Do you treat people like you're on a New York subway?

How do you treat the people you love? Do you care for them or do you treat them like you're on a New York subway? I have seen many different kinds of people on the subway and they all have their own way of surviving.

• Some push and shove to get in, to get their way. New Yorkers are famous for rushing and running to catch a train, amidst the fact that another train is coming anyway in just a few minutes.
• Many are inconsiderate. They want the best seat, they want to sit down, and they want to beat you to it.
• Some talk on the phone and they put their "dirty laundry" out there for everyone to hear. 
• A few occupy too much space and purposely take up more than one seat or put their stuff on a seat next to them. 
• Seats are not given up for the elderly, but they have to stand and balance just like everyone else. 
• When people come and ask for money, we can be experts at not hearing, looking the other way and simply ignoring them. I tend to do this myself. 
• Taking advantage of a captive audience and asking for help (which gets ignored above). 
• When a subway car is empty and people start walking in, notice how people keep a safe distance from each other and choose to stay a couple of seats away. 

Strangers sit next to each other on the subway for minutes and sometimes hours, and I guess some of these actions are normal. But in real life, at least when we get off the subway, let's remember to treat people better than that!

10 Things I Miss about the Christmas Season in Manila

Christmas 2007 - the boys with Danae

10. Not being the only one to start decorating, shopping, and playing Christmas music early -- I am so used to finishing all the preparations before December 1 (because of #3). And singing Pinoy Christmas songs!

9. Wearing whatever I want to the parties, and not having to layer my outfits or think about the cool and freezing weather.

8. 13th month pay. Every time I tell my friends here about that law, it makes them consider moving to the Philippines!

Thammie, Claire, Pinky, Iya, Phoebe, Macy, Jolina, Jan and I

7. Shopping in Divisoria and under the Quiapo Bridge. I love getting the Christmas wrappers, cards, and gifts by September or October and beating the Christmas rush. Macy and I have our first drafts of Christmas lists by August!

6. Annual get-togethers with college friends. When we don't have the time before Christmas, we meet before New Year's or at Bang's birthday party. It's cool to see how this group grows with boyfriends, girlfriends and now spouses too. Fats and Joanne, are you gonna have babies by Christmas 2011? :-)

Not-so-small group party, 2008

5. Post-Christmas leftover lunch at the Mumars. We hang, play games, talk about how we spent Christmas day with our families. One time we even went outside to play patintero!

With my first inaanak, Alexa

4. Sambang Gabi and the annual breakfast in Tagaytay after. Sambang Gabi is our church's version of a special dawn service a few days before Christmas. After the service, we have hot chocolate, puto  bumbong, bibingka. Then we head over for the real breakfast in Tagaytay, which is 2 hours away from Manila and has an amazing view of Taal Volcano.

3. All the parties, especially the Every Nation staff party, with LA, Robert or Dennis hosting and all the fun games. I also really miss our Balimbing party (don't know what else to call it) at the Punzalan home, our small group party with Miz Judy, my small group party with the girls, and our youth Christmas party. I am sure everyone in Manila has a full schedule for the rest of the season, and I certainly miss it!

With my inaanak, Lorenzo

2. Giving gifts to my inaanaks (godchildren), friends, and family that I haven't seen in two Christmases! I miss seeing Danae, Bella, Arkin, Ereka, Lorenzo, Alexa and of course, my niece Angela. Aside from the parties, there's always impromptu get-togethers and coffee with Pinky, Macy, Jan, Charis, Iya, Chryso, Voica and so many others!

1. Spending Christmas with Mama, Papa, Bhaya, Melody and Angela. When we were kids, our parents used to take us to Star City, or even Payanig sa Pasig (where Metro Walk is). We would drive around looking at the lights, enjoying the cool air, and think of different things to do every year. I have great memories of simple and fun Christmases and I surely miss it and am thankful for it.

With my niece and inaanak, Angela

For my Pinoy friends in America, what do you miss about Christmas in Manila? And for my friends in Manila, how's your Christmas celebration so far? 

No matter where you are or how you are celebrating this year, I hope you have a very merry and memorable Christmas and a fabulous new year!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6

Seasons Matter

Having grown up in Manila, I never experienced the four seasons. In the Philippines, we only have hot, humid, and wet, and more often it's a combination of all three. So experiencing seasons is one of the reasons why living in America is special. I've always liked the spiritual parallels of seasons, and now that  have been here now for for full seasons straight, I think it's safe to say seasons matter.


There are some things you have to or can only do in a particular season, like putting on socks at night in the winter or swim outdoors in the summer. This is still so new to me, because I am used to never having to wear socks at night (except maybe in Baguio) or having the option to swim anytime of the year. I was wondering back in July why everyone took vacations then, and now I understand more.








Seasons change sooner than you think, and this can make for an expensive wardrobe, extensive interior design and special menus for each season. You have to store certain clothes, and have different footwear for the extremely warm or cool times.

I've wondered why God made seasons, and sometimes I think because He likes seeing the changes. He is not boring and can't stand things being just the same. And so even if winter or summer can be inconvenient, we have to deal with it because there's beauty in every season.

Seasons can be hard if you are not aware of how you should dress or live, and are not willing to adjust. If you insisted on wearing your gloves in the summer or swimming outside in the winter, you're definitely in for trouble. And since temperatures drop at night in the fall and spring, it's unwise not to carry a light jacket. Winter also is really unbearable if you think can wing it, dress like you're in denial, and don't have a layering strategy. (Especially for an Asian like me, layering is a must!)

Even if I don't like winter, I am learning to live in it. Winter is a time to stay in, enjoy family, bundle up, and to enjoy the snow from inside, with a cup of hot chocolate, a blanket and a good book.

Spring is a favorite -- a time of new beginnings, where what you thought was dead is alive. You can shed some of the extra layers and take good walks. During spring this year, I enjoyed looking at the trees outside my apartment and noticed changes in the plants practically every day, with blooms, flowers and fresh leaves.

Summer reminds me of Manila, of a time when I can wear what I want and walk around in flipflops. It does not get as humid here, but it's still unbearably hot. I laugh at how people want to get tanned here, spreading out even if we don't have a beach or pool in the area, but I guess the harshness of winter and the anticipation during spring just makes everyone excited for the sun.

And fall is just beautiful. I love the colors. Fall is a time to enjoy the outdoors, get together, cook, and celebrate. If trees were people, I am sure they would say it's painful to shrivel up, shed leaves and look like you're dying. Fall is also a time when you gear up for the winter, and that's definitely what I am doing now.

Each season is special. And God works in seasons. Funny thing is, we're not often content with the season we are in, not just in the physical sense but in the spiritual as well. But know that whatever season you're in, it's only a matter of time before it changes again. 

Jethro's Agenda and Advice

I was reading Exodus 18 this morning, and it was my first time to notice that Moses had sent his wife and their 2 sons away (verse 2) during the time the Israelites were traveling in the desert. The Bible does not explain why Moses sent his family away. Maybe it was because Moses thought it was unsafe for them? Maybe they had some problems we do not know about? Or maybe Moses was so busy doing God's work that he pushed his family away?

A few verses later, we see Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, bringing back his daughter and his 2 grandsons to his son-in-law. Moses and Jethro apparently had a good relationship, and Jethro could see the Lord's hand among the Israelites. Then Jethro proceeds to give Moses advice on leadership and training. But could the previous information about Moses sending his family away be the reason Jethro gave his advice? Perhaps Jethro had an agenda for all he was about to say . . .

Jethro starts off his advice by asking Moses: "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge . . . ?" (Exodus 18:14). Moses was doing the right thing, he was being selfless, he was judging justly, he was busy with God's work. But Jethro said: "What you are doing is not good." (Exodus 18:17).

If I were Moses I might have reacted defensively and pointed out that I knew God in ways Jethro never would, that God had anointed me and was using me to lead His people. How dare he say what I was doing was not good? But really, it was not good. It was not good for Moses -- Jethro went on to explain that Moses was going to wear himself out. It was not good for his family -- leaving out his family was not worth it, even though he was doing great work for God. It was not good for the people he was leading -- they were dependent on him, when some of them could be trained to lead others.

And thank God, "Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said." (Exodus 18:24) He built a structure and team to support the people. We do not really know if the issue between Moses and his family was resolved here, but Jethro left alone. In the next few chapters, Moses had some of his greatest encounters with God, and I am glad he had his structure and team in place so he could focus on God, and not simply God's work.

We may be busy doing God's work, but are we too busy to be with the people who matter most? Are our families more important than ministry? Do we drive people to God or do we drive people to ourselves? Are we building ministries around ourselves, or are we helping others lead and helping them? Are we prioritizing God's work or God's presence more?

