Secrets

Sometimes, in order to move on we need to let go of all our insincerities and reveal our deepest secrets. This way we can bravely face everyone and make our lives so much easier. No excess baggages. No pretensions. Just the pure and simple US.

One morning, I was so down that I posted a shoutout in my Facebook account. Some of my friends noticed it and gave their comments, reactions and counsels. One thing that caught my attention came from one of my dearest ates who told me to listen to a song from One Republic. I didn't notice that I was already crying while listening to the song. An amazing song that totally made my day. Thank you Ate Nikki...

So tell me what you want to hear.
I'm gonna give all my secrets away...

Happy Birthday to ME!

Still on my birthday...
I did not plan for it and also did not set my alarm but I suddenly woke up at around 12:05AM, the 28th day of March, 2011. After I opened my eyes, I immediately uttered "Thank you, Jesus!" and then went back to sleep.
And then I woke up again at 5:30AM, thirty minutes earlier than the usual. Fixed my bedding and said my morning prayers. My daily routine began not knowing what's in store for me on that day but the weird thing was, I was not feeling OK, I had a mild flu. The "lovely ladies" were the one who greeted me first and every person I met thereafter did the same thing.

A very busy day for all of us. First was the staff meeting and then the earthquake drill and then numerous correspondence. Then finally, my lola and my cousin arrived with pancit bihon and suman with them, my favorites. One of my closest friends got the suman and put a little candle on it and then everybody sang "Happy Birthday" and then the blowing of candle. It was my first time to do such a thing but I found it youthful and cute. You can see smiles all over my face while cutting the suman.

After my lola and cousin left, we had videoke with my friends and of course, the "lovely ladies" who prepared the sumptuous ginataan. "Lovely ladies" as they are indeed, they gave me a gift to my surprise and a little bit awkward but I found it cute though. The message says it all. Thank you my dearest "lovely ladies."

At the end of the day, I am another day older and then I suddenly realized, God has been good to me and He never stopped showing me how He loves me. Even though I am in confinement, He never stopped showing his care for me by blessing me with beautiful friends and colleagues. Above all, He blessed me with a loving and caring family.

Thank You Jesus...

I thank You, Jesus...

For the gift of life, and every moment I live! For my health, even though at times I may have been ill, or suffered serious reverses and sufferings. So often these and other crosses are blessings in disguise. For the world about me, such as, the glories of nature, the fruits of the earth, the very air that I breathe, the refreshing rains, the glorious sunshine, the seasons of the year, the seconds, the minutes, the hours and the days. 

I thank You...

For the gift of my faith. For the gift of Yourself in the Incarnation in which You became man, lived for me, taught me by Your word and example. For the gift of redemption, which You accomplished by Your sufferings, death and resurrection -- all this for my salvation.

O my God, I thank You for all the favors You have bestowed upon me. I give You thanks from the bottom of my heart for having created me, and for all the joys of life, and its sorrows, too, for the home You gave me, for the loved ones with which You have surrounded me -- my mother, grandmother, my relatives, my treasured and trusted friends I have made through life.

My Jesus, I thank You for having lived, suffered and died for me. I thank You for Your love. I thank You, Lord, for preparing a place for me in heaven where I hope to be happy with You, and to thank You for all eternity. Amen.