faith, hope & love.

10 Things To Be Thankful For Before I Turn Twenty-Two: #10 and #9

Sat, 18 May 2013 00:54:45 +0800

10. New, little things. This could be a little materialistic, but I just can’t help but be thankful of all the things I’ve gotten the past year. Little souvenirs from friends’ travels, notebooks, clothes, shoes, phones, and all those cute things bought by me, my parents, or my friends. Especially those given by friends and loved ones. I just realized that no matter how small or big something is, if you have a heart, you will appreciate it because it makes you feel loved that somebody remembered you even while they’re traveling and they care for you enough that they gave you something.

Thank You Lord for providing for us that we can buy the things we need and want. :)

9. Being able to travel. I’ve only went to and from Davao the past year, but I’ve been there more than twice last year. And I love that everytime I go there, not only it’s been fun but has a purpose as well. I always learn something new and go to places I’ve never been to before, yes, even if I go there every year.

The first time I flew alone 6 years ago had a rush of excitement from independence and fear of traveling by myself. I was sixteen then. 6 years later, I have gotten used to airports and riding in airplanes. But still, thank You Lord for always protecting and keeping me/us safe everytime. :)

"Sana lahat ng babae ay maging masaya ang lovelife. Sana, walang babaeng heart-broken, kasi, tayong..."

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:08:04 +0800

“Sana lahat ng babae ay maging masaya ang lovelife. Sana, walang babaeng heart-broken, kasi, tayong mga lalake, we’re meant to pursue them and it’s okay if we fail from time to time. It’s the way nature intended it. Gaya ng isang leon sa usa o pag-ikot ng earth sa paligid ng araw. Mas okay kung tayo na lang ung masasaktan. Eh sila? Isipin mo, nagkakaroon sila ng “dalaw” at nababaliw kada buwan, nabubuntis at nahihirapan ng 9 months, at pinaka matindi sa lahat, kailangan pa nilang panatilihing makinis at walang buhok ang kanilang mga kili-kili. Ano ba namang pasayahin sila at gawing “scar-free” ang kanilang buhay pag-ibig. And if you are with a great gal, do everything to make her happy. Don’t ever break her heart. Wag kang magpa-uto sa mga statistics, na nagsasabing, mas marami ang babae sa lalake, kaya okay lang mang-chiks. Ano pa bang gusto mo? Hindi pa ba sapat na minahal ka niya sa kabila ng iyong pagiging engot at kawalan ng Romantic DNA sa katawan? Malaki man ang populasyon nila sa mundo, napaka-liit ng tsansang makakilala ka ulet ng katulad niya na magtya-tyaga sayo. Tandaan, pansamantala ka mang maakit ng naglalakihang pulang high-heels o maaarteng makintab na sandals, mas masarap pa ring umuwe sa nag-iisang tsinelas ng buhay mo.”

- Anonymous

Cornyyyy! Hahaha but because it’s hearts day… Tada!...

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:32:13 +0800

Cornyyyy! Hahaha but because it’s hearts day… Tada! Hahahaha! Para lang sweet. Charot. Haha!

That guy with me right there. I don’t even know. Hahaha. But seriously, for the past 21 years of my life… I’ve celebrated this day with my friends and family, it wasn’t much but it was okay. I’ve received flowers or chocolates in the past, but that was that. It wasn’t much of a big deal. But this year… It’s different. It’s the first hearts day ever in my 21 years of existence that I actually have someone to celebrate it with.. forreal. LOL.

It’s funny cos my brother asked me the other day what are our plans for Valentines and my mother called today asking why I’m still here at home, and it was only 11 in the morning. Hahaha.

