A week after October 3, 2009

Exactly last week, we’re scheduled to have 2 food tasting. One was in the morning at MMLDC (Antipolo) and another one in the afternoon at Fernbrook. It was already raining the night before, but since it has been raining almost everyday for the whole month, I took it as another ordinary rainy day.

 

I got up, excited to go to work. I wore my ever relieable slippers since it was raining hard. Before going to the food tasting at MMLDC my brother asked me if he should go and take pictures. Since we have a theme for the food tasting (I was very excited about this cause our stylist and I worked hard for the concept.) I looked up to him and said yes, unknowingly the next time I’ll see him will be at 9 am the next day.

Ian, who took this picture, together with our Sales Team got stranded last Saturday. They left at the office at 9.30am, they arrived their respective homes 2am the next morning.

Then Ondoy happend and we all know, atleast some of, the stories of changed lives in just a blink of an eye.

 

As I write this I can’t help but be thankful for God’s amazing grace. I told my mom that one of her and my dad’s best decisions in life, aside from surrendering their lives to Christ and getting married was building a house on top of a valley. My mom smiled and said, “it is all from God. We didn’t know that this things (flood etc.) will happend but see God knew, and He spared us.” Just like Noah

 

I am thankful that God spared our family, extended families and loved ones from harm. Yes it is all from God. When God blessed you so much, you CAN”T return it by apathy. You have to give back. 

 

Listening to stories of my officemates, watching them softly cry, as they tell their stories,  (in our company 60 families were GREATLY affected by the typhoon) broke my heart.  While they were telling their stories, I silently plead to God to meet them in the midst of these.

It was a heartbreaking and moving experience for me.

Just like wearing a new pair of contact lenses, I got a better understanding that everything comes from God. EVERYTHING. This experience also made me remember that investing on earthly things should not be on top of my list of priorities. That people, relationships, compassion, love, faith, prayer, evangelism and life are far more valuable than non-living things that makes me happy for a short time.

Now this song has more meaning than ever:

Blessed Be Your Name

Blessed be Your name
in the land that is plentiful
Where your streams of abundance flow
blessed be Your name

and blessed be Your name
when I’m found in the desert place
though i walk through the wilderness
blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out I’ll turn back to praise
and when the darkness closes in Lord still i will say:

blessed be the name of the Lord
blessed be Your name
blessed be the name of the Lord
blessed be Your glorious name

and blessed be your name
when the sun’s shining down on me
when the world’s “all as it should be”
blessed be your name

and blessed be your name
on the road marked with suffering
though there’s pain in the offering
blessed be your name

every blesssing you pour out i’ll turn back to praise
when the darkness closes in Lord still i will say:

blessed be the name of the Lord
blessed be your name
bleseed be the name of the Lord
blessed be your glorious name

you give and take away
you give and take away
my heart wil chose to say:
blessed be your name (blessed be your name lord)

For the book lovers April 4, 2009

Kick off the summer with OMF Literature’s unbelievably huge sale!

R.O.B. Us! Raid Our Bookshop: The Ultimate Sale
13-25 April 2009
OMF Lit Manila, Cebu, and Davao

Buy in bulk and enjoy big savings at the OMF Literature Bookshop in Manila, Cebu, and Davao. Take your pick of any combination of books at low, low prices:

FIVE-orites (any 5 for P200)
Reader’s Dozen (any 12 for P400)
Thrifty Fifty (any 50 for P1500)

Plus more cheap steals, including reads for kids for as low as P5!

Stock up on Christmas gifts and birthday presents as early as now! Choose among books such as: The Bible Jesus Read (Philip Yancey), Dear Dr. Sala (Harold J. Sala), Bringing Up Boys (Dr. James Dobson), and many more! For a complete list of titles on sale, click here:
http://omflit.com/home/events.php?i=76

Hurry! Come early for more great choices!

Only selected titles will be included in the sale. Due to limited stocks, availability of titles cannot be guaranteed. Also, reservations will not be accommodated (e.g. via phone, email, etc.).

Credit card payments are accepted.

For more information, visit OMFLit.com or call the OMF Lit Bookshop:

Manila | 776 Boni Ave. corner Pinatubo St., Mandaluyong City
(02) 531.6635
Cebu | Units 111-112 Marijoy Bldg., 306 F. Ramos St.
(032) 412.5543
Davao | G/F Mitaji Bldg., Tionko corner Mapa Sts.
(082) 221.3416

My Not-So Grown-Up Christmas List December 10, 2008

Every year I always make a Christmas wish list for my family, friends, suitors (hahaha.) and fans

And because somehow it gives me perspective on what I want and what I need…as usual

1. Rest/Alone Time.  I’ve been running a lot of errands lately. I haven’t really got enough rest because of the toxic schedule.

