I'm that old already?

One day, while I was out on field work. Some random person texted and asked me to talk at their career orientation.

"What? Is this serious?" (thinking out loud, yes. I wanted to retort, Am I that old already?)

Wait a minute, it's been 5 years since I graduated from college, is that enough ticket to be part of the panelists? I had a bit of hesitation, but knowing that my friendsss highly recommended me for this... and of course, it's a great honor to be invited and all, I said a hearty, YES! :)

And knowing how I am, I wanted to make my 30-minute stint memorable. So, yes, though crammed, I whipped up a montage of memories to serve as my AV as I talk.

Here's how it looks like

(well, i'm not sure if you'd see this, it's a slideshow whipped up on ppt. Click the link:D)

Then, we've answered numerous questions flying here and there. Twas an interesting experience. But the best part of it all, when those "kids" came up to me and said, "You've inspired me...", or "I really wanted to work for an NGO", or "I want to be like you when I grow up".

WOOOOOW! Well, some of it may not be their exact words, but they were close, as how I remembered them. I was blown away. God was full of quirky surprises, and I got so floored on this one. Who would've thought that my experiences would've led into this beautiful montage, a well-crafted story.

Indeed, God is amazing. And all I did was tread that unfamiliar path which opened countless doorways of new knowledge and experiences. The good part? Well, there's so much more to unravel!

Oh, I also thank my good friend, Tanya, my first ever friend in college, who helped me get this fun stint.

My BDO effed up sitch :|

Reference Number: 502-192-124

Payday! Woot! Woot!

Financial obligations lined up...

Settle globe bill, give my share,

pay sisterhood, and what not.

Amount to withdraw? Hmmm, 8thousand?

What's wrong with the machine???

Patience. Tap tap.

Check the slots. Still no cash???

... wait for its processing.

Press the keys - machine not responding.

CANCEL. Card out.

Check balance. 5 THOUSAND LEFT???

What the fudge???

Didn't get the amount needed.

Reported to Customer Service.

Case Report filed. Wait for 5 days. Or so.

Ho-humm.

So much for payday blues.

I'm literally blue. Tried not to jerk a tear.

Tried to stay on top of the sitch. But I'm pissed.

And things aren't in my control.

Crap. Sigh.

Recant sitch over and over. In my head.

Obsessing.

Lord, help me see the light in this.

Things would turn around sooner than I think.

Help me to trust in You.

Lord, please help me.

clap clap

proby days are over.

i was there seated inside the glass room. my superior and i were rummaging through my accomplishments. constructive criticisms. words of advice. and an expected splice in that prayer.

i passed!
ayos. here's to another six months into this new world.

then we'll see.


yay! Lord, thanks for the fruitful first six.
guide me in the next half...

lazy day(s)

so much to do.
but i feel so uninspired.

is it the weather?
or i'm such a sloth.

it's been days.
sigh.

11 pancit canton. 33 pandesal. 2 coke.

"no, i'm not entirely obsessive-compulsive. i'm just fond of counting things that's all. " ^^
....


(photos taken during our induction, June 19-21 in Cebu... me in red. so fun right?!?)
...
if you thought splashing me a bucket of ice cold water were enough... think again.
little miss me became the errand girl for the day.
(note: if there's one thing i "hate" doing, it's this.)

i heard it's still part of some-initiation in our department. [as i am in my second month in this new job.] feared to be called a sore loser, i felt compelled to complete the task. (thank God, i need not do it alone).

my late afternoon was pretty productive... breather from my desk job. good enough.
(1) did some "marketing". literally.
walked out in the street to buy the things i need.
pandesal. pancit canton. peanut butter. coke. check. check. check. check.

(2) enhanced my "culinary skills"
dashed to the pantry. started "cooking". 11 packs of pancit canton!?!
whoa. first time kong nakapagluto ng ganong karaming pancit canton. parang catering. nawindang ang beauty ko.

(3) the more, the many-er
thank God some of my workmates were on field. or else, i'd be sooo dead. "ang sarap naman ng luto mo... pwede ka na mag-asawa." or rephrased "wow, ang galing naman. ang sarap... parang lucky me." (pun intended? haha. wala silang choice, ako ang reyna ng moment.)

i love simple joys. i love how our team maximize resources. sa simpleng kain, lahat nabusog (sa kakatawa). - i'm loving this new world i'm in. "welcome to the family".

