Chance or Fate?

I took the subway home one day and seated beside me were a couple whose conversation I can't avoid. They were talking about buying 2nd hand books. The guy asked why people buy 2nd hand books. The girl replied saying that it's for collection purposes where you can get one for five bucks.

This led me to recall a supposedly-prequel scene from the movie "Serendipity". This scene wasn't in the film but what would have happened was this: John Cusack's fiance bought this book from a 2nd hand bookstore without knowing that the book contains the number that Kate Beckinsale scribbled for John.

So the fiance bought the book and proudly gave John as a wedding gift. She thought of the book since she noticed him flipping through the pages of the same title everytime they are in a bookstore or a let alone, a 2nd hand bookstore. She thought that book must meant a lot to him. Little did she know that he was looking for the same book Kate wrote her number on.

It's funny how the film depicted ways so obvious for them to know that they were not meant to be at that time and meant to be in another time. The more I think about the movie, the more it made me want to go back to New York. A nice movie indeed…

Learning To Stand

This post was rendered by our Brother in Christ, Barry. He sends emails like this to the CECC mailing list. I find it very uplifting to have received these emails. And I'd like to share this with you all.

Friday, June 17, 2005
by Os Hillman

..."Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today...." ~ Exodus 14:13

The Israelites had just left 400 years of slavery in Egypt. They had fled to the desert, but they had come to a dead end at the Red Sea. Word reached them that Pharaoh had changed his mind. He was sending his troops to recapture the Israelites. They cried out to their leader Moses, complaining that he had brought them that far only to die in the desert.

Learning when to move and when to stand is the greatest challenge for a workplace believer. We are trained for action. We are not trained to sit idly and wait. We are trained to solve problems, not wait for them to resolve themselves.

However, God says there are times to wait. We are to wait until He says go. If we go before He says go, we likely will make our situation worse. If the Israelites had attempted to cross the Red Sea before it parted, they would have drowned. If they had fled north to try to avoid the Egyptians, God would not have moved in a miraculous way. God cannot work on our behalf if we continually try to solve our problem when He has instructed us to stand still. Standing still is sometimes the greatest action we can do, although it is the most difficult thing to do in the Christian walk.

Stand still when He says stand and see the deliverance of the Lord.

"Today's Prayer"

Dear God, I know You are able...able to move mountains, to speak creation into existence, to heal the sick, save the lost, to meet every need I have. I commit myself to You. I pray for all the people around the world, plagued by turmoil, wars, illness, lack of basic needs, insecurity and fear, and addictions that enslave. Lord, You alone know best how to meet these needs and solve these dilemmas. I pray that You would intervene, that people would be drawn to You, and that You would give them rest and healing, safety and security, a sound mind and a hopeful future. I pray that You would help me to see who You want me to minister to today and offer a hand of fellowship, a ray of light, or whatever You want to offer through me. Thank You, Lord, for meeting my needs. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

(c) Copyright 2000 Os Hillman. www.marketplaceleaders.org
To contact author: os@marketplaceleaders.org

Break Away

No, I'm not crazy yet. But I am listening to Christmas songs already here at work.. at the comfort of my own listening station. Whenever I feel sleepy, whenever I feel bored, Christmas songs livens me. It makes me think of home whenever I listen to the carols. 2 years ago, JackFM 92.5 had Christmas songs played all day long for the month of December. I wonder what happened to this stint last year.

Anyways, I'm taking my break right now. We are just writing test cases and I have finished my part ahead of time. So I am just resting and reviewing my work. It's just something that I need for a long time now... relax! I've been working without breaks starting February when I came back from vacation. Well, it's not exactly a vacation because I have been 'working' around the new house. :)

Last night, it rained in Toronto. Rained hard that we could hear the rain drops falling literally on our roof. It's a pleasing and soothing sound but combined with the thunder and lightning.. it wasn't pleasant at all. We woke up with the sunny sky greeting us but the wind was cool. I am fine with it rather than having a hot and sticky weather.

The coming days will be cooler as what the forecast say. Weekend would be nice especially for those who are anticipating some activities for the summer. Mind you summer officially starts on June 21. Toronto is filled with summer activities. That's what makes summer so great here. I guess we are slowly recovering from the SARS outbreak that badly hit Toronto 2 years ago. Hopefullly this year's summer would be a fun one. Enjoy!

