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 just logged back in on Fb today. Naisipan ko mag-social media fasting buong araw kahapon after sharing about the issue with our neighbor to clear my head (the previous article). And yet nakita siguro ni God na my heart is still in turmoil kaya ito ang nangyari kahapon.
A Random Message But Just The Right One
I received a message sa LinkedIn. It’s from someone na hindi ko ka-connection and the message was about the last days here in this world before judgment day. It’s a random message from someone I barely know. Naisip ko baka nabasa nya ang blog ko at dito sya nag-message. Pero mukhang hindi.
Nagtaka din ako dahil professional profile ang account ko sa LinkedIn and wala akong kahit isang post doon about faith or Bible verses. Kaya naisip ko na baka inudyok din sya ng Panginoon to send that message randomly or on purpose.
How To Decipher God’s Message
Sa message ni Sir Joe, marami syang verses na pinapabasa as references. Naging habit ko na simula noong bagong born-again Christian pa lang ako na kapag may Bible verse na itinuro si God, I read the verses before it at ang mga susunod pang verses.
Sometimes buong chapter binabasa ko or several chapters. Pakiramdam ko kasi ang gusto ni God is malaman natin ang entirety ng Kanyang message hindi lang sa isang verse kundi sa buong konteksto ng Scripture.
How God Reveals Himself
Isa sa mga references na ibinigay ni Sir Joe ay Psalms 37:10. When I read the previous verses, doon ko nakita ang sagot ni God sa aking panalangin lately. Pero sino nga ba talaga si Sir Joe? Bakit nya ako pinadalhan ng message out of the blue but exactly at the right time – and exactly the answer that I was asking from God? Coincidence?
I guess paulit-ulit kong babanggitin na there is no such thing as coincidence sa faith. It is all part of God’s plans. When we seek Him with all our hearts and humble ourselves before Him, He always reveals Himself sa atin. At kadalasan sa mga paraan na ‘di kayang i-grasp ng ating human comprehension. Mahirap intindihin paano nangyari pero ang mahalaga, His message got through:
“Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.” – Psalms 37:8-9
Nothing Is Ever Hidden From God
I guess patunay ito na God sees everything. Nakikita Nya anong laman ng mga puso natin. In my case, God knows how stubborn I can be and very determined when I want to do something. He knows all our plans, thus, He will rebuke when He knows our plans will do us more harm than good.
Regarding doon sa ibang Bible verses ni Sir Joe, curious ba kayo sa difference ng Earth and this world? Meron daw pagkakaiba. Share ko din dito anong idi-discuss ni Sir Joe na sobrang pinasalamatan ko for being used by God to deliver His message. 🙂 Pero patuloy pa rin ako sa pag-pray for God’s leading, wisdom, and discernment. We all badly need them ngayon. 🙏
I had to break my silence. Because it breaks my heart into pieces. Now I know how Paul must’ve felt when he addressed the problems of the early church in Corinth. (Reference: 1 and 2 Corinthians)
It pains me to see fellow believers breaking away from their faith. A couple of days ago, my Facebook newsfeed was flooded with hate posts including some Christian friends calling out names on other people, deleting friends on their list, and cursing downright at the current government and certain government officials.
Sadly, it is not COVID-19 that is making me sick. It is seeing these situations unfold right before my eyes that make me cry my heart out to the Lord. When the people involved are believers and Christians most especially, all the more painful.
I know they are victims, too, by evil forces that we don’t see. That is why I just vented my sentiments here on my blog so I won’t offend anyone because I value every relationship I have in my social network. I intend on keeping it that way forever. But I just want to ask this:
Have we lost everything that is Christlike in us? Where are the fruits of the Spirit? Whatever happened to God’s greatest commandment of loving one another just like how He loved us?
This is the Bible verse in the new shampoo bottle that hubby bought just last week. It came in very timely. And I know it is God calling us out to be who we really are. He knows the church will go through this.
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” – John 13:34
I was hoping more from Christians to behave otherwise because we have a greater calling to be the salt and light of the world. We already have an idea of who God is and how Christianity works – discipleship, fellowship, personal relationship with God, etc.
Personally, I felt like I have failed in reminding those in my social network how to respond as a Christian in a time like this. It crushes my soul that they have forgotten all the wisdom found in the Bible – the very promise of God.
It hurts me even more knowing that I can only pray for them, and that if they won’t seek God’s forgiveness and instructions, we already have a picture what will happen next. The punishment is greater for those who already know Christ, and yet chose to disobey.
How could we forget so easily? How could we succumb to the temptations of the enemy and this world so easily?
I posted Bible verses on Facebook as a reminder to go back to God before it’s too late – to seek Him first before anything else. And yet, I, too, became a victim of this persecution and was called too complacent. That I don’t care at all for those who are most affected with this crisis (the weak and the poor) because they think I am rich, which I am not.
What’s worse is that I was blamed for being a Christian and that I was using Bible verses to make people hate God even more. I believe this is the part where we can see divisions in the church – when some of us choose to believe selected Bible verses only for a particular situation without taking the entirety of Scripture into consideration. And this is exactly what the enemy wants, to create dissensions among believers.
How come we were judged easily not knowing what my husband and I went through for the past years? My husband and I had to endure months to years of living from paycheck to paycheck.
We literally used coins to buy our daily meals making sure we won’t go out of the budget by spending 100 pesos a day only for 3 meals. We also lived in a tiny room that measures 12 feet x 6 feet and the kitchen, comfort room, dining area, and bedroom were all in there. We started out with no beds or mattresses except for sleeping bags, no dining table and chairs, and no refrigerator.
Our families may be well-off, but I told my husband that we need to learn to rely on God first when it comes to our needs and refrain from asking other people for help. So yes, when it comes to worldly poverty, we know how it felt. I know how it felt to be really in need owning nothing else but the clothes on my body because we experienced it firsthand.
And yet true enough, God helped us get through that ordeal. He blessed us in so many unexpected ways with more than what we have prayed for. Were there times that my husband and I cried (literally and figuratively) out to God? Yes, A LOT of times.
My husband once cried in the comfort room of his workplace while sharing to me about God’s favor over the phone. I cried, too, when my husband was asleep and while praying to God. And there were more of these times that we sure felt we’re undeserving and yet God provided still.
