Happy Father's Day Specially...

...To the men of my life, my dad and my brother.

I'd like to honor my brother on this Father's Day, for being a loving husband and a great dad. He is an achievement for my parents for being a great provider to his family. I always believe that he is our pride in the family as a brother and a son to my parents. I am proud to be his sister too!

Most specially I'd love to honor my father. We call him Papa. He is a loving husband too and a great father. No wonder my brother grow up just like him, a great dad of all time. I think my dad is doing the best thing he can for his children. That is in loving our mother.

To all dads out there, happy father's day. I do believe that, our Almighy Father is proud of all of you who have been responsible in loving the world. Because I believe that man give love, and makes the world a better place to live in. This world needs a man who knows how to love and who know God. Love is of God. Amen!!!

For this is a very special day to all dads, let me share my Kenny G collection from youtube:

I hope you all love my present to you all. Happy Father's Day once again!!!

Company Summer Outing 2008

This year's Philcom Summer Outing was, for the second time, held at Duka Bay. It is located at Medina, Misamis Oriental, a three hours drive away from Cagayan de Oro City.

So I will be posting some of my pictures taken there, while we had some parlor games. I am also posting the view inside the beach resort. Pictures were taken last April18-19. Some of us actually went there for an overnight videoke and some swimming, I was with the team who manage to arrive at 8pm of April18. Then some came early the next morning.

If you notice some eye bags, its normal for me, its all because we just have less than an hour sleep due to our singing career that night.

The Duka Bay Resort:

The last we were here was in May of 2002, the same company summer outing. So many chances now with the beach and the place. They added several amenities and cool cottages. I think it is a lot better now.

Me fresh from swimming with Ann:

Climbed the tree for a pose!

Trying to be someone else.

Go Team Polu !!!

I belonged to team Polu, we won second in the over-all competion. Actually we only lost one game out of 5 but due to the point system, we missed becoming the champion. Our group simplified each game, which made us finish each task at a very short time. In every game, intellectual intervention is necessary, which was present in our team.

I rate my team mates an A, they are very cooperative and eager to win. But most of all, we did everything to enjoy the presence of each one in the group. This makes every team excel.

Getting ready for a thread relay (LIFO-we won)!

We were the last team to be able to pass the thread to the next person, all because of me. The blouse I have got longer sleeves. But I did something to make it move faster. It made our time win. Hehehe!

Cheering practise - hiphip, hurray!

Preparing the props.

Anything goes...

Hazel, Me, Connie and Hirah

Hazel, Me, Connie and Annalie

Connie, Me, Hazel, and Zarah(she's looking at the cheering)





The Night Swimmers:

Roland Garros Finals - 2008 French Open

No surprise, that the Spaniard 22 years old, Rafael Nadal, second man to win French Open titles for the fouth time, dominated the men's final game against Roger Federer. A game well played and well ended at 6-1, 6-3, 6-0.

While Pete Sampras was well known to me not winning the same title, I guest most of the spectators, was frustrated too knowing Roger Federer did not take home the grand slam title. I guess life is so fair. We get what we deserve, and in this year's French Open, I think Nadal was more deserving.

Nadal did his best to stand out, and made the crowd frustrated seeing the endgame at 6-0. Knowing Federer did a lot of errors in his forehand, it was a sign, for him not to be able to beat the man in clay.

To our surprise, in the women's final, 22 year old Dinara Safina made it to the finals after winning against Maria Sharapova. But Ana Ivanovic at her 20's manage to put her self to WTA's No.1 rank when she eagerly won 6-4, 6-3 against Dinara.

Ana's first slam title made the Serbs proud. Also proved that it is about time for the Serb to dominate the women's division in this year's French Open.

Not so long ago I have known tennis, I played with a Japanese friend, a friend of my officemate. Although watching the French Open was fun, being in the court simply takes more than hard work to have fun. I salute to the hard work of all the finalist of Roland Garros - French Open 2008.

Let me share my frustrations to all Federer (still ranked ATP's No.1) fans, and thanks to my friends who watched and monitored the game with me.

Can I Go To Heaven?

I hope yes is my answer to this question.

Today, for the first time, I attended our community district assembly. Most of the time, I do have excuses not to attend. Busy hours, career and family matters are included in those excuses. But I made no excuse today.

