For all incoming nursing students in Guam it is wiser to buy your supplies before the school year starts http://ping.fm/WlNDu

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Perry Ellis pants I found in Tamuning, Guam

I was out one Saturday shopping for a pair of pants in Ross here in Guam at the Guam Premier Outlet in Tamuning. The usual brand I know are always there but there is this name that is alien to me, Perry Ellis.

I am not that brand conscious. I would rather buy something that fits me well and that with a great fabric. I always touch the fabric and feel its texture and and if allows my skin to breathe. I got my size and look for another one and both tried them. I ended up buying both. I know this brand is not cheap. I was fortunate to see one available at Ross. 

You might wonder why is Louis blogging about pants? I think clothing is one of the tools we use today not to cover our skins but a way of telling the world who we are. Some people buy expensive things thinking it will make them look expensive. Thus the tiangge and surplus shops are booming business because it has been a mentality to  that wearing branded clothing will bring you places. In reality forcing oneself to such social strata by mimicking those that are on that group only lowers ones true self. In a way your measure of success is unclear and it has been your neighbor's standard that becomes your metric.

Success is not define by standards of an elite group of people rather success comes when you are satisfied with what one has set for himself. I did not buy those Perry Ellis jeans because I want to be one of those Perry Ellis collector but I bought it because it feels good when I wear it. I am satisfied. 

A lot of people now a days are shopaholic and impulsive buyers. Do you have any ideas or thoughts on how to tame the green envy?

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On birthdays and growing old

It's my birthday today, May 23. 

It has been my long tradition not to celebrate my birthday. I usually just  spend it with my siblings or some close friends. The very first time I blew a birthday cake was on my 25th birthday. But today I won't be doing that, I'm to old for that. I am just here in my favorite coffee shop sipping my latte and listening to Parokya ni Edgar's Gitara. I just watched Robin Hood as a birthday gift to myself. I don't need expensive gift to be happy. Right now I am just chilling and blogging things that wonders in the corners of my mind.

As I look back and ponder I realize I am growing old. Just like my friend Agnes said to me "Kuya ang tanda mo na mag-asawa ka na." Funny but there is truth in what she says. Most of my friends, college batchmates, and former co-worker are settled. They chose a path to the married life and almost everyone always ask me that question. But in reality I'm not annoyed by it. But at the same time a I am thinking why am I single to date.

Let me first give you a background of me if you don't know me personally. I finished high school in a seminary and in our class yearbook's I was named to be the next Pope. In my first year of college any girl my classmates seen with me thinks we are together already. And at work many always pair me with someone in the office specially the gorgeous ones. I am not bragging that I am the very good looking type I guess people around me see something different in me or I am just being frame up or force to something that I have no idea myself. I am puzzled myself why other people see me that way.

I posted a question regarding soulmates. And the answers were interesting. As a Greek philosopher once said, "soulmates are one soul in two separate bodies." One complements the other. I am wondering who would that be. Who is my other half? Sometimes my mind would just imagine someone that is that kind of person. The problem is that it is only in my mind. In connection with that I saw this interesting preview. It's Matt Damon's new movie. Kinda connected to the soulmate theory that has been playing in my head. 

The title of the movie is The Adjustment Bureau. The story revolves to the topic of free will and destiny. Every person in the Earth has a written plan that should be followed. Once in a while we tend to deviate from this plan and the Adjustment Bureau are there to put one back on track to the plan. Matt Damon accidentally met a girl but as according to plan he was not supposed to meet her. The person behind the adjustment bureau showed up and tried to in way erase his memory and put him back to the plan but he choose not to follow the plan. His choice was to make a new plan with this woman but he is warned that if does so he would ruin the plan for the girl.

How about you? If you are given a chance to be place in the same situation would you rather chose your destiny or will go out your way to fulfill something you really want? Would appreciate your comments.

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Another visit to my friend

If you remember, years ago I wrote about my friend who was accused of something we believe she didn't do. Its been a whole year since then that I visited her and I am guilty about it.Click here to read about it.

It was a nice Saturday morning when I went to see her. As usual I brought some sandwiches and to calm her due to my not visiting I brought some cheesecake. She seated on the other side of the table and it seems I just seen her two days ago. She was never mad or angry at me. She smiles sweetly and it seems she knows something that I am not my usual self and so she says "Today its not me who's gonna tell stories, you are."

I guess she knows me very well. With a big sigh I began to tell her what really happened.