He keeps asking me what I want but I always told him it’s his call, whatever he thinks he should give me. But I also told him I wanted flowers, or that Ferrero bouquet I saw, hahaha, but changed my mind. (Secretly though I always wanted a surprise for whatever occasion cos I never experienced one, shhh, I hope he doesn’t read this *shy* hahaha) I wanted him to think what to do or give or whatever. But apparently, he’s not very good at that. Haha! It’s the thought that he wants to make this day special for me since it’s my “first valentines with a boyfriend” that counts. Not that I don’t have anything in mind that I want, because let’s face it, every girl has that Valentine’s date they imagine. But at the end of the day, as long as we’re together, with food… that’s okay for me. Hahaha! Well that’s just me so… :)

He’s picking me up in 1 and a half hour and I’m still typing this and all I know is we’re gonna go out and eat.. which we always do when we’re together. Haha.

I realized, it’s never about the material things that touches my heart, but it’s the time and effort he will give. It’s always the time and the effort. :)

I thank God for him. For the awesome friendship we have and for everything that he is.

But hey, above all, We love because He first loved us. - 1 John 4:19. And the greatest Love we’ve ever known(and anyone can ever know) is this love:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

Now that’s eternal unconditional love. Thank You, Lord! :)

You made me believe in love and not the perfect kind, a real...

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:38:00 +0800

You made me believe in love and not the perfect kind, a real messy beautiful twisted sunshine. <3

Stubborn Love

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 23:06:00 +0800

“Even if I had a hundred reasons to leave you, I’d still look for that one reason to fight for you.”

When we love someone, we’d always try to fight for them and work things out with them no matter how many times you just want to give them up. I’ve read this love quote before and it’s a beautiful quote to dedicate it to the one you love. But it became more meaningful when I read it on Facebook and connected it with God’s love for us. And I realized… That made a lot of sense.

Fighting for someone you love definitely requires great strength, patience, courage, effort, and love. As humans, we may get tired and give up after a while of fighting for them — because our efforts don’t get noticed enough, because we get emotionally weak, because of our pride and ego, because they don’t want us to fight for them anymore, and countless other reasons.

But see, with God, despite of all our mistakes and failures, times when we move far away from Him, times when we take Him for granted, times when we hurt Him, and despite of knowing us from the inside out, of who we are everyday… He still loves us. He fights for us and runs after us every single day. All because He loves us so much. <3

That, is the ultimate stubborn kind of love.

He could have chosen to leave us, but He promised He won’t(Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5). He said He will fight for us(Exodus 14:14), we only need to be still.

How amazing God’s love is! Overflowing. Unfailing. Unconditional.

Thank You, Lord, for loving me despite of myself.

No awkwardness in silence

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:56:38 +0800

Being with you and just doing nothing — your hands on my waist and my head on your shoulder, no words, just the silent beating of our hearts.

Sometimes, silence says the most, because you just feel. I love those kind of moments. Priceless. Unexplainable. Love. Real.

Time flies so fast. We don’t celebrate monthsaries as we agreed not to and we’ll only celebrate our 100th, 200th, 300th days and anniversaries(panindigan na Korean kami!! Hahaha!) but still you can’t help but acknowledge the months. Lol. :p

“It’s just the beginning of our forever.”

Sweet :3

0910

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 23:44:26 +0800

It’s funny when you reminisce things, at times when you’re just in bed thinking or when you’re talking to someone, and then you just go like OMG because you realized mostly everything you have now are the things you asked for before. Even the simplest, littlest details that you just thought of for a split second or for a moment. And then you just stop asking “why?” after a thousand times of asking it the first few times around, because after everything and you look back on it, you already know…

This is everything I’ve asked for and more.

He listens to every word you say and every desire of your heart. No doubt. Our God’s got a humor. :p And at the end of the day, He knows what’s best, even if you don’t see it yet and keep asking why… eventually, you’ll understand the first part of the story as it unfolds. :D

A knot in my throat during that talk

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:42:00 +0800

Heto nanaman, hindi ko naman maiwasang isipin kung nakakaistorbo sa mga tao, kasi kaya ko naman. Yung ganung feeling kasi… Nakakaabala, hassle sa kanila, nakakapagod.. Sinabi ko na na hindi na eh, pero gagawin nila kasi sinabi mo. Hindi naman nila trabaho yun eh. Ganun nanaman sasabihin. Ayoko ng ganung feeling. Ayoko ulit maramdaman yung pakiramdam kapag sinasabi nila yun.

