I was on my way to the mall last Saturday afternoon when I heard a couple of high school girls talk. The girl said while swaggering towards the entrance: “Inaamin ko mas maganda siya sakin. Pero mas masikip naman ako sakanya! (I admit she’s prettier than me. But I’m tighter than she is!).” Their conversation reminded me of something people often ask: Hey, are you a virgin?
I’ve been asked that question numerous times in high school and even after I entered university. I’m sure you have been too. In this generation, that’s just one of those everyday questions one gets to hear. However, attitudes towards that question (and towards premarital sex) vary, and thus we have different answers to it. Some people would proudly answer ‘of course not’ because they simply weren’t or because it sounded like the cool answer, although in reality they were still virgins. Others would be reluctant to answer because saying no would mean communicating a degree of promiscuity (we’ve all heard about that) and saying yes would just sound lame. On the other hand, others would probably answer ‘yes’ for either the right reasons or the wrong ones. Some only answer ‘yes’ to prove that they’re not easy, if you know what I mean.
I’ve always answered that question with a firm ‘yes’. And that’s because I really am a virgin. There’s more to it than just proving I’m not easy or something like that. When I attended the True Love Waits workshop about six years ago, I made a covenant to God (Matthew 22:37), myself (Matthew 22:39), my family (Philippians 4:5) and friends (John 15:13), and to my future partner and children (2 Timothy 2:22) to abstain from sex until I got married, and to remain pure.
“Believing that true love waits, I make a commitment to God, myself, my family, my friends, my future mate, and my future children to a lifetime of purity including sexual abstinence from this day until the day I enter a biblical marriage relationship.”
I still keep the covenant card I signed and still wear that silver covenant ring as proof of it (I wish it could have been a covenant sports car. When I kick it into third gear in the highway I’d shout ‘PURITY!’ at the top of my lungs). To help me fulfill this covenant, I have accountability partners who continually pray for me and with me: my dad and my former math tutor and mentor. They were men I really looked up to.
Yes, it does seem old fashioned compared to Today’s Sexual Revolution but I don’t really give peanuts about that. I’ve always been convinced that sex outside of marriage is wrong and that it’s right to keep pure, and I’ve never regretted it. That is my conviction. Premarital sex is unwise and basically wrong. And that doesn’t just apply to Christians like me (I know a lot of people don’t like reading about the ‘C word’ but hear me out for a sec), it applies to everybody. There are several reasons for this.
First off, I’d like to clarify that I’m not saying sex is wrong. I’m saying that PREmarital sex is. To begin with, the Bible states that sex is great. In fact, God created sex to be awesome and beautiful. It’s not meant to be dirty or shameful, since our sexuality is a product of our Maker’s creative genius. But the thing is, He created it for married couples. The Bible makes it clear that it is exclusively for marriage. I guess you’re thinking that that just makes God a killjoy, right? I beg to differ. A wonderful thing like sex could easily be abused, so God set certain standards. Ever heard of personal holiness in the way we speak, act and even think? There are tons of books about it, so I won’t delve into too much details. What I’m saying is basically this: engaging in sex and sexual activities before marriage will produce a cornfield of immorality and confusion after marriage. And that is seriously a bummer.
Engaging in premarital sex is a choice, and like any other choice, it has consequences:
Premarital sex causes disease. Did you notice the number of those positive with HIV and AIDS shoot past the roof on the charts? I don’t have the exact stats for you here but I’m sure if you Google it you’d be alarmed by the digits. What’s worse is that the age gap has gotten younger and younger; it’s at 15 now.
Premarital sex causes unplanned and unwanted pregnancies. Even when I was in high school, there were so many pregnant girls around me. It was disturbing; I’m talking about fourteen to sixteen year old girls here. In my Senior year, two of them were my class mates. When I got into college, there were even more. A few of them were my friends. They all told me they hadn’t planned on getting knocked up at their age, but it couldn’t be helped since they did premarital sex.
Premarital sex causes abortion. Obviously. Since not every one who has an unplanned pregnancy takes responsibility, and keeps the child, there have been countless abortion cases. I find it really sickening, but that’s another topic altogether.
Premarital sex is addictive. Once a person has premarital sex, he has to do it again. And again. And again. It becomes a bad habit, hard to break. Then enters all I’ve mentioned above. Kind of cyclical, don’t you agree?
A lot of people would rationalize: ‘I didn’t get pregnant or I didn’t contract disease right?’ or ‘that’s what contraceptives are for.’ or whatever. Others would even encourage it by just reminding people to have safe sex (like the DOH handing out free condoms during V day), since premarital sex is trending and it’s best to be practical about it and be safe. But again, I have to disagree, and I think I have effectively explained my side.
