Mga DAPAT Gawin sa Tag-ULAN

1.  MAGPAGAWA NG BAGONG CRIB - dahil mas mura ang mga materyales kapag tag-ulan! 

Di na talaga matawaran ang pag-iibigan nina Ma at Pa na kahit dinidelubyo na, ng bagyong Gener at andyan din ang umaatikabong si hanging Habagat, e tuloy pa rin ang crib-building sa aming hacienda sa Batangas.  Humahacienda?  Nyaha. 

2.  MAG-OUTING SA BEACH - para paniguradong KAYO-KAYO lang ang mga guests sa resort!

Napadpad kami sa Balai San Juan after bisitahin sina Ma at Pa sa Batangas.  Dito kami napunta dahil tinatamad na kong magmaneho at hindi naman masamang mag-try ng ibang resort for a change.  Kaya kahit mahal na mahal namin ang La Luz, pikit-mata na lang kaming naglunoy sa tubig ng Balai.  Arte.  Pikit-mata talaga.

Ang verdict, BABALIK kami dito, malimit!!!

3. Makipag-REUNION with old Friends - dahil hindi kayo sure kung kelan na ulit kayo magkikita-kita!

Sobrang na-miss pala namin ang isa't isa.  Sa Abu Dhabi kasi, isang tambling lang, kitakits na kami agad.  E dito, sa traffic pa lang, tatamarin ka na. 

Pero dahil ito ay para kina Kumpadreng Kuya Je at Kumadreng Ate Grace, kahit harangan pa kami ng nagliliyab na sibat o kumain ng dinikdik na bubog, hindi namin talaga palalagpasin ang pagkakataong makita sila muli. 

Ganon namin sila ka-love!   

Kumpadreng Kuya Je at Kumadreng Ate Grace, lagi kayong mag-iingat ha.  Alagaan nyo ang sarili nyo lalo ngayong andyan na kayo sa tugatog ng tagumpay.  'Wag kayong magpapapawis.  Especially na sobrang lamig don.  At siguraduhin nyong kumain ng go-grow-&-glow- foods.  Kasi.  Wala kami don.  Tandaan nyo yan ha.  You will be missed.

Waiting.  Thanks Kaye & Ian for the photos! 

Kumadreng Ate Grace - Beauty-in-Violet

Kumpadreng Kuya Je - Handsome-in-Red

Syanga pala, kaya ako sinipag magpost e para hikayatin na rin ang tatlo (3) kong mambabasa, na mag-usal ng munting panalangin at tumulong, in their own little way, sa mga biktima ng baha.

Wag tayong mawalan ng pag-asa dahil There's a RAINBOW, always , AFTER the RAIN! 

MAMI

MAMI-miss ko...

ang mga buwis-buhay training tulad nito, na kailangan mong mag-chill at kalma lang sa loob ng lumulubog na helicopter-replica at lumangoy afterwards na parang walang nangyari.  




ANSAYA nito pwamis, lalo na nung UMIKOT at NAKATIWARIK ka sa loob!

 

PINATALON din kami sa platform na nasa likod ko, KITA nyo? 

ang magtrabaho sa United Colors of Benetton habang kumakanta ng We are the World, We are the Children and It's a Small World Afterall.  

Kasama ang mga YARD People.



Kasama ang mga PLANT People.



Ito talaga ang UCB:  Algerian, Indonesian, Irish, Nigerian, French, English, Lebanese, FILIPINO at Canadian!

Dunong-dunungan Moment.

ang kumain ng masasarap na sweets na galing sa puwits.

ang mababait na CGmates, mula nung SINGLE to DOUBLE, na walang kahilig-hilig kumain at magtawanan ng walang humpay (habang kumakain pa rin).



Ispeysyal Number with Singles CG.  Si Rogel parang may POOT sa mga mata LOL :)



Kain kina Kumpadreng Kuya Danny (miss na namin kayo), si Marts hindi nag-pray haha :D

Kain sa Beach (nung Surprise Birthday Party ni Mrs)!



Our LAST Big Group (nung Surprise Birthday Dinner ko naman)!



ang i-enjoy ang init ng disyerto lalo pa't kasama mo ang nagse-sexy-han at baba-boom girls, a.k.a. The HEBIGATS.

