Tag Archives: pray

In Hindsight

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Ah yes, thank God for rest days and for quiet evenings when I can listen to peaceful classical music (my fave work music) while writing this. 🙏 I’m currently listening to Canon in D (Wedding Version) Playlist on Spotify, and I always play it on loop. As they say, repetition is key to mastery. 😉

By the way, this will be the first time that I will be writing a blog post without images including a feature image. I already maxed out my website’s free media storage capacity. And I am having second thoughts whether to monetize this blog or not should I opt to subscribe for a paid domain. I hope to increase my storage space without losing the main reason as to why I set up this blog in the first place – never about the money, but only about faith.

So for now, my future blog posts will be as plain as a journal can get except that it’s not handwritten. I miss to handwrite, too. I was actually thinking about getting a hard-bound diary or planner again soon.

But first, let’s go back to why I entitled this blog post as “In Hindsight.” Are you familiar or have you heard about “ESP” or “Extrasensory Perception?”

I grew up being so familiar with the term because my Mom would always bring it up during conversations, especially when she and Dad would discuss about our agribusiness. I remember how she would tell us that it’s too strong in our family. My late grandpa had it, she had it, and my siblings and I seemed to have gotten it, too.

It’s like having this mental ability to receive brain signals despite the distance and knowing what the other person wants. Then when we do see each other, we already know what the other family member needs or is about to say. This was how “ESP” became a favorite joke every time we have family gatherings because it kills the element of surprise. lol

My husband and I seemed to have developed this sort of telepathic connection with one another, too. He would always come home with stuff that I didn’t ask from him, but I was somehow thinking about it before he came home.

Going back to agribusiness, we all know that farmers back then rely heavily on climate predictions based on experience and word of mouth. Our grandparents here in the province never had the privileges that the generation now is enjoying – gadgets and technology.

What they used when listening to the news was a transistor radio that only a few families can afford. In other words, information was limited when it comes to weather updates like where exactly is the typhoon’s first landfall or if the country will experience seasons of La Niña and El Niño.

Just to share a little bit of info about my grandparents, my maternal grandfather was a true-blue farmer who, by experience, mastered the art of predicting possible scenarios based only on his observations of weather patterns and how nature and the animals respond to these patterns.

Mom called it as “ESP.” But when I did my research on “ESP,” I found out that it has no scientific basis. The closest term to “ESP” is “foresight.” What is “foresight?” Oxford Languages defined it as “the ability to predict or the action of predicting what will happen or be needed in the future.”

Mom would always recount situations wherein having “ESP” or foresight helped my grandpa make decisions that saved him from difficult situations that could have resulted in major livestock and crop losses. Having foresight and planning always go hand in hand though preparing is sometimes not enough, especially now when we are dealing with unpredictable and extreme weather conditions due to climate change.

But that is not what we are talking about in this blog, that’s only the introduction that I think should’ve been written as a separate article. lol We will talk about the opposite of “foresight,” which is “hindsight.” “Hindsight” means “understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened or developed.”

Between “foresight” and “hindsight,” I assume that it is the former that is favored more than the latter. And yet, I also think that both are very important not just in businesses, but also in our lives, in general. Why?

Trying to make sense of what happened gives us an opportunity to review our mistakes and learn from them. Science and technology benefits from this through A/B testing. In fact, almost every industry in our society was able to improve their processes based on the results of a previously implemented system.

With what is going on in our political landscape lately and with the upcoming elections, I can’t help but ponder on this idea that a majority of us need to take things in hindsight. I normally don’t talk about politics here in my blog.

But there’s just too much political clamor going around these days on the news that I can’t help but also give my ten cents about what’s really going on and what could possibly happen. No, I will not be mentioning particular names, only one phrase – it has happened before.

If we have hindsight, what have we learned so far? And this is the question that I’d like to leave to all of us to end this blog post. I want this blog to be a “breather” and a safe space for everyone, so as much as possible I want every content here to begin and end on a positive note.

