Hi, I'm Danny.

New king! New king!

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:36:00 -0400

So today we have an incredibly laid back, toilet-throwing king and a beautiful beautiful new queen of the Netherlands: King Willem-Alexandar and Queen Máxima.

Ofcourse it is all quite a show and everybody knows how a constitutional monarchy goes with the real power not really resting on the shoulders of the king anymore. But what a day it must be, April 30, for everybody in the Netherlands.

Here’s the song that was written and dedicated to the new king, entitled “Koningslied by John Ewbank” (King’s Song).

And yes, despite all the controversy and criticism of the song being too Disney sounding .. .the much-a-do-about-it-all complaining for nothing is just a reflection of what I’m still learning: That the Dutch just being typical Dutch complaining and all. It’s a national sport you see.

But if, for a small moment, you read these lyrics like a child watching a Disney movie.. it does all the more warm the heart doesn’t it (see below).

My favorite line:

Ik zal waken als jij slaapt

Ik behoed je voor de storm

Ben ik je baken in de nacht

Ik zal strijden als een leeuw

In English (I’m pretending I know my Dutch haha)

I will watch as you sleep

Saving you from the storm

Be your beacon in the night

Fighting like a lion

You think of the lion and you read Revelation 5.5 and what an incredibly heart-warming thought it is.

Perhaps John Ewbank had something subliminal in his mind by ripping off of Matt Redman’s 10,000 reasons.

The big plus in my opinion is that the “Koningslied” having gone to the top of the Dutch iTunes charts just all of a sudden made “10,000 reasons” a little bit more famous too. Sneaky, subliminal, fantastic. In the midst of the plastic orange crowns, the reverly, and the pragmatic political correctness of all the hullabaloo of it all: We have 10,000 and more reasons to make our king of kings famous anywhere and everywhere.

Willem-Alexander is gona do a fabulous job cutting ribbons and building toilets. I know he will.

Jesus bless him, his family, his three daughters. And say a prayer for Friso too.

Everybody’s gona love this new king and queen.

Proud to be Dutch today.

Koningslied (King’s song)

There you are

You saw this moment so many times in your dreams

And then there it is

The day that you knew was coming is finally here

Are you ready?

Can you ever really be?

There you are

Every man has a task in this life

Everything done to prepare for

There it is then

You promise that you will give everything

Every step you took that led you here

And look around you

We walk with you

Through the rain and the wind

I will stand beside you

I’ll protect you against anything that comes

I will watch as you sleep

I am saving you from the storm

Keep you safe as long as I live

A battle, two lives

We face each other, not to break

A flag, two lions

With each other in the sun and rain

Side by side, chest out

Proud as a peacock, this is our sound

And how small we are

Our achievements are

Go not void

For you, my child

For my dad, for my mom

Walk for you through the wind and rain

And will stand behind you

I carry a banner with your name

Believe in you as long as we exist

I’m building a dike with my bare hands

And keep the water away from you

Let me know what you dream

Where your heart longs

I will not rest until it has become true

And if you ever lose your way

I’ll be your beacon in the night

I refer you to the harbor in the darkness

I will fight like a lion

To you for nothing lacking

Keep your safe as long as I live

The W of William

Three fingers in the air, come on, come on

The William W is the W we

Very Orange buffs head to

W of the water where we did not deviate

We explain the dry and build dikes

The W welcome in our midst

To which God you may pray

The W of William

The W of waking, eating stew

Millions of coaches who know better

The W always want to win

Whatever it is that we begin to

The W we are one with each other

With the shoulders next to each other

And so we call today

Through the rain and the wind

I will stand beside you

I’ll protect you against anything that comes

I will watch as you sleep

I am saving you from the storm

Keep your safe as long as I live

Let me know what you dream

Where your heart longs

I will not rest until it has become true

And if you ever lose your way

I’ll be your beacon in the night

Assign the port you in the darkness

I will fight like a lion

To you for nothing lacking

Keep you safe as long as I live

Original lyrics in Dutch are here

You know, the big secret here is that I’ve been wearing...

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:42:48 -0500

You know, the big secret here is that I’ve been wearing that same Man United shirt over there since I was 16.

acelvanommen:

Here at tagaytay with our Nepali friend Prajwall ;) @dannyvanommen

I still don’t know how I can afford to feed these kids...

