Jujube, Angel, Harry and Z

 I have not written for a while now. Thanks to one of my Instagram friends who mentioned that she's looking forward to reading my blogs, it made me pause for a while and asked, "What blogs?" LOL! Oh yeah! That one dedicated to my sane side. And I suddenly found myself wanting to write again. 

When COVID-19 pandemic hit, everything was a blur and life seemed to take a halt. Our busy lives took a stand still. We couldn't do the normal things we used to do. For a few months we had to adjust to many things like no weekly meet up with friends, no travels, no family gatherings and other "NO's." It was a struggle at first. It was more of, how do I go through this while keeping my sanity intact (or at least the last drop of sanity I have in me. LOL! )?  But life had a way of keeping me sane. 

Jujube and Angel. I discovered Jujube with Angel. It was more of "shop till we drop" moments. But it kept us entertained and we bonded more because of our love for Jujube. 

Then there's Harry Styles. His music kept me calm and uncalm at the same time.  Calm because I would go through my day by just listening to his playlist and watching his videos over and over again. Uncalm because he makes my heart skip a beat or two. Hahahaha! 

Last but not the least, Z. She gave me not only virtual friendship but an opporunity to do more, be more and create more. She gave me an opportunity to fulfill my childhood dream of becoming a start up entrepreneur. 

Afterall, life during covid times is not that bad.  We just need something or someone to help us get through this and hopefully get out of this the sanest we can be 🙂

the worshipper in me

many times before, when i was very active in church, i would not consider myself a good "listener' of the word. my soul would not be filled with just words from the bible but worshiping and singing songs for the lord, would make my soul full. 

i may have different view of a structured church now, i know deep in my heart, i am a worshiper. i would rather hear songs of praise and my heart and soul is full.

i am a worshiper more than anything else and that is my way of maintaining this personal relationship with God. others may think that i am on a lie-low with going to church but i don't think i am. the relationship that my God and I have is still the same. the greatness he has done with my life has always been the same regardless of my circumstance. and the worshiper in me never faded, ever.

i am a worshiper that my heart is filled with god's love today as i listen to praise and worship songs. a moment that only me and my God personally share.

life is simple

Life is simple. My husband and I often realize it on our 

quiet at home talks. Then why are we making it complicated? 

Only one word came to my mind - VALIDATION. I am speaking for 

myself here. No offense meant.

Oftentimes, our need for validation from other people maes us want 

for more than what we truly need and want. 

Yes, we all have different needs and wants. We each have our 

goals in life but sometimes we forget what are these goals 

for? Why do i want so many of "these and those" when all i 

ever wanted is a simple and happy life.Then, what are root 

causes of such discontenment.

social media - yes! there was a time that i wanted to boast 

and post.  #blessed was a big facade. it was more of boast 

and post for validity. hence, the flooding of pictures to 

show to the world that "we are happy" "we are living a grand 

life" "our marriage is perfect' and all other reasons i can 

think of.

realizing it now, i opt for a more silent, simple yet 

meaningful walks, talks and bonding with people who are 

important to me. no more flooding pictures to post. just one 

or two if necessary just to share a sneek peak of what's 

going on with our lives - more contentment for me.

Floods of Favor

"Believe big. Pray bold prayers and live with the expectancy that God has floods of favor, wisdom and goodness in your future. "– Joel Osteen Ministries

After the Singapore trip, I have really wanted to write about favors and blessings as I have overflowing joy in my heart that I would like to put into writing.  But the typical procrastinating me has been delaying it until this message from Joel Osteen Ministries in Facebook poked me.  Right then, I knew I had to write right away.

For a couple of years, I have been trying to practice taking down notes of what I want because they say when you want something, you have to affirm and attract it.  I even have collage and what I call "pinterest" of things.  Some of it came true, some did not but at the end of each year, I always end up thanking God for making some things possible and it keeps me looking forward to another year thus making life more exciting for me.

Over the past year, half of my list came true and not only that, even before I was able to write another set for 2013, a very huge favor was handed down to me and that was the Singapore trip.  I only desired for an out of the country trip and Voila!  It happened as fast as a lightning would strike. Thanks to my dear friend R for making it possible.  Until up to this very minute, I would still ask myself what I did to deserve that big time treat.  And so it reminds me of a book I read about angels.  Angels come in all forms with or without wings.  They may be a stranger or a friend and in this case, he may be a devil disguised as angel LOL), still he is an angel to me whom God (if you don't believe in God let's just say, a higher power or the universe) brought into my life for a favor he wants to give to me. I could say, I have lots of angels, most of whom are giving me favors more than I expect. I would sometimes tell myself this cliché "I must have done something good to deserve such favors" because of the floods of favor I get.

