Monthly Archives: January 2024

Working Behind The Scenes

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How am I as a worker? I thrive well as a supporter because it’s not in my personality to lead given my introverted personality. I prefer to work in the background and away from the limelight, so I tend to gravitate towards people who are born leaders and have the natural ability to lead diverse groups of people.

As long as they are receptive to suggestions and new ideas (because I have a lot of them) and can execute them well, I would love to work with them even if they get all the credit in the end. 😀 My mind works nonstop, so I need to share these ideas. Otherwise, I’ll go cray cray. lol And when I say “leader,” I don’t mean a boss because there’s a huge difference between the two. You may read more about it here.

To God Be The Glory Always

I am not after the praise of men, but it is my intent to please God and give Him the glory. He, alone, gets to decide if it’s a job well done on my end come Judgment Day. So, what I do in this world will always be between me and Him. To see that my idea worked and a lot of people are benefiting from it – that, to me, is rewarding enough.

Let me just share with you this experience of mine when it comes to my artwork. I’ve received invitations in the past to do commissioned work on portrait sketches. I just said that I’ll try if I have the time because I can’t actually say “no” because I really want to do it. When I see people happy with my work, it makes me happy, too. It’s just that I wanted to give the sketches to them for free because I feel like I am no professional sketch artist. I’m still an apprentice. 😀

And yes, sketching for me is only a hobby. I will end up broke if that is what I will do all the time because I want people to have my sketches as gifts from me. lol Nothing in this world makes a person happier than to receive something special for free. Just like the gift of salvation. ❤️

How We Use Our Gifts Matter To God

The same goes for my talent in writing. During one job interview, I remember the HR manager asking me if I had plans to become an international best-selling author. I told him that no, that was not my dream. Because I want to share my ideas and my talents for free and for the benefit of all just like this blog.

I have plenty of opportunities to monetize this blog ever since I created it back in 2012. But I thought that if I wrote all of these ideas in a book and sold the book, then only a few people would be able to read my ideas. The opportunity will be given only to those who are privileged enough to purchase the book. My personal goal as a writer is to inform as many people as I can in every part of the world as long as they have access to this blog.

For me, a talent or a skill that God has entrusted to us should be used for the greater good of many. While there’s nothing wrong with using this skill or talent to earn a living, our ultimate goal when utilizing these skills should go beyond monetary rewards. And yes, it should also not be for popularity or being famous and being the best. There were some who were called to serve in the limelight, and there were some who were called to serve in the background. This is how the body of Christ functions. And yet if one part is missing, the job cannot be completed.

Working For The One And Only CEO Named GOD

I hope this article will encourage those who feel like they are not getting enough credit for all the efforts they’ve put on at work. I, myself, struggled with this when I was a young professional. But God will always remind me that I am not really working for my bosses, I am working for Him. All of us are actually. In the end, what one does as a loved one or as a professional doesn’t really matter. It’s all about whether what we’re doing pleases God or not. And we all know that God has the highest standards because well, He is God. This means that we have to give our best all the time. No sloppy work in other words.

May our motivation when doing something always be centered on God alone asking Him if what we did was enough or if we can still do more and do so excellently. 🙏

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” – Colossians 3:23-24

P.S. For those who are asking, “What if I already did my best but my best still wasn’t good enough?” Only God can answer this question, so this might mean doing plenty of quiet time with Him. Some would say that God is sometimes silent. I don’t think God is ever silent. Maybe it is our inability to hear Him clearly because of a lot of distractions around us that are hindering us from receiving His instructions. 🙂

P.P.S. I am praying that God will send a “leader” who can help me and my family oversee our agribusiness and other endeavors in the future. 🙏 Applications might have to be reviewed by the board though a.k.a. ze siblings. 😉

Magistorya Man Daw Kita Didi Sin Bikol Bulan

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Niyan ko lang napansin na wara palan ako sin maski saro na article na sinurat didi gamit an Bikol Bulan tapos proud na proud ako na taga-Bikol ako. Aw nano baya. 😅

Ugaring kay ‘di ko aram kun tungkol sa nano an suraton ko didi. Kaya badi magkadirilot na lang ako didi sin kaistorya saiyo, wara didi wara didto sin pinakadtuan an article na ini. 🥴

