Top 10 June 2016

This list includes big and small but big, very big in the realm of blessings. This just goes to show that length, breadth, height, weight and volume are no measure of blessings. The first line should have read something big and something small but some of those are not things but warm bodies.

1. The Word.

He is not God of the dead, but of the living… Mk12:27

I’ve made it a habit to pray the prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas after receiving Holy Communion which concludes this way:

I pray, too, that it may be Your pleasure 

to call my sinful self one day to that banquet,

Wonderful past all telling,

Where You, with Your Son and the Holy Spirit,

Feast Your saints with the vision of Yourself,

Who are true light,

The fulfillment of all desires,

The joy that knows no ending,

Gladness unalloyed,

And perfect bliss:

Through the same Christ our Lord.

While praying, I try to imagine with the words of St. Thomas how heaven is like. I get that heavenly feeling just thinking about it.

2. My Day.

Being a father, that is. Not that I don’t get to be a father for the rest of the year, it’s actually the day I don’t get to be one instead. Ironic, eh? This day, I am the baby of the family. Yup -commercialism works! Mother and son split the bill while father and daughter split the yakiniku platter. 

But wait! Didn’t we pay using my credit card?! Hey! 

3. Small.Yet.Biggest.

Hands down, he brought the biggest bunch of joy to the fam bam. The most awaited, the most anticipated is finally out! For @raphael, this is a most on-the-button way to celebrate father’s day. His dada duties have officially begun. Each of the baby’s parents claims facial territories taking after theirs. The new bundle of joy has a name: Alfonso Rafael Talag Espinosa. Welcome to barangay Espeeps!

4. Toespin Lighting Design Consultants.

We turned 5 last March. I know, this item should have come out 3 issues ago. But in order to make it current, allow me to do this again:

We turned 63 this month. That’s happy 63th monthsary, Toespin! We’ve turned over countless(!) projects over the last five years of our bright existence but do you know that the very first project we were commissioned to do isn’t finished yet? This is One Eastwood Tower in Eastwood City, Libis. Although the edifice is up to its highest level and on its finishing stages already -facade lighting included, it doesn't give justice to give it a place in our archive of finished projects. Can’t wait to see it glow with delight soon. Here’s to the next 5 and beyond! A shout out to my crack team: Victor, Mario, Herbert and Blessie.

5. If I Brought Home Stuff From My Own Office, Is It Stealing?

[Or vice-versa. Or any place between vice and versa which for all intents and purposes is my car which turns into a virtual office as soon as I park these not-so-fat *ss of mine in it. Work for me is somewhere in between and inclusive.] 

Nikkei pulls a stapler out of my work bag to staple her school report using staple wires purchased with Toespin revenues. Stealing? Although the answer may be obvious, the question takes a spotlight in my mind, grateful I do not have to be concerned with matters like:

-may i call the wife using a strictly-for-the-office-use cellphone only?

-is it ok to print my son’s homework in the office?

Freedom takes on a different form from this perspective. Again, I’m grateful.

6. Back to School.

The ‘lil girl in my January post is no longer a school drop out. Last school year’s attempt did not succeed because according to her, “there were too much doings.” This time it’s a different school with a different teacher and different classmates. Judging from the galaxy of stars that are stamped daily on the back of her hands and on her arms, she’s back for good -her own good. Lest she might end up like Steve Jobs or Richard Branson or Mark Zuckerberg or Rachel Ray who didn’t finish school. Scary, eh?

7. Jubilee Year.

Our parish, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, celebrates her 50th year -a Jubilee year according to the Church calendar. I am thankful because #Toespin has a participation in its preparations -lighting of the altar and the retablo behind the altar. The bright golden light that highlights the altar that I see everytime I attend mass is a constant reminder that I am in the business of lighting primarily to serve Him who Himself is the Great Light.

8. Good Rates.

This serves as a preface to #9. I’ve been shopping for the best bank rates for a car loan for the past couple of weeks. I’ve called friends who are in the business and short-listed a few. At the end of this chase, I’ve proven that the people who know you more can offer more: my bank, BDO. Somehow, they did find a way to cut rates better than the others. 

