Recently, I joined the Christian Life Program (CLP) for Singles for Christ (SFC). It is a program by the Couples for Christ community to bring single men and women closer to God.

“SFC is a generation of single men and women experiencing the fullness of life and restoring the world for Christ.”

It is not just an overnight encounter. There are 12 talks, each talk is held every Saturday night. For every session, there will be a speaker who will talk about the session’s theme; then there’s a sharer who will talk about his/ her personal experience and relate that experience to the theme.

After, there will be a small group discussion. Boys and girls are separated. I don’t know why. Each group is headed by a DGL (Discussion Group Leader).

If there is one thing I proved when I joined the CLP, it is that aside from sex and other braggadocio, men are also capable of talking and sharing about how they experienced God’s love in their lives.

It’s, of course, awkward at first to open up and share the things you’d only share to people you know very well. But in time you’d realize that the more you become open the more you understand yourself.

I’ve so far attended two talks. Ten more talks to go. But I believe I’ll be able to finish the program: There is just a lot of inspiration for me to continue. My friends are there. My mother is so supportive. My dream girl is so happy when she knew that I’d be joining.

And there is God. He needs no adjective.

Sep14

Using Graphs & IPR Issues in ICT

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Arvin Antonio Ortiz

Using Graphs

IPR Issues in ICT

Download and study.

Jul17

If I weren’t teaching, I could’ve been reporting

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Arvin Antonio Ortiz

If I weren’t teaching, I could’ve been reporting

Before I applied for a teaching job, before I decided that my uncle no long has an interest to send me to law school, before someone texted me that the school where I’m teaching now needed a Social Studies teacher—-before all that, I once submitted my application to SunStar Davao. The job I was looking for: Reporter.

One afternoon, the administrative assistant of the paper sent me a text message, asking me if I could go to the SunStar office for an interview and entrance exam. I said yes.

There, I was interviewed and was asked to take a test. But I wasn’t informed I was to take a battery of tests. I started at 10 am, and ended at 2 pm.

By the time the administrative assistant sent me another text message, I was already applying at Stella Maris Academy of Davao.

Part of the reason I did not become a reporter was also my own doing. I was not brave enough to accept the job because of the insecurity—financial insecurity—it gives me. The pay was so small it’s equivalent to half of the salary I’m receiving now. The work is so hard—I have to turn in four stories a day.

But it doesn’t mean I hate to be a reporter. I love to be a reporter, because as a reporter you get to be paid for your writing. And I love writing. Yet I have to get real about my situation.

Ah, the tension of opposites.

Jul16

Remembering Cebu

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Arvin Antonio Ortiz

Remembering Cebu

A city is like a coin. It has two faces. One shows the head; the other, tail. The head is what the tourists like. The tail they hardly visit. Cebu is no different.

Cebu’s heads are the Magellan’s cross, the Taoist Temple, the Shangri La Hotel, Plantation Bay, Basilica de Sto. Niño, etc. The tails are the front of the Basilica de Sto. Niño where pieces of trash abound, the Rotunda at Fuente Osmeña where scavengers and mad people made it their haven, the footbridge leading to Robinson’s where two shameless lovers were petting, necking, and kissing, etc.

Although tourists avoid at all cost to pass by those places, those must be visited if only to disabuse them from their bigoted admiration of the place.

I have gone to Cebu—for the first time—last May 18 for a seminar, and found that it’s no different from Davao. Davao’s got prostitutes. Cebu has them, too. Davao’s got mad people roaming around the city. Cebu has them, too. Davao’s got beautiful tourists spots. Cebu has them, too.

But what sets Cebu apart is…I really don’t know.