I wish I have five lives, and be born in different places,
...grow with different careers.
I want to become a painter and paint the bridges with joy...
A musician and compose the most wonderful music...
An engineer and build towers that will reach the clouds...
A baker and bake the sweetest cake...
An astronomer and see the wonders of the stars…

...and still fall in love with the same person five times, over and over again.

I remember the days… our childhood days…
When we used to play and dash in the rain.
We love the splashes, the laughter… the joy it brings.
As we and our friends laughing our hearts out, running around nastily.
The mud, the slide, the bruises and the chills doesn’t matter.
Where the only thing that matters for us is our schooling and our “baon”.
We used to teased ourselves as crushes… those sweet innocent days.
And the vow of our friendship over a bowl of "sopas"...
Listening to the rain… falling on our tin roof

I remember the days… our high school days…
When we used to be more like the grown ups.
Yet we still love the rain, the sensation, and the mirth… the bliss it brings.
Took off our shoes, wrap our stuffs around with plastic bags, running hastily.
Our books, our clothes, doesn’t matter even we get soaked wet.
Where the only thing matters for us is our assignments and our “allowances”
You used to tease me “bansot”, you grew up so fast… you were taller than me
You lay your head on my shoulder, and were dreaming of the future...
As we listen to the raindrops… making sound on our tin roof

I remember the days… our college days…
When we parted ways to pursue our studies.
We love chatting, the “texting”, the cheer…
the glee it brings, knowing that you’re OK.
As we recall our days, our hearts smiling over our reminiscence,
missing each other tearfully.
The stress, the insomnia, the pressure of college life doesn’t matter.
Our longing to see each other overwhelms them all.
We used to “missed call” each others phones twice before we sleep…
...as our goodnight kisses
You used to wake me up in the morning with a ring, like you were just there...
I rouse from my slumber… hearing the cloud juice falling on our brick roof

I remember the day… that very day...
When I have waited, standing in the rain.
The place we love, the familiar scene… our meeting place.
One of our friends called, his voice, his tone so hesitantly...
Upon hearing his words, my heart shattered like thunder.
The mud, the slide, the bruises and the chills doesn’t matter...
I straddled, I ran, I came rushing my pace, heading that road
The road where I use to see you coming, waving from afar.
But there is no you coming home, only mist that the rain had created.
Seems like our hopes had been torn to pieces, our dreams are mere evanescence.
My knees had weakened, my body had become numb,
and my arms… shaking in remorse.
My tears flooded, mixed up with the rain from the gloomy sky...
Looking up at the heavens screaming out loud, asking Him “why?”

Do you still remember how much we love the rain?
Or can you still recall those moments we’ve shared…
...the joy, the sorrow, the pain?

Sigh***

But all that I can do is to stand here… look up high, stare at the clouds above us.
Let the raindrops drench me with madness, let it soak me in its onus.
Time is what I need, and forbearance is my devoir...
Will I be able to make it?
As long as you are safe here; here in my sounding memory...

I will remember you when it rains.

 This is for you best friend. :)

The song itself is remarkable. Sung by Lisa Angelle, lyrics by Melanie Safka, a famous song writer, and the poem by Edward Estlin Cummings; my favorite poet. This is actually the main theme song for the TV series “Beauty and the Beast” way back the 80’s. Main cast includes Vincent, a lion faced man who lives in the suburb of New York, and Catherine, a beautiful heiress to whom Vincent fell in love with. The TV series lasted for almost a decade and considered as one of the most romantic TV series in history.

The First Time I Loved Forever

Poem:
“Somewhere I have never traveled
Gladly beyond any experience
Your eyes have their silence
And your most frail gesture of things
Which enclose me
But which I cannot touch
Because they are too near.”

The first time I loved forever
Was when you whispered my name
And I knew at once you loved me
For the me of who I am

The first time I loved forever
I cast all else aside
And I bid my heart to follow
Be there no more need to hide

And if wishes and dreams
Are merely for children
And if love's a tale for fools
I'll live the dream with you

Poem:
“oh, if your words be to close me
I, my life will shut, very beautifully
Suddenly, as when the heart of this flower
Imagines the snow carefully, everywhere
descending”.

For all my life and forever
There's a truth I will always know
When my world divides and shatters
Your love is where I'll go

Poem:
“I do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens. Only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses.
Nobody, not even the rain has such small hands.”

After posting on their site for years asking them to have their concert here in the Philippines, and finally its like a dream come true. I’ve been a huge Switchfoot fan since high school. It all started after my classmate bought their first 3 albums and we instantly fell in love with their music. And to add up to that, hearing their songs as OST in the movie “A walk to remember” gives its toll. We we’re crazy about Switchfoot. I started collecting their albums.

