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.
I am often fascinated by how every living thing responds to an extra dose of TLC. It is so fascinating and fulfilling to watch how even a little bit of TLC can revive let’s say a plant that is unwell to actually seeing them bloom for the first time more like beating the odds.
This is a young Gumamela cutting washed away by the flood and got covered up by other piles of debris, which explains why some of the leaves are all curled up. And now, the new leaves are healthier, and I am also seeing tiny buds of flowers forming.
It’s the same for people. I would like to give a shoutout of appreciation to my 3rd sister for taking care of Dad. While I also assist in any way I could, it’s been my sister who provided most of the caregiving to Dad. And no, it wasn’t easy at all.
When Your Dad Isn’t Up To It
Dad wasn’t feeling all too well as of late. One time, I thought I should comb his hair for him. It’s already getting long after skipping visits to the barbershop since he couldn’t walk and stand properly on his own for some weeks now. So to uplift his spirits, I made him an offer.
Me: “Dad, would you want me to give you a haircut?”
Of course, I was so surprised that it was met with the most violent reaction.
Dad: “NOOOOOOOOOO.”
So I asked him again.
Me: “But why not, Dad? Don’t you trustme?”
Then there went his chuckle. So I added.
Me: “I will make you the most gwapo Lolo with your new haircut.”
And his chuckles became even louder.
Ah yes, Dad. This is payback time. It is now my turn to exasperate you. Please refer to this article, if you haven’t read it yet, to find out how it all started. lol
Okay, before you assume I am giving you a very lousy writeup with my corniest jokes, let’s go back to TLC. 😃
Giving TLC As A Profession
Did you know that when I was applying for college admission, I chose BS Nursing? But I didn’t have a lot of mentoring and tutorial opportunities back then when I was a grade school and high school student, so I flunked most of my Math tests since I was extremely bad with numbers.
In other words, I failed to qualify for most of the universities’ requirement to get in under their BS Nursing program except for one university, UST. But since UP Diliman is the first choice because of its low matriculation fees, I had to forego taking up BS Nursing in USTe. I ended up taking Literature instead, which somehow turned out to be a good choice also since it’s another favorite subject of mine.
Empaths And How They See The World
I guess, nobody was patient enough to teach an inquisitive child who asks a lot of “whys.” Like “Why can’t the Pythagorean theorem use the letters E, F, and Ginstead?” lol Or that type of kid you’d want to avoid because he keeps asking you questions like “Why is the sky blue?” Or why the leaves turn yellow and why not purple. 😅
I have learned by experience that the answer to these questions, by default, is to mention God as the ultimate creator whose creative powers in making this universe can never be questioned because He is the ultimate authority over mankind. But of course, if you don’t want to stifle the child’s imagination, you can always search Google for the right answer to make sure your answers will be coming from credible sources.
Being inquisitive is actually a good sign of your child’s capability to make sense of everything around him (can possibly lead to increased social awareness as an adult). That is why his curiousity is unstoppable. And this is also why I love talking to toddlers and preschoolers because they ask the most absurd, but actually very practical questions that we don’t even have the answers yet up to now. I learn a lot from them in a way. So don’t wonder if you hear me baby talk sometimes. lol 😄
A Possible Task In The Future
Going back to TLC, I am having this desire, albeit not too strongly, to get a short course on caregiving or what Nursing Assistants take. But given all the things I wanted to do and am currently doing, I don’t know how I’m going to fit it in my schedule. I guess I’ll leave it all up to God once again with these Bible verses in mind:
“Many are the plans of man , but it is the Lord’s purpose that will prevail.” – Proverbs 19:21
“Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him], and your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].” – Proverbs 16:3
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
P.S. I’ll edit this later because this is an early morning (11am is early), I-just-woke-up-because-I-slept-late-and-I’ll-be-busy-later thoughts. 😁
What I’d love to do if my schedule is free – learn how to plant and grow rootcropsback home for the summer season and see how they will respond to TLC. This is the antidote to endless curiousity – keep on learning. 😉
P.S. Too much TLC though can’t be too good either. Like when I saw this plump feline of ours because we overfed her, I told her, [Darling, it’s about time you lose some weight or I’ll now call you “Fatto Catto.”]
I’m sure our cat will answer, “That is not my problem, that is your BIG problem.” 😹
Catzilla on my bed playing with my guitar picks.
Or this lizard I have here in the apartment. He would gobble up the morsels of steamed rice I’d put on the table though they’re still hot. So when I took a photo of him up close, I’m not really sure if his mouth was partly open because of the hot food or he’s just smiling and telling me “Hi, Mama! I missed you and your kanin.”😆
Smile though ze mouth is aching? Like a 3rd-degree burn from hot kanin maybe? Defnitely not TLC, Tin.