“Wag mong isipin kung hassle kasi safety mo yan.”

Comfort and safety. Nasanay ako dyan simula bata ako, hanggang high school. Comfort and safety nga at the expense of other’s rest and time? ‘Yun na ang naging mindset ko kaya siguro hangga’t kaya kong gawin ang lahat ng bagay, gagawin ko at kakayanin ko, kasi ayokong nahihirapan ang mga tao sa paligid ko.

Depende. Minsan naaabuso. Natututo na rin akong pumili dahil sa priorities. Ang liit na bagay ng pinanggagalingan niito pero napakasensitive ng issue na yan sakin, simula nung pinili ko doon, ang unang kinonsider ko yung hindi sila mahihirapan at maha-hassle. Siguro dahil din kasi sa tatlong taon at mahigit nasanay ako na semi-independent, hindi humihingi ng kahit ano sa kanila kasi kung may mahihirapan, mas gugustuhin kong ako na lang kesa sila.

Halos isang taon na lang. Isang taon. Worth it ‘to.

Worth it

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 12:57:00 +0800

There will come a time when you will stop caring whether you’ll get hurt, and what will matter is you said the things you wanted to say and you showed how much you love the person.

I always wrote about this and told everyone to make every moment count and tell & show the people they love how much they love them because you won’t always get that chance. And now I’m given the chance to, I don’t even do it enough because I’m scared. I’m scared of caring too much, of appearing too clingy, of loving too much, of showing too much, and of being taken for granted when I do. But we all have to remind ourselves that every person is different and not everyone is going to hurt you the way you always think they would.

We will just know if this is different, if this is worth it — of all of it. Because you will find someone who is just worth all of it and every pain, every fear, every doubt, every tear, every heartache of the past won’t even matter.

I just realized the ultimate truth about this quote, “Those who mind, don’t matter and those who matter, don’t mind.” They wouldn’t even mind if you show and tell them that you love them. I have to stop screwing things up just because of the pain of the past. It made me learn a lot of lessons but it doesn’t define me. It will take time, but I’m willing to leave all the inhibitions behind because the person I love(who also loves me) is more important than the people who left, took me for granted and hurt me.

With God’s help, He can take all of the wrong mindsets and inhibitions. He healed me when I was broken and He opened my heart again when I was scared of letting people in, what thing can He not do?

This 2012, I did something I was always scared of, I took a leap of faith… All of this is new but this is worth it. Love is worth it. I know that much.

More than conquerors

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:44:10 +0800

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31

Today as my brother was about to have lunch, our elder brother came and sat as well to have lunch but told us about what happened. Our new vehicle’s(a Toyota Innova) back window got busted. My brother was about to leave the parking and backing up when a truck backed up as well and hit the window, also leaving a small dent. Before that, my brother just got a text message from a client confirming another event this December, and he was happy as we’re mostly fully booked this month because of parties and events and he said, “Tuluy-tuloy lang, Lord(Let this go on and on, Lord)”. And then boom, that happened.

That car has just been with us for only a month. And it’s such a blessing! We never even thought that we could get a new car this year both here in Manila and Davao. God provides. :)

That happened in Davao as well with my brother’s new truck. It was during All Soul’s Day when they visited the cemetery and the truck got stuck in a canal since it was dark and there were no light posts lit on the road. His rear lights got busted and the back part had scratches as well. The truck’s been with them for only less than a month.

We were talking about it during lunch and I was deep in thought when my brother asked me what’s wrong. And I just realized something. God may be pouring out overflowing blessings and miracles, but the enemy has been also working double time. It’s like in a tug of war. But God’s protection is over us and we can say that the enemy has no power over our lives, in Jesus’ Name!

