Monday, February 16, 2015 0 comments

in STILLness


STILL


Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me
within your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know You are God

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know his power
In quietness and trust

~~~


The song STILL of Hillsong United is one of the best songs that I have sang. Sinner as I am, I hinged on my dependence to God and the best form of prayer for me is through songs of praises & worship.
 
I will open-up a small portion of my life – one of the hardest struggles I must say. Maybe it is time to release it to the world so the load that I have been carrying would be lighter.

It was October of 2013 that my father was diagnosed with Lung Cancer stage III. 1/3 of his left lung was removed and he was hospitalized for almost a month.




Yes, I crumbled. My knees were shaken. I cried in secret from my family. I hanged on to every strength that I have – not really knowing how much is left. From what I remembered on my conversation with God is I never questioned Him – "WHY?". "Why not me?" I say, God chose me to carry this cross and I will put my faith in Him. I am not excluded from pain. It was an opportunity from God for our family to be stronger and an opportunity for my faith to be tested and so I welcomed it with conviction. True enough I have prayer warriors who prayed for my father, I have friends and family who gave me strength in every way. Although I might have rejected some of their comfort because as much as possible I would not like to admit the fact that I was weak – that I needed help. It was not a time to think of myself – it was not. 

I had to talk to the doctors & nurses, check on the needed procedures with the hospital, buy medications and necessities, run to the bank back and forth, keep family updated, go home to check on the other members of the family, work in between hours in the hospital, and remember to breath. That was the longest 4 weeks in my life, by far.

There was a moment that my father wanted to give up – maybe because he was tired of chasing his breaths or tired to be in the hospital (knowing how stubborn he is) – I refuse to break down. He was opt to be moved in the ICU but it was full so all equipments were moved in the room to keep him monitored and stable. In all pretense I gave him a strong look and told him – “If you’re tired then just rest for a while. If you’re weak then borrow strength from me. Don’t be stubborn Pa.” My voice was shaking and the tears were about to fall but I tried my very best to keep it all in. Mama and Papa might get worried to see me cry. Then again my father shared some farewell words. The three of us - Papa, Mama, and myself - were holding hands in the room listening to the unstable heart rate monitor.

When in pain, RESPOND IN FAITH.
And with my staggering voice I kept singing the song STILL – “…I will be still and know You are God”. I surrender to the Lord – I will let Him do His plans. I have come to accept that He is a Great God and He is bigger than my fears, worries, and pains.

“…I will be still and know You are God”

Minutes later, the heart rate monitor normalized. The mass that was blocking my father’s air passage was coughed out. Oh how great is our God! Days later he was discharged, 3 months after he went back to work, and now more than a year after – my father’s health is good with no recurrence of the C word.

The doctor gave us a 20% chance of survival but God assured me more that those numbers. I continue to pray for healing because the journey doesn’t end there. There will be storms and floods and I am not certain that I will be strong or if my faith will not waiver but – God will be there for me. He will send instruments and blessings for me to remember His presence. He will make His existence known through His miracles.






Friday, February 13, 2015 0 comments

FEB-ibig at work

I am a sucker for surprises. So when the month of February started - thoughts on Valentines day flew all over my head. (wheels screeching) Wait wait... these thoughts are not the romantic type of surprises but for my workmates.

For the first part of surprise, I gave out raffle for 2 movie tickets.

Step 1: Pick 1 stub

Step 2: Use a coin to scratch the white portion of stub

Step 3: If you found a heart - you won!

Prize: 2 movie tickets


For the second part of surprise which everyone can enjoy...







cheese jalapeno popcorn




0 comments

went k-pop on her 27th

Shek's (friend/officemate) 27th birthday falls on a Sunday so we decided to celebrate it earlier on a Friday. We threw her a korean lunch party - saeng-il chukha hamnida Shek!!!

GuiGui Grill Korean Restaurant
Along Dona Vicenta Road just across Gomone Korean Restaurant
Near Chowking Bajada, fronting Victoria Plaza






 tada!


 food is pretty much affordable

free side dish

 





poof! clean slate!

Review:
Food is good
Place is good
Service is good (the waitresses should just smile more when serving)
 


Thursday, February 12, 2015 0 comments

MusicBoxDiary: Four Five Seconds


FOUR FIVE SECONDS
Rihanna / Kanye West / Paul Mccartney


I think I've had enough, I might get a little drunk
I say what's on my mind, I might do a little time
Cause all of my kindness, is taken for weakness

Now I'm Four Five Seconds from wildin'
And we got three more days 'til Friday
I'm just tryna make it back home by Monday, mornin'
I swear I wish somebody would tell me
Ooh that's all I want

Woke up an optimist, sun was shining I'm positive
Then I heard you was talkin' trash
Hold me back I'm bout' to spaz

Now I'm Four Five Seconds from wildin'
And we got three more days 'til Friday
I'm just tryna make it back home by Monday, mornin'
I swear I wish somebody would tell me
Ooh that's all I want

And I know that you're up tonight
Thinkin' how could I be so selfish
But you called bout a thousand times wondering where I been
Now I know that your up tonight
Thinkin' how could I be so reckless
But I just can't apologize, I hope you can understand

If I go to jail tonight, promise you'll pay my bail
See they want to buy my pride, but that just ain't up for sale
See all of my kindness, is taken for weakness


Now I'm Four Five Seconds from wildin'
And we got three more days 'til Friday
I'm just tryna make it back home by Monday, mornin'
I swear I wish somebody would tell me
Ooh that's all I want


Tuesday, February 10, 2015 0 comments

all-by-myself-moments sa hongkong

Eto ang mga "never-before-seen" photos from my Hong Kong trip November last year of which by the way hindi ko pa na-i-post. This is a shameless all-by-myself-moments ^_^

lost in translation agad sa day 1?

mamumulubi ako pag-uwi ng Pinas!



mapapasipa ka talaga kay Bruce Lee sa mahal na entrance fee sa Madame Tussauds. Akalain mo 200 HK Dollars! 




Dito tumalon si Batman



 watda! naka-park lang sa mga eskinita ang luxury cars gaya ng audi, bmw, mini-cooper at sandamakmak pang tsikot

sa loob ng apat na araw puro lakad lang ang ginawa ko at akyat-baba sa MTR stations








0 comments

an ode to my good-old-alak-days


uupo
pupwesto 
bubuo ng bilog na hugis

maatasan ang isa
na syang taga buhos ng inumin
na tila bagang tantyado ang sukat

iikot ang baso
iikot ang usapan
aalingawngaw ang tawanan

paulit-ulit ang paksa
mga balik-tanaw sa nakaraan
sa kabataan at kahapon

kamakailang beses dadaan ang baso
may ilan na pipiliin munang sumablay
may ilan naman na handang sumalo ng tagay

sa grupo may mahilig bumida ng kwento
may suki ng asar at biro
may tahimik na tumatawa lang sa sulok

eto ang isa sa mga paborito kong sandali
sa aking paningin, tumatakbo nang marahan ang oras
habang pinagmamasdan ko ang bawat isa

naanino ko ang saya at kung gaano na katagal ang pagsasama
kinukunan ko ng larawan sa aking isipan ang kanilang mga ngiti
at isinisilid ko sa aking memorya ang mga kwento

eto ang mga sandaling walang bahid ng pagkukunwari
ang bawat isa ay masaya
ang bawat isa ay totoo

isang magandang baon para bukas
na syang magtuturo sa'yo kung saan ka babalik at tutungo
ang mga tao at kwentong tatatak sa iyong pagkatao
  

...at ipapasa muli ang baso



 
;