Instant realization lives on ...

Check out more about Life Realization at The Kablogs Journal. 

Life … there is so much we can learn just by living it. So many questions in our minds since we were small, and so many answers we have found living day by day. Some answers are great, some are confusing, while some are just so incomprehensible. There are times when we just let life pass us by … times when we thought that whatever we do makes no difference at all. To our own little world, as well as to the big world out there. But indeed there are also times when we find ourselves dancing to the tune of life’s diverse orchestras – featuring music genres that uplift our spirits and make life more interesting and colourful and musical. You just couldn’t help but dance or jive with the tune.

Sometimes though life punches you right where it hurts the most. One such time I have experienced was two years ago, one day in late April, at my Dad’s side while he was in ICU. Thinking about it always makes me breathe faster … it still affects me, 2 years hence. There were just so many things I could have done or talked to him about during those last moments … so many ‘if onlys’ … I could only keep assuring him of our love, reciting assuring bible verses to keep him thinking of God, and singing Amazing Grace softly.

One realization that dawned on me at that time was this: that at the moment when a person is between life and death, it is just between him/her and God. It goes beyond the physical. It is spiritual. And the only consolation one could have during those moments is that the person knows God personally. What goes on in a person’s mind and heart only he/she and God can know. The only prayer and hope we could have is that the person on the throes of leaving this physical world has made the right decision even to the last breath – to believe and receive the gift of salvation offered by the Saviour. At that last moment, nothing matters except this fact. And this realization is still with me even at this time, making me always think to not just let life pass me by, but to keep going, and praying that I can share this realization to those whom I need to share to.

Sometimes when life is full of noise and gaiety, we tend to focus only on that, the glamour and the glitter of this world. But what happens when all these are gone, all these fade away, just to remain as memories of a glittery past? Because time will come when, in just one instant, in a blink of an eye, these things will be gone. Think of the triple disaster in Japan that has just happened. And in so many other places and lives, similar things although at different levels, happen day by day, unnoticed by the world. So what is left of our lives when these happen? Let us focus then on things that will remain true forever and eternally, and not on what can be destroyed.

So if you're serious about living

this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it.

Pursue the things over which Christ presides.

Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground,

absorbed with the things right in front of you.

Look up, and be alert

to what is going on around Christ—

that's where the action is.

See things from his perspective.

-Colossians 3:1-2

The Message

a story so sad

He was an OFW. He got sick while on duty. He communicated with his family by phone, email, chat. He was in touch and yet he was so far. He said he missed them all. That it was so difficult to be alone and to be in pain. With no one by his side. He just entrusted everything to God. Until he was fit enough to go home to the Philippines. He had no one to take care of him. His colleagues helped him to move from place of work to the airport. He requested people around to help lift his bags for checking. He was still in pain as he traveled. One could just imagine how difficult it was to travel sick, be in pain, and knowing that one's condition was not getting any better. What kept him going was the fact that he would be with his family soon, close to them to touch, to hug, to hear their voice, to talk to, face to face. Then he arrived in the Philippines. He aged too much due to his sickness. His wife, children and the rest of the family saw how much his condition had deteriorated. He went straight to the hospital. His favourite song was Hawak Kamay, which he kept singing even while lying on his hospital bed. His loved ones were by his side at all times, until the last breath.

A story so sad to tell, but true. It pains all to hear about it. One could just cry, and be silent for a while. To acknowledge the sovereignty of the Creator, the Author and Finisher of our lives. That in the years spent on earth, we hope that our only desire is to be able to live to fulfill His purposes for us - to love those whom He sends to us, our family, friends, neighbours, the community. And that no matter where we are in this earth, we continue to uphold the values that we have learned from our parents, our school, our church. And even from our society (if any ...).

That we might be for the praise of His glory ...

Today is Aug 5th

I wrote in my FB thoughts that I am still affected by hospital, wake and funeral scenes. And that my sibs tell me the same thing. It's true. Because we always remember our Dad who passed away last April. I have not looked at the wake and funeral photos for quite some time now. I just look at the photos when he was still alive. and the pictures in my mind, the memories of times together through the years, the last few times I saw him, at home and even in the ICU.

Thus with Cory Aquino's death and all the media releases and photos until the funeral today, I also feel the sadness and loss. As a former President she had made a great impact not only in the Philippines but also the whole world, in terms of showing that there is another way to achieve democracy - she didn't do it on her own though; she was supported by the people. She made a difference in the way she lived and did her work/duties, thus gaining an untarnished reputation and a place in Philippine history and that of the democratic world. It is best for others to emulate the good examples she had shown...as a wife, mother, leader...as a woman of power, strength, substance.

Today also marks my grandfather's 108 birthday. He passed away in 1984 but we always remember his birthday come August. It doesn't have to be a big celebration. Just thinking of him is enough to honor his memory. One of the 'almost' permanent memory for him is the naming of one road in our hometown as the Rep. Emigdio V. Nietes Avenue. It was a tribute to him during his centennial birthday.

