My Favorite Book

Somewhere between the lines I read you,
You are the words in my favorite book,
That no matter how many times I read it,
A beautiful story always comes with it.

Each sentence, each paragraph is a bliss,
Each page, each chapter is a surprise,
You are the book that makes me wonder,
You are the book that touches my soul.

I will spend my lifetime reading you,
I will bring you along everywhere,
In every way, I will take care of you,
Because your are the best book in my life.

This poem is inspired by Lang Leav and dedicated to my one and only B! For me, he is like a book, the best book that I could have. With him comes a surprise, a beautiful story that changes my life. I will forever treasure him and my relationship with him. I love him more than he could ever imagine. 

All of this was written last March 18, 2015.

Faith and Waiting

It’s Thursday and I was able to meet my sisters in Christ through our Victory group earlier. I got the chance to see again the beautiful ladies, both single and married, gathered around to share each other’s lives while knowing God together. 

I can still remember the time when I was part of a similar group in UP. I am still in my college years back then. There was a group of ladies whom I regularly meet to learn about God’s faithfulness in our lives. But when I went back to province seven years ago, I have no one here to share my passion in honoring God. It was so difficult for me. Sometimes I called my sisters in Christ just for them to cover me through prayers. But being physically away from them is difficult that I tend to slide away from Him. I was like a coal removed from the fireplace that I begin to cool down. It was hard and so I prayed to God for something like this to happen. I earnestly seek Him and ask Him if He could provide me a family where I can tell my faith goals and be my partners as I walk in Christ. 

After years of waiting, God has fulfilled His promise. These young, beautiful and vibrant ladies are the answers to my prayers. And my heart overflows today that I want to write it down. 

I know that this is just a start because as I am writing this down, I can see thousands of people here in Marbel worshiping His Holy name. I can see them singing praises to Him. He is faithful and He is a God of promise. He will not let His words return empty and He will accomplish what He desires. 

The process of letting go of my comfort zone

And now, I am questioning my purpose. The series in the church today is unwavering where it is all about faith.

I’ve been working in an electric distribution utility for the past seven years and all I thought this is and this will be where I am working for the rest of my life. But just this year, there are so many mountains to overcome in my workplace, so much stress is coming that sometimes I forgot to reflect my purpose. I ponder on resigning from work.

Recently, I’ve been connected to a group of people who has the same belief as mine, and I am on fire with God again. I began to see God’s grace that the word “resign” doesn’t cross my mind anymore. But yesterday, when everything is so fine, no problem nor worries exist in my working place, the thought came again. Just also yesterday, after the said thought, I began to talk to someone and told me her plans of going out because she feels that her purpose is not in here. I am very much encouraged on how God orchestrated everything for her despite her age and her current situation.

During the conversation, I evaluated myself and a realization came. This is not the place for me and my time here is already enough. It is not the problems in the office that I want to resign, it is because I fear that if I will go, every comforts that I am receiving right now will be lost. And I am afraid. I fear that I cannot have this comfortable life anymore where I am the boss and there are so many privileges for me. I am afraid that if I lose the job, it will be very hard for my family to survive. Then a word came to me. God told me to have courage and to let go of my fears. He wants me to have faith in Him as I leave my comfort zone because He will show me my promise land.

I began to discuss this to my husband, and he just affirm my decision to let go. He told me that in order for me to have much bigger, I have to empty my hands. And I cried because it is the truth and I am still afraid to do it. 

Today, as I write this, I know that I am just buying time for me to let go of my comfort zone. I know that it is a process to let go and I pray to God that if this is really His purpose for me, He will show me the way. He will affirm this through prayer, through His words, through vision and through my mentors in Christ. Just today, my devotions is also about choosing faith over fear. May the Lord help me through this process of choosing faith, instead of fear. I believe that as I let go of my comfort zone, He will prepare a way for me for everything. May God gives me all the things I need as I take my journey to an unknown place where He called me to be. Praise be to God forever!

