Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays everyone! 🌟

A little trivia about the photo.

This is actually the first time we were all together in one photo since... 5 years ago?

I am the eldest and the shortest between my siblings and me. Yes, the tallest is our youngest - and only brother.

This Christmas was different from our previous holidays. I won't delve into many details but definitely, this is one for the books - both the joy and the pain behind it.

Remember, a photo will not always say the whole picture. 📷

Updates (November 2020)

The month of November was really about the storms that hit us and how we all struggled to just survive the whole ordeal. Personally, we were not directly affected. But the effect on us was felt differently. There was a shortage in some food supplies, and communication was limited.

People went out of their way to help those who were devastated by the storm. This could be the silver lining after the storm. I did my own part, but it was minimal in effect, though my intention to help was there.

The month flew by very fast. Not sure if it was all the gloominess after the storm or it was just that time of the year (shorter days and longer nights).

My up moments for November is mostly about my daughter. I found some ways on how she would be interested in her school exercises. This is also with the help and the patience of her school, which I am very thankful for. We are still far from the required learning for her, but at least we are getting somewhere, and I am just content with that. My daughter seems to be discovering her own interests, and I would like to give her a chance to explore that.

Music and fangirling also helped me through the month, music from Generations from Exile Tribe to be specific. They launched a new album this month, and I simply followed through with their scheduled activities - music videos, dance videos, lives, etc. Now that I think about it, this is the first time I actually followed through with a group's schedule. Maybe that's why it felt interesting to me. 😉😉😉

I've been taking pictures and posting them recently on my Instagram. I mentioned it before, I use my mobile phone in taking photos despite the lack of specs for a high-resolution photograph, guess that is the challenge of it! Please check my Instagram for the pictures.

Lastly, on the last weekend of November, I started my class on Caregiving Course. I will make an entry about this in the future, because well, it deserves its own post.

That is all for now. Toodles~

Updates

It has been two months since I returned to writing my personal blog. As I have mentioned in my initial posts since I returned, I am doing this to alleviate myself from stress- emotional, physical and mental. This is a way to gauge my progress and to assess what has been helpful or counter productive for me.

This is also an opportunity for me to look back and reflect what has happened the previous month - things I am thankful for, those I need to follow up on and those I should be changing or avoiding.

Every year, at the first week of June, we start to pray the nine-day novena to St Anthony of Padua. My mom and I decided to continue to pray the rosary every night even after the nine-day novena. This gave me more reason to manage my time and my tasks. It gave me a little more structure in my life, it gave me a little sense of control - my fifteen to twenty minutes of reflection and silence.

I think I am gaining a little interest in photography again, not sure with this as my subject is always the city sky. We’ll see in the future. Currently I am limited to my clampshell phone, but with a little filter, it seems nice. Please don’t get me wrong, I love my phone, but it is more challenging to take photos with it because it does not have the high resolution of the current popular phones. Though I do love the challenge 😏😏😏

It was also this month that I had to unearth a skeleton in my closet. It was revealed because of a current social issue. I will post about it in a few days. Made me cry and crumble inside, but it also made me a little relieved knowing that there are people who understood me in the end.

I have some tasks that I delayed or are still delayed from last month and my dad is already nagging me about it. My bad. I hope I get to finally accomplish them on July.

Last but not least... I got a haircut and my glasses! Finally!

Guess that is all for now.

Till my next update.

Toodles~ 

Instagram

Jumping on the bandwagon. 🤗🤗🤗

silverkrux project

good day everyone!

i started a photo blog on tumblr. :)

hope you can visit it if you have time.

thank you. (^_^)

photographs and perspectives

this first link was interesting for me because I was intrigued by the art behind the "abandoned-ness".

i like to explore abandoned places, though i rarely take pictures of them.

maybe this is why it caught my attention,

i don't have the opportunity to have a photograph of the abandoned places i visit,

so seeing the product of others doing it really sparked my interest. (^_^)

the second link, it took me time before i could really appreciate it.

i would admit that i am a fan of clear and vivid pictures.

so seeing this techniques was odd and a little off for me.

but after some time looking at the pictures,

i appreciated it's purpose and technique. (^_^)

enjoy!

photography

yup, another entry about photography (^_^)

long exposure photos are awesome in their own way. (^_~)

hope you guys enjoy it!

interesting space

i saw this article in yahoo about the "smallest house is Italy"

based from the photos, it sure is interesting.

great use of space indeed. (^_^)

photography and art

yours truly have always been attracted to the arts.

i admit that i may not have the technical knowledge or history about it,

but that is no hindrance for me to appreciate it right?

