December 21 was the last day of work for us, public teachers, for 2017, it is also the last day of our Gender and Equality (GAD) Seminar. But I already asked permission to our dear Principal to be absent on that day because I have already decided to attend the J.O.Y. Retreat sponsored and organized by our church, Blessed Hope Community Church International. The said retreat was held at Saddle Ridge Camp in Dahilayan Bukidnon. 

A week before, I was quite hesitant to join because of so many concerns, both personal and work, not to mention the financial areas since there is a registration payment of Php 1,000.00 per head and, I guess, half the amount for children. Then my youngest daughter was not feeling well. She was suffering from cough and cold that time. Indeed, there are so many obstacles that prompted me not to join anymore to avoid the stress. However, during Sunday that time, our LifeGroup Coach, Ate Grace Fancubit, encouraged us to join and she reassured me that our registration fee will be shouldered by my hubby's allowance. Wow, an answered prayer BUT then I was a bit worried about my baby since the weather of the venue was really noted for being cold especially during night time. It was also on the news that a typhoon was about to hit on the 22nd (Friday). Nevertheless, my whole family went along with other participants. We leave CDO before lunchtime.

Judging from previous similar engagements that I've been through before, I thought this whole retreat would be just "the same". So, before the first session had started, I and my husband agreed that he would be the one to attend to my three kids while I will be in the session hall. This was his second time actually so he already knew the whole thing. Indeed, the weather was very cold but it never stopped us. it also rained during the night. Before the proper session began, we were asked by the facilitator during the opening program that we should "empty" ourselves and should allow God to fill us with His presence. We should be focused from the start till the end. I really didn't get the message at first but as soon as the first session began, I was really completely overwhelmed with all my experiences until the last session. There was an outpouring of emotions, of realizations and of repentance. There are a lot of things that are so "new" to me. For ten years in the church, this was the first time that I fully understood myself and my God's plan for me. All my why's and how's in life were being answered. I can feel God's presence and I can read His message that He is trying to let me understand. All my doubts about my Christian life was somehow being enlightened. Indeed, I will never forget that complete experience I have- it is a "real encounter" with Him. 

I realized we can only understand ourselves if we were able to uncover our roots- the root of all our pains, bitterness, and all those negative traits that we possess. If we have all that being acknowledged, then it is easier for us to find the true value of God's sacrifices for all of us: when He died on the cross. All the things that Jesus did for us should not just go in vain. Its meaning was deeper than I could imagine. For 36 years, it is only this time that I fully understood the greatness of God's love for us. Never will I use my human frailties as an excuse for committing a sin. NEVER AGAIN. 

J.O.Y. (Jesus, Others, and You). Indeed, it was a JOYful experience. It was the first time also that I can feel God's Holy Spirit within me. That light feeling, that overflowing happiness, the outpouring of emotion as an expression of being grateful for everything that He has done for us. All those experiences were so worth the time and my decision to join the retreat. Indeed, no matter what situations or predicaments we are in, when it is God's will, it will really happen. God sees a receptive heart within me. Let me have this prayer:

Dear Father God

Thank you Lord for allowing me to enJOY your presence throughout the whole session in spite of the devastation brought by Typhoon Vinta upon our city and I believed that You will never forsake those who were affected. We might not be able to fathom everything that had happened in this world but I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason. It is my prayer Lord that You will give the victims hope and faith and more reasons to trust in You and in Your promises for them, for each one of us. We commit to You Oh, God the restoration of what were being damaged through your abundance and grace. These we asked in the mighty name of Jesus. AMEN

This is just my personal point of view regarding the SOGIE bill which has been approved by the Congress and will be made into law upon the approval of  President Rody Duterte.

All human beings should have an equal right- that's a fact. Both men and women should have equal rights- none should be below or above to each other. This is one of the advocacies of Gender and Development Program- GENDER EQUALITY.

But if we look further and go deeper- this could mean that all individual can freely express themselves according to their preferences thus same-sex marriage would soon be legalized in our dear country.