2. DVD Marathon/ Junk Food Marathon. Like waking up late because I slept late due to Heroes and Grey’s Anatomy marathon. And what’s the bset companion when watching dvds? yeah JUNKFOOD. hehehe.

3. Coffee Date. With friends. yeees, you know who you are.

4. Plenty of SR (Spiritual Retreat.) Hay, I wanted to go to the prayer mountain so bad. Been awhile since I had my last Spiritual Retreat.

5. Polo Shirts. Plenty of them. Like Pink, Navy Blue, Black, Brown, Red. hahaha.

6. IMAX experience. I want! I want!

7. Time with the family. I still owe Ivan a movie date .

8. More Events/Weddings coordination and Hosting gigs.  Means more experience, more learning and more moneysss hehehe.

9. Books. by Nicholas Sparks, John Piper, Max Lucado, John Eldredge.

10. Dress. Lots of dresses.

11. Black Slacks and Jeans. Needed ASAP!

12. High heeled shoes. Yessss the baby is now a lady. I need white, brown and pink ones. The pair shoes that you can buy @the bangketas everywhere. Size 7 please

13. Big lady bags.  I need hmmm white, pink and brown. As useless.

14. The Jacket with the hood.

15. Work for people who were affected by the recession.

16. Romantic Dinner Date. ehem, ehem.

17. Driving & Cooking lessons. yeeeessss.

4 Things Meme November 26, 2008

Because I was tagged by K. Aleks

Here’s the rule:

Click copy/paste, type in your answers and tag four people in your blogroll! Don’t forget to change my answers to the questions with that of yours.

Question # 1. Four places I go to over and over:
Starbucks at Gateway, SBCC, Tito Dave’s place for the Thursday group BS and hmmmm opis hehehe.

Question # 2. Four people who e-mail me regularly
Angel (yikeee), Ms. Charmaine (my client),  Encouraging Words for Women and Job Street. hahaha

Question # 3. Four of my favorite places to eat?
Lancaster’s resto (it is managed by Josiah’s Catering. yum.), Choco Kiss (the best ang cakes!), Padi’s point Antipolo,  Dencios. (ayan na gutom na ko. hehe)

Question # 4. Four places you’d rather be?
NEW YORK!, Disneyland, Grand Canyon and Israel

Question #5. Four TV shows I could watch over and over.
Grey’s Anatomy (feeling ko tumatalino ako hehehe.), One Tree Hill (Lucas-Brooke forever!), Gosspi Girl (hehehe sobrang mababaw), Heroes.  

Now I’m tagging… Riz, Normi, the Xaris, Jenny.

changes. October 16, 2008

So what happened next after I resigned. I pack all my stuff (at work and at Riz’s condo) and moved back home.

waaah ang dami kong gamit

It took me two days to finally put things into their places. From pictures to books to cds, I think I need my OWN appartment. hahaha. But well. Its good to be back home after a year of living with Riz. It’s a little weird actually being back home. Since my new office is 15 minutes walk (5 minutes if you take a tricycle) away from home. Finally my dad’s greatest dream that I will be home before Meralco lamp posts are on came true. Toink. I’m feeling a little emo especially when the clock strikes 6pm and I’m already home. YUUUCKK! hahaha. But yeah I’m getting used to it.

Another change that I’m very happy about is that I’ve begun attending the praise & worship practice and the prayer meeting again. YEY!

Last friday, after work I dropped by my favorite salon near our place and…

shortest haircut since 2001

I’m beyutipul, thank you. I’m loving my haircut. (Kahit na tinatawag ako ni Jaz ng Betty. Kainis!)

Although I admit I miss the traffic in EDSA, the pollution in Boni, the boring mall, Riz and her condo, even Rico the friendly neighbor (hehe), especially the no curfew rule, Bevs my ever reliable computer, and yes the OMFLit pips, changes are doing me good….so far.

One more week. September 22, 2008

As I write my 5th entry about my OMF Lit memories, I can’t help but feel sad. This will be my final week as an OMF Lit staff. *sniff, sniff*

Since I’ve been with OMF Lit, I was constantly praying that the Lord will allow me to still serve Him in this ministry until this 3 milestone come to pass. 