Basta an importante nasasabutan niyo an istorya ko kun taga-Bikol ka man. Si Google panigurado nagsurunggo na ka-translate sadi. 😂 Kaya maudong na mun-a ako magsurat, sa otro na lang kun may matanos na ako na sabihon kay sayang sin pagal ko ka-type. lol

Nano baya tabi sa Bikol an LOL? Ngirit sin tuda? O ngirit sin makusog? So, pwede NST o NSM na lang an isurat ta? 😜

Marhay na hapon tabi saindo gabos. Kisira napaogma ko kamo maski pan-o. 😉

P.S. Dire ko na ini i-translate kay makakaraw-ay sa mga banyaga ko na mga taga-sunod (o sunod-sunuran 🤔) kay kun badi sa aga naka-unfollow na sira. 😂

Embarking On A Solo Journey

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I find it a little unusual that I am about to embark on a new journey with a new set of challenges and yet I have reached that point where I am at peace with everything. In fact, I’m very much looking forward to this new journey I already listed out so many plans though I know that God can change them any minute according to His will. And yet I am not a bit worried. I believe there’s only one explanation for this – God’s grace. 🙏🙂

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7

My husband and I have agreed that whether he decides to work abroad or work here in Manila, I will go back to Bicol and live there. In other words, our decision to live separately whether he’s working here or abroad still remains. I told him I just can’t see my purpose here in Manila, and God is calling me to serve there in Bicol. God gave us the opportunity to stay in my hometown during the last quarter of 2022 until 2023 to find out if the provincial life is for him or not, see the situation at the farm, assess what needs to be done, and to also take care of Mom.

What 2022 And 2023 Were All About

The good thing about going back home in 2022 was that we got to see for ourselves that the farm indeed requires a lot of work and our initial plan to have a poultry farm project might have to wait. Our current challenge is the electricity installation which takes quite a long time before the application can be approved since the area is far from the town proper. Without electricity, it’ll be hard to find a farm caretaker who will live on the farm. And without a farm caretaker, we can’t start farm projects that have high-value products.

So, while waiting for the electricity to be installed, I told my husband that I would help him invest his earnings from his work abroad should he decide later on to retire early. And also, he will have a fallback because the future is very unpredictable. We don’t know if the next day there will be a WWIII and economic recession, which will most likely result in retrenchment, repatriation of overseas workers, migration issues, etc.

I’m currently studying recession-proof investment opportunities that won’t incur huge financial losses should the market demand decline given the country’s economic outlook for this year onwards. If God wills it that the investment commences according to the projected timeline, the profit will be added to his savings so he can use it to reinvest for business expansion or to try other investment vehicles. I told him this was my way of returning all the favors he did to help me when we were taking care of Mom at the hospital i.e. driving me to the hospital and back home, buying the meds while I stayed in the hospital room with Mom, massaging Mom because she chose him over me (😀), etc.

What Is It About Bicol As My Favorite Earthly Home

Why go back to Bicol if the farm projects were put on hold? God actually made me realize there are plenty of opportunities that I can explore in our community. I also have this urge to serve and give back to the community since this is our indoctrination in UP as an “Iskolar ng Bayan.” I also have plans to pursue a master’s degree again, but in agribusiness this time if God wills it. I was eyeing Bicol University Graduate School and already inquired back in 2021 if they held online classes for their MS Agribusiness course since face-to-face classes weren’t allowed back then.

Unfortunately, I still have to attend a couple of in-person classes if ever I get in and the campus is in Guinobatan, Albay. I did find another option offered by Bicol University Open University which is their Master in Management course. But, I still prefer a degree that is related to agribusiness. I just thought my siblings and I would benefit from this once we take over our family’s agribusiness. The transition has already started and my siblings and I need to learn everything double time because we don’t have any formal training/basic education in farming and agriculture. It was easy for Dad to manage farm duties because his work as a Civil Engineer at the National Irrigation Administration somehow made it possible for him to hit 2 birds with 1 stone.

Dare To Dream, Care To Serve

I was also considering going back to teaching as a faculty in college and teaching English Literature though I will be more effective in handling Writing classes. I could use my work experience since 2017 as a content writer in the digital marketing/e-commerce industry, which is one of the in-demand jobs right now. Another great opportunity that I am looking into is conducting summer writing workshops for high school and college students. I can also explore teaching opportunities in SpEd (Special Education). If God wills it, I also plan to pursue a doctorate degree much later on in life if it is still necessary.

