oN bEiNg A gRaNdMa...

What is this that I feel?
I never thought this will be for real.
I love being a grandma and for fourteen days,
I am now engaged in this whole idea.

Now I know the secret…
Why it is fun to be a grandparent.
It is because one becomes goofy and crafty,
Because holding your little angel in your arms makes you happy!

All I wish is to be a blessing in Nichole’s life.
One who will just be there to love and care for her,
To guide and tell her stories of our family,
And teach her life’s wisdom and inspire her with what I do.

I understand now how to be a grandmother
And I just love the feeling…the joy in one’s heart.
This is a new season in my life where I have committed myself,
Which I will treasure and forever be grateful to the Lord!

BABY SHOWER...

Like other first-time grandmothers, I can't help but look forward to another blessing in the family, the coming of my granddaughter.

I am just thinking out loud if there is a right way to be a grandmother? It is past 2:00 AM, I can't sleep...excited perhaps to be a grammy anytime today...Yes, within the next hours I will become a first-time grandmother.

The other night, I gave my granddaughter a BABY SHOWER. Hmmm... I can't wait to see the new member in the family, our ANGEL, JAZMINE NICHOLE...

I would just like to share some of the photos.

the preparation...

the baby's bed

her balloon...

Happy MEE-MAAH...

simple dinner...

the pretty Mom...

with Minnie, my daughter in law...

the expectant mom

with Minnie's Mom...

with some members of the family...

with my son, Ivan, Neth, my nephew's wife and her son, John, Rai...

with Elsa and Jen, Minnie's cuz...

Minnie's friends...

friends...

the gift from Mee-maah...

the gift from Tita Sarah....

from Tito Van2...

the gift from Tita Gizelle...

from Tita Neth...

from Tita Elsa...

the invitation...

PROMISES...

WELCOME 2012! This year, I commit myself to LIVE, LAUGH and LOVE...and so I believe I need to make some PROMISES.

Last year, I made promises to myself and looking back, as I read them, I realized that I was able to fulfill most of them. Having commitment to my promises have helped me a great deal to live a happier life. And so this year, I have compelled myself to write again some promises.

I PROMISE TO SEIZE THE Day (CARPE DIEM)... I will live each day as if it's my last. To live at present is a gift, so I will just enjoy every moment of the day. I will embrace it with so much fun and joy in my heart and SAVOR every minute of my life.

I love being in the FARM and communing with nature...

I PROMISE TO BE MYSELF (the who and what I am) for the rest of my journey in life...this is accepting my human limitations, my weaknesses and my shortcomings...I will do what I want, because life is what I make it, and I am fully aware that my life is MINE and that I should be responsible and accountable with it! Nobody else is going to live my life, so it’s up to ME on how I will live it!.

BOHOL IGUANA on my head...


I PROMISE to ACCEPT NEW CHALLENGES, FACE MY FEARS and NOT to GIVE UP...I will see the challenges and difficulties as means to gain new perspectives and expand boundaries. Bottom line is, it is LIFE itself which is the teacher. I will have energy, commitment and courage as I journey to life and NOT run from my life when things go wrong. I will continue trudging the road to a happy life even if there are times that I will be disappointed and dispirited. I will use my warrior's heart so that I can face my life directly, endure the pains,accept my limitations, and accept possibilities with positive attitude. I will embrace the life I deserve.

feeding the children in San Rafael, Guagua...

I PROMISE TO REACH OUT AND TOUCH LIVES...MAKE A DIFFERENCE and BE GRATEFUL... I will continue to serve others with a selfless heart and unconditional love. I will continue to do charitable services to the least, the lost, and the last. I will get involve in opportunities to help the less fortunate and give other people a helping hand for I know in my heart that it is possible to affect some changes and make a difference in their lives. As I do this, I will forever be GRATEFUL for all the BLESSINGS I have and share these to those who are in need...extend and reach out to others.

@ CUCHI TUNNEL IN VIETNAM...

