The Masseuse at a mall in Taguig
September 2, I decided to get a massage on Saturday and a new salary. When I was in the massage parlor boutique, I waited another 15 mins. Because they were fully booked at that time. After 15 mins. The facilitator has already filmed the room, the bed, then let me in. It doesn't matter that in Room 2 after I got ready and lay down on the bed, the Masseuse asked me.
"Sir, is it okay?" The Masseuse asked.
"Okay, sir. 1-hour bed massage, whole body," I replied.
He greeted me and smiled. I saw his right eye had a cataract. He rubbed oil on my back and asked if it was hard? I said yes because I am used to hard massage. While he was massaging my back, he suddenly said, "You have a girlfriend, long hair, slender body, small and across the sea" I was surprised and asked him how he found out? At the same time, say I just do not see. So I didn't understand, but I figured because I didn't know him and he was blind.
"There's a fagot and a little girl who likes you." Be careful because that could be the reason you divorced your girlfriend. It is up to you whether you will last or separate, but if you are separated, the reason is early, and you are to blame. Dire, he said directly. He even guessed at the bank where I work.
Your father died of a strange disease. (which is true because my father was bewitched).
Many love you, as well as many, many are angry and envious of you. Approach witchcraft and magic. He continued, do not buy a car, especially if you are the driver to the North. That could be your death.
I was nervous, and I was getting cold because of what Masseuse said as if I just wanted to leave and not finish the session. I was anxious. I didn't believe in those predictions, but how did he know those things?
He invited me to rub his chest and head, then I saw his face ultimately. At the same time, he asked, are you nervous? You are cold, sir. I just said no. After the session, he gave me something like an amulet, it was supposed to be a defense against evil elements and witchcraft, but I did not accept it on the heels of maybe what he had given me. Just thanked and got dressed. I still can't get over what Masseuse is saying. The whole week became normal until I decided to give the old man a massage again. I want to go back and measure his ability and whether what he says is true.
September 16, after RDOT at work, I went straight to the massage parlor. The receptionist entertained me kindly, he smiled and asked, "How are you, sir? Are you going to massage? How many hours, sir?" I replied, "Just 1-hour bed massage, the whole body."
He even came with a colleague who also works there. "Sir, can I request who can massage?" I asked the receptionist.
"Of course, sir, you can. Who is your request?" The receptionist asked.
"I don't know him, eh, but the one with the cataract in his right eye is a little tall, but when I see him, I can point him," I said to the receptionist and another of his companions.
They did not answer and just looked at each other. The receptionist took something from the drawer and changed the picture of me.
"Is this what you are saying, sir?"
I replied, "Yes, is that right? Is he available? I'll just wait for him if he doesn't finish massaging another customer".
The 2 just looked at each other again, and the other one scratched his head very hard. I saw the other one blushing, and I asked, "Why is there a problem?
The receptionist replied, "Sir, this is Kuya Henry. He died in January this year. He had a heart attack in Room 2" my eyes widened, and all my hair stood on end. It was like I wanted to run out of a massage parlor.
"It's not just you, sir, who has experienced it. There are only 5 of you." my hair stood on end even more.
"Brother Henry is kind, and he is also a fortune teller, his predictions are often correct, and he always gives something like a counter, like an amulet, sir."
"Yes, he gave me something, but I did not accept it."
I left the massage parlor puzzled and could not believe everything that happened. I went home, scared. May Kuya Henry's soul be at peace.
Karma
Alice had two friends when she went to their province in cavite (year 2014) jane and mary ann, they were neighbors and the two became her friends immediately because they were happy together.
Jane and mary ann have been best friends for almost 5 years and alice says, it looks like the two of them are already siblings.
Until the day came when Jane had a boyfriend named Warren. Tall, white, with a pointed nose, dark hair that fits her smooth complexion and is said to be kind (almost perfect).
The four of them are always together including jane's boyfriend wherever they go.
One time, mary ann opened up to alice and said that her ideal guy was warren. Alice is just quiet and listening (she doesn't want to talk because she doesn't want to be hurt). Mary ann added, she said she will never forget the look of warren and when they were together, she said she was focused on warren and she added asking alice "will warren like me?"
Alice said she was surprised so she said to mary ann "Hey are you crazy? That's your bestfriend's boyfriend noh! Hahhahaha" (she just laughed but deep inside she was really surprised by what mary ann showed as if she had nothing to do with what her bestfriend will feel it). Mary ann said "I look better than jane" and at the same time looked at her cellphone to look in the mirror.
Alice was so shocked that she stared at mary ann and watched to see if she was really serious about what she was saying and she was sure it was serious.
Fast forward, jane and warren are 4 months old, mary ann is not doing anything to ruin the relationship between the two. But alice notices that mary ann is getting close to warren but jane doesn't give that malice instead she is even happier because her boyfriend and her bestfriend are getting close. After several days, alice sees that mary ann is holding warren, (hugs, holds hands, slaps lightly, fixes warren's hair)
Those moves that mary ann makes to warren are seen by jane but still there is still no malice in her.
Alice feels sorry for jane because jane is really a good person and alice sees that she has too much trust in her bestfriend mary ann but her best friend is almost threatening here.
Jane and warren are 7 months old, warren surprised jane because it was their monthsarry, warren put a lot of effort for jane and he really spent their monthsary. madaming gifts at may 2 human size teddy bears pa at sobrang ganda ng decoration sa place kung san nag surprise si warren kay jane. Many of their friends went and both parents of the couple were also there.
While everyone was thrilled because of warren's message to his gf in front of the crowd, alice noticed mary ann, her face was very different from everyone else, everyone was smiling as she was angry and in tears. Alice was scared and thought that maybe it would make more trouble for the couple so she did not take her eyes off mary ann.
After 30 minutes, warren's surprise ended well and at least the couple was very happy and agreed to have a drink. Mary Ann approached the two and greeted them, and said "stay strong there are still many snakes there, take care your boyfriend is still handsome oh hahahaha" he hugged jane at the same time and he also hugged warren, then jane and Alice were surprised because his hug with warren was different, almost the whole part of his body was already attached to warren and the duration of his hug that warren was almost mad and just joked "maybe you can exchange faces hahaha" and took it away he is himself to mary ann.
Alice saw that Jane's smile disappeared because of another hug from her best friend to her boyfriend. but he also smiled immediately and ignored what he saw and started drinking.
After 3hours, 9 pm, some friends are drunk, others are already awake and the others are just hanging out on the side and jane is also asleep in her seat because she is not a strong drinker, Alice is also dizzy but he can still see the surroundings but he can no longer move into intoxication. Warren, on the other hand, is also dizzy and tired when he acts.
And Alice saw that Mary ann approached warren and caressed her face and kissed her after that Alice did not know what happened next because she was asleep.
The next day, Alice woke up because of the crying she heard, it was 7 am and she had no one else with her. He followed the voice crying, he reached the kitchen and there he saw Jane crying and sitting on the floor and her eyes were so swollen with tears.
He asked her why she was crying.
Jane: "Last night I woke up at 10 pm, I heard someone talking. I followed that and I saw mary ann and warren in the room. Warren called mary ann by my name. He thought I was mary ann and mary ann he says that to me, they were both naked when I saw them and I could not move my legs because of what I saw. I watched them until they finished and I could do nothing I was so hurt.
And there Alice remembered what she saw last night. And said more.
Alice: "Well, I have something to say, your bestfriend has been wanting your boyfriend for a long time. I just didn't say it because your friend is not doing anything to ruin your relationship so I kept quiet. I didn't know he could do that.
And jane cried and cried. He really loves warren.
And the two (warren and mary ann) woke up. Warren was very hurt and felt sorry for his girlfriend he did not mean it and he did not know what happened. Mary ann plans it all. And the two did not pay attention, jane also did not fight mary ann and just avoided it.
2weeks later, warren and jane became okay. Jane is so smart she still accepts what happened, she tries to forget it. And so does jane's parents. because they know jane really loves this warren. The relationship between the two was okay after 3 months, mary ann went to their house jane, that time, andon both parents of the couple, jane's siblings and andon also warren as well as alice was jane's 24th birthday.
Everyone was very angry with mary ann but jane just calmed down and asked her why she went.
