the prelim that was

prelim of this semester was such a big bulk of challenge on my part. i really stumbled and sort of searched for who i am? what is my purpose and why are all these things happening to me?

let me enumerate them here...
1. we had this family problem. my mother had a mayoma and she had to undergo an operation. actually, i could choose to ignore her, but hey she is my mother... so i really went out of my way to visit her in the hospital and be the in charge of the house for almost a month. well my academics was affected, not to mention that it is becoming more and more intense and demanding... but we survived... she survived and she is recovering... praise God...

2. the ever increasing expectations, requirements and exams from our teachers... well, as expected, as you go higher you should expect a more difficult load... but it is just so unusual because i think the level of difficulty of all the subjects is quadrupled compared to last sem's... well, that means that my school is competent, but i hope i could still keep up with it...(sigh)

3. i think, i had 4-5 hours of sleep on the average for this semester... but you know miraculously, my eye bags have not grown that much... cute parin... hehe. but sometimes, i find myself sleepy inside the classroom... i don't drink coffee kasi even though it claims to contain antioxidants... anyways... im trying to recharge once more...

4. time management is in question... granting that i have this family problem (my mother operated last november) and a bulk of academic subjects... i also have a lot of extra curricular involvements right? (o, i remember, i still have to write an article for the SICO magazine, anyways.) this means that ehem... i am short of time and i am very confused of what to prioritize... but as the CCO president says it... "you are STUDENT-leaders, you are students before you became leaders, so you have to first prioritize your studies bewfore anything else..."

5. no time for self. as a result of the lack of time, then it follows that i also don't have time for myself. so you see this poor blog, unupdated not until today. but of course i'm trying to make up with myself this christmas break. i really need this break before i break... (get it?)

well, all i can say is... thank you Juseus for being born to this world... because of your birth, we now have this celebration called Christmas which gives us some time out from out usual loads and get to celebrate the season.

Praise the Lord!!!
Michael Casas

christmas... whats the point?

i pondered about why we celebrate christmas? well most people lose sight of the real celebrant. they usually resort and focus on parties, gifts, foods and merrymaking... well that is very fine... but come on... come on...

personally, i have indulged in almost all of the above mentioned pleasure invoking activities but i don't find satisfaction in them. though i expereince a certain level of 'joy' i am really not fulfilled...

i think that in any activity, we need to transcend beyond what we think is absolute. go beyond the superficial and go for the subtle yet true meaning of the occasion... after all it is not our birthday anyway... it is Christ's birthday...

Praise God!!!
Michael Casas

wag maliitin ang mga maliliit...

wala lang... those who are above will fall of their pride and arrogance... sana lang marealize ninyo ang ginagawa ninyo...

ang tamaan GUILTY... =D

at last

i survived this hell week. thank God!!!

and i feel Christmas in the air...=D

Praise the Lord
Michael Casas

...Love...

love is like a rose
enticing, very tempting
but when you are naive
you bleed... and get hurt

copyright michael casas.=D

it was all for fun
but now, i just can't run
i thought i was done
i want her gone...

cry, your eye said
kneel your legs beg
why did you do it? brain asks
but you just don't know how you got there and last.

sin it is to play with love...
intentions must be as pure as a white dove.
otherwise, the one from Above,
would take away true love.

copyright MAC=D.

GRABE NA TO!!!!

i love my teachers this sem... they are all competent... wahoo. na pressure na jud ko... graber, hay ambot.... i think i am dying... but i wll live pa naman siguro... hehehe. anyways... basta killer questions on the side plus killer exams... OMG... i think this is the start of it all. but i am not yet starting... hehe pamati. di bitaw, lisod na kaayo ang mga teachers... plus my full pachked extra curricular life... hay naku... no problem i am sacrificing naman for a very good cause eh... FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD!!! amen

Praise the Lord!!!!

Reflection...

Look at me
You may think you see
Who I really am
But you’ll never know me
Every day, is as if I play apart
Now I see
If I wear a mask
I can fool the world
But I can not fool
My heart
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
I am now
In a world where I have to
Hide my heart
And what I believe in
But somehow
I will show the world
What’s inside my heart
And be loved for who I am
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
Why is my reflection
Someone I don’t know?
Must I pretend that i’m
Someone else for all time?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
There’s a heart that must
Be free to fly
That burns with a need
To know the reason why
Why must we all conceal
What we think
How we feel
Must there be a secret me
I’m forced to hide?
I won’t pretend that i’m
Someone else
For all time
When will my reflections show
Who I am inside?
When will my reflections show
Who I am inside?

second sem na...=D

timer flies so fast talaga. as in... second sem na and that means malapit na akong mag graduate...hehehe. anyways, before this very day,a lot of ver7y fun and memorable things transpired.

first off, the SICO basic orientation seminar
second, the reunion of the ever lingaw na fantastic 4
then, teetin's birthday
tapos, all souls day and all saints day
then, enrollment hehehe
then, club planning and bulletin board making
tapos, ang NS and math division day planning. hehehe

and marami pang ibang singit singit na kaganapan na lingaw.

pero here i am facing yet another semester. the first semestewr was fun and really rewarding. sana ang seciond sem ganun din. hehe... hanggang dito nalang muna and God bless me sa second sem...=D

Praise The Lord!!!
MIchael Casas

yippie...=D

i just accessed the my account feature of the addu website and i saw my grades... wala lang nalipay ko...=D thank you Lord... i feel so blessed...AMEN AMEN AMEN...

anyways, last oct 24, 2007. nagreunion kami nila archie, ayek and abi... nakakahiya kasi ako na naman ang late ningabot... anyways nanlaag mi sa mall (gaisano). and as usual nagtanaw mi og sine NO RESERVATIONS ang title... well, it was nice... maka in love...=D with all the cooking and the kissing hehehe. then nag videoke kami. i sang fixin a broken heart, one sweet day and i write the songs... hehehe... wala lang nalipay ko. then, nangaon mi sa mandarin... treat ni yek... then nagkaon mi ice cream, wahaha... tapos nag muni muni for a while sa rizal park... then nag-uli na. it was such a blissful moment. lingaw makasama ang imong mga real loyal and forever gfood friends one more...

Praise the Lord for everything!!!
Michael Casas

SICO Basic Orientation Program

the Social Involvement Coordinating Office of the Ateneo de Davao University conducted its Basic Orientation Seminar Last Oct 16-17, 2007 for its new batch of volunteers. and of cours i am one of those chosen few na nakasali sa volunteers ng sico this year. many applied but only 13 were accepted... it is a great honor and achievement na makasali sa group na yun na pinili after thorough screening and all.

anyways, the event was a two day formation program. we first watched a movie entitled Hero starring Jet li... lingaw ang movie... the essence of oneness with the universe and putting your heart into what you do were some of the insights that i gained after watching the movie. then, we had lunch ang sarap ng food, free pa talaga. then we had our first seminar, the social involvement mandate of a jesuit university. i was struck with what the speaker Dir. Eliab said... "Why hope? Why do all these things?" somehow i was puzzeled because i thought of myself doing all those things not really sure kung bakit ko ginagawa ko ang lahat. pero anyways, i was able to figure everything out... Thanks to her reflective and moving manner of speaking. then we had our seminar on Authentic Christian Humanism Given by Maam Arcena. She was a super lingaw na speaker... wala lang, i learned a lot from her and i really felt her conviction to service... she also had a very clear and firm stand that doing good things should be of utmost consiceration provided that the very reason of doing everything is to emulate the example of Christ into our lives... well naminaw jud ko diba... then we had our break kaon na pud... then, we were given time to prepare for the socials and ang theme chilgren's party. wahaha nagsuspenders ko na nagmukha kong buang... pero it was fun... after dressing up we had dinner... then, we waited for sometime then mga 7:30 gipablind fold mi sa mga senior vols... kulba na exciting... it weas some sort of an initiation na walang paddle... hehehe... then may mahiwagang tanong ang mga senior vols sa aming lahat and we have to answer it in an iniro way... as in pacornihay daw... hahaha. katawanan jud akong gihimo... secret nalang. anyways, after some time of waiting sa iabang vols nagstart narin atlast ang party... it really was a children's party... lingaw with all the ablloons, decoration etc...=D. then nagpresent kami ng mga wierd things as in sayaw with singing, breakdance etc. makatanggal price sya pero lingaw... we also had our competition... pagandahan daw ng sayaw and all... nalingaw ko sa among gihimo hay mura mi og mga bata... as in...=D then special awards were given, give aways were given tapos the night ended... sige lang mi og katawa for the rest of the night...=D. it was really soul enriching. then natulog mi sa f201 mga 12:00 na...=D

next day, naligo kami of course... =D alangan manatili kaming mabaho diba... hehehe. after doing our personal stuff we had our breakfast then we had our morning praise as well. then we had our seminars on Faith, Justice, Culture and Dialogue. lingaw sya... then we had another seminar on Volunteerism and Alternative lifestyle... daghan ko og natun-an especially on simplicity (living according to what we have) and solidarity (to be one with the community where you are immersed). and a lot more... basta insightful kaayo ang mga speaker... sana magawa ko yung mga tinuro nila. i hope and pray that i could become the person whom i ought to be... that i would be a full grown selfless volunteer. then we had lunch, kaon na pud...

then after having our lunch, we had the closing activity na super lingaw... we were asked kung ano natutunan namin, then the senior volunteers also said tyheir expectations and hopes for our batch... then Sir Osbry and the senior volunteers gave us our certificates and tokens para daw may remembrance kami sa aming orientation. then kumain na naman kami ng ice cream... =D. hahaha. well, basta enjoy siya na experience and i am looking forward to working with the office in its activities and programsd in the future...

