The New Me

Before, I used to see life as most people would look at it – like a race. I always thought that being ahead, achieving what I have set my eyes on and doing anything to accomplish what I need to get what I want is what's life about. The focus has always been about myself, what I want and what would make me feel good. I studied hard and was presented with great opportunities when I went to college.

It was 1992, while I was a freshman in Ateneo De Manila University when I felt in my heart that there was something more that God wanted to do with my life. I felt that I was called for something greater – a higher calling. It sounded so creepy and ridiculous at that time because I had many goals and plans in my life. I had my road map for success all laid out. Earn a Mechanical Engineering degree from a reputable university, land a job in a good company and make it big. But it was my own definition of success.





The road that I trudged on suddenly turned its course when I had to transfer to a different school. It was in this school that I felt more confident with myself but as I looked back to the original route I was to take, I knew I had to study and work harder for me to get back on that track.

But things worsened. Paying for college did not come easy so, at first, I had to work while studying, but eventually I had to give up school and work. I worked different jobs, from being a part-time bank teller, to becoming a service crew at a children’s play center and eventually landing a high paying job in Makati. It was during those times of different transitions from 1992 to 2000 that I started thinking more about what I really wanted to do with my life – I started considering that maybe roadblocks were being placed on the path that I was trudging on because I was being redirected some place else.

I was earning more than what many young professionals earned during that time but I did not feel any satisfaction out of it. I felt that I was meant to do something greater - something that was beyond myself and what I want.

I felt that I was being called to surrender my plans, my wants, my future and my whole life to serve God and serve other people. But I was afraid because I was worried about leaving everything, the possible comforts and greater opportunities.

It was in the summer of 2000 when everything became clear to me. When I was sure of it and finally surrendered my life to serve God, it was then that I felt a peace that passes understanding. This transformed my life. It changed me from being a man for myself to a man for others. It was only when I stopped resisting that things fell right into place. I was able to finish my degree in Mechanical Engineering and take up some units for my Master of Divinity.

100% Living life to the full

Since then, I have dedicated my life to minister to people around me. In 2001, I started serving as a director of a non-government organization that focuses on the prevention of drug and substance abuse among youth.

Breaking Point Foundation and is an NGO composed of local and international volunteers who have been trained as Abuse Prevention presenters and specialists

I also served as a youth pastor, helping high school and college students by teaching them God’s ways, guiding them in this stage in their lives where they face so many life changing decisions and counseling those who want to put their lives back on the right track. It was also that same year when I married the woman who shared the same passions and burdens I had.

In 2003, we headed out to start a church in Makati where we also started a feeding program with the help of partners from the US. Since then, we have been feeding almost 60 kids from indigent families in Barangays Pitogo and Pinagkaisahan, teaching and guiding new and established families.



This year, we have extended our services and support to a public high school in Makati City by contributing to their feeding program. I also volunteered to becoming a lecturer of PNP MOST (Moral and Spiritual Transformation), having ministerial functions under the Internal Affairs Service of the Philippine National Police.



The change that I experienced was something worth living and dying for. Now, I feel that I am more than just existing in this world but really living my life to the full. Not because of me and what I am capable to do but because of God who changed me. It is something that I want to share to the people I meet – that life is more than the here and now and there is something bigger and greater out there for each and everyone of us. It involves serving God by serving others, whatever our profession or status in life is.

It has been said that only one thing is constant in this world – change. Everything around us is subject to change and it is foolish for us to expect something or even someone to stay the way they are. But according to the second law of thermodynamics which says that “energy systems have a tendency to increase their entropy rather than decrease it” where entropy basically implies that nature tends to move from order to disorder.



That is why any transformation from good to better should be celebrated. Whether it is a personal transformation from being addicted to certain bad habits to becoming rehabilitated, or an external change for the better like a hair makeover, or a new look, a fairer complexion because of Glutamax or having an internal transformation like getting a new perspective about something, these transformations should be shared and proclaimed to the world because scientifically and by default, this is impossible. It is already a miracle of nature when something or someone changes for the better. This, therefore, has inspired me to write a simple song about celebrating “The New Me.” Below are the words and and a video of me singing the song entitled "The New Me".

The New Me
(Words and music by Jeffrey Aspacio, Copyright 2009)



Verse 1:
My old self
T’was a selfish life
So full of inner strife

I followed my path
Searched for riches and pleasure
The ones that I thought would last

But, I was wrong
What took me so long?
The world’s invitation’s so strong

It wasn't too late
T'was part of my fate

Pre-chorus 1:

What good would it do
To get everything you want for you
And lose the real you?
So I made the change and now declare this to you!

