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.
If there is one thing I appreciate about conflicts, it is that they oftentimes expose a part of ourselves that requires improvement, other than solving the issue at hand. It is as if God is using these conflicts so we can talk about Him more and refine ourselves in the process.
Conflicts and confrontations are a part of our lives, whether we’re at home, at work, in school, or anywhere else where we have to deal with different kinds of people. And while conflicts sometimes don’t get resolved the way we wanted them to be, it is my prayer that we get to uphold what Scripture says about conflict resolution:
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” – Romans 12:18
God views relationships as sacred. I believe most of what the Bible talks about is centered on how to live with the people around us, which is reflective of His commandments.
So, when there is a debate about God, instead of us viewing it as an attack against Christianity or our faith, I think it’s best to see it as God creating an opportunity for people to know Him more. If you’ll ask, but what if the name of the Lord is being used in vain during the controversy? That is how most of us would see it.
But what if for God, it’s the other way around? What if God is using it so more “seeds” will be planted because more people are now curious as to who God really is, His nature, how He moves in people’s lives, and how He uses every person, every situation for His glory and for His kingdom. We just can’t see the bigger picture and how one controversy plays out in His much bigger plan.
Because again, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” – Isaiah 55:8
How people will receive God is not our goal. It is our only duty to share the Word of God, and how people will receive it will be between them and God. I think we can liken it to the Parable of the Sower. We are the sowers, and there will be different types of soil, and only God knows which of the seeds will grow and become fruitful.
So, this is my praise report for this week – a realization. 😀 Nothing grand, nothing highfalutin, just a simple “Eureka!” moment. And because it’s the weekend, here are some of the movies I’ve watched on Netflix that I think should make it to your “must-watch” list. Don’t worry, I won’t be making a critical analysis of the movies here.
The first movie is an adaptation of the love story of Ruth and Boaz in the Bible. We all know the story – how love started with sparks and tragedy.
And the second one is A House of Dynamite, which is about the US government’s response to a nuclear attack. The writer did a very good job in creating the storyline by presenting it in 3 different angles or POVs. And yep, no spoiler alert, as promised. 😀
Note: There are some profanities in the movie.
P.S.
I really think I left my heart in Mt. Mayon when I touched its soil during our ATV trail adventure last year. Because I keep receiving NDRRMC emergency alerts, though Bulan is 113 kms away from Daraga.
Out of curiosity, I asked my sister and Dad if they are receiving these emergency alerts, too, and they said no. Okay, so it’s just me. Why me, Mt. Mayon? 🤔
I hope I am not the reincarnation of Daragang Magayon (Christians don’t believe in reincarnation, just mentioned it for literary purposes only 😀 ). Because if I am, then most definitely I am going to change the narrative to a happy ending because I hate romantic tragedies.
Kaya puro 3 ang grades ko sa mga major subjects ko noong undergrad (I was a literature major) kasi tinutulugan ko sa klase ‘yang mga romantic tragedies. lol
But, thankfully, my reality isn’t as tragic, and I am praying it won’t be. I have faith in that. 🙏 I am also a feminist, so yes, it will be a woman warrior who wins this time.
A couple of weeks ago, I also noticed my device’s location was in Daraga and sometimes in Legazpi. That went on for a couple of weeks, though it is now set in Bulan. But I still receive the NDRRMC emergency alerts until now, which I actually appreciate because I don’t have to research Mt. Mayon’s status on a daily basis. This way I receive consistent updates, so I can include the communities near Mt. Mayon in my prayers.
Bagan sige an rimongdimong san ako kalag sa Albay. Pag-uli na baya tabi. Kaya pala lutang ako noong mga nakaraang araw. 😂
Speaking of 113, a thought just came to my mind, and I wondered if now is the right time to take L113. If you’re wondering what it is, here’s a brief overview:
I’ve had a lot of Victory Bible study group leaders, by the way, since I’ve been attending different Victory churches depending on the season I’m in and where God is calling me to be. Some of my VG leaders before were encouraging me to attend one, and I hesitated because I felt like I wasn’t qualified yet at that time.
I’ve been praying to God if this is now the perfect time to go through L113, and I plan to attend one in Victory BGC, if God wills it, when I go back to Manila. Victory Naga also offers L113, but it’s too far from our town.
Speaking of church ministry, if you’re single and connected to one, you might relate to the following memes:
Before courtship…
When you finally got her…
P.P.S.
