Thankful for the weekend and the experience. Went to CJC on Friday to pay the deposit for Rally with Marc and Mag. After that, the 3 of us went to visit SJI. Been a long while since I stepped onto the soil of my Alma Mater. The feeling was refreshing. Marc and I got really excited, met many teachers and we had good chats. Ultimately, these are the teachers who had made a difference in my life. I miss wearing the all-white uniform, wearing the green tie and the awesome badge. Walking down the corridors of the classrooms brought back fond memories... But we didnt visit the chapel!!! We must go back there sometime soon again man.

Another highlight was donating blood at Blood Bank on Saturday with Moses. Elaine and Marc accompanied us too. My blood pressure was mild high while moses was mild low but they still cleared us to donate - think they are really desperate for donors, so do donate if u can. Its better donating at Blood Bank, the nurses are more professional and more skillful. Prob will donate again after exams in end April. :) After that, I attended the North District Youth Rally - their P and W was not bad and I must say that the youths were REALLY hyper. Maybe we are just getting old, these secondary teens were really enthu abt P and W man! Marc did a great job promoting our rally - when he spoke, Elaine and I could feel that that he has the makings of his uncle - Fr. Simon! and think e teens were kinda receptive to coming for our rally. Talking about Rally, I am really damn happy and thankful that the response for our Rally has been great so far, the numbers are comin in real fast by the hundreds. It really is a form of motivation man, more than ever I wanna contribute as much as I can to really make the experience a good one for all those HE has called. God is good, all the time!!

Of cos the highlight of highlights was Confirmation for my teens on Sunday!!! My second batch receiving the sacrament of Confirmation. Although I only took this class for one year, it was a great journey with them. Though there were times when I felt like giving up but just looking at them being sealed by the Holy Spirit, I knew that it was all worth it. I will certainly miss their nonsense, their crap and their fun-loving characters that never failed to bring a smile to me.

But of cos having a big class of 44 students, I will not be able to do it without:

Felicia - Thank you once again for being there for my class. You have been a great facil, in fact you went on to being more than a facil, you became their friend. That someone whom the teens could look up to as a role model and as a friend. You have in yourself been a great source of inspiration. Continue to be just you and I am certain that you will be making that difference to the lives of the teens in your care.

Gladys - Thank you for being around for my teens also. I am glad that you have became their friends and more importantly, really glad that you have decided to join back in this ministry. Thank you for all the support and advice and also thank you for the friendship that we share. Looking forward to yet another year with ya teachin in Con 1.

God - Thank you for the strength to sustain me throughout, it was a great journey. Thank you for sending me so many wonderful people, the Con 3 catechists, the teens. It was a great experience. More importantly, thank you for making me your instrument. :)

So with their Confirmation, I am back to Con 1 now. A brand new class - just had my first lesson with them on Sunday morning. Got a really small class now - only 26 teens. But I guess it is a good number to work with. Co-teaching with Danielle (Shanta) this year, together with Russ and Gladys in the level and 3 of the just confirmed teens are joining us in the level too. Kinda reluctant to teach Sec 1 already, cos the experience with Sec 3 is always better but well, everythin happens for a reason and I should just make full use of it.

Time for photos:

Con 3A (06/07)

Fellowship :)

Irwin, Ricardo n me

SJI Boys: Alastair, Me, Eugene

Me, Gladys n Russell

Felicia, Me, Gladys, Russ

Con 3 Catechists (06/07)

During mass today, there was this boy, prob only about 5-6 years old, he was singing very very loudly - singing things like Alleuia, Holy Holy Holy, Our Father , Lamb of God.. and also he singing out of tune. But the beauty of it all - it brought about smiles on the faces of many around. I was one of those. Smiling to myself and just wondering how outwardly proud he was, proclaiming and singing, not bothering about wad people thought of him. That innocence of a child was so evident in him. It is sad that we lose that innocence as we grow up, being more conscious about the people around you, more cynical and skeptical.. I am guilty of it actually.. But oh well, on a brighter note, we are all still a child of God, no matter how old you are... so I guess its okay to bring out the child like side in us sometimes, I believe it will make us feel happier and also bring about more fun and joy to the people around you. :)

In contrast, after Cat class, a parent came up to me, asking me if I was free to speak to her. Her eyes were red, and as she spoke, she was on the verge of crying. I didnt know how to react, all I could do was just to provide that listening ear. I could see that she was upset, very upset with herself for not knowing how to communicate with her son, for everythin she says doesnt seem to matter to him. She was really concerned if her son is ready for confirmation and if he was mixing with good company. All I could do was to reassure her that her son was becomin more sensible as compared to when I first got to know him and more importantly, as a person I feel that he is also tryin to change for the better - in fact he actually told me that he wanna teach catechism next year - I was amazed but I believe God works in his own ways in bringing people back to him. Prayer I believe is the key word and having the faith and patience. More importantly, I understood that it is hard being a parent. Sometimes we always feel that our parents do not understand us but have we really tried to understand them. They are also learning very hard how to be better parents. I think I have neglected my parents a lot since uni started, but I am so thankful that sometimes they really try to understand me but I feel that I am not doing enough. After CAW, I guess its really time to just spend quality time with family cos at the end of the day, they mean the most to me...