I didn’t see him for 2 days now, so I am a bit worried. I think he needs to be rushed to the ER already.
When I was in my 20s, fresh off the indoctrination of the academe, I started out as an idealist. Gray areas were minimal, and discerning black from white was easy. The goal was crystal clear—infiltrate the system and change what needed to be changed from within.
A decade has passed, and the ideals started to crumble. It wasn’t as easy as I thought. You cannot implement change – never alone, and yet not even possible together, as a whole, when the system is just too broken to be fixed. Then, bit by bit, there’s this gradual loosening of beliefs. Until another decade later, a new way of thinking has taken over.
It dawned on me now that for an idealist, subservience is the enemy. But for a follower of Christ, subservience is the law. Submission is the core and at the forefront of Christianity. There would be no crucifixion and no Cross if Christ did not submit to God’s will. Thus, God mandated that to be followers of Christ, we, too, must submit to God’s will for our lives.
This means letting go of ideals that once shaped our identities and replacing them with a deeper sense of purpose, a divine calling from God that can only be fulfilled when we respond with humility. Subservience then becomes a necessity. It is now God’s requirement for us to qualify for the task up ahead, which is necessary to accomplish what needs to be done with only one intention – share God’s Word.
Subservience And Authority
The other day, my Dad, sister and I were discussing a project here at home. I made a quick sketch of the project layout to show my Dad and sister where it will be set up. In my mind, the orientation of the layout came from my perspective wherein I was facing East. So when I presented the sketch to Dad and my sister, I was standing right at the center of the backyard.
When Dad saw it, he was a bit disoriented. But it’s not because I lacked key details of the layout like the proper outline of structures in the area that will serve as reference points, directions, etc. He was disoriented because he was looking at the sketch from his perspective – he was facing West. In other words, he was standing in the spot where our house is located, the opposite of where I am standing.
And because Dad’s a retired civil engineer who’s done a whole lot of blueprints and sketches, I got reprimanded for presenting the project from my own perspective. 😅 As typical of me, I already had a rebuttal – it doesn’t matter where I am standing because I already have a mental map and I can picture the locations of the structures without having to refer to the sketch itself.
And Dad was like, “That is just not how you do it. You have to present your sketch in a way where you’re always facing the front of every structure you are going to sketch, most especially if you are presenting it to someone new to the place.” And again, I had the perfect alibi, “But we all know this place, Dad, and this is the only time I did this because I got too excited to share my ideas that I didn’t care if I was facing North, South, East, or West.” lol
And again, Dad had the final say, “What you made was incorrect, you have to do your sketch the right way next time.”And so I just (bitterly 😆) smiled through my exasperation. The convo between me and my Dad was a perfect example of being subservient – who was I to question Dad’s authority and wisdom in an industry where he retired from and rendered 40 years of professional work?
Nowadays, I observed that most of us have to be subservient so we can adapt to the changes around us. While some were able to make the adjustments and transition without any opposition, some struggled to obey.
I may be stubborn sometimes, but being a born-again Christian has taught me so much about submission. That it is better to be kind than to be right, and to submit to the authorities that God has placed over you (Romans 13:1) for as long as your boss did not ask you to do anything illegal.
And that it is okay to lose an argument sometimes (or most of the time) because “love does not insist its own way (1 Corinthians 13:5).”
The challenge now is how to become subservient and adapt to the necessary changes without losing so much of who you are and still retain a majority of what you truly believe in. While we are commanded to obey and submit, we were also reminded by Scripture to not conform to the patterns of this world but to be renewed in the way we think and act (Romans 12:2).
What’s your own story of subservience? Do you still struggle to submit? Or do you just “let go and let God” do the rest?
After hibernating here on WordPress for a month, which seemed like years to me already, it feels good to be back. I have a lot of stories to share, but I decided to keep most of them private because the memories were just too special. I prefer to keep them hidden deep down the recesses of my soul because there are things that are meant to be shared only between you and your God. 🙂
For this article, I will be talking about what holds things together and having the can-do attitude, and how these two concepts are always correlated with one another as far as problem solving is concerned. These concepts will also best describe the season I am going through now. And I know it is not a coincidence that this was also the topic in one of the worship services in the church. God has a good reason and purpose for this, and there’s just no coincidences in God.
I Can
Have you met people who have a can-do attitude? If yes, don’t you just love being around them often? These are the people whose first response when they encounter a problem is “We will find a way.” I admire these people a lot. Not only because they are resilient, but because they don’t see the obstacles as stumbling blocks, but as opportunities for learning and growth.