And having done that…

9. New Ride.

Remember my New Ride entry in my January post? This time it’s not just the tires but the tires and everything attached to them. It has been 17 years since the last time I sat behind the wheel of a brand new car that I can call mine. Looking forward, 17 years may seem like forever but looking back, it’s really that not bad. The longer the wait, the better the appreciation, wise men say. If only for that precious new-car smell while driving through EDSA traffic, it is well worth the wait. God is good all the time.

10. New Government.

So did we vote for the leaders best for us or for the leaders that we deserve? Maybe both. Change is coming they say. Change always comes, doesn’t it. No matter how powerful status quo throws its weight around, there is change. Nonetheless, I am only with a bit of excitement for such that is coming, but a lot hopeful. And prayerful. God bless our country.

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Top 10 May 2016

Got a new pair of shoes from the US that leveled up my style -thanks to @hermiemorelos and @rengdavidmorelos. Count that.

Paid Nikkei’s tuition fees for her final term this school year. She studies in a uni whose ego is bigger than its campus. Count that.

Been able do some good laps in a 52m-long pool in a HK hotel. I still can! Count that, too.

Healthy family. Check that!

I could go on and on counting the blessings to append to this list but you’ll get bored. And so before you do, I’ll stop with this intro. Read on…

1. The Word.

Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, He will give it to you in My Name. John16:23

I can’t recall exactly the homily of Fr. Michael Sloboda, the asst. parish priest of the Rosary Church in Hong Kong in the mass I attended on May 7 in reference to this verse in the gospel but it went something to this effect: The devil doesn’t come dressed in a red cape and pointy horns. He comes as everything you’ve ever wished for. Pray for wisdom and discernment.

For me, this is another reason why I pray what I pray for every time especially during mass (see my earlier post The Seed). 

2. #PhilamMadDash4HK. 

In my last month’s top 10, I wrote about blessings that come even if you don’t ask for them. This is one of them. One day I was so concerned about what to eat during lunch when a call from Austin, my Unit Manager in PhilamLife where I moonlight as a Financial Advisor came. He asked if I was free around first week of May for a HK trip. At what cost, I asked? None, he answered. I told him no. I haven’t had lunch yet. Of course I said yes. Anything I did to deserve it? Hmmm, let me think about this.

Thinking…

None. Pure unadulterated blessing. 

Or maybe the effect of counting your blessings?

3. My Lady’s Happy Mother’s Birthday.

Truth to be told: I suck at choosing gifts especially for Rissa knowing that she already has everything: me. Immediately, almost instantaneously, I had second thoughts about that. So I bought her and my son Andre tickets to HK where birthday gifts are cheaper. I’m practical, you see.

It just so happened that the #PhilamMadDash4HK trip was within the week of my wife’s birthday and Mother’s day. And since my family loves to travel and Nikkei is going to Korea with her cousin anyway, I told my wife and my son Andre to follow me in HK. There we celebrated with a dinner in one of HK’s Michelin-starred restos -Andre’s birthday treat for mom. So what birthday gift i finally bought the wife? A return ticket to Manila. I found out gifts were much cheaper back home.

4. Nikkei Goes to Korea.

This was long time in the making. In terms of number of episodes of Korean telenovelas, about 5 seasons. They started with 99 of our relatives and their friends, planning, scheduling, bursting with excitement. The thrill was so real the neighbors could touch it. By the end of the 5th season, they were down to two: Nikkei and cousin Shannen. Same thrill. Same excitement. But like a battery, down by 97%. And while they were there, and we were in HK, mom and daughter kept their arguments online via viber and facetime as to which color and style must she buy. Girls. IKR?!

5. Elections.

Peaceful, maybe. Honest, maybe. But this one has divided us most, I think. Am just glad that it’s over. Or so I thought. Many Facebook posts still offer arguments to prove or disprove a point or two. People chose to believe in one standpoint and totally stopped believing in others’ including those of the experts. They post positives and they post negatives hoping to gain influence over the opinions of their online friends but they only widen the divide that separates them.