Mary ann just smiled (the smile seemed to be brave) and said "Happy birthday bestfriend, I have gifts for you" at the same time reaching for the box. When they think there is a baby doll toy that is small and comes with a paper utra sound. "We have your boyfriend's baby".
And mary ann's parents came with the police. her mother said "if you do not stand by my son you will be imprisoned".
Jane was crying and just became quiet. so was warren who was very surprised by the event.
Alice left that time for the family to have privacy.
Alice said for 3 weeks she did not see jane come out. he did not have any news here, he also did not text or go online and he called but his cellphone was turned off. He also always looked out the window of jane's house where his room was located but it was always closed.
One time alice met jane's mom and she asked how jane was and suddenly sister jema (jane's mom) cried.
"He hasn't been out for three weeks, he doesn't want to open his room, he's always locked up, we can't open it because he also has the key then. Every night we hear him crying. He just slips a buiscuit under his door to she can eat, I don't know if she still drinks water. I went to her siblings to help me get jane out of her room "-Ate Jema.
"What happened to warren's knila"? -Alice.
"Warren nak did nothing, he had to stand up for the child so jane just tolerated it because he did not want the child to be like him who grew up without his father and the news is that it is being repaired vacant lot (at the same time pointing to the vacant lot next to it) ng katabi ng bahay nila jane) inaayos pala yon para tirhan ni warren at mary ann "-Ate jema.
Alice just cried when she heard she felt so sorry for jane. He went with ate jema to their house to force jane to come out as well.
And when they were there, her mom and her siblings were almost crying because they could hear jane sobbing as if she had no strength left.
And jane's sister ate lyn said, "Be, you came out. You didn't know your father and even lost a boyfriend do you also want to lose your mother? Don't bother mama please. Mama is getting sick I will remember you Well, we will help you, that man. Don't let your mother lose her cape. " -Ate lyn.
And suddenly jane came out, She was very thin, and pale, her lips were dry and smelly because she had been confined for 3 weeks and had no bath, even her eyebags had grown and her eyes were red and he still has a small wound in his eyes (maybe he will rub his eyes in tears).
And all of a sudden he fainted, he was taken to the hospital and confined for 4 days, said to be depressed, lack of food and sleep.
When he got home for 1 month, he always got sick, he was still very thin, he was also coming out and he was already with alice but only up to the opposite side of their house because his health was weak.
Alice said, jane is just quiet and she doesn't smile anymore and is always very lazy.
One day they were sitting opposite their house jane, we were also with jane's mom ate jema, it was 8 am and ate jema's mother jane sat there so that the sun could shine on jane. That time, a car arrived and then stopped at the vacant lot that was made, and now it is okay. Warren got out of the car and mary ann was pregnant with mary ann's parents, there was also a vehicle that was full of belongings (probably in a house built)
Jane and warren looked at each other for a few seconds and warren noticed the shock because he saw jane who had a big change in appearance and physique, alice also looked at jane and even ate jema was looking at her son who was in tears, he sees because jane is crying aAliceice is also crying. And when Alice looked at warren mary ann was already clinging to warren as if she was still jealous while caressing her stomach.
"Let's go in son" -Ate jema.
And they are already supporting jane.
The next day, Ate Jema knocked on Alice's house.
"I want to help jane, the room doesn't open for me, I also can't contact her siblings. She also doesn't speak" -Ate jema
Alice and Alice's mom went to their house ate jema to get jane out of her room. But when they got there, no matter how hard they tried, no one answered.
"Let's just break down the door? Maybe what happened to your son Jema" - Alice's mother.
And they took a stone to break the door of jane's room and exposed them to jane's body hanging. Alice did not enter the room because she was afraid of what she saw. they were all crying many neighbors looked up and warren was there and crying too. Alice also saw mary ann, as she looked at jane's hanging body she was smiling. He did not stay there long.
Jane's funeral ended and she was buried. Warren also attended her funeral. warren loves him very much.
Mary ann gave birth. Their baby is only 1 year old and they often fight. Alice said, mary ann's behavior has changed so much to the point that she is swearing and the neighbors can already hear, warren can no longer handle mary ann's behavior, so can mary ann's parents they can no longer control the habit of their child.
Warren separated mary ann from their son she left it.
Mary ann only lives there, Alice said that mary ann has a boyfriend but she is always fooled or kidnapped. Everyone in his relationship always looks at him.
Mary ann had another boyfriend (Last became bf) and she was so crazy there, she loved him so much. It was said in the place, that her bf hadcabinetbet and her name was jane and it looked like jane who was befriended (who was kidnapped by her boyfriend). her bNikkokko) left her and chose cabinet et jane by name. And mary ann did not have a friend in that area. He is very charming. Mary Ann is always alone in her house, her parents also do not visit her because of her ugly behavior.
Some neighbors hear her shouting "Jane stop me" she is so thin and pale as what happened to jane who was her best friend then. He was also depressed. he kept shouting until he went crazy and just wandered off the road.
In the year 2018 Alice has been here in Bulacan and there has been no news from her former friend mary ann. And Alice became my friend. And told about this story.
I am not 100% sure if it is true but I hope I can give you a moral lesson.
Let's value together.
Thank you very much & keep safe.
The Existence of Morality without God (Belief of an Atheist)
The Existence of Morality without God (Atheist's Belief)
Where does the morality of humans originate if there is no God? How do we know if something is right or wrong? If you don't believe in God what will stop you from doing bad and unjust things?
This is one thing where I felt amazement on religions. They have done an amazing job in this part. Somehow, they convinced most of the humans in the world, most especially here in the Philippines.
But if you think about it, before the emergence of some of the major religions, humans long ago already had a concept about morality. There only came a time where political officials and powerful men in history used holy scriptures and Quran like the Roman Empire in Europe and the Arabs in the Middle East. Because of that power, they had control over the media available at that time. One of the reasons why religion holds the standards in morality is because it is easier to answer with their Quran or Bible.
So the big question is, where does the morality of those without God come from?
Evolutionary History
For thousands of years, our ancestors are already existing with groups consisting of 40-80 people. Their cooperation is one of the biggest reasons that they survived. The tribes that grouped and worked together with the cooperation and those who are kind and thought about the goodness of others. The loyal ones and took care of those people that are sick and needs help are the ones who succeeded and continued living and be able to pass on their genes. Those offspring that inherited those good genes and continued doing those good things are the ones who survived and passed that culture for a long time up to our generation.
You might ask, but why do bad people still exist?
Well, the answer is that we can not deny that good and bad characteristics are part of human nature. That makes psychology an interesting topic. The point is that our good side was the key to our survival and the standard of morality we follow today.
Neurological
Our minds are developed to have empathy. That was being sensitive to what other people feel and compassion. That is the reason why some of us don't want to see other people suffering or being in pain. We have cortisol and peptides that releases hormones from our brain. That is the reason why it doesn't feel good that we see someone suffering. Of course, not all, there is an exception. Some studies showed us that even babies aging 5-6 months old don't want something that scares or hurts them. Babies want those good things and things that won't hurt them.
Social and Cultural
All of us were raised by our parents or other persons. While a baby grows up he gains knowledge with the help of the elderly around the baby. He learns the culture and characteristics of the community where the baby belongs to. That is where he learned to think and take care of others. That process was already existing a long time ago even at the times where the religions are still not established.
Personal Experience
Our personal experience as humans. The things that we have learned in the times we are thinking. Sometimes our personal beliefs, views, and perspectives change, let us take note of morality here. That is the reason why psychology and philosophy were established because we have our way of thinking. That is our difference from other animals out there.
Our sources are very clear and our explanations are thorough about the existence of morality. As an atheist, I hope that I could explain all of that easily but there is nothing like that. At the end of the day, when it comes to right or wrong, there is nothing written on the rock that is considered as the highest or the exact definition of morality, we humans are the ones doing that, and for some, it is very scary if we define our morality from others. All in all, it's our decision about morality, not on trees, rocks, or invisible creatures. We only need to agree on what is important and that is the time we could have objective morality.
