GRATEFUL. My 27th Birthday Prayer

Help me to start this another year with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Thank You for this day. I thank You for me being able to see, to hear and experience Your goodness everyday. I’m blessed because You are a forgiving , loving and an understanding God.

Let me make the best of each and every day; to still my mind so that I can hear from You. Lord, help me broaden my mind and faith that I can accept all things You have planned for me. Bless me with Your wisdom and knowledge that I can share for Your glory. Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Please keep me safe from all danger and harm.

Be with me Lord to give the best response when I’m pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can’t pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those that are lost and can’t find their way.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.

En Contra Speech for Sen. Sotto's turno en contra speech on RH Bill

Sen. Sotto asked, "Papaano mahahadlangan o mababawasan ng artificial contraceptives na ito, na walang dudang walang medicinal value at hindi rin nakagagamot, ang mga insidente ng pagkamatay ng ina sa panganganak? Kung totoo man na ito ay isang reproductive health bill, paano makapagliligtas ng buhay ang mga gamot na isinusulong ng batas na ito? Maituturing bang “medicines” itong contraceptives, intrauterine devices, condoms, injectables, at ang iba pang tinatawag na legal at ligtas na produkto at kagamitan para sa pagpaplano ng pamilya? Makagagamot ba ang mga ito ng karamdaman o makapapawi ng sakit, o kaya ay may kakayahang makapagpagaling?"

The WHO (World Health Organization) estimates that complications arise in 15% of pregnancies, serious enough to hospitalize or kill women. From the 2 million plus live births alone, some 300,000 maternal complications occur yearly. This is 7 times the DOH’s annual count for TB, 19 times for heart diseases, and 20 times for malaria in women. As a result, more than 11 women die needlessly each day. Adequate number of skilled birth attendants and prompt referral to hospitals with emergency obstetric care are proven life-saving solutions to maternal complications. For women who wish to stop childbearing, family planning (FP) is the best preventive measure. All 3 interventions are part of RH. Proper birth spacing reduces infant deaths. The WHO says at least 2 years should pass between a birth and the next pregnancy. In our country, the infant mortality rate of those with less than 2 years birth interval is twice those with 3. The more effective and user-friendly the FP method used, the greater the chances of the next child to survive. Unintended pregnancies precede almost all induced abortions. Of all unintended pregnancies, 68% occur in women without any FP method, and 24% happen to those using traditional FP like withdrawal or calendar-abstinence. If all those who want to space or stop childbearing would use modern FP, abortions would fall by some 500,000—close to 90% of the estimated total. In our country where abortion is strictly criminalized, and where 90,000 women are hospitalized yearly for complications, it would be reckless and heartless not to ensure prevention through FP. RH will need and therefore support many levels of health facilities. These range from barangay health stations, for basic prenatal, infant and FP care; health centers, for safe birthing, more difficult RH services like IUD insertions, and management of sexually transmitted infections; and hospitals, for emergency obstetric and newborn care and surgical contraception. Strong RH facilities will be the backbone of a strong and fairly distributed public health facility system. Delaying sex, avoiding multiple partners or using condoms prevent genital warts or HPV infections that cause cervical cancers. Self-breast exams and Pap smears can detect early signs of cancers which can be cured if treated early. All these are part of RH education and care. Contraceptives do not heighten cancer risks; combined pills actually reduce the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancers.*

Sen. Sotto said, "Hindi lamang ito pambansang polisiya sa reproductive health, kung hindi isang polisiya sa populasyon, dahil hindi tayo makabubuo ng ang isang situwasyon kung saan tatapyasin ang laki ng mga pamilya ng hindi pinaliliit ang populasyon ng bansa, kaya ang kalalabasan ay ang paggamit ng birth control bilang instrumento para paliitin ang populasyon. Ito ang tunay na layunin ng panukalang batas na ito. Ang bill na ito ay hindi tungkol sa pagpapahalaga sa reproductive health ng ating kababaihan, kung hindi tungkol sa pagkontrol sa demograpiya at populasyon sa pamamagitan ng tuloy-tuloy at sadyang pagpapaliit sa laki ng pamilyang Pilipino."

Couples and women nowadays want smaller families. When surveyed about their ideal number of children, women in their 40s want slightly more than 3, but those in their teens and early 20s want just slightly more than 2. Moreover, couples end up with families larger than what they desire. On average, Filipino women want close to 2 children but end up with 3. This gap between desired and actual family size is present in all social classes and regions, but is biggest among those who are poor. RH indicators show severe inequities between the rich and poor. For example, 94% of women in the richest quintile have a skilled attendant at birth compared to only 26% in the poorest. The richest have 3 times higher tubal ligation rates compared to the poorest. This equity gap in tubal ligation partly explains why the wealthy hardly exceed their planned number of children, while the poorest get an extra 2. Infant deaths among the poorest are almost 3 times compared to the richest, which partly explains why the poor plan for more children. An RH law will promote equity in health through stronger public health services accessible to poor families. RH health services are needed wherever people are establishing their families. For example, a report by the MDG Task Force points out the need for 1 fulltime midwife to attend to every 100 to 200 annual live births. Other health staffs are needed for the millions who need prenatal and postpartum care, infant care and family planning. Investing in these core public health staff will serve the basic needs of many communities. Currently, most young people enter relationships and even married life without the benefit of systematic inputs by any of our social institutions. As a result of just one faulty sexual decision, many young women and men can lose their future, their health and sometimes their lives. We insist on young voters’ education for an activity that occurs once every 3 years, but leave our young people with little preparation to cope with major life events like puberty and sexual maturation. Ensuring modern FP for all who need it would increase spending from P1.9 B to P4.0 B, but the medical costs for unintended pregnancies would fall from P3.5 B to P0.6 B, resulting in a net savings of P0.8 B. There is evidence that families with fewer children do spend more for health and education.*

Honorable Senator Sotto, here are 10 facts about RH Bill as outlined by Senator Pia Cayetano. Just in case you haven't read the provisions of the bill. **

FACT 1: #RHBill gives a person freedom to choose what family planning method to use, or NOT to use any method at all. 

FACT 2: #RHBill does not legalize abortion. In fact, it explicitly adheres to the penal law on abortion.

FACT 3: #RHBill does not impose an ideal family size and leaves this decision to couples. 

FACT 4: #RHBill respects the religious convictions and cultural beliefs of all. 

FACT 5: #RHBill will not teach a 10-year-old how to use condoms. RH education is age- and development- appropriate. 

FACT 6: #RHBill promotes BOTH natural & artificial methods. 

FACT 7: Contraceptives are safe and effective family planning tools .

FACT 8: #RHBill will not indiscriminately distribute condoms to all. 

Reproductive Health care is not all about contraceptives, but addresses real and unmet needs of women and families. The need for a mobile health vehicle in particular is important to reach far-flung areas where health care is inaccessible. These services may not only save a mother’s life, but will help couples plan the number and spacing of their children. Minors and the youth also have RH needs, which we should address primarily through age-appropriate RH education and counseling. But we should also not turn a blind eye to the alarming problems of teenage pregnancy (we have the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Southeast Asia) and numerous cases of young children being sexually abused, sometimes by members of their own family. These are real issues which we should not trivialize by irresponsible statements that the government would freely give away contraceptives to the youth under the RH bill. 

FACT 9: An average of 11 mothers die daily. That’s a fact. 

FACT 10: #RHBill will not force anyone to act against their ethical or religious beliefs. 

* Excerpts from http://www.likhaan.org/content/ten-good-reasons-pass-rh-bill-now

** http://www.mydailyrace.com/?p=2376

My Birthday Prayer

May this day and all the days of my life be filled with the wonder of God’s special love.

I pray for happiness, of course, but also for a greater sense of fulfillment in work, an ease of communication with those I love, and a sense of satisfaction in all that I have accomplished. Above all, may I rest secured in the knowledge of God's constant love and care for me, personally.