My prayer is that God gives us the leaders that are best for us, not the leaders that we deserve.

6. #SMTreceMartires.

Another month, another mall. SM’s success is our success. Or so I’d like to believe. SM Group is probably one of the biggest employers in the Philippines.’Though me and my #toespin lighting design team are not directly employed, we celebrate its success as its lighting consultants. Every time I see a new mall opens, I see the work of our hands shining brightly. 

7. Financial Blessings.

No less than P99 million pesos. Yup, in my dreams. The real thing comes every now and then, though. It just isn’t fair not to give it a spot in this list. Sure, I recognize that bigger blessings come after -how every peso is spent or used or given, but a peso is a peso is a blessing.

8. Rain.

Back in the days when black and white was black and white and when pimples and circumcision were still far from my mind, I’d watch rain fall from our el balcón and daydream. Dream about the future when I’d watch rain fall and bring back to mind these days of innocence.

Back to the present days in a country where summer noon time starts promptly at 8:00am, rain is a rare commodity between the months of March and May. The Church recently issued an Oratio Imperata for rain and rain it did. As it magically did its thing before, this rain brought me back to those Royco noodle soup days. It's daydreaming time again.

9. Family Meal Chats.

They bring out the best of moods in everyone. Fave subjects are travel stories like when Nikkei ran to an MTR train and the doors closed on the rest of us. Or our first taste of xiao long bao in the place where it supposed to have originated. Or comparing each one’s best (and worst) day in a particular place. Many times, too, we compare our college life (sans cellphones, internet and trains) with our kids’. And do you know that as of this writing, we’re only halfway through our Down Under spin stories? Family time. Love, love, love!

10.  Benjie.

I thought stories of death of a loved one working abroad are just seen on TV or heard of from someone else. And when you do hear about it, you take it for granted. You can only pray it doesn’t happen to you. But when it does, it’s nightmare right before your very eyes. 

Benjamin, my bro-in-law, arrived home for the last time to be buried beside his parents grave. He never recovered from a massive stroke while resting in his flat in Saudi. His last visit was to attend to his daughter’s graduation, the last of three graduations that he made sure he’d attend if only to see the fruits of all his sacrifice working away from his loved ones. Little did we know, that was the last time we’ll see him alive. I still couldn’t wrap my head around this grim reality that Benjie is gone. He is terribly missed.

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Top 10 April 2016

This blog is turning out to be a chronicle of my life’s important and unimportant events that could have easily been flushed down my memory bank drain. At this age when my 64k RAM has failed me many times more than I can remember, keeping a top 10 list every month is actually a good exercise for me. Much like keeping a diary. For as long as this blog site remains live, my memory lives on. And so before I forget, here are my top 10 for April.

1. The Word. He is not here, for He has been raised just as He said. -Mat 28:6

Easter is the biggest annual event that the Church celebrates. It is also the one that I celebrate everyday:

       After maneuvering through a Good Friday traffic in EDSA, I finally arrive home. Easter.

       After meeting with the Pontius Pilates and the Barabbases of my industry, I come home to a kiss from my loving wife. Easter.

       After a Calvary of unfinished projects beset with all kinds of complications, I get to rest and retire in the comforts of my own bed. Easter.

       Every time I experience peace in the celebration of the Holy Mass. Easter.

Difficult times, troubles, pains in the neck and somewhere southern -they can be a bother. But they never last forever. At some point, they cease to be. Because. Easter. Alleluia!

2. Dals's Birthday Party.

There can be times when I find it difficult to identify the exact circumstance that made an event like a birthday party memorable enough to stay in the hard drive of my rustic brain. Few times it is easy. This party is one of them easy. Because there, I met my 2nd grade teacher. Just when I thought most of my elementary school teachers have moved up to the next level or turned stiff as a stick shift, there she was looking as old as I thought she was when I was seven. Her memory still appeared to be intact as she recalled having us in her class. Maybe because my twin brother Fred and I were her first pair of pupils of strange symmetry. Or maybe we were the cutest. Regardless, this I will always remember.