Sleep Paralysis
I first experienced sleep paralysis when I was only eight years old. I was sleeping next to my brother is a PWD, so I had sleep paralysis, then the familiar feeling as if something had happened to me as if you were choking. The first thing that enters our mind is to pray because of so much fear, I force I can move now, but I can't move, I can still see around my brother and me because our saint's light bulb is on inside the glass box, but the light is dim, so I was thinking about praying, I suddenly got up, and I knelt to pray. Still, I was shocked because while I was kneeling and praying, I could see myself lying. I thought my soul had separated from my body, and I was dead, so I closed my eyes, then there was the feeling of being choked. I woke up with my eyes. I saw myself kneeling and praying; I was still looking at myself the mess after I closed my eyes again, and in my mind praying, then I woke up. I was crying, then I hugged my brother and fell asleep crying.
Next is when I am 12 years old, I was the only one sleeping in my room, but the only barrier from where my mom and siblings slept was just a curtain. I had sleep paralysis but not the usual one who ran over you and choked; I move my head, but my body does not; my eyes are also conscious because I can still see around me. The curtain is blowing so I see them, mama, then I look at my head with a bright orange color, it just really shines and grows bigger, feeling I swallowed and then I felt dizzy and fell asleep because when I woke up in the morning, I got up and was just an idiot. Next is the one who died when I was young, I was still 12 years old then, night after night we sympathized and then went home at eleven o'clock, then last night, my friends and I talked that last night we would vigil, we would stay there all night. Still, my mom was angry; she didn't want to let me go because it was all adults who gambled after we were just kids, so they sent me home; I fell asleep right away because we also stayed up for a few nights. But I had sleep paralysis; I woke up again and could not move; I also did not have the usual running or choking, as long as I could not move, I looked at the roof; we did not have a ceiling. Hence, there was a crack, and then suddenly a white woman crawled and slipped in there, glaring eyes and gaping with a big mouth; I was already crying; I thought maybe my childhood was angry because I promised we were there on the last night of his death, so I closed my eyes and prayed until I woke up and the woman is gone. I can move too; they are already asleep mama, they did not turn off the light because she knew I would run away again to sympathize, but I ran out and went to my friend's house. My other children are already there, but the others are not. Then after my childhood was gone, I told them why they did not follow the conversation, that is also why the parents did not allow it, and then they also told the story that they had sleep paralysis, and then a white woman crawled looking at them. We both saw it, but I just dared to go through the window to keep our promise to our youth.
Next is I 15, I already have my room because I'm a girl. When I woke up I can no longer move, I can not breathe, but no one ran over me or strangled me, but there are two creatures on the side of my bed dark red eyes and a woman with a bloody white face, I just looked at them, and then they both smiled. But I did not do it again, and maybe they will run after me. So I closed my eyes and prayed, when I woke up you were still so close too and you were still praying, so I just thought "you are just a dream, you are just a dream" but it suddenly entered my mind that sometimes the dreams we have are the ones running in the brain we, so I thought I was in control of my imagination, so I closed my eyes firmly and then even with the blink of an eye I could see them laughing without smiling, so I thought of fun things, my games, my cutouts in my pants pocket papa that he catches me but he just looks at me and then I run away holding the coins I cut, I play with my brother who has a disability, when I make up with my brother I am the reason why I became gay, when crush catches me who was staring at him mwehehe, then according to him all of a sudden there were flowers all around but the two ugly ones were still there but the smiles were gone, they just stared at me with a poker face, then it turned out to be beautiful y around, it became a play ground that we always go to with friends after church because it was just next to the church that play ground then the woman in white crawled on me gaping and then screamed in extreme ear pain so I was surprised and turned upside down, I was very breathless nun, then I felt the surroundings, only the light in my room was dim because the ray of their light mama from the other space could enter the opening of the roof so the surroundings were dark, then when I calmed down a bit my throat suddenly became very dry. , but I was afraid to get off my bed because someone might suddenly grab me from under the bed.
I first prayed for Our Father when I said amen e I suddenly jumped down on the bed and ran to the kitchen. It's a good thing we didn't turn off the light in the living room and kitchen because there was a lot of robbery in our village then we entered. Still, no one got it. My mother woke up, so I agreed. I drank three glasses of water then because I dared to go back to my room, but I prayed Our Father and Angel of God again, and then I thought about the playground also, and God's mercy fell asleep. I then continued my dream in the garden. Still, the two ugly ones were gone, so we were playing in the park. I had kids with me, but I didn't know them, so I did my work then on the playground, the swimmer standing, so swing I was so strong, I was standing, so it was scary. So I jumped out, I was surprised and woke up, you also experienced this right, it was like you had a dream that fell, and then you woke up in shock when I woke up the darkness and light were already taking over. It means it's early, but I still slept again am hehe since I am hehe, every time I get sleep paralysis, I don't see anything scary e I think of my experiences and happy things while moving my toes and praying fervently.
Every time I get sleep paralysis, I feel like I'm still conscious. I open my eyes, I can feel my chest tightening, and then I close my eyelids to force myself to sleep, and then I can't move. Still, I resist. I try to open my eyes, then at the same time trying to move and then accompanied by prayer, so it does not continue. It always happens to me that I am just asleep, or my eyes are still open, but my body is paralyzed. This last one just happened recently, because my mom and dad separated, and recently my dad also disappeared. My mom has a partner. I now live with her new husband because I was hit by a lockdown and not returning to manila again. I slept in their old room. Then on their plywood wall, there was a drawing of mama mary. Still, I covered it because mama mary e doesn't look like that, because the picture is different, I know the purpose of drawing e is mama mary. Still, she is a bit creepy. Mama even told me that I was turning my back on god. Why would I cover up mama mary? You are not like that. I even shouted, "Mama Mary doesn't look like that" (hopefully no one can offend because we have our own beliefs, I am also a catholic, and we have statues of mama mary and sto. Niño, we do not worship the statue; they are reminders of those we genuinely worship) I added to my mom that "those statues and idolatry figures should be respected" Mama fell silent and gave me a curtain to cover that wall.
At night, I was going to sleep, I was lying on my side, then I just closed my eyes, and I woke up again because my body became paralyzed also, I was looking at the wall of the room, because the bed was glued to the wall, next to me was the one with the drawing. Mama mary, then I try to move my foot. I would have prayed when I felt like there was something behind me, suddenly it got hot, and then it was cold, it was hot and cold, it was hot. Then it was just like that, so I was paralyzed, paralyzed my body but I felt someone pulling me from behind me and forcing me to lie down, as in I felt the pulling me to lie down and then, of course, we were sideways edi we put our feet on the other foot when I was drawn straight eh my foot fell and there that I woke up completely, I got up immediately I immediately looked at the wall that was already covered by the curtain, the one with the drawing of Mama mary. I prayed three Our Fathers and Ave maria, then I went to bed, and I was still there even though I was conscious e. My body suddenly became paralyzed again, then I took a deep breath and moved my toes, and then I changed position again. I do that for a long time, I get paralyzed, and then I fight, and then I change position also until I can do nothing but remove the curtain covering the drawing of mama mary. Still, I really can't look for a long time; I prayed again and just inion my cp; I just stared at my Cp screen because my wallpaper was Papa until I fell asleep. Ever since I met my mom and I was in their room, I woke up suddenly because I felt like someone was looking at me; I was like that; I woke up feeling like someone was looking at me because my siblings, my nephews do that to me. And my mom, they look at me while sleeping because my snoring is strange, they wake me up often because my snoring is said to inhale loudly and then take a long time to exhale, it seems like I'm out of breath, but that's how I I will up suddenly and then automatically look at the person who is also looking at me, how many times do I catch them like that and then we will laugh after I slap them because of course who wouldn't be surprised and surprised that they are looking at you while sleeping because they are not used. So back to the story, when I woke up, I automatically looked at mama mary's drawing, it happened every night until I wanted to cover the picture, and then I had sleep paralysis.
The Monster (Horror Story)
Call me Heather. I am pregnant for five months, at that time, we were looking for a house and a lot that was for sale. My husband at that time immediately found a house and lot. After one week, we moved to that place, it took plenty of time because they cleaned it after buying it. The house looks spectacular. The house was pretty far from other houses and it was placed at the end of the place and was being surrounded by a lot of trees and plants.
The house was pretty far from where we are temporarily staying, that's why I feel so tired of going in that house. I went to my room to take some rest.
Me: Honey, come here with me! Let's take some rest together.
Jigs: Wait honey, I am fixing something.
