People Come & Go

But sometimes, the universe decides to align your stars with these special people and create more memories with them.

This holds true with the classmates I had interacted with since the day I couldn't spell Mississippi (well, I don't think I can spell it until now without the auto-correct). We hangout around our little campus innocently, without realizing how we can play an important role in each other. Then, life happens. We chose our own paths to take and we journey with a lot of new people. Maybe, along the way we forgot what it's been like to have fun with the kids in that small school.

I cannot just emphasize how grateful I am for Facebook that I got a chance to be reunited with the people who I practically grow up with. Indeed, friendship knows no time and distance. Sila yung mga taong, willing na nakipaglaro sa akin noon kahit hindi pa ako gaanong kagandahan at patpatin pa. Ngayon, willing pa rin silang mag-take ng pictures ko dahil alam nilang ikakaligaya ko 'yun. Tapos pag nagkwentuhan kayo, parang kahapon lang kayo nagkita pero sa totoo lang andami nang nagbago. Imagine that's two decades ago or so. Super swerte ko talaga :)

Thank you for all the love! Cheers to life-long friendship and know that I will genuinely be happy for every milestone in your lives. Hopefully, I get to celebrate some with you :)

BFFing since 1988!
Kat is my neighbor and classmate. She migrated to the US when we were 4. We exchanged letters but lost touch in college. Got reconnected through Facebook then we planned a trip to Boracay in 2011. She asked me to be one of her bridesmaids at her wedding last September 2014 and I couldn't be more thrilled! :)

Her lola & my mom hang out a lot while waiting for Twinkle and I to finish classes at the preparatory school. She's always the most beautiful girl in school and I'm lucky to call her my friend. Got reunited with her and Kat in Boracay and in California when I visited last September. Oh, I'm one of the ninangs of her little girl, Abby <3

We're more like enemies growing up - let's just say I threw away his shoes because I was so pissed at him, That's my last memory of Sanny (okay, we were in Grade 2 or 3). Until, he went back to the Philippines for a vacation in 2013 and he kinda figured out a way to contact me. A year after, I went to NYC for vacation and we hangout at Central Park over beer. He was too kind to accommodate me for 2 weeks! :)

Shivone is a classmate from grade school and we've been each other's lunch date. We tried to keep in touch even after she decided to transfer in a different school and finally, to the US. I think, we SMS-ed each other every time she comes back for a vacation but never really found time to catch up. So happy we got to celebrate our singleness by traveling around San Diego and Las Vegas last year! 

High school never ends! JM is a close friend and my partner in crime. I miss having this guy around when I went to the University. And it feels good to catch up with him after 11 years while we travel around LA. Thanks for being my yaya boss!!! :P

Friendship is born at that moment when one man says to another: "What! You too? I thought that no one but myself..." --- C.S. Lewis

To lasting friendships,

Keevee

My Thoughts on the Papal Visit

Monday. 19th of Januay 2015 (lifted from my Facebook post)

And the Philippines just concluded the inspiring, encouraging, world-breaking (record of people) / changing papal visit. Here are my thoughts, if you may allow me to share:

1. Hooray! The 3 days off work is a much-needed break from my overwhelming workload this start of the year. I am thankful and happy to have spent the days with family and friends in Baguio.
The Pope encouraged us to dream for our families, to protect the beauty and truth of the family in God's plan and to support and be examples to other families as well. This is exactly my purpose of taking my own family on a trip. Because QUALITY TIME means QUANTITY TIME spent with family meaningfully - getting to know each of them more and strengthening our values as one family in Christ. In my quiet times, I prayed to God to bless us and reign over us in all our ways. Maybe next time, I can boldly pray with them too. God works in our midst!

2. Pope Francis is known to be simple yet I think we went overboard with all the merchandise that are Pope-related. I hope the profits we made from these were used to advance God's kingdom.
While it is always good to help others through our wealth, may we always focus our giving to the love of God. Remember, we are only channels of blessings to others. God blessed us to bless others. And that the Gospel is the greatest gift a person can ever receive.

3. Why does the media or us people have to tweak the message of the Pope? While we may be confused about issues of society today on LGBT and same sex marriage... all the more we should seek the truth and understand what the Bible truly says about it. While we do so, we are not entitled to judge/condemn the gays and the lesbians. Our response should be leading our brothers and sisters to Jesus. Only Jesus can save/change us!

4. I am not sure how to feel about Pnoy's supposed welcoming message to the Pope. It is not something that we expected and we have far better list of "petitions or intentions". With this, I urge each and every one of us to pray ceaselessly for the Philippines and our leaders. Let us stop putting the blame on them and act upon what we see/hear by praying. While they are already the ones elected and appointed as of this time, that they may encounter Jesus in their lives and that they can have a heart of a servant like Him. Of course, praying is only one thing but let us underestimate its power!
Side note: If we want change, be the change we want to be. Start by taking part of the elections also! Pwede na magrehistro as early as now.

5. If our spirituality can help us be disciplined in 5 days, why not carry this out in our daily lives? May we choose Jesus moment by moment so that the Holy Spirit can live in us and direct us in all our ways - even those that are not seen by others.

6. As Pope Francis said, he is not the center of the event but it is God. May we worship the only one true God!

7. The most impactful message he left to each of us is to be missionaries of the Gospel. To be brave in letting others about God's love. Wherever we are - whether we are running our own business, working for a company, still studying or doing a home-based job... that is our mission field. We do not have any excuse not letting others know about Jesus.

Start of the Year 2015

And here I go again... at the start of the year, revisiting this space and trying to rekindle my love for writing. Can you cross fingers with me too? That I stay committed and consistent with this. Please?

We are always hopeful and excited of what the new year will bring or where it will take us this time. We make lists of goals and resolutions. We refocus on what's necessary and purge whatever burden (or maybe fats too?) we had in the past. We plan our travels in every official holiday in the Philippine calendar. We like to be better versions of ourselves.

The Daykeeper 2015

As I write my faith goals for 2015, nothing came out from my heart. Are my dreams and desires dead already? Am I willing to settle again on what this world could offer? Have I lost faith to not even know what I'm believing for God will do in my life this year? There was a feeling of discomfort because I am not being myself. But, God reminded that setting aside those bullet points I have already received the greatest blessing by accepting Jesus in my life. Whether my faith goals are answered with a bold YES or a YES BUT NOT NOW or a NO because God has a better plan, the love of Lord for me never change. His promises will be fulfilled not because of my own efforts but because of His character as a promise-keeping God.

My prayer to God is to help me write my list of faith goals that manifests more of Him and less of me. Dude, it was tough! As I wrestle with my human selfish desires, I kept on pressing on and on to God with a cry for help. To deny myself in order for God to work in my midst. During the Day 2 of Prayer and Fasting, God did not disappoint. Like water in the stream, God's help kept flowing and to my delight He impressed me with big, courageous goals. Exciting, happy times! All might seem to be like a blur right now, but I will hold on to that faith that all will be possible because of Him. All I need is to do is to honor Him with my choices and in everything I do, even in the way I think. As Pastor Joshua said, "He is a God of new beginnings. He is a God of perfect endings."

Here's my core inspirational verse and theme for 2015.

Indeed, God alone is my greatest reward. All others are just bonuses!

To God be all the glory,

Keevee