Anyway, the birthday girl. Adelina. Dals for short.

She's my mother's younger sister who's been through a lot not only in years, but also in her anatomy -knee operation being the latest. Celebrating her birthday is such a blessing. Friends and relatives, young and old -very old -most of which she surprisingly remembers, came to celebrate. Though there were times when connections had to be established to wire her memory nerves, she knew almost everyone. Either that or she faked it well.

3 & 4. Cebu and Bohol: Business and Leisure.

Perfect déjà vu moment. Exactly a year after our father and son adventure, am back in Cebu with the wife and daughter. Work or business or leisure or ministry -whatever it is am going away from the standard and predictable routine of home or workbase for, is a delight for me. Maybe because when we were young, we never got to travel beyond 30km radius of our home. Really. I was way beyond the moon over my puberty years when I first set foot in Manila and I only flew out of the country after my first job.  Both good stories to tell in the future. In Cebu, my daughter Nikkei and I accompanied my wife Rissa who conducted a seminar for homeschoolers based in the Visayas. While there, I got to visit #Toespin projects in SM Cebu and SRP. From Cebu, we ferried to Bohol for the Catholic Filipino Academy (CFA) 2016 company outing. The Bellevue, where we were billeted is a fantastic place to go R&R especially if you are with a bunch of crazy and insane people of CFA.

5. Até Vi The Wonder Worker.

And while we were away, an angel cleaned up all trash we've left behind and like magic, made our house look like one. The hands of até Vi, my sister Tess's household angel, work like a wand -they transform a dump into a wonderland. You can eat kare-kare straight off the floors. Just don't ask her to clean up after. It's one good thing being home after a vacation but it's totally another being back to a very clean livable house. Thanks, até V.

6. Korean Visa.

Sometimes blessings come even when you don’t ask for them. My daughter Nikkei is going to Korea next month to make good use of the Korean language she picked up watching Korean shows 25/7. And since Visa, the credit card card company offers free multiple Korean visas to cardholders and with nothing to lose, we submitted our passports, too. Visas granted!  Annyeong! We took a proactive step in the right direction towards the next blessing: I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:6

So when are we going to Korea? Yes.

And which part of Korea are we visiting? Yes.

7. A New Doctor in the Family.

…but there are blessings that are hard to come by. Some take six years of hard work and hard-earned money. Like becoming an optometrist. After daddy Benjie, mommy Tess and kuya Matt, Bernadette becomes the 4th doctor in my sister's family. While the first three are all dentists, Badette is an optometrist. Looking into a one-stop clinic for perfect smiles and clear visions. But not everyone in the family can be doctors. Jaymee, the youngest, is the patient.

8. #SMCitySanJosedelMonte.

Going to the mall -con o sin la familia -for me is work. With more than half of all our current lighting projects being malls, even if it is just for a MickeyDinner, I always feel the urge to check on the illumination. It's an instantaneous reaction. For the past 25 years, my eyes have been trained to look, observe, critique and mentally re-design lighting systems. Am not complaining. The end result of all these is food on our table.

I've attended many SM openings but it was when #SMCitySJDM opened that Tessie Sy-Coson, during her traditional mall-opening walk-thru, expressed her approval and appreciation of the lighting design. In effect, she said in front of everyone, consultants and division heads: Leave lighting to the lighting consultants. And for all intents and purposes, that's us, #toespinlighting!

9. #Celtics down #Warriors 

Oh yeah, this is deep I know. But am a fan. An old fan. Ever heard of John Havlicek’s clutch shots or Dave Cowens’s acrobats? They were the Splash brothers of their time, so to speak. The very first time I got introduced to NBA was the finals series of the ’73-’74 season -the best in the East vs. the best in the West (the Bucks starring Kareem Abdul Jabbar and his dreaded hook shots).  Yup, that old! After school, I watched the replay in our 14” black and white TV set with arial antenna, cheering them on like it was live. There was no remote control and the 3-point shot hasn’t been introduced yet. 

