“Don’t Quit” By Edgar Albert Guest


“DON’T QUIT”

by Edgar Albert Guest

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
when the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
when the funds are low and the debts are high,
and you want to smile but you have to sigh,
when care is pressing you down a bit – rest if you must, but don’t you quit. 
Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a fellow turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow – you may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor’s cup;
and he learned too late when the night came down,
how close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out – the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
and when you never can tell how close you are,
it may be near when it seems afar;
so stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit – it’s when things seem worst, you must not quit.


I was looking for the Filipino-English dictionary in our book shelf and found this magazine instead from Kuya’s stuff when he was still studying at the Philippine Military Academy. Dito ko una nabasa ang poem na “Don’t Quit.”

My brother is one of my accountability partners na tiga-sabi sa akin ng “don’t quit.” Sya rin actually nag-introduce ng faith sa akin. Dahil napagod na sya kaka-advise kapag nagte-text ako sa kanya ng madaling araw back in 2012 dahil sa mga problema ko. 🤣 Nah, kami kasi magkasunod sa magkakapatid kahit pa 5 years ang agwat naming dalawa kaya mas close ako sa Kuya ko. But I also love my sisters just the same and I get to talk to them always, too. ❤️

My brother has been serving the country as a military officer since 2006. And I must say na napakalaki ng influence nya sa akin pagdating hindi lang sa faith kundi pati in life in general. And if ever matuloy ang plan ko to have an IUI (via sperm donor from a fertility clinic) and ma-diagnose ako with breast cancer later in life and ‘di ko sya ma-survive, I will ask my brother and my sis-in-law to adopt my child.

O di ba, ganun ako kalayo magplano. Tapos sasabihin ni God, nagsayang ka lang ng energy Tin dahil hindi ‘yan ang plano ko for you. lol Saklap. 😆 But seriously, if ever that happens, my bro and sister-in-law will be my first choice para sa magiging adoptive parents ng aking anak. My sis-in-law will make a very good Mom (she adopted not less than 5 street cats and still counting 😁). She is a flight attendant at Cebu Pacific, and I call her “the Gal Gadot of the Philippines” because she really looks like her – the Asian version. 😍

Taken during Kuya’s NAG graduation in 2010 kung tama pagkakaalala ko.
Friends, madali lang pala magpaandar ng eroplano. Parang nagda-drive ka lang ng kotse……sa panaginip.
With the Phil Navy Cessna Plane
Bawal po pala mag-drive ng eroplano nang naka-skirt. Bakit kaya? 🤔
Ang Pamaypay. Bow. Miss you, Mom. ❤️

Kasama din pala sa mga nagpe-perform during the flying exhibition sa Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival ang mga piloto ng Naval Air Wing (formerly Naval Air Group) of the Philippine Navy represented by the top officer of their class.

Circa 2013: 18th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival w/ Victory GT Toyota (UP Diliman) churchmates @ Clark Air Base.

Speaking of hot air balloon festivals, Bicol will also be having its very own hot air balloon event on May 3-5, 2024, which will be held at the old Legazpi airport as part of the Bicol Loco Festival. I hope my 3rd sister will join me to watch this event and hopefully Dad, too, if he is fit enough to travel. And I’m praying for a clear and picturesque view of the ever beautiful and ever perfect Mt. Mayon as the backdrop. 😍

At dahil kailangan ko maghanap ng old photos for this post, I had to reactivate (and deactivate again lol) my personal Fb account, and I found myself reminiscing. Sakto sa #flashbackFriday feels kaya minabuti ko nang mag-screenshot ng ibang photos just in case may mangyari sa Meta, at least may kopya pa din sa WordPress.