I PROMISE to remain ADVENTUROUS. I will continue to explore and embrace opportunities so I can widen my horizons. I will continue to give myself the chance to visit new places with my loved ones and take the road less traveled. I won't stick to the same old path as I journey for to explore means to take other paths. Life is more exciting with adventure and so I will indulge myself to this.

Winning Moment...I was MISS ALOHA 2010 in our Christmas Party...

I PROMISE TO LAUGH OFTEN ... Laughter is the best medicine, so they say and that inner joy is beautiful! I will spend a few minutes each day thinking about the things that make me happy because I believe that it is good for the body and the mind. I can stay balanced, energetic, joyful, and healthy by laughing. I have realized that a sense of humor helps me get through tough times. At times when I am down spirited, I will look outside myself, laugh at the absurdities of my life, and transcend the difficulties of life I encounter.

sunset in BALER, QUEZON


I PROMISE to make SOUND and HEALTHY CHOICES and DECISIONS...the need for me to really foresee the results and consequences of every choice and decision I make. I will look for the SILVER LINING. As the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” When there are major challenges, I will try to look at them as opportunities for me to grow and learn from the mistakes.

I PROMISE TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE with hang ups or inhibitions, those with idiosyncrasies, those who are NOT level headed, immature and insecure...I will pray for them and raise their issues to the Father God. I will listen to the concerns of others not only with my ears, but with my HEART.

I PROMISE TO CONTINUE TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE. There are many things in life that are beyond our control. I will NOT be stressed out over them, I will focus on the things I can control like how I choose to react to problems. With my limitations and weaknesses, I will face them with dignity and with an awesome dose of humor. I will be proactive and NOT reactive. I promise to focus on myself and take responsibility for the ways I respond and behave.

SILOSO Beach in SENTOZA,SINGAPORE...

I PROMISE MYSELF NOT to expect anything from anybody. Disappointments in life happen because of expectations...

I know it will be tough to keep commitments, to keep promises, but I commit NOT to just EXIST but LIVE and have a LIFE that is more meaningful and enjoyable. And so as journey to life, I pledge to live my life full of passion, doing things that I love and continue making PROMISES.

A Plethora of Blessings for 2011...

It has been a GREAT year and to end it, I thought of making this as my last blog post.

As the year winds down...I thank God for the plethora of blessings that I have received for the year 2011.

One of the blessings is my blog. I am extremely thankful that I was able to launch this blog this year. I never thought that I will be followed and that Google will acknowledge some of my posts. Thanks to my friends who have shared my blog posts in their Face Book and Twitter accounts. My sincerest gratitude to more than 2,000 readers who have visited and read my posts. You have served as my inspiration to write and your visit has indeed made my blog a success. I was motivated to share my thoughts and connect with you online because you have inspired me.

The travels I had for the year...I was in Japan last February and March. It was a blessing being with my family despite the tsunami and the earthquake. I also had the chance to see the beautiful place of Baler, and was in Villa Escudero twice...first with my husband and second with my sister in law and some members of the family. Bohol is another place I was given the opportunity to visit and explore. Not to forget the Baguio trip I had with relatives and towards the end of the year, the road trip my classmates and I had. I cant forget of course the Vigan trip, the Pagudpud and Laoag trips towards the end of the year.

The opportunity to go back to school and the encounter I had with my good and awesome classmates. This is one of the blessings I will always treasure. I love studying again, learning new things and bonding with my classmates during our free time. Thanks to all my classmates for a wonderful semester and to all our professors for the knowledge they have imparted to us. I deeply appreciate the wisdom you have given us in your discussion. There is more to LIFE and I have realized this when I thought of studying again.

I am blessed with my family and friends who are always there for me. I thank my parents, my siblings, my own family for the LOVE, CARE and the MORAL SUPPORT they always give me. Thank you everyone for touching my heart and for being part of my journey in 2011. The biggest blessing is the coming of the new addition to the family. I thank God for the gift of Jasmine Nichole. I pray for her safe delivery...I know she will be a source of JOY in the family. I consider her the greatest gift I received this year.