This season’s Celtics may not reach the finals but a rare win against the team that will later hold the record for the most wins ever in a season is something to brag about -as a fan, it’s the best I can do. As of this writing, the Celtics are one of only 9 teams to beat them this season. 

I haven’t watched a live NBA game or have been to Boston yet. One day, I know I will.

10. Traffic Violation

Driving to Lipa city to visit an SM project, I was pulled over for swerving across a solid white line. I was praying the rosary then which is what I always do when driving long distances.The traffic police may have noticed that I was clutching a rosary when I rolled down my window that he, in probably his most gentle and polite voice, asked me where I was going. 

"In Lipa. I have a project in the Archdiocese of Lipa."

Are you a priest?

"No, I am a lay minister."

Alright, please drive carefully. 

Here now is my public confession. I have sinned. Not because I told about a project in the archdiocese because technically, SM Lipa is within its jurisdiction. Neither because I said that I was a lay minister because I do serve as reader in the chapel where I attend my weekday masses. I sinned because the words I uttered were meant to deceive the police officer into thinking their obvious meanings.

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Top 10 March 2016

Procrastination nearly cost me this month's list. Thanks to a long weekend break in Cebu and Bohol, I got my thoughts to work double time for this top 10. Except for #10, all these happened during lent/holy week -the most looked-forward to week of the family. Blessings upon blessings came that week. God is good all the time.

1. The Word

For most of the days of Lent, I listen to the Passion of Christ (all 4 Gospel accounts: Mat 26 &27; Mark 14 &15; Luke  22 & 23; and, John 17-19) on my phone while driving. For reasons I can’t really explain, when I listen:

He refreshes my soul

He guides me in right paths for His name sake

Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil

For you are at my side 

Psalm 23

2. Food Tripping with Tompay

Tompay is not an online payment alternative. It’s the Branjelina version of Tommy and Epay Lara love team -our generous hosts in Australia. We went to Pampanga with the fam bam to give a fitting climax to the vacation-long food trip that started with the turon chase in Baguio. Or even way before that. I guess when you’re with foodies, food is a must. Who cares about the propound effects of all these in the scales? When you’re having fun, let no scale stop you.

3. Holy Week Confession

Funny thing is, after receiving the sacrament, as I walked past several lines of faithfuls waiting for their turn, thankful that I have been forgiven, there came a strong temptation to point an accusing finger and shout at them, “SINNERS!” But with the sacrament comes a strong resolve to banish impure thoughts. So no drama happened there.

4. Diet

Every year, starting from Monday of the Holy Week until Friday, I eat nothing but fruits and vegetables. I’ve been doing this for the past forever. It’s difficult seeing others enjoy the pleasure of eating to one’s heart’s content during a long holiday. But every now and then, I try not to allow my physical get the better of me. Call it sacrifice. Call it cleansing. Either way, it works for me. 

5. Tradition: Good Friday Procession

No one can recall when it started but this is the hi-light of the family’s Holy Week activities. The family decorates one or two carozzas of Mater Dolorosa and the Santo Entierro. At 3pm, when everything is good to go, we pray the Holy Rosary. Then at 5pm, we all join in the procession.

6. Boodle Fight

I grew up eating with my hands -meaning without utensils. Squatted around a dulang, we shared God’s blessings three or so times a day, everyday. It never occurred in my young mind that we were poor. I thought we were Japanese eating on a Chabudai. I couldn’t actually now recall the time when our dining experience was, you know, elevated. But it eventually did. Those days, though gone now, are what come to mind on days like this when we eat with banana leaves as plates and with hands and fingers to dig in. Hands and fingers not necessarily yours. Participated in by children and grandchildren, it’s a fight grandfathers dream of. It’s gastronomic!

7. It’s a BOY!

Prior to the great reveal, Paeng and expecting wife Nadia made all of us take part in a guessing game. Losers were made to take a shot of tequila. I earned one for guessing otherwise. But shouldn’t we’ve puffed cigars instead? The June baby will be the third in his generation and the first to carry balls. Everyone’s excited to see ‘em.

