My CG members, my friend (Ayen), and I attended the Kerygma Conference last Nov. 28-29, 2009 at Araneta Colliseum. This year's theme is: "Dream BIG! Win BIG!" The event at Araneta was simulcast with the event in Cebu International Convention Center. During this 2-day gathering, a Holy Mass was celebrated, wonderful praise and worship was offered to God, and series of talks was given by the Kerygma preachers led by Bro. Bo Sanchez, It was a huge SUCCESS!

In the series of talks, the speakers tackle the main thing; that is: "How to Win Big!" They reveal the keys to achieve real success in every area of life, which are:

(a) Find a Dream Worth Dying For - know what you want and pursue it with passion.

(b) Focus on Your Core Gift - use your strength, use your weakness

(c) Believe in Yourself Even When Other Don't - here's the truth: God believes in you!

(d) Take Action - It's true: God helps those who help themselves

(e) Shine Your Light - be humble by showing how you can serve

Truly, thousands of people who attended the event in Araneta were blessed as well as the millions of people who watched the streaming video over the net (visit www.kerygmaconference.com). I believe many were also healed during the Healing Mass. Thank God!

You may know me as a demure-serious-type-strong-willed woman. But, do you know that I have other personality for me “in my mind”? It is some sort of alter-ego who is just “inside” me. That person is playful-child-like-easy-going-funny gal whom I want to call “Azy”. Azy has a cheerful disposition who does what she wants to do and wants what she is doing. She likes to wear fashionable clothes paired with stylish shoes. She particularly likes to wear boots and high heels shoes. It seems that high heels shoes cheer me – I mean, Azy - up. Whether it’s a brand new no-name pair fresh from the box or from a reliable tory burch boots.

I did not notice that I am starting collecting shoes and bags of different styles. Most of it was given as a gift by my generous sister in the U.S. of A. (thanks Ate Vi.) and seized from my younger sister Kulit. I now have a laptop backpack (for work), duffle bag (for my gym activities), luggage bag with trolley (for travel), backpack bag (for weekend outdoor gimmick), handbags, and laptop cum gym bag (my newly bought item last week-end). For the shoes, I have reva flat shoes, high heel shoes, boots, sequinned white shoes, flat red shoes, navy blue shoes, black working shoes, back-sling shoes, slip-ons, and sandals. Am planning to buy wedges this Christmas. Ooops! I am not “Imeld-ific” yet. But with these items, it seems that Azy was deprived of these things in her childhood.

What am I trying to say here? Well... Maybe, I just want to say that you can be leading a goal-oriented life but you can still enjoy some exciting things that this life has to offer. You don’t need to take everything seriously. Add a bit of cheer to your life with simple treats for yourself. Have fun! Enjoy life! Even if it means having two (2) different personalities.

For the 2^nd part of the activity in our CG Meeting last Sunday, “The REaL-AcTION(SHIP) Challenge”, we just follow the given instructions, as follows:

1.      Pray and cut the Bible to know the particular “challenge” that God wants you to do. Write in Challenge #1.

2.      Choose a partner. Exchange paper with your partner. Let her write the “challenge” that she wants you to do for your BIGGIES. Likewise, you write the “challenge” that you want your partner do for her BIGGIES. Write in Challenge #2.

3.      Write the “challenge” that you want yourself do for your own BIGGIES. Write in Challenge #3.

Since we have limited time, we just accomplish the items #2 & 3. We have an action report on our next CG Meeting regarding our progress with the challenge and how we do it. We do the item #1 at home which makes me accomplish it only this morning. And here’s what I got:

Challenge #1. Challenge from GOD

“But now you must get rid of all these things: anger, passion, and hateful feelings. No insults or obscene talk must ever come from your lips. Do not lie to one another, for you have put off the old self with its habits and have put on the new self.” – Col. 3:8-10

“So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another just as the Lord has forgive you. And to all these qualities add love which binds all things together in perfect unity. The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful.” – Col. 3:12-15

INSTRUCTIONS: “Be persistent in prayer and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God.” – Col. 4:2

Challenge #2. Challenge from your PARTNER

I challenge you to spend time (deeply and with quality) with God and your family.

