think rainbows

Honestly, I didn't follow American Idol this season as much as the David vs. David season. Or at least I wasn't as excited. But, it does not mean that I don't like this season, or that I didn't watch at all. I just think I like more idol finalists from that season than from this season.


What made this season exciting for me at first was Thia Megia, the Fil-Am idol finalist. It's pretty self-explanatory why. I kind of liked Naima Adedapo too, she's unique, but just like Thia they didn't really stay in the competition that long. They were even eliminated at the same time.

So who's left with my favorites that I still kept on watching AI? Scotty. Scotty, Scotty, Scotty. The comment I always give him is about his very, very deep voice, which was also the reason why he really got my attention. He's only 17 and he's got a voice like that. Who wouldn't be surprised?! He was one of my favorites even during auditions with his 'Baby Lock Them Doors' version, and I was really excited when he made the Top 13. Aside from him I also liked Casey, Lauren, even Stefano, and James until my eardrums became bored with all the screaming in every James Durbin song. I was surprised that he got eliminated in the Top 4 but not that disappointed.


And then it was down to two. I haven't watched the whole top 2 perfomance night and final eliminations night shows, but by the time I post this, the final performance and results shows would all be over, and we all know who won...Scotty McCreery!!!

"I got chills, they're multiplyin', and I'm losing control. 'Cause the power you're supplying, it's electrifying!"

It all started with Google and the keywords "dance studio"/"dance school". Next thing I knew I was debating with myself whether to call, to email, or to just send a text message to this dance studio I've never heard of before.

Late last year I've started dancing again. I found this studio in Quezon City which offers hiphop classes for a low price. It was too far from my place so I really didn't get to go there frequently, but just the same, I enjoyed the two dance classes I was able to go to. When 2011 entered, I included in my new year's resolutions to dance again. And last February, I was able to get a head start for it.

I started searching for a dance studio that's either near the office or near our house. I was able to find one near the office, although they offered ballroom classes. I was hoping for some hiphop classes, but since I'm not new to ballroom anyway, I thought it was okay. I thought about it for days, weeks, if I was going to continue and enroll in this dance studio. (The discount played a huge role in the decision-making process.=P) I searched for everything I could find about the dance studio before deciding to make a call. That was a Thursday, then Tuesday the following week, classes had begun.

I was nervous at first because I didn't know what to expect. The only thing I thought about was that I might be the youngest in the class, I mean since it's ballroom and not a lot of teens are into that unlike if it's hiphop, right? It might be hard to make new friends. I was right, and I was wrong. I was right that I might be the youngest among the students, until there was this two guys who I think were only in high school or college. But they didn't last, so I was still the youngest, although the scholars of the studio were younger. The scholars though weren't students like us, so I think that doesn't really count. =D

It was really fun. Even if our class wasn't that close to each other, even if I knew nobody in the class, I was having fun. The fact that I always have fun whenever I get to dance could be one of the reasons, but still, you wouldn't have as much fun if what you're actually doing and the people you're with isn't fun. I started looking forward to every class that we're going to have, and I didn't want it to end. So when they opened some new classes, and after checking the schedule, I enrolled once again, and I found myself at the studio every night from Mondays to Thursdays. It was only 1 hour per class so it wasn't really that tiring, it was just right. :) I also got to make new friends; my classmates were really nice. :)

The teachers then started talking about a recital in May; an inter-studio recital. It got me really interested and thought I would really love to be involved with the recital. There were some what ifs, and is it possible, and some other issues here and there, but still, it happened. If there's a will, there's a way, right? :)

*I just have to share this, it really struck me. I hope you get something from it too. :)*


One day, there was a small barrio of farmers who were praying for rain to come.
Every Sunday at church, they’d gather and pray for rain.

But one Sunday, the priest announced, “How can God give you rain if you don’t have faith?”

The farmers asked, “How do you know we have no faith?”

The priest said, “Every Sunday, you pray for rain. But how many of you are bringing an umbrella?”
No one in that church brought an umbrella.

The priest continued, “No one among you is prepared to receive the blessings you’re praying for.”
Next Sunday, people began to bring an umbrella.

And soon, the rain came.

Friend, are you prepared for your blessings?

Noah built the Ark before the rain came, not during or after.

You need to build your Ark today.

Do you really expect the answer to your prayer?

I’ve been praying for 1000 Feasts (our weekly gathering) spread all over the world.
In God’s own time, I expect it to happen.

But even today, we’re preparing for that blessing. We’re bringing our umbrella. We’re building our ark. How? We’re raising up 1000 Feast Builders through our School of Leadership.

Today, what’s your umbrella? Identify your umbrella and bring it with you.

Right now, there are some of you who are ready to give up on the dream God has placed in your heart.
Don’t give up. Because God isn’t giving up on you.

Oh yes, you may have to give up on your particular version on God’s dream for your life.

I remember Bishop Soc Villegas was telling me that he wanted to be a monk—alone in his hut, tending to a little garden. That was how he wanted to serve God. But God wanted Him to serve as a very busy priest and Bishop.

I love telling the story of how I was fixated on a 500 square meter property for our Community Center. It was a foreclosed property that the bank was selling. I wanted it so much, I’d visit it many times—and when no one was looking—raise my hand towards it and “claim” it to be ours. (If I saw someone walking on the street, I’d pretend I was just checking the fence.)

I was tenacious. I told the tiny Light of Jesus community then to fast. I even scheduled a 3-night vigil to pray for the place. We also went into massive fundraising. We went Christmas Caroling in August.

But one day, we received the news: Someone else bought the property from the bank. We were devastated.

I remember our prayer meeting the week we found out. It was as if I was attending a funeral. Some people were even crying.

But ten years later, God answered our prayer. We finally acquired a property. This taught us that God’s timing isn’t our timing.