But instead of cursing God for putting us in that predicament, we praised Him even more and became closer to Him every single day. I believe this is the problem now. And this is the greatest test of faith that Christians need to endure.
To never lose sight of who God is when tough times become even tougher, when problems seem never-ending, when solutions just seem impossible, and when the future just seems 100% uncertain.
I once shared to my husband that even if it is a matter of life and death, we must not turn our backs on God and our calling as a Christian. That was how men of great faith in the Bible earned God’s favor. By staying true to their commitment even if it means giving up their lives for Him i. e. Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego; Daniel and the Lions; David and Goliath, etc.
When we are stretched to our limits and when we feel like being “burned” alive and we become impatient waiting for God’s answers, do we resort to solving things out on our own and depend once again on self-sufficiency instead on God?
I am praying this isn’t our mindset because it has already been written in the Bible that more of these problems will come – Luke 24 (Jesus Speaks About The Future). And I believe they will be more difficult, more heart-wrenching, and even more life-threatening.
We must not give in to this world. Not now, most especially for the Christians. The world needs us. This is the mission that God has set for each one of us to accomplish so we can be blameless when Jesus finally comes.
I encourage believers to share the Bible verses as is on social media instead of voicing out our sentiments. They are the exact words of God, thus, they have the authority to rebuke, remind, and encourage. What the world needs now is what God has to say and not really what each one of us has to say personally. “Less talk, fewer mistakes,” as they say.
If what we say is not in light of the Scripture, then, there is a higher chance of us saying the wrong things or being misinterpreted. If people still chose to persecute us for sharing Bible verses during a crisis, then they are going against the Word of God and not us per se. It is God, then, who has the authority to judge them and not us when the right time comes.
Help comes from God and God alone, and the government or other people are only instruments of those blessings. Help always comes. And yet this will all happen according to God’s will and according to God’s timeline.
The only problem is we don’t have enough faith to trust God completely that He will provide us with everything that we need may it be eternal salvation or material needs. Thus, we become desperate for answers and solutions.
How much of God do we really believe in when we call Him out as God, our Father? How much of what Jesus has done on the Cross will be enough for us to believe that He indeed came here to save this world and all the people in it?
I am currently on Facebook hibernation as part of my Holy Week fasting. My heart bleeds seeing this situation happen during Holy Week. My heart breaks that the Lord’s Name is being used in vain, exactly during the time when we’re supposed to be glorifying Him.
I am praying that during the Holy Week, God’s people will take it into their hearts what really happened on the Cross how many centuries ago. I pray that we will all have a moment of reflection and refresh the time when we were saved. I pray that after this week and in the coming months and years, believers will rise up to their calling as followers of Christ and bring victory to God’s name no matter the circumstance.
Being a Christian is hard, but that is part of our identity as Christ’s followers. And this is just one of the extreme tests of faith for all believers. I pray we all open our eyes and defeat the attempt of the enemy to deceive, which has already blinded some of our fellow sisters and brothers in Christ.
We are more than conquerors in Christ. His blood is in each one of us. Let’s listen to the Spirit. Let’s devote our time to the reading of Scripture more than ever. And lastly, let’s continue praying that the body of Christ will all be united in defeating all the attacks of the enemy.
I’d like to begin this article with a Bible verse that I felt came in timely during this COVID-19 pandemic.
“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:12
One COVID-19 patient who recovered said, “It’s more of a psychological battle than a physical one.” Because the struggle takes place inside us where the enemy can attack us with other forms of spiritual warfare such as deception, lies, fears, worries, doubts, and other negative emotions.
I am currently experiencing symptoms, but they disappear and then reappear after a couple of days. I am closely observing any other changes and make sure they’re not caused by my allergic rhinitis.
As of writing, there are 707 positive cases, 45 deaths, and 28 recoveries here in the Philippines. I believe these numbers represent only 1/2 of the actual COVID-19-related cases in the country.
These statistics didn’t include pneumonia-related deaths of those who weren’t tested for COVID-19 or still waiting for the results. Given these numbers, data analysts have calculated that the peak of the pandemic is still about to take place come April – June.
Replacing The Bad News With The Good News
As more and more of these bad news start circulating on social media the past days, more and more people are getting enraged by a whole lot of different things. I guess that is what panic and fear can do to people who don’t have any idea about what’s in store for them when they leave this world.
I must admit, I sometimes feel this panic, fear, and paranoia, too. I noticed this when I spend so much time browsing my newsfeed and all the posts I read are all bad news. And it takes so much discipline to “not conform” to the worries of this world.
Behaving As Salt And Light To The World
Why? Our human nature always has an automatic response to everything that is negative. It’s part of our worldly flesh that we constantly wrestle with. Thus, it takes so much discipline for a Christian to behave otherwise.
Instead of cursing people left and right, a Christian needs to carefully weigh every word that goes out in his/her posts. Instead of anger, there has to be understanding. Instead of punishment, there has to be compassion. Instead of retaliation, there has to be forgiveness.
We can always have a “say” in every social issue that goes around, but I believe it will be better if we say our opinions in a manner that brings light, peace, and healing not just to our social network, but to the entire world that is watching and listening.
Assessing Panic And Fear
Why do people panic? It’s because of fear. Fear can be in any form. It could be the fear of being broke, fear of losing a job or a business, fear of hunger, fear of getting sick, fear of being alone, and lastly, fear of dying.
The last one is, by far, the toughest battle that everyone needs to face one way or the other. Because we will all die eventually. The only difference lies in the manner and the time of our deaths.
Why do people fear death? It’s because they don’t have an idea about what will happen afterward. For born-again Christians though, it is the opposite. Scripture has given us already a glimpse of what life after this world looks like as described in the book of Revelations. It is a VERY BEAUTIFUL PROMISE.
The Promise That We Can Hold On To
It is the opposite of all the pain and suffering in this world. Everything that we consider as beautiful, pleasing, and perfect, we will see them all there. The very few seconds of pain and suffering that we will feel as we struggle for the last breaths are all worth it.
While listening to an online Sunday service in our church, I had this image inside my head. I sketched and posted it on my Facebook account. I was hoping the body of Christ (visual artists and filmmakers) could make a short movie or skit depicting a similar scene.
What Heaven Looks Like
I thought this is what the people need now amid the bad news bombarding us every single day. This image shows a COVID-19 patient surrounded by the doctor, the nurse, God, and His angels. Although God and the angels are more like a hologram that only the patient can see.
