Wednesday, May 25, 2011

I am back.... with deliveries!

Yes, I am back.... its been 2 months of silence. Or should I say 2 months of "busyness"  hehe... I don't know where to start again. Have loads of things to tell and share. It's a good thing I got with me my reliable notebook. This will be a series of blogs for I cannot input everything in a single entry.

March is a month of deliveries for me!

First for all.... Finally we got our Schengen Visa. Details of the much awaited tour on my next blog.


Second I received my package from Amazon.

Remember the entry about healthy weekend spend at New World Hotel? While undergoing the process of cleansing. I indulge myself to the monitor in front of my "single bed". HBO featured movie that time: Julie & Julia.
Julie & Julia is a movie that will make your gastronomical side turn upside down. Julie a new yorker, married and a blogger. Her aim is to cook all the 524 recipes of Julia Child in 365 days. The movie is enticing enough that it gave me the urge to order the very same cookbook that Julie used. I want to learn how to cook all kinds of dishes. I want my food to be always palatable. Superb taste that will give water to everyone's mouth. It's my dream and I am still hoping someday I will become a great cook.
the rest of  my package from amazon.com

Third, I received the confirmation from Discovery Shores.  Again, details for this one on my next blog.

Last but not the least. Macau Trip Airline & Hotel Tickets are emailed to my sister. Macau/Hongkong in June.

One of my dreams is to travel a lot and I feel so blessed  that God is letting me have it now. :)

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Our Lady of Manaoag

Finally after a year Alvin and I came back to our sacred place. It's been a tradition for us, to visit the Our Lady of Manaoag. And I am so happy that we were able to go there last Saturday inspite of being intoxicated the night before. (not so drunk! but kinda tipsy and kilig for seeing HB aka "binoy" ;-))

We woke-up at 2:45a.m. and left home at exactly 3:30am. It was a 3.5hours drive from Muntinlupa...We arrived at Manaoag around 8-8:30a.m. Unfortunately, we were not able to attend the mass.
 We just went up to Her relic and pray. I felt renewed after touching even just the hem of Our Lady's dress. It's like all my problems vanished in air. All I think that time is how lucky Alvin and I for experiencing that kind of serenity. I felt so at peace.... I hope I could always be like that. :) Anyway, after paying respect to Our Lady we passed their store. It is where you can buy some religious paraphernalia. Novena booklets, Rosary, Relics of Saints, Self-Help Books, etc. As I was scanning the Novena's rack Alvin kept on walking around looking for something, then he stopped and smiled at me I asked why and he showed me a plastic filled with Holy Bread or "Hostia" as we usually called it. His explanation goes like this..... " I will give it to Oscar, because every time we go to communion sinasabi nya... "Daddy I also want to eat that"..." haha! cute... It made my day! We paid my novena and oscar's hostia and went down for the next step...mass offering.


The line was not too long. We also bought candles.

A lot of thing have changed. From the parking lot to the candle area where people solemnly pray before offering/lighting their candles. As well as the office where you pay for mass offering. It's more organize and systematic.  Comfort rooms were renovated and they build 1 more near the canteen. (I hope they clean it well so that the people around the area taking a quick rest and eating their baon's will not loose their appetite)  Even the road, they fixed it. It's nice to know that parishioners are doing great changes to beautify the place and give more comfort to devotees like us. I can't wait to go back again!



Next stop.........





It was a long 2 hours drive for me and Alvin. Why? because right after 1km of driving from Manaoag our aircon broke down. Just imagine 10:00a.m. in Pangasinan with the glaring heat of the sun. We are both puyat and everything. I really felt the summer!

We ate at the famous MEAT PLUS.... it was a much anticipated lunch. Got over excited with the steak that when I had my 1st bite it was a disappointment for my taste buds. But because of hunger I finished it all. Me and my katakawan haha!

My Steak

Alvin's Grilled Salmon

Alvin's Spaghetti and Meatballs

Then we went to one of the many duty free's inside Subic. Alvin bought his shirts... Lacoste's price was really a bargain. Bought some groceries, my favorite Meiji Melty Kiss, Planters South Beach Diet inspired assorted nuts, Extra Virgin Olive oil for my friend, some lotions and soaps, etc.

It was a short fun trip for me and Alvin. Perfect for rekindling our lost quality time. Hopefully we can do it again before 2011 ends.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Update!


My kuya arrived this morning from Japan. They board the 11:30pm flight yesterday and arrived in Hongkong at 3:00am, stayed in the airport and waited for their 8:45am connecting flight to Manila. I haven't talk to him. We let him rest muna, afterall what he experienced is kind of traumatic. I am sure this will be the talk for the whole week. As we will all be eager to hear his own version of the killer earthquake.

God is really good! :)

Friday, March 11, 2011

Have....

Another notes worthy to share....


Nuggets #33 

HAVE......