The challenges, the trials, the hurting moments, the failures, the pains, the disappointments, the down moments are also blessings for me, for with these I was able to realize and appreciate the beauty of life. I came to know that life isn't about for the storm to pass, but it's about learning how to dance in the rain. LIFE indeed is always a matter of choice and decision, for everyday we face different situations and circumstances where we need to choose...to be happy or not...to take risks or not...to go forward or backward...to take a step of to just remain where we are. I love to reflect about LIFE and I thank God for the gift of WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE and DISCERNMENT.

The LIFE-GIVING and DEFINING MOMENTS I had for the year. I was blessed to have been given the opportunity to help people. These moments are absolutely LIFE GIVING. Moments when I make the less fortunate feel that there are people who are willing to reach out to them and touch their lives. The HELP, the PRESENCE, the HOPE that I give I know can MAKE A DIFFERENCE and this definitely is a DEFINING MOMENT for its significance is undoubtedly felt by them. I will never forget JESUSA (JESSA), an AETA baby, who was born last December 26,2011 in our house. I was so blessed to see before my eyes an ANGEL and to witness the moment when she was delivered by her mother. It was really an awesome experience and a blessing I will forever keep in my heart.

Thank you LORD for a great and fantastic 2011. May 2012 be a PROSPEROUS and BLESSED one, filled with AWESOME EVENTS, GOOD TIDINGS, GOOD HEALTH, PEACE, LOVE and HAPPINESS for my FAMILY and FRIENDS! Thank you for the countless blessings you continue to shower upon me and my loved ones.

On a quick personal note, I express my sincerest GRATITUDE to all the readers of this blog. Thank you for inspiring me. It has been a wonderful and enjoyable year sharing my thoughts with you. MARAMING SALAMAT PO!

Rambling Thoughts...Unedited...

It is past 2:00AM. I was awakened not because my clock has alarmed, but because of some rambling thoughts with wisdom, depth and profundity.

Actually, I have been thinking about things lately, hmmm...I just thought about how complicated the world is sometimes and how unfair life is for others. Some realities in life are difficult to understand and are too heavy to take, making it cumbersome for some to really understand what life is. I often ask the question, "Why is there suffering?" a deep thought, I know. I can't help but think of the the victims of the calamity in Cagayan de Oro City. I would know their situation because I myself was a victim of "lahar" way back then, and unfortunately has also experienced the typhoon Ondoy, because I was in Marikina, in my sister's house and with my parents, when it happened.

I have been thinking about what it means to have strength of heart. This is another deep thought, I know, but I like to share my musings with you. My thoughts have been rather complicated over the last few days. I have been thinking about all what it takes to be strong. The world is so complicated a place to live in, especially when calamities and tragedies are experienced by people and so I have realized that there is a need for them to be STRONG or to have strength of heart in order to survive one's situation.

As I think of my experiences during the trying times, I believe what has really made me become a survivor was my warrior's heart that has made me face my life directly, battling with my pains, accepting my limitations, and maximizing the possibilities. The arduous difficulties I have encountered, like; my family has to leave our place, during lahar, that we have to move out from our comfort zones are the very challenges I have used in order to stretch myself and thereby expand my understanding of what life is.

In the end, I have realized that it is life itself which is the teacher, the experiences have served as perfect opportunities that ultimately made the inner work of making me grow up in strength and in wisdom. As a result, courage has grown in me, the courage which has allowed me to include every aspect of my life in my spiritual practice, that of being a woman of FAITH.

49 AWESOME PICS Of My Birthday...

I love celebrating my birthday...I usually get surprises before, during and after my birthday...Just want to share memorable moments that I had...thanks to my family and friends who have made my birthday a meaningful one.

My birthday cake from my HRM Foreign Language students...

My B-day celebration with Kat and Diane at Pizza Hut...

Yummy Pizza....

It is good to celebrate with my family...my daughter, my parents, and my sister...

My father who has a great influence in my career and my communication skills.

with my mother...the woman who has taught me the value of humility and good attitude towards people and work.

with my HRM students...thanks for the food preparation and for the program.

I hope you had a great time dressing up and eating the Japanese way...

thanks for a wonderful semester!

with my Integral Formation Group...thanks for the love and care...

The family in my career that I will always treasure.