A few days ago, I took a chance to go back to my blog with anticipation that it has been "dissolved" or my account has been deleted because I had neglected it for a couple of years; but alas! It is alive!
A message sent last year by Arabian Josh in my Cbox which I only was able to read recently had somehow sparked excitement and brought a sense of longing to write again.
Hmmm...am I smelling a blog rebirth here?
Friday, August 1, 2008
Monday, April 16, 2007
largest living tree on earth
Last Saturday, we went to Sequioa National Park to see the largest living tree on earth; the Gen. Sherman tree, a giant redwood. It was majestic! To see this magnificent creation of God was exhilarating. The experience is worth remembering. (click on the photo to read the specs)
Saturday, February 17, 2007
my family in a strange land
I'm back! Haha! Not from hibernation but from uncivilization! I got hold of the computer but it was all work related, couldn't even sneak at my e-mail. I'm awed at how technology had invaded our lives...now it has become a necessity. I really missed my blog!
I found an instant family in Bakersfield. They adopt me every weekend. What's so strange is that, my hubby just met them through the internet and they've been friends already before I came here. And like they were nice in the web, they have been so helpful and accomodating and they've considered me as their own.
They are Filipinos, they're from Pasuquin the hometown of my husband's father. Now we're attempting to trace their roots so that we could at least find real explanation to our instant closeness.
So life here in this strange land has not been tough for me! Thanks to Manong Roger and Manang Isabel.
:)
I found an instant family in Bakersfield. They adopt me every weekend. What's so strange is that, my hubby just met them through the internet and they've been friends already before I came here. And like they were nice in the web, they have been so helpful and accomodating and they've considered me as their own.
They are Filipinos, they're from Pasuquin the hometown of my husband's father. Now we're attempting to trace their roots so that we could at least find real explanation to our instant closeness.
So life here in this strange land has not been tough for me! Thanks to Manong Roger and Manang Isabel.
:)
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
His will be done
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And lean not on your own understanding
In all your ways acknowledge Him
And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
And lean not on your own understanding
In all your ways acknowledge Him
And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
This is a very timely Bible passage for me, because in this new transition in my life, I can now confirm that in all my undertakings, God had "manipulated" me. :)
When there was something that I had asked from Him, He didn't only grant my requests, but He also gave more than what I have asked for. I trusted Him to give me what He willed and though I've become impatient sometimes of waiting for His answers, I was always and will always be overwhelmed with how He had presented them in a great package.
Now, as I embark into a new life's adventure, I'm sure it is His will; and I trust Him that He would always lead me to the right direction.
When there was something that I had asked from Him, He didn't only grant my requests, but He also gave more than what I have asked for. I trusted Him to give me what He willed and though I've become impatient sometimes of waiting for His answers, I was always and will always be overwhelmed with how He had presented them in a great package.
Now, as I embark into a new life's adventure, I'm sure it is His will; and I trust Him that He would always lead me to the right direction.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
it is near...
It's been quite a while that I didn't post...I've been very busy. My flight will be Monday after next, and I'm totally anxious and on the verge of panic as it nears. Unlike my counterparts in Arizona who flew in groups, I will be flying alone. And because I am the first to be deployed by my agency to California (in it's entire existence), I will also be living in my apartment alone.
I'm sure I wouldn't be able to update my blog when I'm there until I get familiarized with the place. And my stories will be different as I will talk so much about my experiences, how I would blend...how I would survive. This excites me. :)
Until next blog!
I'm sure I wouldn't be able to update my blog when I'm there until I get familiarized with the place. And my stories will be different as I will talk so much about my experiences, how I would blend...how I would survive. This excites me. :)
Until next blog!
Monday, January 8, 2007
America, here I come!
Finally I got the news...the confirmation that I'd be leaving soon...bound to California! I can't describe the feeling. I'm euphoric at the same time sad...extremes! Imagine, everyone I'm texting is telling me his/her shoe size or giving me lectures on brands of perfumes, watches or bags? I thought they were telling me names of my future neighbors, ha ha ha! Who wouldn't get stressed with that? He he he, joke!!!
My older sister who is more excited than I am have texted all our relatives living in California and in nearby states. My friends are giving me names and contact numbers of their friends and relatives living there also. My sister-in law in Hawaii called me and gave also a friend's name and asked me to call that person as soon as I get there. What do they want to tell me??? That I must have a strong support system because I would be facing a real life battle? By golly! It scares a lot of me!!!
Okay, so I will be fighting with homesickness, culture shock, language barriers, getting lost...and whatever it is that would cause extreme anxiety when you get to a strange land with strange people. As my defense in this battle, I would be needing people who'd be willing to share their home...their pc with wifi capability (he he); their aged furnitures and appliances or kitchen utensils that they'd be willing to hand down to me...and most of all, I'd greatly appreciate their precious time which they would happily share with me for company.
So, my kapamilya, kapuso, at ka-Filipino sa America...maghanda kayo! Este, humanda kayo! :)
______________________________________________________________________________
I would like to share with you some pics that I took when I stayed in my agency's staffhouse along Malate, when I was processing my papers. I used my camera phone with only a 640 x 480 resolution. Not good enough to capture the details of the image, but I couldn't resist the view.
My older sister who is more excited than I am have texted all our relatives living in California and in nearby states. My friends are giving me names and contact numbers of their friends and relatives living there also. My sister-in law in Hawaii called me and gave also a friend's name and asked me to call that person as soon as I get there. What do they want to tell me??? That I must have a strong support system because I would be facing a real life battle? By golly! It scares a lot of me!!!
Okay, so I will be fighting with homesickness, culture shock, language barriers, getting lost...and whatever it is that would cause extreme anxiety when you get to a strange land with strange people. As my defense in this battle, I would be needing people who'd be willing to share their home...their pc with wifi capability (he he); their aged furnitures and appliances or kitchen utensils that they'd be willing to hand down to me...and most of all, I'd greatly appreciate their precious time which they would happily share with me for company.
So, my kapamilya, kapuso, at ka-Filipino sa America...maghanda kayo! Este, humanda kayo! :)
______________________________________________________________________________
I would like to share with you some pics that I took when I stayed in my agency's staffhouse along Malate, when I was processing my papers. I used my camera phone with only a 640 x 480 resolution. Not good enough to capture the details of the image, but I couldn't resist the view.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
there must be a better way...
Our conversation led to different topics like her maid (who is her only companion), her cats (her other non-human companions, he he!), the malunggay tree that she cut (because her neighbors were stealing its leaves, ha ha!), and her job that she "loves". We also talked about writing and photojournalism.
She lamented about the hardships she experiences while doing her job. Being a "social marketing specialist" in the goverment's public works projects (in Southern Philippines), she's having a hard time boosting the image of her agency. So as her recourse, she said, she's doing a different style of writing in their monthly journal.
Instead of the usual propaganda and detailed specifications of an infrastructure project and putting emphasis on a declaration, " through the initiative of congressman so and so", she uses a different mode of writing. She tells a story about the people who are benefitting from the projects...adding impact and drama to a 2 billion tax money worth of a newly built road or bridge.
She writes in the style that her story would capture the emotions of the readers...perhaps to instill in them and inspire them to change. However, this change she had initiated in their journal is not acceptable to her boss. Still, the boss would want the old way of reporting, which my friend thinks is no longer acceptable to the readers. So, it turned out that by slowly initiating change, she realized that she was also slowly making enemies. And we both agreed that people's lives are not improving because they refuse to change.
Speaking of writing to initiate change, she mentioned to me, Bob Ong and his style of writing ( I knew Bob Ong when I read his book, "Bakit Baliktad Magbasa ng Libro ang nga Pilipino?"). And we marvelled at Bob Ong's frankness and braveness to pinpoint the flaws of the Filipinos. His satires are real and awakening. His books capture the young readers' minds which I think is good because he wants to initiate change in the youth. She also introduced me to Bob Ong's latest book, Stainless Longganisa and I immediately found and bought the book from the National Bookstore.