below are some links to the beautiful works that i have appreciated recently. (^_^)

first are the works of Kagaya

there is that celestial aura or theme in his works that makes me feel serene and mysterious.

the second, are the works of Bryan Whitney.

one of his many works featured are called x-rayphotography.

very interesting work (^_^)

and last, but not the least, for this post,

the photo entries from the 2013 iPhone Photography Award.

with the technology we have right now,

taking a photograph is easy,

but having the technique, style and depth is still important and it really showed in these photos.

the world is full of art,

it's just a matter of appreciating it. (^_^)

psalm 95

this was the response to the responsorial psalm at the sunday mass last may 4th.

i was so delighted because this was the "theme" of the Selpie musical by 29AD last year, that fortunately i was a part of. (^_^)

here is the shirt they were selling during the musical. (^_^)

"if today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts." -Psalm 95

Lord's day June 2013

this is long overdue. (>_<) sorry!
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we are about to start our next clp and i have yet to post this. sooooorrrryyy!!! m ( _ _ ) m

the Lord's day celebration for the clp graduates of June 2013.

both from Nativity and from Philam.

(^_^)

ate jen's surprise birthday celebration

we had a surprise birthday celebration for ate jen last june 7!

her birthday is june 15, unfortunately, she is at the province during her birthday,

so we decided to give her a surprise party a week before her birthday!

surprisingly, her guests last year, were the same people who attended this year with a few additions. (^_^)

here are the pictures.

in addition, since all of the attendees were music ministry members,

our entertainment that night were each other (^_^)

we sang our heart out to different songs that would randomly come to mind.

it was really a fun night and ate jen was really happy for the surprise celebration (^_^)

advance happy birthday ate jen!

we love you!

i serve for God

thank you Lord for all the opportunities that you have given me to share my talent in dancing and to serve you!

i know that statement/declaration is not enough to say how blessed and thankful i am for the talent, opportunity and graces that God has give me.

the first off the list was during our cluster sportsfest.

i was able to dance once again with my idols, mimi and che.

though short, i really appreciate this opportunity because they have been quite busy recently so i was really thankful for that moment!

second, i was given an opportunity to be part of the production team during the CFC West B Cana weekend.

in addition to that, i was the assigned photographer for the event!

but that blessing and opportunity did not end there,

i also had the chance to perform a jazz number during the event.

i was truly blessed and i am thankful for the opportunity that was given to me.

i would like to take this opportunity to thank ate Gracelyn Romero for giving me this opportunity.

thank you for the friendship that has started and the bonds that have strengthened because of these events and opportunities that i have been part of.

my service to God will definitely not end here.

the service continues and i shall do my best to accept the services that i am called to be part of.

to share my time, my talent and my treasure,

all for God and his people!

amen!

summer

beat the heat with the all famous halo-halo and of course ice cream!

and because they are famous for their "summer inventions"

i present to you....

"summer belongs to you" from phineas and ferb

birthday celebration

i would like to take this opportunity to thank those who were able to attend my celebration. i really hope you guys enjoyed the night. (^_^)

pictures

one of the may performances that night


and lastly, pizza making video!

BIRTHDAY!

hi everyone! last tuesday, i had an unexpected celebration... ooopps, make that two. (^_^)

i was surprised during lunch time by my colleagues from QUEST and ET recruitment team of macquarie. they treated me to a sumptuous lunch at mom and tina's. in addition to that, they gave a dulce de leche cake (^_^)

at home, i knew that the music min had a practice at home, but in the later part of the night we were already celebrating my birthday! we had lots of food and had a few entertainment of our own (^_^)

hopefully i could find a way to retrieve some of the photos from my dad's camera. (^_^)

company outing

last weekend, we had our company summer outing at the subic bay yatch club. the ride from the office to the venue seemed longer than the way back. (^_^) anyways, the room was superb. made me feel like keigo atobe. the beds were huge, the bathroom was huge! we had a walk in closet, sink area, powder area, toilet area, shower area and... hold it... a jacuzzi! yes! you heard it right! we had a jacuzzi! i didn't use it till our second night though.

anyways, upon arrival, we checked in our rooms and we had a rest. we then had karaoke at the bar, had dinner and went for a night swim at the pool. (^_^) the next day, we had breakfast and went to the tree top adventure ride. after that, we set sail on a yatch for about an hour. lastly, we had our dinner in a semi-formal attire. (^_^) the next day was free time. what did i do? i had a swim on the pool! (^_^) the ride home seemed faster than i had expected.

overall, i enjoyed the experience. (^_^) photos here.

pictures

hello everyone!

how are you? please forgive me for the lack in posts.

