 | About Me | Oct 11, 2008 |
GooD STEWARDS “Listen, sir! I will give half my belongings to the poor.” – Luke 19:8 On June 2006, Warren Buffet, then the world’s second richest man, announced the stunning news that he would give away 85% of his $40 billion fortune to charity foundations. On top of his list was the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which will get about five-sixths of the share or roughly $30 billion. If you think about it, it’s ironic that the second richest man in the world is giving his billions to Bill Gates, the first richest man. Warren expounded that he had grown to admire Bill and Melinda. “I’m always amazed at the enthusiasm and passion and energy they’re pouring into their work,” he said, “They’ve gone at it, you might say, with both head and heart.” More recently, after hearing that Bill has retired from his chairmanship at Microsoft to give full attention to the foundation, I’m bound to think that Warren had it right. Bill simply said, “It’s not a retirement. It’s a reprioritization.” It’s quite amazing how willing Warren and the Gates couple are in distributing most of their wealth. Both in terms of money and service, they are truly inspiring examples of what it means to be good stewards of God’s blessings.Cecil Lim REFLECTION: “He will always make you rich enough to be generous at all times, so that many will thank God for your gifts.” – 2 Corinthians 9:11 Lord, teach me to be generous at all times. With Cory Aquino's death, it seems that an era has come and gone, especially since Cardinal Sin has previously passed away. Who are now the guardians of our peace? Our people power revolution initiated not only our country's freedom from oppression, but also led the way for other countries who faced the same situation. When you think about it, it seems ludicrous that a housewife from a tiny country in Asia would serve as an inspiration that would shake out the autocracies in Asia, Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. I'd like to believe that God had a hand on it. I think our country is special in God's eyes. With all our petitions to Mama Mary, Jesus must be keeping a close watch on us all. No wonder we were sent such a unique angel as Cory. Maybe YOU were ordained by God to be born in this country for a special reason, too. Don't pass up the chance to leave your mark in this world. Let your light shine! Some sections taken from: Time RULE BREAKER “It is against our Law for your disciples to do this on the Sabbath!” – Matthew 12:2 “Lance, stop that!” I ran to catch up with my two-year-old son who was gleefully driving his tiny car on the rooftop and ramming into everything on sight. “Don’t hit the clothesline!” I was worried he’d hurt himself, but the more I admonished him, the more determined he became to hit it. “This is my last warning or else I’m going to take that car away from you!” The threat fell on deaf ears, and I realized that I was going about it the wrong way. I kept teaching him through warnings and threats but the lesson was lost because I never taught him the reason for all the rules. Sometimes, we Catholics dismiss the sacraments and traditions, or else we follow blindly what others say we need to do, without understanding the reason for the actions. What could be meaningful is reduced to a mere ritual or obligation, and the opportunity to get closer to God is lost. “Lance, please stop because you might get hurt. I love you and I don’t want to see you hurt yourself,” I said in a softer tone. “OK, Mama. I’ll go down,” he replied with a smile. I gave a sigh of relief. Cecil lim REFLECTION: Find out the meaning behind the actions and professions connected to our faith. You’ll find that everything brings you closer to Christ. Lord, help me seek the truth that will lead me to You. |  | Lance had a week long celebration of his birthday. It started on the Sunday before his actual birthday when we had a party with my family at my mom's house.
On the actual date, June 24, we spent the night in Alabang's Bellevue Hotel courtesy of Abbott Pharmaceutical. Good thing Lance's birthday falls on a holiday (at least in Manila) since it is Manila Day so we are both free to spend the day with each other. Tommy happens to have a convention and accommodations were graciously provided by Abbott. Lance loved the pool, the bubble bath, and our brief sojourn to the Pixie Forest in Festival Mall.
Last but not the least is his celebration in school which we did on June 26, Friday. The kids were all excited and Lance had so much fun being the center of attention.
Thank you to everyone who made my baby's 4th birthday so memorable! |
When protestant friends realize how much I love being a Catholic, they pepper me with a barrage of preaches. "Why do you have religious images? Don't you know that's idolatry?" "Why do you pray to Mary? We're taught to worship only one God!" "The apocryphal books that you still keep are blasphemous to the Christian faith!" etc. etc.
