Bagong pamilya

Ang nakaraang linggo ay isang napakahabang linggo.

Ang daming nangyari. Natutuwa akong makilala ang pamilya ng aking Tito Rene. Naging mabuti sila sa akin at kay Ryan. Salamat po Tito Rene at hinayaan mo akong maging miyembro ng iyong pamilya.

Napakasaya ko rin na pagkatapos ng halos tatlong dekada ay nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na makasama ang aking Tita Elvi. Salamat sa pagmamahal mo sa akin at kay Ryan. Di mo man sabihin, nararamdaman kong mahal mo kami. Salamat sa lahat ng payo at umaasa akong magkaroon ulit ng pagkakataon na makasama ka pa ng matagal.

Nagpapasalamat din ako sa mga miyembro ng Cornerstone Baptist Church - Mawaque sa napaka init na pagtanggap sa min ni Tita Elvi lalo na sa kin na noon pa lamang nila nakasama.

Salamat po sa inyo!

Kay Nanay Remy at sa kanyang kabiyak na nagpatuloy sa amin sa kanilang napakagandang tahanan. Salamat din po sa pagsundo at paghatid sa amin gamit ang inyong sasakyan. 

Kay Kuya Boyet at kabiyak na si Ate Jing at mga anak na AJ at CJ, salamat sa pagpapatuloy sa inyong tahanan.

Kay Ate Aida at Ate Baby, salamat po sa masarap na pagkain na inyong inihanda.

Kay Ate Glo, salamat po sa napakasarap na puto

Kay Ate Rita, Louie Ann, Ian, Moymoy, salamat po sa masarap na dinner

Kay Nanay Yolly at Kuya Nolly, maraming salamat po sa pag aalaga sa aking Lola.

At sa lahat po ng bumubuo ng inyong iglesia, maraming salamat po!

Para kay Michelle at Mutya na nawalan ng minamahal sa buhay, dalangin ko na matagpuan mo ang kamay ng Diyos sa panahon ng inyong kalungkutan at pagdadalamhati. Lalong pagtibayin ang inyong pananampalataya sa panahon ng mga pagsubok at suliranin. 

Fill my cup!

Like the woman at the well I was seeking

For things that could not satisfy;

But then I heard my Savior speaking:

"Draw from the well that never shall run dry".

Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord! 

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul; 

Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more-- 

Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole! 

There are millions in this world who are craving 

The pleasures earthly things afford; 

But none can match the wondrous treasure 

That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord. 

So my brother if the things that this world gives you leave hungers that won't pass away, My blessed Lord will come and save you if you kneel to Him and humbly pray. 

Jesus, I thank you!

I feel so thankful today. I thank the Lord for always taking care of my better half every single day he is on duty and even if he's not. I pray that the Lord will always protect him from danger and that may he be able to fulfill his duty with dignity and honor.

Wherever crime may be, as he walk the darkened streets alone, Lord, let him be close to thee. Help him ignore those who scorn and and show him no respect, but be mindful of all citizens he has sworn to protect. May he always put duty first in the work that he must do. May he not disgrace the uniform but bring pride to the badge he wear. And, please, Lord, through it all; be at His side.


For everything Lord, I thank you!

Happy. Tired. Happy

Happy because I was asked to do several new challenging projects from my clients today.

Tired because that was a lot!

Happy because at the end of the day I was able to finish them all. Having told I am a genius and was a tremendous help eased all the tiredness I am feeling.

I just love receiving words of appreciation. It always put a smile on my face.

“Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.”

Acts 13:15

Good job!

Above is an email thread between me and my Australian client this morning, around 9:30 AM in Manila and 11:41 AM in Melbourne, same date.

Outsourcing really made a big difference in the lives of the Filipinos like me and to the clients offshore as well. They entrust us with their businesses because they believe in our abilities aside from the fact that the Philippines has less expensive operational and labor costs, as well as an English-speaking workforce.

I'm so thankful God blessed us with so much talents and wisdom that we just have to discover and nurture them.


P.S.


He just sent me an email again saying:


You should be proud :)

I like the fact that our business is helping families over there. I know the struggles many go through in the Phils.

I just got invited as Ninong to another Odesk contractors wedding. She said the work we gave her made a big dfference to her family in ways I won't even know about. So sweet!!

:)

Thought for the day

What can I give that You have not given? And what do I have that is not already yours? All I possess is this life I'm living and that's what I give to You, Lord...


I was thinking about the above lyrics from the song I Offer My Life. What can I offer Him who has given me everything? What can I give Him in return? It's really sad knowing that the life I am living right now doesn't please Him. How can a broken life like mine glorify Him? When you want to give your loved one something, you want it to be the very best, something that would make him/her happy and make him/her realize how much you love him/her and how special he/she is to you. But it's not just a loved one I want to give something, it is my Great and Awesome God. The father who never left my side, the best friend who remained faithful, the mentor who never failed to correct me, Jesus Christ who loved everything about me. 