Have peace enough to pass all understanding.
Have hope enough to keep your heart looking forward.
Have strength enough to battle obstacles and overcome them.
Have commitment enough to not give up to soon.
Have faith enough to please God.
Have fun enough to enjoy every aspect of life.
Have patience enough to let faith complete its work in you.
Have love enough to give to those who deserve it the least but need it the most.
Have focus enough to say no to many good ideas.
Have forgiveness enough to never let the sun go down on your wrath.
Have honesty enough to never have to remember what you said.
Have character enough to do in the light what you do in the dark.
Have gratitude enough to say "thank you" for the small things.
Have purpose enough to know why, not just how.
Have perseverance enough to run the entire race that is set out before you.
Have wisdom enough to fear God and obey Him.
Have responsibility enough to the most dependable person you know.
Have confidence enough that you and God make a majority
Have kindness enough to share what you have and who you are with others.
Have mercy enough to forgive and forget.
Have devotion enough to do the right things on a daily basis.
Have courage enough to face and fight any opposition to what you know is right.
Have optimism enough to know that God's plan are blessed.
Have trust enough that will direct your steps.
Have expectancy enough to be on the lookout for miracles every day.
Have enthusiasm enough to show that God is in you.
Have obedience enough to do what is right without thinking twice.
Have direction enough to know when and where to go.
Have knowledge enough to have your mind continually renewed.
Have credibility enough to cause others to want to work together with you.
Have generosity enough to give before being asked.
Have compassion enough to be moved by the needs of others.
Have loyalty enough to be committed to others.
Have dependence enough to know that you need God.




8.9 Magnitude hit Japan

Memories of the past tremor that hit baguio big time are still vivid in my head. It was scary and seeing the aftermath was even more terrifying. Hundreds of people were injured. A lot died. Infrastructures were destroyed and terror and panic were so visible. It was a decade ago........ I don't want to experience it again. And then......

Yesterday, as I was doing something in my office. My head secretary Meanne told me that an earthquake hit
Japan. I said, yes two days ago they felt a 7.3magnitude earthquake. And she said, "No, it happened today about a few minutes ago". That's when I started searching the net for some breaking news. Just then my cp ring, my sister in law Leah was calling me....then I panicked because I remembered my brother Aldrin is in Tokyo. I answered the phone and thank God my kuya confirmed thru a phone patch that they are safe. No one from his entourage were hurt. He was not able to give Leah a detailed account of what happened. They are trying to save whatever is left of his cellphone's battery. I did not feel the tremor nor experience the huge waves. But knowing that my kuya is there summoned my fear. I can feel the panic rising from my veins to my heart and mind. But, I have to fight it and trust God instead. I know He will take care of my bro. I am positive about it!

I was able to watched a live coverage of the aftermath. The sight was dreadful. Seeing cars, ships, houses moved by the strong current of the Tsunami was terrifying. I can't help but be scared for the lives of those people trapped in that kind of disaster. Even here, Tsunami warning were up to level 2 and will hit our East Coastline by 5:00-7:00 pm yesterday. Thank God we are spared.

Let's continue on praying for those people that were badly hit by the catastrophe. God be with us all!




On a lighter side I want to share a funny conversation between me and my mom......as leah asked me to call her and my dad.

Me: Hello, Ma asan ka?
Mama: Nasa house pa din ako ng tita Ellen mo.
Me: Alam mo na ba nangyari sa Japan?
Mama: Hindi, ano?
Me: Nag earthquake 8.9 magnitude, grabe ang lakas.
Mama: Oh! e malayo naman ang Japan sa Pilipinas!
Me: Hello! andon kaya ang isa mong anak, ur unico hijo!
Mama: hay! oo nga ninerbyos naman ako bigla syo....pano daw? ano daw? (she's crying na while asking details)....
Me: Ma don't worry kuya is okay. 

Last update from Leah about my bro. cp signal are still hard, system were down. I wasn't able to ask about electricity. Their flight today is at 4:30pm but they will try to rebook it for an earlier schedule.

May God embrace them with His protection.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Blind Boy

I just want to share a forwarded message from my inbox.... I was moved by it and i am sure anyone who will read it will have the same effect as mine. Life is really beautiful in every aspect. We should always be grateful no matter what circumstances we are into. Finding positivity in an opposite situation surely is a winner! Smile! :)
 
 
 
Subject: Blind Boy
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet.
He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help."  There were only a few coins in the hat. 
Description:                                                      cid:8AA2D9BB-E7A1-4F96-9ADC-6AAE4DBC78F0 
   
A man was walking by.  He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat.  
He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words.  
He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words. Soon the hat began to fill up.  
A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.  That afternoon the man who had changed the sign
came to see how things were.  The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning?  
What did you write?" 
  
Description:                                                      cid:80CB19F8-AEA6-409C-AEC9-8D4FE825057E
   
The man said, "I only wrote the truth.  I said what you said but in a different way.
"I wrote: 'Today is a beautiful day; but I cannot see it.'"
Both signs told people that the boy was blind.  But the first sign simply said the boy was blind.  
The second sign reminded people how fortunate they were to have their sight.  
Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?    
Description:                                              cid:A07AC970-41FC-4FD4-919F-905A5925C9A6

   
Moral of the Story:  

Be thankful for what you have.  Be creative.  Be innovative.  Think differently and positively.

When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile.
Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence.  
Prepare for the future without fear.  Keep the faith and drop the fear.
It's a beautiful thing to see a person smiling.
But even more beautiful is knowing that you are the reason for the smile!
Faith is not about everything turning out OK;  Faith is about being OK no matter how things turn out.
If you appreciate this message, please share. You may touch someone's heart today and forever.

Enjoy this beautiful day with a heart full of gratitude.