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The Woman Behind

I am Aiza, 25 (Oh yes, I'm already 25!) 26 27 28 29 30 (I'm freaking 30!!!) 32, Filipina, born and raised in Manila, but a pure-blooded Visayan. I am the eldest of two and the only daughter. I grew up in an ideal world with only beautiful people and wonderful things. My life then revolved around school, church, and home. I study, I pray, and I play. It was that simple. And I thought that's how it's going to be for the rest of my life.

I was in high school when I first noticed how things are changing and how life gets complicated year after year, after year. I was forced to face "issues" and problems which really overwhelmed me. Thank God I have a strong religious foundation, credits to my parents who have done a good job in making God known to us even at an early age. When I went to college, life has become even more challenging. Thank God I had a few good friends who kept me company and helped me stay sane throughout my stay in Diliman. Then came SFC...

I attended the Christian Life Program on September 30, 2006, a few weeks after a failed relationship. I became an SFC member on December 9, 2006, after completing the 12-week program. Ever since I became part of the community, I knew that it was the organization I have long searched for. I felt a sense of belonging and I treated my brothers and sisters as my second family. I so loved the community that I never missed an event (at least those that I can afford that time). However, in 2007, as the whole CFC community went through a very depressing stage, I, too, lamented over another heartbreak. This time, it was caused by another failed relationship with a brother from the community. How devastating was that! What I thought was already the ideal relationship turned out to be a nightmare. The man who I thought was Mr. Right apparently was Mr. Wrong. What I thought was true love was actually false. At that time, my heart was not simply broken. It was crushed into pieces. And I thought I'd never be able to bring it back together again. If you have been reading my blogs, you must have known how difficult it was for me to move forward and liberate myself from the ghost of that painful past, and how bravely I fought for my freedom and happiness. But I did not leave the community. Instead, I became more active, and eventually entered a discernment program for aspiring mission volunteers. In 2009, I was already out of my home chapter. I started expanding my territories and explored the possibility of becoming a full time pastoral worker for SFC. (I am still exploring that possibility. ^_^.) I am currently serving in the CFC Global Mission Center as a Process Analyst under the MIST department (was promoted to Department Head last year, and everything became more difficult *cries*). After serving fulltime for five years, I went back to the corporate world and now working as Project Analyst at Emerson. Also, I am happily married to my ideal man (will share about it soon. 😊)

So why am I sharing my love story when this page is supposed to be about me being an empowered woman? Simple. Love is the very thing that empowers me. Love keeps me going. Love gets me to where I want to be. Love inspires me to reach my fullest potential. And if I may say, Love keeps me alive. :) Because Love is God and God is Love. :)

I am now an empowered bella because of the things God allowed me to experience in the past. Those heartbreaks and frustrations are actually a training ground for me to learn and develop my character as a woman. God has refined and continues to refine me to become the woman He intended me to be: strong, loving, beautiful (inside and out).

Bo Sanchez said, "your past does not define your future." Sure it doesn't, but how you use your past greatly affects how you live your present and how you prepare for your future.

I choose to learn from my past, live in my present, and be excited for my future because I know God has a great plan for me. ("For I know well the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."-Jeremiah 29:11)

I educate myself by reading books, attending seminars, watching inspirational talks, and well, conversing with wise people. I develop my skills and talents by sharing them and using them to proclaim the Lord's greatness. But I know these things are not enough. I still have a lot to learn, and probably unlearn as well. But one thing's for sure, I am a woman, created in the image and likeness of God, with a purpose to be a gift to all men (and women) by being an expression of my Creator's great love and power.

I am Aiza. Empowered to empower. Blessed to be a blessing. Loved to love. :) ♥


Comments

  1. UnknownJuly 24, 2012 at 3:01 AM

    Naks naman! :) Woohoo! Praise GOD for empowering you to empower! And for TRUE LOVE, from God AND from our loved ones! :) *kilig* God bless always, dear!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mimi Oh RepublicSeptember 26, 2012 at 10:16 AM

    yeah! Galing ni God! Continue to spread love and inspire others. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Aiza Garnica SantosOctober 6, 2012 at 7:55 PM

    Thanks, Ate Tina & Jen. :) Let's continue to blog for God. :)

    ReplyDelete

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