Here’s something cat-lovin’ and fun-lovin’ to jumpstart your weekend vibe. 😉
If you haven’t followed “The Kiffness” on Facebook yet, you are missing out on extraordinary music. Check out one of his videos below:
In the article before this, I mentioned seeing the name Amos often. I realized that I’ve been a born-again Christian for 13 years, and yet I still have a lot to learn about the Bible.
One of them is about the prophet Amos. I did a little bit of digging on the internet, and this is what I’ve got:
It looks like God is calling us out to be an “Amos” in our own circles of influence. If we are experiencing the birth pains already, that means this is now the time for us to “double” the harvest. All the more that we have to be praying harder and proclaiming the Gospel without hesitation and with much conviction while dealing with and defeating our own demons.
I think it isn’t a coincidence that the word “remnant” keeps on appearing in my random Bible reading, too. I did my research again, and this is what I found:
I believe now is also the perfect time to have those hard conversations with your kids. Help them understand everything “bad” that they see on the news and on the internet, in light of the Scripture and who Jesus Christ is, what is salvation through Him, and the Second Coming. On our end, our goal is to plant the seed; it will be God who will let it grow.
Being a parent is a calling. Some parents might think that it is very difficult to be a parent nowadays. But take heart that God has equipped you with everything that you need to raise your children well, despite the uncertainties of the future and the chaos of the present.
Since we are also in a season of preparing for future calamities and other disasters, I think most of us have been forgetting one essential item in our Emergency Go Bags – a mini Bible. I almost forgot actually. 😀
This mini Bible might not be complete, but it’s better than not having any Bible at all in the Bug Out Bag, especially if we can’t use our cellphones anymore.
My late maternal grandma had a lot of Bibles in the cabinets of the room where she used to stay, which I am occupying now. I was able to sequester an old copy (even older than me) of the New Testament Bible before we cleaned up the cabinets (sorry, Mama, I badly need the space for my stuff, too; I hope you understand ❤ ).
I read in a survival manual that even if you are trained with all the right survival skills, if your willpower wanes, these skills will become useless, and you have a very slim chance of surviving alone in the wild. Yes, it’s good that we are equipped with the right survival skills and tools, but Scripture says spiritual training is even better.
“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” – 1 Timothy 4:8
Right now, I am seeing the enemy attacking what is very close to us and to our hearts – loved ones and families. And he will use our greatest weakness.
All the more that we have to make a public declaration of our faith again and again, because we just refuse to be silenced. Now is definitely not the right time to go quiet when persecution becomes louder and tougher.
Even if the enemy uses those that we value so much, we won’t turn back on our faith until it is God’s time for us to go. And our ultimate goal is for loved ones and for more families to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Nothing else matters except that. And yet, we do everything with love (a powerful reminder to me).
The Hill(2023)
I guess it isn’t a coincidence that all the recent events that took place are all pointing to the family, which also includes this movie that I stumbled upon on Netflix. I was browsing on Netflix a couple of days ago, just skimming through the one-line synopses of several movies for how many minutes already.
I couldn’t decide what to watch until I was led to this movie. This is a highly recommended movie, by the way, perfect for a family’s bonding moment over the weekend. ❤
After watching it, I had 2 questions regarding the movie:
1. Is Pastor Hill the one who is preventing God’s will from being fulfilled in Rickey’s life?
2. Or is it all part of God’s plans, sort of God’s protection and way of refining characters, so Rickey can accomplish his God-given mission?
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” – 2 Timothy 3:1-5
It looks like there is only one thing God is asking us to do, even if things around us worsen: persevere. And that we must do. Even if I lose a lot here on earth, and I am not expecting they will be restored in my lifetime either, it’s okay. Because what I have lost and will be losing here is nothing compared to what I will gain in Heaven. I pray this is the hope that you cling to every day, too. 🙂
“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
What started initially as a quick visit to the Globe Store at SM City Sorsogon ended up with me commuting via public transportation to Legazpi City and getting lost there. lol Nope, I wasn’t really lost. I know exactly where I’m going, all thanks to Google Maps. Let’s just say it’s my first time commuting to Legazpi City and exploring places there alone.
And if I sound like I’m speaking with such naivety, that’s because I led a very sheltered life while growing up here in Bicol. I only got to explore different cities when I studied in Manila during college and lived there during the latter half of my adult years until just recently when I came back to Bicol to live here for good.
