Merry Christmas!

Thank You, Lord na napagdiwang ng pamilya namin ang Pasko na buo at lahat kami ay nasa mabuting kalagayan. Maraming salamat po sa mga blessings na binigay nyo sa aming pamilya ngayong taon at sa pag gabay sa amin sa pagharap sa mga pag subok sa buhay. Maraming Salamat Lord!

Because we trusted in You, and You didn't let us down

Thank You, Lord for helping us succeed on our recent climb. There were terrible moments like when it started to rain on the summit and we haven't cooked and eaten yet. Our tents were becoming wet and the water is slowly filling it in. Yet You stay with us through the whole night and never abandon us.

We were all amateurs and but you gave us Kuya Kiko and Kuya Alvin to help us through the climb. We know that You sent them because You know that we can't make it in our own. May You continue to bless this world with people like them who are always there to extend a helping hand for those who are in need.

Thank you for that safe climb. May you also guide and continue to watch over those who are also on a hike today.

Thank You for the passion of experiencing nature. You are indeed great and you showed it to us through the magnificence of the world when you're up there. We will always be grateful for the gift.

Chile Miners Rescue

Thank you Lord that would have a been a potential tragedy was prevented. Thank you for guiding the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped for two months and keeping them strong. Thank you that the powers that be were on top of the situation and managed to pull of a very risky rescue operation. Thank you that through this ordeal and the subsequent sweet ending it inspired the whole world that there is always hope just as long you keep the faith.

Back

Thank you for letting me find something I thought I have lost.

Thank you for giving me a handful of true friends. It's enough to get me by.

Thank you for rekindling our friendship.

Thank you for taking me back in Your arms. I have been a very negligent daughter but You have understood me. As always.

Thank you for Chloe. You heard my prayers. I promise to capture the beautiful things in life through her.

Thank you for Jeff Chua. He seems like a nice guy.

Thank you for letting me meet Enzo.

Thank you for another birthday for me and my Mama. I feel so blessed.

Thank you for extending his stay and making me strong.

Thank you for making me believe that once I lose something, you'll return it ten-folds.

Dear God

“Keep in mind, just because you don’t know the answer doesn’t mean that one does not exist. You simply haven’t discovered it yet.”

—	Joel Osteen

At this point, I still don't know what I should be grateful about the incident last Monday. Is it the survivors? Is it a wake up call for our country? Please tell us if there is anything hidden for You to allow such mistake to happen. I do not blame You of what took place. I know You love us and this is Your way of showing us the road to a fulfilling life.

I will wait for Your answer. Until then, I will not stop being grateful for everything You've done.

Love always,

Gervic

The Power of this Song

Thank you for the aisle I've walked on while singing this, tonight I was relieved.

Lord I come to You
Let my heart be changed, renewed
Flowing from the grace
That I found in You.
And Lord I've come to know
The weaknesses I see in me
Will be stripped away
By the power of Your love.
Hold me close
Let Your love surround me
Bring me near
Draw me to Your side.
And as I wait
I'll rise up like the eagle
And I will soar with You
Your Spirit leads me on
In the power of Your love.

Lord unveil my eyes
Let me see You face to face
The knowledge of Your love
As You live in me.
Lord renew my mind
As Your will unfolds in my life
In living every day
In the power of Your love.

Horns broke as wings flew

For the past couple of years, this team has always been the quiet one. They don't make much news. They don't attract thousands of people in Araneta just like the other teams do. It seems like they are just part of the elimination process.

It's been a while since the team made a banging noise like this.

In behalf of all the people who care and the team itself (who probably have thanked you already before I posted this), I want to say thank You for guiding them and giving them the strength to fight till the very last second.

May you never cease in supervising them to the path of goodness and may you continue to support them through out the whole season.

Bless this team! Bless the university!

Falcons, let's go! Falcon's, let's fight! Falcons, let's go and win this fight!

Friendship Forever is Marriage Forever

Claudine, Madz, Ara, Sabrina, Randolf, Jens, Monmon , Gervic, Marthina, Fie (not active) and Meanne are my so called “Dreamteam Friends.” I met these people during my college days. We’re not that whole agad. Actually we came from different sets of friends before. The group was formed during one of our documentary productions. If I’m not mistaken, it was entitled “Palikpik sa Lumang Maynila.” The friendship was built, then from there we decided to call ourselves, Dreamteam. Yes! The name itself simply describes the type of friends you have always dreamt of having.

