Vera tags me with Seven Random Facts About Me, and Anj tags me with a 20 Questions-type meme.

From and for Vera

1. I have three tattoos. One of Calvin and Hobbes, one of an Egyptian ankh, and one of a tiger tearing its way out of my skin.

2. I have one ear piercing. Got it less than a year ago. Midlife crisis hasn’t quite ended yet.

3. I once shoplifted. I stole a cassette tape of The Pixies from National Bookstore. It was not a good album.

4. I have run over at least three cats. The guilt occasionally gnaws at me.

5. I used to go to Ateneo with a Coleman full of Long Island Iced Tea that was 80% rum and 20% iced tea. Playing for the Blue Babble stone-drunk and getting away with it was a feather in my cap.

6. I can’t whistle. So when people who can, do it in front of me to spite me, I spit at them.

7. I am forgiven. Despite all my stupidity, my flaws, and my loopiness, God continued and continues to love me. He took all of the above, forgave me for them, and gave me second, third, countless chances. He can do the same for any of you. Don’t let anything in your past stop you from achieving that glorious future that God has promised you in His Word. He won’t leave you and He will always have your back. I guarantee it.

For this meme, I tag anyone wearing anything red.

From and For Anj

Rules of Engagement. Remove one question from below, and add in your personal question. (Mine is marked with the triple dollar sign) to make it a total of 20 questions, then tag eight (8) people in your list. List them out at the end of the post.

Mae tagged me with a new meme: define love without using cliches. (Oh, man, but cliches are fun!)

Anyway, here’s my definition of love.

Love is what stops you from thinking of doing bad things to a wife who has talked about nothing else but Edward Cullen for the past three weeks.

Love is what keeps you from entertaining all the wrong thoughts when your four-year-old enters your room with the express intention of waking up his sleeping baby sister.

Love is what keeps you getting up at three in the morning to make a bottle of milk for said baby sister when you’ve had only two hours of sleep.

Love is what will motivate said wife, said son, and said baby sister to forgive me for this blog entry.

Love is what motivates me to tag my new friend Vera, my brother in Christ Ariel, and my wife.

Candice has tagged me.

The rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people and post a comment to Candice’s blog (she’s the one who tagged me) once you’ve posted your three sentences.

I wanted to be strict about this, but as it turns out, the nearest book, Jealousy: 99 Tips to Bring You Back from the End of Your Rope, a gift to Cathy, isn’t long enough. So the book after that is Daily Readings from ‘Your Best Life Now’ by Joel Osteen.

Page 123 is taken from the No Fear chapter. Sentences 6 to 9 read:

Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8 NLT) Rather than thinking the worst when you hear that siren, dwell on the fact that God has promised He will give His angels charge over your family. Say something such as “Thank You, Father, that your angels are protecting my family members. Thank You that my children are safe and sound in the palm of Your hand.”

And now, to continue the game, I am tagging

• Tina at RefineMe.org
• Anj at ImpulseBlogging
• Marian at hellobebe
• Joni at TaintedSong
• Romela at Roaming Around With Romela

Toni posts on her blog, Wifely Steps, an interesting blog carnival that I have to be a part of! It’s called If Books Were Food…

What’s this carnival about?
It’s all about answering this question: If books were food, what would they taste like?

Write about the books you loved as a child. Write about your all-time favorite reads. Write about books that made you cry. Write about books you never finished reading. Write about books you’re curious about. Write about banned books.

But let’s not stop at just books. Connect them with food. If your favorite childhood book were food, what would it taste like? If your favorite books of all time were food, what would they be?

——

For me, the Bible can be compared to a buffet, an eat-all-you-can experience with something for everyone.

I look at the Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - as the buffet’s roast beef, prime rib, roast turkey, the main attraction, the indulgent meat that give me strength and extreme pleasure. When I read the words of Christ, it literally fills me up and encourages me to go on. It is my source of strength and the highlight of my buffet. I supplement these with delicious side dishes, usually taken from the letters of Paul, which add flavor and depth to the gospels.

Two of my favorite Bible books are the books of Esther and Job, which I can compare to the buffet’s Japanese spread. Job’s story is biting and fiery, like the sensual explosion of spicy wasabi with raw tuna flesh; Esther, on the other hand, has all the elements of California maki, with its sweet story of Esther’s triumph over adversity to become the queen of Persia, a touch of salty coarseness with Haman’s plot to kill the Jews, and a fine finish, with God’s angels defending His people against the king’s troops instructed to massacre them.

The Song of Solomon is the oyster spread, an aphrodisiac that can only prepare us for the night ahead returning home from the buffet. It is sensual, it is rich, it is a sinfully pleasurable read.

