Monday, August 20, 2012

I Want to Go to Toulouse, France!


DEADLINE EXTENDED TO SEPT 3, 2012 MONDAY 12 NOON! 
See link https://www.facebook.com/LonelyPlanetPH/posts/418007331568855

There's a super photo and writing contest I just saw called, On Assignment. Thanks to KLM, 1 lucky writer and 2 photographers (need not be pros) will go for a week this September to Le Ville Rose (Pink City), Toulouse, France! Their (or should I say our? ;p) works will be printed on Lonely Planet Magazine Philippines and Digital Photographer Philippines.

For more info, go to their page at http://onassignment.ph/ or straight to the rules http://onassignment.ph/on-assignment

Deadline for submission of entries is on August 24, 2012 Friday. I don't know about you but I am definitely joining! And my next blog will be about my trip to the Pink City! ;p

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

A Day in the (College) Life of Sandy


excerpt from The Amazing Adventures of Sandy & Her Dog Dodo

One Little Miracle
May 2011

I was feeling low this early morning. As I entered the auditorium for my NatSci class, I scanned the huge hall for familiar faces. Finding none, I chose a seat at the back close to the door so I can discreetly leave whenever I want to.

Wanting to cheer myself up, I scanned the huge room for a glimpse of my crush. But I couldn't spot him so I said a silent prayer to God. I said, I wish I'd see him today. Then I thought, what are the chances that God would listen to me. He's probably busy with other important stuff. Why should He care about a petty matter as my seeing David today. And in this crowd of 1 million (alright, I tend to exaggerate.) loonies, I doubt.

But lo, I did see him. And how? There were 3 screens onstage that day. It was not a regular class. Our professor looked pumped for a mega marathon lecture. You'd think all screens will be used for his presentation but no, one camera was devoted to show the audience. I don't know why. But my guess is so that the class will be attentive to his lecture. Really?

As the presentation progressed, the camera rolled and my classmates kept smiling at the camera especially when they catch themselves onscreen. There were snickers and giggles, and of course, our lecturer got annoyed. Then some classmates got brazen and started waving at the cam, making the rest chuckle. Prof. X got so pissed at our immaturity and without warning, stormed out of the room. But who's more juvenile now?

You'd think, the class would feel sorry but no, we actually erupted in laughter. His immaturity went well for us. His walk-out meant dismissal. We were so relieved, we got off early. I just hope he doesn't give a surprise quiz next meeting. Knowing him, that's probably how he'll get his revenge at us.

But before I sign off, I did see him, my crush. He was flashed on the screen not only once but twice! I believe the first one was for God to let me know that, He listens to mundane prayer requests such as mine and that, yes, crushie was in the room. But since the shot was too tight, almost a close-up, he had to be shown again another time. The second time was a bit far so I got to spot where he was. After class, I got to position myself so he would pass by me at the aisle and we got to say hi and chat a bit. Heaven!

Thank you, Lord for my little miracle today! ;p



Tuesday, July 3, 2012

awaiting fate

march 2012

3 weeks from now, the english dept. of stanford university will announce its new list of stegner fellows. i am so interested because i am one of the hopefuls. either way, i think will die of faint. if i make it, i'll die of joy. if i don't make it, i'll die of embarrassment. but between the 2, i prefer to meet death joyously.

this isn't new to me. 100 years ago, i took a qualifying exam in the university of the philippines for my college education.the passing rate is about 10-15%.and i made it. the chances for this stanford scholarship though is slimmer. what are my chances? i'm up against 1,900 writers around the world and stanford will only take in 10 scholars.how's that?!  

so today, i feel like i'm back in march 1991 a highschool senior awaiting my fate. will i make it? i wish it were april 2 already.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

A Day in the (College) Life of Sandy


excerpt from The Amazing Adventures of Sandy & Her Dog Dodo



April 2011
Not a good time to be seen by him

It was another regular summer day in the campus. As I took a one last look at myself in the mirror, I smiled because I liked the striped black and purple top I was wearing. I looked good in it. Knowing I looked good, I felt good. But knowing very well how cold it can get at the amphitheater where my Econ 11 class is, I blindly grabbed the first cardigan I found in my cabinet. I had to hurry because I was running late for my class. 

Apparently, the knit top I got a hold of was light caramel. This color didn’t go well with my top plus the cut wasn’t flattering. Oh well, better that than freezing inside the theater, I consoled myself. I figured I’d just wear it inside the hall and take it off right after I get off my seat before anyone I know sees me. Good plan except that I forgot to execute it. And the first person I see as I stepped out of the room is him.

He sees me, recognizes me and flashes his 100-megawatt smile in an instant. Oh my gosh, he remembers me. There were close to ten of us girls introduced to him last week and yet he recognized me. Oh! That’s when I realized, I was wearing my crummy Bertha cape which made me look fat and disgusting. Ok, maybe not disgusting but really, unflattering. I almost froze in terror. In my embarrassment, I ignored him, looked the other way and pretended not to remember him. 

What a pity, I saw his smile vanish and turn into a frown. Oh shoot! Nice one, Sandy! I could only mutter softly, sorry.  