And also those things can be replaced, at least it’s nothing like a life taken or something like that. God is with us and He will never let His children fall especially if we are fighting the good fight of faith. No matter what comes our way, we should just stay focused and that is to focus on Jesus.

As it is, we are more than conquerors in Christ. The battle has already been won. :)

"Nobita: Doraemon, meron ka ba diyang gamit yung mapapasagot ko agad si Shizuka? Doraemon:..."

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 08:38:41 +0800

“Nobita: Doraemon, meron ka ba diyang gamit yung mapapasagot ko agad si Shizuka?
Doraemon: Meron.
Nobita: Ah pahiram ako!
Doraemon: Ayoko nga!
Nobita: Ang damot mo! Bakit naman?!
Doraemon: Kung tunay kang nagmamahal, hihintayin mo sya kahit gaano pa katagal.”

- Doraemon

Let my heart trust in YouLet my fear fallLet Your love carry me...

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 14:43:53 +0800

Let my heart trust in You
Let my fear fall
Let Your love carry me through it all
And I will hold onto You even through pain
Won’t You take me away, take me away with You

camzy017: Nag-uumapaw Minsan nagiging selfish tayo sa...

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:01:05 +0800

camzy017:

Nag-uumapaw

Minsan nagiging selfish tayo sa pagmamahal. Gusto natin tayo yung higit na nagbebenefit rather than the other way around. Minsan pa takot tayong maubusan ng pagmamahal kaya hino-hord natin lahat. Pero isang bagay ang natutunan ko ngayong araw. Hindi ka magiging gahaman sa pagmamahal at hindi ka matatakot magmahal kung naranasan mong mahalin ng totoo.

Gusto mo bang maranasan ang totoong pagmamahal? Tingin ka sa CROSS dun mo matatagpuan ang pagmamahal na hindi mo kayang i-contain. Sa cross mo malalaman na di mo kelangan ng mga kondisyon para mahalin ang mga taong nasa paligid mo kasi may isang tao na nagmahal sayo ng walang kondisyon. Kapag naintindihan mo ang Dakilang Pag-ibig na ito sayo ng Diyos, di ka na hahanap pa ng iba. Sa Kanya palang satisfied ka na. Add-ons na lang ang iba. Ang mga taong nakaranas ng pagmamahal ng Diyos, kayang-kayang magmahal ng ibang tao. Dahil sa laki at lawak ng pag-ibig na to, di enough ang isang tao para tanggapin ang lahat ng pagmamahal na to na kelangan mong i-share sa iba dahil nag-uumapaw ang pag-ibig na to sa buhay mo.

Ganito ang pag-ibig ng Diyos.

Walang kondisyon.

Walang klasipikasyon.

Walang mapagsidlan.

Walang hanggan.

Walang katapusan.

Of the 2012 me

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:56:37 +0800

When I am sure, I really am sure. When I say yes, it’s really a yes. When I say no, it’s really a no. Unless I’m being my fickle undecided girl self so it becomes the opposite: yes = no ; no = yes.

When I don’t feel like doing something, I really don’t unless I have to.

When I start believing, I doubt and question things, but when I believe, I really do believe.

When I trust, I give my 100%, and I don’t easily trust people because I had trust issues before. So when I give it, don’t waste it.

When I’m silent, it’s either I’m thinking hard and deep or I’m not in the mood or I’m just shy or I’m mustering up courage to say something.

When I fall, I fall hard. And I don’t easily fall for anything or anyone because I’ve been so careful and you have to prove that you’re worth all of it. Even the tears. Because getting hurt is inevitable. When someone says they won’t hurt you, they’re lying, because they will— even unintentionally. Because you love them, they have the power to hurt you.

When I fail, I try to get back up again. It will frustrate me, it will discourage me, but I will always get back up by God’s grace.

