George Manlangit

If it’s any indication of the year ahead, the first week of the year has been quite interesting.

Last Wednesday, my son had experienced a lockdown at their school. Apparently, a junior student brought 2 guns, one was loaded and was left at the locker. An assistant principal saw the student a little bit ‘disturbed’. A canine check with a private security have confirmed an existence of gun.

I was able to check out and read some of the kid’s discussion on a web article that was posted about the incident. Of course, everyone has there say on the incident but bottom line, gun does not belong in school.

It’s now at the hand of the police but what about the kid. Obviously, with the economic situation most people are in right now, there’s a lot of quality time between families that are compromised as well.

I’ve always have this discussion with my son. There’s a lot of psychological noises going around our children’s lives nowadays that most parents are almost helpless on how to deal with it. I don’t blame it on the game consoles but if you have a chance to check on the video games, count the numbers of those that have violence as the central theme.

Reality vs. Virtual Reality.

I think the constant playing these war games trains the minds that it is almost not able to distinguish real and virtual. Computers and technology have gone a long way from their Jurassic predecessors and the rate of tech changes demanding a shift every 2 – 2.5 years.

I’m no expert and it is just my opinion. But I believe parents have a good deal of responsibility in all of these. I know it’s not easy and I know. I have a teenage son too.

The family is the core of our society and it is always under attack. Let’s put back God in the center of our family lives.

I thank God
For sending me a partner
In life that brought colors
To an empty canvas at that time!

I remember that day
When I first met her
With grace she moved
And flashed a smile that melt my heart

I knew her heart
Is with someone else
I had to take my chance
And patiently wait

We part our ways but
Soon fate took over and
The angels set the stage
For our heart to be together

We became one
And God blessed us
With two wonderful children
That became living treasures of our hearts

God have a funny way
Of bringing together
Two people of extremes
To meet with Him in the center of life

Our journey was not
Without challenges
But has made our love
For each other, stronger than ever

We’ll tread this path together
With God as our Light and Counsel
My heart belongs to you
Then, now, till heavens with Him!

Melita, I Love You
Happy Anniversary!

Leaves falling to the ground.  Chilly breeze brushing your cheek in the morning.  Maple trees with leaves crumbling to its colorful orange hues.

It’s that time of the year again in the US when we celebrate Thanksgiving Day.

It’s that day when we gather together as family or with friends in thankful celebration.  Although this year has been a great challenge to most people here and around the world, I believe there is much that we can be thankful for.

I am thankful for the great time that I had this year with my trip back to the Philippines after around 10 years of absence.  I had the chance to see my mom and dad, and my sister.  My in-laws, niece, nephew, old and new friends that I have gained.  It has filled up a void in me that I have not realized I have.

This year has been an eye opener for me and I believe a constructive one.  Pretty much the Good Lord have a way of using November as a critical period of my life.  Many revelations and visions came about during this time of the year during the course of my life.

I am thankful for the Good Lord for giving me a loving wife and wonderful children.  With no relatives here, He gave us a good support with our church family, and friends that became my guide through the early times when I migrated here in the States.

He gave me the trials to shape me up, challenges that I would have given up if not for the faith that grounded me.  The days ahead seems gloomy for most people with the insecurities that the financial crisis have created.  But I look ahead to the bright morning sky, the heartbeat that tells me I am still alive, and the vision He gave me to look forward to.

I am thankful for …

• my wife, still not able to drive because that means I will have the chance to have some quiet time with her on her way to work
• my daughter, for her new car because the family have a new driver
• my son, with the mess that he makes in his room because it tells me he’s being ‘creative’
• my family – my mom and dad, for allowing me to be who I am, exploring and discovering
• my sister – because I don’t have no one else
• my friends – because they make my life colorful
• my clients, who are still trying to figure out when to single click and double click a mouse.

About a week ago, our media team at church lost a dear wonderful friend, Archie, from heart attack.

We went to see him at the hospital 2 Sundays ago and he was at coma.  I don’t know about most of you, but going through ICU with all those device is not exactly a welcomed sight to see.  Somehow, I want to hope to get him back.  I remember talking to him and urging him to come back.  My wife and I prayed to God for His will on his life.

We left him after his sister came by to check on him.  Last Tuesday, Arthur gave me a cell call and told me that he’s at code blue stage.  Couple of minutes later, he was gone.