<<>>

Praise God!!!
Michael Casas

tapos na ang exams...

praise GOD!!! rest at last... tapos na ang mga exams...=D

inspiring myself...

FREE INSPIRATIONAL ESSAYS
Allen W. Smith, Ph.D.
Contemplating Life

Note: For more than 10 years, I have been writing essays for a weekly self-syndicated newspaper column. I have put together a collection of 101 of these essays in e-book format. Below are the first ten essays of the collection. THEY ARE FREE so please download them if you wish.



INTRODUCTION

This book is a collection of 101 short essays that borrow bits of wisdom from throughout the ages. The essays are designed to inspire and comfort readers, as well as to stimulate some deep thinking about some very ordinary ideas.
The essays, which were previously published as installments of my weekly syndicated newspaper column, Contemplating Life, tend to reflect the following fundamental beliefs of mine: 1) Every individual is important and special; 2) Each of us has a responsibility to try to make the world a better place and to increase the happiness of those around us; and 3) One of the best ways to find happiness for ourselves is to seek to bring happiness to others.
The essays can be read in any order since each one stands alone. Readers who are looking for something specific can get a general idea of the content of each essay from its lead quotation. A list of the theme-setting lead quotations is provided at the beginning of the book. Readers not looking for something specific are invited to skim the book and choose individual essays at random.

Allen W. Smith
ONE

"Learn the sweet magic of a cheerful face--not always smiling, but at least serene."--Oliver Wendell Holmes

We all have our share of troubles in life, and keeping our spirits high on a consistent basis is very difficult for most of us. But there are things we can do to help us maximize our happiness in the face of adversity. Positive thinking has long been recognized as a valuable aid for coping with life. But sometimes it is hard, if not impossible, to think positively. What can we do to make our quest for a positive outlook on life easier?
One of the most effective things that many of us can do is to follow the advice of Oliver Wendell Holmes. We need literally to learn the sweet magic of a cheerful face. There is indeed a certain kind of magic in training ourselves to maintain a cheerful face consistently. Of course, there are times when we face such tragedy that none of us can maintain a cheerful face. And certainly we cannot wear a smile at all times. But, if we can't smile, couldn't we at least maintain a serene expression on our face?
Some people claim that it is physically impossible to remain sad while we are smiling. Is there something about the physical act of forcing ourselves to maintain a cheerful face that actually makes us feel better? If we consciously work to keep a pleasant expression on our face as much of the time as possible, might it not eventually become almost natural to do so? Some people who have tried it believe that the answer to both questions is a resounding yes.
None of us can be happy all the time. During times of great adversity it is natural and even beneficial to grieve, but what about the rest of the time? What about all those times when we are faced with only minor problems? Isn't it possible that during such times we can actually influence our moods by thinking positively and maintaining a cheerful face as much of the time as possible?
And what about the effects of our cheerful faces on other people with whom we come into contact? Can enthusiasm for life and a cheerful attitude be contagious? Is it possible that, in addition to making ourselves feel better, we also make others feel better when we are cheerful? Suppose it were possible to convince every individual in a town, a country, or even the world, to participate in a week-long experiment in which they simultaneously forced themselves to appear cheerful for an entire week? What would happen at the end of the experiment? Would things go back to normal? Or, would there be a permanent change?
Copyright 2004 Allen W. Smith









TWO

"Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some person ever reads."
—William J. Toms

We are all influenced by other people, and our actions and words often have a profound influence on people who are observing us. People choose role models for a variety of reasons, and we never know who might be looking to us for that purpose. Certainly parents are usually role models for their children, and people who have any degree of celebrity status are often imitated. But sometimes people who have been chosen as models to follow by others may have no idea that they are having such a strong influence on other people.
Our behavior can have a bigger impact on society than we ever imagine. Some of us, who consider ourselves just ordinary people, may not be so ordinary in the eyes of some small child who decides to imitate us. Our behavior may serve as a model for the child who tries to copy our personality traits. If that happens, our behavior may affect that child and everyone he or she comes into contact with throughout life. Even the thought of such an awesome possibility should cause us to reexamine the way we are living our lives.
How can we avoid having a negative impact on others who might be trying to imitate us? The answer to that question is easy. If we live the kind of lives that we know we should be living, we won't have to worry about having a negative impact on anyone. We all have basic instincts that tell us how we should live. The problem is that many of us do not want to live that kind of life. We are torn between what our higher selves tell us we should do, and what our lower selves tell us that we want to do. Most of us are urged by our higher selves to live exemplary lives. But our lower selves nag at us to look out for number one. It is up to us to make the choice as to which urges we will follow. Basically, we choose the kind of life we live.
Certainly external forces often affect the choices available to us, but still we can choose to serve humanity in addition to ourselves, or we can follow our selfish urges and live as if our sole purpose in life was to seek self gratification. Which choice would we like those around us to make? Do we have any right to make a choice different from that which we think others should make?
Copyright 2004 Allen W. Smith









THREE

"Each day the world is born anew for him who takes it rightly."--James Russell Lowell

Each day is the first day of the rest of our lives and offers us the opportunity for a new start. We must learn to live each day to the fullest, and we can do that only if we learn to live in the present. Too many of us consider individual days as little more than stepping stones towards goals in the distant future. We think of them as rungs on a ladder that will move us a little closer to the top. That is no way to live our lives. What if we reach the top of the ladder only to realize that the ladder is against the wrong wall?
Happiness and success are journeys--not destinations--and we can never find happiness or success at the end of any road. Instead, we must travel a road where these conditions exist along the route every step of the way. If we can't find happiness and success in the present, we will never find them in the future. Those who find true happiness pursue the goal of achieving as much success, and finding as much happiness, as possible each and every day of their lives.
One of the great paradoxes of our time is that so many people seem to believe that the surest routes to happiness are the accumulation of material wealth and the attainment of social status. "If I can just become rich and famous, I will be truly happy," so many of us think. But life just doesn't work that way. Since the hunger for fame and fortune is never satisfied, the more fame or fortune a person attains, the more he or she craves.
We must find happiness within ourselves--not in the external world. For many people, happiness comes from the simple things in life and from trying to make others happy. Happiness is contagious, and the more of it we give to others the more we will have for ourselves. Each day we have a new opportunity to find happiness; and unless we are able to learn to be happy on a day-to-day basis, we will probably never find true happiness. Certainly there are times, such as after the loss of a loved one, when we are hurting so much that we cannot find happiness in the immediate future. But, during those periods when we have not recently suffered a major loss, all of us should be able to find at least some happiness in each and every day. If we can't, perhaps we are traveling the wrong road.
Copyright 2004 Allen W. Smith









FOUR

"It is helpful to look at your life and ask: 'If I had one more year to live, what would I do?' We all have things we want to achieve. Don't just put them off--do them now!”--John Goddard

Far too many of us live life as if it were going to go on forever. We put off things until tomorrow when we can never be sure there will be a tomorrow. Suppose we all knew for sure that we had only one more year to live. How would we spend that year? Would we continue to live very much the way we are now living? If we can answer yes to this question, then we are probably doing a pretty good job of living our lives already. But, if we would behave very differently during the next year if we knew we had only one more year to live, then we are probably traveling the wrong road.
When we are young, time seems to pass so slowly that "the rest of our life" seems almost like an eternity. We feel that we have so much time left that we can afford to squander it. But, as we grow older, the pace of life seems to accelerate at an ever-increasing speed so that we become increasingly aware of our own mortality. As we move into our senior years, some of us begin to panic. We have so much yet to do and so little time in which to do it. We begin to see the importance of each and every single day and try to get as much out of each day as possible.
Isn't it a shame that we can't take a more mature attitude toward life while we are still young? Wouldn't it be so much better if we could all understand the limited nature of life in our youth and start trying to make the most of each day in our life? Some people have done exactly that, And they have accomplished so much during their lifetimes that we wonder how they ever found enough time. They simply saw time as a precious gift that should never be squandered no matter how long we think we are going to live.
Some of us believe that our purpose on earth involves more than just trying to accomplish things we want to accomplish for ourselves. We believe we have a duty to try to make life better for those around us and to try to make the world a better place for future generations. Those who share these views realize that we should never squander time. Any time we have, in excess of the time we need for ourselves, should be spent trying to make this a better world. If we all shared this view and behaved accordingly, wouldn't this be a very different world?
Copyright 2004 Allen W. Smith