I feel like pissing so I went out of the room and I went to the comfort room. I was sitting and staring at the open window. After pissing, someone gossiped, I am finding the one who did that and where it came from. I just ignored it and went out. I said to my husband Jigs:
Me: Honey, I heard some gossip in the bathroom, please close the window in there.
My husband immediately went there to close the window. After a while, someone knocked on my room saying: "Anyone there?". I opened the door immediately.
Me: Who is there?
Fifty-year-old maid: Oh, I was the maid taken by your husband.
Me: Come here with me.
Jigs only came here to fix all the things regarding the house. I told my husband Jigs about this.
Me: Jigs! The maid you are waiting for is already here.
Jigs: Oh, are you the one who also took care of this house way back?
That time I was staring at the old maid and suddenly my stomach hurt and it feels weird that the old maid grinned. After a few minutes, I heard a crackling sound outside.
Fifty-year-old maid: Ma'am, go inside your room before anything bad happens.
From that day on, she started working as our maid.
Me: When will you comeback honey? How long will you stay in Manila?
Jigs: Maybe two weeks. It would be just for a short period. Take care of yourself, honey.
He went to Manila at exactly three in the afternoon that exact day. I feel pretty sad and I almost cried because he is going out again. After the departure of their company van, I went inside my room. I sat on the sofa while the old maid is cleaning the tables. I noticed the way she looks at my stomach and the crackling sounds. It was already past seven in the evening when I felt like excreting all the dirt inside my stomach. After using the bathroom, I was surprised and almost miscarriage the child.
Me: Hello, old lady what are you doing in here?
Tess: Hello ma'am, I would like to ask if you want to eat something.
Me: Oh, is that so? Could you please make three burgers? Two for me and one for you, you should also eat and gain some energy too. Just leave it in my room, thank you.
I immediately went back to my room to take some rest and lay down. Before closing the door, I have seen old Tess facing the main door and smiling. I was a bit nervous at that time. Seven twenty in the evening when she knocked at the door.
Me: The door is open, you can go inside.
She put the burger on the table that I told her to cook and brought one glass of milk. Before going outside my room I asked her;
Me: Excuse me, can I ask where are you from?
Tess: I am far away from here ma'am.
After our conversation, she immediately went out. While eating, I heard Tess talking to someone on the main door and hearing what they talked about.
Unknown Man: Let me go inside, please.
Tess: Go out!
I immediately went outside to see what was going on.
Me: Who are you talking to?
Tess: Nothing ma'am, just someone I am talking to, on my phone.
I am pretty sure that she was talking to someone personally at that time. I went inside my room and called Jigs:
Me: I feel so nervous and weird about the maid you took.
I told him all the things that were happened. My husband Jigs told me what should I do and after that, I turned off my phone. While opening the door, I have seen Tess at the front of my door and we stared at each other. I felt so nervous at that time.
Me: Oh! You are pretty scary. I was surprised.
Tess: I just want to get your leftovers ma'am.
Her voice was so scary. I went to the kitchen to get some garlic, salt, and a small knife. I put it all in a small container. At the time I am going back to my room, I saw Tess sitting on the sofa while holding the plate and glass. She was staring at the floor.
Me: Tess, why are you staring at the floor?
Tess: Ma'am, go to sleep now.
Me: I am not slee...
Tess: I said go to sleep!!!
My baby suddenly moved. I went to my room and locked the door and also the windows. I put salt on the front of the door and to the windows. I don't want to disturb Jigs in his work because he might go home earlier than his plan if I told him all the weird things that were happening. It was past nine in the evening that I felt sleepy. At that time I am already on the verge of sleeping but then, I heard something that fell and wings that flap like a big bird on the roof. I was so nervous at that time. I inspected that something on the roof. I suspect that Tess was a scary monster. That was because of what I have observed on her. I was thinking that she was also the one on the roof. The sound gets louder and louder. I was sweating out of nervousness. I was staring at the mirror and I can't move my body. I sat down and I get the knife and garlic. After a while, the sound disappeared. Suddenly someone knocked powerfully on the door like she intends to destroy it.
Tess: Ma'am! Let me get inside!
I was crying at that time because I don't know what should I do.
Tess: Please ma'am! Let me get inside!
After a while, she opened the door and I felt so nervous that I stepped back. I forgot the key and didn't lock the door. I saw Tess at the front of the door.
Tess: Ma'am! He is here! Let's go inside my room immediately. You should not stay here because it's unsafe here.
Suddenly, we heard a rattling sound on the main door. I went by her side because I was really scared. We went to her room.
Me: What is happening? I thought that you are the monster that I was suspecting.
She suddenly grabbed the salt that was in my pocket and I was surprised that she wasn't affected at all.
Tess: It is good to know that you are alert ma'am.
The rattling sound on the main door keeps going on.
Tess: Ma'am you have some relatives nearby right? Please call them and get some help. After half an hour the rattling sound on the main door stopped. We heard someone knocking on the door.
Brian: Auntie, this is Brian.
We immediately went outside the room.
Brian: Auntie, I am with Uncle Ernesto. Where is the monster that you mentioned?
Me: Go inside first.
I pulled both of them and locked the door. We sat down on the sofa and I started telling them what happened.
Me: Just a while ago, I heard a clattering sound on the door near my room and the roof.
Brian: That was a monster for sure.
Ernesto: Tess, so you are also the maid of Heather?
Me: You know each other?
Ernesto: Yes, she was also the maid here long ago.
Me: Tess, I thought that you are the monster because of the weird things that you were doing.
Tess: You know ma'am I was looking and staring at your baby for me to know if the baby is still okay. Every time that your stomach hurts and the crackling sound that you hear is a sign that the monster goes around. I was outside the comfort room to guard you and your baby. I was just coming up with a reason to guard both of you at that time. I shouted at you is for the monster to know that I am already angry. I know who the monster is.
Me: Who is he?
Tess: He is Greg. The one who owns this house the same as my age that was living in the new subdivision just nearby. He insists on getting in here.
Me: So that's why his voice was pretty familiar to me because we already talked to him before going here.
Tess: When I saw your husband outside the house when he was looking at it, I immediately presented myself to become the maid when I knew that you are pregnant. Even though I wanted to warn both of you, I can't because Greg knows where I am. I know the secret of Greg and his family.
That night, I and Tess went to another town to stay for a night. I called Jigs and told him all the things that were happened. After two days from the scary experience, Jigs went back from his work. We paid cash for the house which is why it is hard for us to decide whether to leave or just stay. Thankfully, Jigs has one friend that is a soldier with a wife that looks for a house to buy. We immediately offered the house to them and thankfully they bought it without hesitation. I talked to Tess and told her that if she wants a job, be the maid of the married couple. She was accepted as their maid because we told them that she is also our maid in the house.
Months have passed and our baby boy is already big. I frequently greet Tess and asks her if she was okay and if there is something weird that was happening again in the house and she told me that there was nothing.
I am very thankful that Tess was there at that time because she knows what to do in that scary situation. This time we are facing a pandemic, we are safe here in our house. I was just wondering until now about the story that Tess told me when she was still working on Greg's house.
Christmas Greeting (Crush Edition)
You deliberately do not greet crush on christmas eve because you do not want to run the risk of becoming a figure in the statistics of christmas-related casualties. you are also not socmed to avoid temptation. when the clock struck 12 you congratulated yourself, at the same time said to your mother, when she asked you when you will be together, "ma, it is not required to flirt at Christmas." "Yes," your mother said. "Christmas is for Jesus." You would like to say your spiel about how jesus christ was an activist, about how his life was a testament to our moral obligation to look after the marginalized, but you didnʼt want to ruin Christmas for your conservative, middle-class family. so you just said, with a forced smile: “yes, ma. merry Christmas. ”
anyway today you have Facebook. the first thing that came out of your news feed was a photo of your crush with his fam. they were all red, and the most read was the Lechon de Leche on their table. "Merry Christmas from my family to yours," the caption went. for a while, you daydreamed that someday he no longer needs to separate his family from your family. but you didnʼt want to let your overactive imagination get the better of you, so you slapped yourself slightly. You would also like to comment, just without a malicious greeting, but what would your comment do? your crush is happy. reach na lang kaya ng care? too obvious. my god don't overthink. Descartes says: "I overthink, therefore I am sad." so instantly you just scrolled down. you can do it.
to reward yourself for not being mark binuksan mo and ref niyo at kumuha ng spaghetti at lumpia, leftovers from your Noche Buena. suot mo earphones mo, and you hit play, and you picked up where youʼd left off as “Christmas song” ni phoebe bridgers, the song youʼd listened to last night on repeat until you fell asleep: the desire for annihilation is as common as it is unkind and itʼs hard to recognize the situation when youʼre desperately trying to have a good time you donʼt have to be alone to be lonesome itʼs so easy to forget the sadness comes crashing like a brick through the window and itʼs christmas so no one can fix it yeah, itʼs christmas so no one can fix it di naman masakit. kumain ka na. but what finally broke you, like a brick crashing through the window, was the fact na Sobrang lamig ng spaghetti at di na crunchy and lumpia.