Here I am acknowledging my unrighteousness and unworthiness when He made me realized this:

Nothing you can do

Could make Him love you more

And nothing that you've done

Could make Him close the door

Because of His great love

He gave His only Son

Everything was done

So you would come

Come to the Father

Though your gift is small

Broken hearts, broken lives

He will take them all

The power of the Word

The power of His blood

Everything was done

So you would come

I pray you will also realize that there's nothing more you need to do to make Him love you more because He already bestowed upon us the greatest love of all when He gave His son to save us. Despite our shortcomings and weaknesses, I believe He never loved us any less. To God be all the glory!

Happy Mother's Day!

To all the moms out there, a heartfelt:

Who can find a virtuous woman? She is far more precious than jewels...
Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the activities of her household and is never idle.
Her sons rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:
Many women are capable, but you surpass them all!
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
~Proverbs 31:10, 25-30

Praying I'll become a Mom too someday in God's time.

Romans 12:12

Reminds me of this song...

We come to you Oh Lord
For we have all the reasons to sing a song
It's not what we feel that counts
But it's what we know that matters
It's the truth that sets us free to worship you


We have all the reasons to thank You
For the blood You shed to save us
We have all the reasons to praise You
For from glory to glory You're changing us
We have all the reasons to worship You
And that's because of who You are

I work online

September 2010 when I decided to end my 3-year career in a call center. If my memory serves me right, it was in 2003 when I first applied in a call center. It was in Wynsum Corporate Plaza, Ortigas. It was my first. My first time to brave myself and go job hunting in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. My first time to ride an elevator and go all the way up to the 36th floor. My first time to see executives from foreign land. A place where everybody speaks in English. Fluently and proficiently.

I took the examination which was composed of multiple choice questions and essay writing (which I loved before). I went home sad and disappointed when I didn't pass the second pace of the application process and that is pronunciation and speech testing. Two words that marked my first ever call center application: Philippines and beverage. How can a 2-year college graduate like me could not pronounce those words correctly??? The rest is history. I left Ortigas swearing to myself not to step foot in a call center again.

November 2007 when I tried my luck again. I just have this feeling that I should give myself another try. I really need a higher pay at that time and my mindset - only a call center can give me that. I prayed. I prayed really hard to get a job in BPO. The Lord granted my heart's desire. I got hired December 2007 and everything happened so fast. I've received countless recognition, certificates and awards (in all kinds) for being the top agent. How can a 2-year college graduate like me who could not pronounce Philippines and beverage correctly back in 2003 and is a newbie in this industry is now on the top among 300+ agents on the floor?

Isn't the author of my life working on me?

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I have decided to resign in September 2010. I am happy. It prepared me to a bigger opportunity and that is online.

November 2010. I can't believe you can earn while at home while sitting in front of your computer. Freelancer? Dollars? Really?

A very good friend, a confidant, almost like a sibling to me introduced me to oDesk. A global marketplace that help businesses hire, manage and pay remote freelancers or teams.

It does not only changed how the world works. It changed my life.

You can say I'm such an oDesk fanatic. I'm just grateful.

oDesk made me realized a lot of things that I can do which I am afraid to try before. What I really enjoy aside from the benefit of working at your own home (or wherever you want just as long as you have a working computer and an internet connection, you are all set) is that I got the chance to work with several people from different parts of the globe. There are clients from the United States, Europe and Australia - teammates from India, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, etc.

oDesk also changed the lives of the people around me. I 'sometimes experience' financial freedom if that is what you may call it. When the amount you are earning is 'at times more than' what you need.

I always see in the jeepneys a tag line 'katas ng Saudi'. I am really excited to write a post about my 'katas ng oDesk'. Soon.

Only God's love and grace are permanent. Online projects will end. There are times I am without any projects left. No projects mean no dollars. I just have to stay positive. There are hundreds of job opportunities posted every now and then, I just need to apply to the position which I think I will excel the most.

To be able to survive in this online world, I need to prove the clients my worth. A big no no to just my second best. I should always give my very best because that is what the client expects from me.

I work online and I love it.

My first ever post

Why I started to blog? The answer is so simple. Because I have no one to tell. This is the only medium where I can freely write how I feel about anything and everything. It doesn't matter if people will follow my blog. 

I am doing this for myself. Online. Free.

Let me share to you God's message to me. This might be His message for you, too.

Here it is. Strong Arm by Lenny Leblanc.

My child I knew you before the world began

And I was there everytime you put your name on the sand

But lately I know you've been through quite a storm

My child I've been there, since the day you were born

Oh, and I rule the wind. O yes and I calm the sea

And the sun won't go down until I say that it can leave

Just as sure as my Word I stand here right by your side

And if you're just too weak to go on

Remember child that I'm your strong arm

The people will wonder, and they'll stand amazed

They say you are a miracle and I will be praised

And even though your pain has been too hard to bear

Just know that I am with you, there's no need to despair

Who wouldn't be ever so grateful knowing that the Lord - our Great Creator and Mighty Savior will be your strong arm if you can't go on anymore?

I'm holding onto this: He never left me and never will.