Monday, March 19, 2012

Magnificent Monday

In helping people I am not waiting to be recognized, I am not waiting for praises or good words or favor in return. I am doing this because its my heart's desire.
If there are people who appreciates what I am doing they are just an added factor for me to boosts me to do more, to strive harder and to become my inspiration to go on.
Reaching people is more than helping  them. Reaching people is not just giving what they need. Reaching people is sharing and giving with effort and with heart. You can help by just giving but you cannot reach out people without compassion and love. 
When I was still a child I'm always wishing to be rich and to have a lots of money. When someone asks me why I'll just simply tell them that I want an orphanage for street children. I want to have my own foundation.
Obviously I'm not yet rich not even have a lots of money but the desire that was planted in my heart to reach out people is still there. I am thankful I have a supportive family and friends who also been an inspiration for me to follow my heart's desire in reaching out people.


I am not rich but I am bless.
I am thankful that God gave and planted me the desire to help and reach people. Let me tell you some of few stories how I started in this ministry of reaching of people.
I am working then in a government agency in the Philippines mainly dealing from the highest political leader of the province to its lowest unit called barangay. My eyes are opened to the scenario and reality of poverty and how people deal with it everyday. Andon lagi ang awa every time I saw less fortunate people...I'm always talking to myself  "kung mayaman ka lang sana Jen". Every day I am traveling from our house to my office I saw many street children sitting nearby the city plaza asking for some foods or money for them to eat. I always feel compassion for them - but my feelings are not enough to ease their hunger. I have compassion but there's no action!
One day I visited my cousin on their house while we are sitting and busy chatting with each other the doorbell rang and Inay Lala, the eldest sibling of my Mom, asked my other cousin who checked the gate who's the person outside. My cousin replied that its the same person who are asking alms the other day. Inay Lala asked my cousin to get some food and give it to the beggar, my cousin told her that the person already left. I thought their conversation is over but to my surprised she asked her daughter to run after the beggar and give the food. COMPASSION with ACTION! Up to now that scene is still clearly pictured on my mind and the lesson it served is still in my heart. Thanks to Inay Lala that every time I have an out reach project in the Philippines she accompanied me and extend help on her ways.
" Hindi mo kinakailangan na maging mayaman para makatulong ang kailangan mo ay may puso ka, may mga mayayaman pero hindi sila nakakatulong" that words are from my Mom that really stick on my mind and my heart. If you'll noticed I always put this words: "Its not how much you give but the love you put into giving" my Mom planted those words into my actions.
"Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it" Proverbs 22:6
Now I am working abroad but still I don't have a lots of money but the desire to help and reach out people that was planted to me when I was still a child grows.
God always send me an inspirations. People and circumstances that helps me to go on and grow on the ministry that He asks me. I met few people who really helped me to change my points of view in helping and reaching people; people who encourage and really inspires me that I can do something for others - mga taong hindi ko inakala na maging parte ng buhay at pagkatao ko. Guys, thank you! alam nyo na kung sino kayo :)
I organized and participated few out reach projects and I am honestly telling you its not easy - it requires many things. As I have said REACHING PEOPLE is MORE THAN GIVING.
It requires TIME - the best expression of love.
But moreover than money and time, for me the top three is COMPASSION you should be passionate and sincere in reaching out people; EFFORT including time and hardships especially in raising the funds needed; LOVE you must have heart not only in the out reach project itself but to the people you are reaching.
 Not all people appreciates doing good deeds. I experienced na mataasan ng kilay, makarinig ng mga salita or even tahimik lang yung iba pero behind their minds iba ang iniisip nila towards me. If you're one of those people, this is for you :) Not all men have the same passion, each of us has our own in extending our help and love to people. I can't blame people who are reacting negatively whenever I organize a fund raising to support my out reach project or my friends out reach project. I don't need to please you anyways. 
I am doing what I am doing not to get any sympathy or praises from people. I am doing it because its my heart's desire. This is my way to thank God for all the many blessings He has given me. He called me on this ministry and as a long as the seed that He planted to my heart is there, I will continue to help and reach people.
"LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU" - John 15:12
I am bless - not only by good people not by good things I have in my life but even the not so good that in the end I realized that they are blessings in disguise. I want to go on in sharing my blessings - money, time, effort and my family and friends.
I am not rich but the seed planted on me is continuously growing.
Since Saturday I am looking forward on this day - Monday! If you are my friend in FB :) you can check my previous status to know how obviously I am excited on this day. Last midnight I got one of the answer why I am looking forward to this day: MAY Project 12 launching. MAY Project 12 is a gift giving birthday project of my friend Kcat for the children of PGH (Philippines General Hospital). Expect that I will post articles, fund raising in related to this SOON :)
And today morning that I think bumuo na ng Monday ko *_^ 