Nakaka-miss balikan ang mga happy memories and fun times with friends, former coworkers and classmates, and relatives. Ah yes, it was a past lived well. But God is calling me now to make more meaningful memories with new faces in new places – I am very much looking forward to it. And yet not my will, but His will be done always. ❤️

But wait, introvert nga pala ako. Introvert nga ba talaga ako? 🤔🤣

P.S. Para akong Camaro ngayon na nagre-rev sa garahe, naka-standby lang. Pero kapag binuksan na ang pinto ng garahe, kakaripas na until I’m out of sight. 😂 So baka ang mga susunod kong blog posts ay mga 1 sentence na lang kasi sobrang busy na. lol

My next post actually is for the breast cancer community because I am currently consolidating data regarding the medical assistance provided by different government agencies lalo na para sa mga indigents. Ang hirap mag-copy and paste every time na my nagtatanong kaya naisipan ko dito ko na lang sa blog i-post then share na lang ang link sa mga nagtatanong. Dahil sa kaka-share ko sa breast cancer support groups e napagkamalan tuloy akong resource person kaya andaming nagtatanong. 😅

But I am very happy to help. ♥️ Dahil ito lang ang maitutulong ko sa kanila because time is what I have now – oras para mag-research at oras para sagutin ang kanilang mga katanungan. Kagaya kay Nanay. I am praying na sana nakatulong sa kanya ang info. 🙏 Gusto ko rin sana sya samahan personally para tulungan sya kaso busy na din ako tulungan husband ko now para sa pag-alis nya.

Panawagan ko lang sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno na sana may Filipino version din ang mga instructions sa mga websites nila dahil ang hirap lang kaya mag-translate from English-Filipino. Waaaaah 😭 Sunggo much na ako. Tissue, please.

Ang haba na pala ng postscript ko. lol K. Tnx. Bye.


“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” – Galatians 6:9-10


Magistorya Man Daw Kita Didi Sin Bikol Bulan

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. 😂

I Miss You, Bicol

One month down and I’m feeling extremely homesick already though I also love it here in our Manila home. Let me share with you some simple design inspo for condo living. 🙂

That rare moment when you have the sight of the empty pool all to yourself. 😀
Write or take a dip? Hmm, sleep. 😁
Flashback to the days when the chairs still have cushions. ✌️☺️
Quarantine Christmas 2020
I was able to pull off the entire setup under 1k only – all thanks to Lazada. 😃
I find this very romantic and cozy. 😍
The minimalist condo interior style before my husband converted it into a man cave. Tsk, men. 😑🙃

I think I’m just never gonna be a metro girl. The need to commune with nature every day is too strong, and my heart just craves for country life. I also miss decorating our home in Bicol during Christmas.

Circa 1991: The Evolution of the Christmas Tree – Province Style 😊
This was taken in December 2022, and I’m pointing at the “destroyer of Christmas tree” hidden somewhere there. I think you already know who I’m referring to. Check out the video below. 😹
When your youngest fluffball tries everything to get your attention while you’re playing the guitar. 😻
Last year was the 2nd time (the 1st time was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic) in about 3 decades that we didn’t put this tree up because we were all still grieving over Mom. I am claiming for a Christmas tree makeover this year. 🙏

I’m also missing Mom’s plants. I felt like she was with us every time I saw her plants. A few months before she passed away, she’s been devoting so much of her time to the garden. She was already feeling the symptoms of cancer at that time, and gardening has always been therapeutic for her.

Yellow Bells
Wild Orchid
Heart of Jesus / Caladium Variety 1
Heart of Jesus / Caladium Variety 2
Oliva
Fireball Lily
Alocasia
I still don’t know the name of this plant. I love the combination of yellow and red flowers in one plant.
Heart of Jesus / Caladium Variety 3 (pink plants).
Another plant that I still need to research on Google. It has a combination of white and purple flowers.

The plants must have sensed that Mom was very ill and reciprocated her love by giving out their best blooms. This Bromeliad bloomed its first ever flower since Mom planted it some decades ago.