(4) [i am] a career woman
i am one, once i've put my heart into it. nasimulan na edi tapusin na ng sagaran.
errand girl in every sense of the word. capped the whole activity by... washing the dishes. and no, they didn't prod me into doing it. i just felt like helping out. (good girl effect)


i know this may seem senseless to you. reading boring details and all. so what?!?
i'm still considering this a momentous day in my mundane life.
...
300-peso budget. 1 hour-or so prep time. 11 packs-pancit canton. 33 pieces-pandesal. 2 bottles- 1.5 coke. 1 jar-peanut butter. shared by 20ish staff. 30-minute break. countless moments-laughter. loaded tummies. hefty hearts. one family. one new world (for me). another round of the initiation...

one more "memorable" day. i lavettt.

oh yeah, who ever said i was OC?!?

^^

wherever the wind takes me...

(photo: a memie of my thenlife at faraway land...)

"a seed planted. nurtured for growth, to bear fruit and be planted again...

a wave tossed in the ocean, set out in the world..."

call me idealistic, but i believe in a Maker Who crafts a grand scheme for everyone Who believes in Him...


things we do on a daily basis are tiny steps into that bigger picture. no matter how mundane it may seem. decisions we make can cause drastic changes into our being. it takes a whole lot of courage to succumb our self-made plans to Someone we do not see... but it feels far better to know that there's Someone bigger ahead of us, willing to prepare our paths, IF ONLY, we are willing to let Him...

i'd like to believe that God has placed me here for a purpose. (and no, i'm not gonna backtrack into my life. i might bore you to sleep...). Funny how, in retrospect, i see the link of one life experience into another...

Why I didn't die of dengue when I was eleven. Why He allowed me to study in that university, finishing off a four year-course in Child Development. Why He gave my parents the go-signal for me to set off to faraway land to work [so faaarrr from home]... and finally, Why He gave me peace in resigning from there only to find out an almost similar "scenario"...

...was because He intended me to work in the same field, but this time "closer" to home with a more directed purpose... reaching out to the marginalized. dealing with their holistic growth. I always tried to seek for that missing piece in everything i did the past two years. God planted that desire in my heart. And it can't be put out... it's exciting to know that kids learn more about their Maker and build a personal relationship with Him... To acknowledge that they need God and that they're nothing without Him. Seeing them grow up with a nurtured bond with Him gives much more meaning to the holistic growth we opt to achieve.

[As Curriculum Specialist] I know that I was given a task so big, but I have God Who would help me through. I am truly overwhelmed with my new role and responsibility. I even thought i was inept for this new post... but i was shaken by the fact that I was prepared for this and that I am not alone. My Maker is with me every step of the way.

The life i live now is not a spurt, out of the blue. It was carefully crafted, a plan to prosper me and not harm me. I wasn't brought here, tossed by the wind... I was planted by God's beautiful hands to pursue His plan and to bear fruit...

in the limelight(?)

Work has given me countless novel experiences.
Apart from traveling and meeting new people, which i really loved:)
The dynamic work environment has somehow helped me grow more, and equipped the far-reaches of my personhood (hmmm. anong connect?)

Life is sweet. Why? Our group at faraway land got tapped for a momentous event with our Swede counterpart.

click on if you fancy more info-> Faddergalan 10ar: Plan Sweden's 10th Year Anniversary Gala.
(December 2, 2007)
Yup, it was their tenth-year anniversary gala. And they did a four-hour show to spur more Swede sponsors. It was a simultaneous feature telecast on Uganda and the Philippines.
It was a cinematic take showing nighttime at Uganda and daybreak here in our country, particularly at the eastern most tip... Eastern Samar.

If life could be sweeter...
The producer approached me and asked if they could do me an interview.
Well, my eyes almost popped in disbelief -> o.O

Imagine, sitting there right infront of the camera (there were about three of them). Conversing with their top celebrity, agneta sjodin.
And all those are beamed back home. with roughly 10,000 viewers!!!
Talk about a three-minute shot at fame.

To see is to believe right?
Well, here's the "rough" proof of the whole (sweet) experience...


This one's taken during the rehearsals...

i was nervous head on...

This one here, actually got beamed to Sweden at around 4am i think... (it was 9PM there)

it was raining hard, then it stopped when it was my turn. (malakas ako kay Lord:D)
bloopey: can you count "they were able to..."
(twas pretty obvious i was not in my normal self. kabado)

Oh by the way, we got the original copy from the Swede team.
If i can figure out a way to break my part from the whole thing, then i'd upload it too:)

life is so sweet. sweet indeed...

disclaimer:
yup, i know. it's been two months since the event. so what?
better late than never, right? bwahahahaha. oh yeah, thanks for the vid, fritzie:*