True friends correct.

Last night I saw a note made by my friend. Actually she's very special and close to me, not until that confrontation happened.

It was around September (I guess) since that incident happened. The words I said to her. Her guilty look. That intense feeling I had. Yes, I can still remember everything. That night was probably one of the most unforgettable nights I ever had with her. 

We had this little argument over a guy. Yes, a guy. Honestly, I really don't like that guy for her. I confronted her because I was just concern for her. After that confrontation we both asked for forgiveness. We both know that we have hurt each others. I even repented because I knew that I also made something wrong. Yes, I know I'm on the right standing, but I let my emotions overrule me. Knowing me, I really have a strong personality especially when fighting over a thing that I know is right. Maybe that frightened her.

Anyways, its been months now since that happened. And during those months, we haven't talked again. I can feel that she have already set a wall against us, her friends. Maybe that's the effect of that confrontation.  

And last night, I saw this note she made. Even though we're not tagged there, I know it has something to do with us. So I opened it. She explained her side, I got her point. Yes. And I must say I was hurt after reading that. I even asked my friends if I am a bad friend. Seriously, I tweeted that because after reading her note I felt like I am a bad friend to her. Of course I got a lot of sweet and cheesy answers from my friends, but this one really touched my heart.

Hindi. You're one of the best friends na nakilala ko. You even confronted me when there is something wrong in my attitude.

 Jeff, one of my best friends this college, told me this. I believe what he says because knowing this guy, hindi ito cheesy, so totoo talaga mga sinasabi niya sa akin.

I can be one of your sweetest friends ever. But I'm the type of friend who will not tolerate your wrongdoings.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

I can be your loving sister, but I can also be someone who'll discipline you.

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Proverbs 27:5

I will set my standards as high as that of God's. And I will not compromise. No, not even to my closest friends. As the popular saying goes,

True friends correct you when you're wrong. 

And I am really sorry for the things that I said that night. But if given a chance to turn back time, I think I will do it again. Yes, I know its heartbreaking. Its hard. But all for love, I will do it again for you.

I really miss her. They miss her. We miss her. And I am praying that one day we will be able to be with her again. I am praying that she'll really make a stand to follow what God is telling her to do.

Truth is.

Even though I say to some of my friends that past is past, I know deep within me that I am still affected. I know I still have feelings. But of course, things are different now. I can't just simply pour out all my emotions just like before. I can, but I won't do that again. I still have a feeling for you, but I know its not yet the right time.

A must know skill.

Sewing. It has been one of the skills that I really wanted to master (of course, aside from cooking!). Yes, I know a little bit of sewing. I can even repair my own clothes just like what I did to that shirt on the right. This shirt is really big for a petite girl like me so I end up repairing it. Its the second shirt that I repaired (the first was my Purple Love shirt).

For me, sewing is one of the skills that a woman should master. Its part of womanhood. That's how I can see it.

Maybe this thinking was influenced by my mom. I must say that my mom is really good in sewing. She even worked in a garments factory before. During my childhood days, she made some dresses for me, she even made some bags. And I really find it sweet. Maybe that's the reason why I really wanted to master this thing. Because I also want my future children experience that sweet feeling I felt during those times when my mom makes clothes for me. Designing clothes for your kids and making them on your own, I find it a sweet thing a mom can give her kids.

If given a chance I would really love to enroll in a class about sewing and fashion designs. Actually when I was a kid, I thought of becoming a fashion designer. I really want to learn how to make dresses, I wanna design gowns. There is joy in me when designing gowns.

Indeed, it is really one of the things that completes a woman. For me it is really part of my womanhood, and I really hope to master this thing. ☺

Story of Obedience

The story of Abraham and Isaac is really my favorite story of all.

Abraham's greatest test of obedience to God involved Isaac.

He said, "Take your dear son Isaac whom you love and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on the mountains that I'll point out to you. " Genesis 22:2

Take your dear son Isaac whom you love..

Here, it emphasizes how Abraham value Isaac. Isaac was the only son of Abraham and Sarah.
He loves his son so much.

But God asked him to sacrifice him as a burnt offering.
As I looked for the meaning of burnt offering I saw this entry.

 These offerings signified the complete dedication of the offerers unto God. (http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/burntoffering.html)

Isn't hard to offer something that is valuable to us? How much more with Abraham, its his' son, his only beloved son.

But we can see how Abraham responded to this in the following verses (v. 3-10) He got up early the next morning and went to the mountain where God instructed him to go. With no hesitation he did what God asked him to do no matter what the cost is. And just as Abraham was about to kill his son an angel came and commanded Abraham not to lay a hand on the boy (v.12). After that he saw a ram and he took it and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. (v.13). And in the following verse, we can see how God blessed Abraham because of his obedience to him. This is the start of the many blessings that he had received in his life.