And before I left for Manila last December, lilies started blooming. I felt like it was Mom wishing me a safe trip coming back here. She once told me that I am happier here in our hometown. Well, Mothers always know best. 😉

When Mom told me that she didn’t know that the Bromeliad plant has a huge flower and that she’s been waiting for ages for it to bloom, I somehow had this intuition that Mom might only have a year with us. So during our convo, I only asked her questions about the plants because if I insisted we bring her to the doctor, she would’ve given me her ever-famous “Platypus reaction” which is synonymous with “No.” 😅

Her recent garden project. ❤️

Ah yes, my Mom and I are alike in so many ways. But I use the “Platypus pose” now for my selfies only. I realized I looked cuter in the photos with that pose. lol The photo below was taken 3 years ago, by the way. So I have pretty much outgrown the “Platypus pose” already. Hmm, on second thoughts, I think not? 🤔😅

I’m feeling too lazy to transfer this to my other phone, so I just took a photo of the photo. 😀

I can’t wait to get back to Bicol and continue what God has called me to do. There are so many things to accomplish there and yet I only have one life to do all of them. I just hope and pray I get to live a lot longer. But if not, I hope I made God happy by obeying Him even if I don’t see the fulfillment of some of His plans. 🙂 🙏

Nope, I don’t go to the farm barefoot. But my late grandpa, who’s the true blue farmer in the family, did it every day. If not for the thorny weeds, I would love to do the same. Nothing beats the sensation of feeling the ground you’re walking on with your bare feet.
That no filter, no makeup, sweaty farm look. Nature doesn’t seem to mind. 😉

P.S. Speaking of life, I am praying our farm plants are still alive when I get back. 😩


“I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” – Isaiah 46:4

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4


NYE 123123 Countdown @ 5th Avenue BGC 🎆

New Year’s Eve 123123 was by far the most “chill” celebration I’ve had. No stressful planning, no hassle, and everything just went smoothly. Though we terribly miss being with our families during the holidays.

Hubby and I never had any plans on how to celebrate New Year’s Eve except that we will watch the fireworks display in BGC. Our day yesterday started with good news because the result of my repeated urinalysis looked like nothing was off the charts this time.

The doctors are on a holiday break though so I will schedule my consultation with an Internal Medicine doctor possibly on the second week of January.

Lovely piano music courtesy of a patient @ St. Luke’s BGC. 🥰

Then after lunch, hubby and I decided to attend the 5PM service at Victory Fort. I was surprised (but so happy) that I was able to book a Grab ride right away, so we arrived a couple of minutes early.

Victory Fort 5PM Service

Then after the service, we decided to walk just a couple of blocks from Victory Fort to an Indian restaurant called “New Bombay.”

Cozy and very colorful interiors. 👍
I love their huge plates. 😍

When we got to the restaurant, we were the only customers there so it’s like an exclusive dining experience for me and hubby at first. But a couple of minutes later, other guests started arriving.

The menu is about 5 pages long. This means more options and, thus, more reasons to come back to try them all. 😁

I will give this restaurant 5 stars for its great-tasting food, affordability, store accessibility, and excellent customer service. If you’re looking for authentic Indian cuisine in BGC, this is the place to be.

We love Indian food!

They also offer generous servings, and the strawberry yogurt is the perfect drink to pair with the meals. My husband and I tried Mutton Biryani, and I highly recommend this dish. The mutton is so tender, and I like how the spices aren’t too overpowering.

Chola Chat – Samosa
Mutton Biryani (good for 2 pax)

They have a lot of dishes to choose from, and there are also options for vegetarians. We ordered dishes that were somewhat heavy on carbs, so we were just too full to finish everything. lol

Chola Pesawari
Seafood Soup

Then we headed to the concert venue and when we got there, the place was literally jampacked. Hubby and I decided to go to the designated Family Zone instead to avoid the crowd because I’m actually claustrophobic.