I’ve made my choice to abstain from it six years ago, by God’s grace and with the help and guidance of my family and friends and accountability partners, I’ve been able to stick with it. So far, it’s done me a lot of good and no harm at all. I hope you make that decision too. Esto Castos.
As a pastor was visiting an elderly lady in the hospital he noticed a bowl of peanuts by her bed. He began to nibble the peanuts as they visited and by the end of the visit realized he had consumed the entire bowl. Feeling badly he bought a bag and brought them to her the next day. As he gave them to her he explained they were to replace those he’d eaten the day before. “Why you didn’t need to do that Pastor”, the lady explained. “The thing is, I don’t have any teeth, so when my nephew brings me chocolate-covered peanuts. Well, I just suck the chocolate off and spit the peanuts in the bowl.”
Laughter is the best medicine. Let’s all have a healthy Sunday filled with laughs. (colon capital D)
In the beginning (no, this is not the book of Genesis) I didn’t even know who she was. I only heard of her as the girl who sang Teardrops on My Guitar. Heck, I didn’t even know that song. All my friends were like: “you don’t know her? What universe did you come from? Even Martians know her (well we do know the saying ‘men are Martians’, right?)!”. Who would’ve thought I’d crush at first sight over her. Who would’ve thought I’d listen to anything Country.
Yes, that’s right. When I finally heard her on the radio, I was interested. By the time I saw her on YouTube, I was bedazzled. The first word that entered my mind at that time was ‘dang’. And that ‘dang’ could mean a million other things conveniently compressed into a single lexicon (did I just use ‘lexicon’? I suppose English 25 paid off). There are actually three reasons why I’m so into Taylor Swift: she’s blonde and beautiful, she’s intelligent, she’s got character, she’s talented and charismatic. Well what do you know, that’s four reasons!
She is blonde and she is beautiful. Who could resist those dazzling eyes and that toothsome smile? Her runway model figure and height. Plus her fabulously blonde head (okay, that’s enough with the blonde, James)? Especially when she dawns that smokin’, gorgeous Taylor Acoustic (made by Taylor Guitars particularly for her).
She is highly intelligent. Obviously, a mentally challenged individual would not be capable of writing and memorizing all those songs (lyric and music) right? I don’t really know her educational background, but she certainly is smart. It shows. In the way she talks, writes, the way she dresses, etcetera. I simply refuse to acknowledge that she is dumb (not that anyone said she is, did anyone?).
Miss Swift has character. A perfect display of her good character would be when Kanye West interrupted her speech during the Music Video Awards. Man, that’s what I call poise! If she wasn’t a woman of good character, who knows how she would respond to that situation. Throw a machete at Kanye’s back perhaps? I can’t really imagine.
Taylor is one of the most talented singers. And her guitar isn’t just a shiny prop. Her voice has a certain ring to it (or maybe that’s just the Country twist) that makes it unique. Listening to her make music gives me the satisfaction I get when I make music (or try to rather).
These are the reasons why I’m so into Taylor. A probable fifth reason would be because we look good together. Taylor and I make a lovely pair. Like Romeo and Juliet. Who am I kidding right? I’d probably just get the darn tomato. So let’s just scratch that. Taylor Swift is my typical lady; she fits in perfectly with the rest of those ‘I want but can’t have’. Regardless, she’s my Juliet. A guy can dream, can’t he?
I don’t know much about Politics per se, but I’ve read enough and seen enough to deduce that the political situation in the Philippines is a circus. It is where ministers are congressmen and presidential candidates, celebrities are law makers, where politicians jump from one party to another or start their own parties for convenience sake, where the president is a power-freak despite her size, and where the election period is like a circus freak show. Not completely hopeless, but a circus regardless. We Pinoys have gotten so used to it that all we can do is shake our heads and sigh in dismay.
The latest monkey business is that the Supreme Court allowed President Arroyo to appoint a new Chief Justice, even after the election ban was issued. Now ain’t that dandy? Why now, of all times? I mean, she’s on her way to stepping down from office, and she wants to appoint someone to be Chief Justice (who will be just that ’til he/she retires)? Why not leave that to the next president. It’s wrong every way you look at it. Did I already mention that that’s monkey business? The Liberal Party and Nacionalista party are both against it, but of course they’re still pushing each others’ buttons regarding how to deal with the issue. Aside from that, most of the current Justices were appointed by her. So what happens if she appoints the Chief Justice? Enter: Utang na Loob. Yare yare (Jap for ‘my my’).