Who's your Isaac?

In life, there are some things that we value so much. May it be a relationship that we have, or the position we have in school. Anything that is valuable to us. But what if God asks us to surrender it to him? I know its hard to give up something that we really value, especially when it comes to relationships. Its heart-breaking. Its hard to let go. But when we allow God to move in our life, we can actually do it. We can actually do what Abraham was able to do.

To obey is better than sacrifice. 1 Samuel 15:22

Its a matter of lordship in us. Who's actually the Lord of our life? Who do we really value? These things or God?

Now the question is who's your Isaac? That person, or maybe a thing, that is important to you but is actually the same person (or thing) that God is telling you to surrender to Him? How will you respond?

I pray that we will act like that of Abraham. With no hesitation, we will follow God. And just as God blessed Abraham because of his obedience to him, we too will  be blessed when we obey God.

Ilonggo by heart.

La Paz Batchoy. This will always be one of my favorite food of all. Sarap!

One of my favorite pasalubong! Ube piaya. ♥

Fact: Chicken Inasal is one of the all-time favorite foods in Bacolod. 

Bought some pasalubongs for my friends. Hi mini maskara! 

I hope I can really go back in Bacolod for the Maskara festival in October. 

My auntie bought me this baller after being depressed because there's no Island Souvenir shop in Bacolod. I have the sweetest relatives ever! Thanks Nanay for this. :"> 

Nature trip it is!

May 13, 2012. That's Mother's Day, and we had a mini-family reunion. Hello family outing!

Mambukal Mountain here we go! ☺

Gicaro-Sepida clan. Having a big family is ♥♥♥

Hello cousins! ☺

(L-R) Ina, Chin, Tine. Hello to my pretty cousins! ♥

On our way to the falls. Trekking here we go!

After an hour (I guess) of trekking, finally we reached our destination! The 7th falls. Love the cold water. 

The traveler's feet. Lol. The effect of trekking while its raining. Ah, its really fun! 

I may not look good in this picture but I'm really proud of this. Taken after our trekking. I'm so tired but I really had a good time. Bonding with cousins and with mother nature. I hope to have more nature trips like this! This is what you call ADVENTURE. Ha ha ha.

City of Smiles. ☺

Random shots taken in Bacolod. ☺

I really love the sky in Bacolod. Look at those fluffy clouds. ☺

Take time to appreciate nature.

View from the pier. Love the sky. 

I really love passing by that place. Look at the four pictures. God's word is everywhere. 

One thing that you should know about Bacolod is that their "Jeeps" are different from that we know in here in Manila. There's no Sarao Jeeps there. By the way, I love Bacolod's Jeep than that of Sarao. ;-)

 Spotted! While strolling on one of the malls in Bacolod I saw this. Too bad its closed when I saw this. Praying for Victory Bacolod's growth. ☺

Update

I'll start blogging about my previous vacation. Last May 10, mom and I went to Bacolod. After how many years finally I was able to go back here again. I miss this place, the people, and of course the food. ☺

The next blog posts will be about my travel. Sorry late update. I've been busy for the past days e. One day after we arrived home, I went out again for our leadership training seminar in Tanay. So there you go.

Sweets from my sweet friends.

I've been craving for sweets for weeks already.
My taste buds keep on telling me to eat something sweet, chocolates to be specific. 

And yesterday, the long wait is over. I received a bag of Maltesers from my dear friend (Aden). Its his pasalubong to me from Riyadh. And in exchange I gave him a pack of piaya. Maltesers is really my favorite of all! ☺

And before I leave I received a box of Almond chocoballs from my dear bunso (Jacob). By the way, I also love chocolates with nuts, like that of almonds. ☺

Hooray! I'm the happiest kid in town. Lots of sweets for me this weekend. 

Thank you Aden & Jacob! ☺

Insights from LTS.

I am really thankful to be part of Central COMELEC's LTS. I learned a lot of things from that 2-day seminar. Here are some of my notes from our LTS that I want to share to you. :)

If you don't face your own failure, you will not grow.

Its not wrong to commit mistakes, whats wrong is when we do not acknowledge our mistakes and we don't act on it.

The Story of the Rabbit and the Turtle.

Its good to be individually brilliant and to have strong core competency . But unless you're able to work in a team and harness each others' core competency you'll always perform below par. 

Compete against the situation not against the rival. Hate sin. Love the sinner.

The Story of Mother Eagle.

We need to go out of our comfort zones in order to grow. 

Trust.

It is when you are trusted that you are given responsibility. The bigger responsibility people give you that means they have a big trust on you. 