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE. What could/would happen to us people if our moral standards are slowly deteriorating? What could/would happen to our next generation? It's a form of perversion to God's original purpose of our creation! How can same-sex marriage procreate? 

I am not against to any of the LGBT group, but it's their act of perversion that I do not like. It's the spirit that tried to OVERPOWER THEM. God hates the act of perversion, in fact, He punished Sodom and Gomorrah. 

Do we have to wait for another Sodom and Gomorrah? People are clamoring for gender equality- to what extent? Do we really have to tolerate such act for the sake of EQUALITY? I felt sorry for all my LGBT friends who were overcome by the "sin of the flesh". But God is gracious, they can still REPENT and change their lives for the better. Otherwise, they have to be accountable for their actions.

Christmas rush... heavy traffic, long queue, crowded places and gift-able merchandise everywhere, indeed, the feeling of Christmas rush is evident everywhere and can be felt by everyone. As for me, I have a lot of things on my mind, lots of plans for the coming celebration. But then, I was reminded to stay calm- to stay cool. I was reminded not to feel the pressure, and I was reminded to stay chill. 

CREDITS: google.com

I used to worry a lot during this season. I worried about the gifts (obligatory feeling?), I was worried about the food. But as I grew a year older, I realized how to be contented and grateful with what I just can afford. I slowly withdraw myself from the "burden" of Christmas. What made me realize all that? Simple, it is the fact that this is NOT ABOUT US. Christmas is about Our Lord Jesus Christ who was born and more than three decades later, was hung on the cross to allow us to enjoy the beauty of CHRISTMAS as a redeemed children of God. This is ALL ABOUT HIM. That's why we should only do the things that could glorify Him! Yes, it is the season of giving, but we can give more than the material things. We can freely give our  FORGIVENESS to those who have offended us, we can give our LOVE for those whom we could consider as unlovable (as for me, some of my unruly students), we can give our TIME to our family whom we almost neglect because of the demands of our time for work. We can give ourselves for other people- our talents, skills, and concern. Christmas is a season of LOVE, a season of SHARING our happiness to everyone- how? that's where your talent, your skills and your time will be needed. No need to spend much. With just minimal expenses, the true spirit of Christmas can be experienced by each one of us.

Merry Christmas everyone!

You might be in a situation where you need to replace all of your current furniture because it is very old and falling apart. If this is the case, you will need to do some investigating in order to find a good place to buy some new furniture that will last for a very long time. There are many furniture retailers that you can choose from. However, you should never assume that these retailers are basically the same. You will discover that some are much better than others after you start shopping. Here are some of the most crucial things that you will need to keep in mind when you are in need of some new wooden furniture.

1. What sort of selection does the store have? 

Furniture stores come in all sizes. This means that some will have inventories that are much bigger than others. You should never buy new furniture that you are not crazy about just because the store you are doing your shopping at has a very lackluster selection. You need to remain patient and not be in a hurry to buy your furniture. Keep looking until you find a furniture store with a huge inventory that will offer you the choices you want. You should never settle for anything less than the exact furniture you are looking for.

2. Do you know anybody who has recently bought some wooden furniture?

It would be in your best interests to take a survey of the people you know to determine if any of them has bought some wooden furniture in the past year or two. You might just get lucky. One or more of these people might be able to recommend a fabulous furniture retailer that you never knew existed before. Ask the people who have recently bought furniture where they bought it and how much they paid for it. Are they happy with the quality of it? These people might give you a line on where to pick up some quality ranch style furniture in Austin.

3. Can the store make custom furniture according to your specific needs?

You might see a wooden table that you really like. However, it is too big to fit in the room where you want to put it. Try to find a furniture store that is able to make custom size alterations for you.

This is the first time that I would write something about my former Boss. He was my Boss for the past 10 years. Before I entered DepEd, I came to see him face to face during some of our BAC meetings and the best one was during the year-end assessment exactly 7 years ago at Dahilayan and Mountain Pines Bukidnon. 

