I'll never forget Bohol because of...

1 the Milana family’s asikaso (thanks Tito Leo and Tita Ruby)
2 Prony the python
3 cricket-eating tarsier (eating it like there’s no tomorrow)
4 the view of the Chocolate hills (with mint) from Sagbayan peak (nung uwian na ng mga bata galing sa katabing mababang paaralan)
5 number of tourists there kahit hindi peak season
6 Foursquare Church midweek service (Ptr. Pete, Ptra. Lina, Junrey, Nelson…)
7 talking about Jesus with three Boholanos (ocean lovers Cris and Regis, Melvin Tabaniag)
8 lunch at Loboc river
9 Hinagdanan cave (to the batcave)
10 Paragayo resort (our home away from home)
11 Alona beach (how she got her name)
12 Panglao Island’s simple life (stress-free all the way)
13 Tagbilaran City’s IC Mall and BQ Mall
14 Balikasag Island (the barracuda, the blue starfish, free massage, Nemo!)
15 the sandbar at Virgin Island (wow!)
16 feeding of the fish (I got super dizzy snorkeling, I forced myself to throw up thrice, secret lang natin ha)
17 Tintin, Milyn, Sol, Yam, Dong, Bing (where to next?)
18 Maan and Andie (Andie's first time to fly)
19 scary boat ride from the Virgin Island to Alona beach (the waves came crashing, we went a praying)
20 Cebu Pacific’s Go Fares (perfect landing sa Terminal 3)

Complete list of cds bought at House of Praise Warehouse Sale

Here’s the complete list of cds I bought at House of Praise’s Warehouse Sale last Sept. 18, 19, 22 & 27. All of them P50 each.

1. Ace Troubleshooter - Ace Troubleshooter
2. Ace Troubleshooter - It’s Never Enough
3. Adam Watts - The Noise Inside
4. Alvin Slaughter - The Faith Life
5. Amy Grant - A Christmas to Remember
6. Amy Grant - Simple Things
7. Barlowgirl - How Can We Be Silent
8. Bethany Dillon - Bethany Dillon
9. Bethany Dillon - Imagination
10. Big Tent Revival - Amplifier
11. Big Tent Revival - Open All Nite
12. Bleach - Astronomy (The Legacy of a Hero)
13. Building 429 - Rise
14. Building 429 - Space In Between Us
15. Charlie Peacock - Full Circle – A Celebration of Songs and Friends
16. Chris Rice - Deep Enough To Dream
17. Chris Rice - Past The Edges
18. Chris Rice - The Living Room Sessions Christmas
19. Chris Tomlin - Arriving
20. David Crowder* Band - The Lime CD
21. Dc Talk - Live in Concert Welcome to the Freak Show
22. Dc Talk- In the Light - the single
23. Demon Hunter - Summer of Darkness
24. Derek Webb - I See Things Upside Down
25. ERACE - The Gotee Brothers
26. Falling Up - Crashings
27. Five Iron Frenzy - All the Hype That Money Can Buy
28. Five Iron Frenzy - The End Is Here
29. Ginny Owens - Something More
30. Hawk Nelson - Letters to the President
31. Jars of Clay - Drummer Boy
32. Jars of Clay - Good Monsters
33. Jason Upton - Trusting the Angels
34. Jeremy Camp - Carried Me: The Worship Project
35. Jesus: The Epic Mini Series Original Score
36. Keith Green - The Ministry Years Volume 1 - 1977-1979
37. Keith Green - The Ministry Years Volume 2 - 1980-1982
38. Matt Redman - Beautiful News
39. MXPX - Ten Years And Running
40. Newsboys - Go
41. Newsboys - Thrive
42. Newsboys Shine - The Hits
43. PFR - The Bookhouse Recordings
44. Phil Keaggy - 220
45. Phil Keaggy - Acoustic Sketches
46. Phil Keaggy - Lights of Madrid
47. Phil Keaggy - Phil Keaggy
48. Plumb - Plumb (with the band members’ signatures on the cover, the only cd I bought that cost P10)
49. Point of Grace - A Christmas Story Work Disc
50. Revenge of The O.C. Supertones
51. Rich Mullins - Never Picture Perfect
52. Rich Mullins - Songs
53. Shane & Shane
54. Sixpence None the Richer - Divine Discontent
55. Sixpence None the Richer - Sixpence None the Richer
56. Sixpence None the Richer, The Best of
57. Skillet - Invincible
58. Songs from The Book
59. Starfield - Starfield
60. Steven Curtis Chapman - The Live Adventure
61. Superchick - Beauty From Pain 1.1
62. Superchick - Karaoke Superstar
63. Switchfoot - New Way to Be Human
64. Switchfoot - Oh! Gravity
65. Tait - Lose This Life
66. The Essential Worship Chillout Collection
67. Tooth and Nail - The Classics Hard
68. Tooth and Nail - The Classics Rock
69. WOW Hymns 30 Modern and Classic Hymns from Today’s Top Artists [2007]
70. Your Love Broke Through: The Worship Songs of Keith Green (Chris Tomlin, Darlene Zschech,etc.)