Prove that you are trustworthy by your actions not just by mere words. Do not promise anything if you cannot do it.

The Story of the Other Son. (From the Story of the Prodigal Son)

We have a generous and loving Father. All we need to do is to ask to Him, and believe that it will be given to us. 

Most people don't ask help from God because they don't trust God. Why? Because they don't know His word. We need to study His word and start trusting in Him. 

Its more fun in COMELEC!

Another answered prayer! Last May 15, around 11pm, I received a last minute free invitation to the Central COMELEC's Leadership Training Seminar (LTS). Hooray! I've been praying for this since March. Thank you Lord for this! *u*

COMELEC: Becoming an Agent for Excellece in Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion.

We started our Day 2 in TYK. We had a series of activities there and Kuya Kaan (our speaker) gave a short talk. After that, around 11am, we went all the way to Bakasyunan (Tanay, Rizal) for the next series of activities.

Meet Alu. AMV COMELEC's Logistics officer. My buddy for this LTS.

The place is really a good venue for activities like our LTS.

But the not-so-good part only is that there's only a little signal, and sometimes no signal at all for Globe and Sun. :( But I see it as somewhat a good thing so that even for a day we will not think of the outside world, we'll be more focused on our LTS. :) 

I had new friends thanks to this LTS. Hello to Kristel (left, Chair of Architecture) and Jessie (Central Representative of EHS). Love these girls! :*

Baller band from Bakasyunan Resort! ☺

Our certificate. *Insert name here* LOL

While doing some stretching activities. 

Our beloved adviser, Sir Antonio Chua who's always game in every activity, even in levitation.

Team Cheetah-Eh! (L-R) Kuya Arwin (Civil

 Law Central Rep. & Central COMELEC's Legals), Jessie (EHS Central Rep.), Kath (AB Chairman & Primus), Francis (Nursing Chairman) Me, Sergie (Science Central Rep. & Central COMELEC's Operations), and Lotti (CFAD Charirman)

Thank you Lord for giving me another family in them. I hope to see more of them this coming school year. 

Its more fun in COMELEC! ☺ ♥

Trust God and His timing.

While I'm on my vacation I had this sudden realization. So here goes my quick short blog! :) 

The more I let go of you, the more God is leading me back again to you.
The more I cut off my connection to you, the more fate is making opportunities for us to reconnect.
I guess this is what you call destiny.
And I believe that if I let God write my love story,
I will have the best love story, with you.
I just have to wait for the right time.
Be patient. Trust God and His timing. :)

It only reminds me of you.

While browsing my Design Your Life 2011 planner there's a sudden flashback of memories, memories of you and me. Then I saw this post I had last May 2011:

I want to hug you right now. Sit next to you and talk to you about anything and everything under the sun. I want to erase all the bad experiences you had before and  replace it with good ones. I wanna be the smile you put on your face. I just want to be next to you now. That's how badly I miss you. If you only knew.

Indeed my planner has many memories of you. Every page of it has a story to tell.

Hospital visit.

Yesterday, Anel (my high school friend) and I went to V. Luna hospital to visit our high school classmate, Jose. He was severely injured from that car accident last week while on their way to Cabanatuan. His right ear was also damaged so he needed to go through surgery.

Thank God because yesterday when we visited him, he's more okay than the last time my friends visited him. He can now talk and he gained more energy. I was really moved with what had happened to them. Seeing him in a state like that, it really breaks my heart.

We stayed in the hospital for about an hour, talking about random stuffs, asking him to tell me the whole story. I was really like a child that time. That's what I feel that time. Out of curiosity, I was able to ask him so many questions. Hehe.

Look, that's the picture he uploaded 3 hours ago. Hopefully before this week ends, he'll be discharge already. Friends, lets include Jose in our prayers. Thank you!

Be strong.

 Last Sunday I got news from a friend. He told me that he was leaving the country soon. The moment I read that text message I really wanted to cry, but I just can't because I'm out with my family. So I tried to hold back my tears and pretend that I'm just fine.

When we arrived home, I was able to talk to him again. The conversation went good. No tears, no sad thoughts. We tried to lighten up the conversation. He even said that we should just laugh because that's all we can do now. So that night went well. I was able to talk to him just like the old times, we had random conversations, sharing random and funny things, typical kulitan, but of course, guarded. My twin's definitely back.

The next day, I felt like everything is still normal not until the moment when I was praying for him. Suddenly tears roll down. I can't help but to cry while praying. Asking God to give me a strong heart so I'll be able to endure this pain.

I really don't know what will happen for the coming months. I want to spend time with him while we can. But of course, I can't just decide on my own. I can't be just easily carried away with my emotions. I need God's direction. I'm praying to God to give us the chance to bond before he leaves.

