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!)  

We've been in Canyon Cove Residential Resort in Nasugbu Batangas last Summer for our Company Outing this year. It was a very nice experience.

Canyon Cove in the Morning

The condotels and amenities were great! The hotel room that was assigned to me and my other two (2) colleagues is very huge for three (3) occupants. There are two queen-size bed, two small-size bed, 2 bathroom/comfort room, and dining area. The pool is also wide and huge (as can be seen in pix below) and located just beside the sea. The place is too huge and can accomodate a lot of guests.

Canyon Cove in the Evening

There are lots of beach activities available in the club: Kayak Sailing, Boat Tripping, Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, etc.  But, then, our company's main activities focused on group activities and group games (kayak racing, tug-of-war, beach ball, game relays, etc.) that promotes good camaraderie and team building among employees. Our team, mostly come from our department, gave our best shot in games and cheering  and were very much motivated to win. Alas! We, the mint-green team, landed only in 3rd place. If only the "Jumpshot" capture entry was pushed-through, we have a big chance to become first (hehe. I'll share the pix in next post.) But, despite of this, our two-day stay in the club was still enjoyable and fun!

One secrets in “Unlocking the Secrets of Happiness” is to be grateful about yourself. With that, I write “25 Things that I Like About Myself” in my previous post. And now, another secret is to be grateful about the persons who bless your life. As instructed, I am about to write the 25 persons who bless my life (with short messages on how they become my blessing to honour them. I’m supposed to give the notes to them), but I ended up to 25 groups of people who bless my life (haha! I’m really blessed.) How about you? Take this opportunity to honour the persons who bless your life and be a blessing to them!

1.      My Parents

Thank you, Inang & Tatay, for giving us life and enjoying life. Thank you for all the sacrifices and unconditional love.

2.      My Sisters

Thank you for all the supports and love and for being a role model in my life. Thank you, Ate Mila, for showing a good example; Ditse, for being kind and accommodating; Sanse, for being always strong; Ate Cel, for being warm-hearted and simple; Ate Vi, for all the help and sacrifices; and Let, for being my angel in its true meaning.   

3.      My Teachers, Professors, & Mentors – Ma’am Domingo, Ma’am Jimenez, Ma’am Tolentino, et. al.

Thank you for the gift of knowledge.

4.      My nieces and nephews – Joyce, Euro, Chloe, & Migi

Thank you for being the source of our joy and happiness.

5.      My God-children – a lot to mention

Thank you for the opportunity to experience being the second mother in some ways.

6.      My cousins – esp. Jerry, Ate Christy, Kuya Marlon

Thank you for the good camaraderie and being always there to show your support and concern.

7.      My Aunts & Uncles

Thank you for all the support and walking an extra mile to help us always.

8.      My Closed Relatives – esp. Auntie Rosie and Auntie Unya.

Thank you for the respect and help extended to us esp. in times of need.

9.      My High School Barkada and Friends – Melina, Laida, & Vangie; Noemi, Edwin, Leo, and Tony

Thank you for the memories of friendship and still being there up to now and forever.

10.  My College Barkada – Jaycille, Cecille, Claire, Susan, & Vivian

Thank you for the support and feeling of belongingness esp. at times when I’m new here in Manila.

11.  The VOYZ – Ver, Leo, Alvin, Alex, Dennis, Abel, Wilbur, & Timmy

Thank you for being there... by just being there when we needed your help and company.

12.  My BCS Friends – Cynthia, Susan, Rene, & Ed

Thank you for the gift of friendship. Though, we seldom see each other now, I know that we’re still friends... for keeps!

13.  My UCSI Friends – Aileen & Noel

Thank you for sharing your life to me and opportunity to grow both in our careers and faith.

14.  My IFCA Friends – Aileen, Rose Uy, Manny, Teants

Thank you for the friendship and company. Without you, I could not last a day in Malaysia.

15.  My AIU Friends – Janice, Roland, Elaine, Glo, Erwin

Thank you for the laughter and company during AIU days. Without you, my stay in AIU will really be “non-life” and boring.

16.  My Stradcom Friends – Lanie, Corbi, Arlene, Evee, Yula, & Cherry

Thank you for sharing your time and laughter that somehow helps me to ease boredom and tensions.

17.  My former Community – The Lord’s Flock

Thank you for planting the “seed of faith” in my heart.

18.  My LOJ Community

Thank you for the nourishment and opportunities to serve God thru the community's various ministries.

19.  My LOJ’s Caring Group – Leah, Anna, Velle, & Me-ann

Thank you for sharing God with me.

20.  My LOJ’s Small Group – Lani, Anna, Roy, EJ, & Nemar

Thank you for the opportunity to lead and serve and altogether grow in faith with me.

21.  My Colleagues and Team Mates

Thank you for all the things that we shared together – programs, logic, RSUs, problems and work. Hehe. And, good times tackling those things, of course.

22.  My Ex’es

Thank you for the experience to love.. be hurt... and love again.

23.  Our Neighbours in Cavite

Thank you for being good neighbours and for being accommodating always.

24.  My Blogger Friends – Recel, Juls, Jenny, and YOU

Thank you for all the visits here in my blog that somehow encourages me to go on blogging.

25.  And, last but not the least, my Abba Father

Thank you for EVERYTHING! Without You I can do nothing; but with You I can do everything!

Something to reflect this Lent...

“...sin is really a very complex mystery.

It is essentially an offense against God,

but sin cannot hurt God in His inner being.

God is transcendent and cannot be harmed by the actions of His creatures.

Sin harms and hurts first and foremost the sinner.

And, it is here that God is wounded...”