While I do try to answer their relentless questions, I have to admit that my knowledge only goes so far. I cannot quote the Bible extensively. I don't know enough church history. I don't know the source of our Catholic traditions. And my failure to answer correctly burned a fierce desire in me to know more, to learn and discover to help me express my passion and defend the church that propagated Jesus' teachings from two millennia ago.
And so I read. I asked questions. I prayed. And the more I learned, the more I realized that the knowledge may make me better at answering questions, but it doesn't necessarily make me a better Christian. No matter how much I studied, it is the message of God's all encompassing love that remains in my consciousness. It transformed my desire to defend and win debates into a yearning to show God's love and mercy to others, and what better way than to lead them to the church that has steadfastly protected and taught this truth.
I am not one to prophesy, nor am I gifted with tongues. I toil and work mostly in obscurity and that's how I prefer it. But I continue to read, to ask questions, and to pray. And in doing so I continue to be transformed into His image and likeness. Maybe, just maybe, someone will turn to me and be led to greater faith and understanding.
May my life always be a testament of God's grace! MY PERSONAL PRAYER “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites!” – Matthew 6:5 Every step was an agony, and the cross that I bore seemed heavier as each moment passed. I was looking down when a pair of feet appeared, and I knew that I had reached my destination. I put the cross down, and with it, I shed all my hurts, anxieties, betrayed hopes and shattered feelings. For a moment, it all seemed too much, and I couldn’t stand or even look up. Then a hand reached out to touch me. And from that point, I could feel the warmth spread through me. My soul was flooded with peace, consolation and an overwhelming sense of love. I looked up and took Jesus’ hand. Then I stood and was enveloped in His embrace. I knew then He would be with me all the way. I’ve never been good at saying my prayers aloud. Probably because when I pray, I do it with visions, like the one I just described. Sometimes Jesus and I dance in circles. Other times we just walk holding hands, side by side. We understand each other, my Lord and I. I am so glad He listens not with ears but with His heart. And so I pray likewise.Cecil Lim REFLECTION: “Kneeling before the tabernacle, I can think of only one thing to say to our Lord: ‘My God, you know that I love You.’ And I feel that my prayer does not weary Jesus.” (St. Therese of the Child Jesus) Lord, remind us that what we say is not as important as saying it from our hearts. | | Everything was quiet except for the sole Lector reading for the special mass for the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Lance was with us, and for once, he stopped talking long enough and was just standing in the middle aisle right beside my pew. All of a sudden, I heard a loud crash and turned to see the remains of the ceiling fan lying in a heap beside Lance! For a moment, I just stared in shock until yaya cried, "Si Lance!" and that galvanized me to scoop him in my arms to check for possible injuries.
Thank God he was unscathed!!! Jesus and his Guardian angel must have protected him and all the others nearby. I swear that the fan was heavy enough to kill someone unlucky enough to be hit by it. Father Sierra approached us after mass and said it was a miracle!
After the mass, Lance and I went to the figure of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and he said, "Papa Jesus, thank you for protecting me from the electric fan." The funny thing was, he wasn't even scared. I guess he didn't recognize the danger. All he said to me after asking about the fan was, "Mama, next time an electric fan falls I will cover my ears so it won't be so loud." :D I guess I don't have to worry about trauma, haha! |
I found this amazing song in You Tube. I hope it touches your heart as much as it touched mine.
Download this and other original video files with Multiply Premium. | | Thanks to John Ong, we were able to spend two days at Punta Fuego for free!
We love, love, love the place but most especially, we treasured the time that we get to spend with each other. Lance enjoyed the beach and all their pools. He's just starting to learn to swim by himself and takes delight in "diving", that is, putting his head underwater.
Tommy clicked his cam to his heart's content. I still brought my Lumix - I bet you can't tell apart which pics were taken by what cam. That's how good Lumix is, but of course I only have the standard lens while Tommy has several to choose from.
