Some Pictures of the Blood Letting Activity and some tips!

So I finally came back and posting to this blog alive. I feel so good about myself being able to save a life by simply donating almost half a liter of my blood.

It says here that my blood time is Type A. And oh, I am indeed a pass for donation. :D

I drove to school around 11:45 a.m. and arrived at 12:15 p.m. There they got me screened, it was quite a nervous feeling since it was my first time donating my own blood but because I am happy, I raced the person who screened me that I prepared myself for this since last night. I told her that I slept for 8 hours, eat a well-balanced diet, and drink some water and orange juice before going to school. I never expected the population of students who wanted to donate. I don't know their intentions (since there were a lot of freebies) but the bottom line is, they did donate some 450cc of their red liquid. The whole process including the screening, tests and the actual blood letting took me an hour. So it wasn't much of a time-consuming activity.

Doctor taking the vital signs

As always, pain is expected when your skin is being pricked. The only remaining sensation I have right now is the itch on my finger after being pricked by a pricker. Such old-tech was used for that matter.

It's a little painful in the beginning. I though the needle was a bit big and it is! Any man can survive... Uhhm well, because the females did.


'Kuya' advised us to take deep breaths before inserting the needle.


The sensation on the site became a bit numb, but it's not uncomfortable. You can even read or text at the same time. :D


'Kuya' is now preparing the blood bags for storage while talking to a Red Cross Youth Member at School

I believe the blood letting activity was a success. Being part of this will surely save a life because statistics say that in every 3 seconds, somebody out there needs a blood transfusion. As a citizen and a Christian, I believe these are my first steps in helping the people. Who says you cannot help if you are without money? I overcame this by being courageous and believing that I can make a difference. So why not you? Basically, the requirements for donating blood here in the Philippines are as follows;

1. Must be in good health
2. Pulse of 60-100 beats per minute
3. A well-balanced meal is recommended before 4 hours of donation.
4. With a blood pressure between; Systolic: 90-160 mmHg, Diastolic: 60-100 mmHg
5. Pass the physical and health assessments
6. Hemoglobin level must not be at least 125 g/l
7. Between 16-65 years old (16-17 y.o. are required to present a consent from their parents)

So why care to donate blood?

1. Simple, it can save a life. You can be a hero. :)
2. About 60 percent of the Philippine population can donate a blood. But only 5 percent do.
3. A pint of blood, separated into components can help up to three people.
4. You'll get a personal health check-up (Knowing your blood type, hemoglobin level, iron level, blood pressure and temperature).
5. It's simple, safe, and it will save someone!
   
6. Your bone marrow will be stimulated to produce new red blood cells making the blood-forming organs function more effectively.
7. It is something that you will feel good about yourself.
8. Fullfill's your desire to "give back" to the community.
9. And most of all, get freebies like food, t-shirt and buttons (Well, at least on our school) hehehe...
   

If you intend to donate in the future, here are my tips.

1. Don't smoke.
2. Don't take alcohol 24 hours prior to blood donation. A better tip, don't take alcohol. :D
3. Have something to eat before the blood donation. No fatty foods.
4. Drink plenty of water and juice.
5. Most of all, have a good sleep and rest.

I am finished, what should I do after donating my blood?

1. Drink plenty of water and juice.
2. Refrain from stooping up and down.
3. Refrain from lifting heavy objects, driving big vehicles, and operating big machines. A little side effect would be dizziness.
   

So what are you waiting for? Donate blood now! Your blood is a precious gift.

Greeting from 3739!

I love Life!

Currently listening to: It's a New Day by Hillsong London

I woke up with a dry mouth, a little weak and a little late (for about an hour). So afterward, I went on eating three bananas for my usual morning banana diet. Then helped the little sister a bit of her homework and then moved on to my daily Bible reading time. My feeling turned around after reading Acts 13 where Paul and Barnabas encouraged the Christians of how God has planned salvation. I have no other reason to tell you why life has been so good and how I can be really vocal in telling you how I love life. It seems God has been putting it in stitches.

So this is just a greeting to you guys. God has done so much for me, why not with your life right? I am praying for each and everyone's need. Your future has been decided already. Right now, I am also excited to be part of my first 'Blood Letting' activity at school. I made sure that I have good amount of sleep, did not take any drugs (the legal ones of course), and drank a lot of water.

Life is changing, don't be behind it. And oh, make sure you change for the better. :D

Greetings from 3739!

Missing the Mountains

It's been a while since I haven't gone out for a real fresh air. I've been writing this because I miss peace and the mountains - Bukidon, wherever! Many of my bike buddies and Christian friends ask me, why don't you ride no more? I can't say anything better than this...