Rare Christian cds found

When they said "never-been-released and hard-to-find imported cds (are) available for as low as P50" they were not kidding.
Your Love Broke Through (the worship songs of Keith Green) by Chris Tomlin, Darlene Zschech, etc., was never released here. A collector's item indeed. There were only two copies. I got them both.
Other rare cds lost and finally found by me: David Crowder Band's The Lime CD, MXPX's Ten Years and Running, Building 429's Rise, Starfield's self-titled cd, Matt Redman's Beautiful News, Jeremy Camp's Carried Me, and Tait's Lose this Life (all last copies).
I also got never-released cds of Demon Hunter, Ace Troubleshooter, Five Iron Frenzy, Falling Up; and Jars of Clay's Good Monsters, Barlowgirl's How Can We Be Silent, Superchick's Beauty from Pain, and The Best of Sixpence None the Richer. All for P50 each!
Finds! Finds! Finds! I got finds!
Warehouse Sale @ House of Praise Panay QC Sept 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 10am to 7pm.

Second-string sneak peek (song titles)

I am so happy. I finished recording vocals for "second-string" (my second cd) last night. It's finally done. We actually started recording a year ago. Tito Teddy Tipon (drummer) first, then acoustic guitar, Julius Bernales (bass player) next, Archie Salvador (Zelle's lead guitar) next, then finally me. It's all in Dennis Llante's (Kitchie Nadal's session guitar) hands na for the mixing.
And just because I'm overflowing I'll give you a sneak peek of the songs' titles. Only here in my official blog. 01 Overtake 02 Papalayo 03 Tinapay 04 I Am Free 05 Walang Imposible 06 Hiwaga 07 Brother Brother 08 While You Were Away 09 Kwento ng Buhay 10 Mayroong Nagmamahal.

Who this songwriter's listening to right now

A friend asked me recently, "Pastor, sinong pinapakinggan mo ngayon?" I answered trying to contain my excitement, "Girl siya. Si Bethany Dillon." Yup. Bethany Dillon. She's young, just turning 20 six days from now (I know), she's pretty (but just got married, guys), and most important her music's fresh. I just love the the sound of an acoustic guitar being strummed.
I wanna add Building 429 and Starfield sa list. These two bands are a must listen for rockers out there who love to worship the Lord. I could listen to them all day all week all month all year.

Manila International Bookfair first day

I'm not gonna miss the 29th Manila International Bookfair for the world. I've been waiting for this day the whole year, man. It finally came. And it didn't disappoint. Books at unbelievable prices! All the Zig Ziglars, all the John Maxwells, all the DCs and Marvels haha! And to think this is just the first day. (People, invest in books. And do read them. Nuff said.)
Congratulations to OMF Literature, Philippine Bible Society, CLC Bookshop, Church Strengthening Ministry, and Philippine Christian Bookstore. Your solid presence (and of the Bible's) is a sign of our Lord's imminent return.
The 29th Manila International Bookfair is being held Sept 12-16, 10am-8pm, Halls 1-4 of the SMX Center, Mall of Asia.

Voice Recording (for second-string cd)

Just got home from the recording studio (Last Minute Productions). I was prepared for battle, expecting a struggle with my voice all night and finishing the night with just two tracks. But surprise surprise! I ended up doing four tracks, all in record time. Two hours! Amazing indeed is the grace of God. Looking forward to the next recording session.
I'd like to share Kuwento ng Buhay with Dennis Llante, he does the mixing, and all the sound wizardy. He also plays mean guitar.

My Gospel Jam Guesting

To be honest nanliit talaga ako nung Sunday. Mga alumni ba naman ng UP College of Music ang mga kasama ko. To Elise Cortez, thank you for singing along sa Ayoko Na. I heard you. Were you singing second voice? Ang ganda. I am deeply humbled. To Ferdie Medina, Bro ang lupit mo sa gitara. That's playing guitar the right way. Galing. To Anthony Elepano, Chef Tony, wow! My wife should have heard your story. The best ang Chef Tony Popcorn. Ang sarap! Thanks for the popcorn and buying my cds, man. Magsasama tayo uli.
To Direk Mark Aranal and Ate Jean Vicars (Ate daw o), congratulations! I'm so happy napatawa ko kayo at napaiyak. Direk Mark, nobody introduces me like you introduce me. Nakakataba ng puso. I really love contemporary and colloquial, kenkoy and jologs hahaha.
Thak you also kay Norman Chavez, Benedict Angeles, and Ron Cayabyab for backing me up.
Gospel Jam is held every Sunday 6-9pm at Conspiracy Cafe, 59 Visayas Ave. QC. Admission is free.