FIVE

"A friend may well be reckoned a masterpiece of nature."--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friends are priceless gems that enrich our lives beyond measure. Without friends, there would be nobody with whom to share our joys and our heartaches. There would be nobody with whom to communicate our most private thoughts. A life without friends would be a very empty life.
Thomas Jefferson wrote, "The happiest moments of my life have been in the flow of affection among friends." Few people in the history of mankind have had the superb talents and accomplishments of Jefferson. Yet, this very extraordinary man considered the times he spent with friends the happiest moments of his life. Is the same not true for all of us?
If we all sat down to make a list of our most important and valuable assets, many of us would be inclined to put material things like possessions and careers at the top of the list. Some of us might even forget to include friends among our assets. But some people contend that, "Friends are everything." Perhaps, in a large sense, they are.
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, "A friend is a present you give yourself." John Keats confessed, "I would not live without the love of my friends." Friendship is an asset that is not related to one's financial wealth. Some of the "poorest" people have very close friends, and financial wealth is more likely to be a hindrance than a help in developing true friendships. Unlike other assets, friendship is within the reach of every living person. It takes time and work to develop good friendships, but everything worth having requires effort.
Perhaps it behooves us all to take inventory of our friends. If we are well blessed with good friends, shouldn't we be careful not to take them for granted? And, if we feel that we have too few friends, wouldn't it make sense to work just a little harder at developing friendships? Maybe one of our major goals in life should be to strive to enjoy the company of our fellow human beings as much as possible.
Friends come in all sizes and ages. We need not restrict our attempts to develop new friends to people our own age. Some of the best and most productive friendships are between the very young and the very old. Each age group has so much to offer other age groups. The wisdom of the elderly can enlighten their juniors, and the enthusiasm of the young is a source of rejuvenation for seniors. And we must never forget that our very best friends are often members of our own family.
Copyright 2004 Allen W. Smith









SIX

"Behold the turtle: He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out."--James Bryant Conant

It is human nature to be reluctant to take chances. Most of us prefer the security of the status quo over the gamble of taking chances that might lead to success, but also might lead to failure and embarrassment. But how much progress can we make either as individuals or as a society if we are not willing to stick out our necks occasionally? Eugene O'Neill wrote, "Happiness hates the timid! So does Science!" Was he right? Does timidity reduce our happiness and impede progress?
Of course, there is a difference between timidity and reasonable caution, but the line between the two is indeed a very fine line. According to an old Malaysian proverb, "Fear to let fall a drop and you spill a lot." Too much caution can be just as bad as too little. Helen Keller wrote, "Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold." How many of us settle for a less enjoyable life than we could have if we were less afraid to take chances? How many of us are too afraid to cultivate friendships for fear we might be rejected? How many of us are afraid to try new things because of our fear of the unknown?
Some of us exaggerate the consequences of having something we try not work out. We have an unhealthy fear of failure. Perhaps if we tried more things we would discover that it is not as bad to face failure occasionally as it is to be afraid to try new things. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment."
The problem for all of us is to strike the right balance between caution and boldness. We all know people who are not cautious enough. Some people risk their own lives as well as the lives of others because they are not fearful enough of the dangers that face us all. In matters that could pose a real threat to our lives and safety, most of us would rather err on the side of being too cautious than not being careful enough. That seems to be only common sense.
But what about those situations where the worst that can happen to us if we fail is embarrassment? Is the threat of embarrassment, or even total humiliation, sufficient reason for us to forego trying things that might enrich our lives? In the words of Logan Pearsall Smith, "What is more mortifying than to feel that you have missed the plum for want of courage to shake the tree?"
Copyright 2004 Allen W. Smith









SEVEN

"This time like all other times is a very good one if we but know what to do with it."--Ralph Waldo Emerson

How many of us spend much of our lives wishing for better times? We may wish we could turn back the pages of time to an earlier period that now appears to have been much better than the present. Or we may wish to move forward in time to some hoped-for happy moment in the future. It is the present that most of us have trouble living in. Yet that is the only time period in which we can ever live.
Is it possible that the "good old days" weren't as good as we remember them? Are we remembering only the good parts of the past and blocking from our memories the unpleasant parts? Are we focusing too much on the negative aspects of the present and ignoring some pretty good aspects of our current lives?
Walt Whitman wrote, "To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle." Most of us cannot even come close to this level of positive thinking. But if we really try, can't we almost always find something good about almost every day, or at least every stage, of our lives?
Certainly we all face times of great tragedy, such as the loss of a loved one, during which our grief prevents us from seeing the positive things that are going on around us. But, aside from such difficult times of life, isn't there something good about all phases of our lives?
Growing older, having our children grow up and leave home, and retirement are examples of things that bring about major changes in our lives. Many of us find that as we grow older we are forced to give up some activities that we enjoyed so much in our younger years. But aren't there new activities available to us that can replace the lost ones? And if our children who get married and leave home provide us with grandchildren, isn't that at least partial compensation for our losses?
Even such tragedies as the unexpected loss of a job can sometimes have a happy ending. Often people who lose their jobs enter new even more-rewarding careers. We must be careful in making such generalizations, though. Many people who lose their jobs have to settle for less-rewarding jobs, and we must try to understand why these people often justifiably feel bitter.
But perhaps our biggest challenge is in knowing how to adjust to change. Maybe Emerson was right that this time is also a good time if we know what to do with it.
Copyright 2004 Allen W. Smith









EIGHT

"Never exchange a good conscience for the good-will of others or to avoid their ill-will."--Charles Simmons

We all like to please, and sometimes we are tempted to compromise our principles just to avoid conflict. But we must be careful that we don't bend too far. It is better to offend someone than to behave in a way that we will later regret. None of us have to win any popularity contests, and most of us who truly stand by our convictions will at times experience the anger of others. But, making someone else angry may be a small price to pay for being able to live according to our own conscience.
This does not mean that we should be confrontational about most things. Most of the time our disagreements with others are over such minor things that it may be best to keep our mouths shut. All of us are entitled to our opinions, and just because the opinions of others are different from our own doesn't necessarily mean that they are wrong and we are right. Often it is best just to agree to disagree with others.
There is, however, an important difference between matters of principle and matters of taste. In the words of Thomas Jefferson, "In matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current." Differences in tastes are a natural part of life. We are all unique individuals, and we each have our own set of tastes. We should usually not question or criticize the tastes of others so long as they are indeed tastes that do no harm to others. It is in matters of principle, where actions can create pain and suffering for others, that we must stand like a rock.
We should all be concerned about justice and injustice in life. And when those around us are advocating action that we believe will lead to the suffering of others we should stand tall and firm even if it means that we will lose the good-will of some people. In the words of Henry Ward Beecher, "Expedients are for the hour, but principles are for the ages." We don't have to be crusaders to make a difference. All we have to do is be willing to stand up and be counted when the principles we strongly believe in are being violated.
There is much virtue in being diplomatic and trying to avoid needless arguments. And there is no need to alienate those around us when our differences are nothing more than matters of taste. In such situations it is probably best to heed Jefferson's advice to "swim with the current." But, in matters of principle shouldn't we "stand like a rock?"
Copyright 2004 Allen W. Smith









NINE

"We should gain more by letting ourselves be seen such as we are, than by attempting to appear what we are not."—Francois de La Rochefoucald