God is pointing a vision of Heaven to the patient and all its riches are displayed on the road. Beside it, there are people who are smiling and waving as if they’re a welcome party. And there stood at the gate is Jesus, ready to take the lead into His Father’s Kingdom.
Scenes From The Movie “The Shack”
The image was so vivid that it actually reminded me of a scene from the Christian movie that my husband and I watched a couple of years ago entitled The Shack. It was a story about a grieving dad who lost his daughter to a pedophile/psycho killer during a camping event in the woods.
It was a very tragic experience seeing his daughter’s bloodied clothes and a bloodied floor of a shack, but without any trace where his daughter’s remains are. The killer’s still on the loose and there seemed to be no closure.
Unforgiveness, guilt, anger, hatred, bitterness…they all hardened the dad’s heart, which led him further away from God. But God, who is also a loving Father, never failed to reach out to this dad who mourns over the death of his daughter even several years after the incident.
Until came the scene where God showed him where his daughter is now. She looks very happy playing with the other kids in Heaven and Jesus is with them. I guess, we, too, can take comfort in this idea that any believer who leaves this world never leave it alone, and in fact, is in a place much better than ours.
Heaven Rejoices For Every Death Of A Believer
When my faith-filled maternal grandma passed away 7 days before Christmas Day last year, our pastor in our mother Protestant church chose this Bible verse to be placed on her coffin. Today’s devotion reminded me again of this Bible verse and I thought maybe God wanted to show us that there really is nothing to fear.
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His faithful servants.” – Psalm 116:15
In fact, while trying to destress before I sleep, I opened the Spotify app on my phone and searched for my favorite Piano Hymns playlist. This was the first song on the roster.
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” – Galatians 5:13
“And she will have a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through His prophet:
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” – Matthew 1:21-23
2. Sis Ann Jane
“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” – 2 Timothy 4:3-5
Photo courtesy of Sis Ann Jane 🙂
3. Sis Claud
“Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.” – Deuteronomy 15:10
Photo courtesy of Sis Claud 🙂
4. Sis Gessa
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the Good News!” – Mark 1:14-15
Photo courtesy of Sis Gessa 🙂
To end this article, I guess what we only need to do during this crisis is to fervently pray and let God fight this enemy that we don’t see and is hidden in the recesses of our souls. I believe God has been reiterating it since Day 1 of this pandemic.
We can never do it alone, and we most certainly can’t do it without His help. The support of our government, the hospitals, our families, or our communities won’t be enough. Only His help is enough to conquer it once and for all. In other words, let our trust be upon Him completely.
Be rest assured that even if we felt like we lost the battle here in this world, Jesus already won the fight. Victory is already ours in another life that sure has no end. Wouldn’t that be better than living in this world that is bound to disappear anyway? 🙂
Declaring God’s victory here and now,
P.S. While waiting, we must never forget to do what God asked us to do according to His Word and His instructions. We must never let our guards down by staying equipped with the Armor of God. The battle is far from over but always take heart. ❤
I was also instructed by the Spirit to write this post, thus, I obey. 😀
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
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. 🙂
Thank you so much for any help you could provide, and let’s continue praying for all the affected residents and communities in the area.
***Donations will be accepted untilJanuary 26,2020.
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My husband and I took advantage of Mt. Mayon’s unhidden splendor by capturing a selfie with her. We were on our way to my hometown last December 22, 2019 (my birthday) for the holidays. 🙂
I will be writing two versions of this article – in the vernacular and in English for the convenience of all local and international readers. ❤
The Beauty of Mt. Mayon and Yet One of Nature’s Most Destructible Weapons
Filipino Version
Sabi ko kay Brian, ang hometown ko sa Bicol ay nakakaranas ng sobrang lakas na mga bagyo tuwing Disyembre simula noong bata pa ako. 2 hrs away din kami sa Mt. Mayon, the #1 most active volcano sa buong bansa, at ang Mt. Bulusan ay 30 minutes away lang din. Nakaranas din kami ng matinding ash fall noong tumuga ito. Ngayon, ito ay nananatiling nasa Alert Level 1 simula noong Mayo 5, 2019 samantalang ang Mt. Mayon ay nasa Alert Level 2 simula pa noong March 29, 2018.
Nasa coastal area din kami o malapit sa baybaying dagat na pwedeng makaranas ng tsunami o storm surge at dahil maraming bulkan sa Bicol ang active, madalas din ang lindol. Through these calamities, iisa lang pinatunayan ng Dios, He still reigns supreme – not our government officials, not Science, not man.
Tiwala sa Kanya – God never wants anyone to perish but is being patient for everyone to repent. He does not send calamities nor create conflicts among men to punish, but for people to know who really is God. Neither is He a cruel God who wants His people to suffer.
No, God isn’t like that. Huwag natin kalimutan na satan, God’s enemy, is also in this world at may kinalaman din sya sa ibang nangyayari sa ating mundo and the main culprit of anything sinful.
God, however, already promised that never again will He destroy mankind gaya ng the Great Flood as a punishment. The rainbow He showed to Noah and to us now is a sign of that covenant. Calamities are only one of God’s ways of turning people back to Him at bumalik-loob sa Kanya.
But only because God loves us so much He doesn’t want us to perish when judgment day comes. It is also a reminder who is still in control of this world regardless if we have the most modern, high-powered warfare in the entire universe or the greatest up-to-date technology that man and Science can ever design.
God will and still remain SUPREME at patuloy Nya tayong ire-remind of that.
English Version
I told my husband that my hometown experiences super typhoons every December ever since I was a kid. We are also located 2 hours away from the #1 most active volcano in the Philippines, Mt. Mayon, and also lauded in the world as the only volcano with the perfect cone. There is also another active volcano near our community, Mt. Bulusan, which is only 30 minutes away. We also experienced extreme ash fall during one of its eruptions. According to PHIVOLCS, it is currently on Alert Level 1 since May 5, 2019, while Mt. Mayon is on Alert Level 2 since March 28, 2018.
We are also located in a coastal area wherein there are high chances of a storm surge and tsunamis. Since we have two of the 4 most active volcanoes in the country, we also experience frequent earthquakes. And yet through these calamities, God has proven only one thing, He reigns supreme – not our government officials, not Science, and not man.