Pulbicity for Rally was quite successful in Holy Trinity. The response turned out well, thank you Fel, Sherlyn, Jon, Gladys, Russ and Kyrin for helping me out with the publicity cards. Also, Fr. Tim helped us out and I was really motivated by the response of the teens. Think OLPS publicity went on well also.. Hopefully, 'the harvest will be plenty'. CAW preparations have started for about a month already and I think many of us are kinda losing steam but I believe we will pull through from the support of each another and lets draw strength from HIM more than ever esp during the next 3 weeks.

Oh man, it has been a long time, prob since army that I started swearing and cursing. I finally did it just a few hours ago on the road. Was happily driving along TPE when this car was driving damn damn slow like 45-55km/hr on the extreme right lane.. I decided to flash my headlights but the driver didnt bother to change lane and remained. Just when I was about to change lane, the road hogger decided to do the same. So both our cars were in the middle lane now and I am still blocked by the car in front. I tried changing lanes 2 other times but that bugger followed suit. I high beam again and the car went even slower. I almost had to jam brake. I was damn du-lan. I finally got rid of it after about 500m later and as I was zooming past the road hogger, from the corner of my eyes, I realised it was a FEMALE driver. It got me even more du-lan! Few seconds later, I heard a damn loud and long horn. It was meant for her - from the car behind her then! That B**** deserve it. Sorry for e crude language here...! But yes, doesnt she understand that if she wanna go that slow on an expressway, then keep LEFT? Then again, who actually drives at such a slow speed even on e extreme left lane on an expressway? Nevermind, its over, just hope I dun meet such a driver again...

On a lighter note, I finally understand why I am an Econs major instead of any other disciplines in Artz Fac.. The reason is that I am just not discipline enough to keep myself still for hours and do my readings. Sociology and social work have tons of readings and I dun think I can even cope with the amount that perpetuates every week. In retrospect, Econs only require me to understand the theories and the math behind it. No such thing as a course pack (at least for the mods i am doing this sem). Nonetheless, I actually enjoy the issues that are covered in Soci, it broadens one's perspective and think I will do more soci mods in the coming sems...

Food for thought: Can you imagine the SJI badge being worn by gals? A parallel example would be asking you to imagine the IJ school badge being worn by guys. Doesn't seem or sound rite, does it?

Less than 1 month to Rally and I am really getting excited about it. Meetings after meetings but I am glad that we are heading somewhere - at least I noe we are on the right track. Its only the first week of school and I think the time I spent at home is just 1/12 of my time. Well, I am really thankful to have a great Co-head with me, that someone who can be so bimbo at times... I am sure i dun need to mention her name u also noe who already.. but really, it has been great co-heading rally with her-updating each other of the progress every other day and motivating each other on! Though meetings never end but like wad Fr. Val said during his homily, God provides that strength, encouragement and rest from the people around. The beauty of any project I must say, is not only the satisfaction after the event itself but also the friendship forged during the process of planning the project. Seriously, I have been seeing peeps like Marc Khoo, Ewen, Steph, Moses, Carol so often this week that I realised that I got to know them much better. We always say 'Dun worry, God wil provide' , i actually came to realise more than ever that He provides through the people around me... seriously!

I am actually getting quite tired of giving tuition. About 3-4 times a week is really makin me damn exhausted. I need to reduce the frequency. I really dragged myself out of bed this morning man! And I wasnt even in the mood when I was teaching, kept looking at my watch hoping time will pass... This cannot be the case man, I must do something about it! haha..

Back to Catechism class last Sunday, first lesson of the year with my Sec 4 class that will be confirming soon. As I was preparing for lesson, I came across something said by Pope John Paul II which I think is very meaningful, here goes:

For it is true that life is a pilgrimage of discovery: the discovery of who you are, the discovery of the values that shape your lives, the discovery of the peoples and nations to which all are bound in solidarity. While this voyage of discovery is most evident in the time of youth, it is a voyage that that never ends.... The world needs young people who have drunk deeply of the sources of truth.... So do not be afraid to commit your lives to peace and justice, for you know that the Lord is with you in all ways.

I guess the above really summarize what Confirmation is about, the start of a journey of discovery and its gonna be a journey that never ends. Looking at the teens, it came upon me how precious 'youth' is. It is the period of time whereby we should do and try out things. Of cos, not the wrong things but to really go experience and discover new things everyday.