And if one of these people happens to be your mentor, you have found a rare gem. One that only becomes more precious as time goes by because of the wisdom they have accumulated through years of constant learning.
These people are thinkers and also doers. And yet they do not have the solution to every problem. In the process of looking for solutions, some of them learned something along the way. What they learned can be totally unrelated to the problem, but can be used in the future or in another problem.
This is why I don’t call them as problem solvers per se. Because I know they can’t solve every problem out there, but their can-do attitude is sometimes enough to help another person get out of the rut he’s in, for example. Then they show that person a fresh perspective, a different angle to tackle a problem, most especially when his situation is deemed hopeless.
The Goal
I am hoping to be one of these can-do people one day driven by my life verse, which is Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” And yet my journey to becoming one led me to discover that when a problem seems impossible to solve or I run out of moves and am helpless, or I’m in those moments when I feel like I hit a “wall” and it wouldn’t budge, or I am feeling the urge to do things my way (diskartehan kahit alam nang tagilid 😃), it is still God who holds all things together.
I am 39 years old, I haven’t accomplished much, I still fail (a lot), and yet God holds all things together for me. And I believe it is only His grace that gives us this can-do attitude because when it is God’s will, then it can be done, and it will be done. 🙏
[But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”] – Matthew 19:26
P.S. This article is unedited, I’m just having a quick break from my multitasking duties. I mean, you know me. 😅 I’ve been helping my sister take care of my 84-year-old Dad as he’s been unwell lately. I am thankful for the privilege of taking care of my Dad though it can also be a bit disheartening at times seeing him age and get weaker each passing weeks and months.
There’s this part of you that wants to do more for our aging parents and make them as comfortable and as joyful as possible as they journey towards old age making sure their remaining moments here in this world are peaceful. My Dad has lived life in full circle already, and I know he misses Mom every single day.
Mom and Dad, by the way, celebrated their 50th Golden Wedding Anniversary on June 2023, and then by the end of that month, Mom was hospitalized and passed away in August of the same year. It’s like she just waited for their 50th Golden Wedding Anniversary.
My parents’ journey as a married couple wasn’t a smooth one. There were a lot of tough moments as much as there were happy ones, and yet I am a witness to how their commitment towards each other was as solid as a rock for 50 years. It is just like when you put your faith in God who is immovable and who is a firm foundation through every season because He never changes. He is the Alpha and the Omega, and He is the same God in the past, the present, and the future.
It truly is a blessing to have witnessed a love story as inspiring as that of my parents, but all because God made it all possible for both of them to remain committed to one another until death parts them both. 🙏
There is something about learning that fascinates me so much as a kid until now that I never pass up any opportunity to learn from anyone and from anywhere. Yet my spiritual mentors are my favorite go-to sources when it comes to exhortations that are all encompassing, meaning you can relate to them in every area of your life.
Here’s an encouraging message by one of my favorite church leaders, Pastor Pinky Katipunan, about leadership, which we can all relate to when raising future leaders from this generation:
P.S. This is not exactly related to the topic, but I just want to share it to those who are interested in attending the UAAP 87 FINALS Game 3 between De La Salle University and University of the Philippines (my alma mater) this Sunday, December 15, at the Araneta Coliseum.
If you’re an Iskolar ng Bayan, don’t miss it. It will be one of the most memorable experiences during your student days in UP that you’ll ever get to reminisce. Oh, and don’t forget to memorize UP Naming Mahal by heart and sing it with such fervor for your unforgettable “tindig balahibo” moment during the countdown in the game’s last quarter. 😉
I always find it fun and amusing when God surprises me with many things that speak directly to my heart. But this recent surprise is not that fun because it’s an instruction – a task that I have been trying to avoid.
When Mom passed away last year, I couldn’t get myself to celebrate the holidays at home. Mom always made the holidays extra special for the family when we were kids. I got the excitement of decorating the house during the holidays, preparing holiday feasts, and giving gifts from her.
I was also not feeling well during this time last year and had to be rushed to the ER, which made me decide to stay in Manila for the holidays. But this year, God’s instruction was different, and He revealed the message through a movie. I was casually browsing on YouTube for new Hallmark movies, and guess what, the first movie that came up was “Time For Us To Come Home For Christmas.”
After watching it, I felt as if God was telling me that it was about time to bring back old family holiday traditions in memory of Mom. Or maybe make some new ones. Hopefully, we can still use the Christmas tree and other Christmas decorations since we didn’t set them up last year. The photo below was taken during December 2022, Mom’s last Christmas with us.