We LOVE you Hebigats, IPON lang at hakutin ang YAMAN ng UAE!

Pero MAS, SOBRA, LALO, HIGIT, SUPER, OA naming MISS ang aming BIDA, kaya ALAM na.  

  

Di na TAYO maghihiwalay ANAK, PANGAKO yan!

Ang aming BIDA!

HBD & H2A

Halos mapunit ang makipot kong labi last Friday night sa kakangiti at sa walang pagsidlang kaligayahan!  

Sinorpresa kasi ako ng aking Couple's Core Group at ng aking pamilya (si MRS & the Hebigats) ng isang Birthday-Get-Together (complete with food, merriment, at mga papuri, pambobola at pampalaki-ng-ulong-maiikling-mensahe), yey!

Sobrang SALAMAT po!

Jerry & Grace Bondoc - Sabi ni Te Grace na gusto ko raw ng squid/shrimp balls kaya yun ang shi-nare nyo, answeet naman, talagang naalala.  At ang sauces, perfection na, congrats!

Rem & Ann Pinero - Samba talaga ako sa mga luto nyo!  Last Friday naman, umi-igado?  Kayo na ang pwedeng magtayo ng Del Monte Kitchenomics!         

Mike & Marge Laquindanum - Salamat po sa linuto nyong pancit at pagpapa-ambon ng pamatay na H&M sumbrero/hoodie/cap (hindi ko alam kung anong tawag, sensya).  Simula ngayon i-idolohin ko na si Bob Marley!

Miong & Gret Bondocs - Sa palagay ko e napaganda ang mga mensahe para sa akin dahil sa mahiwagang mint-fruity concoction na ginawa ni Miong.  Patok na patok!

Harold & Rozette Francisco - Antagal na pala nating hindi nag-fellowship!  Salamat sa pagbabasa ng mga blogs ko Harold!  Salamat din sa message ni Rozette.  Hipo ako :)

Jim & Judea Fabra - Ngayon alam mo na Jim kung bakit ako laging nagmamadaling umuwi from our CG dati.  Am glad you are doing the same! 

Rene & Zarah Diaz - Bakit magkahiwalay kayo sa pic?  Dala ba ito ng formulang ginawa ni Miong haha :)

Marts & Cryx Gaac - Ikaw ang may pakana ng honoring-kukuh, salamat ng marami, tumaba ng slight ang puso ko sa mga revelations na hindi ko ini-expect!

Ed & Zai Lusung - Welcome sa magulo, makulit at ma-kaing mundo namin.  Sana next time kasama na natin si Ed no :)  Salamat din pala sa mga pamatay mong kuha sa iyong mamahaling DSLR!   

 

Syempre sa aking mapagmahal na MRS, grabe andami mong surprise ha, mahal na mahal mo talaga ko, the mahal na mahal is mutual be!   

At, ang mga magagaling umarteng the Hebigats, 2 times nyo kong nalinlang, ang gagaling umarte!  Kada aalis kami e pahila-hilata kayo, tulog-tulugan, tapos magugulat na lang ako na andon kayo lagi sa surprisan hay.  Salamat mga kapatid! 

Kay BRO, salamat po sa ika-34th kong Kaarawan at ika-2nd naming Anniversary, and for more years of victories, blessings and favors! 

To YOU be the GLORY and HONOR forever.

TESTIMONY Night

To say that We were BLESSED in 2011 is a huge understatement.

1.  2011 brought a lot of FIRSTs in our family.

• FIRST Wedding Aniversary
• Caleb's FIRST Birthday
• And our FIRST Place finish in this year's Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards (PEBA) - OFW Blogger Division.

2.  Who says that there is an ongoing downturn in global economies?  We don't know and we refuse to believe.  Because in 2011, we received salary increment --- TWICE!

3.  Have you ever tried getting someone from the Philippines on a visit or tourist visa without any job offer?  If you do, then you know how painstakingly difficult it is.  We've done it THREE-times though, with THREE-weeks gap in between.  Now our siblings, Rachel, Rose and Arleen are certified Abu Dhabi yuppies and an addition to the growing Every Nation family.