On our way to the Family Zone, we ordered Starbucks drinks and oh boy, it took my hubby about an hour to get our order. Long lines were everywhere inside the Family Zone. All the tables were occupied, too, and I was fortunate enough to find a spot on a ledge under the tree. But I think it’s the perfect spot because I got to observe a lot of people. 😃

❤️❤️❤️

Then at around 11:30PM, we started walking towards the Fireworks Viewing Area just a couple of blocks away from the concert grounds.

This BGC cat casually sat down beside me while waiting for the fireworks display. 😃

There were fewer people here, but it’s the perfect spot to watch the fireworks display, which lasted for 10 minutes.

After the concert ended at around 12:50AM, hubby and I chose to stay a little longer while waiting to book a Grab ride going home. We were unsuccessful, so we thought we’ll just walk a couple more blocks and check out what other transportation options we had.

By the way, I prefer walking around because I get to familiarize myself with the neighborhood and observe a lot of scenarios for my next stories. If we brought a car, I also don’t want my husband driving during times like this when heavy traffic’s unpredictable because it’ll get on his nerves and ruin his mood, and he’ll be too tired. I think all guys can relate. 😃

All the beautiful colors and textures are in one frame.

We also passed by a high-end club in BGC and a couple was having an argument. Then another guy looked like he’s already drunk and was about to jump off the second-floor balcony. I was like, “Oh please no, Lord. I don’t want to start my 2024 witnessing a horrible incident.” His friends grabbed him though, so yes, always bring your friends with you if you plan to really get drunk at a party.

Then when we got to the main thoroughfare, my husband was able to hail a cab and by 3AM, we’re already home. My sister’s condo in Pasig is near BGC, so going home isn’t a problem because you’ll have lots of options to choose from.

It was a calm ending for 2023 – simple and yet at peace. I felt God’s assurance reminding me that when He is in control, we have nothing to worry in 2024. I am forever grateful for everything God has blessed me and my family with last year. I pray you are, too. A blessed 2024, everyone! 🥰 🎆❤️🙏

Thank You so much, Lord, for guiding me and my husband always despite our flaws and imperfections. 🙏

“Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” – Isaiah 43:19


“Padaba Taka” By Dwta

I stumbled upon this very beautiful song just now, which was written by a very talented local singer and kababayan from Bicol. And I can’t help but wish I’m watching her concert for the New Year’s Eve countdown tomorrow. 😃

But I am also looking forward to my first ever NYE countdown in BGC (Bonifacio Global City). I know the crowd will be enormous (and traffic might be worse 😅), but I know it’ll be fun. This will be another checked item on my bucket list, and I’ll share our experience tomorrow in my next blog post. 👍

Meanwhile, let dwta serenade you with this romantic love song. ❤️


Follow her on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/07gUvSU765VtVbSoHPMHHO?si=yk-eFyMtSzCGJxsIP13BtQ

PADABA TAKA (I LOVE YOU)

English Translation by MusicMatch

How was your travel?
Did you get tired?
Come here, I cooked you some
Bicol express, pancit bato
There’s vegetables and siling loveu
Oh! Pepper I meant.

How was your day?

Stay with me

Can you come with me?
We’ll explore the whole Bicol
You’re like the pretty Mayon Volcano

Just stay here

I love you
I don’t love anyone else, except you
I’ll keep loving you
I’ll keep loving you until we got older
I’m not gonna love anyone else except for you

How are you? Get some rest please, we explored too far
I bought you some pili nut, and
Some gifts (gifts, gifts)
I hope I made you so happy

You’re only mine

I love you
I don’t love anyone else, except you
I’ll keep loving you
I’ll keep loving you until we got older
I’m not gonna love anyone else except for you

That’s one of the things that I’ll do

What more if I say that

I love you
I don’t love anyone else, except you

I love you
I dont want anyone else except for you
I’ll love you
Until we got older
There’s nobody else that I’ll love, except for you

There’s nobody else that I’ll love, except for you
There’s nobody else that I’ll love, except for you


P.S. This will make as a perfect wedding song (the acoustic/a capella version of it) if both of you are from Bicol. 😍


Manila As Seen By A QC Baby

I accompanied my husband today for his biometrics appointment and MMR vaccination at S.M. Lazo Medical Center on Taft Avenue. We were also there last week for his medical exam.