We cannot successfully hide our true selves from others no matter how hard we try. Even if we are brilliant in our efforts, the most we might do is to fool some of the people some of the time. It is a serious mistake to try to bluff our way through life by pretending to be someone other than our true selves. Each one of us is special with our own unique set of talents and experiences, and we should work hard at developing our talents and being our unique selves to the best of our ability.
There is a tendency for many of us to be too self conscious. We imagine ourselves unattractive. We think we are deficient in talents. In short, we tend to put ourselves down. This is a terrible mistake. God created us as individuals for a purpose, and we should be proud of who we are and make the most of God's creation. Some of the most famous people in history once had low opinions of themselves and were judged poorly by others.
Abraham Lincoln grew up in poverty with almost no formal schooling. His mother died when he was only nine years old. He was extremely tall for his age and quite awkward. No doubt other boys made fun of young Abe and caused him much heartache and self-doubt. During most of his adult life Lincoln was not very distinguished in the eyes of his contemporaries, and he probably suffered from self-doubt much of the time. The first woman he asked to mary him, Mary Owens, turned him down. He ran for Congress in 1842 and lost. He was elected in 1846, but his two years in Congress were so undistinguished that he was not re-nominated by his party. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 1858 but was defeated. Even when he was elected President in 1860, many people ridiculed him for his lack of formal education and cultural sophistication. They believed that he was so lacking in administrative and diplomatic skills that he would be an incompetent president.
Yet, Abraham Lincoln brought to the presidency such an uncommon degree of personal integrity, intelligence, and humanity that he has become one of the most revered and beloved leaders of all time. In every age, there are people who seem ordinary to themselves and those around them. However, when some of these people are faced with the proper challenge, they distinguish themselves as extraordinary people. So don’t we just be ourselves and see where that takes us?
Copyright 2004 Allen W. Smith









TEN

"Take care that old age does not wrinkle your spirit even more than your face."—Michel de Montaigne

None of us can avoid the physical aging process that eventually wrinkles our skin. It is an inevitable part of growing old. But we don't have to allow it to wrinkle our heart and spirit as well. As we grow older our physical capacity gradually diminishes, but our mental capacity and our emotions need not be affected.
Some people are just as sharp mentally when they are 90 years old as they were in their youth. And many have an even brighter outlook on life than people half their age. Our mental and emotional capacities do not have to diminish as we grow older, but they often do simply because we allow them to do so. Everybody seems to recognize the value of physical exercise in keeping our bodies in shape. But many fail to recognize the need to work at maintaining our mental and emotional capacities. We need to practice sound mental and emotional health right up to the day we die.
Every stage of life has both positive and negative aspects. When we are young, we have the enthusiasm of youth and, since our whole lives are ahead of us, the sky is the limit as to our dreams. But there is also much insecurity in youth. We worry about such things as finding the right person to marry and choosing the right career. We worry that we will lose our jobs or become incapacitated and be unable to earn a good living, and there are so many other uncertainties.
In our senior years most of these worries are behind us. We have had our failures along with our successes, but we have survived them. If we have children and grandchildren they can be a source of much joy, and we have the time to enjoy life. Once we are retired, we can spend time doing things we have always wanted to do but for which we never had sufficient time before.
Some seniors find their last years the happiest, whereas others are miserable during their last years because they have allowed the aging process to wrinkle their heart and spirit. Many things are beyond our control. Some of us have more serious health problems than others, and these factors are bound to influence our attitude. But, if our only major problem is just that we have become old, we can continue to find happiness if we maintain the proper attitude.
Copyright 2004 Allen W. Smith




Would you like to read all 101 essays? You can purchase the entire collection in ebook format for only $4.00.

If you would like to order CONTEMPLATING LIFE: ONE HUNDRED AND ONE POINTS TO PONDER, just send me an email telling me how many copies of the ebook you would like to receive. I will email them to you, and you can send me a check after you receive them.

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Caribbean Gardens, Naples, Florida

from:http://www.allenwsmith.com/id12.html

strengthened and determined

life is really complicated...

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you really can't understand how it would go on... it is really upredictable...

life shattered me
it broke me...
it made me cry....

i know i will and i will!!!

Bahala na...
Father into your hands i surrender my life...

Praise the Lord
Michael Casas

at last

natapos na rin ang lahat... 4 subjects down and one more to go... at least di na masyado stressful no... salamat lord tapos na ang ana chem, physics, calculus and stat xams... at least makapagpahinga na ako... =D

Praise God!!!
Michael Casas

birthday wishlist ko...

Sana magkaroon ako nang.....

1. 8 hours of sleep
2. happy family with mama, papa, rap, camille and nanay
3. good grades
4. more friends...
5. full body massage...
6. uyab... hehehe... soon
7. maging all around person as in super wholistic ang development.
8. chocolates... tama tama lang ag dami...
9. watch... para di ko malate...
10. simple party... para naay food...
11. time in the chapel to pray...
12. write in my journal/ have a new journal...
13. i pod and loptop... mga gadgets para lingaw ang life...
14. book related to "how to be happy"
15. smiles from all people, and a happy soul and self...=D
16. a peace and safety from all sorts of trouble and problems and accidents...
17. vacation to an island... grabe sarap siguro niyan...
18. time with God... hehehe... para closer mi...=D

wala lang... sana matupad lahat nang nasulat ko dito and all the other good wishes in my heart...

With God all things are possible...
Michael Casas

The other side of Analytical Chem

anal chem is so anal... i mean so analytical. grabe. add the stress in the lab and perfect! pamatay na subject... well, swerte parin yata ako kasi yan palang ang chem na subject ko this sem... how much more next year... org chem + ana chem 3... makaya pa kaya na? ehem ehem... well that is the common misconception of students... and in a way my misconception noon...

i thought i really though before that chem would be that supercalifragilisticespialidocious type of subject na kahit gaano mo idigest with all the enzymes and complex chemical specie to digest it di jud masabtan. but wait... you could always cut it into super cali fragile listic espi ali docious... though you understand nothing atleast you have divided it into sub "words" to make you "internalize" what it should mean... well, ana chem is a super powerful subject. as in maka knock down...

but well thats life... you sweat out a lot in the love before you get good results, you sleep so late at night to study chemical equations but it always pay off... sige lang kaya ko to... i'll be a chemist after 2 and a half years... thats a long way to go... kaya na....

With God All things are possible...
Michael Casas

i want to breath some fresh air...---> reflections on college life

i never thought that the level of stress would come this high...

i never thought that it would engulf the remaining positive energies in my mind, body and soul...

i never thought that college life would be this harsh...

i never thought that it would happen this way...

but i never thought of giving up as well...

but i think i still can

i can...

even though my back is aching... i still can

even though my eye bags are growing... i still can...

can i?

will i?

i am only me...

should i ever go on? or give up...

but i believe that i have gone this far, because i always thought from the very start that i can...

and i did...

i passed harsh people and situations before...

why not now...

i know i can...

i know...

somehow, i will go somewhere...

someday somehow i will be somewhere...

i will move mountains...

i will

i CAN!!!

Praise God!!!
Michael Casas

hahaha... the first AdDACS chemistry challenge

the chemistry club of addu headed by me... hehehe deld its first chemistry quiz show. i thought at first that it would be neglected that it would not have any participants at all but i'm very happy to say that the participants overflowed in our testing room... hahaha... i was very happy that day... i mean pumatok ang quiz show namin... hehehe... anyways the stress is not yet done because yesterday was just the elimination day of the cham challenge. tomorrow would be the moving lab exam... pero atleast it is not so stressful na rin in a way because the chem department and my members especuially kuya carl and kuya jeeve kave been helping me out. hay salamat thursday na... hehehe...=D

19 days to go before my birthday.,.. hehehe =D

Praise God
Michael Casas

greater responsibilities...

aside from becoming super busy in my academics, i am also as busy in my extracurricular activities... well, kapoy maging club president and member ng other clubs... pero it pays naman din kasi you get to meet many many people and have so many friends as well... ang sakit lang kay hutdon pud and time... well hutdon jud... satinuod lang i still have 3 exams next week-physics, calc and chem. pero well, i chose to relax here and do my blog para somehow macondition brain ko... pero sana ok lang exams... help me Lord... hay nako... sige lang... i can if i think that i can... hehehe...

tama BER na diay... hapit na pasko... =D

Praise God!!!
MIcahel Casas

nalingaw ko sa chem... hehehe...

eversince i started my chemistry (anal chem) this year, i really felt stressed out and really tired, because of the many concepts, many experiments and tiring lab works. but well mas naapreciate ko na chem now... wala lang... it really is a hard course yet excieing din pala siya later... i mean mas exciting pa kasi its like the world would depend upon chemists in policy making (e.g. global warming themes), product development (pharmaceuticals, ets) and economic progress... hay nako pero marami pa akong kakaining bigas... sige lang kaya to!!!

anyways... God bless sa mag mga magtake og midtems...