1. OMF Lit new building. When I joined OMFLit we were crowded in this two-storey building. I can remember a good friend of mine even said, “Sumuko na kayo, napapaligiran kayo ng maraming libro.” hahaha. During the construction I made a commitment that I will passed by the building just to pray for the carpenters, construction workers, architects and even the future customers, every morning until it is finished. The Lord is sooo gracious to provide us a building of our own.

2. OMF Lit 50th Anniversary. I have been also praying that God will allow me to be a part of this event.

3. 5th year at OMF Lit. I just celebrated my 5th year at OMFLit, and I’m happy and humbled that inspite of my unworthiness, the Lord still allowed me to have that 5th year anniversary plaque as sovenier from OMF Lit.

I know that this year will be my last (so far…who knows if the Lord will call me back. hehehe.). I have this pressing feeling of mixed emotions with work. And this year I was able to articulate it in one word. Discontent.

Since I fell inlove with events, I know that this is what I want to do until the Lord calls me home. As much as I wanted to stay, this feeling of wanting to learn more, to grow more in this field.

It’s a mixed emotions, really. For the passed few weeks, there were times when I just pause and remember that my time (as an OMF Lit staff) is about to end. It brings me both joy and sadness that I think those who’ve gone before me are the only ones who can truly understand. I will definetely miss the people. The kuyas and the ates that helped me grow spiritually and career wise. Specially the super friends that I made. hehehe.

Oh well. One more week.

Mental Picture September 11, 2008

One of the disappoinments of a photographer wannabe like me is when you don’t capture the perfect Kodak moment that involves you…ofcourse. Most often than not, these moments are the ones that I would like to preserve and place on my scrapbook. But since taking the picture of these “moments” will completely destroy the momentum, I resolve long ago that if something wondeful happend to me I would take a “mental picture” of it and placed it on the “do not delete file” inside my head.

Five years working at OMF Lit means alot of mental pictures that I took. As much as I want to write everything here, I’d rather share the five on top of my head.

1. Birthday 2005. Best birthday ever. Coordinated by Kuya Arnold, Gracia, ate Gladys and ate Daphne. They surprised me with a birthday party. Of course the opismates are there with the special appearance of my favorite JOY club batchmates and my parents. Pink ballons and party hats everywhere. Hay. Love them! 

2. Stargazing with Kuya Aleks. We had our marketing planning in Baguio. After dinner I was sitting under the tree watching the stars, when kuya Aleks sat down beside me and looked up. After a few minutes of silence he finally said, “Nakakangawit naman ‘tong ginagawa mo.” So from stars, we talked about family, lovelife (yikee), work and God. It’s one of the best talks I had with Kuya Aleks. 

3. Prayer time with the gurls @ Banawe. There’s always a special bond between me, ate daph, ate glads and gracia. I think because we’re almost the same age, almost the same likes and dislikes and almost the same temperaments. Pareho kaming ma-iingay. But one of the most intimate moment I shared with these ladies was, when we were in Banawe hotel, inside mine and ate gladys’ room, on our knees praying. One of the jeepneys which some officemates rode, broke down. So they were stuck in the mountains with just one cellphone that has a signal.   

4. Bonfire night with Kuya Ferdie. During the last night of our company retreat in 2006 we had our prayer time during the bonfire night. After the prayer time I sat beside kuya Ferdie, I hugged him and cried. I just whispered, “thank you.” I never thought that it’s gonna be his last company retreat because he got sick and he has to resign.  

5. Marketing Team lunch together. I think what made the Marketing Team “that” special is the chemistry among the staff. Lunch with the Marketing is like watching a sitcom. We talked about TV shows, make okray to some, talked about work, make okray to some. This is the best time to talked about new jokes, mrt, neighbors, childhood memories…you get the picture. But nothing beats the BUHAHAHA laugh of ate Gladys, I tried. hahaha.   

I wish I could just say freeze and really capture these moments with my camera. But the fact that they’re mental pictures, made them more priceless.

Because It’s Valentines February 14, 2008

Three years ago my Tita Ritz (who lives in the US), sent me this e-mail on Valentine’s day. It’s one of a few e-mails I frequent read during the V-day.

Hi Bijoinks,

Wag kang mag alala kung wala kang boyfriend ngayong Valentine’s day, at least realistic ang iyong expectations.  Kesa naman may boyfriend ka tapos, hindi ka naman maalala sa Valentine’s day o kaya may regalo nga, palpak naman. Meron akong friend na ang regalo sa kanya ng mister nya pag Valentine’s day ay puro household items; such as vacuum cleaner, pressure cooker, pots and pans..kung ako hahampasin ko yun ng vaccum cleaner!

