About Me

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Olongapo City/ Subic/ Quezon City/Alabang, Central Luzon/ NCR, Philippines
Mom. Wife. Teacher.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

28 Learnings On My 28th

1. Seek first the kingdom of God and the rest shall be added unto you.
2. Jesus saves.
3. Let go, let God. Don't focus on the problem, focus on the Problem Solver.
4. Prayer changes the atmosphere.
5. Each day is a new beginning.
6. Anything is possible, when u believe, this sounds cliche but it really works. Just believe.
7. In order to give love, you must first love yourself, then you can give love and also receive love.
8. Distance makes the heart grow fonder not farther.
9. Forgive then forget. Even if you cannot forget, forgive still because eventually you will forget.
10. We are responsible for our own happiness.
11. An act of kindness goes a long way. Be generous with it.
12. Sometimes it's better to be understanding than to be right. Be a peace keeper, prove your point if you must but never lose respect.
13. It is ok to say no. It is also ok to say yes. It is also ok to say that you are not sure.
14. The point is mean what you say.
15. I am an introvert (i actually thought I was an extrovert).
16. Smiling is therapeutic. It keeps the blues away.
17. No does not always means no, sometimes it means not yet.
18. Whoever said you can't buy happiness, does not know where to shop, haha. Honestly things can make us happy. But it must never be our source of joy.
19. To have joy is knowing that God wants you to be happy. He always has the best intentions for us. Listen to His voice find time to hear His voice.
20. It is ok to be weak sometimes and let other people be there for you. No man is an island.
21. Always be grateful even during hard times. It open doors for breakthrough.
22. There is always a room for improvement. Never stop growing.
23. Work is play when you love what you are doing. Find your passion so you can fulfill your purpose.
24. You become what you think of yourself. It helps to think positive and speak positive words.
25. Never give up on your dreams. You owe it to yourself today and to your future self.
26. When you don't know what to say. Don't say anything. But once you already know, don't let the chance to speak slip by, another chance may never come again.
27. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak. Always guard your heart, everything flows in it and from it.
28. Birthdays are markers of one's growth, a time to be older, a chance to be stronger, a time to be wiser. 



Hello 28.
I am ready. :)

Saturday, August 09, 2014

Phoenix (A New and Stronger You)


Now and again in life you need to let go
Even of yourself, your own enemy
To realize that no make pretend can cure
An unspoken pain

You can lie to the person beside you
Or to the rest of the world
But you cannot lie to yourself, to God,
He knows chambers of your heart

Truth sets you free
Unveil the face behind the mask
Let the pain consume you to ashes
To be the groundwork of a new you

When such aching is released
Oh what a great reprieve for the soul
Healing, restoration is on the way
Giving way to a better day



[1]Phoenix is a magical bird in ancient stories that lives for 500 years, burned itself to ashes on pyre, and rose alive from the ashes to live another period;also a person or thing likened to the phoenix.

Thursday, June 05, 2014

MY FAITH IN HUMANITY, RESTORED

 
In the vast ocean of negative publicity about humanity, a story of random kindness is like a precious jewel found in the bottom of the ocean. In my case last May 22 Thursday, I was able to discover not just one jewel of kindness but so much more. I believe that the kindness that was shared to me by these people deserve to be known. Like one of my former professor in law school once said, a kind word can go a long way.

 

 

I am but an ordinary person, a commuter in any way you can imagine, and yes though I have experience losing things but to have an actual encounter with a snatcher is perhaps one of the most traumatic experiences. Last May 22 my wallet was taken from me on the middle of the road at five in the afternoon. Many people witnessed but perhaps due to fear nobody can really come to aid. The snatcher upon wrapping his right arm on my neck by his left hand grabbed my wallet stared at me then cursed and cursed saying that he will kill me should I come close to him. Despite the many advise I have heard not to plead to the snatcher I begged if I could at least get some of the things there with sentimental value, but of course he just continued to curse and provoked that he will get a weapon from his pocket and will kill me. While he was running I tried to follow his direction and yelled snatcher snatcher!!! Normally there were police in their motorcycle along that area but on that particular instance, there was none. When he was already on the road several buses passed by and I lost track of him. So off he went with my wallet (mind you I really don’t have that much cash at the time), my atm cards and plenty of memories. But the experience of someone attacking you can be very very traumatic.