Anyway, I’m going to put a cork in it now because like I said, I don’t know too much. I just hope that our Politics will change for the better, and fast. God willing, the next president won’t repeat the mistakes of his predecessors.
When I tune the strings of my guitars, I make it a point to tune out all the background noise and feedback. I focus on the sounds the strings produce. This is necessary for me to find the note I want exactly. When I first started to learn guitar, this seemed like an impossible task but after years of practice, I find that it is as easy as the alphabet.
Recently, I realized that this same concept could be applied to my life as a Christian. It’s quite metaphorical. In order to hear God, I should tune out all the background noise and focus on His voice. To hear His still, small voice…
It sounds quite cliche but I think it’s true nonetheless. And personally, I find this difficult because there are so many things in my life (static) that tend to cloud my hearing. I sure have a lot to learn as I walk with Him.
There was a city-wide brown out practically the whole day, and I just got home from a basketball game a couple of minutes ago, so I couldn’t blog anything worthwhile today. Man, my feet are killing me! Slowly. Anyway, I hope you guys had as much fun today as I did. After all, Summer’s just begun.
Remember: Nan kuru naisa (Okinawan for it’ll be alright). Live for today, look forward to tomorrow and also, don’t forget to smile. :”D
After seeing the Iron man 2 trailer, I’m giddying (metaphorically) like a chick after seeing the latest, hottest chick flick. It’s totally delightful and for sure this is gonna be a blast. I wonder how many millions will this film cash in?
I hate this feeling I have. A hopeless admiration I don’t quite understand. No good will come of it. None at all. She walks by without taking a second glance. I on the other hand, stop. And I stare. It is an enigma. a devastating enigma. I expect too much from someone I’ve only observed within ten paces. I find myself pathetic; lured in by someone who only roused my curiosity. I wonder, is she even as beautiful as she seems to be? Tell me, for my senses may be playing tricks on me.
I’m tired of this, but unfortunately, it can’t be helped. I know she does not notice me, so why do I even care? That does it. I’m acting like an imbecile, trying to catch her attention in vain. She walks confidently and with poise, in a straight line, never looking back. I suppose that’s why she never will notice me; I am always a step behind.
I give up. I can’t win. For a dirt bag like me, she’s someone I can only admire. She is a painting in the Louvre, to be viewed only at a distance. She’s simply amazing. We have a one sided love affair with the universe between us. It’s not appealing at all. It is a tragedy on my part. I want to end it but I just can’t. Having her in my mind is a wonderful sensation.
I first look at my subject passively. Then I take a second glance, this time looking at it more keenly. I am interested. After a very long minute, I smile, excitement painted on the face that was only moments ago, so detached. The process has already begun.
Neurons transmit all the information I am looking at to my brain. In turn, my brain processes this information and orders my body around. I write. From time to time I pause and toy with my pen, listening to the music of nature, beholding the beauty of my subject. My thoughts begin to spin and my emotions take sudden swings. The gate to creativity opens, and I eagerly cross the line between reality and fiction.
Through my imagination, I free my self of all hindrances and relieve my body of the chains that bind me to the ground: limitations. The wind inside of me blows violently and I lose myself to love, grace, and freedom. For the time being, the clock’s immortal ticking is irrelevant. This transcendental world is all that matters. It is all I have in mind; all I care for.
I find thrill in the blank sheets in front of me, and the only sensible thing to do is to fill them up. Fill them up with my new found love and freedom. Art is created as I do so; as I pour my soul into the strokes of my right hand. In strides of ink my piece is formed, more and more captivating as I dismiss impossibilities as plausible. This is the climax of my pleasure, all in five minutes.
Inevitably, I lock the gate to Lala Land and snap back to reality, pleased. I am fully satisfied.
L (Mr. Lontoc - Mr. L - L) says thanks for taking the time to drop by H☺☻lΩh☻☺ps™, and welcomes you to his sphere. Hopefully, you enjoy spinning around the loop and learn something worthwhile at the same time.
Since he was a kid with snot all over his face, L has enjoyed story telling and writing. He'd use to come up with fantastic stories on the spot that usually had his adult listeners roaring with laughter.
Because his loving parents recognized his passion for the art, they surrounded him with books and sent him to the University of the Philippines' Summer Arts Workshops where he studied creative writing under the supervision of Cristina Bejar. The workshop nurtured his love for writing, and sharpened his skill as a pen man.
L is a harmless guy who only hurts the mosquitoes that buzz around his head at night and other irritating pests, and he welcomes your feedback and comments. He is also willing to listen to your suggestions etc. However, L does not tolerate spammers. His spam detector makes sure of that. Oh, he also detests plagiarism.
So again, thanks for visiting, welcome, and enjoy! Cheers!
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