It looks like God wanted me to explore Bicol this time, and He’s starting with the major cities in the region. Naga City is just too far from where I live now. But an aunt of mine (Mom’s sister) lives in Naga, so we still get to explore the city every time we visit her and her family.
By now, you are most probably wondering what really happened while I was in Legazpi City. Let’s start first with what exactly happened that prompted me to go there and stay there for the night all unplanned. For someone like me who is a planner, this was a very unconventional move and required all the courage (and guts?) in me. lol
The decision came easy though. As a risk taker, my mindset is that I have to accomplish what needs to be done. And if I need to act fast, then I will have no second thoughts about it. Equipped with my life verse (Philippians 4:13), this was how I ventured out into the streets of Legazpi City with just a small bag with me.
I only informed my husband because if I told my family, I know they wouldn’t allow it (I love you, guys 😁✌️). I was also doing the errand on my husband’s behalf. It was for his postpaid plan renewal with Globe.
We renewed it online, but it wasn’t successful. Our attempts to talk to customer service online were also unsuccessful, so I just decided to pay a visit to the Globe Store in SM City Sorsogon. But to my dismay, they already closed their branch in this mall.
So I searched the net for other Globe Stores near the area. I do found a couple of them, but they’re all in Legazpi City. I then went to SITEX, looked for a UV Express going to Legazpi City, and asked if they pass along Pacific Mall. It’s just an hour’s ride from Sorsogon City to Legazpi City, just the same as if I’m traveling to my hometown (Bulan) from Sorsogon City.
Why did I choose Pacific Mall? Because I was planning to hit two birds with one stone and make the best out of my unplanned trip to Legazpi City. First is to look for the regional office of DFA in Pacific Mall because I am already way overdue for my passport renewal. Second, I’m planning on attending one of the church services of Victory Legazpi when I’m in the city, and the church happened to be in Pacific Mall, too.
Unfortunately, when I got to Pacific Mall, I was told by the lady guard that the Globe Store already closed during the pandemic. So, I just searched for the DFA office and I was overjoyed to see that Victory Legazpi is just beside it. It was mission accomplished for me for these two objectives.
DFA and Victory Legazpi in one frame.
But as for my main objective, I still have to find a Globe Store in the city. SM Legazpi is next on my list which is just a couple of blocks away from Pacific Mall. I rode the tricycle from Pacific Mall to SM Legazpi and paid 35php for the fare (dear Albayanos, kindly advise me if I’ve been scammed lol).
When I got to SM City Legazpi, I finally found a Globe Store, and they were able to assist me with my request on behalf of my husband. Though I didn’t expect the plan renewal process to take about 4 hours. I arrived around 2 in the afternoon. By 5 pm, I already decided to search for nearby hotels where I could spend the night since I didn’t want to come back to get the phone that came with the postpaid plan.
I asked the UV Express when I boarded it en route to Legazpi what time usually is their last trip and the driver told me it’s around 7 pm. I will be a buzzer-beater if I’m going to make it to the last trip, and I don’t want to unleash my Kraken at the Globe Store so they can speed up the renewal process. lol The customer service representative who assisted me also suggested I can do other errands while waiting.
Mt. Mayon doesn’t want to be seen from SM City Legazpi’s food hall. Enough with the hiding and show yourself already. 😀
It’s a good thing I found a nearby hotel right away that fits my budget and inquired over the phone if they had an available room for that night. The receptionist informed me they still had 1 room left. The hotel is also less than 5 minutes away from SM City Legazpi.
By around 6 pm, I was done with the errand at Globe Store. I decided to just take out food for my dinner and eat it at the hotel, and buy my toiletries and clothes that I’ll be using and wearing the next day. It’s my #1 rule to never stay out late at night when in a foreign place and you’re alone.
When I got to the hotel, the only room available had 2 twin beds. It didn’t really matter as long as I had a safe and cozy place to stay for the night. The room was also clean and smelled nice.
It’s my first time to stay in a hotel alone, too. 😀Tired but happy and grateful for God’s leading, protection, and provisionas a first-time commuter in Legazpi City. 🙏I slept like a log the entire nighton both beds without rearranging them. I’ll let you try to figure out how I did that. Hint: my head’s on one bed and my feet on the other bed. lolPeace and I’m outzzzzzz.