Shocked I walked straight ahead and went to the nearest fast food chain to sit down and to calm myself. Feeling dismayed and broken-hearted I thought in time of crisis you really are alone after all. Many people saw the incident but nobody was able to help me.

However, even if nobody was able to help me at that precise moment, one of the witnesses followed me. While sitting in the outdoor seats of the fast food chain one good Samaritan came over to offer help. He said he saw my snatcher somewhere outside Alabang Town Center, he changed clothes and was accompanied by a lady. He offered that we follow his trail and report him to the police. But it was already hard for me to recognize the culprit because he already changed outfit. The good Samaritan instead offered to take me to the Police station of Muntinlupa to report the incident. I asked if he can accompany me to describe the snatcher but I can feel the he does not want to be too involved not wanting to take much of his time I thanked him for his assistance. It was my first time to go to a police station.

With all the negative associations we have with our police officers, I was hesitant at the beginning I was afraid. Contrary however to the negative things I hear about the police they were actually very responsive. They even offered me to drink a glass of water; I was in a state of panic bursting in tears. They immediately accompanied me to go around the area that perhaps we can still see the culprit; we searched and searched but to no avail. Thereafter after making the report, I was escorted back to a church in Alabang Hills where I left my other things because I was supposed to attend a service that afternoon. Instead, I just offered prayer, thanked the Lord I was not harmed, prayed for the person who stole my wallet and thanked for friends who came to my aid and lend me money for the meantime.

I told myself, you always learn your lesson after, and this experience taught me to be more alert of my surroundings, of my belongings, and most importantly of myself. Even if there are many people around and it is only late afternoon. I slept late thinking and worrying about my atm cards and other memorabilia I have in my wallet. The experience somewhat punched my heart. I was a firm believer in the goodness of humankind; but at that very moment when the incident happened and nobody came to help, I thought in times of danger you really will be by yourself. Not that I was looking for a “hero” to my rescue but among the many people present during the incident nobody helped. I thought, perhaps it is a standard norm to expect for people now to practice self- preservation and be practical, but just the idea that in times of immediate need nobody will help you even in a public place kind of broke my faith in humanity. The following day I woke up and said it is a new day. Time to move on and forget everything, then just when I was about to forget everything my faith in humanity was restored.
At about seven in the morning I got a text message from saying, “Good am po, ito po yung asawa ng bus na sinakyan ninyo. May mga atm yung wallet mo pero walang pera…”then they gave their address so I can get it from their house… I paused and said is this a miracle. Yesterday my wallet was stolen from me and then the day after someone found it and wants to return it. I cannot be more grateful. After confirming my identity by enumerating the contents of the wallet they have at hand I set an appointment with the lady who texted me if I can go to their residence to get my wallet. I discovered that after stealing my wallet from me my snatcher rode a bus and after getting the cash in my wallet left my wallet in the bus. After the scheduled trip of the bus for that day, the bus conductor inspected the seats and there found my wallet. He surrendered it to the bus driver who upon going home instructed his wife to contact me the following day to return my wallet. Rare are the people who will go out of their way to return something they have found, I cannot be more thankful that my snatcher rode that particular bus. The honesty of the conductor and the bus driver cannot be discounted. If it were another bus, I doubt if they will find time to look for the owner of the pink wallet.
Not wanting to go alone in retrieving my wallet, I asked for the assistance of the police who recorded the incident the day before and at about 11am in the morning he personally accompanied me to retrieve the wallet. Upon arriving at the house of the family who found my wallet, I received such a warm, warm welcome. I can feel how worried they were of the owner of the wallet. I felt that I instantly earned a friend. I lose some but with great gain. This may seem like an ordinary experience for some, but to me it was such a revelation, an affirmation about the innate goodness of human kind.  