September 10, the highly anticipated event had come. We arrived at the  venue and the place is already crowded with people trying to get in into the astrodome. There are five of us, friends from Lucena City, who’s really looking forward for this event. Sadly, only I and my ex best friend were able to see them performing live in Manila. “Salamin”, a local band”, performed as front act and they really rock! Not bad, for Paolo Valenciano and his groupie, who really knows how to set the crowd head banging. Then they entered the stage and all Switchfoot fan started to get crazy. Most of the songs that they played are from their latest album “Oh Gravity”. But the crowd gets wilder and higher (spirit lifted?) as the band plays some of their favorite hits like Dare you to move, this is your life, and Only hope. The concert ended with all fans satisfied for what they have paid for. Local band and showbiz celebrities, who watched the concert as well, are added bonus. People started taking pictures with them after the show. I and my ex posed with Hale and Mayonnaise.

It’s been raining cats and dogs the whole day. And there’s nothing I can do but stay within our roofs shelter. I really like when it rains. It’s like the sky is grieving in tears, pouring to drench the ground in sorrow in the absence of the ever warming sun. So I wrote down a haiku…

 

The sun hides away
His warmth abandoned the earth
Dark and cold it was

The sky frowned and cries
And tears begins to fall down
Each drops cooled the ground

Chilling wind blew then
The air resound its lament 
Shrills of her sorrow

Longing for the Sun
Her strength can no longer hold
She wept more and more

Oh dear sky hold still
Drench is the earth with your tears
Rushing bitter floods

Sun will shine again
Be glad he’ll wipe your tears dry
Joy will be restored

Your heart screaming echoes on walls
That it's faintest sound,
Though like whisper
Is a loud thunder in my chest

Tried to cover my ears
Run away from the source
And the further I go
The louder it speaks

Like an enormous beating drum
Each throb berths pain
As if one moment without you
Will be a heartache I cannot bear

I hold my hand close to my chest
I hear my heart responds
As it has its own mind
Crying back to your call

Artist - Tim Hughes
Album - Here I Am To Worship
Lyrics - Never Lose The Wonder

Lord, this heart must sing
of all that You have done for me
the beauty of the cross
the greatness of Your loss
so i'll thank You for the day
when You washed my sin away

I will never lose the wonder, of the blood You shed for me
there could be no greater,
love that this through all eternity

so i'll thank You for the day
when You washed my sin away
You washed it away

help me understand
just what it meant for You, Jesus
the holy King of all upon a sinner's cross

so i'll thank You for the day
when You washed my sin away

i will never lose the wonder of the blood You shed for me
there could be no greater,
love that this through all eternity ( x2 )

So i'll thank You for the day
When You washed my sin away

Nerver lose the wonder Lord...
beauty of the cross greatness of your loss

i will never lose the wonder of the blood You shed for me
there could be no greater,
love that this through all eternity

so i'll thank You for the day
when You washed my sin away
so i'll thank You for the day
when You washed my sin away

I’ve been a big fan of Hillsong United. I admire their anointing when it comes to song writing. Never have they failed to create a song so powerful and moving, and those songs have been always an inspiration to many song writers and worshippers. The song “Forever” and “Saving Grace” of Best friend have been always my favorites.

It was 21^st of November, the most highly awaited night of my life, the chance to worship with the Hillsong peeps. Though I had already been of the Hillsong worship team, way back 2004, when Darlene and Ruth Atanacio conducted "Extravagant Worship" workshop as well as Rueben Morgan's, and I have been given the priviledge to go with the team to different regions of the Philippines, the experience to worship with the Hillsong United is extra ordinary. The gate of the stadium was flooded with young people trying to get in and get a sit as close to the stage as possible. We had our way in and the stadium was already crowded with so many young people coming from the metro and nearby provinces. The show started 30 minutes late, but its all worth it for security compliance, we undestand them. Then the band starts to play, and the crowd goes wild. Wild as warriors ready for battle. The atmosphere was so immersed with His presence, and I myself can’t deny it. The worship last for more than two hours of spirit filled song of praises and worship. I almost cried out my soul out when they sung the song “Forever”, which has been my personal song to Him in times of rough road. The concert ended with smile on our faces, an evidence of satisfaction of our spirit. Not bad for 400-peso ticket… lolz! It was indeed a worship night of my life.

 Thanks Praise Incorporated! Thanks Ate Cookie (CEO Praise Inc.), Thanks Don Ramon (Sarilikha and Gusi Records).

 God bless ya'll! See yah again... Hillsong Worship Tour (Mighty To Save)

Evan and Jaron

The sky has lost it's color
The sun has turned to grey
At least that's how it feels to me
Whenever you're away
I crawl up in the corner
As I watch the minutes pass
Each one brings me closer to
The time when you'll be back
You're coming back

I can't take the distance
I can't take the miles
I can't take the time
Until the next time I see you smile
I can't take the distance
And I'm not ashamed
That I can't take a breath without saying your name

But I can brave a hurricane
And still be standing tall when all the dust has settled down
But I can't take the distance

I still believe in feelings
But sometimes I feel too much
I make believe you're close to me
But it ain't close enough
Not nearly close enough

I can't take the distance
I can't take the miles
I can't take the time
Until the next time I see you smile
I can't take the distance
And I'm not ashamed
That I can't take a breath without saying your name

But I can brave a hurricane
And still be standing tall when all the dust has settled down
I can't take the distance
I can't take the miles
I can't take the time
Until the next time I see you smile

I can't take the distance
And I'm not ashamed
I can't take a breath without saying your name
And I can't take the distance