Life Church MNL: Survivor 3

Last April 2 - 3, I spent part of my holy week break camping with my church. My family was discouraging me to push thru as a typhoon was about to enter the country circulates the news. But at the end, I still packed my bags and went off.

And you know what? No sign of rainfall the whole duration of the camp!

I was super amazed when I realized that the Philippine flag in Rizal Park was big. I never really gave it a second look but it's so prettyyy~

The waiting game started at Quirino Grandstand for about 4 hours. Participants count to about a hundred and were grouped into four groups named after Zambales' local cuisines: Bagnet, Linga, Buro and Ginapang. 

I got sorted to Bagnet, which coincidentally, is the only dish I could identify. Buro is my dog's name in Harvest Moon, but I guess it doesn't count?

The most challenging game before we left for Zambales was when the facilitators gave each group 1 SACK and only the things inside the sack gets to go to the camp. Each team had about 24 members each. I wasn't able to bring a jacket, pajamas, shorts and rashguard. I heard there were even some who weren't able to put anything in the sack at all! The horror.

Banana for the first day breakfast. I sort of went on an unexpected diet because I didn't really like the food (the food was okay. I'm just picky my nature) //I probably won't survive in the wild because I'm picky and I don't eat fruits.

(c) Ry Quirante

War Game 2.0 - the most brutal game I've ever participated in. Two players from each team will try to pull off the people who're holding the pole and drag them to the waters. The two players can ask to be subbed but the original person holding the pole will remain.

(c) Yshia Fernandez

Brutal I tell you! I prayed so hard that I wouldn't be the one to pull off the person from the pole. I don't think I could fathom hurting another person -.- plus I bet, I'd get kicked around huhu

The night ended with a bonfire. I ended it by attacking a tree and scraping my knee. Ouch.

Second day:

(c) Ry Quirante

You could actually cook using paper?! I was amazed.

Every free time I had, I swam and literally sunbathed. Hence, I am currently in peeling mode right now. Summer vacation in my university starts at late May or early June so I grabbed the opportunity to get a tan.

Photoshoots won't be lost of course:

Photo with my cell group girls

At the end of the day, it's not just the games that I remembered but the devotions and insights shared. I found it amazing how different perspectives come out in the same thing read. 

The best things I've learned: 

1) During the war game 2.0, the pole could represent you clinging unto Jesus and the the world trying to pull you away. At the same time, it could represent you holding unto sin and refusing to go back to God despite the people trying to bring you back to him. 

2) Jesus did not defend himself and accepted the blame - he acted as the sacrificial lamb in my place and yours.

Valentine's Day: The Baker's Table x Blacksoup cafe + artspace

Thanks a lot ach. //Couldn't PS her out of the way. Need more skills

Valentine's Day is something I always look forward to. I usually receive flowers and yang chow from my mom this time of the year. No romance in my life whatsoever. I prefer it that way.

Upon entering college, I planned to eat good food every Valentine's. Barely a month after last year's Valentine's, I was already planning where to eat for next year's. That's how enthusiastic I am about this day.

Then came the awaited week of February. My friends in uni and I were planning to go on a food trip at Maginhawa but then accounting quiz for next week happened. The nerd that me and my friends are postponed the trip to study. I was so disappointed. Like, I kept thinking about this day for a year you know?! So I asked my roommates to go eat steak with me instead but they both have a... date. Now I feel bitter.

"This could be the day you see your miracle"

A photo posted by Teni Nyca A 角美丽 (@teninyca) on Feb 17, 2015 at 3:06am PST

I was so resolved in eating good food on Valentine's Day that I was willing to go eat alone surrounded by people in couple tees acting sickeningly sweet (my bitterness talking).

Top: When Uan Met Sally - you can find handcrafted items here like bags (I love their bags but it's so expensive. It costs P4000 each!) ; Bottom: Wums ARTreat Cafe 

I was so lucky that that day, my cell group (bible study group) decided that we will be having our Valentine's group date at Maginhawa. Talk about God making way for my plans.




From Philcoa, atsi Hanna and I walked Maginhawa. Entering every cafe we passed by to find a place to study (I told you I was nerdy XD). The Baker's Table was the first cafe that wasn't filled and with working aircon.

The Baker's Table was recognized by The Philippine Daily Inquirer for having the Best Desserts of 2014. And indeed, their concept was unique. They used popular kid snacks for the flavors of their cakes (Milo Mousse, Ovaltine, Lala Crinkles, Flat tops, Haw haw, etc).

I got potchi cheesecake and atsi got Butter ball cake for P110/slice. I thought the cake would taste weird but 'twas quite good.

I also got Arabica Coffee for P70 for one of that coffee press thingy which could fill two cups. We stayed for about 5 hours there and got to see a lot of kids flock the store with their haughty moms. For some reason, we also got invited to join a rowing team.

Atsi Wabel jamming with the performer which looks like the younger version of my Statistics prof lol

Blacksoup Cafe + Artspace

If I ever got some pasta, you'd know which one I'd pick hahaha

I got lambchop with asparagus for P275 + P15 rice. It wasn't that special. I was so disappointed.

With my cell group who made my Heart's Day special.

//Bad write-up as always (because I was trying to rush this post)

A hurdle and three steps

I couldn’t believe it! I was a hurdle and three steps away from one of the most influential person in the world.

I felt like Robert Langdon constricted in a mass of limbs with nowhere to go but forward. I have never seen España like this - throngs of people after another. If I had witnessed EDSA Revolution, I imagine it would be like this. I hated it. I hated crowds in general. I could not fathom the hustle, offensive shoves and the scarce breathable air. But I stood my ground in that chaos for 3 straight hours. 

One by one, someone beside me or just a little bit ahead started to faint. I felt sick too. I was ready to give up. And just as I did, I found a way in. I was one step closer. My university was filled. Every barricade side was occupied. With no choice of being picky, I sat beside the walkway for 6 hours - putting up with the casual kick of shoes and stomaching the awful smell of the portalets.

Slowly, I was thrust to the front as Pope Francis drew near. This was it. This was the man I’d so often read in my favourite Dan Brown and geeky history books. The man who holds probably the world’s greatest secrets. The man I had asked God, to at least let me get a glimpse just the other night. And I got more than that. He was almost within my reach… just a hurdle and three more steps and I’d be by his side. Just a hurdle and three more steps and I could say, “Thank you for giving hope to people despite today’s twisted ways”.

Flying around the Metro

Levitation photos shot last August when I went touring around metro Manila with my parents. Yaaay free food #StrugglingUniversityStudent

A few more thousands 'til I reach my savings goal for a new camera. I hope I can get it before the year ends *crosses fingers*

Oh and my levitation photos pretty much sums up my university life right now - grades flying away. 

Struggling has been hard and inspiration rarely comes but I'm thankful to the new friends (and family!) I've made in church which made life bearable and helped getting me out of my depression cloud. Plus I've been doing daily devotion which I see as some kind of therapy. It helped me a lot. So you guys who are struggling out there with depression, try doing a devotion or join cell groups.

Romans 2:17-21

 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.