Click here:
Nung ginagawa ko yung article ko, sasabihan ko dapat kayong lahat na susulat ko kayo sa article ko pero nagbago ang isip ko..surprise na lang para masaya! haha. Birthday gift ko sayo yun kasi natapos ko syang gawin nung March 9 :) - Kcat


Thanks Kcat for you continue to INSPIRES ME
Thanks for making my Monday not only HAPPY but so BLESS and MAGNIFICENT!

Happy Monday!
Be blessed & be a blessing
God bless us

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Play and Help to End Hunger

This morning I received an email from United Nations World Food Programme (WTP), they are the largest humanitarian agency who are fighting for hunger. As I received a mail from them I was reminded again on the contribution that I was started last year to help to end hunger - joining FREE RICE.COM

FreeRice is a non-profit website run by the United Nations World Food Programme.
FreeRice has two goals:
1.Provide education to everyone for free.
2.Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.
How Can We Help to End Hunger?
By just signing up to the site and playing their games. This is made possible by the generosity of the sponsors who advertise on this site. Every correct answer you get, you will earn ten (10) grains of rice through WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME

"Whether you are CEO of a large corporation or a street child in a poor country, improving your education can improve your life. It is a great investment in yourself.
Perhaps even greater is the investment your donated rice makes in hungry human beings, enabling them to function and be productive. Somewhere in the world, a person is eating rice that you helped provide."
 
I joined FREE RICE.COM last January 12, 2011 and I'm encouraging everyone to join and play as well to help end hunger.

Join, play, educate and HELP

Please spread the word...
Happy Wednesday!
Be blessed & be a blessing
God bless us

Monday, March 12, 2012

MY 31st

March 9, 2012 marked down my 3 decades and 1 year of existence. My "new year" started then, my first day to walk into another journey - to face and beat the challenge of life; to live and not merely to exist; to hope and hold on to positivity; to have faith and not only to believe; to serve and to be compassionate; to trust and to love. 
MY 31st as I called my birthday this year. It's my first year on my 30's - another chapter of my womanhood. It's my first time to welcome my birthday outside our house - I mean usually I welcome my birthday (12 midnight) reading messages from family and friends or sometimes already dreaming as I already fall asleep. But this year is different, I welcomed my 31st with my brethren in Christ - my BS Mansoura cell group. I feel so blessed started my year praising and worshiping the Lord.

"Thank you for everything, for the gift of life, for Your unconditional love, for all the blessings...for everything I have and even those that I don't have.Lord as I walk into another year of my journey let You be my light and guide, continue to lead me on which path should I take, Your will be done and not mine...continue to hold me on your loving arms, empower and bless me as well as my family, friends and loved ones. I lift up to You everything O God and entrust to You my life - from this day on and forward"

After the BS I directly go home, its 1:00 early morning and when I checked all the e-messages I've got I was really overwhelmed when I saw that almost first 10 messages are from my high school friends. SUPER THANK YOU GUYS!
 My first caller to greet me is all the way from Philippines! - a good friend of mine Kuya Allan...Thanks for always finding time to be a part of my birthday celebration even we're not together.
As my way of thanks giving for all the blessings I have received and for the love I received to my family and friends....

I am blessed with family and friends, pampered of love and care and that's one of my reason why almost every year I'm having at least simple yet memorable birthday party. Having party is my own way to reciprocate the love, joy and care they have given me throughout the year.

