The Woman of Faith and the Earthquake...

My blog will not be complete if I will not be writing about my reflection on the earthquake in Japan which took place last March 09, 2011.

My family lives in Fuji, a city in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture. Fuji is the third largest City in terms of population of the 23 cities of Shizuoka Prefecture. Shizuoka is part of the East part of Honshu island, where a magnitude of 7.2 earthquake struck off last March 09, just midday local time.

It was about 12 o'clock noon time... Minnie, my daughter in law and I were about to have our lunch when all of a sudden I felt a sort of shaking...I thought I was just tired and so I had an outbalance after having done the laundry...that day I was domesticated. But I felt it again and so I started to look around and tell Minnie that there is an earthquake. Silence followed... we looked around and saw the things in our place shaking. Our apartment is on the 4th floor of the building so we could really feel it. Though the magnitude was less, my immediate thought that time was to be still and pray.

I was taught "the prayer of the heart" before I flew here in Japan during our Bible Camp. I was in deep silence as I start to listen to my heart and begin communicating my thoughts to God. I started to establish "connection" with Him as I call on Him in prayer.

As I start to express my thoughts in silence, I found myself fearless, with no trepidations whatsoever, so calm.. just expressing my gratitude for the life my Lord has given me. I was in deep prayer of offering our situation to Him. I believe in my heart that God is amazing, that He is powerful who reigns above everything and that there is nothing that He cannot do. In my heart I know Him deeply and powerfully and I know too that He cares and loves me, that in spirit He is with us...I claim that I am God's beloved and that His presence is always with me. I had this thought, that if it His will for things to happen, then this will be done. My faith says...He knows better what is best for me.

As I talk to him I have realized that I really don't care about life anymore. I know that if God will take my life at that very moment, I believe in my heart that by His grace, I have already lived my life with a sense of purpose...that of being a daughter, a woman, a wife, a mother, an educator, a community worker, a friend and a sister to other people here on earth. I am confident that with His Divine Providence I have already done my mission which is to help and make a difference in the lives of other people, our less fortunate brothers and sisters, by touching their lives with the use of my talents, my abilities, and my God-given gifts...I know that the blessings He has given me I have shared and I am fully aware that I have lived a life with compassion for other people because ALTRUISM is my advocacy.

I can have an endless sharing about how faith has withstand the different situations in my life, but what I want to share is...I thank God for my parents' legacy about faith because this has impacted me. I am grounded with this legacy. As I listen to my heart and to my life, I see that its mystery is fathomless. I thank the Lord for the moments He has given me in this journey to life...moments that I consider graces from Him.

I know my FAITH as a woman will continue to LIGHT the paths to my journey. After my experience with the earthquake, my faith has leveled up...it has grown deeper and has made me realize that, "FAITH means being SURE of the things we HOPE for and knowing that something is REAL even if we do not see it." Hebrews 11:1.

Kalokaaa....

gusto ko lang mag sulat ng kahit ano....haha....yung I do not really need to think what topic to write about...yung I will just have a free expression of myself...

hmmmm...is an expression of mine when I chat with friends....haha....so madalas ask nila ako...what does it mean....I will always answer them with..."wala lang...gusto ko lang i type yan po"...it is my expression kung medyo la me maisip sabihin.

hayyyysss...is another favorite expression of mine pag ayaw ko sinasabi. if I do not really agree to the statement of a person. I use it din pag ka halimbawa parang... "la lang...ganon talaga"...ang reaksyon ko.

kalokaaaa...is the expression I use most of the time...hahaha...my colleagues call me na nga "Kalokaaa"...I remember my boss sending me a text message saying ... "I miss you na, Kaloka", another admin also during our chat told me this:"Miss na kita, Kaloka!" whew...some close friends call me "Kaloka" because of this expression of mine...hehe...pag sinabi ko to...talagang feel ko talaga syang bigkasin...I can say this word in different accents, tone, in so many ways... actually with different emotions...hehe...

hayyys...soon I will be back to work...I will surely miss the moments I have spent with my family here in Japan...hmmm....ganon talaga...as in wala me magawa jan po...Kalokaaa...ganito talaga ang buhay...