Believing big, praying bold prayers and living life with the expectancy that God (the higher power or the universe) has floods of favor, wisdom and goodness in your future is manifesting in my life at this point in time and my heart is just overflowing with gratitude.  Staying positive, praying, believing and keeping the faith are just few principles that I am trying to live by that are working so far and since I am a believer of God, I would still want to emphasize that favors come from him.  He just uses some angels or friends or people and for that I am very grateful.

Seasons

To everything there is a season,
a time for every purpose under the sun.
A time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to kill and a time to heal ...
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance ...
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to lose and a time to seek;
a time to rend and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

The Low Season

Upon pondering on these bible verses, I recalled how our family started out.  I used to wonder how it is to have good things in life when I was a kid.  I would qualify our family as below average in terms of finances then.  I remember how papa and mama worked hard for a living, papa the most I should say.  Since we were financially low, papa did everything to provide for the family.  He went from one business to another.  From the smallest to what I call the "biggest" in terms of how he has provided well for our family.  From harvesting and selling water spinach (tangkong), selling fish, selling perfumes, selling hardware products, gas stoves, name it and he has sold it all. We had sure had our humble beginnings as a family.  My brothers and I used to sell plastic cellophane in the entrance of NCCC Supermarket since papa has a stall in its sidewalk selling just about anything.  We had a bicycle.

The Transition Season

            From the sidewalk of NCCC Supermarket, papa shifted to the ukay2x and photocopier businesses.  It was a boom.  During that time, they were able to send us to private schools, college for me and high school and elementary school for my brother and sister.  I couldn't remember a single examination day that we had a problem paying for the tuition fee. The basic needs were provided then, just the basic.  I even pitied myself then because among group of friends during college, I felt I was the poorest.  I had the least allowance.  I used to joke to a friend that someday "I will be able to climb that mountain." We had tricycle and tamaraw. 

The High Season (Harvest time)

            Now, my brothers, my sister and I have our own work.  My eldest brother is now a Captain, my sister is a nurse in Norway, my younger brother is a musician and I am a teacher.  We can now provide our needs and even some wants, enjoying things that we were not able to have then.  We have at least achieved some things in life and are continuing to achieve more for a better future while papa and mama are now retired just enjoying the fruits of their labor, season of harvest more of.  We may not be "rich" as society would define it, but financially I can say that we were able to surpass that low season as a family.  At least at this point, we have that motivation and drive to do what we can to achieve more and cultivate more what mama and papa has planted and continue to harvest as much as we can.

Gratitude Blog 4 (2012)

             I started writing gratitude blog in 2006 and I somehow made it a yearly "panata" until 2008.  I don't know what exactly happened and why I stopped writing, but today I just woke up needing and wanting to express how thankful I am this year.  This usually is a yearender thing but I decided to write it anyway, let's just say a post-birthday gratitude blog since I usually start and end my “year” on my birthdays.

Why am I doing this?  I just thought I don't say thank you too often to friends who have been good to me.  The more I pay gratitude, the more good things I attract and they come in so many unexpected ways.  Not that it's the main reason why I'm doing this, it's just that life has been good to me this year more than I have expected it to be.

            Looking back, the start of my year was a bit unpleasant but as it went, it became better and better.  I got to enjoy a lot of things (most of it were unexpected blessings) and I met new people who are now becoming dear friends, additional to my long list already. 

In the previous gratitude blogs, I have mentioned friends who have done extra-special things to me (most of them are unaware that they have that effect) so i am making them informed through this. I don't intend to offend other friends who are not mentioned here.  In fact, I really appreciate friends who are part of my life active or not, but let's just say i would like to mention those who are in the "honor list" kung sa commencement exercises pa.  Naa man jud nay special awards and citations. :)

Para walay issue sa billing, gi-alphabetical order nako ni ug gi-bisglish ug taglish for some kay basin d ninyo kaayo ma feel kung English tanan.  Gusto jud nako kanang i-feel jud ninyo ni. Hahaha

Lorna – thanks mam lorns for being a mother and a friend to me.  idol jud tika sa kakugi to make lessons and activities.  Ginasalo pa jud ko nimo pirmi sa mga d nako mahimo. Don't worry, mahuman lang ko aning akong masteral2x (murag tininuud raba. Hahaha), I will make it up to you (d lang ko magpromise. Hahaha).  Bitaw mam lorns, thank you for spoiling me. inahan jud kaayo ka nako sa school.