I pray for smiles and love, for friends that are true. I pray for warmth and tenderness. I pray for unexpected moments of joy and laughter. But most of all, I pray for peace of mind.

Lord, let this feast of my birth be a reminder to me of all the gifts and blessings I have received from You. On my day of celebration, I thank you for my life and all of my blessings and ask for another year filled with Your presence in my life that I may continue to grow in Your love.

Gracious God, I thank You for enabling me to celebrate my birthday. Lord You have been good to me all these years and I thank You for all the blessings I have received and especially for life itself.

Loving Father, I do not know what lies ahead for me this year. Yet I know that You are holding my future in Your hand. Let my ways be pleasing to you. As You have promised, be with me, Lord. Grid me with Your strength and grace so that I can live for Your light. Enable me to draw closer to You that I may walk in your peace and be the creative and loving person that you intend for me to be.

Watch over me, O Lord; bless and guide me wherever I may be. Strengthen me when I stand; comfort me when discouraged or sorrowful; raise me up if I fall; and in my heart, may Your peace which passes understanding, abide all the days of my life.

I ask this and all things in the sure and certain knowledge of Your love for me. Amen.

Half Empty. Half Full.

It was my first day since I moved in the morning shift. I need to adjust my daily routine, my body clock as well as my schedules. On the other hand, I'm back to a normal life - I work in the morning and I sleep at night. Anyway, the  past weeks for me were very crucial and cataclysmic. And I just want to share it with you…

Have you ever had the feeling that you were too pressured to choose from something you’re sure of and something you’re happy with?

You know what’s weird? It is when you already have that someone who holds your heart but still, you fall in love with another who just simply walked by. Just when you thought that you were happy and contented with that “special someone”, destiny decides to play a joke on you. You meet somebody who will make you think, “Wait a minute, I’m falling for this person” then, there’s the dilemma. Who will you choose: that someone who you’ve been for the longest time or that somebody who just came into your life, makes you smile and think “I might consider spending my life with you.”

Sometimes, someone comes along and makes you doubt your love to someone. They’re not better, they’re just different.

Medically speaking, a person’s heart beats twice in one cardiac cycle. Figuratively, it beats for itself and for another person. Maybe that’s why doctors claim that a third beat as abnormal. It is called arrhythmia… See? No space for third party.

Waiting for the right time may not always be the smart thing to do because sometimes, the wrong moment could be the most perfect of all.

When do you draw the line between LOVE and FRIENDSHIP? In friendship, we create LOVE. And in love, we risk FRIENDSHIP. It’s hard but I guess, sometimes, wanting more means losing everything. There’s no commitment involved, you’re uncertain of your role to her life, you cant expect her to be always there for you, you cant demand at all, you cant be jealous.

There is no “US”, just “YOU and ME” You can’t be sure of her feelings for you. And this will makes you wonder, where you are in the relationship or if there is any relationship at all? But why do others still settle for this kind of relationship? Just for fun? For “sweet moments”? Or for them to be with “somebody” while waiting for the “real thing”?

Maybe…

But if one gets cold, then that’s the end of everything. The relationship is false but surely, the pain is real. That’s the hardest part of being loved by someone, the uncertainty that it may stop, anytime. And even the hottest love has its coldest end.

Heartbreak is an odd kind of pain. Coz you’re not dying, you’re not even sick. For all the intents and purposes, you’re perfectly fine. Yet, inside, where your heart used to be, you hurt so much that you can’t breathe. You can’t sleep; you can’t stop the tears from falling. You may eat too much or you may not eat at all. Nonsmokers light up and nondrinkers find a bar. A broken heart is one of the world’s greatest equalizer. ‘Coz it can turn even the sweetest angel to a freaking evil.

It’s amazing how you continue to love someone you can’t have in the end. Maybe because trying to stay away would be painful, so you might as well take the risk coz either way, you’d get hurt anyway. Staying with someone you love even if you know its better letting go is like standing under the rain. It feels good but you know it’s going to make you sick.