We'll to frank, biking has been like a spiritual thing to me. I can sense God in the midst of my rides. I love it! I can't just contain my happiness when I see nature in its total glory. I think I am covered with peace, serenity; inside of me feels like a thousand lightning bolts. Call me insane or crazy, but you will actually see me smiling without any reason. I think God just wants to tickle me on the head.

Anyway, why don't I ride no more? I can simply say that I no longer have the time for a ride. Most especially the budget to maintain a bike. I miss my much loved river crossing experience which will cost me a lot of maintenance on my bicycle components. Ever since I decided to stay away from the Lord because of this "Feeling-based Faith" I have, the bike was unused most of the time. So I have come to a decision to sell some of the parts.

If I can just have the time and money once again. I would surely ride all by myself even for the whole day. :D

Donate Blood, Save Lives

There is going to be a blood donation drive at my school this coming January 28-29, 2009. This is to inform my classmates, if they're interested.

You may find the said event at the Manila Doctors College Speech Laboratory. I will be donating 450cc this coming Thursday. I hope you'll join me. :D

Trio Donut Treat

Last saturday I was thinking, "Hey I didn't spend much on my weekly allowance so I decided to treat my family with donuts". So what I did after I finished my class in Pharmacology, I stopped at the Krispy Kreme SM Mall of Asia (Drive-thru) to get some of their original baked donuts. I know that these donuts are quite high on sugar so I decided to buy one each for the fam. I bought three donuts not because there were only three of us but because I only have P100.00 left on my pocket! Anyway, didn't bother sharing a piece with the family, I just want them to taste these wonderful donuts.

Oh boy, the staff also gave me a complimentary donut. Again, blessing came out of the window! And it was super delicious!

Can't wait to take another photo subject. :D

Here's the soft, sweet, yummy-delicious donuts
(quite lacking on contrast)

Thanks Krispy Kreme! I have been an addicted to your donuts ever since Mazda Greenhills gave us as 'baon' or snack for our trip to Subic to cover the Mazda BT-50 event! Thanks to Mazda for not letting me go-ignorant about the taste of these crazy, yummy donuts. hehehe... I think I'm not straight-forward here.

So anyways, me and my family enjoyed each others' fellowship over a donut. I sure would love to bring two dozens for our cell group meeting sometime soon!

Pahabol!



Krispy Kreme has this Happy Valentine Tin Can promo, until February of course. It consists of different heart-shaped donuts like Oreo Cookie Heart, Powdered Chocolate Heart, Hershey's Dark Chocolate Heart, Chocolate Curl Heart, and Hershey's Chocolate Chip Heart. Grab one now for your love ones.

Krispy Kreme stores are located at Bonifacio High Street | Greenhills (Drive-thru) | SM Mall of Asia | SM Megamall | TriNoma | Ayala Avenue | Robinsons Galleria | Gateway | Glorietta 4

Greetings from 3739!

Welcome Home Pish!

Last Friday (23/01/2009), after doing a tremendous job of sweeping my room, cleaned the air-conditioning unit, rearranged the Box and the computers... I call it great to finish them all. Oh, I also washed two cars... ehem. :D Everything needed some work, but it was all worth it. My room felt 'homey' again.

So it was a good day huh?! For me it was! Today, I learned that everything I did last Friday was the gift of work. Anyway, moving forward because that's not the purpose of my writing.

I have a new pet! After I finished washing myself, I drove to the pet shop to buy a new aquarium set. Overall, it costed me P269.00. The money I invested consists of one 1.5L Bubble Aquarium, Filters, Pebbles, and a Fish! I already have a spare pump so I didn't bother buying a new one. I call my new darling "Pish". She is said to be an Oranda, she's gold in complexion and again I didn't bother because I just want a gold fish. :D

The main reason why I adopted a new pet was to train my little sister. I told her to feed the fish every 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Good thing about it she's doing very well. :D

Greetings from 3739!

SUTM: January 24, 2008

It's not about the feeling... Dude, it's submission.

A Christian talk consists a lot of interesting things. We praise each other for their well-being, courage, and staying true to the Lord. We also go to talks about how life is holding us down. More importantly, we also talk about our dearly beloved brothers who felt a little rough moment in their lives. Some may call them 'Backsliders' but in my dictionary, the term no longer exist.

I've been a Christian for over five years now. I can still remember the night when I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. My aunt shared the gospel to me for the first time, I was in third year high school then and I was doing my laundry for a play I need to perform in Valencia City, Bukidnon. I never felt something needs changing after the decision I made. Probably because I was very well provided. I can eat more than three times a day, I have the time I want, and the computer to make me happy for hours locked inside my air-conditioned room. I thought that my life was great! But the more I spend my time on thinking about what's inside the family. I got caught up and I have to change.