Praise the Lord!!!
Michael Casas

the 7th best speaker of the 3rd Loyola Cup...

debating is fun et ehausting, but i guess there is more of the reward than that of the detriments... just last sunday, august 5, 2007, the Ateneo debate community held the finals round of the 3rd loyola cup. actually i was hpeless if i would be able to break even into the semi finals, but i keep up with a positive attitude towards it...

anyways so there goes the 5th round, and we ranked 2nd in it which means that our accumulated score is 7/12 points in the first five rounds... THEREFORE WE BROKE... BELLARMINE B ROCKS!!!

me with ate flora, my partner... hahaha

i think we actuall rock, i go for the first speaker then she is the second speaker... i lay down the case and its foundation and she gives further substantiation... what a team... anways... so in the semis we were first... Gosh... we made it .... hahaha imagine swiping the other best speakers... hehehe.... but of course we remained humble... we just can't believe the fact that we qualify for the finals round... hahaha...=D... but in the finals round we only were 4th... anways its okay at least we have proven that we are among the top 4 teams of the ateneo debate cmmunity neophtes...

moreover... i won the 7th best speaker award... nice one...=D... it was a surprise and a rewally great thing to end the debate with... =D

PRaise God

Michael Casas

The Spiritual Exercises

The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola are a month-long program of meditations, prayers, considerations, and contemplative practices that help Catholic faith become more fully alive in the everyday life of contemporary people. It is set out in a brief manual or handbook: sparse, taciturn, and practical. It presents a formulation of Ignatius' spirituality in a series of prayer exercises, thought experiments, and examinations of consciousness—designed to help a retreatant (usually with the aid of a spiritual director) to experience a deeper conversion into life with God in Christ, to allow our personal stories to be interpreted by being subsumed in a Story of God.
These Exercises are usually made in one of three different ways: first, extended over approximately thirty days in a silent retreat away from home, which was its original form; or second, as condensed into a weekend or an eight-day retreat based on Ignatian themes; or third, in the midst of daily life, while living at home, over a period of several months.
The Spiritual Exercises are divided into a series of four "weeks"—not literally seven 24-hour-day weeks, but "movements" or “stages”—with accompanying prayer, visualizations, reflections, and spiritual exercises for each week. These four movements include consideration of God's generosity and mercy and the complex reality of human sin; an imagining of the life and public ministry of Jesus, his proclamation of the gospel, his sayings and parables, his teachings and his miracles; and of Jesus' last days, his arrest and interrogation, whipping, public mockery, passion, crucifixion and death; and then, of Jesus’ Resurrection, his Ascension, and the pouring-forth of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and Christ’s continued life in the world through the Spirit today and in the Messianic People called and missioned to his cause.
This cause is, at its root, the cause of freedom, a letting-go-free of persons who, up to this time, have lived in captivity, a captivity often completely taken for granted, sometimes no longer remembered to be captivity, and not able to be acknowledged as captivity— a “Redemption.” During the Spiritual Exercises, focused through the key meditations of the Second Week, with their demanding ascesis, we attempt to get out of God’s way in our hearts, deepen our sense of interior freedom from the hero-system of popular secular society, and allow God’s own impelling Spirit to lead us in taking action, out of this new freedom, which is authentically emancipatory for other men and women.
Usually retreatants will meet regularly in private with a spiritual director to discuss their experiences of prayer and reflection, and to receive guidance in praying with the Exercises, in thinking about what they are doing, and in the interpretation of what is happening to them.
In the Oregon Province there are a number of places that offer the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (SEEL), in which someone can "make" the Exercises over the course of a eight or nine-month period. In a province-wide ministry co-sponsored by our universities, our secondary schools, our parishes, and our new spirituality centers, the SEEL Programs usually begin in the Fall. In addition, the text of the Spiritual Exercises is made available here, along with an on-line guide to the Exercises that can be used in daily life (“Daily Ways to Pray”).

From: http://www.nwjesuits.org/JesuitSpirituality/SpiritualExercises.html

Saint Ignatius...