Challenge #3. Challenge from YOURSELF

Wake up early in the morning and come to work @ 8am so that I can go home early.

Whoah! It is really a challenge! I was amazed with God’s challenge for me. I got these only this morning through Cutting-the-Bible. I tried to cut the Bible for this twice (every night since Monday) but I got no inspiration. But, then, this morning after my daily scripture reading, I got these messages. It really hits me. I never doubt that these are the challenges that He wants me to do (the 3^rd verse even have the word “INSTRUCTIONS” as the header for that block of scripture. I am using a Good News version of the Bible. It’s really amazing!) And, I want to do these from now on until the rest of my life. I already started doing (am trying) the items #2 & 3 last Monday. So far, I was happy with the result. I tried to wake-up at 5am and able to have breakfast with my sister Lolit and Ate Ludy (my companions in my house.) At this time, we able to really talk and update each other with what’s happening on us. Though, I still come to work a little late. I’ll do better next time.

How about you? You may want to do the challenge. You may do so as you wish. You may just discard the Challenge #2 in case you do not have a partner. But, I urge you to find one as your partner shall monitor your progress. We will then become accountable to our partners. That makes it effective. It’s great! Try it!

It was our turn to facilitate our CG Meeting last Sunday. Nell, my mother CG Head, asked me if I could prepare an activity for that day. She emailed me sample questions about the series of talks at the Feast which is “Relationship Reborn” with the 3^rd and 4^th topic - “Time & Service”. With the sample questions at hand, I was inspired to create a chart which can be used for inventory of time and services we usually spent in a week 24/7 for our BIGGIES (the most important people in our lives), our SMALLIES (persons next to our biggies), and other activities. I even come up with a take home activity entitled “The REaL-AcTION(SHIP) Challenge” (which I would share on my next blog entry.)

Last Sunday, our Caring Group meet at Nipa Hut, a place near Valle Verde/ULTRA overlooking the city of Pasig, Ortigas, and beyond (It’s nice here at night with those lights and darkness at the background.) After prayer and “kumustahan” blues, we then proceed to the main activity. It takes us time to complete the chart writing the average number of hours spent for our BIGGIES, SMALLIES, and other activities and the services we usually do for them. As we finished, we have time for sharing. The result is shocking and a little embarrassing. We come to realize that we spent most of our time and energy to those we think are our SMALLIES and other activities. We prioritized them over the important people in our lives like our families and even God. The “left-over” of our time was spent with the BIGGIES which resulted to unbalanced lifestyle and mismanaged time. We also realized our shortcomings and able to pin down the “culprit” of our mismanaged time like sleeping late hence waking up late, laziness or habit of procrastination, being workaholic, etc. The result is not ok with us. Hence, we are going to come up with a new chart reflecting our desired new schedule and set of priorities which, of course, our BIGGIES should be at the top of the list. Since we have limited time, we did not able to do the new chart but shall be done at home.

Personally, I did not notice that I begin to lose contact with my youngest sister Lolit which is my housemate in Cavite until we do this activity. I woke up late in the morning when she was about to close the gate of our house (the sounds it creates became my alarm clock alarming me that it was time to get up.) BTW, I have super-flexi time at work; that’s why I can afford to be late. At night, I arrived late when everybody in the house was already sound sleeping (Lolit sleep early now as she is pregnant with their first baby.) We occasionally went home in Nueva Ecija – only when someone is celebrating birthdays, death anniversary of my father, and long week-ends (sometimes). I also seldom call them even my sisters abroad. I was too engrossed with my work. This is the relationship-drift that Bro. Bo is tackling in the Feast. You may not notice it. No quarrelling, no yelling, no issues. You will just wake up one day far or drifted apart from your loved ones. Thank God, he wakes me up before it is too late. I can still do something about it. I need to exert an effort to do something about it (that is “Paddling” according to Bro. Bo) in order to be closer with them. Thank God.