Chorus 1:

I'm loud, and proud
‘Coz the new me has come
And the old one has gone

I'm loud, and proud
It feels good to be new
So liberating and true

I was lost, now am found
All those things in the past
I have left them at last

Yes I’m loud, just so proud
For the new opportunities
It's great to just be the new me!


Verse 2:
What used to be
From it, I’m free
What joy it has given me

I followed the Path
Gained true riches and treasures
The ones that would truly last

Now everything's right
I've seen the light
The NEW ME is shining so bright

It isn't too late
Believe and have faith


Pre-chorus 2:

What good would it do
To get everything you want for you
And lose the real you?
So go make the change that's what I dare you to do!


Chorus 2:

Be loud, be proud
‘Coz the new me has come
And the old one has gone

Be loud, be proud
It feels good to be new
So liberating and true

If you're lost, you can be found
All those things in the past
You can leave them at last

Let's be loud, let's be proud
For the new opportunities
It's great to just be the new me!

For the new possibilities
It's great to just be the new me!

Go and use Glutamax
And you'll SEE THE RESULTS,
The New Me!

GlutaMAX, See the Results!

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Great Wall Cars are Here and are EURO 4 and EURO 3 Compliant

Great Wall Cars are now here in the Philippines and I was able to visit their showroom along EDSA, Project 7, Quezon City. I felt excited for their company because after finding out about the models they launched, I can say that the features and style of each one can create a great following in the Philippines.

The Peri is available for P495,000 (Watch it on the race track here)

The Wingle is available in 4x2 and 4x4 at P798,000 and P980,000, respectively

The vehicles that Great Wall Cars Philippines introduced are very far from the other China-made cars that landed on Philippine soil. In fact, the gasoline engines of their cars are already EURO 4 compliant and their diesel-run vehicles, EURO 3. Only one major Japanese car brand has reached that standard and it is considered as one of the high-end brands. This alone distinguishes Great Wall Cars Philippines from the other car brands available in the country, not just the China-made ones.

The Hover is also available in 4x2 and 4x4 for P998,000 and P1,150,000, respectively

The sporty Florid is available for P625,000

If looks could kill, then seeing the models this company made available here in our country will need to be made carefully. Models like the Peri and Florid which both has a 1.3-liter in-line 4-cyliner, 4 stroke DOHC 16 V engine, the Cowry, a van that has a 2.0-liter 4G63 MIVEC, SOHC engine and the Hover which is a CUV with a 2.8-liter CRDI turbo charge diesel engine all have spoilers as part of the standard package, making each model look sporty. All vehicles, including the Wingle which is a pick up truck with a 2.8-liter CRDI turbo charge diesel engine and my favorite, the Cool Bear which has a 1.5-liter DOHC, 16V with VVT, gasoline engine, has safety features like ABS and EBD, dual front air bags. Other models have an engine electronic anti-theft system.

The Cool Bear has 15" 8 spoke alum-alloy magwheels and available for P695,000

The best part about all these features is that they are all available at relatively low prices. Next year, Great Wall Cars Philippines will open their service centers, and all vehicle parts readily available in the country. I have even personally heard their General Manager, Mr. Jed Chan, say that they have plans to start assemby of their cars here in the country. Visit Great Wall Cars Philippines' showroom at North Edsa, 1021 EDSA, Project 7, Quezon City and see the Hover, Peri, Cool Bear, Florid, Wingle and Cowry.

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We Got a MediaCom MCI 3000 Pro as a Christmas Gift

Yes, we're singing our hearts out this Christmas. My wife and I got ourselves a MediaCom MCI 3000 Pro Karaoke Multi DVD player which includes 35,000 songs. No, that is not a typo, it's really thirty five thousand songs. The other songs are in Chinese and Hindi and other languages. The English and and Tagalog songs are around 15,000 so it is still a lot of songs for us to sing and learn.

The MediaCom MCI 3000 Pro

So today, we're putting to full use the new MediaCom MCI 3000 Pro. This was priced at P9,400 before but we got it on sale. Also, when it first came out here in our country it was around P14,000++ packged with a wireless microphone and speakers.

With this new toy that my wife and I can enjoy together we can also watch movie files stored in a flash disk. This is because the MediaCom MCI 3000 Pro has a 3-in-1 card reader and USB port as additional input. It also is able to view jpeg files and play other music file types.

Basically, it is not only for karaoke use but an all-in-one media player that's why it is called a Karaoke Multi DVD player. Plus, when we sing songs, we can record ourselves via USB anit is useful for celebrations like today, Christmas. I am excited to have relatives visit us in the next few days - definitely, the MediaCom MCI 3000 Pro will be a usefull entertainment package for all of us to enjoy at home.

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