And I think I am close to (or have already exceeded) writing 1,000 words, which is already my cue to wrap this up, otherwise I will bore you to death. 😅

Do watch out for my next article, which will be about transitions because that is my season now. Transitions just never seem to end on my part since 2022. Though for the most part of them, I can say that these transitions have contributed significantly on my personal growth and development, which then paved way for more doors opening and new experiences gained.

By the way, I’ll give you another hint for my next article – there’s a new fluffy in town. 😊

P.S. I’ll edit this later because I need to maximize my rest days by still staying productive a.k.a. fulfilling my other obligations while giving myself time to relax.

P.P.S. The palay harvest season is also fast approaching, so my foresight is telling me to plan ahead because I learned in hindsight that if you want to get the best out of multitasking, you have to develop your project management skills, which include but are not limited to time management, task delegation, setting priorities, and most importantly, self-care. 🙂

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.

On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.

For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” – Exodus 20:8-11

Do You Think Creatives Are Night Owls?

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To answer the question, I think we have to ask every creative in the entire universe if this is a truth or a fallacy. 😃

But if true, I will most likely be a creative night owl. My creative hours usually start from 10 PM until the wee hours of the morning. That’s why working on a night shift isn’t much of an adjustment for me.

This is me making sure I don’t wake up the cats at 2 AM when I have my lunch break. lol

The Life of the Night Owl

I must say though that I still have to prepare my body to stay awake during these hours because if my mind is still very active past my bedtime (12 NN), I can go on without proper sleep for how many consecutive days even without help from caffeine and still function like a normal being.

Most of us in the family are light sleepers. I did my research on this and the medical term for it is “Short Sleeper.” I do feel a bit sleepy, especially around 4 or 5 AM or when I am having my monthly PMS. I just feel a little light-headed, but I still have the same energy to do things at work and around the house.

Can Melatonin Help?

I’m just concerned about the long-term effects on my body if I don’t get enough sleep, so I thought taking melatonin pills might help. I did a little bit of research on melatonin because I am turning 40 this year, so I am watching out for perimenopausal symptoms (I have none so far) and anything that could alter my hormones and activate the sleeping cancer cells in my body (breast cancer genes are dominant on both sides of my parents).

I read that taking melatonin pills is relatively safe although I’d still have to ask my doctor when I have my yearly executive checkup to make sure it is okay for me to take them. They do help me get my uninterrupted 8-hour slumber during the day though, especially when everyone’s up and about, and the ‘normal universe’ is all wide awake.

Prepping The Bedroom

Preparing the bedroom so your circadian rhythm won’t be interrupted is very beneficial, too. Blackout window curtains are a big help, and also make sure that your room is cool enough and soundproof. I bought a pair of earplugs from Shopee, and they really do the job of blocking all the noise, even the loudest ones. A white noise inside your room (like an electric fan running) can also drown out the noise outside.

This small room, by the way, used to be the maids’ quarters back when we were kids and when we had two stay-in yayas. 😀 I just converted it into my WFH office/sleeping area (thanks to my Ate and our stay-out yaya for helping me) because this is the only room in the house that is soundproof and stays cool throughout the day even when the midday sun is blazing hot. I don’t want to use an air conditioning unit because I have allergic rhinitis, and the cold, dry air aggravates the symptoms.

The After-Work Routine

It took about 2 weeks for me to fully adjust to being awake for the entire night until 7 AM. After the end of my shift at work, I go out of the house and get a dose of Vitamin D from the sun, walk around the house and the garden, feed our pets, pick Blue Ternate flowers for my morning tea, eat breakfast, and do some errands and other household chores.

By the way, speaking of strolling in the garden, remember this Gumamela plant I talked about in this post? Well, here’s the bud I mentioned in that article. It bloomed exactly during Dad’s 85th birthday 2 weeks ago. 🙏😍

I teased Dad that I thought it was Mom greeting him with a “Happy birthday.” Because true enough, the day after Dad’s birthday, the flower wilted already.