see how I have used those words...haha...I am fond of using din, "hahaha...ahehe, hehehe, nyahaha, waahhhhh, and hihihi" ...if you notice whenever I make comments haha....I always use these words...I use "hahahaha" pag tuwang tuwa talaga ako...."ahehe" kung mejo yung statement is true...or like ko...and "hihihi" pag playing maldita or pilya (naughty) ako..."nyahaha", pag pa cute ako tumawa...and "waaaahhhh" kapag naman I am napipikon na...or parang I do not like the idea...hahaha...hayyys...kaloka nga.

howell, ano pa nga ba ang mga sinasabi ko minsan?...haha...basta ang alam ko po I am a woman who speaks her mind and who expresses herself with no holds barred...no hang ups and no inhibitions because I will always be myself in whatever situation and under any circumstances.

hmmm...actually wala me po magawa...hayyyys....KALOKAAA...

The Beauty of a Woman....

The beauty of a woman

isn't in the clothes she wears,

The figure that she carries,

or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman

must be seen from in her eyes;

Because that's the doorway to her heart,

the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman

isn't in a facial mole;

But true beauty in a woman,

is reflected by her soul.

It's the caring that she cares to give,

the passion that she shows;

And the beauty of a woman

with passing years only grows.

Through the Path of Enlightenment....

I miss having an in depth conversation...a real conversation which gives light... making me an enlightened being.

Among the topics I love to talk about are "consciousness" and "awareness". Having awareness is the same as having a proper insight which one can use in his discernment. When one is aware and conscious, he possesses an enlightened mind that can sift to the puddle, making him see clearly which is which as he makes choices and decisions.

It is also with this that universal truths will open up vistas...making them come out from behind. Furthermore, awareness makes a huge impact in our decisions. It is with our mind (consciousness) that we become more attuned with what is important in life and what is trivial (does it matter?).

In our journey, life continues, albeit the different perspectives we have ...as we embrace realities with understanding and acceptance and so we become an enlightened being...one is able to differentiate the vast spectrum and so there is calmness in the otherwise troubled existence.

But how about the ego? well...the ego will undoubtedly try to resurface and take hold of every chance it has to survive...I see the importance therefore of one's objective to always be "conscious" and "aware" of the ego's subtle nuances lest one becomes entrapped again in its grip.

It is therefore very vital for one to be always on guard and be aware of this. It is so important until such time that the TRUE self, the I AM, takes firm root and completely envelopes one's being....the I AM...the WHO and WHAT you are....

I have passed through this stage in my life...and the experiences were challenging indeed because I have to take risks and face trials in order to explore...reinvent. ..transcend myself.

But one great thing about it was... my life was further enriched which has been to me a rewarding experience.. . and this is growth I believe...

When one is aware of the changes and is enlightened. ..then he/she journeys through life without fears and without worries... this makes him/her then free to live a life that is meant to be... a LIFE that is FREE.

Bakit Nga Ba?

Bakit nga ba buhay ay ganito?
Hiwa hiwalay ang pamilya ko?
Tuloy ako paroon at parito,
Kaya puso at isapan ko'y naging lito.

Bakit nga ba ganyan ang buhay?
Pag pamilya ay di kasama tila walang saysay.
Sadyang kay hirap nga ang maglakbay
Dito sa ating pinagpalang buhay.

Bakit nga ba ako ay walang magawa,
Sa kalagayan ng aking pamilya?
Lungkot at pangugulila dapat kong maunawa
Para sa aking mga anak at asawa.

Bakit nga ba tayo ay di magkakasama?
Upang mga biyaya ng ating Ama ay pagsaluhan sana...
Kaya dalangin ko sa gabi at umaga,
Na sana darating ang araw na tayo ay magkasama sama.

Sa aking pag uwi puso ko ay malumbay...
Kahit baon ko ang pagmamahal n'yo sa  paglakbay.
Alam kong ako ay mangugulila pa rin pagdating sa ating bahay,
Tanong sa sarili ko ay..." Bakit Nga Ba Ganito ang Buhay?"

We all need to read this one over and over until it becomes part of who we are!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Try everything twice. On Madam's tombstone (of Whelan's and Madam) she said she wanted this epitaph: Tried everything twice...loved it both times!

2. Keep only cheerful friends.
The grouches pull you down. (keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches;)

3. Keep learning : Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with HIM/HER.

6. The tears happen: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love: Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge. Dance around the house naked.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. I love you, my special friend.

11. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second time.

Lost time can never be found.

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle