Cheers to Guillen!

There is a good reason they call these ceremonies "commencement exercises."  Graduation is not the end; it's the beginning.  ~Orrin Hatch (U.S. Senator from Utah)

To all the graduates, congratulations!  This is just a beginning of your journey in achieving your dreams.  Continue to strive harder.  Do not also forget your parents, guardians, friends, and loved ones who supported you along the way.  They are also a part of your success.  Most especially pay tribute to your parents who worked hard to make this day possible.  

I would also like to mention that today is also the graduation ceremony of Guillen (our niece, from my husband's side).   Congrats, Guillen!  Keep it up! We are so proud of you! 

Guillen is graduating with honors, as the 3rd Honorable Mention in their elementary school (thumbs up sign!).  She also got a scholarship from a reputable school (lucky girl!).  You will soon be entering high school... more challenges and tests to come... But worry not, there will also be more fun and excitement.  Balance is the key word.   

Good luck to our pretty and brainy niece!  High school life here you come! ^v^ 

BC Bloggers

Writing and reading books are among my hobbies.  Both give me peace of mind and relieve me off tension.  I am really glad that blogging was introduced in the cyberworld.  It helps me a lot especially in terms of expressing my love for writing.  It can also reach a wider and diverse audience from all parts of the world.

Now that I am a mother, the more that I am inspired to write in my blogs.  One thing that motivates me too is the idea that you can also earn through blogging... Neat right?!  You get to do what you love and at the same time earn while doing it. This idea encourages me more to blog. 

In the world of blogging, link-ups are very important.  It will give your blog many followers and readers.  It can also open doors to opportunities.  To help me more, I have asked my blogger friends.  I also searched the net for possible link-ups.  Then I came across, BC Bloggers, which I understand more from Paula via http://www.mommydiary.net/.  BC Bloggers helps bloggers fill their blogrolls the fast and easy way.  BC Bloggers motto is "We don't have to beg for Links."  This is a great news to bloggers like me.  This also serves as a great tool to put your blogs on the "map".   All blog rolls are also assured that they are being followed and linked to the homepage.  Upon learning its goals and visions, I readily joined BC Bloggers.  I know it will help me a lot.

To all bloggers (neophyte or not), who also want to be included in the BC Bloggers, you just click here. 

Happy blogging! (^v^)

Milestones ^v^

Yesterday was a big day for our office.  A mass was held in celebration of its 115th Founding Anniversary.  I have not mentioned before that I am working in the government.  Yes, I am a public servant (^v^).  I have been here for almost 10 years...  (that's already a milestone on my part.. lol!). 

My appointment was dated April 30, 2002 (that would be one month from now.. yey!).  It left me wondering what have I accomplished for myself after 10 years.  Well, there are many changes that took placed.  I got promoted thrice, awarded with a house and lot (from NHA), finished my master's degree, got married, and had a baby.  It may sound easy but really it's no bed of roses.  There are times when I had no motivation to go to work.  It got boring for a while. Every day is like a routine.  This is the time when I decided to go back to school. It took a lot of determination, focus, and patience on my part to pursue my studies.   It was in December 2007 that I earned the degree on Master in Public Administration. Finally, I graduated.  All my hardwork paid off .

Let me also share with you... that I am a "no newbie" in the field of public service.  I have been formerly elected as a Barangay Kagawad (Councilman) in our district.  I was the youngest who won during our term.  I served our barangay for five (5) years.  It was definitely a humble and learning experience.  I got a chance to see what real life is all about. I have also learned to mingle with different kinds of people (from politicians to the less privileged ones).  I also gained a lot of inaanaks (godchildren) during those days.  I considered this milestone as one of my achievements in my life.

Working in the government is like a privilege for me.  It is also an advantage to mothers like me since you only work for eight (8) hours (the usual schedule of an ordinary government employee).  You have  weekends to bond with your family.  There are vacation and sick leaves in case of emergency and filial obligation plus official holidays to spend with the family.  There are also some downsides though.  In terms of  monetary consideration, it really depends with the agency you are employed to.  I know you can earn more in private companies especially if you are an achiever.  But when it comes to job stability, I guess working in the government is a wise move.

After 10 years, the ball will roll again.  Hopefully, I will still be here to write again on what transpired to another 10 years of my life... Looking forward to a brighter future, all the best for our family. ^v^

Fire Drill

Our office held a "Fire Drill" today.  In a tropical country like the Philippines, this is very important.

According to Wikipedia, a fire drill is a method of practicing the evacuation of a building for a fire or other emergency. Generally, the emergency system (usually an alarm) is activated and the building is evacuated as though a real fire had occurred. Usually, the time it takes to evacuate is measured to ensure that it occurs within a reasonable length of time, and problems with the emergency system or evacuation procedures are identified to be remedied. 

A drill, like this, helps people to know what to do and how to act especially in emergency situations like fire, earthquake, and other calamities.  People generally tend to panic in cases like these.  Fire drills are held in schools, offices, buildings, hotels, and business establishments.

Here in the country, reports on fire incidence have been observed to increase during summer time.  Brownouts and short circuit or electrical malfunction of electric appliances (such as electric fan, television, and iron) are considered the most common causes of fire.  Usually, this can be attributed to the negligence on the part of the user.  Crowded areas or places are also considered high risk.  Discipline should always be observe to avoid any inconvenience.  We should always be responsible to our actions.  Think of the majority's safety. 

Just a reminder... When entering a new establishment, building or any premise, you must familiarize yourself with its entrance and exit.  You must also know where the fire exits and stairs are located.  In this way, in case of emergency, you will know where to go.  Always remember not to panic. 

To end this post, I just hope that we will never experience the real thing... and going back, our office did pass the fire drill.  ^v^

Life is a Blessing!

"If you need something to be grateful for... check your pulse.. Life is a blessing. Live it well. Start the day with saying.. Thank you to God." - a text message sent by my father early this morning.  As I read the text, I told myself.. "This is a good one.. very enlightening.."

In this modern time, most of us want material comfort and hi-tech gadgets.  Others dream of travel abroads, getting a car, acquiring condo units, or just living a glamorous life.   It is good to know your goals or to have an ambition in life.  These are good motivation for a person to strive harder.  But to those people who cannot afford these things at the moment, don't be frustrated.  Just count your blessings.  Each has his own time.  Let's look at the brighter side of life.  Sometimes, we just take small things for granted... the simple joys of life. 

I guess, we should thank the Lord just for being alive for it is indeed a special blessing given by God.  Let's live it well. Let's savor the moments with our loved ones.. like having a good laugh with friends... eating at home with the family... sharing jokes with your children.. These are the wonderful blessings that make life more worth living... ^v^

St. Jude Thaddeus

Thursday... a special day for the devotees (like me) of St. Jude Thaddeus.  Who is St. Jude Thaddeus?  Why do people flock every Thursday and do novena prayers?...

St. Jude Thaddeus is known as the patron of desperate or hopeless cases.  He is generally shown with an image of our Lord upon his breast.  Based on his pamphlet, there are many ways of gaining his favor.  Some devotees make a weekly Holy Hour at his Shrine.  Others make novenas in his honor by assisting at Mass and receiving Holy Communion on nine (9) consecutive days.  Still others invoke him daily.  It matters not the method used to obtain his intercession just so one proves himself worthy of divine favor. You just need to pray wholeheartedly and sincerely.  Aside from attending mass and praying novenas, you can also light some candles and pray for your petition.   Candles come in different colors such as brown (health), blue (career), yellow (general), green (spiritual), and pink (love). 

my own pamphlet



I also think that he is the patron of students.. because I have observed that students often visit him and make novenas especially during a major examination.  They will even bring their pens, papers,and envelopes to be blessed.  Others also believe that single women pray to St. Jude Thaddeus for a happy lovelife.  There are also people who ask for good health and physical healing.

As for me, I always believe that St. Jude Thaddeus, through God's divine intervention, never fail to answer my prayers and petitions.  I always seek his help and protection in every hard situation I am in, desperate or not.  Ofcourse, I never forget to thank him for all the blessings I receive. Writing this article is my own little way of spreading his goodness and miracle.

Surely, there are moments in our lives that we are faced in (or will be facing) a difficult situation.  Thank God for St. Jude Thaddeus, who gives us hope that even in the most desperate cases of our lives, there is something positive to look foward to.

To see a short prayer to St. Jude Thaddeus, click here.

Happy Thursday everyone! ^v^

Rain Rain Don't Go Away

It's the month of March... but it feels like June... Looks like it's gonna be a rainy week for us.  Basically, I do not like rainy days.  Why, because there's something in the rain that makes me feel lonely or gloomy.   I do not really know why that feeling... Maybe, it was just really me imagining things.. haha.. But, thinking again, I do love the coolness it brings especially now that is summer.  Looking at my baby, she loves it too, she had longer sleeps and nap times every time it rains...  and that now made me see the other side of rain... I guess I will also learn to love it, since it gives comfort to my baby..

(... silently singing, changing the lyrics.. "Rain rain don't go away.. Come again another day.. My little girl wants to sleep more.. so she'll grow up wise and strong!") ^v^