Yesterday, their school year closed and they conducted their Moving Up (for Nursery and Kindergarten kids) and Graduation (for Preparatory to Grade 1 kids) ceremony. I (and I know my wife is also) was excited for that day. Being a parent, it’s a thrilling experience seeing your child go up the stage to bow to everyone for his success for the one year of hard work for him, for us and for the teachers also. We even invited my father (my son’s grandfather, obviously) to my son’s ceremony. He is the one who went up with my son for my son’s character awards.

My son wasn’t able to get any academic awards (he suffered furuncle – ‘pigsa’ on their last quarter of schooling and he wasn’t able to go to school for one week), but he got four character awards: Most Independent, Most Energetic, Most Helpful and Most Improved.

I am a proud father!

Here are the photos I was able to snap during the ceremony.

My Wife

It was really an amazing night. Even though we don’t have the privacy and “intimacy” that a classy restaurant or a private dinner will give us, it was fun and uplifting to share your love stories with other couple and learn from the “veterans”.

Best of all, my wife was really beautiful that night.

Beauty and the Handsome!

The Couples on the Dinner Fellowship

The Youth who organized the Dinner Fellowship

All I can say is THANK YOU.

JOSE CRUZ

and all the Dad out there!

God bless.

(The actual father’s day here in the Philippines is third Sunday of June, that would be June 20, 2010)

After her death, we live with some of our relatives (that time my father is working in Saudi Arabia). They were are tita (aunts). They are the ones who actually lived with us (except for the last one where we moved to their house. They became our ‘second’ mothers. They did their best to fill the space between when we lost our mother till the day that we we can live on our own. What we are now is a combination of their trainings.

So this mother’s Day, I would like to send my utmost greetings to this special women in my life.

Tita RIza

Tita Leny

Tita Remy (we moved to their house)

Tita Betty (she’s my stepmom)

And of course, the most special woman in my life today, my loving wife, mother of my child, April Joy. I will always love you will all of my heart.

And to all the mothers out there. HAPPY MOTHER”S DAY!!!

God bless.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Turn off your lights for 60 minutes to promote the fight against global warming. March 28, 2009, 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

VOTE EARTH

YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.

Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm, Philippine Time (or whatever country you are)

The camp’s theme (no final phrasing yet) is about exposing this children in the ministry. Showing them that they are already part of the church and some of the things that they are currently doing (distributing and collecting hymn books, stacking up chairs after service, etc.) are already part of their ministry and that there other ministries that they can be involved. We will also impart to them the importance of discipline and commitment.

It’s a big task actually. We’re preparing future leaders of the church. And it will not end at camp closing. This will be a continous discipleship, something this church haven’t done for a while.

This camp will be a replacement of the traditional “Vacation Bible School” that almost all of the churches in the whole Philippines are conducting every summer. As for me, this VBS is very popular, churches spend money on it, but there were no proper follow up. I am not saying that VBS is useless. I believe that, still, many children and families are presented at God’s feet during this event, but our church want to focus more on the current members of the church. Training them and enabling them for the ministry.

As I’ve said earlier, we plan zero (0) amount to spend on this event. How? We have delegated the expenses to our members. Each family were assigned a specific meal, some families were assigned for the materials that are needed. We lack funds. But this church went from one activity to one activity without that much of funding. Church families are willing to give their time in preparing foods for church activities (we sometimes call this bayanihan).

Camp will start on April 24 in the afternoon up till April 25 noon. Activities include film showing, some community work, group activities and discussion.

Prayers are very much welcome for this event. We still have a lot of things to prepare.

Soli Deo Gloria