“What sorrow awaits you who are rich, for you have your only happiness now.
What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger awaits you.
What sorrow awaits you who laugh now, for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow.
What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised false prophets.”
– Luke 6:23-26, NLT
Isusulat ko na ito sa Filipino dahil hindi ko na alam ano ba dapat kong maramdaman. Dapat ba akong matawa, malungkot, o kabahan sa mga bagong kaganapan ng bagyong Kristine na matinding pinsala na ang iniwan sa Bicol at ngayon ay hinahabol ni Leon na panibagong bagyo na inaasahang papasok ng Pinas ngayong Linggo. Dahil kay Leon ay mahahatak nya si Kristine at babalik ito sa Pilipinas. Magsasanib pwersa ba sila?
Hindi ko alam kung mga bagyo pa ba ito o love story na ba ang nasasaksihan natin. Marami na akong memes na nakita sa Fb na ginawan nila ito ng joke. Na si Kristine daw ay nagtampo kaya naghasik ng lagim sa Bicol bago umalis. Ngayon, hinabol sya ni Leon at mukhang sinuyo kaya babalik sya ng Pinas para magkasama silang dalawa.
Paparusahan mo ba kami ulit, Kristine? Ano ba kasi naging kasalanan ni Leon saiyo? Pwede ba huwag na kayo sa Bicol mag-LQ at doon na lang sa malayo? Mag-cruise ship na lang kayo dyan sa dagat, please? Doon na lang sana nyo ayusin ang inyong ‘di pagkakaunawaan.
Alam naming mahal na mahal nyo ang isa’t isa at hindi nyo kayang mawalay sa isa’t isa. Pero sana magmahalan kayo ng walang ibang masasaktan? Kalmahan nyo sana pareho. Malulusaw din ang mga poot sa puso nyo at papalitan ng umaalab na mga pusong punong-puno ng pagmamahalan sa bawat isa.
Ay shucks, baka ang Bulkang Mayon naman pumutok nito sa umaalab ninyong mga damdamin. Huwag naman sana, please. Hays, basta. Doon muna kayo sa dagat mag-ikot ikot o mag-nature tripping kayo sa mga walang katao-tao, at nang makapagnilay-nilay sa inyong mga nararamdaman sa isa’t isa.
Nagmamahal,
Ang Tunay Na Christine
P.S. Maghanda na po tayo ulit sa posibleng pagsanib pwersa ng dalawang bagyong ito sa susunod na linggo. Manalangin tayo, maghanda, at manalig sa Dios na hindi Nya tayo pababayaan hangga’t ginawa natin ano ang mga dapat nating gawin. Sa mga bagay na hindi na natin kontrolado, ipaubaya na natin ito sa Panginoon. 🙏
P.P.S. Nararamdaman ko ang pagdadalamhati ni Kristine. Pakiramdam ko hindi ito galit na nararamdaman nya kundi pagluluksa at pighati. Kaya bumaha ng luha. Parang ako lang din – nawalan ng Nanay noong nakaraang taon, nawalan ng employment opportunity dahil kay Kristine, nawalay sa asawa dahil nagtrabaho sa ibang bansa, at nasalanta ang mga ari-arian dahil sa bagyo.
Pero may isa pang tao na mas kahalintulad ko ang pinagdaanan. Ito ay si Job sa Bibliya. At mas malala pinagdaanan nya. At kagaya ni Job, hindi ko kailanman tatalikuran ang Dios gaano pa kahirap ng sitwasyon na aking pagdaanan. Pero kagaya din ni Job tatanggapin at haharapin ko itong mga pagsubok kung ito ang sukatan ng pananampalataya ko sa Panginoon. 🙏
Psalm 46:1-2
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
Psalm 91:2
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Isaiah 43:2
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Nahum 1:7
“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.”
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Nehemiah 8:10b
“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Psalm 32:7-8
“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”
Source: Care Magazine
Before I begin my actual post, I would like to use this opportunity to pray for my fellow Bicolanos who were severely affected by Tropical Storm Kristine/#KristinePH. It’s heartbreaking to see the massive and widespread destruction it caused in the entire Bicol Region that even evacuation centers were also flooded.
Please pray for us as we recover and rise from this devastating catastrophe. 🙏 If you wish to extend your help, you may send any assistance/donation through the QR codes I will be posting below whether in-kind or in cash. Any kind of help will be truly appreciated, and we will forever be grateful. ❤
I would like to thank those who have already extended their efforts to send their help – may God return this huge favor a millionfold and bless you and your family tremendously, too. We are forever grateful to you for helping us in this extremely difficult moment of loss and devastation. ❤
THERE IS HOPE, STILL
On a more positive note, this blog is turning 12 today. ❤ To God be the glory for giving me the wisdom and the time to do 12 fruitful years of consistent blogging on WordPress since October 2012. 🙏
My only prayer now is that WordPress is here to stay because I just have A LOT of memories here than in any other social media profiles I have. Let’s do a quick recap of the first 2 articles I posted here:
I was actually thinking about doing a sequel to the poem “A Dream” for my blog anniversary special article, but I don’t have any ideas what to write yet. Though I do have a title already – “A Dream Come True.”