It is also my dream to work in the public office and be part of the marketing/public relations division. I am also contemplating if it’ll be better if I become a public school teacher instead and help train young minds to create a resilient future. I studied in public schools my entire student life from grade school until grad school, and I observed that there is still more that can be done with our current educational systems. But if I will be a teacher in high school or grade school, I will need to renew my professional license and take CPD units for teachers.

Always Searching For God’s Will In Everything

Yes, the opportunities are endless. And yet it all boils down to knowing what we really want, and if what we want is also aligned to what God wants for us. Choosing for me is difficult because I have to carefully weigh the options considering other priorities and obligations, which will include farm duties. I am forever grateful to God though for these opportunities and yet I know these career goals and plans to pursue graduate studies can only happen given that I am 100% healthy. If not, working from home is the only choice I have.

So, I decided it would be best to rent a place in Sorsogon City and stay there from Friday until Monday because I will be attending Sunday church services in Victory Sorsogon. I already inquired about their Victory group/Bible study group, but unfortunately, they only meet during weekdays. So I’m praying I’ll find one that meets on Friday or Monday because from Tuesday to Thursday, I plan to be in my hometown, which is a 2-hour trip from Sorsogon City. I also plan on doing volunteer work in the church, so I have to be in the city during weekends.

Looking for a safe place to stay in Sorsogon City will be my first task when I get back to Bicol. I see it as the top priority, especially if I will need regular medical consultations, checkups, and treatments. Traveling back and forth from Bulan to Sorsogon City on a regular basis won’t be advisable. And I also don’t want to be a burden to my husband or my family because I know how emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausting it is to take care of a sick loved one.

Health Is Always Wealth, As They Say

The result of my repeated urinalysis last December actually showed that my RBC is still high even after a week of taking antibiotics, and it is still above the normal range. My second sister who’s a nurse in Norway told me I still have an infection and she’s suspecting it’s from dislodged kidney stones, and I might be asymptomatic for now. I actually have not met up yet with an internist at St. Luke’s Hospital because I don’t want to distract my husband since he is currently preparing for his exam. If I will be required to undergo further tests, it will definitely disrupt his plans. I am going back to Bicol anyway, and the doctors there might require that all of my tests should be repeated. So I thought I might as well do the tests when I’m already there.

The only other symptoms I have now are the rashes on my cheeks triggered by prolonged sun exposure when my husband and I started planting the forage plants last year. These skin flare-ups subside every time I take Coaltria, and I take this medicine daily. Coaltria was prescribed by my ENT doctor in 2022 for my severe allergic rhinitis.

I did a little bit of research and my rashes looked like a butterfly rash. I also have trigger fingers or it could be early signs of arthritis. And this led me to think that maybe I have lupus just like Kris Aquino. By the way, one thing you need to know about me is that if my Mom had white coat syndrome, I’m the opposite because I’m a hypochondriac. lol

So I did my research on lupus and found this ongoing study by Yale School of Medicine on how the lupus antibody can be used to treat breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Speaking of breast cancer, I am hoping Mom’s oncologist there in Bicol will be my doctor, too (Hello, Doc Leones! 😊). I hope he still has a Saturday schedule at the hospital in Sorsogon City where Mom was confined. He already knows our breast cancer history so maybe it might help in studying my case. I also would like to ask him about BRCA 1/2 gene mutation testing and know what my options are to reduce the risks of getting breast cancer if I don’t have it yet. My doctor will most probably say, “Christine, we have a lot of work to do because you’ve been delaying your medical checkup for a long time.” Well Doc, I guess Science can never come up with a cure for stubbornness. lol But of course, my answer will be something like this: “I’ve been preparing for it, Doc. Let’s get started, it’s about time.“

Seeing Problems Differently

I actually have a different approach when looking at problems. This is maybe the result of training myself over the years to always look at things from a different perspective and to go beyond what exactly is presented in front of you more like looking for the good in every bad situation. Or person even. So let’s say my doctor tells me I need to go through chemotherapy. Instead of looking negatively at the side effects of chemo, I’m going to see going bald, for instance, as an opportunity to try different hairstyles through wigs. I also get to try new hair colors because my hair is resistant to any type of hair dye.

So before my chemo session starts, I will already shave my head and start using a wig. I won’t wait until my hair starts falling off one by one because it will only trigger anxiety and depression. I already witnessed it with Mom. I just did not tell her because she loved it every time I combed her hair. I told her instead that the “Donya” hair bun I made for her looked really good on her. 😊 I also want to test if it’s uncomfortable to wear a wig for a long time, especially during hot and humid days.

