Twenty-two is my number,
I know it’s not yet over.
To be happy and carefree
Like teenagers who are free.
Yes, I’m not teen anymore,
But I want to enjoy more.
Like what I used to, before,
Until I turn twenty-four.
I’ll live my life happily,
With my friends and family.
And with my awesome best friend,
Who’ll stay with me ‘til the end.
My first time as an assistant couselor!
United Youth Camp 2013 – Be Anchored to God, was the most fun and the best of the best camp ever, in my life! I’m assisting ate Stella here – my dear counselor. 
…my energetic, fun and pretty co-counselors…
and lastly, my helpful, sweet and lovely campers (including me and ate Ste 
) …
girl counselors of UYC 2013
Let’s continue to be anchored to God!
Got this from a friend. Thought of sharing this inspiring letter…
I am writing to thank Filipinos for the way you have treated me here, and to pass on a lesson I learned from observing the differences between your culture and mine over the years.
I am an expatriate worker. I refer to myself as an OAW, an Overseas American Worker, as a bad joke. The work I do involves a lot of traveling and changing locations, and I do it alone, without family. I have been in 21 countries now, not including my own. It was fun at first. Now, many years later, I am getting tired. The Philippines remains my favorite country of all, though, and I’d like to tell you why before I have to go away again.
I have lived for short periods here, traveled here, and have family and friends here. My own family of origin in the United States is like that of many Americans—not much of a family. Americans do not stay very close to their families, geographically or emotionally, and that is a major mistake. I have long been looking for a home and a family, and the Philippines is the only place I have lived where people honestly seem to understand how important their families are.
I am American and hard-headed. I am a teacher, but it takes me a long time to learn some things. But I’ve been trying, and your culture has been patient in trying to teach me.
In the countries where I’ve lived and worked, all over the Middle East and Asia, it is Filipinos who do all the work and make everything happen. When I am working in a new company abroad, I seek out the Filipino staff when I need help getting something done, and done right. Your international reputation as employees is that you work hard, don’t complain, and are very capable. If all the Filipinos were to go home from the Middle East, the world would stop. Oil is the lifeblood of the world, but without Filipinos, the oil will not come from the ground, it will not be loaded onto the ships, and the ships will not sail. The offices that make the deals and collect the payments will not even open in the morning. The schools will not have teachers, and, of course, the hospitals will have no staff.
What I have seen, that many of you have not seen, is how your family members, the ones who are overseas Filipino workers, do not tell you much about how hard their lives actually are. OFWs are very often mistreated in other countries, at work and in their personal lives. You probably have not heard much about how they do all the work but are severely underpaid, because they know that the money they are earning must be sent home to you, who depend on them. The OFWs are very strong people, perhaps the strongest I have ever seen. They have their pictures taken in front of nice shops and locations to post on Facebook so that you won’t worry about them. But every Pinoy I have ever met abroad misses his/her family very, very much.
I often pity those of you who go to America. You see pictures of their houses and cars, but not what it took to get those things. We have nice things, too many things, in America, but we take on an incredible debt to get them, and the debt is lifelong. America’s economy is based on debt. Very rarely is a house, car, nice piece of clothing, electronic appliance, and often even food, paid for. We get them with credit, and this debt will take all of our lifetime to pay. That burden is true for anyone in America—the OFWs, those who are married to Americans, and the Americans themselves.
Most of us allow the American Dream to become the American Trap. Some of you who go there make it back home, but you give up most of your lives before you do. Some of you who go there learn the very bad American habits of wanting too many things in your hands, and the result is that you live only to work, instead of working only to live. The things we own actually own us. That is the great mistake we Americans make in our lives. We live only to work, and we work only to buy more things that we don’t need. We lose our lives in the process.
I have sometimes tried to explain it like this: In America, our hands are full, but our hearts are empty.
You have many problems here, I understand that. Americans worry about having new cars, Filipinos worry about having enough food to eat. That’s an enormous difference. But do not envy us, because we should learn something from you. What I see is that even when your hands are empty, your hearts remain full.
I have many privileges in the countries where I work, because I am an expat. I do not deserve these things, but I have them. However, in every country I visit, I see that you are there also, taking care of your families, friends, bosses, and coworkers first, and yourselves last. And you have always taken care of me, in this country and in every other place where I have been.
These are places where I have been very alone, very tired, very hungry, and very worried, but there have always been Filipinos in my offices, in the shops, in the restaurants, in the hospitals, everywhere, who smile at and take good care of me. I always try to let you know that I have lived and traveled in the Philippines and how much I like your country. I know that behind those smiles of yours, here and abroad, are many worries and problems.
Please know that at least one of us expats has seen what you do for others and understands that you have a story behind your smiles. Know that at least one of us admires you, respects you, and thanks you for your sacrifices.
“Salamat po. Ingat lagi. Mahal ko kayong lahat.”
David H. Harwell, PhD, is a former professor and assistant dean in the United States who now travels and works abroad designing language training programs. He is a published author and a son of a retired news editor.
March 13, 2013 — we again started the Wednesday Night Youth Bible Study. Kuya Danny, our speaker, tackled about on “How to Make People Like You Instantly”. The topic was very fitting, not only for the young ones but also to those who are ones young…
I would like to share to you certain points we tackled. Negative vs. Positive & Positive vs. Negative:
THE NEGATIVE PERSONALITY
* Physical manifestations.
- Facial expressions
- Body language.
- Tone of voice.
- Grooming and appearance.