One thing I've learned from the Stainless Longganisa is that, "reading goes with writing". With my limited exposures to books like Sweet Valley High and Mills and Boone when I was younger ( I grew up in the province), I'm glad that I played Scrabble and Squabble with college graduates and professionals when I was in grade 5. I also read "Laughter is the Best Medicine" and "Points to Ponder". My subscription to "The Plain Truth" (it was free!), and memorizing science trivias when I was joining the science quiz bees mattered.
I regret not joining Press Conferences when I was in the elementary and in high school. The Press Cons were always scheduled simultaneously with the Science Fairs. I've missed learning how to write when I opted joining the Science Fairs. I also regret not having exerted much effort to finish reading the classic novels... and if ever I've finished reading them because they were requirements in the English Lit. subject, I didn't gain interest in understanding them (nya ha ha!).
But it is never too late. Whenever I have time to read now, I read...and I read a lot! I never shut out my mind to new ideas.
Putting our mind to hibernation in the old and rigid norms can only contain us to the Dark Ages. A closed mind is a dead mind. Opening our minds and welcoming new and creative ideas can make us think better ways to bettering our lives. And making our lives better can inspire the others to do the same.
She lamented about the hardships she experiences while doing her job. Being a "social marketing specialist" in the goverment's public works projects (in Southern Philippines), she's having a hard time boosting the image of her agency. So as her recourse, she said, she's doing a different style of writing in their monthly journal.
Instead of the usual propaganda and detailed specifications of an infrastructure project and putting emphasis on a declaration, " through the initiative of congressman so and so", she uses a different mode of writing. She tells a story about the people who are benefitting from the projects...adding impact and drama to a 2 billion tax money worth of a newly built road or bridge.
She writes in the style that her story would capture the emotions of the readers...perhaps to instill in them and inspire them to change. However, this change she had initiated in their journal is not acceptable to her boss. Still, the boss would want the old way of reporting, which my friend thinks is no longer acceptable to the readers. So, it turned out that by slowly initiating change, she realized that she was also slowly making enemies. And we both agreed that people's lives are not improving because they refuse to change.
Speaking of writing to initiate change, she mentioned to me, Bob Ong and his style of writing ( I knew Bob Ong when I read his book, "Bakit Baliktad Magbasa ng Libro ang nga Pilipino?"). And we marvelled at Bob Ong's frankness and braveness to pinpoint the flaws of the Filipinos. His satires are real and awakening. His books capture the young readers' minds which I think is good because he wants to initiate change in the youth. She also introduced me to Bob Ong's latest book, Stainless Longganisa and I immediately found and bought the book from the National Bookstore.
One thing I've learned from the Stainless Longganisa is that, "reading goes with writing". With my limited exposures to books like Sweet Valley High and Mills and Boone when I was younger ( I grew up in the province), I'm glad that I played Scrabble and Squabble with college graduates and professionals when I was in grade 5. I also read "Laughter is the Best Medicine" and "Points to Ponder". My subscription to "The Plain Truth" (it was free!), and memorizing science trivias when I was joining the science quiz bees mattered.
I regret not joining Press Conferences when I was in the elementary and in high school. The Press Cons were always scheduled simultaneously with the Science Fairs. I've missed learning how to write when I opted joining the Science Fairs. I also regret not having exerted much effort to finish reading the classic novels... and if ever I've finished reading them because they were requirements in the English Lit. subject, I didn't gain interest in understanding them (nya ha ha!).
But it is never too late. Whenever I have time to read now, I read...and I read a lot! I never shut out my mind to new ideas.
Putting our mind to hibernation in the old and rigid norms can only contain us to the Dark Ages. A closed mind is a dead mind. Opening our minds and welcoming new and creative ideas can make us think better ways to bettering our lives. And making our lives better can inspire the others to do the same.
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