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:40:13 -0500

I still don’t know how I can afford to feed these kids this sorta stuff. The simple truth is, I can’t. And the bigger truth is, God is amazing.

acelvanommen:

Yummy blue berry cheese cake!!

I will maintain

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 01:29:52 -0500

“Je maintiendrai”

I’d honestly never really noticed this phrase before.

Probably because I could never ever get over properly pronouncing “paspoort” or better yet “Koninkrijk der Nederlanden”. My eyesight goes all fuzzy trying to deciphere that kind of code.

But I saw the phrase “Je maintiendrai” in big bold letters at the Dutch embassy this morning and I saw it again on my passport today. I was thinking to myself “this has gotta be a French phrase”.

With my very (very) limited Dutch, I knew this wasn’t an actual Dutch phrase. “Je” in Dutch would probably be pronounced “ye” and mean “you” or “yo!” or something like that. Plus you’d need a chicken bone stuck in your throat to speak in proper Dutch and the lettering for “Je maintiendrai” is just too smooth for chicken bone language. Yes, it had to be French.

But why was it on the coat of arms I wondered? And what in the French-earth does it mean?

Come to the rescue Wikipedia ofcourse! Well, Google first, then Wikipedia. You can read all about it here.

Turns out, “Je maintiendrai” simply means “I will maintain”. (Duh, ofcourse I knew that)

It is a phrase that dates back to the kings and queens of old and historians can trace it all the way back to the good old cozy House of Orange.

“I will maintain”

Totally makes sense doesn’t it?

No? Why not? Because it’s French and not Dutch? A Dutch motto in French? Huh?

Ofcourse it makes sense! That’s typical Dutch really, they borrow everybody else’s ideas and claim it be to be there own. You do know that those famous Holland tulips originally came from Turkey. : )

This year, remarkably, Queen Beatrix (photo above and in the beginning of this blog), our beloved queen of the Netherlands has announced that she will abdicate her crown and the Netherlands will enjoy the next few decades with a brand new king. Her son, Crown-Prince Willem-Alexander.

Queen Beatrix is the most loved queen on the planet. Everybody loves her!!! She is the people’s queen. Just look at her and you’ll say “oh wow I wish my auntie was Queen Beatrix”. Doesn’t she look like she can bake wonderful cookies for your kids?

But she’s 75 now and wants to retire.

Here’s a photo of our now crown prince and very soon to be king, Willem-Alexander.

This is him throwing a toilet at a crowd last year. Stop laughing he had a remarkable point to make.

He’s going to be king of the Netherlands soon, and yes, he will be helping the world build many many more toilets.

But before I end, read on, because this is really the whole point of my rare blog:

Talking about kings and queens. They will retire. They will go and new ones will show up. Some in the faces of darling beauty queens. Others in the faces of horrible tyrants.

My point is this: In essence, we all are little kings and little queens of our own little kingdoms with the people we interact with on a day to day basis.

It doesn’t matter if you are Dutch or Filipino or Nepalese or Indonesian. In this day and age when the whole concept of kingdoms are as fuzzy as ever, ask yourself:

“Who are the people in my little kingdom that matter to me the most?”

What are the key relationships in my life that I am maintaining? Are they healthy ones? Are they going to destroy me? Or are they going to make me thrive and last for years and years ahead?

Blogging about a tiny little Dutch kingdom just gives me a little glimpse that opens up my eyes to the kingdom of kingdoms that is real and that is forcefully advancing.

There is a king of kings who lives today and his name is Jesus. He brings salvation. There will be order. There will be justice. There will be mercy. There will be love all over, and the poor in spirit will not go hungry.

Choose today and say this to yourself: “I will maintain my relationship with Jesus, the king of kings.”

This is my blog. This is my declaration to the world.

I will maintain (this blog).

Pangarap ko for 2013

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 12:13:11 -0500

1. Grow a littler taller.

2. Buy new pants.

3. Maybe a new shirt too.

4. Pray more

5. Sleep earlier (to grow a little taller)

Thank you for a wonderful 2012!

Happy new year!!!

Christmas with siblings and cousins in Nepal, 1986 - This is why...

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 12:16:24 -0500

Christmas with siblings and cousins in Nepal, 1986 - This is why I don’t really sing much. The role is so much more noble!!! : ) : ) : ) : )

BELIEVE!!! Merry Christmas!!!

