TEMPTATIONS DURING MY
24-HOUR FASTING ON
MARCH 29, 2018
As part of an spiritual activity of Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) Palau Locale for its 13th Annual Thanksgiving, I pledged to do a 24-hour fasting on March 29, 2018 (Thursday) starting at 7:30am after I attended the church Morning Devotion and I proceed to the Palau Track and Field oval and do 30 minutes of jogging/walk and 30 push-ups.
While eating breakfast, HR Manager Gracie Alenain is talking to me and I mentioned that I will be having a 24-hour fasting. She asked, "Why you are eating?" I said I'll start my fasting after eating breakfast and my next meal is tomorrow at 7:30 am.
I have mentioned 6 years ago to our Pastor at PMCC Susan Lopez, who is now the head pastor of PMCC is Halang, Hagonoy, Bulacan where I was born, that I can't do fasting because once I missed only a meal for 2 or 3 hours, I am trembling already.
That was then when I don't have faith yet about what a fasting can do. Even Jesus Christ did fasting!
That is my 7th or 8th fasting of 24 hours with only water being taken.
Before taking shower for work at 7-11 pm, the first temptation was offered to me by Aladin Armada, who is one of the 3 people I have invited to attend the Thanksgiving of PMCC on April 15, 2018. He offered me to eat "Lomi" that he cooked at the hallway of Palau Royal Resort's Dormitory 1.
I have mentioned to Jay Orio earlier that I am on a 24 hours fasting and he said to Aladin, "He is on fasting."
While playing piano at Waves Restaurant on that evening, I noticed an old Japanese couple who are amazed at a young Palauan couple with a baby having dinner to a table about 4 meters from their table.
Before going home, the Japanese couple want to have photos taken with me. I can't find a staff to take those photos when Harry Lin, our MIS Manager, arrived with his daughter Yolanda, whom he asked me a few months ago to teach piano using a very small piano toy he bought in Japan. The lessons didn't push through because of busy schedule. I told him before that I don't teach kids 4 years and younger. He thought that Yolanda can start with a toy-like piano that don't even have batteries to operate. And the sound is so 'cheap' and 'tunog-lata' or sounds like cans.
Harry took some photos of us with the Japanese couple and I took Yolanda near us to be in the photos.
The Japanese couple gave me $10.00 tip and I gave them my card.
Minutes later, I was asked by a staff what kind of drink I would like to have because the Palauan guy is offering me a drink. I said I am on a fasting but thanks anyway.
At 9 pm, before going to Breeze Bar for another 2 hours of keyboard instrumental music, I go to the Palauan couple and asked for photographs with them and the baby.
I gave the guy my card and thanks them for their offer of drink.
Whenever I am fasting, I always wear this very tight pants with belt so that my stomach will not feel hungriness especially when I am sleeping where I put the belt to the fullest. That's my experience since many, many years ago, that I can't sleep with empty stomach.
The last temptation is at Breeze Bar when Benny Billiones, the bartender and my former roommate, offered me pork adobo which I refused saying I'm on a fasting.
Benny is a 'product' of my fasting during the PMCC's 12th Anniversary and Thanksgiving in Sept. 2017 where Pastor/Presbyter Gali Concepcion was our guest speaker. Benny was able to attend that event and we had lunch there and proceed to the 2017 Palau National Chess Championship where I took some photos of him with the players and later was able to put in Tia Belau Newspaper.
Benny said he can't do fasting also like me in my younger days.
DOING FASTING IS ONE OF THE TEACHINGS OF PMCC, WHO FOLLOWED WHAT ARE WRITTEN IN THE BIBLE.
Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
December 29, 2002--April 30, 2018
Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
The Beginning of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
Soon to be published as a book
Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
April 25, 2013--April 30, 2018
The History of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
June 09, 2002 -- April 30, 2018