Life is totally twisted, things change and shit happens. So, know what you really want and go for it. Choose what makes you happy today or die on sadness tomorrow… Sometimes in my life, I really have to decide whether I’m half full or half empty. It may appear the same but it doesn't feel the same.

I can always take care of myself. But still, I want to meet the person who can prove to me that I cant, alone...

"Just because it didn't last forever doesn't mean it wasn't worth it." ♥

A True Love Story Never Ends

Before you can grow up, you must fall in love three times.

Once, you must fall in love with your best friend, ruining your friendship forever. This will teach you who your true friends are, and the fine line between friendship and more.

Once, you must fall in love with someone you believe is perfect. You will learn that no one is perfect, and that you should never be treated as anything less than you deserve.

And once, you must fall in love with someone that is exactly like you. This will teach you about who you are and who you want to be.

And when you're through with all that, you will learn that the people who care about you the most are the ones that hurt, and the ones that hurt are the ones that needed you the most. But most of all, you will learn that love is only a concept and is not something that can be defined. It is different to each and every person on this earth, knowing that everyone wants to be loved.

"Life is about making the right decisions, and moving on..."

The Best of My 2011

The Best of My 2011

“Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.”  ~ Hal Borland

I started writing the best of my year last year. This is a glimpse of how my life went and things that I will never forget on that year. 2011 for me was a year of decision making. A year to make significant choices that changed my life and made me who I am right now. Looking back on my planner, my tag line for 2011 was FOCUS: Feel great and look great; Out of town adventures; Celebrate life by maintaining positive attitude; United with family and friends; and Save money.

New Year Celebration - 2011.

This was the first time I celebrated the New Year in the office. I’ve been working for about four years now and this was the first time I spent New Year’s Eve at work. But it was worth it because effective that day, January 1, 2010 was my promotion as a Quality Specialist.

“Being ready isn't enough; you have to be prepared for a promotion or any other significant change.” - Pat Riley

Kung Hei Fat Choi – A Chinese New Year.

Year 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit by the Chinese calendar. This was the first time I experienced celebrating Chinese New Year when I was invited by a Chinese friend named Jacky to spend the Chinese New Year with our friends Bryan, Oneal and Robin in Chinatown, Manila. We had a tour around Ongpin in Binondo and observed how Filipino-Chinese celebrated the occasion. And I never thought this would be a great start for a great friendship with them.

 

Feel Great and Look Great.

“If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want.”  ~ Elbert Hubbard

The first thing on my list was to feel great and look great and I did this by doing a healthy lifestyle and regular workout (though I only visit the gym when I’m not busy at work, hehe). This is the year when I started working out and be serious with it. And guess what, from 139lbs, currently I’m at 160lbs already. Thank you Gold’s Gym! LOL! I also started joining Fun Runs in 2011. This year, I had Rizal Run in September and Run for the Pasig River in November.

Run for the Pasig River, November 2011 at Seaside Blvd.

Run for Rizal, September 2011 at Rizal Park.

Out of Town Adventures.

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller

Baguio City (January 2011)

Baguio for me is my second home. This was my 7^th visit to this place – The Summer Capital of the Philippines. Every year, I always find myself going back to this place. And this is my first stop for 2011. Thanks to Bryan, Amben and Rax for joining this one of the best Baguio tours I had! We stayed at Hotel Henricos and the same usual routes – Mines View Park, The Mansion, Burnham Park, Strawberry Farm, Session Road, SM Baguio, Camp John Hay to name a few.

In Baguio City with Bryan, Rax and Amben.

Tagaytay City (February 2011)

This was my second time here. It’s like Baguio because of its foggy-cold weather plus the delicious Bulalo. I was with my best buddies is college this time: Aj, Adi, Bryan and Joy. This was the first time we met and rode with Bumblebee (Aj’s car). It was an overnight road-trip; ate at Leslie’s, had coffee at Starbucks – Tagaytay and night tour around the city.

My best buddies since college! Dinner at Leslie's.