Marifel and John (the couple) - thanks for being there during those trying times.  your prayers and words of encouragements were "lifters".  mao jud tingali ako ang gigamit ni Lord para magmeet mo kay you are two powerful prayer partners. thanks for the prayers and for continually praying for me.  last na jud mo pasuhan nako as maid of honor ha. d na jud ko ani nga role kung di lang jud kamo. hahaha thanks to both of you and more blessings for your marriage.

Mayen – thanks for always being there especially during my palpak (PANAGSA) moments.  You are my silent listener and supporter but you never fail to give me a poke when I need one.  In short, hawud kaayo ka mangdukol kung kinahanglan na.  You don’t judge my decisions but you tell it straight to my face when you think it’s not the right thing to do.  thank you too for keeping up with me even if sometimes naa koy kalabaran and you know what I mean by the kalabaran.  Hahaha!  Thank you jud.  I just can’t thank you enough for just being there.

Murphy – teh kahit lagi mo kong pinaplastik, eh love mo pa rin ako dama ko yun kaya love din kita noh. Thanks talaga teh kahit pasaway ako at lagi kang nagrereklamo at nauubos ang milyones mo pag nagkakasama tayo, gumagasta ka pa din naman. Hahahaha seryoso teh, thanks talaga sa friendship kahit dito na ako sa Davao, d pa rin kayo nagbago. Next year uli ha? Mag-ipon ka na ng milyones mo at alam mo na mapapagastos ka na naman. hahahha

Myra – my best sister.  I just couldn't imagine life without you.  Thanks for being my lil sister and big sister at the same time.  you know my indecisiveness and it just feels good to think that you have reached a certain maturity wherein you can share to me what you think and how you want me to experience what you are experiencing now.  Don't worry, I may be as slow as a turtle but I am working on my pace.  Kabalo naman ka late bloomer ko so dawata na jud na kay wa kay laing choice kay im your only sister. hahaha!  Don't worry, I'll get there one day :)

Peter – you're one kind of a friend and you should know that.  Thank you for being thoughtful and sweet.  You are like a daily journal to me.  It just feels good to have someone i can communicate with, let my hair down and just share how my days went.  You're like a daily therapy.  Thank you!

Robert M. Gomez– my professor, my friend and my crush[ed] (3 in 1. murag kape lang. hahaha)  yes apil ka!  Kaswerte jud nimu naaapil ka this year. Hahaha!

seriously, you just don't know how much i appreciated those times that you made me laugh katong gasugod pa lang tag kaamigo (now you know). i was on my recovery stage when we were chatting almost everday and somehow you were a diversion for me.  although at some point nakathink ko na naa jud kay thing para naku d lang jud ka muamin (hahahahaha), pero regardless, your being there to listen when i had to rant about things and the times na you just made me laugh is appreciated. pasalamat lang pud ko kay Lord na nagmeet ta karon na lifetime maskin labad ka. if there is a next unya mag meet gihapon ta, unta mas lingaw pa, kanang lingaw to my advantage (hahahaha). bitaw ui sersyoso, thanks for the friendship. Isa siguro ka sa mga reasons or purpose ni Lord nganu nag SPED ko to understand myself better kay naa pud kay ADHD mao tingali lahi pud ang level sa atong connection. Hahaha

Sheena – gang thanks for being there too especially tong time na recovery stage pa and for encouraging me to work out seriously.  It surely helped me a lot as a therapy.  Kung wala tingali ko nagboxing, wa nako napagawas akong mga kalagot.  I would have been violent in other things may gani nagresort ko into boxing.  You’ve saved me from going to jail ug na-save pud nimo imong sarili na magbisita sa city jail. Hahaha! thanks for the chats (both serious and not) and for being my fashion consultant/icon /bazaar love triangle buddy. Hahaha!  consistent pud ka sa akong gratitude blogs noh even sa myspace pa, kabantay ka? Hahaha

Trixie – bizzzzzzz iba ka talaga!  Ikaw talaga ang kaibigan kong kasing loka2x ko. It always feels good to spend time with you.  Iba talaga level din ng friendship natin. if we get to spend time together it's always a quality time.  thanks for your generosity and thoughtfulness.  Gusto mo kung anong meron ka, meron din ako. Kaya lang pano kaya ako magkaka LV? Hahahaha biz, I really treasure you as a friend.  Thanks for treating me like a sister. Buti na nga lang ganun kasi kung meron ka sigurong kapatid na babae, pano na ako? Hahahaha  Again, thanks thanks!  Next year uli.