Ironically, my dessert - I return to it over and over - is Genesis, the first book. I love reading about how God creates the earth, about how man falls, and the stories of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob… they’re filling and they make me want to return again and again, which is how I feel about a buffet’s desserts. Abraham’s is like a rich chocolate cake, full of God’s promise and bursting with His goodness. Noah can be like a fruit plate, refreshing and encouraging. Adam is a bittersweet chocolate ganache, sweet at first then with a burst of bitterness that lingers in the palate but encourages you to search for something sweeter and deeper, like a relationship with God.

I look at Psalms and Proverbs like the little take-home candies. Life can get extremely difficult at times, turning up the stress factor and making it hard to focus and enjoy the company of friends, family, and alone time with God. Whether it is a refreshing one- to two-sentence bite of sweet wisdom, or a tangy sour warning against becoming complacent, Psalms is the ideal bit of God’s Word that sustains me throughout the day.

I appreciate the Philippine blogosphere for everything it has to offer. Thanks to Google Feed Reader, I am able to keep track of more than 120 blogs from all over the world, with themes ranging from spirituality to humor, from search engine marketing to sex. Okay, maybe not sex.

Arnold Gamboa tagged me today. As some of you know, Arnold is a dear online brother in Christ whose friendship with me goes way back to when he and I worked together for a while for a local Christian publication that has ceased to operate. Since then, we have covered each other in prayer, and rely on our individual websites to keep tabs on each other. I value his friendship, and was tickled pink to be included in his daily list of ten must-reads. He, of course, is on mine, despite his inability to post regularly. *eherm*

I’ve modified his original meme, though, because, technically, some of my favorite blogs don’t update on a daily basis. Heck, GannsDeen.com isn’t updated on a daily basis either. (The personal side of my blogging life has seemed to morph towards my Multiply website.)

Having said that, I’ve modified the meme a bit to cover ten blogs I always look forward to reading for sheer enjoyment and thought-provoking content. I hope this list is broad enough to cover my range of interests and open-mindedness to a variety of topics and issues. They are, in random order:

1. PostSecret. Every Sunday (Monday in Manila), a collection of anonymous postcards is uploaded onto this website, detailing people’s secrets. The therapeutic benefits of admitting a secret in front of millions behind the cover of anonymity has led this website to become the largest non-advertisement-driven website in the world. Some secrets will literally move you to tears; others will shock you with their deviant insinuations; yet others may lead you to uncontrollable bouts of laughter. Always enjoyable, never a dull moment, potentially life-changing.

2. Wifely Steps. Toni has been a dear friend of mine since college. Her blog is a tribute to the joy of positivity and the inexplicable sensation of always looking at the world with the eyes of a child, experiencing life daily with wonder and passion. Her love for all things domestic and, of course, her beloved H, is an inspiration.

3. TessTermulo.com. I value and respect Dr. Termulo despite having met her only twice in person, because her blog is literally a tribute to the power of the written word, logic, and respect for any opinion. She and I have disagreed occasionally on a variety of topics, but we have kept that mutual respect of each other, and in the moments and issues where we do agree, I have found extreme pleasure in acquiring a formidable ally. A fierce friend and greatly respected Pinoy blogger.

4. About My Recovery. Noemi Dado is more than an inspiration. Every day, she deals with the loss of her beloved son Luijoe with grace and aplomb. No stranger to controversy but always level-headed and civil, Tita Noemi, as I brazenly call her, is the blog den mother every Pinoy blogger dreams of having. I have an almost inexplicable loyalty for defending her and her daughter, Lauren, because, end of day, it is about recognizing a woman’s humanity and potential - and watching them live it out before you online - that she and Lauren have taught me to appreciate.

5. BergLovesPizza. Berg is a 25-year-old frustrated musician whose love of music has led me to his website. He offers mp3s for consideration from some of the world’s most esteemed artists, but more importantly, he communicates his appreciation and love of music in general so eloquently on his website that every new post brings me running to see what latest nugget he’s chosen to spotlight.

6. Discipleship is Relationship. One of several blogs managed by Victory Christian Fellowship - Fort Bonifacio pastor Joey Bonifacio, this blog describes the myriad ways one can develop a relationship with God and others in the faith. He frequently compares discipleship to a variety of everyday objects or concepts, in the process simplifying abstract ideas and making it significantly easier to understand. An absolute must-read.

7. Atheista.net. I follow up Pastor Joey’s blog with Benj Espina’s Atheista.net blog. After an initially rocky start where Benj and I hated each other’s guts, I’d like to believe that he and I have developed a mutual respect for each other’s strengths and right to each other’s beliefs. An impressive writer whose passion for the word extends to his love for debate and love-hate relationship with his medical studies, Benj is one Filipino blogger I hold in highest regard.

8. What in Tarnation? Christopher Wright trains and teaches the children of tomorrow, and in his blog, details the joy and the struggle. I’ve known Mr Wright since 2001, and he’s been one of my strongest influences.