Early Life of St. Ignatius
Inigo de Loyola was born in 1491 in Azpeitia in the Basque province of Guipuzcoa in northern Spain. He was the youngest of thirteen children. At the age of sixteen years he was sent to serve as a page to Juan Velazquez, the treasurer of the kingdom of Castile. As a member of the Velazquez household, he was frequently at court and developed a taste for all it presented, especially the ladies. He was much addicted to gambling, very contentious, and not above engaging in swordplay on occasion. For a number of years he went about in the dress of a fighting man, wearing a coat of mail and breastplate, and carrying a sword and other sorts of arms.
Eventually he found himself at the age of 30 in May of 1521 as an officer defending the fortress of the town of Pamplona against the French, who claimed the territory as their own against Spain. The Spaniards were terribly outnumbered and the commander of the Spanish forces wanted to surrender, but Ignatius convinced him to fight on for the honor of Spain, if not for victory. During the battle a cannon ball struck Ignatius, wounding one leg and breaking the other. Because they admired his courage, the French soldiers carried him back to recuperate at his home, the castle of Loyola, rather than to prison.
His leg was set but did not heal, so it was necessary to break it again and reset it, all without anesthesia. Although he was told to prepare for death, on the fest of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29) he took an unexpected turn for the better. The leg healed, but he was left with one leg shorter than the other. For the rest of his life he walked with a limp.
Conversion of St. Ignatius
During the long weeks of his recuperation, he was extremely bored and asked for some romance novels to pass the time. Luckily there were none in the castle of Loyola, but there was a copy of the life of Christ and a book on the saints. Desperate, Ignatius began to read them. The more he read, the more he considered the exploits of the saints worth imitating. However, at the same time, he continued to have daydreams of fame and glory, along with fantasies of winning the love of a certain noble lady of the court. The identity of this lady has never been discovered but she seems to have been of royal blood. He noticed, however, that after reading and thinking of the saints and Christ he was at peace and satisfied. Yet when he finished his long daydreams of his noble lady, he would feel restless and unsatisfied. Not only was this experience the beginning of his conversion, it was also the beginning of spiritual discernment, or discernment of spirits, which is associated with Ignatius and described in his Spiritual Exercises.
The Exercises recognize that not only the intellect but also the emotions and feelings can help us to come to a knowledge of the action of the Spirit in our lives. Eventually, completely converted from his old desires and plans of romance and worldly conquests, and recovered from his wounds enough to travel, he left the castle in March of 1522.
He had decided that he wanted to go to Jerusalem to live where our Lord had spent his life on earth. As a first step he began his journey to Barcelona. He first proceeded to the Benedictine shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat, made a general confession, and knelt all night in vigil before Our Lady's altar, following the rites of chivalry. He left his sword and knife at the altar, went out and gave away all his fine clothes to a poor man, and dressed himself in rough clothes with sandals and a staff.
The Experience of Manresa
He continued towards Barcelona but stopped along the river Cardoner at a town called Manresa. He stayed in a cave outside the town, intending to linger only a few days, but he remained for ten months. He spent hours each day in prayer and also worked in a hospice. It was while here that the ideas for what are now known as the Spiritual Exercises began to take shape. It was also on the banks of this river that he had a vision which is regarded as the most significant in his life. The vision was more of an enlightenment, about which he later said that he learned more on that one occasion that he did in the rest of his life. Ignatius never revealed exactly what the vision was, but it seems to have been an encounter with God as He really is so that all creation was seen in a new light and acquired a new meaning and relevance, and experience that enabled Ignatius to find God in all things. This grace, finding God in all things, is one of the central characteristics of Jesuit spirituality. Ignatius himself never wrote in the rules of the Jesuits that there should be any fixed time for prayer. Actually, by finding God in all things, all times are times of prayer. He did not, of course, exclude formal prayer, but he differed from other founders regarding the imposition of definite times or duration of prayer. One of the reasons some opposed the formation of the Society of Jesus was that Ignatius proposed doing away with the chanting of the Divine Office in choir. This was a radical departure from custom, because until this time, every religious order was held to the recitation of the office in common. For Ignatius, such recitation meant that the type of activity envisioned for the Society would be hindered.
He finally arrived at Barcelona, took a boat to Italy, and ended up in Rome where he met Pope Adrian VI and requested permission to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Once he arrived in the Holy Land he wanted to remain, but was told by the Franciscan superior who had authority over Catholics there that the situation was too dangerous. (At the time, the Turks were the rulers of the Holy Land.) The superior ordered Ignatius to leave. He refused, but when threatened with excommunication, he obediently departed.
The Return to School
By now he was 33 years old and determined to study for the priesthood. However, he was ignorant of Latin, a necessary preliminary to university studies in those days. So he started back to school studying Latin grammar with young boys in a school in Barcelona. After two years he moved on to the University of Alcala. There his zeal got him in trouble, a problem that continued throughout his life. He would gather students and adults to explain the Gospels to them and teach them how to pray. His efforts attracted the attention of the Inquisition and he was thrown into jail for 42 days. When he was released he was told to avoid teaching others. (In the eyes of Inquisitors, anyone who was teaching and was not ordained was suspect.)
Because he could not live without helping souls, Ignatius moved on to the University of Salamanca. There, within two weeks, the Dominicans had thrown him back into prison again. Though they could find no heresy in what he taught, he was told that he could only teach children and then only simple religious truths. Once more he took to the road, this time for Paris.
At the University of Paris he began school again, studying Latin grammar and literature, philosophy, and theology. It was also in Paris that he began sharing a room with Francis Xavier and Peter Faber. He greatly influenced a few other fellow students directing them all at one time or another in what we now call the Spiritual Exercises. Eventually six of them plus Ignatius decided to take vows of chastity and poverty and to go to the Holy Land. If going to the Holy Land became impossible, they would go to Rome and place themselves at the disposal of the Pope for whatever he would want them to do. They did not think of doing this as a religious order or congregation, but as individual priests. For a year they waited, however no ship was able to take them to the Holy Land because of the conflict between the Christians and Muslims. It was during this time of waiting that Ignatius was ordained a priest, but he did not say Mass for another year. It is thought that he wanted to say his first Mass in Jerusalem in the land where Jesus himself had lived.
The Company of Jesus
Ignatius, along with two of his companions, Peter Faber and James Lainez, decided to go to Rome and place themselves at the disposal of the Pope. It was a few miles outside of the city that Ignatius had the second most significant of his mystical experiences. At a chapel at La Storta where they had stopped to pray, God the Father told Ignatius, "I will be favorable to you in Rome" and that he would place him (Ignatius) with His Son. Ignatius did not know what this experience meant, for it could mean persecution as well as success since Jesus experienced both.
When they met with the Pope, he very happily put them to work teaching scripture and theology and preaching. It was here on Christmas morning, 1538, that Ignatius celebrated his first Mass at the church of St. Mary Major in the Chapel of the Manger. It was thought this chapel had the actual manger of Bethlehem, so, if Ignatius was not going to be able to say his first Mass at Jesus' birthplace in the Holy Land, then this would be the best substitute.
During the Lent of 1539, Ignatius asked all of his companions to come to Rome to discuss their future. They had never thought of founding a religious order, but now that going to Jerusalem was out, they had to think about their future--whether they would spend it together. After many weeks of prayer and discussion, they decided to form a community, with the Pope's approval, in which they would vow obedience to a superior general who would hold office for life. They would place themselves at the disposal of the Holy Father to travel wherever he should wish to send them for whatever duties. A vow to this effect was added to the ordinary vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Formal approval of this new order was given by Pope Paul III the following year on September 27, 1540. Since they had referred to themselves as the Company of Jesus (in Latin Societas Jesu), in English their order became known as the Society of Jesus. Ignatius was elected on the first ballot of the group to be the superior, but he begged them to reconsider, pray and vote again a few days later. The second ballot came out as the first, unanimous for Ignatius, except for his own vote. He was still reluctant to accept, but his Franciscan confessor told him it was God's will, so he acquiesced. On the Friday of Easter week, April 22, 1541, at the Church of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, the friends pronounced their vows in the newly formed Order.
The Years As Superior General
Ignatius, whose love it was to be actively involved in teaching catechism to children, directing adults in the Spiritual Exercises, and working among the poor and in hospitals, would for the most part sacrifice this love for the next fifteen years. From his election as superior general until his death he would work out of two small rooms, his bedroom and next to it his office, directing this new society throughout the world. He would spend years composing the Constitutions of the Society and would write thousands of letters to all corners of the globe to his fellow Jesuits dealing with the affairs of the Society and to lay men and women directing them in the spiritual life. From his tiny quarters in Rome he would live to see in his lifetime the Society of Jesus grow from eight to a thousand members. The Jesuits would found colleges and houses all over Europe and as far away as Brazil and Japan. Some of the original companions were to become the Pope's theologians at the Council of Trent, an event which played an important role in the Catholic Counter Reformation.
The Jesuits and SchoolsPerhaps the work of the Society of Jesus begun by Ignatius that is best known is that of education. It is interesting that he had no intention of including teaching among the Jesuits' works at the beginning. As already mentioned, the purpose of the first members was to be at the disposal of the Pope to go where they would be most needed. Before 1548 Ignatius had opened schools in Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and India. These schools, however, were intended primarily for the education of the new young Jesuit recruits. Ten such colleges built within six years indicated the rapid growth of the Jesuits. But in 1548 at the request of the magistrates of Messina in Sicily, Ignatius sent five men to open a school for lay as well as Jesuit students. It soon became clear by requests from rulers, bishops and cities for schools that this work was truly one of the most effective ways to correct ignorance and corruption among the clergy and the faithful, to stem the decline of the Church in the face of the Reformation, and to fulfill the motto of the Society of Jesus, "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,"--to the greater glory of God.
This was clearly in keeping with one of Ignatius' first principles in choosing apostolates: all other things being equal, choose those apostolates that will influence those who have the most influence on others. Maybe the best expression of this idea was in a letter he wrote about the founding of colleges in December of 1551:
From among those who are now merely students, in time some will depart to play diverse roles--one to preach and carry on the care of souls, another to government of the land and the administration of justice, and others to other callings. Finally, since young boys become grown men, their good education in life and doctrine will be beneficial to many others, with the fruit expanding more widely every day. From then on, Ignatius helped to establish Jesuit schools and universities all over Europe and the world.
Ignatius the PersonIt is probably true that the picture of Ignatius that most people have is that of a soldier: stern, iron-willed, practical, showing little emotion -- not a very attractive or warm personality. Yet if this picture is exact, it is hard to see how he could have had such a strong influence on those who knew him. Luis Goncalves de Camara, one of his closest associates wrote,
He (Ignatius) was always rather inclined toward love; moreover, he seemed all love, and because of that he was universally loved by all. There was no one in the Society who did not have much great love for him and did not consider himself much loved by him.
We regard a number of saints as great mystics but never think of Ignatius as one of them. We have recounted a few of the many visions and mystical experiences in his life. His holiness, however, did not consist in such, but in the great love that directed his life to do everything A.M.D.G., for the greater glory of God.
Last IllnessEver since his student days in Paris, Ignatius had suffered from stomach ailments and they became increasingly troublesome in Rome. In the summer of 1556 his health grew worse, but his physician thought he would survive this summer as he had done others. Ignatius, however, thought that the end was near. On the afternoon of July 30th he asked Polanco, his secretary, to go and get the Pope's blessing for him, suggesting by this to Polanco that he was dying. Polanco, however, trusted the physician more than Ignatius and told him he had a lot of letters to write and mail that day. He would go for the Pope's blessing the next day. Shortly after midnight Ignatius took a turn for the worse. Polanco rushed off to the Vatican to get the papal blessing, but it was too late. The former worldly courtier and soldier who had turned his gaze to another court and a different type of battle had rendered his soul into the hands of God. Ignatius was beatified on July 27, 1609 and canonized by Pope Gregory XV on March 12, 1622 together with St. Francis Xavier. Ignatius' feast day is celebrated by the universal Church and the Jesuits on July 31, the day he died.

--->From: http://www.luc.edu/jesuit/ignatius.bio.html

miracles happen

today, at this very time... i feel so exhausted as in grabe...

bakit kapoy maging college student?

1. we are trained for real life...
2. professors have to do their work...
3. we don't have much time to do so much work
4. we are limited as persons...
5. it is nherent to be like it... kapopy talaga...

lets face it... and i will face it too that all these things are true... pero i'm still thankful, because even though life is tough, God places some secret doors to escape... doors to survive... MIRACLES...

i really love this word... i mean it is a big gift to us humans from God...

there can be miracles when you believe... =D

but miracles don't happen unless we do our share too...=D

Praise The Lord!
Michael Casas

MIdterm rush

prelim has passed and midterm is at hand... well my friends what do you expect? an easier load? of course not!!! hay nako... grabe... anal chem palang pamatay na... not to mention calculus... anyways... though ok ang grades ko, but the coming grading period means another set of stress!!! hay nako sana maka graduate na ako para work na then money na... hahay that would be two years from now pa no... anyways... God is still Good... because he plans out events in favor of his people... Amen...

Praise The Lord
Michael Casas

=D a striking message =D

=DLive Life to the Fullest... =D

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.

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.

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but at the end of the day it is still a striking cliche.

