What about the Reproductive health bill?

I’ve read in the front page of our newspaper about the Reproductive health bill  and that many religious groups feel strongly against it. Well, it is expected because the majority of the Filipino people are Christians. The head of the Catholic Church is against the bill because the religion is against artificial contraceptives and anything that is related to it. The bill is primarily concerned with providing information on family planning and giving free contraceptives to the public. I think there is nothing wrong with the bill because everyone needs the right information on family planning and there is absolutely no coercion in choosing what method to use.

I have nothing against the Catholic Church because I was born to the catholic faith and I even attend masses but I think they have to know their limitations. They have to know that the Government has the responsibility on the welfare of its citizens while their responsibility is cultivating the faith of their members. The religious leaders have to open their eyes that there are many parents who are irresponsible in taking care of their children and who obviously needed family planning because they bear many children. You can even see it on the streets; there are many children who take care of themselves because their parents are obviously irresponsible.

If ask how many children would they plan to bear? Many of them would say it depends on how many children God will give them. I think it would be okay to answer this kind of question this way as long as the parent is responsible enough that they can take care of their children well. Being a responsible parent they should be aware of how many children they can afford to raise well and they should be aware if their income is enough to cater to the needs of their children.

The faithful are sometimes foolish because when they said that it depends on how many children God is willing to give them even without responsibly thinking if they could afford to raise them all, it is just believing that God will feed them even if they don’t do anything but pray for food.

Do you have any reoccurring dream?

I had so many reoccurring dreams and all of them have to do with being late for work.  I think that is my greatest fear ever.  I don’t like to be late and just thinking that I have to wake up an hour late from the usual would really torment me.  Imagine yourself sleeping peacefully and when you wake up you found out that you are and hour late.  I have this reoccurring dream and in my dream I would really think of something viable reason to tell my boss why I did not go to work.  I think this dream only signify that I needed my job and without it I would feel lost.  I think I could not imagine myself just being a plain housewife and wait for my husband and my children to come home.  I think my experience has taught me not to rely on someone.  I never really want to feel helpless, to rely on someone to give you money without making your own.  I think having a job or having your own source of income will give empowerment to you.

It feels so good to decide for your own when you don’t have to ask your husband to buy you something.  I think it is also in my nature to do something with my life because when you are married you just can’t rely on someone to get things done because it can be so depressing. You just feel your heart hurt because of your failed expectations.  Do you ever experience telling your husband to make some shelves so that you can arrange your things and how it feels to wait for the work to get done?  To lessen my failed expectations I just have to make it myself.  That is what it feels like to be a working mom.  I have to get out there in the rat race to get something done with our life.  It is so tiring to complain to your spouse and tell him his shortcomings because like him you are also capable to do something to improve your life.

I prefer not to dream

11/24/09

There are times when I have dreamless sleep but there were also times when I dream the most peculiar dreams that make me wake up in the middle of the night wondering what it means.  I always do believe that dreams have meanings and over the years I learn to know what objects means.  Like if I dream of feces it would mean money, Water or body of water would mean travel, lice would mean sickness especially if it is in your body and what really makes me terrified is when I dream of tooth or teeth that has fallen or extracted out of my mouth because it generally means a bad omen or death. This is really the reason why I prefer not to dream anymore because it is quite depressing when you are thinking about it but I think dreams are there to remind us to be cautious at all times. 

I feel for Jinkee

11/19/09

Like all famous and rich people controversy is normal because it is price of being famous.  Manny Pacquiao is not an exemption.  Even If I am so proud to be a Filipino because of him I cannot tolerate him doing something like being unfaithful to his wife because as a woman and a wife I feel for Jinkee.  I hope that it is just a rumor and that there is no truth to it but I think there is no smoke if there is no fire so I hope it does not apply to this affair.  I think it is just okay if he spent an amount of money to let the starlet and her family stay in Las Vegas to see the fight but I hope she has not done something inappropriate for the favor he is giving her.

It is okay for a married man to admire someone other than her wife but it is entirely immoral if he will consummate his desire for her.  I could not possibly give Jinkee an advised about this because I know that if that will happen to me I would really feel devastated and I will cry like her and even without pretense even if everyone will see me because I would really care less.  I think Manny’s situation is really tough because even if he is not handsome women would practically offer themselves to him.  You know money and fame has a way with most women especially those who like the limelight and the good life. I hope he should value his family above all because that is what matters more than money and fame.