The streets of Manila are surprisingly clean.

While searching on Google Maps for a fastfood restaurant nearby, I told my husband I would like to see UP Manila and the National Library. I was already able to visit other UP campuses in Luzon except for UP Manila. I’ve never been to this part of Manila being a Quezon City “baby” for half of my life.

Hello, Manila Campuses

It’s hard to capture a decent photo inside a moving vehicle. 😩

It looked like God granted my wish because today, our Grab car passed by UP Manila on our way home. 😅 I felt nostalgic when I saw the campus grounds. And I thought, why would I ever feel nostalgic when I haven’t even been there ever? lol Today’s my first time actually. Maybe in the parallel universe I was a student in this campus, a faculty, or an employee? 🤔

There’s this sense of familiarity and attachment to the place that I can’t explain as if I’m an old soul. I just brushed it off thinking the old architecture in the area might be responsible for evoking this nostalgic feeling in me. But yes, I consider myself an old soul. More about this in my upcoming articles.

And finally, I saw the other universities in this area that I only see on television. I also got a glimpse of the UP-Philippine General Hospital. Yep, I know. You’re probably wondering how can I be a Manileña and yet still have not been to a lot of places in Manila. Sorry, I’m an introvert, so I hope that explains it. 😅

Philippine Women’s University

The National Library is the only place in Manila that I still have to visit. I love libraries, especially the old ones. The Main Library in the UP Diliman campus was my favorite place during class breaks. It has a lot of rooms where you can hide away to read and get lost in the book that you’re reading.

Back in college, when I get bored in our apartment in Cubao, I just go to the campus and head to the library to read. Unfortunately, the Arts and Letters section was transferred to our college’s small library. And there were days when it got too crowded so I just borrowed the books and read them somewhere in the building that’s quiet. This is why I love empty classrooms, and other “entities” must have enjoyed my company, too. 👻

Ah yes, I really am manifesting a visit to the National Library next year when I come back to Manila after the holiday vacay in Bicol is over, and before sending hubby off to the airport. I’m not asking too much, Lord, am I? 🙏❤️😃

P.S. I hope to get better photos next time, too, and hopefully, not during errands.


“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” – Mark 11:24


When Introverts Do Get Out | 2023 Year-In-Review

I am 80% introvert. The home is my life. Give me a book or in our generation now, the internet, and I can spend the entire day just reading. I sometimes forget to eat. If only books are edible, too. lol

If I’m not reading, then I’m tinkering with DIY projects. I love systems and processes and deciphering how things work. I just hate Math though, so no formulas and computations, please. But if you’re a Mathematician, do know that I’m very much intrigued by how your brain works. 😀

But as we all know it, adulting requires we do more than just read books or devote our entire time to hobbies or projects. We don’t have a choice, do we?

So, that 20% that I do get to go out to buy stuff that I need, do important errands, or spend quality time with people I love, I make sure the experiences will be worthwhile and definitely one for the books.

I also prefer to commute via public transportation when going out. I get to observe people a lot and this is how I get ideas for my next story. The solo backpacking concept has always been a dream of mine. But I already dismissed the idea because nowadays, traveling alone to unfamiliar places is not safe, especially if you’re a woman.

What Introverts Do When Outdoors

So, where do introverts like me go when not hibernating? Here are some places where you can find them.

My first BIA flight. Thanks to my sis-in-law, Heather, for this awesome capture!

Do watch these breathtaking videos of Mt. Mayon during my flight. She’s simply stunning, always a “Daragang Magayon.