A Battle with time

we usually hear the cliche that time is gold. but do ou get to appreciate time if you have it as a luxury?

lately, since i made myself super busy with extracurricular activities, i felt time all the more. i mean in the past years i wasn't too busy and i don't have so much to do except with my academics so, i slack, waste my time and all those things. but now i appreciate 15 minutes of nap, 5-6 hours of sleep, 1 hour study time for major exams etc etc.

but of course i see how problematic it would be if you make time an enemy... so i just tried to master it so that i may make even a minute very productive.

help me Lord in this battle... i pray that i may win... Amen

Praise The Lord!!!
Michael Casas

Debate---> The 3rd Loyola Cup of the Ateneo Debate Community

"this house believes that..." this phrase continues to rule over my system up to this very moment. why? simply because i am into debating.

debating they say is the art of persuasion, but i say it is the art of becoming sophisticated. why? because when you debate ou are challenged to become the most sophsticated debater in the house.

anyways, last sunday (july 22, 2007), the 3rd Loyola Cup was held in ADDU. of course i joined because i am a newbie of the club and in a way it was a requirement to see how far we have learned about the prnciples of debating. i am belong to bellarmine block specifically bellarmine b. i am paired with ate flora.

anyways, the event was generally fun in a sense that sacrificed one whole day of studying calculus and physics just to join the one whole day debate tournament. so joined the debate.

there were four rounds in the debate and generally it was fun. we won first place in the first debate, but we became fourth in the next two rounds while the fourth round was a slent round so the results were not given to us.

well, i love debating na. i mean it is mind stimulating and sometimes you get to bluff yourself ands the members of the house just to make the case work for you and you get to use thoser sophisticated words and all.

basta wala akong masabi...

Praise The Lord!!!
Michael Casas

Life Life and more about real life.

each day passes with a new opportunity. each day brings new possibilities. sometimes it is what you expect and hope for, but sometimes they do not. for the past weeks of my second year life, i learned a lot of thing, but not all things about myself and about life as a whole. well after some time, i got these few reflections:

LIFE:

1. life is a mirror. what you get/see is who you are.
2. life is a roller coaster. it brings thrill and anxiety to the people riding in it all in one ride.
3. life is a library. it is full of wonders and secrets.

ME:
1. i am a chemical specie. i was once pure but now nearly impure.
2. i am a meter stick. i am limited.
3. i am just me, because i am unique.

Michael Casas
Praise God!!!

EMO mode...=D

There are places I remember all my life,Though some have changedSome forever, not for betterSome have gone and some remain.All these places have their momentsOf lovers and friends I still can recallSome are dead and some are livingIn my life I loved them all.And with all these friends and loversThere is no one compares with youAnd these mem'ries lose their meaningWhen I think of love as something newAnd I know I'll never lose affectionFor people and things that went beforeI know I'll often stop and think about them.In my life I loved you more.And I know I'll never lose affectionFor people and things that went beforeI know I'll often stop and think about them.In my life I loved you moreIn my life I loved you more

Break away by kelly Clarkson---> lingaw.

[Intro:][×2]Da da da'd da daDa da da'd da daDa da da'd da da da da[Verse 1:]
]Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I'd just stare out my window
Dreamin' of what could be
And if I'd end up happy I would pray
Trying hard to reach out
But when I tried to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I prayed I could breakaway [chorus]
I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes till I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget all the ones that I love
I'll take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway
Da da da'd da daDa da da'd da daDa da da'd da da da da

[Verse 2:]
Wanna feel the warm breeze
Sleep under a palm tree
Feel the rush of the ocean
Get on board a fast train
Travel on a jetplane, far away
And breakaway [chorus]
I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes till I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
I won't forget all the ones that I love
I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway

[Bridge:]
Buildings with a hundred floors
Swinging round revolving doors
Maybe I don't know where they'll take me
But, gotta keep moving on, moving on Fly away, breakaway [chorus 2]
I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye, gotta
Take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget the place I come from
I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway
BreakawayBreakaway...

BREAKAWAY from all the evils of this world... BREAKAWAY

Making Stress A Friend---> Sarcastic gamay...hehehe

im feeling the reality.
i now experience the truth.

life is not as familiar as one two three...
it actually is as complicated as a boulder that we don't want to see.

life is a bit painful
stressful and full of all those "fulls"

it is a bit challenging
this changed everything

life is challenging
it makes me feel excited and even more excited.

it makes me go through...
i love it.

hahaha. just forget about those lines above. iam just stressed with the experiment that we just had in analytical chemistry. well indeed life is super dooper kapoy. and i think we all would agree to that. but beyond the stress is the challenge to manage time and make the stress work for me. well besides my academics na medyo nagiging mas mahirap na as the days go along, i have increasing responsibilitiwes in the clubs as well which doubles thestress(or perhaps raises the stress to the power of 4).

but let us accept this fact, it is part of life.

for the past three or four weeks of my second year first sem defined how life in college goes on. but it gave me the chance to know my limits and my strengths as well. KAYA KO PALA!? i would often tell myself even though sometinmes i do something half well but i still manage to 'recognize' my personal efforts.

though stress gave me bache aches, headaches, heartaches and all iother sorts of aches, i would still like to conclude my blog by saying that YOUR WORST ENEMY IS YOUR BEST FRIEND!!!
hahaha. sounds optimistic right? compared to the statement YOUR BEST FRIEND IS YOUR BEST ENEMY. =D. well stress like in industrial processes refines, redefines, reforms and strengthens any raw materials... well thast is all that i can say... basta stress is working in my favor... hahaha. i am just keeping a positive paradigm...

you will when you believe... there can be miracles... when you believe... hahaha...

With God All things are possible...=D

Michael Casas
Praise The Lord

bigger responsibilities

becoming a second year student exposed me to greater responsibilites. first and foremost, i am now an active member in clubs.

Clubs as of today:
1. Ateneo debate community
2. Subdom 7 Choir
3. NS and math Core group (Publications Committee)
4. Ateneo de Davao Association of Chemistry Students (Club President)---> actually nabigla ako about this and quite reluctant in accepting the responsibility but i think i have to do this yata... for some great reason...=D

not to mention the very essence of university life---> ACADEMICS. hay nalang...

WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

May God Do Great Things For others Through me. AMEN
Michael Casas

GRABE!!! Mao na jud ni...

this past few weeks, i felt that college life is really fun!!! but lets accept the premise that there are stresses, pressures and challenges along the way. never the less after after each day i still would conclude that, learning should is fun.

well, we had our first LOOOONG and tiring session in Ana. Chem--- qualitative analysis of cations. it is super kapoy as in... standing for three hours in the laboratory, finding out if a certain anion is present then maglinis pa and all that... whew... BUT!!! its fun for me in the sense that i hasve a competent teacher na grabe.... idol tika maam aranas... i think i am in good hans in chem... then the fact that you witness chemical reactions and conduct chemical operations is already fun in itself... so what can i say...this fun does not only apply in my chem lab class but also in my other classes as well.

second, i finally joined clubs and organizations. first, the Subdominant 7 (Ateneo Choir), the natural science and mathematics division family, ateneo debate community, ateneo de davao association of chemistry students, the GKK youth Org in our place and more organizations to go. the catch and challenge in here is for me to manage my time so well. well, i think it wuld be a very hard task, but i thin k i will make it. then, more than joining in these organizations, i also aim to develop my other talents and gain many many many friends. =D

third, i think i am just getting mature these days. somehow i observe myself to be more prudent and patient now... i thank God for these...

and lastly, nakakataba ng puso na while i am passing through the corridors of the school, my AFYOP students from S1 and N3 would approach ma and say "hello kuya, kumusta na?" nakakataba ng puso and inspiring na soimehow naremember ka ng mga taong iyon...hehehe... miss you guys...=D

all these things are part of the journey called life. and i say that college life is fun. mao na jud ni... GRABE!!!... =D.

Thank God...
Praise God
Michael Casas

I Accept the challenge!!!

the first week of classes in ADDU went quite well, but personally, i am feeling this strange thing na ewan ko kung ano ang reason. could it be the subjects? (College Physics lec/Lab, Analytical Chemistry lec/lab, elementary analysis 2, elementary statistics+ other minor subjects) could it be my teachers? or could it be me? i just can't explain the stange feeling that i have but i think time will help me figure out.

i think i am just so overwhelmed by the bulk of subjects that i am taking for this semester. pagsabayin ba naman ang dalawang physics, dalawang chem at dalawang math... oh come on... it really is a challenge on my part but it should not remain a challenge!!!

last night, i thought about this:
mountain climbing is tiresome but in the process you get to be aquainted with the beauty of nature with the flora and fauna that you encounter. scuba diving is also stressful, but sooner or later, you get to realize that it is relaxing because of the cold water where you flat and swim.
similarly academics is a realm full of pressures, but along the way you learn though sometimes you fall but you stand up, you gain new friends, and hopoefully you become an expert in your chosen field.

anyways, pressures, challenges, terror teachers, over loaded schedule and other stressors are inevitable in a university life. but hopefully i could cope up. I THEREFORE TAKE THE CHALLENGE. i will face this semester and the semesters to come with PMA (Positive mental attitude), competence, hardwork and diligence, prayerfulness and complete surrender to the will of the Lord. AMEN...