Archie is at what most of us would call mid life.  He’s 39 years old and left behind a family of three.  Archie served in the media ministry with the video team.  He’s one of the camera crew.  His family served the church.  Josh, his son, with the projection during worship and Queenie, his wife, at the worship team.

The first time I met Archie was after church service.  Queenie introduced me to him as he wanted to help out in the video ministry.  His demeanor struck me as qualities you would strive to look from anyone who want to work in a church ministry.  A committed, will do, servant attitude.

He want to learn whatever he can in the video ministry.  We don’t have much actually as far as video facilities but to him, it meant that he is one of the forefront in serving God.  I remember clearly how we talked about sharing God’s gifts and offering it back to Him by serving Him.

I have my regrets on not being able to deliver certain goals we want to achieve as far as the video ministry is concerned.  We talked about producing DVDs, and uploading worship footage to video sites, etc.  I felt bad for not being able to let him see the outcome of his vision.

This took me to a realization upon deep contemplation.  There are gifts that God gave us to serve other people – Christians or not.  Our life mesh with other person’s life.  The life that we have at this moment reflects but a minute instance of God’s overall purpose.  However, with the capabilities that He have empowered us, how are we doing with the stewardship of that talent.  Talent that should be used to serve His children.

If there’s anything that is common to all of us that we have right now that God has given us, it is time.  A simple but complex attribute of life that is at most, taken for granted.

Life, mathematically, is nothing but a quantitative amount of time between birth and death.

The true meaning of life extends that to a complex interaction of time between each other.  No matter what we do, our time affects another person’s time, one way or the other.

I don’t mean to confuse but rather to emphasize a simple point.  Our life is dictated by time.

How we take care of that is up to us.  The life that we have is a miracle, a gift from God.

We will never have the knowledge of when our life would be punctuated, as in a sentence.  But how are we taking care of that ability to use time?

Do we plan to serve someone or God at a later time?  Do we plan to forgive later?  Does the time that we ’spend’ give meaning to our life?

I could go on, and on, and on with this kind of questioning.

Bottom line – the time that we have in our earthly life, we have no control.  But the things that we can do with that time, we have some control.

I don’t mean to over extend that control but rather to enjoy each moment that we have, to do what we must for God’s glory, to serve Him, for the peace of our mind, heart, and soul.

When was the last time you said ‘I love you’ to your loved ones – parents, children, spouse, etc.  Have you forgiven someone who has give you pain or hurt?

Love and forgiveness are just two of the simple things that anyone can give that will bring you peace.  Which God has willingly given and shown to us by Christ death on the cross.

All things come together in God’s time, but what have you been doing with the time that He’s given you?

The past few days have been almost surreal to me.

Saturday morning, Margie and Gerald Lu picked us up for a rendezvous with Ramon and Juvy Gabaldon at the Mall of Asia.  The Lu’s were my wife’s college buddies from way back and happened to get to be good friends with them as they come to visit Gerald’s brother in the States every now and then.  Ramon and I happened to be high school classmates since 1st year high school and has been good friends ever since.  Juvy is also my wife’s high school buddy and has been a very close friend.  Melita, my wife, was instrumental in getting Ramon and Juvy together as partners in life.  Juvy and Ramon is also my Sasha’s godparents.

We went to Mall of Asia, a huge mall in a massive 410,000 sq. m located in Pasay City in Manila and is owned by the SM Holdings.  The last time that I was in the Philippines, they were just prepping up the development and reclaiming some lands.

We had breakfast with the Lu’s and Juvy until Ramon finally caught up with us after a morning meeting.  It’s been a while back since I had seen the Gabaldons and quite refreshing to had the chance to catch up and just plain talk about good times and what’s been happening with friends in Manila.

Afternoon, Ate Ruby had Mama and my three nieces picked up from our place in Paco to join us for a trip to Tagaytay.

For those who are not familiar with Tagaytay City in the Philippines, Tagaytay City is around 35 miles away from Manila with a temperate climate because of its high elevation and provides a good vantage view of Taal Volcano, one of Philippines dormant volcanoes.  Taal Volcano is actually surrounded by a picturesque lake and has been quite a popular tourist destination because of the popular claims of the lake’s healing power.

We went to  Canyon Woods, a residential resort in Tagaytay.  It is a resort subdivision with amenities that one normally gets with typical resort membership club or country clubs.  It incorporates lodging facilities in what they call casitas.  It also includes a 9 hole golf course.