In a few week's time, on the 25th, my Dad would have celebrated his 75th birthday. We were planning to go home and have a party to celebrate. But this time there will be no big party. Instead we can continue to remember him and honor him by living our lives the way that would make him happy and glad, and to give thanks to God for the time that he was with us.

This train of thought is similar to what God wants us to do as well, as His children. We are called to live our lives honoring Him. Jesus tells us that every time we break bread and drink from the cup of wine we do them in remembrance of Him. This gives me a clearer picture of what it exactly means to do things in remembrance of Him, in proclaiming His death until He comes.

LP: Misyon (Mission)

Ano ang misyon natin sa buhay? o sa mundong ito? Mahirap na tanong. Seryosong tanong. Katatapos lang ng aming pag-aaral ng bibliya at ang topiko namin ngayong gabi ay ang buhay dito sa mundo na panandalian lamang. Mula ito sa libro ni Rick Warren na Purpose-Driven Life. Seryosong sagot. Mula sa 2 Corinthians 4:18, "Samantalang kami ay nagsisitingin hindi sa mga bagay na nangakikita, kundi sa mga bagay na hindi nangakikita: sapagka't ang mga bagay na nangakikita ay may katapusan; datapuwa't ang mga bagay na hindi nangakikita ay walang hanggan."

What is our mission in life? or in this world? A difficult question. A serious question. We have just finished our bible study on the topic, Life is a Temporary Assignment. This is from Rick Warren's Purpose-Driven Life book. A serious answer. From 2 Corinthians 4:18, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Marami pang mga kuwentong misyon dito
More mission stories here

LP45: Puso (o Hugis-Puso) (Heart or Heart-Shaped)

Ito ngayon ang nakasabit sa aming kuarto.
Binili ko ito noong Sabado.
Katuwaan lang.
Para sa araw ng mga puso at
gumanda ng konti ang aming maliit na tirahan.
Natuwa naman si Kiko nang dumating sya noong
Linggo galing sa byahe nya sa Japan.
Minsan hindi natin kailangan ang mamahaling bagay upang
mapasigla ang buhay, mapasaya ang ating puso at
mapangiti ang ating mga minamahal sa buhay.
Maligayang araw ng mga puso sa lahat.

This is what is hanging in our room now. I bought this last Saturday. Just for fun. For the day of the hearts and to make our small place a little bit pretty. Kiko was happy to see it when he arrived last Sunday from his Japan trip. There are times when we do not need expensive stuff to make life more lively, make our hearts happy and to make our loved ones smile. Happy day of the hearts to everyone.

Marami pang mga puso doon sa/More hearts there at
Litratong Pinoy.

Random facts about me

I was tagged in mid-January by Manu but I was too busy then to work on it. The tag was for sharing 6 random things about myself. Then in facebook, I was tagged by friends to share 25 random things. I worked on them last night and I am sharing all the 25 here. So Manu, you got 4x more than you asked for. I realized that as I wrote things about myself, 25 is too little, actually. It is a good exercise though to reflect on stuff past, present and future. Since they are random thoughts they are not really organized.

1. I am addicted to emails & facebook ... I keep checking for updates. Same addiction to blogging, entrecard dropping and e-chatting. I find it a good way to meet friends and to express myself, to keep in touch with family and friends, and to network with others.

2. I've been called a techie by former workmates. Surprised?

3. Most of my aunts are old maids and until I graduated from university they thought I would follow in their footsteps. They were wrong! One even told me that the reason we did not have a boyfriend was because we are intelligent … ha ha ha.

4. I like watching romcoms. I don’t care much for thriller, suspense, horror and other heart-stopping movies or shows. I watch to be entertained mainly.

5. I love reading – books, magazines, etc. Can learn lots from them, even the chick lits. I started reading early. I remember borrowing books from our school library and even our provincial library in town. Among the books I read when I was at school were: Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes, the Bobsey Twins, Enid Blyton books, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and those comic books such as Gone with the Wind and other classics. And many many more.

6. I am addicted to newspapers esp. the crossword puzzles. I got this habit from my Dad. Due to time constraint during the week I just buy newspapers during the weekend.

7. I also enjoy sudoku but since Key also loves it I do not answer them so he can answer them. Then if there are still spaces left, which is not really often, I try to complete it. But he is smarter than me of course.

8. I love being married coz I always have a companion. I am used to having Key here so I miss him terribly when I am traveling alone or when he is away.

9. I also miss my parents esp. these days when I realize time has flown so fast and I missed spending time with them during the past years.

10. My sisters tell me that my memory is still sharp and I can remember some things in the past which they themselves have already forgotten. But hey, I think I have selective memory coz sometimes I also could not remember stuff which they could. But I remember more I guess.

11. I have not been angry for such a long time that when I became really angry with somebody and reprimanded her, I felt very strange. Sometimes I think I am not that serious even when I try to be angry.

12. I am afraid to see a doctor. When I see one for check-up I would insist not to be given antibiotics or any medicines. If the doctor would still give me meds, I would not take them and would just try some natural remedies. I would even research about the meds in the internet and of course I would all the more not take them coz of all the side effects listed.