After knowing that month of May is a recess, for our district assembly meeting, I missed our community. In April, I experienced heaven with the community members. I realized how much I missed not attending any of our district assembly meeting.

Our community caters both single and married members. As a single KSD member, I declined to be part of the district community. I think I was so afraid to join with the married and older brothers and sisters. I limit my self in serving God. But my eyes were opened everytime married couples adopt singles in each meeting we have. It means that they provide food for us, singles, so we need not prepare anything. I felt like their child, so spoiled to have what I want, married couples pampered us singles in the community.

In todays bible reflection, the scripture mentioned about "Doing the will of God, leading to heaven". It enlightens me about how important to do His will. How important it is to be with the community for God's love.

Loving God in return because He loved me so much is what I believe to be my passport to heaven. And I think it is best expressed in the community and most specially in our office and at home. Servanthood is one thing on my mind to return the love of God for me.

I know that not all of us have the gift of service, but at the moment I keep on praying for God's help for me to be of service to others. In any way, serving others, is the will of God. To serve others to honor and praise my creature. I do believe a blog such this can serve as my inspiration to myself and others, to always remind me how to be in HEAVEN.

A Happy Mother's Day!

I will always be proud and thankful for having the best mom in this world. I know I envy those who have not seen their moms or those who don't know who their moms are.

God loved me so much to give me a mother I am loving so dearly because I think she's the best. She cares for her children a lot. She is loving and caring and very understanding. She gives us the will to decide, she believe we have the gift of wisdom.

She suffered from stroke, still recovering now, her right body is not moving. In her situation, she still keeps the faith. She makes us feel we are loved no matter how hard it is for her to move. She is fighting to gain back her life, which makes us living.

My mother is my life. I owe her a lot. In the worst case, of her stroke, I still see the bright side. Her situation makes us her children care for her more. It gives me the chance to take care of her. To make the things she's done for me when I was still young and up to this day.

Being with my mother on a Mother's Day is for me a happy mother's day!

Reunion Pictures

Pictures posted here were taken at Galam Recreation Hall. We held our batch reunion there in a private room last May 1. With me were my college batchmates and classmates.

Meet the men in the crowd: Mike, Alex, Hubert and Kris.

The balikbayans from Taiwan and Singapore.

Our IECEP Governor!

Girls in the crowd.

We are simply us: Mel, Ann, Grace, Rina and Beauty(me)!

Who says the governor keeps the mic off?

The couple Mr.&Mrs Naces, please excuse the other couples hehehe.

Us minus the photographer.

Guess who's ready to dance? Grace from Taiwan too.

I think Beauty is dancing here :D

More songs or orders?

Why me?

Hoping to be the next coke model.

I don't drink this much hehehe.

Tell me who's missing?

Today is My B-Day!

Happy Birthday to me...

I think I am busy partying hehehe...but most of all thankful for the 31 years God has granted me. I have been counting the countless blessings. The abundance of love and the overflowing graces are overwhelming to know.

Life is so beautiful indeed. And I still long to live longer in His will.

To all my friends: thank you for the greetings and the text messages. You are invited to eat at someone else's house not ours hehehe...sorry wala koy handa. *winks*

May 1 - Reunion Day!

I started my day at 6am, heading towards the house of my brother. His house is more than 10kms away from our house. No one stays in his house when he's not in our city.

My brother and his family is now staying in Manila. They come home every vacation like the months of April to May as well as December.

My parents with my sisters and me, went to his house for their arrival. We clean the house and the surroundings. We also cook food for them.

We are always excited for their home coming. Every year, I look forward to meeting them in the airport or in the port area.

So May 1 in my calendar is marked for another reunion with my brother and his family. We meet them at the airport at 4pm.

Another reunion set on the same day is together with my college classmates and batchmates. Our first reunion after college, college was 9 years ago.

During our college days our school offered 3 courses for engineering: BSEE, BSECE, and BSCompE. I remember that on the first year, there were two sections. Designated sections were: I-A and I-B. Where each sections have 45 students per class. Only 90 students in first year.

Luckily, during the reunion, each courses were represented. However, only from I-B were present. One is an EE, three are CompE, four are ECE, and one who did not make it to finished a course but married on from the group.