Looking at the past week, CAW Team had started full strength, with meetings after meetings by both main and sub comms and it is really really amazing to see so many people involved in the various comms and everyone being passionate about it. Hopefuly, CAW this year will be a successful one ending with a power packed rally :) Been falling asleep during sermons !!! But its a good nap and as the quote goes "Come and I will give you rest". Back to school yesterday, had one lecture (Understanding the universe) and 2 Rally sub-group meetings. Quite a few of us didnt really had a good start to the new semester and in fact many strange things happened. Some of which we also dunno how to explain man. But anyway, I am quite certain that our CAW is really heading in the right direction, we really need to pray for a successful CAW and Rally. Like what Adeline said, WHAT CANT BEAT US WILL MAKE US EVEN STRONGER!... Amen to that and yes lets persevere!

Time to advertise - Youth Rally - Hearts on Fire: Now is the time! Registration will be done online, first come first served, so spread the word to everyone - over the mountains and the valleys and let all come together to witness, worship and experience! 10 Feb 07 - CJC PAC. Will post the website once its available.

Yup, its 01012007, first post for the New Year! Went for Novena on Saturday and Fr. Simon gave a good sermon to wrap up 2006 and he gave us all a homework to do - that is to pen down all our petitions, blessings and thanksgivings for 2006. I guess this is a good idea cos at least we will be able to actually realised that even there might be tough times, we are actually very blessed in many other ways! The last few days of 2006 were well spent, went to Arab Street and watched Belly Dancing, of cos wad was damn hilarious was seeing Marc and Moses performing the dance as well. Besides the dance, I enjoyed the company too - Moses, Mark, Marc, Ade, Elaine... Been great going for weekly Novena with you guys last sem! Helped Steph out yesterday with her choir's Reflection session together with Ewen.. seriously, Steph, you have done a fantastic job leading the session, I could really feel the Spirit guiding you. Ewen and I felt that your choir members were really receptive and were responding well to the session. Thanks for having me over man! Decided to countdown with my family this year since I was practically not home for the whole Xmas... after that met up with Russ and Joe for supper then mahjong till 7am this morning - thanks for all e laughter and all the crapping. It was a good start to the New Year!

4 guys walking along Arab Street (where are e gals?)

Looking back at 2006 -
Jan - Apr 06: The last few months before I ORD, think my NS life was a good mix of both the army and the air force. Of cos, I enjoyed being in the Air Force more (Above all mah). But seriously, I learnt a lot through all the Ops and it gave me a bigger picture of how the Air Force works. One thing about RSAF which I think is worth commenting is the team work. Perhaps the nature of the job is as such that every man is important for a good take off, regardless of rank, everyone has a job to play. More importantly, my NS life will not be so fun without my course mates man - we went through lotsa 'shit' together as trainees - practically we did all the sai kang - moving furnitures to plucking weeds out from the fish pond, and getting punished every other day and of cos I will never forget being confined on New Year's Eve with Emmanuel and we only had the RPs to count down with to the new year 2 years ago!

May 06 - Jun 06: ORD lor! This time of the year was damn damn shiok man. Really can do what you want, no one to report everyday for rollcall, total freedom! Went for holiday to Hong Kong with family and cruise to Phuket and Langkawi with primary school classmates. This kinda life is really unexplainably enjoyable. :)

Jun 06 - Aug 06: Went for CSS FOC in June. Finally could become a student again and the whole going back to campus was a good feeling. Had lotsa fun with e UDON peeps and I believe it was a good start to my uni life. Decided to do relief teaching at St Michael Primary (SJI Junior now) as well. I always felt that teaching primary school was easy but I was so wrong man. 1 or 2 kids may seem cute or adorable but when you have a whole class of 40 plus and seeing them 3 to 4 hours straight in a day, its quite a feat! I also realised that pri. sch teachers are actually very important people in the growth of a child. They are the first line of defence to correct kids' bad behaviour. You really have to be patient to teaching them and yet be firm enough so that they dun take advantage of you. Not easy but like the chinese sayin goes 'ginger still the older one is better'(literal translation).

Aug 06 - Dec 06: Offically started my journey as a University student. Been a great semester, got to know lotsa peeps esp from CSS. At first, it seems that uni life is quite slack and easy but as mid term came, I actually realised that the school term was getting more intense. Hopefully, I will be able to manage better in Sem 2. Overall, it was a good semester, being in Artz Comm, Xmas Comm was fun and it has made Sem 1 a good experience. Most importanly, I have grown stronger in my faith.

Felicia told me once that at different stages, you will have different dominant group(s) of friends. I guess its true. For the past few months, I have spent lotsa time with my CSS friends and I really enjoy every moment of it. But I actually came to realise that I neglected my JC friends a lot, so this year, its time to do something about it and catch up on old times. All in all, it has been a good year!

Finally, Have a blessed and Happy New Year!