Memories of Yesteryears Made Alive

My flair for organizing events urged me to reconnect with my High School classmates through a simple yet heartwarming get together that was held in my Ate Shel’s “bahay-kubo” on the first day of 2013. I organized our FB group and we’ve gotten to know more about each other’s whereabouts. Time and distance gave birth to a handful of changes in us. Nothing has really changed in our relationship and for me it’s the best thing. It’s as if graduation day was just yesterday. As part of our preparation, we solicited the support of able donors. Most of them are based in other countries yet they shared the spirit and joy of giving. We had our reunion shirts, tokens, and we also bought raffle items from the funds we’ve raised. We all agreed to bring foods ala “potluck” style and encouraged everyone to bring something for the exchange gifts. In spite of every ones’ lack of sleep due to the New Year’s Eve festivity, we still had the energy to show up at the venue. We opened the program with a prayer and acknowledged God’s supremacy throughout the event. We gave out special awards that left everyone at a loss for words. It always feels great that our special qualities are given recognition. We really had fun time as we played games. The Pinoy Henyo portion made us really laugh and shout at the top of our voices. Games brought out the kid in us. Foods were overwhelming and we even had our take-outs! One of the things that we enjoyed most was the Raffle Draw. The raffle items were a great source of enjoyment – from “arinola” to stand fan. No one left the venue empty handed. Everyone enjoyed the fellowship. Indeed, memories of yesteryears were made alive. It’s always great to start the year with a bang. To God be the glory!

First CHRISTmas in Baguio

Christmas celebration is always memorable when spent with people closest to your heart and whom you care about. I and my siblings orchestrated our schedules in order to spend Christmas together with the whole family in Baguio. We are thankful for God blessed us with a new house this year. We had agreed to share the burden of dividing all the Christmas expenses among ourselves. First who came in were Mama and my Ate Shel’s family from Pangasinan. They endured the three-hour trip just to make it to Baguio. My two siblings Hani and Kit from Makati, together with their families were the last to arrive after struggling with a seven-hour trip. What made our get together more memorable was a bible study and fellowship facilitated by our church pastor an hour before the Christmas eve. We really praised God for His provisions. There were a lot of foods and delicacies on our table. We have not only enjoyed the fellowship and merry-making brought about by the holiday but also rejoiced for God’s amazing love that He brought His one and only Son to the world in order for the human race to be saved by grace. All glory and honor belong to God alone!

"SHARE-A-JOY" in my hometown!

A heart that takes delight in helping our deprived kababayans resonates a life that is filled with God’s incessant blessings. “Share-a-joy” or SAJ was conceived out of sheer delight to share and give back to our community. Our dear friend and kumare Christine and her friends pioneered SAJ. We were invited to join in December 2008 and Sim’s barangay in Sison was the chosen beneficiary. It was such a heart-warming experience back then. But due to some of life’s circumstances, we lost touch of SAJ. There was a flashback when we had a chance encounter with our kumare Christine and kumpare Ward in July. Sim and I were tasked to select a barangay to be our beneficiary this year. Without hesitation, I nominated my hometown and had chosen Capataan to be the venue of SAJ 2012. It’s a place with a greater margin of indigents. Good thing that the barangay captain was my batchmate in high school so it was easier for us to coordinate the mechanics and details of SAJ. December 15, 2012 was a day to reminisce and thank God for. The group from Manila and Baguio arrived at Ate Shel’s bahay-kubo early in the morning to partake breakfast before setting off to our mission. There were already a number of beneficiaries when we arrived at the venue. Sim and I were assigned at the registration booth. There were games for the kids, gift giving, and the distribution of Christmas baskets to the chosen 130 families. We really saw their faces beam with pleasure and excitement as they take hold of the goodies and hand-me-down clothes. After the strenuous activity, we were received warmly by Kap’s family and we had our lunch there. The foods were neatly prepared and not only pleasing to the eyes but also flattering to even the most discriminating taste bud. After lunch, we headed to a neighborhood located near the railways. We have also shared with them the goodies and hand-me-down clothes. The people were extremely delighted and were surprised that they too received something from SAJ. After the challenging task for the day came the parting time. Groups from Manila and Baguio were really happy for being instruments of God’s love and channels of His blessings. Out of our grateful hearts, Sim and I gave them boxes of Mayfair’s delectable cassava. Indeed, SAJ has leveled up through the years. God has given me an even greater perspective of SAJ. I’m very blessed to realize that the spirit of sharing is not just by mere abundance of material things but it’s more of a heart that is willing to give and to share. Sharing and giving is the essence of Christmas! God gave His Son Jesus for us to live life to the fullest – now and forever.

