The musings of a wandergeselle about faith, literature, music, dancing, culture, food, travels, art, fashion, photography, life experiences, and everything in-between from journée to journée.
One dear friend of mine once told me that the meaning of success is relative. For me, this is what success looks like. 🙂
“WHAT IS SUCCESS?”
by: Ralph Waldo Emerson
To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To give of one’s self; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived – This is to have succeeded.
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” – 1 Timothy 6:17-19
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” – 1 Timothy 6:6-10
My recent consultation with my ob-gynecologist (she’s my 3rd doctor already for this year) somehow pacified the hypochondriac in me. 😃 I was advised to retake some of the lab tests after 3 months – no treatment needed (thank You, Lord). I just have to do some diet and lifestyle modifications. It looks like the prayer for complete healing in Jesus’ Name still continues. 🙏
Right now, I’m starting to continue what was listed in my plans. I just have to pace the tasks well since my health will be my top priority. Baka kasi agawan ko din ng trabaho ang househelp namin. lol 😅 We are extremely grateful for having her though because she’s such a tremendous help here at home.
One of the pending tasks is to increase bamboo production inside the farm. This is all we can do right now – plant trees that require less maintenance. We are still waiting for God’s perfect time to have the electricity (as per the community’s demand) and water pump installed, so we can hire a farm caretaker who can help us oversee our farm projects.
I’m praying we will be able to preserve what is left of nature.
My siblings and I are still learning how to identify the different varieties of bamboos that grow on our farm.
My grandpa planted these bamboos some decades ago to protect the riverbanks from soil erosion. I think this is what communities situated near riverbanks should do now in preparation for the upcoming La Niña. Even if portions of the riverbanks were already rehabilitated by the National Irrigation Administration, bamboos planted near the riverbanks can still help keep the soil from being washed off during flash floods.
The creek beside the farm.
This huge cluster of bamboos is the perfect snakes’ den.
We want to increase these bamboo clustersbecause our ultimate goal is to grow a bamboo forest.
Bamboos are also excellent windbreaks during strong typhoons. If we already have a farm caretaker, I plan to grow the giant bamboo. I already contacted the nursery that will supply the seedlings. However, the weather is still too hot it will be better to delay planting them until the rainy season, and I still have to study how to grow this bamboo variety.
What we need during heat waves and strong typhoons – plant more trees.
Most of my proposed farm projects aren’t merely for the purpose of earning profit. It is more about us being good stewards of the land that God has entrusted to us – preserving nature in its original state when we first saw it and hopefully, keeping it as it is when we leave this world. I told my siblings that a decade from now, our farm will be the only farm remaining near the town proper as urbanization continues to ramp up in the area.
Kaya sana mapagpatuloy ng mga susunod na generations ang nasimulan din namin at ng mga lolo at lola. I only have 2 pamangkins, who are geniuses, by the way. They have God-given superior IQs, and they’re supposed to be accelerated when they were in grade school (UPIS). But, my sister decided not to push through with it. Hopefully, I can give them a cousin who’s also a genius, so they can rule the world – I mean, manage the farm well. 😃 But this is not for us to know, and all we can do right now is to do what God will ask us to do.
If God wills it we profit from a particular farm project, then we consider it as a bonus only. We still need to spend money for the upkeep and maintenance of the farm and to regulate how the natural resources are being utilized.
By the way, if you see me on the farm, please don’t assume that I have a gender identity crisis. 😆 I am 100% a woman, but the survivor in me is activated every time I am on the farm, so I tend to be very “manly” on-site. Don’t be intimidated if you’re a man. 😉
Ang aga ng call time ni Dad sa bukid, and I’m not an early riser because my creative hours fall between 10 pm – 3 am. So, this explains my puffy morning face. 😄
My preferred summer farm attire – bright pink feet para kita agad ng ahas sa malayo. At syempre, breast cancer advocate tayo.
Yo snakey, you forgot to put your clothes back on.
This footwear is a must during the rainy season. Who says you can’t be a fashionista at the farm? Yes, choose colorful polka dots. That is if you’re also a unicorn like me.
Here’s your regular dose of chubby cheeks from yours truly as proof na babae po talaga ako. 😅 This was taken after our errand at Sorsogon City yesterday.
I might hibernate on WordPress for a while so I can strategize my next move such as considering whether I work as a freelancer again or go full time as a remote worker while farm projects are still in the early stages of development. I already have a long list of tasks including my other advocacies. I’m just praying for God’s leading which of them should come first now. 🙏
P.S. I’ve been avoiding this part of the house because this used to be Mom’s turf – the TV room. But for this month, I plan to watch Netflix here again and reminisce memories of her to celebrate Mother’s Day this year – the first without her. ♥️
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” – James 1:2-4
It’s good to be back home – home is indeed where the heart is. Because I left my heart in Sorsogon. 😉🥰
What I love about being here in my hometown is that I only need to travel for 5 minutes if I need a seascape breather and another 5 minutes if I need a nature break at the farm – just the best of both worlds. Bulan also has one of the best sunsets. ♥️Bulan’s version of the Spanish Armada. 😃
I rested for a couple of days after I got home because traveling for 18 hours by land (got stuck in traffic in Manila & in Ragay, Cam Sur) can be physically tiring. Though I must say God is always full of surprises. DLTB’s newest lazyboy bus is called Stallion Express.