9. Journey Inside My Mind. Dan Johnson is another inspiring man who has overcome tremendous odds with grace and panache. Known for his ‘officials’ list, a wry sense of humor, and a fierce loyalty to his wife and daughter, Dan_the_man is a sterling example of what I’d eventually like to be when I grow up. If ever I grow up.

10. Empress Maruja. I only recently added Empress Maruja to my feed, but this blogger is riotously funny. I met him in the course of maintaining a blog for Philippine Idol on ABC-5, and his dedication to his craft and the show was both enjoyable and truly remarkable. One of the country’s more respected queer bloggers, I respect Maruja for everything he’s done to advance gender sensitivity - gays are people too - and cheer up the unsuspecting web surfer with carefully selected topics, an occasional flash of skin (male, what else do you expect?), and the always enjoyable zing of an insult delivered in delightfully tart gay lingo.

I also must mention Bene Diction Blogs On in passing. It’s been almost seven years, and I still have no idea whether BD is male or female. LOL Not that it matters, but Bene Diction has been one of the most steadfast influences on me as a Christian blogger. The world is better with this blogger still around.

Find out which Transformer you are at LiquidGeneration!

I’m Red Alert, the rain-on-parade spoilsport. Hey, I like playing it safe.

Mae, I know you tagged me to do this ages ago (and for the ‘Proud to be Pinoy’ section!), and I’m sorry! LOL Here it is, thanks for tagging me, I’m honored.

1. I have a routine in locking my car. When I lock Gina, my Hyundai Getz Philippines, I lock her front doors (which automatically locks all doors), then I check each door, going around the car. Then I check all doors a second time. If I don’t do this, I cannot focus for the rest of day, thinking, “Did I lock my car? Did I not?” It went away with the keyless alarm of our old car, the Revorend, but now that we have Gina, it’s happening all over again.

2. I like crushed chips. We used to call them ’sopas,’ or ’soup.’ I used to buy chips and just crush them so I could tip the bag over and just shake the crushed chips into my mouth. The best chips for crushing? Clover Chips Cheese, Nacho Chips Barbecue, and Ruffles Sour Cream and Cheddar. Mmmmm.

3. I choose cartoons. CNN, ESPN, Discovery, National Geographic, ETC, Crime/Suspense, Lifestyle … all take a backseat to the best cable channels in the world, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network.

4. I love my mummy. I am fascinated by mummies. And dinosaurs. I once went excavating in my backyard, only to unearth two lumps of something which I brought to my Mom. I told her they were dinosaur bones. She said they were cat poop.

5. I prefer harmonizing over lead vocals. I’ve been singing since I was four, but I don’t want to be the lead vocal. I like being the backup, the harmony, the second voice. It’s so much easier for me, there’s less pressure, and it’s a heckuva lot more fun. I blame Wilson Phillips.

6. Unchecked, I can finish a half-gallon of ice cream in one sitting. It’s happened. I don’t want it to happen again.

Three reasons I’m proud to be Pinoy? We’re creative, we’re resourceful, and we don’t take ourselves too seriously in times when being too serious can be detrimental.

For either of the two sections of this meme, I tag Ariel, Jax, Forg, PJ, Toni, and the Jester.

A long overdue meme from Joni is finally answered.

1. My family is complete. Baby Nicola Jean has joined Nathan, Cathy, and me to complete our family. I’m still torn between Nicki or Cocoa (pronounced like the chocolate drink), though, for a nickname, hehe. She is healthy, she is beautiful, she will be Miss World 2027. Hahaha!

2. We have a new car. Gina, our Hyundai Getz Philippines, has finally gotten her license plates! We can drive her around in peace and confidence! Plus, she has a new horn, spankin’ leather seats, and awesome car mats. She rocks my socks!

3. Cathy is flying to Malaysia. I’m a little perturbed she’s doing this just as Nicki (Cocoa!) is turning a month old, but then again, my wife is presenting a paper at an international educators’ conference. I’m so proud of my sweetheart!

4. My job rocks my socks. Things are hard here, naturally, but it’s challenging and I love what I do.

5. I’m going to small group tonight! After more than two months of absence, this one I can’t wait for. I’m thirsting for fellowship with my bros from VCF Fort, and tonight I’m finally gonna join ‘em. Woohoo!

Gotta tag some people, according to Joni’s rules, so I choose Red, Tina, Leigh, Lean, and Kim.

For this week’s Thursday Thirteen (Fridays in Manila), I write down my 13 favorite sitcom characters.

1 Rose Nylund. Played by Betty White on the Golden Girls, Rose was a sweet but airheaded blonde from Minnesota. “Then the sheriff came, and I told him about how I kill men, and he didn’t believe me! He said, ‘Let’s see, sleep with me!’, so I did. Then the sheriff died!”

