20 THINGS TO BE GRATEFUL FOR FOR 2013

2013 is almost over and I can’t wait for 2014 to begin. But before I start planning for my resolutions and goals for the New Year, let me just recap and see how good the current year is for me.

the things that went well for me in 2013:

1.  I got to bring my family (minus my brother; plus my soon-to-be-brother-in-law) to that beautiful place on top of the mountain called Monasterio de Tarlac, where a relic of the Cross of Jesus is kept and His magnificent statue stands.

2. I finally enrolled in a French class in UP Diliman and learned how to say, Je m’appelle Sachi. I also passed the evaluation test and I can attend French 2 already.

3. I continued to attend our bible study every Wednesdays. Our 3^rd and last module will end in January. But come February, there’s another weekly spiritual event that I signed up for.

(My primary goal in this endeavor was for me to get to know God more and to have a more intimate relationship with Him. I also hoped I'd be more loving and kind but this part has not been easy. But, I also learned to be more forgiving and patient with myself so I am taking things slow and giving myself time to learn and progress. I am glad I have my friend, Michi, who is also a colleague who is constantly observing me and my actions towards other people and she calls my attention when I am being mean to her and others.)

4. In my quest to have a balanced life, I needed to have a healthy soul so apart from the weekly bible sessions, I also joined a whole day retreat at the peaceful greenery of Sacred Heart Novitiate, where I felt God’s immense love for me, strange as it is, through the rustling leaves, swaying branches as the wind moved by. I hope that I shall not forget that day.

5.  If anything, I managed to start my day with a prayer, scripture reading and spiritual journal. Thanks to Joy’s gift last Christmas- Companion, as my guide. Maybe I have missed a few days. But those are very few, like only 10 out of 365 days.

6. I was part of a political campaign during the national elections. I like that sort of thing. Unfortunately, I was part of the boring team preparing briefers. I only got to join campaign rallies thrice and part of the backstaff for 1 tv and 2 radio interviews. Back in my province, I organized a small sortie of sorts to give away flyers for a day, which included my nephews aged 4 and 7. They were so thrilled!

7. So glad my boss won a seat in public office and that he kept me as one of his staff. I wish I got to explain this clearly to our chief of staff. He took it to mean I was happy to be part of that public office.  There’s a difference. 

8. I made new friends during the campaign and with some new people in the office. I am thankful for them. I have a lot to learn from them about humility, being pleasant and good-natured.

9. My parents and I visited Bangkok and we had a good time eating tom yum and pad thai.  

 10.  I swam with whalesharks!!! Also called butanding. (This will go in my book as one of the highlights of my life along with surfing in Bali back in 2012.)

11. On financial matters, I managed to attend 1 financial seminar. I got my money back from someone who swindled me. Little by little, I was able to grow my investment in the stock market thru Citiseconline and mutual funds. By November, I got approved for a lower interest on my real estate property, thus lower monthly payment so I have more to put into my monthly investment scheme.

12. I didn’t die! I could have drowned while swimming as the current surreptitiously brought me to the deep end when my friends and I went on an expedition to Sumilon in Cebu but by God’s mercy, I didn’t. My friends, Rhei and Jinj and a well-meaning hotel guest, Joseph managed to keep me calm and most importantly, afloat while waiting for year for the lifeguard to rescue me/us from the sea.

13.  I celebrated my 40^th birthday for a cause at a home for women in crisis with dear friends. Special thanks to my good old friend Monique and her husband Arnold for the help.

14. I felt like an angel when I was able to give our parish priest and 2 parishioners tickets to Kerygma Conference in November. I know fully well how much Fr. Ralphie wants to hear Bo Sanchez livethe moment I had those spare tickets, I asked my mom to invite him.

15. I was gifted with 4 books this year, 2 of which are – Bo Sanchez’s Abundance Formula from a newfound friend Tita Pat, and Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project from my good old friend Donch.

16. I am more positive in my outlook in life than in the previous years. I think I am more forgiving, lighthearted, easygoing and happier now.

17. I am glad that an opportunity to help the fashion industry opened up for me and while having coffee with old friends, some ideas were floated for us to start some business on the side. I hope something good comes out of it. That’s all I’m going to say for now. Will write about it when something has materialized.

18. I love getting a massage and this year, my friends and I made 3 new spa discoveries: Nuat Thai along Sct. Limbaga and Ahavia Lounge Spa along Sct. Torillo; and Blue Water Day Spa at Capitol Hills (for special occasions only. Unlike the first 2, Blue Water is a bit expensive for me.) Instantly, they became our favorites. I love Blue Water's mini-theater room where you get to watch a movie while getting a massage, complete with popcorn and iced tea. 

19. I was so lucky to be at Megamall this month when Fr. Joey Faller held a healing mass at the chapel on its 5th floor. Talk about being at the right place at the right time! I also got to go to a confession in time for Christmas and got the opportunity to receive the gift of glitters from Mama Mary. But unlike my seatmate, a kind elderly woman who showed me the glitter on her palm, I didn't get any (Fr. Joey said, we can all pray and ask for it anytime.) but just the same, I was just happy to be there feeling God's presence in my quivering heart (the good kind).

20. Our family’s answered prayer for my brother and his wife - a little darling angel of a daughter - our greatest blessing!