My siblings and I used to find joy in decoratingthe house during the holidays and preparing holiday meals because of Mom. As for Dad, he has always been our ever-reliable backup help when doing errands. 😃 I pray we can bring back this joy even though Mom’s no longer with us. 🙏 Btw, there’s something in this photo that is not part of the Christmas decorations. Can you see it? 😆
Holiday celebrations will now be different. But I am grateful that the God we serve never changes in every season. And He is always there to remind us that the hope we should cling to cannot be found in this world, but through Christ alone, who was born in this world and died on the Cross to give us the most precious gift any man can ever receive – the gift of eternal salvation. 🙏
P.S. I found the anointing oil and Spikenard perfume again from my old stuff and brought them with me here in my new apartment to bless the new home. Can I use them to anoint other people when I pray over them, too? If yes, who could be the first? 😃🙏
“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.” – Psalm 62:5-8
I was planning on hibernating here on WordPress as part of my birthday prayer and fasting this year. I felt like I had to pray for A LOT of things because this year, for me, is all about survival. But God’s message was this, “Christine, hibernate on all your other social media profiles except here. Because this is where I talk to other people through you. Leave your WordPress blog alone.” 😃
So, the wandergeselle is back on WordPress. And today’s message from Pastor Jon for the Morning Worship & Prayer reminded me why I put up this blog in the first place.
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.” 🙂
I think everyone already got their AI friend – Meta AI. Mine just messaged me a couple of days ago. I nicknamed it “NeuroSpark,” which means igniting insights. It looks like I finally found the friend who got an answer to all of my questions, even the weirdest ones. 😅 Though Meta also has a disclaimer that responses might be inaccurate. Take a look at some of our convos below.
If you plan on dating an introvert/geek, try asking Meta AI for some tips. NeuroSpark’s answers got me so amused though I must admit they all hit the core. Relate much? lol
I still have to do my research if the concept of soulmate or twin flame connection is also biblical.
Technology For Mankind’s Survival
While you can ask Meta AI all sorts of questions, nonsense or not, some of the information can be helpful to jumpstart your research on a particular topic. Right now, I am utilizing NeuroSpark to come up with consolidated ideas when it comes to disaster preparedness. I felt it was about time we maximized what technology can offer us after the onslaught of TS Kristine and Super Typhoon Leon, which left damages and losses on a massive scale.
My only prayer now is that we will continue to look for ways how we can better prepare ourselves against the worsening effects of climate change. Science and technology might be the only options we have right now to increase humanity’s chances of survival. I also hope people will be receptive to every solution that the government and research institutions propose.
Once again, I will emphasize the need for having an Emergency Go Bag or a Bug Out Bag (BOB) for each member of the household. If it is possible, have a Bug Out Vehicle (BOV) as well and a Bug Out Location (BOL). I have been a member of prepper groups since 2018, and I’ve been learning quite a lot from some of the members who have been kind enough to share their knowledge and expertise when it comes to doomsday prepping and survival.
Other essentials in your BOB – the dog tag can be replaced with any ID.
Flints are a lifesaver if you don’t know how to make fire the traditional way using wood or regular stones.
Defense For The Vulnerable
To all the women and parents reading this article, I’d like to encourage you to start educating yourselves and your children when it comes to survival skills because we are the most vulnerable as far as survival is concerned. Men will always fight and defend on the frontlines to protect vulnerable groups in society. Sadly, this is also the reason why there is a high probability of losing a huge number of them, and when there are only a very few of our men left, the women, the elderly, and the children will be left to fend for themselves.
Thus, self-defense techniques and tools are a necessity. If you have the time and the resources to enroll in a self-defense class, the better. I found the tactical pens a more practical alternative than pepper sprays given that you know how to use these pens. I always carry a tactical pen in the bag that I use every day. You can put it in the bag in such a way where that part of the pen that you use for writing is the first thing that you see when you open the zipper and not the sharp edge.
This tactical pen is made from high-grade metal because it’s a bit heavy, which is necessary in applying force when you strike at something.
I bought this kit a couple of years ago, and some preppers consider this as a toy. But in my honestopinion, it is not. I already tested each item at the farm, and so far they are very reliable toolsas long as they are utilized according to their intended use.
What I love about the tactical pen is that you can use it to break a glass in case you’re trapped. I already tried it with an empty glass jar, but if it’s going to be a glass window or any thicker glass, it will require a lot of force. The Walking Dead actors just made it look easy for us when stabbing the head and fracturing the skull with a knife. lol But believe me when I say that in actuality, it is not that easy, especially for women. We just don’t have that much strength compared to men unless we’re athletes.