Muchas gracias, Jong! I hope we'll be able to return the favor in some other way. |
One of the executive directors of DLSP, Sister Joy, has announced her resignation. She told me that since DLSP has now been established and is pretty stable, she felt that God is calling her to be elsewhere, to use her talents in forging new paths that would benefit other people. I have to admit that I felt envious. I do believe that I am where I am because of God's calling. I believe I am in the right place, doing the right thing, at His right timing. But all this busyness can sometimes make me feel so far from my God, for whom I am actually performing all these. I remember when I closed down my business because of God's prompting, not knowing what I was supposed to do next. It left me confused and very anxious, but my dependence and confidence in God was so absolute that it's no wonder that the greatest miracle of my life followed soon after. He revealed to me that it was the perfect time to get pregnant and just knowing His will made it instantly come true. I guess that is what I envy Sister the most - her absolute dependence and confidence in God. ***** A few weeks ago, my boss talked to me about a lapse in my performance at the office. It was a simple matter regarding reporting for work. I know I'm not perfect and it brings to mind why I am so overwhelmed by God's love: in His eyes, everything that I do for love of Him is absolute perfection, I do not have to be flawless to be acceptable. I hope that in my service God, I do not get too focused on the technicalities that I lose sight of the essence of the service. My purpose should never waver, that is, to let others know of God's love for them through me. ***** Here's a blog from Bo Sanchez that is worth reading: Are You Fulfilling Your Life Purpose? | | Our annual company outing was scheduled on April 29 - May 1 at Coron, Palawan. I have never been to Palawan and I was so excited to see for myself the natural beauty this place holds. Despite the gloomy weather, it was true to its promise. The pristine water and majestic rock formations really takes your breath away.
On the first day, Nonoi and I joined David, Andy, and Kay for their intro dive. After more than 3 hours of lecture, we finally got ready to do the real thing. Just in time, too, since it started to rain hard and the wind picked up speed creating strong currents and waves. After a series of comedic tries, we finally managed to keep the three from bobbing up the surface. There was no current underwater though the lack of sunlight meant that we saw everything through a haze of blue. The corals were nice though and the experience was enough to convince the 3 that diving is fun! They barely noticed that we were already 40ft. underwater, haha! After we went up, Nonoi and I were accompanied by Patrick, our Divemaster, to some more leisurely diving since there was still plenty of air in our tanks. I think we had the most fruitful day compared to the others who stayed near the hotel.
We went island hopping the second day but not before we passed by the market to buy some fresh catch. The fishes were cheap, P90/kilo for the big talakitok we intended to ihaw. We also bought a fish they called "sapatos" which proved to be really yummy. We barely saw the sun the whole day but at least there were only light showers instead of the full-blown rain we experienced the day before. My favorite is the twin lagoons, our last stop for that day. I love its beauty and its stillness, it makes me feel so profoundly at peace. God truly is a great artist! |
| | This Holy Week, I decided to join my family's outing at Bolinao, Pangasinan. Tommy and I normally stay in Manila in observance of all the church's obligations for Holy Week. This year, I really needed a break and felt that spending time with family especially my Tommy and Lance is the perfect reminder of what great love God has for me.
We stayed at Punta Riviera Resort and it's an experience that I don't want to repeat. The service was very bad. First off, when we got there we found out that they gave away our room to some group who walked in. They claimed we did not confirm but we paid the 50% deposit and our name was clearly listed below the liquid paper they applied across the room number. Bad sila no? The food wasn't good either and they stick to such obscure rules that's really not customer-friendly. For example, they insist on serving breakfast only at exactly 7:30am and not a minute earlier, even if the food is ready and the guests are impatiently lined up.