Biyaheng Norte

It all started with an earnest desire to show up on the 2nd birthday party of my dear inaanak, Sophia. My dear friend Charol was always persistent in sending us invites since Pia’s christening but our work schedules and other activities always got in the way. When I received a text from Charol, I know in my heart that we’re gonna make it this time. On that Saturday morning, Sim and I excitedly rolled out of bed early to get ready for a trip to San Fernando City, La Union. It’s a well-timed trip for us so as to breathe some fresh air. SIm and I always look forward to long drives. We were supposed to leave Baguio earlier but Sim’s boss called up and he needed to give instructions and send a round of text messages to his officemates. Another important concern, the car needed some coolant and oil so we dropped by the nearest gasoline station. We’re about to set off but Sim realized that his driver’s license was misplaced. Noticing the hassles, I started to pray and ask God if it’s all right to carry on with the journey. We got back and thank God that Sim found his license and got the cellphone that I also left at home. At last, we’re back on the road via Marcos Highway. We had our first stop at the Eagle Monument in Agoo. It’s been my long time dream (since college days) to pose beside the huge statue of eagle! Moving on, we passed the towns of Aringay and Caba. We visited the Paiko Resort in Caba. The resort offers a serene beachfront haven. We had some pictures taken showcasing the beautiful view of the beach. We reached San Fernando City thirty minutes before the party schedule. I didn’t ask Charol which Jollibee branch because I wanted to surprise her. It’s really a blessing that the first branch where we stopped was the one! It’s really a pleasure to see Pia for the first time, she’s such a cute kid. I was asked to open the celebration in prayer. Sim and I really had a fun time at the kiddie party. It’s true what they say that there’s always a child in us. We enjoyed the yummylicious servings: spaghetti, chickenjoy, french fries, sundae, and soda. After the two-hour party, we went to visit the La Union Botanical Garden in Cadaclan. It’s approximately eight kilometers away from the city proper. The garden is nestled on a mountainous twenty-hectare land. It is home to a varied species of living plants and a sanctuary of varieties of wild animals and nature. One station that caught my attention was the Biblical Garden, there are a number of bible verses posted all over the garden. It’s a delight to read those verses and be refreshed. It’s always a wonderful feeling to have a date with nature. On our way to Baguio, we had a stopover at the Bauang Public Market to buy some fish and veggies that are a lot cheaper as compared with the prices in Baguio. We also bought a box of Bauang’s best seller buko pie. Praise God for another adventure-packed day. It’s always a blessing to travel away from home with my husband by my side. It’s always a blessing to visit places with God’s traveling mercies upon us.

Ministry of Hospitality in our Love Nest

“…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”. Joshua 24:15 We have declared in faith that our dream house will be primarily dedicated to our ministry that we fondly call – Ministry of Hospitality. The structure, the furnishings and other features do not really matter for as long as it’s habitable and the purpose of having it will give glory to God. “Welcome one another, then, just as Christ welcomed you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7 For Sim and I, the Ministry of Hospitality is to offer the love of Christ to our guests – neighbors, friends, the brethren, and our respective families who are based in the province. It’s our desire to incorporate everyone into the family, by welcoming them into our doors and hearts and providing them a place where they can be graciously entertained. We are hoping that as we receive guests in our humble home, we will not only meet a need but also share the gospel of Jesus Christ and encourage them in the faith. It was year 2008 when we prayed to God about our desire to build our dream house in the city of pines. It’s not a far-fetched idea since our employment is here. The Lord led Sim to inquire at the Acquired Assets Division of HDMF and voila, there’s this lot located a kilometer away from Marcos Highway. The two-storey house construction (basement and ground floor) began shortly after the New Year festivities in 2012 and wrapped up after six months. Along the way, we met adversities mainly due to budget constraints and we were on the brink of losing heart. But thanks be to God who always powered up our faith every time we get discouraged. On our first day of stay, we organized a mini- blessing party in the form of a bible study with our neighbors and brethren at the Baguio Christian Center. We were all blessed! The house still has a long way to go as far as construction is concerned (pending completion of the second floor and attic) and yet our hearts overflow with hope that God’s will shall prevail in every situation. He is the God that started the work and surely, He will bring it to completion!