Many described him as a visionary man. A man of integrity and authority. A man who is firm with his decision. He is a father to some, a brother to many, and a husband to only one. Indeed, he is your kind of man- strict but real. Spiderman is famous with his "great power comes with great responsibility", so does my Boss. He is so pre-occupied in the academic management because that was part of his GREAT RESPONSIBILITY. His accomplishment was indeed very evident. The transformation of my beloved alma mater was materialized under his leadership. By the time he assumed the presidency- vertical and horizontal development were being implemented. God knows how the university was being transformed. It is not only the MUST, now USTP that he attended to- he has all the state colleges and universities under his care. That's how big the scope is that he has to mind every day. He has so many plans on his mind- HOWEVER, with his great responsibility- enemies were created. Those who were opposed to him, those who were jealous of him, those who were offended by him- as if they were creating such a great alliance that they plotted to KILL him. He had death threats before (as shared by his family)- yet he remained as calm as he is- no body guards- only a personal driver with limited fighting skills, I supposed. His enemies succeeded- this month started with a gloomy news of him being killed with multiple gunshots right in front of his residence. The academe world were all shocked after knowing his plight. That fateful dawn of the 2nd of December ended the dream of a visionary man. It was ended by some cold-blooded animal who were hired by some BIG FISH- one of his ENEMIES. 

He does not deserve such kind of death- it is so difficult for everyone to accept what had happened to him yet it happened. I felt so sorry for his family- and most of all- his little children. If it is painful for those people who were under his commands- how much more for his wife and children as well as for his other immediate families. The people are now crying for JUSTICE- for his very untimely and undeserved kind of death. And for his killer- and its mastermind- they may be rejoicing right now. But their joy won't last forever- God will avenge my Boss and that's for sure. The mastermind should pray to his god that such thing will not happen also to him or to any of his immediate family, otherwise, he may experienced that excruciating pain that he caused to the family of my Boss.

My Boss, standing from right in blue shirt

Sir, I know you won't be able to read this. But thank you. Thank you for not signing my papers for plantilla items as Admin Aide IV because you knew that I won't be earning enough for my family. Have you signed it right away by the time it was handed to you- I may not be able to enjoy what I have enjoyed under DepEd right now. Thank you for your wisdom which I misunderstood 4 years ago. Lastly, thank you for your legacy- it will surely remain in everyone's heart forever. We will be proud to relate to our children that once upon a time, there was a University President who turns an ordinary thing into something- and that is my beloved alma mater.

Changing the appearance or the size of your home can be overwhelming at times. If you aren't sure where to begin, then consider talking to a contractor that specializes in remodeling and room additions before you take on any kind of work on your own. Determine what kind of room you need for the home, such as an extra bathroom or another bedroom if you plan to have more children or if you want another bedroom for guests. Talk to the contractor about the best location to put a room addition or the materials and time that it will take in completing a remodeling project so that you can plan ahead for the inconveniences that might be presented.

If you want to stick with something that is simple, then consider a bedroom or bathroom. The bedroom that you design can be used for any age, which is a benefit of this type of addition. Use neutral colors for the flooring and the walls to make it even easier to change the design of the room at any time. A bathroom is another simple addition that anyone in the home can benefit from using. When you add a bathroom to the home, you need to ensure that all of the plumbing is done correctly so that it flows with the rest of the house. 

A family room is an addition that offers more space to enjoy time with everyone in the home as well as any outside family members or friends who visit. Picture windows and French doors allow for more natural light in the room and provide a modern touch instead of standard windows that might keep the room darker. Exposed beams on the ceiling can create the illusion that the room is larger than it is along with neutral colors on the walls and the floor. The room addition that you decide on should be one that you can budget for and that will be functional for the entire family. If you're remodeling a room in the home, maintain a basic appearance so that it can be changed in the future if needed.