How to get to places without getting bored inside the car? Take selfies. lol
Farm girl mode featuring the Japanese Tunnel during World War II.
Tinipak River
That photo where the subject became part of the background. lol
Sorsogon Boulevard Sunset
Sta. Magdalena, Sorsogon
Baguio City’s Session Road
Palogtoc Falls/Irosin, Sorsogon
UP Diliman Bike Ride
Mt. Daraitan Peak w/ my hubby. This was a “budol” climb because we weren’t informed it’s not for beginners. lol But thanks be to God, we made it to the top ALIVE. 💪

I thought about writing this year-in-review (or year-end review) because I usually do a social media hibernation every December as part of my birthday prayer and fasting. I’m going to be another year older, yet another year wiser. 37 years have been tough, but I’m looking forward to what lies ahead than what is behind.

P.S. All credits go to my husband for taking these photos. Today’s Day 1 of us living apart, too, so I’m posting these photos as a remembrance of another meaningful chapter. It’s painful to lose people, but I know this is God’s way of testing my faith in Him, a way to refine our characters so we can be deserving to be called His sons and daughters.

Pained but sanctified. ❤

“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” – Proverbs 31:25

P.P.S. I still have 115 rough drafts of articles that I need to revise and post here. They are more than enough for this year even if I post every day. lol How to stop the brain from thinking? 🤔

My Blessed 2019 Birthday @ Camarines Sur Watersports Complex

I have been used to celebrating my birthdays on the road since I started working. I cannot tell if it is a good or a bad thing. All I know is that each time, I get to have a fresh perspective on a lot of different things.

It’s like being renewed year after year. Maybe it really has something to do with the adage that as you age, you get wiser. Another year older, another year wiser so to speak. 🙂

Another Birthday Experience

My birthday last December was another new experience. Our maternal grandma passed away and the last night of her wake fell on my birthday. I was close to my grandma when I was young, and she’s one of my major influences when it comes to faith.

She was 95 years old, and hers was a peaceful death after a long wait. She’s been bedridden for about 2 years, and each passing year for her means asking when is our Lord going to take her. God prepared her well though during that long wait no matter how difficult it may be for her.

I never felt like celebrating my birthday last year. But as it turned out, God has different plans.

God’s Plans Are Sometimes Different

It was me and my hubby’s first time to travel by car going to our hometown – a total of 17 hours including occasional pee breaks. I decided we have a stopover halfway our trip and spend the night at Camarines Sur Watersports Complex.

As typical of me who plans everything ahead of time, I already booked an accommodation a couple of months prior to our trip. This came in very timely because our expected travel time of only 9 hours from Manila to CWC became 22 hours.

Error
This video doesn’t exist

Yes, my husband and I just felt like vegetables about to rot. lol It was SOOOOO TIRING. Our check-in time was 2pm, we were able to check-in at 10:30 pm. I informed the reservation officer we will be arriving late due to traffic congestion.

There were multiple roadworks in some parts of Bicol and Quezon, which lengthened our usual travel time. It’s also the start of the holiday break in schools and offices, thus, everybody’s going out of town.

Always Look At The Brighter Side

But here’s where God reminded me to always be hopeful and cheerful in every unfavorable situation. I asked the reservation officer if we can still avail of their massage services because I know our bodies badly needed them, especially my husband.

She said that we still can since they are open until 10 pm. So I booked one at 10 pm. We arrived at 10:30 pm, and we’re just so glad our massage therapists waited for us though we’re already 30 minutes late.

A Surprise Birthday Gift

Here’s another surprising scenario. When we got to the lobby, the receptionist informed us that our accommodation was upgraded for FREE from a Tiki Hut to a Small Cabin. She told me that there was a problem booking the accommodation, and it was a mistake on their end. I was so overjoyed, and I can’t help expressing my heartfelt gratitude to her.