2 Phoebe Buffay. Played by Lisa Kudrow on Friends, Phoebe was a kooky lady who lived on the street before becoming friends with the rest of the gang. Phoebe: “Someday I’ll tell you about the time I stabbed a cop.” Monica: “What?!” Phoebe: “What! He stabbed me first!”

3 Chandler Bing. Matthew Perry played this character on Friends and has since gone on to become typecast in the role of the sarcastic best friend. “Everytime I see fishnet stockings, I’m reminded of… my father in fishnet stockings.”

4 Winnie the Witch. Played by Corinne Bohrer, Winnie was the lead character on Free Spirit, a forgotten sitcom - didn’t last a season - that is also memorable for a prepubescent Alysson Hannigan. “Not necessarily!”

5 Balki Bartokomous. Bronson Pinchot played this lovable character from Mipos on the hit 80s sitcom Perfect Strangers. “Now we so happy, we do the dance of joy!”

6 Murphy Brown. Candice Bergen played the title role in this runaway hit. “Oh my God, I have milk coming out of my breasts. This is like having bacon come out of your elbow.”

7 Karen Walker. Grace Adler’s rich secretary on Will and Grace was played by former talk show host Megan Mullally. Jack: “We need a good designer.” Karen: “Do you know any?” Jack (referring to Grace): “Why isn’t she speaking?” Karen: Because she’s hypnotized by her own dress.”

8 Dr. Niles Crane. David Hyde-Pierce was spectacular in his role as Dr. Frasier Crane’s brother on the hit sitcom Frasier. Niles (referring to Bebe, Frasier’s agent: “Oh, dear, don’t turn around. It’s that dreadful woman who works for you.” Frasier: “Who?” Niles: “Um… Lady Macbeth without the sincerity.”

9 Raymond Barone. Ray Romano played the title character on Everybody Loves Raymond. I relate sooo much. Debra Barone: “It’s not about winning and losing. ” Ray Barone: “You know who says that? The loser.”

10 Niles the Butler. Daniel Davis was delightful as the sarcastic butler in The Nanny. Oi vey, he was one of my favorites! C.C.:  “I couldn’t put a foot out of bed this morning.” Niles: “Did someone put a rock on your coffin again?”

11 Lucy Ricardo. All hail the irrepressible, incomparable Lucille Ball! I LOVE LUCY! Lucy (talking to Ethyl about Ricky) “He’s put his foot down so many times, I feel like I’m married to a cuban centipede.”

12 Fez. Wilmer Valderrama’s turn as the ever-horny, ever-sweet Fez (short, by the way, for Foreign Exchange Student, a little 70s spin right there) is hilarious. That 70s Show was a great show.

13 Grandpa Vladimir Dracula. Howard Morton was terribly funny as the cantankerous Grandpa Munster on The Munsters Today. Marilyn: 1988? It can’t be! Grandpa: Yes it can, and it is! But it’s no problem, I can have it fixed in a jiffy. Lily: Jiffy? You can not fix what happened, we have just taken a twenty-two year nap!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

For this week’s Thursday Thirteen (Fridays in Manila), I list 13 actors, in alphabetical order, who have publicly declared their faith in Jesus Christ. (Whether their actions match their faith is another matter, but we aren’t called forth to judge, and let those without sin cast the first stone.)

1. Daniel & Natasha Bedingfield. The singing siblings - he of If I’m Not the One, she of Unwritten - haven’t quite come out with explicitly Christian songs in their albums, but then again, a ton of singers who are Christian haven’t either.

2. Lacey Chabert. The actress from Party of Five recently went sexy with a series of magazine spreads, but whatever.

3. Anna Chlumsky. Actress most well-known for My Girl with Macaulay Culkin.

4. Alice Cooper. Believe it or not.

5. Miley Cyrus. More popularly known as Hannah Montana, she and her dad share a close Christian bond.

6. Ryan Gosling. Actor most well-known for his work in The Notebook opposite Rachel McAdams.

7. Taylor Hicks. Surprise! The 2006 American Idol is in our ranks.

8. Jennifer Hudson. No surprise at all. JHud has been praising Jesus publicly ever since she landed the role of Effie White - and well before that.

9. Olivia Newton-John. Who would’ve guessed the popular Australian-born singer and actress believed in Jesus, especially after her relatively open-ended Gaia album?

10. Chuck Norris. The actor who played Walker Texas Ranger believes in a higher law.

11. Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond. Turns out they’re Mormon. Thanks, D.

12. Mr T. I pity the foo’ who don’t believe Mr. T believes in forgiveness and the healing power of Christ.

13. Elijah Wood. The Lord of the Rings star is open about his faith.

Sources: here and here.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants