Mahal Mo Siya. Mahal Ka Ba? 'Di Bale Na Because His Love Endureth Forever
Thursday, December 30, 2021
Mahal ka ba?
I don't even understand the question. Please translate it. haha
Kidding aside, this is my second book from the king of hugot, Marcelo Santos III, and my last read this year 2021.
The content of the book felt irrelevant to me as I read it. I wonder why I felt detached from the ideas written on some of the pages. I thought I might be bitter and not so in love like the ones who could definitely relate to the content of the book. That must be one of the many reasons I can't relate at the moment.
Manhid na ba ako? I asked myself, maybe that's another reason I couldn't empathize or even sympathize with the author's point of view. I am afraid my heart is becoming calloused when it comes to romantic love which I haven't formally and officially experienced. Kay God na lang ako kinikilig, I thought sometimes.
I don't want to demean the purpose of this book, some readers can and will definitely feel the message of this book just how it is supposed to be. It's just that right now I can't feel anything from it as if there's no spark or connection between me and the book.
Nevertheless, I certainly learned a thing or two. One thing that struck me the most is that God must and should be the center of a relationship and I must add that it should be applied to any kind of relationship, be it romantically or whatnot. He should be! And that's irrevocable!
I would also like to mention that the layout and the quality of the physical book are superb. Glossy paper all throughout with some colorful pages of calligraphy! It is aesthetically pleasing.
Another thing is I love the part where the author asked his friends and acquaintances about the meaning of forever. One of them is KZ Tandingan, a singer here in the Philippines, who answered "His love endures forever". Her answer reminded me of the extent of forever, which is not and never based on human standards. Eternity is God's, His mercy and love endure forever.
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.His love endures forever.2 Give thanks to the God of gods.His love endures forever.3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:His love endures forever.4 to him who alone does great wonders,His love endures forever.5 who by his understanding made the heavens,His love endures forever.6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,His love endures forever.7 who made the great lights—His love endures forever.8 the sun to govern the day,His love endures forever.9 the moon and stars to govern the night;His love endures forever.10 to him who struck down the firstborn of EgyptHis love endures forever.11 and brought Israel out from among themHis love endures forever.12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;His love endures forever.13 to him who divided the Red Sea asunderHis love endures forever.14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,His love endures forever.15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;His love endures forever.16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;His love endures forever.17 to him who struck down great kings,His love endures forever.18 and killed mighty kings—His love endures forever.19 Sihon king of the AmoritesHis love endures forever.20 and Og king of Bashan—His love endures forever.21 and gave their land as an inheritance,His love endures forever.22 an inheritance to his servant Israel.His love endures forever.23 He remembered us in our low estateHis love endures forever.24 and freed us from our enemies.His love endures forever.25 He gives food to every creature.His love endures forever.26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.His love endures forever.
December is the Christmas Party season and I recently attended one. The truth is I was really nervous. It was a face-to-face gathering and most of the attendees were people I first met via Zoom.
Kale, Mitch, and I tagged along on a ride with Kuya Jan and Ate Cha. Instead of taking the busy main road to Tagaytay, Casile Road is a shortcut and a good alternative to reach the venue in minutes. I don't know the name of the place but I remember it has a few golden yellow Bahay-Kubo.
The food was good and my favorites are Bulalo and Pork Sisig. When lunch was over the exchange gift and games liven up the mood more than it already was. The people I encountered beamed with energy, they are positive energy. As for me, I am on the calmer side of the planet or I have an intermittent connection with the world, or maybe, it is the 'tita' in me that is gradually emerging. Seems like tita moments are here to stay. haha
I realize I do not have the energy I used to have in my early 20s. Now, I allot my time and energy to things that really matter.
The Coffee Project at Crosswinds was supposed to be our next stop for another round of fellowship and games, but there was no more space for parking. There were a lot of Pine trees which I don't have any pictures of. The place gives off Baguio vibes. Around the area of Crosswinds, Windmill Lausanne is a new restaurant that attracts tourists for a Tagaytay experience, so we went there instead.
Matcha Latte at Windmill Lausanne is pricey at P240 for 12 oz. The restaurant offers Italian cuisine based on its menu, or probably Swiss (visit the place, you judge). The place looks expensive so as the price of the food. I doubt if I ever return and order anything from there, the prices just do not fit in my budget honestly. But for those who can afford and love to visit places like Windmill Lausanne, please do visit, the place is nice and you'll love it definitely. Just be careful not to disturb the residents of the subdivision where the restaurant is located, some are really private persons.
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| Photo Credit to Mitch E. |
The ride back home was a fun and purposeful conversation. Life or more like spiritual lessons blessed my heart and mind. "Feeling blessed like I should" was a lyric of a song that bugged me after that Christmas party. I really should.
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| The Windmill Lausanne, Tagaytay Photo Credit to Mitch E. |
Sunset signals the end of the day. It is breathtaking scenery when the sun bids goodbye to the naked eye of every human being. The sun seems to never get tired of showing up in the morning and bidding goodbye in the afternoon. Is it contented with what it does every single day? Does it ever get bored with its routine?
The sun only rises and sets.
Some people may have wanted to say goodbye permanently, unlike the sun who keeps on showing up to everyone every morning. These people want to permanently stop showing up to people who may have cared for them or not.
No one, not even a single human being, asks the sun to rise and set. It is just simply doing its purpose that is embedded in the deepest part of its core. It knows its purpose and it does what needs to be done.
The sun does not care about the complaints of human beings when it is too hot or too bright as long as it does its job. It focuses on its work and emits the light that is delivered to planet earth for the living things. It is doing exactly what it is made to do.
There might be less drama if humans work their purpose the way the sun does. Rise. Set. But it is fact that a human being is a very complex kind of creature. The human race is a complicated being.
It cannot be denied that they are made in the perfect image of the Creator, the masterpiece of His powerful and wonderful hands. He spoke life and the first human was created. He saw the sadness in the human so He gave him a partner. The first human, Adam, is in charge of everything that was created on earth before him. The Creator may have also witnessed tiredness on his face that is why He created a co-steward for all His creations. The second human, Eve, is a partner to co-manage all of the things entrusted to them.
The complexity inflated when the monumental and wretched encounter occurred in the garden of Eden. A great separation complicates the situation, specifically the relationship, connection, and fellowship humans have with the Creator. The purpose got blurry and confusion was engraved in every human heart. Human's will versus God's will has been going on since immemorial time. The birth of sinful human nature brought destruction to the alignment of will between the Creator and creation.
The existence of a relationship in the face of the earth began between the first human and God. Though the relationship is currently severed which is a big problem for everyone, He extended His grace and gave everyone the only solution, the only One: the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
Patch up things with God only through Jesus! Find the purpose in Him.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
All right. Violet Evergarden made me cry, again. This time in its movie version. She made me cry the first time from the series I watched on an online streaming platform. I bet she can also make you cry.
Violet is a soldier during the war. She was considered a weapon at such a young age, in her teens maybe. Eventually, she lost her arms at the height of the battle and Gilbert was with her who was equally injured as her. When the war ended, she became an Auto Memory Doll, a job that writes letters for their clients. Using a typewriter which she can carry anywhere she goes, her words brought life to the deepest longing and emotions of human beings a.k.a her clients.
Around her, peace seems to be existing at the very least, she seems emotionless after the war but it is the total opposite within her. There are raging emotions inside that are difficult for her to understand ever since the supposed death of Major Gilbert Bougainvillea.
Relief flooded all the heartaches I felt because of Violet's predicament when it was presented to my knowledge the fact that he was alive and kicking, though without an eye and an arm. The longing she had for him was intense. I felt it. I wanted to tell her, "I feel you," like I could totally empathize with her, with a character that wasn't even existent in the real world.
I literally sobbed as the confrontation between Violet and Gilbert happened before my eyes. I cried and cried while thinking what the heck Violet! Gilbert! I shouldn't be weeping like this! It is just an anime movie, no big deal, but as I mentioned I just couldn't help but open the gate of my tear glands and release the tears that were about to burst like a dam filled with water from the surge of rain.
The elements of the plot hit all the right spots to make me all teary-eyed. They can unlock the gates of your tear glands. So be ready and prepare your heart and mind, and also something to wipe out the tears on your face!
Expect to be teary-eyed and smiling genuinely as Violet warms your heart!
A season or another movie should be looked forward to. I hope there will be a more vivid telling of what happened between Violet Evergarden and Gilbert Bougainvillea after their heartwarming and long-awaited reunion. But if there isn't, I can say that the plot's resolution of the story is perfect already. I love how the movie ended.
Witness and experience the complexity of human emotions with Violet Evergarden!
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