4.  From FOUR sticks per day to zero.  From Day 1 to Day 36.  Everyday is indeed a struggle.  But on the other hand, everyday is now a Cigarette-FREE-Day for me.  And FYI, my wife is loving my new SMOKELESS scent.  Truly, we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us.

5.  So for ALL that YOU have done LORD, a BIG high-FIVE to YOU!

* A transcript of  MC  Family's TESTIMONY for

Every Nation Abu Dhabi's Night of Testimony. *   

     

At sorry naman kung nag-uumingles ako. 

May mga poreynjers po kasi.

A MORE BLESSED 2012 to EVERYBODY!!

A Night of Testimonies

**  A transcript of Aimee's first ever testimony last December 4 held at The Evangelical Church.  I was so blessed to see my wife summoning up all her courage just to share God's goodness in our family infront of everybody.  Love you Be and I am so proud of you! **

Last night when Ate Grace Bondoc asked me if I could deliver a testimony, I was at first hesitant.  It's because I have always thought that testimonies should be something grand.  You know, the usual testimonies where you prayed so hard that a miraculous intervention and an answered prayer happened afterwards.  Or a testimony about a problem so big that you thought you can never get through...  But out of His goodness, it all amazingly disappeared!

I never had those (and I sure hope that I'll never will).  What I want to share with you tonight are the simple wonders that I am experiencing right now as a maturing christian, a new mother and a wife. 

As you see, if God is able to answer mountain-like problems or solve mission impossible circumstances, how much more will He respond to simple day-to-day prayers?  Let me share with you one by one.

PRAYING FOR OUR SON, CALEB RICH - If you happened to be my husband's Facebook friend, you might have noticed a short declaration of faith on the sidebar.  To non-believers it may appear as arrogance; or to some a mere stint of positive thinking.  But no, it is not.  It is believing that prior to our son's emergence in this world, everything has been pre-planned for him.  That even at the time when he was still inside my womb, the Lord had already blessed him!  It is not arrogance or positive thinking --- it is making sure that our confessions and our desires are in line with God's promises in us.  It is believing that God is more capable of raising up our kid according to His will.  So thank you Lord for our kid --- at 3 months old, he is now able to navigate and walk around through his walker!

PRAYING FOR OUR OWN HOME - It is our desire to be back in the Philippines as soon as possible.  That is why it is our constant prayer that the Lord will grant us our own home.  We thought it was impossible to have a home within Metro Manila --- where asset prices are all shooting up.  We thought we would be like other newly-weds --- where buying a condo unit is the best and only option.  But no, God had not wanted us to live in a 'box.'  God wanted us to have a home with a clean title, strategically-located & on a prime location, with an abundance of sun, wind & water, and will be fully paid by this month!  We thought it was impossible, but to God, everything is possible!

I also would like to thank the Lord for our familes --- who had always been supportive.  I thank the Lord for our CG, EN, JCHGM and friends --- who always lift us up in trying times through their encouragement.  And I thank you Lord for I have a job --- because having one makes me bless others as well.

And last but not the least, I thank the Lord for my husband --- for his loving leadership taught me to constantly walk with the Lord.  He is an extraordinary husband whom I can share any physical, emotional, financial or spiritual matters and would always open my mind and inspire me to new and exciting options.  

To everybody tonight, let me share with you a Proverb:  'Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit."

Let us all be careful on what we confess.  Allow God and always believe that God will fulfill His promises in us.  Also, please remember that the Lord has given all of us our own Garden of Eden.  So it is really up to us on how we will make our garden prosper and produce a good harvest.

PRAISE BE TO GOD!

FIREPROOF Night-out

"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come.  It means when the fire comes, that you will be able to stand it."

" The sad part about it is when most people promise for better or worse --- they really mean for the better."

Catherine:  What day are you in? Caleb:  43.  

Catherine:  There are only 40.  Caleb:  Who says I have to stop?

Highly recommended for married couples, dating couples, "dreaming" singles and to everybody who would love a good laugh while realizing the hardships and trials in marriage.  A reminder that LOVE is not merely a feeling but a decision to make --- that whatever happens, there is no leaving your partner behind!

