Top 10 Things Kuya Erwin Will Do In 2009

In our Basta Lovelife New Year's special, we discussed seven (7) questions to ask yourself before facing the new year. One of the questions Kevin asked was "Are there any decisions that you have been putting off?" So here are 10 things your Kuya Erwin will do in 2009:

1. Move back to Manila. Yeah, it's pretty comfortable where we're at right now but the ministry we're called to serve is there. I'm just giving more time for Zoe and Blessing to relax and breathe some clean, fresh, non-air conditioned, all natural cold air. 

2. Take better care of my body. No, I'm not sick or anything but when I was in my younger years I suffered plenty of injuries doing crazy things like snowboarding, aggressive in-line skating, etc. and my injuries hurt when it's cold or when I'm stressed.

3. Learn French and Japanese. It's something I've been wanting to learn for a while now. It's always nice to upgrade your self, right?

4. Play the drums again. Ever since I moved back to the Philippines I have never been "the drummer." I miss playing my main instrument. 

5. Draw and paint again. My day is incomplete when I don't open my Bible at the beginning of the day. My day is also incomplete if I don't do something creative for the day and drawing is my ultimate outlet. I do miss my animation days.

6. Design our new witnessing tract. One of the most effective witnessing tools we use at Crossway Ministries is a tract called One Way. It is visually oriented (which the students love),  it produces more interaction with the students and it's not time consuming. But, we have had problems with supply and licensing. So the obvious solution, MAKE OUR OWN TRACT.

7. Consistently lead worship at Resonate. Not living in Manila makes this hard but the quick remedy would be to move back to Manila.

8. Lead more people to Christ. Evangelism is a lifestyle and in life, we always strive to be better. It just makes perfect sense to be better and more aggressive in our calling to evangelize.

9. Love God more and more each day. My Jesus is the main reason why I do the things I do. I am at "hello" when I think about how much I love Him. He gives me air to breath; so I'll use that air to serve him more. He gives me strength; I'll use that strength to build His kingdom. He gives life; I'll use this life to give life to others. He gives me love; I'll use this love to change the world.

10. LOSE WEIGHT, MORE MUSCLES, LESS FAT. Nuff said.

In Search of the Best Smartphone

Last month I left one of my phones in a cab and never got it back. The search for the holy grail of smartphones is on, for me at least. I have read hundreds of reviews, comments and technical specs on certain smartphones and the more I read, the more confused I get! How I wish there were only two choices, decaf or caf. But life isn't that simple anymore, is it? Now we got blended or iced, whipped or unwhipped, vanilla or mocha. It's madness I tell you, madness!

I'm actually down to two choices: the Nokia E71 (which I heavily favor to win this smartphone war), and the ever popular Apple Iphone 3g 16 gig (which after reading hundreds of negative reviews, I don't know why I'm still considering). For me, it comes down to three things: I need it to send text messages and make calls, play music and videos and view and edit office files. The E71 does all this with excellence except the video and music playback is quite mediocre. The Iphone 3g has a wide variety of third party software and the video and music playback is off the charts however, though I can view my office files, I cannot edit them. You really can't have everything, eh?

So, if anyone out there can help me out, I'd appreciate it.

By the way, Kevin suggested I get a 13.3 inch Macbook which was the original plan. But I do like to keep my options open. 

HELP!!!

Verse of the Day

John 8:12 NLT

"When Jesus spoke...'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.' "

My Late Christmas Gift

I know this blog is about faith, hope, love and relationships. But this morning I got a late Christmas present as I was sitting on my couch while putting Zoe to sleep. I want to share this present to the world. Here it is...

I guess now ya'all know I'm a hard nosed LOS ANGELES LAKER FAN. Joy! Joy! Joy!

Christmas Eve!!!

I'm a bit sad. I really miss my Parents, my sister, my niece and nephew. This is the first Christmas that everyone in my family is literally apart from each other. It's hard knowing that I can't do anything about it. I have hope and faith that next Christmas, we'll all be together. I don't know where but all I know we will all celebrate Christmas together.