When I booked my bus ticket online, I can’t help but laugh. The Stallion Express is just so fitting because my surname is “Ginete,” which is pronounced as “hinete.” “Hinete” is the Spanish term for horse jockey. So as a horse jockey, I rode a stallion (w/ wheels) going home. lol 😅
DLTB’s Sorsogon Bound Stallion ExpressInaantay ko nga na sana magkaroon ng Unicorn Express kaso baka byaheng langit naman sya. lolPhoto Credit: Sorsogon 101 Facebook Page
The entire trip was very comfortable though. The Stallion Express did not fall short as far as convenience and comfort are concerned. I love this bus because I have the option to choose the single seat allowing me to sleep comfortably because I don’t have a seatmate.
Photo Credit: Sorsogon 101 Facebook Page
The comfort room inside the bus is also clean though I used it only once because I’m claustrophobic. So I still use the public toilets during stopovers. The seats can also be reclined in full, and the leg rest is just perfect for short people like me.
I haven’t tried using the toilet while the bus is moving. Photo Credit: Sorsogon 101 Facebook Page
So, why take the bus and not the plane going home? It’s because I don’t travel light every time I go home. 😃 If I take the plane, I will still have to take the bus from Legazpi City to Bulan and that would be another 3-hour trip. Transferring my heavy bags will be too much of a hassle.
I took the shuttle from Sorsogon City going to our hometown. But the trip was shorter, and the shuttle terminal is also at SITEX where I got off coming from Manila.
The time to rest was mandatory – my infection albeit mild constantly serves as a reminder to me to be more mindful of how I spend my day and what I eat. I would’ve gone back to my multitasking unicorn self after I got back if I was 100% healthy.
I also got the result of my urine culture and sensitivity test from St. Luke’s BGC. I am thankful the result showed no growth, which means no bacteria was found in my urine sample. But it also means something else is causing the infection and the mild inflammation somewhere in my abdomen.
Praise God for tele consultations, it’s now easier to schedule an appointment with a doctor. I am using the Now Serving app because they have more specialists compared with KonsultaMD. I have no symptoms so tele consultations are more suited for cases like mine or those who want their lab tests interpreted.
I am praying my ob-gyn tomorrow will be able to identify the cause of my hematuria and come up with the right treatment to clear the infection. 🙏 These are the moments wherein God reminds me to be intentional in everything that I do or say keeping in mind the brevity of life.
It’s as if every hour that I spend should be meaningful. I now appreciate moments spent with my Dad and my siblings even more making sure I’m creating more happy memories with them than bad ones. This season is teaching me to slow down and appreciate the mundane and simple things in life – those that truly matter when you start recalling your past.
At dahil naalog ang utak ko sa byahe, mag-Filipino naman tayo dahil hindi pa kaya ng brain cells ko mag-straight English. lol May mga pagkakataon na tinatanong ko si Lord if it is necessary I share what I am going through. And His answer was, “yes.” I had to share my journey at baka makatulong din sa iba na similar ang pinagdadaanan and makapagbigay ng karagdagang impormasyon na mapapakinabangan nila later on.
Itong season ng pagaantay na ma-clear itong infection gives me the opportunity na mag-realign ng mga plano. Adjustment period ulit pero ang priority na ay ang health.
At malaking factor sa healing ang positive outlook and sunny disposition sa buhay aside sa faith. So what makes me happy? Isa sa mga nagpapasaya sa akin dito sa bahay ay ang mga alaga naming mga muning, which are all rescued cats, by the way. 🙂
Me to Tippy: “Uhm Ma’am, closing time na po kami. Ang viewing time po namin ay from 8am – 5pm lang po.” 😆Polly: “Mum! Stop being a catto paparazzi. It’s so annoying.” 😅When sleep is L-I-F-E-R.
Mga prabens cats hindi marunong gumamit ng scratch tower. 😆 Thanks, Kuya and Heather, for this pretty pasalubong! ♥️Ang overweight Meowmy ang kinapoy makipaglaro. lol
And as always, music heals the soul. I was browsing the internet para sa mga acoustic covers at na-discover ko na meron palang musical instrument na guitalele. It’s a ukelele that has 8 strings like a guitar. Curious ako sa sound nya and how it’s played. This might be next on my list of musical instruments na ita-try ko. 👍
Then I stumbled upon this duet cover of Michael Buble’s Everything na tinugtog ko din kahapon sa gitara. I fell in love with this song a couple of years ago pero cover lang din ang una kong napakinggan by Joseph Vincent and Alexa Yoshimoto. Nalaman ko later on na lang na Michael Buble originally sang it pala. Huli lagi sa balita ang mga divergents and nonconformists kasi hindi mahilig sumunod sa uso. 😆
The best duet cover of “Everything” for me.
When God reminds us to rest, we rest. Every second is just too precious. Let’s enjoy life while we can – live with purpose and make good memories. And keep the good fight of faith always. ♥️🙏
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” – Acts 20:24
The Journeyman's Moments 