We enjoyed seeing each other, and talking with each other. Some were married, and some like me were still single. Worked within the city, while others worked overseas. We missed those who were not present.

As we eat and drink, we also sing along the videoke midi player. We were at Galam Recreation Hall, in a private room number 7. The videoke private room costs P150 per hour and up, depends on how big the room.

Our last song at 11:30pm called it a day.

Blessings in Disguise

This entry is a sequel to my previous article:

The Setting:

In preparation for the Holy week, the Kayahag sa Diyos Community (KSD), held a retreat facilitated by a priest. The venue was in Saint Mary's Academy in Capistrano Complex at Gusa. Married couples and singles were all together gathered in the said event.

During lunch, as usual, the singles were adopted by the married couples. As everyone happily partake the food holy week activities were discussed. One is about the Sedar Meal, where each single members were to decide which married couple group they would join. The groupings was based on the area or location where each members stay.

Further discussions included the Easter Sunday Party. A service team was tasked to prepare the event. I was a member of the said service team.

Inevitably, holy week getaway were secretly whispered. Specially from the singles. Some were bound to join their company to spend it at Camiguin Island. Some wanted to pray the "Stations of the Cross " at Malasag or at Balubal.

Eating was so fun and mouthful, made our stomachs as full as it can.

The Final Plan:

Since some planned to have holy week getaways, we were able to come up with a plan. To go and make a wish at "Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine" at Balubal with some singles on the following Sunday. Those who will commit will have to be at the meeting place at 5am sharp.

The plan also include bring of our own baons, our own packed meals good for breakfast and lunch. To leave those who can't make it before 5:30am. And to call each other to encourage everyone to be as early as possible

My Dilemmas:

I have my graveyard shift at the date set for our trip.

If I swap my schedule with someone, it will be hard since graveyards shift is not a flexible schedule. If we do swapping it can also mean working straight for 16hours. If I don't swap my schedule it means I will have undertime, a one-hour salary deduction. It can mean a memo from HR too or something.

My graveyards shift means my work ends at 6am. It means I can't cook for my food for both breakfast and lunch. It means I can't make it to be there before 5:30am. Worst it can mean me being left behind by the group.

The Blessings:

When I called Cheryl a day before our trip, I asked her if she can bring extra food for me. During the trip her mother prepared for more than 5 persons. The food was more than enough.

I was able to call all you confirmed to join the said trip. As early as 4:30am, I woke most of them.

In Disguise:

Fe had stomach ache a night before our trip. When I called her up she went back to sleep. At 5:30am she informed me she did not have enough sleep because of what happened. She asked me to tell the group to wait for her and me.

My Joy:

The grouped understand Fe's situation, so they waited for us. I was glad I did not have to swap or make undertime. Or make the group wait for me or make them left me. It was someone who made my way to the shrine. Its God's ways.

Indeed blessings in disguise flooded that day. The time stopped, and because we left our meeting place not at 5:30am but as late as 6:30am, we were able to have the extra ordinary trip in a jeepney. PUJs usually don't go as near as the river bank. But since some college students were heading on the same way as ours on boarded on the jeep, the driver agreed to bring us nearest the river bank.

The Finale:

After the prayer at the chapel of the shrine, we eat our baons. Since a niece of Ching celebrated a birthday a day before, we were able to have pasta and some adobo. And we were also invited to have lunch at their house.

I got home at 3pm with so full tummy. Enjoying the abundance of life God gave and believing my wishes were all granted!

Our Way to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

That night I worked 10pm-6am shift, in between one of my graveyards shift last March 15. The rain poured so hard. I just can't help thinking on how can we get through the crossing of the river. They say its hard to have river trekking with a heavy rain a day before an event.

It was Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 6am, we decided to visit the "Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine". This shrine is located in Balubal within Cagayan de Oro City. Our meeting place was at Dunkin Donuts Divisoria. Then we ride a Bugo liner jeepney towards Tablon Elementary School.

We were fortunate, some college students were also on board on the same jeepney with the same destination, the driver decided to take us very near the river bank. We did not hike more and spend more for another ride with a tricycle. A tricycle actually charges P5 per person.

