Feeling the Christmas Pressure

Waaah, I can’t believe my last post on this blog was when Manny Pacquiao defeated Miguel Cotto last November 15! After that, my blog has’nt been getting that much attention from it’s master. I really can’t believe I let myself preoccupied with things which are not so important such as partying and socializing. I should stay focused on things that matters most and one of those are my freelance work as a blogger. For almost three years now, blogging has been an integral part of my life…through blogging, me and my hubby was able to live a convenient life though I am the only one working for us. Through blogging, I am somehow manage to improve my writing skills and grammar. I was also able to meet so many friends all over the world. My blogs also have been my silent friend that is willing to listen to me in my times of sorrow and happiness. I should get back on the right track, I should put my focus back to my goals. I really pray I can do multi task. By the way, my sister who is based on Singapore would be back to celebrate the holidays with us so it would definitely would be a very busy two weeks for all of us. I hope I can conquer stress and pressure this time and make sure I set my priorities. In Jesus name I pray
amen!

PACQUIAO WON BY TKO!

Yehey! Another victory for the Filipino people as Manny Pacquiao won over Miguel Cotto!

The fight is so intense and I bet most of the viewers are really satisfied with how well Manny manages to fight the Puerto Rico's pride with such intensity. Filipino Champion Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) stopped WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) in round twelve to win another world title in an unprecedented seventh weight division on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. I was able to find a channel in Sopcast that showcases the fight through live video streaming (thanks sopcast!) The quality of the video is clear and what's best is that there's no lag or buffering needed!

Saved At Sea

Found this very touching story from a christian problogger about a man's sacrifice to save another's soul...

"After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church’s pastor once again slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit, and gave a very brief introduction of his childhood friend. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit to speak, “A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific Coast,” he began,” when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright, and the three were swept into the ocean.

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story He continued,” Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make a excruciating decision of his life…..to which boy would he throw the other end of the line. He only had seconds to make the decision.

The father knew that his son was a Christian, and he also knew that his son’s friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by even the torrent waves. “As the father yelled out.’ I love you son!’ he threw the line to his son’s friend. By the time he pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beyond the raging swells into the black of night. His sons body was never recovered.”

By this time, the two teenagers were listening very attentively, waiting for the next words to come out of the old man’s mouth.” The father,”continued,”knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus, and he could not bear the thought of his son’s friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus.Therefore, he sacrificed his son.Oh, how great is the love of God that He should do the same for us!”

With that, the old man turned and sat back down his chair as silence filled the room. Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man’s side.” That was an awesome story,” said one of the boys,” but I don’t think it was very logical for a father to give up his son’s life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian.”

“Well, you’ve got a point there, the old man replied, glancing down at his down his worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face, and he once again looked up at the boys and said,” It sure isn’t very logical, is it? But I’m here today to tell you the fact THAT story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His Son for me.”

“You see, a boy….I was the son’s friend.”

My Niece's Wedding

Just recently, my niece Liezl just got married to a guy he met at the church. Both of them are serving the Lord since childhood as her husband is a member of the dance ministry and she is a member of the choir. It was like a dream come true and their story is like destined to happen as ordained by the Lord. Both their parents are very happy to see them tie the knot and anyone can see how much they love each other. Whenever I remember that memorable wedding, I can't help but sigh and wish I would have one like that in the future. Yup, like the rest of the single girls out there... I too is dreaming of a nice wedding. I want it to be solemn and simple but at the same time joyful. I want it to be a celebration of love and I want all of my guests feel that they are a part of our relationship. Jojo and I often discuss that before we sleep and both of us are so excited for that event. We're still on the planning stage but I would really want that to happen next year, hopefully by September. I already have a plan on how the wedding should be and I know that everyone would enjoy the ceremony. I saw that kind of ceremony on Facebook and I would like to adopt the couples gimmick. LOL. I hope after the wedding, all things would fall into it's proper place. I hope there'll come a time that I don't have to work anymore and just spend my spare time playing casino and socialize with my friends. Haha, I know it's not feasible especially in our current financial status but I just hope and pray that after our wedding... God would bless our relationship and would open doors of opportunities for us just like Liezl and his husband. Again to my dear niece, best wishes!

Expect Blackouts in the Metro

MANILA, Philippines - As the country struggles to rise from the devastation of storms “Ondoy” and “Pepeng,” Metro Manila and Rizal province are facing long power outages after a fire forced the shutdown of a power transformer in Taytay last Wednesday.


The rotating blackouts that the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) had hoped to end today are expected to drag on after three of its substations tripped “due to critical loading and in its attempt to shift load” to compensate for the shutdown of the Dolores substation of the National Grid Corp. of the Philipines (NGCP).