Praise The Lord!!!
Michael Casas

AFYOP Party

June 2, 2007 (Saturday 7:00 pm)

After two batches of first year students na gi-orient namin sa mga school rules and regulatiuons, Sir Rikki announced na may party daw para sa mga AFYOP facilitators... well it was exciting kasi you know party na gud na diba... (hehehe=D)... pero dapat may talent show ang bawat batch as in sayaw, kanta or skit...

so siyempre magpapatalo ba ang mga sophomores na AFYOP? hehehe=D

so nag practice kami it was a practice full of fun and laughter... makabuang jud ming tanan... besides the fact na corny yata ming tanan sa Sophomores group, game na game pud mi na magsayaw magkanta and do all the stunts...

siyempre nagsayaw pud ko, nag ballet (kuno) and kanta kanta... well our poresentation was fun and guess what kami ang nanalo sa presentation... lingaw man gud ang flow... and katawanan jud siya...=D

of course dinner was served, lingaw lingaw and nag chat chat kami while eating. then Nina sang songs to us... mga love moves in mysterious ways, through the fire, foolish heart etc... then nag karaoke singing din kami... hahaha... nayabag gud ko... hahaha.... =D

tapos nag disco and picture picture pud... and the nice thing about the party was the bonding na naform within us... as in lingaw gud... new friends and all...=D

then at the last part of the program, sir Rikki gave us a memorable souvenir... the AFYOP '07 picture... char... i was so touched and thankful... lingaw jud ang experience... sabi ni sir "hindi daw kami kayang bayaran ng pera"... but for me the experince itself was the compensation and the fulfillment of our task... thanks sir, thanks AFYOP fellows and most especially, thank you God!!!=D

Michael Casas
Praise God

At Last...=D

AT LAST summer is over... the idle days are now gone and here comes the fully packed semester. but i still have one more week to have fun and enjoy... hahaha... atleast i could reward myself after the stressful and hectic summer that transpired.

AT LAST STUDY NA PUD OG TODO... BUT it is VERY okay...=D...
According to Sir Rikki... "learning should be fun," and i agree with him, because based on experience i learn more when i enjoy as i learn. well that is a great paradigm to start with for this new shcool year...

AT LAST ENrollment na pala ngayon... so, pila na naman... well well well its part of the university life...

AT LAST BS CHEMISTRY NA COURSE KO... wala lang... i love chemicals... and hopefully mag bonding kami for four years... hehehe=D

AT LAST SECOND YEAR NA AKO>>> i'm getting older na... shuks... sige lang its part of life...=D

AFYOP Facilitator... (Ateneo First Year Orientation Program)

When i was informed that i am one of the chosen ones for trhe AFYOP facilitation, then i really felt excited... i thought of becoming an amature teacher ... hehehe... but it is not quite easy just like what i expected.

first and foremost, let me quote "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility"

and it applies... i mean it is the nature of becoming an AFYOP facilitator...
first you have tyo make visual aids...
second, you must be eloquent and confident in delivering the script and all that
third, you must be jolly to make your subjects and everyone comfortable
and finally you must dance...
=D

these were all unexpected things, but really i think that they would all be stressful on my part, but fulfilling at the same time...

imagine....
becoming the first "teachers" of the first year students
then becoming a full grown dancer and teracher
and breaking the antisocial attitude...
also, gaining new friends...

LET ME STRESS...

KAPOY pero LINGAW...

madasmi din pala siyang benefits...
hehehe.... whatever you call it... kahit paano mo pa iyan i describe...

IT IS AN EXPERIENCE WORTH EXPERIENCING...

God bless sa lahat ng AFYOP and to me also...=D

Praise The Lord!!!

KPKK---> Kapunongan sa mga Pangulo sa Kadautan sa Kalibutan; by Melchor Morante

another entry. yesterday was one of the most memorable day of my life, because i was able to overcome my stage freight and all that stuff... because i played one of the lead roles of the musical play in our Literature class entitled KPKK---> Kapunongan sa mga Pangulo sa Kadautan sa Kalibutan; by Melchor Morante

i palyed the role of Kabangis, the evil and so barbaric leader of KPKK... well it was a challenge on my part, because, i am not an innate bad and wild person and to think, i have to shout out my lungs so that i could play the role very well. so i have to do it....

i memoriezed the lines naman eh... but the problem was about my voice... i had a cough in the past week, pero wala na ngayon, and i might not deliver my lines so well... so i was not in my right self... and i thought na hindi ko talaga makaya... so nagpray nalang ako...

then on the night of performance, okay naman ako pero what was stressful was the setting up of the stage... the previous group did not really arrange the stage, they were so negligent. makalagot as in... i thought that installing the backdrop, the props and all would be a breeze, but, sup[er kapoy... imagine, nagkarga ko og mga kahoy, bangko, sako na bug-at and to think, i should relax and condition myself for the upcoming drama, pero hindi... I WAS STRESSED... so, i used that stress to internalize my role and be more barbaric on stage... so what i did? i shouted my lines as if i would be killing my co actors on stage (joke) and stun the audience at the same time. and i did not expect my voice to actually cooperate. hahaha... and the somehow makakunsensiya na part is nung pinasakitan ko si Gugma, played by my classmate Johanna de Castro. as in naawa ako sa kanya kasi parang napasobrahan ko yung pagpapasakit sa kanya pero i think medyo okay naman kasi all throughout the paly, the audience reacted positively on our play. its as if kasali silang lahat sa amin. so, naghiyawan, nagulat and pumalakpak sila... may iba ngang teary eyed na eh... hehehehe. it was like another victory =D... thank God jud...

so there it was, we had our play... so somehow i was relieved, kasi tapos na ang lahat... =D... many good comments and praises were given to the grtoup and of course masaya ako... thank God jud kaayo kay at least nakuhaan na ko ug usa ka tunok... =D

Amen...
Michael Casas

that's it

so tapos na ang free internet access ko sa library...

asta lavista na sa aking blog...

i'll update later na naman... some time soon...

Praise God!!!
Michael Casas

Bigger responsibility

my second year in college allows me to acces greater horizons in life. that is why... i believe that i have a greater responsibility to:

engage in as many activities as i can

but the challenge her is:

to keep a balanced and weel managed time.

and

a healthy spiritual and social and family life.

and most importantly...

NOT TO OVERWORK MY---BODY---MIND---SPIRIT---HEART

hahaha... with God all things are possible

Praise GOD!!!
Michael Casas

DISEDERATA---> resemblance of life

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant, they, too, have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons. They are vexations of the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about; for in the face of all aridity and enchantment, it is perennial as grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars, you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham and drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

This masterpiece has touched me because ryuly it resembles life and to some extent nagpapatama din siya sa akin at sa mga OFFENDERS ko.

in a way, this article is a good reminder that life is someting that should be cautious about, because of the possible treachery of the people whom you consider "FRIENDS."

moreover, this piece challenges me and all of us to live life according to what GOD has meant it to be. and that decision is all in our hands...

MAY GOD BLESS ME AND THE PEOPLE WHOSE HEARTS ARE CLEAN FROM EVIL PLANS AND DESIES FOR OTHERS... AMEN

Praise God

Michael Casas

Free internet

inaabuso ko ang free internet access ko dito sa library. kaysa mag expire ito by the end of summer classes, buti pang ubusin ko na ito... hahahah...

buti nalang medyo maka save ko gamay...

Priase God!!!

Elections

Vote wisely my friends... think of our future okay... though di pa ako makavote... the country counts on you...

DAHIL MAY BOSES ANG ISA MONG BOTO...=D

Praise God
Michael Casas

Summer---> makes me high...

hahaha... from the very start, i felt that summer classes would be stressful. and guess what i am right... though dalawa lang ang subjects na nakuha ko ngayon, kapoy parin kasi i was used to the comfortable and relaxed mode that i used to have in the past years. and tell you after summer classes may writer's workshop pa, may AFYOP workshop pa, may choir practices pa, hay ambot.

but the stress pays off well naman din for me. i get quite decent grades, gained new friends, had some fun and nice kasi the teachers were going the next level so i was mentally challenged along the way. never the less ok lang pero STRESSFUL jud siya... sundays lang ang day off ko so wala talagang pahinga...

and tama may musical play pa jud kami... hahay... i got one of the lead roles so kailangasn ko na namang mag memorize, back drops pa and all the stage design...

grabe...

GRABE---> that's all i can say.

pero i think this is a nice training ground para i can condition myself on the realities in life...
that life is STRESSFUL yet FULFILLING
that life is HARD yet REFRESHING
that life is NOT A SPOON FEEDING REALM but A REALM OF HARDWORK...

and speaking of hardwork... medyo naging part na siya ng system ko and maybe on the next level na rin siya. hehehe... GRABE ANG TRAINING NG ADDU...

and itsa something i am thankful for...

THANBK YOU LORD FOR PUTTING ME IN THIS PLACE...=D

Praise the Lord!!!

MIchael Casas