Happy 49th Birthday, Ma!

On Loving Long Walk

Time’s up! 4 o’clock striked! Sometimes pressure at work takes hold on me, so instead it completely eats me up, finding ways to recharge comes out naturally.

I invited a new friend by the name of Princess to grab an ice cream in a nearby Mini Stop. Instead of staying inside and looking around the gondollas with its stare-all-you-can snacks. I decided to go out with her to walk around.

While we’re both loosening up the unseemingly tightness grip of our job, I asked Princess if we could walk longer. There’s an endless joy and giddiness in me when I walk. Whether I’m alone, with someone, or with a group of crazy friends.

It makes me reflect. Reminisce. Laugh--lots of that actually. I can even invite someone to know me, get interested to other person’s life and story too.

I’m loving Ayala Triangle and Greenbelt more as it unveils the beauty of nature.

We almost talk about our family, loved-ones, importance of faith—even trivial things like our fave cartoons to movies. As we cycled those topic, work wasn’t included in the picture. The Task Master in me faded. Did I say faded for a while?

And during those precious time—it’s only me, Princess and the simplicity of life. I’m sure I could walk longer in this life’s adventure believing that friendship is far better than anything else.

Swooosh!!! How time flies. 4:30 ticks! Alright, gonna go back to work but this time with a boost spirit and mind.

Greeny sidewalk

The fourth phone booth

Do you believe in foreshadowing?

Ok, whether your answer is Yes or No, or you don’t have an idea what it means, I do.

Alright, let’s get in to my point. I want to tell you a story on how I got in my new job. So, for more than  two months, I’m a job hunter and the days in between— a bummer or a freelancer.

I literally see myself as a hunter holding a riffle, ready to hunt an eagle or any animal that I could see in a wild forest, or sometimes getting lost in that unknown place, and praying for a survival against the vicious creatures surrounding that place.

I’ve done researches and applications from jobstreet to walk-in to referral to newspaper ads. I’ve submitted my resume plenty of times.

Whenever I got an invitation for an interview via call or text, I’ m like a giggly teenager, jumping and rolling around because my crush have texted me. I’m done with my teaching experience, so this time I’m targeting to work in my one and only cup of tea- COMMUNICATION. Whether it’s a copywriting/content writing, marketing, advertising and public relations, I swear to be the happiest.

I’ve crazily applied to more than 200 companies and it’s not funny though, especially when my money is tight. Honestly, whenever an Interviewer found out that I had a good credentials, I felt like convincing them that I’m good, and I can be their company’s asset, then I’ll be hired immediately. 


“Congratulations, you’ve got a job offer!” No ifs. No Buts—or so I thought.

However, the word “but” is always included in the picture. My credentials are impressive, but not qualified on their standards. I look confident, but I’m shortlisted. I’m good but not enough. During those times, it made me doubt my capacity. I felt rejected, but since I’m surrounded by God’s Grace, I learn to bounce back. I told myself that they didn’t reject me as who I am, but as what I can give. And I’m grateful to remain wise in separating my character to my capacity. Enough for self-pity and doubt again. So, I continue to hustle and bustle in job hunting and keep on asking…and asking..and asking others for referrals. There’s no room for quitting.

As I persevere, some of my friend will give me a company’s phone number. I will hurriedly go to the PLDT payphone booth near our house. Actually, there are four booths but the last and farthest booth is the only one functioning.

Then, last April, I received a call from one of the companies that I’m dying to work at. The recruitment manager asked me if I’m available to work on their company. Of course, I said yes. So I went to their office immediately, talked about the pre-employment stuff and pay. All I have to do is to wait for the President’s approval about completing my requirements.

I finally sighed with all my hopes to that company. I’m even excited to start on that day. Yet….days and weeks have passed by, I’ve got neither text nor call.

“Oh come on! Am I going to be a bummer?” I disgustingly asked myself.

WAITING is indeed the hardest part and leaving without an option—I give in.

However, during those days of praying deeply and working hard, Tita Chay, our Ministry Editor-in-chief became God’s instrument to regain my trust in my capacity. She gave me a task as an Editorial Assistant on our Feast Bulletin and it feels good at the moment. I know that its part of the ebb and flow before a better job arrives.

Truly, our humorous and creative God listened to my plea. Remember the fourth phone booth? It unexpectedly bridges the gap between my request and dreams. One sister from the same ministry called and interviewed me to work in PLDT as a Marketing Product Admin Assistant. I said yes without a battling of eyelashes. Though, I’ve waited for quite awhile to start— it’s all worth itIt’s now my 2^nd week now in the country’s leading Telecommunication Company.

I’m praying for longevity, productivity and success.

TRIVIA:

• PLDT stands for Philippine Long Distance Company.
• Our PLDT landline # before was: 8532323.. (I miss those days when I’ll stay for hours talking over that gray phone.)

Tagline: Bahagi na ng Buhay

Go back to where you started ( Media Ministry Booth)

NEWSPAPER. Pen. Camera—words to describe Media, but as the years of traditions of using those stuff pass by, and as the technology sets in, and the arise of Social Media; Still, nothing beats penning an article, covering an event and doing it because that entails in using your Core Gift. One of the milestones in developing my core gift occurred last May 6, Sunday when Feast PICC founded by Bro. Bo Sanchez organized a Ministry Fair. Each cluster comes up with outrageous booths to show off their booths to sign up for new servants.