Yup! We do have a side trip to Macau. Well, we just want to take a look at Macau and know why it is called "A City of Dreams". We visit the ruin's of Saint Paul Church. Along the way, we come to pass the busy streets of Cenado Square where there are lots of shopping centers of branded items and local stores selling Macau delicacies. We also went to the Venetian Hotel. No, not to visit the casino (yup, there's a lot of casinos in Macau which makes it a "City of Dreams") but wonder on the hotel's structure. Inside the hotel, the ceiling captive our interest. It's as if you are at the ground outside the hotel at the middle of sunny morning when in fact it's already evening. The "infinite" ceiling makes the magic wherein it looks like you are looking at the sky in early cloudy morning of the day (It's great!) There are also several boutique inside the hotel which makes you feel you are inside the first class mall. We did not able to visit the other places though as our legs were already aching and do not have much time to do so. But, with what we had experienced, I can say that our side trip to Macau is already a great experience. 

Let our pictures speak!

My office friends and I spent a 4-day trip at Hong Kong (including a side trip at Macao.) Since our budget was not that much, we opted to stay at City Econo Guest House in Nathan Road near Jordan MTR Station instead of staying in a hotel. Wise decision for me as, most of the time, we are outside the house doing some shopping and visiting some exciting places in HK like DisneyLand (of course), Ngong Ping, The Peak, etc. It's pain in the leg due to long walks and pain in our pockets due to extensive shopping. We usually go out at 8am and go back at past 11pm. So, you can imagine how tiring it was, with most of time, riding the MTR and walking. We even forgot to take our usual merienda and take our dinner super-duper-late at night (when we can no longer walk and want to sleep.) But, don't get me wrong. I enjoyed this trip (I really am!) not only because Hong Kong is a tourist-friendly country, not only because of the delicious Chinese foods, and not only because of beautiful places we visited and not-to-mention shopping galore we enjoyed. But... because of my co-travellers - my office friends. I really enjoyed their company - full of energy and laughter, kodak-holic, shop-a-holic, and game-to-anything as I am (thank you Gals for great company!)     

Ortigas Extension Pasig City after Typhoon Ondoy 

Typhoon "Ondoy" hits Metro Manila, Rizal province, and nearby provinces last September 26, 2009. Last Saturday, thousands of people were stranded in their homes and streets but, even now, many were still trapped in floodwaters or in relocation sites with no food and drinking water.

To get a glimpse of what happened that fateful day, click here.

Everyone is doing their part. Many organizations and individuals practice the spirit of volunteerism and sharing to the victims of the calamity. PGMA declared the affected provinces and cities under the state of calamity, hence, local funds of the government can now be used to help the residents in their areas. Our company tracks the whereabouts of employees and pull its resources to help them wherein 51 employees were greatly affected by the flood. They prioritized helping the employees and also extends help to the government agencies like Red Cross and DSWD to help other victims. Most of us, employees, forego our rice benefit and donate it to the needy. Light of Jesus Family, the community where I belong, also appealed to everyone for help. Its members do their part through different ways and means - spiritual through prayers, physical through manual labor - they were cooking foods and distribute it to the victims (thanks to Trinity Dampa Restaurant), and financial support through donations. How about you? You may not be able to be here (esp. if you are at far away places), rescuing people and giving them food, but you can still help. You may do your part by giving financial assistance...

To DONATE, please click here.   

Thank you and God bless!

My sister, Lolit, and I signed-up for a 4-month fitness experience at Fitness First. At first, our motivation is to be fit and slim for her upcoming wedding then. But, now, I am enjoying my every visit at the gym. For my cardiovascular activities, I spent most of my time at threadmill, rotex, and stationary bicycle. I carry some weighs for my muscular activities. I also join some group exercises like Body Pump, Body Balance (Yoga), etc. I also experience once the 1:1 Personal Training which they offer a programme that will be customized according to ones needs. I also look forward in spending some minutes inside the sauna or having a steam bath. It felt good to my skin. I also love their brewed coffee. I already mastered the right proportion: 2 teaspoon of choco/brown sugar, 3 teaspoon of creamer, plus a cup of brewed coffee (It was great!) I won’t be leaving the gym without taking a sip. After having completed a 3-month visit, I can say that I feel more active, fit, and healthy. It was worth it! 

Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going.

