Elmer’s Fire

The title above has always been a major part of me for a long time now. It is a verse that has always reminded me of the miracle that I experienced back in 1995. I was a newscaster then for a local television station getting ready to face the camera and do the daily five o’clock news program. At that time, I was inside the newsroom going through the news report a few minutes before going on the air when suddenly I felt an strong urge to read the Bible verse for that day on a national newspaper.

I was so desperate at that point in my life as I was going through a family separation which I thought then was the most painful thing that happened to me. At that point, I was already questioning the Lord about His plans for me and on when He intended them to happen. I was sweating despite the very cold air-conditioned newsroom as I started reading the said bible verse which title caught my attention immediately: “God is never in a hurry, but He is always on time.”

Right there and then, I just wept so hard and begged our Almighty Father for forgiveness. As I surrendered everything to Him during that very moment, I asked Him to take over my life from then on. He did! Not too long thereafter, I woke up one day and started smiling again and went on with my life with my Savior by my side. Today, I look back at that moment in my past and strongly believe it is a wonderful blessing in disguise or should I say, a miracle in disguise because due to that incident I met the Lord in a personal way which is the greatest thing that could ever happen to anybody.

Our God Almighty’s use of His perfect time and way on everything can be found all over the Bible. It took Him eighty years until His plan for Moses came to pass. When God completes His work on a fully grown oak tree, it takes Him a hundred years to do so but He only needs overnight to create a mushroom. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says it best: “Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses.”

A soul is strengthened in every tribulation and persecution he or she overcomes. Be ready to endure these moments. James 1:4 states “Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Always keep in mind the trials you have survived, not just how many others you still have to overcome. Remember that our Lord has yet to bring into completion what He has planned for you. You may not be at your destination just yet but rest assured, you have gone a long way from where you began.

As 2 Timothy 4:7-8 says “I have done my best in the race, I have run the full distance, and I have kept the faith. And now there is waiting for me the prize of victory awarded for a righteous life, the prize which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day – and not only to me, but to all those who wait with love for Him to appear.”

God’s wonderful work on us may not yet be complete, therefore we need to go on keeping the faith and continue to pursue the prize He has in store for us. Even the snail, by its perseverance, got on board Noah’s ark on time.

I can’t believe what my eyes saw on the internet in the afternoon of June 25, 2009…it read “The King of Pop is Dead.” I had to turn on the TV (on CNN) and checked multiple times. Right there and then, I realized my eyes did not fail me. Michael Jackson has passed away.

As with the entire humanity, the news came in as a huge shock to millions of fans like me. I just can’t believe a gigantic music icon such as him is gone. Of all people, why Michael? Who would have thought the music legend or one of the best (if not the greatest) musicians is already dead? Another 80’s icon – Farrah Fawcett, of the original Charlie’s Angels fame and whose poster was adorned in every guy’s room during that decade,  died shortly before Michael did. I suppose what they say is right…”Death is the greatest equalizer.”

Michael Jackson’s music is a humongous part to any music lover’s life… specifically, my generation….growing up in the 80’s…singing and dancing to his hits…especially when I was in high school.  Not a single party in my high school days was spent without dancing to the tunes of “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” or even, “Thriller” as you can see on the vintage high school picture of mine below.

After high school, not by any stroke of fate, I decided to spend the next 20 years of my life working as a radio disc-jockey. It absolutely did not let me stay away from Michael’s songs. At that time, I did not only listen to his hits…I was playing them…whether I liked them or not (I stuck to the play lists)…again and again on the airwaves. I played those songs countless of times…perhaps a million times through all those years.

Today, I continue to play Michael’s songs, perhaps not on the airwaves anymore for now, but at parties everywhere as I continue being a DJ by doing so. Since his death, party animals have not stopped requesting me to play his hits until now so that they could dance to them.

I strongly believe this is the main reason why I am still in complete disbelief that Michael Jackson is already dead. For me, as to the millions who love his songs, the King of Pop will always be a big part of me as he continues to live on for his music is here to stay. We can never say thank you enough for your music Michael. We can never say goodbye. Rest in peace.

When The Golden Boy Oscar Dela Hoya called it quits at the start of the 9th round of his “Dream Match” Welterweight fight with Filipino pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao, Filipinos around the world broke in pandemonium celebrating Pacman’s overwhelming TKO victory.

The Dream Match for Filipinos: Pacquiao vs Dela Hoya

It was December 6, 2008, the day when I also celebrated my 41st birthday. No doubt it was one of the happiest birthday celebration in my life. What are the odds of having millions of people in jubilation on the day you were born? Not so high.

Elmer K. (doing the peace sign) with friends celebrating his 41st Birthday and watching the boxing match on pay per view

One more amazing feat that transpired on that very day was that authorities reported that not a single crime was committed in the land of 7,107 islands where an estimated 92 million people live (12th most in the planet as far as country population is concerned) .  This does not even include yet the countless others around the world. Add that to Pacquaio’s none Filipino fans everywhere. Heck, Pacquiao should continue fighting.

