A New Start!

Isa sa mga pinakamahalang bahagi ng aking “graduate school life” ay ang mga kaibigan na nakasama ko sa loob ng tatlo’t kalahating taon. Sila yung mga taong nagpagaan ng bawat araw ko sa Graduate School. Nakasamang nagpuyat sa mga projects at research, kasamang tumawa sa oras ng uwian at kulitan at nakasamang naghabol sa mga professor na mabagal magbigay ng grades.

Isa sa mga ito ay si Mary Ann o si Me-ann o mas kadalasan kong natatawag na “neng”.

Si Me-ann ang sa palagay kong pinaka naging “close” ko sa mga kaibigang naipon ko sa GS. Naging classmate ko sya sa Human Resource Management nung 2005, at simula non naging super close na kami, tipong isang tingin lang magtatawanan na kami. Sa kanya ko unang nag open-up tungkol sa “first break up” ko. Ako kasi yung tipo ng tao na hindi sanay makipagkwentuhan tungkol sa personal na buhay ko. Pero naging ganon ako kakomportable kay Me-ann.

Siya rin ang kasa-kasama ko sa pagrereview nung panahon ng Comprehensive Exam at kasamang nagdasal na sana ay pumasa kami. Malaking bahagi ng buhay ko sa GS, si Me-ann ang kasama ko, at palagay ko naging masaya ang buhay ko sa GS dahil sa kanya. Siya rin ang kasama ko nung unang byahe ko sa labas ng bansa at nakasamang sumigaw ng Ginebra! Ginebra! Sa Araneta. Naging ka-close ko pati sila Mommy Bing at Papsy, maging si netchie at Kuya Louie.

Kaya lang sinubok ang aming pagkakaibigan dahil sa isang hindi pagkakaunawaan. Ilang taon din kaming hindi masyadong nagpansinan. Nawala yung dating closeness na nabuo namin. Sa isang iglap biglang lumayo ang loob ng isa’t isa. Malungkot ako noon. Sobrang lungkot. Minsan nang nasabi ni Me-ann na, ako daw yung parang kapatid na hindi naibigay ng Diyos sa kanya, kaya naging magkaibigan kami. Marahil ito yung dahilan kung bakit labis akong naging apektado ng mga pangyayari – dahil ayokong mawala ang kapatid na Diyos na mismo ang naglapit.

Isang imbitasyon ang natanggap ko noong Disyembre. Imbitasyon sa kasal nina Me-ann at Jegarr. Magkahalong saya at lungkot ang naramdaman ko. Masaya dahil sa wakas ikakasal na sila at naisipan nya kaming imbitahin (kasama si Jemuel ang bf ko na ka-trio namin ni Me-ann). Lungkot dahil baka hindi na sing close dung dati ang muli naming pagkikita.

Nung Sabado, Enero 16, 2010 naganap ang pag-iisang dibdib nila Me-ann at Jhigs at nung Sabado rin naganap ang muli naming pagkikita ni Me-ann. Masaya ko para sa kaibigan kong nakita na ang kaligayahan sa piling ni Pareng Jhigs na talagang pinaglaban nya sa buong pamilya.

Isang kabanata sa buhay ni Me-ann ang nagtapos at panibagong buhay naman ang magsisimula. At kasabay ng kanilang bagong buhay ay isang panalangin na sana ito na rin ang simula ng panibagong kabanata ng aming pagkakaibigan!

To Me-ann and Jegarr, cheers to a new life! Best wishes and God bless!

Ang Dyosa at ang Lambana

The newly wed

Our yellow-orange-fuschia pink gift

Super Thank you!

Oh yes, 2009 is over and we’re now heading for another astounding year! Yeah right, it was an amazing year for me and I haven’t had a time yet to say thank you for all the blessings I had for the past year.

Last Wednesday I attended the first Mid-week Encounter with God (MEG) in our church. It somehow gave me time to reflect on how God has moved in my life and how blessed I was. Shy enough, I wasn’t able to share to the group how grateful I am for all the blessings I had for the past year. And so I decided to write it here in my blog. Come and join me as I remember the fruitful year of 2009.

2009 was a year of servanthood for me and I’m so grateful on how God used me in His ministries.

I thank God for using me in children’s ministry that drew me closer to Him and discipling the next generations. As a teacher, I learned a lot from the kids and that our faith should be like theirs – so genuine and humble. (so ironic, isn't it?)





I praise God for the opportunity that He has given me to be an ambassadress for Christ to a town that is totally far-off to me. Serving the people of Kansurok, Marinduque opened my eyes to what is truly essential in life – having God in your heart is more than enough! The contentment and peace I had because of Jesus was one of the greatest realizations I had in this mission trip.



I’m also grateful for the chance I had to be with the Muslim kids in General Santos for the sake of Isa Almasi (Jesus Christ). Giving them free oral and dental seminar and some hygiene kit made them smile in spite of poverty. This trip gave me hope that all will be united for the glory of our God.

There’s good in everything and even in calamity we can see the love of God. We’re blessed that God spared my family from the wrath of Ondoy. And I’m thankful that God used me to be a blessing to the typhoon victims by serving and praying for them through Sagip Kapamilya Volunteer program.

Praise God for the wisdom and strength that He has given me as I finished the Kairos: World Mission Course. This course revealed another character of our Lord – the Bible is not just about God’s love but also a tool for us to love our Father perfectly.

My tour in Coron, Palawan was God’s Christmas gift for me, and I’m more than thankful for that! Enjoying His wonderful creation, it was really awesome! He is indeed the God of wonders!

But my duty for the year is not yet done as He commissioned me to serve the people of Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte. It was a great way to end the 2009. Super thank you Lord!

All in all, it was an overwhelming and blessed year for me. And I’m looking forward for another set of surprises God has prepared for me! :)

To God be the glory!

Indescribable!

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky
and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees
as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God...

Indeed an amazing God!