But again something was wrong. I worship God not because of full submission but because of the feeling. It's more like saying you love the Lord but the inside of yourself doesn't bring much impact that will truly shine in your actions. I didn't realize what I was doing after five years! And it's obvious because if God would have made some records of my inactiveness, I would expect a big number. Sometimes, I say I'm tired of doing this or I don't have time for this because I have something to do etc. I have reasons but sometimes I base my reasons because of my feeling. Which it shouldn't be like that.

I was inspired by the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the Book of Daniel. When King Nabuchadnezzar ordered the people to worship a statue made of gold, the three handsome young men defied his order. Imagine, they could have just faked the whole thing by simply bowing down for a full minute but they didn't, even though their lives were at stake. Of course, King Nabuchadnezzar was furious about their act of rebellion. They said to the King, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18, NLT)

I was greatly moved by their statement. I said, "Astig!" or "Cool". But you see, sometimes we Christians are easily moved by simple problems or trials. We are easily discourage when we can't feel that God is moving. Where is the faith bro? We haven't reached to the climax that our lives will be at stake. How can we run the race?

Some of my Christian friends would ask me, "Why is my worship so dry?" or "I don't feel that God is listening, I feel so alone... Is this normal?" My friend, it's because you base your faith on feelings which is not suited for growth. Remember, worship is not about singing. If your faith feels dry, maybe because your actions are dry. The true worship is about sacrifice, it is about we as living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) and doing things that would show God's love in the midst of the people around us.

Bro, don't let the Python take over your life. Please... I love you and it is my desire that you will truly find peace in Christ Jesus. I don't want to put names in here, you know who you are. Please do remember that I always pray for you whenever I remember you. Again, I love you bro! And you know what, my love is nothing compared to God's love.

Again I love you. 3739

SUTM: January 23, 2008

Ola! Amigo and Amiga!

Thank you for your visiting my blog, I pray to God that the content will truly inspire the young-hearted because I think this is also a new way to make a significance. I always tell myself that, "If I change, Everything will change". And part of that action in the making is the start of doing something that everyone will benefit. So what's the fuss about "Sharing U the message", well it's a encouragement I got for the Christians who never stopped working for the ultimate goal - that is proclaiming the Great Commission.

This morning, I woke up with a dirt in my eyes. After wiping it off, I got hold of my brother's gift - a new Holy Bible that doesn't look like one! I decided to get the more "worldly-looking" because I don't want to scare the people around me that I am actually reading a Bible at school. But purpose-not-used because I have decided to leave it at home and continue using the old one as my mobile Bible.

I was reading along Romans 1 when I was captured by how Paul dedicated his prayer life not only to his own needs but also to the Christians around him. He said that he longs to share a word of encouragement to his brothers and receive the same as well. I admire Paul, though he is considered as one of leaders of the church, he is really humble.

Sometimes we Christians think that we no longer need to be reminded about a certain verse or a parable. And sometimes we are so choosy with people giving us the encouragement we need. It's not supposed to be like that! We need to encourage each other, not build walls. I told God, "Lord, my friends are very blessed because I pray for them when I am able to think about them, though not all the time but I know for sure that the desire of my heart is that they will be out of harms way". I thanked God for using Paul and setting an example that we should always think about friends. Let's not stop in thinking about memories about them. Let's pray for them as well! I think if you pray the need of others, God will never cease to meet your own need.

Greeting from 3739!

The 21st Century World

In the world filled with high-tech gadgetry, many people may no longer believe in miracles. But before  you conclude on something, I will race to tell you to make me as an exception. Miracles do happen, it's everything found around us. 

The simple miracle you can always witness is the fact that we have our bodies to prove it and why we ourselves cannot create something as complex as our own being. In Christianity, the moment an unbeliever accepts Christ as his Lord and saviour, it is already a miracle to know that from moment his name is now written in the Book of Life. I think it's also a miracle that scientists were able to gain knowledge.  

God gives everything. God is mysterious. More than that, He is omniscient. That's why I praise Him!

Greetings from 3739!

* I reserve the right of the picture. Thank you!

The Joyful Habit

I once heard a guy at church telling me about being joyful. He said, "It's hard to stay joyful whenever problems arise coming from both sides, but the Lord commanded me to be joyful so there's no arguing about it".

I stopped and think. Remembering the things he said because I realized that it's hard to stay joyful. How can I express this in times when I fail a quiz, the family gets messed up or failed to make my client comfortable?

Being joyful is a hard habit but I believe it is God's command for us to stick with it because no matter how hard life is going to be, we the carriers of light may serve as a channel of hope to the people around us. The word of the Lord says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! - Philippians 4:4. Also didn't the Bible tells us to consider all trials as pure joy? "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." - James 1:2-4.

So I learned, being joyful is also showing your faith. You believe (though not being able to see) that everything will turn out good, that's why I am joyful. 

