AKO BA ITO?

The day after I posted ISA NA NAMANG DECEMBER 16, I received a 4-page note from a very good friend who happens to be a very good editor of a very good Christian publication.

I didn’t think she would be that observant of me.
The list below details how much of me she knows.
And I bow in silence, utterly utterless.


52 THINGS I LEARNED FROM MY AMAZING FRIEND


1 First encounters can be mesmerizing.
2 Pressure can bring out the poet in you.
3 You’re never too old to go and finish college.
4 Doing books of Ed Lapiz depends on miracles (more miracles follow, too!).
5 In the midst of a daunting task, God reveals a dreamboat.
6 Comfort is just an e-mail or text away.
7 God rewards stubborn faith that says, “Basta!”
8 Be proud of your age when you hit gold. That way, your youthful looks
astound people more.
9 Nine year’s practice is good preparation for an unforgettable tandem.
10 You can only attempt so much in writing a blurb for Ed Lapiz…unless you’re a
Joey L. Garcia!
11 No matter how deadly a deadline may seem, it’s possible that it can be met
beyond your wildest dreams.
12 Charming gatekeepers do exist.
13 Timely hugs from a sweet-smelling friend can be addictive.
14 Love and serve your pastor so he can do greater things.
15 Treat your fellow sufferers nicely. They deserve it.
16 Piliin at tangkilikin ang sariling atin.
17 Look forward to retirement and your senior citizen’s discount cart.
18 Have an “apo” week.
19 Smell your best.
20 Leave your cellphone unattended when you’re doing personal ministry.
21 Keep your first Bible. It has a story to tell.
22 Help your friends. You’ll always be full of love.
23 Overspeeding brings about “to die is gain” talk. It’s not a good feeling.
24 Enjoy the rain. The e-mail can wait.
25 The spa is a non-negotiable.
26 To live longer, pass on your eye strain.
27 The tougher the project, the more it should be accomplished. But it’s ok to
set it aside for a while.
28 Tell friends what you want them to give you on your birthday.
29 Skip the condiments. Even the gravy.
30 Have a cabinet for your favorite things.
31 Nike is right. Impossible is nothing.
32 Mentally recite “Ayokong manakawan ng happiness” 70 x 7 times when delays
seem endless.
33 Always praise God for His goodness during and after a crisis.
34 Master the death-defying skill of texting while driving. (It will scare the
texter on the other end to silence.)
35 Say something nice and funny to those who serve you. It will make their day.
36 Anticipate and enjoy delays. Things aren’t really that bad.
37 Live by “just in case.”
38 Apologize when you arrive earlier than scheduled.
39 Say “I thought you take lunch at 2pm” when you unintentionally interrupt
someone’s lunch break.
40 Soup is an indispensable part of a meal. Never eat without it.
41 Write in lower case (except in lists like this.)
42 Know the latest of everything so you can use it in leading Bible study.
43 Cinderella time is beyond three hours and before sundown.
44 Blow a flying kiss to say thank you and see you later.
45 Don’t hide your awe.
46 Additional responsibilities are a compliment.
47 Desire unending joy.
48 Sneakers forever!
49 Someone’s got to be the villain when it comes to spending church funds!
50 Save feel-god text messages for “emergencies.”
51 If people call you “Pastor,” let them.
52 “Amazing” and “Joey L. Garcia” go together like cup and saucer, soap and
water, Priscilla and Aquila, eucalyptus and the koala. (Wish my name were
Amazing.)