When I am pushed or needed or put in a situation to do something out of my box, it will scare me and it will make me decide not to do it. But I will still end up doing it because people around me pushed me to, especially when I see that they’re pushing me because it’s good for me. And I will thank them for that because it’s all worth it.

When I push people away, it’s either I’m getting too attached and I’m just scared they’ll leave me hanging or I just want to see if they’ll fight it because they want to stay.

When I leave people the power to decide or plan, it’s because I want them to decide/plan on their own and not always depend on what I have to say.

When I want something, it’s either say it or I don’t. Either ask me and see if I say it; or figure it out and surprise me.

When I commit on something I decided to commit on(which is most probably something I really like/love/need to do), I really do.

When I’m in the mall and I see something cute, I think about a hundred times before I buy it or look for other options and compare them. But when I see something I really like, I’d buy them right then and there or save up for it.

When I decide on something, I think about it a thousand times over. I will ask my brothers and parents and friends about it, ask myself what I think about it, and ask God about it again and again and again.

When God asks me to do something, I do it most of the time. But there are times when I don’t. :| And that’s something I really pray for, 100% obedience.

#remindersofthe2012me Just so if I forget.

Sunday

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:17:04 +0800

Everyone:
“Cha ang ganda mo today!”
“Ganda naman ni Cha”
“Naks naman, Cha, ganda mo ngayon ah!”
“Ang ganda ni Cha ngayon noh?”
“Aba, ganda mo ngayon ah! Dapat ganyan lagi ang ayos!”

Received that a lot of times yesterday. Glory to God! Hehehe!

Follow-up answers nila:

“Oo nga ahemmm”
“Bakit kaya?”
“Iba talaga pag… inspired.”
“Inspired talaga? Hindi ba pwedeng.. in love?”

And all I did was smile or laugh hahaha! Naging ganon ang ayos ko kahapon dahil sa kakaantay sa kapatid kong ang tagal gumising. Kaya napa-ayos ako ng sarili habang ginigising siya. Was getting impatient and BV na umagang-umaga, pero wala namang mangyayari kung ipapagpatuloy ko yun kaya ganun na lang, take pictures and smile. Haha!

Salamat Lord for yesterday and today and everyday! :)

#blessedANDhappy

Exam

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:25:12 +0800

Ang exam pag mahirap at pumasa ka, mas naa-appreciate mo talagang bongga ang pagkapasa mo. Pinaghirapan mo eh.

Pero pag madali at sure kang papasa ka, wala nang masyadong effort. Alam mo na eh. Madali kasi, ‘di ba?

Pero wait, oo, andun naman yung effort— pinag-aralan mo, pinagdasal mo, at kung ano pang ginawa mong chorva bago nung exam— pero nung andun na sa harap mo at nakita mo na madali lang pala, hindi ka na masyadong nag-effort unlike sa subject na alam mong impossible kang pumasa.

Yun lang, dapat ‘wag masyadong maging complacent o magpakasigurado. Unang pagkakamali na ‘yan. Kasi baka makaka-perfect score ka na sana, eh petiks ka at nagkamali nang bongga(example, 5 items lang pala tapos 20 points per item tapos magkaka-konekta pa bawat item— edi pag mali ka sa umpisa[at hindi mo chineck], sunud-sunod na rin ‘yung mali mo), ayun, bagsak tuloy.

Akala mo ‘yun na eh. Tapos nalaman mo yung mali mo, ay yun lang pala! ‘Wag mong hayaan na masabi mong, “Sayang, sana binigay ko na lang lahat ng makakaya ko.”

Ganun din sa buhay, sa kahit anong aspeto na pwede mo itong ma-apply. Kung papasok ka sa isang bagay, ibigay mo na ang 100% mo kesa sa 50%, 75% or kahit 99.9% pa yan, tapos pagsisisihan mo sa huli kasi hindi mo binigay yung buo.