So, what came true, Tin? That’s what you and I are about to find out. I just don’t know when I’ll be publishing it. Next year perhaps?
Hmm, only God knows. But it’s definitely going to be another poem. So, do watch out for that. Methinks it’s going to be an interesting sequel. Meanwhile, let’s cheers to more blogging years ahead, and thank you for journeying with me in this complicated and yet awesome thing called LIFE. 🥂
Today might be a mix of emotions for me while writing this, but I still chose to be GRATEFUL and HOPEFUL. God encourages us to continue moving forward through the good and the bad times. We have to keep on praying, and we have to continue trusting God that He is always in control believing that whatever God allows to happen, it is His will.
My fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, we continue the good fight of faith NO MATTER WHAT. 🙏
Praise God for A Living Hope
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” – 1 Peter 1: 3-9 (NIV)
Today’s longer article will be more like a photo journal because I’ll be sharing more photos than narrating my experiences. But the running theme will be about making a move or moving.
And it’s not just any move, it’s a bold one. One that takes you away from your comfort zone to a foreign place surrounded by strangers. One that entails a major life change more like making a fresh start.
And if it’s a bold move, then it’ll require bigger faith. Thus, your life mantra must be in big, bold letters, too, just like mine. And I meant it literally. 😉
And as a continuation of my “firsts” here in Sorsogon City, I’ll start with the first event that I attended – the Kasanggayahan Festival. Check out the calendar of events in this article to know more about the activities lined up until October 28.
The Kasanggayahan Spirit Is On
Agri-Trade, Travel, Tourism, & Food EXPO
Other Must-Try Restos And Shops In The Poblacion
Back To Home Base
Food For The Fam
Green, Green Grass Of Home
And now I’m back in the city. It’s a good thing Dad’s scheduled follow-up checkup falls on a Saturday. Hopefully, I’ll be done with work by then. 🙏
If you’re also being called by God to make a big move in your life, I hope this reminder from my women’s devotional book will give you the encouragement that you need. ♥️
“The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
I am making this blog entry to document the fruit trees/plants we have back home. This is also my way of honoring my grandparents and parents who planted all of them.
I am praying we get to preserve these trees, too, despite the challenges brought about by climate change. So the generations after us can benefit from these fruit trees as well. 🙏
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” – Genesis 1:29
There really is something about September that makes you want to wake up only when it has already ended. There’s just too much happening at the same time. Kind of chaotic, too, but in a good way. 😃
First, I had to transfer apartments, but still in the area. My sincerest gratitude to my landlords for assisting me with everything I needed though I am a total stranger.
Another good thing is that it turned out to be in my favor – the space is way bigger than my previous apartment, so I now have a designated office area. Again, just in time for online work requirements, too. Ah yes, ain’t God so awesome?
Oh, but wait, there’s more. God indeed prepared this place ahead of time for His purpose. My Dad had a health concern that prompted him to visit a doctor in our hometown and was advised to undergo several lab tests and see a specialist here in the city. He was able to rest in the apartment along with my sister in-between the tests and consultations. Then, he’ll be coming back for his follow-up checkup on the 26th.
Although the diagnosis wasn’t good, I trust God that He has already prepared what we will be needing. The apartment is also just one ride away from Sorsogon Provincial Hospital and nearby hospitals. I am now actually getting more comfortable with hospital visits, I might consider living in a hospital next. Who’s with me? Anyone?
Be careful with what you wish for, Tin, or you might actually get it. 😅
And then a post from Bayanihan Knitted Knockers Philippines popped up in my Facebook newsfeed out of the blue. Ah yes, it was God’s reminder of one of the reasons why He brought me here to Sorsogon City along with the other advocacies/endeavors that He has placed in my heart. I know that it is not a coincidence that He reminded me of it during this month, which happens to be the Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
No, Lord, I haven’t forgotten at all.
And I am continuously working on them, although I think God has worked these plans out already. It’s just a matter of obeying Him when He finally instructs to execute these plans according to His perfect time. 🙏
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28
P.S. This is not related to the article, but I find it too cute not to share here. Below is the link to a video of an adorable little girl, and her cuteness overload will surely warm your heart. Gah, why so pretttttyyyyy, baby girl? Paglilihian kita. 🥰♥️😍
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/zh11Un1HeysFtPb7/
P.P.S. The Kasanggayahan Festival is also starting on October 14. It’s going to be my first time attending this event, and I am just so happy that the apartment is just a block away from the Sorsogon Capitol grounds where most of the city’s special events are being held. ❤
The Journeyman's Moments 