Today is mother’s day!

Happy mother’s day to all the mothers around the world!  It’s Mother’s Day today but i am away from home. But i call and i greet my mama a Happy Mohter’s Day! Here’s a little prayer I’ve found in the internet. May God bless the moms!

"Lord, protect and guide mothers everywhere to look out for their children. Help them teach and love their children as You love and teach us. Mothers are very important and help them do their vocation in a loving way. Amen."

As promised, I will post pictures when I have the time.  Right now I’m so sleepy!  Good night!

Inspirational text message

 Being away from home do  good things to me, in fact i miss my family they do the same even just for two days. It can be exciting, sometimes. I was erasing old messages in my mobile phone when I read this message sent by my brother long ago. It’s like God is telling that my decision is right.  God bless me!

Be grateful where you are now, God has wonderful plans in your life far beyond you can ever dreamed of.  Be patient while you wait. His timing is never late.

Posing by the sea

I’m posting these pictures taken when we went to the beach and spa resort near my friend’s house. I like the place so much.  The sea breeze and the view is amazing!

Me by the sea!

Me again!

Tonight we went to Bacolod, so I’ll have more pics to post.  But for now, I have to sleep!

Resignation

I have to say farewell to my job for I won’t work there again. I resigned coz my mother keeps on telling me “Mai you have to stop working there.  The job is not doing well for your health.” You see I have a little sickness that’s why my mother is concerned. She’s too worried about my health more than I am.

It’s the first time for me to make a big decision of my own.  I am blessed to have good friends, a family who love to share what they’ve experienced. They keep on sharing their accomplishments to encourage me to keep on trying and not quit. Even if I have failed before they are still eager to help me succeed in whatever i do. This family is so blessed coz God is the center of their life. I believe that because of this (being near to God), their blessings flow easily. That’s why from now on I will put God first in everything I do and pray that I will be successful this time in the decision I’ve made.

Trip

I set the alarm clock to 6:45 in the morning. I woke up and dressed up hurriedly and checked on my things for my trip; saw to it that everything was ready and all my things were packed properly, then I was ready to go. So I bade goodbye to my parents coz the rest of the people at home were still asleep except my Mama and Papa.  We ate breakfast together.

I arrived at 8:50am at the bus terminal. It was my consolation that I missed the first trip coz I do not like to travel by air-conditioned bus, I would feel suffocated inside. I rather choose buses w/out air-con so that I can breathe the fresh air as we pass by the mountains and sugarcane fields. Even for sea travel, I prefer non-aircon boats/ferries to freely breathe the sea breeze.

The bus departed at the terminal at 10:30 am. All the while, I felt bored coz traveling alone is too boring. Thank God, I brought my prayer book so I kept my eyes busy reading it. 

At 12:00 noon the bus stopped over at Toledo City, for us, the passengers, to eat our lunch. We got down and went to the little restaurant, and got relaxed. The barge departed at 1:00 pm going to San Carlos City.

I was so excited at that time, at last a little more travel to do and I would reach my friend’s place. I arrived at their place at exactly 5:30 pm. Wow! It was a very exciting and marvelous travel; you could just imagine me traveling alone. I survived the trip! Now I know that if you just trust God, everything is possible.

Preparation

I finally decided to resign from my job coz there is an opportunity offered by a friend and I am willing to take the risk. I made this very big decision so I am going to face it then.  My friend was communicating through internet and telephone. So I asked permission at work that I would resign coz of a bigger oppotunity, but actually i was uneasy with the job as it doesn’t fit me. Mama is afraid that my thyroid imbalance would come back if I’d continue with that work coz of the pressure. It is really hard if you have this kind of disease. I need to be very careful, everything should be in proper way; you have to do this and do that. I am very much thankful to God for giving me my mother, she’s very supportive and she knows what is best for me.

Anyway, I need to pack my things for my trip to Negros!  It’s a long trip coz I’ll just take the land trip but I will be enjoying the beautiful sceneries… I have mixed emotions coz it’s my first time to travel alone. Negros here I come!!!

Labor day thoughts

It is a national holiday. No work at all… but hard to face the reality here in the Philippines lots of strikers grab the opportunity to use the day to express their rights towards global economic. Holiday is nice to celebrate but how can we celebrate it if our stomach is empty???

STRIKERS, STRIKERS, STRIKERS!!! It is really very sad to hear their woes, but who cares, lots of people don’t care. In fact if their grievances are heard, many people will benefit from it.

Anyway, I enjoyed my holiday coz I received  a phone call unexpectedly from a very dear friend telling me that if I am free to visit them in their place in the Western part of Visayas, Negros Occidental.  For me, it’s one of the beautiful places in Philippines. Four years ago I was at that place. It was a nice experience for me.  I might visit them coz I haven’t seen them for a long time. We only communicate through internet chatting and exchanging mails.

Painful

Jesus suffered on the cross, why is it He sacrifice Himself on the cross? I could just imagine the pain He experienced at Mt. Calvary. He sacrificed His body just to save us all from sins and because of His love. Everybody has his own sacrifices and experience the ups and downs in life. But even though we encounter such problems we can not compare the pain that Jesus experienced in Mt. Calvary. We all know the sacrifices of Jesus and Mary. As a Roman Catholic did you ask such question to yourself? In what way or how can we repay Jesus’ sacrifices for us? Yes, we love Jesus and Mary, but how can we recompense or even just make them happy. Repentance is just not enough if it is not put into action. It’s hard to do, but if we just try heartily, surely God will accept our petitions and the blessings will flow easily.

Jobless

Why is it here in the Philippines when we are in our thirties,it is hard to find a job? That is the reason why there are many jobless people. And why is it in other places like America, Europe, Taiwan, etc. there are no age limitations? Yes that is one of the reasons why Philippine progress is too slow and many families are suffering of poverty.