If you guys are celebrating Christmas with your immediate family, consider yourselves blessed! Love them! Tell them how much you love them. Spend time with them. You don't know what tomorrow may bring.

Mom and Dad, Ate, Gabby and Willie. we might be apart from each other this Christmas. I'll make sure next year we'll be celebrating Christmas together like we have so many times. I love you all so, so much! You are in my thoughts and prayers every time I remember you... and I think about you all a lot!

To my best friends Cai (my brother from another mother), Chona and Rai-Rai, Laura and Mike, Karen, Peter  (my other brother from another mother), Russel and Jet, Rommel, Juliet and Jewel Samaniego, Doc Jason Saure, my mentor Johnny Ortiz and Cynthia, my ministry team at Crossway Kevin (my white brother), Joel, Emily, Judith, Raziel, Hannah, JD, Jeff, Meanne, Kathy, Sheena, Rosette and Luvelle, my home church in Baguio PBC, Pastor Art and Ate, Mel, TJ and Celine, Fritz, Cris and Elisha, and PBC UNITED YOUTH, to my band PSALM 23, Kuya Manny, Kuya Boyet, Kuya Vic, Jason, Arjay, Shake and EmK, to my PBTS buds, Saul, Don Enrique, BJ, JR, Yanver, Doc Bong, Joyce, Vincent O., Sheng, Pastor Joe, and Sam, my extended family at PBTS Auntie Joyce, Auntie Sonia, Auntie Adelle, Auntie Beth, Uncle Henry, Auntie Lilian and Pastor Jerry, to my best cousins in the world Kuya Nonoy (AKA Tranqui) and Doods, to my favorite Aunt in the world, Auntie Nena and Uncle Silver, my boys at YL Bobot, Leo Paul, Manolo, Jhob and Tim, my ex-band Ardent Joe Neil, Ronnie, Bong, William, my SLM Records bigboss Stan "the Man" Gibson (keep the faith bro), my P.U.P. kids, to the listeners and followers of Basta Lovelife, and to the entire University Baptist Church Manila alumni, in behalf of my family (Kuya Henry, Ate Mel, Emelyn, Norman, Gabrielle, William, Erwin, Blessing and Zoe)...

Celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with us! You are all very special in our hearts! God bless you!

Happy Anniversary!!!

Even though I don't see my parents often, I miss them a lot. They've been through a lot this year. It upsets me that I can't protect them from people that want to hurt them, oppress them and ridicule them. How I wish I can shelter them from all the trials that have come their way. But the reality is, I can't. God can!

Mom and Dad, you have touched and helped a lot of people. Both of you have led thousands and thousands of people to Christ. People may have positive and negative opinions about you but they don't really know you the way I do. They do not know the sacrifices you have made for me. They do not know how generous you both are. They do not have the slightest idea how much you love our Lord. They do not see and feel the passion you have for the lost. All they have are bits and pieces of information, put what they have together and make up one big story. I KNOW THE TRUTH! And the truth is YOU ARE THE BEST PARENTS ANYONE CAN EVER ASK FOR!!! Your lives served as a guiding light when I was lost and could not find my way back to Christ. For that, Mom and Dad, I owe you everything! 

Happy Anniversary! Hang in there! God has something wonderful for you ahead. You are blessed! You are set apart! You are loved by thousands and thousands of people!

I love you both so, so much! With all my being.

Riches to Rags

Last week I finally made my way to the surfing capital of Luzon. San Juan, La Union is just a hop and a skip away from the mountains of Baguio. It's quite a contrast having the high mountains on one side, and the ocean on another. God is great!

We arrived in the wee hours of the night in San Juan and went straight to bed. I laid in bed thinking it's been a while since I rode the power of the ocean under my feet. It's an awesome feeling! I got my phone and set the alarm at four in the morning.

