the xaris day

At this time some twenty years ago (haha), my mother was rushed to the hospital because she freaked out that the baby in her tummy has stopped moving.

I was born sleeping. Ta-dah.

On a full moon.

I am making my life sound interesting. Let's try.

Xaris likes to go by The Xaris, if anyone asks. Spawned by accounting guru Asser Tamayo and grammar nazi Cynthia Paler Tamayo, the child grew up to be a grammar whore who had a love-hate relationship with numbers.

The Xaris was born on August 1, 1985 under a full moon (but no one noticed because she was born on midday). Legend has it that the baby inside Cynthia’s tummy stopped moving altogether thus the mad hospital dash to deliver the unmoving fetus. Apparently, before boredom presented itself to the baby, she already discovered what it was. The moon-child came out of the womb sleeping.

Moons and stars fascinated The Xaris growing up. The Xaris believes that she is of the star people, which her non-showbiz manufacturers never denied. To this day, The Xaris swears by the laws of stars thus her crazy antics.

The Xaris has three siblings. And a weirder bunch nobody has ever seen.

More than life, The Xaris loves her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Despite her allegiance to the Cross, The Xaris is still in the process of grace. Sometimes her evil inclinations get the best of her, but that is why she hangs on tightly to the grace of the Lord. Apart from it, she is nothing. Xaris after all means grace.

Sometimes, The Xaris goes by the name Xai. When she is Xai, she is as sweet and charming as an… erm, sweet and charming thing. Oftentimes, she is just plain Xaris, the evil manipulative twin.

Oh. Someday she will fall in love. And this biography would sound even better. Rararara.

***
Tita Cory couldn't have picked a better day to die. Only fabulous people mark lives on August 1.

***
Dear God,
I know that your plans are way better and your thoughts higher. When you call people home, it is because you want them to meet you face to face. What a privilege for your children whom you call your own.

Earthlings say that the month of August is a ghost month. Having been born on the first day of this month, I say pfft, whatever. Thank you for making me, me. Thank you for continuously working in my life.

Thank you, Jesus, for loving me. :)

***
I was supposed to have been back from Baguio today to audition for the MYX VJ hunt. Ambisyosa talaga ako. LOL. Instead, I am still in my pajamas, watching 'Labs Kita, Okay Ka Lang' on Cinemaone, never having left home.

I had plans for August and September. One, to live in Baguio and work as GT. Two, try out for Myx on all Saturdays of August. Three, paint. Four, get a *tattoo*. Five, overhaul my wardrobe equals shopping.

But because God is infinitely wise and kind, He thwarted my plans. :) He instead gave me a new job in GMA-7 as researcher for Mel and Joey and showed me my soon-to-be-new-puppy poodle Tiger. :D *cartwheels*

I will blog about my first week in my new job when I get down from my cloud/bubble. I am still on bum mode and everything is new. May God grant me peace on this new adventure He gave me. :) Here's to twenny four! :)

SBCC is thirteh five!

sbcc @ 35!
(3 for 100)

First anniversary in the lot and building of our prayers and dreams.

God is truly the Lord of dreams come true. :)

Dahil Minsan Ang Mga Detour ay Kailangan

Wala akong balak umakyat ng Baguio simula nung maisip ko na ayaw ko ng attachment. But lo and behold. Dun din pala ako mapupunta.

Bibili lang dapat kami ng ube tapos uuwi na. Dala na rin ng mga pangyayari, may-I-extend naman ako ng very hard sa Baguio my love so sweet.

Hanggang sa naging one week ang stay ko dun. Hindi ko rin pala matitiis. Charing.

Photos in the new IV home in Ambiong (na lagi kong hindi malocate at nagkanda ligaw ligaw na 'ko every time) with the IVNL peeps.

Cast:
Papa Paul (the future ex-boyfriend)
Ara (soon-to-be IV homer and staff)
Ate Eden (the dog charmer and mommy of the house)
Frida (ang nag-iisang fan ni dj xaris)
Jeff (dude, whatever)
Zyla (ang dakilang KC mate na staff na ngayon)
Kuya Carlo (the comsci prof)
Ate Weng (mrs. comsci prof)
Allen (the silent border)
Cel (the sister of the silent border)
Toni (student leader extraordinaire)
Alfe (para sa Balitang Amianan kasama si camera mang ____)

Yung mga di kasama sa IV home experience:
Jerry
Dell
Albus MacAllister

My Redeemer Lives

Boy, do I have a lot to tell. Before I finally forget half the things I've been meaning to say, lemme put in bullet form and a 'few' highlights [grah, this is all I can handle for now, boo me].

• Hillsong United is the bomb!

I did not intend to see them live because I once told Ate Normi, 'I'm not a fan.' I probably was possessed when I said that but I think I said those words because of the hype the group was getting amongst Christian crowds. Nawawala sa limelight ang Panginoon and that troubles me. When May 26 came, I even decided I didn't want to go. Sapak mode again. But the Lord is good. Even when I had to walk in the rain [I just recovered from the flu] and kept meeting unfortunate circumstances, I found myself in a seat at the lower box of AC with my church mates, anticipating this year's most rockin' worship concert.

I did not know any of the names of Hillsong United. But I was blessed. It was clear that the band is all for God and not for fame. I wondered how many kids at the Araneta Coliseum was looking at the Creator of Music rather than the music makers. And with humility knocked into me, I knew for a fact that we were all there to worship the Lord. This is what eternity is going to look like. I can't wait.


When the frontperson [see, I never bothered with names] was reading from the Bible, tears voluntarily flowed from my eyes because somehow, those were the exact same things the Lord was dealing me with. And when the songs started, mehn, I felt the Holy Spirit moving. Only He can cause a crowd of rowdy, young Christians into people of God burning with so much passion and worship. YOU DESERVE THE HIGHEST PRAISE, LORD!

• We're ON THE LOT

My church has been rallying the high heavens for the last seven years that we may acquire a new lot and building. The lot has been an issue of well, worldly politics and gripping the powers that be. But our God is an AWESOME GOD whose name is higher above all names. Seven years. The timing can't be any more perfect than this. How Mighty is the God who can orchestrate miracles as such.

Ang dami dami dami daming lessons, heartaches and pains ang pinagdaanan namin bago ito. But to look at this lot [parang bus terminal lang ah, ay, bus terminal nga!] and know it was delivered to us by the Hand of God is enough consolation. This is Abraham's, Moses', King David's, Paul's God who gave this to us. The same God who delivered Israel from Pharaoh, the same Hands that carefully plotted the stars and galaxies, the same Voice who spoke the world into being is the same God who holds Sampaloc Bible Church.

Take that, worldly powers, our God reigns. Shout Unto God - Hillsong London

• Grace Anatomy
  

The amazing thing about grace is that it is given to us even when we don't deserve it. Heck, we never really deserve it. And yet we enjoy it.

*PHOTO CREDITS:
Hillsong pichoors from ate mormees
Lot pichoor from kuya nate