 That is the Fitness First slogan which I totally agree. Before, our initial motivation is just to be fitter (with no or a little bulging stomach) for the wedding. But, now, I want to make this a habit especially now that A(H1N1) flu is already pandemic in the country. And, I am thinking now to make this as part of my lifestyle. As I am now spending most of my week-ends outside the house (esp. now that my nephew and niece who stayed in our home in Cavite were now finally settled in U.S.A), I am visiting the gym at every opportunity I have – after Sunday Mass & week-end Worships, before shopping or buying groceries during Saturdays, or before rendering an overtime work.

We usually drop by at Fitness First - Mall of Asia (MOA) during weekdays (once-in-awhile) before going to work which makes Lolit come to work a little late, but makes me go to work a little earlier than before (hehe.) And, we already visited different branches at weekends – Alabang West Gate branch, SM Mega Mall, and The Fort (our homebase.) Leah, my sister in community and gym buddy, and I have a plan to visit the ABS-CBN branch and I once planned to visit the branch in Robinsons Manila. Wala lang... We just love to visit and compare the venue, facilities, and services of each branches.  So far, I found the MOA branch as having the most sophisticated facilities, the The Fort branch as having the most experienced and talented trainers (Hi Sharon!), and the Alabang branch as the most ancient ones (Hehe. Maybe because it is the oldest branch according to Leah.) 

You see? Being fit and well doesn’t mean excessive, tiring, and boring exercises. You have to enjoy every minute of it! And, I did!

The Enneagram

I attended a retreat last week-end with the topic “A Journey to Personal Growth” at Sacred Heart Novitiate in Novaliches, Quezon City. The retreat was organized by my community - Light of Jesus Family. Its main objectives are: a) to examine the dynamics of our own personality; (b) increase self-understanding and in understanding others; and (c) Reflect on one’s life experiences so that we may become more deeply aware of the forces that shape our being and examine God’s purpose in the events of one’s life. In its entirety, I can say that the retreat was successful!

We use the Enneagram Self-Test to determine our dominant traits among the nine (9) personality types, which are: 1) the Perfectionist; (2) the Helper; (3) the Achiever; (4) the Artist; (5) the Observer; (6) the Supporter; (7) the Optimist; ( 8 ) the Leader; and (9) the PeaceMaker. I am one of the Sevens – the Optimist. Before the test, I thought I am one of the Eights or Threes or Ones. Yes, I am in some way a leader, an achiever, and a perfectionist but these were only my secondary traits. After taking the test, it turned out that I am more of Sevens. It’s my dominant trait. To convince you, just take a look at the character traits of Sevens below:

Type 7: The Optimist

The busy, productive type. Sevens are extroverted, optimistic, versatile, and spontaneous. Playful, high-spirited, and practical. They can also misapply their  many talents, becoming over-extended, scattered, and undisciplined. They constantly seek new and exciting experiences, but can become distracted and exhausted by staying on the go. They typically have problems with impatience, and impulsiveness. At their best: they focus their talents on worthwhile goals, becoming appreciative, joyous, and satisfied.

Can't explain further about Enneagram Test. If you are interested, try to google it (I find a lot of information in the net when I once tried to search about it.) About the retreat, all I can say is that: "It is worth taking it!" I especially like the activity that night when we were formed in a group and assigned an "LOJ Counselor" (those whom you speak with when you call at LOJ's Counselling Hotline) for each group. They were great (especially Sis. Evelyn who was assigned to our group.) After hearing our stories and allowing us to outpour "anything" that bothers us, they also prayed over us. There's also a moment of silence for prayers and meditations. In a nutshell, everything seems perfect! I like the experience and the encounter... encountering my true-self (and being open about myself without any mask) which is the first step for personal growth.   

Every month, our HR Department prepare a powerpoint presentation (with embedded music) for birthday celebrants of the month. The presentation shows each celebrant's picture with some sort of "honoring" from his/her closed friend/colleague. For this month of May, the theme is about flower or tropical fruit. That is, "What kind of flower or tropical fruit the May birthday celebrators are?" (sounds corny but sweet!) And, I got this one from Lanie (thanks friend!)