CONSISTENCY is the Best Policy, for Now

I have gained so much weight for such a short period of time. In January, I wore my favorite skinny jeans and it was already difficult for me to put on. I wanted to wear them again in March, and surprisingly, I COULDN’T WEAR THEM ANYMORE! It’s been so hard to even put on some of my shirts and my short pants. CRAZY!

I tried to go on a diet, but my love for food kept me from eating less. I started to do yoga and some dance workouts but my laziness kept me from doing them regularly.

If I am consistent with something, that will be my being INCONSISTENT! I know what I have to do, but I can’t do it. I am lacking determination.

So today, I’ve decided to really lose A LOT OF weight so I could wear my old clothes again. I am not really into buying new clothes unless there is an occasion.

I know that all I have to do is SWEAT…. A LOT. So I have to exercise and perspire. Then REALLY eat less. I MUST give up eating what I want, FOR NOW. Until I can fasten the buttons on my jeans again, I will not stop.

Please Rika, be consistent. Help yourself. You know that only you can push yourself. People can try but if you continue being stubborn, you will not be able to make it. So get the fck moving!

What’s Up, Buttercup?

It’s been so long since I last posted on this page. It was not because there wasn’t much to tell, but I guess I have been too busy to tell stories.

A lot has happened since October 2012 and I can’t even remember everything anymore. Christmas came, New Year, our 3rd year anniversary, my 28th birthday, Valentine’s Day, Holy Week, my brother’s birthday and my younger son’s birthday all came.

I think the highlight of my life right now, is my going back to school. Yes, I inquired at Pamantasan ng Cabuyao with Guil and took the entrance exam on April 11th. We were so nervous because it had been over a decade since we were both at school, taking examinations. We were too scared that we would fail that test. I don’t really know how it happened but we both passed the test, and, with fairly good scores! Haha! We were super thrilled and amazed. Okay, so everything was rolling as we wished them to.

Less than a month ago, we returned to the university to submit the requirements. Just a couple of days ago, we went back there for the interview. Boy was I nervous! I was shaking and I could hardly breathe while waiting for my turn, and even while inside the VPAA’s office. He asked questions, I tried to answer with a steady voice. Then he signed and told me to go to the Dean of Education.

As I entered the Dean’s office, I gave him my folder, and he gave me a sheet of yellow paper. He told me to write a composition about the “Essence of Education”. So off we went and started writing outside the campus. I tried to gather my thoughts and wrote. Then we headed back to the Dean’s office and submitted our compositions. When I sat at his desk, he read my composition. He was nodding while reading and seemed to like what I wrote. Finally, he said, “It was good. But… Since you will become a teacher, you have to write in cursive and it should be readable.” I smiled and admitted that I was still shaking from the interview that I had with the VPAA. But I was really worried about cursive writing. I really hated that back in 2nd grade. Until now, I am not confident to write in cursive, but I have to practice and get used to it.

Then we were sent to the Guidance Counselor, had another interview, then finally were sent to the clinic. We have to undergo some tests and a dental check up, so we will be admitted to the university. This coming week, we are scheduled to go to Ospital ng Cabuyao for the medical tests.

I am really excited to go to college. I will really do my best.

So help me God.

Good Education Has A Price and A Prize

Tired. Has just been to BIR to get two documentary stamps for Titus’ Form 137. It costs P15 each. Tomorrow, my mom’s going to school to get the papers.

Documentary Stamps

Cabuyao Municipal Office

Having decided to transfer Titus to a private school, I have to fix different papers and pay quite a lot of fees. Though I haven’t got much in my pocket, I know I can get by, somehow. This is the time I am feeling a mother’s responsibility of taking her kid to school.

I made such decision to give Tyt a better education. Public schools today aren’t the same with public schools in our time. I understand that a kid’s performance doesn’t depend on the school he goes to. But it sure helps a lot.

The fees I have to pay are no joke at all. But I know it’s going to bear good fruits.

No matter how hard the obligation is, I trust that the Lord will help me get through, and I will stay strong for my family.

Titus in front of his new school – St. Matthew’s Montessori and Science High School

Lizzie The Ugliest? OR Lizzie The Greatest?

As I was browsing the Internet, I found a link to a site with an article about a girl named Lizzie, who was voted as the ugliest person on YouTube. It turns out that she had an extremely rare condition (only 3 in the world have it). She took in everything that the “beautiful” people said on their comments, and got back on them in a way that’s not as filthy as their mouths.