Friday Reflections: You are not alone

“You are not alone” a familiar song of Michael Jackson and it is true. At times like every one else I also felt a feeling of powerless to change the situation I’m in but it helps a lot when I think that I’m not alone. That there is a supreme being that has been with me from the time I was born up until now and I believe also until the end of my life. There are countless of times that I whispered his name in the time of adversity and also during the crucial event of my life where I needed to make an important decision and he had let me feel his presence.

What I learned from prayer is that you don’t always get what you want but in the end you will know that you get what is best for you. It also helps me to accept the things that I could not change and to change the things that I can. I also learn to surrender my will to the will of God, especially to the things or circumstances that I could not change. I think it is through admitting that we are not omnipotent that we learn to trust in God.

I’m very grateful to my father for teaching me to pray and for believing that my prayers will be answered. When I was young my father always asked me to pray for his petitions because he made me believe that God answers little girl’s prayers and I did. When I got older it was already instilled in my mind to pray always for other people’s petitions especially if they request it from me. I even joined in prayer groups when I was still single but nowadays I don’t have time to pray in a group anymore. Motherhood demands so much from me. I guess I have my hands full for taking care of my two children and maintaining my career. Nowadays, I still pray either alone or together with my toddler and my husband.

Friday Reflections: Déjà vu

Do you have a feeling that the same thing happened to you before? It is a feeling of déjà vu where things have happened from the past and occurring again in the present. Of course all of us have experienced the same fate. One example is eating the same diet over and over again or having the same problem over and over again. I think life is a series of repetitions where you wake up every morning, eat breakfast, eat lunch going to the same work over and over again. I think life is like the stream, when we look at it water flows through it every second of everyday. When you look at it, it is the same stream but is it the same water? No, because as you can see the water is replaced with water. The old water has been displaced with new “water instead of water. It is the same with grace. Your life may carry yesterday’s problems, but remember, God’s grace is new each morning, exactly what you need to meet each new challenge. It is and inexhaustible and ever-fresh supply.

Friday Reflections: How a tree grows

Sometimes we felt restless when we want something done and we want it right away. I have felt that way also and I think most of the time. I want to have our own house right away and sometimes I forgot that there are more important things to attend to. When I think about it our family income is like any other normal employee in the Philippines. We also have priorities to attend first before thinking of our dream house. Slowly I am finding ways to add to my salary and I know it really add up to our monthly income.

I have also been thinking of new strategies to lessen the expenditure of our monthly budget. When I think about it, when we started out in our marriage we only have a bed, a stereo component, a Television and a CD player. I am even pregnant and jobless and we even lived with my parents during that time. I think it is through effort, hope, faith and love that we have survived it all. I think also when we acquired something slowly and with much effort that we begin to treasure its value. It is also through time we mature and we learn valuable things that we needed in life. I think a person that has strength grows like a tree because it is built to outlast each storm in life. It is also through the storm that it has grown into a sturdy wood strong enough to last a lifetime.

Friday Reflections: What Matters Most

Have you read the book entitled Purpose Driven Life? I’ve read the book and it is really a good book with lots of ideas that can make you think about what really matters most to your life. The book consists of 40 chapters that you have to read and contemplate on for 40 days. It has some valuable insights on how to live your life in a meaningful way. It states that the most important valuables in life are not things but people. These are the very person that we want to see before we leave this world. The memories that we cherish most are good memories of our love ones. Things can make us happy but for how long? Do we need to always upgrade to maintain the happiness that it has given us? When I think about it, I do want to go abroad and to earn better bigger salary, like my friends but I just can’t bear to leave behind my husband and my two children. I can’t bear to live each day without them by my side and to miss out on the most important event of their life.

Friday Reflections - Saving your marriage

I have a booklet in positive thinking and it really helps me a lot in the times that I’m down. You know our life is like a wheel, sometimes you are at the top and sometimes you are at the bottom. When you are there at the top, you don’t have any worries and your life is good but when you are at the bottom you want to grasp something to help you survive. That something is your faith in the Supreme Being where you surrender your life. One particular part of the booklet that really gets to me is the attitude of the wife when she finds out that her husband is having an affair. She did not confront her husband, instead she reflects on the reason why it happened. She had realized that she has become very busy with her work and social gatherings that she did not have time with him anymore.