The 'DAY'

Now I am officially a Canadian Citizen. On June 6, 2005, I and 109 others were sworn in by Judge Peter Vecchiarelli at the Federal court of Scarborough Town.

The ceremony wasn’t that lengthy. We were asked to line up and the welcoming committee received us by checking our landing papers and required us to relinquished our PR cards. Then we were seated according to our seat numbers. My number was 59. A song card identified our seat numbers. I was seated at the aisle. One by one the seats were filled. After all the 110 candidates were inside the courtroom, the presider let all the guests go in. There weren't many. About 2 rows of 15. So Os was seated near the front row.

The ceremony started when the judge stepped in the court. He looked like jolly old St. Nick rather than a judge. Being an immigrant himself, he gave us a nice analogy of what it is to become a citizen of Canada. He said that all of us in the room are like a cloth that is about to be sewn into a quilt. The thread on our cloths are the steps that we took to become someone who can contribute greatly to the country. Together when sewn, the cloth becomes a quilt. And the quilt represent the unity of the new Canadians.

After his short and sweet speech, we were sworn into oath. First in French then in English. I wanted to laugh when we started to read the oath in French. But I kept to myself. When the English oath started, everyone read aloud. It’s like a sigh of relief for everyone. Being able to read the oath is one thing. But reading it is French?!?!? Anyways, we were then called one by one to line up on the side and get our certificates after our names were called. We then shook hands with the judge as he congratulated us and handed us our citizenship certificate and our card. Then we went back to our seats. He again congratulated all of us and then we sang the national anthem O canada. Then we waited for a while before the judge came back and we took pictures with him. My camera went off course so I was able to have only one shot! But it's OK. :) The judge advised all of us to go home and celebrate and eat a piece of cake! He he

All I can say... it took a lot of moxie to be able to attain this stage. Reflecting the events before I set foot in Toronto 4 years ago, I don’t know how I did it. From leaving my home country and leaving my family behind, I accepted the challenge to embark into another horizon. I know I made the right choice. It’s a dream that is realized and materialized. Dreams do come true after all.

Clear and Clearer

I am taking my break right now after 8hrs straight of grueling work with only half hour of lunch break. We are waiting for a process to finish then we can go back and carry on what we left behind. This project is keeping us busy since February. And it's a good sign. So, as I waited, I carried my mug of mocha java and placed my mug in the pantry sink. The mug was half filled but because it has been left for quite a while (I was too busy even to sip my once-hot coffee!), I decided to rinse it off. The water made its way into the mug and the brown liquid emerged from the mug and turned clear after a few seconds.

This is what happens if we have Christ in our lives. I learned this analogy from a retreat way back university days in La Salle. The facilitator demonstrated how 'clean' is it have Jesus in our lives. He had a bottle of painted water. He had a pitcher of clear water. He let the clear water flow into the bottle of painted water. Slowly it became clearer and clearer. Imagine without having Christ in our lives, we will forever be like the painted water, never clear, never clean.

I always remember this analogy til now and I am still sharing it to my family and friends. You can share this analogy, too!

Dream Kitchen

This is my dream kitchen!


Is this close enough?? hehehe

A Canadian Citizen From Afar

As I went in the boarding gate of Cathay Pacific en route to Hong Kong that day, I never thought that I could be make it to Toronto… alone. It was extremely hard to be away from your family. We are not talking about a short vacation here. It’s the future that I envisioned. A dream that is finally becoming true. Step by step you go for it. And little by little, it formed into a picture that you depicted. Yes, there were obstacles along the way, but you are able to pull it through. Isn’t it a nice feeling?

I hurled my stoned-heavy Samsonite bag over my shoulders, my backpack at my back, my oversized trench coat in one hand and my travel documents and my plane ticket on the other. I checked in the counter and got myself a boarding pass. I remembered being the first one in line. Because of that, I had the privilege to choose any seat I want. So I requested for an aisle seat as what everyone suggested.

I remembered it was an hour before my departure for Hong Kong. I was way too early. I never really liked flying. I just don’t feel comfortable even if it’s just a short flight. But we are talking about a long flight here! I calculated the total number of flight hours. Almost 24 hours! And ALONE! Again, I have never been away from my family for a long time. And there I was … about to embark into a new dimension. Yes, I had apprehensions up to the last minute. Is this what I really want? I kept on asking myself. Is this the kind of life that I want? I can stay if I want to. But my mind has been set. Another road has been opened for me. I failed finding that missing piece in my own country. So I had to leave. It wasn’t an easy choice. But it wasn’t a difficult one either. I had to make a change. I had to instigate it.