History of the Unknown
Good day! Call me "CM". This incident happened when I was in elementary school until now I still can not forget it. It is not very scary but I still thought to share because it is true to the life experience of mine and I have seen him face to face. We live in a beautiful house in Pinagbuhatan. The house is beautiful, large because it has the 2nd floor. There are three rooms. That was way back in 2000, I was just an elementary student then. I just go home to our house on the weekends, my aunt takes me. On weekdays I live in my aunt's house because it is close to the school I attend. As far as I remember, this incident happened on summer vacation (I can only remember what happened but not the exact chronological time). That night, my older brother was just with me at our house. We were watching a cartoon on TV. Our light in the living room is off and only the light of the tv can be seen at the bottom of the house. At that time, our mom had not come home from work yet. While my older brother and I were watching the cartoon, I felt like I was urinating so I had to go to the bathroom.
When I looked in our bathroom, I noticed a man in a side view standing. Our bathroom is also quite large and has a glass panel inside. The very door of our bathroom and the glass panel inside were both open at that time so when you look at the bathroom you can immediately see the inside of the bathroom and the toilet itself. Also, at that time I did not have the perception of reality what "ghosts" or spirits were since I was young at that time. Back to my story, so that's it. I was just going to our bathroom when I noticed that someone was standing in our bathroom. The light coming from our TV is enough for me to realize that he is a man because he is only wearing shorts. His face is white even though he has a side view and he is a bit blurred. My older brother doesn't notice this because he focuses his attention on watching TV. I did not call him, I do not know why but I was not able to call him during those hours. I looked closely at the man, he was just inside view standing in the bathroom and it was as if he felt that I was looking at him. He suddenly turned to where I was standing, (I guess, we were only 2 meters apart). I felt a strange weird presence in him, I knew something was wrong with him because he was blurred. I looked at my older brother again and he was really busy watching so I didn't bother him anymore because my older brother was a bit far from me. When I looked in the bathroom, the man was still there. He was looking at me but his body was still inside view. Her body is modest & the weird thing is her face is white but her body is the same and she is just wearing shorts. I can't explain his eyes much. You know the eyes you see in horror movies? The eyes of a ghost. He is black but he is so bright that he is black that even though the only light on the TV was our only light at that time, I can see his very black eyes. We also stared at each other for a few seconds then he started moving slowly, he walked to my right side and BOOM! He disappeared suddenly. I do not know where he went. The next day, I had a fever. Not bad, I just felt like I was there at that time. I suddenly remembered what I saw but I did not say that to my mana and my older brother.
When I was in high school and we just moved house again, I also have a close encounter. That night, mama was asleep in the other room. I slept next to my older brother in the bedroom since my bed was big. We didn't have her bed at that time so we shared my bed first. My older brother likes to roam with his friends even if they catch up at dawn. I woke up one time in the morning (I'm not sure the exact time), I noticed my older brother was asleep as well. Even though he turned his back, I knew it was my older brother. Since it was early in the morning, I slept again. But after a few minutes, I still could not sleep, I opened my eyes again. When I suddenly turned my head to the side where my older brother was sleeping, I noticed that the bed was empty. The blanket was folded neatly and there was no sign of the bed lying there. "Who did I see lying next to me?" I asked myself. I found out that my older brother did not come home at that time and he was with his friends. He came home in the morning. I also did not tell him what happened. Now, we have our own house but my older brother is separated from us because he already has his own family. I also thought that maybe before we live in a house to move, let's first find out the whole history of the house. We may not realize that we have an unexpected guest or companion in the house where we live.
Sto. Tomas de Villanueva
Most people say that if you choose to sleep in the cemetery or the church, you will only be in the cemetery because many souls are left in the church. After all, they were last blessed there before being buried. I was the type who didn't believe in it before because of course, it was a church. The statues of the saints and Papa God are sacred and there. Why would I be afraid? But everything changed when I joined the youth org and choir. I was still in high school when I joined and stopped around late college due to being busy with requirements. But if time can return, even creepy I will go back to the times active in org. The fun of immersions, overnights, and choir practice. Plus you will be entertained by your father’s pet horses and monkeys. But these are also the times when there are hints. My 3rd eye is not open. I also do not feel strong in the supernatural and paranormal. But there are entities really that even if you are not gifted eh show and make sense. We usually work overtime at church during Holy Week because there are so many. We spent the night at choir practice and spent the night on Good Friday by Easter Vigil. It is not that during Holy Week God is dead so the entities are strong because there is no Lord.
So here are the happenings. Every day of the week there is a recollection. Then the org members also have their own "Moments"; that's what we call sessions. The Moments are held inside the adoration chapel. The setting is off the lights then only the candles on the altar are lit. Then after the readings and reflection, there is a quiet time for us to pray for our intentions. It also takes about 5-10mins of silence. During quiet time, edi closed everyone and prayed fervently. I have a feeling that the room suddenly becomes heavier. Then it looks like something touched my shoulder but it was just a light force to touch. But I just let it go and concentrated again on my intentions. Because it shouldn't be solemn because we talked to Papa God. After the session, we used to eat street food in the plaza with our churchmates. I lost in my mind the creepy feeling during quiet time. We have an org member who is clairvoyant, and he opened up about how he also feels during quiet time. He said, “Did you know that during quiet time I have a feeling? We have a presence inside. ” Then the others with us replied that they also felt it, so I also share mine. (Remember that during Holy Week, other entities are strong). So clairvoyant said, “Sorry guys ha. I don't want you to creep out, but earlier because after I felt that, I stared a little. And I did see them. Children are still running around us. ”. Pa circle Kasi kami umupo tapos mga 1foot apart from each other. And who is the one who is related to the one we are all praying for? So we said and at least they don't hurt because they are just young souls.
Then on Good Friday morning, we clean the church. I was at the altar then, sweeping under my father's chair. The other members are arranging the pews and laying the carpet on the right-wing where the Easter Vigil will be held. Clairvoyant just entered because someone took him to the convent. He still sings songs. As he walked towards us, he stopped and his eyes widened. Then he walked straight as if nothing had happened. He thought maybe we did not notice his reaction. When he got close to us, I asked him, “Hey. Are you okay? You were stunned earlier. We noticed that. ”. So he said, “Here they are again. I saw someone pass behind the altar. Chasing. The children are playing. ”. Eh, I was scared that time, moved to the right-wing, and just there to help with the task. I was scared there at the altar. They may even show up. That night, the Easter Vigil will begin. Every hour, different people take over prayer. The time assigned to the youth org is the morning. Around 2-3 am, depending on what time the one before us will end. Finished until that morning, about 5 am. While we don't have time yet, we go home and then just go back before schedule. But sometimes we sleep in the church. The others were lying on the back seats near the door. The others in baptism. The others just hang out in the garden when they are not yet drowsy. It's okay in the convent but it's embarrassing for father because we go outside. We do not want to be disturbed.