We love EVERYTHING that we do together! Photoshoots, overnights, food trips, playing, conceptualizing (weeeh?), and other tremendous escapades… Name it and we’re always on the go. I love the exceptional energy that each one has. It’s like when you bind them all together--a totally full blast of Kulitan at Harutan! The real thing is: when we begin to behave like kids, it seems like the world belongs only to us. We don’t care if we’re already sprawled across the floor with our mouths wide open and people are beginning to stare. Isip bata? Hahaha! In some way, yeah, but I don’t look at it that way. It’s not that we’re not yet grown-ups. If you say so, you have to explain it in my face VERBATIM! (haha! just kidding!).

We just love to do those mischievous acts, which they say ‘kanya-kanyang trip yan.’ And we like being true to ourselves. We are not ashamed for acting and being silly. The kind of bonding we share is what we really really enjoy. When I am with them, there are no dull moments. We blend like the sweetest caramel in a frappe and we stick like glue as if without the other, we’re disabled. We also have common interests, goals and outlooks in life but despite the similarities, each of us has our own unusual individuality. Well, I just noticed.

I can say that our friendship has gone far. We have seen the light and dark sides of everyone. They are the kind of people who will never tell you how beautiful you are in front of you but will tell you how you can improve more. We criticize each other and we’re simply not just friends brought together only for fun. Each is a mentor too in our own ways. That’s how I became attached and now considered them as a big part of my life. I may be mushy to write this piece of adoration but this is the testimony of how I love these people as if we all shared the same mother’s womb. I’m also thankful that despite the odds; I have them whom I can lean on even in the gloomiest second of my day. Proven and tested. I may not be showy on how grateful I am but I would like to take this chance to say how thankful I am to have my Dreamteam. I’m lucky too to be one. This is the friendship I can’t live without and when I am entertaining the thought of being away for so long, I feel sorry and would hate the days and pictures of laughter without me. So, everytime I would like to see them I would just glance at our photos together with a tissue and will dyingly miss them. That’s for sure! But I wouldn’t feel lonely when that happens, because I know the treatment wouldn’t change even if I’m away. Their energy will always be with me… It’s been three years since we parted after college but everytime we’re together it seems like it was only yesterday.

Thank you po Lord for this gift of friendship!

-Irene

Thank You for Death

Thank You for Death. Knowing that all things end enables us to try and live meaningful lives. I have learned many important lessons when my cousin died. If anything, I became more encouraged to live healthy and with minimal regrets. Her death at such a young age made me accept the fact that I am temporary and so are the things around me. Knowing that death is near made me look back at my life to see if I am fully aware of the things that really matter. I realized that I can't dwell too much on the negative side of being alive. Loneliness goes hand in hand with happiness as madness does with insanity. All I need to do is choose.

Every single thing I do is a choice. A chance to drive my life forward to where I really want to be. I can't be afraid. I can't be a coward. Fears would simply reverse your life back and snatch you away from the things you dream. I told You the other day that I was mad--in every definition of the word. I was mad at people and myself. I have gone mad for quite a while too. And I thank You for letting me experience the extreme emotions but all the while holding my hand to keep me on my feet.

I thank You for Death but I thank You more for my Life.

P. S. Please take care of my cousin. I know she will be well taken care of in Your hands than in ours.

Deadline Extended

I'm so thankful that the deadline for my task for work was extended, it was really a challenging task and even though I could submit it on its original due date, I would be just submitting a half-baked product. I'm also thankful I was able to finish three important tasks last week on time


- jecoup

That Penniless Smile

I'll be paying for the iPhone I gave my mom last Mother's Day through salary deduction for half a year. I'm so broke today and I assume that I'll still be on the coming months.

But there's this smile that never left me. The joy of giving is nothing compared to...

just anything else.

I know You get a lot of this feeling so thank You.

Thank yous (July 27, 2010)

Thank you because somehow, I felt that the friends I think I lost are trying to re-connect with me--in a weird, amusing way.

Thank you for not making me feel further mad towards a friend.

Thank you for letting me score free Salt premiere tickets and take two of my closest friends to a movie.


Thank you for the 30-minute re-writing stint that earned me P500 instantly.

Thank you for the gift of writing. Others may scoff at what we do but those people cannot even write a single, sensible paragraph. Bless them poor fellows.

Thank you for helping me stand up for myself.