Though I think the bathroom’s floor needed a little bit of extra cleaning, and the shower fixture is also broken. You can’t use the shower at night, too, because the water pressure is not strong enough so I requested a pail and tabo. And they gave me a pail that looks like they use it to clean their floors. 😁✌️
The bottles for the shampoo and body wash were also empty, so I requested a refill, which they did right away. They also didn’t give me toothpaste and a toothbrush upon checking in, but I didn’t bother asking because I won’t use them anyway since I already brought my own.
I do love their lounge area though. They offer free water from their hot and cold water dispenser. But if you want to drink coffee, you need to pay 20php. You can also use their WiFi for free. I also appreciate the staff for being accommodating enough to assist me with my requests. It’s a budget hotel, so I wasn’t really expecting much except for a clean and safe place to stay near the malls. Overall, I’d still give my stay at the hotel 4 stars out of 5. 👍
Lounge AreaI’m not a coffee lover because it keeps me wide awake at night.But if I have nothing much to do the next day, a cup won’t hurt.Jamaican Pattie and greens for bfast because why not. 😀You can see SM City Legazpi from the hotel. Nope, not that blue, small roof. SM can’t be that small. lol
By the way, the public transport terminal is located just beside SM City Legazpi. So if you’ll be commuting via public transportation going to and coming from Legazpi City, it’s best to find hotels within the area. When I checked out from the hotel at 11 am, I went straight to SM City Legazpi. And I found out that that day, November 13, was also the first day of screening for the movie “Hello, Love, Again” starring Kathryn Bernardo as “Joy” and Alden Richards as “Ethan.”
Since it was still early and I didn’t want to wait at the UV Express terminal for other passengers bound for Sor Ci, I decided to watch the movie and got the 12nn slot. The queue at the ticketing booth was already a bit long when I lined up at around 11:30 am. I was expecting this to be a blockbuster movie, so I thought it’s best to watch it during a weekday and during the mall’s opening hours to avoid long queues.
The movie ran for 2 hours and ended at 2 pm. Ah yes, all I can ever say is that I am giving the movie a 10/10 rating because the storyline was excellently delivered, and the details were carefully drafted. I highly recommend it if you haven’t seen it yet.
The early birds for the highest grossing film in the history of the Philippine cinema.Here’s my tip if you feel like crying over a scene, focus on the other details of the movie except for the actors’ faces. Believe me, it works. lol
By the way, it’s also my first time to watch a movie alone, so yes, this spontaneous trip to Legazpi City was full of “firsts” for me. But the experience was truly memorable, remarkable, and definitely one for the books. It looks like God has been ticking off items on my bucket list that I never even listed down, but God knows I needed them. lol I guess, they were and are part of His plans.
Please excuse my puffy, morning face. I just need to take a photo of this bright, yellowbathroomsink because it goes well with my blue outfit. 😀
Legazpi City is on its way to building more healthcare facilities, which means being able to cater and offer extended healthcare services to more Bicolanos. Sorsogon City also has its very first Cancer Treatment Center. The development of these projects is currently ongoing. And I have a strong feeling this advocacy that God has called me to take part in has something to do with them. But while waiting for these projects to be completed, God is allowing me to get to know the community first. And get to know them really well.
I believe it isn’t a coincidence that I was called to live here in Sorsogon City, which is in-between Bulan and Legazpi City. All these three places will play key roles in God’s plans for the local communities in the coming years. Ah yes, sometimes God’s plans can be too overwhelming to decode. And yet it is not our purpose to know His plans, but it is His will for us to act on the tasks that He asked us to do. Even if it means going on an unplanned and spontaneous trip to a foreign city all by yourself. 😀
And because the spontaneity in Legazpi City was a positive experience for me, though I also feel it was God’s calling, I plan on doing a staycation in the city on my birthday this year. But this time, it’s planned. And this will also be the first time that I’ll be celebrating my birthday alone (I am spending the holidays with my family).
Next year, I am hoping to celebrate my birthday with patients who can’t be with their families during the holidays just to help spread the holiday cheer. So, I am currently on the lookout for opportunities that will allow me to do this. I guess this is the calling of being born three days ahead of Jesus Christ. 😉
I still have a lot of places to explore in Legazpi City, and I might plan a solo backpacking trip to tourist sites in the area some other time. I still have to pray about the idea of solo backpacking though because my first concern is my safety. I also don’t want my husband and my family to worry.