Is this you, Mom? 🌻🥰
It’s always a pretty sight to see the morning dew on Mom’s flowers and plants. ❤️

This Is How I Exercise At Home As An Introvert

Waking up Her Royal Fluffyness. 😹
Feeding Them Pets: Say “Hi” to the new members of the Ginete Pet Tribe – Whitey and Ten-Ten from the avian family. 🐥🐓 Torti is their new neighbor because I had to transfer him temporarily in the poultry cage while I find the time to make his prototype turtle cage because vermins just love stealing his food.
Checking the fence of the chicken’s forage area for any damage from the rats. The madre de cacao fence posts have new leaves already – no need to replace them later on as they become new trees.
Helping my sister and our stay-out yaya monitor the growth of our plants in Mom’s garden. This is the root crop area – a new garden project of me and my sister. 🙏 And that’s my white shadow right beside me. 😹
And then your yaya will just tell you that you have a bleeding arm because you’ve been too busy doing stuff around the house and you barely noticed the scratches. 😅

This is what I love about working at night – I get to enjoy the night sky full of stars and the crisp, cool evening air during my break time and while quietly strolling in our garden, but still get to witness the break of dawn and see the rays of sun slowly creeping through the windows.

🎶 ‘Cause you’re a sky full of stars. 🎶
A quiet, evening walk – just me and my shadow. 😃
Timmy, The Black Sentinel: This is my shadow, actually. Because when I’m out in the garden at night, he would follow me around on alert mode sort of like wondering what must be wrong for my Fur Mom to be up and about when everyone’s asleep. lol
Why is the sun called “Mr. Sun?” Why not “Mrs. Sun?” lol 🌞

The only downside about working at night is scheduling your errands because some shops and offices won’t open until 9 AM, and I should be asleep by 11 AM. I’d have to thank my favorite delivery service here in our town because I get to delegate some tasks to them such as going to the market, buying prescription medicines, and ordering from our restos if I am already too tired to do these errands myself. Thank you, Moonride Delivery – I give you five stars for your awesome service. ⭐️

By the way, as an introvert, I enjoy working from home and being at home all the time. Today is my rest day, but I am still here at home writing and doing something “creative.” lol So yes, you’ll see me in my pambahay clothes often. And they are usually tattered and stained most of the time. Not because I am too stressed to care, but because I love wearing  pambahay clothes like that.

I guess I will never be the embodiment of pasosyal and I have nothing against those who are because it’s a matter of personal preferences and choices. 🙂 But of course, if I have to dress up for the sake of looking decent, you can count on me to play the part. Just inform me ahead of time because it will take me about a week to plan my wardrobe for the occasion. lol

Because we need to look human in our meetings. 😁

It’s 5:50 AM as of writing, and it’s Sunday, so it’s my turn to cook our breakfast and then watch the online church service afterwards before heading on to Slumberland. Until my next post, beloved readers. ❤️

My Sunday Prayer

“But I will sing of Your strength, in the morning I will sing of Your love; for You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. You are my strength, I sing praise to You; You, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.” – Psalms 59: 15-17

The Wonders of TLC

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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 trust me?”

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 G instead?” 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 rootcrops back 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.

Is Subservience Necessary?

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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?

It Can Be Done Because He Holds All Things Together

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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. 🙏

Leadership & Leadership Development

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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. 😉

Padayon, Peyups! ✊🙏

Here’s a snippet from yesterday’s Game 2: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/bzGWs9UMj6mWrZYs/

Dahil hindi maka-attend, hanggang Fb Reels na lang muna. 😄

UAAP 87 FINALS GAME 3: DLSU vs UP

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3

***UPDATE as of Dec. 15, 2024: Congratulations UP Men’s Basketball Team – UAAP 1987 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT CHAMPION! Wohoo! 💪✊♥️😊🙏

“Time For Us To Come Home For Christmas”

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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 decorating the 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

Morning Worship & Prayer

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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.

Thank You, Lord, for reminding me always. 🙏

YouVersion Bible App Daily Devo

Meet My New Friend, “NeuroSpark”

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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 honest opinion, it is not. I already tested each item at the farm, and so far they are very reliable tools as 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. 🙏

We trust in You, Lord.

“What Sorrow Awaits”

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“What sorrow awaits you who are rich, for you have your only happiness now.

What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger awaits you.

What sorrow awaits you who laugh now, for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow.

What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised false prophets.”

– Luke 6:23-26, NLT