Excited and desperate for the ocean, I set out to conquer the waves of San Juan. Surely enough it did not disappoint me. I had the best time! Even though the waves aren't as big as Ventura County or Solana Beach, they still did the job. Oh yes! I felt alive again. Just in case ya'all are wondering why I love the ocean, you can Google what the name Erwin means. 

Here, I'll save you some time. "Erwin- friend of the sea."

After a full day of surfing, we hung out with some locals and tourists enjoying the moon and the ocean around a bonfire. It was an interesting crowd. We had a local surf instructor whose last name was Pancit (I swear on my lucky draws I'm not kidding), and another local guy sporting the name Honeywell (what were his parents thinking?). We had a guy from Sweden, Sacramento, and Hong Kong (shout out to my boy Eugene!). But one person got my attention. Her name was Amanda (not her real name) and she was utterly interesting. We got to talking and I found out that she's the daughter of an extremely rich family in the Philippines. She's been around the world and back, hanging out and rubbing elbows with the who's who in Hollywood and London, sipping cocktails with Yoko Ono and Sting. She has five big houses all over the world, expensive cars, VIP treatment around Manila and yet as the conversation turned serious, she has been in and out of rehab and counseling for the past ten years. She's on Prozac and Xanax and could not function well as a normal human being without it.

Here I am talking to an unhappy bona fide socialite and all I could think of was my pair of ripped Gap jeans that I got on sale for $19.99 yet I was HAPPY! 

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

James 5:2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

HAPPY! 

She might be well known in this life. I AM A CERTIFIED CHILD OF GOD AND HE KNOWS MY NAME! She may have all the gadgets and gizmos money can buy. I HAVE AN ETERNAL INHERITANCE IN HEAVEN! Not too shabby eh?

Busy Christmas

My dear friends... yes, oh yes your Kuya Erwin is a busy bee lately. I've been wanting to sit and write some articles about my recent adventures but unfortunately I don't have much time. I've been helping out with the local youth group and also taking care of my precious Zoe. Yeah, she takes a lot of my time. But, it's time well spent! Here's a recent picture of her taken by my buddy Pete.

Be back later and I'll be posting some cool stuff. For now, we got the latest episode of Basta Lovelife. Peace!

Verse of the Day

Romans 12:12 NLT

"Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying."

Verse of the Day

Psalm 5:3 NLT

 "Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my request to You and wait patiently."

Empty Promises

I'm a fairly patient man. I understand that some things are just beyond my control. Yet recently my patience was tested by a well-known cell phone company who is also offering internet service. 

My internet went down on Tuesday morning (right after I posted my 'verse of the day') and right after I saved and published my blog...NO MORE INTERNET! I waited for a day until I called their 'HOTLINE' just to give them a chance to fix the problem on their own.

The next day (Wednesday) I called their HOTLINE again and reported the problem. They "promised" me that they will fix the problem within 24 to 48 hours. So, I then gave them a chance to do their magic and fulfill their promise but told them "You know for a HOTLINE, you're not so HOT." Saturday, came and still no internet. I gave them another call and told them what they had promised. They said their "field technicians" are already working on the problem as we speak. So once again, I gave them another chance.

Tuesday rolled in and lo and behold, STILL NO INTERNET! I was finally fed up. I went straight to their office and told them about the problem. I finally found out that they have not sent out any technicians to fix the problem. Their customer service department have been telling me what I wanted to hear but they never intended to fix my problem. 

Matt. 5:37 says "Instead, let your message be 'Yes' for 'Yes' and 'No' for 'No.' Anything more than that comes from the evil one." That's all I can say about that.

If you guys want to know which internet company I'm talking about, they are global.

So what happened? I terminated my contract with them and went with a cable DSL provider. Thank God for COMPETITION.

Basta Lovelife Episode 1

Well it's finally here! You guys can download the pilot episode of Basta Lovelife. I promise, it's just going to get better!

http://kuyakevin.libsyn.com/