Trust in Him – this is what God wants, not wanting anyone to perish but patiently waiting for everyone to repent. He does not send calamities nor create conflicts among men to punish, but for people to know who God truly is. Neither is He a cruel God who wants His people to suffer.
No, God isn’t like that. We mustn’t forget that satan, God’s enemy, is also in this world and is at work. He is also responsible for some of the unfortunate events that took place and the main culprit of anything sinful.
God, however, already promised that never again will He destroy mankind as punishment for our sins such as what happened during the Great Flood. The rainbow He showed to Noah and to us now is a sign of that covenant. Calamities are only one of God’s ways of turning people back to Him.
But only because God loves us so much He doesn’t want us to perish when judgment day comes. It is also a reminder who is still in control of this world regardless if we have the most modern, high-powered warfare in the entire universe or the greatest up-to-date technology that man and Science can ever design.
God will and still remain SUPREME and He will continue to remind us of that every now and then. We can glorify God’s beautiful creations such as volcanoes, and yet they also remind us to submit to His power.
Always a Christian Bicolana,
MT. MAYON TRIVIA
1. Trivia 1
“Some people believe that when the volcano is restive and about to erupt, Magayon is being bothered by Pagtuga, while they believe Pangaronon is embracing Magayon when the volcano is calm…
They also believe that Pangaronon is kissing Magayon when clouds meet at the top of the volcano.”
We all know the extent of a disaster caused by volcanic eruptions. It can instantly wipe out a community, kill thousands of people, and destroy countless properties and livestock. Research, however, proved that living near a volcano also provides some benefits. They are as follows:
Fertile Soil
Minerals & Other Materials For Building Construction
The night before kami lumuwas papunta ng Maynila galing sa hometown ko sa Bicol after the holidays last January 3, hubby asked me kung magiging successful ang plan namin to have a baby this 2020. Nag-smile lang ako saying na ‘di ko masasagot tanong nya and only God knows.
The next day habang nasa byahe, naisipan namin to grab a quick breakfast sa any Jobee branch (we were craving for Jollibee) na madaanan namin. We finally found one at dahil walang parking slot na available, naisipan namin na mag-drive thru at mag-stop na lang sa tabi ng daan and eat our breakfast.
A Glimpse of His Promise
Pero bago dumating, may naaninag akong 1/4 na rainbow sa kalangitan. Tinuro ko kay Brian and sabi ko may konting rainbow akong nakita. Rainbows always fascinate me because they remind me of God’s awesome wonders.
Ilang meters ahead lang from Jobee may nakita kaming malawak na daan, and we decided to pull over. Habang nilalabas ang mga pagkain, pagtingala ko nakita ko ang rainbow na unti-unting nabubuo sa harap namin until it became a perfect one simula isang dulo hanggang sa kabila. Sa sobrang tuwa, naisipan namin ni Brian na magpa-picture kasama ito.
The Covenant of God
And yet kung gaano sya kabilis lumitaw, ganun din sya kabilis nalusaw. After ilang seconds lang of being complete, unti-unti na syang nawala. It was just the perfect time and the perfect place to witness a perfect rainbow – unang magandang bagay sa pagpasok ng taong 2020.
It was also the first time I saw a full rainbow sa buong buhay ko. While eating at ‘di pa rin maka-get over sa nakita naming full rainbow, ningitian ko si Brian sabay biro ng, “Hon, tinanong mo ako kagabi, ayan na ang sagot ni God sa’yo.” 😁
A Symbol of Hope and New Beginnings
Sa Bible, ang rainbow ay pinakita ni God kay Noah as a sign of His covenant sa Kanyang promises kay Noah and his family. This was after God flooded the Earth (the Great Flood) for 40 days and 40 nights and only Noah and his family tsaka a pair of every creation ni God survived. It is symbolic of a new beginning and a promise of God’s faithfulness sa mga tao.
Albay/Bicol/Region V
Indeed, when we ask God ng kahit ano, He never fails to answer. Minsan hindi talaga ‘yung sagot na gusto natin. But oftentimes it is an assurance na naririnig Nya tayo, and that He is with us always.
We may have our doubts, worries, and fears about what 2020 may bring. Pero sumagot na ang Dios na He will go before us at wala tayong dapat ipangamba. In return, this is what God asks from us – undying faith all the way, all the time. Dahil ganyan din Sya sa atin.
I believe rainbows can only represent 3 things – a sign of God’s peace, promise, and patience. 🙏❤️🙂
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“The rainbow that I have put in the sky will be my sign to you and to every living creature on earth. It will remind you that I will keep this promise forever.” – Genesis 9:12-13
“What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” – Genesis 28:15
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Always claiming God’s beautiful promises every year,
P. S.
Ngayon lang naka-post dahil nag-social media fasting ako from Jan 6-10 as part of the Prayer and Fasting 2020 sa church. 🙏🙂
P. S. 2
‘Yung electric post sa gitna parang itsurang Cross, noh? 👍🏼👍🏼 😁
Hello, everyone! Nope, I haven’t forgotten at all to write anything here on WordPress. I just had a lot of things going on in the past weeks. God, however, never fails to remind me because though I was inactive for more than a month already, I still keep on getting blog “Follows” and post “Likes.”
Thank you, all, for dropping by my site and showing your love. May you be blessed as you read along and God’s revelations be known to you as well. ❤
From A Promise-Keeper To Another Promise-Keeper
I bet God’s reminder to me through all of you is His way of saying, “My child, don’t forget the promise you made back in 2013 when I saved you that you will make this online journal a testimony of your spiritual journey.” 😀
Yes, Lord. I haven’t forgotten at all. In fact, I now have 64 drafts. Some of them are half-finished while some drafts contain only one word to remind me about the theme of the story.
I originally came up with an editorial calendar to make publishing on a regular basis way easier. But, I guess that it is not how God really intended it to be since I write based on the Spirit’s leading, and it has always been this way ever since I started this blog.
Anyway, let me end the long intro here and start today’s topic, which is one of the reasons why I was hibernating here on WordPress – the family business in Bicol.
How the Rice Tarrification Law is Affecting the Rice Farmers Now
Several months passed since the bill was implemented, and Dad’s assumptions that it will negatively affect the rice farmers are right. When my brother, sis-in-law, and I went to our home province last September, a majority of the rice farmers all over the country are expressing their sentiments to abolish the law.