Sunday Morning Message

One of the main points in my message this morning was standing up and be counted (John 12:42-43). I used Keith Green's song Open Your Eyes to show how we can stand up and be counted in our world today. (Here's the song, emphasis added)

Open Your Eyes
by Keith Green

This generation of believers that you and me are a part of, we’re responsible for this generation of souls, all over the world. We're responsible for them. We're responsible to pray daily for the needs of ministries around the world, and ask God "How about me not sending my money this time, how about me going?" It's so easy to write a check, it's so easy. But God can't cash out of state checks in Heaven. He needs you!

Open your eyes to the world all around you, open your eyes, open your eyes.
This world is much more than the things that surround you.
You must arise, and open your eyes.
Sometimes we're too busy to share, but Jesus wants us to care, to care.

Open your arms to the naked and shivering, open your arms, open your arms.
We need a little less taking, a whole lot more giving.
We're so safe and warm, we can open our arms.
And love a little bit stronger, and pray a little bit longer, longer.

Jesus says, when we love someone in His name, we're loving Him.
Jesus says, when we touch someone in His name, we're touching Him.
And we need to show them the light, we've got to pour out our lives.

Open your hearts to the ones who are desperate, open your hearts, open your hearts.
They may never repay you, but their souls are worth it.
The life you impart when you open your heart.
Jesus loves all men the same. So we've got to go out in His name.

Jesus says, when we touch someone in His name, we're touching Him.
Jesus says, when we love someone in His name, we're loving Him.
Jesus says, when we feed someone in His name, we're feeding Him.
And Jesus says, when we reach someone in His name, He feels it, He says, it's all for Him.
It's all for Him.

Open your eyes to the world all around you, open your eyes, open your eyes.
This world is much more than the things that surround you, open your eyes, open your eyes.
Jesus loves all men the same, so we've got to go out in His name, His name.

Jesus says, Jesus says, Jesus says, it's Him.
Jesus says, when we love someone in His name, we're loving Him, we’re loving Him.

Hellsong lyrics

Hellsong (lyrics and chords)

HELLSONG by Ogie Cayabyab
(Key of G, C D Bm Em C D G lang ang chords)

Alam mo ba kung saan ka pupunta
kung patuloy ka sa pagkakasala
O alam mo ba kung saan ka pupunta

kung ikaw ay di handa

Kung anong ganda ng langit
Ay may lugar naman na kay pangit
At kay rami dung inaadmit
Lalo na yung may sabit

Ang dilim dilim dilat man o pikit
Uod doon you’re the food na favorite
Kulang man ang ngipin magiging complete
Sa sakit magngangalit

chorus

Pamaypay ay wala pati electric fan
Lalong wala doong aircondition
Wala ring ni isang bombero
Na sa iyo’y sasaklolo

Higanteng pugon na hindi namamatay
Mala-dagat na apoy na walang humpay
Sure na sure sa iyong maghihintay
Kung tuluyang pasaway

chorus

Ang lugar na iyon ay iwasan
Mahal mo sa buhay please pagsabihan
Dun magkitakits sa kalangitan
Si Hesus tanging daan.

Dun magkitakits sa kalangitan
Si Hesus tanging daan

Si Hesus tanging daan

Si Hesus tanging daan.

The United Tour

Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith on tour for the first time ever! How cool is that?

On One Player and Finishing Second-String

Hi. Welcome to my blog. Hope you'll find it informative, as well as entertaining, inspiring, encouraging, but most of all honest.
I had fun fun fun recording my first solo cd One Player. And am having the time of my life promoting it. The Lord is indeed great! Hellsong, the carrier single, is bringing me places I've never been before. Like Praise Inc. and FM radio for example. Who would have thought I'd be an artist of Praise? Cool. I'm also meeting wonderful people from different churches, different ministries. Doors are opening. Galing!
In short, I'm in momentum.
I'm finishing second-string, the follow-up to One Player. Can't wait for you to hear the new songs. I'm particularly excited about one song. Secret muna. I hope the Lord uses it the way He did Hellsong o greater pa. Second-string will be in stores late October or early November, just in time for Christmas.
Oops. Lunch time!