That time we were in the garden of my fellow buyers. We can't chikahan inside because they are already living there. We laid mats in the garden and lay down. It's tiring because it's so busy all day and the air in the garden is fresh. We also heard the vigil there so we will know if we have a schedule. The others with us had fallen asleep tired and the two of us were just awake. We were just talking and then something suddenly fell on the roof of the church. The weight of the collapse of whatever it is. We both sat down and looked at each other. How can something fall when there are no trees higher than the roof? There are also no coconut or mango trees around so how can something fall? No one can be stored on the roof, eh, the height was then heard in the convent, they are ashamed of the father who is sleeping, right? We just feel with my partner. About 2mins after, we heard the sound of a pig. I looked at my companion, his eyes wide open and then he asked me, "Did you hear that ??". I said, “Yes. I wonder what that is? Let's just sleep. ”. So we went to bed and were forced to sleep. We were just scared of those moments. The garden is still very open because there is no roof. You can see the sky. So until now, I wonder what we heard that night. What is the heavy fall? And where did the pig come from? Maybe no one is taking care of a pig that will just let his pet out of the cage, right? Since that happened, I believe that during Holy Week God is dead, the entities are strong. That's why you like to spend the night or hang out at church, maybe not the people you meet. Anyway, I hope you like it. Thanks for reading. Remember that your faith is ALWAYS bigger than you fear. Our God is stronger than any being you may encounter. God bless you!
The Passage
Based on a True Story
I was 13 years old and my brother was 9. He lived with mom and I lived with dad. I would always visit during the school holidays and some weekends when my dad was not working. My mom remarried.
To avoid confusion my brother and I are gifted. He can see spirits and I can feel and tell exactly where they are but I cannot see them. Only if they choose to reveal themselves to me. So most of the time we would lay in the same bed when I visit. He was scared but I was not. At least that's what I thought...
A few months after, it was the December holidays. I arrived at Mom's place late afternoon and played some Xbox games with my brother. We did not keep track of the time. It was round about 9 o clock the night when I told him I'm going to shower and once I'm done we can play one last game before we go sleep. My stepfather worked away and my mom was sleeping, she was not feeling well. I got in the shower and let the water run over me. It was quite windy outside so the window kept on knocking against the frame. I got out quick to close it. When I got back in the shower I started washing and decided to give my hair wash as well. I turned around and heard a loud bang on the glass of the shower only to open my eyes and see a huge handprint on the side of the shower. I tried touching it but it was clear that this was done outside the glass of the shower. I freaked out and immediately felt a cold breeze over my arm.
Hi, this is part 2 of my story.
The hair on my arms began rising and I could sense something was behind me. I hesitated to look knowing I won't be able to see it. I heard my brother knock on the door asking me if I'm okay and why I'm taking so long. I answered him, ensuring him that I was almost done and that I just needed to get dressed. I hopped out of the shower feeling uneasy but continued getting dressed through it. The thought of something watching me freaked me out. And the fact that I was alone made it worse. I've had a few experiences like this before. But not as bad as this.
The handprint was gone. The bathroom was full of steam. And I did not dry my hair properly because all I could think about was getting the hell out of there.
We had a long passage, the light was off. At the end of the passage was a long mirror with the light switch next to it and my brother's room on the right. I ran down the passage and into the room before slamming the door shut. My brother took off his headphones and asked me if I'm okay. I told him that he just asked me that and answered once again "I'm okay" but my facial expression gave it away. He had a confused look on his face and I honestly did not expect his next question. "When did I ask you that ?" I explained everything that has happened and the short conversation we had before I came out of the bathroom. He swore that he never left the room and fear swept over him.
The only thing I could think of was waking my mom up and explaining the whole situation to her and exactly how terrified I was. I did not want to show any forefrontrombrother. I was always fearless in front of him. But little did I know that this would tear down the wall I've built around fear. We debated for a while about waking mom up and he decided to stay in the room while I go to Mom's room. Without hesitating, I opened the door of the room switched on the passage ligh made my way down the passage. Her room was the 3rd room. It was a 3 bedroom house but we only used two of them the room was a guest room. I entered Mom's room and woke her from her peaceful sleep. Telling her everything from the shower to the conversation. She was still sleepy and tried taking in what I just said. She told me that we were gifted for a reason. And we see and feel these things for a reason. And I believed that was true. My mom always told my brother and me that not all spirits are evil. Some are our friends and family that visit us. And if we pray about it.... she never finished the conversation when my brother barged in the room saying he needs to use the bathroom but he is scared to go alone. I looked at mom and kissed her on her forehead. The thought of keeping her up any longer bothered me. She worked most of the time and she was extremely tired. I told her that we will pray before we go to bed and walked with my brother to the bathroom. He made me go with him in the bathroom but I had to face the wall while he did his business
The light started to flicker and that uneasy feeling struck me again. I looked towards the door and heard my brother say in a shaky voice. "DO NOT MOVE". My body was stiff. It felt like my heart dropped to my ass. My hair began to rise and with that, a massive orb flew past us through the wall. Yes! An orb. (I hope you guys are familiar with the term)I couldn't help but ask him if he can see anything only then to realize what a stupid question I was asking. He told me that something was standing by the door dressed in something long and black. He could not see its face.
It's a Prank!!! (Horror Story II)
Sleep paralysis or the feeling that you are awake and unable to move any part of the body is normal for me. Sleep paralysis can be caused by a poor sleep schedule, lack of sleep, and stress. I'm so used to the point that I just shrug my shoulders after experiencing non. He just seems to be one of my dreams at night that I often forget when morning comes. All I can say sometimes is "Oh yes, I had sleep paralysis last night". It just seems like that. I was not scared because when I searched Google it was not deadly and usually I did not see anything scary during sleep paralysis. But last night it was different. So this is it. Last Christmas night I didn't even feel it. The same goes for me. There is no difference with the previous Christmas in my whole life. Nothing ready (as in nothing) No Christmas tree and other Christmas decorations. No gifts. I don't have a Christmas because I don't have a godmother here. (We used to be in Manila because when I was about 1 year old we moved here to the Visayas so my godparents are safe at Christmas). What happened was we just slept. That is not new. Our house is small. He is not at home, he is just a hut. It looks like only one room in size. There are small bedrooms on the side. He only has an entrance but there is no door yet. It doesn't matter that there is only a wall blocking that small space which only one person can fit. When you fall asleep there is only one position. When I sleep there, I feel like I'm in the coffin, the only difference is that it has no cover and can move a little.
From that room, if your head is at the entrance, you can see the people in the small living room where we also sleep. We don't have sofa guys, just plastic chairs that when we sleep we put layers on them and put them on the side. So there I slept in that small room with my parents in the living room. There are only three of us because my two brothers (one eldest, the other youngest) went to church. Before I went to sleep, I first scrolled through Facebook. Just envy those who post pictures with family in front of many ready with the caption "Merry Christmas from my family to yours!" Also stories/day of about 500-1k money. Natl. It would be okay if no one was ready or difficult as long as it was a happy case. It would be okay if no one is ready as long as you feel the warmth of the love of your family in case not eh. No more money and not happy yet. I just cried then. After that, I fell asleep. About 11:00 pm maybe then. At first, I just slept soundly because I was awake because I completed the 9 church nights, last night it was just Christmas I didn't go to church plus because of the tears so my eyelids were heavy. But after a while, my chest felt like it was getting heavier. It looks like something went wrong. I just let it go when it was really heavy so I couldn't breathe then I woke up. When I opened my eyes, I saw a white woman with long hair running towards me and choking me. I can't see his face because it's dark but I can feel his grip and anger. I couldn't breathe even more in shock and fear. I try to move but I don't want to. I just let him go because inside I had an idea that it was just a dream. When I calmed down I tried to move. I was able to move and the woman disappeared. I fell asleep again as if nothing had happened. Maybe it's because I'm awake so I just ignored it. But when I slept again I was not lying down. I was inside view and I saw mama and papa sleeping. That's how I slept soundly again.
Soon something seemed to run again this time on the side part of my body. I woke up again but could not move. It was a few minutes before I did that and when I did I stepped aside from mama. I'm scared. But I was surprised because I had sleep paralysis again and I was in the room again. I said stupid I moved earlier but here I am again. I tried to move again and now it sinks into me that I haven't woken up yet! I used to think how many times I opened my eyes, it was just a joke. It's a prank! I was terrified. That's when I first thought I moved to mama I feel like I'm just floating. That is not true! I'm so nervous because I don't know if I'm awake or what because I see moms. I can see the distance between us. I just prayed the Apostles' Creed that I did not continue because I was mentally blocked due to nervousness. It's good that I woke up and I was able to move for real. I felt my eyes open. I was still shocked then. But I still felt myself. Tas when I stood up to move to mama (for real) I carried the pillow and blanket to see if I could be burdened (because our pillow is heavy because the inside is not cotton but clothes that are no longer used) Tas when I feel heavy, run away I'm going to mama.