The cheaper imported rice may have been a solution to most rice consumers, but the local rice struggled to compete with it. This resulted in a lower buying price for the local rice – way too low that farmers no longer gain any profit considering the high expenses involved in rice farming from planting to harvesting.
Local farmers, in fact, had to borrow money in order to recover the losses incurred during this season’s harvests. My Dad plans to skip cropping seasons in the meantime that market prices for local rice are low.
The Rice Farming Business Through The Decades
Our rice farming business is an additional source of income, and our parents relied on it to support all our needs when we were in college.
My parents told us how their salaries as working professionals (grade school teacher and engineer) were not enough to support all our needs. Copra production is also another alternative source of income for my parents, however, the buying price of coconuts is also very low.
Both of my parents are retired now and receive a monthly pension. My siblings and I also have our own careers. But what concerns my parents more now is the situation of our palay farm workers who rely on the planting and harvesting seasons to earn an income.
My Dad told me that should we skip a couple of cropping seasons (that’s every 6 months per annum), our farm workers will have no other choice but to look for other means to earn an income. Most of them are skilled in rice farming only so looking for other types of jobs will be difficult for them.
Some of them will leave their families behind to come here to Manila and work as construction workers. My Dad fears that those who do not have this privilege, considering the expensive bus fares going to Manila, might end up joining the New People’s Army to get money to feed their families.
Support the Local Rice Farmers
The plight of rice farmers has created an uproar on social media. There were several collaborations and joint efforts done to support the local farmers such as what Session Groceries is doing. However, only the rice farmers located near and within Metro Manila will benefit from these collective efforts since a majority of the demand all over the country comes from the metro.
For those who are in far-flung provinces such as our rice farmers in Bicol, this isn’t an option. Because selling rice in Manila would mean costly trucking and handling fees. Our only option is to sell our palay to rice traders in the region.
As I type this, I can’t help but feel a little emotional. I have seen the difficult process of producing rice, the stress involved, the resources needed, the amount of money shelled out, and how some of our farm workers would ask my Dad for their salaries in advance to support their immediate needs.
They have been a part of our family for several generations now – yes, we already consider them as a family because they are the ones responsible for keeping our rice farming business running. We just finance the entire process, but they are the ones who do all the hard work, which is extremely difficult. Agricultural work is indeed and entails hard labor.
I see the RTL as a form of oppression to the entire local rice farming industry. If it will not be abolished and market prices for local rice don’t go back to normal, we have to start looking for better alternatives that have lasting solutions.
Just Wait Because God is Always on Time and Never Late
I have been asking God for answers as to why this has to happen. Why let Your people suffer? Why let those who are in the seat of power abuse those who are already disadvantaged? Why let the strong continue to oppress the weak?
And yet through those questions, God asked that I trust Him completely. He may not have revealed what His plans are and yet there is the assurance that He is working something good behind it all. He is always working even if we don’t see it.
Unfortunately, one of my personal struggles is being patient. I already learned a lesson on patience the hard way in terms of my career. It’s God’s calling I work from home. But since I am expecting positive results once I obey Him, I end up doing the other way around when my expectations aren’t met.
The last office job was God’s final warning for me. After just a couple of weeks working in an office setting, here came the health scare once again. I felt persistent pain in my chest, which prompted me to resign and go through several medical checkups.
Warnings To Heed
To some of you who don’t know yet, breast cancer was consistent in my family’s history starting from my great grandmother, grandmother, then to my Mom. They’re all cancer survivors.
God made me realize that the daily commute weakens my immune system faster. I believe God is telling me that He still has more for me to do and if I want to live a fulfilled life, I should obey His calling.
Aside from the health scare, the work-from-home setup also allows me to work anywhere. This means that if God calls me to be in my home province and help Dad manage our family business, I can go there anytime without disrupting my work schedule.
Setting Priorities Right
This isn’t as easy as it sounds though since the reason why I am still here in Manila is that hubby’s work is here, and he is still my first priority. Hubby doesn’t have any background in farming, and should we decide to live in Bicol for good, it will be a major change in his life. I think hubby isn’t ready for this shift yet.
And God knows that, too. So His answer was this, “Tin, wait. I am still not yet done working. You just have to wait.”
For someone like me who always do things according to the plan, impatience always gets the best of me. And yet, this is where God is teaching me the greatest lesson. Though I must admit I sometimes haggle my way through His plans by asking Him to give me even just some glimpses of what He intends to do.
God will reveal some of His plans and yet they are not always a clear picture. Because “His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.” He can only show us portions of His bigger plans, bits and pieces of them, because that is only how far our human mind could comprehend.
I have realized later on that God’s wisdom is not meant to be grasped nor even understood. It is only to be received in faith that will show our complete trust in His power and His sovereignty above all things.
A Glimpse of Future Investments
I don’t have the wisdom of God to put the pieces of a puzzle together. And yet, in these pieces that God reveals along the way, I can make out one word – HOPE.
The Bicol International Airport was set to be completed by 2020; the Bicol Fish Port is half-finished; the construction of the SLEX 4, which will cut 3-4 hours of the travel time from Bicol to Manila and vice versa, has already started; and SM is starting to build several branches in key cities in the Bicol Region including the city closest to us, which is Sorsogon.
Our hometown may not experience this rapid growth in urbanization just yet. But when it happens, it will also increase commercialization in the province which will then boost local revenues.
This means better employment opportunities and a better quality of life for everyone. I am praying that those who live in the provinces will no longer have to go to Metro Manila and search for stable job opportunities. Besides, the metro will also reach its saturation point. Time will come when it will no longer be a conducive and habitable place to live in given the traffic, congestion, and pollution.
A Shift in the AgriBusiness Industry
Some farmers fear it will be the dawn of the agribusiness industry if most of the lands will be converted to real estate developments. We’re hoping that not all of the agricultural lands will be converted and utilized for commercial and residential projects. We will still have a need for farmlands to produce vegetables, other crops, and raise livestock and address the increasing demand in food supplies.
I wrote in my previous article, “Agribusiness: The Future of Today’s Economy,” that agribusinesses will have a high demand as long as the local government will patronize local products. In our region, God is just starting to establish the market.
So this must be the reason why He is asking me to wait. My siblings and I are initially planning on utilizing another portion of our farm for organic farming and other projects. Our goal is to help the local community and use the idle land according to how our grandparents wanted it to be utilized.