“Cherrystone 2008 or nothing!” – this was our battle cry shortly after we left Cherrystone in 2007. We always eagerly look forward to our favorite stress buster every year. Our only time to get away from the hustle and bustle of Jersey City and just do nothing but unwind and chill – at our annual summer camping trip at Cherrystone Family Camping Resort in Cheriton, Virginia (www.cherrystoneva.com).

Cherrystone would not have been a fixation of ours if not for Rowena & Henry Cervantes and other close friends’ great love for the outdoors. The Cervantes’ have been perennial campers at Cherrystone for the last 15 years (heck, they might be part owners of the place already!), me and my sons have only been enjoying it for the last 5. It is about 6 hours drive away from Jersey City if our friends’ Elmer “Coco Manny” Guevarra or Henry is driving but could only be just 4 hours away if Nick Andres is the one behind the wheel.

There is certainly more to Cherrystone than just swim, fish & play. It has plenty of amenities, a few of my favorites are the 4 huge swimming pools where we usually go to get away from the sizzling summer heat, the basketball court where my sons and their best friends’ Ron Cervantes, TC, Gabe & Bernard have accustomed to “own” by beating hoopsters from everywhere (in fact, they have won a tournament there), its arcade & Little Neck Cafe where we chill the day away (a taste of the cafe’s specialty “razzles” mixed with reese peanut butter or cookies & cream just don’t fail to make you go bananas), and last but not the least of my faves, the gift shops where you can buy practically anything from a “2Hot-4U” car plate to a “Virginia is for Lovers” hat.

When you are with the Cervantes family on a camping trip you will never ever be hungry as they are the proud owners of the famous Filipino restaurant in Jersey City – Rowena’s. I also look forward to the campfires with which we enjoy the great food (the bbqs are the best), drinks (tequila & beer) and fantastic music courtesy of Coco Manny who could very well be the Filipino version of Dan Fogelberg, that romantic son of a gun.

One of my rituals every year when in Cherrystone is getting a Cherrystone souvenir t-shirt. Just like what they say in Vegas, the one I got this year says “Whatever Happens In Cherrystone Stays In Cherrystone.” Indeed the said slogan says it all about our stay in Cherrystone this year. You just leave everything behind and look forward to next year. Cherrystone 2009 or nothing!

History Channel’s series on the top martial arts around the world – “Human Weapon,” has become a huge hit in the United States, especially its documentary movie of the Filipino martial art of Eskrima or Arnis. The documentary-movie which also showcased Thailand’s Muay Thai, Japan’s Karate and Judo, China’s Kung Fu, Silat of Malaysia, Cambodia’s Bokator and many more, has given pride to all the Filipinos not only in America but the whole world as well. It has been replayed in a regular basis on the History Channel in the U.S.

The show, which stars mixed martial artist – Jason Chambers and former professional football player and wrestler – Bill Duff, featured the biggest and oldest arnis group in the world, the world renowned Doce Pares, was filmed entirely in the Philippines, particularly in Cebu City and neighboring provinces. Substantially, its opening and closing sequences were filmed in Cebu, Philippines. The docu-movie opened in Carbon market in Cebu City and ended in Badian, Cebu.

This is the fourth TV documentary featuring the Filipino martial art and Doce Pares as the central performer. The first one was “Way of the Warriors” which was produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in 1982. The Discovery Channel’s “Asian Hot Spots” by Beyond International in October 2003 was the second one. The third, was in 2004 with “Kicking Ass” Martial Arts, within which Doce Pares was one of the featured martial arts.

Due to the film’s success, Doce Pares in Cebu received numerous phone calls and emails for bookings to study the art in Cebu. Student admissions for other arnis clubs all over the U.S. have also increased by 30% due to the show. After a recent 30-day seminar in the U.S. which were all fully-booked, Doce Pares International Supreme Grand Master Dionisio Canete (seen below handing me my 2nd Dan black belt in Doce Pares) revealed that majority of the participants joined his seminars after watching “Human Weapon.” SGM Canete added that during his seminars in Denver and Milwaukee, several students came from far away states, like Tennessee, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana and more.

Due to The History Channel’s insistence to include arnis in “Human Weapon,” Canete finally approved the inclusion of the world famous Filipino martial art on the documentary after believing in the show’s objectives which are to show to the world how eskrima/arnis started, assurance of a great exposure and excellent promotion of the art. The film also featured several other Cebuano arnis masters such as Val Pableo, Gerald Canete, Michael Canete, Bonifacio Uy, Albert Sales, Rudy Rey and Jose Borces.

“Just be part of it.” This is what our parish priest urged us to do during his homily a few Sundays before Pope Benedict XVI’s historical visit in the United States. Thus, be a part of it I did!