So the plane took off. Landed in Hong Kong. Took off again and landed in Anchorage for refueling. Then took off again until finally we landed in Toronto, my home for the years to come. After the Immigration stamped my landing papers, I am officially a Permanent resident of Canada! I am off to start my new life. I was greeted by my ‘family’ here. I owe them a lot for their generous hospitality. They supported me all the way. Even up to this very point.

A year had passed. I made friends. Went to places. Then a bewildering event has happened. Fate has brought two souls together destined to become one. The man that I want to spend the rest of my life with.. finally came into the picture. It was a remarkable year for me. I went back home and spend time with my family. It was a sweet homecoming. I felt like I have never left. Nothing had changed. From the people I left behind and the places I have been. Everything was still intact. I took the jeepney rides. I was astonished to find the fare to be way more than I expected. I even squeezed myself in the LRT with the crowd. I once again experience that floods and the traffic. Pollution not to mention, the hot hot hot weather. Could you imagine that?

Finally, I came back on my 3rd year as a permanent resident with hubby. Looked for a job then settled on with our lives. The job hunting was really like a survival of the fittest. We had to find income to make both ends meet. I was again lucky to find a job that opened a path for me to walk towards a career.

On my 4th year, I applied for the much awaited event of this whole process… become a Canadian Citizen. It took me one month to wait before I got an acknowledgement letter from the Immigration office. After 11 long months, I finally got my exam schedule. A month later, I was asked to appear for the oath-taking. I can’t wait for the day to come when I will face the judge, shake his hand and receive my citizenship card. I will surely beam with joy. I will pledge allegiance to the Queen and to the country of Canada. I will sing O Canada by heart both in English and in French. From that day on, I will fulfill my duties as a Canadian Citizen.

Hebrews

Hebrews 7:25
"Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God thru Him, because He always lives to intercede for them."

Life here on earth is not a guarantee to be problem and worry free. You are not leading a normal life if you don’t encounter problems. Even the perfect of all perfect people have problems.

The prerogative of leading an abundance life here on earth alone bears the eccentricity of life itself. Sporadically, you are not certain when you are on top of the wheel and when you are down. You succumbed to bearing your own cross. You habituate yourself into unearthing your own strength and mount up all the credits when you found victory in your deeds.

Admit it or not, no one is perfect. Life has its ups and downs. If you are having great difficulty, tell Jesus about it. He will present your needs to the Father. Through His intercessory work, you'll experience the remarkable results that only His prayers can accomplish.

zzzzzzzzzzz...

I can't help it! I always have to take my nap after at the most of 3 train stops. I'm glad there is no law against that. North America started saving the daylight last Sunday, April 3. Still the day started so early but the good thing is, it ends a bit later now than usual. I can't get myself up at 6am. Today, I woke up at 550am. Then I went back to sleep. Bargaining with sleep, I told myself, "10 more minutes". Little did I know that I have slept for another 30 mins!! I finally had to dragged myself to the bathroom at around 630am or so. So that means, I have 20 minutes to prepare. Oh my! But did I make it? A big Yes-Oh-Yes! That was the fastest that I could ever imagine! I even blow dried my hair, styled it. I even prepared our lunch for today! Goodah!

The lesson learned here is to sleep early, which I am still very much guilty of. The nice thing is a good book is my sleep inducement. Now I have to find a solution to fight over my weariness. Because what I have right now? Is sleep itself. There's not much that I can do. :)

Troubled?

I find this reflection very useful in our daily walk of life with God. We should always remember that God has a purpose for everything. When I was younger, I had instilled in my mind that we don't get granted what we always wanted. God's answers to our pleas, our requests and prayers are in three folds. Either YES, NO or WAIT. Usually, it takes time for us to realize the NO part because we insist the reply to be something that we want and not according to God's plan for us. The YES part might come in pretty easily because we got what we prayed for. We usually think that God rewarded us because of our good deeds. Yes, I agree. But we must never fail to give Him thanks and praises. The WAIT part is the hardest. Personally, waiting takes time. It can either lead to a YES or a NO. So it is very crucial to prepare ourselves for the answers.

Read along.....