      With all these, I couldn't thank God more. Here's looking forward for more of His best for me and my family this coming 2014!
     
      How about you? What are you most grateful for for 2013? Tell me about it. Happy New Year everyone!

my monasterio de tarlac experience - comical (thanks to manang!) & extraordinary (no thanks to her!)

it was my first at the place, i didn't know what to expect. all i know was that there was a relic of the cross, the very same cross where Jesus was nailed to. in fact, when pat, of the light of jesus family was inviting us to join, i didn't sign up. sure, i wanted to go to a pilgrimage but i wanted to go to the real thing, holy land or rome. but then later, i thought, why not go to this one, as sort of "practice" for the big one. so, i enlisted myself.

fast forward to the monastery in the mountains. halfway to the top, we were greeted by an imposing all-white statue of jesus with arms open wide as if welcoming the pilgrims. we were told they are going to build a basilica, but to date, they only have a small chapel where the relic is housed. but despite that, we were not disappointed with the place. it was lovely actually, with the trees and landscaping and the wind rustling your hair. signs saying "god speaks to us in silence" is all over. however, not all is heeding the monastery's call for silence. once in a while, you will hear the chuckles and crackling sound of laughter from visiting pinoy pilgrims ;p

during the mass, people were quiet as if really trying to listen to God's message as exhorted by the priest. i loved the mass, it was not what i call an "express mass" that i'm used to in manila. from the procession, to the songs to almost every part of the mass, you can feel the reverence the father and the brother monks put into it. it was just lovely. i couldn't help but become teary-eyed. was it the heartwarming tagalog songs? it just felt great to be there. i saw the others wiping their tears away, some discreetly, some openly. somehow, people couldn't get their hands off their hankies, eyes, or noses. people were sniffing and coughing, if you know what i mean ;p

maybe that's the effect of attending mass up in the mountains. somehow your heart feels closer to God. you could really feel god's presence. you feel so happy you want to cry. i thought i'd invite my family to visit it this holy week. glad my mom said yes when i texted her later.

being pinoys, we had our picture taken with fr. archie suarez of the servants of the risen christ and founder of this monastery.




that was just the first part of our pilgrimage because after that, we listened to fr. john's talk on suffering and consolation as a cycle. heavy stuff on religion, my mind had a hard time comprehending ;p he later listened to our confession. what was supposed to be a serious matter, turned out to be comical.

we used the pantry as a confession room. when it was my turn, fr. john asked if he could go for toilet break. i went out and thought i'd crack a joke. i told the remaining group that my sins were so bad, fr. john couldn't take it and had to excuse himself to the loo.

when he got back, and i was about to start talking, a kitchen aide came in. manang in apron walked in oblivious of our presence. with her assistant, she started stacking cups and what-have-you's in her pail. with mouths agape, fr.john and i watched her fill up her pail with glassware one by one. i thought, man,this will take a while. i look at fr.john and i wanted to laugh, he looked as if he was about to say, seriously manang!

finally, after what seemed like eternity, fr.john, who seemed a patient man, lost his patience and with a scowl on his face, asked as calmly as he possibly could, "manang, para saan yan?" in my mind, i added, "because obviously, you are interrupting us. are you blind?!!" i thought, whatever inner peace i received during the mass was slowing fading away.

manang, without looking at the priest, continued collecting the numerous white cups, replied cooly that it was for some affair. ah!

"kelan po ang affair?" the priest asked, still maintaining a calm voice with tinge of irritation.

"sa lunes," manang answered.

wow! it was only saturday. i wanted to tear off my hair with my bare hands. a scene with vilma santos and nora aunor pulling each other's hair came to mind.

fr. john pleaded, "manang, puede mamaya mo na gawin yan? may confession kami." what did she think, we were dating?!!!

but she wouldn't budge, she looked at us and said, "sandali na lang ito." i couldn't stop rolling my eyes.

"manang!" and finally she gave in and said, "sige na, aalis na." ah! unbelievable! some character, haha!

anyway, after the confession, we lined up to see the relic. that's what we came here for after all. before we went inside the chapel, the relic was at the altar, pat told us to hurry it up cos it was getting late. i thought to myself, i'll start praying for my petitions while still on the line, so i don't spend so much time at the relic. when it was my turn, i kneeled down and placed both hands as i closely observed everyone did before me.

the relic was not exposed so as to preserve it. they said, the silver box containing it was only opened twice a year, jan and sept. so, it was actually the box that we saw and touched. but something extraordinary happened. when i placed my hands on the box and closed my eyes, i felt heat and energy coming from the relic. it was pulsating! as if the lid was collapsing and my hands were sliding slowly inside it. the relic was throbbing! and i felt my hands getting closer and closer to the relic. i thought, what's happening? for fear of breaking the precious box and causing a commotion, i opened my eyes a little to take a peek. it was all intact. and the pulsating stopped.

then i realized, though scary, what happened to me was still something wonderful. but my doubt and my fear stopped me from experiencing something greater, i guess. i wonder what would've happened if i kept still. i could've touched the relic, maybe. i wanted to share with the people in the van when we were on our way home. but i didn't know how, because i was still trying to understand what exactly happened to me. till now. so, what do you think?