Thank you giving my Papa a happy birthday last Sunday.

Thank you for the yummy seafood dampa.

Thank you for protecting me from harm. You know I'm very clumsy.

Thank you for not letting the sun shine too bright.

Nuffnang and HEAVEN Ice Cream invite you to a special screening of ‘SALT’

Divine ice cream pleasure is HEAVEN Ice Cream.

Give in to the richest, smoothest, and creamiest by NESTLÉ Ice Cream. Revel in the exquisite goodness of its four sophisticated flavors—Belgian Chocolate Bliss, Strawberry Dream, Vanilla Almond Secret and Butter Pecan Obsession. HEAVEN Ice Cream is made with only the finest ingredients and contains no artificial food colors. Available in 800mL(Php 175) & 450mL(Php 115) tubs across supermarkets, groceries, and convenience stores nationwide.

Thank you for this chance to bring three of my friends to a movie--for free.

Eureka!

"Before you enjoy the sun, you must dance with the the rain."

With no second thought, I am definitely happy. It's worth the pain and hardship of the happiness I am feeling right now. I never thought I'll be able to feel this. God is really really good if you'll just believe in Him. Before, I wasn't sure of what life has to bring but now I welcome changes very positively. I see the world so lightly and that feeling makes me float in the air. Now, I love myself more and I appreciate everything in me. Thank you po, Lord! I'm doing things my way without the fear of darkness to come because I know there will always be a light to shine.

Thank yous in darkness

Thank you for the kind cab driver who dropped me off the office. His vehicle was nice, he didn't ask for an additional fare, and he knew where the shortest, most un-traffic prone routes are. I was in front of the office at exactly twenty minutes later.

Thank you for not cutting our water supply. You know that we can survive without electricity, but not without water.

Thank you because Basyang was not as harsh as Ondoy.

Thank you because our families are safe and sound.

Thank you for the cool breeze. I love it so much.

Thank you for the blackout. We may see this as a nuisance in our daily lives but we save one, two days of unconsumed electricity. Take that, Meralco.

Thank You for Surviving Another Nasty Typhoon

Thank you Lord that our family was not harmed during the onslaught of Typhoon Basyang last night. The strong winds during the wee hours was scary. Thank you that my nephew's fever is already gone. I was so worried about him.

Thank You for Assuring Us that We Can Always Pray

Thank You, Lord, for assuring us that we can always pray to You. Thank You for letting us know that You're just a prayer away. Our prayers may not always be answered the way we expect them to be just as how this day had gone by. We had prayed hard and asked others too but the answer we wanted didn't come as we expected them to.

None of our prayers were answered today but I thank You for reminding me that praying must be accompanied with waiting and understanding. I will try hard to remind myself that whatever comes our way should be dealt with understanding if we really want to know why certain things, either bad or good, happen to us. Lord, it is hard for me to understand a great deal of things but I know I can do it by staying positive and by believing in You.

Thank You for letting me speak with You. Thank You for our parents and our teachers who have taught us how to pray.

Thank yous for July 13, 2010

I'm thankful that all the members of my family are in good health especially Tatay. Tatay was hospitalized early this year due to hypertension which ultimately led to him file for early retirement from his job, I'm thankful na hindi na umabot na lumala yung sakit nya, I thank God for giving the sign to Tatay that he should slow down and take time to relax because he don't really need to work that hard anymore since all of his kids graduated na and has jobs. I'm thankful because it could have been worse but it did not happen. The timing was perfect.

Submitted by: Jecoup

The Gift of Friendship

How do we say thank you to a friend without making her feel that it's just another lame expression to show courtesy? I hate how "Thank You" has become so overrated that I don't feel it's appropriate enough to tell a friend that you are grateful for having them in your life.

Because my friends deserve a better word than that. Something unique, something no one has ever heard of.

Something special.

Because that is what they are to me.

I love you, guys! Kudos to the Man Up There for He let our paths crossed once and since then, we never let go.

(PHOTO CREDITS : MEANN ESPANOL)

Thank yous for June 29, 2010

Thank you for the long weekend. It was a very productive one.

Thank you for letting me part of the Philippine Wedding Summit 2010 with my good friends.

Thank you for real friends that will never, EVER leave me.

Thank you for a wedding coordination offer. I hope it goes well.

Thank you for not letting me give up my driving lessons even if I was at the brink of not attending Saturday's session.