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Unlimited Blessings, Anyone?





If there’s one thing you’d like to attract in your life right now, what would it be? If you ask, Bro. Bo Sanchez, he’d say be a blessing magnet. How? Let Bro. Bo enlighten you in his latest book, How to Be a Blessing Magnet released last Easter Sunday.

This leader of the Light of Jesus Family, a charismatic community tells us that there are 8 simple steps to attract the miracles you need every day. Is it really simple? Not quite. This main preacher of a weekly Catholic gathering called The Feast teaches us we should be grateful for what we have received including those that we have yet to receive. Of course, it is easy to be thankful for what we see and what we have received but it takes faith to express gratitude to God in advance. After all, what if it doesn’t come? The doubting Thomas might ask. That’s precisely the point, Bro. Bo explains, your belief coupled with your grateful heart will attract your much-awaited blessings. 
If you have been following this successful author of 28 best-selling books and publisher of 8 magazines for a while now, you know that he writes and presents his ideas in simple, easy and fun ways - from healing yourself to becoming truly rich. But it takes an open mind to fully understand his message. Then it’s all up to you whether or not to follow his practical tips in attracting God’s unlimited and overflowing blessings that’s waiting and ready to overwhelm you.


To get started, go grab a copy of this blessing at your favorite bookstores and begin your way on becoming a blessing magnet yourself.

Your Slow but Surefire Way to Millions




How to make millions in the Stock Market? Preacher and financial guru, Bro. Bo Sanchez says, follow the turtle.
 
In his latest book, The Turtle Always Wins, Bo Sanchez, national best-selling author and entrepreneur, tells us how following the turtle’s lead can earn us millions of pesos in the Stock Market. How? With the simple to understand and easy to do Turtle Strategy and by following the 6 Lifestyle Principles of Mr. Turtle.

Yes, you can rake in millions of pesos in the Stock Market! Isn’t that fantastic? What’s more, with SAM (Strategic Averaging Method), you don’t need a high income to get started. Who said only millionaires and billionaires can invest in stocks? Bo promises anyone with a regular monthly income can! No kidding! You can take his word for it, and why not, he’s the author of the national best-selling book, My Maid Invests in the Stock Market! To date, his 2 maids and driver to date, are slowly but surely earning big bucks in the stock market. You see, anyone can! Isn’t it that exciting! 

Have you always wanted to dabble into stocks but were too afraid to try or even ask? Should you be a stock trader or a stock investor? Enough with the questions, go get a copy of his book now. Don’t delay. Start learning and start your way to making millions today!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

musings on my way to work


I just realized that the older we get, the faster time goes by, the shorter a day becomes.


When we were kids, a day seemed to go by soooo slowly. Waiting for my birthday or Christmas seemed so distant. Even waiting for a month, a week, a day, an hour. But now that I'm older, it seems like time is zipping by so fast. Didn't we just celebrate New Year and now, it's almost June?

Does time fly because we are older and wiser? What made us wiser? Is it time? Over time, we have learned more, given our experiences. Is it because we now know better and so we have become more patient? Does it mean that the older we get, the more patient we become (or at least compared to when we were kids). We also become more patient of people, of waiting of this and that even waiting for our dreams to be fulfilled, for God’s plans to unfold. And so, being older, more experienced (wiser), more patient, time becomes "shorter"?

Which led me to think, that's probably why God is so patient and wise because He is as old as Time. That's why "In His Time" seems so long for us, His kids, because we are not as old, wise and all-knowing as He is. We are not as old as time and can never be as wise and as all-knowing as He is. No one will ever be.  

We are like children crying out to our father or mother, I want to blow the candles on my birthday cake already! I want to open my Christmas gifts under the tree already! I want to swim even when I just ate lunch. Because we are impatient and do not know yet the essence of time. We do not understand that these things are meant to be done on a certain time, at the right time. That right timing is key.

When we complain and whine that our life is not shaping up as we want it to. That we have not acquired what we want to have, or become the person we want to be, or found that person we want to be with. He is unperturbed. Like a loving Father, He listens and smiles and gently says, it is not yet time.

And like little children, we sulk.When we were little, sometimes, we obey our parents despite of our strong will to do otherwise. And so when we are finally allowed to open our gifts after Noche Buena, what joy we have! How sweet our smiles! 

But sometimes, we rebel and become forceful and do as we please and even if we like the gift, because we know we opened it too soon against the will of our parents, our joy is not complete because we do not have our parents' blessings. Because there’s that guilt that we’ve crossed or offended them. If only we waited a little while.


And so it is also with Our Father. Our joy will only be complete if it our actions are done according to His Will. Thus, this is when our faith plays an important role. If we have faith in Him, that He knows what is best for us. That In His Time, things will fall into place then we can be at peace, calm and unperturbed even when our dreams, plans and aspirations are not yet here. Or even when it is not within our reach. For our faith in Him will become our source of peace and thus, joy and bliss.



I believe this, that all our heart’s desires will come true…in time. And if it doesn’t, it’s ok because I know He always has a better plan ;p