I have so many things to juggle. Work, personal life, and inner self. I told her about my recent work related problem. I was caught in the middle between my bosses. My manager told me to cancel some subscription to cut on cost but the other manager who would be affected by this cancellation lashed out to me. He even mentioned that he has a higher position and that he might ask the boss to fire my manager. Well my first re-action was of course enrage. One because I am just doing what my direct manager told me to do, second if that was the case why lashed out on me. If he has a problem with that he should have ask my manager and they should have argued about it. Why include me in the discussion when what I just did was follow instructions. Yeah bosses; sometimes they think they are so great and they showed be followed like gods. But don't they think that their words hurt other people. I hope that they think first before saying such. They should be humble enough and civil enough to talk things out before firing guns at someone else.My friend was just looking at me listening attentively. I stopped and stared at her at she just told me to go on.

Next one was personal. I have been working and working and it seems that my life is just like that. I'm turning 29 and still single. After a failed relationship of 3 years and a rejected love it seems that I am hanging up my gloves. But no I don't. And that's something that keeps me thinking. Sometimes I wonder what is in store for me. I may have the necessary things in life but sometimes you just cant escape the feeling of needing someone. Also it seems that things are so boring now. Sometimes I just want to let time pass faster. Some days the busy work keeps me company but sometimes that even the work is just like that. It came you did, its done and then what. For the past weeks its seems to get much of my sleeping time, making me awake because my mind is thinking of things as if I am a third person. Me, my mind, and time. This feeling made me lethargic and sometimes restless. As I was saying this to her she clasp my hands. Its so comforting to feel someone is there to be with you when you need them most.

Because of my personal problems my inner problems also surfaces. The demons inside my head started to play me again. I was able to shut this demon in me for quite sometime but due to the circumstances it resurface and starting to overtake my control of myself. My mind begin to wonder and start digging the hidden things in my subconscious. At night it creeps to me and starts to make me things. My mind creates the things that shouldn't be there and my body reacts to it. My friend smiles and told me that I do really need to get a wife. And She mentions St.Paul's First Letter tot he Corinthians. She told me to read 7: 25-38.

The bell rings and its time for me to go. As I was about to stand she tightly hod my hand. She looks at me and she whispered to my ears "Thank you!" Sometimes in life it seems that the most important thing that we have to do is to do our assigned task in life. But I was reminded that sometimes giving someone else a chance for them to do their task is also not bad. That visit made me realize that. I let friend be my friend in the time That I most needed one.

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Some collected Twitter opinions on Mexico Gulf Oil Spill

BP Says Costs On US Gulf Oil Spill Rise To $450 Mln - Wall Street Journal: The GuardianBP Says Costs On US http://url4.eu/3NUzr

BP's oil spill clean-up bill rockets by $100m - This is London http://bit.ly/9m6YuZ

Litany of failures led to BP spill - http://3bl.me/c8n9kn #oil #csr #energy

Colbert Demonstrates Tackling Natural Gas Leak in Oil Spill (VIDEO) http://bit.ly/awsMfo

Oil spill probe: BP had wrong diagram to close blowout preventer (McClatchy Newspapers)http://bit.ly/aDMd3R   

  

BP to try new fix as oil spill threatens Gulf (Reuters)http://bit.ly/a7o1MW

  

#YouTube - David Letterman - Senate Oil Spill Hearings Top Ten http://is.gd/c7e9J

House Panel Probes Gulf Coast Oil Spill http://breakingnews.grestestblogsever.com/house-panel-probes-gulf-coast-oil-spill-2   

The Gulf of Mexico oil spill hasn't stained President Barack Obama nor dimmed the public'... http://bit.ly/cJAjP6 

 

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The stand of the Catholic Church on sexual abuse issue

I never expected it coming this morning.

I always attend the 10:00 o'clock mass at Sta. Barbara Parish here in Dededo, Guam. The celebrant was Fr. Dan Bien, a Filipino priest, and his homily focuses on the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd takes care of his flock. And with that he explained that Jesus Christ Shepherding responsibility was given to the Apostles and handed it to the Pope and the bishops and the bishops handed it also to the priest in-charge of the parish.

He re-iterated that the Church condemns such act and the Church does not protect priest who does not uphold justice and abuse their position. He implores the laity to continually pray for the clergy that they may be good shepherds. Also he quoted an article by a Jewish religious leader. The article points out that the media is ganging up on the Catholic Church because such case is not limited to the Catholic Church but also to other sects and denominations. The Catholic Church is being singled out by the media for no reason at all. He ask the laity to remain steadfast in the Faith and keep the Faith. This is just one of the trials we as Catholics has to struggle and in the end we will be led to the right path as we hear and heed the true Shepherds voice, Jesus Christ.

I am a former seminarian and I would be hypocrite to say of I didn't heard of anything like this in the past. But I cannot say as well who are these priest who have failed to do what our Lord has task them to do, to take care of His flock. There is only one thing I know though, priest are humans like you and me. They feel the same things that we feel and the more they are bombarded with  temptation. Thus we need to continually pray for the clergy to never give in and never give up the calling they are called for. 

