Tell Me Your Story


A couple of my readers send their testimonies (read “disaster avoided” and two other stories for more details). I’m in a bit of a dilemma as to whether or not to include this in the book.

Here’s the deal: I think I really need more stories/testimonies if I’m going to dedicate a section of the book to this. I’d like to hear some stories about mistakes, regrets, restoration, etc. If some of you want to warn others to avoid your mistakes, this is your chance! I’d also like to hear a few stories from the guys. If you are interested in sharing, here’s how it works:

*Anything sent to me will be anonymous. I’ll even change your first name in the story if you like.

*I’ll edit the English and content. If you send the story to me, you are surrendering editorial control to me.

*I want to hear from those who are followers of Jesus. You don’t have to be a “spiritual giant,” but I want stories/testimonies from a spiritual perspective.

*Since this is a book for Filipino youth/young adults, I prefer stories from Filipinos.

*If I include your story, I’ll give you a free copy of the book once it is printed.

Email me (kuyakevin [at] gmail) if you have something you want to share (don’t post it here). Don’t waste time! If I don’t get enough testimonies very soon, I’ll simply not include this section in the book (of course, there’s always 2nd edition possibilities).

Wrong Number, Po!


I guess you are bound to get some weird calls if you live in a city of over 12 million people. Once I answered the phone and was immediately serenaded by a woman I didn’t know. Once I was called and told I won some big amount of money (like 50k pesos) if I would come to some office to pick it up. I told them just mail it to me if they really wanted to give me that much money (I knew it was some kind of trick to get me to sign up for something).

Here’s a couple of my more humorous wrong number conversations:

This first one is entitled the gay telemarketer. I got a call from a telemarketer that seemed a little too interested in his work (especially considering that he had dialed a wrong number). Here’s a “transcript” of a conversation that happened. I will translate for my non-Filipino readers:

Phone rings
Kevin: Hello . . .
Gay Telemarketer: Can I speak to . . .
Kevin: Wrong number po (“po” is the equivalent of “sir/ma’am”)

Gay Telemarketer: Sir, I was just wondering if you own a credit card . .
Kevin: Hindi ako interesado sa mga credit cards (I’m not interested in credit cards).

Gay Telemarketer: What is your name sir?
Kevin: I’m not interested, good bye.
I hang up

Phone rings again within a minute
Kevin: Hello
Gay Telemarketer: Sir, Ako ang tumawag kanina (I am the one that called earlier)

Kevin: Oo, sabi ko hindi ako interesado sa credit card diba? (Yes, I said I’m not interested in a credit card, right?)
Gay Telemarketer: Sir, how old are you?

Kevin: Bakit naiistorbo mo ako? (Why are you disturbing me?)
Gay Telemarketer: Naiistorbo ba kita? (Am I disturbing you?)
Kevin: Oo! (yes), goodbye.
I hang up again

Kuya Kevin, the surrogate mommy: here’s a call from an obviously confused adult female.

Phone Rings

Kevin: Hello
Unknown Female: Hello?

Kevin: Hello?
Unknown Female: 52*-****? (calls out a number that sounds like mine)

Kevin: Yes?
Unknown Female: Mommy!
Kevin: Ano? (what?)

Unknown Female: 52*-****? (calls out a number and I realize one digit is wrong)
Kevin: hindi (no), this is 52*-****

Unknown Female: sorry po

(I’m such a failure as a parent)