One day her husband told her that he wanted a divorce and do you know what she told him? She told him okay, but told him to give her two months to consider it. She changed her behavior and decided to do the things that she had done early on in their marriage. She did not go to any social event and after work she stayed at home reading magazines and crocheting like she did in the past. She keeps on doing this even if her husband is going out every night. After how many weeks her husband also did the same, reading his newspaper in front of the fire while she did her reading as well. Then finally when the two months had passed she asked him about the divorce. He replied and told her that it’s just a crazy idea and he is not pushing through with it.

Friday Reflections:truth and tenderness

Read I Thessalonians 2:1-13

Some parents raise their children with harsh authority, but wise parents exercise their authority with lots of tender loving care. It’s nicer and good for your children’s self esteem if you discipline them and encourage them with treats than threats. Parents can encourage them by giving incentives and not with punishments with every wrong deed they have made. Children will be encouraged to do good if they know that they will get something good in return and they get nothing if they do inappropriate deeds.

What wisdom lies in gentleness!
What force true meekness holds!
As truth combines with Christ like love,A tale of good unfolds.

Friday reflections: Much Talk, No work

Bible Guide: Read Luke 6:46-49
Too many churches have become just religious clubs with committees, boards, and programs, but are producing nothing. If half the energy spent in talking about the program of the church could be channeled into spreading the gospel, countless thousands could be won for Christ. Pious talk and lengthy resolutions cannot take the place of proclaiming the precious message of the grace of GOD.

“Poverty could be lessened if anyone who has so much could at least share a piece to those who have nothing”

Friday Reflections: Singing at night

In the spiritual realm, as in the world of nature, the singers of the day are more numerous than the singers of the night. But surely we can glorify God the most by singing in spite of the dark. It is not hard to praise the lord when everything is going well, when we have a good job. But what happens when trials come? When our health is gone, our money is spent, relationships are broken, or tragedy strikes, the reality of our faith is tested. Only those who are wholeheartedly committed to Christ can have a song in the night.

When the shadows are long He will give me a song

As when skies are blue and bright;

For each step of the way, each hour of the day,

And songs in the deepest night.

Friday Reflections: The lord is looking

Bible verse for today is Luke 12:2
There is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.

There are so many things that a person can do if no one is watching but we must bear in mind that God is watching us. How much more does the all-seeing eye of God behold everything we do – whether in the open or in private. This is a disturbing thought that could lead us to despair. But God not only sees and remembers; he also forgives and forgets if we come to him in repentance and confession. It is also comforting that he never leaves our side in all the days of our life. We can be assured that he is with us in sorrow and happiness. He has seen our good deeds as well.

You’ll never know what it feels like until you are there.

Last Sunday I went to the mall with my son because I have to make a mattress for the play pen of my baby girl. I have bought two meters of fiber fill and for the fabric I will just ask my mother for her spare old bed sheets. While there at the mall I was kind of having a hard time because my toddler is such a menace. He was running around the textiles corner laughing while grabbing the saleslady’s wooden stool. I was waiting for the sales lady to cut and measure the fiber fill while trying to discipline him but to no avail. I have observed that my toddler has become hyper and it’s harder to have him around at public places because he doesn’t listens to me.

We went to my mother’s home because she has a sewing machine and it would cost less if I will sew the mattress than to buy a new one. Unknown to me, when we got there I found out that my grandma, aunt and uncle was also there on a visit. We had lunch there and afterwards I went on sewing the mattress while my toddler plays. I locked the door so that he will not get out of the room. I was kind of afraid that he might fall of the stairs if I let him wander away from me while I get busy.

I’ve noticed that it’s really harder to sew a mattress because even if I’ve made it well, it takes a lot of effort than my usual job in the office. It demands physical strength especially if your using a manual sewing machine. I mean I’ve never gone to a sewing school and all I’ve done was to observe my mother and my aunt sew something and it’s easy to look at than to actually make it yourself. It’s kind of laborious and I can’t imagine myself doing it everyday. I thank God that my parents had sent me to college because all I have to do everyday was to encode in the computer, receives phone calls, listens to simple instructions and do paper works.

Even if I have only done these things I still have the nerve to complain, I know I have to pinch myself sometimes because whenever I think about complaining I should think about everyone who does laborious work because they have done a labor of love. Whenever I think about the things that I didn’t have I should think about what I have and be grateful.