- Temperament.
- Other general manifestations.
Why do people have a negative attitude?
* The basic cause.
- The underlying cause of a negative mental attitude (or personality) is a deep-seated feeling
- Of inferiority or low self-image.
- It is this deep lack of self-esteem and confidence that causes people to transmit a negative
- Magnetic field.
* Many of these inhibitions originate in childhood and carry over into adult life.
- Parents neglected to instil a positive outlook on life and a right kind of self-confidence.
- Lack of love and outward affection in the home.
- Lack of encouragement and proper motivation.
- Lack of recognition for a job well done.
- Lack of sufficient well-rounded experiences to broaden one’s background.
- Lack of training in learning how to love and get along with others.
- Ridicule, rejection and discrimination at school, on the playground, at church, etc.
- More pangs of failure than joys of success.
* Whatever the causes — a negative mental attitude essentially boils down to disrespect for self or self-hatred.
THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE
* Points to put into practice.
- Gear your mind to think of others first.
- Express genuine interest in other people.
- Smile.
- Be the first to speak.
- Radiate warmth and positive friendship.
- Be responsive and approachable.
- Get others talking about subjects they’re familiar with or are interested in.
- Sincerely compliment people and notice little things.
- Make other people feel important and do it sincerely.
- Be a good listener: Encourage others to talk about themselves.
- See the good qualities in people.
- Consider the fragile feelings of others before you disagree.
- Get to know people and accept them for what they are.
- Be an interesting conversationalist without calling attention to yourself.
- Be open, honest and genuinely humble.
- Think of each person you meet as a potential son of God.
TWO FINAL WRAP-UP POINTS:
- Not every person we meet will become a close personal friend.
- Realize that to implement these suggestions will take time.
In summary, what must you do to get people to like you?
Solomon summarized it beautifully and succinctly when he said: “He who has friends must show himself friendly” (Prov. 18:24).
Christ said: “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Matt. 22:39).
The key is to turn the question around: “The way to get people to like you is to genuinely develop an interest in them.”
If you do this, you will never lack for friends.
(Source: http://www.hwarmstrong.org/rice20.pdf )
Being in a Long distance relationship is not, totally NOT easy. Have to update each other – where you are, what you are doing, your plans for the day, etc. And lastly need to attend our time each other every end of the day…
But I learned a lot,
worthy to forget not.
Patience and Understanding,
that changed my whole being. Ü
Sooo much happy to God for guiding our relationship. Without Him, we’ll never reach this moment.
Happy Anniversary, my bestfriend for life.
I love you always!
Sunday, January 27, 2013: a perfect day to travel and visit our wonderful friend in Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) – Bureau of Corrections at Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte. I met her last 2010 and learned something from her… again, we visited her with ate Stella, still, I learned more from her… She is high-spirited woman who take life a “blessing”. Even though she’s facing a hard life but she’s still positive and contented. She is faithful and very mature, spiritually. She told us, although she’s inside the prisons bars but she’s really thankful to God for bringing her in that place – jail – for the reason it made her faith stronger. She said, it’s really hard to have companion with the people inside the jail, but with God’s guidance and help, she stays humble. Every day in prison jail is not east but then again she always be reminded by God that everything’s happen for a reason.
We’re very amazed with her; we told her how nice it is if we’re with her inside the prison. But she said, “That’s what you think it’s nice. Kayo, makikita niyo ang mga tao dito mababait pero sa totoo, they are very cruel. People around here are like wearing a mask… Even police and guards are very cruel. They don’t know how to treat others right. Yes, this is Bureau of Correction to correct the prisoners, but how can they correct if they cannot correct themselves?” I understand her. She’s really suffering inside, nevertheless she still consider it a blessing. “It only comes with ACCEPTANCE”, she said. She gave us an advice that truly sticks on my mind, “regret comes after a wrong choice.”
Aside from that, she set food for us, breakfast and Lunch… she prepared delicious veges like potatoes with tuna and banana bud/blossom salad. She cooked it with the help of her two buddies, ate LynLyn and ate Maricel -who already keeping the Sabbath day and Feasts of God as well. They are health conscious, avoiding processed foods and soft drinks too.
“Life is really a journey”, she said. And I would agree with that!
I really enjoyed this visit to ate Jed with ate Stella also, Ate Jed is amazing. I’m looking forward for the next visit. Hopefully on February, God-willing.
~ SAD-true story… made me cry while reading…
The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves.
“When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I’ve got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.
Suddenly I didn’t know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn’t seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?
I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn’t talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn’t love her anymore. I just pitied her!
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.
The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn’t have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.
In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn’t want anything from me, but needed a month’s notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month’s time and she didn’t want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.
This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that every day for the month’s duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.
I told Jane about my wife’s divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.
My wife and I hadn’t had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don’t tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.
On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn’t looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.
On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn’t tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.
She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.
Suddenly it hit me… she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.
Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it’s time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.
But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn’t noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office…. jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind…I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.
She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won’t divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn’t value the details of our lives, not because we didn’t love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I’ll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.
That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed -dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push through with the divorce.— At least, in the eyes of our son—- I’m a loving husband….
The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves.
So find time to be your spouse’s friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!
If you don’t share this, nothing will happen to you.
If you do, you just might save a marriage. Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
——————————-
Sad to say, over 50 percent of marriages in the US end up in divorce and is ONE out of two marriages. And now Divorce Law is being considered here in the Philippines, we are heading the same direction.
