Back from Boracay and lessons learned

Right after the Life Changers event in Baguio, Blessing, Zoe and I decided we needed to get out of the city and head towards sunny Boracay for a well-earned and overdue vacation. For my American friends, Boracay is an island off the coast of Aklan which is right in the middle of the Philippines. 

The trip from Baguio City was a six (6) hour bus ride to Manila. Then, another hour from Manila towards the airport. An hour by plane to Aklan. And finally, about 30 minutes from Aklan to Boracay by boat. YES! It was one long journey but we made it.

When we arrived (around 4pm), my buddy Peter (homie from Los Angeles) met us there. He's been living in Boracay since December 24 and has been bumming around the beach ever since. We dropped our bags at the hotel, changed to beach clothes and hit the ocean right away (we mountain people don't see the ocean often he he).

Here are a few things I learned from being in Boracay:

1. You can get "ALL YOU CAN EAT LOBSTER DINNERS" for 200php each.

2. You don't have to stay in a nice hotel to have a blast in Boracay. You're barely in your room anyway.

3. Sunblock doesn't really work for me. I have a tan 24/7 and my color did not change with or without sunblock.

4. You can easily spot a tourist in Boracay...look in the mirror.

5. If you're a tourist from another country and want to learn Philippine culture, DO NOT GO TO BORACAY! It's definitely the wrong place to get some culture. 

On a more serious note, while we were there, God painted the most awesome sunsets for us. I know what He was doing. My God, Savior, Lord and Creator of all the worlds was showing off His glory and splendor and telling me, "Erwin, look at the things that you can do. Now look at what I can do. You can merely do things that are insignificant by yourself. Yet, I can turn that insignificant thing into a magnificent work of art if you stick with Me." Looking at those sunsets and seeing how insignificant I am made me realize whatever talents and skills I possess, they do not mean squat. It is God who uses my skills and talents not for my glory, but for His glory and that an insignificant guy like me can be used in an awesome way by a God who sees me as significant.

Basta Lovelife dudes in Baguio City!!!

Kevin and I will be in Baguio City on January 15, 2009 at the Baguio Convention Center. Admission is FREE!!! Kevin will be promoting his book and will do some book signing 3-6pm. My band Pslam 23 will be playing at 7pm onwards. Hope to see you guys there!

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!