Saying goodbye to people

It's a sad day. 

A young colleague passed away today. He succumbed to cancer just an hour ago. 

When I saw the posts on Facebook in December that he was in the middle of the battle, I found myself silently praying for his recovery. While alone in my car, while walking the hallways of the office, I muttered short prayers to myself for his healing. 

We're not even close. When I was still in Indonesia, I was surprised that he added me on Facebook. I just added him because I saw that we had a closely-knit social network. 

Until I came back to Manila and to my company. We became teammates. We were on a hi-hello chica basis, but he always had a positive aura. He was a good young man. Faithful, God-loving.

He was a pioneer in the blogging space, introducing video blogs in the Philippines. 

Ang gaan niya katrabaho. 

I was silently praying that he wins this battle. I told God we needed good people like him around, to rub off more goodness and faith unto others. 

I guess God had other plans. 

I don't know why I'm greatly affected when we're not even close friends. 

Truth be told, I'm on the verge of tears while writing this blog entry. 

Nasasayangan ako sa isang mabuting tao. 

Admittedly, he fought the great fight.

Coy, you will be missed. Thank you for the courage, for the inspiration, for your contribution to social media. 

May you rest in peace.

When God sends his army of angels

I'm living proof.

When you need help, God will send his army of angels for support. 

I've been very fortunate to come across people who also talk and walk the faith. They're making this entire journey easier for me. 

I've got tons of things to do and organize and every step of the way, I meet people who can either help me with what I need or point me to someone who can. 

It's really all in His time. 

=) 

The best is yet to come

Heavenly Father, 

Thank you for all your wonderful blessings and graces. You have blessed me with so much more than what I deserve. 

You've done it again. You made me believe that all I have to do is to have faith in You and You alone. 

My life in 2013 has been a testament of Your miracles, as the miracles happened in my life itself. 

Thank You for your gifts, Your unconditional love. 

Thank You for saving me. 

The best part is your promise that the best is yet to come. 

Allow me, my husband, my familly, my friends and all the people that I love to continue to be a witness of Your benevolence this coming 2014. Please continue to shower us with your blessings and graces. 

I offer my 2014 to You. May I do good things to others in Your name. 

Thank you, Lord. 

Happy New Year. Please continue to be with me in the coming years. 

In Jesus Christ's name. Amen. 

Jeremiah 29:11

When anger and hate come knocking on my door

In a moment when anger is justified, let me have compassion and empathy instead. I may not be able to change what is inside another person's heart, but change mine.

And amidst a frenzy when I want to pull my hair out because things are not going according to plan, remind me of my mantra that works all the time: 

Grace under pressure, my love. Grace under pressure. 

Bawal ang ubos-ganda moves. 

To be happy...

...is to deliberately choose to feel good every morning. 

Two major life milestones in a span of 5 days. 

Not bad.

God is gracious enough to bless me with opportunities and second chances. 

No regrets. 

I'm glad that instinctively, gut-feel-down-to-my-core, I feel great about things. 

 

Gratitude

This week, I'm grateful for a lot of things.

Not in its order of importance, I'm grateful for:

1. Some desk time. 
2. Me time.
3. My new Kindle Paperwhite. 
4. Being able to finish reading The Perks Of Being A Wallflower.
5. Friends. Old and new. 
6. Time to work out. 
7. Healthy, organic food. 
8. Skye. 
9. His penchant for planning ahead. 
10. His corny but cute rhymes. 
11. My Mom. 
12. My Dad. And his coming around.
13. Abbygale. 
14. My own parking in the office --- because it's soooo hard to get one. 
15. My best friends. 
16. Being able to catch up with Ian.
17. Being able to convince him to get back into the circulation.
18. Coffee. 
19. Hot chocolate. 
20. My cozy apartment.
21. My cupboard and ref filled with so much food from Christmas hampers. 
22. Good health.
23. Unexpected windfall.
24. Reliable team members. 
25. My efficient admin assistant. 

What a blessed life. :-)

2012, In Retrospect

According to Feng Shui, Snake-born people were not supposed to be lucky in 2012. Career was supposed to be on the down-low, money luck will be subsiding and lethargy will get in the way of big projects.

On the contrary, I HAD FUN IN 2012! I had a blast!!!

True, true --- things were not perfect. The year carried with it some glitches, but I must say that I pulled through with grace.

I cannot count one by one all the blessings that I received. That’s how much generosity I got from the heavens --- there’s way too many to count!

I returned to the Philippines with a better and brighter career. I am definitely happier and more fulfilled in my not-so-new workplace. I was scared of my comeback since I was filling up BIG shoes, but I did prove the weight that I can carry and the contributions that I can bring in.

I have so many windfalls to be thankful for, too! Money was supposed to be dry but the Universe was just way too generous. I’m not swimming in money, so to speak, but I can say that I have more than enough. For myself, for my family and for what I can share to others.

I lost my one great love, but I’m thankful that in this lifetime, I can say that I was able to experience and find it. At the same time, I’m even more blessed and more grateful to find a new love, a second chance to fall in love again with a great guy who adores me.

2012 had so much to offer. I’d like to believe that there’s both heaven and earth luck, but I probably tided over the trials and tribulations of the year because of my perseverance and persistence aka bonggang-bonggang kakulitan, hard work, strength, courage and resilience aka kakanta ng “I will survive.”

Most of all, it was my faith in God that held my hand. I knew I can make it because of my faith. My darkest hours became my finest moments because He was there --- the entire time. JC, I cannot thank you enough for embracing me in your grace.

So to all the survivors and to all the blessed, cheers to a spectacular and blessed 2013!!!

I’m looking forward to another great year ahead!

Clarity and answers

"Ask and it shall be given." 

Faith and hope. Trust that the Universe will conspire in your favor to achieve your heart's desires. 

It is amazing how God answers prayers --- in His own place and time. 

Thank you. 

I am overwhelmed. I have nothing but praise and thanksgiving in my heart.

Thank you for watching over me. For not forgetting me. 

I am ever-blessed. 

Thank you.