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!

Day 20 - ASAN ka na??

300 USD --- not bad (as in NOT BAD!) for delaying your flight and have it re-scheduled the next day.  How did it happen this time?  And why does it always happen on you?  Almost 15000, you are truly blessed!

So pano, libre mo ko ha :D  Nagluto pa naman ako ng Lechon Paksiw at madaming kanin.  Akala ko kasi dating ka ngayon.  Ending, napanis ang kanin, haaay!

Hmmm, maya konti andito ka na.  Ang weird lang kasi hindi man lang kita masundo.  Hindi ko nga alam kung natuloy ba talaga flight mo this time or meron na namang irresistible offer :D

Marami tayong activities tomorrow but I'm not sure if you'd rather stay home and rest.    Birthday kasi ni aphz, mag-night-swimming daw mga Singles.  Pero dapat magsimba muna tayo before anything else ha.

Welcome BACK Aimee!

Day 18 - Washing MIRACLE

Had too much of the day.  Too much stress.  But not much work.  Too much laundry.  But our washing machine, too much problem!  It was one Friday morning, clad with my best "kuskos-piga" skills, the dial of the washer suddenly snapped.  Result:  I ended up manually washing my clothes. 

Two fridays already passed since then. 

At around 7pm today, I obliged my self to start sorting laundry and pulled my self to start washing.  The washer dial, which used to have automatic timer and spinwash, has to be manually maneuvered and has to be held until your forefinger and thumb starts to hurt.  After this, you have to untangle the clothes to make room for another spinning.  A tiresome and waste-of-time routine because you don't have time for other things (as I used to multitask when doing my laundry).  No time to cook either so I only had bread, 2 bananas and strawberry milk for dinner.

To save time, I usually start rinsing the first batch manually.  As I was doing it, which meant the washer is not spinning, I rotated and bent over to reach the dial.  This time it snapped again.  For a while, it seemed that I broke this darn machine again.  It totally stopped spinning even with my aid.  When I was about to give up, it started washing on its own.  Miracle!  Siguro naawa na si Lord sa akin :D

So dalawang tulog na lang, andito ka na ulit!  I pray that you'd have a safe and relaxing journey going back here.  I pray that your vacation has given you renewed strength and rekindled your motivation to work anew.  See u very, very soon Be! 

Day 15 - A LOVE Letter

AIMEE,

Nakita ko iyong mga litrato mo, ang saya-saya mo.  Ngayon lang kita nakitang ganyan kasaya!  Parang mas masaya ka pa nga dyan kaysa noong kasama mo ko dito, hehe :D 

Kunsabagay, iba naman kasi talaga kapag kasama ang pamilya.  Walang pagsidlan ang kaligayahan.  Nag-iiwan ito ng pitak sa ating alaala at habambuhay nang nakatimo sa ating puso at isipan.  (Parang ang korni ano, pagbigyan mo na lang ha at lulubusin ko pa.)  Ito rin ang nakakapagpaalala kung gaano tayo kamahal ng Diyos --- dahil biniyayaan Niya tayo ng pamilyang mapag-aruga at pamilyang laging nakasuporta sa ano mang desisyon natin sa buhay.  Hindi ba't sobra-sobrang biyaya na ito?

Ang ganda ng mga kuha nyo sa Sagada.  Kitang kita ko na talagang nag-enjoy kayo.  Na kahit pagod na sa kakalakad ay walang kapaguran pa rin sa pag-Jumpshot.  Kaka-adik tumalon ano?  Kasi kapag tumalon kayo, parang iyon na 'yong kabuuan ng iyong nadarama.  Maligaya, masaya, pagod, 'di mapakali.  Basta, hindi maipaliwanag.  Kaya nga't daanin na lang sa pagtalon.

Binabati ko nga pala kayo sa pagtapos nyo ng Cave Connection.  Alam ko namang kaya nyo 'yon.  Walang pagdududa.  Kaso nga lang, bakit parang wala kayong masyadong litrato sa loob.  Sayang naman kung ganoon, kasi maganda ang mga rock formations sa loob.  Maganda sanang alaala.  Na minsan, kinalimutan nyo ang lahat ng inhibisyon at kaartehan sa buhay, para lamang makalabas sa kabilang bunganga ng kuweba!

