Spread the Word!

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The Age-Old Dilemma

Two people, concerned for my future, warned me on separate occasions today that I should not focus on career too much to the detriment of my state of life. But I didn't need reminding of what I valued the most.

Unfortunately, it's easier for me to find a job than to find love. For other people, the opposite is true. Still, there are a chosen few who have both.

I'm learning to respond to what I have and to stop pining for what's not there. Since I have a job, I will do it well. If I had my own family, I would give them my all, as well. One should not mean the absence of the other, though I would gladly give up the former for the latter.

If You Build It, He Will Come...

This is a cross-post from my other blog, but I feel it's justified.

What to do when you need to raise millions of pesos for a parish mission center building project? Do it step by step, brick by brick, peso by peso.

As I've written here before, we are a new parish. We're celebrating our first anniversary next week. Our parish priest, Fr. Steve Tynan, launched St. Benedict's Mission Center building project during our fiesta last July, as he said it's necessary for the vision and mission of the parish as well as the apostolate of the Missionaries of God's Love (MGL) in the Philippines.

This tiny building currently serves as the parish office:


This portion at the back serves as the meeting, storage, and practice area:


And this is what our parish church looks like at present:


The mission center, as planned, shall have an adoration chapel, a baptistery, meeting rooms for the different ministries and commissions, living quarters for the priests, as well as proper office space. There are generous individuals who have already given their pledges, but we need more bricks to see this building into completion. Ground-breaking will be on Monday, August 27, 2007.

We would greatly appreciate donations in cash or in kind (cement, paint, chairs, etc.) for this project. Contact me at galadriella2007@yahoo.com if you want to help the mission of our parish.

Thanks and God bless!

Tri-City Tour

I experienced God's bountiful blessings during my tri-city trip that ended this morning.

Upon arrival in Davao two weeks ago, it seemed like Murphy's Law was at work as everything that could go wrong decided to do so, all at the same time. Speakers were issued tickets to the wrong cities, cargo arrived at the wrong airports, printer drivers refused to work, handouts were improperly collated, and so on and so forth. It was a time to run to Jesus for comfort and strength, and He provided timely help for each catastrophe that I encountered.

I met old friends from Lingkod Davao and new friends from the project I worked on.


The disasters of the day were always resolved, and at night I had time to fellowship with friends. I saw Jack's Ridge, Nanay Bebeng's Restaurant, Ah Fat behind Victoria Plaza, Damosa, Waterfront (Davao Insular Hotel), Community Center, and BluGre Coffee. I ate lots of rambutan, pomelo, and mangosteen.

The Mindanao leg of the training series I was part of ended well, but instead of resting in my Cebu hotel for the weekend, I crossed the seas to Ormoc to visit my friends from Lingkod. I joined their Culture Weekend and talked to the participants about Personal Order.

Then I spent quality time with Lingkod friends.

Finally, I returned to Cebu and delivered my first lecture on Grammar. I felt like a huge load was lifted off my chest when the week was done. I could not believe how the Lord just gave me the strength to accomplish all the work that I had to do. I closed the week with a prayer meeting, this time with Lingkod Cebu. I praised and worshipped the God who saw me through many storms and who is true to His promises to me.

Perhaps, when I've fully rested, I could recount the many ways God provided for me.

Twenty Minutes Before Take-off...

From Jack's Ridge in Davao...

To Sabin Hotel in Ormoc...

To Cebu Midtown in, where else? Cebu...

And back in Manila! Well, in about 20 minutes we're taking off!

I Shall Return

Might not be able to post within the next couple of weeks. Have always been busy, but this time blogging seems to be next to impossible due to my tight schedule brought about by work, service, and family. Will also be traveling to three different cities. Giving my first lecture on a subject I've always loved but never mastered.

You are welcome to browse through my blog archives and to leave comments. Till then, ciao!

Ten Blessings

If God kept a record of my prayers, He probably would have a huge filing cabinet for my petitions and a single folder for my thank-you's. I just never thank Him enough. Everyday, I offer prayers for the variuos tasks at hand. I pray extra hard for relationship difficulties. I pray on my knees when I'm in pain. Even though I make an effort to listen to Him, discern what He's doing, and appreciate where He's moving, I still seldom pause to be grateful for all that He has given me.

I was trying to recall the many blessings of the past year and I was in awe at my backlog in thanksgiving.

Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thess 5:16-18, ESV)

I thank the Lord for:

1. My growing and loving family spread across the globe;


2. My love for music, nurtured in my family, that allows me to sing, dance, train choirs, and play the piano;


3. My job at CD Asia that allows me to explore my interests in writing, traveling, training, and speaking, while serving the legal profession, and within a Christian environment;


4. My friends since grade school (Secrets), high school (Phinx), college, UP Law A' 99, Gabay friends, Lingkod QC, Tiguls, Lingkod nationwide, Lingkod National Office, Parish of St. Benedict, Youth Alive, POSH;


5. My spiritual friends from MGL and the Cenacle;


6. My nephews and godchildren;


7. My service opportunities that bring me much joy and fulfillment, whether in the parish, Lingkod, Youth Alive, or other groups that invite me;


8. Material blessings that abound, from friends and family, even in times of joblessness, which have allowed me to travel, drive, text, call, blog, eat, sleep... obviously, I not only survived, but lived well even during the lean years, especially the past six months;


9. Work projects that have sustained me even if not on a fulltime basis; and


10. This particular year to rest, heal, and recharge.

I will try to make this a habit from now on.