Busy Cities

I love busy cities. New York, Chicago, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Mumbai and Manila--there's something about traveling to, exploring and discovering these big cities that I absolutely love. I can't stand seeing a Starbucks that's closed at 9:00 pm. I don't enjoy not knowing how to get around. I would not know what to do if I had to stay home every day, all day.

Hong Kong, 2009

So it's completely ironic that I am currently living in Nashville, where taxis are available only if you call for one, buses are so rare I've never ridden in one here, and the mall closes at 6:00 pm on Sunday evenings. Sometimes I wonder how I have been able to survive.

Nashville, 2010

But I also love the serenity and scenery of Tennessee. You can drive a few miles and walk around the historic and quaint cities of Franklin, Nolensville and Leiper's Fork. You can give your eyes a break by staring into peaceful hills and valleys. You can also find great places to eat, shop and have fun with a little research and extra time.

At Radnor Lake with Mama, 2010

You can always be a tourist where you live, and you choose what to make of your city...Many of my friends who live in Nashville have commented that I have seen so much of this area in a year. It's been a subconsciously conscious journey to enjoy the sights here, and I am grateful I am able to enjoy where I'm at.

How about you, which cities do you love? What do you like or dislike about where you live?

"Real Food"

I've been in America for a year now, and every so often I crave for, in my opinion, "real food". It's not that America does not have real food, but I want to eat what I grew up eating. If an American went to India, after a few days of tandoori, bhaji and chutney, he or she would probably want a burger, pizza, pasta or a salad.

And sometimes I just want the food I grew up with -- Indian food the way only Mama can make it, then there's Filipino food like chicken barbecue and java rice, and yummy Asian food like sushi and kimchi. Thank God for friends who know how to make Filipino food, and for Indian restaurants and Mama's special recipe book just for me, which I do need to start using again!

Everyone has there own version of "real food," and I love mine!

Missing Manila, Enjoying America

In the next two weeks, my friends from around the world will gather at our Every Nation 2010 conference in Manila. And I still can't believe I won't be there, because I now live in America. So here's what I would do if I were there:

5. I would visit my favorite salon, get a manicure and pedicure, go to the spa and treat myself. I would also eat in some of my favorite restaurants while doing #4, #3, #2, and #1.

4. Visit the youth services I used to go to, and even the new one that started since I left. I miss my youth friends, my small group, and even Galleria!

3. Visit the Fort, and meet everyone I used to work with, including the security guards who always saluted with a smile.

2. Hang out with all my friends! You know who you are . . . and you know I miss you! Watch movies, eat, take road trips, talk inside cars for a long time, have coffee together . . .

1. Spend time with my family--my dad, brother, sister-in-law and adorable niece.


But here's how I am enjoying now:

5. Having extra time to read, enjoy, and slow down after work, and celebrating weekends.

4. I love being in new places and discovering new things, and I am still in the "Discover Nashville" phase, I think.

3. Serving in Bethel, and reaching a city to touch the world! I am enjoying developing new friendships here and serving with the youth.

2. Spending time with the other half of my family in this part of the world.

1. Being spoiled by my mom, who is visiting!


I may not have what I want, but I do have what I need. I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." (Psalm 16:2)

Too many options or happy with what I have?

I went to Whole Foods yesterday, and once again, I was amazed with the hundreds of types of cheeses available in one store. I really wanted to buy two kinds of cheese, and just see what I like, buy more next time, etc.

I am still surprised with the variety of products available in America--in the malls, groceries, bookstores . . . And I am wary of falling into the consumerist/materialist trap. I have seen poverty in the Philippines and India to know that many of the things in America that are taken for granted, including cheese, are a luxury, no matter how many options there are here and no matter how much we think we "deserve our luxuries".

I came home completely satisfied with and excited to try my choices: a small slice of manchego cheese from Spain and a package of goat cheese. I love cheese and as I was having parts of both for breakfast just now, I reminded myself not to pine for the 400+ options in the store, but to be happy with what I have, to be grateful for God's provision so I can enjoy these yummy slices of bliss.

May I too be like Paul and learn "to be content whatever the circumstances (Philippians 4:11." May I not get caught up with everything out there, everything I think I want, but may I be grateful for what I do have. And now I am not just talking about cheese.

The Book, but it's not just Eli's

I just got back from watching "The Book of Eli." It's been a while since I have enjoyed watching a movie like I did today. If you haven't watched it, you should. (Plus I only paid $1.50 to watch it--cheaper than Manila--so that was fun too!)