I’m so glad that you’re enjoying work right now – mukhang na cha challenge ka naman. Pero mas maganda rin to start charting the next steps para wag kang ma bore at para at least you can start formulating your career goals. That’s what I had to do – dahil madali akong ma bore, and I’m constantly looking for new challenges, kaya I normally stayed with a company for no more than 5 years. Pero kailangan calculated ang move, don’t quit your current job without a new job, dahil it’s always easier to look for one when you have one.

Below is a story of a Valentine’s day incident 20 years back I sent to friends with some reflections a couple of years ago:

One Valentine’s Day 20 years ago, boyfriend less (not necessarily love less, there’s a difference as some of you will agree – another story for another time), I expected the day to just be an ordinary day. But then, all at once, dozens of roses came in droves for the women in the office. Being an open office environment, the pressure for us single women became too obvious to ignore. Most of the single women in my group received their share of roses by noon, except me. By 2 pm, the pressure was too much to ignore that I actually thought about calling one of my friends to have some flowers delivered just so I can avoid the “what a loser” and “what a pity” glances I was getting from co workers. When all of a sudden, just like fresh April showers from the heavens, the most beautiful bouquet of roses arrived at my desk. The card read,

Dearest Raqui, My love and concern for your future and continued restoration in the Lord. May the Lord’s love provide you with security and peace. Love, Teng Needless to say, my friend, (later my boss) Teng’s deliberate act of kindness not only rescued me from that embarrassing situation, but also taught me a lesson in true friendship. Twenty years later, I’ve kept this card to remind me of that one day many years ago.

Hope this gives you a glimmer of hope that one day you’re Prince Charming will come waltzing in your life and before you can say booh, you’re riding into the sunset in a white horse!

Love,

Tita Ritz 

Y NATS? June 15, 2007

dahil tuwing bday mo may nagyayaring kakaiba (hold-up, bagyo, etc.)

dahil huling-huli ko ang mga ‘moments of love’ mo.

dahil killer ang ‘young boses

(yung tipong may pumuputok sa gitna ng kanta hehehe)

at higit sa lahat dahil ikaw, OO IKAW ang paborito kong bride’s maid.

Happy birthday gracia baby!

Here’s to more coconut, chocnut, donuts at peanuts!

*Tagay!

you can never live without music June 15, 2007

Here’s a tag from Normi. It’s a long overdue meme. So before I forget…
The RULES:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Media Player, iPod, Winamp etc.)
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press play.
4. For every question, type the song that’s playing.
5. When you go to the next question,press the next button
6. Don’t lie and pretend you’re cool.
7. When you’re finished, tag some other people to do it!

A.Opening credits: Just for Today – India Arie (Remember the theme song for Tyra Banks’ Show? That’s the one:
Just for Today I will not worry what tomorrow will bring.
I’m going to try something new, walk through this day like I got nothing to prove.
Although I have the best intention can’t predict anyone reactions, so I just do my best.
I put one foot infront of the other keep on movig forward and let God do the rest.

B. Waking up: Lovely Day – Out of Eden
C. First Day of School: Rain Down on Me – Point of Grace (hehehe suspended ang classes.)
D. Falling in love: – You and Me – Life House (kainis kinikilig nanaman ako.)
Cause it’s you and me and all other people with nothing to doNothing to loseAnd it’s you and me and all other peopleAnd I don’t know why, I can’t keep my eyes off of you

E. First song: Real – Plumb
F. Breaking up: Only Reminds Me Of You – (revived by:) MYMP
G. Prom: The Way You Look Tonight – Michael Buble.
H. Life: I am – Nicole Nordeman
I. Mental breakdown: Too Little, Too Late – Jojo (masaya to sa videoke)
J. Driving: I wanna go home – Michael Buble
K. Flashback: Oh How the years go by – Amy Grant (mas maganda pa din yung version nila ate gladys nung kinanta niya to sa retreat during kapihan. )
L. Getting back together: Changes in My life (revived by:) Jed Madela.
N. Birth of a child: I Hope you Dance – Ronan Keating
Hope you never lose your sense of wonder, You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger, May you never take one single breath for granted, GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed, I hope you still feel small When you stand beside the ocean, Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens, Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance, And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance. I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
O. Final battle: Your Grace Still Amazes Me – Zoe Group
P. Death scene: It is well with My soul – Jars of Clay
Q. Funeral song: I Can Only Imagine – Mercy Me
R. End credits: One Way – Hillsong (yesssss.)

Taggin’ K. Aleks, A. Gladys, A. Daph, A. Beng, and K. Ruben.