If my doctor also tells me that it is best if I undergo a double mastectomy/lumpectomy like what my grandmother had (she lived up to 93 years old and Mom had a unilateral mastectomy in the 1990s before her breast cancer recurred), I am also going to look at it as an opportunity to maybe have my “dream breasts” should I opt to have breast reconstruction surgery later on. I call them “dream breasts” because they look like the ones that some actresses have which don’t move to the sides when lying down. 😁✌️

If I still have extra funds and my health is back to normal, I would like to use these funds to sponsor a child battling cancer who lacks the finances to get all the treatments.

God Does Things His Way Though We Can Also Have Prayer Requests

Right now, I’m actually in the process of bargaining with God that I’ll do anything He asks even if I sacrifice a lot of things but in return, He keeps me healthy because I still have a lot of things that I want to do and accomplish not only for me but for other people, too, such as the hospice facility.

The plan actually was originally intended for me and my siblings when we grow old because my eldest sister is the only one among us who has kids. I am targeting that the hospice facility will be completed once we’re in our late 60s if God wills it we reach this age. That will be 30 to 40 years from now. Maybe by then, a hospice facility will be feasible enough. If not, then my proposition is that we will use the project site for our retirement homes instead.

We are a family of planners. However, we are also well aware that plans change. I also look like I have already planned out everything and yet believe me when I say that these are the times when I just don’t have everything figured out.

I actually shared with one of my spiritual moms in church (Hi, Tita Lulu! 🥰) last year that I plan to use the remaining months of 2023 and the first few months of 2024 to sort out my life. She answered me with the best response, “Anak, hindi ikaw ang magaayos ng life mo kundi ang Dios. Hayaan mo Sya. Let go of the need to control everything, and let God take control.”

What Are We Leaving Behind That Will Not Be Forgotten

So why share all of these with the world? I know the world has this rule to not share your plans, but share the accomplishments and what you have achieved so far. We live in a result-oriented world where success is measured by achievements and accolades. The Bible also has a similar reminder to not say that you plan to put up a business in a particular place and make a profit from it. But the Bible also mentioned that we can actually say so but in a way that God will still have the final say on how our plans will turn out (James 4:13-17).

I just want to add that our intentions for sharing are what we should actually look into because I believe not everything we share is about boasting. Personally, I intend to share my life’s journey whether I fail or succeed in my endeavors. I’m a divergent and I don’t conform to the patterns of this world so my definition of success is different from the world’s definition of it. It is also not my purpose to make this blog a bragging wall. I believe that the process itself is as important as the result. My readers can learn from my experience and avoid making the same mistakes I did.

This is why I called my blog “The Journeyman’s Moments.” I am an apprentice, a student of life. The journey matters to me more. This blog is the legacy I want to leave behind as long as the IoT is here to stay. Because I don’t know if I will still be here tomorrow, next week, next month, or in the years to come. I hope that all the experiences I shared here will offer ideas and insights to whoever will stumble upon this blog in the future.

Thus, I am embracing and once again sharing this new journey with an open mind, a brave heart, and a grateful soul. And yet more importantly, I ask, “What else do You have in store for me in this new season, Lord, that You want me to share with the world?” 🙏

P.S. This is a very long read because I might not be able to share some updates once these plans start rolling, and I become extremely busy. But, I promise to find the time to share every twist and turn of my life’s journey. I also want to write a poem or two for you all because well, “love month” is here. Share the love, as they say. But I say, share it every day. ❤️😉

P.P.S. Stay tuned if the plans I listed above panned out as expected or if God has a different plan like 100% totally different. 😀

Home Cooking Made Even Better

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Home cooking is now easier with all the high-tech kitchen appliances and cooking equipment available in the market. Whether you know how to cook or not, prepping a dish has never been this easy, quick, and fun made possible by these innovations designed to make anyone’s cooking experience more enjoyable.

One of my particular favorites is the Turbo Broiler. You can whip up any recipe you like may it be roasted chicken or choco brownie using this kitchen appliance. Yes, that’s basically from viands to desserts.

How different is it from traditional ovens? I think they are the same as far as functionalities are concerned. But, Turbo Broilers are easier to clean and if you live in a condo, it’s a definite must-have because they don’t occupy too much space when using or storing it.