13. I am an independent person as I have been living alone and single for a long time. However it was not difficult to adjust to being married. I think I was ready to live with another person by the time I got married.

14. I was described by a teacher in high school as being aloof. My mom told me about this way back when I was in high school. I think it was a defense mechanism for the way people treat me then. But I think it was not really serious as I still finished school ok. Oh well maybe the only drawback was I did not have a boyfriend in high school. But who needed one when you have your barkadas and mills & boon and the whole future of going to uni ahead? hmmm... i know a couple of my sisters will not agree with me.

15. Of course I had my own romantic fantasies then. As a voracious reader of M&B, harlequin, barbara cartland, what could you expect? I even had crushes ... which crashed later. I always had crushes, and a couple of them developed into more than crushes but did not really go beyond that. It provided inspiration for my writings and life itself.

16. I am not really competitive. I just do my best. And that's ok although I know that if I really tried harder I would have reached farther. Sometimes my best is really what is expected. But sometimes, it was not as a professor used to say that I could have done better if I really put effort into it. But then I think that there is more to life than being the top in your field or career. That's just me. Maybe because at home we really did not have to compete with each other. Also the nuns taught us about it.

17. I don't care much for prestige or special attention or treatment. I'd rather that everyone be treated the same.

18. I admired Leif Garrett more than Shaun Cassidy. I preferred Nora to Vilma, and was involved in a fight with classmates about this when we were in Grade 6 or so. I supported Sharon more than Pops. I admire Nicolas Cage's eyes. I don’t like Angelina Jolie.

19. There are just so many things going on in my mind. I love talking and discussing issues but sometimes it is also good to just keep my mouth shut and let things be. And to listen.

20. I try to avoid listening to gossip or talking to others about others as I know the harm it can do to friendships and relationships.

21. I wish I am 10-15 kg lighter but I lack the self-discipline necessary to achieve that.

22. I love to travel and I’ve been to most places I wanted to visit. But there are still many more in my wish list. I also want to revisit some of the places I’ve already visited.

23. There are so many things I miss when I am away from Thailand. One of them is the Thai foot and body massage. There is nothing like it.

24. I value friendships. I have found really good friends and best friends through the years. Sometimes I would imagine how my best friends in high school, college, church and work would interact with each other if we get together. And I am so glad that Key and I share a wonderful friendship. We were already friends before we got married. It’s really true that your spouse should also be your best friend.

25. The greatest decision I have ever made in my whole life was to surrender my life to Jesus Christ and accept Him as my personal Lord and Savior. I know that whatever shortcomings and mistakes and many other things that are not right with my life (as some items mentioned above) are part of life's experiences leading me to acknowledge my need of a Savior & a Shepherd. I know that He is perfecting me day by day and it is such a joy to know that I am loved and that there is hope.

life's refrain

this is the title of the first book i self-published. i made this for my mom and sis who celebrated their birthdays last 12 nov. my mom turned 75 while my sis turned 40. it was an exciting time as i was able to go home, together with my three other sisters who live in other provinces in the philippines. another sister lives next door to my parents. so there were five of us sisters at the same time at home and what a riot! our two other sibs, another sis and our bro were not able to come home. the pic on the right is the cover of the book. the featured bouquet is a special one.

for my dedication page, i wrote this:

For Mom and Dad,

for all the whispers of joy in the midst of life’s chaos, contributing to life’s refrain

i wrote the following for the preface:

I was planning to call this book something else, with the word ‘stuff’ in it. However, Key said that ‘stuff’ sounds so boring. Then we said that we should get a line from one of the poems or essays in the book. Thus, life’s refrain. If life were a song, I hope that the poems and essays in this book can be its refrain. Just hum it and add la, la, la … The idea of putting these on paper came up as my siblings and I were planning to celebrate our Mom’s diamond birthday this year (2008). Seventy-five years … not just golden but diamond years. Precious, best, forever …

A sister (Marlyn) also shares the same birthday with her. I remember that time way back in November 1968 when we were all expecting Mom to give birth to Marlyn. She waited until the 12^th to come out.

My prayer is that through my writings I can convey my love and appreciation for my Mom and my sis, and to all family members.

May your lives be guided by the Lord Almighty day by day and that each day will be filled with gladness and joy as you trust in Him.

100th post (yehey!!)

100th post in this blog, for updates. Come and visit my soaring and dreaming blog. Have some tacos while reading. I have since written the following:

Glad to be away (when things get tough here, time to take a break and do something else)
Time for some funny stuff (when you can't get away, find some funny things to laugh about)
Field trip to Chiangmai (part 2)(wish we could stay longer)
The Philippine Blog Awards 2 (some really nice blogs here)
My bad dream experience (when this happens? wake up and pray...)
Fun during aerobics (trying to find humor in everything)
Out of Order (still on being humorous about things and life)

Glad to be away

Guess where I was last week? It was somewhere far ... it was so nice to be there. I forgot all the stresses of daily life in the big concrete jungle where wild animals thrive. Read more about it here.