Cebu – Bohol (March 2011)

Yeah, one of my goal this year was to visit Cebu. Thank you to Ate Anj, Kuya Fred, Kuya Nico, Bryan, Adi, Joy, Amben and Rax for making this trip possible! It was a 4D3N tour (2D in Cebu and 2D in Bohol). We survived the Edge Coaster and Skywalk Adventure in Crowne Regency – Cebu. We also had the chance to visit some of Cebu’s pride like Magellan’s Cross, Port de San Pedro, Lapu-lapu Shrine, Taoist Temple, Sto Nino Basilica and many more. In Bohol, some of the places we visited were the Blood Compact Site, Baclayon Church, Loboc River, Bilar Man-Made Forest, and Bohol’s Chocolate Hills. We stayed at Dumaluan Beach Resort in Panglao, just along Bohol Beach Club.

Magellan's Cross - Cebu

Bohol's pride - Chocolate Hills

At Crowne Regency's Skywalk Adventure

Quezon Province (April 2011)

My mother’s hometown and the place where I grew up. This place will always be a part of me. We spent the holy week at Lola’s house, family outing at the Fishing Paradise and the best part of it, we went to our relatives’ place that I haven’t visited for the last 10 years.

Family Outing during the Holy Week of 2011 at Fishing Paradise.

This is where we usually swim during summer when i was a kid.

Puerto Galera (May 2011)

One of the highlights of my 2011. This was my first time here and I really love the place. Awesome place plus great friends = once in a lifetime experience. Yes, this was really one of my unforgettable trips this year. And no words can explain that. (with a big smile on my face while writing this!) Thank you Nini, Richmond, Bryan, Jeff, Jim, Nyhro, Ylleber and Chad for one of the happiest and wackiest trips of my life!

Snorkeling at Puerta Galera, summer of 2011

This people never fail to make me smile!

Valentino Resort and Spa – Batangas (May 2011)

Mother hen (TL Diana) came home from Singapore and as a treat and reunion with one of the best teams I handled, we went to Valentino Resort and Spa in Batangas. It is situated within the calm and picturesque limits of Lipa, with a breathtakingly panoramic view of Mt. Makulot. Thank you Team Diana! I miss you mother hen and the babies!

Sexy people in the house!!!

Tagaytay City (August 2011)

I’ve been busy at work that’s why I don’t have trips for June and July. I just moved to a different account and I spent the month of June for training and July for adjusting with my new scope of support. But this did not hinder me to get back to my out of town trips. And this time, with my previous team, we went to Tagaytay City (my 3^rd time this time). Thanks Team KamiKC!

First market visit of TL KC. LOL

Puerto Galera (September 2011)

Yes baby, I told you I love this place! Hahaha! So for the second time around and just on the same year, I went back to Puerto Galera. This time it’s with TL Diana and friends to celebrate her birthday. She flew from Singapore just to celebrate her birthday with us and she wanted to get wet and wild that’s why we chose to go Puerto Galera. And we didn’t get disappointed, right mother hen? Kiddin :p

Island Cove – Cavite (October 2011)

This year’s CVG Family Day was held at Island Cove in Cavite. It was a wonderful experience to spend a day with your workmates and at the same time with their families. Every Family Day, I always see to it that I bring my family with me to make them experience how CVG cares to its employees and to their families. This year was one of the best Family Day I attended for that past four years in CVG.

Tagaytay City (November 2011)

My 3^rd time in Tagaytay City just for this year alone. Hahaha! Perhaps it’s because it was just an hour or two ride from Manila plus I can’t resist their special Bulalo! Thank you to Wave 11.8.5 – France, Myk, Jenn, Lea and my TAs Ayi and GK! It was the first time we went out of town with this team and these people are one of the craziest.