After dinner, my wife and the kids went to play bowling while I called it a night.

It’s been almost a week since Father’s day, but today I had a chance to come visit my father after almost 10 years.

Papa has been supportive with most of my endeavor.  On my childhood days, I used to go to his hardware store and learn the business.  I used to stay on weekends helping out selling, or doing just about anything to help out.

I took shopper’s orders and prepping them up for delivery.  It can be anything from weighing nails to just bringing anything for customers.

When I last saw him, although a little bit weaker, he could still manage to walk by himself and go to the Park to meet his buddies.  Age has caught up with his struggling childhood during the second World War, his strong body has been weakened quite a bit and being helped out by a private nurse.

I had mixed emotions as I saw him transcend from the stairs being helped out.  I am blessed by God with a good father.  Although he has his weaknesses, like all of us, but he made sure we had a good education and the right ‘tools’ to become successful in life.  He did not want us to take the path that he had growing up.

I don’t know but I sensed that it’s not the same with him.  I think the burden of his weakening body has frustrated him a bit.  Sensing from what he says, I think he feels entrapped in his own home and not being able to go to places he used to go to.  Compound that with the fact that I think most of his friends has now been gone.  So the peer camraderie that he used to have is not there anymore.

I’m grateful to God for being able to have a father like Papa.  If anything else, I think I got the benefit of having similar feature and that’s how most people get to learn about me.

I remember the days of watching soccer with him at Rizal Colizeum.  Even though it’s a boring game for me, I remember how he gets excited with each goal that the team he supports will make.  That’s why next to basketball, soccer has been the next favorite sports for me.

I wanted to become a doctor when I was growing up, but he discouraged me and made me take engineering.  I think it was God’s direction as well.  I do think I could become a doctor, but I don’t think I would be happy doing it.  I have been very technical even at an early age, so I ended up graduating as a Chemical Engineer who then turned to become a computer specialist.

I’m trying to cherish every moment that I had with him now.  Life is like a flickering light.  A blow of the wind could take it away.  Thank you Lord.

Paco, Manila.

This is where I grew up.  Going back to this place almost took me on a course back to the past.

This was were, as a boy, I could remember walking the streets with flip flops to my father’s hardware store bringing him Mandaring cod (Lapu-lapu) on misua (a fookien rice noodle) soup, or maybe some squeezed oranges.

I could remember the house that I was living before in Kansas St with my feet hanging down on the windows enclosed with decorative steel weaves that are so typical of Manila’s 60s.  I could remember walking the streets of Herran (now Pedro Gil) and getting bullied by some kid who I think is trying hard to be cool as a jerk, eventually getting ’saved’ by a classmate, Bernie, and became ‘untouchable’ afterwards.

The once popular Sterling bookstore was gone, and the vocational school were I learned to type at an early age during summer was long gone as well.  The local movie house, Bellevue, where featured double films were shown is now a store.  The Iglesia ni Kristo church is still majestic in proportion to most buildings surrounding it.  I think it is one of the structure in Paco that still holding up to Paco’s fabric of life aside from the market.

I wish I could go to some other places like my elementary school, Paco Chinese School.  Part of my character was formed from the teachers that taught me good study habits, encouraged me to study, and offered lasting impressions of how small gestures of faith on one’s strength could be a platform for a person’s success to the future.

Dart St (now Angel Linao) has also been transformed.  I remebered an alley to a neighborhood where my mom used to have her clothes made by Aling Loleng.  I don’t know why but subconsciously I could still remember the cat poof.  I used to take this alley as a short cut when I walk around the block from Singalong St (no, it’s not sing-along as CJ say it).

The corner building facing on the entrance to the market is still intact.  It’s an social icon of Paco Market.  There used to be a portrait studio on that building before and it’s also the place where I had my teeth taken out by some dentist.  Restorative dentistry was not the game before.  It’s easier to take it out than to fix it.  I should have know better.

These places have shaped up the life that we have, sculpted the persona that we have with  friends and peers.  There’s a lot of changes that have happened on this city.  And some structures has remained the same and is in dire disrepair.

Like our lives, a lot of change has happened and there are areas that needs change.  The only thing that remain constant with change is time.  Everyone has the same amount of time each day.  Might not have the same length of life, but same unit of time that we’ve been given.

