a new adventure begins!

Two weeks (or was it just one?) after I officially resigned, opportunities came rushing in. Suddenly, I will be working part-time in my former office as an editor, and I have two more projects to work on. And by the looks of it, there are a couple more in store!

Indeed, great things happen when you let go and trust in the Lord!

Now, I must teach myself to be better at time management so that I can accommodate these many stints (and still find time to blog and go back to photography!)

This is exciting!!!

Meanwhile, my dear department surprised me with a despedida merienda last Thursday (Friday was my last day at work, since I've already filed for terminal leave next week). Needless to say, I was really touched. Thank you so much! 

I'm gonna miss these wonderful people. But I'm not really going to say goodbye because I'm sure I'll still get to work with them, one way or another. Plus, some of them have already grown to be good friends, so I'll definitely be seeing them often still. 


I won't miss the stress and the job orders, but I'll surely miss the laughter and the craziness and the camaraderie.


Here's to greater achievements, Special Pub!

#PrayforthePhilippines

Our country has often been savaged by typhoons-- some so strong, they become tragic calamities, like 2009's Ondoy. 

This week, however, monsoon rains (not a full-fledged typhoon) made stronger by tropical storm Haikui, has been ravaging Metro Manila, submerging major roads and leaving countless citizens homeless and cramped in evacuation centers. (More details here.)

We can rise through this tragedy, like we always have. But we need help--from each other and from others who care.

To donate to the Philippine Red Cross, please see this link.

Meanwhile, Smart subscribers may send donations to Red Cross via SMS. 

Text RED < amount > to 4143.
For Globe Gcash users, text DONATE < amount > MPIN SLB and send to 2882 (e.g. DONATE 100 1234 SLB) You can donate the following denominations:
 (for Globe) 5, 25, 100, 300, 500 or 1000
; (for Smart) 10, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 or 1000.

Let's help in any which way we can, and let's keep on praying for strength and resilience.

To those who have put their lives out there to help others, you are our heroes, and you shall be blessed.

this is it

I need to write this here so that whenever moments of doubt creep up, I shall be reminded to not doubt and just press on, and always remember why I have come to this decision.

Words of encouragement from friends and loved ones:

"Kaya natin yan. Pray lang!" - hubby

"Great things happen when you let go." - Sam

"Hindi ka Nya pababayaan." - Joanne

"Malaki ang mundo. Go for gold, Shine!" - Con

"And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.” - Confucius, as quoted by muther Rachel

My mom has also been very supportive, even helping out with back-up plans. And I think God has been dropping signs, too!

I'm still sticking to the decision and plans that were made months back. I just had to tweak the timeline, though.

I've never been this scared and excited at the same time, except when I first snorkeled and surfed. It's the same feeling, but in a different context. That feeling when you're so afraid to let go but in your head, there's a nagging voice that says, "It's okay. Just let go. You'll float. You won't drown." 

It took me a while, but I feel ready to let go now. (And yes, this is another one of my own surprises. This is, by far, the biggest one. I think I must start keeping track of the surprises I throw at myself from now on.)

I am scared witless, but I know He won't let me sink. 

gloomy morning, must write

Last night, I resolved to wake up early today so I can whip up some decent breakfast for the hubby. And I did wake up early (woohoo!). And I woke up to this gloomy sky that made me wish it will rain again to ward off the unbearable heat of this summer.


The hope of rain made me more excited to prepare some French toast and bacon. It's also my way of greeting hubby a happy wedding monthsary (haha, cheesy). So after breakfast and the morning chores, and after sending hubby to work, I decided to put to writing some thoughts that played in my head last night before I went to sleep.

After the major events that have happened lately, I have resolved to:

...write more often, about anything and in any way I can--blogs, poetry, lyrics--anything. I have more than enough pretty notebooks that are wasting away because I haven't been writing as often as I should. In fact, there have been some decent ideas that are now forgotten because I did not scribble them down. Boo me.

...be less of a worrywart. I need to realize and remember that there are some things I have no control of, and that I can't stress myself to death worrying about those things. That's what faith is for, isn't it? I can't just offer everything up to God and then worry about them after. That's not faith.

...make things happen. For those things I can control, then I will take charge. And then I will let go. I will do everything I can and set my heart on things I really want, and once I've done my very best, if they're meant for me, they'll be mine; they will happen.

...complain less and appreciate more. I'll really do my best to become less of a whiner and just focus on the good things that surround me. I shall make it a habit to count my blessings, and hopefully, be able to share them with others.

...take more pictures, especially of things and events that make me happy and (my mom and hubby will strongly agree to this) have special pictures developed. It's about time I really start scrapbooking, even if it's just really a collection of photos sans those scrapbook trinkets easily bought at bookstores (well then, that makes it a plain album. Haha!).

...take photography more seriously by taking pictures more often, like I said above. I've already started building my folio, and I will continue to do so.

...serve Him more. The Lord has been more than gracious to me since I can remember. He deserves my zeal. And although I have not been active in serving Him, I pray that I be given the resources to put my faith into more action. This may seem difficult, since I now live far from my mother church; but I want to do things I can to become more active in His service.

So there. I guess when life throws not-so-good things our way, all we have to do is move forward in faith and resolve that once these things have come to pass, we emerge as someone better.