Had a blast with friends, acquaintances, churchmates and with Aimee.  Missed some parts because I had to go to the bathroom.  Did not eat much because of our earlier halo-halo overload.  Funtime with Niki, our friendly cam.

Day 1 - Call me KURACHO

Woke up around 9am.  Prepared the washing machine.  Got all the the dirty clothes.  Spinned the first batch.  Then when I was about to go on with the next, the spin dial seemed to have lost contact within.  Darn.  I ended up manually washing my clothes!  And there were lots of it :(

I did my best to finish by 1pm.  Ate 2 M&S cookies and drank a glass of water just to suppress my hunger (as I no longer have time to cook).  I have to be in church by 2.  So after resting for about 30 minutes, I hurriedly took a bath and dressed up.  I don't want to miss the P&W!

Then came the message about PRAYER.  Simply put, prayer affirms what is written in His Word; so we have to believe and claim His promises in us.  The ABC's of prayer :D

After church, Jane and I went to Cebu Restaurant as she wanted to treat me out.  Talk about answered prayers :D She had just gotten back from Oman (from where she waited her employment visa) and she wanted us to eat as a welcome treat.  She was so happy and relieved that she's back.  We talked about stranded Filipinoes there.  The hopeless case of some.  The hopefuls who are still awaiting a spark of miracle so that they could come back here.  I know how she felt.  I experienced it too.

We departed around 5pm.  I went home to rest.  Ate 1 biscuit for some sugar-rush.  Had to prepare because I'm meeting up with my small group friends.  (Last small group session, we agreed to burn up some fats, sweat a bit and exercise!)  Jeff, Apz and Jim made it.  I did not know what happened with Arbee.  Before I left church, he told me he would come.  Same goes with Martin.  Anyway, I was so glad that I was able to pump up some muscles again after two weeks of no exercise at all!  I took time to teach Jeff some routines while Jim had Apz.  We finished around 9.

Right after gym, I headed straight to the supermarket.  I no longer have rice to cook.  I was so hungry I could eat an elephant!  (Now, I'm exaggerating :D)

Got home, rested again.  Went to the kitchen and cooked rice.  Good thing I still have some eggs for a quick meal.  Then my roomates gave me a pininyahan drumstick.  Maybe they took pity on me after seeing me eating omelet, haha.

Then around 11:10pm, I looked for my sling bag.  Wait.  I left it in the resto!  Huwaaah :(  Hope it is still there.  Good thing the resto was just like some 5 minutes walk from our villa. 

The wind was so chilly.  Freak weather it is.  Just some days ago, it was beginning to get hot.  Then now, my whole body was literally shaking as I walked.  As I approached the resto, I prayed a little to God.  Hope it's still there.  And then --- lo and behold, my precious sling bag!

Time Check:  11:55pm

Call me KURACHO...  Ang Lalaking Walang Pahinga!

GUYAM Power

Just a day or so ago, Aimee and I were discussing about the whereabouts of my first ever Dirhams salary.  I relayed to her that somehow this hard-earned money seemed to have magically vanished in less than a month.  Even my mathematical prowess and budgeting skills (prior to that much anticipated blessing) were no match to the fast and furious culprit.  The culprit --- I don't have any idea!

Then came last Friday's preaching by Pastor Rey and the culminating topic on the Money Talk series.  It was so timely that it gave me answers on how to handle my Dirham notes wisely.  So with this, I'd like to share with you what I have learned from the Wisdom of the ANTS...

"Go to the ANT, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer; And gathers her food in the harvest."  Proverbs 6:6-8

Out of these verses, we learned that an Ant has INITIATIVE (they look for food practically everywhere and without having to ask for instructions or leads ); are HARDWORKING (able to carry food that are double or triple their size ); ACCOUNTABLE (when they find food, they'd leave scents so that other ants could follow the trail); SERVANT (they all serve their queen --- not mindful of their duties or position in the hive); and STORER (saves up food for the rainy days!)

But what appealed to me most was this secret on how to maximize your use of your hard-earned moolah...

A - void living BEYOND your means

N - ever get into DEBT

T - rust GOD all the time

S - ave for the FUTURE!

So there. 

Can't wait for my next salary ('',)