A thought to Ponder 2

It’s Friday again and it’s time to think spiritually. Today let’s think about a love of a parent to a child. As we all know we loved our children they are a miracle from God. We can just imagine how could a single cell become a person slowly and grows inside you for 9 months it’s really awesome just thinking about it. When I think about my child today I still can’t believe how she became what she is today so full of life. When I think about it I still can’t believe that my body could supply all the necessary nutrients to build her body when she was still inside of me. She and her brother are like angels sent from heaven and the source of my happiness. Like all parents before us we still have to think of the future ahead of us what will they be like in their teens and God forbid could they grow up to be rebellious like other sons and daughters?

How does one react when the child grows up to be rebellious? What would you do if you were in that situation in the future? Please post your comments on your blog and let me know thanks.

A thought to ponder#1

It is very important to ponder on our life even once in a while because it is by thinking about it that we will come to realize whether we are in the right track or not. It is through reflection that we will appreciate the graces that came to us and also to recognize our faults and learn from our failures. It is also through it that we realize whether we are living the life we want and also to know if there is still something that we want to achieve.

Having time to sort out our mind and feelings are very beneficial for us because it will affect our choices in life. Our choices can make or break our present and future lifestyle. So I am making a post every Friday entitled a thought to ponder and I’m inviting my friends to comment and link on it.

So to start of here is our reflection for today. What makes Christianity different from all the other religion in the world? You can also read on Timothy 3:4-7 for guidance. I know religion is the subject of most heated debates but there is no wrong answer here and your comments are highly appreciated.

Could there be a world war III?

I and my husband have this topic one night, he ask my opinion on this. Well there is always a possibility but maybe never in our lifetime. I’ve told him there is already an endless war in the Middle East happening so there is a possibility. Looking at our advance technology today it’s a possibility that if world war III comes it might be the end of the world. I’ve asked my mother when I was just a child why there is a war and she told me a simple question as an answer. She said why do you and your brother quarrel? So at an early age I know that war happens because people don’t get along and decides not to compromise. Throughout history war happens because another wants dominion over someone’s property and it’s even true until today.

Another question is why do national leaders and presidents do this and decide to make war among nations? There is still a simple answer that is just human nature; they are just like us the only big difference is that they have the biggest responsibility that their choices and decisions can affect a whole nation. Their decision can affect a million people. Like us they are not exempted from human error. They are not exempted from anger, frustrations, greed and pride. So let’s just hope that the next time they make decisions they will think of their constituent before anything else.

Is it better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all?

This is my comment on a question posted by Tot’s Mom on Love Q. Well on my part it is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all because what is the point of living if you have not experienced loving someone. Naturally it would hurt because it is the price of loving. Loving someone means to open up our self emotionally and in the process leaving us vulnerable.
It is when we care for that someone that we wanted to be involved in their life because we want what’s best for them. Sometimes we forget that they have a mind of their own and it is still their life and in the end it is still their decision that matters. It is also true that people just change their mind including their heart in loving someone. There are factors for these but the person who knows the reason is the one who have a change of heart.

These could be acceptable if there is still no marriage but once married it is a different story. The vow that the couples exchanged on their matrimonial ceremony is a pact for life. It is a decision that mirrors the person doing the contract and they must mean what they said during that day and their commitment must stay even if the feelings change. If love is just a feeling it is not considered true and it could just be lust and sexual attraction.

Now let’s get back to the main point why it is much better to love and lost than to never to have loved at all? I could not imagine my life without love because first of all I was born out of love. My parents loved each other and decided to have a family to love and cherish. Having me as a child brought them joy just like what my son has given me. So if my mother was a coward and decided not to marry my father then she could not have experienced the joy and the pain of motherhood. The joy and the pain of loving and be loved by someone who means the most to us. Although it may not last forever but what matters most is that we experienced it in our lifetime.

What I mean by this is I understand that we only have one lifetime to live when we die what will become of us? If we are Christians it is written in the bible that if we are faithful we will be given eternal life to live and serve the lord. It is also clearly stated in the Holy Scriptures that the eternal life that will be given to us will be different from that of our life here on earth. Entirely different that we will no longer need a husband or a wife, or a son or a daughter but we will live as one family of God.

Staying Power

I have a book that I read when I want to be inspired. It is a compilation of inspirational articles by reader’s digest entitled “Keys to happiness” a guide to successful living. One of its articles entitled the way back by Fred Raymund Gilpatric discuss about his experience on a mental institution. He narrates that he was successful in his life until a tragedy struck his family that makes him stop living a normal life  and he chose to be locked up in a mental institution. He had it all in the past a successful career, a good reputation, an intelligent wife and two sons but all changed when his son committed suicide. There was no clear reason why it happened but later on his wife also committed suicide. After his wife died he left his friends and his career and locked himself up in a mental institution doing nothing. His other son went to the marines.