Actually, the truth of the matter is that I am posting this because I miss eating uga/tuyo/dried fish because I can’t cook it here in the condo. lol It’s my second favorite food next to LIGO sardines. Yum!

I love cooking for my loved ones. I just don’t want them to blame me when they gain weight. 😅 And I must say, all thanks to my family for being the best cooking mentors. They are not easy to please though when it comes to home cooked food.

My parents, most especially, require a particular cut, variety, and texture when selecting and preparing ingredients. My Dad also prefers bland meals, while Mom’s on the salty side. So you can imagine how challenging it was before for me to come up with one dish that will satisfy both of them. lol

But, without a challenge, we won’t become excellent in what we do. And with practice, patience, and passion, I must say that somehow I finally met their expectations. However, there are some dishes that I still can’t get quite right according to their preferences.

My own version of Pancit Bato.

Do check out some of my home cooked meals in the video below, and don’t hesitate to comment or message me if you want to know the recipe for a particular dish. I’ll be more than glad to send it over to you. ❤️

This is best watched in full-screen mode on YouTube. 🙂

P.S. My favorite website for Pinoy food recipes is Panlasang Pinoy. Though I tweak some of the recipes a bit to suit my palate. 👍👍

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:25-34

It’s Not Always Fun Being An Introvert But I Love Being One

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Yes, it sure is not fun (sometimes) being an introvert. But the video below sure is funny.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/281316604340173?s=yWDuG2&fs=e&mibextid=Nif5oz

Yep, this is so 100% me. I guess this is why my parents chose to have glass doors installed on the front balcony. The setup was so perfect for me.

When our dogs start barking, that means there are visitors approaching. What I would do next is take a peek through the glass doors just to confirm and if my hunches are correct, off I go scampering to the bedroom. 😅

And sometimes I go to the bathroom and take a bath even if I just finished taking a bath just to avoid saying “Hi.” lol I know. You’re dealing with a real-deal introvert here. And you guessed that right, too. I’m so good at playing hide-and-seek especially if I don’t want to be found. All the rest have come out, I’m still hiding until they all go home. 😂

And parties are a nightmare for me. Like how do I look at people staring back at me and watching every awkward facial expression I make when I talk? When I’m expected to act all prim and proper, I just have this uncontrollable habit of acting the opposite that’s more in an obnoxious way. And I make all these weird responses, too, so I decided to just zip thy lips and “dili na lang ako mag-talk, beh.” 😆

I hope this article made you laugh one way or the other. I am currently working on a whole lot of serious stuff for major transitions when I get back to Bicol, so, this is actually my way of clearing my mind off. 😉

Stay blessed, stay joyful, and stay hopeful, my loves. God loves you, never forget that. And be grateful always. ❤️

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22

P.S. If you ever meet me at a party or an event where I’m required to attend and I look so serious and intimidating, please don’t be fooled. I am actually lost in my thoughts thinking of an escape plan to get out of the crowd fast. I attend parties and events for one reason only – food. ✌️😅

When God Answers Differently

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I saw this photo on Facebook, and I felt like it is worth sharing here. It reminded me how often God answers our requests and prayers differently. But always, He gives an answer. 🙏🙂

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“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” – James‬ ‭5:7‭-‬8‬ ‭ESV‬

Counting The Days

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Have you ever had those moments when you’re counting the days towards that one dreaded moment? It’s as if each day after the other doesn’t get any better. And you just want to fast-forward everything so you can get it over and done with. How do you make these days more tolerable?

I was thinking of these questions while walking on one of the streets of the condominium compound. The street is beside a school and when I passed by, I heard some students singing “I love Math, I love Math.” And I thought, “Well, good for you because I hate it.” 😅

And if my grade-schooler me is in that class, I’d most probably be singing that song with a poker face. lol I really don’t hate Math. Let’s just say I never got the proper training, thus, learning it was a negative experience for me while growing up. But given the right mentor and ample time to relearn every mathematical formula out there, I’d be happy to do it. Any patient Math teacher out there? Don’t worry, my “Platypus pose” days are over so you’ll be dealing with a 100% mature adult. No tantrums – that I can assure you. 😃

But yes, sometimes I wish I didn’t know how to count so I wouldn’t notice how the days are passing by up to that dreaded moment. So what is that one dreaded moment I’m talking about? It’s none other than my husband’s departure going to abroad.