Taking off the jeepney, we meet some kids. Some of the kids sell candles. The price depends on the size of the candle. It ranges from P1-and up. Some kids sell woods. Why woods? Woods can act as canes for walking down the steams of the river. They sell it for P3. Some sell it 3 for P10.

Some did not grab a wood cane, but we were all set to do the first crossing of the river. Geared with a wood cane, I was confident to make it. Some kids meet us in that first river, they offered to help us cross the river. I did not mind them, I tried to cross the river. I was holding a friend, Fe. She's struggling just like me, I did not expected how difficult it is to cross for the first time.

So in the middle of the river, we needed to give in, we hired the kids to help us cross. As they guide, it will cost us. I did donate some amount of money for them. Some donated more than what I gave. And I survived the first river crossed.

After crossing the first river, we reached the first station. Then we all gathered and begun a prayer, "The Stations of the Cross".

Macahambus Adventure Park Slides

White Water Rafting Slide Show

Sharing to you my first White Water Rafting experience last October 23, 2003 here in our city. I was with my college classmate and friends from Smart Telecoms and together with some of their friends.

For beginners, we have this 24 rapids experience. Each raft consist of 4-7 persons with a guide in it. Participants get to paddle, so this isn't a sitting pretty thing. This requires each of the participants and the guide cooperation to enjoy each rapid.

Although this is somewhat an extreme sport, kids 5 years old and up are allowed to ride. The kids have the option not to paddle. Anyone interested to experience the trail of this exciting experience can contact me.

My Slide Show

This is an album I have created in 2006 where I included some pictures at our badminton court. Our company thru our safety committee was able to come up with a wellness program. One of this is the successful installation of 2 badminton courts inside our warehouse.

The pictures captured here reminded me of the opening of our first company wide badminton tournament. The program culminated with the abundance of food where everybody get to eat with our Boss.

By the way I have also included two solo pictures here. One was taken inside our department during my graveyard shift, captured by the camera of JSL. And one was taken at one of our Christmas party in 2005 when I experience edema because of steroidal side effects.

First Rain in April

It is so hot this summer. The sun is shining brightly and seems to cook everything under it specially this April.

Yesterday, the rain poured out. I felt happy to know I get to sleep soundly since the weather is of great help. You see I have this graveyard shift at work, so I need to sleep at day time. Without the rain, I can barely sleep during the noon time.

Most of the time, this summer, I missed the rain so much. I know it is ironic for everyone, we miss something we often hate when it is present. Hehehe. Just like during rainy days, we get to miss the sun. An ironic fact.

No matter if its a rainy or sunny day, there is always a reason for it. I would say, I love rain when I want to sleep, but hates it when I want to roam around this world. Hehehe. I love the sun when I do not have to go out without umbrellas or sweating. I love the sun when I go out mountain climbing, so it means I need not to slide down the hills when I don't mean to hehehe.

I am writing this blog just to express how I appreciate the rain on this summer season.

Justified Anger

Today's reflection in Didache (didache-a daily bible reflections for Catholics), made mention about anger. It says a lot about me.

The light switch is like getting angry now and be cool in another minute. Yes I do that at home and almost anywhere. Specially with someone I know or some one I love. It is so easy to get angry then erase it in my senses since they are my friends or loved ones. My anger management is an "A" for me.

But something happened in October of 2003. I got angry with someone because of what he did to a family member. I do not know him and I doubt him, I never cared for him. It is so easy to just hate him or get angry with him for the rest of my life.

I would say I justified my anger over him. I was so angry because I was hurt of what this person have done to my loved one. Because I can't think of how he could simply hurt my family. The family I love most.

So I shed tear and offered a prayer. I tried to seek God's guidance, because it is so hard for me bearing the heartaches with anger. I felt so sorry about the situation and was angry.

December of that same year I attended the Christening of the son of one of my relatives, a close college batch mate in Bukidnon. During the homily, the message was about forgiving. The priest gave a scenario related to forgiveness. What the priest said "Sinners are sorry and having a hard time admitting their wrongdoings, it can be of great help if we give them prayers and forgiveness," strike me most.

After hearing that mass I felt so light, I was able to release my anger and was able to surrender the pain in my heart. Conspiracy in that Mass convinced me to forgive, my Lord healed me!