We proposed the idea to our parents but they are not really open to it since it’s a new venture, and they’re unfamiliar with the entire process. My grandparents have grown vegetables but only for their daily consumption. My parents don’t have enough knowledge and experience growing organic vegetables on a wider scale.
The Plan
Competition may be tough. But with the increase in commercial establishments, especially in the food industry such as local restaurants, there will be a high demand for a wide range of agricultural products.
Commercial establishments will start looking for local suppliers as this is cheaper compared if their suppliers will come from the North such as in Benguet where most of Metro Manila’s vegetables are coming from. But can you grow one type of vegetable only and be the supplier for an entire region? Yes, it is possible. One hectare can already provide you a truckload or more of produce. If you own a huge parcel of land, you have more options for growing different kinds of crops.
My parents said this will be difficult since there are certain crops that will only grow on a particular type of soil. If these are vegetables, especially the leafy ones, they don’t have deep root systems. They thrive on rich topsoil. Some of them can be grown in pots just like what I did here in our condo.
I came up with a plan to conduct a“pilot testing” for several vegetables by planting a couple of them in our backyard to see which ones will thrive and which ones won’t. The soil in our garden can be tested along with the soil taken from our farm to compare if they are the same or not.
The experiment will run for an entire cropping season. Determining the crop that is best suited to a particular type of soil will depend on the crop yield. If the crop produced a higher yield, then the percentage of it becoming a profitable venture is also high. It will also include all the expenses for organic fertilizers as well as the labor, and then I will compare it to the market price of the selected crop.
If It is God’s Will, He Will Make a Way
And yet these are all just plans, and these plans may change or may never be fulfilled depending on God’s will. Right now, it is about waiting on His perfect time and acting according to His instructions. I asked for God’s guidance that if my plans are indeed part of His plans, may He lead me to the right resources and the right people who can help me and my siblings in this endeavor.
As typical of God, He never fails when you ask, especially if you are doing the tasks according to His will and His plans. Here are the links I found. Yes, I know, they are quite a lot, but they are all a very good read. Who knows, maybe God will also give you the answers you’ve been waiting from Him through these articles. 🙂
While typing this article, I am also listening to my favorite playlist on Spotify, and it’s just timely that the song by Sinach was played twice. I believe this song is meant to be the perfect ending for this article focusing on this one thought – God will make a way for He is our Way Maker. ❤
I am posting two versions – the original version sung by Sinach in 2017 and the cover version sung by Leeland in 2019. 🙂
Hello, my beloved readers! My apologies for the long hibernation here on WordPress. I had a lot of things going on lately. But I promised myself I can never miss a post here on my blog. So, for my comeback article, I’ve decided to share a photo essay instead.
Hubby and I weren’t able to celebrate our wedding anniversary nor went out on a summer vacation as a couple last year because we had a lot of constraints. This year, we were given the opportunity to have a summer getaway and I told my husband this will be our advance wedding anniversary, too. lol Do take note though that we were married on August 17. 😀
While I enjoy traveling, the practical me would still want to save money for other (more important) things. It’s a good thing hubby also shares the same sentiments with me. Since we saved up for this vacation, I told my husband that it has to be a collective experience and we’re not just going to have a summer vacation for the sake of Instagram-worthy photos. Because we can do that at any time of the year.
I had no idea where I will find an event that’s going to give us a collective summer experience but maybe God heard my prayers because I stumbled upon the LAYA Arts and Music Festival. This was our first ever music beach festival that we attended so I must say that the experience was indeed one for the books in our travel adventures as a couple. Do continue reading and find out why. 😉
LAYA Arts and Music Festival (May 31-June 2, 2019)
Day 1
We left Manila at 6:30 am and arrived in Zambales at 11:00 am exactly under the midday sun, which was perfect for taking photos of the event place. The art booths were also set up but hubby and I decided to take a nap by the beach first and stroll around. I haven’t slept the night before but I guess the excitement just got me going. 😉
Came nighttime, there was a short drizzle before the night one concert started. But it didn’t stop the crowd from enjoying the music performed by the awesome lineup of talented artists such as Ben and Ben.
For our accommodation, we availed the “Glamping” package at Crystal Beach Resort. The resort’s glamping feature exceeded my expectations. It’s very comfortable set up with a light bulb, a fan, two comfy mattresses, toiletries, blankets, pillows, a locker, a socket, a wet clothes rack, and your own set of benches and a table.
Our tent was also pitched facing the beachfront so it was such an adorable sight for us either at daytime or during nighttime. The resort has quite a number of bathrooms, showers, wash areas, and comfort rooms in every corner of the campsite. Though there were a lot of guests during the event, there’s no need to wait in line and they keep the wash areas clean always.
We had buffet breakfasts as part of our event package and if you’re going to buy food from the resort’s restaurant, their serving is good for sharing at an affordable price. But if you prefer a cheaper alternative, the Bamboo Food Strip located just outside the resort offers your regular Pinoy favorites such as ihaw-ihaw, snacks, and lutong bahay.
The resort doesn’t allow any single-use plastic inside the site so this means you will have to surrender all the chips and bottled water or soft drinks you brought with you at the entrance.
This is part of the resort’s effort to keep the beach clean and plastic-free, which is why I totally love Crystal Beach Resort. I believe this is one advocacy that all resorts can adopt to better protect our environment.
This is actually more effective, I think, than doing a beach cleanup every now and then to lessen the plastic waste. As they say, “prevention is better than cure.”
Day 2
For the second day, the activities were jam-packed with a long lineup of fun things to do and hubby and I felt we just had so little time to try them all. What we’re able to try out though are the Drum Circle workshop hosted by Anima Tierra and the Tie-Dye workshop facilitated by Yana Ofrasio.
They are such talented and amazing artists. Brian and I were very excited about how our chosen designs in the tie-dye workshop will turn out. To our surprise, the outcome of my chosen design kind of looked like a Cross (orange and purple). It does look like a Cross, right? 😀
Aside from the Drum Circle and Tie-Dye Workshops, the following are the other daytime activities:
– Flow Arts Session – Sound Bath Session – Yoga Session – LAYA Talks on mental health, gender equality, etc.