Home in Motion: La Union-Baguio-Pangasinan Trip

Traveling in the company of those we love is home in motion. – Leigh Hunt

This is our first time to travel as a family. It is right after the homecoming of my husband that we decided to take the car and go on a trip above North. It was a long journey knowing I am carrying a 10 month old child without yaya and only our family who is with us through the journey.

We hit the road from Cavite in the wee hours of the morning so that we can reach our first destination, the province of La Union.  Nanay and Tatay wanted to visit some of their relatives there before going to Baguio. When we reached La Union, we weren’t able to meet their relatives because they were already abroad. Instead, we tour around the place and go to the nearest tourist destination that we can have our picture taken. And so here is the lighthouse around La Union.

After La Union Trip, we went to the city of pines, Baguio City. Well, the zigzag road going there made me feel ill. But when I see the breathtaking view of the strawberry farm in La Trinidad makes me well.  This is one of the first time got a taste of strawberry wine and she is so giggling happy about it.

We spend a night in a small inn in Baguio City near the Botanical Garden. We woke up very early in the morning and travel around the city. Just like any other tourist, we wear the traditional clothes together, we bike along burnham park and took a lot of pictures.

The next day, we tour around bencab museum and buy a lot of souvenir items including strawberry jams and wines.

We then decided to go to Pangasinan to visit another relatives of Nanay and Tatay. We were lost at first because Waze could not give us the right direction. But eventually, we reached our destination and had our good night sleep there. The next morning, we decided to go to Hundred Islands in Alaminos, Pangasinan. It was the first time for Sofia to see the beach.

It was late afternoon when we decided to go home back to Cavite. It was quite a long ride for all of us but it was fun and the memories that we can have are beautiful since we are with the people we love. Indeed, it is a home in motion.

A Graceful August

What a blast! August is a very hectic month for me since I begin to take the position of Institutional Services Manager in SOCOTECO-I. The Annual General Membership Assembly (AGMA) where we usually targeted to gather around 5% of member consumers falls within the last Saturday of August and the founding anniversary where employees gather to have fun falls every August 31. All of these activities are handled by our department.

With the new challenges given by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to have a greater attendance during AGMA, we decided to step out and conduct the first simultaneous AGMA in two different location, one in South Cotabato Cultural Gym and the other one is in Surallah Gym. This is for us to meet the target attendance of 7.5% member consumer owners. Days before our AGMA is such a mess since our live streaming doesn’t work yet. We just finalized our connection and had our final testing the night before the AGMA. An hour before the actual event, the live streaming works but when it is about to start, the connection stopped. Through teamwork, the connection was back around an hour and I am glad about it. During the open forum, I am also happy that the questions raised were easily handled by our Board of Directors and Management Team. Eventually, despite all the troubles before and during AGMA, I can say that it is a success.

After a week, we also need to finalize our preparation for the founding anniversary. The preparation was really so difficult for us since there are last minute changes in the program as instructed by the NEA. We had our tree planting, line clearing and candle lighting activities aside from our usual program.  These three added activities are mandated by NEA and simultaneously done by all Electric Cooperatives in the Philippines. The tree planting was done by all non-technical employees and some organized Member Consumer Owners (MCO) in our different districts. On the other hand, the line clearing was done by all technical staff in four different areas. Also, we prayed for our 353 unenergized sitios by doing a ceremonial candle lighting before our program for founding anniversary. It is our prayer that the government will help rural electrification program by providing us funds to energize the remaining sitios in our coverage area. And I am glad to be part of this institution who is not a profit oriented organization but a service oriented one.

For the first time, we have invited a comedian to entertain our employees during the founding anniversary. It was a night filled with laughter. Not to mention that I am so lucky to win a major prize during raffle and to be declared as lady of the night during the event.  After the formal event, we had our foam party which is also done for the first time. Those who stayed really enjoyed the night as they soak themselves in the foams while dancing into the music.

Whenever I remember how hard the preparations for these activities are, the stressful days and sleepless nights, I believe that everything is worth it. I am happy to take part and to be in a team where no matter how hard and tiring everything is, everyone gives their best for the success of the activity. 

Above all, it is only through His grace that it is a success. And I am thankful enough to praise Him and give Him all the glory. It is indeed a month full of His grace.