I thought this must be God’s birthday surprise for me. 😀 My husband and I also haven’t had our dinner yet, so I asked her if we can still order food and have it served in our room. We were able to order our favorites (comfort food) and then headed to our room.

A few minutes later, our massage therapists came and after apologizing to them for waiting, we had our much-needed massages. A few minutes later, our food arrived. We were just so filled with goodness. Why? The massage was superb and so was the food!

As Simple And Yet Meaningful As It Gets

Although we missed Saturday’s acoustic performance, the night ended quite well actually. And of course, it was even made perfect when my already very tired husband hugged me and said, “Hon, things may have happened differently than we planned, but this day still ended happily. Happy, happy birthday.”

img_0480

No, I didn’t cry. We are not just super mushy types. lol And my husband loves to tease me so I know he can never be that serious. Although I did feel the sincerity of his greeting. 😉

So when the clock struck 12, I just can’t contain my happiness – it’s now my birthday. We were tired and plans have changed, but I slept soundly with a smile on my face that night. 

Even if there’s pain, God never fails to remind us that it still is possible to experience joy.

Truly, how can we ever outsmart a God who knows things even before they happen and makes all things beautiful in His time? 🙂

A Day Full Of Activities And More Errands

The next day, my husband and I woke up just in time to try wakeboarding and double kayaking even though we’re already much pressed for time. My mom texted me to be home by 7 pm for our grandma’s vigil service so we’re pretty much in a hurry.

As we slowly approached our home and saw the yellow lights, I knew my grandma was waiting for us. Days prior to coming home, I was worried that I won’t be able to hold it all in and just burst into tears. But because God made me experience joy, He lifted all those heavy emotions and made me experience a little bit of joy in the midst of pain.

God knew I needed strength. He gave it during the times I needed it most. He used my husband and other circumstances as an avenue for me to have it. So when I saw my grandma peacefully sleeping, I smiled a faint smile and was filled with peace that comes from knowing God had it all in control.

A Peaceful Farewell

“Today is my birthday, Mama. It is sad that this will be the last day, too, that you will be with us. But I also rejoice that you can finally be with the Lord.”

This was how I celebrated my birthday last year, and the experience was another one for the books – a keepsake remembrance down the memory lane. A sad memory but still a joy to remember. 🙂

If you’re wondering why I was named Christine, watch out for my next article and find out the (funny) story behind it. 😉

Grateful for yet another year to live in this world,

NewBlogSignature_edited_edited

Summer Came In Early During The Holidays

A beach escapade during the months of December and January in our hometown won’t exactly fit your idea of a perfect getaway. Because it is during these months when super typhoons frequented our town, thus, you can expect rainy days for the most part of your vacation. In other words, it’s a bad idea to plan your beach trips in our place during these months.

We live in a coastal area. So every time we visit our hometown, nostalgic childhood memories of fun moments at the beach always make us want to relive those scenes. We then made it a habit to spend our family get-together during the holidays by nature tripping, which includes visits to the beaches and hot springs in our area. This is regardless if we have a rainy or a sunny weather.

Simple But Meaningful Holiday Celebrations

Last December, God gave us a sunny day despite the two super typhoons that left extensive damages on some properties in our town. Thank God, too, the electricity was restored before Christmas day, and most of the damaged houses were repaired by the 2nd week of December.

It was all made possible by the combined efforts of private organizations and good Samaritans who helped us recover from the onslaught of the typhoons. Since the entire town prepared for the worst case scenario, there were a few to no Christmas decors displayed in most of the homes. Personally though, I still wanted to put up our Christmas tree and other decorations just so we won’t break the yearly family tradition.

Mom disapproves the idea, however, and advised me there’s no need to go through all the hassle since we’re technically mourning my grandma’s death. It would be inappropriate that we’re all joyfully celebrating. Besides, we only have about 10 days left and the holidays will be over.