 Nevertheless, Media Ministry Booth centers on the theme Funky and Vintage. To give a touch of classiness, we displayed on our booth some old cameras, tripod and even the treasure box. We also exhibit some of the photos we used in the Bulletin plus mounted on the box is our colored Feast Bulletin. Not to mention how cool is it to share your blessings by writing it. And the funky frame that could tadah-turned  you to a cover girl/boy pro. Don't worry if you don't want to be a cover girl/bro, the consolation is that it made you closer to your family and friends.

 To lessen the stress in making the booth presentable--- most of the servants are engaging in a storytelling and laughing at each other's joke!

T'was fun to organize such event because that task is for the Lord plus doing it with a humble servant like my Media Friends. :) Till next week!:) 

God bless!:)

Our Booth with our youngest Photographer, Christian Banal

Blast from the past

Best of the Feast

Lesson from a Teacher in Me

Praising and Thanking God for these wonderful and gifted servants

Random Photos By David Apalla, Cris Legazpi, Arlene Batislaong and Shem Ochoco

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Meet this Wonder kiddo!

AT THIRTEEN YEAR of age, Scott Lee Chua is an inspiration for everyone.

A Grade Seven student at Xavier School in Greenhills (Manila), Scott is a consistent first honor student who loves subjects from math, science, literature, arts, history, music, travel and even magic.

It was 2 months ago when my sister who's a travel junkie eagerly told me about Scott's books, Ten Travels in Tokyo; Kuala Lumpur and New Zealand. Scott's family annually traveled here, abroad  and places wherein this boy had already tasted the different cuisines, observed the beauty of every metropolis and urban areas as his tickling feet and imagination pounded the city's pavement.

Scott Lee Chua with his mom Dr. Queena Lee Chua

Finally read Scott's masterpiece

After I finished my job interview yesterday, I went straight ahead to Powerbooks, Greenbelt. I got the Marketing plan book, business books, Bro. Bo Sanchez's book then Scott Lee Chua's Top 10 Pinoy travels Manila (left) from Anvil Publishing.

I essentially bore myself in reading the first two books, then was inspired by Bro. Bo's book--but  I felt a sense of amazement and refreshed as I read Scott's book.

He describes Manila in a different shade- vividly colorful, widely appreciated, and with a child-like humor. No wonder, his inspiration of becoming a writer is Dr. Seuss.

It is also chromatically presented with playful illustrations by graphic artist Rommel “Omeng” Estanislao.

Mirroring my passion in his writings

From then on, he'll be one of my inspirations in writing a Children's book. He even gave an advises to the budding artists, "write as much as you can."  That influencing statement makes me hope to meet this Wonder Kiddo someday!:)

Round 1: Focus on the Good

How to win over temptation and be Victorious by Bro. Bo Sanchez

Round 1: Focus on the Good 

Today's Feast is empowering especially when Bro. Bo Sanchez declared: God sees you as beautiful, beloved and blessed. God said, that's my boy/girl/kid! He is delighted and proud to see us being and doing good, thus the love that He shows heal us and we'll stop the self-rejection. How lovely, How Great His love is! :)

Every one has a Trojan horse inside us. There’s something in us that open us the gates of temptation. Once we fail into our sin, we tend to hate ourselves more. Behind every sin we commit is a cry for love.

This is it: The pleasure of sin is the pirated version of the pleasure of being loved.

The greatest weapon of devil against God’s people is Self-rejection. If somebody doesn’t like, appreciate or forgive him/herself that’ll open to many temptations.

It is hard work to love, forgive and appreciate yourself.

3 Symptoms of our Trojan horse

1.        1.  We don’t love ourselves.

2.      2. Our relationships are dysfunctional.

3.      3. We worship a rejecting God.

We must believe that we are totally, completely and perfectly loved by our Daddy God.

What happen to Eva?

5am. The church bell rings loudly awakening the town people. Eva starts to walk alone in going to mass. She never missed any morning masses and Sunday obligation. She passes by the street, looking thrifty at the food and hot cocoa vendors,then walks straight again with her black purse.

One girl holds and sells a sampaguita approaches Eva and she easily gets a 5-peso coins from her purse. The girl smiles at Eva while she looks stiffly at the girl, leave her and walk inside the church almost hurriedly.

She puts a sign of a cross and sits down on her favorite spot. She looks at the priest and listens to his homily. When the mass ends, she'll stand up and leave the place even the closing song isn't finished yet.

Before getting home, Eva goes to her preferred small grocery store and she buys her food for the rest of the week. Once she gets home, she prepares her stuff for her 8 o'clock day job as a typist in a local government in their town. Her officemates ask her about her family. She will answer, "I'm alone." And returns to finish faultlessly her typing task. During her lunch break, she eats at the corner of the table, finishes it quickly and returns to her desk again.

Menacing stairs from her officemates is nothing but a silhouette to her. They don't exist or she doesn't exist as she always tell herself.

The only thing that keeps her going is her sewing machine and the dresses that she makes every time she goes home. Only her sees it and nothing overflows from her.

Even the people from their town thought Eva is a ghost as she hides her true self. She avoids talking to people and no one knows the secret longings of her heart. 

She passes the street, breathes the air, looks for food but doesn't leave a mark of her presence.