I don't know if the movie was made by a Christian, but I saw some great principles in it. Here are a few reasons why I loved it so much (I may have some spoilers below, so beware):

1. In the "old times", Eli said people had too much. The "old times" is "our time", and yes we do have too much. Seeing what life could be and what we don't want it to be could help us evaluate what we do and how much we think we need, we want, and we should have. After all, godliness with contentment is great gain.

2. Eli read the Word "without fail." If only we would do that too. And no I can not imagine memorizing the King James Version, from Genesis to Revelation!

3. Eli said he heard a voice, he knows what he heard and he knows what he hears. He was sure. And when you're sure, you just do what you should. Not to be oversimplistic, but that's just foundational. Besides, faith means "you know even when you don't." Even as Eli was explaining it, you know he couldn't explain it well--but he did believe it and bet his life on it. And he journeyed through it all because of the voice he heard.

4. I can't imagine what it would be like to have just one Bible left. We have so many Bibles everywhere, and yes there's another example of how we have too much. But what good is it to have the Word and not read it, speak it, live it, treasure it?

I pray that we would be people of the Word. That it would be our Book, sinking into our hearts and changing our lives.

The Purpose of Gethsemane

As we meditate on the power of the Cross and Christ's Resurrection, I am struck by how important Jesus' time of prayer in Gethsemane was. In Matthew 26:36, Jesus went to Gethsemane to pray. He "began to be sorrowful and troubled" and he was "overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death" (Matthew 26:37,38). He was fully God and fully human, and it's amazing how we see his human side here--he was troubled, sorrowful, overwhelmed.

And then he went to pray.

His first prayer was:

"My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39)

After telling his disciples to watch and pray, he went away again and his second prayer was:

"My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." (Matthew 26:42)

These prayers seem very similar but today I was amazed at how different they are and how the tension and sorrow in Jesus' heart was dealt with through prayer. In His first prayer, He asked the Father that if it was possible, He wanted the cup to be taken from Him. But this was not about what Jesus wanted, He knew that. It was about what the Father wills. The tension here is obvious but the bottomline is clear--"not as I will, but as you will."

In the second prayer, the tension seems to have subsided a bit and now it's not about Jesus as much as it is about the Father. He says, if the cup can not be taken away unless Jesus drinks it, He will do it because He wants His Father's will to be done.

After this prayer, He went back to His disciples, and went back to pray the same prayer again. And after that, he was ready. Ready to go, ready to face His betrayer, ready to drink the cup, and ready for the Cross.

Matthew does not say that Jesus was not troubled or sorrowful anymore, but after Jesus prayed and talked to His Father, told Him what He felt and heard from His Father, He knew what He had to do. His time at Gethsemane was not just a break between dinner and the betrayal. It was the strength He needed from His Father to face His cup.

Like Christ, we all need to hear from God and bare our souls to Him in Gethsemane. As we remember and thank God for the Cross and the Resurrection, may we be like Christ and get our strength from the Father.

Thank You, Jesus--"the author and the perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).

Happy Easter!

Details, details, details

I am a very detailed person. If you tell me about a change in plans, I will probably ask you why or what will happen now that things will change. I like doing things a certain way and paying attention to those ever-so-small-but-important details. Part of me acknowledges it may be because I'm a girl, another part of me says it's because I'm a Daswani (OCD runs in our family), but the rest of me just knows it's simply part of being me. I can't stand half-baked stuff, inaccurate information, or a haphazard way of doing things.

So as I was reading through my Bible, this verse made me stop. I have gone back to this verse so many times in the past few days, and I thought it would encourage you too. (I've read it in the NIV before, but it just doesn't have the same effect on me.)

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.

He delights in every detail of their lives.

Psalm 37:23 (NLT)

God is detailed. He loves details. And He loves every detail of our lives.

He's the One who made me a detailed person. It enthralls me to think He delights in every detail of my life--every detail. Whether it's mundane, heart-wrenching, or so personal that you've never told anyone about it . . . He delights in every detail!

No one else really delights in every detail of our lives, no matter how much the person loves us or how much time we spend with them. But not God. He delights in every detail of my life, and He delights in every detail of your life too.

So the next time you're tempted to think details don't matter, remember God. He delights in every detail of your life! Oh and He is ever-gracious to direct our steps too. What a great God!