The doctors in the institution tried everything they can to help him but to no avail, until he was asked to stack up old books there. He was just doing what he was told and stacks the books on the shelf when a name caught his attention. A book by Dr. Fosdick interested him because he met this man before in his childhood years. He read his book entitled ‘The power to see it through every day until he came to the chapter entitled “staying power.”

It states that staying power is always associated with a certain integrity of conscience. Whatever else life may give or deny, one thing is absolutely indispensable – that a man should not break faith with himself; that he should keep his honor bright in his own eyes. He realized that he blamed himself for what had happened. He drowned in self-pity and broke faith with himself. The book also states that “Staying power is always associated with something greater than oneself, to which one gives loyalty – an object of devotion. He also realized that he has became selfish in just thinking of himself he forgot that his son had also experienced the tragedy but choose to continue on with life. He finally realized that he was such a coward to lock himself up. He decided to volunteer for a job in their local library and live his life again. This time he has no intention to earn more money but to continue living with a renewed purpose. When someone ask him if he will return to the mental institution again? He said that it will never ever happen because he will not break faith with himself and will always keep his honor bright in his own eyes.

Nowadays you will hear news about people who just give up on life and commits suicide. Whatever is their reason there is always hope and I wish that they will realize that they are not the only people who experience hardships and trials. There are people who experienced far worst in life but they remain steadfast and faithful. It is quite true that people became unwavering in the test of life if they have dedicated their life to others because they will think of the people that depended on them. Their main concern is the outcome of those people who needed them if they are already gone in this world.I am not here to judge but people who usually commits suicide are selfish because they only think about themselves.

“ A vital faith in God gives a man internal power, a spiritual vision from which divine companionship he draws replenished strength” taken from a book “The power to see it through” by Dr. Fosdick.

“All things work together for those who love God and are called for his purpose” taken from the bible Romans 8:28.

Our decisions and the path that we choose determines our life

Last May 1, Labor Day and also non working holiday, I went to my parent’s house for a visit. My older brother asked me this question during one of our conversation there while he was preparing our lunch. “How do you know that you love the person?” It’s quite normal for us to talk about anything because he knows that I have an opinion for everything. I told him my perspective “You know that you love someone when you are willing to sacrifice for that person.” He asked me again what I mean with sacrifice. I told him that you are willing to sacrifice your time, effort even money for that someone. You are willing to be selfless if need be.

He told me that he was in love with his girlfriend now and he is just wondering if she feels the same. Well I can’t answer his question because the person he should be asking is the girl. He asked me again “can long distance love affair work?” I told him that it really depends how much you trust the person because I cannot say that it won’t work or it can work out. I have a female friend and her husband works abroad and they are still together and I also know someone, her husband works abroad and now they are separated. You can never really know what will be the outcome of your relationship because people have a mind of their own and you can’t dictate their actions and that is just the risk you have to take.

I told him that he has some trust issues and I asked him frankly if he is insecure. My brother’s life is really complicated because he has been married before and he has one son. He has a problem with trusting his wife and frankly I can’t do anything about it because I can’t change his views. I know his wife because they lived with us during the early stage of their married life and I can’t say that she was unfaithful. Anyway I can’t also say that my brother was wrong with his views because I was not in his shoes. I know how she tried to save their relationship because my brother doesn’t have a regular job that pays well. She has to spend her earnings for their needs as a family from providing milk to my nephew to paying for the babysitter. Anyway to make this story short they have tried to save their relationship more than once but in the end they have parted ways. I don’t think they will ever be together again but who knows. I felt sad for our nephew but I can’t do anything about it. It’s not my life and whatever I say to my brother it is still his life and I can’t make choices for him.

Right now my brother stays the same, without a regular job and without a family of his own. He still lives with my parents. He has a job but it is not a stable company and he always complained about it. I tried to help him out in finding a well - paying job to the point of searching job opportunities on the internet and cutting pages on the classified ads on our local news but still he does not apply to any of them.

He told me that he is tired with his life and he wanted to settle down with his new girl friend. I told him to fix his marriage legally otherwise it would be impossible to marry his girl. I also told him to find a regular job to provide financially and stability to his new relationship. I hope he will change for the better and make the right choices to fix his life but unfortunately it was not mine to decide.

Update on my brother's career he already got a regular job.