– Mask-making Workshop
– Watercolor Workshop – Dream Catcher Workshop
For the night two concert, something amazing happened and that I will share in the next article about miracles. Oh, and before that, we had the Sunset Bonfire Jam and it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. 😉
Day 3
This was our free time and we can do anything we wish while waiting for our check-out time at 2:00 pm. We just spent it basking under God’s beautiful creations – sea, sun, and nature.
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We would like to thank Travel Factor for arranging everything for us and making sure we enjoyed the LAYA event from Day 1 until Day 3 as well as the freebies! ❤
Always enjoying God’s creations may it be the sea or the mountains,
P.S.
Hubby and I availed the round-trip bus transfers from Manila to Zambales and vice versa just to get the summer vibe with fellow campers and festival goers. It was fun but we’ll bring the car next time for a change. 😀
P.S. (2)
Thank God for a hubby who just waits for me patiently all the time. ❤ Indeed, he has a master’s degree in waiting. hahaha Nah, that is why I love my man to pieces. I just assured him that ladies are really like that. It’s part of every husband or boyfriend’s duties to wait for their ladies in anything – long shopping, long time taking a bath, long time dressing up, etc. He posted in his FB Stories the photo below with a written text. 😀
There was one time my husband suggested getting our own home. I told him that it wouldn’t be a feasible idea because, as I see it, God is calling us to be nomads for now, to hold no permanent residence. 🙂
My siblings and I used to rent an apartment in Cubao, and we’ve stayed there since 1998. When my husband and I got married back in 2015, we decided to stay there, too, since I was the only one left to manage the place. Come 2017, hubby and I decided to move to Makati City, close to his workplace – he used to travel for a minimum of 6 hrs from Cubao to Makati City and vice versa. My family then decided to keep the apartment in Cubao, though nobody stayed there anymore, as a storage place for all our belongings and furniture.
In 2018, my sister was able to buy a condominium unit in Pasig City, and my family decided to transfer all of our things from Cubao to Pasig. Since there’s a yearly rental increase in our Makati condo unit and my sister also lives in Norway, hubby and I decided to leave Makati and relocate to Pasig after agreeing with my sister that we’ll shoulder the condo’s association dues and utility fees and handle the upkeep of the place.
This was also the reason why I couldn’t settle for an office job for many years. But God has been faithful enough to provide me with other sources of income through remote work. I took a lot of risks, though, and yet this has always been my prayer:
Officially A Pasigueño
My husband and I can now officially call ourselves Pasigueños because this will be our semi-permanent residence. And yet, I told him that I don’t see us staying here until we grow old. There are just so many endeavors and visions that God is calling us to fulfill in the future.
After finally settling here in Pasig City last year, it didn’t cross my mind that the midterm elections would be held a year later. For 27 years, the city has been under the rule of a political dynasty – the Eusebios. But with the recent mid-term elections, that long-term reign was ended by a 29-year-old councilor from Pasig who is the opposing candidate for the mayoral position.
I did my research on now Mayor Vico Sotto, and he does carry the right credentials, though political analysts referred to him as somewhat too young and a bit inexperienced to hold the position of mayor. But while watching all his interviews during the campaign period, I can tell that he was called to hold the spot at just the right time. Indeed, he doesn’t have the campaign machinery compared to Eusebios, and yet, there is something about him that made the people decide to vote for him.
We cannot dismiss the fact, though, that he is good-looking, being the son of popular showbiz personalities, Ms. Coney Reyes and Mr. Vic Sotto (all ladies will agree here). This can be one reason why he won, but it was evident in all his interviews that he wasn’t interested in being in the showbiz limelight. His campaign efforts were also simple, without the usual full entertainment lineup of famous showbiz personalities, though he has the means to do so.
In all fairness to the Eusebios, I haven’t stayed here in Pasig for a long period of time to speak about how they have ruled the city in the past 27 years. Just like in the Bible, God allows certain rulers to lead a kingdom and ends their reign in His perfect time, too, to satisfy His greater purpose.
History Repeating Itself – David and Goliath
But what got everybody interested in the race for the mayoral position between Mayor Vico Sotto and former Mayor Bobby Eusebio is its similarity to the David-Goliath story in the Bible. Here is a more experienced, bigger victor who’s challenged by a younger, less experienced opponent. And just like how the story in the Bible ended, David won.
On a side note, I am also in this season where I am desperate for God’s wisdom because circumstances, yet again, call for another big decision. I asked for His will and His instructions, asking Him to clear my heart from any motives that might displease Him. And to reveal a part of His plans as well as the sacrifices that I need to make, even if it means going against what most people would have wanted, losing “worldly privileges,” and not being on par with the world’s standards. His answer came from the story of David found in this verse:
Going back to Mayor Vico Sotto, he wants to end the trend of political dynasties, and he already promised he won’t be staying long in the seat of power because he only wanted to leave a legacy. The way I see it, it is like David training a successor in the likes of Solomon. If Mayor Vico doesn’t plan on being the mayor of Pasig for a couple of terms, I am praying he will have a successor who will also follow in his footsteps (God-led ways) and fulfill God’s plans.
It’s just amazing how the scene where David came out of hiding and stepped up to regain the throne that King Saul left when he and his son died was very similar to Mayor Vico Sotto’s statement, why he’s running for mayor – no one else was contesting the spot, and he felt he had to do it. The way I see it, though, it is only the start of the many trials that the new mayor will encounter in facing even “bigger Goliaths.” And this is the part where I would like to cover him with prayers for protection, guidance, strength, courage, and most of all faith in God and God alone.
What Pasig Can Expect From The New Mayor
While listening to him share his political agendas and platform, I was relieved to find out that he is focusing on social development. This includes improving the healthcare privileges of Pasigueños and engaging the citizens not just in the civic and social affairs but also in the political agenda of the local government, such as the “Freedom of Information” bill or the Pasig Transparency Mechanism Ordinance, which he passed last year as one of the city’s councilors. It is also good to note that he promised not to remove all the existing programs implemented by the previous mayor but to enhance them further.
While doing this article at work (I love my editor for being a blessing to me in so many ways), I also came across the Youth Development Center in Pasig. I did my research and found out that it is a facility that provides educational support to underprivileged youths and offers assistance when it comes to their social development. They provide free workshops in music, theater, arts, culinary, etc.
It is among my long list of plans, God willing, to hold a free writing workshop for kids or teens, and I thought that this is a great opportunity. I just pray that this is also one of the city’s programs that will receive the local government’s full support.