I didn’t just watch Him on TV or read about him in the newspaper or internet, I went to where He was and saw Him (a few feet from me anyway). As I did so, I brought along my sons, AJ & DJ, and their best friend Ron. One of my best friends, Marty, wanted to join us but changed his mind at the last minute claiming he didn’t have clean socks to wear. What a lame excuse! LOL! Despite us offering to give him new socks, he still didn’t go. Obviously, the lazy bum had other reasons. Just kidding Mr. McFly!

Seeing the Pope is something that does not happen everyday, not even every year. Except of course, if you live in Vatican City. I have been blessed to see the Pope twice in my life. I saw Pope John Paul II when I was still in high school as He visited the Philippines back in the early 80’s. Then, on April 19, 2008, it’s Pope Benedict XVI outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, New York.

I told the boys to appreciate every single minute of the brief but blessed moment and be grateful for it as it may well be their first and last to have this close encounter with the successor of St. Peter. Their perseverance and patience to wait for those “special few seconds” for almost five hours under the blistering heat of the New York City sun speak a lot about how they really valued the experience. For us, all the sacrifice was all worth it.

Yes, security was tight at that time but not too tight. Protesters were booed, cheers were heard, flags were waved, B16 shirts sold like hotcakes, and digital cameras clicked away like crazy. No, there was not a person on every square foot of that part of the Big Apple but undoubtedly a sea of humanity made its presence felt during that time. Indeed millions of people from all over the world and all walks of life gathered along 5th Avenue that day not to shop but to get something priceless…a glimpse of the Holy Father.

The Japan Karate Association Shotokan Alliance (JKASA), the Jersey City chapter of Japan Karate Association (JKA), the oldest and biggest karate group in the world, conducted its first ever belt promotional examination last March 22, 2008, 9 AM, in JKASA’s dojo at 124 Storms Avenue in Jersey City.

A total of 8 karatekas took the test for the 6th Kyu (green), 5th Kyu (blue) and 4th Kyu (purple) belts for the 2 year old JKA dojo. All 8 karatekas passed the said test.

JKASA instructors’ Sensei Oscar Carpina and Sensei Elmer Karaan, who are certified international instructors by JKA headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, conducted the exam.

For more details on the said event or more information about JKA Shotokan Alliance in Jersey City you may contact the dojo at (201)936-9658 or visit them at 124 Storms Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey 07306 or check out its website at www.jkasakarate.com.

I had the privilege to be a Lupon Tagapamayapa for Barangay Lahug in Cebu City for a couple of years. When I saw this story on a national newspaper (Sunstar), I can’t help but feel proud to know that once I was a part of a very effective and successful system for our barangays to continue to be dispute-free. I would like to share the said story to you. Here it is…

Lahug wins award for dispute settlement system

For the first time in years, a Cebu City Lupong Tagapamayapa became the national winner of the Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS) Incentives Award. For bagging the award, Barangay Lahug will receive P125,000 cash from President Arroyo herself in an awarding ceremony in Malacañang.

The past years, Lahug’s lupon had been chosen as the best in the City and in the region, but it never got past the regional level.The lupon serves as the conciliation and arbitration body of the barangay. It is composed of the barangay captain as chairman and its members.

938 cases

Barangay Captain Mary Ann Delos Santos attributed the triumph to Lahug’s systematic process of hearing complaints and the Lupon’s 99.79 percent efficiency in handling cases. She said that of 938 cases filed before the barangay from July 2003 to June 2004, Lahug’s Lupon issued only two certificates to file action (CFA).

Under the law, CFAs are needed before cases that could not be amicably solved at the barangay level could be filed with the regular courts. Delos Santos, 2003 outstanding barangay captain, said the judges of the competition came to Lahug to countercheck the documents the barangay presented.

The judges, among them an Appellate Court justice and a “strict” representative from the Gerry Roxas Foundation were “very impressed” by Lahug’s computerized system. “What makes us very happy and I think all the Cebuanos as well, is that this is the first time ever that a winner came from Cebu. We bested imperial Manila” she said.

In Lahug, after a complaint is lodged before the tanod office, contending parties will be summoned by Delos Santos. She has 15 days to try to settle the matter, but achieve such by first delegating the task to her councilors. If the councilors could not help the parties reach a settlement, it is only then that the matter would be brought to Delos Santos for another mediation effort. But if the councilors can reconcile the parties, a written amicable settlement will be drafted and submitted to Delos Santos for her signature. That way, the councilors, aside from their legislative functions, are also delegated with executive powers.

Delos Santos said if the conflict is still unresolved in her level, it is only then that the matter is brought before the Lupon. Of the P125,000 cash reward, P50,000 was from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), which asked Lahug to submit a project proposal for its utilization.

The rest of the P125,000 were sourced from private institutions, said DILG 7 Director Roberto Abejero in a letter sent to Lahug. Delos Santos plans to use the amount for the barangay’s clean and green and solid waste management programs with its “Kwarta sa Basura” project.