A bit of a struggle is still real because the pillow is heavy eh my skinny skin. The distance is not far because our house is so small just about two big steps. I don't have any use for noise anymore as long as I can get out of that position. I said it was legit because mama woke up a bit eh that chicken was asleep. A little crackle is waking up. That little room is mine. There I slept alone. In this case, I always get sleep paralysis. Every night, there is no stain even if I sleep at the right time or even if it is not stress so I do not repeat. It was last night again.
Under the ruling thumb of Central Authority
The bubble burst. It wasn't even like the instantaneous explosion that you see in real time when you might pop a balloon with a pin.
It was the slow motion version, the version captured on a 1,000+ frames per second slo-mo rig. You could see the moment the pin broke the surface tension. You could see the entire surface recoil and explode in all its glory. And then you were left with the sheer terror, realizing that underneath it all was nothing but air.
It was brutal. It left scars that people still suffer from to this day. It was so vicious, so harsh that the toll wasn't even just financial; it even sparked the loss of human life. Nothing, absolutely nothing can capture how bad the 2008/2009 global debt crisis was. Nothing can be said except that the situation was avoidable-but there are common themes with every recent crisis. Often it's debt, greed, and the thirst for power by centralized organizations, authorities and law makers.
But as bad as the debt crisis was, from the aftermath came a surge, actually more like a tidal wave, of growth and prosperity. But the question is, "Is it real prosperity? Is it real growth? Or is it the same old thing repackaged and played again?"
We will see when we look at this in more depth. But for all the devastation of the 2008/2009 debt crisis, it certainly wasn't the first time the world had seen financial pain like this.
Just 10 years earlier the same thing happened. It was also an enormous event-albeit more specific to the technology industry. But this earlier crash in the 90s was more like "the crash we needed to have."
For all the pain it create, it was the exact kind of crash needed to filter out the rubbish. It was exactly the medicine market needed to let the strong, stable and genuinely revolutionary companies flourish - and flourish they did.
The tech-bubble, or 'dot-com' bubble, was one of the most devastating market crashes since Black Monday. And Black Monday had been the most devastating crash since Black Tuesday, 1929. And Black Tuesday had been the worst crash since...well, you get the point.
For as long as markets, central financial authorities, Wall Street elites, the global financially powerful, the 'establishment' have existed, there have been market crashes. None of it the direct result of people other than those that sit in their ivory towers and determine the way the world turns.
Not Everyday
Not everyone has a mindset that they could do it now. God always provides and gives all that we need every day. Humans tend to think that they should have more or they should do more. The reality is that we have enough for this day with the help of God's blessed hands.
I needed this word. I got a Philip inside of me. Philip is prominent in my personality. **He** is always telling me how many I need but he never tells me how much I have. **God** said **he** wanted to show you how much. I
How much? The only way for you to find out is to take it one piece at a time.
**He** said, **"You think it's gonna become a buffet when I touch it?" I'm not going to make it a buffet all at once because I want you to come back to me. I'm not gonna give you every answer. I'm not gonna give you the five-year plan. I'm not gonna do it because if I turned it into a buffet, you would worship the buffet."**
Bite by bite. Piece by piece. **"Sufficient is the day for its trouble."** Today has enough trouble. **God** didn't promise to give you enough tomorrow. **He** said, **"Give us this day our daily bread."**. So it's enough for now. Thank you, **Lord**. I've got enough for now. I'm gonna need more later but I've got enough for now. And I want you to get this revelation: **"I am the bread of life."** Did you catch it? **"I am enough."** I am. So he didn't say, **"I will be."** **He** didn't say **"I was."**
Do you remember when they were in the wilderness and they ate manna? How much did they get enough for? Today. Do you know what would happen if they tried to save today's manna for tomorrow's hunger? It would get maggots in it. You have got maggots in your mind from worrying about tomorrow. Oh my **God**, that's nasty. You've got maggots in your mind because you're trying to save it from tomorrow. Enough! It's enough right now. It's enough for now. I have enough strength now for now. I have enough resources now for now. I'm not saying don't save money. I'm not saying don't plan. But when you find yourself in a situation and you didn't find out you were gonna be in it until you were in it, trust this:
**He** is enough for that. **He** will not become bread. **He** is bread. **He** will not become enough. You will not become enough when you get through this stage. You will not be enough at a time in the future. You are enough right now for right now. You are enough today for today. You are enough 40 for 40. You are enough 30 for 30. You are enough single for single. You are enough 90 for 9️0. You are enough. You are enough right now for right now. It's enough for now.
You are enough!
You would ask for strength. You would ask. I'm in you so you can ask. I'm in you." You gotta get it in you.
Moses said, after a whole series of excuses, you know...
God asked him a question, he said, "What is that in your hand? Moses simply had a staff, but that wasn't all it was. It was an instrument to part waters, to turn rivers to blood. It was an instrument. What is in your hand? It is coming from the five. What is in your hand? Did you ask? Did you ask or do you just assume it's not enough? We get in trouble when we answer instead of asking. So, God said, " I chose you, Moses".
In Exodus 4:10, this is the picture the Lord gave me. And the Lord must want somebody to get this message because it is so heavy on me I can barely move. But Moses said, "Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent (not enough), neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." Now everybody has something like that they could say why you can not make it and why there is mot enough and why eight months wages would not be enough. Everybody has an inner Philip. And the inner Philip will jump to conclusions based on the evidence that you can see with your eyes.
But watch what the Lord said in verse 11. The Lord said, "Did I ask? Who gave human beings their mouth? Did I ask? Who makes them deaf or mute? Did I ask? You keep telling me what you are not, but I did not ask you that. You keep telling me what you can not, but I did not ask you that. So do not say, I am just single. Do not say I am just young. Do not say, I am too old. Did I ask? I am the Lord. I am enough. Is it not?"
I need $260. You did not think you had it, but right up before I came here to preach, I handed him my wallet, and I did not tell him why. I said, "Just hold this for me till I am done." And I am about to be done. Because when I get to the end of my message, I am gonna put something in my boy, and when I ask you for it, the fact that I asked is the proof that you have it. If I asked, you have it. If I asked, I gave it. It is in you. It is more than enough. Count that money. Open that wallet. What is in that wallet? I need $260. But I will never ask you for what I did not give you, to begin with. And if you run out of that, I got credit too. God said, "My credit's good. I put it in a boy. I put it in your joggers. I put it in your spirit. I will put it in a basket. I will put it in a bag. I will put it in weakness. I will put it in a thorn. I am the Lord."
Atheism vs Agnosticism (The Differences between these two)
**Atheism**
The Greek word "a" means without and "theos" means God. In simpler words, those are humans that don't believe in God or Gods. The Greek term was used in various ways since the 5th century. It was approximately 1500 years ago. The word "atheism" itself only started around 400 years ago. This is the era where ideas about free thought and skepticism are being spread. These are beliefs about things based on science and evidence and not just because of tradition or authority. Between those eras, most of the atheists suffered, and some of them are closeted atheists or those who hide their identity of being an atheist or anything about atheism. Some of them publicized themselves and one of those was **Lucilio Vanini**, an Italian philosopher. When he was proven guilty of being an atheist and committed blasphemy like saying bad things against religion, he was taken and was sentenced to death. His tongue was cut into half and they choked him to death and was burnt in the end.
Those are just examples of how atheists suffer at those times especially in some places in Europe. During the french revolution, atheists' ideas started to rise and were became known because of the spreading influence of having a wider understanding with the help of philosophy, and scientific ideas at that time. Now, although some atheist is safe and are having a good life, in some parts of the world, there are still those who view atheism as something negative, and until now there are some countries where death is being sentenced to the atheist.
**Agnosticism**
Agnostic or agnosticism has something to do with knowledge. Atheism is a belief while agnosticism is knowledge. The term agnosticism was used by an English biologist **Thomas Huxley** in 1869. In Greek "a" means without and the word "gnostic" means knowledge. Agnostics are those people who say I don't know or I know nothing about that because they don't have enough evidence or information. Agnosticism is like an undecided position or neutral. Some say it is like playing safe being an agnostic, but in reality, this is the most honest position because God that people are mentioning is supernatural. The problem is that we don't have any means or way to test supernatural things or beings.
So how can we prove those things if we don't have enough power, ability, and knowledge to know those things? I don't know is the correct answer.