It is this season wherein I have a lot of “why” questions. Like why is God taking away my husband during a season when I needed him most and I need him beside me. Why take him away from me when I just lost my Mom? Why take him away when the world is going crazy and the effects of climate change, the Big One, wars, and new pandemics such as Disease X can break out any minute in all parts of the world?

There came a point when I asked God if I could go and live with my husband in the Middle East this year or wherever in the world that God would call my husband to serve after his job contract ends. Because I want to insist that I have to be beside him always. And yet, the answer was “no.” The calling for me to stay here is greater.

If I push through with what I want using willpower, I know I can find a way to make it happen. But it will be met with unfavorable circumstances and attaining the goal will be very difficult. It’s like me going against the grain because it is not what God wanted for me.

And then there are the “what if” questions that are always included in these moments of contemplation/bargaining with God. One example is what if he got into an accident while he was there and died without me beside him. Or what if I was the one who got so sick and died while he was gone? Also, what will happen to our romantic life as a married couple? What if this is goodbye forever? And what if we can’t resolve our marital issues while being in a long-distance relationship? And a whole lot more of “what ifs.”

I know only God can answer these questions. But His assurance is always available through His Word such as the ones I listed below.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

Indeed, who am I to question God’s plans? And instead of thinking that this agony from waiting is unbearable, I have to convince myself over and over again that this is for our own good. Instead of thinking about the “why” and “what if,” I’m thinking about the good opportunities being offered through this experience such as what we could possibly gain from this and how we can possibly grow as an individual and a couple during this season.

I think man’s instincts automatically shift by default to survival mode during a separation. It is part of our defense mechanism maybe as far as self-preservation is concerned. And yet no amount of survival instincts can prepare even those who profess as self-made individuals and do not feel the need to have God in their lives.

When God wills it to happen, it’ll happen and nobody can stop it. Our best response in times like this is to let go and always let God take control. It’s as if God was telling me “Tin, why are you so worried about the future? Instead of counting the days, make the remaining days count by creating good memories with your husband while he is still here. Because these are the memories that you get to cherish forever whatever happens in the future.”

P.S. I am not afraid of being alone, by the way. Because as an introvert, I actually love solitude. Being independent comes naturally to me and it sometimes becomes my weakness. I am just the type of person who doesn’t head towards the fire exit when what you and I have built together is being engulfed by flames. I will stand in the fire with you and beside you. ❤️

BAILANDO (By Enrique Iglesias) Dance Workout

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I wanted to break in a pair of high-heeled shoes last weekend and also to burn some calories because I gain weight fast every time I’m here in Manila. I searched YouTube and found Enrique Iglesias’ “Bailando” as the perfect dance song for Zumba and Salsa routines.

I can’t do the dance with a partner though because my husband loves teasing me and dances like a super energetic wriggling worm with too much flailing arms and so out of beat. lol Like seriously, I cannot focus because I am literally rolling (not dancing) on the floor laughing.

So yes, I’m going to give my husband a straitjacket (I had to correct the spelling, sorry lol 😃) next time we dance so he can learn to dance with grace, poise, and finesse.✌️

Seriously though, everything can be learned. What matters is that you’re enjoying what you’re doing. Check out the videos below for the different choreographies. Happy Friday, loves! ❤️💃

Always my favorite Latino singer. 😍
Simple Bailando couple dance.

Perfect for ladies who love twirling around. 😉
Bailando Zumba Dance Workout

P.S. Don’t forget to search for the translation of the lyrics if the song is written in a foreign language. I think you know what I mean. 👇

My Favorite Guitar Acoustic Covers

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I’m currently working on a couple of projects, and I got inspired even more when Spotify played my favorite guitar acoustic covers. 🥰 I will fall in love over and over again with these renditions. Oh, my heart. ❤️ I can’t wait to play these songs again on my guitar when I get back to Bicol. 😍

Singer: Kina Grannis
Singers: Music Travel Love feat. Bugoy Drilon

47 RONIN

Kai : “I will search for you through a thousand worlds and ten thousand lifetimes until I find you.”