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 01:46:00 -0500

Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you; BELIEVE in the one he has sent.” - John 6.29

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Here’s a glimpse of what Christmas eve dinner looks like for us in our part of the world.

* Note: No family members were harmed in the making of this video.

Pasko Ay Nandito Na (Christmas is here!!!)

Download this song for free from http://www.acelmusic.com

Lyrics and English translation

Yeshi and Tashi chasing down the turkey. Sorry every single...

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 11:48:18 -0500

Yeshi and Tashi chasing down the turkey.

Sorry every single turkey in this clip came out a bit blurry in here. Need to protect their identities (security-protocol dictates).

Happy thank you day!

* Music in the first few seconds is there because behind me is the (unseen) open-air stage where Acel was invited to sing at.

Yeshi and Tashi venturing off in the mall on their own.

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 22:37:40 -0500

Yeshi and Tashi venturing off in the mall on their own.

and here’s Yeshi and Tashi in one of their many adventures...

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 22:24:29 -0500

and here’s Yeshi and Tashi in one of their many adventures through the jungles of Kamagong.

This was Yeshi last year at Alnwick Castle near the borders of...

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 22:16:10 -0500

This was Yeshi last year at Alnwick Castle near the borders of Scotland.

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL BOY YESHI!!!!!!! Today,...

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 21:36:47 -0500

Yeshi!!!!

Yeshi the samurai

Yeshi muni-muni

Yeshi and the apple

Yeshi and lolo Simplicio

Yeshi and beautiful mommy Acel

Yeshi and Tashi

Yeshi and daddy and the floodwaters

Yeshi, mommy Acel and Tashi

Yeshi and choco

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL BOY YESHI!!!!!!! Today, November 19th he turns 2!!!!!

These are some random photos of Yeshi’s life as a 1-year old.

YESHI. The mighty.

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 14:01:00 -0500

YESHI MATTHIAS - The wise one. Gift of God.

Today is NOVEMBER 19 and today, Yeshi is a proud 2 year-old!!!

He shares his birthday day with the 46th anniversary of his lolo and lola giving us a double reason to celebrate.

He’s the second born — just like me. (Tashi is the first-born son, also, just like me).

He looks like Bruce Lee and he has the strength to prove it.

Yeshi is our energy treat.

Yeshi makes my arms bigger and stronger.

He gives me quite a work out alright. He was never one to appreciate the stroller, preferring to jump and swing and climb with his little hands and claw himself to me as tight as he can. He loves me swinging him round and round like he was on a roller coaster. His laughter is addictive. His scream. Wow. How did he get so loud???

And yes, back to roller-coasters — Oh boy, I hate roller-coasters. I’m actually dredding the day he drags me to one of those.

Yeshi is an adventurer. Even before he learned to walk, he was already on an adventure.

Here are few clips from some of his adventures:

This is Yeshi in the castle’s bordering Scotland. (before he learned to walk)
This is Yeshi in the kamagong jungle.
…and this is Yeshi in the SM jungle.

Ofcourse, he’s with his trusty-big brother Tashi to help him every step of the way. But watch how independent-minded he is!

Yeshi’s an early-morning person. He’s wakes up as soon as he feels a glimpse of the sun on his skin.

He’s taught me a lot about the wonderful life in the mornings that over the last couple of years I’d never really appreciated. I never knew, so much happens in the mornings!!!

I try to make it a habit to walk him to the bakery every morning. Something, maybe my now 30-year fatigued body will need to stay fit. I have to admit, I’ve slacked off so many times though. I’m sorry Yeshi.

Yeshi’s a miracle. A gift.

I still remember, two years ago, he came out chord-coiled and all, fighting so hard for his little life. Screaming and all purple. Four hours of labour and him pushing and fighting to come out.

He’s a fighter.

Read his birth-story here in Acel’s blog.

Ofcourse, he had the loveliest videographer in the world to capture his first few winks.

I love you Yeshi!!!

See you in Jollibee later.

I think I was about 7 here and it could have been in either...

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 14:59:23 -0500

I think I was about 7 here and it could have been in either Thailand or Nepal. That’s my Mamy and that’s Becky & Premy. Jonny was hiding there behind the flower pot.

30 on 11-11. My fool's day.

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 14:28:00 -0500

I just had the most beautiful last night of being 29 with my 4-year old, Tashi. He got me a bag of candy as his “surprise” for my birthday (with me paying ofcourse — as well as for that other bag he wanted).