Move On...

Stop living a life of regret. If it’s not meant to be… it’s really not meant to be. Learn to embrace and appreciate the things that you have control over. Always hold on to what you have. Accept the fact that life is never perfect. But that doesn’t mean you can no longer enjoy a life of abundance and joy. Learn to discover your skills and inner strength… Learn to imbibe the reality that you need the overflowing love and grace of the Creator of this universe… You need a God who can understand all your concerns and deepest thoughts… You need an empowering strength from an all-relevant and all-trustworthy Savior… After you have fathomed all these things, you may now start living an imperfect life perfectly…

Sixth Wedding Anniversary (Newsletter)

Our little friendship that sparked thirteen years ago paved the way to a marriage that is made in heaven but being relished on an earthly plane. Without a pinch of doubt, the working of God’s grace is truly evident in our marriage. We continue to honor God in our relationship amidst the test of time and circumstances. Six years ago, the sacred vow we made before God, our families, friends, and the church will always remind us that God had designed our hearts to love each other as husband and wife… 

 S-I-M's Testimony

 Living a life that pleases the Lord is really a challenging task for every Christian. As I come to appreciate who I am in Christ, I have all the more realized that it’s more than a task, it's in fact a way of life and this embraces all the areas of my life. After six fruitful years of being married to Shem, I am really blessed that God is taking center stage in our marriage. We’ve been through a string of adjustments as a couple but we’re thankful to God for His wisdom and guidance that have always motivated us to carry on. Shem and I have developed a wonderful teamwork not only in marriage but also in the ministry as we continually commit ourselves and at the same time hurdle the challenges in the Programs Ministry at the Baguio Christian Center. Things are equally challenging at work. By the grace of God, I was elevated to a position that required greater responsibility and dedication. There are moments that I find it hard to juggle work, family and ministry assignments but thanks be to God who always inspires me to go on in spite and despite of the circumstances. After fervent prayers, Shem and I are elated to receive God’s answer this year - having a house of our own. We made a vow to the Lord that we’re going to open the house for ministry (ministry of hospitality). As a husband, I’ve been longing to be a father in God’s sweet time and according to His will and good pleasure. There is always something exciting in the life of a person who makes God his firm foundation. Life is far from perfect but a perfect God can always make an imperfect person live perfectly according to His best program. I continually desire that God will increase my faith and make me a better Christian as I live my life each day. Through it all, God is always all-relevant and all-trustworthy! 

 S-H-E-M's Testimony

 God is a God of perfect timing. It is faith alone that will enable us to wait patiently for Him and understand His will for us. When I was young, I take delight in persistently dragging God to answer what I’ve asked for in prayer - in my own terms and forgetting about God’s will for me. But things changed drastically when I got married. God brought my mindset to a deeper level and exposed me to experiences that developed my degree of maturity in dealing with life. More so, God took my faith to an enhanced stage. Sim and I love being together in the journey of life called “marriage”. He is God’s greatest blessing to me. When he came into my life, he put an end to my "search for one true love - a love of a lifetime". He's the answer to my prayer. I am a picture of a blessed and content wife. Certainly, things did not happen overnight. God taught me to learn the art of waiting patiently for His will and perfect timing. Heartbreaking moments come to test our relationship but we are grateful to God and His grace that is continually at work in us. As a wife, it’s not so easy to strike the balance between family, career and ministry. Pressures mount up at work from time to time. It’s not only an issue of work load but also of work relationships. At first, I can’t figure out why things happened in an agonizing way but as time went by God unfolded the thoughts and lessons. In the same way, it’s also completely challenging to serve the Lord through the ministry He has given me and Sim. It’s really by God’s overflowing grace that we get to do our commitment for His greater glory. It’s always my ardent desire to live life to the fullest and this is only possible if I will allow God to direct my path, understand and follow His will for me. Part and parcel of knowing God’s will is waiting patiently for Him and in His perfect timing. God is the driving force behind the success of our marriage. After six rewarding years of being together, Sim and I continue to explore the wonder and the power of this special union we share. To God be the glory! 

 MEMORY VERSES: 

 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) 

 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) 

 PRAYER REQUESTS: 

  a little angel who will complete God’s design for a family… 

 successful ministry involvements for God’s glory and good health