I also have a new way of looking at our police officers; contrary to the immense negative publicity about them I realized that a good number our police are dedicated to their job. They are just unsung heroes. Having my story published is just my small way telling the world that there is still hope in humanity. Kindness, honesty, friendliness do exist. My story is a testament of the Filipino concept of ‘malasakitan’ even to those they do not know personally but needs help.

In line with this, I want to extend my gratitude (words cannot explain) to the Manalo Family, to Mrs. Manalo, especially to the driver and conductor of Igan bus who found my wallet and the initiative on their part to search for my number and contact me.

To the PNP of Muntinlupa especially to PO2 Arroyo for the assistance in retrieving my wallet even if it was no longer his duty. There are still people in this world with good heart, who share their kindness without asking for anything in return.
 

Mabuhay Po Kayo!
Ang inyong kabutihan at katapatan ay nararapat tularan ng bawat Pilipino


I believe in the saying that a random act of kindness can make a huge difference; and wherever there is human kind there is a chance for kindheartedness.


 

To my robber, wherever you are praying for you and your companion. I know you are a victim as well, a victim of poverty. God can change your heart and your situation. God bless you.

 


Thursday, April 17, 2014

REALIGNED: MY JOURNEY NOW

The Blessing of Brokenness
Psalm 32:5 "Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity
I said I will confess my transgressions to the Lord and you forgave the guilt of my sin."

We can have the confidence here on earth that we have an advocate with the Father in heaven, Jesus the Righteous one, the atoning sacrifice for our sins not only for ours but also for the sin of the world.
And at times of our foolishness and indiscretion we can set our hearts at rest, for if our hearts condemn us we know that God is greater than our hearts.

Every day when the sun rises is a new chance to make ourselves more worthy; the old is gone and what the Father sees in us when He looks down upon us in not our folly but the stripes of Christ who washed away all the sins of our yesterdays. What an assurance, what a great love.

Written in the Corinthians, for the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. But God choose the foolish things of the world to shame the strong.

God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things of this world, and the things despised  so that no one may boast before Him. It is because of Him that you and I (we) are in Christ Jesus who has become for us wisdom, God that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore as it is written: "Let the one who boats boast in the Lord."
Following Jesus

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid which is called Jesus Christ, if any of us think that we are wise by the standard of age, we should become fools so that we may become wise.

For the wisdom of the world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness." The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile so then no more boasting about human leaders.
All things are ours, all are ours, us who love the Father, and we are of Christ and Christ is of God.

"JESUS IS THE PERFECTER OF OUR FAITH" Therefore, since we are surrounded by such great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that entangles our journey and let us run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us fixing our eyes only on Jesus, the pioneer and the perfecter of our FAITH.

Unity in the Body of Christ
Accepting Jesus Christ in my life allowed me to enter God's rest, the promise of His great love that no SIN however enormous and shameful can separate me from His presence because His love is so GREAT, SO FAITHFUL, AND UNCONDITIONAL. There is no promise that He made that He did not keep and as for all I need to do is to enter the REST of which He promised to those who believes in Him.

Struggles come and go, test come and go, weakness of the flesh still taunts because it is the devil's only weapon to lure us to his side but now my eyes were made to see, my mind was made aware of why I struggled then and even now in the presence of sin it is because of THE SEED OF RIGHTEOUSNESS planted by the Father in my heart, because of the knowledge of the sacrifice of Jesus for us to be WORTHY; and though there is already the surety of VICTORY... I still yearn to be spotless and blameless not for my own righteousness but because of the righteousness of the Lord and because of His LOVE, GRACE and MERCY.

Praise and thanksgiving to our Father in heaven who loves us so much... Let us welcome His DISCIPLINE in every way because it is a living testimony that He moves in our lives.

It is written in Hebrews 12:7-12 "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their Father. If you are not disciplined- and everyone undergoes discipline then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

For the Father created our inmost being,
He knits us together in our mother's womb, just as he formed the stars in heaven; and every sand dune blown by the wind in the desert
Let us praise Him because we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
For my life then that went astray, I ask forgiveness to the Father in the name of Jesus, to not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways but to remember me in love.

My flesh and my heart may fail but I find strength in the Father

He is hope of my heart for all eternity.