Parting ways is one of the things that I don't like. But what else can I do? I can't just cry everyday and make my life miserable because he's leaving soon. I need to accept the truth. I know God has a higher purpose why he let things happen this way. I just need to hold on to His promise.

Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good.  (Philemon 1:15)

Life goes on. I need to be strong.

Words left unsaid.

True love isn't just expressed in passionately whispered words or an intimate kiss or embrace, before two people are married, love is expressed in self-control, patience, even words left unsaid.

For me this is one of the power line from the book I Kissed Dating Goodbye. After reading the book, I contemplated and had a quick self-evaluation of my actions in the past. I learned how to act well when it comes to love. And what do I mean with that?

Simple. 

By waiting for the right time and not being easily carried away with emotions.

Love is..

Imagine that you're in a class and you really can't understand your lessons no matter how hard you try. And the finals week is fast approaching. What will you do? You have two options here. Whether to ask for a tutor, or try hard to study the lesson on your own.

That's what we are when it comes to love. Most of us, doesn't really understand what real love is. This world has given us a lot of meaning of love. Our mind is polluted with so many lies about love. We need a tutor to help us understand what true love is. That is God. He is the best love guru of all.

There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. (John 15:13)

Every girl's dream.

I attended a debut yesterday (that was hours ago lol) and I suddenly remember the time that it was my turn. My 18th birthday. July 23, 2011. That special day.

There's a sudden flashback of all the things that happened that night. That special night.
The feeling of being with the people you love. And also, the attention that you get.

Imagine this.. You go to a party where everyone is well dressed, and as you walk down the red carpet all eyes are on you. Realizing that it is you who is the star of the night. You are the center of attention. You are the most beautiful and most important person in the occasion. You are the debutante!

I guess it is every girl's dream to have a big celebration during their 18th birthday, but not all has the chance to celebrate their debut like that. And so, I am forever thankful for having a loving parents, who really wants the best for me. And of course I thank God for giving me the privilege to spent my debut like that, without Him that will not happen.

Btw, July 20 is my real birthday but we just celebrated it on the 23rd (Saturday)

My P5 Pledge

I was inspired with my friend who keeps every P5 she gets everyday. Its her way of saving up money, and I must admit its a good technique of saving up money. You will gain more money when you save P5 instead. And so, I also started doing this P5 pledge just last November 2011. Up until now I save every P5 I get. It's one way of disciplining myself also, because at first its really hard to save the P5 coins. I mean, at one point or another you will forget not to use it. Lol.

Anyways, P5 pledge has been really helpful to me. During those times that I am really broke, I will just open my piggy bank and *poof* instant money for me.

And just this summer. I opened my piggy bank again and counted all my coins. (Btw, sometimes I also save P10 coins) Hooray for instant money. I got almost 700+ from my savings. I guess the time frame was from January up to this day. I know its just a small amount, because for the past months, I was not able to regularly save coins. Huhu. My bad. :p

Anyways, I am just happy because I have money for summer.Its time to use my money. I think I'll be investing this for the camp. I need to use these coins in order that by June I'll start again my P5 pledge. :)

Live by the moment.

Daydreaming about the future. That's really one of my favorite hobby. Thinking about what the future will be. How will your life be few years from now. Stuffs like that. I guess its not only me who loves to think about the future, right?


Almost everyone of us is excited about the future. And that sometimes lead us in doing things that are still not appropriate as of the moment. I must admit, I've been in that phase also. But God reminded me this:

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." 

It is clearly stated Ecclesiastes 3:1 that there's a season for every activity under heaven. There's a right time to study. To live. To die. To love. To work. Name all the activities in heaven! All of it has a perfect time. We don't need to rush things. We'll go all these things as time goes by. But for now, learn to enjoy whatever season you are in, whether you're a student, a single, working, or even married. After all, God will not place you in that season just for nothing. He placed you there for a higher purpose, maybe you need to develop a character- to be more Christ-like, I don't know. It is only God who knows it. 


Thinking about the future is not bad. But dwelling too much on it is sometimes not good. Yes we need active preparation, but we also need to learn how to enjoy the present. Be excited for the future. And live by the moment.

Start saving.

One month to go and we're about to start another school year. Hello senior year! And with that, I realized something, that I really need to start saving my money. I had this conversation before with my roommate and she told me that you need to start saving money while you're still a student. As your college life ends after graduation, and so your allowance will also end. And so, as I face my last year in college I'll really do my best to save my money. I need to start saving my allowance, I know this will be hard but it'll be worth it. After all, its one way of preparing for the future. I cannot depend on my parents for the rest of my life. I need to learn how to be independent.