Mika : “I will wait for you in all of them.“

❤️❤️❤️

Frugality And A Legacy Of Generosity

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Just one more article before I hibernate here. I thought I should write this in case my recent blog posts gave you the impression that I was born rich. 😀 I’d like to change that assumption by saying that it’s actually the opposite. I grew up in a family that emphasizes frugality and the wise use of money above everything else. Next to it is generosity, which is actually the family legacy started by my great-grandparents. I am writing this post to honor them. ❤️

Photo: Eugenia Bertumen & Rev. Julian Bertumen | Sketch: Rev. Julian Bertumen
My late grandma’s accounting of farm expenses back in the 1980s, which is what I’m doing now. But Dad will be the last generation who will be doing this because our generation will be using Microsoft Excel. It’s way easier. 😅

My great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents possessed properties by inheritance and purchased some but shared a decent portion of the harvest from everything that grows there with neighbors and friends. I am praying my siblings and I will be able to pass this legacy to the next generation because this, I believe, is the main purpose that God has given us these lands.

My great grandfather, Reverend Julian Bertumen, or Lolo Daddy as we call him, was born in Bacacay, Albay. He was a Freemason or a member of the Freemasonry before he became a Reverend of the Protestant church. His involvement in the church started in Albay before he transferred to Bulan, my hometown.

Rev. Julian Bertumen

More about Freemasonry:

1. 7 Things You May Not Know About Freemasons

2. Secret society? Meet the Freemasons, men excommunicated by Catholic popes

Together with my great-grandmother, Eugenia Bertumen or Mamay Gurang, they were able to possess properties not because they earned so much money from their work, but because they lived frugal lives. This was passed on to my grandmother and then to my Mom. I remembered how our late grandma had this set of clothes that she always wore going to church.

Left Photo: Eugenia Bertumen & Rev. Julian Bertumen

Both she and my grandpa only had the basic things needed at home. They lived in a small but very homey nipa hut at the farm. I spent a lot of time with them when I was a toddler every time my parents couldn’t find a babysitter.

A page from my grandma’s journal.
I believe my grandma also prayed the way I am praying now that future generations will rekindle that deep connection with nature.
A family that is called to be farmers and caretakers of the land one generation after the other. 🙏

My grandma had a very warm personality. She greeted people with her beautiful smile. I think I got most of my grandma’s genes because I discovered from her old belongings that she and I are alike in a lot of things. Like this old Gospel song that I found along with old letters written by her. So now I know where my fascination for Worship songs that speak to the soul came from. 😍

I also found this old photo taken during a church event in Albay in 1940. I think our ancestral roots are closely attached to this place, and I have a strong feeling God wanted each generation of our family to be connected to Albay in one way or the other.

My Mom lived there for quite some time and so did my grandparents and great-grandparents. This must explain why I feel certain emotions when I see Mt. Mayon. Am I an old soul from Albay? 😀 Maybe I’m a reincarnation of Magayon from the folklore. 🤔 Hmm, this means I’ll be dealing with Pangaronon and Pagtuga, too? lol Ugh, enough of the romantic tragedy already. 😩

I’m definitely keeping this very precious and priceless box of memories. ❤️

Does this mean though that I am going to live in Albay, too? Or maybe one of my siblings. Now, I cannot answer because it is only God who leads me where I should go. But the perfect rainbow I saw was in Albay, too. And along with it was God’s promise that He would bring me back to this land (Genesis 28:15). There are just no coincidences in Christianity. 😉

I also have this desire to look for the relatives of my grandma’s best friend who lived in Daraga. I want to know more about her, too. Our Mama must have loved her so much because she gave her best friend the old house where my grandma and grandpa used to live before they relocated to Bulan. Ah yes, that’s how generous my grandparents were. 🥰

“The Parable of the Sower” in Bikol dialect.
1973 PBS Pamphlet

I believe my siblings and I are in this season where God is aligning us to the family’s calling, which spans from generation to generation. This also includes the people that we meet who will also play a role in what He will ask us to do in the coming years.

Found this in my grandma’s old stuff, too. It looks like I will be updating this also.

I am sensing that God is asking us to allow Him to realign us with His calling and purpose for our lives. This might involve drastic changes and sacrifices, but we must take comfort in the fact that the things that we can no longer control and what God allows to happen are for our own good.

I believe that this year will be all about renewed purposes for most of us. This year is about seeking His will more than anything. Thus, it is my prayer that more brave souls will surrender to and accept Jesus as their Savior, so they can also see the glory that God is about to bring to His kingdom. 🙏

“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” – 1 Timothy 6:6-10

“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good.

They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.” – 1 Timothy 6:17-19