Aside from my immediate family, my Aunts Norma and Mercy were with us together my cousins Momoy and Chloe Jane. My godchild Sam was also there which made Sophie so so happy :)
p.s. I'm posting this for the nth time... I keep forgetting that my Safari does not let me blog my photos. So weird... |
Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year I don't think much about it at all. I leave my laptop running overnight because I know it'll take five minutes or more to get things going in the morning -- not just booting up, but launching the various apps I start the day with, downloading my overnight email, filtering out the spam, and otherwise "getting settled." But all the power wasted while computers are sitting idle overnight adds up, and one study has finally tried to measure it. The tally: An estimated $2.8 billion wasted on excess energy costs each year in the U.S. alone. On a CO2 basis, that's 20 million tons of carbon dioxide, about the amount produced by 4 million cars on the road. The full report is available for download here (scroll down to "PC Energy Report US 2009"). But big numbers like that become almost meaningless in an era of trillion-dollar bailouts, so to put the wasted energy in perspective, the study provides the data in terms you can better understand: If you run a company with 1,000 PCs left on overnight, you can save about $28,000 a year if they are turned off after hours. That's not chump change. Of course, it's also a fact that your PC will function better if you restart it regularly, and nightly shutdowns can help you avoid having to suddenly reboot in the middle of the day when you'd otherwise be productive. So even though this little laptop, by my math, eats up only about a quarter's worth of power overnight, maybe it's a smart idea -- and ultimately a time-saver, too -- to shut it down after hours after all. Via USA Today | | Asian Hospital's surgical team had a strategic planning in Taal Vista on March 21 and Lance, yaya and I tagged along. We enjoyed the good food and took advantage of the amenities, especially the pool! The water was freezing but Lance didn't care. The lifeguard even approached me to say that my son might suffer chills because he was turning blue and couldn't stop shaking.
In contrast, the horseback was really scorching hot! Lance simply had to try it so we braved the sun and took turns assisting him. Worth it naman kasi enjoy sobra ang baby :) |
| | Lance goes to Little Presidents Learning Palace, located inside the Malacanang compound. It's a non-traditional pre-school offering toddler and nursery classes using Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences approach. At the end of the school year, the students were assessed with "stars" to see which intelligence they have mastered. I think Lance is one of only three students who got all eight stars. I'm so proud! Hahaha!
Buti pa si Lance, nursery pa lang may toga na, hahaha! I had to wait for my college graduation to try on a toga :) |
 Today was Lance's "graduation day" from nursery. I'm so proud to share that he got top honors!! My baby never fails to amaze me :)
We initially made reservations for his enrollment at Chiang Kai Shek College, where Tommy and I spent 13 years of our lives. However, LPLP (Little Presidents Learning Palace) announced that they're extending their classes to prep 1 next school year so we decided to keep him there for a while more. I love the school because they genuinely care about the children and it shows. Lance has always been a favorite, even down to the school driver and security guard whom Lance calls "Pare!" I think LPLP has been one of God's great blessings to our family.
I initially tried to get pictures of the graduation, but without a zoom lens, the picture appears with a third of the bottom composed of other parents' heads. I decided to stop trying and just enjoy the moment :)
As a side note, I just finished listening to "The Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell and I'm really glad I did. His book is about his research on where success comes from. What I learned from that book might not help me become a "huge success" like true outliers, but it definitely helps me make decisions on how to give Lance the opportunity to become one. Judging from Lance's accomplishments, we're not doing too bad, so far...
| | Thanks to Cebu Pacific's zero fare rates, Lance was able to have his first plane ride! My brother and his wife Loida chose Tuguegarao as their destination and we decided to tag along.
Tuguegarao's tourist attractions are mainly the caves and the churches. My favorite part was the river ride near twilight as we waited for the bats to come out of their caves. The city itself did not have much to offer tourists. While most provinces have local dishes and products, Tuguegarao seems to be at a loss on what they can uniquely offer. Food was disappointing and the presence of very healthy mosquitoes in every place was a nuisance.
All in all, I mostly enjoyed our vacation, due in most part to having quality time with Tommy and Lance. I can't wait for the next opportunity to get zero fares! (The airfare for the 3 of us was a sum total of P1200) Next destination... hopefully Bohol :) |
| | It was reported that we'll be able to see a partial solar eclipse on Jan 26, the first year of the Lunar New Year 2009. Good thing I have my Lumix with me as I was able to capture these photos. Sayang nga kasi sobrang cloudy. Please pardon my amaturity, hehe. I still haven't read the manual!
For a better view from my officemate's lens, check out http://eatingmashin.multiply.com/photos/album/66/First_Eclipse_of_2009#
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