Few unbroken lives in this world are useful to God. Few men and women can fulfill their hopes and plans without some interruption and disappointment along the way.
But man's disappointments are often God's appointments, and the things we believe are tragedies may be the very opportunities through which God chooses to exhibit His love and grace. We have but to follow these lives to the end to see that people who have been broken become better and more effective Christians than if they had carried out all their own plans and purposes.

Are you, my friend, being broken today? Has the dearest thing in your life been torn away? Then remember that if you could see the purpose of it all from God's standpoint, you would praise the Lord.

The best things that come to us are not those that accrue from having our way, but by letting God have His way. Though the way of testing and trial and sorrow often seems hard and cruel, it is the way of God's love and in the end will be the best for us.

Remember, we have the Lord's promise: "No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). —M. R. De Haan, M.D.

Saturday once again...

It's time now to post an entry.. Thank God it's Saturday! I woke up this morning with the sound of rain dripping on our window. It's almost an hour since I was wide awake. We just had our window shutters installed last night. And I woke up amazed and intrigued by it's beauty. Hehe. Slowly our house is coming into shape.

Last long weekend, which is about a week ago, we had our kitchen backsplash installed. Yes, we did it ourselves. Seems like an easy job eh? But it's not!! Believe me. It took time to cut the tile and have it set. That kept our long weekend busy. Hehe


I am still waiting for Shocha to be ready for our voice chat. She said PA is not home yet so we have to wait. Maybe I'll just relax and soak myself in the tub for now. Hehe.. BRB!

Home Away from Home

I gave this to Shocha last year... I wonder if she still remember???? :)

Zamboanga City as I came to know is a melting pot of blending cultures. Chinese, Malaysian, Spanish, Japanese, Arabic and Caucasian blood. For almost three centuries, the Spaniards rules over Zamboanga City. Their center of settlement being the Fort Pilar.

I remember going to Fort Pilar in my early childhood. "YEY! It's Fiesta Pilar again!" I would always say these words with excitement. Mobs of people pile up to light some candles. Long lines piling up to catch a glimpse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Offerings were made and request and prayers were given.

I would always seat beside my Dad and say "I want to light some candles, too." He'd always carry me on his back and line up in the early dawn to avoid the devoted crowds. How can I leave the City of Flowers behind, after all, this is where I grew up. There is no place like home sweet home. Who would?

My First Blog

This is my first blog in BLOGGER. Guess who influenced me to get one? Who else? No other than my shocha. She never fail to influence me to get these things. I find it interesting and fun to write down my thoughts though. This is one way to express ourselves and be able to use the right words. This is one good exercise, too, to be able to use what we learned in school.

I started another blog already so what I think I would do is to do the power of C-V to put it here. C-V? Ctrl-C to cut and Ctrl-V to paste. HAHA

I will keep this short and sweet and will try my best to log in everyday so that my shocha will find something sensible here. HAHA. Right shocha?

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday here in Canada is just like any other day. The only Holy Day that we have is Good Friday. And to some companies, they have the day off on Easter Monday as well. But not this company that I worked with. You do have the option to take the day off provided that you don't exceed your allowable vacation leaves.

I spent most of my days after college in Manila, so Holy Week means a time to reflect on the resurrection of Christ and at the same time, to relax. We usually spend our Holy Week either going to a beach or just stay home. The latter never happens. We are always away from the city during this time. This is one of the two days in a year that businesses are closed. Nada. Nil. Sans customers. So it's a bit quiet day for us. The other day would be New Year's Day.

Back in Zamboanga, we usually visited St. Joseph Church to reflect and witness on the resurrection on Christ. There is also a procession going on depicting the sufferings of Christ. It's an interesting procession. Everyone watches the line attentively. I remember me and my Achi were angels in one of the procession. We have a picture with that and that's how I remembered. We were dressed in white and we had wings and halos. It was quite an experience although I barely remembered it.

Now that I'm here in Canada, Holy Week still means a time to RELAX and mostly a time to reflect on the suffering and resurrection of our Christ Jesus. God sacrificed His Only Son to save us from sins. Whatever hardships that we are experiencing right now is not even 1% of what Jesus suffered. And yet He never complained. If only people in this world will be Christ-like, then no problems will ever occur. :)

Now is the best time to reflect on our shortcomings and ask for forgiveness cz only Jesus forgives! :)

Have a nice day y'all!

NOTE: This is supposed to be published last Thursday. :)