Nostalgic Perak & Penang holiday...

I took a trip down memory lane recently (June 24-29, 2010) and I literally mean that. It was a nostalgic trip for me to Perak and Penang. The 2 states in Malaysia where I stayed during the year 2001-2004 (Parit Buntar, Perak was in 2004). I had a great opportunity to meet some people whom I befriended while staying there. I am really so blessed with many nice good friends, some of them whom I have worked with while doing my pastoral as a seminarian in those states.

Parish House @ Parit Buntar

This was my room

When I first arrived at a home in Parit Buntar, I was surprised with a cultural welcoming and confetti. I really enjoyed my 2 1/2 days there meeting all of them now all older and grown up in age and sizes, and catching up with each others lives.







The rest of another 2 1/2 days I was in Penang. This time it was more of relaxation. Did meet a few friends and one of them was a lost friend but thanks to facebook managed to contact and meet him. Thanks to my good friend S. Dominic - a catholic priest, I had a pleasant stay in Penang with lots of makan-makan.


Unfortunatley I could not visit the place that I actually stayed when I was living in Penang, i.e. College General. I was told by a Priest from the seminary that my presence there would affect the seminarians. It is indeed hurting and sad to hear it say by a priest whom I had associated with before; Catholic priest who should actually have compassion and understanding especially of people like me, an ex-seminarian. I think he was afraid that the seminarians will start to question injustices being done in the seminaries, just like how I have questioned an unjust system or practice of a seminary that lead to my dismissal.

Anyway..put it aside.... I do have fond memories of my seminary life which I will cherish.

Cheersssss

I want to be a Billionaire...so 'freaking' bad ...

WARNING - Song contains explicit language - the 'F' word 3x. Other than that it's worth listening.

I was listening to the song above, and not only did the rhythm catch me but the idea of being a Billionaire has been playing in my mind too.

I have been thinking; what are the 10 things I'm gonna do when I am a Billionaire??

1) Share some $ with my parents and siblings.
2) Get a maid for my mother.
3) Charity of course (Especially Home for orphans & Support for Youths).
4) Holy Land & Marian Pilgrimages.
5) Going on a holiday at all the countries in the world.
6) To buy Chelsea Football Club and some good players (ohh no, Rooney and C. Ronaldo is not in my list).
7) Investment (so I can help others who are in need).
8) Buy a car with a driver of course.
9) Education and 'civilization' for all. Lots of R&D too.
10) Use up all the $ so I can sleep peacefully AGAIN and wish...I am a Billionaire....
And while being a Billionaire I still want to continue working....hehehe. And another thing, Angelina & Brad can adopt children, not me. I just don't want to ruin the kids' life.

Hmmm am I being to ambitious?? hehehe...

So tell me, what would you do if you are a Billionaire??????

Altar Servers Workshop @ Plentong, Johor.

Altar Servers Workshop @ Plentong, Johor on June, 12, 2010.

This is the 1st time giving a workshop simultaneously for Altar Servers from 4 language groups (English, Bahasa, Tamil & Chinese). The 60 participants are from the Church of St. Theresa, Masai and the host Church of St. Joseph, Plentong. Another 1st for me was that some of the participants are girls. All this while the Altar Servers sessions I have conducted has always been for boys, so it was interesting indeed to have some 'Altar Girls' and to hear the views from their team mates i.e. Altar Boys on having some girls as Altar Servers.

Formation for Youth Leaders from Merlimau and Jasin, Malacca.

The long weekend of May 28-30, 2010 was busy but exciting and fun-filled for me.
I had the opportunity to conduct a Youth Leaders formation for some 41 youths from the parishes of Merlimau & Jasin. One of my struggle was the language. I had to use tamil which I am not fluent. But with God's grace I believe the participants got the message that I wanted to reach them. I used many activities in my sessions, so it made it easier for them to understand. Since it was a Leaders formation, I had a few team-building activities too. We were blessed to have an open air, by the beach, Trinity Sunday morning Mass.

Here are some of the pictures for your viewing pleasure:-

Beach side Mass on Trinity Sunday

Youths from Merlimau

Youths from Jasin

Eye of the Tiger

This post has been edited due to my decision to move on. Click here for a read.

It's now 1 year since I've started working in Johor Bahru (JB) and 2 years of unjust dismissal and treatment i received by a certain group. Sadly they still have not given answers to the many questions I have raised. Wonder when we'll see courageous leaders like Pope Benedict XVI who stands for truth and justice!!

This 1 year has been interesting. With God 's blessings I was able to do many things which I couldn't do in the last 7 1/2 years. One example is charity work; if I wanted to do any charity work for someone or some homes, I'll need to have many meetings to convince some people, I'll need to answer questions like; what is your motive? Why this people/homes and not the other? Where did you get the resources to do this? and etc. At times I had to work with some people and admins who had ulterior motive.
Now...no meetings, no questions, no lousy stumbling blocks. It's all between my heart, mind, soul and God.

So how did i celebrate my 1st year in JB? Thanksgiving mass, a good FA Cup final match, a movie, nasi goreng and a can of beer (ginger beer to be exact).

Join me in my celebration. Here is a song for you, 'Eye of the Tiger'.

Not another reality show??

Since I work from 1pm-10pm, my only 'TV time' is after midnight till about 4/5am.
I do not own a cable TV, so I only rely on the Singapore TV programme for my entertainment since they are much better than the Malaysian TV channels.

And here are some of the shows that I have been watching at these hours:-
- America's Next Top Model
- The Shot (Next great fashion Photographer)
- ET (Entertainment Tonight)
- Wheel of Fortune
- Desperate Housewife
- Project Runway
- Hell's Kitchen
- Rachel Ray Show
- Top Chef
And I wonder what else they are going to put on-air when the shows above end...sigh....


Hope the TV people do consider us the few Nocturnal Beings....hehehe

Discouraged?? Don't give up...because YOU ARE LOVED

What do you do when someone discourages you from pursuing your dreams or to be who you are?

I was watching a Hindi movie earlier and I become so angry when in a scene a friend was discouraging his friend.

I just hate all sorts of discouragement. So what do you do? Many will answer saying you have to prove to them. My answer is; you do not have to prove anything to that morons. Who are they? What credibility do they have?

Just by discouraging you they have actually gone so low. So what you can do? Help them. Buy them a kite and tell; 'Go fly a kite"!!!

Hey my friend, even if the world discourages you, do not be discouraged, do not fear because your creator made you for a purpose. You are loved by him so hold on to him and BE YOU.

Enjoy the clip below and be ENCOURAGED...