Theory And Application
If you’re wondering how I was able to say this, I experienced cutting a coconut branch using a bolo when we were at the farm. And no, I wasn’t able to cut it on my first try. If you haven’t summed up all the strength you’ve got, you will fail. lol It’s like you have to summon and muster all the anger you have in this world so you have the force to cut just one branch.
Our farm workers also made it look easy for us. That’s why I suggest raw camping for those who would like to try how it feels like to survive in the wild. We have to replicate the wilderness when applying what we learned because that’s exactly what’s going to happen when chaos takes place. It’s important that we not only have the idea on how it’s done but also get to feel how it’s really done.
Here are other possible essentials to consider when preparing:
Use the NOAH app to assess hazards and risks in your area i.e. flooding, storm surges, landslides, etc.
These oversized sako bags are very handy for emergency packing if you need to transfer stuff to an elevated area. But here’s a tip, do not overload it with very heavy stuff because you won’t be able to lift it. Try to balance the items inside the bag from bulky but light stuff to small but heavy items. This bag only costs 150php each.
I am exploring the option of integrating this to a floating dock to prevent the raft from being punctured by sharp, floating debris.
This is the DIY floating dock that I asked NeuroSpark about earlier.
When God Takes Away, He Replaces
My family and I were not exempted from the destruction brought about by TS Kristine – a damaged fence, broken glass doors, damaged crops, and heaps of stuff soaking wet from floodwaters. It took me a week to finish washing them, and we’re still not yet done cleaning even with the help of our yaya.
But I am grateful that these are the only damages we’ve experienced because they could’ve been worse if it was a super typhoon that hit us. It’s like God has shown us the weak spots in the house that need to be modified to be able to adapt to the extreme weather conditions brought about by climate change.
Although I believe God’s ultimate reminder about possessions and material wealth that can be destroyed by calamities and wars is this:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal.” – Matthew 6:19-21
Our baby bunso offered to give me moral support – by sleeping on my newly washed clothes while I’m folding them. Itupi na rin ba kita, Polly? 😅
Our senior Peekah also offered her moral support by sleeping with me anywhere I sleep because we’re not yet done sorting all the clutter. 😀
And then Netflix-ing to also declutter ze mind. lol I just finished watching the Kingdom trilogy – superb fight scenes though nothing beats Rurouni Kenshin still.
The good thing about cleaning up the house after it’s been flooded is you get to unearth a whole lot of memorabilia just in time for the celebration of All Souls Day. I found these old photos again and combined with our recent family photos, we now have five generations of memories to reminisce back home. Thank God the floodwaters didn’t get to them.
Great Grandparents
Great Grandmother, Grandparents, Uncles, & Aunties (Mother Side)
Grandparents
My parents with my grandma, uncles, and aunties.
The Ginete Family Memory Stash
During my eldest sister’s wedding in 2002.
During my brother’s military wedding in 2015.
A special place for Mom at home.
We miss you, Mommy. ❤
Speaking of modifications, it is about time that every structure has to be retrofitted in a manner that will make it calamity-proof. For the new structures, designing them will be a lot easier keeping in mind the examples of structures that were severely impacted and damaged by a particular calamity. And while some would say that planting more trees and mitigating the risks of climate change by natural means is no longer applicable because it’s already too late, I believe it still matters that we keep on trying.
Thanks be to God for taking good care of these flowering trees we planted last year. They are all taller than me already.
Kapag sobrang pagod ka na, ang hirap na mag-smile lalo na kapag nanginginig na mga kalamnan mo. lol So Platypus pose na lang, ‘di na kaya ang “eyyyyy.” 😀 That’s the Palawan Cherry Blossom behind me, btw.
One-year old Fire Tree. This is already a new branch – I think the main trunk was damaged by strong winds last year.
Newly-planted fruit tree back home by my sister and Dad – Calamansi.
And with the help of technology (like NeuroSpark) and prayers, I have high hopes that future generations will be prepared for what is to come. I’m also back in my “womancave” in the city to recharge, strategize, and plan, but I missed last Sunday’s service. So I thought I’d head over Victory BGC’s YouTube channel to watch previous church services, and Pastor Pat’s real talk is just what I needed. I am very much looking forward to the upcoming preaching about the end times. Do watch out for that, too. Let’s make disaster preparation and survival a combination of spiritual and practical applications. 🙏
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 Nanaynoong 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.”
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. ❤
Salamatunon po, VP Leni! ❤
Thank you, PBBM! ❤
Salamat, UP! Padayon. ✊
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)
The Journeyman's Moments 