Meralco said the development “will result in longer duration of power outages in affected areas.”
Meralco, in a statement, said the three substations that conked out were Mandaluyong, Hillcrest and SM-Shangri-La.


“Both the NGCP and Meralco are doing everything to restore normal state of power,” the Meralco statement read. “

We beg your indulgence for this inconvenience.”


Eleven cities and towns in eastern Metro Manila and Rizal province were subjected to rotating blackouts yesterday. Meralco had targeted to restore normal power today but its substations tripped.


The blackouts yesterday lasted three to four hours each twice a day in Makati, Marikina, Mandaluyong, Pasig, San Juan and parts of Quezon City, and Binangonan, Taytay, Angono, Cainta, and Antipolo City in Rizal. Marikina, Pasig and adjacent areas have been experiencing blackouts in the past two weeks due to floods left by tropical storm Ondoy.

Why I Was Spared Of Ondoy's Rage

Right after our shift last Friday (that would be Saturday morning), the heavy rain fell - right after I was safe at the comfort of our home...right after I comfortably wore my usual "pambahay"...right after I have eaten my hearty lunch - the rage of Ondoy was felt all over Manila...

I don't know what I did to deserve being spared by this plague. I am not an ideal Christian, I rarely go to Church - I guess I've been to Church service only once for the past five years and that was when my brother got married. I was ordained by our Pastor to reach out to people so God's word would be known to them but instead - I was sitting comfortably in front of the television watching some feel good movie during Sundays. I lie, cheat, steal unconsciously...doing things a non Christian does...having in mind that those are just "little evil things" that almost everyone commits everyday. I don't deserve being spared and yet I still have a roof over my head, food at the table and dry clothes to warm my body while others suffer with grief due to loss of loved ones, friends, possessions and even their very little drive to start their lives all over again. For them, they would again start from scratch...building their homes little by little ... reconstructing their dreams they built for years...putting together all that was lost in a snap...

I still can't see any logical reason why God would spare a sinner like me but He sure made me realize a couple of things that I never would have thought if this tragedy did not took place. He made me realize the value if life... that there is no rich or poor when calamity strikes. He made me realize that I need to number my days and live my life to the fullest everyday. I need to laugh and enjoy life as if there is no tomorrow and love as if there will be no other chance to love but now... and pray as if I would meet my creator anytime soon. God made me realize that I need not work just to store money on earth where worms and moth (or calamities like typhoon Ondoy) could destroy but rather store up riches in Heaven and use my finances wisely to also be a blessing to others. That I need to look for every opportunity to help my neighbors in whatever help I am capable of giving. Maybe the reason we did not experience Ondoy's rage is because God wants us to be a channel of blessings to those who are needful of love and encouragement... to give hope to others who does'nt know how to start living their lives again and to share God's provision and love to everyone. He gave us another chance to realize what the purpose of our lives are and gave us the ability to help those in need - I think that itself is the reason why so many of us were spared. I think that itself is the reason why we still have our bed, our computers, our radio, our PSPs, our Ipods, our celphones while others did not even know where to get their next meal.

There is a greater purpose why God allowed this thing to happen - we might not be able to fully grasp the reason behind it now but in time...it will made known to us. Let us still sing the song of praise to God because calamities DOES'NT change the fact that GOD IS STILL GOOD ALL THE TIME... ALL the time...

My Room Had a Face Lift

Just recently, I saw one of my friends photos through Facebook and one picture caught my attention. She posted a picture of her room and I must admit, I got envious on how she manage to make it very organized. Her room is quite small but she still was able to decorate it with things she herself made such as a personalized picture frames, a large cork board with small key chains I believe she received from friends and personalized boxes which houses her personal stuff. I was stunned on how she arrange her things very neatly and how she makes such small room look bigger. It so cozy and very cute. I love it!

Because of that, I was inspired to arrange my room as well. Hehe, though I know I won't be able to have the look of my friends' room - at least I was able to get rid of those dirt under my bed. LOL. Speaking of bed, my bed is sooo big, it eats up almost half of my room space. Well, my sister is the one who bought this so I have no choice but if she would allow me, I would like to buy one of those big Bunk Beds I saw online. It will only not only do wonders on my room because of it's small stature but it will create more drama into it. Though I know I'm too old to want to have a bunk bed...I still want it! Haha! Here's a peek of the improved version of my room...

I just changed the location of the tv set and the cabinet...it was originally on the right side...

the bed too...it was on the other side of the room...

i made a collage of my friends pictures with me...i suddenly missed them all especially Ruth and Malen