These Little Wonders

Happy last Friday of 2017!!! So how prepared are you for 2018??? :D I recently met with a financial adviser who shared with me the basics of financial planning.  I won't discuss everything in detail, because I'm not really in the position to do so, but I'll share what I can. :) First, there's what we call FINANCIAL TRIANGLE:  Then the three major risks in life namely:  1. Dying too soon 2. Living too long 3. Sickness/Disablement  Now the big question is, how prepared are you for these risks?  During the BDJ Launch Weekend, I got to listen to Cheska Sarausad and she shared the following worries that most adults have:  1. Can I take care of my aging parents? 2. Can I send my children to college? 3. When I am unable to work, who will take care of my family's needs? 4. When will I afford to get a house for my family? 5. If I get critically ill, will I be able to pay the bills? 6. Will I be able to afford to trave...

On my way to work this morning, I couldn't help but worry about what could possibly happen. With all the recent events, the ever-depressing news, sometimes no matter how hard you try to resist, you'd still succumb to fear.  Feeling helpless, I just turned to the Lord and prayed for protection and traveling mercies. Then I found myself standing beside a police officer (who stayed by my side during the whole trip). I just smiled when I realized it was God's way of comforting me and assuring me that He's there to guide and protect me. He is always at my side, whenever, wherever, all the days of my life. There's no need to fear. ♥ Image Source: Pinterest

It's the most wonderful time of the year. It's the happiest season of all. Most ímportantly, it's the season of giving. And because I've been truly blessed this year, just like I have been for the past 31 years, I also would like to be a blessing to others even in my own little ways. Sooooo, as a "comeback" post, I'm sharing some FREEBIES!!! I'd like to keep the mechanics simple. I'll list down the items for grabs, and just let me know which one/s you'd like to have. The first to reserve gets the item. :) Easy, right? :) My only request is that you reserve the item which you will REALLY use. Para naman hindi masayang. :) The reason why I'm doing this, aside from decluttering, is to make sure that things will be put to good use. Since I know there's a little chance for me to use these stuff, I realized there's no point in keeping them. Instead, it will be best to give them away so others could benefit. Now let...

Today is the first of November, and today we celebrate the Feast of All Saints.  During the mass, Msgr. Bong Lo shared two reasons why we honor and remember the saints: 1. To honor the saints is to honor God Himself who caused them to be saints. These men and women of faith were no extraordinary beings. They're just like us, graced by the Lord to live holy lives.  2. To remember them is to remember that we are also called to be just like them, that we, too, are meant to be holy. And to be holy means to be BLESSED: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 3) Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. (Verse 4) Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Verse 5) Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. (Verse 6) Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Verse 7) Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. (Verse 8) Blessed are t...

Let me tell you a story... of God's goodness and faithfulness.  Ever since I joined the community back in 2006, I have not missed a household meeting for no valid reason. And by valid, I meant a matter-of-life-and-death situation, I'm sick, or I'm somewhere outside Metro Manila.  Last night, I had all the valid excuses to skip the household meeting:  I have an important report to finish at work.  It's the least wonderful time of the month (aka dysmenorrhea strikes again). Traffic is horrible, especially along Ortigas Avenue Extension, and I swear it's deadly.  But no matter how hard Satan tried to convince me not to attend, I still willed  to be in the household. You know something (or someone) really matters to you if you're willing to fight for it (them). And the household meeting is THAT important to me.  So I decided to use  Angkas . And just right after we turned right to Ortigas Avenue, God has already assured me of Hi...

O Almighty, Eternal God, look upon the Face of Your Son and for love of Him, who is the Eternal High Priest, have pity on Your priests.  Remember, O most compassionate God, that they are but weak and frail human beings. Stir up in them the grace of their vocation which is in them by the imposition of the bishop’s hands.  Keep them close to You, lest the enemy prevail against them, so that they may never do anything in the slightest degree unworthy of their sublime vocation. O Jesus, I pray for Your faithful and fervent priests; for Your unfaithful and tepid priests; for Your priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields; for Your tempted priests; for the lonely and desolate priests; for Your young priests; for Your dying priests; for the souls of Your priests in purgatory. But above all, I commend to you the priests  dearest to me, the priest who baptized me, the priests who have absolved me from my sins, the prie...

You have given it all to me. To You, Lord, I return it. Everything is Yours; do with it what You will. Give me only Your love and grace. That is enough for me.   -St. Ignatius of Loyola Today is St. Ignatius of Loyola's Feast Day. And today, I remember all the things that the Lord has given me. :)  July is the new January! At least that's what I felt about the beginning of the 3rd quarter. God made all things NEW for me.  I welcomed the month with a new group ( Paolo's badminton family ) in a somewhat new place (because we took a route I haven't taken before) with new experiences (especially the Lumiang-Sumaguing Cave Connection).  I made a big career change and found myself working in a totally different environment. But I'm loving every part of it, minus the daily commute.  I met new friends and new mentors. I'm so grateful for my boss who took a chance on me and who has been so appreciative even of my little accomplishments.  ...

Hooray! I'm back!  And I welcomed July in Sagada. For the second time! I don't think I was able to write about my first visit there. But this time, I won't miss the chance to share my great adventure up in the mountains of northern Luzon. :) Hello, Mountain Province! :) I was Paolo's plus one. (Yay! Nakaka-kilig sabihin yun. Haha.) It's also my second time to go on a trip with his friends (the first one is in Cebu , but this is another group - Pioneer badminton people).  We took the direct trip to Sagada via Banaue on the night of June 30 aboard a Coda Lines bus. Around 6AM of July 1, we arrived in Banaue, and for the first time in my 30 long years of existence, I was finally able to see up close and personal the famous Banaue Rice Terraces ! It was so surreal. Yung feeling na dati sa libro mo lang siya nakikita, ngayon, actual na! Totoo ngang nakakamangha! At ang saya lang kasi huminto talaga yung bus sa view deck and we were given enough time t...