I would like to make it clear that the term agnostic and atheist are not mutually exclusive, they can be combined or used continuously. Agnostic theists are those who believe in God but don't have complete or 100% certainty about the God or Gods they believe in. While Gnostic theists are those who believe in God and have complete or 100% certainty about God or Gods that they believe in. The concept is just the same when we apply it to atheists.
I don't know why there are time and space, I don't why we are here and the meaning and purpose of life, how the universe started, and what would happen if we die. I am without knowledge, I am agnostic about those things.
Kaido's Devil Fruit (Speculations)
***Let's go to the topic that shocked*** *****One***** *****Piece***** ***fans this week which is the revealing of the devil fruit of Kaido.***
They say that the devil fruit of Kaido is "Ou Ou no mi" or Fish Fish fruit in English. But his devil fruit's official name was not still revealed. However, this will be the one that would complete the question on why Kaido can not die or be killed on the water. The introduction to Kaido during Dress Rosa Arc is that he is the most powerful on land air and water. Kaido's devil fruit is Fish Fish fruit and its type is mythical.
***The question here is that what specifically is Kaido's fruit?***
My guess here is that it is like the Namazu which is known as a giant catfish originating from Japanese Mythology and I have seen some similarities like Kaido's long mustache that is similar to the Namazu and one thing is that during the 18th century in Japan, Namazu replaced the role of the dragon as the ones who bring bad luck in Japan. Namazu was known for making Earthquakes.
Anyways, maybe some of you would doubt or ask why is it that the devil fruit of Kaido makes him look like a dragon? Why did Yamato said that the reason why Kaido brought up Onigashima is because of Kaido's Dragon Breath? Why is Kaido's devil fruit not called Dragon Dragon fruit? Many more are being asked why is that.
I am also confused, but if you think about it, Oda almost gave the answers to our questions.
**I have two ideas bout Kaido being a dragon.**
First one, if you remember at the recent or past chapters in ***One Piece***, Oda introduced someone that is a new character in ***One Piece*** that would be the reason for the changing of form of Kaido. The one I am talking about is Gyukimaru.
As we all know, Gyukimaru is a fox. Gyukimaru can transform into a human form. Although there was no statement if this is because of the devil fruit, the possibility is high that Gyukimaru can transform into a human form because of his exceptional abilities. In Japanese folklore, fox spirits can shapeshift or change form.
If we notice, the devil fruit of Katarina Devon which is a nine-tailed fox that can shapeshift and imitate another person at the same time.
That is simply because of the reason that spirit foxes have that specific ability according to Japanese Folklore.
What I wanted to point out in this is that, like a fox that can transform, maybe Kaido are also like that. Most probably, the race Kaido belongs to are also like him and also has the ability like that. A dragon that can turn into a human.
We could see in the past chapters that they showed Kaido's daughter that she was likely to transform into dragon form at that time.
My second idea is about the rapidly spreading idea of the koi fish story. ***The koi fish*** story is possibly an event related or similar to what happened on Kaido's devil fruit.
In summary, with this speculation about the devil fruit of Kaido, his fruit is a Fish Fish fruit that looks like a Namazu and the reason why he can transform is that it is the ability of their race or the ability of his devil fruit.
Love at the time of Pandemic
Hello! This is Lyndon again. The one who sent "the Missing Jeepney Passenger". It makes me feel good that you liked that story. Now I have a new story to tell. I am based in Ontario, Canada now, working as a health office assistant in a hospital. I started working here in January 2020.
I became friends with a Canadian nurse here. His name was Scottie. Scottie is a handsome man and I can't help myself to like him(Yes, I am a Gay). I thought at first that he was stuck. When I was only new to the hospital, we don't talk that much with each other because our work was not related. We became close when the time came and I had enough courage to add him on Instagram. At first, I thought that he would reject me but I was happy that he accepted my request. Since then, we have been talking through chat on Instagram, at that time I felt excited. Days have passed and we became close to each other. He invited me to his apartment for a drink and a chat or to watch Netflix. His favorite movie is Love, actually, I was a bit surprised because a romantic comedy is my favorite movie. He also once invited me to the park for ice skating. He taught me to ice skate. I was thrilled because he held my hand when he taught me. At the moment that we were ice skating, he watched me when I almost fell to the ground when I was ice skating. I admitted to him that I was gay. But even so, he did not go away from me. He thinks of me as his close friend. The time came where he had less time together because he offers his time to his girlfriend. Although we had less time for each other we are still friends.
One day, I thought I would admit that I like him. I don't care anymore even if he stays away from me. I thought of talking to him at the hospital if I meet him to say what I really feel at those times that we are together until now. I was temporarily laid off from my work at the hospital because the management decided that only essential workers would be admitted first, those are nurses like Scottie.
Scottie and I never saw each other again during the pandemic. He also avoids meeting other people. After all, he is at high risk of having a Corona Virus because he handles COVID patients. So even though I miss him, we can't meet. He also doesn't chat often because he is busy with work and tried after his shift.
One day, he suddenly chatted me through Instagram saying:
"Lyndon, I was tested positive on carrying the Corona Virus. It's killing me, man."
He was allegedly confined to the COVID facility of our hospital. I would like to visit him but the hospital only allows the family members of the patient.
After a few days, I heard bad news from a nurse. Scottie died of Corona Virus.
I cried a lot when I heard that. He disappeared when I did not confess to what I truly feel about him. I used to cry every night. It just hurts so much even though we are not a couple. Scottie is an important person to me, the heavy feeling I feel is because of something that I wasn't able to say to him when he is still alive. Even if I shout or use the loudest speaker from the entire world he can no longer hear me.
I always pray that Scottie would appear even if it is in the form of a ghost so that I could tell him those feelings I never get the chance to tell him. I wish I had a third eye so that I could see him. That's all I want and wish for. Times passed by and still, no trace of his presence, no signs of him being here.
Until one night.
I woke up because someone seemed to be whispering my name. I did not see anyone in my room when I opened my eyes. Then suddenly, someone whispered my name again near my ear. I just can't deny it. I really believe that it was Scottie's voice.
After that, it was as if someone was beside me that I could not see and I feel a cold air covering my whole body that feels like someone hugs me but I couldn't see. Then suddenly I heard a sweet voice saying:
"I am always here, Lyndon. "
The Woman who came out of a Mirror
Hello Guys! This is a true to life story that I want to share to all of you. This was based from what I had experienced on year 2013.
When I was young, I am already seeing ghosts but this one is the worst experience I have ever had. Me and my friends back when we are studying in High School loves to have some food trip together. On the day of the event we are scheduled to have a food trip on the house of the two siblings that is also our friend. They are Luz who is the elder sister and Tine the younger ones.
While we are busy preparing all the needed ingredients we were having a conversation with each other and sharing stories about the happenings in our lives. The sibling's house is linear, their kitchen and comfort room was at the corner of their house. I am facing straight at the inside of their house while telling some stories at Luz, Tine, Lex, Wen, Trish and Jay. We have our own places and they are all facing me while I am story telling. At the moment that I turned my head, I saw something strange that looked like a person. I asked the two siblings if they have someone else living in their house.
Luz: There is nothing else here besides us.
Tine: That's why we could go crazy in here.
Me: Oh, is that so.
Hours have passed and I feel something really strange that I can't explain to myself. Then time have passed and I point my attention to their room and looked at the mirror that was at the corner of the wall. The mirror looks too old that when you look at it you can't clearly see yourself. And the time came where I was shocked and I said some bad things. OH F*CK! The girl I saw earlier that is black came out of the mirror. My friends almost cried and said some bad things because of the fact that they all know that I could see some ghosts or supernatural beings. I look so pale at that moment and I can't believe what I saw, the that is WHITE, HAS CURLY HAIR, WEARS BLACK and HOLDS SOMETHING and SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE IS CRYING. I didn't saw what she was holding at that time.
The only thing that we could do is to run as fast and as far as we can, we left the food, our mobile phones, slippers, and other things because of the fear we feel at that moment. The two siblings, Luz and Tine, waited the until their parents come back before they go back to that house. Because of what was has happened Uncle and Auntie thrown the mirror, because according to what has happened maybe the next thing that would happen would happen will be a lot worse than what came out of the MIRROR.
@Zilong