MY 31st 

The celebration was started in prayer....and all ends up well

BANNERS
Thanks to my cousin Sze ann for all the banner layouts and to Kuya Boy Cruz for the printing *_^


PHOTO BOOTH
SUPERFRIENDS really enjoy photo booth and almost every occasion we had outside office from our "small Christmas party" to our "Pagsalubong 2012" we have our own version of the booth. And since I know they will enjoy it I made the Mickey booth.

Instead of putting my personal photo, I put mickey head and put some quotable quotes from Mickey shows and some information about Mickey Mouse himself.

CAKES

Strawberry Cheesecake made & baked by my cousin Jep. YUMMMMYYY! All of my visitors who tasted it can't believe that its Jep who made it by himself, super nasarapan sila akala nila pro-baker talaga ang gumawa- well its within my cousin's blood :) Thanks JEP!


Mickey fondant cake by my officemate, Tamz. I asked her to make a one layer mickey cake for me and to my surprise got this one. I really love how she designed it - simple yet detailed. I love the cake itself not that sweet. Thanks TAMZ!

FOODS
The most important to enjoy in every occasion is the food of course. I am blessed with a family who are really gifted and passionately into cooking. Without them the party is not definitely be possible. All of my visitors really enjoyed the food "masarap lahat" - all of them commented the same.

From grocery to the kitchen to the table I have them all ^_^. Thanks JEP and Darwin in accompanying me to buy all the ingredients needed, more than 2 hours na lakad sa grocery while pushing the 2 big carts. Thanks Dan, Ate Liezel & Kuya Matt for helping me sa pagbabalat at paghihiwa ng mga ingridients kahit super nakakaluha ang onions. And for helping me till the end of the party especially in cleaning all the mess. Thank you so much guys.
And of course the chefs behind those delicious foods, my cousins - Peach and Leslie. Thank you so so super super much!
Master Chef Leslie
Master Chef Peach

VISITORS
I have many friends and our family here in Doha is big compare to others so instead to eat out on a restaurant it really practical to celebrate inside the house. 
Only few are chosen and if you received an invitation it means that you are close to my heart - all that I invited are VIPs!
I have a few circles of friend and since our house cannot accommodate them all in one time, what I did is I sent the invitations varies on time indicated.  Yup iba't ibang oras, why? I want them to enjoy their stay in the party, hindi naiilang dahil may ibang bisita na di nila kilala, I want them to feel that each of them are special to me.

1st Batch - SUPERFRIENDS 
I was really surprised when I saw them on their Mickey Mouse shirt - as in ALL of them are wearing Mickey shirts. I feel so loved cause they didn't spoil my theme party and super they exert an effort and they really pay for it. SUPER THANKS SUPERFRIENDS! 


2nd Batch - Campos and Jaravata Family
My officemate Ate Marissa with her husband Kuya Lito and son Denzel

My good friend and kumare Janet with husband RJ and my inaanak Kirk *_^

3rd Batch - Kindness Girls

4th Batch - Friendly friends and Procurement Boy Friends

5th Batch - Bible Study Mansoura Family


6th Batch - My Doha Family & Family Friends


And the last batch..... my Batanguenos friends in the office
They arrived almost 9pm :) Its better late than never kaya super happy me..even though its late and I know they're tired they still come. Thanks guys!


To all who shared with me MY 31st, thank you very much! I really feel how much I am loved. Thank you to my family way back in Philippines and to my Doha family. Thank you to ALL of my friends for always reaching out to me no matter where you are and how busy you are and for sharing with me my birthday. Thank you for all the effort, pagod and even gastos to make this celebration another moments to treasure.
And as I continue to walk on my journey, hope you can still be with me. I know life is not that smooth, there are winds, storms and thunders but I know I can pass it all with your love and support and most especially guidance from the Lord. 
God bless us all

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

A-B-C on Tuesday ^_*

Recently I posted a lot of personal stuffs on my blog and since this is my blog so I can post whatever I want. and since I feel sick today because of my colds & flu but still need to be boosted, i tried something to make me awake ^_*
Got the idea from the blog I read yesterday. Thanks Elle!

A. AGE: its just a number; 3 decades and turning into another year few days from now.


B. BIBLE VERSE: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans i have in you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future.