Thank you for making me feel that this job is still worth it. I'm at Day 9 today.

Thank you it's pay day today.

Thank you for my Papa's packed lunch for me this morning.

He never abandoned His little girl

Today, some people tried to hurt me by outcasting me in our group. They would invite everyone for a coffee break except me. They would make the whole group form a circle, exchange fascinating stories and laugh together. But the circle is restricted to only them. I feel like I am not even allowed to hear them but they do so anyway to make me feel alone and isolated.

But I didn't feel a single sadness.

Because when they were doing their best to cause injury to my emotions, I remained seated at my cubicle and do my work. And all the people passing by would greet me, occasionally chat with me and some even sat next to me for a couple of times and just talked with me about anything random. I didn't feel alone. There were two groups who invited me to have dinner with them and I just have to pick one.

When I learned that somebody dislikes me, I became afraid. I thought everyone would go against me and I would be forever lonely.

I don't know what You did but I am grateful that you didn't leave me alone. Please stay by my side for a long time and I promise to remain seated at my cubicle, calm and steady and just continue to do good things to others.

(PHOTO CREDITS)

Thank You for my Talented Siblings

When I was a kid, I have always wanted to learn many things. I wanted to learn how to sing really good, play the piano, act on stage, and learn some martial arts. However, being in a financially restricted family during my childhood days, I had to learn them by myself if I really want to. I did learn how to sing fairly 'cause I joined the Glee Club in high school. I did act for several presentations as a declaimer and main lead in the classroom and on stage during my Teatro Tilaok days. I begged to be bought a cheap musical keyboard when I was 14 and did learn one classical piece (Pachelbel's Canon) that I could play in the piano when practiced over and over again. Yes, I can't read music notes. They're too much of a calculation for me and I sincerely hate equations. And no, I never learned any martial art.

This is just why my younger brother and sister makes me feel the proudest. My brother learned three musical instruments all by himself; the guitar, the keyboard, and the drums. He could compose simple songs and play confidently in band competitions. He is a big influence to my little sister's developing interest in music. He's currently teaching her keyboard pieces and encouraging her to enhance her guitar fingering.

Apparently, it's my little sister whom I'm most proud of. I have enrolled her last summer in a swimming class and as always she never fails to make us, her family, proud. She earned a gold medal for championing the butterly stroke competition and as a reward, Mama allowed her to take advanced swimming classes every Saturday going forward. Today, she also broke to me the news that she auditioned as a pianist for our school choir. She is accepted by the very music teacher who trained us in Glee Club. She will be trained as the school and church pianist every Saturday and soon enough, we would be hearing her play in our church regularly.

There is an indefinite amount of blessings that I am thankful for when it comes to my siblings and my relationship with them and a "thank you" is really not enough to condense the gratitude of having them in my life.

Losing the heart

Everyday, I walk into this world alone in solitary and somehow it amazes me that I am able to last for a day despite that fact that I'm co-existing with love birds all around me. I'm doing good and I can say to myself that it is enough. At the end of the day, I won't deny that I'm still curious on what it feels like being held by somebody.

Thank you for feeding my curiosity today.

(PHOTO CREDITS)

Kissing Life

This world is a crazy place to live in but I couldn't be more thankful because You have given me the gift of patience to wait for what's not yet here, the wisdom to understand those who are selfish and the courage to face every obstacles of this life.

This isn't easy but You never left me behind.

(Photo credits)

Ara's thank yous for June 25, 2010

Thank you for the several blog event invites. Even though I cannot make it at any one of those, I'm still flattered.

Thank you inviting me for tomorrow's Bridal Expo. Keep 'em rakets coming!

Thank you because You gave us Gab-Gab and Russell. I'd do anything to see their happy faces, especially Gab's usual toothless grin.

Thank you for my packed lunch. My Papa makes the best sinigang on Earth.

Thank you for letting me help my Lola with something she need.

Thank you because I still have my family intact.

Ara's thank yous for June 23, 2010

Thank you for the driving feeling to go to work again.

Thank you because the sun wasn't too harsh today. How I loathe the mid-morning and afternoon heat..

Thank you for including me to the FX's last trip this morning.

Thank you for yesterday's date. It was the 32nd month.

Thank you for the brisk, long walk. I needed it. I might not like it most of the time but I know my body is thanking me.

Thank you for my iPod. It keeps me company wherever I go.

Thank you Usher. You rock hip hop.

-Ranran