8. The Bobo Game

The “it” gets to nominate a category and every participant should name within 5 seconds a previously unnamed word under that category. Loser drinks a shot of pinakurat vinegar. It was a real riot playing with the kids but not without the price of drinking 3 acidic shots. I’ve never had so much laughs and acid refluxes since puberty. It taught me there's more to life than lighting. The Bobo game: not for the faint-esophagused. 

9. My Old Man, Part II

March 28 is his 88th. Unlike that pesky pet bottle story last month, this one started with food and ended with more food and a song. It’s a blessing to celebrate life with the one who gave it to you. At this point in our life and his, I can only be thankful of the miracle of life especially when an acute gastro back in February threatened to break it. Or that I feared it did. 

10. My Car Got Towed Away

I shouldn’t have trusted the security guard of the building. Just one of several lessons that I can learn from this. During the first few minutes, I took the chance, nay, opportunity to choose being spiritual than emotional. So I prayed and hoped that a miracle would happen. Midway through the chauffeured ride, I was offered a bail out: discounted “penalty”, shortened time wasted, less inconvenience. In my mind, if I give in, I will be contributing to the corruption that I’ve taken disgust for and therefore realize this was not the answer to my prayer. What will I tell my children during dinner? Heck, what will I write in this blog? I swallowed hard to decline politely. I was at peace with my decision. At the end, through the help of a friend, I got more (legit) discount than what was initially offered and I was 15 kms closer to my next appointment. My soul uncompromised. 

P.S. the stats in this blog show readers from Poland, Germany, Israel and Ukraine. If you are from one of these countries, I’d appreciate a comment below. Thanks for following.

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Top 10 February 2016

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February came and went like a Cupid's arrow. There’s been a wild turnover of blessings this month that’s worthy of count. I stand by my dictum that if you don't count them, they don't multiply. So let's do this month's list. Included is, in my list of lists, the greatest blessing ever -the Word. This month, I chose a few verses in the Feb 29 first reading taken from the book of 2Kings. There are more than what's included in the list but let's stick with 10.

1. Naaman, the Syrian; Naaman, the Filipino.

And Eli'sha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean." 11But Na'aman was angry, and went away, saying, "Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and cure the leper. 12Are not Aba'na and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?” 2 Kings 5:1-15

That's me -the Pinoy version of the complaining Syrian. 
Lo, I ask. Why on heaven and Earth the need to go to a certain place, wash seven times? Can't God just snap a finger? Or let out a divine thought? Didn't He create this universe with words? Why the need for rituals? 

Lo, I answer. Jesus Himself used rituals in performing miracles of healing. I think that in order for our obedience to be perfect, we must follow certain rules which to our limited minds may seem unnecessary. Pretty much like love, I guess. God commanded us to love our enemies -not so much for our enemies but for our love to be perfect.
Lo, I rest.

2. Flowers for my Lady. 

One of the few times every year I get to buy or ask someone to buy flowers for my one and only -Valentine’s day. The other times are anniversary and mothers’ day. If mothers’ day is within 5 days of her birthday, she gets Happy Mother’s birthday flowers. Tipid, ‘di ba? But this is beside the point I want to make. These are flowers to the one who listens to my funny stories and laugh, and tells the kids to laugh too, or else; who gets up first in the morning to fix breakfast; and, who loves me not for my money(??) or my body(?!) but for who I am. I am my money and my body -haha! And I am better because of the love: the CRI of the light I see is higher; my power to shine is magnified.

3. A Nestea Bottle and My Old Man.

Last year's movie San Andreas that Tatang and I went out to see left me feeling sad, a hint fearful and foolishly ridiculous all at the same time not because of how the movie turned out but because of a silly Nestea pet bottle. After popping a handful of popcorn a few minutes into the movie, we each grabbed our iced tea. I opened mine and was about to chug in a few when I noticed he was still struggling to open his. After a couple of attempts, he willfully gave it to me to open. I was one sad son that day. The iron hands I knew as a child that moved heaven and earth are now weaker than a child's.

Fast forward to February 2016.