Xenia -  It  is somehow a bit tough year for our friendship but I just want to thank you for being there.  For listening, for the advices, for the times na I just needed someone to pour some things out, salamat.  Whatever happened (gipast tense jud nako ha? hehe), you have to know xen na you're one of the friends that I really value in the real sense.  Basta, thank you jud kaayo.  I may not always tell you this but deep inside I am really grateful na naa ka sa akoang layp ;-)

Again, thanks thanks.  Next year na pud ha? BANTAY! hahahahaha

            

gratitude blog 3 (2008)

A year is about to end.  Wow! Time flies so quickly and now it's time for me to write again my yearly vow, the gratitude blog that I started out three years ago.

Looking back to the year that's about to go, I can say it's overall beautiful and it gave me many new learning experiences that I'm going to be bringing with me in the coming year.  This year, I've built stronger and deeper friendships, I've enjoyed outing and good times with good friends, I've kept old friends and gained new ones, I've met people who just stopped by and just went their way, I've also met people who I thought would stay and I wanted to keep in my life but I realized I needed to let go, I felt cared for but I needed to move on and I've moved forward with a whole and hopeful heart still, my family are still my source of inspiration, I have a good job, my best friend  still makes me feel that I'm the most comforting person in the world for her and a lot more little things, almost insignificant things that I'm thankful for.  All of those, good things and the "not so good  things" that happened this year  makes me still say that LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL and I'm grateful.

Now, I just want to mention my real friends who are also here in my space who have made extra significance in my life this year. Well, I would sound a little melodramatic here but please bear with me. This is my blog anyway (LOL).

S - My Leo-Libra team mate.  Thanks for the "laughs."  It's really fun.  We sure made a good connection this year or I should say a deeper one.  Thank you also for those "reflective" times.  We sure have grown in our quest for self-discovery and self-improvement and I hope we will continue to do it next year and the years to come. I sure love sharing good talks and fun talks with you and all sorts of  "sharing" including our S****** tendencies. We really are one of a kind (hahahahaha).  Thank you for sharing things and for listening at the same time.  It's really a pleasure to "work" with you in our business venture (hahahahaha) and I'm hoping for bigger and fuller blasts in the years to come [ including the PUHON :-)) ] we wont stop, right?  That's the way it is!

Dianne - Gang thanks for the talks.  It's fun and at the same time we often have something to learn from each other when we chitchat.  I've learned a lot from you too.  It's Libra to Libra talk and it's always good and well-balanced thoughts. magkarga jud kog bangko for us.  Hope to have that full of sense chitchat still even if you're there na.

Mayen – I'm just thankful for the many years of friendship and this year for the times that I had less files and you shared with me the clips.  It's really a big help, sa bisaya dako kaayog tabang sa ako. Thanks kaayo jud. walay bonus gikan kang bosing? hahaha

Myra - Well, I'm just thankful that you are my sister even if I've got no choice. Hahahahaha!  Life would be a bit boring kung walay samukan sa life nako. hahahaha

To Ronelo, Beth, Bryan, Mr. and Mrs. Donlon, ryan marie, dynnes, griffin,frances, thesa, fan-man, anthony, lori, phil, tiffany, orxia, lishang, dewayne, irene - thank you for your hi's, hello's, how are you's, comments and messages. Thanks for not being a stranger.  It's always nice to hear from you every now and then.   I haven't met some of you in person but who knows, we will meet one day.  It would be nice.

And to some other friends here who are still "strangers" (hehe) thank you also.  Hope next year you won't be anymore.

So to all my friends, once again many thanks!  Cheers to the New Year and good life ahead.

9:33 AM

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  • 
    mayen Palmones
    

    ay wala man ko nakahilak uy hehehehhe... perte ang mga words of wisdom! bitaw cel thank you sad... mao ra to heheheh. Happy New Year!