From: A Stroll in the Garden of the Bible

By Fr. Rudy Horst

It is holiday today. Since today is Monday and next week is Holy Week, this means, a long-time vacation. A long vacation if I’m going to file a leave for Tuesday and Wednesday. Unfortunately, I could not afford to do that due to loads of work that we have. In fact, we rendered an overtime last Saturday. Hence, I am home alone for three days since everybody in the house went home in Nueva Ecija since Saturday.

Actually, I stayed at home only today since I went to work on Saturday. And, I attended the Feast and had a meeting with my Caring Group yesterday. So, I spent my Saturday and Sunday outside the house. But, today is different! I stayed home. I woke up late. I had green tea and bread for breakfast. Had take a bath. Did some washing. Tidy the house. Cooked food for me and our dog - Mortres. Had lunch and wash the dishes afterwards. Take a nap. Encoded prayer petitions. And before I knew it, it’s already late in the afternoon. But, then, it was brown-out! And here I am, alone in the dark.

I cannot sleep early as I take a nap this afternoon. I cannot do anything since a light from candle is not enough for me to read clearly. I had nothing to do... I texted someone. Just a forwarded message. Something amusing and funny. But, he never replied. Alone in the dark. Laying in bed with nothing to do. A perfect timing to talk with God. I whispered a silent prayer. A whisper became louder. I really talked to Him. I poured out all my concerns... my thoughts, my worries, and my hopes. What a beautiful moment with Him. Just me and Him. And, I felt I’m not alone. Now, it dawned on me. Is this a pre-taste of my future state in life? A life of single-blessedness? I’m afraid... I, honestly, kinda like it!

One of the Saints that inspired me a lot is Mother Teresa. I don't think I need to say the reasons. Just knowing how she lived her life will make you understand why. Here is her short story... 

I am one of those persons who like freebies! I dance with glee everytime I receive something that is free - no matter how big or small it is. And, oftentimes, I always share it with my friends. Just like this one (sorry, but, this one can only be availed here in the Philippines...)

Note: Click the pix to direct you to the link.

We are now tackling “Unlocking the Secrets of Happiness” in series of meetings in the Feast and in our Small Group. And, one of the secrets is to become grateful - appreciate life and yourself. With that, we have an assignment to list the 25 things that we like about ourselves. Upon doing that, at first, I find it difficult to complete the 25 items (mwehehe.) It took me two (2) days to complete it. But, as I go along, I am exceeding the required 25 items. Surprisingly, I felt light and happy. Happy about myself. Grateful for having those traits and qualities. Thanking God for the gifts. With this, I decided to share it here and urge my blogger friends to try this themselves. Nothing to lose but happiness to gain. Try it! Consider this as a tag if you like. Tag your blogger friends. Spread the happiness!

Here are the 25 things that I like about myself. Bear with me, in case I overly assessed myself.  

1.      I like myself for being kind

2.      I like myself for being generous

3.      I like myself for being independent

4.      I like myself for being responsible

5.      I like myself for being patient

6.      I like myself for being modest

7.      I like myself for being creative

8.      I like myself for being an achiever

9.      I like myself for being a critical-thinker

10.  I like myself for being healthy and strong

11.  I like myself for being a loving person

12.  I like myself for being reflective and insightful person

13.  I like myself for being an optimist and positive-thinker

14.  I like myself for being an intelligent person (mwehehe. that's what my friends say.)

15.  I like myself for being beautiful (haha! beauty is in the eye of the beholder.)

16.  I like myself for being a silent-worker (it’s just that my skills and talents cannot be hidden. Hehe.)

17.  I like myself for being a true friend (a friend for “life”)

18.  I like myself for being family-oriented person (have close relationship with my family)

19.  I like myself for being passionate in my job (I’m thankful that I found the job that I love and enjoy; irrelevant of company where I am employed)

20.  I like myself for being assertive, pro-active, and strong-willed person

21.  I like myself for being out-going but also enjoys staying at home

22.  I like myself for being a warrior (a “Warrior of Light”, I claimed)

23.  I like myself for being a servant (in my own special way)

24.  I like my self-acceptance, self-esteem, and self-love (as you cannot love others without loving first yourself; you cannot give what you do not have)

25.  I like myself for being a child of God (I thank God for receiving this grace)

Let us all support the

   EARTH HOUR 2009

   The Largest Global Action against Climate Change

Earth Hour is  going to happen on
 Saturday 28 March 2009, 8:30PM-9:30PM
 The hour the world unites in a stand against global warming on said date and time.
Thousands of cities and towns across the world will turn off
 their lights for one hour – Earth Hour – sending a powerful
 global message that it is possible to take action on global warming
    even for individuals and communities.

Let's all do our share and turn off the lights for an hour,
in our houses or in our offices...

I now lead a Small Group in our community. It was formed just three (3) weeks ago. We gathered every Thursday after office hours somewhere in Ortigas area. At first, I thought it will be difficult to lead a bunch of people with different background and with different personalities. But as the meeting goes, it was not really that difficult. Truly, God supplies all our needs. You just need to make yourself available to God and He will do the rest.

The agenda of our meetings is to delve more deeply on topic discussed by Bro. Bo during last Sunday's Feast, read the Gospel, share whatever its application in our lives and pray for each other's needs. It's surprising that we enjoy each others company and everyone is very eager to share one's experiences related to topics being discussed. There's a very interesting opening question every week which is my favorite part. For example, in our first meeting, the question is: "What made you happy this past week?" A very simple question but difficult to answer especially if we are not that grateful enough to thanks every blessings that came our way - big or small. With our meetings, we now have the venue to talk about God's goodness and miracles we experienced in our everyday lives.

You may want to experience it by yourself. Why not come to The Feast at Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City (beside ULTRA) every Sunday and signify to become a member in one of the Small Groups. Try it for yourself and, surely, you will be blessed!