Watch this inspiring video of her, and learn how she coped with it and what she did with her life.

 

For all the bullies who have shits for brains, this is what she has to say.

 

This is the video of her that is only a few seconds long but has over 4,000,000 hits.

 

I admire her courage and boldness to go through it all. She just proves to us that no matter how different we look, we can still achieve every goal we set. We just have to have the same level of courage, determination and self-respect that she has.

Now what I want is, to find her book, buy it, read it and learn from it.

Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/littlelizziev
Like her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lizzievelasquez
Follow her on Tumblr: http://www.lizziebeautiful.tumblr.com
Visit her website: http://www.aboutlizzie.com

Holy Week: Then and Now

When I was young, my Tatay and I  would watch a parade of shirtless men doing penance. And that used to scare me a lot.

My mother would make an altar in our terrace and groups of old and young women would come to our house and pray.

You would hardly find your favorite shows on TV. People would speak in low voices and would refuse to eat meat.

People did not use to travel a lot, worried they would meet an accident because the Lord was ‘weak.’

And on Good Friday, we had to take a bath before the clock struck 3. That was the time Jesus Christ died on the cross, our folks would tell us.

Now things have changed. People go to the beach. Our fave TV shows are on the air till Wednesday. People don’t mind eating meat.

Most of them have become more open-minded and practical that they have already realized that what’s important is we never forget how God gave His Son Jesus and how Jesus gave up His life and faced His fate just to save us.

Related articles

• A Lenten Post (bokgil.wordpress.com)
• What is Good Friday? (faithfulprovisions.com)

Quick Press:: NEW! NEW! NEW!

The year 2012 opened up so many doors for everyone in the family. And this year, a new baby was given to me only a few days ago by my Starlight and we named her Andrea. I’ll tell you more about Andrea soon.

Hope you are all well!

 

 

The Purpose Driven Life: Day 18

DAY 18
THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSE

Point to Ponder: I need others in my life.

Verse to Remember: “Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” -Galatians 6:2

Question to Consider: What one step can I take today to connect with another believer at a more genuine, heart-to-heart level?

For the time being, the only believer I know who I can connect with at a deeper and more genuine heart-to-heart level is my friend/colleague Jannah. I haven’t been given the chance yet, but I know at the right time, we’ll be able to do so.

I believe that it’s her because I can see how strong her faith and her devotion to God is. Her thoughts and her words are filled with God’s teachings. She, without any hesitations, shares her knowledge in God’s Word. Through many different ways, I was moved by her motivation and her focus on God.

Maybe, someday soon, we’ll have a chance to talk about how God has touched and changed our lives and how we can flourish and fulfill our purposes. And when that time comes, I’m pretty sure, I’ll feel more blessed to know that God has sent me a friend who I can go through this journey with.

The Purpose Driven Life: Day 17

DAY 17
THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSE

Point to Ponder: I am called to belong, not just believe.

Verse to Remember: ”In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” -Romans 12:5

Question to Consider: Does my level of involvement in my local church demonstrate that I love and am committed to God’s family?

I haven’t been in a church for years now and I can feel how different it is to be living without it.

I left my mom’s hometown, Sta. Cruz, Laguna, where my church was located, way back 2005. That was when I started working. Since then, I had attended church services off and on due to my shifting schedule and different restday schedules.

Now that I am staying in my hometown, which is Cabuyao, Laguna — 2 hours away from Sta. Cruz — I don’t have a church to go to. Though I really want to go to one, I’m quite hesitant because I am not acquainted to any yet. But my goal now is to find a church where I can be involved in, make fellowship with, and worship God publicly.

I can never be fruitful by myself. I don’t want to be severed from Christ’s body. I don’t want to shrivel and die. What I want is to grow with the other members of Christ’s body and live according to God’s will. I want to fulfill my purpose because just like every part of our body, we have our own functions. We may be a big part or a small part of His body, what’s important is, we have been chosen to perform tasks that He has entrusted to us.

“Heavenly Father, I can never achieve anything alone. I don’t want to live without You and I can never live without You. For without You, I will not grow. I will just shrivel and die. But it doesn’t mean it’s just only me and You. It requires the help from the church. The church, which is filled with Your glory, can help me be nourished and fruitful. Thank You Father because I know You will find a church I can also belong to. Praise You God! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.