Serve the Country By Serving the Community
I always have a heart for community outreaches and social services. I’ve been volunteering in the community outreach programs organized by our church and even by other organizations in the past. This is the least that we can do to help our community and not rely on our government alone.
When it comes to assessing the political agendas of our government officials, I also hope this will be our mindset – they do not have that one-solution-for-all program where every single problem in the community will be addressed and resolved overnight. If society thinks that we have failed leaders in the past, methinks they have also served a good purpose in God’s plan.
From the perspective of a Christian, changes happen depending on God’s timeline and according to His plans. Though He appoints leaders, some of whom we presume as “bad” according to our standards, and yet with God, it doesn’t seem to be that way.
A Better Life For All
If we want to aim for a better community and a better life, it has to be a collective effort between the people and the government. I am praying for a government whose best interest is to uplift the lives of its constituents and that fears God most of all.
Yes, Mayor Vico Sotto may have promised he will only hold the office for a certain period of time, as he is not in favor of political dynasties. And yet, I know God has His own timeline for every government official and political leader.
In cases where His plans aren’t fulfilled because of our own free will, He will also make a way to appoint in due time those who rightfully reign, and this includes preparing the right successors among the next generations of servant leaders.
“For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:9
I believe the time has already come for the transition to take place when it comes to passing the baton from the generations of”Baby Boomers” and Gen X, to Gen Y or the millennials and Gen Z. But let’s not forget that we are who we are because of the people who came before us. And we won’t accomplish anything if it is apart from what God wants to be done. 🙂
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5
Praying for the best in Philippine politics this 2019,
Oftentimes, the first thing that comes into our minds when we think of GNP is related to economics – Gross National Product. At Mount Purro Nature Reserve, it refers to “God, Nature, and People.”
My college buddies and I have been planning for a get-together/quick getaway after not seeing each other for 2 years. We did make it a habit to meet at least once a year. But tight schedules and commitments made it impossible for us to organize a get-together for the last 2 years.
For this year, one of my college buddies, Ja, suggested going on a day tour hike at Mount Purro Nature Reserve as we can only allow a day’s worth of catching up and unwinding from the daily stresses in our lives. So we made a reservation in advance and readied ourselves for the getaway.
Mount Purro Nature Reserve is just an hour ride away from Metro Manila. It’s the perfect spot for anyone who wishes to unwind without going through the hassle of long travels. When we arrived, there were already guests checked in the night before and there were also other groups waiting for the day tour.
After presenting our vouchers, a guide rounded us up and showed us a video for a brief orientation and background of the place wherein the owner discussed how MPNR came to be. Our other college friend, Mench, is an Economics graduate and I’m sure the GNP concept struck a chord in her (right, Mench? 😀 ). I’m also guessing that the owner of the place, Sir Toto Malvar, who is a former corporate employee, may have also worked in a similar industry before deciding to pursue the project. I need to research more on this though. But for more of MPNR’s mission, you may check out their website at https://www.mountpurronaturereserve.com/our-story.
After the orientation, we prepared for the hike and the guide asked us to get our own stick/wooden staff, which we will use later on when we descend from the mountain. I, being the remote worker that I am and a homebody, honestly did not prepare for the hike. I was expecting a normal hike with trails that aren’t too steep. But lo and behold, when I saw the mountain, I had no choice but to face one of the most challenging hikes in my entire human history. 😀
The hike was the first activity in the day tour’s itinerary – a 1-hour trail going up to the Malvar’s Peak and another hour coming down. Some hikers took advantage of a tree-planting session, which is part of a different day tour package at MPNR. But there are also some of us in the group who wanted to back out and head towards the camp. With the guide’s encouragement though, we all made it to the top. Hooray! I guess we all deserved a nice pat at the back and of course, kudos to our ever patient guide. 😊👍
After the climb that sure made all our limbs shaky and our tummies hungry, we witnessed the traditional cooking of the locals from the Dumagat tribe. They used bamboo poles cut into several parts to make improvised pots before roasting them over the fire. I must say that eating bamboo-cooked rice and sour pork stew is, by far, one of my most memorable experiences when it comes to interacting with the locals of a particular community. The first one was during my immersion back in 2013, which was a part of the requirements in one of my college Anthropology classes. As a souvenir from this recent experience and because I also love to cook, I bought one ladle made from a molave tree and handcrafted by the Dumagats.
After the hike, a line-up of Filipino dishes that are truly Pinoy welcomed us for our buffet lunch. It’s just the perfect meal for someone who’ve used up all the energy from the hike and the perfect way to enjoy a native Filipino cuisine at their nipa-hut-inspired restaurant. Their buffet lunch starts at 12:00pm until 2:00pm, half of which we spent catching up with the happenings in our lives. At around 3:00pm, we decided to swim at Mount Purro’s swimming pool to cool ourselves down from the summer heat.
The experience, I must say, is one for the books compared to all my other travel adventures. It’s because MPNR was able to integrate all three successfully: God, nature, and people – by raising awareness on how to sustain nature, by helping the community through livelihood opportunities, and by honoring God through the first two.
Sir Toto Malvar actually made it to my list of mentors and influential people. That is, when it comes to the family project that my siblings and I have felt in our hearts to pursue in God’s perfect time. My other mentor is Sir Dodong Cacanando. What these two mentors have in common is their desire to honor God by being good stewards of His greatest gift – nature. And by doing so, help others (most especially the local community) benefit from the endeavor.
Transformational leadership is a theory of leadership where a leader works with teams to identify needed change, creating a vision to guide the change through inspiration, and executing the change in tandem with committed members of a group;[1] it is an integral part of the Full Range Leadership Model. Transformational leadership serves to enhance the motivation, morale, and job performance of followers through a variety of mechanisms; these include connecting the follower’s sense of identity and self to a project and to the collective identity of the organization; being a role model for followers in order to inspire them and to raise their interest in the project; challenging followers to take greater ownership for their work, and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of followers, allowing the leader to align followers with tasks that enhance their performance.
To cap off the experience and end this article, I can say that indeed, building a business on faith is more like building your business on a solid foundation. Putting God at the center of our endeavors just makes everything we do worthwhile and helps us better appreciate the people who matter to us most – family, friends, and the community. 🙂
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5
A hiker with God as the guide,
P.S. Thanks to sis Mench for some of the photos! ❤
The Journeyman's Moments 