Actually if the companies just give jobs to those in need, regardless of age, maybe the crisis will be minimized. Instead of this age discrimination, why not give jobs to those who have the qualifications based on their experience. In fact there are times that we envy the other countries for being too progressive since they provide work for everybody, even the disabled, as long as they can serve their country. That is why we can not blame other people when they commit suicide; they just feel hopeless and abandoned (by their own country?).

Love

L O V E… What does it really mean for you??? For me love is everything, you can love what you want but of course there is a limitation. It is nice to know that in this world people love one another. It could be nice to hear then! But for me, loving God is the best love above all… Why is it that there are people who can not love God as how He loves us? In fact He died on the cross because of His love for us. There are different kinds of love - the love of God, our family, relatives, friends etc. But today, there are lots of people who do not know its real meaning? Specially the love of opposite sex, they just take for granted the person’s feeling. Yaks, it hurts especially if you really love the person then suddenly he/she is gone.

The indecisive me

I sometimes hate myself for being doubtful every time I make decisions in my life. It can be small or big decisions. I think I depend too much on my parents, just like a small child who depends on her parents for everything.

Seems it’s hard for me to decide alone and the worse thing is I keep on asking my parents if this is good or bad. I have to prove to them that I am not a child anymore and I have to struggle on my own and that I can stand alone and face the world by myself. Yes, I need a back up sometimes in every move I make in life.  I can ask for their opinion but in the end, it’s my own decision that matters.  I should tell myself “Mai, it is not too late. Please try to stand alone!”

Thoughts on friendship

Here on earth it’s hard to find a real friend whom we can share our feelings, thoughts and relationship with.  People may come and go in our life for sure that’s why it’s hard to find real friends. I have my own circle of friends but I don’t really know who my real friend is, someone that I can trust in good and bad times and share the kind of friendship that last a life time.

If ever you meet a real friend, do not be afraid to show your love to him/her for once you lost a true friend it is hard to find and win them back again.

I thank God for giving me true friends whom I share great moments that I will cherish forever.

Happy Birthday Karol!!!

Karol`s B-day, by the way, this niece of mine was born last April 4, 2005, a day after the death of Pope John Paul II. That is why we call her Karol Wojtyla, the late’s Pope real name.

She turned  3 yrs. old yesterday that means it’s been three years since the beloved Pope John Paul II passed away. He was a very good man that is why many people love him.  We’re praying that someday he will become saint, just like Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

Weekend at Barili

Last weekend my Papa, younger brother and auntie visited our relatives in Barili, the hometown of my father.  It was the fiesta of the said town.  Their patron saint is Sta. Ana, the mother of Blessed Mary.

We had lots of fun because it’s a totally different experience being in a rural area.  They celebrate the fiesta in a traditional way.  They throw huge parties where everybody is invited even strangers.  We stayed there for three days. Three days of fun, going places and eating delicious food!

Want some proof? These are our pics:

 
Outside the church…

at the altar

hiking to our relative’s house

eating time!

a weird nipa house in front of our ancestral house

Visit to Simala

My friend and I went to Simala, Cebu this week to visit the shrine of our Blessed Mother.  As usual, there were many pilgrims. Before saying our prayers, we took time to snap each other’s pictures.  

Here are some shots of myself taken at the Simala Shrine: 

at the entrance…

the huge statue facing the church…

at the grotto beside the church…

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Four, three, two, one… Boooom! Happy New Year, everybody is busy waiting for 2008. Goodbye 2007! Thank God,  it was really a great year that even with the ups and downs we encountered, here we are still alive and kicking with the help of our Lord God Almighty.

We celebrated the Christmas and New Year happily and peacefully and in good health. And so, another year to struggle. Let`s welcome 2008!  I am sure lots of questions are being asked for this year to happen. Only one thing is for sure, a simple person like me longs for peace and unity for the whole world and lots of accomplishment by me this year for a better life.

My Father and Brother’s birthday

 On Thursday morning as the alarm rang, my mother woke me up for it`s the 5th day of the Misa de Gallo which also happens to be my father and brothers’ birthday. As usual I have to wake up early to attend the Mass. What a very pleasant morning  for us for the whole family attended the mass!

Again I saw those bibingka, suman  and other native delicacies and the aroma of the hot chocolate - perfect food to eat after the Mass. There were lots of people inside the church, sleepy people!Most of us vowed to complete the 9 day novena Masses - a preparation for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Anyway, it`s Christmas time  soon….  "oh, come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord… "  Christmas songs fill the air. Lots of people are too busy buying gifts for their loved ones, relatives and friends. Also the godparents are busy preparing gifts for their inaanak. "People making list buying special gifts, taking time to be kind to one and all… Why don`t you give love on Christmas day?…

Happy Feast of Immaculate Conception!!!

At 3:00 A.M…RINGGG! The alarm clock was ringing… "Mai, it`s time to wake up, remember the procession is going to start at 4:00 A.M". And after the procession there will be a Mass. So I woke up right away and changed.

What a beautiful Saturday morning to celebrate the Feast of Our Dear Lady, the most beautiful and loving mother in the whole world! This is the day that she conceived a child named "Jesus".

Fourth day at work…

Oh, what a wonderful day! As I wake up early at 5:30 in the morning I go directly to the bathroom to take a bath. Actually it`s not my usual time of waking up coz I used to wake up at 7 am. Nothing to do but to wake up and get ready for time changes na. I need to go to work not like before that I can be a happy go lucky gal.

Wow, some things really change and need to face the truth…huhuhu. And quess what??? Since i have this job, it makes me feel like a first-timer, so excited of having this job. So strike, while the iron is hot!

I want one

"… a hidden sanctuary between the trees where butterflies flutter about…"