    • Reply

    3 years ago
  • 
    Mj ciudad
    

    tarunga daw ug blog beh.. hehe pwede kanag taas2? kanang mkahilak jud ko ug lata? hehe i'm sure you will miss me! kay ako ray nagasamok sa imo. haha

    • Reply

    3 years ago
  • 
    Mi Rnelo
    

    pwes humanda .... madam cel, thanks for everything pud diay, mga maihap pa nga everything pero paghandaan kay soon na we become good friends pud, am sure mao na jud na ang time nga dili ma ihap ang thanks for everything. tapus, i know na ur such one of a kind, dili pud endangered specie ha kay ako na, hehehe btaw oi, i feel like ganahan ko sa imo, kanang level nga maka relate pud ko, humanda if mag mit ta kay kanang leveling jud nga meeting, tapus madam, btaw oi, makatawa ko mag huna huna ug mag predict ug mga expect sa imung personalities murag kataw anan nga naay sense. tapus kuan pud, ganahan pud ko sa imung blog murag ang mga content gkan jud sa imung bukug hehehhe btaw tapus madam kuan pud, thanks for being such a nice friend ka myspace ug uban pa, dili lagi ta txtm8? ngano? anyway, wa ko kasabot ana nga part, tapus tapus, kuan pud, unsa pa gani ha, kuan diay, thanks pud sa pag include sa akung name sa pag spell out sa akung first name, apelyido na lang kulang, kahilak kug Puto nga nahuna hunaan ko nimo though very short lang ang atung acquintance tapus virtual lang pa gyud kaayo, tapus, nakit an diay ta ka sa mall, tapus naulaw ko mo hi, kay sophisticated man kaayo ka atu ug outfit oi, di ko ka level , unsay affair ato? tapus, ingat madam, i wish you all the best napud for 2009. GBU and have a good health and long life to you and to your loved ones. thanks madam cel. naa kunu ko blog pero maulaw ko mo share kay kaila kag 3 minutes nga english? after 3 minutes i collapse? mao na madam, thanks kaayo.

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    3 years ago
    • 
      MaRiCeL
      

      hi ron! LOL kaayo ko sa imohang comment ui. bitaw cge lang, magkita ra lagi ta ha para dili virtual bah. as in mahikapan tika ug mahimamat jud dili kanang pang internet explorer o mozilla firefox ra nga level. hahahahaha
      
      cge ra ui, ana man jud na magsugud kung unsa pa man na friendship. kami bitaw ni shina ug sharee wala baya mi magtuo na ani diay pero ani man gyud so mao na ni.
      
      kanus-a gud ko nag sophisticated look sa mall ui. feeling nako no dili to ako imong nakita. ako tun

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      3 years ago
  • 
    Dianne
    

    Gang, thanks for the talks pud. If there's one thing I learned from you among many others - it is to not feel pressured when it comes to things or decisions in life and knowing what's best for you without other people's negative opinions influence that decision. that's one of your "major" strengths and makes up your character and these are things i envy in you hahhaha... o diba, nagpakatotoo na gyud daw. bitaw gang oi, when u see something in a person and u admire that in a person and u wish u have that kind of strength :-) ill sure will try to carry this with me in the years ahead. and this is also a reminder i think because sometimes u feel pressured which is normal, that u always have to trust yourself and your instincts and listen to ur guts. i'm glad that ur there for sheena too. :-) thanks for another year in our friendship. more years to come! im looking forward for more years of good conversations, laughs, sharing of things to ponder upon and pieces of advice online and offline hehe

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    • Reply(1)

    3 years ago
    • 
      MaRiCeL
      

      you're welcome gang. it's been a pleasure jud to be friends with you and shina. dont worry, when you're out there na, you know malingaw ra mi ni shina sa unsang paraan na kabalo mi malingaw namo ang isa't isa. HAHAHAHAHA
      
      looking forward jud ko to more years of our friendship. im just glad that ive known you both and that we connect in many ways. i admire you jud baya kay you both are young but deep and have certain level of maturity. when i was your age, i wasnt thinking the way you g

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      3 years ago
  • 
    S.
    

    Wowwww this blog is very heart melting mi amica! It almost made me cry.. :-( Thank you for including me in this post (but of course, dakong gubot kung wala ko ani nga blog, hala mang-threaten???)
    
    Anyway, I just want to let you know also Gang how much I appreciated the friendship we have formed in just a short span of time. I guess our personalities just perfectly match that it took us no time to be really bonded! Youre right with the Leo-Libra team! What can I say, wa juy libog ang mga leo bisan asa pwede kaayo, dili arte and dili mga reklamador... makahilak ka sa ka way libog. HAHAHAHA

    
    We may be different in a lot of things and there are some pursuits and interests we dont share, but these things make our friendship more beautiful.... I am looking forward to more S******* in 2009 and hopefully the "puhon thing" will materialize in 2009, if not in 2010, in 2011 and so on and so on maong ganing "puhon" dba. HAHAHA.
    
    Lets keep this friendship growing, Bridge!
    :-)