I have been self reliant most of my life that I failed to see the dynamics of how tapping on to other people’s strength can help me use what God has given me to shape up something for His purpose.  If there’s anything that has become evident in my life in recent weeks is my opening up to other people the door that allow them to become part of my life.

I have now tread on to a new phase of my life.  Not trying to achieve success to impart to other people how to achieve success, but to become part of other people’s success to become a success for God’s purpose for my life.

Monterey Park, east of LA has been home for me for the past 20 yrs.  This time I returned home to my roots, Manila.

Last 23th, we departed from LAX for Manila on a much needed vacation and family time together away from the usual daily grind.  It’s been almost 10 years for me since I went back home and visited my mom and dad.

We came on a rainy morning.  There was a typhoon and like most tropical countries, Philippines in June kicks off the monsoon or typhoon season.  The last time I was in Manila was when I was picking up my two kids, Sasha and CJ, after an extended vacation stay 10 years ago.

We were welcomed by my brother in law, Angel and Jasmine, his lovely wife.  Aside from the storm, news on the radio were covering H1N1 hysteria.  There has been quite a number of people that was believed to have some infection of the flu.

Coming from LA, the first adjustment we have to make aside from the jet lag was the humid weather.  It was raining and being accustomed to some not-so-often rains in Los Angeles, I got use to expecting a little bit cool weather.  Growing up in Manila should made me accustomed to this kind of weather but I was just spoiled rotten with California weather.

Anyway, it’s nice to see familiar places and some new not so familiar ones.  Of course, in Manila, a slight chance of rain welcomes the usual occurrence of flood.  But to aggravate it, the splash by moving vehicles on to some people waiting for a ride to work, or passengers on pedi-cabs, makes me feel bad for those people getting wet.

Melita, my wife, was already happily chatting with Ate Ruby, my sister in law, on the cell phone, who happened to be not feeling well and could be having some flu.  So as a precaution, we went ahead to my brother-in-law’s house and had breakfast.  My wife has been very concerned because two of our luggages were forced open somehow.  I think some of the vitamins that were on the suitcased must have created some suspicion at the LAX TSA inspection.

She was worried that something was stolen on the suitcase.  As usual, if she gets bothered, everyone gets bothered.  She was worried that the camera that she and Ed (my other bro in law in Canada) bought for Ate Ruby as a birthday gift was stolen.  Anyway, she found it and it was just a usual precautionary.  I feel bad for her because we had purchased one of those TSA approved locks that the TSA people could open without forcing the suitcases.

After breakfast, (again), we all had shower (thank goodness), I had a good chance to having some quality time with Lei and Kobie (Angel and Jazmine’s children), and Gelai.  I think you could say it something like ‘bonding at first sight’.  Lei and I had some good quality time getting to know each other.  She did Bimbo rock, and then did some jumps with Kobie and Gelai.

Interestingly, I found out the Kobie and Lei are lefties.  My two kids are lefties too, so I kind of have some experience on certain lefties behavior.  And those lefties out there, don’t tell me you don’t have any.  I had a good time playing with them on the notebook computer when I was checking my emails, and had them typing out their names on Wordpad.

Then, kaboom.  Reality and body adjustment kicked in and I could not help it.  Sleep has taken over.

Kung Hei Fat Choy!  Happy Chinese New Year!  I know, it’s late now (Jan 26).  Time sure moves fast.  I did not realize that my lost post has been more than a month.  Actually, we’re now looking on Valentine’s Day.

Anyway, we’re had a fair share of rain in LA this past couple of days.  It’s making my son hopeful that the snow would stay until March.  We’re planning to go to Big Bear Mountains and he’s looking forward to a snowy time for a good snowboarding.  Read the rest

Happy New Year to everyone.  It’s been quite a year. 

I have not been writing for the last month or so.  It has been quite a journey last year.  The last 6 weeks has been quite a blessed, challenging and rewarding time for me. 

Last November, I mention about a visit to my brother in law’s father in law (what a term).  He passed away last 5th of December.  I had mixed reactions because the last time I saw him, I was still hopeful that he could at least get through the Christmas season.  I am thankful to God for the time that I was able to minister to him.  It gave me the courage and confidence to be able to share my life with this man for such a short time.  Even though he is in his dying stages, the experience that I gained helped me more to focus on discovering a strength which I thought was a weakness on my part.  Read the rest