Perseverance 

- continuance in a state of grace leading finally to a state of glory.

- steadfast in doing something  despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

The Struggle of the Firebrand

The trouble within me is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can't. I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.

What is with me? I know I can do good, I know I can overcome this struggle. I am a conquering firebrand! I stand on a rock and I will not be shaken. Presently, I am a slave to my sinful nature, but every night I cast it out. I ask the Holy Spirit to pray for me and change me. Oh God, without you, I am dead. The covenant I have set between us is dying. I want to do what is good, but I can't and I get guilty over and over again. I love God's law with all my heart but there is another power, it is my slavery to sin that is still within me. Oh God, what a miserable person I am! Jesus free me from this life that is dominated with sin and death.

Beyond Belief

Minutes passed after midnight of January 1, I uttered a short prayer of thanks to my God. For the changed life, the new challenges and the new hope the Great I Am has given to me. I may sound a bit out of the line with your normal life but my heart couldn't pass the opportunity.

I also sang a song, though not in a very presentable way. It's a song that takes me to the covenant I have with my God. It reminded me that everything is not my own. Here's the lyrics and video for you to listen. I hope this is your song too!

Lecrae - Beyond Belief

Yeah, uh-huh, beyond belief, beyond belief

Yahweh
Yahweh
Yahweh
Yahweh

This is why we live and why we die
This is why we laugh and why we cry
This life that we're livin it was given by the God who is risen from a grave into the sky
I look at my face I look at my sin I look at His grace
I look at my past He said it’s a race
And I will live on a part of the race
And now we birth from the earth to this curse
But I know it gets better cause it couldn’t get worse
I was like a dead and my sin and my in was a place far away from a God full of hurt
And now I’ve been changed I gotta move on
I give you my thoughts, I give you my songs
I give you my days, I give you my nights
I give you my ways, I give you my life (my life)

Yahweh
Yahweh
Yahweh
Yahweh

No my lights are not my own
No my life is not my own
No even as i write this song I forsake my ways, forsake my throne
Christ reigns supreme Christ reigns the king
Im nothin without him I could not live could not breathe
My life is worthless without worship so now my purpose is his service
This is certain we been purchased
We gotta go a truth of a God whose perfect
Worse is a life full of sin and curses
But Christ shed blood so that we could be purchased
Move past the pain move past the hurt
Move past the dead your (?)
Move past the pain move past the hurt
Move past the dead your (?)

Year Ender!

Before I say the magic greeting, there are some things that makes me think of the whole year that will pass minutes from now. There are many people to thank and so many memories to look upon. But all I can leave for you all this coming 2009 is this;

Philippians 3:13-14

...forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.

To end the year, I end this with a song.

Lecrae - You are faithful (to me) Lyrics

Right now I wanna say how much you've changed my ways, when I look back on yesterday. It's been a long journey, for the lessons I'm still learning but I can't forget the difference you made.
I could have been sleeping in my grave, but you reached down from heaven and made a way, it's so amazing how you changed my fait and all I can say is...

You're faithful, to me, even when I've made mistakes you've always kept me I'm, grateful to thee coz you kept me in perfect peace and it's more than I could ask for.
You're faithful, to me, even when I've made mistakes you've always kept me I'm, grateful to thee coz you kept me in perfect peace and it's more than I could ask for.

The world makes promises that it can't really keep, it'll always let you down. It's only temporary, only preliminary but your love, it reaches all bounds.
I could have been sleeping in my grave, but you reached down from heaven and made a way, it's so amazing how you changed my fait and all I can say is...

You're faithful, to me, even when I've made mistakes you've always kept me I'm, grateful to thee coz you kept me in perfect peace and it's more than I could ask for.
You're faithful, to me, even when I've made mistakes you've always kept me I'm, grateful to thee coz you kept me in perfect peace and it's more than I could ask for.

You're faithful, to me, even when I've made mistakes you've always kept me I'm, grateful to thee coz you kept me in perfect peace and it's more than I could ask for.
You're faithful, to me, even when I've made mistakes you've always kept me I'm, grateful to thee coz you kept me in perfect peace and it's more than I could ask for.

I don't know why, You've been so faithful to me and so I'll just trust, that you'll lead me in the right way...

You're faithful, to me, even when I've made mistakes you've always kept me I'm, grateful to thee coz you kept me in perfect peace and it's more than I could ask for.
You're faithful, to me, even when I've made mistakes you've always kept me I'm, grateful to thee coz you kept me in perfect peace and it's more than I could ask for.

Faithful, coz you've been so faithful, coz you've been so faithful, coz you've been so faithful.
Faithful to forgive me, faithful to keep me in all my ways all of my days,
Faithful, faithful, faithful, oh...

I Simply thank the Lord for everything. Happy New Year everyone!