Quote for Thu December 30, 2010

Quote for Thu December 30, 2010: "

'Believers have not been distinctly guided to see that nothing is more natural and beautiful and blessed than to be nothing, so that God may be all...'

— Andrew Murray

"

Year end 2010

As we near to end the year 2010, I tend to reflect the past things that happened to me personal and professional wise.  This year brought so many things into my life, I got to visit last February for the 1st. time in 4 years my families and friends and it was a blast celebration, family gatherings, sharing of blessings (in kind and monies) and Outings as well.  My visit was short but very meaningful as I will be headed to Singapore along with my Mom and Sister in Law Grace.

This year was also a surprising one as I receive a surprise bonus from the Company I work with here in Afghanistan and It that help me to purchase a "Toyota Revo" for the entire family so that they can be able to use it for picking me up in the airport along with some other family activities.  I got to purchase also another property to be added in the list of the investments I have, securing myself through Insurance and saving as well in the near future and clearing up some other obligations.

It was also on this year that I got a chance to visit U.S. for the 2nd time (LA,Utah,Denver and New York), exploring new places and meeting some interesting people around the area. indeed, my visit was a successful one. Aside from U.S., I have also again visited my families and  friends back in  the Philippines for a very short period of time making it a complete journey to Include Singapore where I got to see my "kumare" Mardy along with her husband Nathan and my "Ina-anak" Madeleine.  Singapore was a very inviting place along with the formula 1 being held at that time.

This year was also a sadden part as I got to miss a very good colleague I have in the finance department as he was terminated due to some politics being run in the company.  A recent death of the husband of my Sister is also a very tragic one to remember this year. I guess not all can be enjoyed and be happy this year but again to be thankful that I'm still here surviving.

Lastly, with only 3 days remaining before saying goodbye to 2010, I wish that the coming 2011 will be a promising and very enjoyable one to remember.  Of course I have already seen the 1st. positive sign of it as I have receive again a surprising gift from my boss "Bonus" but this time it was tripled, a product of handwork, dedication to my work  and loyalty to the company. Indeed, 2011 is a very good year to look forward to.

9 Years without Christmas

 Its 2 days more to go and Christmas is coming and that will be added to my list of absence back home for my families and friends not to mention to my "Ina-anak".  I'm sure they are chasing me already with so many dues I need to pay back and a lot to miss.  Its will be still be the same just like the previous years, work and go home and sleep and that's what I do to keep up for my loneliness.

Back here in the office as I rest for a while, I decided to write this and think is it worth it that I need to sacrifice for a little while for the love and care to my loveones back home?  Yes its been a while since I did not feel the spirit of Christmas as I am very far away doing what is best for myself, families and future.  A lot of my colleague are also doing the same sacrificing for their families just to give the best of everything for them.

There will be a quite celebration tommorrow with my fellow office-mates bringing all the foods to celebrate, get together, gift giving and a little of song and dancing and I'm sure it will at least erase the feeling of loneliness back home. I haven't purchase my "Monito Munita" for tomorrow's gift giving so I need to check what's good to give? Perhaps I will just dig to some of my old souvenirs I brought with me from my recent U.S. trip and for sure they will like it.

Indeed, this coming Christmas will be again a celebration of birth, "Pasasalamat" and most of all celebration of him for all the things his done to me and to my families. I say "Merry Christmas" to myself then.

Fabulous Vacation "Engrande" - 3rd Part

My journey ended in New York city as I arrived in the late afternoon of Oct 05 and headed directly to my hotel somewhere in Manhattan street area. It was going to start getting cold in that period and luckily, I was able to bring some of my winter clothes. As soon as I unpack my luggage, I went out and explore the beautiful scenery of the area. Indeed, NYC has never change, full of surprises and busy people walking along every avenues.

On the 2nd day, I got the chance to visit way down below the Chelsea are, the bazaar with so much to offer and I have one good Shirt souvenir locally printed but amazingly done that I purchased there. Then I headed to Gay shop along that area where I bought some sexy underwear and a trunks. That shop offers a lot to visitor like and I could not resist to come back again for the 3rd time. When I arrived in the hotel to rest just before going up, I bump to a shelves just beside the reception offering a variety of Broadway shows. That's one of the thing I miss in my last first visit to watch any of the popular shows there so I decided to pick few sadly, some of my favorites were already fully booked and I ended up getting the reservation for show "West Side Story and Phantom of the Opera".

First Broadway I watch "The West Side Story", the curtain open and the lights went off. The show starts and all I could do is just to listen and be amazed with the performances of the Actors. The song "Maria" struck me to death, it was sung beautifully and I got carried away with lyrics. The last part was so tragic That Tony has to die and leave Maria suffer in her heart.  Overall, the performances of all actors are excellent and they have given me the show that I want. before leaving the theater, I got the chance to buy some of the souvenirs and this I will keep for quite sometime.

3rd night were allocated only to watch another Broadway show and this time "Phantom of the Opera", this is different as the show, costumes, the scene, were done somewhere in the medieval times and it was brilliantly performed from the start down to the ending. One thing I like and move to the performance was the song "that's all I ask of you" which remind me of the song of Barbara Streisand. Indeed, another great and memorable show to watch again. Eric, Christine, and Raul made and exceptional performances all the way. Of course, I will not going back without buying a souvenir, a nice bracelet beautifully crafted with the show itself.

Remaining days were still incomplete without visiting the central park, 5th ave where I bought some clothes from Gap and some stuff from the big Macy store. I got to visit again the famous busy central station and took some picture in it. I did not feel any tiredness in myself as I wanted to explore every single scenery that NYC can offer and even the cathedrals of St. Patrick and some others were also scheduled during that day. I had a great time in NYC visiting each of the churches has made my faith more closer to him and this I can keep as long as i live. He has given me much and what more can I ask for but only to thank him for the wonderful things that happen to me.

I had made a chance to visit some of the magnificent high rise building that you can only see in New York.  The Flat Iron building which are located just below Chelsea area, the Empire State just across Manhattan and the famous  Chrysler tower once considered to be tallest tower in the world and many others.  Still as bright and popular, the Rockefeller plaza with the famous Ice Rink just below made it more exciting to visit from visitors. There were some famous boutique such Vesace, D&G, Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren to name a few that has bee in line in the 5th. Ave. I had also a chance to dine in some of the exciting restaurant along Manhattan and Chelsea but of course eating in the street area can never be the same as indeed an experience to remember.  My trip to New York was indeed a memorable and will again take the chance of visiting it in the near future.