Celebrate Life by Maintaining Positive Attitude

“If we are ever to enjoy life, now is the time, not tomorrow or next year...Today should always be our most wonderful day.” – Thomas Dreier

This year was one of the most challenging years of my life too. I’ve been broken hearted not just once but twice. Yeah, I know you’ll laugh but it’s true. Let me say that this was the year also that I hurt a lot of people (unintentionally).  And I wanna take this opportunity to say sorry to those people that been hurt by my actions and/or choices. I learned from these mistakes and moving forward, with positive attitude, am gonna start 2012 anew. A better and matured me plus will take this every choice seriously. I don’t wanna hurt anybody because I knew how it feels but in one way or another, sometime we really can’t avoid it. But you know what’s the best part of it, if we’ve happy with the wrong ones then how much more when the right one comes. I am not looking for that right one at this moment but if ever that right one comes on the most perfect timing, I will do my best to keep it forever.

My 25^th Birthday Celebration (August 11, 2011)

“Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had, and what you've learned from them, and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.” - Anonymous

BDay celebration with my HS classmates.

BDay bash with friends.

United with Family and Friends

My family will always be my top priority no matter what. I’m thankful because I have a supportive and loving family. They are the reason of my hard work, my smiles and my existence. To my mom and dad, to my sibs – Leenlie, Lilette and Jetron, I love you so much!

“The love of a family is life's greatest blessing” - Anonymous

This year also was the year of friendship for me. I still have the old ones but a lot more came. And I want to thank these people whom I really felt that I am of a family and that I am a part of them too. Thank you for the friendship that I will cherish forever. Thank you for letting me feel that life is full of fun and happiness!

"Friendship multiplies the good of life and divides the evil." - Baltasar Gracian

Trumpeta :)

My best buddies since college!

UVRR Support Staff - the best!

Trumpeta :)

Save Money.

This has been the hardest New Year’s resolution and I know everyone would agree with that. But this year, I bought my laptop (February), a refrigerator for our apartment (April), and my blackberry phone (August). My younger brother is now on his 4^th year in college, taking up Electronics and Communications Engineering, plus the highlight would be last October, I started the construction of our house in Masbate. Thank You Lord for all the blessings and I give everything back to You!

Lastly, let me show you my FIRST’s in 2011:

FIRST time in Cebu!

FIRST time to drink Red Horse! (yeah, it’s true)

FIRST time to have a Foot Spa!

FIRST time to receive a book as a gift! (Thanks to France!)

FIRST watch because I don’t usually wear watches. (Thanks babe for 1st monthsary gift!)

FIRST time to have a puppy as a gift! (Thanks again babe! You know how much I love dogs.)

FIRST Fun Run (Run for Rizal, September 2011)

FIRST time in Mamang Taho (located near UST)

FIRST coffee to have a message on it! (though it was our 2^nd, but this was the first coffee I got with one of the sweetest messages I ever received)

FIRST Transition Team I handled in UVRR!

FIRST time in Showtime!

FIRST time to watch a movie in 3D! (Harry Potter 7 Part 2)

FIRST time to celebrate Chinese New Year! (Thanks Jacky for inviting me!)

FIRST time in Puerto Galera!

FIRST Christmas Party with UVRR!

My Year-End Prayer

Father, I just want to thank You for the Year 2011! What a year!

It was a very long year with each day bringing something new, something unknown; yet you sustained us.

Teach us to draw closer to You, to find out what Your perfect will is for our lives.

Teach us and show us step by step how You want Your agenda to flow using us as messengers and instruments.

Teach us humility and give us the ability to forgive and to love purposefully.

Strengthen our hearts with compassion and unselfishness.

Allow us to grow spiritually.

Show us how to be quick to repent continually and teach us that we are not perfect.

Thank You for the continual demonstration of Your endless Love!

Show us how there are many ways and not just our way as individuals interlocked in friendships, relationships and partnerships.

Give us an allowance and understanding so that we may enter into Your rest consistently and continually.

Teach us diligence so that we will know it so well.

Father we have seen remnants of all of these things and we are ever thankful and please allow us to move to new levels of knowledge, wisdom, understanding and revelations.

Thank You for forgiveness. We thank You for corrections and peace in this.

In Jesus name, AMEN!

“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” - Oprah Winfrey