A few weeks ago this February, Tatang was admitted in a hospital for the first time in 20 years. Based on that initial hint of fear and my limited knowledge of human anatomy, this must be a protraction of the San Andreas impact. The fear of course is opposed to the supposed faith I profess. But it was real.

Tatang was discharged after a day of confinement -for acute gastro. Although the fear might have been unfounded, the sadness for my old man remains.

4. Home.

It is without exaggeration when I say going  to hometown Dinalupihan, Bataan always gives me a feeling of refreshment every time no matter if the visit is for Christmas, Holy Week, the barrio fiesta, a sick relative, or even a funeral. Though it appears smaller in my eyes now, as small as the number of people I know, it is and will always be home to me. It may NOT look like my old hometown anymore, but it still feels like it. Here is where I grew up and messed up. Here is where I am reminded of early school days, of happy sun-drenched summers playing patintero with neighbors and cousins, of dear Inang hollering for lunch or supper or bath time, and of apung Juan and apung Trining. 

This time out, we visited two dear aunts Daling and Naty who are both bed-ridden. Both were glad to see us although only dà Daling could recognize us. A visit like this brings to mind a medley of Beatles songs like Julia & Let It Be -tributes to Lennon's and McArtney's mothers. Seeing them is like seeing my dear mother. They are in my prayers everyday.

5. Lent.

A favorite liturgical season of mine. It’s my time to get holier than my own perception of holiness. From the Wednesday of Ashes to the Sunday of Resurrection, I try to reconcile not only myself to my Creator, but also my new self to my old that takes me right back on tract in this thing called existence. Read my last year's blog about lent.

6. God's Security.

  

This is one great blessing that’s taken for granted . Everyday, I take so much delight in knowing that everyone in my family is home safe. With one office/school/traffic story after another to tell, I am comforted. I recite Psalm 91 several times everyday knowing that at no time in the day I don’t need God’s protection.

7. Therapy.

I have a client whose family is listed as one of Forbes’ 10 richest in the country. According to him, doing the dishes is his therapeutic way of easing off stress. 

Though still unlisted, I do have my own share of daily hassles. But washing the dishes is not for me. I’ve been washing dishes ALL MY LIFE -I can’t find the chill in cleaning, soaping, rinsing and drying.

Car wash -this is my R&R. I don’t see Mr. Rich doing this because if he does, it’ll take him forever to finish all the Audis in his showroom (there’s a giveaway on the person). This is my therapy: kick off my slippers, grab the hose, wash on, wash off. While at it, I get to thank God for the blessing of cars and for keeping us safe on the road every  time. It can take me a couple of hours but right after, the cars get a fresh look and I get a fresh outlook.

8. Brunch.

Friday dine out is one of the things that my family gave up for lent. Sunday breakfasts and lunches, too. Instead, we brunch out every Sunday after hearing mass. One new resto every week. The kids check out Zomato, while I ask for the price. If all good and within pocket reach, we brunch. I know that it’s cheap thrill but we do get the feel -from searching for the next place to eat, and arguing about the menu it serves to actually eating there. This may extend up to Easter and beyond! I hear cheers!

9. That Steph Curry Moment.

Game is tied. 6 seconds to go in the game. Steph takes a dribble past the half-court line. Aims for a trey much like the way he did >170 times this season. Oh, who doesn't know what happened next? Andre and I let out a 100Db-loud “whoooooah!” that sent da mommy's heart out of bounds.

Sports is one of the binding forces in my family. In tennis, Andre and I go for Rafa, while mom and daughter cheer for Roger. I'm forever Celtics while Nikkei, for the moment cheers for Curry’s daughter. Tennis or basketball or football or uni volleyball, sports is a venue for a healthy family argument, teasing, taunting, poking, fighting. Oh yes, I love my family!

10. Monday Breakfasts.

Because we are in the world. And to keep us from its influence, we study the Word. We call ourselves the Wordly Men. JoeDean is the founder of He Cares Mission -a 20-year old ministry for street children while Alfred is a founding elder of Lualhati ng Panginoon -a Catholic community based in Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in Cubao. We share stories of the past days to strengthen one another’s faith. This is what we do every Monday for the past 3 or 4 years. The reflection that started this top 10 is a product of this.