C. CHORE THAT YOU HATE: arranging my clothes into cabinet

D. DANCE: I want to dance under the rain (on the beach)

E. ESSENTIAL START OF YOUR DAY: get up in a sitting position, closed eyes and pray

F. FAVORITE COLOR: all shades of green

G. GOLD or SILVER: I grew up in wearing gold but when I started to pick my own accessories for myself I always ends up in silver.

H.HEIGHT: I don't know exactly but I guess 5'2"

I. INSTRUMENTS YOU WANT TO PLAY: I don't know how to play any instrument but given a chance I want to learn and play piano and guitar.

J. JOB TITLE: Procurement Assistant

K.KIDS: I want them! but need to have a husband first


L. LIVE: in the province where coffee is brewed - Batangas, Philippines

M. MOTHER'S NAME: Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and medicine in Greek mythology and even in real life.


N. NICKNAME: Jen, Jenjen
O. OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAYS: I hate hospital, I can't remember any day that I stayed overnight in the hospital but according to the story of my Mom, almost everyday when I'm still an infant they always send me there.
P. PET PEEVES: When people are asking same questions over and over and I already answered them few times.
Q. QUOTATION FROM MOVIE
 Young Noah: Would you stop thinking what everyone wants. Stop thinking about what I want, what he wants, what your parents want.
 Noah: The best love is the kind that awakens the soul; that makes us reach for more, that plants the fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. That's what I hope to give you forever.

R. RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED: Right 
S. SIBLINGS: a younger brother named BJay


T. TIME YOU USUALLY SLEEP AND WAKE UP: 12midnight and 5:30 A.M.
U. UMBRELLA: I miss my Mickey mouse printed umbrella
V.VEGETABLE YOU HATE: I can't think anything, I really like veggies
W. WHAT MAKES YOU RUN LATE: ironing my hair
X. X RAY YOU'VE HAD: chest and head x ray
 Z. ZOO ANIMAL: I love watching giraffe grabbing their foods


Try this! and I'm sure people who knows you and people who wants to know you will enjoy reading .If you feel sleepy or feel sick, try something that will make your brain function and awake ...so much for caffeine ^_^

Saturday, March 3, 2012

25 +6 Facts about Jen

Two years ago I wrote  "25 Facts about Jen" - these are some personal things about me that only few persons know and I think its time for me to update this by adding some facts that I recently discovered about myself ^_*.
And since I will be turning 31, let me add at least 6 more facts about myself.

26. I'm always a ninang (god mother) but never been a mother, hahaha. I have a lots of inaanak na, I don't know the exact number. I had my first god child when I was 9. My eldest god child is now having a child of his own (naunahan pa si ninang..hahaha). For more than 5 years stayed in Qatar, I had 6 inaanak na.

with Paulene, one of my inaanak here in Doha


27. Mahiyain ako "before" hahaha, I don't talk a lot in front of people especially when I don't know them much, I'm even asking my tita to call the company just to ask if they are open for any position. I developed my communication skills as well as my self confidence on the graduate school (MPA) and it was boosted more when I worked in DILG-Batangas City, bawal ang mahiyain!

with my DILG Batangas City family - taken before I leave Philippines last 2006

Now, I can stand as emcee to parties and through the gift given by the Lord, I can stand as an emcee as well on Church services. Truly I thank and praise God for giving me that kind of gift.

28. When I sleep early I get up late; when I sleep more than 6 hours it caused me headache and lousiness.

29. There are two men that makes me cry - my Dad & my brother (since I don't have boyfriend..hahaha), messages, chat or conversation with them naiiyak na kaagad ako...that's why I don't chat nor talk to them much like what I'm doing to Mommy and my sister in law,Len.

my brother Bjay and my Daddy
30. I eat strawberries with salt. I preferred salty foods than sweet ones.
31. Every now and then I'm still wishing to rain once in a while dito sa disyerto ^_^ I enjoy listening to the sounds of the raindrops.

Each of us is unique; each of us has our own personality thus self identity.We cannot find to others ourselves and vice versa. In some points there might be resemblance but not exactly the same. Stop comparing instead learn to appreciates what you have and respect what others have.

For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful - Psalms 139:13-14