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Self Care

Goodbye 2013!

As the year ends, let us not forget to thank the Lord for the blessings of 2013.

Happy new year!

Merry Christmas!

From the chilly hills of Al Ain City, UAE, Merry Christmas everyone!

Weekly Photo Challenge: TODAY

The photo challenge this week says that I have to take a picture of something – now and today… without cheating! I found out today’s theme while at work so I decided to take pictures on my way home.

I came from a night shift so I thought the sun would be up when I come out of the hospital.

Before I went home, I dropped by the cafeteria and bought some vegetable noodles to bring home for breakfast.

On my way home. Our place is known as the City of Gardens because everywhere there is greeneries.

Taking a shot while on stoplight. The last intersection before my building.

Taking the stairs on my way to my unit on the fourth floor. Exercise.

The views from where I live.

The morning promises that it’s going to be a great day.

And when the world is about to start their day, mine’s ending. Time to sleep now. Have a great morning, everyone!

Weekly Photo Challenge: ARRANGED

It’s my day off! I’m used to getting up early so I decided to prepare our breakfast.

And so while waiting for my small family to wake up, I decided to take some shots. I remembered this week’s theme for the photo challenge 🙂

scrambled egg with chicken frank sausages

buttered pancakes

french toasts

regular loaf bread

beef bacon

fruit slices

Table is ready 🙂

Now, it’s time to wake the guys up 😀

Have a great day ahead, everyone!

Weekly Photo Challenge: REGRET

This week’s theme is REGRET. I found the theme very awkward on this week when people are supposed to celebrate LOVE. But a challenge is a challenge so here goes mine.

I think, there is no such thing as a life without regrets. A person may say that he has no regrets in life, but in reality, he may just be trying to cover up his feelings. At some point in our lives, we would have said we could have done better.

Five months ago, my father passed away while I was thousand miles away working in another country. The following day, I flew back home to pay my last respect. My regret was that I should have spent more time with him. If I only knew.

But then, I have seen how my father lived his life. I saw how he had touched the lives of many people. On his wake, hundreds came to see him for the last time. For serving our community during his stronger years, the national flag was placed on top of his casket. During the funeral, he was carried by community leaders (as shown on the photograph), and was given honors at the hall.

Yes, I may have regrets. But I also understand that everything happens to us for a reason. The hard times that we go through build our character to make us a stronger person.

And so, we move on.

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You might want to check out my EULOGY for my Dad in this LINK.

 

Share Your World: Week 3

This sounds fun so I’m participating. It seemed this is the third week of the meme but I only found out about this today. Anyhow, here are the questions (and my answers!):

• If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be?

I’ll choose the Philippines of course! I was born there. My mother, my sister and my brother are there. All my other relatives are there. I love the place, no matter what they say.

• What is your favorite comfort food?

Pasta, Ice cream, Pinoy desserts.

• Coffee or Tea?

Coffee.

• What is your favorite TV show of all time ie you’ve seen them all, can watch it over and over again and quote lines from it?

Hmm… I have nothing specific. Okay, “Showtime” would be one. It’s a talent show hosted by a hilarious group of guys.

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This meme is hosted by Cee of Cee’s Life Photography Blog.

BETWEEN

Before I start, allow me to apologize that I am sharing a picture that is not mine. And so I decided not to write “Weekly Photo Challenge” before my post’s title. This is not part of the challenge, but I’d like to share this with everyone.

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(photos were taken from HERE.)

For the last few days, it was very difficult for me to watch the Filipino news on tv. Typhoon Sendong came like a thief in the night, killing more than a thousand of my fellow Filipinos while they were sleeping, early morning of December 17.

The floods went up very fast and mud went inside almost every houses in Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City and other nearby provinces. People were caught by surprise, as their towns do not usually flood easily.

To date, the number of deaths have reached more than a thousand, some more thousands injured, lost their loved ones, lost their homes and properties – lost almost everything.

Each time I watch the evening news, my heart sinks as I watch and hear the stories – a father who lost his wife and all his children, a boy who has no where to go because all of his family members have died, and his house have been swept by the flood, a mother carrying her dead son full of mud. I saw people asking for help in the evacuation centers. There was not enough food, water and clothes – basic stuff that most of us enjoy and just take for granted. And tomorrow is Christmas.

And as I sit here in the comfort of our room, I felt so blessed. There was a huge gap BETWEEN my life and some unfortunate others. And so I don’t have a single right to complain about my life.

Allow me to share this prayer I got from Scriptorium:

Oh God  our Father:

In  faith we acknowledge Your paternal care over us, Your sons, daughters  and children. In hope we trust in Your divine providence of giving us  wisdom and courage as we face the challenges in life. In love we invoke Your help and guidance during these difficult days of death and  destruction in our dear country.

Our  is a prayer of thanksgiving for once again reminding us that ours is an  imperfect world, that heaven is not on earth, and that nature every now  and then tells us not to abuse her. Ours too is a prayer of repentance  for calling upon You when we are in need and desperation but forgetting You in favourable times and pleasing occasions. Ours as well is a prayer  of petition as we say:

Grant  eternal peace to those who lost their lives. Embrace the children who  died in their innocence. Help those who are hurt and cure those who are  sick.

Encourage  those who suffer the destruction of their homes and properties, and to  once again stand up and rebuild their future.

Bless  all those who extend their helping hands to those in need of food,  shelter and clothing, who share their time, talents and resources with  others.

Inspire  more people to be men and women for their neighbors, convinced that the  more they are for others, the taller they stand before you.

Spare  us please from other natural disasters and devastations if this be  according to Your will and for our own spiritual good and growth.

[Through Christ our Lord. Amen]

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If you are interested to help, check out this link for various ways to help. Click HERE.

Weekly Photo Challenge: SELF-PORTRAIT

The instruction for this week’s photo challenge is that one should take a picture of one’s self, however way he wants to express  himself.

Laid-back.

Dreamer.

Capturer.