It was pretty timely that Tashi and I randomly watched Wreck-It-Ralph too. Boy what a tear-jerker (eye sweating) movie that was.

What a mix of candy and 30 years. If you’ve watched the movie, all that candy was perfect-timing too, I really did not expect there to be so much candy.

So I’m thinking, I’m 30 now and “retro”. That just means “old, but cool”. Okay.

Ten years ago, turning 19 going to 20 was probably one of my most eager moments in my life. So much adventure.

Building up to today, though I have to admit, has been one of my most dreaded. I don’t think I’ve ever felt birthday blues like this, it’s annoying. The movie helped brush off some of that blue garbage away.

Honestly, while building up to today, I’ve been contemplating a lot about how this entire year (2012) has taken me back exactly 10 years.

A lot happened in 2002 and it was a remarkable year for me.

In 2002, while the eyes of the world was on Korea/Japan, here’s what I was up to:

I finished college
I declared my undying love to Acel
Traveled back to Kathmandu (hadn’t been back since I was 11)
Hung out with a group of Ten Days scouts (well, they weren’t technically called “Ten Days” scouts back then)
Hung out with my mother, she was somewhat ill and really frail during those days.
Chopped my long hair (Nepal was still in a state of civil-war and I had to *cough* look inconspicuous)
Did the Langtang / Gosaikunda trek climbing some 4,000 meters up with my cousin Angnima
And on my 20th birthday itself: Ate fish.

My Nepali aunt thought that being over 5 weeks away from the tropical paradise of the Philippines made me miss eating fish.

Fast-forward to today, 2012 and all of sudden Nepal is back in the radar of my brains again.

I went there in 2006 with Acel. But that was it.

Mamy has been sick all year and I was somewhat hoping I could take another “pilgrimage” there. But at the moment it just isn’t possible.

My sisters Premy & Becky have traveled to Nepal this year spending months in Kathmandu and have taken wonderful care for my mom all year long.

And there’s hope.

Plus:
Remember those Ten Days scouts I mentioned from 2002? We have a bursting movement in Kathmandu now that I can’t publish about.

Except for our accidental-flamengco ambassador Maradee, see what she’s up to here: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=44637

And then there’s the number 11. That’s 10 years plus 1.

11-11. That’s my number.

In the Netherland’s, that’s the fool’s number.

But hope is foolish.

I choose to hope.

And pray (to and through Jesus).

* Small note: In a Nepalese context you have to mention praying to and through Jesus.

And I choose to believe. In miracles. In redemption. (You should too!!!)

So let’s get the party done with and onward to 31. : )

Flowers for mommy (while she’s on stage). This was...

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 05:21:42 -0400

Flowers for mommy (while she’s on stage). This was yesterday afternoon in Mariveles, Bataan.

This is Tashi playing impressive ping-pong with Tashi’s...

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 03:48:00 -0400

This is Tashi playing impressive ping-pong with Tashi’s auntie Becky (my sister).

Yeshi is also in the video twirling in the background. Acel is in there too.

Becky is Paperboat London.

It was so refreshing having her visit us here in the Philippines. She dropped by for a few weeks working with the Dutch NoaPoa family in not-so-far-off Bali, Indonesia.

Becky got into a motorbike accident earlier this year in Kathmandu. They were trying to climb a hill when they slipped and the motorbike, together with her hubby Shubha, both came tumbling down landing on her legs!

The accident left her weeks and weeks indoors. But as you can see with the way she can play her ping-pong, her legs have gotten a lot better by now.

She’s back on her feet and today she’s back in Bali and back to work. In a few weeks she’ll be back to Kathmandu and from there back to London. That’s a lotta places to go back to.

So proud of my sister.

Our citizenship is in HEAVEN.Photo by Rinna

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 12:26:00 -0400

Our citizenship is in HEAVEN.

Photo by Rinna

HELLO TO HEAVEN tickets are ready!!! P200 only. Available sa...

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:03:32 -0400

HELLO TO HEAVEN tickets are ready!!! P200 only. Available sa HOUSE OF PRAISE - VMALL BRANCH (GREENHILLS) September 1 onwards.

HELLO TO HEAVEN. September 14. Seeya!

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 03:26:06 -0400

HELLO TO HEAVEN. September 14. Seeya!