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Top 10 January 2016

Last year, I struggled with my resolutions of at least a book-read and a blog-write a month. I started with several books but finished about two. I also wrote only 5 blogs. This year, I came up with this brilliant idea -brilliant according to my own measure -to help me keep at least the blogging part: a monthly TOP 10. Ten what? Ten anything -blessings, events, objects, projects, places, ideas, jokes, struggles, challenges, concrete, abstract -anything to be thankful for. It's a way of counting my blessings. Brilliant, eh? Let's all agree.

In no particular order, let’s begin...

1. The Past. 

Year 2015. The year was big -too big to put into words. But allow me: my family went Down Under for the first time in forever; re-visited Thailand after nearly 30 years with the wife; lighting projects outside the Metro; lighting projects within the metro; Andre’s graduation; Andre’s first job; Rissa going to Japan with the girls; Monday Bible sharing with the best men-friends; ad infinitum. If any other future year levels up with this one, well I'll be...

2. Life and Death. 

See The Dely Post. 

3. The Seed. 

My daily mass. Read earlier post.

4. Discipline. 

They say if you do something for 21 straight days, it becomes a habit. What becomes of it after 45 straight days? An addiction? Call it a that or call it cow, I won't sweat ya. But sweat out I do everyday I ride my stationary bike. Except for the days of chasing turon (see #9) in Baguio, I got myself to burning calories for at least an hour a day. The 5mm that this ride has chipped off my love handles greatly delighted the people in my life. Oh, who am I kidding? Am the only bag of bones that feels good about this.

5. Healing. 

Sort of. Of the wound of ancient days. When news of my nephew Matthew passing the board exams for dentistry came out, everyone was happy. But more than just happy, I felt healed. Long story but during my time (Board exams for Electrical Engineers), I didn’t make anyone happy. Or just maybe the person who stole(!?) my Math papers. Upon checking with PRC, I was told that I must have mistakenly switched my exam papers with my scratch papers. The scratch papers were given a grade: 69%! The real ones, I don’t know. I demanded to see the Math papers of the top 10 finishers. Denied. Nobody there to back me up. So thanks, Matt. Am healed. Congratulations! (Note: I took another Math exams. It was a breeze. Got my license shortly after).

6. The lil’ neighbor. 

Yup, Pia girl. Never fails to entertain us. Pia, who is bi-lingual, speaks Tagalog at home and English when she’s home with us. Some of her few-liners:

    Me: Pia, are you going somewhere?

    Pia: Nothing.

    L. Rissa (in the car): come with us!

    Pia: No, we're going something.

    Pia: is this your basura?

    L. Rissa: Of course not!

    Pia: Of course.... or not?

Because she always shows up in our front door bringing her brand of laughter, expect Pia to show up in future Top Tens.

7. New ride. 

Not the car. Just the tires.

You know what’s the next best thing to owning a new car? It’s the feeling of owning a new car. And that’s exactly what having a new set of tires can give. Hey, I may not afford to buy a new car but I can afford to buy the experience. Never mind what others think.

8. "We've Got It All For You." 

New contract with SM. All the efforts paid off. Previous to this, we were made to negotiate each and every new project. With the new agreement, no more negotiations. Just do it!

9. The Turon Chase. 

Baguio was supposed to be a marriage retreat but our retreat master Tommy’s tummy had other plans. It demanded for a turon. For three days and a half, we chased that elusive wrapped banana con langka. We found strawberries instead. And ube. And tupig. And longganisa. And coffee beans. And corn on a cob. Heck, we found the stars in the sky shining more brightly than ever. But not a single turon (an oxymoron?). Devoid of it’s craving, the master’s tummy got upset. There goes the retreat. Nevertheless, the chase gave us a good laugh and more. Something to laugh about next year. And the next…

10. The Future. 

Year 2016. It's been said many times, many ways: I don't know what the future holds; but I know Who holds the future. With God on my side, this future looks good. I can only be thankful.

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