Ibigay mo na yung best mo, hindi rin sapat yung good or yung better. Ilaban mo. Higit sa lahat, ipagdasal mo— persistently at consistently, sa huli naman ng lahat, kung para sa’yo, ibibigay ‘yan sa’yo.

:) :(

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:56:00 +0800

Words cannot express how happy I am and how much I appreciated everyone’s time last night.

My friends waited for a loooooong time for that, so that meant a lot to me and to them.

7 years. It took me 7 years to finally trust and take a chance again with no fear and doubt. I don’t even know why. Lol. And now I’m scared haha! Chos! So dramatic, haha!

Breakthrough. Bow.

Thank You, Lord!! :D

—-

Though I’m happy, I still feel sad ‘cos my friend and I still haven’t talked a lot lately… It’s my fault, because I forgot to SMS her that night. Ayun, nagtampo. Kahit okay na, sabi niya.. Pero ehh. I wonder how I can make it up to her. :| Kung pwede lang hatiin sarili talaga oh, heh.

Of Kpop and Incheon, Korea

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:12:00 +0800

So whoever has been following my Twitter would know that I’m very much a K-pop fan. It was just this year that I’ve been one, for around 5-6 months now, and it’s all because of one K-pop group —- Super Junior.

Hahaha! It all started when I got to watch Siwon and Donghae’s Skip! Beat Taiwanese Drama. I think I blogged about it here. I’ve been watching K-dramas since Full House(the one with Rain and Song Hye Kyo) and I’ve been a fan since then of their stories. But never, as in never in my life, have I thought that I would get into the K-pop fandom.

Before, I only listened to drama OSTs and what with the “Nobody” craze by Wonder Girls and some from 2NE1’s first release since Dara’s there, I can’t help but listen.

I knew about Girl’s Generation and Super Junior from some of my friends; and I wasn’t oblivious about K-pop especially since SuJu released “Sorry, Sorry”. But I just wasn’t into it and I often thought, “Why do they like them?” I just didn’t get it.

But lo and behold… The moment I first researched about Super Junior and started watching their interviews, shows, and just basically everything about them, I got caught, sink in, deep. (Proof? I saved up for and bought their 6th album, Sexy, Free & Single[and I rarely buy records!]; went to the SiHae Bench Event at TriNoMa with thousands of fan girls and screaming our lungs out)

And that’s when going to Korea became at the top of my list. I always wanted to go there, but right now… I’m just fascinated of everything about Korea.

And since we’re about to go to Davao next week, I checked Zest Air’s site today and found out they already have everyday flights from Manila to Incheon. And I’m like… O_O So I tried searching for a flight, just to see how much it is…

Hahaha, I tried searching for April 2013, it’s just a sample anyway. Hmmm… well, not bad! :D It’s the lowest fare even. Plus add it up to the hotel and accommodation, pocket money and everything… Pwede talaga e! Hahaha! I hope they have a seat sale or something soon, international flights included.

They have Clark and Kalibo to Incheon, as well! The last time they only had Kalibo to Incheon I think. But now they have MNL-ICN, daily! :> And MNL to Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Jinjiang. Wow.

My brothers keep teasing me they’ll be going to Korea and I won’t be going with them and all that. Meh, it won’t be fun without me there! :p

So, Lord… Alam Mo ‘yan!!! Pero before that, I have to save up for the Kpop Fantasy Concert next year with SNSD, EXO and other artists. Hahaha!

While waiting for the day I can finally step foot to Korea(I would need a Korean visa for this btw lol), maybe we should go to Singapore first or Malaysia or Hong Kong, and let’s…

Oppa Gangnam Style!!! ~

안녕! 샬린, 화이팅! ㅋㅋ ~

Friendzoneship

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:16:00 +0800

Friendzoneship:

His thoughts about friendzoneship, of the question “Why am I stuck in the friendzone?”, and more. Lol. But this makes sense :) True, actually.

Placing the Friendship First

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:10:00 +0800

Placing the Friendship First:

blog from EnzoCortes.com :)