Nakita ko rin 'yung litrato mo sa bahay kubo natin sa Batangas.  Ang saya ninyo doon.  Parang bayanihan ang dating.  At ang sipag mo ha.  Kunsabagay, paborito mo talaga ang maglinis.  Sana ganoon rin tayo kapag tayong dalawa naman ang magtatayo ng sarili nating bahay.  Kaso paano iyon?  Hindi ba't condo ang gusto natin?  A, ako lang pala ang may gusto.  Basta, pag-usapan na lang natin ulit pagbalik mo. 

Nakipaglaro ka rin pala kay Chloei.  Mabait siya ano?  Kaso isa lang talaga ang alam niyang laro --- ngatngatan :D  Pero may mga bago syang tricks na alam hindi ba?  Hay, ang laki na niya.  Sana kilala niya pa rin ako pagbalik ko.

Sina Nanay at Tatay, kumusta pala?  Siguradong tuwang-tuwa sila na bumalik muli ang kanilang pinakamamahal na anak.  Sigurado ring babawi ka sa mga luto ni Tatay.  Kahit ako rin naaalala ko rin mga luto ni Tatay.  Masarap kasi talaga, na parang may ibang linamanam.  Sigurado ring andaming kwento ni Nanay sa iyo.  Atlis ngayon, pwede nya nang antayin ang sagot mo :D

Si Ataleng?  Ang galing! Tapos na kayong lahat.  Ang sarap nga pakiramdam ano.  Ganyan din ang nadama ko noong nakatapos si Giliw.  Ika nga, "Proud na Proud."  O, sabihin mo sa kanya na hinay-hinay lang ha.  Huwag magmadali.  Dahil mayroon talaga Siyang magandang plano para sa kanya.

Naku malapit ka na ulit bumalik dito.  Eksaktong isang linggo na lang.  Dapat ay baunin mo lahat ng magagandang alala ng iyong bakasyon dyan.  Halos isang taon ka muling lilisan para tuparin ang mga pangarap mo sa buhay.  Maghanda ka na ha.  Kasi pagbalik mo dito ay sasabak ka na naman sa walang humpay na trabaho.  Stress.  Mga ka-Pana-an.  Bawal magsick-leave.  Kailangan magstay-back.  Laba.  Luto.  Grocery.  Paulit-ulit.  Parang sirang plaka.

Pero huwag ka mag-alala, nandito naman ako.  Katulong mo ako sa kahit anong bagay na bumabagabag sa iyo.  Sabihin mo lang sa akin.  Basta't kaya ko ay gagawin ko.  Kung hindi ko naman kaya ay kakayanin pa rin.  Para sa iyo.  Para sa atin.

Salamat po.  Pakiramdam ko, mas lalo akong naging mabuting tao dahil sa iyo.  Wala nang iwanan ha.  At kahit pa sa susunod na bakasyon, kailangan, magkasama na tayo!

Lubos na nanabik sa iyo at hanap-hanap ka, McRICH

P.S. (Pahabol Sinta) ... pagkakataon ko nang bumawi, haha, huwag kalimutan ang aking mga padala pagbalik mo dito.  I-email ko na sina Ma para sa mga kailangan ko, hehe :D

  

Day 3 - Remembering MITCH

 

I remember the first time I saw you.  Quietly minding your own, staring at people passing by.  That made me notice you.  Your simple elegance somewhat caught my eyes.  Even then I knew that we were meant for each other.

I remember the first time we had our first stroll.  Did you see how proud I was just being with you?  I hope you did.  'Cause I love how you comforted me.  I love how gently you carried me amidst the chill of the night.  It was as if we knew each other for a long time.  We had fun that night and I was wishing then that we would never part again, ever.

But all is gone, Mitch.

I am sorry that I left you.  I did not know.  I thought you were still with me that morning.  I thought you were just walking by.  Please forgive me.  And now like Solo, you are gone --- gone forever.

Please take care Mitch for I will surely miss you...

P. S.      Hmmm, where can I buy a new JACKET?

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!

Day ZERO

I could still remember last night at the City Terminal.

There we were trying to convince the terminal officer to admit Aimee's 42-kg baggage but to no avail.  Somehow, our power of persuasion was no match to his steadfast adherence to the rules.  We had no choice but to open up the box we painstakingly wrapped up, tied up and tidied up for more than an hour.  And there we were standing on the counter with our ashened face trying to make out what to do next.  But what to do?  

