke. 

I'm pretty bad a bringing these kinds of some sort of review but that it for now. Naruto has become my favorite Anime, all time. 

//Naruto 

//sebajisoka

what have you been up to?

It's been more than a month since the Metro Manila Lockdown and it's not going to end anytime soon. So, I thought of sharing some things that I've been doing during this lockdown, well, aside from complaining on social media.

- I've been editing RAW files of pictures I've taken over the past few years and uploading it on Instagram. 

- I've been practicing playing bass guitar. I'm currently studying Kathang Isip by Ben & Ben and it has this pretty solid bass line to be honest. 

- I'm playing games like Brawlhalla, some Counter-Strike and of course, NBA 2k20.

- I'm catching up with my bible reading plan, I just finished the book of Leviticus earlier. 

- I also started reading a book again, I'm on the 3rd chapter of this really deep book of C.S Lewis, Mere Christianity. 

- Listening to Podcasts, particularly Judah Smith's Churchome, pretty solid.

- All-day on Spotify, listening to my favorite songs, updating some of my playlists and discovering some new songs, I just added 2 Thai songs (from Calories Blah Blah Extra Love and I don't know the title, it's just unreadable for me, it's in Thai.) and some Japanese song, well, it's Naruto theme songs, and speaking of... 

- I've been Netflixing. I'm not really into series, but this lockdown got me started watching Naruto, I'm only on Season 8 Episode 2 and I'm loving it. It makes me want to go out and eat some ramen. I'm also finishing 13 Reasons Why Chapter 3 and I finally started watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S, I don't want to watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S to be honest, because I'm afraid that it might be better than How I met Your Mother. 

- I'm practicing my shots using my camera, listening and learning stuff online. 

- And of course, eating a lot of food.

I've been trying to be productive, well, that's just me on a normal rest day. I wanted to do much but most of the time, I ended up chilling out, doing stuff on social media. Well, if you're just chilling out and doing nothing, that's great. There's no judgment, we all need some air and some time to relax and clear our minds. This is just me. So, yeah. You're good. 

To end this. I just wanted to say that this pandemic changed a lot of us. It shakes the economy, it exposed the politicians, it reveals us. 

Some praised our leaders. Some mock them.

Some prayed to God. Some detest God. 

As much as I wanted to be working at home and not going out and continue doing these activities, I hope for this to end. This fear, this hopelessness, this anger. Because it's tiring and not healthy, we're benefiting from some of the things and we also have a disadvantage. 

Let's continue to pray and wash our hands.

//WhatHaveYouBeenUpTo

//sebajisoka