last weekend, we attended the first west b2b reunion! we had this performance ala "high school" musical. yours truly was sharpay. here is a link to somepicture from my phone and some that i grabbed from my friends. (^_^)

drawing. one of my many passions. of course its not everyday that i really have time for it. so sometimes, i doodle. and here is one of the results of my random doodling. (~_^)

life at the office is becoming to boring. so how does my friend rizell and i fight the boredom, we eat! we used to put aside our cravings and as much as possible just eat the free food at the pantry. but recently, we have been going out for lunch just to have that walk and change in environment. first off, the pasta at sbarro. kind of expensive but i think its a little worth it. second, the "atherosclerosis" meal. seriously, this dangerous food for those who are high blood and has history of heart disease. but does that stop us from eating it? no! (>_<) lastly, a choco pudding given by my superior. (^_^) its chocolate, its pudding, its cold, its delicious. thats all that i have to say.

that last part made me hungry. got to go. chiao~

pictures

pictures, pictures and tons of pictures!

thats what i can give.

there have been so many things i should have blogged but failed to do so.

to tell you all the truth,

i have forgotten what are the things i would like to post.

well, i decided to start all of the catch up with pictures!

first, the holy week.

second, summer vacation 2013 at candon, ilocos sur and baguio city.

third, our my saturday, april 6, 2013.

• 3K FunD Run in support or our church
• family breakfast

special photo!
 (^_^)

sfc icon 2013: witness

hi everyone! (^_^) how are you? the last time i posted an entry, i mentioned something about dance practice.  well, the dance practice was for the opening night for the annual SFC ICON. (^_^) the theme for this year is "witness". this is in relation to the CFC theme this year, "obey and witness." anyways, it was mentioned in one of the talks that one cannot truly witness, if one does not obey.

to make it more concrete, in my case as one of the many performers, i had to obey the choreographer to be able to witness and be part of the performance. i saw the differences in people and those who really have the talent. i met people who were humble and they are willing to reach out to those who have difficulty getting the steps, at the same time, i met people who were too proud and were nagging and "selfish." despite this, we all had to obey to be part of the whole performance.

to be able to be a witness to the greatness of God, i have to learn to obey to his will and plans for me. this is easier said than done. as humans who are given the free will, we have plans for the future that we plan to accomplish. obeying God's plans may be difficult but it may mean going against hat we plan for ourselves. obeying means accepting, accepting what God has planned for us even if this is very challenging and difficult to achieve. obeying needs trust, strength and courage. we don't know what the future has for us, we are left to trust to whatever the God decides to plan for us. we need strength and courage to live out the plans of God, we have to admit, it's a battlefield in this world. we experience challenges and oppression that are just too painful to bear, but in the end we still rise up and face this journey we call life. (^_^) obeying means surrender. we surrender everything to God, whatever our plans are, whatever we face, whatever we do, we all surrender it to God. the smiles, the tears, the ups, the downs, the success, the failures, everything, we surrender it all to God. what do we get in all of this?

we become a witness.

we become a witness to how God can greatly influence our lives. we become living witnesses that despite the cruelties of this world, we can live day by day with hope and positive disposition. we know that at the end of the day, however shitty the day is, we still look forward to the gift of life we receive upon waking up the next day. (^_^) is that all that is to being a witness?

of course not!

being a witness also involves the people you interact with. the people you make memories with, the people who influence you, the little girl you teach in catechism, the kids who wait for you in the classroom for you to teach them, the stranger who smiled at you as you two were passing by each other, the cashier who gave you your change when you bought food, the guard who greeted you as you entered the building, the demanding boss, the strict mentor, everyone! every person that becomes a part of your life has involvement in you being a witness. how you talk to them, how you treat them, how you think of them, these are manifestations on how far you have witnessed as God's servant and how you share being a witness a living witness to God's love.

in my case, despite the clash in ideas and personalities during the dance practice for the SFC ICON, the choreographers were patient, strict and professional. they had every good intention even if they can be very harsh in their criticisms. as performers with different levels, experience  in dancing, from different chapters and clusters, we shared our knowledge and experience. we learn from each other and we form new connections and friendship. we learn how to deal with different people, we learn to spread and share the love of God that is within us.

lastly, prayers. there is nothing impossible in prayers. say prayers of thanksgiving, prayers of sorrow, prayers of happiness, prayers of doubt, prayers for family and friends, prayers for the sick, prayers for the dearly departed. you will never go wrong with prayers. prayer time is the time for reflection, your alone time with God, you one-on-one date with God.

in this SFC ICON 2013, i obeyed, i witnessed and i became an involved witness to God's greatness. (^_^)
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ps. here are the pictures from the conference. majority of the pictures are from my household head, jen ocbena. others are from my friends. (^_^)