With a lightning speed, Aimee was gone.  Ardee and I were left taking turns to off-load the box.  Trying to figure out which stuff we should unpack.  Cookwares, shoes, clothes, M&S biscuits, etc. --- off you go.  Then as we turned, there we found Aimee with a masking tape on hand and a sack bag on the other.  Only thing lucking now is a cutter.  Thank God for keys!

Back to the terminal.  X-ray.  Sticker.  Weighing.  At last it was 38 this time!  We thought we had almost made it but we did not!  The officer still could not accept it.  But to a high of Php9000 (800 AED), the excess baggage fee was lowered to Php4000 (400 AED).  Still a lot of money for us.  4 thousand is already enough for a nice dinner for 2 families somewhere in ATC.  Again, we had to unpack!

This time we got rid of the Tefal cookware totally.  Also done some trial and error to find out if we had at least reached 35.  Then we called the officer again.  Bore the usual pleading actuations.  Made some babby talks.  Showed some weary eyes.  At last, the officer finally gave in.

24 hours later, here I am alone.  Hungry.  Not in the mood to cook.  Not in the mood to go out.  Not in the mood to do anything else.  Was asked by my roommates to go out with them for a birthday party but I declined.  I am too lazy to party and even too lazy to eat.  All I wanted is to finish off this blog and snooze off to sleep.

But how can I?  I am missing YOU!  

MISS

Miss ko na yung luto ni Ma sa umaga.  Yung tipong paggising ko, handa na lahat at kulang na lang e subuan ako para lang kumain.  E dahil sa layo ng trabaho ko mula Pque at kailangang makaalis na ako agad dahil sa traffic, ang ending e baon na lang at sa office na lang mgbfast.

Miss ko na ang itlog at tocino.  Ang mainit na pandesal with meyoneys.  Ang sinangag.  Ang Enervon HP ko!

Miss ko na ang traffic.  Ang daang Fort going C5.  N-rerelax ako pag doon ako dumadaan.  Lalo na yung circle sa American Cemetery.  Parang napaka-peaceful, haha :D 

Miss ko na yung nagmamadali lalo na pag coding.  Tapos magtatago ako sa mga big cars para hindi ako mahuli ng MMDA.  Alala ko tuloy nung birthday ko last year na natapat sa coding day ko.  Bago pa man, naghanda na ako ng litanya kung sakali mang matyambahan ni Manong MMDA.  Sabihin ko na bday ko at kailangan lang talagang pumasok.  Ayun, nagkatotoo ang hinala ko at hindi ako pinalampas ni Manong.  Alang bday-bday!  So inisip ko na lang, treat ko na lang yung nakotong nya sa akin hahahaha :D

Miss ko na ang mga pamatay na kainan sa UP.  Ang isawan.  Ang beach house.  Choco Kiss.  Pati na rin si Mamang Sorbetero.

Miss ko na ang Pirated at Videocity DVD Marathon.  Tapos yung mga junk foods na binibili ko.  Taquitos, Mr. Chips, Nova, V-Cut, Chippy.  Tapos meyoneys ulit.  Tapos magkulong na ko sa kwarto hanggang sa sumakit ang ulo ko kakanood.  At alam na ang kasunod na bawal akong istorbohin.

Miss ko na ang kulitan naming magkakapatid at pamilya.  Si Pa na puro ngiti lang sabay labas ng bahay.  Si Ma at Ate na korni ang mga jokes.  Si Leng na kabatuhan ko naman.  Tapos tawanang walang humpay!

Miss ko na ang ever energetic kong Ate na pagdating sa bahay e matutulog na agad.  Ang linya nyang We Got it All for You kapag inaasar namin sya tuwing may pasok siya kahit na buong bansa ay idineklara nang wala ng pasok.  Ang libre nya sa amin dahil truly blessed ang kapatid kong ito.  Ang sama-sama naming gala para magpa-foot spa, gupit, kain o shopping lang.  Tapos yung kwento nyang super-huli at aasarin namin syang ulit na luma na yung binabanat nya.  Tapos tawanan na nman kami lahat.