What I ask personally is for priests who has done such act should give themselves up to the proper authorities and accept responsibility for their actions. To our Church leaders I ask that they be transparent and help the victims to surpass the anguish these abuses has inflicted in them and not be silent about it. There is something wrong so we should as early as possible correct what is wrong before it corrupts us all. To my fellow Catholics as well as our brothers and sisters in the faith I asks your continuous prayer, help, and vigilance to stop such acts. 

 

I remember my co-seminarians motto in our yearbook: Hate the sin not the sinner. We are a community and thus we should not condemn and shun people but rather hate the action that they did and help them realize the wrong that they did and make the right decisions and actions about it rather than pointing and accusing and let the issue grow and grow until it will be impossible to resolve it.

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When Boredom comes part what?

Hahaha sorry about my last post. I was angry that day and wanted to write my anger in my blog but the moment I tried to type and put to words the feeling it was hard. 

I am not that kind of angry person that would start throwing foul words. I don't know why, I never say the S***, F***, and the rest of all the words which the young of today seems just a word of expression. I was angry because I am put in the middle of the warring parties. I felt trap and paralyze. I don't know which to side on. My mind started thinking why. Reasons come crashing to me that these people have no respect of me anymore and as if I owe anyone of them. In fact I never owe any one of them, they owe me big time.

Well it has been more than a week that I am having problem sleeping. Not only that there is something bothering me mentally but also physically. My body aches and my mind seems thinking of thinking of possibilities of how I would get into a car accident. Also my other problem has re-surface. I have figure out why I am doing that and also found the solution but the recent stress and my dreams and goals seem to pull me back to it. Now how will I ever find the one if the same old me, the one that I am not, keeps on coming and wanting to take over the real me.

Don't worry I am not a psycho. I just wanted to put to words the feeling deep down my subconscious. It will soon pass. All I need is to face it and find the reason why and from there figure out the solution. I want a better me, a better Louis. Do I need help? Oh yes I do. I need your prayers and enabling words. 

I will because I can. 

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When boredom comes

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Still learning to be a better blogger

Yup that is right. Even though I have nearly 4 years of blogging experience(mostly are personal blogs so they are more of a diary) I am still no better that is why my quest to be a good blogger is still up and running. I bought the e-book of Darren Rowse of Problogger, 31 Days to Building a better blog, and one free stuff I got is an audio interview of Darren  with a blogger which is here in the same island I am currently working.

His name is Leo Babauta. His blog Zen Habits has been one of the top 100 blogs and I was humbled to know that someone who is so simple has that influence in the blogosphere.  And besides that he has publish a book and e-books that are even sold at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Borders, and IndieBound. It's my dream also to write at least an e-book regarding my passion and profession, accounting, so maybe by following Leo and his works will eventually lead me to my dream of becoming a full problogger and a writer.

Leo's book, The Power of Less, demonstrates how to streamline your life by identifying the essential and eliminating the unnecessary — freeing you from everyday clutter and allowing you to focus on accomplishing the goals that can change your life for the better.

Click here to view more details about The Power of Less

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A sad story: Cover up of priest abusing a minor pinned to the Pope

The news about a priest abusing young boys in his parish somewhere in Bavaria was linked to the Pope which back then was the Cardinal Ratzinger. 

The said priest was convicted but accusations that such could have been prevented if then Cardinal Ratzinger has done actions since such was under his jurisdiction. The news said that Pope Benedict knows about such pedophile priest and that just like other diocese transferred the said erring priest to hide or prevent the story from escalating to the media.

It is sad that such things happen. Specially now that we are celebrating Easter, most of the story is about it and some say that the former Pope, John Paul II, might have knowledge about such reports and no actions were made. For me being part of the Catholic community and a former seminarian puts me in a situation in which I had to chose side, to condemn this non-action or defend the Church. 

It is not new to me. Back in the Philippines there were cases of abuses that shattered the lives of young altar boys and some seminarians which were abuse by the very least person that they know would do such a thing. Such act is highly not condone by the Church. I would like to appeal to all Christians that we as part of the community must be vigilant about such sensitive issues. In Archdiocese and I believe in all diocese we celebrate Clergy Day. It is a celebration for priest to renew their commitment to the priesthood. Though they have undergone such rigorous training, priest are just as same as we are. They are vulnerable to temptation and the strength of temptation is much more stronger on there side since one they have no family on their own(I mean they have no wife and children due to the vows of chastity), they might be assigned to places far from their family(in the case of missionaries very far), and responsibility for them to take care of the flock is great since they have to accept a bigger family of which they need to focus.

I only ask one thing for those priest that faltered; please come out and face the consequences of your actions. Don't hide or ask other priest to help you out in getting out of the mess you have done. Please come out and face it.

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