So we decided to celebrate the holidays quite simply instead. And yet the grace of God made it possible for us to cherish every moment spent with every member of the family. Indeed, we don’t need lavish decorations and extravagant feasts to enjoy bonding moments with the family.

Why Christ Was Born

Just enjoying the presence of one another is more than enough. God must have instructed us to plan the summer outing earlier this year. Because He knows we won’t have the opportunity during the COVID-19 outbreak.

December 2019 was a very special month of bittersweet experiences. And yet, it was also the month when I really felt the presence of God and became much closer to Him than before.

In fact, I was once again reminded of the reason why He sent Jesus Christ to be born in this world. This made me think. What could be God’s purpose why I was also born 3 days ahead of Jesus? Let’s find out together in my next article. 😀

Receiving God’s grace in every moment,

 

Eventful February Part 2: Calubcub Bay Resort And Recreation / Balay Dako

Summer came in a little early for my siblings and I. The weekend after February 14 was a clear schedule for two of my siblings and their spouses, so we decided to have an impromptu beach getaway.

Thank God I was able to find one resort located near the metro that isn’t fully booked yet. I know all the hotels and resorts will be flocked by tourists for the extended Valentine’s Day celebration since it fell on a Friday. The only sad part was that my eldest sister and her family couldn’t join us because of a church event.

The Place

img_1617

I made inquiries at 10 different resorts before I was able to find Calubcub Bay Resort. I just had to research fast and propose the places to my siblings since we’re only a couple of hours away before our scheduled departure.

Just when I was about to call the search over, then came a reply that there’s an available accommodation for us at Calubcub Bay Resort good for 8 persons. The good thing is that we don’t need to make any reservation payments to book the accommodation.

We were able to rent out a Villa with 4 queen beds located on the second floor, an open dining area, and a secure kitchen. It also has two bathrooms making the place a very convenient option for large groups of guests.

The Beach

As typical of all Batangas beaches, the sand color is a darker shade of brown. The beach is clean though, and the water isn’t too deep. It does look a little murky, however, because of the dark sand color.

Thank God there were no seaweeds near the shore and where we swam. You won’t have that terrifying experience of guessing what’s that slimy thing underneath your toes. lol

My hometown offers far more beautiful beaches than the ones in Batangas. The only downside is that you have to travel 17 hours by road to get there. So if you’re vying for a beach experience near the metro, Batangas is the place to be.

The Ambiance

The resort has a very laidback setting. It also has a pond for fishing, and you get to buy and cook what you caught. They also have an obstacle course situated near the resort’s entrance.

It’s basically used for team building activities. You may also try it out if you and your friends or your loved ones are up for a fitness challenge.

It’s too bad hubby and I arrived at 10 pm because his work is extended until Saturday. So we only got to enjoy the amenities the next day.

Overall Experience

If I am to rate our stay there, I’d give it 5 stars. The room was clean, and all the faucets and sinks were working properly. We were also able to park near our villa for easy access.

We weren’t able to try the menu at their restaurant since we brought and cooked our food. But the best part is that we got a 20% discount for the Valentine’s Day promo in all their accommodations. Yays! Thank You, Lord! 😍

Late Lunch At Balay Dako

Since my Norwegian brother-in-law would like to visit Taal Volcano, we decided to drop by on our way home and have our late lunch at Balay Dako. It’s a Filipino restaurant that offers the best Filipino dishes. My personal favorite on their menu is the “fresh lumpia.”

It didn’t rain when we arrived in Tagaytay, so we’re greeted by a breathtaking view of the Taal Lake. We weren’t expecting it to look that peaceful and beautiful after its eruption last January causing extensive damages to properties in neighboring towns and cities.

For the overall experience, I must say that it was a perfect getaway. We got home safely, we ate the best food, and we had the much-needed breather. Indeed, God makes everything beautiful in His perfect time. 🙏❤️

Up next, family time with my eldest sister and her family. 🙂

Traveling to marvel at God’s wonders,