And speaking of prayer, oftentimes, it is the Spirit who urges us to go someplace else and somewhere far, so we can be alone and pray in peace. Jesus did this several times in the Bible, and sometimes He’s gone for several days. It looks like this is the perfect way to end this year and before I get busy with the holiday celebrations – a deeper contemplation on what was and what will be and yet still be grounded with the present on what God wants me to do now.
How do you plan on spending this year’s holiday season? I hope and pray that you still have time to do some quiet reflection amidst the busy holiday preparations, parties, and gatherings and get to contemplate God’s calling and purpose for you and your family next year and the years to come. He is the reason for the season, anyway. 🙏
“Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” – Jeremiah 29:7
P.S. I guess it isn’t a coincidence that the land that God has brought me in this season is called “The Land of Kasanggayahan” or “The Land of Prosperity.” 🙂
Napanood nyo ba ang My Sassy Girl (Filipino Version) starring Toni Gonzaga and Pepe Herrera? I think okay naman siguro mag-share na ako dito ng movie review kasi alam naman nating lahat ang istorya. Kung hindi mo pa napanood ang My Sassy Girl na original version, magandang panoorin mo muna sya like now na at balik ka na lang dito sa blog. 🙂
My Sassy Girl (Noypi Version)
Kung ikukumpara ko ang dalawa, maganda ang naging remake nila ng My Sassy Girl na unang ipinalabas noong 2001 starring Jun Ji-hyun at Cha Tae-hyun. Wala silang binago sa scenes at sa istorya and I must commend Toni and Pepe for doing a fantastic job sa pagganap ng mga roles nila bilang Junjee at Sheena.
Athough noong una kong nakita si Pepe sabi ko parang ‘di sya bagay na gumanap as Junjee. Pero habang tumatagal ang movie, wala akong ibang masabi kundi napanindigan nya ang role. Saktong sakto sa character ni Gyeon-woo doon sa original version ng movie.
“You know what fate is? It is building a bridge of chance for someone you love.”
Ah yes, ito ang pinakapaborito kong scene sa original movie. 😎
Nagkita, hindi naging sila. Nagkita muli, naging sila na. Ang saya saya.
Ang My Sassy Girl ang pinakauna kong Korean movie na love story na sobrang nagustuhan ko at hanggang ngayon ay masasabi kong nothing compares. At dahil faney na faney ako ni Jun Ji-hyun at tawag din sa akin ng mga kaibigan ko noong high school ay “Ms. Koreana,” naisipan ko na what if gumawa din ako ng sarili kong version?
Ang naisip kong title ay “My Sisa Girl” (The Baliw-Baliwan Version). Syempre ang main character ay si Sisa. At ganito ang storyline nya. Dahil baliw sya ay hinanap nya ang mga anak nyang sina Crispin at Basilio (please review your Noli Me Tangere).
Only to realize later on na hindi pala sya nagbuntis kahit kailan. Parang ako lang talaga. Tapos ayun na, end of the story. Target ko ‘yung super short film lang. ‘Yung tipo ng pelikula na sa bungad ng film ipapalabas agad ang after-credits followed by the closing credits. Pagkatapos ng closing credits, tapos na din ang pelikula.
Malay natin masama sya sa Guinness World Records bilang “Shortest Film Ever Made.” Pero syempre hindi kayo maniniwala na magiging totoo ito. Hindi ko na rin kayo pipilitin na maniwala.
Pero huwag ka ring masyadong tumawa. Discreet lang tayo, beh. Sikuhin kita dyan, ih. 😃 Pero syempre masarap talaga sa pakiramdam ang laging tumatawa kaya panatilihing laging nakatawa at tumatawa kahit hindi nakakatawa. Panindigan natin ang baliw-baliwan version. ✌️
Yours truly,
Sisa Girl
Hindi po ako kolehiyala, 38-year old Platypus lookalike lang po ako. Pls. don’t forget to say “hi” sa pimple ko.
P.S. Baka alisin ko din itong post na ito dahil panigurado ang credibility ng blog na ito ay bubulusok from 90% (kunyari) to 10% na lang dahil sa post na ito. Pero sana makabawi pa din sa originality. Parang criteria for judging lang. Miss World ‘yan, Tin? 😅
Found this movie by chance, too, over YouTube the day before yesterday. 🙂 And I am not going to make any spoilers (if you haven’t seen it yet), but just wait for the scene that if you can caption it, it’ll go like this:
“Time stopped when our eyes locked, the world suddenly became smaller and only the two of us are in the room…”
Enjoy watching! 🥰
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26
The Journeyman's Moments 