Miss ko na kaagaw si Leng sa lappy.  O kaya yung midnight snacks namin.  Yung favorite naming White Cheese ng Brooklyn o kaya Manhattan Meatlovers ng Yellow Cab.  O kaya yung magluto si Leng ng tortang itlog tapos ipalaman namin sa tinapay.  Isa sa akin, 2 sa kanya :D

Miss ko na dumaan sa canteen nina Nanay.  Tapos papakainin nya ko ng sangkatutak.  Syempre ako naman as a future son in law e uubusin ang lahat ng inihain sa akin.  Ending, bundat.  Tapos magkwentuhan kami ng kung anu-ano.  Si Tay magkwento rin sya sa akin.  Sabi nila tahimik lang daw si Tay.  Pero ewan ko ba't di ko maramdaman.  Magandang senyales ba ito? hehe (",) 

Miss ko na manood ng sine mag-isa o kaya maghanap ng sale items sa SM Bicutan.  Mga favorite shops kong Solo at Artwork.  Di talaga ako bumibili kung hindi 50% off o kaya e sobrang gusto ko talaga.  Tapos pag napagod e kain naman sa Mcdo, French Baker, Kiosks sa Hypermart, Ted's La Paz Batchoy.  Yung Pearl cooler na Chinese --- limot ko ang name.  Basta favorite ko yung Super Taro nila!  

Miss ko na yung buwanang foot spa sa Reyes Haircutters  (ang mura, P200 lang), magpa-massage sa Humanessence sa West Triangle, magpa-Let's Face It at pagupit o pakulay sa Fix.  Tapos gala-gala minsan para magpalipas ng traffic sa EDSA.

Miss ko na ang comfort food ng Better Living.  Tal's, Eton's, Sinangag Express, Bastille's, Jollibee, Brooklyn, Bibingkinitan, Segie's, Coupe, Chowking, Pan de Manila.

Miss ko na ang murang gym malapit sa amin.  P40 lang + 5 para sa tubig.  Yung manual na paglalagay ng mga bakal.  Pero the best talaga tong gym na to dahil malapit lang talaga sa amin at okay naman ang mga nagbubuhat dahil halos kilala ko naman lahat.  Yung manonood kami ng Animal Planet habang nagpapahinga after every routine.  Yung mga casual talks para makapagpahinga pa rin.  At yung halos di ka na makagalaw pag marami ang nagbubuhat.

Miss ko na yung church namin at mga preachings nina Pastor at Pastora.  Pati yung mga kanta ng P&W.  Galing pala talaga nila at talented.  Yung cellgroup ko with Docs Bong and Celli, Memer at Greg.  Yung kwentuhan namin, sharing at prayers.  Pati na yung minsanan naming labas.

Miss ko na ang mga automatic friends, cream of the crop friends, college friends, Culdesac friends, VK friends, TMMC friends, MIT friends, RFM friends, PG friends.  Dami ko palang kaibigan.

Miss ko na ang TF.  Ang galing kasi.  Yung pagtalon-talon, yung kainan, yung languyan, piktyuran, serfingan, trekingan, walang artehan, PAITIMAN. Eto ang tunay na sagot sa kahirapan!

Miss ko na si Chloei.  Yung paggising nya sa akin pag iihi or pupupu especially sa umaga.  Kakagatin nya yung paa ko tapos papalabasin ko sa kwarto.  Si Ma naman papapasukin ulit dahil umiiyak daw.  ang sarap kasi makipaglaro kay Chloei.  Kahit na puro kagatan lang ang gusto nyang laro.  Yung bi-weekly check up kay Doc kahit madugo ang bayaran pagtapos.  Okay lang Chloei basta healthy ka.

Miss ko na ang Pilipinas. 

Pero sana MISS nya rin ako. 

The BIRD that Flew DHABI

Envelope courtesy of Tikoy.  (Hihi, ito po ay isang Metrobank envelope pa, thank u Tikoy!)  Paper courtesy of Tikoy?  or was it from Nonie?  Hmmm, sign of the times :)  Basta ang naaalala ko, I was so eager to write Aimee a letter to tell her how much fun I was having and I was so thinking of her in every islands, in every waters that we were exploring..  That I was so hoping that she was beside me that time.. 

Anyway,  while everybody went out exploring the pasalubong stores, I opted to stay to finish my writings.  And as an extra treat, I included the coconut leaf BIRD that Manong Banker gave us. 

On our way back to Manila, I asked around for the post office.  I realized later that it was a Sunday so no chance at all of mailing it from Puerto Princesa.  A bit disappointed that my plan did not materialize, I just carried it back to Manila and mailed it from there.

After almost 2 months in transit,  Aimee finally received it --- with the Bird now all dried up :)

Seeing it again now brought back fond memories --- a piece of home, bundled with My LOVE.